Holmes of Kyoto

Episode 8

Whether you're still watching this series hoping for a mystery or just enjoying the interactions will determine whether or not you think I've graded this episode too highly. If it's the former, well, I think it's safe to say that we're largely bound for disappointment on that front. Not only is this episode pretty well impossible to solve along with, we also don't get to see most of the investigating or the debate between Kiyotaka and his opponent. It feels very much just thrown in because Holmes of Kyoto is supposed to be a mystery show, sort of like how the recent Amazon production of Ordeal by Innocence is supposed to be an adaptation of the novel even though it bears only superficial similarities.

If you can see past that, however, there is a fairly nice romance plot beginning to really take shape. Aoi and Kiyotaka, whether you like them as characters or not, do have a good chemistry together, ably enhanced by their voice actors, Miyu Tomita and Kaito Ishikawa respectively. That neither of them was actively interested in a relationship when they met has made their budding relationship that much more palatable and interesting – both had had ugly break-ups, and in recent episodes Kiyotaka's ex has made herself something of a nuisance, even when she's not actively seeking to get back together with him. (Hopefully she stays with this current guy from now on.) Since neither his nor her ex seem to fully understand the hurt they caused Aoi and Kiyotaka, their continual reappearances or mentions in the story only serve to make it harder for Aoi and Kiyotaka to realize their own new emotions towards each other, which steers things in a direction that is less of the usual “will-they-won't-they” and more of an emotional journey.

It's definitely worth noting that the larger struggle is on Kiyotaka's part, which again is both interesting and makes for a more unusual dynamic. He's older than Aoi by a degree that wouldn't matter if they were both adults, but is definitely worrisome in the context of their current ages. He's fully aware of this, and it causes him a lot of conflict. On the one hand, he allows himself to be jealous of both boys closer to Aoi's own age and the mysterious College Guys her classmates have arranged a group date with. On the other, he recognizes that he's technically one of those creepy college guys giving serious thought to pursuing a high school girl romantically, to say nothing of the fact that he's also her direct supervisor at work. When he offers to tutor her this week, Kiyotaka is once again setting another boundary in place; now he's her teacher as well. Even though he honestly wants to help her with her grades, I have to wonder if he's not also throwing more barriers to stop himself from acting on his feelings.

That he's nevertheless on the verge of confessing those emotions to Aoi just adds to the conflict. Not only does it leave her totally confused (yet still hopeful), it also makes clear just how much of a losing battle Kiyotaka is fighting with himself. (Not to mention just how astounding Rikyu's timing is.) This is where the real tension of the series is: in Kiyotaka's attempts to fight his own feelings for Aoi, who is likewise struggling not to get her hopes up too much and thus not allowing herself to interpret all of Kiyotaka's reactions favorably. The gift exchange this week is a prime example of it – Kiyotaka's clearly incredibly touched by the homemade cookies and uses Aoi's cold hands as an excuse to touch her, while Aoi reads the situation as something much less romantic in nature. She also may not fully get the significance of the botanical gardens pass; it's something Kiyotaka has mentioned he has himself, thus enabling them to go there together whenever they wish.

So ultimately this doesn't seem to be a show about the mysteries, and I for one am a lot more comfortable with that particular admission being made. That doesn't make this less disappointing, but it does make it more palatable, even if they seem to be headed to yet another party next week. Maybe they should just have the grand finale be a party in Aoi's room – it does look big enough, doesn't it?

Rating: B-

Holmes of Kyoto is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.