Ramen Daisuki Koizumi-san - Episode 5 - [Review]

By: v.o.lynnRamen Daisuki Koizumi-san is, in many ways, a show about doing the same thing over and over, but in different ways, with nuances. For an outside observer, it's just a blond schoolgirl, eating noodles, with her friend/foil. But for Koizumi herself, each bowl is unique, and for Jun and Yuu, each visit to a Ramen shop with Koizumi-San is delicious and educational. This week brings the return of tomato-based sauce, a "nutritious" green ramen, and the joy of standing in ques.

Episode spoilers ahead!

[Part 1] Tomato Ramen

A sweet monlogue plays over Koizumi's visit to a shop with tomato-based Ramen. You almost don't notice the mild tone of the episode's narration as being different from the normal monologues, but something does feel off, until you realize that the voiceover is all the work of canon-stalker Yuu. The fakeout makes more sense on a second watch, as most of Koizumi's dialogue is less emotionally driven in previous episodes.(Yes, Yuu, please share with Koizumi how you happened to know her previous visit that you weren't present for...) 

[Part 2] Eugelena

After discussing a certain algae in science class, Jun is both enticed by and completely appalled at the idea of eating them. (You know, for scientific reasons!) Eventually curiosity wins out, and Koizumi is happy (as usual) to apply her known tastes to a ramen invitation with her class rep. The green ramen has its own place on the ordering kiosk, a big red box on the lower corner, highlighted in its different look than all of the other orders around it.

The interactions between Koizumi and Jun continue to be really fun to watch, even though they're only lunch buddies. It doesn't have the "get away from me" aspect of her conversations with Yuu which is really nice. Although Koizumi wasn't as chatty as she was in the Pineapple Ramen episode, I do kind of wonder what she had to say about the shop where they add the Eugelena directly to the noodles.

[Part 3] Huge Line

Yuu wants to impress Koizumi-San by standing in a que for an extremely popular Ramen restraunt, in order to spare Koizumi the wait. However, when the guy in front of her cheats the system by letting a few of his friends bump their way behind him in the que, and things start to fall apart from there.