Welcome back to Kokoro Connect where the Cultural Research Club encounters some strange events, things we don't see every day especially in the real world. Kokoro Connect: Michi Random is a series of four episodes that expands from the original series. It is based on the same setting, characters, artwork, and by the same author of the light novel, Sadanatsu Anda.
The series continues directly from the original title that aired a few months ago. Thus, all the characters return but with some new twists. Here's where the supernatural element part kicks in. Apparently, thoughts from the inside of their heads can no longer be concealed. Their deepest thoughts and secrets becomes an echo. With this new supernatural gag kicks off the major drama that spawned in these episodes. It gets intense and is not random because every one of those thoughts becomes a moment that causes drama. In fact, it affects the relationship and connections the characters have worked hard to build on.
Bring on the roller coaster of drama once again.
In fact, there is major tensions between the main male protagonist, Inaba, and Iori in these four episodes. Love plays a major factor in this ride as feelings and thoughts the girls tries to conceal becomes a public display with the new supernatural gag. The new dilemma established brings forth challenges as the characters tries to play off their displayed thoughts as a joke. Yet, it's easy to tell that it's not a joke as the connections these friends have built are put on stress as their secrets are exposed that leaves painful scars. In particular, Iori Nagase seems to suffer most from the stress as result of the new supernatural gag. Often known as a friendly, energetic, and outgoing girl, she becomes much more reserved in these episodes. Later on, these emotions gets to her and she even becomes enraged after hearing some thoughts she doesn't like. It becomes a crisis as these friends are finding it quite difficult to go back as things were once before. Even Inaba becomes affected to a degree despite her mature personality. Rather than love in the air, it's filled with drama. In fact, this drama escalates later on to even a bit of violence that results in collateral damage.
The characters in these episodes mostly retains their original personalities but displays a tenderness as result of the new supernatural features. The love triangle between Inaba, Taichi, and Iori escalates to a boiling point. It's painful to watch but life often takes unexpected routes when certain events occur especially in regards to love. With that slice of life feeling still added to the episodes, it becomes a short emotional journey. The atmosphere of the episodes retains its tone and edges however. Despite the emotional roller coaster, the episodes still has that general lighthearted theme. It is meaningful because it doesn't try to side track itself from the main story/arc as some series have. Instead, it continues from a emotional roller coaster that's set to reach a peak point when some of the deepest thoughts are revealed. Talk about some hardcore drama to be honest.
Despite the over the line drama, the series does retains some of its cute moments especially for those of you Inaba fans. Her faces, expressions, and dialogue brings giggles to a viewer's face. That and some of the thoughts being echoed are also amusing to watch especially since they occur at random times. It is no surprising too since the title of these four finale episodes are titled collectively as Kokoro Connect: Michi Random. Yet at times, some of those random moments seems to be forced. In other words, these episodes tries a bit too hard to convey that drama to the viewers. The supernatural element known as "now-I-can-hear-you-what-you're-thinking" is also not new to the tv media. Series such as Negima, Chrono Crusade, even live action such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Season 3) has used the theme of live thoughts. However, it is still an interesting concept that remains fiction but explores the reality of its effects.
The artwork of the series remains exactly as it was from the original series. The lighthearted backgrounds of the school and the characters remains intact by the way they are casually dressed. Yukiko Horiguchi deals with the characters designs who is known for her work from K-On and Lucky Star. As such, it is not surprising that some of the characters have similarities in appearances when compared to designs from her mediums.
The musical aspect of these episodes remains intact and lighthearted with its themes. Drama is portrayed in ways that are comedic, dramatic, and emotional measured in volumes of depth. What we see from these depths is a music rhythm that reflects exactly what Kokoro Connect is – an emotional ride. The OP song, "Kimi Rhythm" by Masaki Imai displays a montage of the characters at various stances in which we can see how fun they are having. Yet, in these episodes some of that fun are put on stress under new circumstances.
In conclusion, Kokoro Connect: Michi Random becomes an expansion of the emotional ride the original series has bought to us. Unfortunately, there are still questions that still need answers especially in regards on of its execution. In fact, some of these questions are ambiguous in regards to the drama in which the new supernatural gag has bought towards to the series. But still, the series connected well in the end with a solid finish that is satisfying. For me, this was a satisfying series and satisfaction was achieved.
