REVIEW: Tadaima Okaeri Episode 3 — “Sorry”

We’ve known that Masaki and Hiromu had a hard life before moving to a different home with Hikari. While they have a strong support system with Matsuo and Yuki Fujiyoshi, they still don’t have their families. Now, we learn why when Hiromu’s disapproving father Koji shows up at the house unannounced in Tadaima, Okaeri Episode 3, “Sorry.”

The Studio Deen animated series has embraced the importance of showing marriage in its multitude. We’ve seen Masak and Hiromu as adorable parents, intimate partners, and beloved friends. Tadaima Okaeri isn’t just a stellar romance but a great slice of married life. In Episode 3, this all comes into even more focus when Hikari feels the need to become a superhero to save his parents from the evil Koji.

Koji is Hiromu’s father, and his past with Masaki and his son is thorny. Koji was prejudiced against Masaki to the point that he advocated for him to terminate his pregnancy. Masaki remembers that fear, but it’s Hiromu who refuses to forgive. Instead of bending to his father’s will, Hiromu has enforced boundaries between Koji, Masaki, and Hikari. While Hiromu maintains contact, he does so in order to be a barrier and save his family from the heartache that could happen again.

The first two episodes brought us deep into how Masaki and how Hikari feel, and their roles in their little family. Now, Tadaima Okaeri Episode 3 is all about Hiromu. He is holding onto his anger because he doesn’t want his husband or his son to feel that pain again. It’s admirable, to say the least. In fact, for those in the audience with spouses who chose them over bad family members, it’s so entirely recognizable. Hiromu is thoughtful, and ultimately, his strength is built on love.

On the other side of things though, Tadaima Okaeri isn’t about family trauma. In fact, it’s about moving past it. In this episode, Koji isn’t here to force himself into the Fujiyoshi household. At least not in a negative way. Instead, he’s coming to apologize and to start something new. Koji is terrible, but he’s trying. Something that Masaki notices.

The importance of confronting this family drama is central to the series. The Fujiyoshi household isn’t alone. They don’t have to forgive their family to feel like they are loved. This makes their ability to reconcile or at least begin the process with Koji, hit harder. It’s a choice they make and not something that’s forced.

The Fujiyoshi house is one built on love. An Alpha and an Omega, Hiromu knew that Masaki was his fated mate (a concept in omegaverse series) immediately. Soulmates from the start, we see a glimpse of their past and Matsuo’s support in it all too. The series, despite being made by a large studio and on the largest anime streaming service, doesn’t shy away from the intricacies of the genre. We hear about mates, we see Masaki’s mark on the nape of his neck, and we get the biggest bombshell from the episode: Masaki is pregnant!

The opening theme of the series shows the family of four, but up until this point, Hikari has been the only child. Now, the end of Tadaima Okaeri Episode 3 is all about planning for the future. One where their family expands. And, possibly a romance between Yuki and Matsuo?

As a whole, Tadaima Okaeri Episode 3 isn’t just the best episode of the series so far, it truly captures the complexity of marriage and life. Masaki and Hiromu are allowed to be loving husbands and not just fathers. It’s central to their story, and this series isn’t shying away from that.

Tadaima Okaeri Episode 3 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.