Migi to Dali – 02

「ウェルカムパーティー」 (Welcome Party)
“Welcome Party”

The second episode of Migi to Dali sheds further light on the direction of the show as Migi and Dali’s efforts to be adopted into the Sonoyama family were part of their overarching plan to avenge their mother’s death. But as they start to mingle with their new neighbors in the Oregon Village, they begin to question the secrets their new foster parents are keeping.

MURDER MYSTERY

I was pleasantly surprised to see that Migi to Dali was quick to establish its story hook in this episode. While it’d be tempting for a premise like this to lean into being a gag manga focused on seeing how the twins narrowly escape detection, it’s nice to see that Migi and Dali have a significant goal they wish to achieve now that they’re adopted.

The welcoming party being the centerpiece of the episode piqued my interest because now I’m thinking about what possibility any of the guests might have in being involved in their mother’s death. Migi and Dali’s goal of finding their mother’s killer in the village is all the more intense knowing that anyone at the party could have potentially been involved or related to her murder.

WHEELS KEEP SPINNING

In the midst of the show’s funnier moments, it’s also nice that there is a sentimental punch to the episode as Migi and Dali learn more about their new parents. While they were intent on finding some kind of rotten secret on their end, everything they find out about them is too wholesome as their relationship persevered through the struggles of aging. Age might not have been kind to Youko and Osamu’s bodies, yet they still persevere through the love they share and the efforts they make to recapture the same spark no matter what shape they’re in.

Likewise, Migi finds himself in an odd place with his new parents as he is the more empathetic of the two. Although he’s often skeptical as to whether the two should root through Youko and Osamu’s belongings for secrets, he’s also the most awe-struck by the bicycle Hitori received as a gift. The idea that his new parents earnestly thought to hold a party to buy him a gift left him at such a loss for words that Dali had to use the magnifying glass on him.

It doesn’t help that Migi is also the default twin who shows up as Hitori since he’s the brother who pulls off the most convincing cinnamon roll act. As much as Dali tries to steer him towards the right direction for their goals, it’s interesting to see how Migi’s resolve wavers a bit because of how much he starts to care for his new parents.