English Dub Review: Dealing with Mikadono Sisters Is a Breeze “This Is a Date”

Overview (Spoilers Below):
As Kazuki prepares for her most challenging role yet, she asks Yu on a date to get in the mindset.

Our Take:
On certain occasions, if you want to play a role effectively, it’s helpful to actually become the role in real life.  This week’s episode has Kazuki taking that advice to heart through her “date” with Yu, which comes as a shock for the mediocre boy.  However, regarding the anime’s concept, it’s unsurprising that we have already reached this point in the narrative.  That didn’t make the scenario less amusing, though, as Kazuki’s “date” with Yu grew more embarrassing before it eventually got any better, mainly due to Kazuki’s inability to “behave” like a woman.
Of course, amid the comedic awkwardness, “This Is a Date” continues to peel more of the prodigy’s insecurities concealed by her insufferable attitude.  In this case, Kazuki reflects on her phobia of failure while riding on the Ferris wheel with Yu, highlighting her striving to perfect every role imaginable, even feminine ones.  With Kazuki playing a female role for the first time, there was no doubt that this amount of pressure would fall on her shoulders, especially with her strict father hovering behind her back.  Yu understands what it’s like to fail at everything, yet he persevered to complete his tasks, regardless of his mediocrity, prompting Kazuki to do the same.
Undoubtedly, “This Is a Date” features some of the usual humorous mishaps we typically see in other rom-coms, especially Niko and Miwa’s envious reactions to Yu and Kazuki’s “date” and Yu’s accidental “proposal” to Kazuki.  However, the episode is another occasion where the anime provides enough room to develop its seemingly unlikable characters through its relatable messages.  Notably, it demonstrates that failure can be scary, especially when someone is passionate about their career. However, it also helps them grow as a person by learning to love themselves despite their shortcomings.  Additionally, it did a suitable job exploring opposite gender roles and the challenges of convincingly portraying them. This is exemplified in a film featuring a senior actor whose female performance lacks authenticity.  It goes to show that true artistry in acting relies on genuine emotions rather than mere imitation.