English Dub Review: Natsume’s Book of Friends “The Outstretched Hand”

Overview (Spoilers Below):

A young Natori falls victim to his inexperience and, after a curious encounter, receives unexpected help.

Our Take:

Natsume’s Book of Friends returns with an unexpected arrival of the seventh season’s bonus chapter that expands upon the show’s tranquil yet yokai-infested world.  However, instead of another ghost-helping adventure with Natsume, this bonus episode focuses on one of the show’s supporting characters, Shuuichi Natori, in the form of a flashback narrative.  This narrative highlights Natori as a teenage exorcist who went way over his head when he encountered a yokai possessing his classmate, Tomita.  Unfortunately, his interference led to him being cursed by that very same yokai, and he received surprising help from the young Seiji Matoba.

“The Outstretched Hand” continues the show’s tradition of expanding its characters outside Natsume through flashback episodes.  In this case, it showcases an inexperienced Natori facing a seemingly dangerous threat due to his meddling before he became skilled enough to confront other spirits.  It also highlights his first encounter with Urihime, a yokai stuck in a tree who wishes to rid herself of her loneliness through Natori’s exorcism, though since he’s a friendly exorcist, that’s basically out of the cards.  Fans of the series, including me, will likely enjoy the seventh season’s victory lap until they hear news about its return despite some stiff line delivery from Aaron Roberts’s portrayal of Natori.