[Categories: Anime Reviews]
Welcome to the NHK episode 9: Welcome to the summer days!
As you might have guessed from the lack of recent updates I’ve had my hands full lately. Suffice to say I’ve had one hell of a time so all things considered the lightweight, feelgood escapism of episode #9 is all the more welcome as far as I’m concerned.
This ep gives Yamazaki some much-needed background, adding more details that allow us to understand why he’s the way he is. To say the poor bugger is a little embittered is an understatement…or is it…? His antics contribute much of the comedy value in this episode, no doubt making an appeal to the ‘lonely otaku’ demographic of the target audience. But then, who’s complaining as long as it’s still funny?
Thanks to Yamazaki’s boundless enthusiasm he and Satou are back into the game creation thing (a venture can only end in tears for them both!). The subtitle of this ep had me worried that the series would give us the obligatory Beach Episode© but Welcome to the NHK sidesteps the most obvious pitfall to give an alternative: Yamazaki is to present the gaming masterpiece to the world at the upcoming summer gaming convention. Their masterpiece now has a deadline!
Of course, there probably will be the beach-orientated fanservice episode sooner or later but for now the series is staying with its characters but keeping enough details in the dark to maintain the viewer’s interest. We still know next to nothing about Misaki, although one thing is clear: Satou is having to come to terms with his feelings for her. Or more accurately, Satou is having to come to terms with the fact that he has feelings for her in the first place. Even he is aware of how this could just as easily save him or plunge him even further into the depths of hikikomori-ness.
Welcome to the NHK is still progressing well. Granted, it meanders a bit this time around in order to follow a few anime conventions with cultural festivals, flashbacks and so forth but even at times like this it’s still fun to watch.
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