Toradora! Ep. 6

[SimsHsia]

Episode 6: True Self

OP note: I'm adding in a spoiler toggle. Some of you may just want to see the pictures, but do not want to be tempted by the synopsis of what occurs in this episode. So, there you go!

Recap from last time:

Two words: Kawashima Ami. Ami temporarily halts her modeling career to go back to school as a transfer student in the same class as Ryuuji, Taiga, Minori, and Yuusaku. Begrudgingly, Taiga does not like this fact, and thus the tension between her and Ami has begun.

Key plot points:

• As "diet warriors", Taiga and Minori sneak up on Ami during break while talking to two classmates about her physique, even though she never diets. Minori does her signature "Convenience Store Fist of Truth" on Ami which causes her to collapse. Ami shows a bit of her true personality, but reverts to her fake one and "cries".
  
• A stalker with a camera is following Ami and seeks for Ryuuji (and Taiga) for their protection. Taiga scares him off by flinging a trash can, meant for Ryuuji, landing near the stalker. When given the choice of a classy condo or a beat-down apartment complex, Ami chooses the former, only to find out that it's Taiga's place. She accepts with the fact that Taiga's condo is more secure than Ryuuji's apartment.
  
• The following morning, Ami is exhausted, due to the fact that Taiga forced her do at least 200 different impersonations for hours on end during the evening.
  
• Yuusaku asks Taiga a favor, since they know Ami's true personality, that they be her friends, since he heard that Ami was obedient to Taiga's demands. Ryuuji thinks that Taiga won't accept Yuusaku's favor, but she OK's it in an instant. Then, through blackmail, requests Ami to eat lunch with her along with Ryuuji and Minori.
  
• Ryuuji, involuntarily volunteered by Taiga, accepts Yuusaku's request to volunteer in a neighborhood cleaning crew, since only a few signed up. Minori is seen with Ami before the cleaning work begins, and joins in on this activity.
  
• When Taiga and Minori go on ahead to perform their work, this leaves Ryuuji and Ami alone. Ryuuji reveals to Ami that he can see through her fake personality.
  
• The stalker with a camera takes pictures of Taiga and Minori as they search for Ryuuji and Ami. Taiga picks a fight with the stalker, and he flees. Ami witnesses this and remembers all the stress and agony the stalker put on her, and yet Taiga easily confronted the stalker with no problems.
  
• Ami tells Ryuuji that she will show her true self, no more lies, and she bolts after the stalker and stomps the camera to pieces. Seeing her true nature, the stalker flees in fright.
  
• Back at Ryuuji's house, Ami asks Ryuuji if he'd like her if he sees her true self. While asking this, Ami gets almost face-to-face with Ryuuji, and Taiga walks in, surprised by this moment.
  

Episode thoughts:

Pretty much this episode revolves around the revelation of Ami's true personality. We now know what Taiga had in mind when she saw the bags of sweets Ami bought from a store in the previous episode, by using Minorin's CONVENIENCE STORE FIST OF TRUTH!™ she was bringing out Ami's true personality. Minori, you never cease to amaze us with yet another antic. Although, it wasn't as hilarious as in the previous episode. Despite all the blackmail Taiga does, you can tell she truly does care, even though she doesn't show it to be in such a way. Scary Ami is scary when she unleashed her anger on that otaku's stalker's camera. Lastly, holy cow at the end when Ami inches closer to Ryuuji while she asks him whether he would like her when she lets her true self shine and Taiga walking right in on that moment. I wonder what will happen in next week's episode, more than likely Ami will say it's a misunderstanding. I also have a feeling that Taiga may have some feelings for Ryuuji, after all, he is taking care of her by making lunch and such. By the way, Inko-chan, *sigh* it's getting weirder each episode.

Like Haruhi said, transfer students in the middle of a term are known to be mysterious, at least in Toradora! it was Ami's fake self. Sorry, no espers, aliens or time-travelers here, chief, try the next town over.

Next episode, Pool Opening, the obligatory everyone goes into swimming suits episode. I find the image of Ami holding up a little girl's swimsuit depicting a fairy, meant for Taiga, to be hilarious, and Ami seems...well endowed. My guess is that Minorin won't be joining due to her working five or more jobs, unless if I missed her in the preview. Meh, until next week.

[SimsHsia]

I'm not sure about the validity of this, but apparently Toradora! will have a total of 25 episodes this season, a number previously unknown. I find it hard to believe since as of the 6th episode, they've gone through the first two novels and there's still seven novels remaining chock full of material. Since I have only read the first novel, as I've said before, everything is new and fresh to me, and so far I'm enjoying this series.

If I can find any proof to back these number of episodes, I'm delighted. It's better than having two separate seasons, watching the first season and waiting roughly a year for the next season. However, my guess is that J.C. Staff will twist our arms a bit and have some filler episodes like they have in the past (e.g. non-action action in Shakugan no Shana II for several episodes) with relatively no plot development. But, I'm fine with that, even though I had to watch a number of episodes in Shana until the story picked up again. Now, if I only knew the total number of episodes for To Aru Majutsu no Index...