English Dub Review: The Ramparts of Ice “Equal Level”

Overview (Spoilers Below):

Determined not to mess up high school, Miki has faked her persona since day one.  But not being herself around her classmates starts to wear her down.

Our Take:  

Miki has certainly gotten herself in deep water with her assumption that Koyuki and Yota like each other.  Though to be fair, Miki didn’t realize that Yota actually had feelings for her, leading to a misunderstood love triangle.  But that’s just one of the things Koyuki’s closest friend is encountering, as we’re all aware.  The previous episodes have showcased that Miki hasn’t been completely honest with who she really is, as she’s been using her pitch-perfect, friendly exterior to hide her more casual, wild self to make an impression.  Unfortunately, this came with the cost of having to limit her conversations with Koyuki on school grounds due to the rumors surrounding the latter.  Although Koyuki, Minato, and Yota have helped her embrace her usual self, there’s still the matter of her classmates whom she befriended with her faux persona.

“Equal Level” may not have progressed the show’s plot that much, but it compensates with its exploration of Koyuki’s best friend.  Starting in junior high, we see the real reason behind Miki’s false idol persona: she fears her rowdy attitude is hurting those around her.  But, as we expected, Miki’s plan has her struggling to be as “girly” as her high school classmates, leading to a disconnection stemming from them hearing about her mishaps at junior high.  With this episode, it further undermines not just Miki’s character growth but also the show’s theme of self-acceptance, as she loves her true self only to earn the love of those who accept her.  Sure, Miki can be on edge, but it’s part of the charm that makes her coming-of-age journey one of the more respectful aspects of The Ramparts of Ice.