Ramen Daisuki Koizumi-San: Episode 2 (Review)

By: v.o.lynnRāmen Daisuki Koizumi-san Episode two review: (or, as the reviewer calls it, "Ms. Koizumi Wins Over the Skeptics")Last week, on Ramen Daisuki Koizumi-san, we met Koizumi and got a crash course in her favorite topic: Ramen. We also met the lovestruck Yuu Osawa, Class Rep Jun Takahashi, and chipper-but-jealous Misa Nakamura. The episodes so far are mildly self-aware of the Ms. Fanservice aspect of Koizumi enjoying a bowl of Ramen, but overall are really light and easy to watch.

Episode 2 review and recap – spoilers ahoy!

Pt. 1: Hokkyoku

Yuu takes a backseat in both parts of this episode, with her appearing at the top of the episode and introducing Shu, Yuu’s brother (the casual, college type), but that’s about the extent of her appearance, with the exception of popping up here and there to howl in jealousy.The bulk of Hokkyoku focuses on Misa’s first real interaction with Koizumi-san. Misa, having been dumped by her first semi-serious boyfriend, is mortified to find that Koizumi might have been within earshot. Lonely, worried, and just curious Misa “shows up” at Nakamoto, the ramen shop that Koizumi was headed to. (Let's just say that Yuu has probably had a bad influence on Misa.)The dynamic between Misa and Koizumi works slightly better than Koizumi and Yuu. There’s a begrudging respect formed as Misa genuinely takes on a challenge that not even Ms. Koizumi had attempted on her first go. (Also, how delicious were the Ramen chefs at this shop?!)

Pt. 2: K-K-K-K-Koiuzumi-San

It’s exams time for the girls, and Jun is tasked by the teacher to check in on Koizumi-san. Koizumi, unlike the other three girls, completely bombed the test. The teacher is worried about Koizumi’s grades, and lets Jun in on Koizumi having left the test sheet completely blank. Unfortunately, Jun's revelation to Koizumi about her resistance to ramen puts an immediate damper on their conversation about craft Ramen flavors.Finally getting to the understanding of why Jun doesn’t like to eat Ramen (in front of others) is a bit of a journey – and the reveal is a little frustrating in its simplicity.Footnotes – End sequenceIt bears mentioning that the order of ramen cups that parade along the bottom of the end titles are in the order of how the girls fall in line behind Koizumi so far. Koizumi first, then Yuu, then Misa, last Jun (finally giving an in-universe thumbs-up to some pineapple ramen).