High Score Girl: Extra Stage

Between the first season airing on Netflix and the release of these bonus episodes I went and read the entire manga. I wanted to know how the story ended and I don't exactly remember my feelings on it at the time, but I can remember feeling satisfied and having a sense of closure. It was done in my mind and I hardly expected there to be any more to the anime adaptation. I have a little experience with waiting for season 2's and in general my thinking is "don't hold your breath."

Imagine my surprise when it did, in-fact, get more of the story adapted. I ... honestly didn't really feel like watching it anymore since now I knew how it ended and these 3 episodes wouldn't even get that much further into the story anyway. Eventually I watched it anyway, so here are my thoughts I guess.

I honestly freaking hate that blonde girl so much. I know that it's a requirement in any romance anime to have at the very least a love triangle if not a full harem of girls to choose from, but why oh why is one of them always painted this way. Are that many Japanese writers victims of one-sided love that they feel the need to insert an obnoxious wedge into any and every budding relationship. I know it's supposed to add drama and keep the story going but for me it honestly just felt like headaches and throwing a bid unnecessary monkey wrench into an already needlessly complicated relationship.

When we finally get back to the story between the two main lovebirds it's actually really sweet. The things he does with the RPG game and the way that her sister and butler start standing up for her was all great. I like that the b*tch of a tutor finally got told off and starts to look like she's coming around a little. Unlike the main part of season 1 that ended on a stupid cliffhanger with the dumb blonde girl, we actually get a nice happy ending for once with the two of them getting to go to that arcade event thingy together.

Honestly I'm happiest watching a romance show when the two established leads get to be together and be in love without the annoying complications of some trite love triangle. For what it's worth, I think you're supposed to hate that blonde girl as part of her character or something. Despite her existence I still enjoyed it enough for an 8/10

A couple days ago I made a review to the first part of High Score Girl, so I'll try to not recollect any of the same points. Some things still apply, some don't. In that review, I said that my main motivation to watch this anime was the RPG Maker reference, which I finally got to see! Anyway, RPG Maker references always warms my heart. Moving on!

Art and characters are just as one dimensional, yes they're 3D, that's the joke here. Animations are stiff and especially main characters are bland. In these OVAs some characters are introduced, which make my claim more evident, they have ... way more interesting designs. I do understand that this is on purpose to make the characters feel more grounded, but still think that making a gamer stereotype will not make me sympathize with him as a human being. Still, I felt that these 3 episodes managed to show more character development than the 12 first episodes.

In terms of story, this was the ending the first season lacked. So yeah, if you watched first season, BUY THE OVA DVDs! (or watch on Netflix). Nothing else to say.

I'm strugging to not score this series just based off my enjoyment, because it's a nostalgia trip. I really want to score this series for its story and character development, and not for how spot on were they for giving me the fuzzy feelings out of CPS references and Soul Calibur. AND RPG MAKER.

So, in essence. Still not a great show, status quo moved a bit which is enough for OVAs. Characters are there, got some development, MC feels a bit less annoying as the series goes. I don't want to ellaborate much more in fear of spoiling anything since it's just 3 episodes. So there! If you felt like something was missing after finishing season 1, this is it.

This sequel doesn't accomplish much. Unless being momentarily annoying is considered an accomplishment.

Mrs. mute is still mute and mr. dense so dense they could have as well named the specials 'Extra Dense'. Kohara, the 2nd harem option is still the only person who feels even slightly human. But even her purpose in these specials seems to be hitting mr. dense and make him atone physical pain. This scene is, by the way, followed by bunch of side character dudes also hitting mr. dense because apparently, if girl hits a man, it's the man's fault and other men should also start punching him. I am not ... sure if this is supposed to be humor, but a) I don't especially enjoy It'S a PrAnK bRo -tier jokes, and b) it feels like pro-misandrist propaganda at best.

In terms of story-writing, more romance cliches are introduced and this time around 3rd party is trying to cut the obvious canon pairing's relations because manblaming whilst people at the same time tell mrs. mute not to blame herself. Kohara's story is equally shitty since she challenges the bro in a match and then rages, also blaming him for everything. I thought the main season was still average despite its problems, but now these ideals presented here are downright appalling. I am not sure if this is giving worse picture of pussywhipped men or girl gamers, but I guess it doesn't matter since this doesn't represent any parties with realism.

The mary sue traits are pushed even further here which makes mrs. mute's character feel even more like an empty object. There doesn't even seem to be any advancement coming in the future either due to more irrelevant side characters being introduced in the purpose of side-tracking, and the same story elements being recycled. The alarming part is that this side-tracing filler is much more substantial than the main story line. Let me just quote mr. dense: "We will be separated again. I wonder how many times we have been separated already." I will tell you; too fucking many. So many that our story and "characters" can now be described with one singular word: fake. Even rushed conclusion would have been better than this level of lame.