Girlfriend, Girlfriend — Saki's Lost Chance

Article Key Points

Despite some disappointing moments, significant moments shine through in the fourth episode of Girlfriend, Girlfriend's festival outing.

Nagisa and Naoya engage in a sincere discussion about the challenges they face in their relationship, highlighting Nagisa's perceptive nature.

Saki's annoyance towards Naoya's other girlfriend becomes an obstacle in their intimate moment, however, the episode concludes with Saki passionately declaring her love for Naoya.

In the fourth episode of Girlfriend, Girlfriend's second season, the festival outing comes to a close, presenting Saki with a golden opportunity. Much of the episode revolves around her relentless pursuit of a kiss from Naoya. However, like many romance anime before it, Girlfriend, Girlfriend also experiences a letdown in its conclusion. Nevertheless, amidst the disappointment, several noteworthy moments manage to shine through.

Where one old trope would go on to hold the series back, another would showcase the uniqueness of the series, and Saki might not get another chance this good for a while.

One Fell Swoop

In Girlfriend Girlfriend Season 2 Episode 4, Nagisa comes up with a plan regarding the search for Naoya. It is revealed that they have agreed that if Nagisa finds him first, they will have some alone time before Saki arrives. They choose a nearby park as their meeting spot and split up to search. Eventually, Nagisa and Naoya reunite with great enthusiasm. However, they realize that it's a festival and their classmates and schoolmates are likely to be present. They must remain cautious in order to keep their relationship a secret. Although they are spotted by one of Saki's friends, they manage to slip away without being questioned. This encounter is likely inconsequential to the overall story.

Naoya's approach to this outing has been to make the most of it, creating lasting memories and indulging both his girlfriends in different ways. As a result, he's been quite adventurous in his advances. While watching the fireworks, he initiates physical contact by holding Nagisa's hand, which sets off a back-and-forth exchange of affection as they try to outdo each other. This eventually escalates to the point where Naoya lifts Nagisa into his arms. However, they both realize that they're missing out on truly enjoying the fireworks in this position, so they settle back down and engage in a heartfelt conversation. When Nagisa expresses her happiness to be with Naoya, he feels a sense of guilt due to the secrecy surrounding their relationship. Nagisa acknowledges the challenges they face but reassures him that she believes their relationship is worth it, demonstrating her determination to see it through. Shortly after, Saki arrives and inquires about what Naoya and Nagisa were doing. Despite his promise to Nagisa, Naoya refrains from revealing their time together to Saki. In a way, this single moment brings Nagisa and Naoya's relationship several steps forward.

Mood Killer

Saki and Naoya – Girlfriend Girlfriend Season 2 Episode 4

As Naoya proposes a fresh start, creating new memories and culminating it with the long-awaited kiss, Saki's frustration with Naoya's relationship with his other girlfriend hinders her from reciprocating his affection. Naoya, driven by his unwavering determination to set the "right mood" for the kiss, fails to understand Saki's perspective. Amidst their playful quarrels, Saki decides to take matters into her own hands and settles down to watch the fireworks. However, unlike the natural romantic atmosphere that Nagisa and Naoya effortlessly created, the exchanges between Naoya and Saki are infused with comedic twists as she can't help but detect the presence of other girls and question their bond.

Saki's ability to comically identify the source of each scent was spot-on, except for the scent of the lost girl whom Naoya had helped in the previous episode. Her previous attempts at calming herself down crumble as she catches a whiff of these unfamiliar smells. She reflects on the fact that this is their first festival as a couple, even though they had attended countless festivals together as childhood friends. This experience feels different because they have grown older. As the fireworks illuminate the sky and the couple becomes more intimate, it seems like the long-awaited kiss is about to happen. However, in typical fashion of many romance anime, Girlfriend, Girlfriend introduces humor to create a situation that allows them to pull away from the intensity of such a romantic moment. With the lingering scent of Nagisa on Naoya's shirt, Saki is reminded that she no longer has him all to herself. And with that realization, the fireworks show comes to an end.

Try Again

Saki Engages in Firework Fun – Girlfriend Girlfriend Season 2 Episode 4

Naoya rushes out to purchase fireworks, leaving Saki slightly disappointed by the clichéd scenario. Surprisingly, though, she finds it easier to handle without feeling overwhelmed. Naoya attempts to initiate a conversation about Saki's emotions, acknowledging the inconvenience caused by his two-timing. This could have been a poignant moment of emotional connection for them, but their interactions are constantly infused with humor, preventing the depth of their bond from fully unfolding. Even when he inquires if Saki is experiencing pain as a result, his simplistic response to her hypothetical question diminishes the seriousness of their discussion.

Saki's expression bears a heavy sadness, as she comes to realize that having Naoya exclusively for herself is an unrealistic desire. As she holds a dying sprinkler firework, the parallel to her personal revelation is evident. Saki expresses her love for Naoya and discusses the uncertainty that accompanies their polyamorous relationship. However, she remains certain of his ongoing love for her. Despite the challenging nature of their conversation, Saki declares her contentment, bringing Naoya to tears as he promises to bring her happiness. In a moment ripe for a kiss, Saki unexpectedly pushes him away, citing the presence of others as a reason to end the interaction prematurely. When Shino inquires about this, Saki uses humor once more to divert the question, leaving her closest friend questioning the sincerity of her feelings for Naoya. While the contrasting scenes of the fireworks offer stark differences, Saki's failure to follow through detracts from an otherwise promising episode.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I have mixed feelings about the fourth episode of Girlfriend, Girlfriend. On the one hand, I appreciate the show's willingness to tackle some of the more difficult aspects of polyamorous relationships, such as jealousy and insecurity. On the other hand, I feel like the episode could have done a better job of developing the characters and their relationships.

One of the things I liked most about this episode was the way it explored Saki's feelings of jealousy and insecurity. Saki is clearly struggling with the fact that Naoya is dating two other girls, and she's not afraid to show it. I think it's important for shows to portray the negative emotions that can come with polyamory, as it's not always a bed of roses.

However, I feel like the episode could have done a better job of developing Saki's character. We don't really get to know much about her besides the fact that she's jealous and insecure. I would have liked to see more of her backstory and her motivations.

Overall, I think the fourth episode of Girlfriend, Girlfriend was a bit of a letdown. While I appreciate the show's willingness to tackle some of the more difficult aspects of polyamorous relationships, I feel like it could have done a better job of developing the characters and their relationships.