Posted by  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
「想いは、触れた熱だけが確かに伝えている。」 (Omoi wa, Fureta Netsu Dakega Tashikani Tsutaeteiru.)
“Only a Heated Touch Truly Conveys the Sentiment.”
With some prodding from Hiratsuka sensei, Hachiman goes forth into the wider world, determined to resolve all problems and tie off loose ends. We witnessed the euthanisation of SS Yui – and crying her eyes out in the embrace of Mamagahama hit me hard in the feels. While I never really supported this romantic ship, it’s always painful to see genuinely nice characters suffer like that. Though today might really suck for her, I’m sure tomorrow can only be better.
So, this was the moment we have all been waiting for. For the rest of the episode, Hachiman uses every trick in the book to try and convey his feelings to Yukino without directly saying ‘I love you’. From asking her to help co-host the Psycho Prom, telling her disapproving mother that he intends to take responsibility, the immaculate bridge scene where he chases Yukino and refuses to let go of her hands, telling her ‘I want to stay connected with you’. And most importantly ‘Please allow me to distort your life’ – which has got to be one of the strangest confessions of all time. But because this is Hachiman we’re talking about, it was absolutely perfect.
Although flustered, Yukino is crushed by a wave of self-doubt – perceiving herself to be lacking in many aspects, and Hachiman brutally concurs. But he affirms that he sees so much merit in her existence, and the kind of person she is – with such reassurances being enough to make her openly reciprocate by asking for his whole life in exchange. It might have been awkward. That said, it was super sweet to see them close the distance and finally embrace each other.
I’m just really glad that we’ve achieved closure with Oregairu, since it’s an uncommon privilege. It’s been so many years from when the first episode of Oregairu aired. Between then and now, many adapted romcoms have aired – without every revealing the conclusion, outside of delving into the source material itself.
All’s well that ends well. I’m assuming with the next and final episode, Hachiman with Yukino are going to try and figure out a way to preserve the trio in spite of their relationship dynamic as a couple. It will be interesting to see how it goes from here, since I’m confident that Yui will be gracious enough to accept this outcome. Anyway, that’s everything I wanted to discuss. As always, thanks for reading this post – and join me next week to fondly comismerate on Oregairu’s finale.
Preview
 |
 |
 |
Well that was indeed the strangest wording for a confession. I am glad though there’s finally some closure. As the title says this was “not a typical rom com” in that it’s not all the heroines are just waiting and salivating for the indecisive/clueless but infallible protagonist to choose #bestgirl. This show though was about a very flawed group of people that pretty much knew what their true feelings were for 1.5 seasons but due to their circumstances and more so just their social inadequacies they can’t actually convey those feelings properly until tons of emotional/psychological barriers had to be peeled off. Seeing it come to fruition after waiting 8 years with the word “distort” was very satisfying to me. It would be funny to see Hiki be super confidant now at school and show some PDA in front of everyone but we all know that isn’t going to happen haha. Though I hope for like a scene of that happening and it’s just his imagination with (“heh, no way”)
Gotta love how the whole two decently meaningful dialogues in the season they had are interspeced with insultingly dumb prom plot device STILL.
Oh, and both sisters and the mother are absolutely useless cardboard cutout characters and should have been excised along with the le prom retardation.
I think everything will boil down to what goes down come the finale. That was probably one of the strangest confessions I’ve ever seen in quite some time.
Something tells me that Hachiman will frame that note from Hiratsuka Sensei just like Lisa from the Simpsons did with her favorite teacher. You are Hachiman Hikigaya.