My Deer Friend Nokotan Episode 7 - Still Random, Still Odd

My Deer Friend Nokotan episode 7 premiered last week, and the randomness of the show is still alive and well. From deer fashion shows to growing antlers and scenes that made a doujinshi artist smile, this show gives regardless of who’s accepting it.

The Woes of a President

Does anime reflect life, or does life reflect anime? I’m inclined to say that they are one and the same. We may not be able to travel to distant worlds. However, if the most exotic thing you’ve ever seen is the concrete jungle, stepping foot in a place like Tierra del Fuego might make you feel as though you’re in a different world.

Ecchi shows seem unbelievable to you? Hate to break it to you, but those plots are a daily occurrence. People date and frolic with their step-siblings all the time. Why is that important here? Both life and anime reveal an undeniable truth: if you’re blonde, display delinquent tendencies, speak loudly, surround yourself with idiots, and serve as president, you’ll have a rough time. Because you’ll be lead to believe that all ideas are good ideas.

And that’s exactly the predicament Koshitan finds herself in as the president of the Deer Club. As another edition of the world-renowned Shikacolle rolls around, Nokotan wants in. But, she needs Koshitan to do so, and while Koshitan is easily coerced into it and gives it a solid go, it’s an effort far beyond her abilities, so they tank. So, what does a club president do when she needs a win to garner more funds? She follows Mayonaka Punch’s example and opens a MyTube channel! But again, anime and real life are one and the same. For in both, chances are that if you’re trying to be a wealthy streamer, the odds aren’t in your favor. And, they certainly weren’t in Koshitan’s favor.

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As a person, I don’t find comfort in most things. That’s not to say my life’s bad; it’s just not up to muster. My achievements, romantic love, and successes don’t mean much to me; they bring no comfort. What did bring comfort was watching Nokotan’s antlers grow and wiggle during the Deer Club’s live stream in My Deer Friend Nokotan episode 7. Why? Because I know that somewhere in Japan; a Pixiv artist saw those antlers rage around that club room and immediately started drawing wonders. Things that disappoint my mom aside, the more I think about it, the more I realize Koshitan has a hard life.

Think about it. Nokotan can make things appear at will; she can take direct hits from a mini-gun; and she can communicate with deer. All those things are moneymakers, yet Koshitan has to struggle to get the basic necessities for her club—truly a lamentable life if I ever saw one. Even when Koshitan takes the initiative to sort things out, like when she is going to cut Nokotan’s antlers, it’s an exercise in futility. She never quite accomplishes anything.

My Deer Friend Nokotan Episode 7: A Primer in Hospitality

If I asked you to describe hospitality, do you think you’d get it right? Do you think your approach would be seen as favorable by ten out of ten people? If you say yes, congratulations. You don’t understand hospitality. That’s the predicament Yoshiharu Tsubemeya finds himself in. He prides himself in the art of hospitality, but his assurance is torn apart by Nokotan like a deer in Nara tears a deer cracker. But this becomes a teachable moment, both for him and for us as the audience. At the end of the day, if you’re trying to reach someone and your approach fails, you don’t double down; you try another way.

As of next week, we’re 2/3rds into this show. Two months went by in the blink of an eye, and that reminds me that I’m getting old; my golden days are behind me, and they were always grey. But what I’ve pondered the most still remains a vague abstract in my mind. “Why are humans not deer?” Still, I wonder if this show will ever let us know why.

Screenshots via Crunchyroll
© Oshioshio, Kodansha / Hino Minami High School Deer Club