Orange - Episodes 8-9 (Review)

By: Mithrandiel Don't worry - I haven't forgotten about one of my favorite shows this season, Orange. I got a bit distracted with No Man's Sky and some other projects and before I knew it two weeks had passed! Let's re-visit the last couple weeks and see how the series is holding up!

Episode 8

The awkward lovebirds are at it again with "Relationships for Dummies" in episode 8 of Orange. After Naho made her feelings known in episode 7, Azu and Takako double their efforts to make sure the pair are happy. Just after they get Naho to commit to going out with Kakeru, he collapses after a long day of soccer practice. Azu and Takako tease Kakeru about his fainting spell -Kakeru is quick to correct Naho's newly acquired title, however.Ouch. Despite the hopes of their friends, both Naho and Kakeru are happy having expressed their feelings for each other without taking things to the next level and making it "official".Meanwhile, Naho and Suwa talk more about the letters that they've been receiving and whether keeping them on hand is the best idea. Fearing that by sticking to closely to the letters (which are already changing due to the actions they've taken so far) they may actually do more harm than good, they begin to formulate their own plans and strategies for saving Kakeru.The first item on the agenda is supporting Kakeru in the relay race. Even though Suwa is the only real athletic one on the group (besides Kakeru), the motley crew signs up for the relay to support their friend. Hagita does need a bit more convincing though...Kakeru is delighted to have his friends joining him in the relay, but as they're getting ready to leave school, Naho stumbles into Kakeru on accident and dramatically pulls away as if he was covered in some radioactive material.Visibly hurt, Kakeru silently offers his hand to Naho -Annnnddddd she absolutely doesn't understand what he wants. Seriously. I've mentioned in previous reviews that the depiction of teens in Orange is refreshing and natural...but Naho's obliviousness is pushing legendary levels. Even her friends seem to cringe in response when she explains what happened.

The episode ends with Azu, Takako and Hagita all (officially) revealing what I have assumed since episode 2 or so: they have also received letters from their future selves. They renew their commitment to save Kakeru, which basically means helping Naho move the relationship forward.The episode was solid, with more progress being made with Naho and Kakeru, though sometimes it feels like pulling teeth. We haven't visited the "future selves" in a while, so that leaves me wondering what's going on in the future. I'm also still curious as to how the letters were sent back in time. Oh well, we'll cross that bridge when we get there I suppose.I will say I'm noticing the animation quality slip going into this week. Lots of filler shots, awkward/derpy faces in group shots...just general quality reduction since the earlier episodes. There are some great opportunities for really emotive storytelling, but those chances are getting spoiled with wide shots or simply cutting to a character with the same expression on their face. I would say I'm hoping for better quality next week but...

Episode 9

Ugh. By the time this episode was over I wanted to grab it by the shoulders and shake it screaming "WHAT ARE YOU AND WHAT DID YOU DO WITH MY SLICE OF LIFE SERIES?!" The animation quality dropped yet again - almost shockingly so. I mean... look at this shot.Notice anything...strange? Here...let me help.What is she looking at? Did she suffer a concussion? Someone help this poor woman!Anyways, I digress. This week we get to experience more of Azu, Takako and Suwa working hard to get Naho and Kakeru on the path to couple-hood while Hagita makes wisecracks. Azu confesses that she didn't take her letter seriously until the whole incident involving Ueda dating Kakeru. Apologizing to Naho for any harm she may have caused, Azu pledges her loyalty to Naho once again.I will say that I enjoyed seeing the show from another character's perspective, as we get a brief look into Azu's home life through her letter. It mentions how October 5th is her birthday and that it unexpectedly rains. There's some shuffling of umbrellas and Naho misses an opportunity to walk home with Kakeru under the same umbrella. Of course, the friends coordinate to make sure that this doesn't happen again. The lovebirds head home together, but they hardly walk a mile before Kakeru attempts to cozy up to Naho. Of course, in typical Naho fashion, she overreacts and knocks the umbrella away, leaving the two of them standing in the rain. Kakeru's pride recovers and he suggests they find somewhere to seek shelter from the storm.Once they're safely under a nearby covering, Kakeru admits that it didn't bother him at all when Naho fell on him, and in fact he liked it. He also comes out and tells Naho that he was teasing her before for not holding his hand, to which Naho basically responds "Just tell me what you want." A surprisingly bold move coming from the often indecisive and hesitant Naho.She then offers her hand to Kakeru to hold. When he tries to protest and say that it's okay because they've held hands before, Orange sees a glimpse of its former animation glory in a powerful moment -Kakeru decides that no, once is not enough after all.The two enjoy their moment before we cut to the next day - the athletic meet at the school is underway! Everyone's letters depict the day as going pretty poorly for Kakeru: nobody from his family is there to cheer him on, and to add insult to injury, he falls during the relay race and their class loses the competition. Naho, Suwa and the others resolve to make this meet the best it can be, and so they invite his Grandmother to come watch and cheer on Kakeru.Having grandma there is definitely a help, but in another powerful scene we get Kakeru's perspective on the busy day. Even with all of the excitement and laughter around him, it's hard for him not to see his mother wherever he is.Again, this element of the episode could have been conveyed much clearer with quality animation. Even in the shot I reference above, his eyes are mis-matching sizes and not lined up. It really takes you out of the moment.Of course, to help combat Kakeru's crippling depression, we get a nice serving of Hagita's ridiculous antics. After the girls all marvel at Suwa's bare chest and ripped abs, Hagita says that he's even more "amazing", and reveals his killer body.The episode concludes with team red vs. team blue in a battle of "toppling the tower", or Bo-taoshi. While they are getting ready, Suwa asks Kakeru why he's not taking things more seriously with Naho. "What if she starts dating someone else?" he asks. Kakeru seems to think that it would be better than Naho dating him since he could move again soon or "vanish" - a haunting threat that he is still thinking about committing suicide. Suwa, obviously still interested in Naho, pushes this further -Following Suwa's question, however, Kakeru seems to be heated up as he charges the blue team's tower along with Suwa and, with his help, manages to take it down. In the aftermath, both Kakeru and Suwa are injured with some minor cuts and bruises, and since Naho is in charge of first aid, she tends to Suwa's injuries. As she patches Suwa up, Kakeru seems to get upset as he smacks away Naho's hand when she tries to offer him the same treatment. Even though Naho's concerned that things have gone wrong, Suwa and her friends feel that things are actually moving in the right direction. Ah yes, because nothing invigorates a young man like a good romantic competition.I'm disappointed that the show has taken such a dramatic downturn over the last couple episodes in terms of production quality. The early episodes featured a lot of great shots of the group, more of the nuanced body language and facial expressions, etc. Now a lot of moments the more powerful moments are being wasted with wide-shots. Naho and Kakeru's moment during the storm was fantastic, give us more scenes like that!The story is also wearing a bit thin at this point, if only because the group is so focused on getting Kakeru and Naho together, even though they both have they are both offering resistance in their own ways. It gets more and more frustrating as the episodes go on, but I'm hoping that we get over that hump next week.At this point I'm in it for the long haul, but after an especially powerful episode 7, I was ultimately disappointed with episodes 8 and 9. Here's hoping it wins back my heart next week!