English Dub Review: The Ramparts of Ice “Locksmith”

Overview (Spoilers Below):
To Koyuki’s relief, Yota comes to her rescue.  After their initial study session, they grow more comfortable with each other, which unsettles Minato.

Our Take:
It sucks when you feel so alone after being bullied all your life.  The same goes for Koyuki, who steers clear of everyone because people thought it was a good idea to harass her.  Seriously, these types of people need to be smacked in the face for pulling that crap.  However, it seems that Koyuki may have begun to come out of her shell a bit after running into Yota, who happens to be Miki’s classmate.  Obviously, there’s bound to be a connection between Koyuki and her new, surprisingly tall friend that would help her boost her tiny self-confidence.  But that also means there could be a love triangle not far behind, with Minato’s curiosity towards Koyuki getting the better of him following his breakup with his girlfriend.
“Locksmith” may not refer to an actual locksmith, but it does offer a metaphorical reflection on the loneliness that introverts often feel, akin to being locked in chains.  Additionally, in terms of its charming aesthetics and humorous chibi animation, the episode continues to show signs of improvement in the anime’s familiar narrative and in the characters’ chemistry.  Seeing Koyuki and Miki hanging out together as friends is enough to put a smile on my face, particularly during the sequence where they’re on a subway train.  After everything Koyuki went through, seeing her smile when she’s with Miki definitely warms my heart.  It would be interesting to see how Koyuki would feel during a study session with Miki, Minato, and Yota.