Warning: Spoilers for Studio Apartment, Good Lighting, Angel Included episode #4
Most anime fans thought they knew what Studio Apartment, Good Lighting, Angel Included would be about after the premiere episode on Crunchyroll. It didn’t help, either, that the new anime reminded them of the Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten. Angel Included was supposed to be a more literal version of the supernatural aspect that its predecessor’s name implied. However, everything changed in episode #3.
Episode #3 became the latest example of the ubiquitous third episode rule in anime, with the introduction of another supernatural girl, which strongly suggested a supernatural harem. This theory was all but confirmed and even expedited in the incredible cliffhanger, which also introduced a non-supernatural girl to the mix.
But now, episode #4 is disproving all this and even putting into question the originally implied main couple between the human boy Shintaro Tokumitsu and the angel Towa who lives with him.
Studio Apartment, Good Lighting, Angel Included Now Includes More Than Just An Angel
Original story written by matoba; anime adaptation produced by Okuruto Noboru
Although all the characters surrounding Shintaro just happen to be female, episode #4 solidifies each of their unique roles in the series – and all, except one of them, are not romantically tinged. Normally, all the girls in harem anime are interested in one (usually male) protagonist, which is clearly not the case here. Most importantly, all of their relationships with Shintaro and even each other are actually beginning to overshadow the one between Shintaro and Towa, even though they are still living with each other.
Although Shintaro will undoubtedly still have “intense” moments with Towa at home, it seems much more likely that future episodes of Studio Apartment, Good Lighting, Angel Included on Crunchyroll will explore each of his relationships with every supernatural and human girl equally instead, and this is a good thing.
What Noel Izumi’s relationship with Shintaro represents is the most important kind of friendship for someone who has had no friends before. Even though their relationship began with a naughty twist, it’s clearly defined by how much Noel depends on her friendship with Shintaro. Episode #4 also adds a more comedic aspect to their overall dynamic, with Noel only being able to act in extremes around Shintaro, which has undoubtedly set the tone for how their friendship will be portrayed going forward.
What About The Angel And Her Love Interest?
As the series continues, it’s still unclear just how much Angel Included will stick to classic romance tropes
The one girl who is obviously in love with Shintaro is Tsumugi Tsutsumi. Of course, Shintaro is oblivious to her true feelings, which fuels her character’s role in the series. She’s officially the girl who comically struggles with every little thing involving Shintaro and the other girls by taking her worries to the extreme or misinterpreting them completely.
Regarding Towa, many veteran Crunchyroll viewers automatically connected Towa to The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten‘s Mahiru Shiina and understandably assumed she would go out with her boy like Mahiru does. However, Towa’s initial purpose to ensure humans enjoy life is now much more prominent than the fact that she’s Shintaro’s roommate, since she now has more people to serve aside from him. Even though Noel isn’t a human, both she and Towa are obsessed over each other.
Although Shintaro will undoubtedly still have “intense” moments with Towa at home, it seems much more likely that future episodes of Studio Apartment, Good Lighting, Angel Included on Crunchyroll will explore each of his relationships with every supernatural and human girl equally instead, and this is a good thing.
Studio Apartment, Good Lighting, Angel Included is simulcasting on Crunchyroll
Watch on Crunchyroll
