After a week of hiatus in the programming itself, we’re back and ready for more Gene of AI
This time, we take a single case for the whole episode that’s more personal to the characters who exist in a longer term sense and we actually care about. Valentine’s Day comes and goes, with Misa doing her best to show her appreciation for the doctor and even getting a little something in return, even if she’s not ready to come all the way clean just yet. Her friend, nicknamed “Breezy” also features. If you recall it was strongly implied last time that she had a crush on Misa, and that’s been apparently an ongoing issue for her. After the romance holiday shenanigans, Breezy decides to come in to the doctor and ask for a little help ridding herself of that annoying feeling called love.
The doctor is open to the possibility, but takes it rather seriously and has her take psychological testing and go through some waiting to be certain she’s really sure about this. During the hang time, Misa and Breezy talk, and Breezy actually lets it be known who her crush is and why that hurts. This leads to something of a rift between Breezy and Misa despite the fact that both of them do want to be friends… if that’s possible.
We get a long phase of them not really talking and going through working out their feelings on the matter until the day of the operation comes and the doctor gives Misa the push she needs to say how she really feels. She and Breezy have something of a good talk. Misa admirably sticks to her own needs (sloppier writers love to have the targets of unrequited love give in at critical moments even though there may have been a reason it was unrequited) but also makes a good case for, you know, being friends with her friend and who she is even now.
In the end, we leave off with Sudo asking one final “Are you sure?” to Breezy and… we don’t get to hear her response. Sadly, I don’t think we’re liable to see her again in the show because the point of an ambiguous ending would be spoiled if we did, but on the other hand I’m glad the show’s not going too hamfisted with one particular take, which had been a direction it erred in during previous episodes, such as Episode 1.
On the whole, I liked this episode because it was nice to have a case with more meat and more real attachment to the people involved. As we move into the latter parts of the show, I’d hope for more that feel like this.