English Dub Review: Aharen-san wa Hakarenai “Kinda Grainy, Innit?”

Overview (Spoilers Below):
Raido enjoys a town-building video game before having an intoxicating encounter with some amazake.

Our Take:
The second year has gotten off to an unsurprisingly strong start for the protagonists and the show’s viewers.  In addition to Raido and Aharen beginning their relationship, the duo also welcomed in their newest member of the dysfunctional group: Aharen’s childhood friend Riku.  That series of events was just as charming and hilarious as I expected from this high-school rom-com, but it also showed promise regarding its narrative formula in what’s ahead for season two.  This is another occasion where the phrase “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” can work in an anime if the direction for a show’s appeal is utilized well and delightfully entertaining.
So, what other high school hijinks are Raido and Aharen getting into this week?  Well, one of them isn’t exactly school-related, but rather something related to the recent age of video games.  The episode’s first half has Raido and Aharen getting into some gaming action through a social simulation game called “Grainy Crossing”, the anime equivalent to “Animal Crossing”, which, by the way, had an anime adaptation back in 2006.  Unsurprisingly, Raido was shocked to see Aharen’s exceptionally detailed city residing in the game, leaving him concerned about her living in that virtual world forever.  While more laidback compared to the previous episode, the first half showcases that there are still some laughs and subtle fun to be had outside of school with the game’s resemblance to a mob drama.  Additionally, the CGI effects were solid in conveying the game’s mechanics and designs and balancing them with traditional 2D.
The second half has Raido having the most random side effect after accidentally drinking Amazake during breakfast.  What kind of side effects are we talking about here?  How about having an aggressively masculine personality while drunk?  While Raido’s new appearance did leave room for concern from other students, including Riku, his generosity remains intact. However, it didn’t quite bode well for Aharen’s anxiety toward the new Raido.  Fortunately, this new side of Raido didn’t last long, as the Amazake he drank was actually non-alcoholic.  In short, “Kinda Grainy, Innit?” maintains the show’s light-hearted and consistently funny approach to the rom-com formula effectively.  The second half was an amusing misunderstanding that didn’t stray far in transforming Raido into a completely different person.  However, I will gladly give the most credit to the first half for its departure from the school setting in favor of the gaming environment that benefited from its mixture of 2D and CGI art styles and slice-of-life comedy.