1 Hard to say without watching. I came very close to linking Andy's post with the very same quote, but then thought better. Remember Marimite? Only one episode of lesbians out of 13! Maybe this is an example of seeing by the eye of the beholder.

2 Well, all the beholder's eyes seem fixed on that one with the big... um, guns. And wet shirt.

3 There's some exaggeration for comic effect in there. It's fair to assume that, while they're playing mahjongg, the show's in mahjongg mode (which means over-the-top visual effects that would not be out of place in Yu-Gi-Oh).

It's not certain yet that it will go yuri-romantic as opposed to yuri-implied (especially as we're dealing with Gonzo, right?) And there's plenty of potential for angst too. It might not be any more yuri than Nanoha, or it might pile it on, who knows.

I hesitate to say "try an ep" (because you hate that), but meh, it's free and what do you have to lose? On the other hand, I can think of all sorts of ways that this series could develop that you would detest utterly, so maybe you want to hold off and let us play canary in the coal mine? No harm in that either. And if the mahjongg bores you, eh, plenty of other shows to watch.

4 And I found ep 3 on my hard drive, with no idea how it got there. Hoo boy, not much help. Some serious blush moments, and we got to see a quick shot of a lot of the "future opponents" (haven't seen this many girls in a tourney show since Angelic Layer). It's got potential, though.

5

Heh. If you're going to fall off the wagon it should be for -- Wait! No! Not the face! AAHHHHHHHH!  *Splat*

Hmmm. Lemon meringue. Tasty.

Seriously, I watched the first episode, and was somewhat depressed by the thought of a girl whose talent was so outstanding, and whose family had such tender egos that they berated her until she always played to lose.  She didn't even think about playing to win; she always went for a perfect zero score.

I know it was in good fun, but I couldn't help but see it as an allegory for our messed up society.

6 Sounds like the kind of show I would loath.  I find the "It is better to be mediocre" behavior almost as vile as "I hate you for trying to be a hero."  Both are deserving of incredibly brutal karmic retribution, that is so seldom given.

7

Exactly.  Oh, we don't see the family (at least in the first episode) but when her tactics are explained, it's got a really ugly feel to it.  I know it's only meant to be melancholy, but that's not my reaction.

And when you put it in those words Metaphysician, it reminds me of why SDB blogs about anime, not politics or science.  Let's not even discuss Samizdata.  My name for it all is still "The Victory of the Ankle Biters." 

You've pretty much sealed it for me; I have no desire to watch a show about a genius-level mahjong player who's been turned into an emotional cripple by her jealous family, no matter how much implied yuri Gonzo adds.

8 I'd have the same visceral reaction except for two things...

First, the "plays for zero" thing is a good starting conceit, but one that I don't expect to dominate the show. The show does a good job of pointing out that it's hard, REAL hard, way harder than actually winning; nobody who was any good at the game would (a) fail to notice that (b) Saki was just making them look bad, even losing. Nodoka ended up reading Saki the riot act over it, there was a cute scene, and I don't expect it to crop up again.

On the other hand, I fully expect the family thing to get played to the hilt. Could go evil, could go Angelic Layer, not really any telling at this point.

9 And this is a Gonzo show, so it could go in any direction.

10 Well, I don't expect a game of mahjongg with the apocalypse on the line, or any gambling involving the forcible extraction of bodily fluids. Saki is not the love child of Akagi.

(I said this thinking "we've seen her dad", realized I made an assumption, and now I'm considering curling into a little ball for a while. Too bad I'm at work.)

It would not surprise me at all, though, were there to be a daiuchi somewhere in Saki's family.