Recap

The Kawai complex residents sit down and analyze how they handle their relationships. Usa takes a genuine interest in one of Ritsu’s books, giving the pair some common ground. Sumiko proposes telling a group story to kill time together, with disturbing results.

Jel’s Thoughts

These past two episodes have definitely seen Kawaisou settle into a grove, playing out Usa and Ritsu’s slow burning relationship while using the adults to keep their naiveté in perspective. The amount of insight into real relationships the author shows really elevates the series over a lot of other shows. I loved the extended computer metaphor in the first portion of the episode, making what could have been a boring, talking head conversation into something fun and visually appealing. It also did a great job of bonding the characters as well helping us in the audience get to know them better.

Usa and Ritsu’s plotline was probably the cutest one yet. It’s nice to see Usa take more of an interest in her beyond the fact that she’s cute and I liked that he seemed genuinely interested in her book beyond trying to get her to like him. Lesser shows could make their kind of relationship tiresome and frustrating to watch, but again having that adult perspective really helps. Mayumi jumping in and yelling “YOU TWO NEED TO MAKE OUT OR SOMETHING!” was a great example, but pointing out Ritsu’s genuine smile in the final scene was the best. It feels like those of us who aren’t lovestruck teenagers have someone to be complicit with as we watch how things pan out. Even the adults own obnoxious quirks get held in check by Sumiko, so there’s a nice balance among the cast.

The final bit with the group creating a story was the weak point of the episode, but I suppose it did produce some mildly amusing visual gags. It certainly wasn’t enough to bring down another solid episode and I’m certainly encouraged by how much more the good has been outweighing the bad. I’m sensing plenty of potential for emotional payoff from those silly little scenes as they bring the group closer together. It’s kind of hard to believe it’s almost half over already, so I still have my concerns about how far they can take this. I can, however, say I’m now enjoying Kawaisou without reservation.

Marlin’s Thoughts

I wish this show wasn’t a gag comedy. Whereas Love Lab was able to integrate its gags into its story, this show continues to shoehorn its insipid gags into every good scene, making what could be a good show only decent. It’s honestly frustrating to watch a beautifully crafted scene about the naiveté of youth or the slow bonding of the two students get ruined by one of the dime a dozen masochism jokes. Still, there is enough good that I am willing to overlook this flaw and keep with the show. The main pair are genuinely cute, even if Usa is still a little creepy, and they’ve been doing a much better job of making Ritsu more than your typical quiet girl. To their credit, Shiro and Mayumi are becoming much more rounded as well when they’re not in a scene where they have to be saddled with their one note jokes. Sayaka can die in a fire though, I have yet to see her character bring anything positive to the story thus far.