Episode 10 – The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity

It’s not unusual for a love-themed drama to do well in its cast of characters. (Or at least, it shouldn’t be.) But a lot of the time, that’s limited to leads and maybe a friend or two. Not so Fragrant flowers bloom with dignity;From Rintaro’s mother to each of his friends, all of the designated characters are not only well developed, but integral to the plot. Many authors make the mistake of giving characters names and then not using them in a meaningful way (creative writing theory is that names tell the reader/viewer that characters are important), but here, everyone really matters.

This means that even episodes in which Rintaro and Kaoruko barely interact are important. This week, they spent a little time learning with others at a family restaurant, but the real work was only done by Rintaro and the others. Although Raita and Usami were mediocre academically, they were not stupid, and the two of them, along with Saku, had by now figured out what Rintaro thought he was hiding: his crush on Kaoruko. They had obviously suspected this before, but it became clear when they saw the two people sitting side by side in the restaurant, looking like they were studying. Subaru obviously knows that too, but she and Kaoruko talk about these things more than the men do, mostly because of who they are as people, not because “men don’t talk about love” or any of that nonsense. Although she tells Rintaro that Kaoruko’s birthday is coming up and knows how much it means to her friend, both Saku and Raita understand that they need to be more cautious with Rintaro.

You may have noticed the name I left behind. Last week, I believe I said that Usami acts less like a golden retriever and more like an orange cat, and he certainly proved that this week. The other two were willing to wait until Rintaro was ready to tell him herself, while Usami just lunged forward, like my cat Sammy climbing up the curtain, knowing he shouldn’t: he just asked point-blank if Rintaro and Kaoruko were dating. He didn’t just ask; He does this when they go out with a group of other classmates who don’t even know that Rintaro, Usami, Saku, and Ita are friends with the Kikyo girl. This is pretty much the worst timing ever and feels like classic Usami at this point. He didn’t spare a second glance before he pounced on the boy.

Even though Usami’s question was so ill-timed, it was really just his way of showing Rintaro that he cared. He wasn’t upset that his friend was dating a Kikyo girl or anything; he just genuinely wanted to know because he cared. He tries to show interest in Rintaro’s life and shows that they are friends no matter what. He certainly doesn’t want Rintaro to get caught up in the confusion of what it means to date someone, which is why it’s important that Raita can help Rintaro get back on his feet. He realizes that Rintaro is having trouble answering Usami’s questions, so he offers to help him clear his mind. Sure, he wants Rentaro to snap out of it so they can beat the other team in the bowl game, but his conversation remains calm, kind, and thoughtful. He really showed how much he likes Rintaro listen And make sure he’s okay. Usami and Ita balance each other out as friends, both helping the more awkward half of the team (Rintaro and Saku) feel comfortable around them, just like Kaoruko did with Subaru. They’re not just a bunch of guys hanging out together; they’re true friends, a relationship that’s as meaningful as the burgeoning romance between Rintaro and Kaoruko.

The friends in this show are more than just wingmen who drive the romantic plot forward. This is what elevates this series above many of its genre counterparts and makes it a romance series that I would recommend without hesitation to those who aren’t always into romance.

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Fragrant flowers bloom with dignity Currently live broadcast
Netflix.