REVIEW: ‘Fruits Basket: The Final Season,’ Episode 8- “I’m Disappointed in You”

Fruits Basket Episode 8 aired on May 24th, 2021, for premium Funimation and Crunchyroll users. Following the intense emotional ride of Episode 7, viewers pick right on up as Akito and Kyo are beginning to take the first steps to solve the conflicts that consume their emotions.

It was startling to see Akito stab Kureno in the last episode, and brilliantly, Fruits Basket Episode 8 shifts focus to Kyo dealing with his fears and feelings for Tohru. In the most monumental part of Fruits Basket Episode 8, Kyo fully confronts Tohru about the many truths and feelings he has repressed and avoided.  As a huge Kyo and Tohru shipper, when Kyo asked Tohru if she loved him in this episode, my chest felt heavy as I finally got to watch where everything in Fruits Basket starts to unfold.

The rain is falling on the outside of the Sohma house, and the scenes split between the dreary reality of Kyo’s confession about his involvement in the death of Tohru’s mother and the happiness he felt with his connection to her. What results is a somber but phenomenal performance from VA Jerry Jewell as Kyo puts all of his pain, loneliness, and turmoil out in the open. It was as breathtaking as it was heartbreaking to see this scene finally animated. Despite being a long-time fan and knowing what was about to transpire, TMS Entertainment and all of the voice actors transformed the manga into a new and transformative experience.

Unlike other episodes, Fruits Basket Episode 8 is not covered in beautiful nature shots and many yellow hues. The show’s warmth is lacking as the colors and story are bleak, grey, and dull. As these interactions are transpiring, the characters are experiencing rain, a symbolic gesture to the sadness and despair our main characters are feeling. TMS Entertainment knows exactly how to animate a scene to showcase proper moods and settings. I felt so much tension while watching this particular episode and felt so antsy as I desperately wanted to see how these conflicts were resolved.

As Tohru attempts to understand the information Kyo has thrown her way, we shift back to Akito. Her actions from the previous episode hang heavy in the air as she becomes unnerved and runs away from the Sohma Clan house. Fruits Basket continues to hit every emotional beat as a perfect roller coaster. One moment, I am anticipating a romantic scene unfold between two favorite characters. Then in a split second, I am fearful of what our main antagonist is planning on doing. The pacing of Akito’s actions in this episode creates a different type of tension compared to the stress of Kyo and Tohru’s conversation. I had a hard time anticipating what was going to happen next as Kyo’s confession to Tohru and Akito and Kureno’s confrontation clues audiences into some of the darkest sides of Fruits Basket.

Love can be so confusing and so overwhelming, and the script of this episode captures the intense feelings of a person’s first true love. Kyo, the main character, has always been one to say very few words; he got a whole episode to finally self-reflect on his actions towards those he cares about. While slowly inching to a devastating fate for Akito and Tohru, the tension and pacing of this episode leave viewers anxious and ready for next week’s episode.

Fruits Basket: The Final Season airs on Funimation.