Rating: B+
While I expected this series to take a markedly different angle on the cosplay scene than Dress Up Darling or 2.5 Dimensional Seduction, I’m not sure I quite expected what we got in this episode. But as usual, the series uses it as an opportunity to examine behind-the-scenes issues in the entertainment industry.
The crux of the problem is that the director of Impawsible got sloppy on multiple fronts. He didn’t make sure he had proper permission in timely fashion from an IP that’s notoriously restrictive, he didn’t respect the impact that a sudden change would have on the cosplay scenario, and he overestimated how far he could push the boundaries with the kind of questions he gave Meiya without getting consequential push-back. All of these are big issues but the latter is arguably the most serious one, as it does (as Meiya later points out) cross the line into the realm of sexual harassment Asking questions like “do you ever have sex in costume” would be a norm for (to use the Japanese rating system) R-18 content, and you could maybe get away with it in a casual conversation among adults comfortable discussing such topics, but it’s wholly out of line for what’s ostensibly a family show, especially in current times.
The director did come across as a bit of a creep last episode in some of his observations about the photos of the prospective cosplayers, but his reaction to the social media backlash (something that probably wouldn’t have happened 20 years ago) and willingness to go along with Ruby’s proposal for an episode about digging into a controversy the show inadvertently created itself suggests that he does accept that he went too far. Whether he genuinely accepts the error of his ways or is just trying to salvage his career is unclear, but his contriteness here feels very Japanese if one sets aside how gimmicky it is. And yet does anything really seem out of line about this given some of the other gimmickry the series has pulled off?
Exploring the IP angle allows a good excuse to get Kana some screen time, as she’s the ideal person to interview Abiko-sensei. (Aqua’s expression when he’s caught by surprise on that point is classic, too!) It also provides an opportunity for the series to explain a bit about why some creators might be very restrictive about allowing merchandise concerning their creations. Abiko’s explanation that she has no issue with cosplay that’s done for the love of the series but does have issue with exploitive derivative products that don’t stay true to her work’s spirit is perfectly in line with her stubbornness about how Tokyo Blade would be portrayed in play. One needs look no farther than a franchise like Love Live to see what can happen when creators don’t stick to their guns on something like this. (If you find that franchise to be adorably sweet and wholesome, don’t ever go trolling for fan art or doujinshi concerning its characters without using rating filters.) That women are used to bring sexier derivative product proposals to creators is also an interesting ploy that no doubt is based on actual observations.
The third issue – about the stress put on the cosplayers to adapt on short notice – isn’t a trivial one, either. We’ve seen in other series how much time and effort goes into cosplay costumes, and to suggest that cosplayers can just radically change what they’re doing on short notice is a clear sign of disrespect for the hobby. Here Aqua represents the casual viewer’s take on how silly and gimmicky this looks, but I did like how Meiya recognized the sincerity inherent in the gesture. The director wasn’t just giving lip service to his apology; by making the costume himself, he clearly understood where he went wrong in his assumptions, and that’s something a dedicated cosplayer could appreciate. Still doesn’t avoid looking gimmicky, but it’s more clever in its approach than it initially appears.
But I also like the aftermath scene where Aqua finally confronts Ruby. There’s no way Aqua wouldn’t pick up on Ruby’s scheming, and with Ruby’s personality (or, perhaps more accurately, the persona she’s developed), she can go a long way in playing dumb on this. I must say, though, that I do quite like this newer, much more devious Ruby. She may be getting fed ideas by Saito, but she still has to make them work, and as the scene with her and Meiya at the restaurant shows, she’s becoming almost scarily good at that. The dance the two have in the ED could very well be a symbolic representation of the way they’re starting to dance around each other in a dramatic sense.
Overall, the episode sticks true to its topical approach, but I’m much more interested in what all this conniving by Ruby is leading to. Hopefully we’ll find out soon.
USA Anime 