The Summer Hikaru Died Episode 12 Review: Confessions and Confrontations
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
“Okay, I need to brace myself for the final chapter,” I told myself before streaming episode 12 of ‘The Summer Hikaru Died’. Like a lot of viewers who’ve been following the anime, I didn’t want to say ‘goodbye’ to the show yet. And in the very opening minutes, the impish Hikaru talks about going away while playing with little figures.
“Would it solve everything if I returned to the mountain? Would that reduce the impurities and keep everyone safe?”
Hikaru had asked Rie towards the end of episode 11 of ‘The Summer Hikaru Died‘. The mere question strongly hinting at what course of action Hikaru might take in the future. Despite his strong attachment to Yoshiki, and the human world, he seems to slowly realize that maybe Kubitachi village cannot be the place he can call home.
Simply titled ‘Its Place’, the final episode is interestingly set on the last day of school before summer break. While everyone gathers for assembly, a tardy Hikaru chooses to loiter around alone. His classmate and friend Asako seeks him out, and another tense encounter unfolds. Remember how he tried to kill her in episode 6, only to be stopped in the nick of time? But this time, he’s under strict oath not to harm anyone, and though he brands himself a “monster,” the new Hikaru is a creature of his word.
The rest of the finale of ‘The Summer Hikaru Died’ follows Hikaru as he spends the day out of town with Yoshiki, gradually opening up about what’s on his mind. It all builds to an intense, emotionally charged clash between the two friends, set against the setting sun. The day mirrors their earlier outing to the movies and mall, the one that ended with Yoshiki’s attempt to stab Hikaru, believing he was gifting him happy memories before cutting things short. This time, however, it’s Hikaru who delivers the blow, wounding his friend with nothing but words.
Voice actor Shûichirô Umeda nails Hikaru’s complex duality, shifting effortlessly from childlike giggles full of innocence to raw tones of anger, sadness and confusion. Of course, Chiaki Kobayashi does the heavier lifting as Yoshiki, trembling with anxiety, grief, and anger, and carrying the climactic moments of despair with raw force.
My only complaint about ‘The Summer Hikaru Died’, it’s the lack of polish in the animation, backgrounds frequently feel neglected, and even character movements can look simplistic. A prime example comes in the train sequence this episode, where real-life photos appear to have been dropped in as backdrops. Maybe it was a time-saving shortcut, or maybe the jarring contrast was intentional, a visual metaphor for Yoshiki and Hikaru’s detachment from the world around them. I’d like to believe it was the latter.
The last few minutes unfold by the sea, where the two friends finally lay bare their thoughts, and the animation and lighting of the water are strikingly beautiful. One moment they’re laughing by the waves, the next they’re a sniffling mess. An intriguing twist about the legendary “Nonuki-sama” the boys had been investigating in the previous chapters of ‘The Summer Hikaru Died’ is also revealed, though the friends remain unaware of it.
The closing chapter brims with emotion, giving the boys a cathartic farewell as they gaze at the shore, uncertain of what awaits them. It’s the kind of ending that makes this season of ‘The Summer Hikaru Died’ feel like a strong standalone story, while still leaving plenty of promise for a season 2.
Watch ‘The Summer Hikaru Died’ on Netflix.
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