Keeping Each Other Afloat – ‘Bloom Into You’ Episode 13 (Finale) Review

Keeping Each Other Afloat – An Anime QandA Review of ‘Bloom Into You’ Episode 13 (Finale)

What’s the show? Bloom Into You, Episode 13 (Finale).

So how’s this episode? It’s surprising…

By which you mean? I’m surprised by its non-ending—not that I was expecting any kind of closure, one of my commenters assured me of that fact that weeks ago. I’m surprised by the confidence this show has in its audience. Also I’m surprised by how good it still is, actually scratch that, this show has proven itself more than capable at this point. The point I’m trying to make is that the show doesn’t force a ‘fake’ ending and it’s still a satisfying finale. Even if things are left more or less ~in the middle~ of two stories.

😉

You don’t think your being too forgiving? Maybe. But I prefer the show to not rush towards a conclusion it’s not ready for just for the sake of an impatient TV audience, this is roughly the midway point of the manga, the mangaka has estimated an end date in 2019/2020 so maybe we’ll get a second season then.

Right so what happens in this “non-ending”? In the first half Yuu and Koyomi go to everyone’s favourite gay cafe to work on the amendments to the play’s script and Koyomi tasks Yuu with coming up with a title. Afterwards Sayaka and Touka come to the cafe after the other two have left and they have a deep discussion about Touko’s sister—we don’t see the conversation and that works in the show’s favour I think. Also because we already kinda know what Touko’s sister was like to Touko because Touko plays that role everyday. Then after they leave Riko, their teacher stops by to pick up Miyako the coffee shop owner from work so they can go home together and the two have an “interesting” exchange.

I love these two so much!

Oh? And what do you mean by “interesting”? Well turns out our favourite gay couple are both actually bisexual. Which I mean doesn’t change much, but I tell you what it’s good to see bisexual characters in an anime who are in a stable relationship and not presented as sexually aggressive or perverted. Also turns out, when asked her preferences for either men or women Riko says she prefers men which elicits a comical reaction from Miyako. Riko then elaborates by saying it’s “different” with her and that she’s just fallen for her. And it reminded me of the best character and moment in ‘Citrus’ when Sara explains her bisexuality to Yuzu by saying “it doesn’t matter if I’m in a relationship with a boy or a girl, it just happened to be a girl this time.” More of this in our anime please!

D’aww.

Hard to argue with that. Anything else? Yes of course that’s only half the episode! So Yuu invites Touko to go to an aquarium and watching these two have about as a ‘normal’ a date possible for them was so heartwarming and adorable. And the episode doesn’t end with some forced cliffhanger or dramatic moment or angsty misunderstanding it just has a quaint little montage of all the characters over the end credits and that’s it for Bloom Into You (for now–hopefully)!

Such a simple gesture but it means everything.

Right then, overall thoughts on the final episode? I could absolutely understand a person being underwhelmed by this ending. Especially as how nearly half the season has been building to a stage play that’s yet to eventuate in the narrative. But as for me I’m more than happy with what we got, it’s a beautiful, low-key and heartfelt episode that makes me want to watch the series all over again.

Perfection.

Previous Bloom Into You Reviews:

Love Takes Time – Episode 1 Review
The Flower Blooms Alone – Episode 2 Review
Strength In Vulnerability – Episode 3 Review
The Ever Watchful Gardener – Episode 4 Review
Study Buddies – Episode 5 Review
Scenic Roots – Episode 6 Review
Garden Of Secrets – Episode 7 Review
Rainy Day Feelings – Episode 8 Review
Racing Hearts – Episode 9 Review
Playing The Part – Episode 10 Review
Life Imitates Art – Episode 11 Review
Last Minute Rewrite – Episode 12 Review


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Last Minute Rewrite – ‘Bloom Into You’ Episode 12 Review

Last Minute Rewrite – An Anime QandA Review of ‘Bloom Into You’ Episode 12

What’s the show? Bloom Into You, Episode 12.

So how’s this episode? I feel like there was a cohesiveness to this episode that felt very satisfying, not that other episodes haven’t been but with the emphasis being on the play they are rehearsing for and the fact that the play is mirroring Touka’s real life made for richly compelling viewing.

A line from the play, and yet…

Okay that’s good. What specifically happens in the episode? Yuu feels a distance growing between her and Touko, whether it’s just Touko doing so intentionally because she doesn’t want to smother Yuu with affection or unintentionally because of the revelation about her deceased sister last week—she feels it nonetheless. After the study camp is over Yuu takes the initiative and invites Touko to come over to her house and up to her room. Touko is hesitant, saying if she comes up she won’t be able to “hold back” but Yuu doesn’t care because she wants exactly that, she wants to be closer to Touko in every sense of the word. The scene with them on the bed goes from insanely sensual and intimate to heartbreakingly honest as Touko once again repeats her plea “please don’t fall in love with me” before adding “because I hate myself and I couldn’t be with someone who loves something I hate.”

Powerful stuff.

Ouch. Indeed, but this ‘declaration’ is the impetus for Yuu to take action. After Touko leaves she gets in contact with her friend Koyomi who is writing the script for the stage play and requests that she change the ending of the play.

How’s that going to help with Yuu and Touko’s relationship though? Well Touko believes that she has to pretend to be a ~better~ person than she is and that the person she has to be is one to be found out there. Which is more or less the decision of the character she plays in the play. What Yuu proposes is that she doesn’t pick any of the personalities that her friends and family assign for her but rather be the person she is now and learn to live and grow with that version of herself.

Why does she look so evil? She means well, I swear!

I guess that could work, but it might also not. True, but Yuu doesn’t have many other options available to her. The only way Yuu can get Touko to accept her burgeoning love for is to get Touko to love herself for who she is.

So with only one more episode left do you think things will get wrapped up nicely? Do I think we’ll be at ‘happily ever after’? God no, as much as I’d love to see them as a ~proper~ couple, there’s no way this story is near that point. So all I can do now is patiently wait the finale and then anxiously hope for a second season!

This scene tho…

Previous Bloom Into You Reviews:

Love Takes Time – Episode 1 Review
The Flower Blooms Alone – Episode 2 Review
Strength In Vulnerability – Episode 3 Review
The Ever Watchful Gardener – Episode 4 Review
Study Buddies – Episode 5 Review
Scenic Roots – Episode 6 Review
Garden Of Secrets – Episode 7 Review
Rainy Day Feelings – Episode 8 Review
Racing Hearts – Episode 9 Review
Playing The Part – Episode 10 Review
Life Imitates Art – Episode 11 Review


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Life Imitates Art – ‘Bloom Into You’ Episode 11 Review

Life Imitates Art – An Anime QandA Review of ‘Bloom Into You’ Episode 11

What’s the show? Bloom Into You, Episode 11.

So how’s this episode? It’s complicated. Not my feelings for the episode—it’s excellent as to be expected. No it’s the episode that throws up a bunch of convolutions and complexities but they all come about naturally and none of them feel contrived or overwrought and that’s no mean feat!

Okay so what’s it about then? The student council has gathered for a 3 day/2 night ‘sleepover’ at the school to better prepare for the the upcoming play. And seeing as the only girls staying the night are Yuu, Touko and Sayaka that means they’ll be bathing together for the first time and sleeping in close proximity for one another. The bath changing/bath scene and the bed time scene are two of my favourites so far from the perspective that almost all the drama is happening in each of the characters minds. Sayaka wanting to confess her feelings, Touko wanting to look at Yuu’s nude body and Yuu wanting to be able to reach out and touch Touko. All that’s happening in their heads while on the surface they’re having to seem calm and collected as if nothing at all is wrong. It makes for compelling viewing that’s for sure!

Damn steam…

And does anything happen between any of them? Well, no, but that’s the way of things. Plus as much as I would have liked something to happen, it makes sense that no one acts on their feelings right now—though something that happens late in the episode makes me think something will in the next episode!

That longing look…

What happens? Well a little context first, their supervising teacher Riko sensei invites a member of her theatre troupe to talk to them all and give them some pointers. But as it turns out, he’s an alumni of the school and in fact was not only in the same grade as Touko’s deceased sister but was also in the school council under her presidency. Touko asks what she was like, her curiosity about other people’s perceptions no doubt spurred by the play that’s covering similar subject matter and to her shock she learns that her sister was far from perfect.

Sayaka’s got the look like something more gay was going on here than in reality.

In what ways? In very Japanese ways, at the risk of generalising having a girl who looks perfect but is actually a bit frantic and uses her fellow student council members to help copy summer homework she didn’t do hardly screams “omg she was a completely different person than I thought.” But that’s because I live in Australia where academics and being the ‘model student’ aren’t held to the same high standard of importance as they are in Japan. That said I still did feel for Touko, the look on her face when she realizes she didn’t know the ‘real’ version of her sister is pretty saddening.

Poor Touko.

And what’s this moment you were sliding to earlier? Oh right. So while the others are having fun letting off fireworks Touko confides this new revelation not in Yuu but Sayaka. Not maliciously mind you, she just happened to be the particular shoulder to lean on in that moment. But the look on Sayaka’s face when Touko says “I can tell you these things” makes me think Sayaka is going to use this as the green-light to confess her feelings. Which, well if she does, isn’t going to go well for the poor girl since Touko’s still obsessed with Yuu. But maybe it’ll give Yuu the necessary push to be honest with her own desires and bring Yuu and Touko closer as a result? We can only hope…

Trouble is brewing!

Overall thoughts on the episode? Wonderfully deep and rich character moments mixed with the shows usual charms makes this another top-tier episode, not much else to say but that!


Previous Bloom Into You Reviews:

Love Takes Time – Episode 1 Review
The Flower Blooms Alone – Episode 2 Review
Strength In Vulnerability – Episode 3 Review
The Ever Watchful Gardener – Episode 4 Review
Study Buddies – Episode 5 Review
Scenic Roots – Episode 6 Review
Garden Of Secrets – Episode 7 Review
Rainy Day Feelings – Episode 8 Review
Racing Hearts – Episode 9 Review
Playing The Part – Episode 10 Review


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Playing The Part – ‘Bloom Into You’ Episode 10 Review

Playing The Part – An Anime QandA Review of ‘Bloom Into You’ Episode 10

What’s the show? Bloom Into You, Episode 10.

So how’s this episode? So this episode addresses something so intrinsically human about relationships that a lot of anime of its ilk (i.e. romance anime) fail to properly address that I couldn’t help but be impressed by it.

And what’s that then? Selfishness. And I’m not talking the kind of over-dramatic, relationship-ending selfishness that a lot of shows might indulge in, no i’m talking about ~comfortable selfishness~.

This show is pure art.

I’m not sure I know what that is? Oh of course you do, you know that feeling when you become so complacent of something that you begin to subconsciously test how far you can push someone, be it your parent, or sibling or teacher or friend or lover. A lot of the time I don’t think it’s born of a particular malice, rather just boredom of the routine or even something of a power-struggle. Everybody likes to think they are the top dog in whatever respective partnership they are perceiving and being ~comfortably selfish~ with someone is often a great way to test the proverbial waters.

This reminded me of DAKAICHI so damn much lol.

Okay. So is that all this episode is about? Of course not, it’d be a dull affair if it were limited to just so. A considerable chunk is afforded to ‘the play’ which is rapidly becoming the focus of this anime. Koyomi has finished her script for the play and is reluctant to let it be seen by others, she does inevitably and we get a quick rundown of the plot and characters–it’s a far more deep and sophisticated story than I’d expect from a high-schooler but then again a high-schooler’s mind is free to run away moreso than an adults. Also Koyomi is smart and incredibly perceptive too so I shouldn’t have been too surprised…

That’s the show.

What’s the play about? It’s about an amnesiac who’s in the hospital and visited by three people, her younger brother, her classmate and her lover. Hearing about herself from these other people gives her three distinctly different interpretations of herself and by the end of the play with her memories still not returning, she has to decide which version of herself to be in order to get on with the rest of her life.

Yeah that is pretty deep for a high school play. And who’s playing the roles? Well Touko is obviously playing the lead role as the amnesiac, the two boys on the student council are playing brother and classmate, while Yuu is relegated to a minor part of the hospital nurse. Its Sayaka who is taking on the juicy part of Touko’s lover which is bound to cause some stirrings from a lot of people involved!

I asked for more of teacher x cafe owner and the gay anime gods were listening!

So overall thoughts on the episode? Even though this is something of an in-between episode there’s still a considerable amount of depth to the events. The moment with the wishing tree stands out, its a small and subtle scene but carries such emotional weight and its devastating that Yuu is unable to even bring himself to admit that she wants to be able to initiate things with Touko, let alone even write it as a wish on a damned tree. As always, Bloom Into You is an exercise in restrained, understated brilliance.

Poor Yuu.

Previous Bloom Into You Reviews:

Love Takes Time – Episode 1 Review
The Flower Blooms Alone – Episode 2 Review
Strength In Vulnerability – Episode 3 Review
The Ever Watchful Gardener – Episode 4 Review
Study Buddies – Episode 5 Review
Scenic Roots – Episode 6 Review
Garden Of Secrets – Episode 7 Review
Rainy Day Feelings – Episode 8 Review
Racing Hearts – Episode 9 Review


If you liked my post and want to support my content, please consider supporting my Patreon page, or donating by buying me a coffee on Ko-fi!

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Racing Hearts – ‘Bloom Into You’ Episode 9 Review

Racing Hearts – An Anime QandA Review of ‘Bloom Into You’ Episode 9

What’s the show? Bloom Into You, Episode 9.

So how’s this episode? As always it’s low-key brilliance, but there’s a single moment that’s the centerpiece of the episode that was so devastatingly beautiful that I can scarcely bring myself to talk about it.

Well that’s hardly going to make for a good review–how about talk about what this episode is about first and then maybe you can make some headway on “the centerpiece” later. Sure, so it’s coming up to sports festival time and Touko is getting more affectionate than ever, making out with her in the sports shed a bit before Yuu insists they stop. She tells her she’s banned from kissing her until after the sports festival–Touka agrees but on the condition that Yuu initiates the kiss next time they do it. The day of the sports festival comes, and its just jammed packed full of these cute little scenes from so many different characters on the show, it’d be almost boring to list all of them. My favourite though were Koyomi the writer discussing her troubles with writing the script for the play and Miyako the cafe owner coming to visit for girlfriend Riko who is participating in the teacher’s relay race. There’s even a lot of great back and forth between Akari on the basketball team and Touko as they size up before their big relay race. Which leads in to…

You want a kiss pic? You have to scroll to the end of this review for the good stuff!

Ah the all important scene, so let’s hear it, what was so good about it? So after Yuu completes her portion of the relay race she’s watching Touko run and as she’s watching this beautiful girl; the sun glistening off her sweat streaked cheeks, the wind rushing through her hair and the determined but effortless look on her face she finally realises that she does in fact have feelings for her. There’s no need for any words, no over-bearing inner monologue, just the way everything disappears from her vision but Touko and then the look on Yuu’s face. It’s just utterly perfect and at the same time absolutely heartbreaking.

Those are some of the song lyrics FYI.

Oh? Well Touko doesn’t want Yuu to fall in love with her and yet it’s happened (more or less) and as beautiful as it should be, it’s a moment tinged with an inevitable heartache for one or even both. It makes for powerful and compelling viewing and somehow even manages to top the ‘river’ scene from Episode 6!

So what happens after that then? Obviously Yuu doesn’t say anything about these burgeoning feelings but Touko is still ~DTK~ and after the sports day is over corners Yuu in the sports equipment shed again. It’s a scene that’s somehow both romantic and explosive but also kind of awkward and uncomfortable… but that’s a good thing, I think?

And a kiss with tongue, too! So bold!

What do you mean? I mean in a narratively rich and dramatic way, obviously it sucks for Yuu to have to be in this situation–afraid to confessing to new feelings because of being shut out by Touko who just wants Yuu to remain the same ‘loveless’ entity. In some ways there’s something controlling and predatory about Touko’s behaviour–she only wants Yuu to basically be her doll, to come along and kiss and hug whenever she wants, never to grow beyond that. I mean that’s probably a harsh reading of Touko’s character but nevertheless it makes for an inherently watchable drama!

Poor Yuu, ~figuratively~ drowning in her doubts.

Anything else you want to add? I don’t mention it enough in my reviews (mostly because I’m rushing and forget things) but music plays a big part in the episode especially the insert song that accompanies the ‘big scene’ in the middle. It’s a gorgeous piece of music with some thought provoking lyrics and it just adds to the brilliance of that whole part of the episode.

More teacher x cafe owner pls.

Overall thoughts then on the episode? I don’t know if this is my favourite episode, in hindsight it may well be just because of how much of a turning point it was and of course how well made it is but I think there have been more visually distinctive episodes (such as the aforementioned Episode 6 that was straight up art), this one is a bit more visually simplistic but what it makes up for in spades is genuine emotion and that’s something that’s a lot harder to come by than pretty pictures.


Previous Bloom Into You Reviews:

Love Takes Time – Episode 1 Review
The Flower Blooms Alone – Episode 2 Review
Strength In Vulnerability – Episode 3 Review
The Ever Watchful Gardener – Episode 4 Review
Study Buddies – Episode 5 Review
Scenic Roots – Episode 6 Review
Garden Of Secrets – Episode 7 Review
Rainy Day Feelings – Episode 8 Review


If you liked my post and want to support my content, please consider supporting my Patreon page, or donating by buying me a coffee on Ko-fi!

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Rainy Day Feelings – ‘Bloom Into You’ Episode 8 Review

Rainy Day Feelings – An Anime QandA Review of ‘Bloom Into You’ Episode 8

What’s the show? Bloom Into You, Episode 8.

So how’s this episode? Surprisingly(?) the action is focused on Sayaka again—or rather she’s involved in the episodes events way more than I expected.

Is this a good thing? Absolutely! Not only does it make last weeks episode feel even more relevant but it creates a much richer and complex ~atmosphere~ around the whole show. Not only that, there’s a little pre-credit sequence where Sayaka comes face-to-face with the first girlfriend she had who dumped her over Summer break by dismissing their entire relationship as “a phase”! And the bitch ex-girlfriend gets some Japanese style shade thrown her way, that is to say still polite as heck but oh so satisfying to watch!

Take this bitch down, Sayaka!

Okay, so what about the rest of the episode? We get a couple of really interesting scenes between Sayaka and Yuu and I didn’t expect to enjoy the sometimes sassy sometimes tense chemistry these two have together. Also one of the scenes takes place at a not-McDonalds restaurant and I know this is a weird thing to hone in on considering everything else but I feel like this is the first time I’ve ever seen someone in an anime eat a Hot Apple Pie (or Japanese seasonal equivalent) at not-McDonalds.

~feels just like Hot apple pie~

That is weird, you’re weird. I know. So anyway the two of them talk about Touko and the play and I do wonder whether the drama between these two–or rather the simmering ~almost~ drama will ever reach a point that Sayaka has an outburst or a confession or both! Though at the rate this show is moving I doubt it’ll happen this season, but I can hope!

You want drama between them? I want a release, that’s all. Like, I hate that Sayaka has to be stuck in this ‘holding pattern’ for the lack of a better term, she needs to confess her feelings for Touko, get rejected and move on with her life. Sayaka deserves happiness too!

I ship them as friends. Just as friends!

Anything else happen? Of course. It’s a rainy day and Yuu’s forgotten her umbrella, after a couple of opportunities to share an umbrella fall through who comes to the rescue but her knight in shining seifuku–Touko with an umbrella built for two. The two have a cute but inconsequential walk home until they stop under some cover for a rest and then there’s an awkward moment. Yuu uncharacteristically shows some affection towards Touko which in any budding relationship would be a good thing, but as we’re reminded Touko doesn’t want Yuu to fall in love with her because of her messed up ideas about what ‘being in love’ means. It’s a bitter-sweet way to end the episode because while Yuu is clearly beginning to feel something which is good, it might end up pushing Touko away as a result, which is bad, not just for the two of them but for us watching too! Nobody needs a third act break-up arc, that shit is played out my friend!

Let them just be happy together!

So overall thoughts on the episode then? It’s great–more of the same–but great!


Previous Bloom Into You Reviews:

Love Takes Time – Episode 1 Review
The Flower Blooms Alone – Episode 2 Review
Strength In Vulnerability – Episode 3 Review
The Ever Watchful Gardener – Episode 4 Review
Study Buddies – Episode 5 Review
Scenic Roots – Episode 6 Review
Garden Of Secrets – Episode 7 Review


If you liked my post and want to support my content, please consider supporting my Patreon page, or donating by buying me a coffee on Ko-fi!

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Garden Of Secrets – ‘Bloom Into You’ Episode 7 Review

Garden Of Secrets – An Anime QandA Review of ‘Bloom Into You’ Episode 7

What’s the show? Bloom Into You, Episode 7.

So how’s this episode? It’d be a hard task to top the previous episode which was just achingly beautiful in so many ways–and they didn’t, but they weren’t trying to. Instead they gave us a story about a different character, Touko’s best friend and student council vice president Sayaka. There have been hints for a while that Sayaka was “interested” in Touko and that she was none-too pleased about her new ~relationship~ with Yuu, but here we get the full story. And…

And…? I feel really sorry for Sayaka, like to the point where I’m almost shipping Touko and Sayaka. I mean, she deserves love too, doesn’t she?!

I loved the visuals in this scene, very evocative and distinctive.

Probably. So what’s so good about Sayaka? Well I mean I don’t really think she’s all that interesting to be honest but she clearly cares a great deal for Touko and I just don’t want to see her get hurt. But so is the way of things when a love triangle forms, someone’s bound to get hurt eventually. I’ll say this much about the episode though, hooray for presenting a (relatively) normal same-sex relationship that isn’t fraught with (too many) complications–that relationship being between the literature teacher Riko Hakozaki and the owner of a quaint cafe Miyako Kodama.

Aww, that little hand grab on her forearm! Adorable! More teacher x cafe owner, pls.

What’s with the (relatively) and (too many) modifiers to that sentence? Well I mean it’s still Japan so I guess the teacher doesn’t want it known to her students that she’s a lesbian–shame really, she should be able to be open and happy about her relationship!

Uh-huh so is this confirmed “love triangle” going to add to the drama of the situation? I honestly don’t know, turns out I only read the first two volumes of the manga which more or less cover the previous 6 episodes so I’m going in blind from here on out. I do own the rest of the series that’s been published in English but I kind of prefered the feeling of not knowing what was going to happen so I’ll be like the rest of the non-manga readers going forward! I wouldn’t be opposed to a bit of drama, I mean heavy emotions are involved, but do I think this is going to turn into a catty Citrus-esque scenario? Of course not, this isn’t that type of series–I think.

~secrets~

So overall thoughts on the episode? Changing the focus to a side character, and doing so for almost the whole episode is a risky play but I think it paid off. It also helped expand the world a little, what with the introduction of the teacher and her girlfriend–honestly I’d like to see more of them in the show but I’m not sure exactly how they’d tie it in to the main narrative. And even though we got no real relationship progress on Yuu and Touko’s front aside from the both of them agreeing to call each other by their first names, I really enjoyed this episode! It felt different, but in a good way, or maybe that’s just because it’s all new material to me.

This scene was so cute!

Previous Bloom Into You Reviews:

Love Takes Time – Episode 1 Review
The Flower Blooms Alone – Episode 2 Review
Strength In Vulnerability – Episode 3 Review
The Ever Watchful Gardener – Episode 4 Review
Study Buddies – Episode 5 Review
Scenic Roots – Episode 6 Review


If you liked my post and want to support my content, please consider supporting my Patreon page, or donating by buying me a coffee on Ko-fi!

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Scenic Roots – ‘Bloom Into You’ Episode 6 Review

Scenic Roots – An Anime QandA Review of ‘Bloom Into You’ Episode 6

What’s the show? Bloom Into You, Episode 6.

So how’s this episode? Fantastic! Stuff happens, big important stuff and stuff only the audience is privy too thanks to internal monologues but still important all the same. And not that the show wasn’t interesting when it was all low-key moments and small emotional movements but this episode represents a definite turning point in the course of the narrative.

That’s desktop wallpaper worthy, right there!

Sounds important. What happens? Well spoilers obviously, but not only do we get the answer as to why Touka has been so intent on having the student council put on a stage show–her sister was student council president 7 years ago but died in a traffic accident before the performance could be staged. We also get an emotionally charged (not to mention gorgeous looking) scene down by a river where Yuu tells Touka that she doesn’t have to live up to the standards set by her sister, that she doesn’t have to take her place, that she should live her own life. Only for Touka to completely rebuff her and stay committed to being “the perfect stand-in” for her deceased sister.

Holding hands, so lewd!

Wow, heavy stuff. Mmhmm, and if that wasn’t enough there’s a fantastic post-credit scene that lets us into Touka’s mindset more than anything in the previous episodes, where she basically spells out ~why~ she fell in love with Yuu in the first place. Touka considers love to be a manipulative thing, meant to keep a person from changing too much, she uses the phrase “I love you just how you are” as an example–likening it to being “kept”. And the fact that Yuu is seemingly incapable of love is exactly why she’s drawn to her, she ends her little inner-monologue with the sentence, “Never fall in love with me”. And it’s just such a bitter-sweet thing that I can’t help but adore it.

I don’t agree with her, but it’s still fascinating to see how Touka’s mind works.

You sound very enthusiastic for a change, usually you’re struggling for things to say about the show! To be honest I’d forgotten about this part of the manga, which I know might seem crazy considering how big of a deal it is, so that’s probably explaining why my enthusiasm seems so high. But even if I had remembered this part, the anime just does such a better job at adapting this section that it’s almost like a different thing entirely, I’ve already mentioned how gorgeous the whole ‘walk home from school/riverside conversation’ is but it’s worth mentioning again because of how strikingly pretty it is. And not in a showy, technical way but just on a purely aesthetic and artistic level–in a way it’s a lot like this show, it’s not doing anything ground-breaking or flashy, but it’s doing something rare and beautiful–simply put, it’s art.

Simply stunning.

Previous Bloom Into You Reviews:

Love Takes Time – Episode 1 Review
The Flower Blooms Alone – Episode 2 Review
Strength In Vulnerability – Episode 3 Review
The Ever Watchful Gardener – Episode 4 Review
Study Buddies – Episode 5 Review


If you liked my post and want to support my content, please consider supporting my Patreon page, or donating by buying me a coffee on Ko-fi!

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Study Buddies – ‘Bloom Into You’ Episode 5 Review

Study Buddies – An Anime QandA Review of ‘Bloom Into You’ Episode 5

What’s the show? Bloom Into You, Episode 5.

So how’s this episode? Somehow even slower than previous episodes–but at the same rate it’s probably my favourite episode so far!

Oh yeah? How’s that work? It’s intimate on a lot of levels. The episode starts with a cute scene at Yuu’s family bookstore where we find out the kind of books all her friends like then her classmate Koyomi asks her to read a novel that she wrote. The rest of the episode is ~literally~ just Yuu and Touko studying, first at the library every day after school leading up to mid-terms, then, when the library is too busy to find a seat at, Yuu invites her over to her house to study. And they study some more!

I mean when you put it like that.

That sounds very dry and dull. You’d think so but for anyone remotely invested in this relationship watching this gradual and contemplative examination of the forming of a “relationship” in a somewhat unconventional way is as beautiful as it is interesting. All the little moments, the hair flicks, the gentle touches, the stolen glances–they’re all so much more meaningful given Yuu’s ~difficult~ frame of mind. Is it slow paced? Sure. But it is called ‘Bloom Into You’, not ‘Burst Into You’ and some flowers take a long time and care and nurturing to bloom.

Dat nose tho.

You seem to be awfully forgiving of this show’s pace. I can’t help but think that’s to do with the fact that you’ve read the manga. I’ve read some of the manga, just two or three volumes–but yes I admit, knowing the pace this series would undoubtedly take has probably softened by critical eye a little bit. Also, I’ve never said this series is perfect, I find it hard to relate to Yuu often as I’m someone who gets passionate and animated about many things and have a sort of ‘addictive personality’ that means I fall in love with things very quickly. Added to that I’m not really sure how much the side characters bring to this series–but then again they are needed as it would be weird not to have them in a school based show.

This moment was pretty adorable though!

So basically you’re saying the show has flaws but the flaws are either what make it interesting or are necessary to its existence? Kind of, yeah. I mean just because I can’t relate to Yuu doesn’t mean I can’t empathise with her situation and if anything her being so ~different~ from the norm highlights the necessity for a character like her to be represented in fiction. And for her to be represented with care and consideration for the life she’s living and the way she chooses to approach love. It may not be conventional, but it’s the only way she can do it and that’s what’s important.

Life’s not easy though.

Previous Bloom Into You Reviews:

Love Takes Time – Episode 1 Review
The Flower Blooms Alone – Episode 2 Review
Strength In Vulnerability – Episode 3 Review
The Ever Watchful Gardener – Episode 4 Review


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