Okay! I just binge-watched all three Saki anime seasons (Saki, Side-A, and The Nationals). And then followed that up by binge-reading all the Saki here on Dynasty.
I know you care.
I really, really got a kick out of how they unveiled Shizu's superpower. It's a shame she has to lose the finals because Saki's name is on the sign on the door, because I really liked the last episode of Side A.
I also have an irrational fondness for Atara due entirely to the fact that she wears a bowling glove.
Yumi x Momo is best couple. I know BuCap is more popular, but Yumi x Momo is my OTP there. Seeing Momo barnacle herself all over Yumi in the Side-A anime was glorious. Plus, out of all the couples in the stories so far, Yumi and Momo are the only ones that I can imagine having actually had sex by this point in the story. Momo seriously wants the Y.
Really liked Kyouko Suehara, Himematsu's captain. I like that she's just this scrappy little player who refuses to be intimidated by the godlike superpowers of her opponents. The St. Ollanius Pius of high-school mahjong, right there. Was glad they made it to the semi-final, even though I knew it would end there for them.
I really like how there isn't an actual villain or antagonist in the story so far. Sure, there are opponents who must be bested at the table. But after it's all over, we can still be friends! Even the people who are set up to be Bad Guys (i.e. Ryuumbochi, and particularly Koromo) turn out to be perfectly fine folks in the end.
Hagiyoshi is the shit. I want his superpower.
Manga is fan-servicey as shit, which you know already if you're reading this. But lawdy, I was caught off guard after watching the anime.
RILLY hate the loli shrine priestess, but that's my general distaste for loli showing through.
Thought it was interesting that the live-action episodes left out Kyou-kun. No token males in the live action stuff! Wonder if Hagiyoshi will put in an appearance?