This episode is quite… disappointing, to be honest, especially after all the great build-up from the past few episodes. Is it still good? Definitely. But expecting it to match the quality of Season 1 Episode 23 (the dance episode) was probably wishful thinking on my part. That one’s just too good, and frankly, should be the gold standard for School Rumble’s writing. That said, this episode still has its moments, so let’s start with the good before diving into what didn’t work.
First off, the Eri–Harima bond does deepen a little. Eri finally gets to express herself more honestly, and Harima catches a glimpse of her softer side while thinking she's not that bad after all, even if briefly. Also, shoutout to Kuuta the red panda, who has become an absolute unit after growing nonstop for a few episodes now. Watching him body Hanai and drag him off like nothing had me in tears. Totally unexpected payoff, but it landed. Bonus points for explaining Eri’s missing mustache (another funny gag) and the motorbike repair, which is a nice touch!
Now... the letdowns.
The biggest offender? Tenma.
She’s a fine character and likable in her own way, but wow, she really tested my patience here. Just when it seemed like we’d finally shift focus to something more serious, she crashes back in, worse than ever. Her interruption of the bike ride was not only unfunny, but it also broke the moment entirely. Then she hijacks the fiancé's meeting plot out of nowhere. Honestly, she adds nothing of value to this episode, and her jokes completely fall flat. I really wanted a genuine character moment between Eri and Harima, just the two of them. They already have incredible comedic chemistry on their own, so throwing Tenma into the mix doesn’t enhance the scene; it dilutes it. With the whole identity confusion dynamic, this could’ve led to some truly funny and heartwarming scenarios between them. But instead, we get Tenma crashing in and completely derailing everything, robbing us of all the good moments we could potentially have. I was hoping Harima’s identity reveal would be either super dramatic, hilariously over-the-top, or even better, that he’d somehow keep it hidden the entire time. But no, the author decided this was the moment Tenma magically becomes smart, of all the times I needed her to stay her usual clueless self. And just like that, she exposes Harima in the most anti-climactic way possible. Thanks, Tenma! You definitely made this episode so much better for me! 🙃
Runner-up for disappointment? Harima.
I get that he’s not into Eri and still head-over-heels for Tenma, but he’s usually more thoughtful than this. During the temple scene, while Eri is genuinely struggling, he’s just suspicious and dismissive. Yes, there’s a moment where he lets his guard down and shows some sincerity, which is great, but it’s too brief. Given how much pressure he’s under (the guy sucks at acting and RIP 120-page manuscript), it’s understandable, and in-character even... but it’s the same guy who handled the school sports festival under even more stress of his reputation being ruined right in front of the entire school! He’s been serious and funny before. Why not now? Bring back that Harima!
Now to Eri. Probably the best part of the episode, and also the most frustrating.
Her flashback is a great insight into her inner thoughts. She clearly treasures her friends and chooses to move forward with them, despite it seeming like she’s giving everything up. But the Harima bit in her flashback? Weak. Why does she only remember him from the manga submission thingy and the ride that just happened? Why not the dance?! If you’re going to include Harima in her thoughts, make it meaningful. Otherwise, leave him out. Eri reflects deeply on Mikoto and others, and Harima deserves the same if he's going to appear at all. It’s a small thing, but for a series that often excels in subtlety, this felt like a misstep. Also, her drop-kick at the end was just… rough. Not only did it feel off, but it also risked undoing her entire arc in the same episode. The guy literally went through all this for her despite not even wanting to. Harima deserves better.
In the end, this episode was just fine, but that’s the problem. It could’ve been great. It had the set-up, the characters, the chemistry, but it fumbled when it mattered. I know I’ve brought up the dance and sports festival episodes a lot, but they nailed the balance of heart, humor, and development perfectly. This one didn’t. There are still some developments here and there for both Eri and Harima, but that's the least I've expected from this episode.
Still, I can’t lie, I didn’t expect to care this much about School Rumble. At first, it was just another silly rom-com. But now I love these characters enough to go on a full rant when they’re done dirty. So I guess that says something. |