Let's Go Karaoke! – Season 1 Episode 4 Recap & Review

The Review Geek

7 hours ago

Episode 4
Let's Go Karaoke! episode 4 starts going way back in time. When Kyouji Narita was born, his mother gave him the name Kyoji and asked his grandfather to submit his birth certificate. However, the man stained the paper with cigarette ashes and had to write the name again. As he was desperate to fix it, he ended up writing it the wrong way.
Years later, in the 2000s, Kyouji worked at a karaoke bar. During the night shift, he knocked and entered a room with two yakuza, and one of them got angry at him. So, he threw his drink at Narita's face. Still, the boy only apologized and went to another room to deliver more food, completely unfazed.
Soon, he got a call to come back to the same room and saw that they were all yakuza as well, and one of them had rashes. The gangster was allergic to alcohol, which got mixed into their chicken after Narita was bathed in it. After he explained that, the two yakuza groups clashed. While they fought, Narita was so dazed that he ended up suggesting they resolve their issues with a karaoke battle as a joke.
Even though Kyouji didn't participate in the fight, his boss let him go after the incident. So, the yakuza boss, who was nice to Narita, hires him. Kyouji always knew the gears of his life would go berserk at some point, and that's how it started. Now, the anime takes us back to Satomi, seeing the aftermath of a car crash.
The boy walks away, almost crying, and remembers Kyouji's competition. Then, he runs to the place they hold it every year in the hopes of finding him. However, when he gets there, he can't find him anywhere. He shouts at all the gangsters, and their boss answers Narita's already in hell.
The boy can't believe what he's hearing and curses at them, saying they should be in hell too. Before he leaves, the boss demands that he go back and sing something, after barging into the place and being rude. Thus, Satomi chooses one and realizes that he doesn't hate Kyouji.
He sings with the hand on his throat, but still does it with all his might. As the song goes, he remembers his moments with Kyouji, and all the yakuza members see his incredible skills. Meanwhile, his classmate Wada prepares for the school festival and thinks about how despicable Satomi is for running away. However, he doesn't know the boy is in an important battle right now.
Even though Satomi advised Kyouji not to sing Crimson, the man would always put it on during their karaoke sessions. So, he's sure Narita would choose the same song for the competition. To honor him, he did the same.
When the music ends, everyone claps and celebrates with the boy, praising him. The yakuza boss even cries after listening to his heartfelt presentation. However, a surprising person also applauds his efforts. It's Kyouji himself.
The boy can't believe his eyes, and the man explained it was a joke and that the boss was in on it. Narita expected the man he had attacked the day before would go after him, so he was prepared for the car crash. He couldn't miss the karaoke competition, so he didn't stay on the scene and ran to the bar. After that, the boy cries, and everyone laughs. That's the last time Satomi sees Kyouji.
Years later, Satomi goes to the same karaoke place where he taught Narita with his classmates to celebrate their graduation. They use the same room as well, and he finds Narita's card that he left there. Touched by the situation, the boy takes it home with him.
As he's about to go on a flight to Tokyo to start college, he sees the card again and decides to keep it as a memento. Then, again, Narita sits by his side and surprises him. The boy thought he was dead, but the gangster was only avoiding him for a while and letting him enjoy his high school years.
Now, he offers him a new card and says he's also going to Tokyo on a business trip. He reveals that he ended up being the worst singer and used the boy's strategy of telling the boss something they liked as if they hated it. So, now, he has the name 'Satomi' tattooed on his arm. To wrap up the episode, he invites the boy to karaoke one more time once they arrive in Tokyo.
The Episode Review
Let's Go Karaoke! concludes its main story in a nice note. It's an emotional episode as we learn more about Narita and finally see Satomi singing. Having him overcome his fears by participating in the yakuza competition is a great curveball that makes even more sense than being part of the choir festival. It also serves to show how he grew to care about Kyouji.
Narita's not being dead was quite predictable, but it doesn't affect the scene. What's important is Satomi's feelings for him, not whether the man died or not. It shows a sweet and innocent side of the boy, despite his harsh and nonchalant façade.
Seeing Satomi singing Crimson is the highlight of the show. Not only are his thoughts beautiful, but the colours representing him and the song are, too. The scene also makes it clear that his voice is changing, but he can still sing. You can hear the cracks in his voice as he tries to hide and fight them with his skill. It's a great presentation.
Let's Go Karaoke! shines when it tries something new with its visual representation, but its dialogue and plot hardly have the same impact. So it's a great achievement that this episode combined the anime's strengths and developed Satomi into a better character. Let's hope the last episode does the same and gives viewers a fitting conclusion.
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