English Dub Review: The Ramparts of Ice “Remission”

Overview (Spoilers Below):
In agony over Minato, Koyuki confides in Tsukiko, who sees what Koyuki refuses to.  Then, a run-in with Igarashi forces her to reflect on her own walls.

Our Take:
If you’re asking me if things will ever get better for Koyuki, I hate to say that you’re asking the wrong person.  As a newbie to the “Ramparts of Ice” experience, I’m just as lost and maybe a bit broken-hearted as she was, especially when Koyuki admits her conflict to Tsukiko.  But to the show’s credit, it still offers some silver linings amid this turmoil.  One example is that Tsukiko remains a supportive friend to Koyuki outside of Miki and Yota, much better than Momoka.  Another is the main focus of this week’s episode: Igarashi.  The first season briefly explored Koyuki’s past relationship with Igarashi in middle school, where she became afraid of him because of her trauma from “dating” him.  Given his attitude now, I would be a bit scared of him too.
“Remission” delves further into that part, giving the viewers more context on Koyuki’s first “relationship” with Igarashi.  We see Koyuki and Igarashi share their different perspectives on the moment that drove them apart, with Igarashi dating Koyuki only to fulfill his own fantasy.  From Koyuki’s perspective, she despises Igarashi for only looking down on her and brushing aside her emotions.  In a way, Igarashi doesn’t love Koyuki for who she is.  Instead, he only loves the “fantasy” part of Koyuki.  This is another aspect that shapes what it really means to love someone.  The episode reflects on this beautifully, and it’s even therapeutic, especially for those who flunked their “first relationships” in the past.
“Remission” highlights that even dour moments, like regret, can give people a chance to grow and face past traumas.  This is especially true for Koyuki, who confronted Igarashi’s past selfishness during their recent encounter, helping them see each other as equals.  I’m not confident Koyuki and Igarashi will try to date again, but I am happy Koyuki is continuing to confront her past with confidence, one step at a time.  This is another episode that delivers on the subtle emotion in its character development and themes amid its humor, especially for Koyuki.