Review of Ya Boy Kongming!

Tl;Dr: A refreshing reversal of the isekai genre, "Paripi Koumei" is reincarnation done right. Neatly juggling elements of music and Chinese history, this reverse-isekai earnestly makes a connection almost no one knew they wanted. The mastermind MC and his ensemble cast are gifted with solid character writing. Superb strategies and comedy ensure that the viewing experience is an absolute delight to follow. The importance of "Koumei's" infectious fun cannot be understated. This series is a certified Chitty Chitty Bang Bang-er. 7/10~ *** "Me meeting Kong Ming is like fish meeting water." - Source: Liu Bei, "Records of the Three Kingdoms""Ya boi loves 'Ya Boi'."
- Source: Trust Me Bro

"Paripi Koumei" strikes me as a show whose ideas were picked out of a hat. If DALL·E 2 and other A.I. programmes are currently defining what's possible when leaving humans out of the creative process, we'd still be light years away from whatever the heck this show is supposed to be. "Koumei's" premise somehow feels more random than random, and I mean that in the very best way. Even as a skeptic who had his reservations going into the series premiere, it didn't take long for me to get hit with "Koumei's" infectious appeal. Make no mistake: "Koumei" is greater than the sum of its parts, with an arrangement as crazy as it is carefully calibrated to leave its audience grinning from start to finish. For anyone as unconvinced as I once was, join me in attempting to understand this underdog story. This review is spoiler-free, with a Tl;Dr below. Without further ado, let's jam.

Full disclosure, I think getting through this show's synopsis is the toughest part about liking "Koumei".

When coming across it for the first time I suffered a mild stroke, or at least some approximation of the malady that befalls MC. Zhuge Kongming, Imperial Chancellor of Shu Han, is introduced fighting against an illness, whilst his soldiers prepare for their own battle against an army in hot pursuit. Loyal statesman and strategist, Kongming found that his nation-building ambitions would outlast his physical body. Historical ambiguity aside, this fictional iteration of the figure laments letting down his Emperor: the late Liu Bei, who dreamed of ending the war under the unifying cause of peace. Dreaming of a reality where such peace exists, Kongming bids farewell to 3rd-Century China and finds himself in the afterlife, which sure as hell bears striking resemblance to a Halloween costume party in modern-day Shibuya, Japan. That night he stumbles upon a nightclub and its part-time performer Eiko, who captivates the reincarnated strategist through song. Eiko's passion has yet to get her music career off the ground, but Kongming is convinced of her abilities… and offers to be her talent manager… with the hope of "bringing peace to the world."

Granted, we are talking about anime here, where the threshold for weirdness gets absolutely shattered on a seasonal basis. That being said, I initially wasn't prepared for the apparent incompatibility of "Koumei's" weird premise: a military mastermind from ancient China striving for world peace by booking live gigs for a small-time nightclub act. What I also didn't account for was how everything would come together really well.

"Koumei" has a game plan, named "Authenticity."

It comes in four steps, and can be understood through the "Thirty-Six Stratagems," a series of tactics Kongming frequently references in the anime. Let's take a page out of his playbook and figure out what makes "Koumei" work!

Borrow a corpse to resurrect the soul (借屍還魂).
--- Revive something from the past by giving it a new purpose, or reinterpret it to your advantage.

Taking this proverb to a rather literal extreme, "Koumei's" awesome application of this strategy comes from its reincarnated "corpse" (husbando) MC. With the wit to match the might of a thousand 2D men, Kongming hard-carries "Koumei". He's always a treat to see on-screen. As expected, there are laughs to be had at the befuddled boomer's expense as he discovers how the blockchain works, but there's more to the character than these comedic juxtapositions. By remaining one step ahead of viewers, Kongming constantly demonstrates how well-thought-out he is, as audiences attempt to wrap their heads around his various motives and plans. On top of his smarts, Kongming also carries a diplomat's grace and respectable virtue when interacting with other cast members. Finally, it's clear that the guy's having a fun blast in the 21st Century, with the willing resolve to put himself out there and try out new things. All these attributes make for a well-defined and distinct protagonist who's a joy to watch. Thanks to these great ingredients, authenticity flows freely from Kongming, as this engaging enigma trades self-insert tropes for well-defined quirks that all feel purposeful as a fictional reinterpretation of this historical figure, who's a strong contender for my Best Boi of 2022.

Admittedly, my fondness for this refreshing character partly stems from my biased distaste for the sea of dull, interchangeable MC archetypes courtesy of isekai & LN trends. So for those who do find themselves content with these mainstream conditions (which is perfectly OK,) maybe Kongming's appeal isn't gonna resonate as strongly with you as it did me. But the story doesn't end here, because the authenticity of "Koumei's" MC extends to the series as a whole.

Lure the tiger out of the mountains (调虎离山)
--- It is always wise to bring your competition out of a situation that favors him, to a position that favors you.

This strategy states the importance of home-ground advantage when getting the drop on the opp. In storytelling, getting viewers to ask questions can reliably increase interest in a story, as opposed to playing it safe in familiar "tropey" territory. Due to the novelty of its unusual premise, "Koumei" hits the ground running in this regard, by limiting the audience's ability to anticipate what will happen next. Presumably like most people, I don't really know what shows I could reasonably compare "Koumei" with. Thankfully, the series' moving parts click in a way that's both fresh and satisfying. Early plotlines in "Koumei" revolve around our lead protagonist's mind games as a manager maestro. Kongming is tasked with giving Eiko the exposure she deserves. With limited promotional resources at hand, he is forced to square-up against more-established talent groups for audience engagement. Our tactician's goal involves beating the underdog's odds and employing creative methods of drawing crowds, so that Eiko can work her magic. The writing makes these unpredictable encounters satisfying to piece together, and rarely slows down. The strategic schemes our mastermind employs grow in complexity and scope to match the exponentially-rising trajectory of Eiko's career. Fun curveballs and detours incrementally throw us off the show's scent, thereby keeping us guessing on our toes. "Koumei" carefully drip-feeds answers on its own terms, leaving viewers hooked. Questions create intrigue and interest. And boi, does "Ya Boi" have some odd interests.

Take the opportunity to pilfer a goat (順手牽羊)
--- While carrying out one's plans, be flexible enough to take advantage of any opportunity that presents itself, however small.

Ever the opportunistic comedy, "Koumei" makes the most out of its unusual premise. While the previous proverb is about getting the audience to ask questions, this step emphasizes the need for a story to provide answers. And here was my million dollar question: "In a story about a music manager, what can Zhuge Kongming and his time period bring to the table?" My big gripe prior to starting the show was with why the show would structure itself around such strangely specific subject matter. Despite going into "Koumei" without any knowledge of Chinese history, I now come away convinced that this is a good creative decision. The series regularly draws from the rich well of historical anecdotes documented in 3rd-Century literature collections such as the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms". While I find it kinda convenient that Eiko's boss and nightclub owner, Mr. Kobayashi, just so happens to be a massive nerd for "Three Kingdoms", the lore-filled conversations between him and Kongming serve important roles throughout the show. Not only do these trivia chats function as entertaining bouts of backstory between present-day scenes, but they also provide foreshadowing for tactics Kongming would execute further into the show. The tricks used for Eiko's sake are all variants of strategies employed during Kongming's past. Through explaining the ingenious context behind why these plans were carried out, "Koumei" links past & present and compounds the satisfaction already gained by seeing Kongming's current course of action. "Koumei's" inspired writing is evident elsewhere too. Kongming's frequent quotes of wisdom help guide supporting characters along their respective plotlines, making standard TV show pep talks stand out in their own distinct way. Plus, each episode of "Koumei" begins with an opening monologue about renowned Chinese war anecdotes that are purposefully chosen to form parallels with our characters in the present. Finally, the show chooses not to glorify the past whenever appropriate, in having Kongming eagerly take on a new lease of life in an era slightly closer to the peace he seeks. This constant interplay between present and past contexts makes the latter feel necessary. Making this niche interest such an essential component of the story is quite the gamble, and one that pays off in the show's favor. Its identity is so passionately rooted in this culture that I can't imagine the series turning out any other way! "Koumei" uses its opportunities to demonstrate detail, heart and authenticity.

Chain stratagems (連環計)
--- In important matters, one should use several stratagems applied simultaneously after another as in a chain of stratagems.

Having already seen a few key strategies come into a chain effect, let's take a look at the remaining tools "Koumei" has at its disposal. First up is the writing, which shines both in and in-between the 4head setpieces we've talked about. Well-timed humor makes watching this lighthearted series a breeze, while its willingness to handle key character beats more seriously is equally welcome. Yup, "Koumei" the comedy also dabbles in both heightened and grounded dramatic moments, and P.A. Works capably accommodates for all of these scenarios. Despite being quite a ways from the studio's best, they sure as heck know how to make SoLs look pretty good, with some shrewd production alongside vibrant color choices. And finally, the game plan of "Koumei" would be irreconcilably incomplete without its secret weapon - music.

Victory comes only with risk.

When it comes to anime, music very much qualifies as one such gambit. I personally believe that it's challenging to bring out the strengths of music whenever it's employed in different mediums (with the obvious exception of musicals.) It requires an expertise outside of typical anime production to craft great songs that can potentially stand independently from the series they're featured in. Furthermore, making music a prominent fixture in the plot can introduce one big concern. Anime series such as Takt op, Carole & Tuesday and VIVY are all awkward attempts at mythologising music, as if it's some superpower that blows up monsters or resolves racial divides. In trying to exaggerate music as a tangible force for good, these screenplays actually wind up belittling the simple, yet unmistakable, effect that the medium has on people. But even with all these unfavorable odds in mind, the skeptic in me still finds himself conceding that "Koumei's" use of music is authentic. Naturally, the tunes themselves are fire. Some mad genius took a sleazy Hungarian club song from the mid-2000s and turned it into the grooviest OP of the season (that opening flute sample is outright FLAMES). Real-life local pop star 96Neko was brought on to perform several times within the show, with both acoustic and EDM-infused tracks frequently making the rounds on social media while the show was still airing. And who could forget that 15-minute rap cypher contest, which saw "Koumei" out-freestyle the Kaguya episode that aired that same week? Probably the only concession here is that the thin OST often reuses songs, but that feels like a nitpick given how well music is implemented in a thematic sense. Rather than apply contrived plot mechanics to make music out to be something it's not, "Koumei" steers clear of this temptation and instead puts an earnest spotlight on the artform. I'm aware Kongming mentions his "Plan for Peace Throughout the World," but within the context of "Koumei" it doesn't sound like he's literally dead-set on fixing social issues. Kongming comes across as simply wanting to share the special feeling Eiko gifted him upon hearing her sing for the first time. In order to attain this goal, Eiko and the artists around her all have to put in the work. "Koumei" takes time to have its musicians reinforce their personal voice, identity and passion. This process also reveals the frank realities of the music scene, as characters contemplate the differences between a passionate career and one that involves "selling-out". The show questions whether it is right to sacrifice artistic control in exchange for a sustainable career that involves livelihoods beyond the individual artist's. And yes, "Koumei" does this all while incorporating elements from Chinese history. Music and Chinese tactics - it takes a deep love for both of these seemingly incompatible fields to create a passion project so richly authentic. What a decisive victory, ya' boy loves "Ya' Boy".

***

If you happen to like my verbose rants, feel free to check out my other reviews for seasons past and present. Happy Holidays, and expect more ill-informed takes, from me to you. Peace~