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R1 DVD Reviews
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Written by maehara
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Wednesday, 05 July 2006 00:00 |
 It's the final installment of Please Twins!, as the girls finally discover who's the sister and who's the stranger - a discovery that quickly leads to life in Maiku's home becoming just a little bit awkward as, faced with the opportunity to pursue her feelings for Maiku, one of the girls decides she just can't face him...
11 - I Want to Tell You I Love You
Whatever Karen's found while rummaging around in the house across the road has left her in a very pre-occupied & extra-ditzy mood. Miina and Maiku both know something's wrong, but if she's not willing to talk there's not much they can do to help. She's finally figured out who the twin is, and who the stranger is - but before she breaks the news to the other two, she's going to have one last date with Maiku. Later, Miina has problems coming to terms with the news and decides it's time to leave Maiku's home...
12 - We Three Twins
After searching for Miina for a full night, Maiku finally returns home, unsuccessful. She hasn't gone too far, though, as she's at school the next morning - much to Karen's surprise - although she's not saying anything, and seems to die from embarassment every time she sees Maiku. Could it be she wants to confess her feelings to him but just can't work up the nerve? While she sorts out her feelings, she decides to stay over with Haruko, while Maiku and Karen decide whether they should begin looking for their mother - but Miina soon has a change of heart and announces to Haruko that she's decided to leave town...
13 - The Summer Never Ends
Supplementary OVA episode. It's been two weeks since Karen found out she was Maiku's sister, and to say her personality has changed would be an understatement - from sweet, shy girl she magically become one of the most over-possessive people you're ever likely to meet, to the point where it's beginning to annoy both Maiku and Miina. Maiku resorts to camping out to try and get some peace and quiet, but Ichigo seems determined to have a little fun with the situation before she'll let things settle down...
A disc of two parts, this, as the story proper finishes with episode 12. Episode 13 was a DVD-only OVA episode, and let's just say there are issues with it.
If you bear in mind that Karen and Miina are your typical teenage girls, it's not surprising how the final two episodes play out - Karen wants to have one last fling with Maiku before she becomes the devoted sister, while the prospect of living with Maiku while being a couple is just too much for Miina to deal with, and it takes a little time for each girl to deal with their issues. It's done in the show's usual comic style, although the fanservice level isn't as high as before, and leads to a properly satisfying ending.
Which is all then undone by the OVA episode. The main selling point of this one is the increase in the fanservice level (lots of nudity & some implied naughtiness), but to try and keep the comic value high they've turned Karen from a sweet young thing into the jealous girl from hell. Note to anime producers: it's never okay to mess with the personality of a lead character simply for a few added laughs - it leaves the episode feeling simply not right, and ruins the viewers' connection to the character. IMHO, anyway.
If you want a good sense of closure, then, end with episode 12. The OVA episode has its moments (especially if you've lamented Herikawa's absence from Twins - she gets a few good appearances there), but for the most part is best forgotten. Please Twins! as a whole seems to divide opinion - there's a constant argument between fans who think it's better than Please Teacher! and those who prefer Mizuho's show. For my own money, Twins wins - the story, while still contrived, has a more realistic feel to it, and the characters are a more likeable bunch. Overall, then, worth checking out, particularly if you can pick up a cheap box release (Bandai's original boxset was limited-edition and is now unavailable, but if they keep to their usual form it should make another appearance in due course).
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