[Categories: Anime Reviews]
Welcome to the NHK episode 6: Welcome to the Academy!
This is an interesting episode in which Satou has a quick break from the scenario writing and tries to overcome his fear of the outside world: he winds up going to college! Admittedly he has ulterior motives (i.e. seeing if Yamazaki really does have a girlfriend who studies there) but it is a step in the right direction, right? Right…?
I really enjoyed the early scene with Misaki, in which she clearly shows that she doesn’t have as much of a grasp on the whole counselling thing as she has led Satou to believe. As authoritative as she may sound and as much as she inspires Satou, I’m still questioning whether her tactics actually work or whether it’s progressing through dumb luck.
This was another funny scene though, with some fairly surprising revelations. Spurred on by the shocking news and Misaki’s misplaced ‘advice’ he heads out to the local college, which results in some of the best head-trippery since the first episode. It makes for quite uncomfortable viewing actually, as our hero gingerly tries to get around a crowded college in the daytime and negotiate his first lecture in years. You probably don’t need me to tell you how things pan out; suffice to say I was cringing at his efforts and feeling quite impressed with the manic visuals that accompany his paranoia.
All this leaves Satou with something of a social quandrary in regards to Yamazaki…what will he say, if anything, to his buddy about what he’s learned? My guess is that he’s too nervous to broach the subject again, which is probably for the best. No doubt we shall see.
From what I’ve heard the manga is superior overall to this adaptation, although I must admit the pacing isn’t too bad at this stage and the humour and more serious themes are balanced well throughout. Had I read the manga prior to this no doubt I’d be viewing things in a different light but Satou’s antics and the puzzling behaviour of Misaki are proving to be entertaining enough to keep me interested for now.
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