Interviews with Monster Girls

Episode 4

After weeks of playing it safe with mild-mannered humor, Interviews with Monster Girls finally tries its hand at a more dramatic story in this episode. When Yuki, the school's resident snow woman, becomes the subject of some mean-spirited gossip, Tetsuo isn't quite sure what to do. While he and Sakie ponder the best way to look out for their demi students, Hikari storms into action and confronts the problem head-on. Tetsuo and Sakie eventually set up an unofficial support group for demi-humans at the school, which attracts some suspicion from Hikari's twin sister Himari. On a walk to the bus stop after school, she decides to grill Tetsuo on his interest in demis.

The beginning of this episode features some clever direction that takes advantage of all the warm fuzziness we've seen in previous weeks. When Yuki arrives at the biology prep room in search of help only to find it empty, the quiet hallway and muted colors do an excellent job of conveying her feeling of isolation. The writing also packs an emotional punch courtesy of Hikari's rant, which tempers her ideals with just enough realism to make the scene feel genuine instead of contrived or preachy. Even if it isn't stated openly, we get the impression that Hikari is hiding some past wounds of her own behind her caring and sunny personality. Sure, it feels like the gossiping girls are won over a little too quickly, but it's a compelling scene all the same.

The collaboration between Tetsuo and Sakie is also handled rather well, combining some meaningful ideas with good chemistry between the characters. As the two of them try to think their way through the problem, the script comes up with an interesting observation. Even if Yuki isn't the only target of gossip and the situation isn't directly related to her identity as a demi, her own concerns about being different can make it feel like that is the case. It's another facet of the recurring theme of visibly unique characters trying to lead normal lives, and I'm glad that the series is continuing to explore this idea. The conversation also helps to smooth out the dynamic between Tetsuo and Sakie, and their interactions are starting to feel more natural even if the show still seems unsure of how much energy it wants to devote to its romantic comedy elements.

I'll admit that I wasn't expecting much out of Himari's interrogation of Tetsuo. I figured we'd get a few minutes of goofy misunderstandings before clearing everything up with a generic platitude, but some good writing helps to elevate the scene beyond that basic level. Tetsuo's dorky over-analysis of the “vampires hate garlic” myth is actually pretty funny, as is Himari's grudging confirmation that Hikari absolutely loves the stuff. What really makes this conversation work, though, is Tetsuo's statement on trying to understand demi-humans. Instead of the tired old “they're all just people to me” speech, we get a slightly more nuanced take on how each character's particular traits form an important part of their identity. Much like the scenes before it, this portion of the episode benefits from putting a little extra thought into its dialogue.

My early concerns about Interviews with Monster Girls being too much of a lightweight on the narrative front have been pretty thoroughly addressed this week. We now know that the show can pack a solid emotional punch when it needs to, and it seems keen to do more than just skim the surface of its central themes. As a result, it's starting to feel like a more complete series. It still has some details to sort out, and Yuki remains something of a mystery, but things appear to be headed in a very positive direction.

Rating: A-

Interviews with Monster Girls is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.