What’s the show? Chio’s School Road, Episode 4.
So what’s happening on Chio’s walk to school this week? Oh you know, the usual subverting cultural expectations, general rebelliousness, newspaper deliveries, etc.
Right. Sounds kind of low-key compared to beating up the leader of motorcycle gang and parkouring across rooftops that previous episodes had to offer? True the absurdity and outlandishness of this episodes school commute is considerably less than previous episodes (much of it is contained to imagination as opposed to reality) and yet the humour remains entirely intact, if not more so than last episode—almost like this show is just funny regardless of the insanity of the situation.
Nobody ever doubted that but sure go ahead arguing with yourself. Tch!
So what did you want to talk about regarding this episode? Characterisation is key to this episode, without knowing these characters—specifically Chio or Manana and their respective personalities the comedy would undoubtedly be lessened. Watching Chio pose with a discarded cigarette like she’s the coolest thing since Spike Spiegel while Manana loses her mind, taking pictures on her phone and wondering what to do with all these incriminating photos (in a trolling ‘friend’ kind of way, not a mean-spirited away) had me laughing out loud with tears down my eyes. Interestingly, toward the end of the segment there was something vaguely suggestive that I’m probably reading way too much into but gives me hope that Chio and Manana—I don’t know, become ~more~ than just friends.
Sounds like the wishful thinking of a pervert on your part… After Manana decides to pose with the cigarette too Chio remarks how “sexy” she looked, to which Manana coyly suggests they save the used cigarette and continue posing and taking photos back at home after school.
Well… I mean that could have just been a joke? This is a comedy after all… Yeah~ I don’t know, in the second segment where Chio and Manana help Ando (the biker guy turned blue-collar worker) deliver newspapers and the looks Manana gives Chio and Ando when she presumes they are having a sort of elicit relationship is as much of concern as it is of jealously. Calling it now, Chio and Manana will start ‘dating’ by the end of the season!
‘Dating’? Why do I have a feeling you mean something other than the traditional definition of dating? Well, this isn’t a Yuri series, so it’ll be more like a Japanese style very close friendship between two girls that’ll probably never become sexual but they’ll still be “together” in a sense for the rest of their school career.
Right… so, uh… we gonna talk about anything other than who you ‘ship in this show? Well if you’re going to be like that I might as well just end the review now! Excellent episode, excellent characters, excellent comedy, excellent potential, excellent show!
Previous Chio’s School Road Reviews:
Otaku’s Creed – Episode 1 Review
The Actual C-Word – Episode 2 Review
Full Contact Perineum – Episode 3 Review
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Anime QandA 
I’m happy to see Andou as a reoccurring character now his skits with Chio are hilarious. I mean most of the skits are hilarious, but those ones especially.
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I liked the first Andou skit, last week’s one did nothing for me, but this one I enjoyed a lot more so I’m too happy he’ll be recurring.
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The screenshots look really funny.
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