Kita ze Inbou! - キタぜ陰謀!

[ Episode 4: The Universe's Love Apron ]

Attack of the stereotypical CG-Sea Monsters!

I knew it. I knew there is going to be a point during viewing to LOVE-Ru that I am going to say “aw man, not this again”. I think that show has reached its peak in the first episode and by now, we already know all of the antics and the characters, and the sad realization that they are mostly one dimensional. Even Zastin cannot save this episode.

This was another episode that emphasized how much the show ran out of ideas. Rito is frowning upon the idea of him marrying to Lala and have to attend the duties of an intergalactic king such as conquering other planets or defending his own territory. As a result, Rito coincidently concocts a plan to get rid of Lala by saying if she doesn’t cook well enough, she might as well go back to Deviluke. At this point when you see Lala storming out of Rito’s house, oneself might think that Lala is showing a different emotion that over-zealousness, which is a blessing by now, but alas. She stormed only to look for more ingredients to cook Rito the perfect meal. Oh, and guess what? Chaos ensues!

You can clearly tell I didn’t like this episode because it follows every single cliche of not only the show, but the genre it belongs to. Characters that don’t show development? Check. Inventions, Magic of anything the lead “unique” girl tries to do but fails miserably? Check. Anti-Climatic Ending? Oh boy check! I just hate it when the characters get into a trouble, all of them are in a pinch and nothing is resolved! It is even more annoying if the next episode starts as nothing has happened and there is no actual connection!

I still hate CG in anime and LOVE-Ru takes it to a whole other level, and a low one. The Tentacle Sucker is one thing as it didn’t look that different than the other backgrounds, but you can clearly tell the sea monsters that Lala has stored in her tank are taken from either MAR Heaven or Dragonaut. At least their design was decent, but it doesn’t help the fact the episode was pretty mediocre despite that.

I am really doubtful about to LOVE-Ru as of now. How can they extend this premise throughout 26 episodes? You can just look what it did to the first two seasons of Da Capo. This episode not only didn’t change anything in the plot and felt like a filler, but it was dull, unfunny and simply tiresome. I am not a guy that gives up that fast on a show, after all I still blog Shippuuden and now it finally starts to show signs of improvements. If that can improve, to LOVE-Ru has a chance as well… I hope.

4.5/10