Read the whole Love Hina manga? Give me a hand! (SPOILERS inside)

[Godly Paladin]

KK, so I finished the Love Hina anime and liked it until the end. Same lame ending that afflicts so many animes... I'm going to watch the Christmas special since that's apparently the best way to end the anime version, but I was wandering if there's anyone around who's already read all 14 (I think) volumes of the manga. If so I'd like to ask some questions since I don't plan on reading it myself but would like to know about the 'true nature' of certain aspects. Anyway, here we go:

1. Who does Keitaro end up with? I assume Narusegawa, but is this made clear or just implied? Is there finality to their relationship?
2. What about Otohime Masamune? How does her story end - she likes Keitaro so much I would think she'd be hurt, but I can't tell.
3. Ep 25 started another story arc that seemed to open the door on a Motoko/Keitaro relationship. Does this go anywhere? If so, what happens to Motoko?
4. What happens with Seta and Hikaru (the cigarette-smoking landlady) and all that backstory?
5. Is the ending happy?
6. Does Shinobu ever get over people liking Keitaro?
7. Who did Keitaro REALLY promise? In the anime they make it sound like he promised a ton of girls. Is that true?

Thankee kindly!

[uc pseudonym]

I don't know how many LH fans we have as members, so I'll post to ensure you get some response, though I'm not the best person to give it. Let me be up front in saying that I have little positive to say about the manga. Consequently, I have only vaguely finished it (but enough to somewhat answer your questions). My position will be obvious, but I'll try to tone down my cynicism.

1. Yes, Naru. They get married at the end.
2. This kind of series can set aside whatever character subplots it desires.
3. It's a harem manga. Ignore everything except the primary destined relationship.
4. Sorry, I don't recall.
5. If by happy you mean "not tragic and things are kind of working out" then yes.
6. I believe so.
7. Promise what? There is more than one and some of those promises (like getting into Tokyo U) apply to more than one individual.

[Godly Paladin]

Okay, that helps. I thought we had more LH fans around; I guess the manga is racy enough to turn people off (?)

[Mr. SmartyPants]

I guess the manga is racy enough to turn people off (?)

Or too superficial and uninteresting. =p

[Eric]

Not really. I've read it quite a few times since I got it, and it never ceases to make me smile and hold my attention. Yeah, there is a lot of fanservice and whatnot, but that is really not the point of the story. In spite of all the wacky stuff, there is always a common theme of the characters growing and changing in their interactions with each other, but it is sometimes a bit subtle if you are unable/unwilling to look past the things that stick out more to see the whole picture. I find that the relationships can be realistic at heart if you do not take into consideration the varying levels of exaggeration. (But then again, what manga doesn't have some amount of exaggeration?)

[mechana2015]

K

1. Who does Keitaro end up with? I assume Narusegawa, but is this made clear or just implied? Is there finality to their relationship?
2. What about Otohime Masamune? How does her story end - she likes Keitaro so much I would think she'd be hurt, but I can't tell.
3. Ep 25 started another story arc that seemed to open the door on a Motoko/Keitaro relationship. Does this go anywhere? If so, what happens to Motoko?
4. What happens with Seta and Hikaru (the cigarette-smoking landlady) and all that backstory?
5. Is the ending happy?
6. Does Shinobu ever get over people liking Keitaro?
7. Who did Keitaro REALLY promise? In the anime they make it sound like he promised a ton of girls. Is that true?

Thankee kindly!

The anime leaves out a metric ton of the storyline, namely, most of the good stuff from the later books (storywise) and the ending.

But to answer your questions:

1. Naru. Married.
2. Motoko gets over it after a while.
3. They get married, really cool part of the story actually.
4. I consider it very happy.
5. Yes.
6. Technically the Tokyo U promise was between Naru, Mutsumi AND Keitaro

[Godly Paladin]

Thanks to you, too, Mechana. Metric ton, you say? Eh, maybe I'll read the manga after all, or at least pick up after the anime ends (which would be which volume)? I like the story and the characters enough that I'm starting to think it's worthwhile.

[Nate]

I really suggest reading the manga from the beginning. The anime was...well, it pretty much sucked, in comparison to the manga. Major differences:

1. There is no Kentaro.
2. There are no old men saying stupid stuff.
3. There is no magic...Tama is the only unrealistic thing in the manga, everything else is down to earth, so no "Magical Girl Su" crap.
4. There are a few storyline differences, such as how Shinobu is introduced, and the fact that you never meet Su's brother (the running gag about Keitaro looking like him is still there though).

[mechana2015]

Thanks to you, too, Mechana. Metric ton, you say? Eh, maybe I'll read the manga after all, or at least pick up after the anime ends (which would be which volume)? I like the story and the characters enough that I'm starting to think it's worthwhile.

I'd just start from the beginning of the manga.

[uc pseudonym]

Not really. I've read it quite a few times since I got it, and it never ceases to make me smile and hold my attention. Yeah, there is a lot of fanservice and whatnot, but that is really not the point of the story. In spite of all the wacky stuff, there is always a common theme of the characters growing and changing in their interactions with each other, but it is sometimes a bit subtle if you are unable/unwilling to look past the things that stick out more to see the whole picture. I find that the relationships can be realistic at heart if you do not take into consideration the varying levels of exaggeration. (But then again, what manga doesn't have some amount of exaggeration?)

Not everyone shares that opinion, so kindly don't be condescending. I don't think that was your intent, but individuals such as Mr. SmartyPants and myself would disagree that we're overlooking subtle relationships. But because this thread isn't to discuss the quality of Love Hina, I'll leave it at that.

[Eric]

no "Magical Girl Su" crap.

She did turn into her adult form, though.


And I only said all of that because everyone I've seen who thinks Love Hina sucks only says that because they think anything that has fanservice is automatically worthless crap.