Overview (Spoilers Below):
Tsubakino leads Sakura, Nirei, and Suo to the home of an old man named Ito.
Our Take:
Sakura has got himself a rather unusual treat when he’s introduced to another member of the school’s legendary Four Kings. Of course, like many others, this peculiar “King” has a rather intriguing legend that emphasizes the show’s theme in the same vein as Sakura’s arc. Following Tsubakino’s introduction in the previous episode, he takes Sakura, Nirei, and Suo on a “date, “but not to a fancy cafe or a theater. Instead, they pay a visit to an older man from Tsubakino’s childhood, Ito, to help him ease the pain caused by his wife’s passing. However, Ito seemed to be a lot more cheerful for a guy suffering from grief, but of course, he’s like that to hide his true feelings.
Wind Breaker usually exceeds my expectations with its episodic plots, primarily regarding its thought-provoking themes and character development. “SENPAI’S TEACHINGS” utilized an ordinary “sick day” plot to further examine Sakura overcoming his phobia of abandonment and learning to trust in others as much as himself, which benefited profoundly from its animation and emotional depth. Unsurprisingly, “HIDDEN FEELINGS” continues the show’s formula by focusing more on the dialogue-driven drama and themes than the over-the-top action it’s known for. Although it appears to be a relaxed episode focusing on Furin’s regular visits with Ito, it actually serves as a therapeutic exploration of the characters’ struggles to articulate their true feelings about themselves.
In this case, the episode delved further into Tsubakino’s childhood, where he was secretly obsessed with women’s clothing and the dorayaki. Initially, he was frightened of what the other boys would think of him if he preferred women’s clothes and jewelry over manly things like cars. That is until he met Ito and his wife, who accepted him for who he wanted to be and what he wanted to like. The flashbacks involving Tsubakino’s childhood effectively utilized emotion through the genuine heart instead of using cruelty from others to manipulate it. The same goes for Ito’s arc near the end, where he winds up questioning his marriage with his wife.
“HIDDEN FEELINGS” is another fantastic example of generating emotion through its thematic drama rather than relying on violence to carry the show’s weight. I would even say it’s the best use of the formula I’ve seen in season two, if not the entire series. Kiba Walker still did an excellent job as Tsubakino and Sakura’s weakness in romantic elements brought out the biggest laughs. However, it was the sincere portrayal of acceptance, grief, and self-discovery that made it the highlight of season two.