REVIEW: ‘Fruits Basket: The Final Season,’ Episode 3 – “I Hope It Snows Soon”

Fruits Basket: The Final Season Episode 3 aired April 19th, 2021 on streaming services  Funimation and Crunchyroll. This episode shifts focus from Akito and the older generation of Sohma clan drama to take a look into the life of graduation senior Machi and her relationship with Yuki Sohma.

The episode is entirely centered on a last attempt high school rumor about Machi and her family that makes Machi concerned with what her value is as a person to everyone else. Machi’s characterization in this episode and strong and explored with great depth. Yuki goes to her place to help tidy up her room which leads to an open discussion about the rumors that have been circulating around. The rumors insinuate that Machi was abandoned by her parents when her brother was born. The tone and atmosphere are somber and light piano music aids in the mood-setting.

Machi explains in great detail why these rumors hurt her so much. She expresses the amount of parental trauma she experienced. Yuki asks does it bother her, these rumors, and how does it affect her. She goes on to describe that, yes she is bothered because her parents wanted her to be perfect. I cannot begin to even express how daunting it is to watch a show you love dissect an issue many of us, including myself has experienced. The constant need to be perfect, strong, and smart was so ingrained in my brain as the first child of immigrant parents. I relate the most to Machi’s struggle and the script gives a nuanced take on how it makes her feel as she navigates stepping into a new chapter of her life.

Voice actress Caitlin Glass delivers an impactful delivery on how mistakes and imperfections were considered weaknesses and it has caused her immense stress.  The rawness in her performance carries so much depth and nuance to a character who we’ve witnessed change for the better throughout the past 2 seasons. Fruits Basket Episode 3 goes to show that this final season is here to pack full punches on every emotional beat for these characters. Alongside such a vulnerable script, the episode continues to explore Machi’s trauma and she discusses how she feels like her identity is stripped of purpose because her parents no longer value her.

Yuki and Machi have great character interactions as Yuki relays that Machi is worthy of friendship and her life has value because of the good person she has become. This show continues to push forward with delicate writing on the heavy themes explored but never once feels like a downer because, with every negative, Fruits Basket reminds viewers about the essence of this show which is love and perseverance. Despite these heavier moments, there are times when the comedic timing of this show can detract from the important story-telling at hand. For instance, a friend of both Yuki and Machi interrupted their discussion with his phone ringing that not only ruins a beautiful moment but doesn’t add anything productive to the story. This occurs about two more times throughout the episode and was quite distracting and clashed with the tone of the rest of the episode.

Despite this, Fruits Basket Episode 3  still offers more strong suits near the last third. The graduation ceremony is still underway and it creates a nice segue into peering into Tohru and the Sohma clan’s regular day-to-day life while connecting the Yuki and Machi romance. Machi expresses her thanks and adoration to Yuki for his kindness and tenderness. Viewers witness an affectionate declaration that they care for one another that would make any long-time Fruits Basket fan warm and ready for a fan-favorite ship.

The episode ends with a montage of the graduation ceremony with shots of the seniors moving on from their high school life. It’s a goodbye for many and Machi deals with her departure in a very mature and positive light after realizing that she has come a long way from her parental trauma and is excited to move on from high school.

Fruits Basket Episode 3 was a beautiful showcase of overcoming parental trauma and looking forward to a future not defined by other people’s expectations. Despite the comedic moments detracting from the heavy themes, the final season continues to be an emotion-filled ride that shows viewers the strength of friendship and perseverance.

Fruits Basket Episode 3 is streaming now on Funimation and Crunchyroll.