REVIEW: ‘Blue Box’ Episode 11 — “Uncool”

Blue Box Episode 11, “Uncool,” balances romance and sports as summer break gets busy for the promising young athletes of Eimei Private High School. Prepping for Nationals gets balanced with studying and finding time to enjoy the summer fun. And what better way to celebrate summer than a fireworks festival? How about going with your crush?

Blue Box Episode 11 opens with the previously discussed study session at the school library. Taiki (Shoya Chiba), Kyo (Chiaki Kobayashi), and Hina (Akari Kitô, Birdie Wing: Golf Girl’s Story) are all in attendance as the kids struggle to make sense of the summer assignments. This opening moment is a fun little sequence that allows the viewer to catch a glimpse of the students dealing with the rarely seen third pillar of high school life – studying. It helps flesh out some personalities as well as acknowledges that sports aren’t the only demand on their time.

During a study break, Taiki and Hina find themselves alone. As they chat, they see a flyer promoting the upcoming fireworks festival. Remembering that a trip to one in middle school was what originally brought them into each other’s spheres, the pair have a sweet moment reminiscing together. As Taiki gets up to rejoin the group, Hina asks him to go with her again. Taiki easily agrees, though is pulled away before the details can be hammered out.

This moment is the cornerstone of Blue Box Episode 11‘s story. Not only does it set up the fireworks festival, but it also shows the audience a piece of why Hina likes Taiki. From the first moment they met, Taiki has been a considerate and friendly person, even buying her a candy apple when he saw they were running out. Despite barely knowing her, he had heard her mention how much she wanted one, compelling him to act. That he would do this for a relative stranger feels perfectly in line with what we know about the character.

Taiki lacks confidence in Blue Box Episode 11

How the scene presents Hina as she asks Taiki out is excellently done. All the vulnerability and shyness you would expect is there as the nervous young woman half mumbles the suggestion while her hands toy with the hem of her skirt. Hina has always been an endearing character, and this moment only makes her all the more so. Unfortunately, when she asks Taiki for the festival, she fails to specify the details, leading to him thinking it’s a group thing.

When Taiki inquires later in Blue Box Episode 11 about who else is going, it hits Hina like a punch in the gut. Instantly realizing her mistake, she says that she’s still working on getting people and suggests he invite Kyo. Taiki writes this moment off as Hina being a bit scatterbrained, but it’s obvious to anyone else what is going on.

How one reacts to this moment will likely correlate to how confident one is. It may seem difficult to believe Taiki couldn’t see what was happening, but we’ve seen that Taiki is not only a bit oblivious but also frequently underestimates himself.

If someone fails to see themselves as something worth pursuing, they are unlikely to notice when someone else is doing just that. Blue Box Episode 11 does a great job of acknowledging the obviousness of the situation when Taiki invites Kyo along later, as the latter can immediately figure out that Hina doesn’t want anyone else there.

Even with all the mixed emotions Hina is dealing with as the situation surrounding the festival plays out, we see her still being an amazing friend to Taiki. In a later scene, the pair are returning to the gym from the storage room when they come across Chinatsu hanging out with some friends.

Still nervous about bothering her and crossing boundaries, Taiki suggests they take a longer route around. Seeing Taiki force himself to avoid someone she knows he wants to be near upsets Hina, causing her to go off on her friend, encouraging him to sometimes do the things he needs to, like hang out with Chinatsu.

Fireworks set the stage for future sparks

That Hina mildly lashes out at Taiki over this behavior delivers a deeply meaningful moment. By pushing him to approach Chinatsu, she is encouraging him to get closer to her direct rival. There are lots of people who could never bring themselves to do something that is so in opposition to their interests. But Hina is looking out for Taiki and doesn’t like seeing him looking so dejected, calling it “uncool” of him. As she storms off after saying her peace, we are left with a thoroughly befuddled Taiki, unsure of what just happened.

Before the fireworks festival arrives, Taiki gets an invite from Haryu (Yuma Uchida) to join him for a practice session at a local college. Always eager to face bigger challenges, Taiki accepts, confident that he can participate there, and still makes the fireworks with no problem.

The practice scene showcases Taiki’s determination. When asked hard questions, Taiki happily acknowledges things that you would expect wouldn’t be easy for him to realize. But Taiki is always looking for challenges. As he tells another player, understanding the obstacles in front of him makes them easier to overcome.

As Blue Box Episode 11 comes to a close, Taiki meets up with Hina at the festival. Surprising only Taiki, Hina is decked out in a lovely floral patterned yukata. With the warmth and cheer of the festival environment encircling her, Hina looks like an angel. A nervous one, to be sure, but an angel nonetheless.

Blue Box Episode 11 sets up the season’s finale with the promise of a big moment for the two long-time friends. With all this episode does to set up Hina’s feelings and endear her to the audience, whatever comes next for her promises to hit the audience hard.

Blue Box Episode 11 is streaming now on Netflix.