The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You Season 3

Episode 33

It feels like the horny content quotient of 100 Girlfriends has increased this season, comparatively. Which makes sense, given the increased number of girlfriends through which to deliver such dalliances. It's simply a matter of raw material, and when gimmicks like compulsive gropers and foxy grandmas get added to the lineup, that's going to result in more aside fanservice funtimes. So perhaps that's why I hadn't even thought about this season not yet taking time to send the cast to a truly dedicated fanservice function. But when the Rentaro Family rocked up to the "Hardcore Hot Springs" to kick off this episode, I could hardly be surprised. The time was right.

If I had one personal shortcoming I could log with this segment, it's that despite nominally being brought up at the behest of Iku's family, it does not, in fact, focus on Iku. Obviously the high-pressure hardcore-ness of these hot springs exists in service of Iku's… predilections, but the effects are spread out evenly across all the girlfriends. And as much as I'd like more time dedicated to my personal Best Girlfriend, that's definitely the right direction to go. 100 Girlfriends has been introducing new characters and showcasing them primarily through rooftop rounds that grow increasingly crowded and snippet-based. They need some time to breathe, to get in the bath and see new sides of each other, all while massive torrents of water torment them for the audience's amusement.

Granted, the amount of girlfriend ground to cover means they can barely pretend at this being a normal hot springs fanservice episode before everything explodes in a geyser of ultra-pressurized water and superfluous soap bubbles. The episode's trick for getting everyone slotted into segments is a tried-and-true one: pairing them off. And while it might have been neat to explore new connections within the polycule, I can't deny that I appreciate the prioritization of many of the existing sub-couples. So it feels somewhat retread-y to have Karane express her bosomly insecurity after Rentaro so effectively reassured her way back. It's also funny to see Hakari now trying to do the same while unable to stop fondling her girlfriend's newly enhanced chest. Meanwhile, Meme and Mimimi prove how well they work as an initially unlikely-seeming power couple, where Meme can exploit Mimimi's overwhelming attraction to activate her ninja powers and slide them both out of danger. It's like finding an exploitable unit ability combo in a strategy game, but with slightly more girl-on-girl neck-nibbling sessions.

They even give an aside moment to previously established pair Hahari and Mei, who get less focus than one might think, mostly because so much of Hahari's time is spent having her lust over her girlfriend-daughters-in-law. It serves as a reminder of where these characters came from, where they've since gone, and the funny-as-hell indulgences that can consistently be pulled off with them. Okay, a few others, like Naddy, Yasashiki, and Kurumi, don't feel like they have quite as much presence as the rest. But then again, some of the latest lap of little ladies, in Chiyo, Momiji, and Yaku, get the most direct interaction with Rentaro here, which is its own sort of sweet to see so many weeks into all of their introductions. Also, I appreciate bits like Rentaro musing amusedly at Momiji's fondness for fondling even as they're fighting for their lives in the bath. It's a cute reminder that he really does love all these weirdos for precisely what makes them all weird.

With that point about Rentaro reinforced, this episode introduces the next girlfriend. Unlike the surreptitiously slotted-in Yaku, the kendo-stick-carrying Kishika has been fully foreshadowed in the opening since this season started. And that what-you-see-is-what-you-get approach pretty neatly defines her character, for better and worse. Rentaro can't stop confirming how cool she is, and the thing is, he's right. Kishika is extremely cool, with her code of honor and strong-senpai approach. It actually highlighted for me how this vibe has been rather underrepresented in the Rentaro Family's ranks so far. I'd say the last properly "cool" girlfriend given was Nano, who's decidedly different from Kishika here. Kishika's got seniority as a standout in her class, and embodying that element where few of the girlfriends have so far makes her technically stand out compared to them, at least feeling somewhat fresh in-context.

That's valuable, because in the broader scheme of things, Kishika actually isn't all that unique. Simply put, the "strong, reliable woman who secretly wants to be babied and comforted" is an extremely well-worn trope, in anime and elsewhere. And personally, I've always been a little annoyed at how it undercuts the base coolness of said characters. Yes, it's understandable in how everyone needs to decompress somehow. And it is an archetype for a reason—it is cute when executed well. But I don't know if, thus far, Kishika is taking it far enough?

Okay, it's a little out-there that her parental role-play ASMR is specifically edits of her own voice. Now we don't have time to unpack all of that, but it's honestly not that outlandish by the standards of the rest of the cast. Heck, the base concept isn't that far off from this season's own Chiyo, who's also over-burdened by family-induced responsibility and yearns for childlike comfort. Maybe these two will bond in the future? But at this point, Kishika's concept seems almost trite, and not in a purposefully low-key way like Momiji. I'd almost say it feels like the writing is not trying hard enough or going far enough with delivering on Kishika's gimmick. But on the other hand, she just got introduced and hasn't even directly interacted with the rest of the girls for contrast yet.

She's cool enough that I want to give her the benefit of the doubt there. Yumika Yano, her voice actress, is already showcasing strong range in the role. It's impressive as a relative newcomer, and it will be interesting to see her interact with serious vets like Aoi Koga and Rie Kugimiya coming up. And as uncertain as I am about some of the low-key treatment, I admit it's amusing to see Kishika snap professionally back into character after a head-pat session and accept Rentaro's relationship with a good, hearty handshake. There's something there. But the first half of this episode showed how 100 Girlfriends worked when operating at 100% of its pervy and paramorous power level. Strong as she is, Kishika might have to work a bit harder to catch up to that, and I don't want to see any girlfriend left behind.

Rating: 3.5

The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You Season 3 is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

Chris has watched at least 100 anime, and really really really really really thought most of them were at least okay. You can peruse his thoughts and see which cartoon girlfriends he's reposting art of over on his BlueSky.