English Dub Review: A Couple of Cuckoos: “It’s not that I like you, yet.”

Overview:

Nagi (Nicholas Andrew Louie) goes out on a date with Hiro (Amanda Lee), much to Erika’s (Lindsay Sheppard) displeasure. 

Our Take:

Nagi trying to assert himself on a date with Hiro just goes to show how very little goes the way he thinks, but, in the case of their date, turns out to be even better as a result. Hiro and Nagi’s library study date in which they can not speak due to oddly strict rules, supposedly, is a moment straight out of a John Hughes movie in the honest wholesomeness in the highs and lows of Nagi’s emotions throughout their passing of notes with Hiro. Segawa’s adorable amusement goes to show what his main appeal is and how adorable their chemistry is. The couple’s kickboxing date is also fun in how freakishly strong each of them is and also sweet in how she wants him to get to know her better. 

Hiro bringing out the best in Nagi emotionally provides a good motivation for Amano’s jealousy but also how she really feels, especially in all her hairbrained attempts at making him look at her in a similar way to Segawa. The frustration and pain Erika feels in seeing Nagi have a genuinely good time with Hiro is a stirring scene and one that nicely addresses her budding feelings and how they have evolved as they have spent increasingly more time together. How Nagi feels is also of importance and handled well in getting some much needed advice from his pops. It results in fun scenes that show how charmingly lame Nagi’s dad, Yohei, used to be and still is but also shows his own romantic persistence and the beginning of his relationship with Nagi’s mother, Namie. Yohei teaches Nagi to truly discern his feelings and very much confirms that he is more than likely going to get his harem ending as he loves Erika, Hiro and Sachi. It’ll be intriguing to see how that’s traversed or subverted as the series goes on. It ends with that hopeful future just beginning to sprout in Nagi extending his own olive branch in admitting his feelings to Erika, revealing he doesn’t like her either “yet.”