Takagi-san 2 Analysis: Messages, Eye Drops & Hide and Seek

[@RymationYT]

I always assumed Hojo was pretending to be mature even in the manga chapter “The Scoop” because when Yukari asks to take a peak you can see Hojo is nervous just by the sweat on her face and her eyes plus she is blushing. After she sees what Nishikata and Takagi-San are doing she puts on an act saying “So Immature” and her hand gesture shows how over the top she is acting because she really is nervous and embarrass over romantic things which we later see in the newer chapters “Advice” and “Chocolate”. I have to say that I am interested on what your going to say about Takagi-San’s kiss “attempts” (I’m not sure if I should call them attempts because she knew Nishikata would move and she stops herself in “Treasure Hunt”) and ending the video on a cliffhanger saying there could me negative implications for the Summer Festival really got me excited on what your thoughts are, I can’t wait!

[@Big_Joe]

Yeah, after rereading these chapters I figured that my first impressions of Houjo were just wrong. I was going to make the "kissing scene" it's own video essay in the same vein as "Is Takagi-san Problematic?", but I decided to integrate it into the "Treasure Hunting" analysis instead. I'm a little nervous about the point I want to make, but I hope I can at least articulate it properly and leave it up to you guys to decide if I'm onto something or not.

[@RymationYT]

I’m sure you will find the right words, after all you are really good at explaining your points which I am envious of.

[@gabrielcaro]

I really like your analysis videos! Can’t wait for the next one.

[@devilsadvocate22289]

*screams at screen* WAIT...WHAT ARE THE NEGATIVE IMPLICATIONS???? WHY ARE THESE VIDEOS SO ADDICTING??? WHY AM I SCREAMING AT MY PHONE SCREEN??? Also, great vid! Can’t wait for the next one!

[@jezero]

Nishikata is starting to "fail his task successfully", and is appreciating the fact that he's done something to cheer Takagi up at the expense of losing. In the future, he will be more tolerating of losing some contests to protect/give joy to something much more important to him. Also, he is sensitive enough to have second thoughts of teasing her when she just came from a not-so-good mood earlier. Takagi's weak to displays of intimacy from Nishikata, sure. But since she was at her room, she was able to have a controlled environment to test out how far she can go with the teasing, without having to show her vulnerabilities to him. Nice call to the theme of the first OP song, which explains why she doesn't mind other people getting ideas about them. Houjou's pretty mature when she wants to be, even though it's true that she's trying to give off a mature image (which most kids like to do to gain a good rep). Logical retorts to Hamaguchi aside, she appreciates the effort being given to her and responds in kind. I'm not so sure about the "kiss attempt" during the hide-and-seek part, with her body slightly shifting and the focus on Takagi's fingers sliding towards Nishikata's, I think it's more of a "hand-holding" attempt that's part of the overall theme of S2. Nishikata reacts the same way as usual with the "touch my hand and you win" challenge that's been going on for some time, because of course, he's still not ready for that.

[@Big_Joe]

I think Takagi still leans in towards him, but I may be getting it mixed up with "Treasure Hunting". When I begin to write the next script I'll be sure to correct any mistakes I made about 'Hide and Seek'. As for the rest of your comment, it was a great read as always! Thank you!

[@alex2guzman]

Finally! You're becoming more popular.

[@ThanhtuMML]

I think that Takagi's two attempts work in a way like 'I saw a couple doing this so why not we?' Takagi wouldn't lean closer to him if Hamaguchi and Houjou didn't go the empty lot, and she wouldn't try to kiss him if she didn't know that a couple drawing a map leading to the tree where they had their first kiss. It's one of her teases again, but this time, she tricks Nishikata to think of something romantic like hand holding or kissing (not exactly 'trick' though, she knows he will just think of that immidiately when she teases him and goes for it). Your analyses are well delivered, and I can't wait to see the rest of your analyses for this season! The negative implications though, a hot-take of yours, I guess?

[@anthonycaro2582]

Dude i love these episode analysis They are really well made and i hope they grow in popularity

[@LarsEspen]

Joe i am now supporting you in patreon

[@Big_Joe]

Thank you so much!

[@LarsEspen]

@@Big_Joe Np

[@triparadox.c]

This.. I need your skill of analysis now that I am taking English - Film as Literature class. Dang it. I'm majoring in CS yet I have to take literature..

[@Big_Joe]

I also had to take an analysis class when I did my Bachelors Degree. It was my least favourite class, yet somehow thew one I got the best marks in. It was more hardcore film study style analysis (Male gaze, feminist theory, french new wave, ect.) I much prefer my own version of slightly watered down analysis.

[@gryphey]

Nice as always

[@ferdinandcorro8378]

What is the title for your next analysis after this?? Need to know

[@technologicalwaste7612]

Only since watching your videos on the topic have I ever viewed Nishikata as a rival to Takagi-san. Previously I had always viewed him as a victim who was involved in a game he did not really understand, and poorly attempting to hold his own. Through your lens, he appears to be more a comic relief villain, like Team Rocket for example--who really is nefarious--but hopelessly ineffective. Perhaps this is because I have not read the manga.

[@Big_Joe]

I'm not sure if I would describe him as a comic relief character, although the entertainment value from his reactions certainly do play a role in the show. I do wholeheartedly agree that he is a part of a game that he does not understand, but I'm not sure if I would refer to him as a victim. The anime goes out of it's way to show that Nishikata actively participates in and maybe even enjoys this game. I must say, I really appreciate your comment! it's not often that I am presented with a different lens through which to view this show, so I always love to read an alternate take. I hope you hang around for the 'Summer Festival' analysis coming out this week, I would very much enjoy hearing your thoughts on my position. Also while I do reference the manga from time to time, the anime really should stand up on its own. If you develop an opinion that can be applied to the show but not the manga, it's still a valid take on the show, I would certainly argue that the two versions of the story are different in some pretty important ways.

[@technologicalwaste7612]

​@@Big_Joe - It is difficult to know what the author intended to convey, whether they succeeded at doing so, and if we should respect their vision if what they convey consistently shows something else. That said, the lens through which I view Nishikata's actions is not actually new to you, because you have mentioned it a couple of times with this concept of subconscious desires being expressed consciously through superficial motivations (aimed at achieving the same outcome) that are acceptable to the ego. Now that you have taken my comment seriously, I should retract those simplified remarks regarding Nishikata's victimhood. He is not a victim, he is just really bad at his chosen method for justifying being around Takagi-san. This continued failure yet persistence--since victory at teasing is not even what he really cares about--is what can make him look like a victim, sometimes. So to reiterate: My perception is that Nishikata's desire is singularly being close with Takagi-san, and that everything else is a by-product or a requirement (to avoid cognitive dissonance) of his attempt to engineer plausible methods for achieving this.

[@Big_Joe]

That is a very eloquent way to say it, and I completely agree! Had victory really been Nishiaktas motivation, season 1 would have ended with Critical Hit, and season 2 would have ended completely differently. It's also worth looking at the moments where he does "win". 'Who is Taller' from season 1 comes to mind, he is never satisfied the way he thinks he will be, because victory is not actually what he wants. He seemingly accepts this in 'Souvenirs' when he directly forgoes victory to maintain Takagi's happiness.

[@Davanthall]

Man, that language tease thing at the beginning of Messages was rough for dubbers. The dub had to do that silly U2 joke...and had to reference a “region in Bavaria” named “Kissing”. The hoops that English dubs have to jump through sometimes...

[@Zero_2558]

I thought message will have it's own episode on it but ok I'll take that

[@Big_Joe]

I think it was meant to have it's own at some point, but I figured out that I only had a few things to say in regards to that story. Please know that I never cut any stories analysis short for the sake of fitting it into this format, had "Messages" gotten its own episode it would have only been as long as the "Messages" segment of this video. I hope it was still worth the watch though :)

[@Axis33008]

The dub for messages is one of the reasons I’m not a fan of the season 2 dub (I know a lot of people aren’t a fan of the dub in general and that’s fine). You can tell that they are trying to find a way to make it work, but it just isn’t anywhere near as good as it is in Japanese. Another reason I’m not a fan of the season 2 dub is that, aside from when it’s relevant to the plot, Nishikata is the only one to use honorifics, and only for Takagi, other boys say her name without honorifics and I just laugh every time it happens.

[@Big_Joe]

Also Takagi's line in the "Dropping Honourifics" dub about Nishikata "just going for it" makes me physically uncomfortable....

[@amryrahim2015]

Can someone explain to me,please?

[@coldlava05]

👍

[@eliaskimon]

Cliff hangers btw

[@Big_Joe]

>:)

[@eliaskimon]

@@Big_Joe lol 😂

[@linusmota9712]

3rd

[@coollani3639]

Yooòoooo