REVIEW: ‘Honey Lemon Soda’ Episode 2 — “Turning Into A Treasure”

Honey Lemon Soda Episode 2 surpasses its relatively dull premiere. It also punches you in the face with the line “You may be a stone, but you’re a gemstone,” delivered with such brazen sincerity. Based on the manga series written and illustrated by Mayu Murata and produced by J.C. Staff and TMS Entertainment, it finds unexpected strength in its melodrama and teen soap opera leanings. It’s far from perfect, but “Turning Into a Treasure” injects the series with the necessary energy to help propel it forward.

The biggest hurdle yet to be scaled is the affection for these characters. Uka Ishimori (Kana Ichinose) is still reeling from the events of Episode 1, where Kai Miura (Shōgo Yano) came to her defense. Now, she’s trying to approach high school with a new outlook. Instead of telling herself to be “stony” to endure the hardships and words of bullies, she wants to enjoy her experiences and stand up for herself. Of course, it’s easier said than done. And it’s especially true when Kai’s treatment of her is so woefully inconsistent, so much so that it starts to feel like a writing flaw more than a character flaw.

At first, he helps her, suggesting to his friend, Ayumi, to pass to Uka during their gym class. The result is triumphant, as Uka immediately shows off an unexpected athleticism. It’s something that Kai will later bring back to focus, asking her just how many things she might excel at if she moves beyond her own perceived limitations and self-doubt. But before the words of affirmation, he stumbles into being a bit of a bully himself.

Uka and Kai still have room to grow.

Honey Lemon Soda Episode 2 sees Kai flip-flopping on his dynamic with Uka. He wants her to speak up for herself but also tells her that her dreams of being a typical high schooler are silly and unrealistic. He saves her from bullying only to yell at her afterwards. He calls her a “gemstone” but also refers to her as Stony, the name people use to make fun of her. It’s fine that he’s relatively emotionally constipated—he’s a teenage boy—but there needs to be some justification for why Uka is so smitten with him.

After two episodes, we still don’t know these characters very well. Kai is a collage of bits and pieces of better-written archetypes, at least for now. And Uka, while understandably meek, needs more to her personality than that. It’s why the moments work so well when she becomes more boisterous in response to Kai’s needling. Finally, it’s showing some character.

Despite that, Honey Lemon Soda Episode 2 is a significant step up from the premiere. The humor works well, utilizing chibi animation, quick pans, and cuts for comedic effect. The characters lack depth, but this doesn’t stall the emotional or comedic beats.

The artistry remains a strong point in Honey Lemon Soda Episode 2.

The artistry—specifically, the animation style—remains a key highlight. The character’s designs work well in this specific world with its soft, golden lighting and the undefined line work. Honey Lemon Soda scrubs itself of any edges with a firm reliance on rounded corners and hazy lighting. Despite being influenced by some early-aught anime styles, there are no defined angles. Instead, the flat character designs succumb to the lush landscapes around them. The city’s animation at the end of the episode is particularly brilliant as it captures the busy energy with the pops of green as nature takes root.

But of all the technical craft, Akira Kosemura’s score leaves the greatest mark. Despite the characters’ muted energy and how lowkey the stakes feel, the score suggests that everything is, in fact, a huge deal. While the music is notable, it isn’t distracting; instead, it imbues the script with an otherwise missing emotionality.

Honey Lemon Soda Episode 2 alleviates some concerns following the tepid, expected Episode 1. While there’s still plenty of room to grow as the series suffers from one-dimensional characters, it’s at the very least engaging. With time and familiarity, here’s hoping that we come to adore these characters and their melodramatic plots. If nothing else, the opening and ending credits are adorable and worthy of their spotlight.

Honey Lemon Soda Episode 2 is out now on Crunchyroll.