Nisekoi: False Love Volume 2

Episodes 11-20

If only Raku Ichijo could remember what really happened ten years ago (he was only a five-year-old at the time, so he can be forgiven if his memories are a little vague) he’s certain that all his current problems would be solved. He still has the ornate pendant – given to him by a mysterious little girl – but which little girl was it, who holds the key to unlock the pendant and his heart?

Of course, his relationship with Chitoge, is only supposed to last for three years, to keep the peace between their two rival gangs. And he and Chitoge, although still inclined to resort to slinging the old insults at each other (she calls him ‘Bean Sprout’,  he calls her ‘Gorilla’) are learning to get along a little better. But he still has feelings for his true crush, shy Kosaki Onodera. So how come both these girls possess keys which may – or may not – be the ones to fit his pendant?

An old photograph from ten years ago and the arrival of a late transfer student in Raku’s class at school throw a spanner in the works. Who is this delicately pretty red-haired girl who claims to be his fiancée? And why does newcomer Marika Tachibana also have a key?

Well, who’d have thought it? Either Nisekoi: First Love improves in Episodes 11-20 or I’ve come to know – and like – the characters. (Not that Nisekoi was bad before, but it seemed to rely rather too much on easy gags and superficial humour.) Which means that the creative team must have been doing a good job in building character development! I can’t say that the action is any less frenetic or over-the-top and all the old clichés of harem comedy are still arriving thick and fast. Anything that Raku – as the unlikely object of all the girls’ affections – does is still going to be misinterpreted. His cheerily oblivious friend Shu is usually the one to come up with the salacious suggestions (and usually gets thumped for his pains) but good-hearted Raku is often beaten up by the girls (or their entourage) for some genuine misunderstandings. He’s the fall guy, par excellence. What a violent crew these young women are! (Except for blushing, sweet-natured Onodera, that is.)

However, at least it’s acknowledged here that the fathers of all concerned have a great deal to answer for, using their children’s futures as bargaining tools! Raku’s dad, in particular, seems to be quite the cunning old reprobate. But the gangster/yakuza backgrounds of the central pair are significantly played down or played for laughs, with no real hint of menace.

The series is well-constructed and skilfully moves the action on from one revelation to another, drawing the viewer along, eager to discover what happens next. We experience all the usual harem comedy set pieces: the beach holiday (swimsuits, boobs, barbecues), the local festival (yukata, sideshows, snacks) and then, inevitably, the school culture festival. And guess which play the class is going to stage? Yup, Romeo and Juliet! And the casting of the two leads is an obvious choice – or is it? Because the two unwilling lovebirds have had a terrible falling-out; feelings have been badly bruised and the mock relationship is off, or so Chitoge declares. What will happen to the class play? Who will play Juliet to Raku’s Romeo?

It’s a credit to the writing, direction and voice acting that the confused feelings experienced by Chitoge (Nao Touyama) toward bemused Raku (Kouki Uchiyama) – and vice versa – add an unexpected depth, creating sympathy for the two ill-starred young people. And it’s this – as well as the clever use of misdirection – that lifts Nisekoi: False Love from the standard harem comedy, over-reliant on gags and farcical misunderstandings. It still looks great, thanks to what must have been a generous budget for the animation, and especially when employing manga-influenced imagery, keeps the visuals looking fresh and innovative. (Although, apart from drawing the end card for Episode 20, it’s not entirely clear to what extent the mangaka and original creator Naoshi Komi was involved in the making of the anime. And for anyone interested, Viz have been publishing the ongoing manga.)

There’s a new Opening song from ClariS “STEP” and all five female actresses contribute to the various Ending songs; the only extras are these attractive textless songs and their animations.

In Summary

Nisekoi –False Love is a funny and lively harem romcom, wittily animated, with just enough heart to make you care about the characters. There’s a Second Season, but if it were to stop here, it would feel ‘just right’; there’s only a certain amount of extending a harem story without exhausting the viewer’s patience.