Wagnaria!!3

Episode 10

I wonder how many times Kyoko has said the word “parfait” over the course of these three seasons. Her main point of contact with the rest of the cast is Todoroki, and the two of them seemingly never have a conversation without the subject of dessert coming up. Then again, I don't think she's ever had a conversation with anyone without mentioning food.

As promised, Takanashi's mother returns home this week. Everyone in the house apart from Nazuna is dreading the occasion, with most of the siblings instinctively dressing like they're going to a funeral. Kozue seems to be the worst off, going on a drinking rampage to avoid the memory of her mother not knowing her name. The restaurant isn't in much better shape, as Todoroki loses the ability to get anything done after failing to have a coherent conversation with Satou. With her usual source of parfaits out of commission, Kyoko ropes the rest of the staff into providing her with desserts. With his mother seemingly on course to rain misery down on the restaurant, Takanashi finally admits to himself that he's in love with Inami. Now all he has to do is protect her from his crazy family.

Kozue and the Mashiba siblings constitute an amusing triangle of idiocy, and their misadventures get the episode off to a solid start. Her alcohol-fueled energy presents a serious challenge for their general ineptitude, and the simplicity of the humor doesn't make it any less entertaining. The visual of Mitsuki and Youhei trying to have a conversation with Kozue while she's sitting on top of a streetlight is certainly unique, and their vow of drunken companionship adds a sweet little center to the routine. The sequence also allows the show to give the audience a preview of Shizuka's relationship with her kids, implying that she's terrifying enough to unravel even Kozue's blind self-confidence.

As an actual character, Shizuka is more or less what you'd expect from the rumors swirling around her. She seems to express her affection for the rest of the Takanashi family by prying into their relationships, probing their weaknesses, and generally tormenting them at every opportunity. Whether it's reducing the strong-willed Kazue to a quivering puddle of indecision or completely ignoring Kozue's cries for attention, she manages to do the opposite of what each sibling wants. There's humor to be found in the upheaval that Shizuka inflicts on the house, but I'm a little disappointed to see that she matched my expectations so precisely. The comedy in Wagnaria!!3 is usually characterized by its ability to keep the audience guessing, so it seems odd to have a new character who actually lives up to what everyone else says about her.

The threat of maternal meddling is the best thing to come out of Shizuka's introduction, as it forces the relationship between Takanashi and Inami to keep moving forward. The “headbutt wall to erase feelings” routine is a bit old and weary, but the almost-holding-hands scene is ridiculous, awkward, and adorable enough to be worth the journey. Todoroki's temporary meltdown also offers up some good, disposable humor through Kyoko's quest for more parfaits. The dessert review is a pleasant diversion from the rest of the episode, although it also leads to a significant development in the final scene. Love has been in the air for a while now, but apparently it's also in the parfaits.

While there aren't any big surprises here, the series does seem to be heading in the right direction with its remaining storylines. It's possible that Shizuka's inevitable interactions with Inami will provide the comedic twist that we've been waiting for, and I'm looking forward to watching what happens when everyone actually has to put their emotions into words.

Rating: B

Wagnaria!!3 is currently streaming on Crunchyroll and Viewster.

Paul Jensen is a freelance writer and editor. You can follow more of his anime-related ramblings on Twitter.