C&C - Paranoia Agent - "Double Lips" [6/11]

[The Landstander]

=((

[Youko Recca]

Ah damn, I was still holding out hope anyways.

Hahaha, nothing like an freaky otaku to run you into the sheets.

[Mrs._Tom_Ato]

Eeeeewwwwww!!!!!!!!!

[Perfect Cell]

Ok this certainly had an eye catching opening.

[AkirQueen]

DOT DOT DOT

....Well, that scene was a first for me to see in tv-aired anime....

[Dub]

The opening of this episode was just W......T.......F?!?! XD XD XD

EDIT: Is this girl Ichi's tutor? @_@ Does she have multiple personality disorder or something?

[Chad Bonin]

1. Never thought I'd see a Rival Schools: United By Fate reference on Adult Swim.

2. Never thought I'd see Karl in action on Adult Swim.

(He's gonna kill me, I know it. :evil: )

[livingfruitvirus]

EDIT: Is this girl Ichi's tutor? @_@ Does she have multiple personality disorder or something?that's exactly what's going on.

2. Never thought I'd see Karl in action on Adult Swim.hahaha. you mother****er. too funny.

[Chad Bonin]

So it really is an Adult Swim Action show.

[Maestro]

So it really is an Adult Swim Action show.
Yeah, it was just pretending before

[MJC]

:confused:

Me confused.

[Chad Bonin]

Well, "action" in more ways than one.

... I mean, yeah, 'lil Slugger's swinging his bat, but there's another 'lil slugger in play...

... it had sex.

[Dub]

That damn maromi doll is giving me the willies. It just keeps on showing up...

[Discloner]

This poor woman. :(






...She's nucking futts.

[jethrek]

The opening of this episode was just W......T.......F?!?! XD XD XD

EDIT: Is this girl Ichi's tutor? @_@ Does she have multiple personality disorder or something?
Yes, and here it goess of the deep end

[Chad Bonin]

I'd, um... well...

The crazy ones are apparently the best. Just hide your rabbits.

EDIT- And am I reading too much into the title?

[Spike Mcdougal]

All your messages have been DELETED!!

[jethrek]

You heard it folks

Lil' Slugger has been caught

[MJC]

Me still confused.

So did Lil' Slugger beat the multiple personality disorder out of her or something?

[delariean]

Was there a rating for this ep?

[Dub]

This poor woman. :(

...She's nucking futts.
She's an entire bag of nuts, a flying squirrel, and thirty-three oak trees out of order. This episode has officially hooked me on this show. XD

[Railith]

That damn maromi doll is giving me the willies. It just keeps on showing up...
That thing is probably going to eat someones face by the end of the series.

Awesome for paranoia as usual and the beging with the nerdy fat guy was nasty and funny in the same way. Crazy whore tutors are kinda depressing, I'm glad getting hit in the face with a baseball bat seemed to cheer her up.

[Eddie G.]

The bulk of it felt boring and uninteresting but the last five minutes just creeped me out and left me wanting more. I really need to know what happened to Lil' Slugger

[Wolfie~Giri]

Now i wanna maroni doll.:p

This whole Saturday night is just completely loaded.

[Chad Bonin]

Wow, I really enjoyed that episode. Strange, considering I was also watching Power Rangers SPD at the same time.

[KnightusMaximus]

Was there a rating for this ep?TV-14S.

[PearlRose86]

All the characters on the show appear to be off the deep end... and I'm really getting more and more addicted to this show.

Can't wait til next week. I wanna know more about Lil' Slugger.



-Maggie

[Anyone00]

So Lil' Slugger is a psychotherapist that uses radically unconventional methods?

[The Landstander]

This show is 3 for 3 so far; this was probably my favorite.

[Vagrant]

This poor woman. :(
No. I bet she is quite wealthy. :sweat:

...She's nucking futts. The crazy ones are the most fun. :evil:

[Vagrant]

So Lil' Slugger is a psychotherapist that uses radically unconventional methods? Yeah, you can say that.

What a delightfully twisted psycho thriller! I would have never thought that this show would attract this kind of following. Maybe AS should air Perfect Blue while they're at it. :D

[Rabi~en~Rose]

finally this shows got itself a good episode the whole plot was really creepy for the first time :) ichi's cool I'm glad he got some more screentime

[Karl Olson]

2. Never thought I'd see Karl in action on Adult Swim.

(He's gonna kill me, I know it. :evil: )

You beat me to it. :sweat:

hahaha. you mother****er. too funny.

And sadly I have no come back, nor any defense.

Anyway, I dig this episode because it's basically Perfect Blue, but in much less time and with a completely different psychological issue in play. But the same pace and vibe is in there, which is what makes it work.

[Behonkiss]

This series is still astounding me. Every episode feels different and still excels, and I feel for each character.

Also, the otaku scene was classic. He was also in the first episode with a lolicon poster on his door. :p

[Vagrant]

You beat me to it. :sweat: ... and so did I.


Anyway, I dig this episode because it's basically Perfect Blue, but in much less time and with a completely different psychological issue in play. But the same pace and vibe is in there, which is what makes it work.
Good times. :cool:

[Chad Bonin]

And sadly I have no come back, nor any defense.Aww, come on. Don't give up the fight so quick. I have both Rival Schools: United By Fate on the PSone (and their version of the Capcom Summer Special comic) AND the Hand Maid May box set...

[Quincy Archer]

Wow, I really enjoyed that episode. Strange, considering I was also watching Power Rangers SPD at the same time.

Well she does morph..... Just in her own special way:p

[Behonkiss]

Wait, what was the Rival Schools reference? The level 3 elastic attack line?

*hasn't played the game*

[Vagrant]

Well she does morph..... Just in her own special way:p So she wasn't a cosplayer, eh? :D

[Chad Bonin]

"Karl", as we'll call him, had a figure of Tiffany Lords on his display.

[Superperson]

I heard a rumour that Lil' Slugger's bat was wooden.

[livingfruitvirus]

I heard a rumour that Lil' Slugger's bat was wooden.why's it bent?

[Karl Olson]

Aww, come on. Don't give up the fight so quick. I have both Rival Schools: United By Fate on the PSone (and their version of the Capcom Summer Special comic) AND the Hand Maid May box set...

You've got that "special box" under your bed too, but I'm not gonna bust your chops about it. Besides, I own Mahoromatic S1 on DVD and the manga through vol.6, so even I've got some maid stuff (just good maid stuff with some semi-psychological character driven stuff in it.) Can't really bust your chops about it, other than Hand Maid Mai is mediocre.

Anyway, I'll also say this episode it really well assembled. Even though you're told the big secret early on, the way it's used still builds up a huge amount of tension and emotion, most of it in the culminating few minutes. Like I said, that makes it quite evokative of Perfect Blue, though the sexual content in Perfect Blue is a lot more cringe worthy if you can believe it.

[SirLemming]

I really didn't care for this episode. I found it boring and predictable. It wasn't nearly as engaging as last week's; unlike that one, it failed to make me interested in the character. And that's weird, because last week's character should've been much less likeable. But the whole thing felt like, yeah, she has a multiple personality disorder, yeah, she goes crazy at the end and then gets attacked by Li'l Slugger... So what? Nothing really surprised me or made me think.

[NickWhiz1]

Holy crap, this show keeps getting better and better. Definitely one of the most...attention-grabbing first scenes in Adult Swim history, and a wonderfully written and executed storyline. Not to mention the crack-induced OP and ED ;)

And I don't buy it for a second that they actually caught Lil' Slugger.

[jethrek]

I really didn't care for this episode. I found it boring and predictable. It wasn't nearly as engaging as last week's; unlike that one, it failed to make me interested in the character. And that's weird, because last week's character should've been much less likeable. But the whole thing felt like, yeah, she has a multiple personality disorder, yeah, she goes crazy at the end and then gets attacked by Li'l Slugger... So what? Nothing really surprised me or made me think.
Lil Slugger being CAUGHT at the end didn't surprise you even a bit?

Tough customer...

[jethrek]

Holy crap, this show keeps getting better and better. Definitely one of the most...attention-grabbing first scenes in Adult Swim history, and a wonderfully written and executed storyline. Not to mention the crack-induced OP and ED ;)

And I don't buy it for a second that they actually caught Lil' Slugger.It'll all be clear next week.

If by clear you mean "confusing as all hell"

[Youko Recca]

Lil Slugger being CAUGHT at the end didn't surprise you even a bit?

Tough customer...
Who cares when there's offscreen sex going on!?

[SirLemming]

Lil Slugger being CAUGHT at the end didn't surprise you even a bit?That did, yes. Nothing about the main plot did, though. That's what I was really saying.

[AkirQueen]

That thing is probably going to eat someones face by the end of the series.
By the looks of the size of it from the ending, I wouldn't be surprised.

[James Bester]

The opening was just plain freaky with the fat guy.The actual episode was okay, but I still had trouble understanding what was actually going on. It just wasn't as interesting as the past two. I didn't understand how her alternate personality was just leaving messages on her phone. I'm clueless:shrug:

[TnAdct1]

:confused:

Me confused. Well, it is from the same guy who directed Perfect Blue, and tonight's episode (with the lady with the split personality) definitely has the same feel that is used in Perfect Blue (especially in the idea that it also attempts to make the viewer paranoid as well).

Aww, come on. Don't give up the fight so quick. I have both Rival Schools: United By Fate on the PSone (and their version of the Capcom Summer Special comic) AND the Hand Maid May box set... Speaking of Hand Maid May: was that a figurine of May at the beginning of the episode?

[jethrek]

The opening was just plain freaky with the fat guy.The actual episode was okay, but I still had trouble understanding what was actually going on. It just wasn't as interesting as the past two. I didn't understand how her alternate personality was just leaving messages on her phone. I'm clueless:shrug:
Chouno and Maria were sending each other messages to communicate with each other...when they were int he body.

Beyond that it's all in Harumi's head...

[Viceroy]

And the most perplexing question about this episode:

Where does an otaku get enough money to hire a hooker?

I mean, first he'd need to get a job and then he'd have to save up the money even if the shop has new Sailor Sensei posters and Kagome resin figures...

[Chad Bonin]

Think so, hence my reference.

... I've never actually opened the box set.

[Dark Soul]

Another psycho saved by the savior " The Slugger". That was a screwed up opening to the show. This sho is getting better each week. Lil slugger being caught I don't buy it.. This episode gets a A- for weirdness.

[JShaggy]

Chouno and Maria were sending each other messages to communicate with each other...when they were int he body.

Beyond that it's all in Harumi's head...And yet everytime she tries to forget about her double life, it keeps coming back to haunt her. Such insecurity.

[Paul_Cousins]

This is a good series so far. Different, but good. But I have one question. And I mean this question literally. Is the whole point of this show to drive the viewer literally insane? :sweat:

And I don't mean the funny, haha insane. I mean the straight-jacket, padded rooms insane. :sad:

[PickHut]

Hmm, I didn't think it was as good as last week's, but it wasn't as bad as the first episode. It was somewhere inbetween. The biggest thing that surprised me was when she took off that wig to reveal who she really was. Can't remember, but I think I had my mouth open for a few seconds after that scene. The rest of the episode at least had me in suspense as to what was gonna happen, until the end neared and I knew Lil' Slugger was gonna "appear" and "attack".

I give Double Lips a B.

[Chad Bonin]

Ya know, I believe this was the episode DVD.IGN.com said could never air on Cartoon Network.

[Rabi~en~Rose]

Ya know, I believe this was the episode DVD.IGN.com said could never air on Cartoon Network.

why could it not air there wasn't anything offensive? :confused:

[Arxane]

Ya know, I believe this was the episode DVD.IGN.com said could never air on Cartoon Network.
You believe right (http://dvd.ign.com/articles/562/562533p1.html):

Episode three is the most interesting. It's also guaranteed to never be shown on Cartoon Network
Oh, IGN, you're so silly...

As for my thoughts on this episode...I'll get back to you when this show allows me to formulate something coherent.

[livingfruitvirus]

You believe right (http://dvd.ign.com/articles/562/562533p1.html):


Oh, IGN, you're so silly...They're probably all pissed off that it aired tonight.

[Inkan1969]

Well....That opening scene is sure to cause a lot of lifelong traumas...:):sad::)

She's an entire bag of nuts, a flying squirrel, and thirty-three oak trees out of order. This episode has officially hooked me on this show. XD
I kept thinking "She's Jeri Katou from 'Digimon Tamers' all grown up". :D

[Ben]

...She's nucking futts.

That ain't the only thing she's nucking.

Ya know, I believe this was the episode DVD.IGN.com said could never air on Cartoon Network.

Hey, I'm down with anything that makes IGN look dumb. ;)

And the most perplexing question about this episode:

Where does an otaku get enough money to hire a hooker?

The same place he gets the money to buy all that anime crap. The Mysterious Otaku Money Tree. It's astounding the level of expense Japanese otaku-ness entails. Makes me glad I live in the U.S. Even if it's just for eight more days.

[Sandoz]

Another good episode. It didn't wow me like "Golden Shoes" did (mainly because I was reminded so much of Perfect Blue) but it was still interesting to watch it all unfold. The only thing that would have really surprised me was if Harumi ended up being the "fake" personality all along; I half-expected "Maria" to be the one who woke up in the hospital bed. We're also getting some interesting clues as to who (what) Lil Slugger is, as he "saves" his victims by attacking them. He saved Tsukiko from her deadline, Ichi from suspicion, and Harumi from Maria, but what about Ushi and the sleazy reporter? Curiouser and curiouser....

[Paul_Cousins]

The same place he gets the money to buy all that anime crap. The Mysterious Otaku Money Tree. It's astounding the level of expense Japanese otaku-ness entails. Makes me glad I live in the U.S. Even if it's just for eight more days.True, one of those anime girl statues around the otaku's bed can run around $100 to $120 here in the U.S., probably is priced higher in Japan. The guy had around 20 of those statues. We're talking about $2000 to $2400 easy for all those statues. :sweat:

Anime is an expense hobby.

[Dub]

He saved Tsukiko from her deadline, Ichi from suspicion, and Harumi from Maria, but what about Ushi and the sleazy reporter? Curiouser and curiouser.... I'm of the impression that he saved Ushi from Ichi - Had this gone on any longer Ichi probably would have killed him, plus hurting Ushi was just enough of a catalyst to finally drive Ichi over the edge to realize the consequences of what he'd done. Ichi could have been slugged at any time - but it was only AFTER Ushi got slugged when he realized (after his bout of glee) that his life was totally down the crapper, he'd get the blame for everything, and he was totally at fault - driving him to near insanity.

As far as the sleazy reporter - wasnt he being harassed by another man in the first ep about money that he owed and the other guy threatening to take action. Getting slugged in the head probably bought him some time....I guess. Still not fully sure on that one.

[Paul_Cousins]

I'm of the impression that he saved Ushi from Ichi - Had this gone on any longer Ichi probably would have killed him, plus hurting Ushi was just enough of a catalyst to finally drive Ichi over the edge to realize the consequences of what he'd done. Ichi could have been slugged at any time - but it was only AFTER Ushi got slugged when he realized (after his bout of glee) that his life was totally down the crapper, he'd get the blame for everything, and he was totally at fault - driving him to near insanity."Near insanity"... Ushi was complete out of his gourd by the end of episode 2. ;)

[Dub]

"Near insanity"... Ushi was complete out of his gourd by the end of episode 2. ;)
Well - you know what I mean. :p

[Ben]

As far as the sleazy reporter - wasnt he being harassed by another man in the first ep about money that he owed and the other guy threatening to take action. Getting slugged in the head probably bought him some time....I guess. Still not fully sure on that one.

I think you're close, but you're not quite there re: Shonen Bat. Possibly a spoiler, but no explicit plot details: I don't think Shonen Bat's goal is to save people per se-- at least not in terms of disposing of their life problems. He just appears to people who have been "driven into a corner," and victimhood provides psychological relief by removing the burden of guilt and letting them project it on someone else.

[Mr. Pedro]

Jolly good show tonight. I'll agree that perhaps we're all not better off for the opening of the episode, but it was a sign of the stuff to come. Everything from the phone calls from her other self to the birds screeching "Maria", just a very unnerving ep from start to finish.

[LordByronius]

Hey, I'm down with anything that makes IGN look dumb. ;)

I heard IGN shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die.

Who's willing to bet the otaku-sex scene sparks some kind of sarcastic B&W card tomorrow?

[Vagrant]

Who's willing to bet the otaku-sex scene sparks some kind of sarcastic B&W card tomorrow? Or an edit, if we keep talking about it.

[Shnay]

I'm loving this series more and more with each episode. The tension in this episode builds so well, from Maria telling the therapist that she doesn't mind dissappearing in the beginning to Maria screaming at Harumi that she's the fake who needs to dissappear at the end. The growing tension and increased instances of memory loss really made her desire to be "released" by Li'l Slugger believeable, and on some level, I think the viewer hopes for this release as well. It remains to be seen how well Li'l Slugger's "treatment" works in the long term, but he certainly seems to be able to fix things in the short term.

Speaking of Li'l Slugger, I also liked this episode because it really got me thinking more about just who/what Li'l Slugger is. I've got a number of ideas, and the mystery around him now has me interested, which is something I wasn't really concerned about in the past episodes.

After I first watched this, I was thinking that it would have benefitted from having the therapist explain a bit more about how the condition developed or show more reactions to her behavior from her future husband or Ichi. Now I realize that that's not the point of the episode. This episode, like the last one, is told entirely from the perspective of the main character, and these things aren't really important to her. She doesn't need to hear her own backstory and she's too far engaged in her internal conflict to care how other people view her struggle.

Another great episode, and I can't wait for the next one.

[SirLemming]

Or an edit, if we keep talking about it. Can they really expect us not to be at all shocked by it? It's there for shock value. And if the S&P somehow missed that whole minute-long scene right in the beginning, then I don't know what kind of stuff they do notice.
There's really not much to edit, anyway. As jarring as the scene is, it's really nothing explicit. There's no definitive "slip" of content, it's just one long "subject matter" thing. It's not like the BS incident in the first episode.

[PowerZord]

Shocked at the opening, the first time I seen this show?


Which ep num is this one?

[Pizzaguy24]

This would be episode #3;)

[ShadowGUN]

Wow. That opening just...creep me out. This episode just hook me even more:D .
10/10

By the way I notice something last night. I dont know this has been metion before but the opening of the show seem to show the order of Lil Sluger's victims.

[Timmay]

Wow. That opening just...creep me out. This episode just hook me even more:D .
10/10

By the way I notice something last night. I dont know this has been metion before but the opening of the show seem to show the order of Lil Sluger's victims.
Not really.. the reporter is second in order of being hit and is around fifth in the sequence.

[Freedom Fighter]

That was the most intense case of split personality I have ever, ever seen!

So we have Ichi's tutor, whose other side works as a prostitute! I loved how this episode messed with my mind, making me think they were at first two different people, then one person, then two people again, and so on, back and forth through the rest of the episode! At one point I was trying to figure out which side would get taken out by Lil' Slugger!

This was freaky weird on all counts. And maybe it's because I don't watch anything that requires psychological thinking all that much, but I'm beginning to believe this is the best anime Adult Swim has picked up... ever!

9 out of 10 for "Double Lips." I just couldn't get off the edge of my seat during this show last night! Great stuff!

[bigddan11]

Three personalities has got to be tough to deal with. I can only wonder if the other two will return in the future.


Did I hear them say that Lil Slugger had been captured at the end though? If so, I wonder why the rest of the series has him appearing.

[Paul_Cousins]

Three personalities has got to be tough to deal with. I can only wonder if the other two will return in the future.


Did I hear them say that Lil Slugger had been captured at the end though? If so, I wonder why the rest of the series has him appearing.There are only two personalities, Maria, the prostitute personality, just wears two different wigs, depending on what she wants to do that night.

[adoptedBatpuppy]

So who is the little slugger? This series creeps me out, and confusing. :sad: I better go now!

[beren]

One day I am going to ask a coworker to marry me semi-randomly, then I will get sued for sexual harrasment.

I thought it was a good episode, I was wondering why she didn't ask her fiance to help, he looked strong enough to tie her up, also I was thinking and wondreing what would happen if someone she worked or was friends with in one life, came across her in her other life.

[Master Moron]

Another good episode. It didn't wow me like "Golden Shoes" did (mainly because I was reminded so much of Perfect Blue) but it was still interesting to watch it all unfold. The only thing that would have really surprised me was if Harumi ended up being the "fake" personality all along;

Yeah, halfway through the episode I was thinking the same thing. I mean, I figured maybe her fiance wasn't her fiance at all and maybe he was just some guy who got off on pretending to be engaged to someone.

Of course, when I saw Ichi in the hospital I realized that she was his tutor and that I was wrong...though I suppose Ichi could just get off on being tutored...

[Paul_Cousins]

Of course, when I saw Ichi in the hospital I realized that she was his tutor and that I was wrong...though I suppose Ichi could just get off on being tutored...Please, let's not go there... I can already see the possible lemon fanfics this episode will inspire. And I would like to unsee them now. :(

[jethrek]

So who is the little slugger? This series creeps me out, and confusing. :sad: I better go now!
Now that would be THE spoiler, wouldn't it?

[Ferquin]

For those who missed it, this episode's special sound would be the sound of Chono's phone ringing.

[Vagrant]

The same place he gets the money to buy all that anime crap. The Mysterious Otaku Money Tree. Which is otherwise known as "software development". :D

[ClockStomper]

why's it bent?
Viagra's expensive.

[Regus]

I really liked this episode, I'm a sucker for multiple personality disorder stories, and I didn't find it difficult to follow at all. One of my favorite scenes was when Maria was packing away her alter ego's stuff for the first time, every thing was so peaceful, and they played this cool remix of the intro theme. Then all of a sudden, oops, the alter ego comes back and is not too happy about what just happened. That was cool.

[animePWNS]

Did the original version show Maria's nipples? The hair looked like it was edited to cover them. (The edit lists weren't up when I posted this.)

I don't buy LS being caught either. I recognize that thick-lipped cop as the guy in the Hawaiian shirt in the snowy field in the OP and lying down in the ED. He's on the "hit list". So far, unless I've missed them, we've seen everyone but the woman with the hat (after Ichi and Ushi) and the woman with the apron (after Harumi and Maria).

No one mentioned the animals the old man was scribbling on the ground. He said he was drawing a butterfly. I think a dog and a frog were among the others. The dog could refer to Tsukiko (her Maromi doll). So we have equations for Tsukiko and Yuichi and animals for possibly everyone. I'm interested to see where this leads.

[Isondill]

This series is absolutely mind blowing. It makes you feel involved in the characters situations and it poses some intriguing questions about people in general. I'm hooked on this show. As much as I'm loving Samurai Champloo, I have to say this is just as good. It's one of the best things Adult Swim has shown since Cowboy Bebop. Heck, with the exception of the show that airs after this (It's name has slipped my mind) I would guess this is probably my favorite ASA lineup ever.

[Vu Man]

I'm of the impression that he saved Ushi from Ichi - Had this gone on any longer Ichi probably would have killed him, plus hurting Ushi was just enough of a catalyst to finally drive Ichi over the edge to realize the consequences of what he'd done. Ichi could have been slugged at any time - but it was only AFTER Ushi got slugged when he realized (after his bout of glee) that his life was totally down the crapper, he'd get the blame for everything, and he was totally at fault - driving him to near insanity. But then I'm sure Ichi would have arrived at the same state of mind had the stalker hit him before he started walking with Ushi. So you're saying the stalker hit Ushi to make Ichi realize what he was doing was wrong and then hit him again to "free" him? That sounds kinda redundant since the kids suspected him from the very beginning.

One thing I didn't understand from this episode was Maria. She leaves that one guy (the police officer that appeared on TV later?) saying this is going to be her last time. Then later she doesn't want to quit, which is a bit confusing. Now is that phone call at the end real or just a hallucination in Harumi's mind? And what exactly is the deal with the old man and the math?

I think what the stalker's doing is kind of silly but this is a bizarre show. Having him show up at the exact times he's had seems a little too convenient. On another note have you guys gone to Geneon's official page for the show? It's got really neat Flash animation but it's not complete yet. Looks like the next episode is going to be about the police officer we saw.

www.paranoiaagent.com (http://www.paranoiaagent.com)

[Behonkiss]

For the record, I'm pretty sure that the officer is the same guy Maria had the farewell conversation with.

The phone call and fight at the end was all a hallucination. There were cuts showing Harumi screaming and grabbing at Maria's wig on her head, and Little Slugger's POV shot showed her with a bunch of makeup on.

[Ben]

But then I'm sure Ichi would have arrived at the same state of mind had the stalker hit him before he started walking with Ushi. So you're saying the stalker hit Ushi to make Ichi realize what he was doing was wrong and then hit him again to "free" him? That sounds kinda redundant since the kids suspected him from the very beginning.

No, in my opinion Shonen Bat hit Ushi because that's what Ichi wanted, before realizing that it actually drove even deeper into a corner.

One thing I didn't understand from this episode was Maria. She leaves that one guy (the police officer that appeared on TV later?)

Yup.

saying this is going to be her last time. Then later she doesn't want to quit, which is a bit confusing.

That's because Harumi was presumptuous enough to think that Maria would disappear, when in fact Maria just quit her job to make Harumi's life easier but had no intention of disappearing. Though from another perspective Maria's actions don't have to make sense-- whether she goes or stays has more to do with Harumi's mental state than with any intentional actions. Harumi must've been on a certain level frightened of the almost fake, entirely typical wedding she was going through with an entirely average man.

Now is that phone call at the end real or just a hallucination in Harumi's mind? And what exactly is the deal with the old man and the math?

What is hallucination? What isn't? Wondering about that is the whole point of the show.

I think what the stalker's doing is kind of silly but this is a bizarre show. Having him show up at the exact times he's had seems a little too convenient.

EXACTLY.

[herbkir]

Roses are red

violets are blue

I'm schizophrenic

(And so am I).

Yes, this really was excellent. It's an interesting episode because this one actually lets on that Lil' Slugger may be something other than a psychotic little nut case. Harumi/Maria was the real nutjob here, and it seemed a relief to her and us at the end when she got whacked. And I also don't believe they got the real Lil' Slugger either. (^_*)

[Tea]

I do not think the butterfly the old man was drawing was meant to represent the tutor. I think it is the "birdy" because of all the crows she encountered in this episode.

So, my guesses:
Bird= Maria/Harumi
Frog= Cop guy next episode.
Fish= Lady drowning in the opening.
Butterfly= Unknown. Possibly the episode after that.

[Nobuyuki sama]

Frog= Cop guy next episode.
Take a closer look at the reporter from the first episode... *ribbit*

And the butterfly will become apparent soon enough... ;)

[Paul_Cousins]

Take a closer look at the reporter from the first episode... *ribbit*

And the butterfly will become apparent soon enough... ;)Welling, if you are going my the intro, the Butterfly is the skinny Cop, he is falling in the intro.

Then the big cop does his own version of Slim Pickens from Dr. Strangelove (my favorite part of the intro). :cool:

[Ferquin]

I do not think the butterfly the old man was drawing was meant to represent the tutor. I think it is the "birdy" because of all the crows she encountered in this episode.

So, my guesses:
Bird= Maria/Harumi
Frog= Cop guy next episode.
Fish= Lady drowning in the opening.
Butterfly= Unknown. Possibly the episode after that.
bird = Tsukiko Sagi
frog = Akio Kawazu
fish = Keiichi Ikari
butterfly = Harumi Chono

Hate to tell you this but Kon says the intro is a total red herring. It's just to look cool and mess with your head.

[Ben]

You can tell the butterfly is Harumi because of the name. Chouchou = butterfly = Chouno Harumi.

[Conekiller]

I finally caught one, better than I thought! I'm definitely gonna cehck this out next week too!

how many eps are there in total?

[Pizzaguy24]

13

[animePWNS]

I taped this episode and just picked up on a few things:

The butterfly also looks like a bowtie the way the old man is drawing it, and he is wearing a tux in the intro.

And after saying bird and frog, he said either "crash, bang" or "trash bag" when he got to the fish, I'm not sure what.

When the cop was on the news, they showed his age in ()--I think it was his age. I saw this in FLCL Episode 2 during the Plympton scene. Is this normal for news or other programs on Japanese TV?

[Tea]

You can tell the butterfly is Harumi because of the name. Chouchou = butterfly = Chouno Harumi.You're right, how could I have missed that. Silly me and my complete lack of Japanese. :D

[Bunai]

Episode three is the most interesting. It's also guaranteed to never be shown on Cartoon Network. We meet Maria, a prostitute with a wild edge to her. She goes home after her last job, removes the fake mole and wig, showers, and turns into Harumi Chono, the meek tutor first seen in the second episode working with Yuichi.
why state that as "matter of factly"?

[Conekiller]

I have a weird hunch the crazy old man drawing on the floor is Little Slugger!

[Behonkiss]

Good, I'm not alone.

Might want to put that in spoiler tags, though.

[ClockStomper]

It just occured to me, didn't B:TAS do this first, with The Ventriliquist getting meanced by answering machine messages from Scarface?

[Conekiller]

Good, I'm not alone.

Might want to put that in spoiler tags, though. why, it's a totally wid hunc by someone who's oonly seen one ep :D

[Rabi~en~Rose]

I wasnt paying to good attention last time but now I just saw the opening part and that is scary :eek:

[Youko Recca]

No one better have closed their eyes during the beggining.

[Juu-kuchi]

Finally caught my first episode, and find myself weirded out yet intrigued.

[Mr_Millions]

I like this show, I really like it!

When Harumi is shown fighting herself from Lil Slugger's POV, I was reminded of the montage in Fight Club . (Yes, I'm that considerate. While I'm at it Spike Dies ).

This show is 5 pounds of crazy in a 4 pound bag. And I mean that in the nicest way possible. It reminds me of Serial Experiments Lain. I like this show alot more, though, because I don't have to mop up my liquified brain afterwards. I hope PA has a better ending than SEL or Big O.

Please oh please oh please...

Heck, if the OP turns out to be prophetic and the series ends in nuclear holocaust, it would still be better than SEL's and Big O's endings...

[adoptedBatpuppy]

I like the openinng theme. Usually, cartoons' theme has a lot to do with the show.