With Rokka recovering, words must be had between man and ghost.
What They Say:
Rokka is still down with a cold, so Hazuki and Miho have to mind the store and take care of Rokka. But when Shimao gets depressed, it triggers a scary phenomenon that goes beyond his usual immaterial existence..
The Review:
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
With Rokka having taken ill in the previous episode and Shimao forced into a position where he actually had to ask Hazuki for help, the dynamic between the two is rather amusingly changed. With Hazuki and Miho helping run the store while she recovers, Shimao’s reaction to it all is rather amusing to see as he’s feeling much more threatened now and is pushing back in some interesting ways with what he says. The way he wants to compare the two men in regards to her and her choices is expected, but there’s also that disconnect he’s feeling in that Shimao has to realize he’s dead and there’s nothing he can do. All he can do is hope, and potentially nudge, someone proper into his life. But he’s more intent on holding on at this stage, which is certainly interesting.
Especially since Shimao isn’t taking into account Rokka’s feelings at all, believing only what he wants to believe about them and how she’ll be forever true to him. So when Hazuki goes upstairs to check on her as she recovers, having the two get into an embrace, a kis and further physical affection in front of him, it’s difficult on both sides. While Rokka has her concerns over getting Hazuki ill, Hazuki feels the timing to be awkward, especially with Shimao watching and Shimao himself is just going into a spiral that’s affecting things locally in a physical manifestation. It’s a fascinating sequence to watch, especially with the angles through which things are animated and Shimao’s placement, making for it to be a fantastic and beautiful moment.
The dialogue the two have, brief as it is, is interesting since Hazuki rightly calls him out on the fact that even if Hazuki leaves, there will be other men. There’s also an extended segment involving Hazuki and Miho going out to eat and just talk about things a bit after surviving the day and it’s rather interesting to see how the two play off of each other. It doesn’t scream relationship to me or anything, but with Miho being Shimao’s brother, he’s able to get a little more out there and to learn a bit more about the family and relations that works well. But in the end, it all comes back to the lead two with Hazuki and Rokka, with Shimao watching on, as they grapple with what they fell, want and desire. So much natural internal conflict here that is beautifully realized.
In Summary:
While I thoroughly enjoyed the first episode and had some issues with the second in how everything was progressing, the third episode here reaffirms my hopes in the series. It’s such a strong work that takes chances, moves characters and draws out real emotion that you’re almost surprised at what you’re watching. I can’t say I’m invested in any of these three people yet because I don’t really know them as characters, just the present who they are, but there’s potential for a lot to be dealt with here. The pairings that happen and how they interact with each other, even just internally while thinking about the other, is highly engaging and filled with great writing and some emotion that just flows out beautifully. I can’t wait to see more.
Grade: A
Streamed By: Crunchyroll
Review Equipment:
Sony KDS-R70XBR2 70″ LCoS 1080P HDTV, Dell 10.1 Netbook via HDMI set to 1080p, Onkyo TX-SR605 Receiver and Panasonic SB-TP20S Multi-Channel Speaker System With 100-Watt Subwoofer.
