English Dub Review: Masamune-kun’s Revenge “The New School Term Filled with Doubts”

Nope, I wouldn’t buy Shuri as Snow White either. He’s a blonde.

Spoilers Below

It’s the start of a new school term, and Masamune wasted none of his remaining break. He spent it all training hard in the mountains to grow to new levels of lean and muscular. What he didn’t do was make sure he got cell reception up there. While the Masa’s away, the mystery fake-Masa is playing the Adagakis like a fiddle. He provides a letter from the real Masa’s grandpa, stating that he is now here to marry Aki.

So, Aki goes to school, turning down a new wave of suitors. Her man-hating lesbian friends (Yeah, they confirm it later on) are ever so pleased to see that but are a bit concerned with the amount of time she spent with RealMasa. She explains it away, but one thing she can’t explain? Her new fiance! As soon as he arrives, she falls in line as a demure lady. Her friends are crushed! What if she isn’t really a man-hater but a (pause for dramatic gasping) chubby-chaser?

Speaking of shockers, Masamune is in for one of his own. Neko is back, and healthier than ever! Her surgery overseas was a complete success, and her recovery only took a month. Now, she’s rooting him on in his quest for Aki’s heart, though secretly… she wants to catch him on the rebound. She points out that Aki is walking to class with a young man. Though initially intimidated, he writes FakeMasa off. He’s fat. Not even a contender.

Later that day, however, Masamune goes in to give Aki a present he picked up during his time in the mountains. The big-boned faker is there, hanging over Aki’s desk. Realizing that they both went by Masamune, FakeMasa proposes that everyone call him by his real name of Gaso. But, how does this Gaso know you, Aki? Are you related? Well, they’re engaged, of course! Shocker number two for Masamune, and we’re only on day one of the term. He takes Koiwai aside for a chat. Wherein she apologizes profusely but explains that there’s nothing more she could do. All the paperwork is in order, and Aki’s behavior towards Gaso suggests that she… loves him. Looks like Masamune’s plan is kaput!

At the neighborhood Totally-Not-A-McDonald’s-Please-Don’t-Sue-Us burger joint, Aki’s friends gather to bemoan the loss of their friend and destruction of their Sapphic Kingdom (their words, not mine). Gaso arrives and nearly gets his butt handed to him in a Happy Meal Box when he reveals his intentions. He believes that Aki is a pure goddess, and he is just a tubby mortal. He has every intent to marry her, but no intent to touch her sexually. Though they are a bit concerned about how weird that is, they decide to throw their (meager) weight behind him. The purity of Aki must be protected!

In the meantime, there is a festival about to go on at their school, and each class has to put in their idea for an event. The class Rep, Futaba, presents her plan: a production of Snow White with the effeminate Shuri as the leading “lady”. Opposite him would be Masamune as Prince Charming. Why? Because Futaba likes watching men kiss, that’s why. There’s only one problem. Aki’s class proposed the same thing, only with the new power couple of Aki/Gaso in the lead. There can only be one of production, and seeing as one of the lesbian trios is on the student council, it’s gonna be with Gaso. Futaba is furious and fights for her right to watch boy love. Masamune comes up with a brilliant plan: The class with the most votes gets to put the play on. This will not only settle the dispute, but drum up marketing for the festival, and cash for the school.

Of course, his plan goes further. The winning leading man gets to dance with Aki at the end of the festival. He isn’t going to take this lying down. He’s going to fight for Aki Adagaki!

Okay, this episode was a bit slower than the last. It establishes up Gaso as a character and a threat but doesn’t do much beyond that. The voice actors were still putting out a good performance this bout, though. Monica Rial’s delivery of her lines was great, especially “A girl’s heart is fickle, bro.” There are some points with solid art and animation, particularly around Neko’s scene and when RealMasa meets Gaso. Aki’s art shows some real conflict. I get the feeling that while she wants this to be the real Masa, and wants to love him, she feels like something is horribly wrong. This also carries through in Morgan Garrett’s performance, which softens subtly and loses some of its confidence when around Gaso. I wish the episode did a bit more to develop the drama, instead of focusing on the new guy and all the complications he brings. Perhaps having Masa’s and Gaso’s support squads be more pronounced. I also feel that the Lesbian Trio kinda came out of left field. If they had really been her friends this whole time, where have they been? Despite this, I give this episode seven letters of engagement out of ten.