Hey Vicers! Today’s subject is the zany and over-the-top slapstick filled My Bride is a Mermaid! It’s been a while since I’ve watched this show and I still have to finish it. But the episode I have here is the funniest of the lot and possibly of the whole series.
This is episode 10 so since it’s close to the halfway point the viewer should have a good idea of what’s going on. Well, you really only have to watch the first episode to know that. Up to this point the show is basically the same in and out. You have a kid, Nagasumi, who rescues a mermaid who happens to be the daughter of the leader of the Seto Gang (think of them as mermaid Yakuza). By law, of course, Nagasumi must either die or marry the daughter, Sun. Tough choice to make for a kid but that’s only the beginning of his pain.
Anyway, this and that happens along the way to this episode where Nagasumi must run for his life around the school. His pursuer can only be described as a Terminator-like man dressed in black, wearing black shades, and caring a lever-action shotgun. Needless to say, he’s indestructible-until Sun’s father shows up to protect her. The fight looked just like one from a Terminator film (including urinal head-bashing) until they take flight. When things are all over you learn the guy just wanted for find out what kind of man his daughterLunar, also a mermaid, is around. Only in anime do you fathers go to such ridiculous lengths.
All I’ve done so far is yap about what goes on in the episode, I know. The comedy is littered throughout here, though. I laughed for pretty much the entire 20 minutes. The obvious comedic elements are the Terminator parody in Lunar’s father and all he does, the Terminator music, and the slapstick. Not many enjoy the meandering and constant jabs at humor in shows like this but I have fun watching it because the character’s voices bring more to their actions. Nagasumi pretty much does nothing but whine about the state his life is in but the trials he goes through to not give up on his marriage, though the alternative is to die, allow me to not be completely annoyed by him and chuckle.
Overall, My Bride is a Mermaid is a very funny show with lots of parodies and wild antics pulling for laughs. The story is different and most of the characters are likeable but other than that the show is like many others out there. But what do y’all think? Was this show funny or did it try too hard?
Watch this episode, "Pumping Iron" below. It's the dub version. You can also find the show on FUNimation's website.
-Will McQuigg ( sotyfan16) is your everyday anime/manga enthusiast. You can also find him on Twitter ( bildo_88).
Seto no Hanayome is one of my favorite comedies and this is a great episode. That's about all I can say.
I didn't know that Pumping Iron was the name of a body-building documentary featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger until I just now looked it up.
I will check out My Bride is a Mermaid... eventually.
The Terminator parody episode then the one where he takes the energy drink that makes him look like a douche to all the male characters were my favorite.