REVIEW: ‘Honey Lemon Soda’ Episode 5 — “A Great Person”

Despite a rocky, actively frustrating beginning, Honey Lemon Soda Episode 5 indicates a series trying to right itself. Uka (Kana Ichinose) and Kai (Shōgo Yano) remain the weakest elements—Uka in particular. But the playful animation and subtle yet biting humor do their best to make up for it. It’s not a total course correct, but it’s less of a chore. However, the biggest hurdle they need to scale to go from “sometimes charming” to “good” is a big one. The protagonists need to be better written.

Perhaps Honey Lemon Soda is just a major slow burn with some excellent payoff, but the repetition of Uka and Kai’s dynamic is becoming tiresome. Uka, unfortunately, is aggravating because she’s our entry point into the story and the lens through which we see everyone else. Her insecurity and inferiority complex makes sense within the confines of the story, and there’s enough sympathy generated. But that doesn’t make her a dynamic or engaging character.

It’s a broad comparison, but while watching Honey Lemon Soda Episode 5, I kept thinking of another shojo, the extraordinary Skip and Loafer. While the lead, Mitsumi, doesn’t share Uka’s trauma, there are similarities on a larger scale. Both characters come from sheltered upbringings and are introduced to new hobbies, styles, and perspectives through new friends. Mitsumi and Uka are drawn to the blonde, aloof, popular boy in their classes. But while Mitsumi shines bright as an impossibly charming protagonist, Uka is shallow.

Better writing would help evolve her character into someone we both sympathize with and actively root for. Kai isn’t much better. While we can tell that Kai is growing fonder of Uka by the day from his casual touches to complimenting her hair, Uka can’t seem to wrap her head around it. She spends all of Honey Lemon Soda Episode 5 committed to believing that Kai couldn’t possibly like her, especially when she gets to know Serina, Kai’s beautiful and popular ex.

Uka and Kai remain lackluster. 

Serina might bring further stress into Uka’s life, but her introduction is a bright spot for the series, which struggles to develop characters with distinctive personalities. She’s bold, confident, and, most importantly, kind. When her friends tease Uka for her early curfew, and they refuse to stop, she throws a drink at them and laments their tireless obnoxious behavior. Ayumi praises the action, calling it therapeutic, to which Serina agrees. We don’t see the moment coming, which makes her all the more likable.

It makes sense that Uka would believe Serina and Kai to be a stronger fit, though watching her continually put herself down is frustrating. The issues are repetitive because the writing keeps leaning into the same tired story beats. Uka assumes the worst and looks to run away before Kai assures her in his backward way, leaving her to wonder more about who he is. Sure, Serina seems close to Kai after they get over their awkwardness, but even Serina tells Uka how close she seems to Kai.

It leads to another up-in-the-air ending when Kai compliments Uka by calling her kind and courageous. Kai may have feelings for Uka or, at the very least, holds affection for her. But at this rate, it could take the entire series for Uka to get a clue.

Serina injects wonderful energy into Honey Lemon Soda Episode 5.

Luckily, Honey Lemon Soda Episode 5 has its charms, although they are understated. There’s an offbeat exchange when the girls who teased Uka arrive at school and apologize. One, in particular, is a blink-and-you-miss-it gag where one of the girls remarks that they teased her over her 5:00 pm curfew because it means her parents care about her—something they don’t have. It’s a bleak yet hilarious delivery from the voice actors as their voices become hushed and overly polite as they apologize. These little moments add so much personality to a series in dire need.

More than anything, though, Serina’s addition serves as a lifeline to the show. There doesn’t seem to be any real threat that she’ll interfere in Kai and Uka’s potential romance, but she’s lively and unexpected in her decisions. Honestly, after “A Great Person,” it’s a shame the series couldn’t be seen through her eyes for an episode.

Honey Lemon Soda Episode 5 keeps itself afloat thanks to a strong character introduction. The series’ ongoing issues persist, but it’s becoming easier to overlook the glaring flaws in favor of the smaller yet effective highlights.

Honey Lemon Soda Episode 5 is out now on Crunchyroll.