REVIEW: ‘Blue Box’ Episode 16 — “Unfair Woman”

Blue Box Episode 16, “Unfair Woman,” from TMS Entertainment, shows a shift in Chinatsu (Reina Ueda) and Taiki’s (Shoya Chiba) living situation. The episode reveals new hints about how their relationship has changed after their night out together. The school is also preparing for its culture festival, and Hina (Akari Kitô, Birdie Wing: Golf Girl’s Story) drops a bombshell on one of her classmates.

As this week’s episode opens, it wastes no time showcasing the changes that have taken place between Taiki and Chinatsu. The awkward energy that’s been lingering between them since the BBQ is gone, showing a relaxed comfort and playfulness return to their interactions. This return to normal feels great for the pair, as it gets the episode off to a positive start. It also passively builds up stakes for an upcoming moment.

Blue Box Episode 16 starts with a bustle of school activities.

After this brief opening, Blue Box Episode 16 jumps to school, where Taiki’s class will be performing Snow White for the upcoming culture festival, with Hina playing the lead. She is excited to take on the role, although she may doubt her ability to remember all her lines. However, having an audience’s eye solely on her when she performs her rhythmic gymnastics routines at least makes it unlikely she’ll succumb to stage fright.

For Taiki, preparing for the festival means more running around. As a class rep, we see him leaned on frequently during moments of prep throughout this episode. When supplies are needed or questions lack answers, Taiki picks up the slack. Luckily, despite some occasional grumbling, it seems clear that he doesn’t mind helping out. This reinforces all the generous elements of his character we’ve seen in the past.

Amidst the bustle of school activities, Blue Box Episode 16 sees Kyo (Chiaki Kobayashi) take advantage of a moment alone to confront Hina about her feelings for Taiki. After making it clear that their mutual friend said nothing to him about her confession, Kyo checks in with Hina, making sure she’s ok. He better than anyone knows how infatuated Taiki is with Chinatsu, so his concern for her feels natural. We also learn that Kyo’s worries come from a place of shared experience, as he has also been shot down in the past.

This scene does a lot of work for Kyo’s character. Though he is always observing, Kyo rarely takes much of an active role in how things play out. Seeing Kyo act on his observations confirms his intentions where his friends are concerned, making it clear that while he hesitates to act, he will if he feels the situation is serious enough.

The background information about Kyo is also interesting, as it is the first significant piece of information revealed about him beyond his closeness with his siblings. As one of the few recurring characters who has had little revealed about him, it’s great to see that the series isn’t willing to abandon him, relegating him to the status of a cutout who listens to Taiki vent.

When Blue Box Episode 16 moves on to Taiki’s home, he is surprised to discover Chinatsu’s mom is there. It seems Chinatsu’s grandfather had a fall. While he will be fine, he requires some extra care, which is why Chinatsu’s mom has returned to Japan for a month. While she’s back, Chinatsu will be staying with her.

After finally mending his friendship with Chinatsu, this change of plans strikes like a thunderbolt for the boy. He does not want to have his access to Chinatsu cut back. But rather than making it a wholly bad thing, the narrative uses it ingeniously, guiding Taiki to a realization.

Taiki’s relationship with Chinatsu is changing in Blue Box Episode 16

Being forced to exist in a state similar to where they were at the start of the series, Taiki realizes that things that once made his day no longer register like they did. Simply hearing Chinatsu’s voice across the gym doesn’t make his heart skip a beat like it once did. While he still notices it, and it brings a smile to his face, it’s grown to the point where just being near her doesn’t have the same effect it once did. This realization forces Taiki to see how much closer they’ve gotten.

Even as Taiki learns about his growth regarding Chinatsu, the object of his affection is facing some hard questions of her own. After a brief run-in with Hina, Blue Box Episode 16 follows Chinatsu home. There, she ponders her behavior, wondering if she is being mean to Hina because of how she interacts with Taiki. She considers whether her waffling over talking to Taiki about her feelings is fair to any of them, but sadly, she can’t find a quick answer.

Seeing Chinatsu struggle with what she should do regarding Taiki brings a somber moment to the episode. Her concern deepens her character and gives another rare glimpse into the girl’s motives and feelings. It also brings a bit of frustration with it, as it becomes ever-clearer that she likes Taiki and just needs to say so.

After this, the narrative jumps back to Taiki as he juggles festival prep with sports and even finds a moment to help mentor a junior high schooler. This sequence picks the episode back up, breathing some energy back into the story and keeping it from feeling down after Chinatsu’s musings.

The end of Blue Box Episode 16 is an energy roller coaster.

But just as the story’s lightness returns, Blue Box Episode 16 brings it all crashing back down as it wraps up. By chance, Hina and Chinatsu run into each other in the guidance counselor’s office. Alone, Hina decides to inform Chinatsu that she told Taiki that she likes him. Before a response can be given, the credits roll, ending the episode.

Hina’s delivery of this information is so matter-of-fact that it’s hard to tell why she opts to break the news to her rival. While the knee-jerk reaction is that she’s trying to stake her claim, there is another possibility. Given how supportive Hina has always been of Taiki’s pursuit of Chinatsu, it feels just as likely that she had this revelation not to scare Chinatsu off, but to push her into doing something. Creating a need for urgency in Chinatsu may force something to happen. Plus, some part of Hina probably just wants the situation to resolve itself, whatever form that resolution may take.

Blue Box Episode 16 once again crafts strong moments as it deepens its characters and moves the plot forward. The question of what the fallout of its episode-ending bombshell will be works fantastically to keep interest in the tale piqued.

Blue Box Episode 16 is streaming now on Netflix.

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