Persona 4 the Golden Animation

Episode 8

Episode 8, “Not So Christmas Eve,” is set shortly after the confrontation with Adachi in episode 7, but doesn't really concern itself with the consequences of that event. Instead, we follow Yu, Kanji, Yousuke and Teddie as they plan a surprise Christmas party for the female members of the group. Unfortunately, Yu has asked each of the girls to the party individually and as the episode informs us, Christmas Eve in Japan is seen as a romantic holiday a la Valentine's Day. Thinking that Yu has asked them out on a date, each girl responds to his invitation in their own way, including a rarely-seen member of the cast: Naoto Shirogane. Naoto has never been a subject of much focus, but that changes this episode; she is shown to be a serious, stoic girl who dresses like a male student and works as an amateur detective. She also has low self esteem and finds the idea that Yu is luring her somewhere on Christmas so he can kill her more likely than him being interested in her romantically. Naoto's paranoia provides the best jokes in this episode, with the exception of Chie's unusual choice of Christmas movie. She's a good addition to the cast, and I hope we see more of her in future episodes.

As for the technical side, the animation sadly continues to be sub-standard, with the same jerky movements as before. Audio-wise, the cast continue to do an excellent job, especially Naoto's actress who gives believability to the character's male voice affectation. Those background questions aside, “Not So Holy Christmas Eve” is a fun episode, focusing on the series' best element: its characters. If you've enjoyed their antics before, then you'll probably find this episode worth your time.

Rating: C+

Persona 4 the Golden Animation is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.