REVIEW: ‘Go For It, Nakamura!’ Episode’s 1-2 Deliver A Charming, Cringe-Inducing Start

Based on the manga written and illustrated by Syundei, Go For It Nakamura! delights in discomfort. A highlight of recent anime adaptations centered on teen-based romances or coming-of-age stories has been the commitment to writing teenagers as believably awkward. And oh boy, does Okuto Nakamura (Chiaki Kobayashi) take the cake. So much so that you’ll be shocked at how often you’re yelling at the screen in hopes that this shy teenager spare himself from inevitable humiliation. 

Shy, gay, and seriously crushing on his classmate, Aiki Hirose (Yuki Sakakihara), Nakamura is a disaster. A mess of epic proportions who daydreams of all how he might win the favor of Hirose, only to fumble spectacularly. Between Episodes 1 and 2, the adaptation from the studio Drive (To Your Eternity) hammers home the lengths to which Nakamura struggles, his severe introverted nature at war with his desire to impress and, at least, befriend Hirose. 

Go For It Nakamura! Episodes 1-2 doesn’t do much beyond that, which is why the result is so delightfully surprising. Because, in theory, the bit could grow stale fast. But, like any good gag anime, the success comes from how the story builds on the initial premise. Yes, Nakamura continues to embarrass himself either through his own actions or circumstances beyond his control. But how the ensemble around him reacts and how Hirose slowly starts to talk to him more help balance it out. 

Go For It Nakamura! Episodes 1-2 is offers non-stop hilarity. 

It also, at least two episodes in, hasn’t found an unfunny note. Go For It Nakamura! Episodes 1-2 lean into the source material’s humor by building up the anticipation for each outcome. Even though we know Nakamura is going to embarrass himself, we can’t predict when or how. 

There are two standout moments in Episode 1 that signal as such. One in what should’ve been an innocuous moment, but, due to Nakamura being a teenager driven by hormones and the belief that the BL manga he reads is gospel, he takes it to extreme levels. Hirose drops a handkerchief; Nakamura sees it as a chance to insert himself into a conversation and, instead, literally stomps all over it. 

Later, in a much more heightened, ridiculous scenario, he and Hirose share a near-bonding moment. Their class believes the octopuses in the class sink are about to be sacrificed for their cooking lesson, and they are planning their escape. Nakamura, who is fond of octopuses and has one as a pet (don’t do that), picks one up, which inspires Hirose to do the same. The embarrassment doesn’t come from his class thinking he’s weird (though they often ignore him), but because, in the end, the one Hirose is holding sprays ink, covering Nakamura.

Go For It Nakamura! channels a retro aesthetic. 

In Episode 2, we watch Nakamura embark on a failed showdown with a cockroach (who is really happy to be here) and get caught purchasing manga in the BL section. Something that Hirose is fine with, before Nakamura accidentally shows him the wrong cover, leaving Hirose blushing at the explicit nature that the adaptation also hides from view. 

Beyond the comedy, the series also excels with fantastic animation. Their art style is clearly influenced by retro aesthetics and character designs, in the vein of a series like Ranma 1/2 or Kowloon Generic Romance. Though much, much sillier. But the colors offer a dynamic contrast to the world, while the linework offers an interesting and distinctive amount of detail. 

It’s all the more noteworthy due to the nature of the storyline. If we’ve been hard-pressed in the past to find romance anime with strong, consistent animation, it’s been harder still for queer adaptations. And we’re not talking about ones with queer undertones.

Chiaki Kobayashi is absolutely wonderful as Nakamura. 

Nakamura confidently declares he’s gay in the opening episode, even if he’s closeted to his classmates, and it’s refreshing to see an adaptation with a queer main protagonist have such vivid animation and motion. There are no screen saver effects or one-for-one shots where the characters don’t move. There’s a frenzied level of movement that adds to the overall joy. 

The other biggest component to the success of Go For It Nakamura! Episodes 1-2 are the pivotal performance by Chiaki Kobayashi. In some of his more notable roles in series such as Hell’s Paradise, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, and The Summer Hikaru Died, his characters often call for the actor to deliver more cool, collected performances with bursts of emotional release. Nakamura, meanwhile, is near-constant explosions of desperate panic, exasperation, or downtrodden self-deprecation. 

Go For It Nakamura! Episodes 1-2 are an absolute joy. Brimming with frenzied energy that mimics the protagonists’ consistent, fervent, anxiety-riddled inner monologues, it’s a delightfully comedic slice of life. Here’s hoping that it maintains the tone and pace. 

Go For It Nakamura! Episodes 1-2 are available now on Crunchyroll.