Recap: Houtarou’s sister returns and makes him get a job as a pool lifeguard. The anthology is finished and ready for the school festival, but how will they sell all these copies?

Jel’s Thoughts: After floundering a bit with a four part Movie arc that was at least two episodes too long, Hyouka steps it up with a couple of anime staple episodes done right. Hey, if you must have your pool and school festival episodes, might as well put them to work.

Episode 11.5 was really a low quality pre-showing of the bonus episode that will be on the bluray release. So yes, there is plenty of Chitanda in a bikini to rack up sales. But even though there were a few painstakingly animated shots of her coming out of the water, it was all part of the plan to bring her and Houtarou closer together. Just about all her fan service shots are from his perspective, with almost no attention directed at Mayaka. And let’s be honest, if you were in his shoes that’s probably where your eyes would be. It’s kind of disappointing this was a “bonus” episode since it’s pretty plot relevant between episode 11 and 12 and ends with one of Houtarou’s biggest concessions to his new way of life yet. So be sure to watch it, if not now then later on when it’s released in better quality.

Episode 12 featured some much needed attention for Mayaka in a good example of “show, not tell” characterization. I like how they contrasted her choice in cosplay (old obscure manga character) with the other girls in the manga society (popular but irrelevant vocaloids) to kind of give you a feel for the type of person she is. That’s probably the most progressive development as the rest of the episode is packed with Chitanda filling this week’s moe quota, but they do at least manage to set us up for next week’s mystery.

If you haven’t figured out by now that Hyouka is not about solving mysteries but about Houtarou realizing he should get out and live his life, well, these two episodes drive that home pretty hard. His willingness to analyze himself without falling apart or being too stubborn to change is part of what makes Hyouka an interesting watch, even though the events around him have been totally inconsequential.

Iro’s Thoughts: These were probably the best episodes yet. Houtarou’s sister is confirmed for a troll and for the best character, and this show finally as an ED sequence that is thematically appropriate.