Real quick: I checked out the Sorario Utility short film in between episodes of the TV show. Normally, I watch one iteration at a time but I went screw it since the short film is the only other thing with the IP. I enjoyed it but it very much feels like a pilot episode to the show. It’s kind of amazing just how much the TV show expands on it.
In this episode, Minami shows off her new acquired utility iron to Izumi. She’s also gotten the cyan uniform from before so suffice to say, she’s feeling fired up to play golf. Much to her dismay however, Minami is reminded that she is not in a video game and she isn’t dramatically better at golf just because she has a new item in her inventory. Haruka proposes for the whole gang to go to different golf courses so that Minami can get more experience. Minami feels she should at least be a little bit better before playing with her friends so she resolves to swing past the 100 yard mark in the driving range. Funny how Minami keeps coming back to that number.
After texting Ayaka, Haruka decides to schedule a trip to a course sometime the following week. This limits how much time Minami can train to reach her goal as she has midterms to worry about. I’m a little surprised that we don’t learn Minami’s grades for the exams. I suppose they don’t matter in the plot but you’d think the show would say she at least passes after showing her rigorously study so that she can go back to golfing. By the time exams are over, Minami learns that she only has one day to achieve her goal of hitting past the 100 yard mark. It’s good thing Haruka and Ayaka are here to give her a last minute training arc!
Rather than practice golf directly, both Haruka and Ayaka decide to have Minami train in other ways that’ll help her successfully hit past the 100 yard mark. Haruka has Minami hit the gym and work on her lower body. Ayaka on the other hand, holds a yoga session and provides some relaxing tea for everyone. I love how this slowly becomes less about helping Minami train and more just a competition between Haruka and Ayaka. The two have completely different methods and they disagree on which one is better. Minami tries to play both sides by saying she’ll do both approaches but that only makes her friends even more competitive. After the yoga session, Haruka and Ayaka takes Minami to a sauna. That probably is a good way to train or unwind but really, Haruka and Ayaka are here to settle the competition by seeing who can last in the sauna longer. There actually is no reason for Minami to be here, other than the fact that this whole situation started because of her. It also may just be an excuse for fanservice but this is an anime I’m talking about here so what else is new?
Despite her friends trying to one up each other, Minami still declares a tie on who’s the better trainer. Before Haruka and Ayaka can argue and compete again, Minami distracts them by attempting to hit a golf ball past the 100 yard mark. I suppose all the training really does pay off as Minami successfully achieves her goal on her first try. Alternatively, I like to think that Minami is just that determined to succeed and avoid more of her friends’ shenanigans. But yeah, mission accomplished. Now, Minami is free to go that golf course with the others. I’m excited to see the characters back at a golf course again. These past couple of episodes have been fun. I certainly enjoy some of the goofy stuff the girls get themselves into like the competition last episode and the sauna scene in this episode. It has however been a while since we’ve seen anyone play golf in earnest so about time the show gets back to that.
Watch Sorairo Utility on HIDIVE
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