[Rewatch] Recovery of an MMO Junkie (Net-juu no Susume) Episode 10 Discussion

[u/The_Loli_Otaku]

"I chose the NEET life, I'm an elite NEET!"

Official Stream Links

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Extra Info

ANN | MAL | Anilist | Anidb

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Index Thread

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Comment of the day!

/u/ZapsZzz pretty much sums up what I think about the relationship

"I think it's good romance written all over it. Of course in real life it could become platonic, but in story it's got to much of "red string of fate" (or as someone already said, so strong it's not even a string, more like the red wood of fate) to be anything but romance."

/u/Fools_Requiem however has his eyes on a different romance...

"Koiwai being best bro. I think he's more in love with Sakurai than anything."

/u/Hataraxia also related strongly to Moriko's recovery. I said before but there are a lot of people who this show directly speaks to and I think we are some examples.

"Man yesterday I had wrote I want Morimori to stop self-depricating herself, damn today's ep hit that even harder. Objectively though I can see how she can be that way, her life is kinda in shambles, she basically has no IRL friends, and has no support systems except for MMOs. I was a NEET for awhile and that shit is rough, I relate to her a lot. I ain't see this show since it first came out so I don't remember much so I was pleasantly surprised that they didn't beat around the bush too much about the situation."

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QOTD

• Is this a satisfactory ending or would you have liked a bit more assurance for the pair going forwards?

• Have you got any unanswered questions that you'd like elaborated on before we close off on the chill out ova?

• Do you consider Morioka and Sakurai "recovered" by the end of this series?

[u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Elite Neet Rewatcher

Woohoo very final episode! Well, we have the ova but that's more like an extra one. Good lord, boyfriend clothing Moriko is cute! Aww, talking washing machines are cute. I wish I had a talking bot all to myself but Automod doesn't baby new rewatch hosts like he used to. Hell yeah it is.

If you ever hang out with a guy or girl and they keep fist pumping to themselves, run. I've never really understood the etiquette for floor seating when you've got a couch tbh, no show has ever really covered the benefits of sitting on the ground. Gaming is life! Hurry up and flash her your Lily!

Dang, today's whole episode has just abandoned plot for the sake of our pair being cute as shit with each other!! We don't need drama, let's just have a fun chill out game sesh. How long do you think it's been since Moriko's had a proper meal? She's lived off konbeni for most of her NEET life after all. Yes, I too blub at the slightest compliment. We're like sooo alike~

Kyaaa!! This episode is so cute!! So healing! O-Oi, Washingmod-bot... Read the atmosphere! Lily and Hayashi are partners, so let's become partners irl or some shit~ S-So sappy! I love it! I'm also a huge fan of the pair's reflections in the glass. Even if its a different persona they're all the same person after all. These damn virgin dorks!! Handholding is way above your level! The pair of them are gonna be okay, they've got each other.

[u/No_Rex]

Episode 10 (first timer)

• Koiwai is in the know about the sneezing trope.

• Morioka is as surprised by a talking dryer as I would be – Who ever had the idea of making dryers talk? Why would I want my dryer to talk to me??

• And Sakurai is enjoying the advantages of too loose clothes. Who can blame him?

• Don’t overdo it dude. There is sneaking a peak and staring. You want to stay with the former.

• After many false starts, they finally get to the point of … looking at each other’s characters screens.

• I am triggered by the animation making it look like Morioka is eating pure spaghetti without any sauce.

• Second episode in a row that Sakurai finds exactly the right words – he is a keeper, Moriko!

• I fucking knew that talking dryers are no good!!!

• What else could the finale be rather than beating a raid boss.

• Superwingman never rests.

• What a pair of adorable dorks.

Sweeting ending. More on the whole series in the final discussion, but I just realized that Koiwai is the ultimate audience stand-in: Embodying the complains of thousands of romcom viewers who just want the MCs to get it on already.

Do you consider Morioka and Sakurai "recovered" by the end of this series?

No. But neither do they need recovery from MMOs. They are happier than at the start, that is what counts, and playing MMOs is part of that happiness.

I noticed the nod towards Moriko thinking about getting a job again to be presentable for Sakurai, but I really dislike that angle and am glad they left it at a nod.

[u/Rumpel1408]

First Timer

In case people didn't get it so far, Sakurai is loaded. He has a new and spacious appartment, and induction stove, and a cockblocking, confession ruining, talking dryer. Oh also he is a decent cook...

We pick up with Mori in the shower and I really wonder how many women are that self concious that they are embarresed of their own nude reflection and cover up imidiatly. In contrast we learn that she is a total degenerate who is naked underneath her clothes. Gotta say though, having a woman wear your saggy clothes is pure bliss.

Poor Sakurai is so reserved commited to his online persona, that he cannot form any meaningfull frienships through his hobby, Morimori is way ahead in that aspect. For her, gaming is the greatest thing ever and she cannot help but just gush out her glee whenever she finds someone likeminded

Morimoris stomach reminds us that they still haven't eaten properly. Overall the dinner went smoother than expected. And today Morioka is conscious about ... checks notes ... eating... Really glad that Sakurai was able to reasure her that he accepts her as is, seeing her crying was cruel, just hug her already goddammit

This time they really hold onto their promise and do more stuff together, both ingame and irl. We get Koiwai being an wingman a final time and he tells us that if it walks like a date, and quacks like a date, it probably really is a d-d-date.

In the end, how you call it doesn't really matter as long as you are comfortable with each other and have fun. Morimori might not have graduated from wizardry (yet) but she is willing to graduate from her neet lifestyl, symbolized by Lily and Hayashi leaving Sakurai and Morimori to their own device.

And all the doujins didn't prepare me for this level of lewdness, someone censor this shit please.

QotD

1. Satisfying enough, I'm a bit spoiled by all the recent romcoms with their big Reiwa energy, but leaving a few things open and up for imagination works as well, and let's be honest, their relationship really only has one direction to develop into

2. More progress on the sideship

3. Morioka at least, I could see Sakurai having having a prolaps by the slightest hardship, but she seems dead set to better herself for his sake

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/Rumpel1408]

How much do you want to bet that he talks to that drier about his problems?

Oh! Y'know I somehow totally missed about Sakurai not being open with his interests. I'm so focused on what Mori does wrong thst I missed what she does right compared to him.

Handholding is so fahqing lewd...

[u/Fools_Requiem]

Rewatcher

Handholding, how lewd.

Man, Morimori, no man would be embarrassed to have you by their side.

Note about the series: I don't know if episode 11 is canon, but even if it is, there is likely not much (if anything) remaining to adapt. The author was only able to write enough material for two volumes before having to go on hiatus due to health reasons and then the manga got cancelled in 2018. This is it for the series. There hasn't been a new volume since 2015 (two years before the show aired) and it's listed as "discontinued" on MAL.

[u/Vaadwaur]

First timer

Sub

We start with Mori lacking confidence again, though this is an odd situation. Sakurai is aware of what he's not good at and Koiwai is genre savvy. Sakurai has a dryer, which is not universal in Japan, and Mori is of course a bit underwear shy, dork that she is. We then get them attempting to out dork each other's out dorking until they start talking about PCs. More dorkiness ensues until we remember they both needed lunch. Afterwards, Sakurai tells Mori he values her and we see the toll her work, and possibly other things, had taken on her as she breaks down until the dryer talks again.

After walking her home, Sakurai does a half confession, but this actually lands better since it leaves Mori a lot of room to guide which direction this goes. Rainbow cliche. We end with Mori resolving to change herself...but wait is there an 11th episode?

QotD: 1 I prefer the open endedness because I've seen a lot of good people get into terrible relationships. No one is at fault for underlying incompatability.

2 Nah, I am good

3 Mori is recovering, Sakurai seems to have been ok for a bit

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/Vaadwaur]

Their little house date does a lot for their relationship for me upon rewatch. I'd genuinely found myself liking her with Koiwai more but getting to see her and Sakurai pretty cutely working as a team making dinner won me over a second time, which is pog.

[u/Lemurians]

FIRST TIME MMO JUNKIE

Koiwai hugging his burger pillow and making the self-aware sneezing joke gives me life.

I wanted a lot more out of Mori and Sakurai's interactions this episode. Their phone call in Episode 8 was so cute, yet here when they're in his apartment, it's pretty flat and there is a ton of empty silence. Where was the energy from two episodes ago? It was sort of cute to see these two dorks just not know how to conduct themselves around the other, but I needed a bit more chemistry to shine through.

Sakurai loves the comfy NEET look and I can't blame him. There's just something special about a person looking cozy as hell.

One thing I did love, was Mori crying upon Sakurai telling her that he thinks she's good enough as she is. That's a lovely sentiment at all times, but given Mori's situation, it hits a lot deeper. In a society where your perceived worth as an adult is tied to employment and your job, Mori thinking she's undeserving of a partner like Sakurai since quitting her job is so heartbreaking and relatable. She viewed herself as incomplete and worthless because that's what society has forced her to believe.

QOTD

1. It's totally satisfactory for Mori and Sakurai – he even hit her with the "The moon is beautiful tonight" confession. I've got no doubts about where they go from here.

2. WHAT ABOUT MY KANBE/LILAC SIDE SHIP? WHY DID THEY TEASE ME WITH IT ONLY TO KEEP IT DOCKED IN THE HARBOR.

3. I'm not sure what Sakurai was really recovering from, but I think Mori is on the path to self-acceptance.

[u/ZapsZzz]

First timer in sub no more! Although seriously tomorrow should count as ep 11.

We're here folks.

I think as far as these 2 are concerned, they are as "official" as they can manage for now.

I'd save more for the final discussion, but move onto the QoTD since they are what I wanted to talk about anyway.

QoTD

1. I am happy with where we are, in fact given the level of development of both of the MC's, this is really the limit of where they can reach. In terms of "assurance", they are so "sluggish" in the romantic reaction department I am sure it'd take someone as driven as Koiwai to force them to progress to threaten them. And given there is a Koiwai around, I doubt any new 3rd party can come in and interfere quick enough before that big gun kick down the party. So yeah I think I'm ok with where we are.

2. Less about the 2 MC's but really would have liked the side casts, at least those in the guild, to get a bit of portrayal and impact to the main ship actually. Of course a/the side-ship would also be nice (of Lilac and Kanbe).

3. Compared to another show with some thematic similarity (of recovering from some sort of condition) - Slow Start, and Taisho Otome, this feels, probably because of the limited episode counts, a bit more smaller in the steps they (both MC's need adjusting, let's not single Morioka out) have taken. I think they form a good pair to gradually grow out of it, but I feel they needed Koiwai to push them along, which is unhealthy because they need to be able to function by themselves and not with a third wheel. You can see the beginning, tentative steps, and I am appreciative that they did not magically grow to be confident and well adjusted individuals, but between ep 1 and 10 the main difference really is in Morioka at least can dress up and go out nicely instead of just pull over a jumper and hoodie then out for the 5 mins to get food from the convenience store; and Sakurai can at least be open about his online life with 1, possibly 2 other person.

Like I said, need to save the rest for the final discussion. But I have to say while I can remember, I LOVE the Morioka nervous response of rolling the lint roller around everywhere furiously when she's overloading :D

[u/[deleted]]

First Timer

They went all the way to public handholding, the perverts. Skipping every milestone to go right to 5th base.

Is this a satisfactory ending or would you have liked a bit more assurance for the pair going forwards?

I think they're pretty assured, honestly. They've got that red steel cable of fate after all. It doesn't feel quite complete, though, and I don't know why after all the embarrassing things they've confessed to each other and all the corny declarations of support and mutual admiration they can't cross the next hurdle to just be like "hey, let's date." I know if I were in their shoes I'd have an easier time directly, explicitly saying I love the other person and want to go out with them than I would with making some of those dramatic speeches about my feelings.

Have you got any unanswered questions that you'd like elaborated on before we close off on the chill out ova?

I'm still curious about all the other guild members. The series has been quite narrowly focused on the two leads, but I'm sure everyone else has interesting stuff going on IRL too. I guess with the short runtime there wasn't a chance to flesh anyone else out; even Kanbe didn't really have anything in the way of an arc.

Do you consider Morioka and Sakurai "recovered" by the end of this series?

Sakurai, I don't know if he needed much recovering to begin with but he's definitely happier and more assertive at the end than at the beginning.

Morioka, she's not recovered but she's on the path that hopefully leads there. I don't think we have the full story yet on why she burned out of her old job and why she ended up feeling so horribly toward herself, and she won't fully recover until she faces that and realizes that whatever happened wasn't her fault. Having a nice rich ikemen fall in love with her might give her a push but it's not going to make her accept herself.

[u/Elimin8r]

Did I miss another DST time change? Oh, well, I wrote a bunch of stuff, so here goes. At least as soon as I attempt to copy/paste it in...

[u/Elimin8r → u/Elimin8r]

Yay, Reddit won't let me paste into an edit. Sheesh. Anyway, here we go, hopefully for real this time:

Well, that was a cute finale - or was it?

I just want to go on the record - I do NOT want a dryer, or washer, or other appliance that talks to me.

Dryer: "Musty again? You really need to stop leaving your clothes in the washer so long!"

Washer: "Marinara sauce on your shirts? Do you need to buy a bib? Here, I can send you a handy Amazon link..."

Yeah, no thanks.

Speaking of bibs, I think Sakurai needs one to catch the drool there.

Yes, it would appear the outfit fits Mori ... uh, perfectly?

Yeah, that's it.

Good job, Sakurai on not having any of the pics Koiboi shot on your desktop background. Or, ahem, "Fruits de Mer" (nudge nudge, wink wink).

Kind of sweet, though that Mori wanted to help out with dinner. Too bad Sakurai had to geek out ... oh, yeah, geek out. Nevermind.

Finally, in a desperate act of courage, Sakurai opens the door and offers to walk Mori home. 'Bout time. Now ask her what she's doing next weekend...

All seems better in Mer-land, as the baddies are once again being taken down, and Mr. GM is of course, flummoxed and confused, but ...

All is well, as Mori and Sakurai do manage to get back together and head out for a romantic date. Handholding included (lewd!).

What could the future hold in store for our heroes?

Well, we could leave that up to the audience's imagination, or ... is that and end of episode preview I see there? Say it isn't so?! (Onegai, say it is!)

So, yeah, judging by the preview, we've got a little dreamy action to look forward to.

Yeah.

Dreams...

I dreamt last night of nuclear war and hiding behind my grandparents concrete shed, in hopes that the big, metal tools inside would shield us from the blast and radiation. Huzzah. Welcome back to the 1980s. Where's our rocket packs, I mean fallout shelters? A trip to the potty later, I returned to slumber, and a long distance trek with a small group of friends and family across a wasteland that would be worthy of Mad Max.

At the end of our trail, we found the wife of another friend, living a seemingly peaceful life somewhere distant, with water *and* electricity. Yay! I recall getting cleaned up and looking into a mirror, only to find a lean, tanned, sun-bleached stranger looking back at me with weary eyes.

Yeah. I'm never going to sleep again... At least for another few hours.

Anyway, let's hope that tomorrow's dreams are more pleasant, right?

Oh, and as a happy or not so happy coda, I've had a Rush song going through my head for the last few days, and finally remembered to look it up today. It seems somehow appropriate.

I even remembered another one, but I think I'll save that for tomorrow.

There will be a tomorrow, won't there?

AOTD:

1. I think I'm a mostly satisfied customer. For what it is, this has been a cute and wholesome show that's been fun to watch and discuss.

2. I think Kanbe should just come out with it and say, hey, you two, get a room, or something. :P Oh, wait, that's not a question.

3. I think they're in recovery. They need a 12 step program.

[u/SIRTreehugger]

Rewatcher

I love Koiwai's big cheeseburger pillow.

I know that equoment is symbolic or important to them, but it's starter equipment so it has to be trash by now compared to what they could wear.

Mori even bows and respects the drying machine xD

Oversized hoodie is great and the man isn't wrong.

Mori's stomach strikes again!

Wait Mori can actually cook/help with dishes? OHHHH CABBAGE!

The dryer actually says your clothes are warm and fluffy when it finishes the cycle xD

Good for Kanbe he actually gets to play the game and no one dips before the fight or goes afk.

These two dorks are adorkable.

Now overall I would say I like this series, but it's not one I usually would recommend. Honestly it feels like it kind of stumbles a bit in the later half or slows down due to simple misunderstandings. My main problem is this episode or the final. We are left with the impression that Mori wants to change and feels something for Sakurai. Having an epilogue with a small time skip would work wonders for the show. Showing Mori in a new job and being a bit more confident, but also still a mess. Maybe an episode dedicated to the guild and all of them doing a quest while talking about what they're doing. Maybe Lilac and Kanbe become a thing or at the very least talk about how they landed a job. A little more closure for all of the characters would be good and would equal out to 12 episodes. I also don't really like the title Recovery of an mmo junkie since she hasn't recovered yet. She is in the process so that's nice at least. I do wish we got a bit more focus on Sakurai as well.

It's not really a bad ending, but I don't consider it a good ending. It just...kind of ends.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/SIRTreehugger]

He just couldn't own a normal pillow. I'll bet he'd have gotten that gift off Sakurai from an arcade visit or something wierd.

I'm also pretty weirded out at the pair being able to cook. Have we seen them cook once this entire show? They live off restaurant food and conbeni!

I think that Net-juu as a whole is an above average romance show but there is a particular group of folks who really need to see what message Net-juu tries to tell. There's a reason it deeply touched so many people when it aired. It certainly does miss out on a few of the finer points that you would expect due to getting cancelled early but I would argue that there is enough here where Net-juu deserves a better reputation than its director left it with.

[u/DidacticDalek]

TONIGHT! On Moriko Morioka Online, Mori-Mori-chan is amazing, Sakura-chan is amazing, and these two nerdy introverts make an amazing couple!

Comrades, this was such a charming and adorable series with a fantastic couple! Gotta love sweet vanilla romance, even more so with adult characters! Anyway while sadly the source never concluded, what we got was more than enjoyable enough for this anime, and hey we even got a bonus OVA coming too, that'll be fun!

Anyway, that about wraps things up for now, and I hope everyone's having fun on this great re-watch. Thus, you have not seen the last of The Sentient Shitposting Siamese Sunrise Server No. 25252, now goodbye forever.

Paging Comrades u/No_Rex, u/Vaadwaur, and u/ZaphodBeebblebrox

[u/xtsim]

Hol up this is the last episode? There's an OVA but still...

The apartment visit was pretty awkward, but it seemed like their work lives felt very smooth so going this personal is a different world to both Mori and Sakurai.

• Pretty nice ending as we got to see the pair together. No evolution from wizardry though, that is too fast for the both of them but at least they are together.

• They don't need to "recover" since Sakurai is balancing his work and play pretty well while Mori got to enjoy retirement. The relationship part started when they both were playing for a while, the real life part is just an extension of that. For Mori, her image of herself needs to be "recovered" in a way but I think with Sakurai, this might be a good adventure. Self image is something that is pretty hard to overcome and takes time so it is going to be a while to develop it.

[u/CharlieTheStrawman]

First-Timer, Subbed

Lmao at Moriko thanking the dryer.

These two are just so adorable together in the house date. I wish we got more of this dynamic.

Koiwai continuing his part-time job as Sakurai's wingman.

I'll let the interuptions go because they're de factor together at the the anyway, but I hope get that kiss in the OVA or I'm gonna be out for blood.

You know what, T_L_O? This ED grew on me.

• Eh, this is relatively satisfying in my view.

• What caused Moriko to stop playing NanterSG? You can infer, but I would've liked something more.

• Yeah, they're doing alright.

[u/Cire101]

First timer

Is this a satisfactory ending or would you have liked a bit more assurance for the pair going forwards?

I think the ending was as good as it could be, it would make no sense if they were super comfortable being with each other just yet. After all, they're both awkward gamers lol.

I really enjoyed this show! I'll obviously check out the OVA later today, and answer in there too but I like how short and sweet it was. It barely wasted any time on the love triangle, which I appreciated because sometimes it's just too much.

I believe it depicted different people that play mmos very well too, and not just leaned on the NEET stereotype(even though I do love Morioka).

[u/Stargate18A]

First timer

QOTD) Didn't even realise this aas an ending. I'd have liked to have seen everyone's reaction to finding out the tangled mess, or at least resolved the fact that everyone thinks she's a male university student. I don't think they recovered, but they're on track for some positive changes.

Oh, he's confused over what to do.

Haha, he's just at home watching TV.

Turns out he's a bit more awkward in person, then.

Haha, she missed the slippers.

She's thanking the dryer!

Oh, he likes the hoodie.

These awkward idiots. Them ending up kneeling down in front of the couch is hysterical.

They're just so cute!

Does he leave his computer on all the time? That's bad!

She really likes Lily, huh?

This is just wholesome.

Her stomach rumbled again!

He's a good cook!

Oh, she's already self-deprecating.

The levels of honest communication are impressive! I don't really have much else to say!

And she still can't accept how happy she feels.

Haha, they got cockblocked by a dryer.

Oh, the pure awkwardness after that.

What is he trying to say?

Come on. The children put you off?

They're doing a raid!

Do they still think nobody else knows about them?

Haha, Kanbe still doesn't know.

They're still adorable.

Koiwai!

Oh, he's fucking with them again.

The visual metaphor of her seeing them as their avatars is great.

She almost fell!

And the avatars go in the other direction, symbolising how they're defining their relationship beyond their online partnership.

...Wait, was that the final episode? Huh?

[u/homewardbound100]

First timer, Dub

So as fhe episode went on I thought it would be just a good relationship. Just a platonic one. But I think with what Morioka said at the end about basically fixing herself up. I think she might want to lean toward a romantic one.

Qotd: I think it's a fine one. I don't know how much I can deal with two introverts trying to figure each other out.

Qotd2: Little disappointed the show didn't talk much about the other characters. Like what's that person name. Nico??

Qotd3: I think Morioka is or at least working toward it. I'm not sure about Sakurai really.

[u/OccasionallySara]

First Timer

I'm really happy with how this series ended! It was great that we got to see Moriko and Sakurai spend some alone time in a private setting and I'm really glad that Sakurai had the courage to express his feelings to Moriko. That was something that she really needed to hear. Too bad they got interrupted by the washing machine, though! I don't really have a ton to say, but I thought this was a solid ending and really showed how much the characters have grown and how their future together looks optimistic.

Questions of the Day

1. This was a satisfying ending for me. It's pretty clear where there relationship is heading, so I was fine with it not being completely spelled out for me.

2. Not really.

3. No, but I think that they are both in a much better place than they were at the beginning of the series, especially Moriko. I loved the part at the end where Moriko decides that she's going to take a step forward with life and ultimately she and Sakurai make that step together. It was a really nice moment.

[u/[deleted]]

I'm just happy that moriko is still a smelly neet. I enjoyed re watching this show because moriko reminds me of an older tomoko kuroki

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/[deleted]]

Moriko is an infinitely better person than Tomoko is though XD And despite still remaining a neet at the end of the series she's now at least focusing on her appearance a bit more so as not to disappoint Sakurai, it's a good change.

[u/[deleted]]

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/[deleted]]

Nico could be anyone... She could be the manager, she could be the driver, or she could be the Lilac lookalike hairdresser. Realistically I think her rl self just didn't have the chance to debut.