Love Hina Manga question (Full Finale Spoilers)

[Gojirob]

Thought about General TV & Media for this, but when you have a dude who seems to be immortal (though not always) a megalomaniac tweener with boundless energy and insta-tech, samurais with power attacks and posessed objects/places, well...

I just read through this, and enjoyed it. Slapsticky romance with not a small amount of fanservice, and just with a good heart. Even the Lost-In-Translation stuff I mostly got, or could parse through, and Keitaro's beatings seemed at least to balance out to what he got from the whole experience, and those things he could have avoided doing, though less of that. Plus, you start to get the impression the beatings become the girls' expression of affection and appreciation that their lives are no longer so dull. In general, I found even the most extreme, arguably unneccessary and 'Oh, C'mon' moments to be heartwarming and funny enough to just keep reading, though Shinobu's failed attempt to get Keitaro to give her mouth-to-mouth did make me wince. Even their feelings for one another didn't give me the usual animanga squicks. She is depicted as a young girl falling hard for a man who doesn't yet know his own worth, and he is shown to almost beat himself up whenever he notices her, not wishing to abuse something so tender as their friendship. (Although, what she might or might not have allowed him is debatable. She seemed to have it bad)

Anyway, after I got into the vibe, I rode with the outrageousness. Then came Molmol, really the last super-adventure arc, and filled to the brim with LH tropes. I might have had a hard time just letting that whole thing slide, if I were Keitaro or Naru. Granted, Seta started it, and arguably, Haruka could have set the other ladies straight, but their story was playing out, and they were either apologetic or helpful. I'm not going to say that the Hinata girls weren't in character, but the whole arc was so brimful of 'why are you doing this?' on their part that our happy couple just shrugging it off or appreciating the wild ride seemed a bit much even by animanga or LH standards. I wouldn't have been surprised if there had been a throwaway line about them making Su clean the springs for a month, once they got back. She reaaallly abused her power in like every way there was. Even Keitaro's arguable immortality is a bit of a dodge, because Naru does not share it, and her life was placed in jeopardy several times, not to mention being tied up and hung up inside a plane. I would have advised Kitsune to sleep with one eye open for a week or so.

I guess what bugs me the most led to my real question. Yeah, its a piece of fiction and by then I knew what I was reading full well, and while extreme, no one was truly OOC and the final arcs of a series are always over the top. Granted. But then comes Kitsune offering her explanation for the utter dickery they've shown. One translation, the one offered in the English manga, had her saying that they 'knew' they couldn't hope to keep K/N apart, and were both using the drama to declare their own feelings for him, once and for all, and to give them a rousing send-off. Still seemed like a hell of a lot to put two dear friends through, again even for LH. Plus, I don't think Su was in on this part of it, only joining up to be on the majority side. Again, Su--here's the mop and scrubber. Shinobu I understood easily, because while the others all felt something for Keitarou, it seems like the final declaration that K/N was now a fact truly broke her heart, and she was just a kid, influenced by the others and needing to escape her best friend's luxurious jail by way of cooperation.

Not caring very much for that explanation, I Googled for reviews, and found an alternative one, perhaps based on fan-translations rather than the official one. This one seemed to indicate that it was our new happy couple driving everyone crazy with acts of public affection that drove the others to do this. For those who know or know of this, which one is closest to what the original words were? Or is there yet another explanation/translation? I actually find the second, vengeful one more palatable, since a new couple can in fact drive everyone around them crazy.

 

[Sephiroth]

I think Ken Akamatsu is just twisted, and I hated Naru and what Keitaro became in the end, but I guess having a wife that beats you to tell you she loves you would make anyone distant

 

[Gojirob]

I think Ken Akamatsu is just twisted, and I hated Naru and what Keitaro became in the end, but I guess having a wife that beats you to tell you she loves you would make anyone distant

See, it was twisted, but up until that arc, it was a twisted I could get behind and laugh at. I didn't even mind the hint at the very end (pre-Epilogue) that even Kanako's obnoxious rampage while Keitaro was away was part of Grandma's master plan. All of them, not just Keitaro, were hopeless nerds when things started. They were hotter and seemingly more together, but still living a sheltered life. Along came a seemingly obvious nerd who didn't give up, or at least tried harder than they not to do so, and things started. I'm a huge critic of the lazy writing tactic that says 'hitting men is funny'. You need context, like Margaret Houlihan on MASH punching out obnoxious jerks, and LH had that context. By the end, he had some composure and better luck, and the hitting stopped for the most part. It was like a little kid thing, and they all had to grow up. Even Shinobu taking up the frying pan was a twisted sign of maturity, but mature they all did, except maybe Su. In one late entry, they're all wearing bathing suits and invite him in, and all is well until Nyamo is shown not to have one on. When he turns around and urges her to wear something--no beating. And Naru actually gives Keitaro a noogie--which, by LH standards, is like progressing from hand-holding to third base. Neither of them are prizes, except to each other.

Again, my problem is that the Molmol chapters seemed to violate even the rules as laid out in the series. This IMO jumped from extreme slapstick to actually vicious, perhaps even to Shinobu, though again, I find that more forgievable for the true depth of her feelings. Like I said, once I accepted the messed-up premise, I had fun. This was the only time after the earliest chapters I questioned the other ladies sanity.

 

[Sephiroth]

I believe that the Molmol segment was when everyone showed thier true faces

 

[zakkrusz]

Well, if you want a better harem series, read Ai Yori Aoshi next. That one's great.

I'm not a big fan of Love Hina and especially did not like Naru as the prospect. I was rooting for Shinobu but knew it was not going to happen.

On the other hand the series was pretty funny. I can only speak for anime incarnation though, but the scene where Naru punches Keitaru and he bounces all around the building like super ball was awesome.

 

[Sephiroth]

The anime differes from the manga greatly

Key Differences:

in the manga, about 3/4 the way through, Keitaro makes it into Tokyo-U, he's Seta's student and follows him around on a few dig sights (archeology major), which prompts some interesting adventures

in the anime, there was a third girl of unknown origin that was the girl Keitaro made the promise, to, in the Manga it was Naru, after Mutsume desided to give him up

the manga ends with Keitaro and Naru getting married, the anime ends with them deciding to start a relationship

In the end Keitaro becomes completely disconected with the world, he drives worse than Seta, can't remember anything, but has the ability to just pull rare ancient artifacts from thin air, which are the only things he's even capable of seeing anymore

 

[zakkrusz]

Wow sounds like it sucks.

Hopefully, Negima! ends better.

 

[Gojirob]

I would somewhat disagree with that assessment. It was more like the artifacts became his new porn--ironic, since having porn was the one thing Naru did not knock him for, regarding it as normal. I guess the thing that bugged me was the lack of say, a scene where all the ladies wake up tied up and upside down, Su in chains to be certain, with Naru and Keitaro waving goodbye (for a few hours) and Shinobu guarding them with her frying pan as repentance. If Keitaro became a little duller at the end, it was because, minus the chronic nerves and having fulfilled his promise after major obstacles, he had the confidence to be more normal. Naru was a bipolar bitch, but it was now clear that she was his BB, and that he was not unhappy for it. I felt bad for Shinobu in some respects, but Keitaro would Seta to her Naru, as it seemed possible she might be to the last girl intro'd. A string of broken hearts growing as a result of rough-and-tumble love. I guess I'll always feel a story is weakest where it does not follow through, and the lack of some measured payback for Molmol certainly qualifies. The basic insanity and annoyance I had long accounted for.

 

[Sephiroth]

truthfully, I ended up hating every LH charater save for Mutusume and Shinobu, the only non-psychotic charaters in the manga, the anime I liked better because the psychosis was tuned down a bit

 

[C.E. Evans]

Geez. I really didn't read all that stuff into it. I thought Love Hina was just a wacky little harem series with totally outlandish situations and left it at that.


To me, Keitaro and Naru were meant to be together from the start, and it was just a matter of how many other girls and other crazy circumstances got in their way. It's a fairly common theme in Akamatsu's works as that kind of stuff also happened in A.I. Love You and to some extent in Negima!...

 

[Gojirob]

truthfully, I ended up hating every LH charater save for Mutusume and Shinobu, the only non-psychotic charaters in the manga, the anime I liked better because the psychosis was tuned down a bit

Oh yeah? Well, you're just completely a...ohh sorry. Thought I was another poster, who responds to everything with snarling, provocative aspersions. I think their name starts with 3 or something.

All jokes aside, Sephiroth, I'm more with you than not. I would not have minded seeing K wait for Shinobu, but I think by the time she was even reasonably of age, animanga sensibilities aside, things in K/N had progressed. I think even Naru was now certifiably less insane than the others by story's end. So, my feelings in favor of K/Shin could never be what they are for Tenchi/Sasami, on the same basis of Sasami being the most sane. Anyhow, I now think of all of LH as a kind of fireworks show, balanced and fun at a 11 out of 10 range for the most part, with the Molmol arc being one where the brightness and volume was amped up way past comfort level, as high as 17. The prank-adventure theory only works if the pranked end up having as much fun as the prankster, and while I think that applies in a twisted way throughout LH, Molmol is where it epic fails.

 

[Sephiroth]

i think the whole Shinobu thing was just a young crush and Keitaro handled it pretty well, and yes, Naru toned it down a bit in the last few manga, but that was more because Keitaro was away more, transforming into Seta, bit I will admit to her growing a bit. (personaly I was rooting for a Keitaro/Mutsume ending)

and as for Tenchi/Sasami, that goes into some STRAAAAANGE areas, because first of all, isn't sasami something like 1,200 years old? but Tenchi overall was alot more light hearted, the episodes for it seemed to last forever in the good way (for Muyo and Universe anyways) the only charater in Tenchi I realy didn't care for was Ayeka, she was a spoiled brat who showed up and laid claim to Tenchi because of his heritage more than anything else

 

[Gojirob]

I only mean Sasami in the not-wholly-batshit way. Besides all you pointed out, in some versions, she's like his great-aunt or something. In Shinobu's case, I think some of his feelings went beyond a mutual crush, but as The Ponytails once said 'Born Too Late' (damn, I wish I knew how to make AMV's, cause that one is perfect for her). As for Mutsume, I'm gonna go a little weird. She makes a better sister-figure for Keitaro than the 'willing to blow everyone up' possibly-insane-beyond-Su-levels Kanako. They are almost too much of a match, and I mean that in a good way.

I myself had a wild ride reading it, but again, Molmol felt a bit like the ride's operators deliberately left us upside down for a hyper-extended period during one of the 'lightning loops'. I guess I may have to one day fic on this whole subject, if the Ancient Destroyer ever lets me finish that cycle of stories.

 

[Gojirob]

I also came up with this one, based not on my opinion of the characters, but of a reading of Ken Akamatsu's possible intent for the ladies other than Naru and Haruka (to use the mains and real potential partners). My theory is, he foreshadowed each one in why they would fail to get Keitaro. Again, this is not a dis on any of them, just when I believe KA shut them out as the eventual winner, so to speak. This is from the manga, perspective, BTW.

Shinobu - Her age didn't shut her out. Had it been her, Keitaro would have waited. There was a connection, and there was an attraction, again, patience allowing. But her 'fate' was sealed when she and the others tried to cheer Keitaro by having her fake a need for mouth-to-mouth at the beach. As he approached, her romantic ideas increased her nerves to the point where what might have been a sweet- if prank-ridden- first kiss made her jump up and, without meaning to, kick Keitaro where it counted. She was now out because a relationship with Keitaro had been over-idealized in her eyes and always would be. Whereas the others treated him like trash on occasion, she had taken a nice normal guy and made him into too much.

Motoko - Always ready to kill him, seemingly, but early on realizing he had gotten too her, to the point her denial was driving her crazier than Naru or Shinobu, at least on this front. Always one of the most violent towards him, even for a glimpse of something he wasn't supposed to see. Flash fwd to her great moment of doubt, defeated by her sister and ready to become a maid or nun. Trying to stop her from running off, Keitaro has one of his moments and actually pulls down her panties, exposing her butt as no hot springs scene ever did. And she does nothing, actually eating up his small words of encouragement almost tearfully. For all her power, she is all talk and no action. K/N may drive us crazy, but they take actions, even stupid ones, but they do take them.

Mutsume - As Naru once observed, perhaps a perfect match for Keitaro. But I see almost a female Keitaro, her fewer flaws flowing in another direction. Just before Keitaro breaks his leg, causing him to fail his first term, she makes an observation that perhaps he used up all his luck finally getting into Todai, while following him around and arguably helping him get set up for the event that breaks his leg. She fails because she is too much like him, analyzing his sudden good fortune to death. Also, in a culture, and particularly in a series, where luck and spirits are not unheard of, she almost seems to invoke his bad luck by speaking openly of it.

Kitsune - At first glance, her utter irresponsibility seems to put her out, and she does lose Keitaro his first full-time job. But she was caring, and could be nice, and on occasion, even selfless. If my theory is correct, and who knows if it even comes close to KA's intentions, then Kitsune lost out the very first time she sent Keitaro flying. Here is this huge flirt who only teases, and is just as upset as the 'uptight' girls that a guy she sometimes takes pains to rub up against sees the things she's rubbing on him at a time not of her choosing. Not that she should be a wanton slut or whatever term suits you, but, unable to choose between the responsibility that might actually get her Keitaro's interest and actually being the 'wild+crazy' free-spirit she claims, she's as repressed as Motoko, has spots of cluelessness deep as Mutsume's, behavior as obnoxious as Su's, and is as scared of actual living as Shinobu (once was). A decent person at her core, she probably stood the least chance of the ladies close to Keitaro's age. Notably, she was the first to go sibling on him, perhaps due to her realization of those traits in her.

Su - Whether she ever really wanted Keitaro is debatable. Part of what made me nuts about the Molmol arc is what Keitaro correctly calls her shallow selfish behavior. She sees the whole thing as a game - if the others want Keitaro, or seem to, then she must play harder and rougher and win at all costs. I disagree with Sephiroth on their true faces being shown in Molmol, with the exception of Su. She seems to have the powers of an absolute ruler, and while never truly directly harming anyone, has even her best friend in all of creation thrown in (a luxurious) jail to win the 'game'. I even now wonder if their were somehow Su/K shippers in Japan pulling for her, and this was a way of putting them off. Her age and approach to things, while never villainous and on occasion sympathetic, always kept her out of serious contention. But if the time she snuggled up to Keitaro and called him 'Big Brother' in her sleep wasn't the shut-down point, then her behavior in Molmol surely was.

Kanako I won't even bother with. Even if her basic actions were part of Grandma's long-term matchmaking plans, I doubt the old lady wanted her to BLOW UP HER INN, or seriously threaten to. KA actually gave Keitaro a great moment when he made it clear he thought of this woman only as a sister, and showed that he could shut down this great terror of the other girls as easily as they often shut him down.

Well, there's my overblown fanboy theory. Please leave the shreds you tear it into in a neat, orderly pile.