REVIEW: ‘Cherry Magic!’ Episode 10

With notably better animation and a continued, strong storyline, Cherry Magic! Episode 10 is one of the strongest installments of the series so far. For all the fantasy it weaves into the narrative, the series is committed to grounding itself in reality. Yes, there’s clear, innate romanticism. But it works because the characters at the story’s center are so believable. Who hasn’t second-guessed a relationship due to our own projected insecurities? And who hasn’t practiced an apology once coming to the embarrassing realization of being in the wrong? No, we can’t relate to what it means to have powers, but we understand the limitations of our strengths and what it means to own up when we’re wrong.

Cherry Magic! Episode 10 succeeds both because of its characters’ naturalism and because it fleshes out the ensemble cast. While Kiyoshi Adachi’s (Chiaki Kobayashi) and Yuichi Kurosawa’s (Ryōta Suzuki) stories are still present, this week primarily focuses on Masato Tsuge’s (Makoto Furukawa) and Minato Wataya’s (Gen Satō) stories. While they’re not as well-developed as the main couple, this week ensures we feel for them regardless.

Tsuge continues to go out of his way to help Minato achieve his dream as a dancer. When the latter fails a semi-final audition, Tsuge helps rally. Minato had been about to give his dream up despite a consolation round voted on by the audience to help one cut contestant reach the finals. Yet Tsuge pushes him in the right direction. He’s given his big, romantic auction when he races to Minato to drive him to the consolation round when the latter’s scooter runs out of gas.

Minato remains perplexed by Tsuge’s kindness. He even asks him point-blank why he’s so kind to him. And while Minato doesn’t get to fully express that it’s because he has romantic feelings, the animation depicts a certain understanding on Minato’s face. That said, they can’t build off of this silent, possible realization. Soon after, Minato debuts in a new idol group. It’s a moment of deserved wish fulfillment. The episode spends time on Minato’s wavering self-esteem. When he looks at the contestants around him, he sees how young they are. He worries that he’s already too old for his dream, even in his early twenties.

All of this results in an ending for Minato and Tsuge that’s celebratory for the former and bittersweet for the latter. Maybe there’s still a shot for them. But there is something beautifully heart-aching about the image of Tsuge looking up at the screen where Minato is plastered. “We were always from different worlds,” he thinks, illuminated by the lights and city bustle around him. So often, drama, especially romantic drama, resorts to plot developments that conveniently keep characters apart despite no real logical, character-driven reason to do so. One of the best things about Cherry Magic! is its refusal to cut corners. The writing earns the conflict. Because these characters have layers and personality traits that hinder their happiness.

It’s why a scene early on between Tsuge and Adachi works so well. Tsuge is going through his own issues, but he’s still a friend and can see Adachi’s struggle. In the way only a real friend can, he tells Adachi that he was definitely wrong regarding his confrontation with Kurosawa. He’s frank yet compassionate, telling Adachi he’s been worried about him. Worried because while Adachi is kind, he also has low self-esteem. Tsuge worries that combining the two could impact how he deals with his powers. And he rightfully calls Adachi’s overreliance on them a means to build himself into the person Kurosawa desires.

Based on the BL series written and illustrated by Yuu Toyota, there’s a staggering amount of confidence in how these characters grow. Adachi might not get to confront Kurosawa in Episode 10 to apologize, but we see him actively own up to his shortcomings. And he’s not the only one suffering from self-doubt. Even Kurosawa, who was clearly in the right, is worrying about how he came off. In his eyes, that argument was him laying bare all his worst attributes. This brings to mind Adachi’s worry in Episode 9. So much of his concern about long-distance relationships stems from Kurosawa’s ability to feign perfection. And here Kurosawa is, already worried because, for once, his emotions were messy and uninhibited.

Cherry Magic! Episode 10 is superb. It builds on what we already know about these characters and greatly establishes its leading ensemble. With strong, assured character design that doesn’t waver from frame to frame, the animation is a step up from last week’s inconsistency. But greater still is the continuation of character development and relationship drama that refuses to create unnecessary hurdles, allowing the drama to build naturally.

Cherry Magic! Episode 10 is out now on Crunchyroll.