Pizza for everyone.

Gundam 00 S2 10! A set-up episode where the writers introduce us to more cradle-robbing, characters named Anew Returner & Bring Stability(?), and a couple really big weapons. I'm a little pissed that they possibly killed off Sergei. I'm now fond of the chubby kid who thinks war could be ended with food. I'm sure a bomb will be aimed his way in the next episode.

Junjou Romantica S2 9! Observing the seasonal decor, I will guess that they might end this season with a Christmas episode. In this episode, a real confession causes groping in the shower.

Hakushaku to Yousei 9! I wonder if Nico will have a human form later on. In this episode, Edgar gets drunk on gin & Jack Daniels, and then gets frisky. He isn't turning out to be the best example of an English gentlemen; stealing titles, in bed with one girl, but saying another's name, and then falling asleep before getting anything done or undone.

Man and dog ride off into the sunset...or to Germany.

Finally...



Beethoven Virus 16-18! the end! Kang pulls a mean trick on the new gov't official with John Cage's 4'33", and promptly gets ousted. In episode 17 the Mouse orchestra fails to get to the auditions in time, but due to their solidarity, are happier that they stuck together. The rest of the episode and the last episode was the reconciliation between Maestro and everyone. Gun-woo successfully throws together an impromtu concert to get the city to support the struggling orchestras. And did Maestro Kang have a tux in his tiny briefcase? or did he wear it under his clothes like Superman? Did he have the whole choir under his clothes, too?



Final impressions: Not as magical as Nodame Cantabile, but it had its charm with Maestro Kang's cutthroat persona. The strength was the relationship between him and Kang Gun-woo the younger. It was interesting seeing Kang's harsh teaching method and jealousy, and in turn, Gun-woo's overabundant optimism waver. The weakness was the so-called romance between Kang and Du Ru Mi. It seemed like she developed hero-worship rather than love, and it was sad to see her cockerel personality change into a wallflower as the series went on. And really, in the end her 'disease' did nothing but fill up time; no surgery, no deafness, just another side story. ~8/10 rating~ for an entertaining drama whose main character pretends not to be the plush teddy bear that he really is.