Can I still dramatize Minami-ke? I can still dramatize Minami-ke.
The third round has been a rough mix of incredible blowouts and intense battles; we’ve seen all four Clannad girls annihilate the competition in varying amounts. We’ve seen Nanoha and Shana go toe-to-toe for 23 hours in one of the most consistently close matches of the tournament. And, we’ve seen the near-entire collapse of the Minami-ke juggernaut.
But hope is not lost – there were those in similar despair in similar odds. Hidamari Sketch fans, already ambushed in the second round, got wiped in their first match in the third round, and it was left to Miyako to stand strong against Rena, one of the most powerful Higurashi forces.
And she did … so maybe there was hope for Chiaki after all, against Bamboo Blade’s legendary Tamaki.
E3-2 Results:
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Tamaki (Bamboo Blade) defeats
Chiaki (Minami-ke) 768-588
And maybe there wasn’t. 588 votes is kind of sad for the end of a legendary three-girl run. I guess yesterday and today kind of act as a break in the competition, some battles that are pretty simply decided.
Since Minami-ke has a third season coming eventually, and Tamaki nails a weak spot in me, I really have no regrets this time. I think it’s time for Bamboo Blade to make some noise now … Tamaki faces Shana in the next round, that will be another intriguing battle…
F3-1 Results:
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Nagisa (Clannad) defeats
Yousei (First Grade Challenge) 846-547
Well, yeah, what did you expect?
I just realized I spoiled in the opening paragraph that Nagisa made it through, but really, it would be really hard for Nagisa to lose a battle like this, even with everyone voting lol-votes and hate-votes and tactical-votes for Yousei. I think Nagisa, even more than the other Clannad girls, deserves to go far here.
Next:
G3-1: Akari (Aria) vs. Chihiro (ef)
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Here’s an oddity; two characters that I know and adore, but wouldn’t lay myself on the line for.
Well, I say that, but I’m still rooting for Akari in improbable proportion; it’s probably just that being an enjoyable, laid-back character from a show undoubtedly in its twilight moments trips some switch deep within me, that hopes for the upset and the overcoming of impossible odds.
That hope within me that imagines Akari as the star in some strange Saimoe movie, the Little Mac to the giants of Bracket G, that could go beyond the impossible and kick reason to the curb. The one that could overcome Tsukasa or Nagi and bring a warm, fuzzy feeling to everyone’s hearts (Lucky Star and Hayate fans notwithstanding).
But that challenge isn’t yet. Right now, it’s merely Chihiro, the adorable – if not heart-rending – eyepatch girl from ef. Definitely an intriguing character to watch, and definitely trips the moe meter at times. But today, it’s not meant to be.
Prediction:
Akari should have a comfortable time.
H3-2: Hinagiku (Hayate) vs. Eika (Sky Girls)
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You thought Hayate vs. Aono was bad. This one, Eika pulled down less than 400 votes in the last round, Hinagiku nailed over 800, and I don’t even know Sky Girls enough to root for the upset.
The recent English-translated chapters of the Hayate manga are enough to make me support Hinagiku in at least small proportions, and I’m sure more fervent fans will do the same. Therefore, only a massive failure, double that of Rika’s collapse, will stop Hinagiku from steamrolling for another round.
Prediction:
Hinagiku. No, really. Hinagiku.
-CCY
(Note: Help me make some entertaining images for SaiMoe Round 4! I’m looking for some close-up profile shots of all the 16 finalists, in addition to some short descriptions of their unique traits or events (i.e. For Fuuko, “Starfish Girl”, “Juicebox Inhaler”, “Who?”, etc). Please post them in the comments or whatever. Thanks!)
October 15, 2008 - 11:13 am
Hinagiku vs. Eika is almost plain unfair. Still, it’s all part and parcel of despai- I mean Saimoe.
And Minami Ke’s run could be attributed to people needing scapegoats to screw over characters like Rika. Sad really.
October 16, 2008 - 2:22 am
I want Chihiro and Eika to win their rounds – woot!