Oh, Yoshiki, you’re really in it now. The Summer Hikaru Died episode 8 continues to surprise with accuracy to the source material, along with pulling at the heartstrings with every scene. It’s been a long time since I have seen an anime pull off the combination of high aesthetic and emotional plot in this way.
The growth that Yoshiki has shown between episodes one and seven is nothing to scoff at. It’s easy to write him off as a silly high school student, but his emotional intelligence is light-years ahead of the other students. Especially when prompted with the possibility of having to kill Hikaru and the fallout that happens from that.
Tanaka is the secret start of “Contact”
However, Tanaka is the star of episode 8. His appearance is short, but he makes a huge impact in what little screen time he has. His accidental meetup with Yoshiki reveals more about him than the latter — even if we learn that Yoshiki has a soft spot for hamsters. Tanaka’s intelligence is, admittedly, not that obvious because of his looks. But he figures out from one short conversation with Yoshiki that whatever he’s looking for is connected to him, and connected deeply.
Additionally, his “hunting dog” knows exactly where to look; all because of this small interaction. As one of the characters with less screen time, it’s easy to write him off. Yet, he’s the antagonist and face of “The Company” that we have yet to learn anything about. Without Tanaka, there wouldn’t be a big bad to root against — or even root for.
Titles with deep meaning
The episode titles in The Summer Hikaru Died are a small but important part of the show. Episode eight, accurately titled “Contact,” accurately reflects the episode’s storyline. After episode 7, Yoshiki and Hikaru have clearly come in “contact” with their more emotional side, now on a deeper level than the episode before. Additionally, they come in contact with Matsuura-san’s daughter who sets them in the right direction to figure out what’s really going on in their town. Contact is a major theme that drives the story forward and without it, the protagonists would not have the necessary trajectory.
This isn’t anything new, but the top-notch animation continues in The Summer Hikaru Died episode 8. The choir scene really stands out, with the angles as well as the highlighting of different character vocals while singing. It’s little things like these dynamic choices that make the series that much more interesting to watch. Something as small doing a 3D pan of class while singing made the juxtaposition between them and the protagonists appear that much more intense.
Not quite through the stages of grief
Grief is, quite obviously, a major plot point in the series as a whole; but Yoshiki coming to terms with his grief about Hikaru’s potential as a “human” is a theme throughout this episode. His desire to dive into the history of the town, what Hikaru actually is, and his new desire to figure out a way to stay with Hikaru are the driving forces of every scene. Yes, he has come to terms with Hikaru never truly realizing what it’s like to be human, but that doesn’t stop him from wanting to stay by his side; no matter the “sin” he commits. For better or worse, Yoshki’s grief manifests in a desire to stay by Hikaru’s side.
This directly leads to the queer themes that have been on display throughout the whole series so far. Whether or not Yoshiki realizes it, he’s coming to terms with his feelings for Hikaru. It’s obvious that he wants to stay by the latter’s side no matter what, but has yet to truly give voice or reason to them. It’s a slow burn realization that seems to need to eventually come to a head when the audience least expects it.
Some off kilter pacing
If there was a single thing to nitpick about episode 8, it’s that the pacing is a little fast. Pacing is one of the harder things to nail when it comes to anime adaptations and if one scene doesn’t have the correct pace, the whole thing seems a little bit off.
The family restaurant scene at the end of the episode is where this stands out the most. While the pace starts out well, what should have been an important scene ends up falling a bit flat. With that being said, this is a small hiccup in an otherwise amazing episode.
The Summer Hikaru Died episode 8 is another in a long line of great episodes from CygamesPictures. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, this is the anime of the summer. I’d even go so far as to say it’s the anime of the year. It is amazing seeing Yoshiki and Hikaru’s relationship come to life in a way that honors the original manga in a way that retains the story’s beauty. The series continues to surprise and inspire awe every single week; and likely in the weeks to come.
The Summer Hikaru Died Episode 8 is available now on Netflix.
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'The Summer Hikaru Died' episode 8 - "Contact" - 9.5/10
9.5/10
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