Episode 05 –
As of now, it seems that this series won’t be directly addressing conflicts that arise from raising children. Some of the issues are becoming more apparent, such as Yuuta’s excessive amount of part time jobs, but as of now the atmosphere is still light and innocent in tone. The focus on Sora’s little crush on her uncle is indicative of the more light-hearted tone to the series, and I can’t say for sure whether the series will change up this setup anytime soon. Luckily, the fanservice seems to be gradually toning down, but it’s definitely still there.
I guess my main complaint is that I was hoping for more of a balance between the light-hearted moments and the more serious issues that come with Yuuta’s newfound and excessive responsibilities. After all, while an episode like this was enjoyable and was a fine way at giving a history to the cast, it also felt slightly pointless because it merely reaffirmed what we already knew. There’s still no solid progress with the living situation, we still have no idea how Yuuta’s decision to take in these kids will affect his social life, school life, and so forth. The series is still hiding away any of the tougher issues that could arise.
That being said, at the same time there are signs of those more important issues. There’s Yuuta’s multiple part-time jobs that he has taken on, which already is a hint at the financial situation. Then, on top of that, the constant inclusion of Yuuta’s club is a heavy reminder that he is a mere student, and thus, will have a tough time finding any sort of balance in his now hectic life. The club is overtly silly and goofy, sure, but it’s a surprisingly good reminder of what exactly is at stake here. It seems that the club is unaware of Yuuta’s predicament too, so it should be interesting to see their reaction to the three siblings (if they ever figure out at all, that is).
In the end, this episode actually felt very much like a filler episode. It was more fluff than anything else in terms of plot, but it did provide some nice insights into Sora’s little crush on her uncle. At the same time the show likes to throw in some strong reminders of just how strange, and potentially disastrous, the current situation at hand is. I’m not sure if this series will plunge down a more serious path or not, but the setup certainly leaves the potential for such a direction if the producers desired. I guess, at this point, it’s simply a matter of time for to let the story unfold.
Overall Enjoyment: 3.1/5
Screenshots are later in the post.
Distant Paradise 