For a series that was widely marketed and promising an extremely charismatic and likable titular character,Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutiedidn’t quite do its source material justice. The series couldn’t work its way out of the corner that sensationalist marketing strategies and big-swing changes to the original story have led it to.
As a finale, the twelfth episode ofShikimori’s Not Just a Cutiedoes what the series has always done – aimed high. A Christmas episode as a finale or climax tells the audience that they’re in for a world of romance, drama or even both. The series, while aiming high, seems to only be able to remain in a safe and comfortable spot, not quite in the realm of melodrama, but also not fully committing to the romance invoked by the very concept of a Christmas date.
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Frog Prince
In the previous episode, we see Shikimori and her brother go to the mall because she needs to get a new outfit for an upcoming, highly-anticipated date with Izumi. Since the cultural and athletics festival, the two haven’t gotten enough time alone. It is finally Christmas, and the amusement park bustles with a vibrant energy. Shikimori meets Izumi, wearing a coat over the same outfit we see her in at the end of episode 11. After Izumi swoons over Shikimori’s clothing choices, the date begins. Perhaps as a nod to Izumi’s quirkiness, the date begins where it would normally end – the gift shop.
At the gift shop, Izumi gets attached to a frog-eyes headband that comes with a crown on top; an on-the-nose reference to Izumi’s position in the series as Shikimori’s unlikely prince. The small piece of headgear seems to highlight an important aspect of Izumi’s character – he’s not quite who he supposedly should be. As Shikimori’s boyfriend, the expectation issomeone who is quintessentially princely; someone who is cool, calm and collected – much like his girlfriend. While at the gift shop, Shikimori gets attached to a spooky cloak reminiscent of a vampire’s attire. The two head over to an attraction modelled after the story of Little Briar Rose, also known as “Sleeping Beauty”.
Sleeping Beauty
The Sleeping Beauty ride has a very long wait time, but the main couple have fun just standing there and talking to each other. When it is eventually their turn, Shikimori and Izumi are taken through a very slow ride through the Sleeping Beauty story, through tunnels of fake briars and painted roses.
The slowness of the ride rocks Izumi to sleep towards the end; a thematic choice, as the narrator of the Sleeping Beauty attraction announces the Prince’s arrival and subsequent kissing of the sleeping princess. Shikimori, the obvious prince in this case, is overcome by the desire to kiss the sleeping Izumi, but the ride ends, and they are escorted out before she gets the chance to. Once free, Izumi and Shikimori excitedly run through the amusement park with the intention of trying all the rides and attractions they can.
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Table For Two
After their amusement park romp, Izumi leads Shikimori to a restaurant where he reserved a table; however, due to Izumi’s misfortune, the plan has to change because his table was mistakenly given away to another customer, and no other tables within that same meal plan could be arranged. They’re moved up to the fanciest tier, whereseveral courses and fancy decorawait. Since they weren’t planning on being somewhere so elegant, they aren’t quite dressed for it and feel rather self-conscious, but those feelings quickly dissipate as the night continues.
After dinner, Shikimori tells Izumi that she wants to do “what they did in the commercial”, referring to an intimate kiss shared by a couple, but Izumi isn’t completely aware of Shikimori’s desires or intentions. She drops the subject, prompting them to rather go off somewhere private where they can talk, which brings them to the perfect setting for a kiss – a candlelit gondola ride.
The Somewhat Grand Finale
As night begins to fall on their date, Shikimori and Izumi hit the gondolas for a romantic and quiet finish to a very busy day; however, their candlelit fantasy is interrupted when the amusement park experiences a power outage. Since the theme of their day is how anytime is a good time when they’re together, the inconvenience barely registers as such. With lighting from a smartphone, the two continue their date, with Shikimori being extra aggressive with her teasing of Izumi, and overall boldness regarding her advances. Izumi even comments that her smoothness in such situations makes her like some kind of prince, which is yet another on-the-nose inferrence made to remind the audience of the episode’s subtext –Shikimori is the prince in their relationshipand the more active agent, while Izumi is the passive party – the sleeping beauty.
However, Shikimori, and the audience, are taken aback when Izumi assumes the role of the prince, kissing an unexpecting Shikimori on the cheek, rather than stealing a kiss on the lips. He tells the surprised Shikimori that he is in love with her, and that he will always be by her side with a determined look on his face. Shikimori concedes that she has lost this round against Izumi, embracing him tightly with her head in his chest as the power returns. While the episode featured several romantic scenes and a showcasing of the dynamic of the central couple, the build-up towards the climactic gondola ride was wasted with the cheek kiss.
While the kiss in context may be demonstrative of Izumi’s perceptive and caring nature, the subversive element of Izumi’s assertive expression of his love is undermined by the fact that he doesn’t actually take it all the way, like Shikimori would have. Back at school, Shikimori relays the events of the date to Hachimitsu and Nekozaki, whose excitement rightfully withered away upon hearing that Izumi opted for a kiss on the cheek. While it is sweet that Izumi chose to do what he did; it ultimately left the series no better for it, and it remainsa particularly disappointing climaxfor not just the finale; but the series overall, despite the context. After the end credits, the series ends off with a callback to the very first episode, complete with an unnecessary aggrandizing of the titular character in the form of yet another athletic feat.
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