English Dub Review: Harukana Receive “Until You Break”

And I will be the one doing the breaking! Don’t worry, you will enjoy it.

Overview (Spoilers below)

It is time to shine. The local tournament started. The Harukana Duo got a nice surprise discovering their first opponents to be the familiar duo from the swimwear shop: Flat As a Board Ai and Punk Loli Mai. The latter were indoor volleyball players that are trying their hands on a beach setting.

Unsurprisingly, Harukana flats the sand with them in the first round, but slowly they start to catch up. Kanata keeps going with her pokeys, even when they were being countered more a more, but seems to have a plan behind her actions. We also learn the Blond Bombshells were ranked in a Second Place Nationally?! Wow. And the mysterious girl from the last episode gets another cameo on this one.

Our Take

This episode helped to realize something. Usually, I despise the fanservice, but now I know why. When fanservice is involved, the plot is none existent and the shows themselves have little to nothing going on for them. Some people can turn off their brain cells and enjoy the ride, but sadly I can’t.

Then a show like Harukana comes around, full of fan service, yes, but with a well-constructed plot and character development that will not distract me with its stupidity, making space for my brain to truly enjoy the eye candies being offered. But I digress.

I didn’t expect to see the Swimwear combo so soon, but I suspect that a Harukana-Éclair confrontation is becoming a likely possibility for the final deathmatch in this tournament. Ai and Mai’s pass is, for lack of better words, pitiful, but I think Kanata’s backstory is more moving in my eyes.

And how the heck the Wonder Twins are in second place nationalist but are struggling in getting members for their club?! Their school is not supporting their talent and achievements?! Regarding the chapter itself, the animation has kept up in its production and quality, and the music is incredibly tuned with the show development, highlighting key moments and overall mood.