3-gatsu no Lion Episode 38 Review: White Storm (Part 4, Continued) / White Storm (Part 5) / Restart

3-gatsu no Lion (March Comes in like a Lion) is delivering the things stories are supposed to deliver: true, unfiltered narratives about human beings. The conclusion of White Storm was not as episodic as fans of more action-oriented anime may be used to, nor did 3-gatsu ever tried to be dramatic for the sake of drama. Souya, a god to the plain shogi eyes, is just another troubled soul who lost something and found solace in something else, both dear.

Japanese Title: 白い嵐④ (承前) / 白い嵐⑤ / 再始動

Plot

Chapter 76 – White Storm Part 4

In possibly the shortest chapter we have seen in 3-gatsu no Lion, Rei and Chairman Jinguuji go through the truth of Souya’s situation. I wasn’t sure in my last review, but the chairman confirmed that Souya has a condition that denies him his hearing. He is deaf, at least most of the time, and the ‘White Storm’ title of the chapter takes a whole new meaning. Like the white noise in his ears or the white hair on his head, this storm refers to Souya’s personal drama that condemned him in a silent world that can’t be anything else but solitary and stormy.

In my memories, he was always alone

Chapter 77 – White Storm Part 5

Part 5 elaborated on Souya’s condition. With the backdrop of his silent room reminding us what a lonely existence he must be living due to his condition, Souya sleeps as the chairman explains to Rei how the Meiji’s deafness has affected his life. As Rei said, in all the years he has admired him from afar, he has never seen Souya spend time with someone else, or laugh for that matter. With all the similarities between them, it’s not difficult to imagine that Rei’s journey, especially considering the bleak darkness of Rei’s soul in the first two cours, could have taken a similar path. Like Souya, who supposedly doesn’t mind his deafness, Rei could have easily dismissed his problems as irrelevant in front of being a shogi master. Thank the shogi God, his path turned to be quite different, thanks to all the wonderful people he found on the way. This point was made clearer in the last chapter of the episode.

Chapter 78 – Restart

In a great opener that makes more sense if you think about the contrast between Souya’s loneliness and Rei’s ongoing relationships, the Kawamoto family reminds us that the important things in life are something too trivial for their own good, like the recipe for the perfect boiled egg. Happiness is in the eye of the beholder, isn’t it? The scene was less an intermission and more of a reminder of the reasons Rei won’t take the same path as Souya did. A reminder that could only be solidified with the inclusion of more of Rei’s friends, even if I would have preferred if we could have seen Hayashida-sensei as well. Shimada-san was the messenger that initiated one of the most touching reunions of the season, that with Nikaidou. After throwing himself mentally into his game with Souya, Rei found a way out of the constant clicking of the shogi tiles in his head, after hearing that Nikaidou was out of the hospital. The joy of finally being able to see his best friend (and rival) brought a light in his eyes that screamed of positivity. If you take a look at the chapter’s title, you will understand why this was a most fitting end to this episode and a great counter-chapter to the bleakness of ‘White Storm.’ How many times have you seen Rei laugh as whole-heartedly as he did after Nikaidou explained the move that will grant him immortality?

Episode Highlights

And the prize for: the shortest chapter goes to White Storm Part 4. 2:30 minutes.

Chapters: I believe it was the first time the chapter titles had different visuals to them. 76 had the usual white background with black letters but 77 and 78 mixed up things a bit. 77 had a black background with white letters and 78 had red letters on a white background.

Pressure Cooker: These cookers are amazing. If you haven’t tried cooking in one, then your culinary experience will never be complete. Do you want tender beef in 20 minutes? What did you say? It’s not possible? Get a pressure cooker and change your life.

The Eccentricity of Genius

I really can’t imagine where 3-gatsu no Lion is going to end its anime run. I am not reading the manga so I don’t really know what is going to happen next, but I am guessing we will be seeing a lot more of Souya.

Did you like Episode 38 of 3-gatsu no Lion? Let us know in the comments and don’t forget to check the rest of our Winter 2018 reviews.