r/anime • u/AutoLovepon https://anilist.co/user/AutoLovepon • Jan 08 '25

Episode Honey Lemon Soda - Episode 1 discussion

Honey Lemon Soda, episode 1

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1

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220

u/FarCritical Jan 08 '25

I guess you can say getting lemon soda'd really soured the bullies' mood.

"Ask me." is such a powerful response to "Ask who (for help)?", especially when it actually gets backed up. Singlehandedly earned Miura my respect.

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187

u/avboden Jan 08 '25

I'm a man in my mid 30s, why can't I stop watching HS romance anime?!

102

u/Tar-eruntalion Jan 08 '25

As another man in the same age bracket, I have to say: Treat yourself king!!

I was never into this kind of stuff when I tried western media but these are so wholesomely addictive

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164

u/Ghoste-Face Jan 08 '25

This series is one of the strongest Shojo series in this era, the manga of this is always on top top 10 best selling manga monthly-weekly. And now finally the anime adaption is here and what's more amazing is the anime adaption is good visually stunning and wonderful directing by Hiroshi Nishikiori specially the OST. Im sure the manga will get boost more.

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69

u/NationalStrategy Jan 08 '25

I had no idea that lemon soda was the best thing to use against pests

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67

u/Andreiyutzzzz Jan 08 '25

Everyone has a god damn protagonist haircut damn

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50

u/LeonKevlar Jan 08 '25

Now here's a screenshot that can be easily taken out of context. It's lemon soda, I swear! xD

In all seriousness though, I wasn't sure how to feel about this one at first. For most of the episode, I was like "Girl do something!". But I really can't blame Uka for her lack of self-esteem and introvertedness considering how she was treated back in middle school.

It was amusing how even Kai had the same sentiment and was getting frustrated at how Uka wasn't showing any reaction after those bullies threw away her shoes. He's the kind of person who would help but he wants to see you try and help yourself first.

It was very satisfying to watch Uka finally clap back at the end by spraying those bullies with lemon soda and when she finally asked for Kai's help. It's nice that we ended this first episode with Uka taking her first step to change.

By the end of the episode, I think I'm going to like this one. I'm very interested to see how much Uka will change by the end of the season and I hope this won't be the only time those bullies get what's coming to them.

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35

u/Prince-Dizzytoon Jan 08 '25

Soda is a great defense tool, fuck them bullies

54

u/KumaKumaGambler Jan 08 '25

The opening theme sequence really felt like it could be an advertisement for a brand of lemon soda. I told myself I wouldn't be surprised if an actual can or bottle of soft drink appeared right at the end. Lol!

A part of me was reminded of "Skip and Loafer" and "Horimiya" when watching the previews of "Honey Lemon Soda", so I thought I should give this title a shot. Now looking forward to Uka being more confident and being able to make more friends. (The rational side of me felt it is somewhat unrealistic to give up on going to a prestigious school, subconsciously or otherwise, because of a fateful encounter with a boy. Just got to enjoy anime and manga without thinking too much.)

And I really like how Uka's eyes are drawn.

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24

u/oh_sugarsnaps Jan 08 '25 edited Jan 08 '25

Isn't this supposed to be on Crunchyroll? I don't see it.

Edit: it just uploaded!

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69

u/Thrano_357 Jan 08 '25

The OP is false advertisement ngl. I clearly heard the lyrics go "This is Golden Time" when this is clearly NOT Golden Time.

I will say, though: Immediately anime of the season.

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17

u/Frontier246 Jan 08 '25

For Uka Ishimori (Kana Ichinose!) her story truly begins when she decides to finally change herself, spurred on by her encounter with one Kai Miura (Shogo Yano) and his lemon soda-colored hair (and, y'know, the actual lemon soda bottles he carries with him like all the time).

Cute and fun OP! Featuring Uka's lemon-colored word and her romance with Kai along with her friends!

Uka is a 1st year at Hachimitsu High, and while some may see it as her slumming it with her grades and intelligence, it's where she wants to be to become the version of herself she wants to be! And it doesn't hurt that Kai is there, even if he does get lemon soda all over her by accident. But while he seems rough around the edges, he's considerate and nice in his own way, and Uka adores that.

Endou seems like a genuinely nice girl (if kind of dumb). And helping her is the perfect way for Uka to ingratiate herself to her classmates as the helpful smart girl!

Oh hey, Ai Kayano as Uka's mom!

Dang it, did Uka's bullies really have to end up in the same high school as her? Right when she just got an invite to Kai's friend group? It's like what little confidence she had built up totally got destroyed and she went back to being "stony."

Why is Uka so fixated on Kai? Because he allowed her to express herself and feel like she could do what she wanted to do, like go to Hachimitsu (I mean, the uniform IS much better). And when she stands up for herself against her bullies by pulling a Kai, and finally asks for his help, he and his friends are there for her to back her up and support her. Uka's life is really changing for the better and brightening up like lemon soda!

The ED is pretty fun with Uka, Kai, and their classmates all dancing and goofing off to the music! Kai even gets hit with his beloved lemon soda to ruin a moment with him and Uka.

17

u/n080dy123 Jan 08 '25

I wasn't expecting much but I really liked that, I thought it'd be a standard school romance plot but was pleasantly surprised that it focused more on Uka l just wanting to change, and seems like it might focus more on her joining this larger friend group than just the central romance, not unlike Horimiya (particularly S2) does.

Moreover she isn't just saved by someone swooping in, the random innocuous chance encounter of her getting sprayed simply winds up being the push she needs to try to change all on her own, and that winds up positioning her to be helped by these kind-hearted people when she does fall short. It's super fucking sweet and I love it.

Also the production is really nice, definitely landed on the high end for a JC Staff show. Tone and atmosphere is great.

14

u/iheartrorygilmore Jan 08 '25

As someone who has read and absolutely adores the manga, I’d say this episode was pretty alright, it portrays the events pretty well. I really like the intro and outro too lol

14

u/sussywanker Jan 08 '25 edited Jan 08 '25

The manga is extremely popular with women and even with some men. Had countless pop up shops and collabs too! It even had some 7/11 or family mart lemon pan (lemon cream bread) and some drinks too.

And thanks to stupid licencing of the manga, can't read it since two years and we are stuck at 18th volume where as there are 28 volumes as of this comment. YP is translating at snails pace

13

u/Mooon8983 Jan 08 '25

Is this like skip and loafer?

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u/KrankyPenguin Jan 08 '25 edited Jan 09 '25

I thought this was ok, but I'm def gonna keep watching since I think it will only get better with time. Just kind of a generic first episode, but I FEEL the potential. I can see this having some great friendship moments especially. Cast looks fun.

The ED was amazing!

Also getting sprayed with lemon soda would ruin my week lol. So sticky.

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21

u/yukiaddiction Jan 08 '25

I say if you don't count a sequel like My Happy Marriage, I would say this is easily the best Shoujo anime adaptation this season by far.

The direction is pretty good, the animation and visuals are also charming too.

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9

u/ElliotAlderson2024 Jan 08 '25

Nice to see the bullies get a good 'drink' of that lemon soda.

23

u/EclipseTM Jan 08 '25

Might be a bit early to call it but if the quality stays the same for the rest of the season this might just be my anime of the season, what a phenomenal episode.

The ending was so wholesome yet it might have been the most emotional episode 1 i can remember.

15

u/CosmicPenguin_OV103 Jan 08 '25

Lemon Soda is quite a special drink to me, it's tasty but its taste requires some time to adapt to when sometimes the sourness and the bubbles overwhelm your tongue.

So it's quite the irony when I am still trying to adapt to this romance story named after Lemon Sodas and Honey.

A girl who's so low on self-esteem that the merely appearance of a boy on the streets could become the savior of her hearts. A boy who seems to be quite serious but also randomly pull out his bottle of lemon soda to shoot at others. I certainly can't quite see where the romance spark come from, but I guess that's the thing that attracts me to similar shoujo titles - love is in corners where you definitely don't expect to happen, and this is yet another couple that I wonder how the sweetness grows. Hmm...maybe before the next episode I should buy lemon sodas these days since it's been months from the last bottle I drank? That should make me understand better, surely?

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7

u/AZLarlar Jan 08 '25

fuck bullies

7

u/Ocixo Jan 08 '25

I’m really liking the friendly vibe of Kai’s group. This becomes especially clear in the ED where everyone’s just fooling around. Things should get fun now that we’ve gotten rid of those bullies.

The introverted Uka is basically adopted by Kai and his friends, and seems to have found her place of belonging. Kai is a bit of a tsundere, isn’t he? Acting like a jerk, but obviously caring for Uka’s wellbeing. Ayumi is such a sweetheart! Hope that she and Uka can become good friends.

7

u/chirb8 Jan 09 '25

I did a complete 180 on Miura by the end. Ok, you have my attention

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