Anime

English Dub Review: A Condition Called Love “Our First Date”

By David King

May 20, 2024

OverviewHotaru isn’t sure what to do when a coworker asks to be introduced to Saki. She has tough choices ahead of her, including all the details of her big date! But earnest Hotaru is determined to sort things out and come up with a plan.Our Take Based on observations from Hotaru (mostly told in her inner thoughts) the complexity of Saki’s character continues to unfold, revealing his reluctance towards friendships, influenced by heavily implied abandonment issues. This behavior leaves Hotaru bewildered, yet she slowly realizes her feelings for him.

It’s clear that Saki has always been selective about who he lets close to him, and this episode showcased another one of his thoughtful date plans.Yet despite Saki’s ever-present flaws, he at least shows genuine concern for her, making the episode feel as “slice of life” as it can get. Although Saki’s actions sometimes seem questionable, his respect for Hotaru’s boundaries adds depth to their relationship. The rooftop scene (which was easily the highlight of this episode), despite its initial discomfort, allowed Hotaru to open up more at least.Overall, Saki’s attitude towards relationships paints a weirdly uncomfortable yet complicated picture. While the show aims to develop both characters, Saki’s growth is essential for a healthier dynamic. The date highlighted their bond, but Saki’s actions, raise concerns about his true intentions, indicating a need for significant character development hopefully we’ll see more of it later on…