(Originally published and formatted for Livejournal on 1/20/11)
Anime Summary Review: Arakawa Under the Bridge x Bridge Episodes 7, 8, and 9
Rather than the longer reviews with all sorts of pictures and such, this is just a quick summary review. For a series that I’ve already been watching for several episodes, there’s not much of a reason to go into much detail. At this point in the series, you’re either still watching it (so you already know what’s going on and a long detailed run-down of everything is not really needed), or don’t care. So, without further ado:
Arakawa Under the Bridge x Bridge Episode 7 – Now that everyone has decided to make the trip to Venus, they decide to get a physical; somehow, instead of trying to find out who is healthiest, it turns into a competition to who can be the ‘sickliest’ to gain attention from Nino. In an endurance test, the girls spend a week in an isolation chamber (actually a room in the basement of the church), which ends in everyone dropping out before the end of the test except for Nino. When it comes to the boy’s turn, they all manage to last the entire week, but not with the desired results.
My thoughts: I have a theory that no one is actually reading these reviews, so I’m just going to post some random, completely meaningless song lyrics here, and see if anyone notices. There’s a picture opposite me of my primitive ancestry which stood on rocky shores and kept the beaches shipwreck free. Though I respect that a lot I’d be fired if that were my job after killing Jason off and countless screaming argonauts. Bluebird of friendliness like guardian angels it’s always near. I’ll award a thousand rollads to the person who actually notices this.
A better review: Abandoned Factory Review
Arakawa Under the Bridge x Bridge Episode 8 – The Amazon warrior shows up in Recruit’s class one day, and through hypnotism gets him to fall head over heels for her. Under her spell completely, they get married much to Nino’s great shock. Hoshi learns about the hypnotism trick but decides not to go along with it, even though it would have been to his advantage. In the end, Recruit breaks the spell.
My thoughts: The Amazon warrior character is so ridiculously over-the-top annoying, but the character is *supposed* to be that way, a scathing caricature of modern-day Saitama youth culture (I guess the analogy would be making fun of Valley Girls). Doesn’t make her any less annoying, though, and hopefully this means the end for her (don’t count on it). She managed to actually cause Nino to show more emotion than she has expressed in a dozen episodes though, so it wasn’t a complete waste.
A better review: Abandoned Factory Review
Arakawa Under the Bridge x Bridge Episode 9 – Shiro shows Recruit’s secretary the Mysterious Ways of the White Line as he trains her for the international white line competition. A package arrives from Shiro’s wife, but Recruit is reluctant to deliver it, believing the package to contain divorce papers; but he actually learns that it contains letters of support for him. Later, a sophisticate tea party goes all wrong when the guys behave like, well, guys. The Kappa Mayor and Last Samurai decide to have a tea ceremony of their own, Japanese-style, which ultimately ends in Recruit and Hoshi trying to out-do themselves in understanding wabisabi.
My thoughts: Recruit really tries to believe that he is above the fray, better than all the rest, the only sane one in the bunch. But the more the series goes on, the more we all get to realize that he is really not any better than the village idiots. He many not be mentally unbalanced like the other Arakawa Bridge residents, but he’s as much of a jerk as the rest of us, not immune to getting into a pissing match with Hoshi time and again over the most ridiculous little things. As far as the whole series goes overall, meh, it continues apace like it always has been for better or for worse. Nothing special, mildly amusing, but not exactly appointment teevee.
A better review: Abandoned Factory Review
The Verdict: 
Up next: Legend of Neverending Legends (frustrating non-finale), Shikikikiki (finale), Soredemo Wahhhh Maidcrap (finale), My Annoying Sister Can’t Be This Tsundere (finale), Pantsuu and Stockinggu with Galtelbert, Pretentious Detective Yakumo (finale)
This Euphoria! 