[DreamSword]

Episode #4: A Geek's' Feelings

I'm not entirely sure if this was the intention of the episode's' structure or not but...

I found this episode to be a deeper look into the old proverb of putting yourself in another's' shoes, and showcasing both the good and bad that comes with it.

Alot of the character drama of this episode comes from people assuming the thoughts and feelings of others via using themselves as a measuring stick. And it's again something I haven't seen in a TV show before.

Poor Kitashiro is the one on the receiving end of all of this too. Nakamura assumes that Kitashiro is trying to connect in the same ways that she is, and Kitashiro's' friend Miyabi ends up compromising Kitashiro's' work life via assuming their shared hobby was processed by both in the exact same way.

This sort of confusing social dynamic extends into the social dynamics of the workplace too. Just because you feel a connection with someone, that doesn't in turn mean that the feeling is mutual(a lesson I learned the hard way). Likewise, just because someone is civil with you and works with you, that doesn't automatically make them your friend.

It can be tough to maintain a level of neutrality to these things, especially if you grow up an outcast or are in an environment where you don't have anything in common with anyone. And for those of us lacking social skills or who have strong feelings, where exactly the line between acquaintance and friend lies can be rather blurry and confusing. But you know one thing that can sometimes help in creating a bridge? Shared interests.

Because another big thing in this episode isn't just the importance of fandom, like the whole show has been, but overlapping fandoms specifically. Tokusatsu fans can easily find overlap with anime fans and idol fans due to many a similarity between the three, and it's what ultimately brings the group of five together at the episode's' climax. They're all nerds with a similar passion to things that "normal" people wouldn't care for, but that shared energy and excitement is something they can all relate to, and allows them to be themselves.

Sure, there is alot of character drama here, but there's still the healthy amount of meta gags and happy emotional payoff that helps to keep the episode engaging and fun in other ways. The end, where they recreate scenes for shows that don't actually exist was just alot of fun to see play out, and felt genuinely earned. Unlike some other shows I've seen where it's usually just done for the sake of shallow pandering. Like, this legit could've been the final episode and I wouldn't have minded at all. But hey, we're only in the middle, so I have no idea where exactly this show could go next.

Oh, and we also learn that Damian's' real name is Tamiya. Who knew?