This show likes its jumpy timelines. I worry it may be too clever for its own good. That is, should the story get sufficiently complicated in later episodes, will I be able to follow what's going on? Should I get used to rewatching each episode multiple times?

I'm not complaining, of course. I just hope the director won't go overboard in the future.

I find it rather amusing that this episode sets out to provide the necessary backstory of how Rentarou (hereby known as, "The Pimp") came to enjoy the company of Sara and Souju (hereby known as...well, I won't go there), yet - in the end - didn't explain squat. Intentional or not, I got a laugh out of that.

Anyway, the pace is considerably slower in this episode compared to the initial installment. That's just the sort of change I was looking for.

Oh, and the soda can missiles were a nice touch. I actually noticed them the very first time I watched that particular scene, as if I were already expecting the gag. Weird.

I'm going to break from the ranks and say that I wasn't quite as impressed with this first episode as most of my anime blogging brothers. The show is cool, no doubt, but I was hoping for slick and stylish ROD TV "cool", not gonzo FLCL "cool". Of course, expectations are meant to be shattered, so my initial opinion of the show may be entirely inconsequential. A second viewing could be all it takes for me to change my tune.

But, even though I found myself wishing the show would slow down and be just a little less spastic, I have to admit it did spastic very, very well. The cast is delightfully eccentric, the humor perfectly timed, and the action fast-paced and engaging. The animation is pretty involved, although the comic style resulted in some overly-simplified moments in certain scenes - moments that I wish had been presented in more detail. Unfortunately, the opening scene with Lulu and Lala (kicking ass and taking names) was animated in that sort of fluid, slow-motion, physics-be-damned style that drives me up the wall. I hope we don't see too much of that in later episodes.

I'm going to continue watching, of course - I want to see what sort of treats UFOtable has to offer. Sara and Souju being absolutely adorable (and, in some ways, a little scary) has absolutely nothing to do with it. Honest.