What better way to celebrate the end of my exams, than to watch an anime centred around exams!

Here’s Baka To Test To Shokuanjuu – Episodes 2 and 3. Reviewed by Yours Truly.

Episode 2

Class F head over to Class A’s area to negotiate the rules of their upcoming battle. The meet Yuuko, whom Yuuji tries to negotiate with to try and make the match a one-on-one battle between the two class representatives. Yuuko refuses their offer only to have the Class A representative Shouko Kirishima grace them with her presence and take over negotiations. Shouko agrees to the one-on-one match but adds the stipulation that the loser must listen to a demand from the winner. Yuuko insists that the battle be a 5-on-5 match, to which Yuuji agrees but adds his own stipulation, saying that Class F will select the subjects to battle.

With negotiations over, the Class F gang head to the roof to have lunch. Shimada is ambushed by Miharu Shimizu, a lesbian admirer of Shimada who seems to think that Shimada loves her too despite persistent denials from Shimada claiming that she is straight.

Minami turns to Yoshii to help her out with dealing with Miharu, but she ends up putting him in a wrestling move (the figure-four leglock, to be precise) and makes him submit to taking her out for crepes on the weekend, as well as calling her “darling”.

Yoshii heads back to the classroom to find Mizuki sitting there writing what he thinks is a love letter to Yuuji.

The time finally comes up for the big battle between Class F and Class A. Starting things off, Minami takes on Yuuko of Class A and is instantly beaten despite her confidence in the chosen subject.

Following on from her embarrassing loss, Yoshii steps up to take on Miho Satou of Class A. Yoshii reveals yet another pointless fact about himself, before being defeated, probably quicker than Minami was beaten.

The third round sees Kouta taking on Aiko Kudou from Class A in the subject of Health. Aiko, at first, ues dirty, underhanded tricks to force Yoshii and Kouta into submission and leave them laying in a pool of blood before the match. Kouta is able to pull through however and pick up the win for Class F.

Round 4 and it’s finally time for Class F’s shining star to enter the battle. Battling Mizuki will be the school’s number 2 student, Toshimitsu Kubo. Toshimitsu is given the opportunity to select the subject for this match after Mizuki allows him. The choice of subject didn’t matter in this case, as Mizuki, in an extremely dramatic and imaginative (literally) representation, defeats Toshimitsu to bring Class F back on level terms with Class A.

It’s now time for the class representatives to go at it and attempt to win the match for their respective teams. Yuuji pulls out a surprise tactic, opting for the subject to be a restricted exam on elementary level history, thinking that he can win it. The plan, however, backfires on Yuuji and he ends up losing to Shouko, giving Class A the victory.

Aside from their already-limited resources being taken away from them, Yuuji has to listen to any demand from Shouko as a result of Class F’s loss. Shouko demands Yuuji to take her out on a date. Despite refusals from Yuuji, Shouko gets her way after knocking Yuuji out and dragging him away.

Episode 3

As a result of their loss in the last ESB against Class A, Yuuji and Yoshii are both forced to go out on dates. Yoshii, the more fortunate guy, was stuck with Minami and Mizuki. Yuuji, on the other hand, had to deal with Shouko, who forced him to see a ridiculously long film…..TWICE!

The next day, Yoshii heads to school in the morning and bumps into and knocks over Toshimitsu of Class A. Toshimitsu tries to make a quick exit but is held back by Yoshii, who asks him if he can eat the slice of bread that he dropped, taking advantage of the 30 second rule. (I always thought it was 3 seconds, but what the hell do I know?) His efforts end up drawing a blank as a teacher steps on the slice of bread as he walks past, leaving Yoshii in a state of despair.

Yoshii enters the school building and sees Mizuki standing by the lockers, with the love letter that she was writing yesterday. Upon seeing him, Mizuki runs off, attempting to hide the love letter. Yuuji pops up as soon as she runs off and the two of them talk about their dates from the previous day, with Yuuji seemingly traumatised by the sight of a cow being slaughtered, every time he opened his eyes and Yoshii complaining about the amount of money he spent while he was there.

Yuuji and Yoshii head to class and argue about who is to blame for their loss at the ESB. The class are interrupted by Mr. Nishizawa who has taken over from the previous Homeroom teacher, much to the shock of the students.

During the lunch break, up on the roof, Yoshii is called up on his promise to take Minami out for crepes. Mizuki decides to invite herself along, saying that she has a movie she wants to see. The three of them meet in town and head to the cinema, where they once again meet Shouko and Yuuji out to see another movie; this time a 7 hour long film…..not once….but TWICE!! (That’s more than half a day o.o )

After their movie, Yuuji, Mizuki and Minami eat crepes at the crepe store. Yuuji doesn’t buy any himself, but is offered to try some of Minami’s and Mizuki’s. Before he gets a chance to try them, he is interrupted by Miharu who attempts to murder Yuuji.

As Yoshii makes a run for it, he runs into Toshimitsu and knocks him over again and drops the crepe over him. He tries once again to use the 30-second rule but is chased away by Miharu.

As Mizuki, Minami and Yoshii run from their pursuer, they meet Hideyoshi, whom they hide with behind some bushes. Hideyoshi offers Yuuji a disguise to get away from Miharu. The disguise ends up being a maid’s outfit, which doesn’t at all help to trick Miharu. In fact, it makes her even angrier and continues to chase them.

After an idea from Mizuki, the three of them head to school and force Miharu into a trial ESB battle. Confident that they can win, Mizuki leads the charge and attempts to attack Miharu. Miharu manages to evade the attack and draw first blood by taking out Minami. Mizuki retaliates and takes out Miharu from behind getting the win for their team. However, it seems as though weekends are no exception as Mr. Nishizawa comes dashing down the corridor and drags the two defeated competitors to supplementary classes.

After the match, Mizuki and Yoshii talk about the love letter that Yoshii saw Mizuki writing. Mizuki tells Yoshii that it’s actually a depressing letter that she was meant to give to someone within three days but she wasn’t able to. Yoshii attempts to offer his help to give the letter, but Mizuki refuses saying that she’ll give the letter hersef one day.

The next school day, Yoshii finds a love letter. Getting excited about it, he continues to read it and discovers that it was sent by a guy, which shatters Yoshii’s dream.

Well….this series is actually pretty funny, if you ask me. It’s one of the few series that I’ve actually been enjoying from this season. And I’m watching pretty much ALL the series this season. The imagination scene from episode 2 made what actually was a one-hit win battle seem so epic, it made me shed a tear. Ok it didn’t really…it actually just made me laugh like crazy.

Still, the episodes were pretty good! Here’s to hoping that next episode will continue to entertain me!

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