Is it possible to have a lively high school anime without a sports festival? My Deer Friend Nokotan episode 9 exists to remind us that no, it is not possible. The concept of a sports festival bewildered me; I refused to participate in PE in high school. What were they going to do? Hit me? I would fight back. Send me home; that would be a victory. Expel me? That would be the dream. But, then again, Koshitan and I were very different people.
While Koshitan hid his not-so-good past by pretending to be a pillar of the community, I wrote my history on my resume. No matter how we face the past, life gets the best of us whenever we think we have something in the bag. And so, after struggling to start the sports festival, life got in the way of Koshitan's dream of a timely event.
Sports festival sucks
Although I enjoy outdoor activities like hiking and climbing, I hate sports. Physical activity is for the young, and mentally, I turned 50 when I was 20. So when it comes to the sports meet, I won't be training. But that's only true if there's no deer involved. After all, running against old people and deer is no longer a sport; it's a challenge unlike any other. And any race that lets me frolic in a school filled with explosives is a blessing.
Fortunately for Koshitan, after a cheering montage, the opportunity to get things back on track appeared, or not? Just like “Unable to ship this item to your location” was a burden on my soul, Nokotan was a burden on Koshitan’s soul. Instead of getting lucky, Koshitan found himself facing a deer parade, which made things even more complicated. But it must be said that it was a beautiful parade. It brought the audience to tears like Summer Dreams Project ☆ Umi Sonoda’s cover of ‘Aion no Uta’ brought me to tears.
However, despite all the problems that come their way, they still manage to make it to the final event, a relay race. A relay race that can't be held because there are too many deer wandering around the field. I would have given up a long time ago, but Koshitan is a better person than me, so she perseveres. And with the help of the student council and the club, and a few deer touching her, she clears the field. But all the stress of the day and Nokotan's mishaps cause her to break down and reveal her true self. But this is anime, the power of friendship prevails and she is accepted for who she is.
My Deer Friend Nokotan Episode 9: Commentary
The power of credulity never ceases to amaze me. Once upon a time, Ronald Reagan sold trickle-down economics as if it were a God-given solution to economic hardship; people bought it, and now most of us can’t afford our rent. Fast food chains once said they couldn’t raise hourly wages because it would affect the price of their products, and people believed it. Now a $5 long goes for $15, and a Big Mac costs about the same as a down payment on a Jeep. Why bring this up? Because a few months ago, a hot blonde waifu was dancing in front of a deer, and everyone and their grandfather believed that Nokotan, My Deer Friend, would be the greatest thing since double-ply toilet paper.
Weebs got so hyped up that they expected the show to beat Nichijou. Even though in every season of the show, you'll see people who read the source material point out that it's a comedy. I'm someone who had a great time with this show; it's my kind of comedy. My Deer Friend Nokotan and VTuber Legend lead this season by leaps and bounds in my book. So I have no complaints.
Screenshot via Crunchyroll
© Oshioshio, Kodansha/Hino Minami High School Deer Club
