Genshiken Chapter 81 Discussion

m4rc0 said:
Yeah, just the aftermath of the rejection. It's always nice to see the gang together again.

But something is bothering me. Nidaime is pretty much the author trying to do a fujoshi version of genshiken. The main reason it's not as awesome (excluding the times the old characters show up) is because the nidaime lacks a non otaku and male members to balance things like Ohno and Ogiue did, since Kuchi is too ridiculous to count and Hato counts as another girl.

But aside from that, it seems that the author has chosen Madarame to be the male audience's surrogate and is now forcing a harem route for him. I mean, Hato's infatuation, that might or not be love was part of the main plot of the fujoshi Genshiken and Angela's crush was already present in the 1st series.

But Sue and Akemi just came out of nowhere. Besides the kiss, which could be interpreted more like a prank, there has been nothing to show how she became interested on him except for Saki's insight.

The same with Akemi. She was always after Kousaka and there was no unusual or unique interactions between her and Madarame. The fact that she gave him her card was pretty much something that could be expected of her because of her personality. A prank that might give her a client and more money.

To be fair, until now the author handled everything, the confession being the last example, very well. But I just can't help thinking that he's pretty much meaning: hey, Mada, you didn't get THE GIRL, so I'll give you a harem with a cute trap and side characters that aren't as awesome. And since he's the audience surrogate in Nidaime, it's kinda like he wants to avoid crushing the reader's hopes. Sure he couldn't get THE GIRL, but there's still other girls out there.

Not that I disagree with the message, but it seems forced because of Sue and Akemi. Also it's too manga-ish, since there is a loli-looking tsundere girl, a cute and meek trap, a busty foreigner and a vixen.