Yuri Anime Review and Analysis – 'There’s No Freaking Way I’ll Be Your Lover! Unless…' Episode 4
This beautiful climax finally won me over – if only because it means we can move on.
It has been a few weeks since I wrote about There’s No Freaking Way I’ll Be Your Lover! Unless…, and after having spent some time, I am somewhat surprised to find that I actually missed it. This epiphany probably should not come as a huge shock; previously, while analysing episodes two and three, I said that I enjoyed the majority of it. However, I also offered heavy criticism of those episodes’ poor handling of their lecherous material. Couple that issue with my general indifference towards many high school Yuri romances, after consuming hundreds of them at this point, and I was not expecting much more than a tepid, temporary pleasant viewing experience. Yet, more than once, I found myself lost in thought about the series, pondering the details and nuances of its characters, relationships, and tropes with a level of detail not dissimilar to that which I employ when contemplating my favorite Yuri works. Perhaps my newfound warmth comes from absence making the heart grow fonder, and my annoyance at previous episodes cooling. One thing is for sure, I like WataNare episode four a lot, if for no other reason than that it has nowhere to go but up from here.
Contains Spoilers for Episode 4
Easily, the elements that endear me most to Studio Mother’s adaptation of WataNare are the consistently excellent animation. The climax of this episode, in particular, was downright stunning, and I indulged in watching it over and over. But animation excellence is not reserved exclusively for these big moments, but is found in all the small details that really add up to create great art. Another excellent part is Renako and Satsuki’s extended conversation on the roof. The scene changes mid-shot from more neutral grey colors to the muted orange of the setting sun. This light floods the rooftop, Renako, and Satsuki with sharp highlights and dramatic shadows while quietening the anime’s usually striking and vivid colors. These impactful choices, alongside a bleak sky mottled with dark clouds, effectively convey the scene's quieter, contemplative nature and the regret and turmoil Renako is experiencing.
