It was amusing here to see, both in this episode and the next episode preview, all the girls going on the attack for Tomoya. It’s almost like a typical harem show, but I hold my breath anyway to see just how KyoAni and Key pull it off.

It started in this episode, with Nagisa scoring some key emotional heartstring pulls – some say this was a sign of the “Nagisa flag” being tripped, only to be cut off by Kyou, screaming something about “putting your own priorities first.” I can’t help but think Kyou believes those words all too well in this scene.

Plus, Tomoyo looks to be at least casually interested in Tomoya, Ryou’s a Shiori/Tsukasa moe machine waiting to jump (and by jump I mean melt all over) Tomoya, and hey, Sunohara ending.

Of course, as proven by Sunohara’s scene in the end of this episode, Tomoya is all Nagisa’s, but I think I can elect Kyou now as the Nayuki Of The Year; even after this episode, she’s a fun character.

Not to mention, the hidden world, as they say, will likely play a role in the story soon, and I look forward to see where that goes as well; Kurogane made an apt observation that it’s similar to The Dandelion Girl as well…

I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I watch with friends, so I joke more during the show, but I’ve really yet to get really emotional during Clannad. Fuuko got me on the verge but I was essentially cracking wise throughout the whole of Kotomi’s arc.

My sentiments are pretty much the same as most on Kotomi: she’s a drop-dead moe character, but her story isn’t up to scratch. I can’t help but think these two are related somehow.

The closure to her arc continued a bit of the ridiculousness, with her parents throwing away the future of science for their daughter and her teddy bear. Sweet, yes, but touching, no. As a rational person, I just can’t see why.

There were still some good moments, definitely, and it turned out better than I hoped it would (in the end, the party was kind of superfluous), but it just didn’t reach me. I think it was put well by DS over at Daijoubu in that it was a good arc, but one that wasn’t really emotional.

Next episode looks very interesting though, as it’s either Tomoya or Nagisa centric. I can’t help but feel that the preview implies some sort of confession, romantic or otherwise, from Tomoya to Nagisa, and that has my interest peaked. On that note, I hope that they go back into Tomoya’s backstory soon; they’ve been ignoring his father a bit too easily for the last arc or two.

P.S. Kotomi would make a lousy model on Deal or No Deal.