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Healer Girl Episode 3 Review – Quick Summary
In Healer Girl episode 3, “Cleanup, Run • Run • Run,” the provisional licensing exams were coming up, and guess who was struggling? If you guessed Kana Fujii, you were right! Her friends Reimi Itsushiro and Hibiki Morishima tried to help her prepare, and they thought they had made progress. But the day of the exam arrived, and all three came back to the clinic with a cloud over their heads. Did all three really fail? Were they just being too hard on themselves? And why does Sonia Yanagi seem intent on making Reimi angry?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Favorite Quote from Healer Girl Episode 3
It’s good to embrace your talents, whatever they may be. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
In this episode, Ria Karasuma saw the emotional toll the exam had taken on her students. Being a good teacher, she figured out a way to clear their minds. She enrolled them in a neighborhood sporting competition!
I’m not sure why Sonia so vehemently dislikes Ria. It seems to go beyond mere rivalry. But Sonia made the mistake of bad-mouthing Ria within Reimi’s hearing. You can guess how well that went.
The rest of the tournament was all about Reimei and her friends trying to beat Sonia and her friend. Kana wasn’t terribly athletic, so when Reimei said she’d found the perfect event for Kana, Kana felt intrigued.
It was a sprint & eat event. Kana’s strength in eating (buns, by the look of it) far exceeded her weakness in running. And yes, Kana won handily.
As she rejoined her friends, still munching on the bun, Reimei sang proudly (yes, they sang most of the episode – and it really worked!) (14:58), “Behold the might of our Kana!”
Kana was not pleased with how much stock Reimi had placed in her eating skills. But she still finished the bun.
Best in Show Moment for Healer Girl Episode 3
The cat might be judgemental, but Ria appreciated the gift! That had to thrill Reimi! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Setup: Reimi Has a Competitive Streak
I’m beginning to appreciate this show’s quiet and warm moments as much as its striking and beautiful vocal healing moments. In episode 1 and in episode 2, my favorite moments were energetic and emotionally broad. This episode changed things up.
We know that Reimi really, really likes her teacher Ria. I’d go so far as to say that I think Reimi has a crush on her sensei. It’s to the point that Reimi has pictures of the inside of Ria’s room that Hibiki is pretty sure she shouldn’t.
Now, we all know anime. That kind of relationship is often played for laughs. And sure, I sometimes laughing at those moments, too, but I’ve never really liked them. Youthful affection can be difficult and awkward under the best conditions. Playing for laughs almost feels like an intrusion into something that should be intimate.
Kana was pretty sure that Ria didn’t know Reimi had a picture of Ria’s room. But that’s as close as the show got to treating Reimi’s affection as an object for humor. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
That’s why I like this moment so much. Reimi had thrown herself into the sports competition because Sonia had bad-mouthed Ria. The prize was a mascot that Ria also really liked, so Reimi had that motivation as well. So of course, she was conflicted when Hibiki won the large animal and said she wanted to send it home to her brothers and sisters (which was a sweet moment in and of itself).
Delivery: And Reimi Loves Her Senpai
Reimi had taken second place. The stuffed animal she won happened to be from the same series as the one Hibiki won. Only, Reimi’s prize was much, much smaller. Still, it was very endearing to see her work up her courage, bow, and offer the small stuffed creature to her sensei.
“M-Mistress,” she said in a faltering voice (20:10). “I only got second place, but this is for you. Please take it!”
Have you ever wanted a present to delight someone? Then you must know how Reimi felt when Ria got this huge smile on her face. Throwing her arms around Reimi, she said, “I love it!”
This moment really made Reimi’s day! Week, too, probably. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
I think that hug transported Reimi to a realm she’d never visited before. What I liked about this moment is that it could have been played for laughs. Instead, Ria accepted Reimi’s genuine gesture and expressed her gratitude in a way that affirmed her student.
Part of me wonders why I would pick a simple gift exchange as my favorite moment in an episode that was filled with really good comedic timing. On the other hand, there’s something to be said for joy in small moments. Ria not only received a gift she honestly liked. She brought a little joy into Reimi’s life. I would like to see more of that.
A lot of us fight against the darkness in some way, shape or form, every day. It’s nice to see that life isn’t all flags and battlements.
What did you think of the package Hibiki sent home? What were your favorite moments in this episode? Feel free to let me know in the comments!
Healer Girl Episode 3: Other Posts
Other Anime Sites
- Reddit: Healer Girl – Episode 3 discussion
- The Yuri Empire: Healer Girl Episode 3: Testathlon
- KeithSpeaks: The Best Episode So Far! Healer Girl Episode 3 Review (YouTube)
This Site (Crow’s World of Anime!)
- Healer Girl Episode 1: Kana Fujii, Healer (Apprentice)
- Healer Girl Episode 2: Can I Take a Picture? Or Maybe a Video?
- Healer Girl Episode 3: Cleanup, Run • Run • Run
- Healer Girl Episode 4: First Steps, Horror, and a First Job
- Healer Girl Episode 5: Blue Skies, Green Mountains, River Battles and the Galactic Station
- Healer Girl Episode 6: Become My Servant • Russian Food and Sweet Dreams
- Healer Girl Episode 7: A Culture Festival Full of Surprises
- Healer Girl Episode 8: I Love Maids • You’re Fired
- Healer Girl Episode 9: The Best Guarantee • Buy the CD
- Healer Girl Episode 10: Halloween • Masquerade • Butterfly!
- Healer Girl Episode 11: Sharks and Training Camp! Let’s Climb Together!
- Healer Girl Episode 12: We’re C-Rank Healers!