Last updated October 08, 2006.
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July 23, 2006: School Rumble Ni Gakki.

Eri
Eri.

In other news, School Rumble Ni Gakki episodes 14 and 15 were glorious, if ominous for the Eri Faction. Is there an Iori Faction? There ought to be.

August 24, 2006: School Rumble Ni Gakki

I would seriously watch a Joshi Kousei Mahou Shoujo Mai anime.

High School Magikal Girl Mai
CHARM UP, MY MAI DREAM!

I guess it would be more proper to discuss the giant plot developments from episode 19, but I'm too ignorant of the manga to know if what happened is previously-established canon, or if we're due for some manner of magical reset. As much as I am opposed to a Harima + Tenma ending, those last few episode did make for a very satisfying arc. I also liked some of the other bits, such as Yakumo using her Jedi Mind Shit to summon help a la Luke calling for Leia at the end of The Empire Strikes Back.

September 01, 2006: School Rumble Ni Gakki

Karasuma and Tenma
Karasuma and Tenma.

The second season of School Rumble is finishing strong, but it should surprise no one if the final episodes resolve little with regard to the myriad relationships. As expected, essentially nothing from episode 19's dramatic conclusion is evident in episode 22, and it is doubtful that the Harima + Tenma story will advance any further in the last remaining episodes of the season.

Eri
Eri is the best.

This is fine, because the Harima + Tenma angle is the least compelling of all the School Rumble stories—even less interesting than the Karasuma + Tenma story. Instead, these two School Rumble seasons have always been best off when focusing on the always-entertaining Harima + Eri stories with the pair's constant banter and frequent antagonism interrupted by increasingly common moments of tenderness.

Yakumo
Yakumo.

Likewise, the Harima + Yakumo friendship is also excellent, and watching their bond grow stronger over the past two seasons has been very satisfying. At times, the Harima and Yakumo stories are the most rewarding to watch, since these two characters's relationship has quietly demonstrated the most growth. It is obvious that Harima holds Yakumo in the highest regard, and that she in turn places a great deal of trust in him. Given that the vagaries of love predominate as the primary School Rumble staple, developing a diametric theme via Harima and Yakumo's mutual reliance and trust in each other invites the viewer to remain hopeful that, despite the uncertainties of love and life, even if there is no happy Sukuran ending (and no third season of School Rumble), come what may, we shall at least be left with One Good Thing. Perhaps that is enough.

September 24, 2006: School Rumble Ni Gakki and Monster.

Otama and Ure
Otama and Ure.

Monster
Monster.

Is it wrong that the first thing I thought of while Yakumo was reading the Otama and Ure story was "the monster inside me has grown this big"?

With regard to the episode itself, I'm not sure what to think...at least as far as the ending goes. Were I not so certain that a non-ending ending to Ni Gakki is assured, I would be somewhat troubled by the half-hearted efforts at digging up some plot development this late in the game.