Yeah, I'm going to do some Real Drive soon, too; I have been missing my Nyamo. I haven't had time and Shinsen is slow, but I guess The_Metal is okay. I hate switching sub groups mid-series (mild OCD, also known as "being a human"), but it looks like I have to do so. :(
You're supposed to hate Naoki; he's a slimy bastard, and if I knew him in real life, I'd punch him in the junk, repeatedly.
But he is an anime character, so all I can do is scream obscenities at the monitor and shout in triumph when he gets one-upped or shows another side of himself. I love the series because every episode turns me into a squealing, giddy teenage fangirl for 24 minutes a week. I am falling for the series' gimmicks hook, line, and sinker, and I don't care, because it's fun. That and I get to see Kotoko slap Naoki.
I keep running commentary of the series on my blog (because I watch an episode and I just can't not be bubbly and effusive about it, and then I start philosophizing on things such as "the importance of execution over originality" and "the lasting influence of Itazura na Kiss over 18 years" and, perhaps most importantly, "what the hell is Naoki thinking?", because I find it hard to turn my brain off sometimes), which you can read or not read at your leisure/interest level/whatever, or may have already read, or will never read, or...
The people complaining about the "lack of realism" in Toshokan Sensou are hilarious. The fact that it's a totally illogical situation in real life adds both to the enjoyability of the series as well as strengthening the point it's trying to make (censorship is illogical).
I enjoy it a lot, partially because I work in a library and therefore have resonance with the setting, partially because I'm strongly anti-censorship and pro-enjoying-whatever-you-feel-like-enjoying, but also for the dynamics between Sasahara Iku and Doujou Atsushi. Iku is, of course, my favorite (I am weak vs. cute girls, and ESPECIALLY against cute girls with Iku's personality type), but Doujou is great too, and watching their relationship develop is fun.
Of course, I think that, deep down in my heart, I'm just a squealy fangirl for romances like that--see my love for Itazura na Kiss for an alternative example (even though you don't seem to like it too terribly much, which is understandable).
I like it because it's librarians with guns (which has had me excited ever since I heard of the franchise over half a year ago), yes, but it's also very well-written. I now want to read the novels, but that will be a long time coming, if ever.
I also like how there's both a shounen and a shoujo manga spinoff of the series--it's pretty easy to see why.
I need to watch more episodes, but I'm afraid of Ocha!'s subs.
EDIT: If this seems like a weird post, it's because I can't quite find a way to phrase exactly what is good about the series in a succinct way.
Kasahara Iku is love. I would teach her how to work in a library any day.
It's kind of a shame that Toshokan Sensou has gotten semi-mixed reception, though. I guess everyone's just subconsciously comparing it to Read or Die and it's coming up short (because it's not really trying to be another Read or Die).
