We find the members of the "The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture" starting a new school year and eager to add to their flock. Only 4 members currently participate in the circle with the older members having graduated. Ogiue is still the clubs president with Ono being the most senior member. Rounding out the current crew is the delirious and perverted Kuchiki and the enigmatic and loli like foreign student Sue. Oguie, still hateful towards otaku, tries her best to stop any cosplaying during the membership drive. In order to get attention from prospective members she draws a large scale BL piece for everyone to see. Much to her dismay the three new members this stunt attracts are all BL addicted fujoshi. Now every member of the club besides Kuchiki is a girl...that is until they discover that one of the newest recruits, Kenjiro Hato, is a cross dresser. While rookie member Rika Hoshitake, energetic history buff and massive yaoi fan, loves the idea of a cross dressing member of the club. The other new member, Mirei Yajima, an over weight and gruff otaku, has severe problems with Hato's tendencies. As Genshiken turns to a club packed with BL loving women can Ogiue maintain the original spirit of the otaku group?
A return to this enjoyable slice of life series was welcome after the last installment in 2007 with Genshiken 2. With many of the original characters playing bit parts the focus of this series turned towards Ogiue managing the club and Hato coming to terms with his love of BL dojinshi and what his cross dressing habits really represent. At first, I was sad to not really see most of the old characters but quickly warmed up to the new cast of misfits. I think the new take on otaku culture with the series highlighting the growing and vocal female otaku crowd is a good move. If you have a problem with yaoi and BL then don't watch/read any titles, but it doesn't mean you have to be disgusted by any mention of that sector of otaku culture in a series such as this one. Don't be a fucking bigot. The series maintains its humor and maturity that it has presented in the past and is greatly welcome among the current anime titles out there.
For fans of Genshiken, this is a must. For fans of well done slice of life stories this is also right up your alley. Otaku should really watch Genshiken on principle along with the other few otaku centered anime titles. This series is currently available on Crunchyroll and I highly recommend it. Best series to come out of 2013 in my mind...I don't think the others I have yet to watch will be able to top it.
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