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I started off last week’s post by saying I was steeling myself for an emotional haymaker, but such was the mastery of this episode that it still packed a lot of wallop. I did indeed know it was coming (and not from having read this far in the manga, either) but the way the ep played out was perfectly tailored for maximum impact. Fair play, it was artfully done – but with only three episodes left it is indeed a blow to see the story spin off in this direction. Isshuukan Friends is (surprisingly) another show that’s looking strong enough in Stalker to where a second season might happen, but I don’t think there’s going to be enough manga for quite a while yet even if the desire is there to produce one.
This was really a classic Venus Flytrap scenario – draw us in with sweet, sweet nectar and then close the jaws of death. The key was both just how effective and charming the slice-of-life in the first part of the episode was, and that it lasted all the way up until the final couple of moments of the episode before the hammer fell. Isshuukan Friends has really stepped it up in the last couple of weeks, so my emotional buy-in was already on the rise.
Things kick of innocently enough (innocence as only this series can do) with a 4-way study-date at Kaori’s house on the last day of summer vacation (heaven forbid Japanese kids should actually have a vacation without endless homework). About the edgiest thing here is Kaori’s Mom, who I’m beginning to suspect may just be a bit of a cougar (methinks she doth jest with Yuuki too much). This is nothing fancy, just first-rate slice-of-life with great atmospherics. I especially like the way we get a lot of long reaction shots of the characters (especially Shougo) to what the others are saying or doing.
One interesting development here is the hints of possible interest in Saki by Shougo, which I frankly hope is not the case. It’s revealed that not only did the two of them go to elementary school together (naturally she’s forgotten, and she’s amazed that she had an elementary classmate so tall) but when he gives her a ream of handwritten notes for the summer homework she’s just slagged off Saki remembers that Shougo did the same thing when they were in grade school. He says it was to encourage her to change her ways – clearly a total failure as she then and now completely took the wrong message away from this act of kindness – and hopefully that’s all it is. I would lose respect for Shougo if he was into someone as self-involved and irresponsible as Saki simply because she plays the moe card.
Meanwhile the setup for the sucker punch deepens as Hase and Kaori are shown growing closer and closer. There’s a lovely natural quality in watching the two of them together, and even if she hasn’t formally beaten her problem it’s clear that the process of building a relationship with Yuuki has done a great deal of emotional healing. We get a somewhat cliche moment where he slips on a notebook and falls on top of Kaori, and her mother walks in on them, but like the beach episode it doesn’t play like a conventional example. Her reaction is neither flustered or angry – indeed, it’s at this moment that she betrays what can only be seen as physical attraction towards him. And when she surprises him on the way to school the next day, it’s hard to escape the impression that a threshold has been crossed – though she may not be aware of it in literal terms, it seems as if Kaori now views Yuuki as a boyfriend and not just a friend.
But Kujou is out there, lurking menacingly like a rabid dog from a horror novel, and I never quite forgot about the last moments of last week’s episode. Back at school things start out well enough, and Yuuki even draws a precious back-row seat in the lottery, and next to Kaori to boot. But that’s when the transfer student shows up and things go to Hell in a handbasket. He clearly recognizes Kaori and seems surprised to see her there, but naturally she has no recollection of him. When Kujou strikes a wounded tone at being forgotten, declares that Kaori forget her promise to him and calls her a “traitor”, something breaks inside her and she collapses to the floor.
Surely we all knew this – something like this, anyway – was coming. But it still hurts to see, and Kaori’s reaction when Yuuki reached for her after she woke up was brutal – he reacted like he’d been punched in the gut, and that’s what it felt like watching it. I’m still of a mind that Kujoe isn’t a “bad guy” because Isshuukan Friends doesn’t seem like a bad guy sort of show, but that his impact so far is bad can’t be denied. Perhaps the most logical explanation is that she was on her way to say goodbye to Kujou before he moved to Hokkaido when she had her accident, and when she was injured and thus broke her promise to him she retreated inside her disorder to block out her guilt. Whatever it is I suspect Kujou’s side of the story will paint him in a better light than we see him in now, but the Sisyphean frustration at coming so far with Yuuki and Kaori and then seeing the boulder roll all the way back to the ground is a cruel blow, indeed.
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Alister Hagen
June 2, 2014 at 10:05 amYeah, it really was a sucker punch, the episode is even called "Last day with friends" and it starts out with the last day of summer vacation, but then at the end you find out it has another meaning. 🙁
While Kujou probably isn't a villain I still had the urge to strangle him. Just seeing him say "Traitor" in that tone and watching Kaori crumple over, both physically and emotionally from his cruel words was enraging. Then of course we see all the progress Kaori has made and the fragile relationship she and Yuuki have built crumble away like a sand castle in the face of the uncaring tide. Sucker punch and gut punch both, this episode. *sigh*
whemleh
June 2, 2014 at 11:56 amI don't particularly mind if the series pushes for Shougo/Saki a little bit. To be honest, I've been expecting something between them since her introduction and I do think it's pretty cute. But, I'd rather this not be the extent of Shougo's character development. I much rather see him fleshed out in other ways. Oh, and it was mentioned in her first episode that Saki and Shougo went to primary school together.
I'm not looking forward to next weeks episode, I'm not sure my heart will be able. That aside, I think this'll be Hase's episode to really shine and show his strengths as a character. He gets a lot of bad press, much of which I disagree with. I think he's at his best in those moments where he forgets to be afraid or self-conscious ("You're an angel" and the diary search are two that stand out) so with Fujimiya back to square one, I don't think he'll have much to be afraid of anymore.
I know this is going to be an emotional kick in the teeth, but I can already hear Hase-kun saying "Do you want to be friends with me?" 🙂
vincee87
June 2, 2014 at 3:07 pmVery hard not to see Kujou as a villain with that menacing hairstyle. But I am curious to his side of the story.
Anyway, I thought it would be quite apt if Shougo had feelings for Saki. It would mean that the two guys are in somewhat similar situations – both fell for girls who could not even remember their names. Also, did anyone noticed that Saki remembered Shougo's name this episode? Last week she was still referring to him as "the guy from class".
Gary Cochran
June 2, 2014 at 6:28 pmYou give Saki too much credit as some sort of a manipulator. She is just a dumb kid (probably with learning disabilities) trying to find her way thorugh life.
admin
June 2, 2014 at 11:14 pmWhat did I say that gives any indication that I believe otherwise?
sikvod00
June 2, 2014 at 11:47 pmHe's probably referring to your "she plays the moe card" statement. As for your worries about Shougo falling for Saki, I say who cares. He's already used to dealing with one dependent, self-involved individual. That may be his preference.
admin
June 3, 2014 at 12:30 amYeah, we all know someone like that, who can't help but indulge their missionary (no jokes please) instincts. He really needs to be more selfish.
That? I guess, but I meant it in the narrative sense.
Dee
June 4, 2014 at 3:08 pm"But Kujou is out there, lurking menacingly like a rabid dog from a horror novel…"
Dammit, Enzo! XD I'd never have expected a review of THIS episode to make me laugh that hard. Kudos (Kujos?). Your pun-spinning skills are indeed formidable.
admin
June 4, 2014 at 11:25 pmThanks for not letting that go totally unmentioned.
Anyone click on his name in the post?
whemleh
June 5, 2014 at 1:25 amVery clever. Makes me wonder how many easter eggs you've got hidden throughout these posts…
Kohmata Reizno
June 5, 2014 at 11:39 amI too, worry about the hints of Shogo/Saki and have been for awhile (granted, this may be the first substantial hints at it but I've felt it for awhile, like when it was mentioned they went to the same elementary school [think I'm too use to the american, pair everyone up mentality]). I just hate the idea of my favorite character being paired with a character who came very close to ruining the show for me (or at least, ruined one episode).
Otherwise, as far as the ending goes, meh. I'm back to where I was when I started this show, the plot feels too contrived for me to embrace. I got over the initial weekly friend amnesia relatively quickly but I don't think the auto-reset, especially with where her relationship with Hase is now, is justified based off what is likely her relationship with Kujo. Ending scene was fine outside of being somewhat predictable but the plot "twist" left me emotionally disconnected.
Also, is it wrong that I don't view Kujo as a bad person so far? We both have the same idea for what happened in the past & it's hard for me to hold anything against him when his view point is rather rational/understandable.