This was another emotional episode of Ano Hana. Everyone is having difficulties and working to overcome them. Anjou is facing rumors at school that she’s a prostitute, Jinta works up to courage to go to school, only to defend Anjou and run away, and Menma is worried about her mother. Poppo seems lonely, Tsurumi faces jealousy at school because of her relationship with Matsuyuki, and Matsuyuki is still trying to get over the past. I particularly enjoy how Ano Hana presents all these issues at once: we don’t have one episode focusing on Anjou, one on Tsurumi, etc., but all their problems are intertwed. Jinta, in overcoming his own fear of school helps Anjou face the rumors
My favorite scene in this episode was when Menma was crying and telling Jinta not to see her mom, and then Jinta got a nosebleed. It just seemed like a perfect release for all that built-up steam. It was anti-climatic and completely unexpected, and served to show the turbulence and uncertainty behind both Jinta and Menma’s feelings. Menma is yelling at Jinta, but then she immediately forgets about it and starts stuffing him with tissues when his nose starts bleeding. It also serves as a reminder that she’s still a child. And Jinta likewise goes from angry at Menma, to surprised his nose is bleeding, to blushing and running away when she jumps on top of him. The return of his nosebleed when he saw Anjou again was a nice touch too.
I think it’s going to be nice if the anime shows how Jinta eventually gets over Menma and move on with his life. It might be harsh but she’s been dead for a couple of years and if he can’t realize that and get on with things, then he doesn’t really deserve sympathy despite being the main lead. Of course I don’t mean leaving Menma high and dry, what I mean is that, I hope that Jinta will realize that he’s got other options besides a dead girl. *ahem* Anjou.
I agree, I think that Jinta accepting Menma’s death is what the entire show has been building up for. Not sure if he’ll develop another romantic interest, but I certainly hope so. 🙂
First thing I noticed about Menma is she’s acting like a housewife. Even though it’s obvious that Jinta like Menma, I’m hoping for a Jinta-Anaru ending.
I’m hoping that Jinta will move past Menma too… I think that unfortunately for Jinta, relationships with ghosts don’t have very promising futures.