Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu Purezza ♪

Short summary: It'll be hard to find anything likable about Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu: Purezza , unless you really loved the characters from the Season 1 (and I mean really loved, and I still probably wouldn't recommend it). Long summary: In season 1, Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu was about a boy, Yuuto, that meets a girl, Haruka, who is a very rich but kind girl that has a secret - she loves anime. In order to learn more about her, he begins to learn about various aspects of anime as he builds a relationship with her. This made season 1 a delightful little romance/comedy, which wasrather fun and charming. However, the same cannot be said about Purezza. In fact, the reason I just recapped season 1 was because there is essentially nothing to talk about regarding season 2's plot. Story: (3) Poor The first two episodes of Season 2 talk about anime topics to some degree, but from then on the practice of integrating anime concepts into the episodes disappears. Haruka's anime secret is a non-concept this entire season. For that matter, Haruka herself isn't even really present for half the season. However, in exchange, we get increased fanservice. Yay. Season 2 instead has essentially 10 episodes of filler, where various returning supporting characters interact with Yuuto, and a couple new minor characters are introduced. The episodes themselves have very little in common with each other. The two episode "dramatic arc" near the end of the season has the most semblance of a plot, but unfortunately the story is fueled by Yuuto and Haruka's cluelessness, making it difficult to accept the arc seriously (and is immediately followed by a hot springs episode, which is the season finale). Art: (6) Fair The art is similar to that of season 1's, in that characters are generally drawn pretty well and there's nothing painful to look at, but at the same time nothing particularly stands out about the animation. Sound: (4) Decent The opening song is appropriate for the anime, and is catchy enough where I didn't get tired of hearing it after two times. The ending has a fun song sung by the VA cast, and fits the mood of the anime. The quality of the voice acting is excellent, as there are some fantastic VAs involved in the series. My issue is that they were all underused - partially because of too much spread out attention on all the characters, but mostly because there just weren't enough interesting scenes to utilize talents. A prime example of this is the participation of Rie Kugimiya. She voices a fitting tsundere character in episode 3, but otherwise voices the character of Alice, which other than like 3 lines, says nothing but one word repeatedly for all her appearances. Character: (4) Decent Most of the characters from season 1 are back, which is a good thing. However, this is overshadowed by the fact that in Purezza the characters seem to have actually devolved. Both Haruka and Yuuto have become timid, awkward versions of their former selves, and their relationship seems to have been reset as well. (At the end of season 1 they very likely kissed, and yet by the beginning of season 2 not only were they not dating, but they couldn't even hold hands properly). The supporting character suffer from similar fates. For example, the maids and Haruka's parents, who all played big parts last season, are barely present this season, and when they do appear they don't do anything new. It's almost like the characters traded character growth in exchange for the ability to lose their clothing more often instead. Conclusion (Overall (4)): I was looking forward to Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu: Purezza, because season 1 was funny and delightful. However, the lack of plot in Purezza, combined with character devolution, was just too rough to handle. Even though I watched the anime all the way through and tried my best to like it, I simply can't bring myself to recommend Purezza.

I question if this is an actual continuation of the pleasantly sincere and straighforward 2008 series, because it resembles nothing of what it originally was. Originally a series about a rich girl who didn't want people to know she was really an otaku, the series seems to have thrown its entire narrative out the window in favor of half-assed melodrama, shameless self-promotion, and a LOT more of the fairer sex's skin. In short, because it was profitable enough to bear a second season, it has turned to pandering. Is it all bad? No, not really. The animation is still top-notch work with appealing and interesting characterdesigns. The OP/ED combination is also a lot catchier this time around, an improvement on the first season, but the voice acting seems to have gotten much more stale. No one here feels like they're attempting to do anything beyond reading what is on the script which really hurts it in the long run. But as many of my review readers have come to know about me, I think technical details mean squat on the whole, and this is certainly no exception. The subtitle of the second season "purezza" is Italian for "pure", a word that I would in no way use to convey this series. It's sullied right down to the core. For starters, the titular "himitsu" no longer exists. Oh yes, Haruka still watches anime. Her current interest is Nocutre Girls School Lacrosse Club with lead character Haruna voiced by Amiko Noto. *crickets* Don't worry. I wasn't expecting you to laugh. Hell, I don't expect you to laugh at all at what this series has been degenerated to, given it is nothing but cheap ecchi sight gags and this terrible tongue-in-cheek referencing. Much of the plot is entirely inconsequential, mostly because Haruka and Yuuto have become one of the most indecisive couples imaginable. What committed couple after months goes on a date blushing furiously like they're sinning against God?! Grow up, you two! But they aren't the only infuriating ones. New one-line personality characters have been added (shy loli who can only speak one word, Rie Kugimiya Stereotype #592 and idol singer whose existence breaks the fourth wall) that add nothing to the plot and are incredibly inconsequential as well. How did a series I championed for having well-utilized characters turn out a second season where they do absolutely nothing interesting! I don't really know what to say in the end other than I'm incredibly disappointed. If you're a fan of the original Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu for whatever reason, you'd be best off avoiding this. The characters meander, the comedy has been turned down to the lowest denominator, and it would rather promote itself than go anywhere useful. There are few generally likeable shonen romances these days. Watching one shoot itself in the foot is a sad thing indeed. Overall, I give Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu: Purezza a 4 out of 10.

Story ( 1 ) What a joke, what a sorry excuse for a second season. This was absolutely horrible. What a utter and complete waste of my time. All I can say is WTF?!? From start to finish there is absolutely no progress in the relationship between the two lead characters. REALLY!!! no kiss, no sex, no nothing! What kind of shit is this! The first season had SOMETHING to do with the whole anime secret but no the second had little or pretty much nothing to do with the secret, WHAT HAPPEN! The plot is missing in action. Character ( 2 ) The character development is balls,I could care less about the characters because there wasn't even a bother with showing more on the characters, just tidbits on who the new characters are and what they do. Not to mention that Haruka was missing in quite a few episodes; One of the main characters missing in the show, what were they thinking?! Art ( 7 ) The animation I have to say was good even though the overall season was garbage. Sound ( 6 ) The opening is descent and I thought the ending was pretty cute, no homo. Enjoyment ( 2 ) I hated it. I was hoping to be pulled into some romance since the first season left off with a some sort implication that Yuuto and Haruka would eventually fall in love, i was mistaken. The second season being an ass just strung me along with nothing to show for except teases and shortcomings. Overall (4 ) Avoid this crappy second season, you'll be dissapointed with the results. This season to me was more like just a random assortment of episodes that have nothing to do with the plot, oh wait there was no freaking plot this time around, WHAT HAPPENED! This was just a bunch random episodes mashed together to make this middle finger in your face season.

Ok, I'm aware that this series has both a manga and a light novel series, but i've not seen any of them. However, I've watched S1 of this series. And I've seen a few reviews written about this series in MAL too, and most say this seires is not that good. I disagree, my reasons are below... [Specialty-Harem and Slow Romance] [Weakness- some unconnected episodes and unexplained stuff] Story:6 To be honest it's a bit disappointing. Cause there were quite a lot of scenes loaded with some form of fanservice, or at least were short on details. I infer that a lot of content from the light novel hasbeen cut out. Those who watch this after S1 may feel a bit dismal at the quality of the storyline. Reason being: the main focus of Haruka being an otaku is gone, cos she no longer has to keep it a secret, and the original plot you can't really see it in S2. S2 is more of the romance build-up between Haruka and Yuuto (slow type, like Yume de Aetara manga), some unconnected episodes featuring new girls who fall in love with Yuuto, and some events here and there. I really like the unconnected harem episodes where Haruka disappears and the episodes where Yuuto and Haruka "bond together", cause there were often many emotional scenes. That's why although the S2 isn't as exciting as the first, it is still of a fairly high quality in storyline and progression. The ending was similar to S1, and still a lot of harem relationships were still not resolved and unexplained (That's why I said they are unconnected). Art:8 Fairly hgih quality, a few great special effects, but not much change of art quality. Same to S1. Sound:8 It may be a mistake, but I actually felt that S2 is better than S1 in terms of the bgms. They were well-placed and well-cut-off and as usual, the voice acting is good, some parts having excellent voice acting. And the bgms really raised the mood for most of the scenes, especially the emotional ones. Character:6 This is quite sad. A lot of characters show up but play almost no part in any of the episodes, for example the rest of the maid team that did not show up in S1. Then a lot of side characters may disappear for 3 or more eps then come back again. And the new girls who fall in love with Yuuto (Yes, the harem is realistic) may feature in only 1 or 2 full episodes then disappear again. 1 major flaw could be that Haruka isn't really an otaku or a very well-known girl in this season. Most of the times I have an impression that she is just a normal girl who likes 1 show, the Lacrosse High School Club or sth. So, S2 is really not as exciting as S1 as 2 unique points of the main female character had been more or less abandoned. And 1 problem with Yuuto is he's really really super dense. It 'wows' me at times. And he's also super super kind at the "right" times. A little too perfect of a gentleman... Enjoyment:6-8 Really can't decide. At the end of S2 I feel quite empty. Cause a lot of things were unexplained and unresolved. So many things that I wonder if S2 is following the main novel. Some potential passed on from S1 were still undeveloped in S2. Really sad... But to be honest I liked S2, some eps were very touching, and at other times inspirational. I enjoyed the very realistic setting of the romance featured between 2 reserved people, and could really feel the love between the 2. Aww

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