「幼き少女、願う。」 (Osanaki shōjo, negau.)
“The Young Girl’s Wish.”

I was just thinking about how I wouldn’t mind seeing more of Hermione, then she decides to pop up this episode. Like the guards in the tavern, I also consider to be an extremely fine lady. And we find out that Dale really struggles with her mainly because he used to have a fat crush on her in the past – so now he feels all awkward and embarrassed around her. Now he finds himself forced to work with her on an adventure, by the Duke’s order. Unluckily for him, the suffering doesn’t even end there. Latina can pick up on something between them and she throws a quiet tantrum – much to Dale’s chagrin. Though I have to say that the incessant pouting was rather enjoyable! Perhaps in the past, Hermione reciprocated Dale’s feelings. After all, he’s one heck of a specimen and she really enjoys flirting with him in a playful and mysterious way. However, her pointy ears easily indicate her elvish heritage. And she drops a not so subtle speech about how creatures with a long lifespan exercise caution before committing to relationships with short-lived humans – maybe referring to herself but definitely referencing Latina in some way. That’s really been a core theme that Uchimusumehas been looking to deal with for its run. As much as she loves these fellow humans and every single second she spends with them, someday, Latina will outlive absolutely everyone – including Dale. It’s something that she’s understandably frightened about – seen by her previous breakdown alongside brooding and unhappy reactions to all her school friends happily talking about their future. But the series has provided a beautiful character arc for her where she’s able to make an uncomfortable peace with the inevitable. And it’s not all doom and gloom if you consider that grandma has been looking out for her too – introducing Latina to phantasmic beasts that can potentially match her extensive lifespan. Also, there’s the circle of life to take into account – with Rita finally giving birth to a healthy baby. They can all look forwards to a brighter future.

And that is the fitting end of a wholesome tale that genuinely touched my heart – especially the choice of using an emotional insert song to wrap off the final episode. Now that’s done and dusted, let’s get down to business. Would I recommend this series? Sure, people might find the romantic inclinations questionable in context. Latina outright confesses her romantic love for Dale during her internal monologue, so that’s no longer a matter of speculation. And on a technical basis, the animation was definitely mediocre for stretches. But Maho Films were able to express a quaint charm and passion that you could warmly feel while watching the episodes week in week out. Be it through the vibrant colour palettes, caring characters and cheery soundtrack. At the end of the day, you have two lost souls that essentially gaining a second chance at life through a chance encounter. They significantly add to each other’s life and it’s evident how deeply they care for one another. Uchimusume was a heartwarming and feel-good experience that ended on a good note, and although I won’t be clamouring for it I would definitely welcome another season down the line because it was pleasant to watch on a weekly basis and there are still elements that require closure. Anyway, that’s about everything I wanted to discuss. I am extremely fascinated to know what other people think, so let it be known in the comment section below. As always, thanks for reading my posts till the end and see you next time, wherever that may be!

9 Comments

  1. I really doubt we’ll see a second season, I think the future of the series if anything will be in OVA form. Maho Film are also a relatively new studio and this series doesn’t look like it’ll be shifting many BDs/DVDs at retail, so they may just want to move onto their next project while maybe producing some side story OVAs here and there.

    Lyfe
      1. This isn’t a series that really needs another season. It’s nothing more than the daily life of these two characters. With some OVAs they could just cover some random novel stories and be done. I’m not sure if people were expecting something super indepth & plot heavy but its really not.

        Lyfe
  2. A little about Hermione that was given in the Novel, but not mentioned in the anime. Show Spoiler ▼

    Tom
  3. A real spoiler about the Demon Lord’s Thrones.Show Spoiler ▼

    Tom

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