Itazura na Kiss Episode 9 Review

Sometimes I’m not sure if it is the blunt honesty of Itazura na Kiss that I like so much, or if it’s the stubborn persistence of Kotoko. Itazura na Kiss episode 9 uses the date/movie/stalker themes and somehow it still manages to be better than the usual crap we’re usually forced to sit through. They don’t bother with fan service, they don’t bother too much with silly gags that have been overdone throughout the years, and they actually always have a slight squeeze of honesty that puts real humanity into the situation.

The first half of Itazura na Kiss episode 9 follows the usual stalker junk, but Kotoko stunningly declares her real love, and her real pain, and tries to tear her leeching eyes off Naoki. It is truly refreshing to see pain akin to what exists in reality.

Mustache Tennis Fiend apparently isn’t gay, as I first suspected, but is instead another manically romantic idiot.

Naoki and Kotoko have a deep heart to heart where Kotoko once again throws herself (literally) at the feet of Super Genius, and he proceeds to admit that he actually doesn’t dislike her. His effort at sabotaging their future potential is mildly comical.

As I have stated repeatedly before, the ending for Itazura na Kiss was certain from the first episode, but even knowing that, I am looking forward to it. The departure from the usual emotional carnival that most anime dramas seem to favor, is definitely refreshing.