Special A - Episode 9

Following directly on from the last episode, the ninth instalment of Special A sees Hikari taken 'hostage' by Yahiro, apparently as a way of getting to Akira. The reason for this is all rather confusing, as the whole issue between them is never explained apart from via a brief and rather unhelpful flashback sequence, that only confirms that this happened quite some time ago when the pair were much younger.

Unfortunately, not revealing this point rather renders the rest of the episode a bit moot, as we aren't sure whether we should be hating Yahiro (although he does seem the detestable type), Akira, both or neither, which in turn means that I found myself really not caring too much as to what was going on.


On what is perhaps a more positive note, we do get a little movement in the Kei-Hikari relationship, although as ever this is largely stunted by other goings on in the classic way of anime shows such as this one, serving as another point of frustration.

For an episode that took itself quite seriously, the lack of any explanation of its major plot point was a pretty big failing for me, which reduced both the impact and importance of said episode down to a bare minimum. Not good for a series that has hardly been the pinnacle of top-notch entertainment from the offset anyway.