English Dub Review: The Ramparts of Ice “Clouds and Rain”
Overview (Spoilers Below):
Gray skies mirror the group’s uneasy mood. Momoka senses a chance to get closer to Minato, while Miki can barely face Yota after turning him down.
Our Take:
The first season’s conclusion didn’t end on a high note, as Koyuki has another competitor for Minato’s heart—one who could become even more irritating to deal with later on. Not to mention, Yota and Miki’s friendship hit a pretty big snag after Miki turned down Yota’s confession. But before that, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I’ve been enjoying The Ramparts of Ice so far. Sure, the tonal shifts can take a while to get used to amid its familiar genre tropes, but the overall story is enjoyable enough to highlight the show’s messages involving the everlasting effects of bullying and trauma. Luckily for us, we don’t have to wait long to see Koyuki and her friends return, as they reach the next chapter of their complicated friendship in the series’ second season.
Given the season one finale and the marketing, it seems the show’s second season could focus more on the dramatic side of this cheerful bond. While its comedic charm and chibi animation may still be present, the series has the opportunity to delve deeper into its themes of bullying and love amid the friends-to-lovers scenario. One example is Momoka Kuriki, whose bubbly personality hides a malicious side as she tries to claim Minato for herself. This leads Momoka to resent Koyuki, forcing Koyuki to face her doubts once more before Momoka’s unhealthy obsession takes a toll. Additionally, the season will focus on Yota and Miki’s friendship, which ended in estrangement after the events of the season one finale, and how Miki will face this conflict.
“Clouds and Rain” is an appropriately titled start to the second season that continues to show its colors beneath its icy surface. More importantly, it’s also a surprisingly honest and engrossing chapter that has the characters facing new challenges in their socially awkward bond. Like the previous episodes, it again offers a few humorous moments about their chemistry and chibi animation that add levity to the teen drama. Fortunately, it didn’t get messy or disrupt the show’s tonal balance. What really made it stand out, though, is how effectively it captures the conflict of a confession, mainly through Miki as she struggles to approach Yota after she turned him down. While Brianna Knickerbocker deserves her flowers for Miki’s comedic timing, I was more impressed with her ability to convey her character’s genuine emotions without overdoing it. The show’s first season proved to be another enjoyable addition to the teen rom-com catalog. However, this episode showed me its potential to be one of the best, especially with its second season starting strong out of the gate.
