The Fourth Day of Christmas Anime: Love Hina

Love Hina
“Christmas Special – Silent Eve”

Shinobu Christmas

The Christmas Story

It’s just a few days until Christmas, but Keitaro, Naru, and Mutsumi are busy studying (well, the latter two at least) for a mock exam on Christmas Eve.  Keitaro can’t get his mind off of Naru, even more so when he discovers that she’s going to confess, made an even bigger deal because of a legend about the forever-ness of a confessing couple on this Eve.  Keitaro is so happy by this turn of events that he…falls off a roof and sprains his foot.

Unfortunately, the injury seems to drive Naru away and…into the arms of another man?

This is my favorite Christmas special/episode among anime series.  But watching it this year was a different experience.  Somehow, Love Hina as a whole wasn’t as good as I remembered it.  But as the tone of the series reentered my mind, I began to accept the impossible coincidences and the absurdity of the show once again.  And I was swept away by the wonderful characters of Love Hina and by the poignant moments that the show conveys.

Of course, the payoff in this episode is the confession scene.  And it is terrific.  There are three major confessions in Love Hina, and strangely enough, this middle one is the most touching of all.

I noticed a couple of other things this time around – first, some parts reminded me of one of the Maison Ikkoku Christmas episodes, particularly the scenes where treasured gifts are left on subway trains.  Another thing that stuck out was that hours and hours could’ve been saved if Naru and Keitaro just used cell phones…I suppose they were still new enough that it was plausible that neither characters had one.  It’s a little strange that cell phones have connected us so much that we may never see these types of episodes again, where there’s so much angst built from people unable to connect with each other.

All the more reason to watch this special, if you haven’t – there won’t be another like it again.  If you’re in the mood for romance, this episode does it as well as any.

Christmas Spirit Score

 
2 Santa Kero’s out of 4

If This Episode Was  a Christmas Song, It Would Be…

“The Gift” – Perhaps not a Christmas song, but certainly a wintry romantic one:

Winter snow is falling down
Children laughing all around
Lights are turning on
like a fairy tale come true

Sitting by the fire we made
You’re the answer when i prayed
I would find someone
and baby I found you

All I want is to hold you forever
All I need is you more every day
You saved my heart
from being broken apart
You gave your love away
and I’m thankful every day for the gift.

Stocking Stuffer

I searched (this year and last) for the dress that Naru so stylishly wears in the episode.  It looks as if there’s not real inspiration for it, in America at least.  But I did find a young lady (fittingly named Ms. Narusegewa) who cosplayed as Naru in the dress.

Tomorrow’s Forecast

Sometimes it’s especially hard for single parents to keep track of keeping your kids wearing warm enough clothes during winter.  But do your best – especially if you have a precious daughter and even if you’re an adoptive father!

On the fourth day of Christmas, anime gave to me… Naru looking pretty,
knitting for a crush,
a Paper Sisters birthday,
and friends for a former emperor.

Twwk
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