Non Non Biyori Repeat

Episode 5

As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. Even the vacation of a lifetime must eventually end with a return to the daily grind. After last week's fantastic episode, it's back to work for Non Non Biyori Repeat. People need their pretty rural backgrounds and cute slice-of-life humor, and no other series meets those needs quite like this one.

This episode offers up a trio of short stories, and it all starts with a cheap novelty toy. Natsumi uses a fortune dispenser to predict Komari's fate: bad luck with a warning to avoid water. Be it through destiny or coincidence, the girls end up spending the day cleaning the school pool. Komari suffers through a lengthy series of water-related mishaps, but the job somehow gets done. Everyone has the next day off from school, but a second ominous fortune warns Komari to go outside instead of spending a lazy afternoon at home. The gang wanders around town and takes in the sights and sounds of the countryside until a rain shower puts an early end to their plans. When everyone heads into her shop to escape the weather, Kaede (better known by her nickname of “Candy Store”) has no choice but to entertain a soggy quartet of kids.

Putting the main characters in charge of cleaning a pool provides an easy way to produce a few minutes of comedy, and Komari's despair over her fortune gives the show even more material to work with. There's some clever misdirection on display here as the scene tosses up a variety of hazards for Komari to avoid. It's clear that everything's going to go wrong at some point, but the show often telegraphs one incident and sets a different one into motion. By not going for the simple and obvious payoffs, Non Non Biyori Repeat adds some entertaining unpredictability to a familiar scenario. Komari even manages to have a moment of sweet revenge by taking Natsumi with her when she finally falls into the pool.

The day off from school is the starting point for the next two stories, but it's really an excuse to send the characters out into some beautiful scenery. A great deal of time and talent went into the background art in this show, so it's hard to blame the creators for wanting to show it all off. From the gorgeous wide shots to the detailed plants and buildings, it's certainly a feast for the eyes. Though the visuals may not be quite as striking, the quality level remains high when the characters head indoors to Kaede's shop. Shelves full of toys and candy help the store feel like a place for the characters to inhabit, rather than a simple background to fill in the empty space behind the animation.

Given Kaede's blunt personality, it's fun to see different parts of her past come to light when the girls raid her wardrobe for dry clothes. The black and gold track jacket is delightfully hideous, and the costume that Komari gets stuck with is priceless. As amusing as the motley collection of outfits may be, it's also an interesting way to develop Kaede as a character. We don't see much of her in the series, but the final third of this episode does a lot with a little when it comes to giving her depth. The revelation of the fortune dispenser's origin helps close the episode out on a strong comedic note, tying everything together in a satisfying fashion.

Compared to the artful storytelling in last week's episode, this is all relatively simple content. It entertains and impresses, but it doesn't evoke anywhere near the same level of emotional response from the viewer. It's just a pleasant and well-crafted escape into the countryside, which I suspect is what draws many people to Non Non Biyori in the first place. It's a solid effort, just not a spectacular one.

Rating: B

Non Non Biyori Repeat is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

Paul Jensen is a freelance writer and editor. You can follow more of his anime-related ramblings on Twitter.