English Dub Review: Zenshu “Confession”

Overview (Spoilers Below):
A mysterious bird resembling the world’s director warns Natsuko of an impending doom that may not be altered.  Afterward, Luke expresses his feelings to Natsuko, resulting in them going on their first date.

Our Take:
After fully understanding Natsuko’s romance dilemma, we now return to the present, where Natsuko is faced with another problem within her childhood movie’s world, or should I say two?  One of which is an unknown bird that’s been following Natsuko around since the fourth episode, telling her that “it’s no use”.  I guess the raven saying “Nevermore” isn’t the only thing that drives people crazy.  This week’s episode finally identifies this peculiar bird as the director of A Tale of Perishing, who informs Natsuko that her actions won’t change the outcome of the film, which is Luke’s demise.  If that’s the case, Natsuko would surely have much work to do to alter its depressing conclusion completely.
This dilemma gets even more personal when Luke finally confesses his feelings to Natsuko after taking love advice from Unio and Justice.  When Natsuko and Luke first met, it was evident that the sparks between them would eventually fly, and this episode wasted no time setting off those fireworks with Luke’s confession.  Was it predictable?  Absolutely.  Did the journey toward that confession entertain me?  Yes, I did.  Regarding Luke’s constant confession and his first date in the hot springs with Natsuko, “Confession” continues to provide some enjoyment in its comedy and characters despite the show’s formulaic structure.  Most importantly, it showcased Natsuko finally understanding the meaning of “first love” when she, too, has feelings for Luke.  It’s too bad she has to die from food poisoning to get to that point.  This crucial moment should give Natsuko an extra push to maintain that first love, but how long will this feeling last before Luke’s destined fate destroys it?