Pardon the quickie approach again. I got some catching up to do. Expect this format for a couple of posts.
- After her German language class, Mako accidentally bumps into one of her classmates, Nana Hoshi (Saya Aizawa), and assumes her peer is mad at her. Things get even more awkward when Nana joins the Food Culture Research Club.
- Tsutsuji reveals that Nana is an old high school buddy of hers, Shinon’s, and Kurea’s. Nana is actually quite personable but she has a huge fear of strangers. In actuality, Nana wants to be friends with Mako but her shyness holds her back. Combined with Mako’s own personality, the two really struggle to befriend each other.
- I’m not sure what the exact reasoning is to save Nana’s first appearance for later but Food for the Soul does explain why she didn’t join her friends at the Food Culture Research Club until now. Apparently, Nana wanted to form her own Puzzle Club to break out of her shell and that plan fizzled out because of her phobia.
- I also like how the reason her appearance doesn’t fit the introvert stereotype because that too is a failed attempt to change herself from within.
- Leaving Tsutsuji with the task of bridging things between Mako and Nana while Shinon and Kurea are busy with a class is a brilliant choice. You’d think her being so chill would help but evidently, she has zero clue what to do here. Definitely the funniest bit in the episode.
- Good on Shinon for deciding to work at Kurea’s family’s restaurant after she went broke last episode. Not sure if it’ll actually help her finances in the long run.
- Love that Mako and Nana bond simply by working together with their studies and sharing a good meal. It’s simple but gradual, effective, and befitting of the show’s tone.
- Let’s be “real” here, the actual character development is Shinon figuring out how to use a kitchen knife.
- Am disappointed that Nana instantly goes extroverted mode around Mako after one episode. That’s a bit of a 180 after the methodical pace shown earlier. That said, the possibility of Mako needing to step in and help Nana when she in a panic, when she herself is pretty shy, sounds very funny.
- Neat that the ED is edited with Nana included in.
- Overall, this is a really fun episode. Nana fits in the main cast very well and I’m looking forward to seeing the whole group dynamic going forward.
Watch Food for the Soul on Crunchyroll
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