Prince of Tennis impressions

[silverthunder]

Okay, so I've watched through the 10 episodes that I've been told I have to at least get through before I decide anything about Prince of Tennis. (Although I kinda skipped episode 8 after skimming ahead to see who won)

Impressions:

1. I don't like Ryoma. I suppose you could put him just above Howard on the list of "Anime Characters I Disliked Right From the Start". He's an arrogant little prat, and the only reason I want him to win games is when his opponents are even worse than he is. I really want him to get his ass handed to him, but I suspect that'll only happen if I actually get to like the little prick some day.

2. I like Ryoma's dad even less than him. The man is a first-class asshole.

3. I also dislike Sakuno. She personifies the things people don't like about anime females - she and other characters like her are the reason people have such a low opinion of girls in anime.

4. Momoshiro is awesome. He was the series' saving grace for me, so it was probably lucky he made his appearance in episode two rather than later on. The guy is EASILY my favorite character; he's cool, he's fun, he's hot... What's not to like?

5. I also have favorable impressions of the "regulars" in general. Although with Fuji and Eiji, this could be uneducated bias, since Eiji's hair reminds me of Waya and Fuji has Kurapika's voice. I didn't want Kaidoh and Inui to lose to Ryoma, either. Bleh.

6. The episode with the vegetable juice is actually episode 9. third_requiem told me it was after 10 - pleasant surprise, I think. It was amusing.

7. sailormac told me what the more popular pairings are. Withholding judgement. Especially in Momoshiro's case, because NO ONE is good enough for him. (Okay, that's a lie, he'll be slashed as soon as it's convenient)

8. I'm going to keep watching. I expect the next few episodes to tell me whether or not I want to buy DVDs.

Comments

PuriTeni <3

[kagekoku.livejournal.com]

So, I'm probably the *only* dork I know that actually *does* own all the current DVDs (through episode 166 because I'm a sad, sad creature.) I'm also one of the few people I know that absolutely adores Ryoma (and the seiyuu Minagawa Junko). I think it's really hard to just up and try to convince someone that it's worthwhile to like a character or not. I'd had several people tell me that I'd hate Ryoma because he was a right prat, so I think I went into the series determined not to hate *anyone* based on what I'd been told.

Good thing, too, or I'd never've liked Kirihara.

Honestly, it's hard to understand the dynamics of Ryoma or Nanjiroh until very late in the series. It's kind of like...when you first meet someone from one of the rival schools, you don't know them very well, so you're waiting to see how they turn out before you judge them. You almost have to do the same thing with Ryoma---heck, with all the Seigaku Regulars---because what you know about them is always being added to.

I was competative like Ryoma as a kid, and I still do snark way too often when uncomfortable with a situation; it's a defence mechanism. Sure, there are parts of the series that make you want to just fast-forward, but there are parts that are really good. I do have to say that it often seems like Konomi won't let Seigaku lose (I mean, they probably should occasionally, right? Law of Probability and all...), but at the same time, if they lost and quit moving forward to meet all these new rival teams, how would we get to see them grow? You'd never get to meet Yamabuki, Jouseishounen, Hyoutei, Rikkaidai, St. Rudolphs, etc....you'd never get to see friendships build along with the rivalries...

Plus, I'm a whore for the music. Not the sndtrk, which is rather dry, but the vocals are great. I've already written too much---must go and hide!