English Dub Review: Kakushigoto “Your Lie in December”

Overview (Spoilers Below):

It’s the holiday season, and Kakushi’s assistants are all super motivated and excited because of the publisher’s year-end party that’s scheduled to happen later that week. Unbeknownst to them, however, it’s been revamped due to cost cutting measures. It’s a shame, because Hime was looking forward to seeing a real chandelier.

Later on, they manage to convince Kakushi to attend a different publishers party instead. It promises to be a real fancy shindig complete with suits and ties and big shiny chandeliers. Things go a bit haywire though when Kakushi’s editor accidentally brings Hime to the wrong party and then gets Goto in trouble with the rival publishing house bigwigs. In the end though, everything turns out alright because Hime got to see the chandelier.

Our Take:

The ninth episode of Kakushigoto is unique in that it might be the first episode to stick with a single plot all the way through. And it does that not to the detriment of any characters; rather, everyone gets involved when it comes to the big year end holiday party. It makes for a heartwarming episode that’s filled with plenty of laughs — and some close calls.

The start of the events find Kakushi’s staff longing for a fancy party so they can feel like a proper part of the publishing industry. They rightfully point out that they spend all their time cooped up in their stuffy office, so it’s only proper that they have the chance to go all out on fancy outfits for one formal evening. Kakushi feels so bad for them that he doesn’t even tell them when the party is cancelled in favor of a karaoke night.

Of course, Shinji the editor breaks the news instead. He’s a fun guy, but doesn’t have much tact when it comes to other people. That’s why he’s able to invite Nadila, Kakushi’s nanny/maid, to come to the party with him despite only meeting her on a few occasions previously. It’s an action that has major consequences that resound throughout the entire night.

Instead of bringing Hime to the proper party at the rival publishing house that used to work with Kakushi (the one that has the big chandelier Hime desperately wants a look at), Nadila accidentally brings her along to Shinji’s lame party. Luckily, things get sorted out fairly quickly, but then Shinji tags along to the other party, despite Kakushi not wanting him there since he’ll try to lure away the manga artists to his publisher. (Also, does he just stand Nadila up and leave her at the karaoke place? It’s unclear!)

By the end of the night, there’s been plenty of fun had by all — except maybe Kakushi, who alternates between freaking out about Hime finding out his true job, and running from the bigwigs at the party who think he’s the rival editor sniping their clients. Kakushi’s hidden job bit is a little tired at this point, but the episode finishes out strong with some sweet bonding between him and Hime over her calling the chandelier a ‘Cinderella’. There’s also a flash forward that sees Kakushi’s name show up on a list of manga artists who disappeared — which his former assistant calls a lie.

Now that the show is winding down, I’m definitely going to be curious about where they take things in the future, and how far ahead they’ll reveal by the times the final episode comes around.