I don't get Watamote.

[Ayazel]

Despite knowing about Watamote for a decade, I've always put it aside for some reason. I vividly remember these series being all around the web when the anime aired, so maybe I was afraid it wouldn't be as good as people say it is, given how popular it was.

I didn't know anything about it, so I've decided to give it a try earlier this week. I definitely didn't expect that!

Why is it tagged as a comedy? The amount of second-hand embarrassment I've gotten from reading Watamote is like the radiation you'd get waltzing into Chernobyl's 4th reactor core. It's not just awkward, it's a new form of torture??? More often than not, what Tomoko does, says and thinks isn't social awkwardness... but rather straight up illness. I do not believe it makes the story bad, however. Do people enjoy this pathetic girl as they would enjoy freak shows?

I'd like to hear your opinion about these series y'all, because I really don't get it (currently on chapter 18). Not currently planning on dropping it (mostly out of morbid curiosity), I'm really hoping for the girl to get better...

 

[77BLc9JwJGpLVARkamJx]

Second hand embarrassment is just "unintentional" comedy, they might remind you of either yourself or your friends of the somewhat maybe same-ish experience. Dont think about it too hard, drop when you wanna drop, works for any series.

 

[Manko-sensei]

You need to keep going down in this bottomless pit! Yes, the one season only animation is epic and yet the manga has much more to offer, this is not a gag comedy from a 4-koma but some chapters can be beyond funny. Of course, make sure you're reading the main series and not similar ones from the site.
On a more serious note, this is series shows a protagonist that holds many ugly parts and needs to learn to get over them. Of course, she'll be failing spectacularly every time but she'll be growing little by little. Why making it a comedy you may ask? Because that's how it's better depicted all absurdity and hopelessness that you can imagine. If it feels too relatable it's a good change to laugh at it so you can laugh at yourself. And above all, this is not about ridiculing a character or watching a variety show, it's about adding a bit of humour to life.

 

[TestAddress]

You read watamote, you laugh. This is comedy.

Tried and tested.

Anyway, comedy is set by an elite group of people, called "the standard," not by #entitledones like you & me.

 

[Ayazel]

You read watamote, you laugh. This is comedy.

Tried and tested.

Anyway, comedy is set by an elite group of people, called "the standard," not by #entitledones like you & me.

That's not just gatekeeping. That's military-grade guarding with heavy weaponry.

Just finished the 3rd volume, and things are somewhat starting to brighten up, ever so slightly. Having a sister myself, the sick brother chapter had nice hidden wholesome vibes.

 

[Ayazel]

Just started volume 6. I have unlocked the funny.

 

[TestAddress]

What volume is the Disneyland Arc? It was around 10y ago but it brought so much characters and development.

Not to mention comedy gold.

 

[undefinedhero]

i think its mostly miraculous how she ended up how she is now. My first impression of the manga was pure torture, then slight comedy, and then obscenity. I still don't understand how its possible for one person to be so down bad and have a friend that ACCEPTS that trait

 

[Kameko]

Watamote is just the same experience as witnessing Master Shake in ATHF

 

[Ayazel]

i think its mostly miraculous how she ended up how she is now. My first impression of the manga was pure torture, then slight comedy, and then obscenity. I still don't understand how its possible for one person to be so down bad and have a friend that ACCEPTS that trait

Well that's simply because her friends

Spoiler

are complete psychopaths just like her.

I'm glad I kept reading, because I'm seeing the funniest shit I've ever seen in a romcom (even though you may remove the "rom" part). Emoji girl is a personal favorite.

 

[Manko-sensei]

Emoji girl is a personal favorite.

Which of them, Uchi (aka "That's gross!") or the gamer one?

 

[Ayazel]

Which of them, Uchi (aka "That's gross!") or the gamer one?

The first one. Her total tonal shift was hilarious

--

Currently on Volume 15 (I've been devouring these series lately), there haven't been any "Kuroki home" chapters for a long time. Kinda nostalgic about her family's antics.

 

[Kameko]

Watamote is just the same experience as witnessing Master Shake in ATHF

I was so plastered last night when I wrote this I don't even know what I meant by this

 

[Angry_Panda]

I was so plastered last night when I wrote this I don't even know what I meant by this

Perhaps you meant that your name is
SHAKE-ZULA
THE MIC RULA
THE OLD SCHOOLA
YOU WANNA TRIP?
I'LL BRING IT TO YA

(Yes, I still know all the lyrics to that opening off the top of my head.)