“Chronicles of the Going Home Club” is another in a long series on ‘nothing’ shows, although they eventually decide to do ‘something’. Closer aligned with “Joshiraku” and “Nichijou”, it tells the stories of five girls who just want to have a good time.

For those unfamiliar with the term, the “Going Home Club” refers to students who do not belong to any club, ending up going home to study or read anime or take a trip to Akihabara. But for this series, the Going Home Club is an actual club. Sure, they may play video games or eat snacks, but they eventually talk about stuff, things that have a bearing on their lives. So the first three or four episodes are spent setting up things, so nothing happens and what they talk and do is disconnected. So there is no real direction. But someone decides they need to have some degree of focus and that’s when the show really takes off.

Our Slacker Sisters are (left to right):

Sakura Domyoji, president of the club and the ‘ordinary’ one.
Karin Tono, supervisor and a tad of an airhead
Natsuki Ando, new member and a bit of a stiff
Claire Kokonoe, treasurer and heir to her family’s vast corporation
Botan Ohagi, commander and martial arts expert.

The stories start off a bit flat and boring, as the girls talk a lot about a lot of nothing, but somewhere around Episode Five, the approach to the stories change and they have a willingness to break the fourth wall. Plus, there are a lot of cultural references made and the show then becomes interesting. It’s not just five cute girls gassing endlessly (and that means talking, not farting!) but actually doing a caliber of role-playing to make a point (or not make a point, depending on your stance).

The personalities are well defined, so the interactions feel genuine (despite some rather odd set-up to the story that is being related). This is one of those shows that could get another season, or it could end where it stands and you do have a complete package. I would rate this as a transition series, so if you need a break from your giant fighting robot or horror fest, this is a good one to unwind your mind.
On a scale of 1 to 10:

Artwork 8 (They are cute girls)
Plot 8 (Eventually grows into it)
Pacing 7 (Slow at the start but picks up)
Effectiveness 8 (Breaks the fourth wall effectively)
Conclusion 7 (It reaches a ‘coupler point’, but doesn’t really end)
Fan Service 1 (A similar show would be “Ouran High School”)

Overall 8 (It does become ‘something’)

And remember, it’s first run until you’ve seen it. You should join this club.