Third Episode Test - Astarotte no Omocha

What I Know

I’m told two things. One, that the show is deeply uncomfortable for several episodes. Two, that it’s supposedly not that bad thereafter. I’m not sure which side of the fence the third episode is supposed to fall, but my guess it probably that it isn’t going to matter as much as people say.

What The Title Suggests

Okay, I actually kind of know this one; it’s something like Astarotte’s Toy. And since, to my knowledge, this always has psychosexual connotations when used as the title of something in anime… welp.

Episode Impressions

Some dude is introducing his daughter to some demon girls. This is intensely confusing as he looks younger than most everyone else.

When did you father her, the instant you hit puberty?

This is apparently a problem for their demon harem because I guess kids are bad, even though that was sort of the entire point of a harem.

Then it turns out his daughter’s 10 and he’s somehow 23. So I guess he, uh, actually did bang at 13. Well this is awkward. This apparently creeps out the twintailed loli demoness too (at least SOMEONE has a sense of shame here) so she kicks those creeps out of her house.

But then they’re friends in the OP so I guess any dramatic tension that may have come from that is completely hosed. Way to spoil your own show, guys.

Anyway twintail demon princess is pissed because the dude was supposed to belong to her but he’s clearly used goods because he has a kid so what kind of crock of shit is that? The irony is delicious.

"Not even my dozens of pillows, toys, and servants can mend my shattered heart." "You know if he's been banging since 13, mistress, he's probably pretty awesome in the sack."

Wow, she dresses like a giant tramp, though she isn’t giant in any capacity, if you follow me. Her maid sure is though.

GodDAMN.

Daddy dearest of course doesn’t want to leave the bitchy demoness princess because he sees her sensitive side or something and also because he’s probably attracted to 13-year-olds (I mean, given his sexual history…). Also, his daughter isn’t wearing panties. I think that was meant to be a joke.

Later, it turns out Astarotte has to go to school. I hope demons age normally in this show because having to go to school for several centuries would completely blow. Daughter wants to also go to school, and… probably should be, shouldn’t she? I mean she’s 10 and just moved to a demon world with her single dad. What’s the worst that could happen?

Oh, I guess the worst that could happen is that the demon secretary is a lesbian pedophile. COMEDY! Anyway everybody’s off to school. Except the adults, because fuck that. Thereafter we’re introduced to a bunch more characters I could pretty much take or leave. Daughter’s appearance has left the princess out of sorts.

Honestly I pretty much agree with her at this point, Asuha is annoying as SHIT.

Apparently Asuha is cramping her style because she has to act dignified, although her nightclothes were definitely anything but a few scenes ago.

Nobody seems bothered that she’s human either. I dunno. I guess it’s a progressive demon world. They do seem bothered to learn that her father is Astarotte’s sex slave. Hey, I would be too.

Since the princess is standoffish and tsundere, she has no friends. What a surprise. Asuha’s brilliant solution? Gang up on her and force her to talk to them. This can’t possibly have a downside.

Also: Physical assault, because yanking their tail always endears you to someone.

Astarotte and Asuha bond over their presumably dead-by-anime mothers. Don’t be a mother in anime.

In the meantime, everyone is shocked that dad’s poking around the school, having never met a human before. The only difference appears to be pointy ears vs. not-pointy ears, and some of the demon students are drawn with the latter, so they’re in for disappointment. Or the animators are incompetent. Either way.

Eh, that's a pretty good guess though.

Then Asuha is attacked by a talking llama. Either the show just gave up or I did. I’m not sure why this is such a serious problem, but everyone is suddenly pretty serious about it. Dad fixes the problem by feeding the llama an orange. I guess ruthlessly attacking wildlife is slightly less effective than bribing it with treats. And thus everyone learns the power of friendship and food. And lesbian makeouts. A universal message.

Astarotte then, in something I’ve never actually seen before in a tsundere, apologizes to the dude for being a bitch. While I’m sure that won’t last, it’s a nice touch.

"At least I think this is an apology. I don't read Demonic Runes."

Also, Asuha isn’t wearing her panties again. COMEDY!

Show Impressions

Is this show a comedy? I mean it’s vaguely uplifting and marginally cute, but there wasn’t a humorous moment anywhere to be found.

Asuha is the biggest pain in the ass. If I were one of these demons I’d flay her alive and dip her in a vat of boiling oil. I mean are these people demons or just pointy-eared pussies? You don’t have to take that shit from mortals.

To be totally honest though, it wasn’t really awful or anything. The drama was realistic (well, so to speak) and not entirely overblown, there were no comic misunderstandings other than thinking Asuha’s dad was a llama, and the saucy dominatrix apologized to her man-whore. Warms your heart.

Did I Miss Something?

Why is everyone a gigantic slut?

Pictured: Slut.

Also, what’s the point of being employed in a demon world? Can you send the money home? Does Earth honor Satanbucks? Is he just getting paid to live and work in demon world? What about retirement? What if he wants to go home? Is Astarotte still going to be into her boy toy when he’s 80 and decrepit?

The First Two Episodes Were…

Well, hopefully they establish why this dude’s in demon world, how he got there, and why he banged out a crotch dumpling at the tender age of 12. I can’t tell if this guy is sick or just the biggest go-getter in the history of pimpin’. Which is not easy, especially when you can still remember a time before pubes.

Keep Watching?

I wouldn’t, but it doesn’t really seem that terrible. The subject matter is… iffy, but they’re not really playing up a fanservice angle. It’s definitely there, it’s just kind of incidental. Mind you, that doesn’t exactly excuse it, but I can forgive it the sins of its premise since it competently executed an episodic story arc. I can’t say that for, well, most shows.

Rewind or No?

There’s some definite continuity, so it’s probably important. Maybe it’s funnier if you’ve been watching it up to this point. Maybe it isn’t.

Final Single Episode Coherency Rating

3 (William Faulkner)

Well, there were a lot of things unexplained, but not unlike Tiger & Bunny I could muddle it out as it went along. Dude hits puberty, dude immediately knocks up chick, chick dies of anime, teen dad becomes butler-cum-manslut to a loli demon princess, teen dad’s daughter shows up to cockblock. We can all relate to that.

I’ll next be tackling Ao no Exorcist, which I sure hope is Japanese Ghostbusters.