Screenshot taken from: http://www.crunchyroll.com/kancolle/episode-8-im-not-a-hotel-668655
Review:
With Shoukaku damaged from the previous battle, Fubuki and her squad head for a temporary base that has been established for the Fleet Girls. This base–which seems more like a luxury hotel than a military outpost—is to play a key role in the operation that is currently underway, and the entire Fleet Girl force has been relocated for the time being. This new base also brings about the introduction of a new Fleet Girl named Yamato who, despite having an awesome arsenal, has not been used in battle. Of course this means that Fubuki just has to find out why Yamato is not being deployed, and just has to offer her assistance in getting Yamato into the water.
For the most part, this is a laid back episode, although the parts with Fubuki and Yamato can be a bit sentimental. It is also an excuse for typical beach episode material which, while just as bad as your typical beach episode in terms of content, does not drag said content out for an entire episode (or even the majority of it). As a matter of fact, there are several scenes of fanservice in this episode, although they certainly don’t dominate the episode, and they aren’t nearly as bad as they could be. Let me pause to say that I’m not trying to excuse the fanservice—it is certainly something that can turn into a stumbling block, and I don’t want to be the guy who carelessly leads somebody into something they shouldn’t watch. The show could only be better without it, at any rate.
This episode also raises some interesting questions about the nature of the Fleet Girls themselves. From the outset, it seemed like these were supposed to be normal human girls who have somehow “inherited” the spirits of old battleships; however, it would seem that these girls share the weight of their respective ships, as seen when Fubuki tries to tow Yamato on her own. On the other hand, the girls are regularly shown sleeping in normal beds, so it certainly creates some interesting questions; however, this may be asking for more depth than what the show ever intended to offer. On a more amusing note, it is explained that eating and “refueling” are one-in-the-same for the Fleet Girls, so seeing a girl who requires a lot of “fuel” eating a ton of food is entertaining.
KanColle may not win any awards, but in this writer’s opinion it has managed to escape the trap of being a throwaway fanservice show and has instead established itself with something of a central plot (no matter how odd) along with likable characters who genuinely care for each other. It is a fun show, if nothing else, and sometimes that’s all anyone can ask for: something to watch that can be enjoyed simply for what it is, and nothing more.
A Christian Perspective:
Romans 12: 6-8 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
I was originally going to talk about bearing one another’s burdens here, but I think I may have already used that in regards to KanColle, so instead I’ll go with this verse.
As we see in this episode, Yamato has not been allowed to enter battle at all. Fubuki, who knows what it’s like to not be allowed into battle, takes pity on Yamato and begins to formulate ways to get her out onto the sea. While her first attempt is in blatant disregard to Nagato’s commands (which is bad), her second attempt at doing the same thing is much more thought out and respectful of the rules (although it is questionable if it was still a violation). The point is that Fubuki seems to have a gift or a drive to help people out, and she put that to use for Yamato’s sake. Paul spoke in the above verse about using our gifts to do what they were given to us for, and that is precisely what Fubuki does here. Let us, then, follow Fubuki’s pattern and put the gifts we have been given to work for the benefit of others. Just make sure you obey the rules while you do.
Content Guide:
Language: None
Alcohol/Drug Use: None
Nudity/Sex/Fanservice: Nagato and Mutsu midrift outfits; Zuikaku and Shoukaku are shown in the baths, but as usual the detail doesn’t get much worse than if cleavage were shown (anything below the water is fairly well obscured); many of the girls are shown in bikinis (so, cleavage); there is a close-up of one girl’s bikini-clad breasts bouncing; Fubuki, Mutsuki, and Yuudachi are shown in the bath—you can see a portion of Yuudachi’s butt (and her breasts, in another scene) as she’s sitting down; Nagato is shown bathing—as usual, nothing much worse than cleavage is shown; another scene near the end of the episode shows several girls in bathing suits again
Violence: Yamato shoots down several enemy planes
Blood/Gore: None
Other: Kitakami and Oicchi are present, so the usual stuff with them; Fubuki dotes over Akagi; Oicchi gets excited over Kitakami in her bikini; Kitakami comments on breast sizes
Christian Anime Review 