This was a very good, impressively paced episode, as several characters are given further insight and development. The melancholic conclusion was a noticeable shift in tone that worked surprisingly well. As such, there was a much improved balance between the dramatic elements and the moments of humor compared to the last episode, in which it was noticeably lacking in the latter.
Chizuru is comparatively dull, so the partial focus on her awakened feelings for Haru throughout the early portion of the episode was occasionally stale, though, for the most part, her scenes were better than expected, since the majority of them were of an amusingly comedic nature. The vague, but emotionally resonant complication at the end was a bit disconcerting, but self-inflicted obstacles for their relationship were expected, even if Shizuku’s reasoning is a bit naïve. It’s only unfortunate that this had to occur just as Haru was beginning to realize the romantic nuances within his feelings for her.
Haru and Shizuku’s relationship has been excellently illustrated and realistically developed throughout the show; so much so that the temporarily stalled progress and the faltered development here is entirely expected, since their contrasting characterizations essentially dictated the fruition of this inevitability. Although understandable, Shizuku's obsession with studying is occasionally tiresome, especially now that it, along with the flawed adherence to her mother’s deficiencies, has produced a noticeable dishonesty within her emotions, culminating with the moment that she bluntly conveys to Haru that her attraction towards him no longer exists, which clearly contradicts her flustered emotions earlier in the episode. The entirety of the final sequence, combined with the flashback to her youth, wonderfully illuminates the fragility of her emotional identity, as she struggles with a plethora of subtly implied problems that she has with her absent mother and her seemingly insurmountable desire to alter that fractured maternal relationship by somehow proving herself through an unerring diligence towards success through schoolwork.
The character interactions remain the strongest element of the show, due considerably to the fantastically diverse reactions. As such, though diminished, Haru and Shizuku’s interactions remain satisfyingly compelling. Natsume continues to be one of the best aspects of the show, as she's an incredibly enjoyable character. I'm hoping that she'll eventually enter into a relationship with Sasayan, since their interactions exude an immensely natural romantic chemistry and their personalities complement each other extremely well. Though she appears to be a relatively unimportant character, Chizuru, so far, seems like a mediocre addition to the cast. She's definitely likable, but not nearly as interesting or engaging as the others. Despite this, I loved her unexpected outburst, as it ended with her insinuation that Haru has no balls, which provided a plethora of hilarious overreactions. Thankfully, this episode makes it abundantly clear that she won't be a perpetually interfering sort of rival, so she’ll likely develop into a better character as the story progresses.
The production values were quite inconsistent throughout, particularly the animation. On the other hand, the direction was a definite improvement over the occasional mediocrity found in the previous episode. Musically, I thought the episode was great, since the majority of selections were used quite effectively, as they consistently established an atmosphere that perfectly accentuated the accompanying moments.
All in all, Tonari continues to excel with it’s highly enjoyable story, intriguing character development, and it's exceptionally likable cast of characters. Since, due to the title of the next episode and the ending to this one, a temporary separation of sorts between Haru and Shizuku has likely been set in motion, I think it's quite likely that another rival will appear as she becomes increasingly distant from Haru. Of course, I hope I'm wrong, and I definitely hope the rival won't be Yamaken, but it appears to be slightly foreshadowed throughout the episode, particularly in the latter half. |