Haganai: I Don't Have Many Friends...
Over the weekend, I decided to watch both seasons of Haganai in one sitting...
Kodaka is a typical transfer student, who because of his unusual hair color and his naturally evil-looking face, has developed an undeserved reputation as a bad guy. So, of course, people avoid him like the plague. Yozura casts an aura of distrust and has a penchant for being ruthless, manipulative and downright evil when she feels offended or if she senses weakness or foolishness in someone. Sena is the perfect, spoiled rich daughter of the school's president. She has perfect grades and can master any skill or activity with relative ease.
Yozura founds the Neighbor's Club as a means of making friends and enlists Kodaka as their first member. Soon after, Sena shows up and installs herself as the third member of the club over the overt and explicit objections of Yozura and in the process, earns the nickname - Meat. In fairly short order, Kodaka finds himself surrounded by a bevy of quirky female characters in true harem fashion.
The club's activities are fairly mundane and include a variety of friend making exercises like playing video games, visiting a karaoke box, visiting a public swimming pool, shopping as a group and making a movie. During the course of the series, nothing extraordinary happens. The characters talk, they interact with one another and occasionally they find themselves in comedic situations. While there are some bare breasts and a handful of bare bottoms and some fan service such as Sena's overly bouncy breasts and more than a few panty shots, the series is most notable for its racy and at times, raunchy dialogue and the streams of insults that fly back and forth between Yozura and Sena.
Haganai has some fan service, but, the main focus of the series is the interactions between and among the various characters. Even though, Rika, is by far, the most foul mouthed of the group, Rika actually shows the most maturity in the group. She recognizes that both Kodaka and his younger sister are both showing signs that the strain of not having a strong family environment has had and is having a negative impact on Kodaka and his younger sister. Eventually, Rika does confront Kodaka with this and he begins to rely on Rika. Then, of course, Yozura and Sena's relationship with Kodaka becomes more complicated and awkward. And, just as the series begins to explore some really interesting territory, the series ends rather abruptly, leaving many unanswered questions. Overall, I would give Haganai a 4 out of 5.
I wasn't sure what to expect from Haganai, when I initially picked up the series, but, it seemed like something I might enjoy. The series revolves around three main characters, Kodaka, the only male lead, and Yozora and Sena, the two female leads who each have some previous connection to Kodaka. But, not everyone in this triangle realizes the connections until late in the series.Season 1
Yozora's an abrasive loudmouth whose only friend at school is imaginary. She knows she's difficult - which makes her better off than Kodaka, a new transfer student who picked up an undeserved bad reputation the second he stepped on campus. Inspired by their shared status as social catastrophes, the two loners unite and start the Neighbors Club, an organization dedicated to finding other misfits and making friends.
In no time, a third member joins their ranks: Sena, a pretty, popular rich girl who annoys Yozora to no end. With Kodaka in the middle of the chaos, the brash brunette and the blonde boy-magnet go 'round and 'round, even as the Neighbors Club begins to grow. Hopefully, the girls can get past their rivalry, because sometimes the friendship you're looking for is right in front of you, and sometimes the best friends are the friends you never even wanted.
Season 2: NEXT
To: The Neighbors Club
From: Student Council Reps
Re: Club Guidelines
It has come to our attention that your club - officially formed with the goal of "making friends" - has been taking part in questionable behaviors on campus. We'd like to remind you that none of the following are approved club activities:
While we applaud your creative efforts in making a movie about intergalactic samurai robot wars, please note that the costumes do not fit our dress code. In addition, we have reports of brewing drama between Yozora and Sena regarding Kodaka - including the fact that an engagement has taken place. Please fill out required paperwork if the chapel needs to be reserved.
- Stalking (especially taking candid photos of your peers)
- Playing inappropriate video games
- Watching anime involving adult themes
- The creation of time machines
Kodaka is a typical transfer student, who because of his unusual hair color and his naturally evil-looking face, has developed an undeserved reputation as a bad guy. So, of course, people avoid him like the plague. Yozura casts an aura of distrust and has a penchant for being ruthless, manipulative and downright evil when she feels offended or if she senses weakness or foolishness in someone. Sena is the perfect, spoiled rich daughter of the school's president. She has perfect grades and can master any skill or activity with relative ease.
Yozura founds the Neighbor's Club as a means of making friends and enlists Kodaka as their first member. Soon after, Sena shows up and installs herself as the third member of the club over the overt and explicit objections of Yozura and in the process, earns the nickname - Meat. In fairly short order, Kodaka finds himself surrounded by a bevy of quirky female characters in true harem fashion.
The club's activities are fairly mundane and include a variety of friend making exercises like playing video games, visiting a karaoke box, visiting a public swimming pool, shopping as a group and making a movie. During the course of the series, nothing extraordinary happens. The characters talk, they interact with one another and occasionally they find themselves in comedic situations. While there are some bare breasts and a handful of bare bottoms and some fan service such as Sena's overly bouncy breasts and more than a few panty shots, the series is most notable for its racy and at times, raunchy dialogue and the streams of insults that fly back and forth between Yozura and Sena.
Haganai has some fan service, but, the main focus of the series is the interactions between and among the various characters. Even though, Rika, is by far, the most foul mouthed of the group, Rika actually shows the most maturity in the group. She recognizes that both Kodaka and his younger sister are both showing signs that the strain of not having a strong family environment has had and is having a negative impact on Kodaka and his younger sister. Eventually, Rika does confront Kodaka with this and he begins to rely on Rika. Then, of course, Yozura and Sena's relationship with Kodaka becomes more complicated and awkward. And, just as the series begins to explore some really interesting territory, the series ends rather abruptly, leaving many unanswered questions. Overall, I would give Haganai a 4 out of 5.
