Is it possible to have a slice-of-life, high school anime without a sports festival? My Deer Friend Nokotan episode 9 exists to remind us that no, that’s not possible. The concept of a sports festival bewilders me; I refused to participate in PE in high school. What were they going to do? Hit me? I’d hit back. Send me home; that’s a win. Expel me? That was the dream. But, again, Koshitan and I are very different people.
While Koshitan hides her unsavory past by pretending to be a pillar of the community, I put mine on my resume. Regardless of how we deal with our past, life bests us whenever we think we have something in the bag. And so, after barely managing to start the sports festival, life colludes against Koshitan’s dream of a timely event.
Sport Festivals Suck
Despite my fondness for outdoor activities like hiking and rock climbing, I detest sports. Physical activity is for the young, and spiritually, I turned 50 by the time I was 20. So when it’s a sports festival episode, I zone out. But that’s only true when deer-related activities aren’t involved. After all, a race against seniors and deer is no longer a sport; that’s a challenge unlike any other. And any race that lets me frolic in a school with explosives is a blessing.
Luckily for Koshitan, after a cheering montage, the chance to get things back on track pops up, or does it? For much like “This item can’t be shipped to your location” is a burden to my soul, Nokotan is a burden to Koshitan’s soul. Instead of getting a lucky break, Koshitan finds herself facing a deer parade that complicates things even more. But, one has to say, it was a beautiful parade. It brought tears to the eyes of its spectators like Summer Dreams Project ☆’s Umi Sonoda cover of ‘Aion no Uta’ brought tears to mine.
Yet, despite all the problems plaguing them, they manage to get to the last event, a relay race. A relay race that can’t happen because of all the deer lounging around the field. I would have called it quits a long time ago, but Koshitan is a better person than I am, so she perseveres. And with the help of the student council and club, and some deer touching, she manages to clear the field. But all the stress that came from the day and Nokotan’s mishaps caused her to break and reveal her true self. But this being anime, the power of friendship prevails, and she’s accepted for who she is.
My Deer Friend Nokotan Episode 9: Comments
The power of gullibility never ceases to amaze me. Once upon a time, Ronald Reagan sold trickle-down economics like it was a God-sent solution to economic woes; people bought into it, and now most of us can’t afford rent. Once, fast-food chains said they couldn’t raise hourly wages because it would affect product pricing, and people believed it. Now, a $5 foot-long costs $15, and Big Mac meals cost about the same as a downpayment on a Jeep. Why bring this up? Because a few months ago, a hot blonde waifu danced in front of a deer, and everyone and their grandpa believed My Deer Friend Nokotan was going to be the greatest thing since two-ply toilet paper.
Weebs hyped themselves so much that they expected the show to trump Nichijou. Even though in every tread about the show, you’d see people who read the source material pointing out that it’s a gag-comedy. I for one have had a grand time with this show; it’s my kind of humor. My Deer Friend Nokotan and VTuber Legend lead this season by strides in my book. So, there’s no complaints from me.
Screenshots via Crunchyroll
© Oshioshio, Kodansha / Hino Minami High School Deer Club
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