Ramen Daisuki Koizumi-san: Episode 3 (Review)
By: v.o.lynnEpisode 3 is really light and fluffy on content, but has a sweet finish for those who have been hoping to see Yuu and Koizumi spend a little time together bonding. Essentially, if last week was “Ms. Koizumi wins over the nonbelievers”, then this week was “The way to Ms. Koizumi’s heart is through her stomach”.
[As usual, mild spoilers and plot summaries]
Part 1: Saimin
Misa, Jun, and Yuu go to WcDonalds (an obvious expy for Mc Donalds), and Koizumi declines the offer. After some pushing and prodding from Yuu, the audience gets some bikini fanservice in a flashback from Koizumi’s trip to Hawaii.
Part 2: Flavor Concentration Counter
The “discreet” ramen counter won’t be new to all watchers of Ramen Daisuki Koizumi-San in the states – but it’s nice to get to “sit in” on a discreet ramen counter with Yuu and Koizumi in this part. Yuu is basically our stand-in as we enjoy a double portion of noodles, while listening to her moon over her crush.
Part 3: Instant Noodles
Yuu finds a collapsed Koizumi-san outside of a closed ramen restaurant. Luckily, this is shortly after Yuu had been grocery shopping with ramen on the brain. Poor Koizumi had literally been holding off on eating all day (it seems - to eat at the ramen shop).This episode is packed with recipe swapping, including simple do-it-yourself ways to dress up instant ramen noodles. There's enough suggests in here for a mini-cookbook to send with someone for college as a do-it-yourself going-away present (with a small crate of ramen).
Honestly, if I were introducing someone to the show, this would probably be the segment that I would show them. It has the best character development between Yuu and Koizumi so far. Although it doesn’t directly advance their relationship, it really puts a little depth into Yuu’s conversations with her. Yuu holding her own in a conversation about ramen instead of just being floored by Koizumi-san felt like a treat compared to “Saimin” earlier in the episode (and the cold shoulder in “Flavor Concentration Counter”).