I can’t explain exactly why, but I absolutely loved this show. It surprises me, looking back on it, because it’s a show entirely focused on a game that I don’t have the faintest clue about. It’s picked up my interest in the game, and I’ve learned bits and pieces from watching it, but I think it says something about a show to make me care a lot of about the characters going through a game I have no clue about. Still, I found myself actively cheering for the characters during the matches at the tournament. Even though I didn’t know what they involved, when they would pull off some super rare play or hand it would just invoke this excitement in me. I really did love watching the characters play.

Even if it wasn’t realistic or accurate, I wouldn’t know, but they just did such a good job showing the motivation these characters had they I was able to cheer for them playing a game I didn’t know about. Hell, there were even times when I would feel sorry for the opposing schools. They did a great job giving these rivals personalities and back-stories, making you feel for them and making you want them to win because it would mean a lot to them. I still always wanted Kiyosumi to win, but I didn’t always hate the other team. Except of course Koromo. I love her to death, think she’s the cutest damn character I’ve ever seen, but something about her made me just scream, “KICK HER ASS, SAKI!” during their matches. Overall it was just a blast to watch.

I do hope they continue on with another season eventually. Obviously not soon, as from what I’ve read they’ve caught up to the manga, and I wouldn’t want useless filler episodes. But when the manga gets further I’m definitely interested in finding out how the rest of the plot progresses, because there were certainly some interesting things cropping up that they hinted at.

This tournament has just been absolutely incredible. I’ve been on the edge of my seat almost the whole time, even without knowing anything about Mahjong. Saki would draw a tile and I would get more excited, then some hand that I had no idea what it was would come together, even more excitement, then BOOM she would get all these points with some complicated thing I knew nothing about, but I would still just want to cheer with the characters. I think that just shows how involved this show has seemed to make me and how much it has dragged me in. Even without knowing the game I care about whether or not these characters win, and when complicated hands come together that would mean a great deal to the characters, I get excited. It’s been a while since any show has made me just cheer along the way. I just wanted so much for Saki to kick Koromo’s ass. I would be chanting in my head, “Come on Saki, come on damn it, you can do it!” It really has been very exciting and entertaining to watch.

I am a bit curious and concerned with what they are going to do with the rest of the series now. Obviously there isn’t enough room for the national tournament unless this show gets another season. Plus there are still plenty of things that need to happen before the tournament like another training camp, more information on Saki and her sister, not to mention plenty of time for the tournament and then for her sister issues to be solved. I really do hope this gets another season, as I haven’t been this excited about a show in a long time, and I’m sure the national tournament and issues with Saki’s sister and some giant big sibling Mahjong game would be entertaining to see.

No this doesn’t have to do with Koromo…Ok actually it does just not the kind of urges that you may think…..Ok, maybe a little bit of those urges…..Anyways, this is about my urge of just wanting to shout at the screen for Saki to just absolutely kick Koromo’s ass in the game. Sure I love Koromo as a character, she is immensely cute and adorable yet I’ve just grown attached to Saki’s character and the plight of all the Kiyosumi characters about wanting to win and get to the nationals that I just can’t help swelling up with anticipation and just wanting to scream, “Kick her ass, Saki!”

What I’m actually the most surprised about is that it’s taking this long to finish this tournament. It’s going to be at least another episode to finish this one, if even that, which will leave us with more than half the show done, it seems that they will have less time to show the National tournament, far less then they showed this lesser one, which just seems odd. I hope they don’t just glaze over the other tournament, but then again I hope they don’t somehow manage to have some big cliffhanger either.

Anyways, KICK KOROMO’S ASS!

I really think that this tournament has brought out the best in this show so far. That seems to be the case with many shows in which there is some kind of sport or game. Things are fine and steady preparing for some tournament or big match but then your heart gets racing once these serious matches go on. I’m almost on the edge of my seat to find out how this goes on. Who wins against whom, what problems they run into. It’s still a good show when they aren’t in a tournament, but nowhere near as interesting when the game is just for fun. Here, with real actual penalty for loosing and not playing the game just for fun, it just raises the stakes more and my interesting is hooked.

As for what else is to come in the tournament, it will be interesting. Some matches will obviously be more interesting than others. Honestly, I don’t see the next two being very interesting at all. It doesn’t really have any noticeable characters. The president and Mako aren’t all that interesting of characters, of the five that are playing Yuuki, Nodoka and Saki have the most people and interest behind them. Even the other teams’ players are only interesting during the first, fourth, and fifth match. We already saw one eye’d girl play and the tall girl, the only other opponent characters that seem to have something going for them are the ojou-sama in the fourth who will be Nodoka’s rival, and then Koromo in the final. There’s even very slightly that cat eared girl who will also be in the fifth round. That really leaves the second and third one to be rather boring. Although I said how the tournament aspect of the show makes things interesting, I think the real thrill of the show won’t show until those fourth and fifth matches.

I don’t know how many episodes this series will be but I severely hope its 24-26. Otherwise they don’t have time to show anything other than this tournament, which would actually lead me to believe they don’t win this one but still learn a lesson or have fun. That would honestly suck. I hope Saki totally and completely kicks Koromo’s ass and we get to see them in the finals.

This latest episode of Saki really impressed me. First off, before the good part of the episode actually started I wanted to comment about the meido aspect of this episode, however then the episode went far beyond that. It wasn’t just a fan service episode with the meido costumes; it actually was one of the most serious episodes so far.

I think it’s very refreshing and good for a show that focuses on someone being really good at something to then take time and show that same person loosing. I’m comparing this show to Bamboo Blade because they both focus on sports I know nothing about yet are interesting for reasons other than that particular sport or activity. However with Bamboo Blade, the main heroine went throughout most of the series being undefeatable. I was just stunned that so early in this series they showed Saki effectively getting her ass kicked at the game. Albeit by a pro player, but a pro player that was beaten by someone they have to soon face. For them to show her not being some absolute god will make this series a lot more interesting. The episode really was great because off just showing that she has problems like anyone else….and of course the meido costumes….

At first I wasn’t even going to watch this series. I know nothing of Mahjong and have a lot of stuff going on that I don’t really care to learn about it, so I figured this series wouldn’t interest me. However after a couple of the series I did pick to watch ended up being either not very good or really just not with what interested me, I decided to give this a try. I was very surprised with how much I ended up liking it. Even with no knowledge of Mahjong it was interesting. It wasn’t because of these complicated hands that I’m sure I’d appreciate much more if I knew of the game, despite that the characters and just the situation was very fun to see It was interesting seeing this person who didn’t try and win kind of shake up someone who always wins. Her interest in the game and motivations, things like that are what makes this series interesting. It could very easily be applied to any game or activity and I think I would have the same feelings for it; so far it has caught my attention.

I do think there are some interesting possibilities for this series to come. First off the rivalry friendship developing between Saki and Nodoka, not to mention perhaps some yuri action… Also simple things like Saki just flat out getting beat by some much better player shaking up her confidence and affecting her character development and just simple things for a series focused on a sport or activity would focus on like losing for first time, running into people with different views on what the game is about and simple things like that. I think there will be plenty of fun moments to come so I’m going to keep watching it.