October 19th, 2012 
AstroNerdBoy Hayate no Gotoku! Can’t Take My Eyes Off You episode 02
ハヤテのごとく！ CAN’T TAKE MY EYES OFF YOU
Hayate the Combat Butler: Can’t Take My Eyes Off You – 02
SPOILER Summary/Synopsis:
Ruri is ignored as Maria closes the door on her, leaving her outside. However, the next morning, a shivering Ruri is still waiting there. Hayate and Nagi continue to ignore her, but are later chastised by Maria when she finds Ruri still out there. Nagi wants to know what Ruri wants beyond claiming to be Nagi’s younger sister. Ruri stutters about, eventually saying it is love. Nagi promises her a room and sends her into the mansions hall so that she, Hayate, and Maria can discuss things. Nagi says there’s a 3% chance that Ruri is her half-sister, assuming her father had an affair before he died. Nagi goes out to the hall, where Ruri is poking around, and lets Ruri know that she figures Ruri wants to reside in the mansion to look for something. Nagi says she’ll keep her promise and give Ruri a room.
At Nagi’s apartment-house (Yukari-chan House), Nagi, Hayate, and Ruri arrive to find Ayumu belting out “Amazing Grace” and strumming a guitar. Nagi stops this and introduces Ruri to her new housemates, Chiharu and Ayumu. Nagi is going to leave, but a plea of “Oneechan” from Ruri stops her. Kayura shows up, scolding Nagi for not embracing this new, manga style plot twist. Nagi is convinced, but wants Ruri to prove herself by doing something special. Ruri knows Systema, a Russian Aikido, and proceeds to beat up Hayate to the surprise of everyone. Since Nagi won’t let him back down, Hayate turns the tide on Ruri, but she cries in order to trick him with a finishing blow. Nagi puts her own finishing blow on Ruri for that, but tells the girl that she thought her Systema moves were cool and wants to learn them herself.
Thoughts/Review:
OK, we have this apple symbology going on all over. I noticed the World Tree last episode during the Ruka promo, and all her bizarre stuff in this episode are all apple-based imagery. Plus, the OP/ED theme features the apple. Not sure what this is supposed to mean, but likely, it has to do with temptation, considering the King Midas elements in the manga, which are almost assuredly being carried over to this anime.
Speaking of the ED theme, did I detect an Ah! My Goddess parody there, with Ruka playing the role of Belldandy? I’m going to guess the moment played a dual role, both as a parody, but also to indicate another element of the apple symbolism.
Structurally, I’m not too big a fan of how Maniglobe are doing things. The mid-episode “connector” sequences aren’t that funny (this time featuring Sharna-chan and Fumi-chan) and are more jarring than anything, since the audience is shifted from the story to something completely unrelated and done for humor. Also, for no apparent reason, we’ll flash to what appear to be unrelated scenes, such as Klaus doing yard work at the apartment-house, or Tama sharpening his claws on a tree. It’s all so jarring, and I don’t like being jarred.
Regarding the episode, I like how there was more humor here. While I was not amused at how poorly Ruri was treated (whether she deserved it or not), I was amused at her fight with Hayate, including Hayate’s ultimate win over her. I was also amused by the way Kayura and Chiharu parodied fight anime/manga announcers and commentators. Hata-sensei has done this before in the manga for the race, but it has been done in lots of other places too. The Mahora Budokai in Negima! springs to mind.
Based on what happened in the first episode, where Nagi apparently lost something she tied with the apartment-house she owns, I assumed that the house was no longer hers and that she was now missing the comradery the place offered. So, I find it interesting that not only does she still own it, but that Ayumu, Chiharu, and Kayura still live at the apartment-house, even if Maria, Nagi, and Hayate do not. I guess Klaus is now there, based on the one flash-out sequence showing him cleaning the yard there. I’m going to assume that Hina is still there, but is Athena still there?
Regarding Ruri, I’m not a fan of these manipulative type characters, but so far, she hasn’t been bad I guess. That may be in part to her genuinely being vulnerable at times as well as her persistence and her ability to defend herself when needed. As to whether she is Nagi’s younger sister or not, obviously that remains to be seen, but I did like seeing how being addressed as “oneechan” affected Nagi. No doubt, Nagi wouldn’t mind actually having a sister.
The episode promises a character we’ve been waiting for. I’m going to guess that’s Hina since she’s the only one who hasn’t made an appearance of some kind (either her or Athena, assuming Athena is still at the apartment-house). Granted, Sakuya hasn’t appeared either, nor Wataru or Saki, but considering how popular Hina is, she’s got to show up next.
Through two episodes, this new Hayate the Combat Butler anime series hasn’t been what I expected, but I find myself drawn into it just the same. As such, I’m looking forward to more.
Posted in 
Tags: 
Hina was only at the apartments because of Athena, who’s only staying there as long as she needs to. chances are Athena’s left, meaning Hina has left.
I guess I’ll find out soon enough. I’m surprised any of them are still living there.
I didnt understand why those girls were living in that out house. Isnt one of them a girl who used to be Hayates classmate back when he lived a somewhat normal life? Why would she be living on the Nagi estate when she lives not that far away with her parents? closer to school? No idea.
Not too bad i guess. I kinda forgot what to expect from the hayate anime when i watched this episode, but the third episode seemed much like how i remember things were.
>I didnt understand why those girls were living in that out house.
That’s why one has to be current with the manga in Japan. I’ll give you a quick rundown (***MILD SPOILERS***).
During Golden Week, Nagi, Hayate, and a lot of the other girls end up in Greece, where Nagi spent much of her childhood. Hayate rescues his childhood sweetheart, Athena, and in the process, Nagi defies her grandfather for Hayate’s sake, resulting in him throwing her out of the mansion.
The apartment-house was one that had been given to Nagi’s mother, which then ended up under Klaus’s control. He gives it to Nagi, who’s determined to prove she can make it without the Sanzenin fortune, decides that to get tenants to such an old place, Hayate will be the house butler.
Chiharu ends up renting a place to stay because of her parents. Kayura, introduced in the movie, which takes place a month before this anime series, shows up and rents a room due to her desire to see Nagi’s manga. Hayate’s childhood girlfriend is somehow changed back to a child form with many of her memories lost, so she moves in and needs Hina to move in since Hina now has a sword that Athena used to have. The idol, Ruka, who had befriended Nagi and Hayate via Chiharu, runs away from her job as an idol to pursue her manga dreams, thus she rents a room. This causes Ayumu to spend every yen she has to rent a room, after convincing her parents to allow her this opportunity.
I really do think you should read the manga though. ^_^
Cheers. Sounds too confusing. i may read it someday
Well, I gave you three years worth of manga in a few paragraphs, so I can understand why you were confused. *lol*
Why is with the scenes with Ruka. They have nothing to do with the story.
Symbolically, I think they do.
Still, Ruka is doing much the same thing she did in the movie. She’s a fan favorite, so she has to be in the anime, but storywise, she doesn’t have a direct purpose yet.