REVIEW: ‘Blue Box’ Episode 5 – “Aquarium”

With Taiki (Shoya Chiba) scoring the game-winning point in the opening moments of Blue Box Episode 5, “Aquarium,” Chinatsu (Reina Ueda) sticks to her word and invites him to the aquarium. But as the two continue to grow more comfortable with each other, Hina (Akari Kitô, Birdie Wing: Golf Girl’s Story) starts to realize she may not be as ok with the budding situation as she thought she was.

As one would expect, Taiki is shocked when he gets a text from Chinatsu after his match asking him to go to the aquarium. Even as his immediate shock is followed up by Hina’s teasing support for her childhood friend, Kyo (Chiaki Kobayashi) quickly clarifies what has prompted this unexpected development.

This opening interaction not only delivers a playful energy to get the episode going, but also serves to reestablish a baseline for Hina’s feelings and her support for Taiki. This is important as Blue Box Episode 5 sees some big shifts in the character.

From here we follow Taiki home to witness the time-honored panic attack over what he will wear. Despite Kyo’s explanation of why the event is occurring, Taiki is incapable of writing off the potential of their excursion being a date. Chiba delivers the character’s voice wonderfully here. He is nervous about the event, but not to an absurd degree. By keeping the character’s energy grounded, Taiki feels more relatable as he fusses over what will happen the next day.

As the main event of Blue Box Episode 5 unfolds, we initially see Taiki struggling to get out of his own head. After arriving late, the boy is far too caught up in analyzing the possibilities of the moment to enjoy it with Chinatsu. After a child causes Chinatsu and Taiki’s hands to touch, Taiki seems to return to the present. We then see the bulk of the date play out in a sweet montage as the duo admires various fish and other aquatic life.

The lighting throughout the aquarium visit is fantastic. The rippling patterns of water are seen everywhere. The sharp spotlights used to highlight tanks also come in to create the strong out lining shine that Chinatsu is frequently surrounded by. All these effects help create the casual magic of the sequence.

As Taiki suggests the pair head for home, Chinatsu stops him so she can confess something. It seems she did have a motivation beyond her agreement with Kyo to make this outing happen. Chinatsu takes their time alone to apologize for her comments to him before the recent tournament. Feeling that her words may have been taken as dismissive of his hard work, she wanted to make sure no ill feelings lingering between them. This surprises Taiki as he saw her words as nothing but encouragement.

Chinatsu’s continued worry is relatable. We all have moments where statements sound different in our heads than they do once they leave our mouths. Worrying that someone may have taken a comment the wrong way is always a fair thing to wonder at. What makes Chinatsu shine here is the fact that she actually follows through to make sure there isn’t a misunderstanding. Double-checking with folks over these sorts of things always feels awkward, and it often feels easier to just let things lie. But if something is important, it’s worth it to clear the air. Just in case.

For his part, Taiki takes her confession with grace, assuring her that no ill will was ever present. However, he goes above and beyond by sending her a cute penguin sticker for her phone messager. He tells her that, if she ever needs to talk with him about anything again all she has to do is send that sticker and he’ll come running. No further explanation is necessary.

Once the date ends, Blue Box Episode 5 shifts its focus to Hina. As she interacts with both Taiki and Chinatsu separately, it becomes abundantly clear that some unrealized feelings are beginning to stir. Her reactions to Taiki’s bubbling afterglow from his trip clearly frustrate her, even though she doesn’t seem to be fully aware of why. When she runs into Chinatsu at the doctor’s office, she tells a story about how Taiki twisted his ankle once catching her.

While she claims inwardly that she told the story to build up Taiki’s compassionate nature to Chinatsu, there is also a hint of humble brag at the moment. As if, unconsciously or not, Hina is trying to establish her importance to Taiki to her rival.

The episode ends when Hina follows Chinatsu home to give her the phone she forgot at the doctor’s. But when she sees her arrive at Taiki’s home, the girl is instantly crushed. Slumped against a wall in the rain, it is now clear to both the viewer and Hina how she feels about her childhood friend.

Blue Box Episode 5 delivers a major plot point for the story. Now that Hina is aware of her feelings for Taiki, it is only a question of how she will choose to act on them. With how nuanced and well-crafted the characters have been thus far, it feels like a sure thing that the series will handle the rhythmic gymnast’s feelings with plenty of care.

Blue Box Episode 5 is streaming now on Netflix.