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EP. REVIEW: Horimiya

especially since we learn that Hori was more than a bit of a brat to the student council president when they were little, a revelation that probably everyone, including Miyamura, would be off-put by. (I'm not thrilled that it's used as comedic fodder, honestly.)

Given that Miyamura decided to throw some completely unnecessary violence because he felt like it (presented as cute expression of affection, which is a bit of a downer for me)

I started out thinking that Remi is a bratty but dumb type character, but then you mentioned how everyone in this show has two sides to them, and that got me thinking. We're not sure what kind of work Remi was charged with, but suppose it's math (the budget report being the MacGuffin for episode 2), or another subject she's not great at, and I can see her wanting to give it to someone who's more capable. Had she been forced to do it, and would likely do a terrible job at it, the student counsel would've just dug an even deeper hole for themselves. Given that the president, Sengoku, is Remi's boyfriend, and the VP, Sakura, is Remi's best friend, she probably doesn't want to burden them further. Still, this is my own speculation. The manga also never addressed this directly, and I kinda wish they had, as it would've made Remi a lot more sympathetic from the get-go (from what I read a lot of Japanese fans hate her, and after the events in episode 2 it's not hard to see why).

Any reason to watch the OVAs with this airing? One person already said it wasn't really necessary, but since this is the main thread, I figured I see if anyone had any other opinions. Thanks

I didn't have as big an issue a many others did with Hori's past, picking on Sengoku. They'd known each other since toddlerhood it seems, and kids are very prone to acting without thinking too hard and regretting it later which seems like where Hori is now. She regrets her immature behavior, but at the same time didn't seem like a real bully as some are classifying her. It isn't often the one being bullied either turns it around and says "I'll tell people how you treated me" and that stops a bully either, I really think this was supposed to be much lighter than some are taking it... perhaps trauma or triggers of the viewer color this for those watching.

As for Miyamura head butting Sengoku, I think it's telling how much he has come to care for Hori that made him angry enough to do it, even if it seems like he's still a bit oblivious to his own feelings.

bonbonsrus wrote:

I didn't have as big an issue a many others did with Hori's past, picking on Sengoku. They'd known each other since toddlerhood it seems, and kids are very prone to acting without thinking too hard and regretting it later which seems like where Hori is now. She regrets her immature behavior, but at the same time didn't seem like a real bully as some are classifying her. It isn't often the one being bullied either turns it around and says "I'll tell people how you treated me" and that stops a bully either, I really think this was supposed to be much lighter than some are taking it... perhaps trauma or triggers of the viewer color this for those watching. As for Miyamura head butting Sengoku, I think it's telling how much he has come to care for Hori that made him angry enough to do it, even if it seems like he's still a bit oblivious to his own feelings.

I didn't see much evidence that Hori regretted any of it.

Obviously, you are correct about the function of these things in the show. I think that's what's off-putting. The idea is that this side character is a prop, basically a nonhuman object that can be beaten without moral significance as a tool to highlight something about the relationship that matters. As you say, a some folks have experiences from school where they can be mistreated by what would be called "the popular kids," not out of any malice or hatred, but out of complete indifference to the moral worth of the "other" besides how they can be useful for amusement or impressing their friends (the ones who "matter"). I don't mind a character behaving that way, but for the show itself to hold that up in exactly the same way with exactly the same attitude, presenting that behavior as a positive statement about their character, is definitely going to put me on defense.

Present day Hori: "Oh, geez! As if! We grew up together, so..."
Kindergarten: Hori's sitting on Sengoku as he's crying. Hori's saying "Sengokuuu! You're such a crybaby. Weird name too!"
Grade school: Hori's slipping her peas onto Sengoku's cafeteria plate. Sengoku's saying "I hate peas too!"
Middle school: Sengoku is shouting at Hori: "When we're in high school, don't just call me "Sengoku"! I want to enjoy my time there!!". Hori's saying "Huuuh?"
Present day Hori: looking to the side, "I just messed with him a bit too much when we were little, that's all..."
Sengoku: he's somewhere else, but feels a chill down his spine.

I don't know about the web version

Ishikawa: Hori, does Sengoku have some kind of dirt on you?
Hori: (gulp) What? No wayyy! Of course not!

Kindergarten Hori: Sengokuuuu! You have a funny name!
Kindergarten Sengoku: Waaah! Waaah!
Kindergarten Hori: You cry so easily! What a baby!
Kindergarten Sengoku: Waaah! Waaah!

Elementary Sengoku: Hori-san, that's my umbrella... (small text: I'll get wet!)
Elementary Hori: Thanks for letting me borrow it.
Elementary Sengoku: I hate green peas too!!

Sengoku: I can't tell anyone I was bullied in kindergarten and elementary school. (sigh)
Remi: Ah! You've recovered! (small text: I'm glad!)

Manga wrote:

Present day Hori: "Oh, geez! As if! We grew up together, so..." Kindergarten: Hori's sitting on Sengoku as he's crying. Hori's saying "Sengokuuu! You're such a crybaby. Weird name too!" Grade school: Hori's slipping her peas onto Sengoku's cafeteria plate. Sengoku's saying "I hate peas too!" Middle school: Sengoku is shouting at Hori: "When we're in high school, don't just call me "Sengoku"! I want to enjoy my time there!!". Hori's saying "Huuuh?" Present day Hori: looking to the side, "I just messed with him a bit too much when we were little, that's all..." Sengoku: he's somewhere else, but feels a chill down his spine.

I think the manga is implying that what she did is teasing that Hori might have since realized wasn't ok. The anime's expansion of this one page makes what she did appear worse than the manga showed. As if the anime staff decided they could make it funny by expanding on it, which instead lead to discomfort in me and a few other posters here.

And of course, personal taste/experience also color people's individual enjoyment or not of this show. Take Hori's character for example, I think a lot of manga fans like her and I started out liking her as well when I read the manga. But that changed in later chapters spoiler[where we see her being easily jealous and overreacting, and her weird "kink" for Miyamura acting rude/violent towards her, none of which are my cup of tea in a character.]