 [Larger view] | Ai Yori Aoshi - Hugs & Kisses (Vol. 3)
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 Extraordinary | |
| Ai Yori Aoshi - Vol. 3: Hugs & Kisses is the third DVD in the "Ai Yori Aoshi, Faithfully Yours" series. "Faithfully Yours" is not to be confused with the sequel series, "Ai Yori Aoshi Enishi." Hugs & Kisses contains five episodes, 11 - 15.
Episode 11 - "Debutante" - The debutante is annoying, spoiled, but lonely Mayu Miyuki. Having met Kaoru when she was a child at a family picnic, she is very attached to him and wants him to spend all his time with her. She railroads in and makes an instant enemy out of Tina. Episode 12 - "Kiss" - Mayu plants one on Kaoru. Aoi hears about it from Tina and Tae, and is devastated, but keeps it to herself. Meanwhile, Kaoru is spending the night with Mayu! How will Aoi handle this news? And how will Kaoru handle himself? Episode 13 - "Star Festival" - This episode takes place during the Japanese holiday where, once a year according to legend, the Celestial Maiden and her lover are allowed to meet. It is a joyous time to make wishes. All of the gang have wishes. Will they come true? Plus, it is Aoi's birthday. What will Kaoru get her? Episode 14 - "Servant" - Guess who's wearing a maid uniform and helping out (as badly as Tae) at the Sakuraba mansion? Mayu wants to learn to be domestic to impress Kaoru and land him as a husband. Unaware of the real nature of Aoi's and Kaoru's relationship, Mayu is loud and stomps all over Aoi's feelings, calling Aoi "the caterer." Episode 14 - "Feelings of the Heart" - Wow!!!!! The best of the bunch. An extraordinary episode, a tearjerker. Since Kaoru and Aoi are from prestigious kimono-making families, and love and appreciate kimonos, the viewer will get to share in those feelings in a big way. I love this episode, and I appreciate this series for it's intimate look into Japanese culture and tradition. | |
 Catfights galore from here on out, but it's getting better | |
| One more drop of 'Instant Add-A-Girl (Just add sugar)' and we get Mayu Mizuki. Her past and how it formed her personality in the present is just an absolute tear-jerker. It appears that Kaoru had a strong impact on her outlook on life. In his doing so it formed a very strong and believable attachment that she won't easily let go of. Because of this, she instantly becomes a firm baracade to Tina's chances at a relationship with Kaoru. And...Because of this, both girls achive a great amount of character growth. To top it off, the fights that they get in introduce some of the most fun and rowdy humor in the series. FINALLY we move away from boobie jokes! While the female cast is constantly growing and becoming more and more of a generic harem series, the key relationship between Aoi and Kaoru keep the story fresh. Episode 15 is called "Fellings Of The Heart". No kidding.... Get the tissues.... | |
| You thought THREE was a crowd. | |
| Mayu Mizuki has been living abroad, but comes back to Japan, not only to enroll in college, but to continue her childhood crush on Kaoru. She not only greets him with a kiss but moves in to be a servant! Will Aoi help the tiny terror learn how to cook, clean and wash just so Mayu can take Kaoru away from her? Just to make matters even worse, Kaoru needs to take a whole bunch of part-time jobs to pay for Aoi's birthday gift. But he is spending so much time away from Aoi, she starts to wonder if he even likes her anymore. Will Tina kill Mayu? Will the ferret run away with the cat? And why are all the other girls so jealous of the kissing Mayu? Five episodes and tons of extras. DVDs from this series are always a good value! |
