[Highlights] Sora Yori mo Tooi Basho 05: Megumi’s Jealousy

This episode was quite different from the previous ones – a quieter than usual drama? I appreciated how the character of Megumi finally gets some attention, and thought the episode had many impressively realistic moments. In terms of personal enjoyment, however, I have to say that I preferred the previous episodes’ energy.

Megumi gets a bit of a back story

• I found Megumi’s insecurities believable. When I was younger, I was actually that possessive of my BFF too. I mean, it’s something we could observe since the earliest episodes, and especially after the ED of the last one. Nobody likes being left behind. I like how the anime decided to flesh out and show the dark side of the soft-spoken, nerdy sidekick. It kind of reminds me of what Bakemonogatari did with Tsubasa (they even look alike!).

packing your stuff = adulting!

• It’s interesting to see how going to Antarctica is linked to becoming more of an adult. In trying to make the best use of their youth, Kimari and her friends are actually transitioning into adulthood. Kimari looks like she still has a long way to go though.

Megumi’s roundabout approach

• I can see how after this episode, many people would hate her. Rumour-spreaders are the worst, right? It shocked me a little how insecure Megumi was about being left behind. I thought her internal conflict was illustrated well though. The turning away in avoidance, the hesitant pauses and moments of surprise whenever Kimari does something nice that she didn’t think she deserved. And the shot composition too! The above screenshot is just one instance of how it helps frame Megumi’s internal struggle.

when you see your friends partaking in stupid activities

• Here’s the anime being relatable, again. It’s funny how I can imagine myself as both Shirase (the one going on a rampage with the mic) and as Yuzuki (the one looking down on all her friends). That’s because everything the characters do is something you might actually do in real life if you have friends that you tend to fool around with. Yorimoi does a good job capturing ordinary reactions to day-to-day things.

Dad, what’s with the pillow?

• Is it just me, or does Kimari’s dad’s face look off every time he appears on screen?
• Anyways, I thought Kimari has a nice family. They allow her the opportunity of being independent while still being thoughtful and loving. I thought the scene with her sister hugging her in the end was super cute.

Must have been hard putting on that smile

• This plot twist really took me by surprise. It’s true that I was thinking that it’d be too easy for Megumi to be comforted by Kimari’s clueless display of friendship earlier, but I really didn’t expect her to take any drastic actions.
• Megumi confesses all the terrible things she did, with earnestness befitting of this anime. I think this anime is distinguished by the feeling of sincerity. It’s the quickest way for your emotions to another person, especially if that person is as ignorant as Kimari.

Despite all the good things about this episode, I found myself feeling ever-so-slightly bored during parts of it. Maybe it’s because Kimari as a character just doesn’t interest me as much. She’s so quintessentially good and pure. Maybe, as well, it’s because I still long for a more vibrant art style. Or just because slow drama in an everyday setting still isn’t my favourite thing in the world. But I do believe the anime is doing everything it should be doing in its genre.