The next comprises spoilers for The Summer season Hikaru Died Episode 2, “Suspicion,” now streaming on Netflix.
Usually, anime proven throughout summer time are action-packed blockbusters like Dandadan or easygoing crowd-pleasers like My Gown-Up Darling. The Summer Hikaru Died is neither. Based mostly on the manga of the identical title by Mokumokuren, The Summer season Hikaru Died blends folks horror with tragic romance to look at how tough it’s to dwell with grief — particularly if some supernatural entity dons the identification of a useless cherished one.
The Summer season Hikaru Died Episode 2, “Suspicion,” continues what the season premiere began. Particularly, “Suspicion” follows Yoshiki Tsujinaka as he tries his greatest to behave as if every part between him and “Hikaru Indo” is regular. Naturally, that is simpler mentioned than completed. The episode reveals how tough Yoshiki’s struggles are whereas additionally introducing much more potential challenges to his and “Hikaru’s” new life collectively.
The Summer season Hikaru Died Episode 2 Doubles Down on the Thriller of Who or What “Hikaru Indo” Is
The Summer season Hikaru Died Episode 2’s Greatest Components Come Simply Earlier than It Ends
Broadly talking, The Summer season Hikaru Died Episode 2 is cut up into three components. The primary half considerations Yoshiki and “Hikaru’s” persevering with their masquerade as “abnormal” associates. The second half follows Tanaka as he investigates Matsuura’s horrifying demise from the earlier episode’s cliffhanger. The third is an epilogue, the place Yoshiki bumps into Rie Kurebayashi. These sections do not coalesce into a much bigger image. What they do, as a substitute, is deepen The Summer season Hikaru Died’s central thriller — particularly, what precisely “Hikaru” is and the way the unique died — whereas slowly revealing extra of the anime’s ominous setting. Given how early it’s in its run, The Summer season Hikaru Died, naturally, would not reveal an excessive amount of in its second episode.
To wit, Yoshiki and “Hikaru’s” subplots focus extra on them spending time collectively than trying to find solutions. Yoshiki is aware of that he is sustaining a egocentric escapist lie with “Hikaru,” however he could not care much less. Regardless of his disinterest in cracking the mystery about “Hikaru,” The Summer season Hikaru Died Episode 2 nonetheless makes him be taught issues. What Hikaru learns concerning the harrowing spirits of the forest, together with “Hikaru,” is delivered organically and diagetically. The episode does a superb job of constructing Yoshiki’s discoveries really feel pure, and thus simpler. In the meantime, “Hikaru’s” few solutions appropriately sound like one thing a carefree teenager would say moderately than a clumsy exposition dump.
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Conversely, Tanaka’s half of The Summer season Hikaru Died Episode 2 is full of lively investigations and explanations. Given Tanaka’s job as an investigator of types for a presently unidentified employer, this is smart. At worst, his (purposefully) imprecise conversations with a few of the townsfolk are only a collection of practical questions and solutions. It would not circulate and sound as naturally as those that Yoshiki has with “Hikaru” and his newly-introduced classmates, nevertheless it’s serviceable sufficient, and it will get the job completed. For what it is value, Tanaka’s scenes expose extra of his oddly unconcerned and even jovial character. This makes him stick out extra from the anime’s somber solid, thus giving him a foreboding ambiance round him.
That being mentioned, The Summer season Hikaru Died Episode 2’s epilogue — particularly, every part that happens after the halftime break — is its strongest half. Yoshiki getting bodily intimate with “Hikaru” and his dialog with a really involved Rie lean into the anime’s overt queer subtext, whereas additionally highlighting the humanity of all of it. Yoshiki is aware of that “Hikaru” will not be the pal he knew and clearly cherished, however he nonetheless holds onto him. Rie actually senses this, even when she would not have all the main points. The Summer season Hikaru Died Episode 2’s second half delves into how torn Yoshiki is about this, and units the stage for what’s certain to be Yoshiki’s season-long inner dilemma.
The Summer season Hikaru Died Episode 2 Deepens Yoshiki Tsujinaka & “Hikaru Indo’s” Relationship
The Summer season Hikaru Died Episode 2 Introduces the Anime’s Aspect Characters
The second the anime started, it was made clear that Yoshiki’s difficult relationship with “Hikaru” can be The Summer season Hikaru Died’s coronary heart and soul. The Summer season Hikaru Died Episode 2 doubles down on this by giving the 2 a few of their most emotionally susceptible and intimate moments they’ve had but. That this occurs so early into the anime is pleasantly stunning and welcome. Whereas it might be debated if The Summer season Hikaru Died might depend as a full-on romantic anime or not, it is good to see an anime simply reduce to the chase with its central relationship. There is not any query about it: Yoshiki and “Hikaru” actually like one another, regardless if considered one of them is definitely human or not.
This additionally signifies that, in future episodes of The Summer season Hikaru Died, Yoshiki and “Hikaru” two will get even nearer. What makes all this extra attention-grabbing and layered is that their relationship is not constructed on wholly pure intentions. As talked about earlier, Yoshiki has no delusions about “Hikaru.” He is nonetheless undecided if he truly likes this “Hikaru,” or if he is extra in love with the thought of his useless pal. In the meantime, plainly “Hikaru” simply swore to do “something” — together with homicide, as evidenced by how he devoured the forest entity — to maintain Yoshiki by his facet. “Hikaru,” basically being a literal new child who has no idea of human complexity, will definitely make issues intriguing going ahead.
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Simply because The Summer season Hikaru Died Episode 2 gave lots of display screen time to Yoshiki and “Hikaru” does not imply they’re the one characters. The episode additionally introduces lots of the bigger story’s facet characters. These embody Yoshiki and “Hikaru’s” classmates — Asako Yamagishi, Yuuki Tadokoro, and Yuuta Maki — plus the aforementioned Tanaka and Rie. Everybody’s an attention-grabbing addition to the rising story, and so they have distinct personalities. That is notably true for Asako, who appears to have the ability to sense the supernatural even when she will be able to’t articulate what it’s she sees or hears. “Hikaru” appears to have taken discover, placing Asako’s security and “Hikaru’s” intents doubtful.
That mentioned, Tanako just one who might be mentioned to have gotten the brief finish of the stick. Tanako’s character makes him stand out, however he is actually little greater than a car for exposition in The Summer season Hikaru Died Episode 2. Distinction Tanako to Rie, whose real fear for Yoshiki made her a lot greater than foreshadowing made flesh. Fortunately, that is mitigated by the truth that Tanako will clearly play a much bigger position in future episodes. This episode simply did not give him a lot to do past reply a bunch of questions. It is a testomony to The Summer season Hikaru Died Episode 2’s power that this many facet characters are launched with none main friction or difficulty.
The Summer season Hikaru Died Episode 2’s Animation Induces Nervousness & Claustrophobia
Cygames Photos’ Animation Is Easy however Artistic
The second it started, it was clear that The Summer Hikaru Died wouldn’t be like every other anime airing in Summer season 2025. In addition to its decidedly mature tackle supernatural mysteries plus an undeniably queer core, The Summer season Hikaru Died’s animation can be noteworthy. Cygames Photos’ grounded animation and admittedly flat blocking will not be as thrilling as some are used to, however they emphasize simply how quiet and empty life in Kubitachi Village may be. The characters’ reasonable and restrained designs give the anime an air of familiarity that solely makes the horrors and nightmare visions that rather more disturbing. That mentioned, the spotlight of The Summer season Hikaru Died Episode 2’s animation is its first-person pictures.
Every now and then, The Summer season Hikaru Died Episode 2 would reduce to both Yoshiki’s or “Hikaru’s” viewpoint. Yoshiki’s perspective is even framed from behind his bangs. This visible cue provides to the already palpable intimacy of the episode’s extra heartfelt moments. Conversely, they improve the dread of the episode’s darker moments, corresponding to Yoshiki’s encounter with a spirit within the forest. Elevating these easy however artistic pictures is the episode’s chic path. Even when the characters are simply speaking in a room, the visuals convey the precise ambiance. No different scene higher illustrates this than Yoshiki exploring the insides of “Hikaru’s” physique. The parallels between this and a intercourse scene are clear as day, and the episode executes it tastefully.
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The Summer season Hikaru Died, Reviewed by CBR |
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8/10 |
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The one actual draw back to The Summer season Hikaru Died Episode 2’s animation is the comedic response pictures. Throwing in some comedian aid into an anime as melancholic as The Summer season Hikaru Died is not unhealthy by any means. Nonetheless, the best way these humorous beats are represented is just too vibrant and jarring. Goofy reactions drawn in opposition to colourful backgrounds — full with seen sound results — really feel higher positioned in a completely totally different anime and style. At worst, they conflict with The Summer season Hikaru’s bleakness. These visible gags might not smash the whole episode, however they barely gel with the episode’s a lot better-made and edited dives into surrealism which can be equal components serene and disturbing.
In simply two episodes, The Summer season Hikaru Died actually seems like it can turn out to be Summer season 2025’s most understated but emotional collection. What the collection lacks within the common dramatic beats and histrionics of comparable tales, it greater than makes up for with quiet and efficient execution. By way of visuals and storytelling, the episode strikes the right steadiness between craving and terror. The peace that Yoshiki thinks he is discovered with “Hikaru” is non permanent at greatest, and it is already cracking on the seams. The Summer season Hikaru Died Episode 2 will not win over anybody who’s not into anime with a slower tempo and a extra mature tone, nevertheless it would not must. All it has to do is preserve issues constant, and it succeeds in doing simply that.
The Summer season Hikaru Died is now streaming on Netflix.
The Summer Hikaru Died Episode 2
- Launch Date
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July 6, 2025
- Community
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Nippon TV
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Chiaki Kobayashi
Yoshiki Tsujinaka (voice)
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Shuichiro Umeda
Hikaru Indo (voice)
- Deepens character relationships
- Expands thriller of Nounuki-sama
- Emotional animation and visible storytelling
- Uneven solid screentime
- Jarring visuals gags
