「ふりだし」 (Furidashi)
“Back to Square One”

This was one of the most frustrating episodes to date.

General Impressions

If I were to try and precisely describe my emotions throughout this week’s episode, there’s only one example I can think of — this week’s episode was like Minagawa and we (the viewers) were Furuya. From the moment the episode started, I had an inkling we were in for some frustration, but never did I think that every single skit would take a stab at our hearts. The worst part of it all was probably how our “safe” couple, Gouda and Kamine, somehow also managed to fall into everyone else’s pace. Watching Kamine try her hardest to get Gouda into the move of kissing only to get blocked by his constant overthinking hurt me more than I thought it would.

Luckily, even though nothing was really accomplished this week, there were still a few moments that gave me some hope. First and foremost, the moment between Sugawara and Takano at the pool gave me hope that two will one day overcome their inhibitions. With the latter finally overcoming the hurdle of speaking his feelings, it looks like all that’s left is for Takano to finally make the plunge and ask about Sugaware’s feelings for her. Second, I really hope that we get to see something between Minagawa and Furuya come to fruition since it’s just too damn cute to watch them together. Sure, we’d lose one of the best comedic duos, but I wouldn’t mind it if we got to see them act like a couple together (and we still have Furuya’s younger sister). Finally, I’m really hoping that Takase and Kanda manage to overcome their miscommunication and just start dating already. They seem perfect for one another and it drives me insane to see a tiny slip up in communication cause so many damn problems.

Overall, a great episode even though it probably raised my blood pressure a few points. And I guess in all honesty, it’s probably a good thing this show can have episodes like this that are engaging even if there isn’t a positive payoff in the end. In any case, I’ll catch you guys next week. See you then!

 

Preview

12 Comments

  1. Some of the sections of this anime remind me very much of the “Jack and Jill” poems from the psychiatrist R.D. Laing’s book Knots, like this one, for instance:

    Jill can see Jack can’t see,
    and can’t see he can’t see.
    Jill can see WHY
    Jack can’t see,
    But Jill cannot see WHY
    Jack can’t see he can’t see.

    Jack ‘sees’ Jill is blind
    and that Jill can’t see she is.
    Jack realises they both are.
    If the blind must lead the blind, it is as well
    that the leader knows he is.

    Jack can’t see he can’t see
    and can’t see
    Jill can’t see Jill can’t see it.
    and visa versa

    (For the grammar Nazis, “visa versa” is a common misspelling of “vice versa”, but here the author uses it as a pun because “visa” is from the Latin verb meaning “to see”.)

    Angelus
  2. Yeah Takaii, this episode feels irritating, to say the least. Maybe infuriating, I don’t know. I’m enjoying this show as much as Minagawa is with Furuya though. Haha but seriously I’m not expecting much from Minagawa anyway so I’m not that mad after all.

    Someday. Someday Takano will notice she looks better than the fence lol FURE FURE SUGAWARA-KUN!!
    Also someday. Someday Takase will go out with Kanda. We can but hope.

  3. AH hahahaha yea this was the most frustrating ep of the season so far, as for your gripes Takase/Kanda and Takano/Sugawara at this point just need to directly talk to each other and they will be a couple lol.

    As for Gouda and Kamine fret not next time with them all should be resolved and they will go on better and better.

    I think in the sequence with Furuya and Minagawa in the manga it was pretty explicit she was trolling him with the hands (and he tries it himself later on lol) this they made it vague if she did kiss him quickly and then use her hands either way she is still great xD

    Bill
  4. True, while the charm of the show comes from how clueless and overconcerned that couples in love can be, many of the episode’s segments are like “c’mon guys, we know you love eachother, just talk it out!”

    The segment with Minagawa and Furuya was cute enough for me to feel good about Episode 9 though.

    Choya
  5. Nope, Takano and Sugawara will stay oblivious to each other, part ways 2 years later and never meet again. Both end up alone and unmarried for the rest of their lives, and Japan will depopulate. THE END

    ewok40k

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