As a devoted fan of romantic comedies, retro styles, and a proud pansexual, the anime adaptation of Go For It Nakamura!! immediately caught my attention. It explicitly centers on an overly anxious high schooler yearning for a gay romance, a refreshing directness in a landscape where many stories still hesitate to openly declare queer themes. Thankfully, the series, at least in its first four episodes, avoids making being gay the punchline, opting instead for a genuine, albeit slow-burning, exploration of young love and friendship.
Go For It Nakamura: A Refreshing Queer Romance
The most commendable aspect of Go For It Nakamura!! is its unapologetic portrayal of gay yearning. Our protagonist, Nakamura, isn't just ambiguously interested; his desires are clear, making for a much-needed breath of fresh air in the romantic comedy genre. This directness, combined with a charming retro aesthetic, sets a unique stage for a story that prioritizes genuine emotion over veiled subtext. The series has, so far, gracefully navigated its themes without resorting to harmful stereotypes, focusing instead on the universal anxieties and excitements of a first crush.
Visuals and Voice Acting: A Standout Performance
Beyond its thematic strengths, Go For It Nakamura!! truly shines in its execution. The animation boasts several really good visual gags, with expression work that is consistently top-notch. Moments like the recurring cockroach bit, where the tiny insect sometimes offers cute commentary, highlight the show's best qualities when it leans into a cartoony, expressive style. This visual flair is complemented by phenomenal voice acting, particularly in the English dub. Nasim Benelkour's performance as Nakamura is a standout, delivering shrieks and voice cracks that sound genuine, perfectly capturing the anxious ramblings of a believable teenager. His vocal range, from high-pitched excitement to mood-dropping dips, truly draws the viewer into the fun he's clearly having with the role. Special acknowledgment also goes to the voice actor portraying Reiko, the eccentric cult club president, whose versatile vocal performance perfectly sells her unique personality.
The Slow Burn of Friendship and Feelings
However, it's important to note that Go For It Nakamura!! is a much slower-paced series than one might initially assume. This is definitively a slow-burning romance, with Nakamura and the object of his affection, Hirose, only genuinely starting to become friends around episode four. Part of the appeal lies in this distant yearning, but much of the early narrative revolves around Nakamura's anxious messiness and a few related gags. While the pacing might test some viewers' patience, Nakamura's brand of high school anxiety is incredibly relatable. Episode four thoughtfully explores how he's reserved about his interests due to past experiences, with recurring elements like his love for octopuses adding depth to his character.
An interesting running joke involves his classmates' fascination with boys' love. While some of the girls' wild scenarios are amusing, the line is perhaps crossed when they start drawing scenarios with real people. Yet, the show's focus on friendship rather than an immediate romantic pursuit feels surprisingly endearing. Nakamura's fantasies often seem to center more on becoming close friends with Hirose than instantly being his boyfriend. This could reflect his insecurity or a strategic hope to transition friendship into romance, or perhaps both. Regardless, this angle feels more relatable and opens the show's structure to allow Nakamura to interact with a wider circle of characters, like his budding friendship with Kawamura.
Community Scores and Final Thoughts
Early community scores for the series hover around the mid-3s (Episode 1: 3.5, Episode 2: 3.6, Episode 3: 3.7, Episode 4: 3.7). While these numbers suggest a moderately received start, my personal experience with the first four episodes points to a much richer, more charming experience. Despite its slower pace, Go For It Nakamura!! offers a lot of interesting and endearing elements. Its commitment to direct queer storytelling, coupled with strong visual gags and exceptional voice acting, makes it a series I am definitely looking forward to following in subsequent episodes. It's not the explosive romantic comedy some might expect, but its quiet charm and relatable anxieties make it a worthwhile watch for those who appreciate a genuine, heartfelt slow burn.
