jeriendhal | Review: Chobits, Disc 2 (Reply)

AKA "Hedeki Finds His Backbone"

Okay, four episodes in and something resembling the plot seems to finally be emerging. Chii apparently isn't just an odd Persecomm, she's a very odd Persecomm, with a habit beating on pervy p-comm fanciers and making her fellow appliances act in wierd ways.

Episode Five started off as unpromising, with Hedeki suffering a case of the stupids and having to be reminding that Chii "...is an appliance, you know" and needs to be plugged in once and a while. I have to wonder what sort of batteries the average p-comm uses though, given that Shinbo had to reinforce the wiring in his own apartment just to recharge little Sumomo, and that Chii apparently sucks down juice like a nuclear reactor. But the epeisode redeems itself with Hedeki's obvious and deep concern about Chii shutting down for good, and his expected display of intestinal fortitude trying to get her to the restaurant to recharge (even if it does end in a pratfall for him).

BTW During Somomo's little lecture, did I actaully see a rare male persecomm on display?

Episode Six is where things start to get strange. Obviously Chii's deep reaction to the children's story is going to reinforce the romantic theme between her and Hedeki. Though have to wonder why her hair starts glowing when she really gets interested in something. Sumomo gets kawaii cheerleading points again for helping motivate Hedeki to study.

Episode Seven results in a our little Pygmalion getting a little overly ambitious and finding herself in a Bad Situation. This ep was a little more unbelievable, given that A) It's obvious to everyone that Chii is a unique model, B) She told Porn Boy she had an owner, C) Logically, there has to some law against using another person's persecomm to make a profit without their prior authorization, and D) He was advertising his little peep show all over the Net before it even got started. If she hadn't kicked Porn Boy's arse, Hedeki probably would have been within his rights (if not ability) to sue him out of his shorts.

Nevertheless this is an important episode if only because it shows there's something very odd going on around Chii, and hidden depths to her personality and memories. It's a bit undercut by Porn Boy's creepy actions, which emphaize the soft-core aspects of the whole persecomm thing, though he gets what he deserves in the end.

Episode Eight: A lot of mystery, and a bit more characterization in this one. The odd behavoir of the other persecomms in the area around Chii's little Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon rooftop jaunt hints that there even more wierdness to come. Given the show's title she probably is one ofthe legendary Chobits, but just who developed her and why is something that needs to be solved.

On the characterization front, it's obvious that Hedeki's co-worker is painfully aware of what a strapping young fellow like him might do with a cute persecomm, even if our farmboy is oblivious. Hedeki also gets points in my eyes for his little lecture about good jobs vs. bad jobs, and actually finding a decent bit of work for Chii without leaning on Shinbo or plain happenstance. It's helping erase the memory of some of his stupider hormonal responses from the first disc. The ending, where he lets Chii keeps the money she earned is very sweet (though I have to wonder how he's going to keep up with his bills in the meantime.)

Things I Learned From This Chobits Disc

1) The difference between "E-mail" and "Voice Mail" tends to get confused in translation.

2) If you're going to use a persecomm for pornographic purposes, buy one yourself instead of obtaining it secondhand.

3) No touchy! We mean it!

4) Mmm, yummy food.

5) Mmm, yummy pr0n.

6) Your persecomm may glow when processing new information. This is normal. We think.

7) Hedeki's landlord better cut down on the medication and start demanding he pay for all the electricity he's sucking down.

8) If you havea tendency to talk to yourself, investing in a gag might save you enexpected social embarassament.