REVIEW: ‘Komi Can’t Communicate’ Episode 20

Komi Can’t Communicate Episode 20 is a Netflix Original anime directed by Ayumu Watanabe and animated by Studio OLM. This slice-of-life comedy anime is an adaptation of the popular manga series created by Tomohito Oda. The voice acting cast for the Komi Can’t Communicate consists of Aoi Koga (Love is War) as Shouko Komi, Gakuto Kajiwara (Fire Force) as Hitohito Tadano, and Rie Murakawa (Re: Zero) as Najimi Osana.

Komi Can’t Communicate centers on centers a young high school girl named Shoko Komi. Everyone considers Komi a “cool beauty” because of her stunning physical appearance, striking eyes, and quiet demeanor. She suffers from social anxiety, which significantly affects her ability to communicate with others, let alone make friends. Luckily with the help of her friend Tadano, she works to overcome her communication disorder to achieve her dream of making 100 friends.

In Komi Can’t Communicate Episode 20, Komi and her classmates depart for their school trip to Kyoto. Although she is excited, Komi is very anxious about her first school trip. Especially since Komi will be on her own in a different group from Tadano and Najimi. Thankfully Komi’s group members, Sasaki and Kato, are determined to make this trip as enjoyable as possible for Komi. Meanwhile, Tadano also has a chance to participate in some interesting male bonding activities during the overnight trip.

Episode 20 of Komi Can’t Communicate another classic trope from slice-of-life anime. More specifically, the oh-so-familiar class trip to Kyoto. The illustrations of notable landmarks and areas in Kyoto are simply a work of art in this episode. The striking scenic nature spots and actual sightseeing places in Kyoto are beautifully captured. Watching this episode, you can appreciate the work and detail that the animators put into animating the various parts of Kyoto that Komi and her friends visit. The animators did a fantastic job bringing real-world places into the world of Komi Can’t Communicate. 

As much as I love Komi, Tadano, and Najimi’s friendship in this series, I appreciated that Episode 20 switches things up by separating the three characters in this episode. There is no doubt that Komis depends on Tadano and Najimi’s help to connect and make friends. So it was refreshing to see Komi on her own with other girls participating in different bonding activities. Such as pillow fights and relaxing together in the hot springs. This episode showed just how much more Komi is coming out of her shell and able to make friends on her own. 

In addition to Episode 20 taking a closer look at Komi furthering her female friendships, it does the same for Tadano and male friendships. So far, throughout the series, we have not seen Tadano directly interact with many of the other boys in his class, aside from Kaito. Mainly, this stems from Tadano not wanting to stick out or embarrass himself in front of others. However, in Episode 20, it is clear that Tadano enjoys participating in the activities with the other boys that might seem strange to others. However, he still reserved himself from getting too involved. I hope as the school trip continues, Tadano will come out of his shell more and not be so reserved.

Lastly, this episode’s romantic chemistry between Tadano and Komi continues to develop. Episode 20 has quite a few moments where Tadano and Komi spend time together on their school trip. And now, what seems to be the series’ running joke is that most of the other characters can see the romantic chemistry between Komi and Tadano. In contrast, they are too shy or oblivious to know that they reciprocate the same feelings for one another. Nonetheless, I think it adds some quality to the story and leans into the series’s romantic element, making it a bit of a slow-burn love story.

Komi Can’t Communicate Episode 20 is a tremendously wholesome watch that I highly recommend watching. Enjoy the ever, slowly but surely, developing romantic chemistry between Komi and Tadano. Episode 20 also takes a wholesome look at male and female friendship and bonding from both Komi and Tadano’s perspectives. Additionally, the striking background illustrations do a fantastic job capturing and animating sightseeing spots throughout Kyoto. 

Komi Can’t Communicate Episode 20 is now streaming exclusively on Netflix.