Over the course of a TV anime and three movies, our hero, Sakuta, has helped numerous girls (not to mention himself) with the problems caused by Puberty Syndrome—a phenomenon which causes one’s coming-of-age insecurities to appear as a supernatural phenomenon. Now in college, Sakuta thought he was done with all that—however, this is looking to be anything but the case.
These three episodes are centered around the Puberty Syndrome affecting Uzuki—an acquaintance of Sakuta’s and the lead singer of an idol group. However, through her case, we see Puberty Syndrome in a never-before-seen form. Rather than Uzuki’s own insecurities, the collective insecurities of those around her are affecting her—and drastically changing her personality in the process.
Uzuki is one of those people who exists in her own little world. She has her own thoughts and goals—and never really thinks about how her actions affect those around her. In an environment like college, where young people are free from the regimented constraints their lives have been under up until this point, everyone is trying to both find themselves as a unique adult and be accepted by society at the same time. They look at people like Uzuki with both envy and annoyance—both wishing they had her self-confidence and wanting her to simply “read the room” and conform at the same time.
Thus, the Puberty Syndrome we see in this arc forces that upon Uzuki. Suddenly, she is able to be considerate of everyone else’s feelings—hear the unspoken words and act accordingly. Soon, she’s no longer stating her opinions or dressing in her own personal style—she’s simply going with the flow. This, in turn, causes problems with her work. While she used to be barreling headlong toward her goal of becoming a top idol along with her current group without a care, she can suddenly see the implausibility of it—and worries she’s dragging her friends down with her.
On top of this is the fact that, while she knows she’s been altered by Puberty Syndrome, she’s not sure that’s a bad thing. After all, she’s no longer inadvertently hurting those around her. However, over the course of this arc, she learns that being the type of person she naturally is is a vital aspect of her idol group. She is the dreamer that gives the others a reason to reach beyond their limits.
So, in the end, she finds a happy medium. She is still the strong-willed dreamer she was before but also accepts things as they are. She can walk the realistic path and the not-so-realistic path at the same time. She can both “read the room” and choose to ignore it for the sake of herself and her friends’ happiness when needed.
All in all, this is another consistently strong arc of Rascal Doesn’t Dream. It remains both grounded and poignant despite the supernatural twist. It’s filled with cleverly written dialogue that never feels out of place. It’s a fantastic start to the new season and I’m excited to see where things go from here—especially with that last minute cliffhanger.
Episode 1 Rating:
Episode 2 Rating:
Episode 3 Rating:
Random Thoughts:
• I really enjoyed the fact that each of the previous heroines is still involved in the story—be that as fellow students, friends of the family, or as fellow workers at the same part time job.
• Sakuta and Mai’s banter remains the best part of this show.
• The trust in Sakuta and Mai’s relationship is a wonder to behold. Yes, he basically went on an extended date with an idol but while she may rag on him about it, she’s not even the slightest bit worried about him cheating. She knows the type of guy he is and is 100% secure in their relationship.
• I’m not sure what to make of Touko’s proclamation that she “caused” Uzuki’s Puberty Syndrome. Like did she actually do it through some supernatural means or does she simply think she did but its actually a coincidence (because the former would have some insane implications if true)?
Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus is currently streaming on
Crunchyroll.
Disclosure: Kadokawa World Entertainment (KWE), a wholly owned subsidiary of Kadokawa Corporation, is the majority owner of Anime News Network, LLC. One or more of the companies mentioned in this article are part of the Kadokawa Group of Companies.
Dil Nawaz — a writer who breathes life into emotions through words. I find beauty in silence, meaning in longing, and stories in every heartbeat. Writing for me isn’t just passion; it’s a way to connect souls, one feeling at a time.