Mono no aware

Although the episode titles are usually self-explanatory for this series I’d say this outing was as focused on Rikuo as it was on the young girl and her elderly companion. Not that this is a bad thing, mind: we’ve been given hints of who (or what) they may be already, and they’re frequent visitors to the café anyway. It’s not so much who they are as why their relationship is the way it is that is interesting for me because of the resulting ethical questions. Not to mention another tantalisingly small piece of the jigsaw puzzle of the backstory for the show.

Perhaps we’re supposed to be concentrating on Chie and Shimei here but I was even more fascinated by Rikuo’s predicament in this episode. The philosophical stuff – and simpler, more day-to-day issues too – gave me plenty to think about, and ultimately provided the biggest emotional hit from Eve no Jikan’s latest quarter-hour offering. As unlikely as the prospect may be, I hope Ray Kurzweil is watching this too.

I love the way this series revels in its sci-fi trappings with the Asimov references and futuristic tech, yet still remembers the principal ethos of science fiction: that of its relevance to ‘our’ reality. I believe Yoshiura was keen to address issues that exist also beyond his intriguing worldview of domestic androids and shadowy organisations from the outset; that is to say, it feels like an allegory for ignorance and prejudice in society but fortunately this point isn’t forced onto the viewer. The way in which this well-trodden theme is presented makes it feel relevant in an everyday sense rather than the detached, philosophical light it’s often cast in, knowing when to inject humour and when to let the significance of the subject matter shine through.

The setting of that wonderfully odd café contributes a lot to this I think. The clunky star of this episode and his predicament is shown to wonderful effect in its unique environment and the characters who frequent it – the problems with the older-style androids, such as the rigid nature of their thought processes, are highlighted by the policy of equality Nagi insists on; at the same time it feels like a gentle reminder of how we can discriminate without even realising it. Nameless’ quirks are certainly a problem unique to androids but Masaki’s and Rikuo’s reactions are similar to those we see in encounters with other humans who are, for whatever reason, different from the norm.