「ほんのすこしの長いよる」 (Hon no Sukoshi no Nagai Yoru)
“A Long Night”

This week marks the return of our beloved Honoka!

Honoka Takes The Stage!

After last week’s fantastic beach episode, I thought it’d be tough for the show to follow up from there. Amazingly, this week’s episode ended up being just as fun and cute if not more than usual. I’m not quite sure what it is but whenever Honoka appears on screen, a wave of fun and interesting moments follow right behind. Most likely stemming from the fact that Karen seems to always be nearby, this week’s episode was full of moments that would make the Karen x Honoka fandom lose their mind. From the typical “I’ll wipe that cream off your face” to a rather intimate moment when Karen offered to let Honoka wipe the dirt off of her skirt, nothing was too risqué this week!

Back to England!

I never thought it’d happen but Alice and Karen actually went back to England! Leaving Shino and the rest behind, I never expected Shino to end up as depressed as she did. And as cute as it was, I must admit that seeing her so out of character started to grow old rather quickly. While I can’t put my finger on exactly the reason why, I do know I’ve been growing weary of the two’s cutesy moments. Something about them have lost their charm and I can’t help but think it’s slowly starting to spread to anytime Shino and Alice share any personal moments together.

On the other hand, it was really nice to see just Shino, Youko, and Aya together for once. The original three before Alice and Karen arrived, watching them do things together had a completely different charm to it. It makes you wonder why just the three of them don’t attempt to spend time together like that!

Looking Ahead

As with any slice-of-life, it feels like we’ve hit the lull in-between “arcs”. While that’s a little odd since the season is just about to finish up, I must admit that it was nice to see some different group dynamics! Hopefully our two blondes come back next week so we don’t have to see an extra depressed Shino.

Also, wasn’t that fight scene amongst the group pretty well made? Just like last week’s beach episode, we keep finding all these random moments that get a ton of production value. Makes you wonder just how far the studio might go when we finally hit that last episode!

Catch you guys next week!

 

Preview

16 Comments

  1. That whole dream with Aya, Yoko, and (kokeshi doll) Shinobu turning blonde… I wonder if that was a reference to that April Fools pic where everyone’s hair was turned blonde?

    Also, those signs posted by Karen made me remember that Old Spice commercial with Isaiah Mustafa…

    Show Spoiler ▼

    *sighs* I’m gonna miss this show once this season is done…

    Incognito
      1. Well, that* and the upcoming season 2 of Gochuumon wa Usagi desu ka?. I still have to watch the first season, though…

        (* – OK, I guess I’ll watch Wakaba Girl, too.)

        Incognito
  2. I was kinda hoping the teachers would recognize the souvenirs from the beach, but I guess they’ll never know both groups were there at the same time.

    The bits with Honoka were great; come on, Karen wants you to pat her butt, go for it!

    Figures that Shino would dream about a forbidden power-up to become blonde, that mahou shoujo part was kinda random and fun. Not quite Super Saiyan, though.

    SK
  3. It doesn’t look like we’ll get to see our 5 girls all go to England together this season. Unless the writers make up something so quick and last-minute, it will feel contrived, and as just a way to tie the ED into the story. But that is a good question, why DOESN’T Shino go to England with Alice?? Why didn’t they plan it that way? Are days off much stricter in Japanese schools?

    The ending spoof on magical girls was a happy surprise. 😀

    starss
  4. With Yoko also appearing in the opening scene we now have completed the circle! So sad that such an adorable venture is going to end. Next episode! Alice returns to find Shino has dyed her hair out of desperation for blonde hair! Now that’d be one hell of a punchline.

    Magical Girl spin off? I’m game!

    gawrshness

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