It’s real funny, watching this episode after finally getting around to seeing CABIN IN THE WOODS. I’m not going to spoil the big twist of that flick but, suffice it to say, the whole thing’s a meta-commentary on horror with more nods and references than any FANGORIA subscribed can keep track of. As wide as the internet is, I’m confident that this is the only place that’s going to draw a comparison between that and OKAMISAN. (That’s why you lunatics keeping coming back to this column, right?)
Anyway, on top of all the expected allusions to fairy and folk tales, this episode also brings in some less-than-subtle analogs to other anime in order to make (what at least seems like) a conceptual point about the high school/harem genre. While I smirked about Black Butler’s “guest spot,” I’m sure I didn’t catch most of these references. That’s OK, though. I think I still go the point, which at least seems to be gently ribbing the uncomfortably sexist notions that pop up a lot in shows like this (and even in earlier episodes of this very show.)
Or maybe I’m reading too far into this, again, and the joke’s actually on me, again. Even if that’s the case, I’d at least like to believe that was the point of these girls having to entertain this entitled little twit with his highly dismissive and superficial checklist for the perfect mate/servant. For as ticklish as this episode (and it was certainly one of the funniest episodes, so far,) I'd like to believe, at this point, that they’re getting at something a little larger underneath all these hi-jinks.
Or.... it could all just be jokes about cup sizes. What do you believe?
Look up this episode, “Okami-san and the Mouse Bride Search, and This Is How Pigs Should Be Treated” and decide for yourself, then read my comments on the previous episode here.
Tom Pinchuk’s the writer of HYBRID BASTARDS! & UNIMAGINABLE. Order them on Amazon here & here. Follow him on Twitter: @tompinchuk
Just like Cabin in the Woods? I see no evil unicorns impaling people! You have lied to me
I believe this just a show that is kinda poor in many places but ok because it mostly funny for not being serious. Yeah, this episode was very much a parody of many harem shows and how silly they can be with the types of characters in them.
Ok...why am I even more excited to see cabin in the woods now...did you review this movie anywhere Tom? The review I read over on mania (Rob being the only online movie reviewer I trust now) basically could be boiled down to sell your first born child to see this movie...
A lot of the characters that appear in this episode during the montage of women aren't from OKAMISAN, but from other JC Staff produced animes.
I thought this episode had a rather touching end. Momoko's bouncing breasts just is just a bonus.