While Bones and Utsumi Hiroko managed to shoehorn a sliver of content into it, this was deffo the fluffiest episode of SK∞ so far. And it was a pretty fluffy show to begin with. Old-school hot springs episodes (there wasn’t that much actual onsen in this one, but it served the function) tend to be comic relief-fanservice diversions anyway, and this one was no exception. It’s what SK∞ is most of the time – likeable goofuses being likeable (and goofuses) – without the usual pretense of a plot (or realism).
There may be a finite half-life on that concept when taken to this extreme, but so far for me at least we haven’t reached it. This show is charming enough and unpretentious enough to pull an ep like this off, and somehow Bones just seems to have an instinct for this sort of material. The premise, such as it is, is the gang headed off to Miyakojima for an onsen visit to give Reki some R & R time. The hapless Shadow – fast becoming SK∞’s official butt monkey – is drafted as adult chaperone. And chauffeur. Miya tags along because of reasons, and Joe and Cherry are on the ferry purely by coincidence.
The rest is just boys’ (and overgrown boys’) hijinks. Shadow gets every chore dumped on him and repeatedly called an old man. Joe (who’s fast becoming my favorite in the Scooby Gang) relentlessly engages in nanpa, as the kids try and trip him up (Miya’s “Papa” routine being the most effective means). Langa tries to keep Reki from doing anything dangerous and stresses over using a Japanese toilet, and Angel tries to keep from being exposed to the sun. Shadow has picked the hotel, and it’s a total dump – though the adults (apart from Shadow) are staying at the nice place next door, where everyone leeches off of Cherry’s fancy ryokan dinner.
What little focus on the main plate we get mostly comes down to Reki agonizing over being left behind by Langa. This of course is the central theme of their relationship at this point, and Reki is smart enough to see what’s happening as he gets pigeonholed as a mechanic. Heck, at one point Snow literally says “sorry about leaving you behind”. Adam isn’t on this trip (which was almost certainly for the best) but he does find out who called the rozzers on his beef with Langa. It’s a police superintendent named Kamata Kiriko, with whom Adam has some obvious familiarity.
As for that whole final sequence, it’s based on an actual festival in Miyakojima – the Paantu Matsuri. And yes, men dressed as mud monsters do rove about smearing smelly mud on people (it’s supposed to bring good luck). It was no “Hot Springs Planet Tenrei” – still the gold standard of onsen episodes – but this was very much in synch with SK∞’s usual vibe.
Gemsy-chan
February 14, 2021 at 11:18 pmThis episode was hilarious from start to finish. Like how JOE seems to be becoming the big brother to Reki.
Curious where you get Angle from as his skating name is Cherry Blossom and everyone calls him Cherry for short.
Guardian Enzo
February 15, 2021 at 7:35 amROFL, don’t mind me. Just late-night typing.
Yukie
February 14, 2021 at 11:50 pmEver since Adam’s introduction I’ve been worried that any emotional drama this anime will have would be utterly ridiculous (like some of the character conflicts in Free), but so far this show has not leaned that heavily in that direction (fingers-crossed). I was relieved that the drama has shifted back to Reki’s internal turmoil and that there’s going to be a tournament (both of which will maintain some sense of grounded foundation for all the fluff and hijinks).
Did not know Paantu Matsuri was a real thing xD It’d be cool to see more of Okinawa and surrounding areas in the upcoming episodes.
Snowball
February 15, 2021 at 12:56 amI can totally relate to Langa’s anxiety about toilets, I just couldn’t get used to using the hole in the ground.
Kim
February 15, 2021 at 3:26 amI totally get Langa about that toilet lol
Guardian Enzo
February 15, 2021 at 7:32 amOh, me too. I can’t stand (no pun intended) those things.
Color2413
February 15, 2021 at 10:20 amDid anyone pick up Bones’ homage in this ep to its seminal anime, Rahxephon? The woman on the ferry with the parasol, seen from the rear, looks identical (as far as I can remember) to the image used in Rahxephon’s ED.
Guardian Enzo
February 15, 2021 at 1:15 pmYou have a much better memory than me.
Color2413
February 15, 2021 at 6:05 pmI rewatched Rahxephon during the COVID lockdown, so I had an unfair advantage 🙂
elianthos
February 20, 2021 at 10:14 amIf the dress is not yellow she’s no real Haruka/Dandelion Girl ;P