I HATE Mondays…
What They Say:
My name is Fukuzou Moguro, and people call me the Laughing Salesman. I am no ordinary salesman. The merchandise I sell is the human soul itself. Hooo-ho-ho-ho… All people in this world, young and old, male and female, are lonely. I am here to fill the emptiness in all of their souls. No, I won’t accept a single coin in return. As long as my customer is satisfied, that’s all the payment I need. Now, I wonder what sort of customer I’ll serve today… Hooo-ho-ho-ho-ho…
The Review:
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
It is always disappointing when a series isn’t capitalizing on what at first felt like a bang-up framework, and unfortunately Laughing Salesman NEW is constantly teetering on that edge. Typically coupling one lackluster story with another that possesses more polish and quality, this week’s episode may be the biggest contrasting set yet. Those of us who have been following the series may find the first half, “Sunday Club”, frustratingly familiar in its layout; though it’s inclusion does provide an insight into the almost perpetual plight of the poor salaryman. The better half of the show once again shines on, telling the story of not only a housewife on a cleaning binge but of the lengths Moguro will go to tempt those he deems needing his help. The Laughing Salesman has faced pushback against his efforts for two weeks in a row, and that makes him one unhappy camper.
This week’s first cautionary tale leaves…little to write about. Titled “Sunday Club”, we are introduced to yet another overworked and overstressed salaryman, Uchinaki Yousuke. Uchinaki’s hatred of Mondays draws Moguro in like flies to fresh poo, and his temptation is one that we all know well. “Sunday Club”, on its own, is nothing more than a slightly edited rehash of the pilot episode’s opening salvo “Daydream,” but it does offer an insight into Japan’s infamous work culture. Some of Moguro’s most easily tempted subjects have been that of the strung-out salaryman; either trapped in a “black company”, reaching the dawn of their careers, or both. The stress leads to an ennui that Moguro loves exploiting to the max, leading each of these gentlemen to their breaking point. This is an inkling of the growing stakes mentioned earlier and is explored even more so in the second half of this week’s episode.
“The Woman Who Throws Away”, the second story of the episode, plays off as more of a psychological breakdown than any sort of “business” that Moguro normally conducts. Monomochi Tomie, a bustling housewife in a happy family, receives a visit from The Laughing Salesman that kicks off the complete deterioration of the life she had once known. Her loneliness is a multilayered beast, and one that may be misconstrued as selfishness; when surrounded by happiness and success, how could you destroy it all like that? Well, you can only bask in somebody’s success so long without questioning your own choices along life’s path, so perhaps cleaning those reminders away it releases a lot of stress associated with such negative thoughts. What irks though, is how encouraging Moguro was of this behavior given the trickery used to actually grow the hole in Monomochi’s heart. This makes me wonder about Moguro’s motivations for doing his business, why can’t he just walk away from the folks who say no? Is it just that hunter’s selling mentality, or something a little darker?
In Summary:
Continuing its 50/50 quality mark, the first half of this week’s episode is quite disappointing for any means other than exploring the plight of the Japanese salaryman. Luckily, once again the second story makes up for the lackluster presentation of the former. Exploring the themes of self-sacrifice and what is truly a successful life coupled with some underhanded selling tactics make “The Woman Who Throws Away” this week’s winner.
Grade: C
Streamed By: Crunchyroll
