Rolling Review – Fruits Basket 2019 – S2 (05)

Episode Synopsis:

It’s totally summer break!  Our characters finally get to sit back and relax!  Tohru, Momiji, Haru, Yuki and Kyo head to a haunted house in the mall.  Clumsiness and laughs ensue.  Things heat up for Uo as she experiences the start of a summer romance.  Who is the mysterious Kureno, and what does the future lie in store for these two?

Review:

Summer! Time to hit the beach and goof off all day and…

Sure…you could do that too…I guess.

Uo, darling, I’m concerned about your life choices…
No, I’m not talking about the car thing.

Episode 5 is a touch odd, as it divides itself into two parts and neither are that satisfying to watch. This is disappointing, as I’ve been a big fan of Fruits Basket thus far.

Uo mentioned in a previous episode that there was a guy she was interested in. That guy is Kureno. He apparently has a interest in Uo too, but for a fairly superficial reason.

I think the issue with this romance is less about the age gap (though nine years is…a bit much…) and more about how fast it happens. In the beginning of the episode Kureno meets Uo in the convenience store that she works in. He’s immediately infatuated with her (smile) and when they meet again later (Uo chases him down the freaking street out a desire to see him a second time) things go from 0 to 60 in the span of a few minutes.

Uo’s near breakdown at the fact that she can’t make Kureno “genuinely smile” feels like a moment taken out of a later episode. This is the kind of drama we need to have after two people have been seeing each other for a while. Where’s the development here? Did this show get its writing staff from Smile Down the Runway?! I just felt confused by this sequence and irritated at Uo for having such a childish reaction.

We don’t know Kureno by the end of this episode. The only thing we understand is that he’s a Sohma and he’s been trapped under Akito’s thumb his whole life. The poor man’s never even been to a convenience store! He’s a sad and walled off man with a tragic past. Don’t you want to love him..?

Yes Japan, I’m sure we’ve all played a dating sim before, or at least read about the tropes. “Hot guy who’s broken on this inside and just wants to be loved by the right person” is one of them, and I can tell you are trying to manipulate me into caring for this guy. I’m not saying I won’t give him a chance later on. I’m just saying that he’s a bit tropey as far as I can tell at this instant. Home Girl Uo deserves only the best!

As does Tohru! So if she ever gets a boyfriend we all need to be in a agreement that her first date must be crashed! All in favor say Aye!

Excellent.  Glad we’re in agreement here.

Speaking of Tohru…where is that girl…?
She’s off to a haunted house adventure with da boys! Honestly, there’s not a whole lot to remark on with this part of the episode. Tohru is adorable and clumsy. Haru steals the show by telling Tohru and Momiji a ridiculous story about one of the creatures to calm their fears. It’s all fluffy and moves the plot a whole lotta nowhere.  Here, have a slideshow.

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Summary:

This episode isn’t that great.  Uo is thrown into a whirlwind romance with a man she just met (what if you don’t like the way he eats Uo?!  What if you don’t like the way he picks his nose?!) and Tohru goes to a haunted house with her dude friends.  We’ll just have to see how things progress from here.  Hopefully Fruits Basket intends on giving Kureno way more screen time so I can get to know him.  Until then, enjoy summer and ruin your best friend’s first date.

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