[Categories: Anime Reviews]
Welcome to the NHK episode 5: Welcome to counseling!
I know it’s not been long since I last blogged this and there are other series that haven’t been updated in ages but after the ending of ep #4 I just couldn’t resist…it turns out that this instalment is the most enjoyable since the opener all those weeks ago.
After a short flashback scene that makes great use of simple dialogue and subtle metaphors (check out the boiling kettle!), we see the meeting between Satou and his former sempai from high school. After all the peurile humour, parodies and ‘craziness’, one of my favourite moments of the series so far is that of a touching and bittersweet conversation between two old friends. Let’s put that down to old age, shall we? 
Joking aside, I really loved this scene. Both seem to be unaware of the gravity of their respective problems: Satou is still proud of being a hikikomori, while Sempai makes no secret of her addiction to prescription meds. All this in a few well-directed minutes that show what is supposed to be a happy occasion in which they reminisce about old times - it all comes across as being so sad and tragic for the both of them.
No doubt spurred on by seeing her again, Satou realises that he must get out of his rut, and soon: he swallows what little pride he has and finally asks for Misaki’s help.
This part of the episode pushes the story back into comedy territory, albeit more tasteful and clever comedy than eps 2-4 have shown (note the cover of the Freud book for instance). Satou may be acting a little cruel towards her but what are her real intentions? It’s still a mystery. Unfortunately it all begins to come undone when Satou disregards the value of her help and makes another ill-fated attempt at helping himself. The simple fact is, right now he can’t. He never learns, does he?
All in all this was a great return to form: there’s a healthier balance of comedy and drama, the artwork seems to be back to normal (explanations to last time’s abberation are welcome) and the story shows all the depth and promise it had at the beginning. I was a little frustrated at Satou’s behaviour and the series’ habit of posing more questions than answers but if it carries on like this in future this could be a really good ‘un after all.
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