Kokoro Connect

[Major Tom]

Ep.1:

When I read the synopsis I was thinking more on the line of a more stable body swap, but here they have people swapping in and out at random for finite lengths of time.  I find this makes it more interesting to me.  I also thought the transitions were quite well done.

This episode definitely piqued my interest.

[Fumoffu!!]

1:

Surprisingly I thought that was really good. The cast is pretty likable though, although I don't like Yoshifumi much, he's made up of being an idiot who likes Yui. In fact Yui seems a little plain at the moment, but the focus of the episode wasn't on her, so I hope she'll grow.

I think this will be one of the better shows this season, because I suspect I know what they're going to do with the body switches, they're going to make people see the problems of their friends homelives. Wow, you know, that was genuinely a nice surprise.

[TypicalIdiotFan]

1:

Pretty simple:  the body switching plot element is either going to make this show uproarious or it'll be a one trick pony that they don't ever do right.

Gonna be interesting to find out.

[AC]

1:

Okay, I can see why people are making comparisons between this and K-On. More like, K-On's genre with a setup of Friends.

But here's the issue: the body-switching catch isn't going to last long unless the show has a substantial agenda in mind. Naturally, body-switching would lead to hijinks but it would be more interesting to see them dealing with more serious issues. Not exactly like how Natsuiro Kiseki handled this; more like how they would learn more each other's more private agendas back home.

I've already gotten some hints about the story that each has to tell: Himeko has attitude problems, Iori seems to be a one-parent child whom the mother seems to be away from home all the time, Yui has a sister, Yoshifumi's family (although not sure what the issue here would be), and Taichi is very caring towards his sister. Maybe the show would want to shed more light on them and make itself more interesting to watch.

Otherwise, this is going to be yet another pedestrian slice-of-life. As if we don't have enough of it already~

[Jack Rav]

1:

Yeah, I was also surprised to see that the body-switches only happen for a finite period of time rather than permanent. That should hopefully allow for the concept to be explored further with (much) more comedic consequences.

[AC]

2:

I was afraid that this show doesn't realize or understand that the whole body-switching thing can't be used only for the storytelling, since it gets old as soon as the second episode. So it's a quite a relief to see that, just as I hoped for, the show is approaching the personal stories of each individual. And right now, I get the hint that first up, it's going to be Yui and her seemingly insecurity. She's a model student and even knows karate, but perhaps there's a reason why she is what she is.

But I don't like one thing: the revelation of Heartseed. It just feels odd to see a show that seems to be slice-of-life drama suddenly has a grim sci-fi experimental aspect to it. Is it even needed in the first place? It's jarring to know that there's an external force in the works so early in the show, and not simply focusing on what the five friends can learn about each other from this situation.

Well, at least the story is heading in the right direction...

[Major Tom]

I got more of a supernatural feel than a sci-fi one.  Like a bored god trying to liven up its eternal existence or something.  So far I'm finding the show has a good blend of comedy and seriousness going on (Yui looks to have some serious man issues, yet I did laugh at her 'ew, penis' reaction.  And Taichi switching with Inaba just as he's volunteering for duty was rather amusing).  Though I agree that using the body swap as a vehicle for exploring the characters is a good step, as body swap hijinks only last for so long.

[Jack Rav]

Yeah, I agree with AC; Heartseed is an unnecessary outsider in the story which really jarred with me.

I'm enjoying what I've been seeing though; it's (atm) fairly light-hearted with a good mix of comedy and more serious aspects. Although I didn't like Iori's talk re: identity at all; I invested a certain amount of "I'll going along with what she's saying", but the last sentence seemed to contradict one of her earlier claims. (i.e. I don't think it follows that a different body = different people (Iori said herself bodies were merely labels); but a different body may lead people to taking different decisions/actions in a given scenario (i.e. the scene at the end with Inaba and X switched) which may lead to different people)).

Waiting for the next episode.

[TypicalIdiotFan]

2:

Bad touching, bathroom brocodes, and Q the Vulcan shows up.

[Major Tom]

I saw that coming, and I still found it funny when it happened.  If only all problems could be solved so easily.

MAL has this listed as 11 episodes.  If we are spending 1 episode per person, that'll take us to 7.  So there's either going to be some fillers, or some 2 parters (I'm guessing Iori and Inaba, as they seem to have the deeper problems of the group) and more of this heartseed fellow.

[AC]

3:

Taichi... man, I don't know if I want to shake his hands for his bravery or for his idiocy. Or, as Inaba hinted, maybe he is a selfless freak because he likes being at the receiving end of everything. Even excruciating ones.

Not sure what to feel about the resolution to Kiriyama's fear of men. I mean, really, she recovered just like that after learning what a lowblow does to a man?

[Reckoner]

^

I thought it was pretty clear that she didn't solve her problems, but that she took one small step forward. The way she tried to touch Taichi still had a lot of inhibition, and she was merely trying to prove to herself she could do that, but like she said, it's just Taichi who is a friend.

[TypicalIdiotFan]

3:

Oh c'mon now... admit it fellas... you've all wanted to kick a chick in the balls at least once.

[Fumoffu!!]

Oh c'mon now... admit it fellas... you've all wanted to kick a chick in the balls at least once.

It's a bit different when it's your own balls you're kicking. I'm not sure I could look at my body and go "Let's kick them so hard I'll become infertile!". Also, the pain isn't so much from the impact, it's the pain afterwards which lingers for ages. I'd hate to do that knowing I'd be switching back into the most suffering stage.

Anyway, I thought it was a bit contrived and I really hope the girls all don't fall for Taichi, even if he is clearly the better one. I kept getting vibes that Inaba had feelings for him as well. I don't quite get why though.

I found the stuff the guys were doing with the girls bodies amusing, it's so stupid and obvious but it's still funny, especially for someone like Inaba who's usually so aloof.

In regards to the switching, I would have introduced a plan where everyone has a note in their pocket saying how they refer to everyone they know and the basics of the way in which they interact in order that they don't give each other away. It would also reduce things like walking into the wrong toilets.

I'm enjoying this, indeed I am.

[TypicalIdiotFan]

By the way

Not one of us has discussed the most interesting revelation of this episode.  No, not Ibara's health problems, not Iori's doom and gloom life, not Aoki's ****ed up fantasies, not Yui's rape history, and not Taichi's balls...

...why did Aoki feel nervous around guys in Yui's body...?  What, exactly, gets transferred when these people switch bodies, and what remains?  A psychological fear of men... wouldn't that go with the person?  If a conscious phobia becomes a subconscious phobia when another person is in someone's body, what other neurosis remain behind?  What other thoughts, feelings, obsessions, disorders.... remain behind?  What other secrets will be revealed?

If Aoki truly loves Yui, which is not just a product of emotion but of the mind, then everybody should feel that when they're in Aoki's body right?  What happens if someone is suicidal?  Since Iori's life sucks, we might find out...