The following contains spoilers for Episode 12 of A Couple of Cuckoos, “It’s Not That I Like You, Yet,” now streaming onCrunchyroll.
The main criticism forA Couple of Cuckoosthus far has been the anime’s lack of balance between dramatic romance andits various comedic moments. The majority of the episodes are eitheroverly dramaticor overly comedic. Not only that, the showrunners also regularly shift between drama-centric and comedy-centric episodes every two episodes or so. And while the romance is getting more dramatic and the comedy is getting funnier, that perfect balance remains elusive.
However, recent episodes, particularly episode 11, manage to somewhat achieve that balance. It may not be perfect, but it is still better than its predecessor. That being said, episode 12 is a rather special episode, because it marks the end of the first part of the series. After all, episode 13 is scheduled to be released after about a week of hiatus. So can they close this first phase in a memorable way?
RELATED:A Couple of Cuckoos Episode 11 Review - She’s Not Your Little Sister Anymore
Previously on A Couple of Cuckoos
Episode 11 focuses on Nagi’s relationship withhis adopted sister, Sachi. It all began when they accidentally kissed each other due to a sudden blackout. Nagi simply brushes off the whole thing, because he still considers Sachi as his kid sister. This makes Sachi incredibly upset. She refuses to talk to Nagi and locks herself in her room.
After talking to Erika and Hiro, Nagi finally realizes that a kiss to the lips is not a simple matter for a girl. Erika even gets mad at Nagi and tells him to admit the fact that Sachi is no longer a little girl. She is a grown woman now. Nagi finally realizes his mistake and apologizes to Sachi. This is the first time that Nagi finally considers Sachi as a proper woman, thus validating her position as one of the Harem candidates.
It’s Not That I Like You, Yet
For episodes that focused on drama, we usually had one continuous story from start to finish. While for comedic episodes, each episode is usually divided into several parts, with each part telling its own story that may or may not be connected with each other.
The story of episode 12 is told using the combination of both methods. It is one continuous story about Nagi’s dates and how he is unsure about his own feelings, told through three different parts. In the first part, he goes on an unofficial after-school date with Hiro, to a kickboxing gym. In the second part,he goes on a trial date with Erika. And in the last part, he talks to her dad about how he no longer knows who it is that he actually loves.
A Perfect Balance
After numerous attempts,A Couple of Cuckoosfinally achieve that elusive perfect balance. Episode 12 tells a dramatic romantic story where Hiro hinted her feelings to Nagi, Erika finally admits that she is jealous of seeing Nagi and Hiro having a good time together, and Nagi finally realizes his position as a potential Harem master. This episode progresses their relationship, or at least what they thought about their relationship, to the next level. It also offers character development for three of the main characters.
At the same time, there are tons of hilarious moments that will make you smile from ear to ear. Nagi’s surprised and exhausted looks when he helps Hiro with her Kickboxing practice. Erika’s bewildered and frustrated looks when thinking about his feelings for Nagi. And Nagi cringing when readinghis father’s love letters to his mother. All of these things miraculously happened in the same episode. The balance is finally achieved.
A Perfect End to The First Chapter
As mentioned before, episode 12 marks the end of the first part ofA Couple of Cuckoos. After a brief intermission, we will be able to enjoy the beginning of the new part. In a way, episode 12 is the end tothe first chapter ofA Couple of Cuckoosanime series. And what a perfect way to end a chapter!
Episode 12 is the culmination of all the right things that have been going on in this series. The drama is on point, the romance is heartwarming, the comedy is sidesplitting, and the characters receive their fair share of developments. While the series as a whole has been a rather amusing roller coaster ride with some weak points here and there, the showrunners manage to end it on a high note.
The first part ofA Couple of Cuckoosmay not bethe highlight of Spring 2022 animefor most people. But for those who follow this series from beginning to end, it has been an enjoyable ride. And episode 12 makes all of those mediocre episodes so worth it to endure. This series finally captured that elusive perfect balance. Hopefully, it can keep this same winning formula for the second half of the series.
