English Dub Review: The Shiunji Family Children “Still”

Overview (Spoilers Below):

As the family trip draws to a close, the siblings each come to terms with their bonds in their own way.

Our Take: 

It’s no surprise that the family’s holiday trip is quite eventful, especially with Ouka and Minami competing for Arata’s attention.  Fortunately, this said vacation doesn’t last very long, thanks to the show’s season finale, and it’s not without another set of fan-service moments to delight its fan base.  This comes in the form of the siblings’ return to the riverbank, where they used to go when they were kids.  Of course, since it’s more or less like a beach, the sisters brought their attractive swimsuits for the occasion, much to Arata’s anxiety.  However, it also brought back some childhood memories worth revisiting, mainly Kotono’s, in which Arata saved her from drowning.  This would explain how Kotono first fell in love with Arata and his “big brother” persona, but it also gave Kotono the courage to admit her wrongdoing to Ouka and Minami.

Much like the episodes involving Minami and Ouka, “Still” provided Kotono with a much-needed closure, briefly exploring her insecurity as the youngest sibling in the family.  However, this also caused Ouka and Minami to admit their own feelings towards Arata.  This means that the “sister war” that was introduced a few episodes ago is now officially underway.  With Banri now having the same affection for Arata, it looks like Arata will have a more difficult time keeping the sibling pact strong now that he’s becoming the center of attention.  

If the series were to continue with a second season, the scenario reminiscent of the likes of Rent-a-Girlfriend and Quintessential Quintuplets would still be the primary focus via the “sister war” arc.  Of course, this means its incest-related topics would still linger amid its familial themes.  Admittedly, its familial messages and fan service are suitable enough to make The Shiunji Family Children watchable, leaving me somewhat curious about its potential second season.  However, it’s also one of the shows where its concept can be discomforting when taken out of context.