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Well, this was just about what I was worried it would be after the ending of the previous episode. Senpai Is An Otokonoko episode 3 sees the bottom fall out on this story as Makoto finds themselves in a free fall of a despair-induced identity crisis. I have absolutely nothing against heavier and more emotional plot points such as these, but I do think that they need to be handled with care, dedication, and time. While the first certainly is present, the second is a bit questionable, and the third is most certainly absent from the work.

So, how does it go? Makoto’s handkerchief being found by his mother is really the only catalyst for the destruction of Makoto’s life at school. Quite frankly, I’m not at all a fan of it. Makoto gives a perfectly reasonable response (as expected), but still heads towards an overreaction. Even though their father isn’t around as much as their mother, having someone in your corner like that would certainly prolong your ability to hold out against those setbacks- especially when they’re so few and far between. I know that Makoto’s struggle with identity has lasted several years at this point- the episode does well to remind you of that- but in these sorts of confrontations you don’t feel it. You don’t get to understand the weight of Makoto being spooked their mother might think “he’s still into those girly things”, you just know that Makoto has been curious about it since a kid. The tension doesn’t exist, the drama is superficial- it’s a development that can’t find enough reasons to be as important as it is.

Similarly, I totally understand the angle of making masculine Makoto popular because they’re “normal”, but I feel like Senpai Is An Otokonoko episode 3 doesn’t push the envelope enough. High school kids are rather picky about things they don’t understand, and that’s wildly more true about concepts that exist outside the norm in Japanese high schools. In all likelihood, Makoto showing up in masculine clothing would still have the student apprehensive about them. Of course, in this case the opposite is true because it better serves the narrative idea that people are more comfortable with what’s normal rather than what’s you.

Anyways, the point is that while the positive reaction to “normal” Makoto is good, it finds itself satisfied with being a regular amount of attention. I feel like cranking it up a few notches would really highlight the disparity and dysphoria in this particular case. With where it stands currently, it feels like it’s more so meant to be interpreted literally rather than the inverse of what it actually is.

Let’s take a break and talk positives, though. Senpai Is An Otokonoko episode 3 does have some definitively good pieces to it, starting early on with the appearance of Makoto’s father. As I mentioned earlier, their father is a supporter of Makoto’s, and even set them up for dressing how they like at school. It’s a really good piece that serves as a very solid springboard for allowing Makoto to express themselves. Similarly, I really did like that Aoi didn’t buy Makoto’s words for a minute as it cements her character as Makoto’s biggest cheerleader. In contrast, it has Ryuuji have to reexamine their romantic interest in Makoto a bit, and does well to highlight the uncertainty and wariness they carry alongside those feelings.

Truthfully, if you removed the former half of the episode and leaned heavily into the contents of the back half, I’d say that this third episode would be quite good. I really like everything that Aoi and Ryuuji do towards the end, and the symbolism and narrative are far stronger. Things like Makoto destroying their locker only to further resolve their identity is a great idea, forcefully removing Makoto’s nature of hiding it and replacing it with confidence in themselves at all times. Additionally, I love the use of Makoto’s suit to discuss gender binaries and how aspects of society “fit” into them. Mixing the suit with their wig, they deny the normal binary that society wants them to adhere to, and with Aoi donning it later on, it basically all but crushes any notion of what’s male or female within that snapshot.

It’s just that Senpai Is An Otokonoko episode 3 isn’t built to handle what it wanted to talk about earlier. It absolutely can excel with the positive and happy moments, but dipping its toes into more serious discussion it ends up seeming… half-baked. Ideas and execution are there alongside care in how its presented, but the other areas are lacking. There’s not a real commitment to that more emotional aspect of the series. It can have the upset and shaky mother, but that’s about all that Makoto’s mother could be. Makoto’s father is potentially a different story, but we don’t yet know. The biggest shortcoming is absolutely time, though. Tearing apart Makoto’s life, and putting it back together in a single episode is just too much. There’s no room to discuss the process, no space to explore how it really affects Makoto at school and at home. The only plot point that I think I can say lands well is when Makoto asks Aoi out. It’s something we’ve had time to stew over, it’s a serious part of the concept for the story, and it just fits within that romantic framework that the series pursues.

Mostly everything else up until the end of Senpai Is An Otokonoko episode 3 though? Double the length of it, pepper in some more drama and intensity, and you will have a far better experience with it. As it stands, it’s closer to a timeline of events that people similar to Makoto have experienced. Surely, it’s something that’s poignant and relatable to them as they’ve struggled with it, but to the outside viewer? It’s going through the motions of a dramatic story without anything to engage you. It’s a shallow retelling when you don’t have the memories to fill in the blanks, which is unfortunate. Thankfully, after having their world come to an end and start anew, Makoto seems ready to tackle life once again with that same shine and sparkle that we’d seen previously.