I still despise that title.
Impressions:
Given that her reaction to the dude appearing was first to scream out loud, and then after the OP played, to scream internally, and then to continue to scream, alternatingly internally and externally, I’m going to go out on a limb and say that physical appearances are not the problem here. The entire episode was just four statements on a loop. Johnny Prettyboy is so great. But I’m so awkward. I wish I wasn’t. BUT I AM SO AWKWARD!!!!!!!!!!!!! Also, while we’re on awkward things, what on earth was up with the natto at the start of the episode? That may be the worst animated anime food that I’ve seen in years, both for its weird individual beans and how they don’t obey the laws of gravity. Yes, that stood out.
Anyway, the not-so-secret spice to making these things actually work is that the protagonist has to actually put in effort. Preferably fail even. So they can pick themselves up, keep trying, overcome adversity, grow, develop, etc. That goes whether the wallflower du jour wants friends, be in a club, have 100 sex friends, whatever. Just yelling internally, repeatedly explaining how awkward they are while the pretty boy, or girl, hovers around them for no real reason, or even in spite of them constantly screaming and hyperventilating in their face, is tedious wish fulfillment. She exists. And that’s all that the pretty boy needs to make her the center of his world while she yells and goes into conniptions over how insecure and crazy that is.
