Summer Pockets: Season 1 Episode 8 “Looking For Things To Do” – Recap & Review (With Spoilers)
Potentially another arc ends and while it may have its touching moments, it will not be missed.
Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
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Episode 8 “Looking For Things To Do” Details
- Available On: Crunchyroll
- Public Release Date: May 26, 2025
- Director(s): Shinichi Tatsuta
- Writer(s): Yasutomo Yamada
Episode 8 “Looking For Things To Do” Recap (With Spoilers)
A Pringles Balcony: Shizuku, Tsumigi, Takahara
Surprisingly, Shizuku, the local student class president, commits to joining Takahara in dedicating their summer to Tsumigi. This leads them to develop their summer plan: build a balcony made of Pringles cans. This involves the rest of the kids, and while we don’t see it completed in this episode, it does establish that Tsumigi isn’t as isolated as initially thought to be.
Is This Love?: Tsumigi, Takahara, Shizuku, Ao
While the pringle balcony is a strong focus, so is the fact that Takahara accidentally confessed that he thinks he loves Tsumigi. This is sudden and a bit embarrassing, so the day after Takahara confesses, Tsumigi pretends nothing happened. However, from Ao saying to see Takahara’s home, which Tsumigi does, then Shizuku helping to stuff Tsumigi’s bra after seeing what Takahara might be interested in, things go from awkward to Takahara’s aunt thinking she could call her sister.
But in the end, when Takahara and Tsumigi are alone, things settle down, and she confesses she loves him too. However, with summer ending soon, saying this hurts, and before Takahara knows it, he is looking at a picture that looks like Tsumigi amongst his grandmother’s things, and next thing he knows, she disappears like she never existed.
Review and Commentary
On The Fence
Is That It? [73/100]
With the Tsumigi arc, it feels like there is a formula in place. Create a likable young woman with a sad backstory, and have Takahara fall in love with her, and insert a bunch of ecchi moments along the way. Then, as this happens, have everyone else pop up, whose names you barely grasp, and make it clear that this island is a community that is willing to pitch in for one another to fulfill a dream.
But, as sweet as all that is on paper, it falls flat when watching it. Tsumigi doesn’t have layers, flaws, or complications. Which isn’t to say Kamome necessarily did, but increasingly I feel like the struggle Summer Pockets will have is that it needs to get better with each girl, and Tsumigi feels more like a sophomore slump than taking things to the next level.
Overall
Our Overall Rating [73/100]
While the structure of Summer Pockets remains consistent in presenting heartfelt stories with charming characters, the Tsumugi arc lacks the depth and emotional impact needed to stand out. With its predictable beats and limited character complexity, it feels more like a step backward than forward — a reminder that familiarity can sometimes come at the cost of growth.
Additional Links
Summer Pockets: Season 1 Episode 20 – Recap and Review
Umi’s arc continues to be a bit of a struggle to watch, especially as it rehashes parts of Shiroha’s storyline, which we just saw.
Summer Pockets: Season 1 Episode 19 – Recap and Review
Big reveals come from Umi that shift her dynamic with Shiroha and Takahara.
Summer Pockets: Season 1 Episode 18 – Recap and Review
Umi gets featured, and the way things start out may make you wonder the truth about her and Takahara’s origins.
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