English Dub Review: Ranma ½ “Because There’s Someone He Likes”

OVERVIEW (SPOILERS)

Ranma must deal with his new unwanted admirer and rival, while also learning more about Akane.

OUR TAKE

We’re onto the third episode and things are continuing to be consistent with how it was in the first, for better or worse. We’re still in the early days, establishing Ranma’s problem of turning back and forth between woman and man at even the hint of different temperature water, and BOY do they make sure to squeeze every bit of humor out of it possible. I’m not necessarily complaining about that, that’s the whole schtick of the show, I’m just pointing out that’s how it is. I suppose the main development this week is filling out more of the many tendrilled love quadrangle permeating throughout the entirety of the cast. Akane likes Dr. Tofu, who likes her older sister Kasumi. But also, Tatewaki likes Akane, and NOW he ALSO likes Ranma, though does not know he is a man, and if you know the original series or even take a look at this one’s OP, you know that the suitors for both Ranma and Akane is only going keep growing from here. But what is also growing is the closeness between Ranma and Akane, who finally have their first moment of proper connection when Ranma sees her pouting about Tofu being in love with her sister.

It’s not very much and if you’ve seen literally any romance anime, you’ll see how it’s working, but after having a few episodes being at each other’s throats, it’s now time to start laying the kindling for these two to actually like each other. It’s not hard to tell from…well, just about everything that these two are the main couple who will inevitably get together. The fact that Ranma is sometimes a girl doesn’t really hinder that, though not necessarily because Akane is into girls, but more that she seems to feel more safe around Ranma when he is one. Now she seems to be feeling differently from him simply saying she’s cute when she smiles was enough for him to topple her over with a single finger while they trained. We’re only on the third episode of who knows how many, so clearly this will be a slow burn, but we can clearly see the spark beginning to form. Meanwhile, as a bunch of different love interests pop up, they’ll probably find other potential links as they initially go after these two. And perhaps we will see some more of these new ones pop up in next week’s episode.