‘The Summer Hikaru Died’ Episode 2 review: “Suspicion”

Sorry, not sorry, but if you don’t think The Summer Hikaru Died is the anime of the summer season, you’re wrong. Episode 2, titled “Suspicion,” picks up exactly where episode one dropped off. Not only does the relationship between our main characters become deeper, but watchers also get a ton of worldbuilding that leaves us with more questions than it answers, in the best way possible.  

“Suspicion” is a rather heavy-handed title, but with everything that happens in the episode, it definitely fits. Yoshiki (Chiaki Kobayashi) is, to say the very least, suspicious of what took over Hikaru’s (Shūichirō Umeda)body, but he isn’t the only one. Rie calls out to Yoshiki to warn him of her suspicions after noticing that the haunting presence in the mountains has disappeared and now seems to be attached to him. She warns him about allowing whatever it is to get too close to him. But, as of right now, we can all guess at how that is going to turn out. 

A small thing that I loved about this episode was the focus on Hikaru and Yoshiki’s other friends. It’s easy to focus solely on the two main characters, so the scenes with their friends help expand the anime’s worldview. Additionally, the scene where they’re walking through the forest is a lore drop for three reasons. One, it’s clear that the mountains are haunted by a variety of creatures that, obviously, want to possess Yoshiki. Two, Asako has a sensitivity toward the supernatural. Three, if Hikaru is with someone, it seems as if other spirits stay away from them or, at the very least, maintain a small distance until they find an opportunity to strike. 

Yoshiki learns more about this new Hikaru.

The Company makes its appearance in this episode, and I couldn’t be happier. Tanaka, one of my favorite characters, is the first employee we meet from The Company. He shows up with his hamster, takes care of anything freaky, and calls it a day. But in his few scenes, he drops a ton of lore that you wouldn’t expect from an outsider. It’s clear that he knows more about this town than some of the people who live there, namely Hikaru and Yoshiki. 

I think it’s safe to say that something hinky is going on in this town.

The gym storage room scene is something that can be so personal. I’ve been looking forward to seeing this animated since the anime’s announcement for a couple of reasons. One significant reason is the intimacy it portrays between Hikaru and Yoshiki. Even with this new Hikaru, Yoshiki wants to know more about him, wants to press deeper, and wants to continue having that intimate relationship with his best friend. The romantic undertones in this scene are pretty obvious to those with eyes. Hikaru even mentions that “this feels raunchy” when Yoshiki reaches deeper into his chest. When all is said and done, good body horror is nothing short of romantic. 

It’s important to note the original context for Hikaru and Yoshiki’s relationship. In the manga, the dialogue has not-so-subtle romantic undertones throughout the entire series. Additionally, their intimacy doesn’t start or end in the aforementioned gym storage room scene. It’s clear from the very beginning, before a monster even took over Hikaru, that the two of them were extremely close. 

The complications of grief.

Their friendship is something Yoshiki holds near to his heart, and he realizes after finding out about Hikaru that it’s a lot harder to give up that intimacy than one would think. Yes, his grief is apparent. Yes, he’s scared of the monster that took over his best friend. But he still views Hikaru as Hikaru even if it’s not the Hikaru he once knew — and getting rid of that closeness isn’t something Yoshiki particularly wants to do. 

For readers of the original manga, the boys’ love undertones in the anime might be a bit more subtle than in the original manga, but they’re definitely there for people who are paying attention. I might be in the minority, but the subtlety works really well in the animated series. It makes it feel as if we’re discovering Yoshiki’s feelings with him, instead of already being in the know. Something about that makes watching the anime feel special. 

I have to give a shout-out to all of the animators working on this anime because it looks beautiful so far. The difference in the typical art style versus the monster art style is such a treat for the eyes. Any worries about about how the monsters would translate to animation evaporate due to the magnificent work by CygamesPictures. Their animators deserve a raise for how well they’re animating both that and the anime as a whole. Our Episode 1 review notes how the range of colors creates a sense of horror, and episode two only doubles down on that. The inevitable creepiness is present throughout the episode, keeping you on the edge of your seat. 

The Summer Hikaru Died Episode 2 builds off the foundation that the premiere left for it. Utilizing supernatural elements, the series expands on this creepy and unsettling world. Both Hikaru and Yoshiki are trying their best to hold onto the one thing they find comfort in—their friendship—without having other people notice the weirdness that seems to follow them around. The creepiness I expected with this adaptation is exactly what I wanted and I’m happy that it translated over the anime.

The Summer Hikaru Died Episode 2 is available now on Netflix.  

Images courtesy of Netflix and Cygames Pictures. 

Kayla Chu

Made up of feminism, sports, and cheap wine.
Questions, comments, inquries please be sent to kaylamchu@gmail.com