But seriously, a lot of your points are valid. If you notice the trackbacks from some of the later comparisons I’ve done, ItaKiss has definitely improved a lot more over S.A. over the first dozen episodes or though, although the latter is still good.

Forgot that it predated Marmalade Boy, though – I thought THAT was old…

Tempted to debate your point that it’s OK to do the cliche “first” – I say if it’s annoying once, it’s annoying all the time – but I suppose a little suspension of disbelief in terms of Annoying Shoujo Things is alright, considering some of ItaKiss’s finer points.

However, I discard your entire argument, since Hikari’s one of my favorite S.A. characters. :P

1) ItaKiss is old
2) It’s the inspiration to MARMALADE BOY for god’s sake >__>
3) ItaKiss is predictable and “cliche” because it’s the series that basicallycreated a LOT of current shoujo cliches
4) Even today, the fact that ItaKiss doesn’t stop once the mains get together is still refreshing
5) ItaKiss > Special A

Hikari is annoying as fuck and is that way the entire series, while Naoki … Well, he gets softer later in the series (reallyyyyyyyy late in the manga)

@CCY – Interesting. My mind isn’t really made up about Itazura na Kiss right now. I mean I like it, but I did get that Marmalade Boy vibe from it too. But I think that’s okay. I mean it’s been a while since I’ve seen a straight shoujo show. Although I did just finish up Saiunkoku Monogatari. Or at least the first season. And besides the reverse harem it actually wasn’t half bad.

@IcyStorm: Your comment brought to mind the “card crusher” meme. And maybe I need to bold at the moment more? After three episodes Special A stomps ItaKiss in the lighthearted fun category; it seems the latter can come back with a strong dramatic segment the likes of which we haven’t seen yet.

@Baka-Raptor: I think all of your are lightning rounds. This one was closer to a tl;dr post that I usually write than one of your comparisons.

And I don’t usually do buttsex fanservice, but that’s what made it so awesome to compare, since I had no complaints about tearing them to pieces.

@Owen: Depends on whether I get more shows that can be easily compared. I enjoy writing these kinds of posts, at least.

And I’ve got to be one of about two bloggers that doesn’t hate Jason Miao. No, the other one is not him.

@otou-san: I’ve never really made it through the ED of Special A, which probably proves a point. The first line reminds me of that one song, Tubthumping, and then it’s skipsville to the next episode preview. The OP, I’m less full of rage about; perhaps I’m tone deaf, but the best reaction the opening can manage out of me is “generic squeaky stuff” apathy.