At heart this is certainly a slice of life series, I think that’s clear by now. But even so, when you’ve hooked as big a whopper as Negaposi Angler did in the premiere, it’s surprising that we’re this late in the game and there are no signs it’s being reeled in. Most episodes have been just that, episodic. Some melancholy like last week’s, some more light-hearted like this one. We’re absolutely seeing a positive case being made out for the human condition here, and there’s certainly nothing wrong with that. But sooner or later that wooly mammoth is going to have to be acknowledged.
There’s a sort of enforced inertia here, as Typhoon 23 is slamming into Kanto. When Tokyo takes a direct hit from a typhoon (I’ve been through a few), the city basically shuts down. Trains, buses, schools and restaurants – all board up the windows. Wandering through Tokyo Station or Shibuya Crossing when they’re almost deserted is a unique experience. About the only thing that stays open is the eponymous konbini – reliable as old Shep, even when hurricane force winds blow and water in the streets runs like a river.
I always felt bad for the employees on those days. And I feel bad for Hiro here, stuck in the shop by himself with almost no customers. Especially when it comes out that Takaaki is on the clock too and boozing it up in the back with the other stranded employees. Hiro gainfully spends his time trying to figure out how to tie an FG knot (no, I had absolutely no idea what that was) with YouTube-sensei’s help. Hana actually tries to sneak out fishing but is scolded into staying in by Takaaki (while he was still sober). Apparently it’s easier to catch fish in inclement weather but a typhoon is pushing it.
Eventually the castaways get hungry, and Arua gets drafted to make the best of convenience store ingredients. Things are looking pretty Spartan until the loan shark trio show up, an unlikely coincidence. Made all the more so when they turn out to be carrying the ingredients for a classic hot pot – including anglerfish (which I’ve never tried but is certainly ugly AF). Anglerfish is a bizarre luminescent monstrosity that certainly doesn’t look tasty but the Japanese (naturally) consider it a delicacy. And Arua seems to be up to just about any challenge in the culinary department. I was worried Hiro might get shafted here too but he is invited to partake (did Machida-san finally relent and close – and if not who’s minding the store?).
With the trio accepting kindness in the storm and seemingly granting Hiro a full pardon, the message here seems to be one of universal brotherhood more or less. I’m not sure it goes any deeper than that and just depicting friends in pure idyll, and I’m not sure it has to. If the first episode had never happened one might think this was all Negaposi Angler was or needed to be (though I’m not sure that would have been considered enough for a show). But the first episode did happen and the hook (no pun intended) resolutely does exist. So one way or another this series is going to have to be more than that before it’s done.
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