Arakawa under the Bridge (episode 3)

Kou Victorious

In this episode, Recruit (AKA Kou) settles into his new life, and faces two important challenges.

There isn’t much to say about this episode, except that it was Hoshi’s first real opportunity to take the spotlight. Although he had been seen in the last episode, and it was already clear that he was among those upset that Recruit was making time with Nino, he really didn’t have any lines. This time Hoshi’s seiyu, Tomokazu Sugita (e.g. Kyon from Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya) gives a great performance as a very emotional person asking the eternal question, “Is she really going out with him?”

Aside from his encounter with Hoshi, Recruit has a surprisingly difficult time asking Nino out on a date. At first his attempts seem destined to fail as he chooses to woo her in an expensive suit and a fancy car. Fortunately he eventually finds a more appropriate way to spend time with her, thus proving he is learning … slowly.