Strawberry Panic Vol. 3: Third Wheel Review

            In the next four episodes of Strawberry Panic, the series will begin to highlight the drama and conflicts starting with summer vacation. At the start of the volume, almost everyone is leaving in order to go see family. Nagisa is staying behind however which leads to some private study time with Shizuma and Rokujyo, though Shizuma has some other ideas for things she’d like to do with Nagisa alone as well.

            Meanwhile over in Spica, the relationship between Hikari and Amane has caught the interest of more than a few people. While Momomi and Kaname will go to extreme lengths to break up the relationship and move forward with their plan to fix the next Etoile selection, Yaya will be forced to deal with her feelings for Hikari.

            In the final two episodes of this volume, it is time for the school’s annual festival to begin which includes plays put on by the students of Strawberry Hall. The play chosen is ‘Carmen’ and once again, there will be tons of backstage maneuvering to get the popular choices into the lead roles. Just like we started though, the focus here will be on Nagisa and Shizuma’s relationship as others attempt to use the show as a means to their end.

Good and the Bad

            The relationship between Nagisa and Shizuma picks up right away on this volume with the two of them spending quite a bit of this series together. In episode twelve, finally the audience will see Shizuma start to show her feelings towards Nagisa in a very real and abrupt manner. All throughout this episode, Shizuma is presented to the audience in such a great manner. When the two of them were together in this episode I couldn’t have taken my eyes off the screen even if I wanted to.  

            Over in Spica, the relationship between Hikari and Amane is easily the weaker of the two. Strawberry Panic really tries to play up how important Amane is going to be later on using Hikari as the device to do it. This normally would work. What makes it not work in this case however is how weak of a character Hikari is.

            While the staff has done their best to develop her and make her into someone the audience can sympathize with. What they created instead is a character that is so shy and reserved that it’s frustratingly difficult to get behind her. She fits the mold of the quiet character that worships the one she loves but all this does is make her into a two dimensional plot device that couldn’t carry a backpack let alone a major part of the series. With half the series remaining though, Hikari is being set up as a character to keep a very close eye on.

            Perhaps the most surprising element to these episodes is the sudden increase of sexual content. While the characters are never shown out right having sex, it seems that the staff is really started to relax about showing the characters in sexual situations. Nagisa and Shizuma will share quite a few intimate moments in these episodes and various smaller characters will be shown kissing, making out, in the bath together or sharing post-coitus pillow talk.

I was pleasantly surprised to see the sexual content used as context instead of a primary subject. While there is plenty of fan service to go around, it’s never put in just for the sake of having it. The only questionable bit on this entire volume is how often Momomi and Kaname are shown in the bath together. We get it, they like to plot and scheme in the tub. We don’t need to see them doing it every single episode though.  

Music

            As the first half ends, new theme songs are introduced to the audience. Replacing the old theme is the upbeat and very pop sounding ‘Kuchibiru hakuchumu’ sung by Aki Misato. On the other side of the episodes is the new closing theme ‘Ichigotsumi Monogatari’ sung by Mai Nakahara and Ai Shimizu. While the opening animation changes to highlight the relationships, the new closing theme moves in an entirely new direction. In the new ending presentation, Nakahara and Shimizu will be shown looking like paper dolls sharing special moments in a live action version of Strawberry Hall (at least I assume so by the moments when the two of them are singing in front of strawberry wallpaper). The design of this animation however looks like something out of Pee-Wee’s Playhouse. The new songs aren’t bad and they fit the series very well but I really preferred the first themes.

Dub vs. Sub

            The cast continues to deliver some great performances. Mai Nakahara deserves the standout performance of the volume just for episode twelve however. The very subtle development in this episode is absolutely amazing and the gentle inflections when Nagisa and Shizuma are out at the pool watching fireworks are impossible to miss.

Overall

            This series may go down as one of the more underrated titles of the year. While it took forever to get to this point, anyone who has stuck with the series this far no longer have any reason to turn back. The seeds have been planted for Shizuma/Nagisa and Amane/Hikari. With as many twists at this these five episodes take, audience members are in a place where it’s impossible to predict what will happen next. This is more than a yuri series, this is a prime piece of drama. Recommended.