Overview (Spoilers Below):
Miwa faces off against Sakura, now imbued with focus and determination.
Our Take:
It’s no surprise that apology treats will make everyone feel better, including the one who actually made them, Miwa. Because of this, Miwa is now prepared for the ultimate match against Sakura that could spell victory or defeat. We have season finales centering on fast-paced showdowns between good and evil, but for Mikadono Sisters, the best way to cap off the first season is with a shogi match. Usually, I don’t have much interest in games like shogi and even chess, whether I’m watching or playing them. However, if there’s one thing I learned from watching anime, it’s that the style always finds a way to make seemingly tedious sports look exciting compared to real life.
“For Someone Else“ is certainly no different than the rest, but it’s not just the match that’s the most exciting. It’s also the players who are competing, heavily inspired to play for a specific purpose, mainly Sakura. Throughout the tournament, the episode showcased more of Sakura’s background, where she learned to play shogi from her grandfather. With Sakura being terrible at everything, she feels that shogi is the only activity that she’s a pro at. However, her confidence was tested when Miwa won her first match against her, prompting Sakura to consider her her rival. Not only did the flashback emphasize more on Sakura’s complicated background, but it also provided a pretty interesting metaphor of moving forward in life through shogi, particularly for its pawn piece.
With its commendable animation style and a buttload of heart in its inspiring messages, “For Someone Else“ concludes this surprisingly compelling rom-com series on a praiseworthy note. Despite the fifth match not being shown entirely, the season finale proves that a seemingly boring game of shogi can be as exciting as other intense sports, particularly in terms of the players themselves. If a second season were to happen, we can definitely expect a lot more romantic mayhem for the three prodigy sisters and even their newest rival, Sakura, as she decides to be more present in their lives, much to Miwa’s frustration. We haven’t received any announcement regarding a second season yet. Still, given my experience with the series, I’m holding onto hope that we’ll be able to visit this “happy family“ again sooner or later.