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EP. REVIEW: MONOGATARI Series: OFF & MONSTER Season


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MFrontier



Joined: 13 Apr 2014
Posts: 13550
PostPosted: Wed Jul 24, 2024 10:08 pm Reply with quote
It's nice to have Monogatari back and back with Nadeko and to see her in the protagonist seat dealing with the fallout of her past. And, of course, a new Nadeko OP.

Nadeko's got that classic Monogatari post-character development haircut and grappling with what to do with herself as she tries to live her dream as a mangaka (with oddly familiar characters) and live up to her parents' expectations as she becomes a bit of a shut-in cutting herself off from the world. But at least she's not turning into a Yandere Snake God trying to kill Senjyogahara!

That being said, Monogatari loves character conflicts that are as symbolic as they are literal so of course a character trying to run from her past self...would have to grapple with her past self embodied in four clones that represent a part of her she tried to look away from but then sees living their best life in-spite of her. Really makes you think, huh?

Gotta say, Meek Nadeko becoming a streaker in bloomers was not on my bingo card.

It's nice to see Sodachi (also with the post-character development haircut) doing relatively better. She's still struggling with living and finding happiness for herself but she's at least at a point where she seems relatively sane and can offer genuine life advice to a girl she sees becoming an exhibitionist. And turning her previous intensity towards standing up for them if need be.
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dm
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Joined: 24 Sep 2010
Posts: 1460
PostPosted: Tue Jul 30, 2024 11:43 am Reply with quote
Meek Nadeko being a master manipulator, as suggested by the reviewer, is consistent with one stage of her earlier development, where there was a lot of talk about the moe mask she wore to avoid having her true self be seen.
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Yuvelir



Joined: 06 Jan 2015
Posts: 1624
PostPosted: Tue Aug 06, 2024 12:01 pm Reply with quote
I ended up rewatching all of Nadeko's arcs. I don't know if her development has been the deepest in the serie,s but it sure has been the most extreme and clear to see. Plus she's also very cute to watch, which is very entertaining in context.
Also holy cow, Tsukihi really doesn't mince her words.
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MFrontier



Joined: 13 Apr 2014
Posts: 13550
PostPosted: Tue Aug 06, 2024 10:10 pm Reply with quote
I love how looking at their actions collectively the Nadeko's are practically going on a crime spree:

- Indecent Exposure

- Breaking and entering

- Trespassing

- Attempted murder

- Destruction of property

- Theft

I'm kind of amazed that Nisoin was able to give Ononoki the patented Monogatari haircut. Now she's upgraded from lolita to boyish chic.

Nadeko is a hot mess but she's trying to overcome her past and accept her past selves and push on to the future, and you can't help but admire that.

I missed delightfully unhinged HanaKana.
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utawoutau



Joined: 27 Feb 2004
Posts: 209
PostPosted: Mon Aug 12, 2024 5:25 pm Reply with quote
Ugh. If I hadn’t read the review of episode 6 I would have missed the epilogue entirely.
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Amuro1X



Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 199
PostPosted: Mon Aug 12, 2024 9:02 pm Reply with quote
utawoutau wrote:
Ugh. If I hadn’t read the review of episode 6 I would have missed the epilogue entirely.


There was tons of time left in the episode. Protip, always check the time on an episode when the end credits hit.

Anyway, this first arc has been absolutely fantastic. Any doubt that Monogatari could continue after Owari (lol) and Araragi's departure has been dealt with. This perfect bow on Nadeko's story (which ironically is about her continuing to grow and change) had made her one of my favorite characters in the entire series. Though she'll fittingly always be behind Senjogahara in that respect. Looking forward to whatever comes next.
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MFrontier



Joined: 13 Apr 2014
Posts: 13550
PostPosted: Tue Aug 20, 2024 12:29 pm Reply with quote
I wasn't expecting the twisted fairy tale origin story for Shinobu, but it hit hard.

Maaya Sakamoto should do more narration.
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Daidan12



Joined: 13 Aug 2024
Posts: 58
PostPosted: Tue Aug 20, 2024 6:00 pm Reply with quote
Finally, spoiler[Acerola Bon Appetit!]
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HandofBobb



Joined: 06 Jan 2010
Posts: 83
PostPosted: Wed Aug 21, 2024 12:34 am Reply with quote
Yeah, I nearly skipped this one because of the .5 designation, but I started it up as I was curious what a recap of the Nadeko chaper would look like, only to be pleasantly surprised with this twisted fairy tail. It should have been labeled as a 'special' or 'bonus' episode.
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MFrontier



Joined: 13 Apr 2014
Posts: 13550
PostPosted: Tue Aug 27, 2024 7:07 pm Reply with quote
Really channeling Kizumonogatari visually with this arc...fitting since it's Shinobu's Vampire Origin.

I love the ridiculous and Chuuni Vampire names.

Can you imagine getting turned into a vampire by Sailor Venus? Or having a vampire Sailor Venus as a companion who can't die and is as determined to kill and eat you as Minako was to find a boyfriend?
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Yuvelir



Joined: 06 Jan 2015
Posts: 1624
PostPosted: Sat Sep 07, 2024 12:21 pm Reply with quote
That subtle funny detail that Acerola is so beautiful that the vulgar and repulsive version of her is still very ordinarily beautiful and attractive. Like I don't think the former two are concepts anyone would think of when first seeing the former iron-blooded, hot-blooded, cold-blooded vampire Kiss-shot Acerola-Orion Heart-Under-Blade the apparition slayer and king of apparitions.

Quote:
All this raises the question of how much of Shinobu's personality (as we've seen it) is an act, and at what point does an act become reality. Even in Kizumonogatari, we can see that she has hidden depths. After all, the whole final act of that story is her acting as monstrous as possible to try and get Araragi to kill her—and for her death to save him in the process.

Feels like a recurring theme in the series, doesn't it?
At this point I don't think her haughty personality is more of an act than being a vampire is an act or being blonde is an act.
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MFrontier



Joined: 13 Apr 2014
Posts: 13550
PostPosted: Mon Sep 23, 2024 10:23 am Reply with quote
When your basketball team is defined purely by a single member and structured around that, how is the team meant to thrive and exist after said member leaves?

Did Higasa straight up flirt with Araragi by asking if he had a girlfriend? I mean, she's really late into the Araragi-bowl, but I admire her confidence to shoot her shot.

I'm starting to think Deathtopia was framed the way she only left a calling card with one victim and Gaen didn't seem 100% convinced by her motive for targeting the girls' basketball team.

Ah yes, perfect way to keep Shinobu distracted Araragi by basically peppering her with questions related to the case!

I missed Araragi and Hachikuji's banter so much. They've even got Shinobu doing it!

The way Araragi perked up at the mention of "young girl." No wonder he believes Hell is a second home for him.

Surprise Katanagatari reference with Shinobu's sword skills!

Well, I don't know if this is Heaven or Hell masquerading as Heaven but naked Princess Acerola sure does pose quite the visual.
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JustMonika



Joined: 17 Jan 2022
Posts: 1141
PostPosted: Mon Sep 23, 2024 6:49 pm Reply with quote
Episode 10 was my favorite of the season so far. It was amazing seeing Hachikuji flubbing Ararararagis name again, lol
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MFrontier



Joined: 13 Apr 2014
Posts: 13550
PostPosted: Mon Sep 30, 2024 11:50 am Reply with quote
I want to see Senjogahara find out Araragi kissed two blonde waifu's and how she would react while he desperately tried to explain it away as mouth-to-mouth bodily fluid transfers.

OP is here! And perfect for a Monogatari Vampire Mystery arc.

Hachikuji auditioning for Akane-banashi!

Thinking on it, Gaen didn't seem convinced about it being Suicide-Master and frankly the convoluted nature of this crime and the attempts to cover it up feel out-of-character for her. But I'm kicking myself for not realizing that, as a gourmet, she never would have settled for any blood that's less than Shinobu's.
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Yuvelir



Joined: 06 Jan 2015
Posts: 1624
PostPosted: Sun Oct 13, 2024 6:33 pm Reply with quote
Something about blonde Kiseki: past arc I was intrigued about what happened to Acerola's heterochromia and didn't get an answer. Now I have it: Suicide-Master's "parameters" overwrite her subordinate's, it's just that Acerola and hair had the same hair color so it was harder to notice - only the eye changed.
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