Things are looking up for lonely teen Suguru Misato. Since the arrival of the android housemaid Mahoro, his house is looking distinctly tidier and more organised, much to the delight and relief of his friends. For Mahoro herself, her new life is promising to make her final days pleasant and worthwhile. However, just when things seem to have taken a turn for the better, a figure from Mahoro’s past throws everything into doubt.

While the first four episodes seemed like an excuse for unashamed fan service, volume 2 is more of a high school romantic comedy. The relationship between Mahoro and her young master is now a lot less formal and it is becoming clear that they are as much soul mates as well as employer and servant. The continuing presence of the obnoxious, sexually frustrated schoolteacher Miss Shikijo is still annoying at times, which is probably the intention but still not really necessary. There are already plenty of comedic situations, including a school project into the paranormal that takes an unexpected twist and the evening of the summer festival, which contains some of the most touching and emotional scenes.

There is also an interesting subplot involving the ongoing battle between Mahoro’s former employers Vesper and their mysterious rivals Saint, from which her new challenge comes. The enemy, posing as a substitute schoolteacher, is intimidating and dangerous without being clichéd, and promises to make the final volume very interesting indeed.

In Summary

I have to admit that I’m enjoying Mahoromatic a lot more than I expected. Behind the gratuitous breast shots and the cheap jokes that go with them is what seems to be a Gainax staple: an entertaining series with likeable characters, a fair amount of humour but with a more serious edge. The finite lifespan that Mahoro has to live with (updated at the end of every episode) and memories of her past career add a bittersweet air to the proceedings, especially considering the fact that Suguru has no knowledge of either. The character development and appearance of the Saint agent both make this instalment at least as enjoyable as the first. As far as extras are concerned, there are a few trailers, TV spots and a delightful still gallery.