SEASONAL PRATTLE
No notes, no announcements, nothing like that? Yeah, we’re just hoping right into this week’s lead this time around with no formal introduction mainly because I really just want to say this: I wasn’t really expecting Yesterday wo Utatte to spit out an episode as mixed as this based on its quality so far, but here we are. On one hand, the way this series generally maneuvers is still a more favorable feature than not and even at times, one that can be considered exceptional – often working sequences in appropriate dramatic lengths right before they become tedious and still aligning its leads in good spots to operate. On the other hand, Haru’s performance here is an up and down affair that finds itself on the “downside” more than it should.
For every decent, contemplative monologue or quip she has, there’s almost always a thick concoction of tropes and stale outcomes that virtually comprise the bigger splashes of character acting and Rikuo centered interactions that surround them. Regardless if its Haru yelling “baka” and running away in the rain umbrella-less after being stood up, bold aloud declarations of motives, or an armful of her leading questions in-between: Haru very much feels like an anime character in a bad way – an unfortunate contrast given this show’s sense of realism and maturity that it attempts to carry. Yesterday wo Utatte remains a good show on a whole so far, but Haru grating against its inherent identity like she did this week is certainly an aspect that needs to be patched up moving forward.
Kakushigoto (3)
“Another dose of smooth tonal integration”
Just as charming as ever, Kakushigoto presents another positive twenty minute turnout to stack upon its previous pair – echoing much of this series’ appreciable facets in the process. All throughout episode three there were inherently cute moments that took advantage of Hime’s well-portrayed childlike behavior and logic to make them land just right – prominently stemming from the scenario writing and her eventual solution “to being poor” early on. Second half Goto harem shenanigans make a nice complementary act to this previous heartwarming goodness by leaning on more comedic sensibilities and essentially turning Goto loose, letting him lead pretty much all remaining scenes and interactions. Topping that off, another dose of smooth tonal integration from present-day Hime’s reality rounds out the valuables from this enjoyable episode. Good work.
Hamefura (3)
“Laying down the groundwork for more appealing narrative threads”
Hamefura shared a modest showing, checking enough tonal and structural boxes to make it an okay watch, and really only providing value by laying down the groundwork for more appealing narrative threads post time skip to come. For that, there’s really not much to unpack here as Katarina’s harem claims it’s latest soul, Sophia, with pretty much the same ease and workings that we’ve seen over the last two weeks. As addressed at the start of this entry, episode three’s payoff essentially rests on what’s going to be – with a waning sequence that now features a teenage Katarina and company suggesting we can actually start digging into the pulpier parts of this scrip next go around. Decent turnout in a vaccum, but hopefully next week will be more engaging.
Kami no Tou (3)
“Delivered well enough to actively invest in”
It feels like Kami no Tou is getting better with each passing episode – coming off as even more comfortable in this third showing as it relates to the ins and outs of storytelling than seven days ago. Immediately from the opening moments, three quickly falls into good favor as it throws some interesting vignettes Kuhns’s way, drumming up a decent bit of character texture for him which is a touchpoint on a whole that this series deeply needed to utilize more. From there, our content essentially kept the same positivity, never truly faltering or taking any grave missteps: Both tests here are delivered well enough to actively invest in, tension is appropriately leveraged where it should be, and the overarching build to and eventual Rachel-laced cliffhanger is sufficiently intriguing to warrant tuning in next week. Good episode all in all.
Gleipnir (3)
“Continues to feel beyond the typical thresholds of an ecchi”
Lastly, Gleipnir remains strong, cleanly accelerating the relationship between Clair and Shuuichi and slipping into an exciting ending which opens the door for an even more interesting future for the series. A large part of what makes three good comes down to pure underrated fundamentals: The way this performance is physically built out continues to feel beyond the typical thresholds of an ecchi, boosting its share of appreciable directorial flows and composition that heightens its bigger narrative strokes. Pairing with this, three’s particular bit of script works fluently to an advantageous state as the upfront introduction and fallout of Clair’s sister acts as an intriguing riff in addition to a meaty cliffhanger. I’ve expressed it in the past, but positive execution makes such a pleasing, yet often taken for granted, difference for the pull content can generate on a scene-by scene basis, and Gleipnir definitely brought that today.
