My Roommate is a Cat Episode 4 Review: For You

The cutest odd couple is back with more cute miscommunications in this week’s super fun episode of My Roommate is a Cat. Subaru and Haru tackle yet another obstacle on their sweet cohabitation journey.

Plot

Subaru realizes he hasn’t given Haru a collar and sets out to get her one. However, when the pet shop clerk learns that Haru hasn’t been to the vet, she rectifies the situation. But, the trip to the vet comes with a new set of obstacles for both Haru and Subaru to overcome, together.

Episode Highlights

They’re in sync: When a few uninvited guests stop by the house, Subaru and Haru are less than enthusiastic. Usually, Haru and Subaru are on two completely different wavelengths, but, when their quiet afternoon is disturbed, they’re both noticeably unhappy about it.

Meeting New People: In this week’s episode Subaru has the chance to interact with a few pet owners, something he has avoided up until this point. It’s a nice change of pace to see Subaru talking with people other than Kawasa and Hiroto.

Trip to the vet: I have been assured that the vet scene is pretty accurate, both the waiting room scene and the actual consultation with the doctor. Special mentions to the examination and Haru’s jumpiness while being examined by the doctor.

Themes & Trivia

Genki Guy: Know someone that is always upbeat and optimistic no matter what happens? Have a friend that smiles even when they’ve just had the most miserable string of bad luck? Well, that person is what we like to call a genki guy! And, wouldn’t you know it, My Roommate is a Cat has a genki guy too, Subaru’s self proclaimed, ‘best bud’, Yasaka Hiroto!

Tuxedo Cat: They are bi-colored cats with fur that is made up of two distinct colors, in this case black and white. They are so named because their coloring is similar to that of a tuxedo.

Comments

I’m starting to realize that there most likely won’t be any real ‘conflic’” in this anime. I probably should have come to this realization sooner, since this is an anime about an introverted novelist and his cat, but, I guess hindsight is 20/20. This of course isn’t a complaint, since I quite like the lighthearted slice of life story. It’s a nice change of pace from the stuff I was covering last season.

Even though I say that, it’s hard to ignore the fact that Subaru is a rather complex character. Unlike your typical protagonist, Subaru is reclusive and withdrawn, preferring the peace and quiet of his home to the hustle and bustle of the outside world. On top of that, he is still actively grieving the loss of his parents, and while it isn’t outright stated, it is hinted that his reluctance to get close to people is an extension of that loss (granted he was withdrawn before their deaths). He’s not just learning how to take care of Haru, but also what it means to truly open up to someone else. Yeah, he has friends and people that care about him, but it’s only after he takes in Haru that he truly learns how to care for someone else.

I really liked that we got to see Haru ‘talking’ with other animals during her half of the episode. I thought they were going to go the Haru narrates everything route, but thankfully that wasn’t the case. Though, I’m a little disappointed that we only got to see Haru and the dog talk, buuuuut, that was one cute dog, so I suppose I could forgive the lack of variety.

My World is Expanding

In this week’s episode Haru and Subaru take a trip to the vet, and it’s fun to see how terrified they both are by the experience. Haru is a bit taken aback by the strange new environment, and Subaru is nervous about having to interact with the doctors and nurses, but, they ultimately overcome their fears not for themselves, but, for each other’s sake. All in all, another super cute episode!

I’ll be back next week with another My Roommate is a Cat review, but in the meantime, be sure to check out MANGA.TOKYO’s other amazing Winter 2019 reviews!!

NEXT TIME: What I Want to Tell You