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「雨女だったっけ？」 (Ame Onna Dattakke?)
“Did You Say You Were a Rain-bringer?”
This week’s episode continues the slow, inexorable march to whatever conclusion we’ll get. I was struck by how much of the episode was so nakedly centered around the idea of love. That paid dividends in some areas (Alec, the star scenes), but it also resulted in the characters openly musing about love for a good chunk of the episode, which just screamed “We want to reveal what they think about love and we don’t have a better way to do it!!” (by the writers). Which, not ideal. The old stand-by is “Show, don’t tell,” and in truth that advice can be problematic for several subtle reasons (it assumes a shared story vernacular, for instance). Sometimes telling is not only wholly appropriate, it’s the best method. The old advice is still a good guideline, though, and I wish the writers here had taken it to heart more. The first half of the episode was pretty forgettable as a result.
The most interesting character was, once again, Alec, and most of the reason was in subtext. Her interactions with Charles shimmer with unrequited love, and the whole fortune scene was a rough go. (Rough in a good way. I’m weak to imbuing hokey folklore with barely-concealed meaning. Loved it, even if it’s bad news for Yamashita Ken and Alec.) It was even deeper in the subtext where her torment truly lies, such as when she was clearly eavesdropping on Mitsuyoshi & Teresa’s conversation, which poses her with a dilemma: What should Alec do if she has realized that Teresa is crushing on Tada, and if pushing the two of them together would make her friend happy and open up a chance for Alec with her own crush (Charles), but that course of action would run counter to her honor, pride, and duty, and would also feel like cheating? What should she do then? Because that’s the question ahead of her, and it looks like she may be getting to the heart of the matter next week. Dang cliffhangers!
As for Mitsuyoshi and Teresa themselves, the two of them practically sing with chemistry. It’s rough. (Once again, in a good way.) The more this series goes on, the more I suspect that the central couple may be doomed by duty to never come together, though, in a reality where a biracial American divorcee just married a British prince, the whole “duty” thing smacks of forced drama. (I have a feeling it doesn’t to Japanese viewers quite so much, but I felt compelled to mention it.) But there’s just so much chemistry between them, they fit together like puzzle pieces and a lot of their personal philosophies seem to align perfectly. That’s really important! (And they’re both saying “I sincerely appreciate it” now, HNG!) They sparkle when they’re together, which is why they were looking at each other instead of the stars, and why Teresa couldn’t take her eyes away. It’s going to be rough if they don’t get together, but take heart. Even if they don’t find a soulmate, I have a feeling they’ll each stand at the end of Teresa’s time in Japan with someone who has positively changed their lives. The fortune said as much for Teresa. And if that’s Mitsuyoshi’s back luck, well. That doesn’t seem so bad, does it?
Random thoughts:
- I liked Charles’ “What is love?” line. That’s a ballsy thing to say, in front of your future wife (and also Teresa, ufufu~).
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Don’t worry, Alec. I’ll always love ya.
My heart was tight in the whole lake scene, but, at the same time, Charles is so loveable, I feel sorry for him too
Yes, the chemistry is on fire between Teresa and Mitsuyoshi, but I have this feeling that Mitsuyoshi isn’t in love yet. Nor do I think he will, as per the title.
Perhaps the regular signs are all there aside from the lack of blushing on his part, but mutual understanding of one another and gorgeous starry / sunrise backdrops do not immediately equal doki-doki rabu-rabu. The remarks made about having to grow up too fast may also indicate that love isn’t on his list of priorities either. At least not yet.
It may be that later on, someone will have to tell Mitsuyoshi that ‘it’s okay to go ahead and fall in love’ and that idea will have to sink in. Timed perfectly with that prolonged look into each other’s eyes. (How long did Nyanko Big say that was supposed to be? 10 seconds?)
I think you’re correct about Mitsuyoshi. Alas, neither life nor plot [always] waits for the boy to realize what he feels, so signs are increasingly showing that there will be no big romantic finish for them. But there could be, either now or years later. We’ll see. We’ll see.
Loved the chemistry between Teresa & Mitsuyoshi, much hnng.
But with 4 episodes remaining before it ends, I feel like with the exception of Pin-senpai and Hinako, no one else is going to get a happy ending.
I really hope I’m wrong though.
Really felt sad for Charles this episode.
https://randomc.net/image/Tada-kun%20wa%20Koi%20wo%20Shinai/Tada-kun%20wa%20Koi%20wo%20Shinai%20-%2008%20-%2035.jpg
Would be nice if he can move on to the next best thing. Though it’ll be understandable if he couldn’t, either politically or personally. It would be a tragic turn of events for our foreigners. So, hopefully Alec doesn’t follow the advice given by that fortune thing.