Kita ze Inbou! - キタぜ陰謀!

[ Episode 21: Pandora's Box ]

Say cheese!

This episode is at a whole ‘nother level, way up there. A school trip to Kyoto? Where do I start with that. It’s practically the place to visit for a trip. Konata seems thrilled too since she hasn’t had much fun going to a lot of events besides her usual Comike, which by the way, Tsukasa still remembers traumatically (which makes me laugh). Even during summer, it’s out near the mountains so I think that could be why there’s a much cooler weather and atmosphere there, so you can adjust to it pretty nicely. A lot of sites to see too. Old buildings, shrines, temples, even nature has it good.

Tsukasa gets yet another focus (and possibly one of the last ones ever) as she is having trouble with studies and sleeping. Kagami suggests instead of staying up late to finish she should rather sleep earlier then wake up early to finish it. Sounds like the ideal method I’d say. I just wish I could confide to that too. Unfortunately, I’d just end up like Tsukasa and ignore the alarm clock or anyone telling me to wake up.

Hiyori continues to be one of my favorites. The following scene really stood out for me, basically because it connects with me a lot. When you know you have good ideas, that’s when you want to jot them down ASAP. I’m very similar to her in these situations. I’m always coming up with the best idea I can think of that moment, but once I get down to writing it down I can’t remember what it was anymore. I’d have to rely on sticky notes or the computer. Though I’d say I would definitely remember something for 2 seconds then proceed to writing it down. Hiyori sure lost her train of thought fast though. I think she needs to borrow some higher mentality. Hmm, I noticed too that she sleeps exactly like how Tsukasa sleeps.

Road trip time and everyone seems to be having a comfortable time on the bus if it weren’t for that lady’s really corny puns. Although, seeing Shiraishi as the only person laughing his ass off at them makes me crack up. Of course, it didn’t crack me up as much as when Tsukasa got raped trampled by deer wanting more of her food. Konata tries to get the same result, tempting to feed Kagami. Hi~larious.

Later on the girls pay a visit to Kiyomizu Temple, which is a great place for buying souvenirs and fortunes. Plus, great views too! I love how Konata teased Kagami buy pointing out a giant pack of Pocky. There’s even a little joke about the plaques that read “Konata is my wife” due to the series’ immense popularity. Oh god, KyoAni, you are amazing. Speaking of them, since the girls are in Kyoto, what better place to visit then the studio behind the greatest animation ever? If I ever get a chance to visit Kyoto again, KyoAni is my first priority, make no mistake of that! Hmm, that pose they did in front of Kyoto Animation… that’s the same frame from the OP sequence, is it not?

The whole Kagami moments are where the episode truly shined. After discovering her letter, presumed to be a love letter, it’s all that Kagami has on her mind, so much that she passes off Konata’s references and jokes. When she meets the person who sent her the letter though, apparently he only contacted her just so he could get the doll she bought at the souvenir shop. You gotta be freaking kidding me. You got Kagami involved just for that?! How dare you toy with her heart! Yurusanzo! Anyways, moving around the area helped Kagami. Those pictures and purikura (the sticky pics) from Konata and the others really moved her, I’d say. They sure don’t like ending on a sweet tone, so to compensate we must gaze, point, and laugh at Kuroi-sensei’s misfortune.

Best Lucky Channel ever? Shiraishi is back from the mountains but the water he brings back is no good for Akira. Shiraishi has had it with Akira’s abuse and her bitching, snaps, tells Akira off, then proceeds to destroy the entire studio set. Goodbye Lucky Channel?

On the live front, Shiraishi sings “Shikaidaa,” a really hysterical song about the hero of great teeth and defender against all cavities. No doubt, that’s a pun off of “Kikaider,” a classic tokusatsu about a cyborg dude who is part wolf and apparently plays a guitar. Um yeah. Great footage!