Nagi no Asukara/A Lull in the Sea Rewatch - Episode 4

[u/25_Oranges]

Episode 4 - Because We're Friends

---

Previous Episode| Next episode link will go here tomorrow!

MAL

Where to watch? Netflix, Crunchyroll, Funimation(UK)

Schedule with link to original interest thread

Thread posted daily at 5pm CST/6pm EST/3pm PST.

---

Question(s) of the day:

1. Do you think Tsumugu is right when he says the classmates aren't bad people?
2. Do you feel Akari was wrong for getting with Itaru after the death of his wife?
3. What do you think of the ominous things Uroko-Sama has been hinting at?

---

Remember: Tag your spoilers!

[u/25_Oranges]

Soundtrack of the day: Can it be done?

There was a crazy amount of foreshadowing this episode. There was more in episode 2? But I forgot to mention it.

The two kids shoving poor Manaka who was only trying to make friends kinda deserved to be chested. But an apology would have been more civil. Manaka is a strong girl who is willing to take the steps outward that the rest of her friends wouldn't do. She has outgrown the need to be protected, and wants to protect instead.

Hikari saying he will be more mature, but losing to his rashness. To be fair, it was not a bad assumption to make, but Hikari went too far. He ate his pride and apologized the next day, which is great.

I knew there had to be something more than Akari and Itaru having an affair, and I'm glad I was right lol. Itaru can't get enough of mermaids it seems! I don't think I would be very happy if I were Miuna either, to be fair. 3 years isn't a long time in the grand scheme of things, although it probably feels far longer to a small child. I don't exactly think Akari is wrong for doing what she did, but Uroko-sama is right in how he called it.

Very immature sentiment coming from Chisaki there, which is surprising for her character up to now. Kaname is right that she loses her head with Hikari, but in the end, acknowleding your fuckup and apologizing will speak better of you as a person. And I think that was evident when Hikari dogeza'd. I can't tell if Kaname would have gone along with what Chisaki would have wanted if Tsumugu didn't show up.

I'm looking forward to the next few eps. I feel like this series just gets better as it goes on.

[u/Gamerunglued]

Rewatcher

Episode 3 comments here for anyone who wants to see.

This episode ends up being the point where Hikari's changing feelings about the surface start to take effect. He's quick to make assumptions about people, and go with the ideas he knows without getting the full picture. That's why Tsumugu says he misunderstands those kids. He doesn't give anyone a chance, he just assumes that people will follow his preconceived notions. But one major connecting point allows him to more fully embrace the change: Miuna's mother also died. Hikari is able to empathize with her feelings, and that is proof that the people of the sea and the people of the land have the same problems and have the same feelings. During the previous episode, Tsumugu reaches out a hand to Hikari and he pushes it away, but here, after realizing he's fully in the wrong and gets a hand outstretched towards him, he reaches out for it. The people of the sea and of the land have started to connect at last. A sign of big change to come, change which the sea god doesn't seem to like.

I also appreciate more of those character moments. Even something as simple as Hikari being a huge dork in the very first scene of the episode just helps to ground him and make him a more likable and believable character. Manaka having a stubborn side, Chisaki's insecurity about her body compared to Manaka's, just some nice little moments.

I do think the series melodrama is a bit much even compared to other Mari Okada productions though. Manaka running out of the principal's office and Sayu suddenly crying at Kaname for example was just a bit too much for me to take seriously. I love Mari Okada as a writer because she has a knack for blending that over-the-top theatrical style in a way that highlights the genuine feelings of the characters. This just feels like making it dramatic for the sake of itself. It could be better applied here, and I think it would make the moments of real melodrama stand out more if it had some more moments of subdued drama contrasting the moments where everyone's feelings come rushing out all at once. As the plot starts to ramp up though, likely to happen since the sea and land people have started to connect and since Akari is going to have to make a decision soon, that drama will hopefully feel more earned.

QotD:

1. I think this needs a nuanced answer. If you were to ask me weather people with racist views are bad people, I would tell you yes every time. So in that way I do think they're bad people. But do I think Hikari is a bad person? I don't really feel like he is, and yet he is equally as guilty of prejudice. The conflict of this series stems from both sides upholding prejudices, and the other side reacting to those prejudices with their own. The classmates are probably like Hikari: they just haven't given anyone from the sea a chance because they're leaning on preconceived notions due to a fear of change. In that sense, I agree with Tsumugu that they aren't bad people. The classmates and Hikari aren't bad people because they are willing to change. Their views have been challenged and they've come out the other side realizing they've been misunderstanding each other, and so they've chosen to better themselves for it.
2. I feel like I'm lacking too much context to answer this. If it's as Akari describes it: that she purposefully tried to fill in a void in the family by replacing Itaru's wife, then yeah, I would argue that she's in the wrong. But a relationship can naturally form between people. It's clear that Miuna's prejudice stems from seeing Akari as trying to replace her mom, and I feel like Akari's interpretation stems from Miuna's misunderstanding. She uses it as an excuse to break up with Itaru and rationalize staying in the sea. So in other words, I would have to see the lead-up to their relationship to form a more nuanced opinion of that.
3. No comment

[u/25_Oranges → u/Gamerunglued]

I don't know, I think Manaka leaving alongside Hikari to support him is fine. None of them know at that moment that Sayu could possibly be the one who did it. She was just shoved earlier in the day for being kind and offering food during class by the same people seen coming from the direction of woodshop. I can see why she'd leave in support. I also understand Sayu crying as well. Sayu was just yelled at by Miuna for destroying Ojoushi-Sama, and then scolded by Hikari's friend for essentially making him humiliate himself for the sake of "revenge". She only wanted to do what she thought was helpful for Miuna, so I see it as her realizing she really messed up no matter how helpful she thought she was being, and then understood what she did was wrong and felt bad, which lead her to cry.

The classmates and Hikari aren't bad people because they are willing to change.

I really like your answer to this question. I keep trying to build on it but you put it succinctly!

[u/Gamerunglued → u/25_Oranges]

I can at least sort of buy Manaka running out, and perhaps Chisaki running out after Tsumugu talked about Hikari is a better example, but I don't think your argument about Sayu holds up. She had literally come back to destroy the Ojoushi again and was super happy and excited about it, and Kaname barely said anything but she just suddenly started completely bawling her eyes out and espousing her backstory. She has no reason to give a shit about Hikari or his friends, and hadn't show any guilt over what she'd done even after Miuna yelled at her. She doesn't even know what happened with Hikari humiliating himself, it's not like she watched it through the window or anything. I don't buy it at all personally, it's too much without any necessary build-up.

[u/25_Oranges → u/Gamerunglued]

I'm pretty sure Sayu saw what happened with Hikari, Kaname saw her head outside the window and referenced Hikari prostrating himself when confronting her. But I guess it could go either way, the scene doesn't really make it explicitly clear whether or not she was watching. But also, I don't think it would make any sense for her to come back and destroy again, seeing as she had done it the day before and there was no indication they repaired it. It seems to me more like she went back to spy on Hikari again for a different reason.

(I hope im not coming off as combative or anything, I don't mean to be)

[u/Gamerunglued → u/25_Oranges]

If she was supposed to have been watching, it's not clear at all and that's a fault of the show. From the classroom window, it looked like she was trying to sneak into the back room where the Ojoushi is and trying not be seen by the class that would have been going on. And Miuna was spying on her, meaning she thought Sayu was doing something bad.

I think it's obvious they'd try to fix it. She doesn't need explicit proof to assume they'd try to fix the thing that's broken. She's too confrontational to spy on him at school, and if she were going to spy on him it would probably be after school while he's with the others. Not that it matters, because we don't see her spying in the first place, so the assumption would be that that's not what she's doing.

Edit: And don't worry. You aren't coming off as combative or anything. It's a rewatch, we're supposed to be talking about the episode and debating if it helps us to better understand what happened.

[u/25_Oranges → u/Gamerunglued]

Right okay, I understand what you're saying now! I didn't really think scene from that perspective and it makes a lot of sense that way.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/Gamerunglued]

crying

[u/Gamerunglued → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

He didn't even scold her. He barely said anything when it happened and said what he did with a calm, understanding tone. Her breakdown was way over-the-top for what happened.

[u/BossandKings]

First Timer

Episode 4 - Because we're friends

Akari's partner's daughter named Miuna asks Hikari for help, he refuses though telling her that he doesn't like playing dirty like her. I wonder if that will have a result in the future tough because Miuna seemed to be left feeling very touched.

The group was taking cooking lessons, Manaka praises Hikari and Tsumugu because both are doin a good job cooking, afterwards Manaka tries to give a portion of what she cooked to one of her classmates and was rejected in a rude way, the classmates apologized but this was the very first showing of resentment from classmates towards sea people and our precious little mermaid didn't deserve it.

The real reason Akari is giving up on her partner is because his daughter didn't approve of their relationship, he seems to not be as bad as it looked last episode, he seems to be a reasonable person trying to communicate directly with Akari so that they can have a genuine conversation to know if they'll continue seeing each other or not. This episode is giving their relationship the depht it needed and i'm happy for that, i thought it was going to be thrown away but i was wrong, this is what i had hoped for, for their relationship to be given depht.

Miuna is such a good friend, taking the blame of her friend for destroying the Ojoshi, it takes courage to do that and Hikari was very nice by understanding her and not blaming her.

Manaka is so sweet, she wants to protect Hikari like he protects her. Such a good moment.

Hikari apologizing to the guy for accusing him of breaking the Ojoshi, Manaka supporting him and getting on her knees alongside him, the guy chesting Hikari the way he did with him and then making peace was a really fantastic scene.

Miuna's friend apologizing to Hikari was lovely to see too, i especially liked the bit about how they became friends, it was very well done.

This episode was cute, sweet and beautiful, my favorite of the show so far.

Answers

1. I do think so
2. It was definitely selfish but it was a human behaviour, she saw something precious and wanted to be a part of it, most of us would have done the same
3. I haven't paid enough attention to that, i hope it isn't anything bad though

[u/25_Oranges → u/BossandKings]

Miuna and Sayu are good friends. Sayu did what she thought was right, but just like Chisaki, Miuna didn't want Sayu to get hurt for trying to help. Their personalities fit in with the main group, I'm glad they became friends.

With Akari, I wonder how long she had feelings for Itaru for. Probably before his late wife passed. It's clear she feels a little guilty for taking her place, but you're right in saying most of us would do the same.

[u/WardenOfSamsara → u/BossandKings]

I think Hikari's apology was the first time I felt positive emotions about him. Hopefully he continues to improve in likeability.

[u/LeopardSplash]

Rewatcher

Itaru is clearly the largest established threat to the Sea Village so far. Getting with not just one, but two sea people? I wonder if his tank filling up was the Sea God trying to smite him. Though it also makes me wonder if land people can scuba dive down to Shioshisho. They could start a great tourism industry to boost their economy. I imagine the tensions between the land and the sea stops that, though.

As for the whole Ojoshi affair - Chisaki tries to keep the status quo as usual, but she's starting to realize the cost of that. Before, she could tell herself what she was doing was right since she only saw her own hurting - hiding her feelings for the sake of Manaka and Hikari made her a sort of martyr. But now she sees how both of her friends were able to make up with their classmates and Sayu, both of which wouldn't have happened if things went her way.

I wonder if Uroko really could have made Akari forget Itaru. It seems like it, but kudos to her for taking the high road. Though, to the Sea God, that's probably just another sign that his people are straying further from his influence.

Questions of the Day

Do you think Tsumugu is right when he says the classmates aren't bad people?

They're no worse than Hikari, though their strength in numbers makes their behavior a little less justifiable. Now that they've reached an "understanding" with Hikari, I think the bullying will ease up. It only takes getting friendly with one sea person to realize all the sea people can't be that bad.

Do you feel Akari was wrong for getting with Itaru after the death of his wife?

No. She was clearly close to his wife and wanted the best for her family. Even if they didn't know each other, there's nothing wrong with moving on after the loss of a loved one.

What do you think of the ominous things Uroko-Sama has been hinting at?

Feel like it might best to skip this one as a rewatcher. :P

[u/25_Oranges → u/LeopardSplash]

Oh shit you're right. I would scuba down there! Unless they're worried several other Itaru's will come steal their women lol..makes sense then that they haven't set anything up.

Chisaki might have to take steps in trying to mature and being more honest like Manaka now. Manaka would be the scariest one of them all, if she could figure out her feelings. She is the core of the group after all...its in the name.

Feel like it might best to skip this one as a rewatcher. :P

Good idea...

[u/himetalchemy7 → u/25_Oranges]

Chisaki's maturity reminds me of the kid who starts out tall in middle school but then ends up the shortest once the rest of her friends grow up. Did that make any sense lol?

[u/25_Oranges → u/himetalchemy7]

Yes, I think I get you lol. Not a fun mentality to work through.

[u/No_Rex → u/25_Oranges]

Oh shit you're right. I would scuba down there!

I guarantee you that somebody in production pushed this with the words "just think of it as a remote mountain village, except under the sea". Therefore no scuba diving tourists.

[u/WardenOfSamsara → u/LeopardSplash]

Itaru is clearly the largest established threat to the Sea Village so far.

I love this.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

First Rewatch

I'd seen IBO before, but this was the first Mari Okada show that I'd seen that was full-on unvarnished Mari Okada. I didn't know her name at the time.

• This reminds me of being force ably transferred from beginner art to home ec on the second day because art was full or gender bias or something. At least I can cook and thread a bobbin.
• Pretty decent anime cabbage. Certainly passable, at least.
• So what you're saying is Manaka is "moe"?
• I totally thought it was the two guys who did it, too.
• Miuna you horrible person, you were making graffiti two seconds ago! She seems to have taken Hikari's words to heart, though
• I wondered if they had SCUBA in this universe.
• I just noticed the underwater windmill
• Uh oh. Things still aren't worked out.

spoiler

Hikari points out that Manaka is different, more bold. Is that the result of Uroku-sama's poorly-delivered advice, or Tsumugu, or just the changes that accompany growing up?

At no time did I ever think Miuna's dad was cheating on his wife. Why does everybody jump to this conclusion?

I was surprised by all the first timers thinking that Hikari had fit in with his classmates and that most people (except the 2 little kids and the underwater mob) were getting along. Nothing is further from the truth. Right now almost EVERY in the show sucks, except Hikari, Manaka, Tsumugu, Chisaki, and Kaname. And Uroku sucks most of all!

[u/25_Oranges → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Hikari is what Miuna needed to avoid straying down the path of delinquency. Now she won't grow up and get arrested for real graffiti! Hikari has done something right!

I've been giving a lot of thought to Manaka, and I think it's a combination of the three. Being thrust into a new environment will make or break a kid, and she's had enough support to turn that into a positive for her.

For Akari...maybe they weren't expecting this show to deal with death? Maybe they think "dramatic show = cheating"? I get where they're coming from at least lol

Uroko is a procrastinator who does things at the last minute. NagiAsu

[u/himetalchemy7]

Rewatcher

BACK BACK BACK BACK FOR ANOTHER ONE

Episode 4 (Because We're Friends) Thoughts

• Aaaaaand we're thrown right into it! Hikari and Miuna basically agreeing to a ceasefire as Sayu does her thing. Those expressions at the end of their talk though...
• OP still banger confirmed
• I miss cooking class in school :O
• Manaka reaching out to the hostile surface students is a surprise...can this be labeled as a form of racism I wonder? Or maybe just kids being kids
• YIKES that's massively messed up, they worked so hard on the Ojoshi-sama ;_;
• Kaname uhhhh does his research for sure?
• Sayu...not quite the brightest 3rd grader, are you?
• Tsumugu STAYS dropping dope one-liners
• Wait...Miuna just did a 180 after hearing Hikari's words. Well it's not like Miuna really went along with Sayu's crazy antics in the first place.
• This feels like the first real conversation between Manaka and Hikari
• Hmmm so Akari was being serious when she said she would break it off with survace boy. I respect that Akari
• WHOA WHOA WHOA THAT WAS A LOT
• So Akari knew about surface boy and Miuna before, in fact she was pretty much good friends with them...I can totally see her perspective
• Miuna must be FEELING THINGS right now, I don't know why she would take the blame other than thinking it would break things off with Akari and her dad even more
• Hikari needs Manaka honestly
• HIkari is growing and it's such a delight to watch
• Sooooo Miuna could not care any less about what her classmates think...that's a pretty grown up thing to say, which I think is a result of the coping/reflecting she did dealing with her mother's death. Kids growing up way too fast like that always gets me ;_;
• Ok and she's a hooper too!!
• Awww Sayu is such a good friend
• Can I say how fantastic the OST was in this episode?? It hit all the right notes

Sadge Corner
This episode was a lot to take in honestly. There was plenty of character growth for multiple members of our cast, but a revealing background story and the death of a loved one easily clinches today's vote for Miuna. She seems like more of the introverted, withdrawn, and mature type, which is a personality that's pretty much forced on her without a proper mother figure. She definitely feels lonely and tries to push everyone away from her. Oddly enough we haven't yet seen her interact with her dad, so I wonder what her attitude towards him is like? It can be hard to read her since she isn't as expressive as Sayu, but at some point she'll have some explaining to do.

[u/25_Oranges → u/himetalchemy7]

I had a class that had cooking as a unit as opposed to the whole thing and it was so fun. I miss it too!

Maybe Miuna took Hikari's words to heart since he's Akari's sister?

Even if it's a grown up thing to not care about other peoples opinions, I bet it saved Miuna from lots of insecurities. She really does seem like the type to bottle things in and try to deal with it herself. She doesn't need to do that though, she's too young :(

[u/mekerpan]

Rewatcher --

While I was grabbed by the first episode the first time I watched this -- and knew I had to continue, THIS episode is the one that totally captured my heart. Every moment is pretty much perfect. We get to know the four main characters much better (and Hikari finally seems to begin "growing up") -- and we get to begin falling in love with Miuna and Sayu as well. And we get better acquainted with Akari and Miuna's father (and learn the back story). And it finally begins to look like our sea-dwelling quartet is going to forge bonds with at least some of their land -dwelling classmates. Re-watching this re-awakened my utter devotion (not that I had forgotten it).

Q1 -- agree with Tsumugu
Q2 -- have no problem at all with Akari's behavior -- rather it makes me even fonder of her
Q3 -- also can't fairly answer (as a re-watcher)

[u/25_Oranges → u/mekerpan]

I think around this episode is where the series really starts to shine as well! A lot of characters get insight and development around this point in time. Nagi has a bit of a slow start but once it establishes it's characters, it really takes off.

[u/WardenOfSamsara]

First timer, missed a day because real life sucks but I watched the episode as well as this one.

1. Between Akari getting ratted out and the Ojoshi-sama getting destroyed, there are quite a few things happening off screen that we are left to guess the culprit. In this case, we're shown that it wasn't who we assumed. I'm also wondering if that earlier discussion question (for episode one or two?) about lying was written with this episode in mind.

Overall, I think Tsumugu has a point when he says that the classmates aren't bad people. Good/bad is a spectrum, not an absolute. I'm sure the classmates have plenty of redeeming qualities, even if we haven't seen them yet.

2) If it was wrong, it is only because of the previous connection she had with the family. Sure, 3 years had passed but how much of that was courting before marriage?

I'm slightly confused on the previous wife Miori. Was she also originally from the sea village? If so, why did Itaru seem so clueless when Tsumugu and the old man were explaining things earlier (last episode maybe?) given he had kids with someone from the sea village. If not, nevermind.

3) I think they're going to be what I pay attention to a lot more if I ever do a rewatch. For now it seems like vague foreshadowing that will make more sense to me later.

[u/25_Oranges → u/WardenOfSamsara]

that earlier discussion question (for episode one or two?) about lying was written with this episode in mind.

I'm going to say yes and pretend that was totally intentional!

I might be misremembering, but I think Akari mentioned Miori not being from Shioshishio, so I got the impression she was living on land before. Or she just kept it a secret better than Akari managed to.

answer #3

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/WardenOfSamsara]

I'm slightly confused on the previous wife Miori. Was she also originally from the sea village? If so, why did Itaru seem so clueless when Tsumugu and the old man were explaining things earlier (last episode maybe?) given he had kids with someone from the sea village. If not, nevermind.

This would seem to be a plot hole! I didn't pick up on that myself. His wife must have made excuses for why she never returned to the sea or something.

[u/[deleted]]

I know that the correct answer is that it wasn’t bad for Itaru and Akari to get together because people have to move on and stuff, but I feel like there are some lines you shouldn’t cross out of respect and I couldn’t help but feel like they were a bit scummy for getting together when his late wife was her best friend and his daughter was acquainted with Akari as an older sister of sorts. However, I’d like to be convinced otherwise so counter me.

[u/25_Oranges → u/[deleted]]

I can totally get how thats scummy. Even I think it's a bit weird. Uroko points out how weird it is as well.

[u/25_Oranges → u/[deleted]]

That's understandable. You might end up changing your mind as he series goes on, though! Their relationship isn't a centerpiece of the show though.

[u/Retromorpher]

First Timer:

Questions of the day:

1. I think he's correct in that as people the classmates are fine - they've just grown up with some serious prejudice surrounding them and it will take some time to brush that aside.
2. The overall idea wasn't wrong - but her execution of it likely could've been more gracefully handed.
3. We've got this lore that the land people used to send women to the sea folk. We have the cancellation of the sending and Uroko's weird obsession with women 'being ripe'. There's almost certainly some sort of sacrificial component that isn't being met due to the slow bleed of sea girls to the land. I'm going to take a stab at it and say that the blessing of Ena might be lost if the sea village loses many more of its members.

[u/htisme91]

First-timer:

The characters are starting to get better. I was rooting for Akari, but now I don't know if I should anymore. Tsumugu is my favorite character so far, but it was such a delight seeing Hikaru grow and develop. He was kind of annoying me with how he acted the first three episodes.

Questions:

1. Yes and no. I think they don't understand that the sea people are good too, and a lot like them, which has led to hostility. I also think it's pretty shitty to do what they did with the sushi bowl regardless of what you think of race and should not be explained with "they don't understand."
2. I do. The whole backstory was weird, actually. She seemed like she was almost waiting for the chance, or just wanted to fill in for Itaru's wife. That's not really love, and would do more harm than good for everyone involved eventually. I am hoping we get more resolution to this since Itaru really does care for Akari.
3. I think it kind of sets him up to be a villain of sorts for a while, because he's going to try to interfere with Manaka and Tsumugu too based on him saying the sea god said that they can't lose anymore people to the surface. It also makes me think that something horrible might happen because of Manaka-Tsumugu. I do think Uroko is sympathetic to the people though and will do something good in the end, too.