Ranma 1/2 20
らんま1/2
Spoiler Summary/Synopsis
A girl named Ukyo attacks and defeats Genma one night for abandoning her as a kid. The next morning, Ranma learns about Ukyo’s challenge and finds his father in an empty lot, with a large okonomi-hera (spatula for cooking okonomiyaki) in the ground, imprinted with a challenge for Ranma. Genma refuses to talk about it, so that night, Akane tells Ranma she saw the fight. Based on the conversation, Akane believes Ranma has an illegitimate sibling.
At school the next day, transfer student Ukyo introduces herself by cooking an okonomiyaki and slinging it at Ranma. This causes Ranma to remember “him” as U-chan, his childhood friend. However, as Ukyo prompts Ranma to remember more, it becomes clear that Genma stole Ukyo’s father’s okonomiyaki cart and fled. As such, Ukyo issues another challenge for him after school.
When school is over, Ranma discovers a special ring has been built. However, as he battles with Ukyo, he discovers the ring is actually a giant griddle. Ranma tries to hold back, but decides he’s had enough. To avoid shaming his childhood friend, Ranma throws her out of the ring. After they crash into the PE room, Ranma discovers Ukyo is in fact a girl.
They finally get the true story of Genma’s betrayal. However, Genma manages to get blame put on Ranma as the young Ranma said he liked okonomiyaki more than Ukyo. The class beats them, but Ranma flees with Ukyo. After hearing she gave up on love, Ranma calls her cute. Akane hears this and is not happy. Akane and Ranma bicker. Seeing this causes Ukyo to forgive Ranma and become his friend again.
Thoughts/Review
Unfortunately, alternate subtitles were NOT available for Ranma 1/2 20. As such, I had to put up with the IDIOTIC inventions from the “localizer” who thinks they are every so clever of a (re)writer. However, I will credit the adapter for at least using the Japanese food names. Further, U-chan as “Ucchan” isn’t technically wrong. But still…
Outside of that, how was Okonomiyaki Ukyo’s introduction to the series? Well, I can certainly understand why so many fans of the franchise consider Ukyo to be the best girl. Further, it really makes one hate Genma for being such a complete and total smeg head. And of course, watching this episode makes me hungry for okonomiyaki. I haven’t had any in YEARS since “Japanese” restaurants around me don’t have this as an option. (A friend of mine has a Japanese wife who made them.)
The one thing Ukyo brings to the table is revealing how comfortable Ranma and Akane are with each other. When Shampoo was introduced, it was more of a love-triangle aspect, since Shampoo always wants to marry Ranma. For Ukyo, marriage isn’t the thing. Friendship is. And she saw that underneath their bickering, Ranma and Akane are perfect for each other.
Final Thoughts and Conclusion
In the end, issues with subtitles aside, Ranma 1/2 20 is a fun episode, introducing fan-favorite Ukyo to the mix.
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