I'm glad that the little stepdown from the previous episode is fixed, so we are back to usual Yuru Camp tier. And this is just... so precious and wholesome I can't believe it exists.
It is probably not the best episode but damn, this got close. It brought a quite interesting point of view on Rin, she usually knows what she's doing, but now she decided to wing it and her acts felt more erratic of course, but ultimately did well. I loved the callbacks to previous journeys, like the kids in the van or the dog statue, and I absolutely adore her quirks and the stuff she does when she's alone.
It also brought something that has been always there in a way but I didn't pay much attention to till this episode. When Chiaki shows up, Rin reacts with disgust. We know that she is an introvert and likes being alone, but she was actually quite antagonistic in that scene. At first I even though of some past personal issue with the Outdoor Club girls but the more I think of it the more I see it as a consistent personality trait of her. Her first impressions of people, in general, tend to be quite bad. What I like about it is that there is no conflict. It's a flaw she has that she should fix, but it doesn't interfere with how the other characters perceive her. Chiaki and Aoi are both in perfectly friendly terms with her and it's unlikely that a confrontation is ever caused by this. If anything some tension coming from Rin's perspective that makes her more reluctant to relate to and bond with people.
This episode is satisfying among other things because it feels like a thorough character study on Rin and shows and puts in perspective how nuanced and fascinating of a character she is, and how solid her character arc in this series has been so far. There's something funny about the way her reaction to Chiaki creates a dissonance with the viewer. We know Chiaki much better than her, we have spent time with her. So the reaction of Rin is at first shocking because we are used to see things through her lens, and she clearly lacks the experience and investment the audience has with Chiaki at the time. For a character that has plenty of internal monologues and we often observe in first person, this feels a bit odd, even sort of uncomfortable. I like how solid the show is at characterization, of course, but that's a quite interesting after effect of it, to say the least.
And Nadeshiko is so wonderful in every episode, this one was specially amazing because we knew that her comfiness, cinnamon roll and wholesome eating skills are all heritable and her family is the cutest. Chiaki is so adorable this episode as well, and very funny, her surprise introduction was the best joke of the episode. I like how I've come to adore every single character in this show. Aoi didn't have much of a role here but I liked her little interaction with her sister. Perfectly mundane and to the point, something I really enjoy about the show and its delivery on interactions. They feel natural and perfectly adjusted to context.
Texting was very prominent in this episode and again this series showing technology in a completely well integrated way with the routine of the characters. A lot has been said about this and how it not only actively negates the cliche of technology dehumanising people but it actually enhances the ways it can be used to bond, like in this episode with Rin and Nadeshiko (and troll Chiaki of course) feeling connected despite being miles away, and even Nadeshiko and Chiaki having a playful interaction despite being in the same room.
The episode also hinted at the much expected group camping and I'm so happy about that, I expect it to be the last episode and it will be absolutely worth it. Also, pagoda hair. |