Nyan Koi! Episode 11: Christmas is for Romance…and Cats
BABY NYAMSUS! ghjsafghlfgh CUTE!
Katt: I was totally planning on blogging Nyan Koi! last week, but…somehow didn’t. I blame essay-writing and Hanasakeru Seishounen’s latest episode for having been more inspiring. Lucky for Nyan Koi!, I won’t be skipping out on it anymore! I loved this latest episode–and with the way that it ended, the next and final episode is sure to be a good one.
The romance element
It’s getting into the home stretch for this series, so the romance has to get a move on now. Even Junpei’s family (including Nyamsus and the ever-absent father) is acknowledging that he needs to settle his crush issues. Step one: eliminating one of the two main contenders in the fight for Junpei. In case you’ve failed to noticed, it has basically between Kaede and Kana all along. Kaede is someone whose mind we barely get to see into; Kana, on the other hand, is familiar to the audience because we always know where her thoughts are. In this episode, her thoughts are focused on getting one-on-one time with Junpei and possibly admitting her feelings to him. A bold move? This is why I like Kana.
So she picks a day close to Christmas to trick Junpei into a date, because in Japan, Christmas is about dating and not Santa Jesus. Their date is admittedly kind of cute. Junpei (undoubtedly unintentionally) fuels Kana’s feelings for him by pulling some smooth moves: getting her a cat charm by bringing in that old Nyamsus plushie, and then showing his emotional side during the movie. It reminds Kana of the reasons that she has always liked Junpei, for his caring for others and willingness to help even if he gets himself in trouble in the process. Can’t really blame her because, when it comes down to it, Junpei really is a good guy. In the end, though, before she confesses her feelings to him, Kana decides that it is best with the two of them just as friends. It’s probably in part of that constant fear that a lot of people get when they want to admit that they like someone: they don’t want to ruin a good friendship. It’s a bittersweet ending for these two, since Kana will for sure continue to like him for a while yet…but their friendship is stronger than ever.
With Kana out of teh running, this leaves things in the open for Kaede–go get that man, girl! If you don’t, I am going to be horribly dissatisfied with this romantic comedy’s ending!
The cat element
Episode 10 had a bit of a cliffhanger as we saw that Jizou’s head rolled of again, going noticed by some passerbys. What effect does this have on the plotline? Well, apparently the exposure of Junpei’s mishap is leading to the curse progressing faster! I foresee problems.
Also on the feline topic in this episode, we get some backstory to Junpei and Nyamsus’ past together. I never really put much thought into it, but now that there was a short scene of lil’ Junpei trying to pat Nyamsus and failing to do so, it’s actually super cute…and kind of sad! Junpei is definitely a closet cat lover; he tries so hard to show Nyamsus some affection but his allergies get in the way. And even in the present day, Junpei sets his weaknesses aside and goes out of his way to help cats in trouble. Sure, it can be attributed to wanting to avoid the curse, but having seen that little flashback with Nyamsus, it’s clear that Junpei has a genuine love for cats in him. What a sweetie. <3
At the end of the episode, the curse takes another turn for the worse… As Junpei helps out a cat and talks briefly about his curse, Kaede happens to walk by and– and she hears everything! She hears about the curse, hears him talking to and understanding cats! She’s a little ditzy so I’m not sure that she pieces it all together at once, but still, the secret’s out! Which means….
OH SHIT.
…JUNPEI’S TURNING INTO A CAT!! Oh my God, he already has CAT EARS! What is going to happen in the finale?? I am so excited to find out!
Katt’s kitty-fix was filled by Nyan Koi! episode 11…10/10
Katt’s kitty-fix is hoping Nyan Koi! episode 12 will be…10/10
Tags: boys crying, childhood friends, curse, Junpei, kana, kitties~, Nyan Koi!, Nyan Koi! Episode 11
December 16th, 2009 at 6:21 am
You’re probably right that Kana is out of the picture as it is obvious that Junpei likes Kana, but that it is a different kind of like in regard to Kaede so I’m kinda expecting to see Junpei and Kaede finally together (and about freaking time to). In anime usually either a childhood friendship is so strong that it turns into something more or just the opposite and that one can’t progress from it. Bad luck for Kanna that in this case it seems to be case of the latter.
If I’m not mistaken I saw a complete cat-junpei in the preview of the last episode so that and Junpei finally ending up with a girl makes me wait anxiously for the last episode.
December 16th, 2009 at 7:44 pm
Well said about the childhood friendship relationship– In the case of Nyan Koi!, it was unfortunately obvious from Kana’s introduction that their friendship was fated to never become anything more; Junpei has only had eyes for Kaede all along.
Was there a complete cat Junpei?? I don’t remember seeing that, but I sure hope so! I know that the manga is still ongoing, so I wonder how they’ll be wrapping the anime up.
December 17th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
At timestamp 24:19 (Eclipse release) you’ll see a dark toned cat and I’m highly expecting that to be Junpei.