jacobson.magali - 2013-05-18 10:39:35

Although the series are all very highly rated (and deservedly so), the "Nodame Cantabile" specials are not so hot. This special is probably the lowest rated one of the lot (and deservedly so). For one thing, it's only about half the length of a normal episode, which is not enough time to fit in anything of particular interest. For another, it's a beach episode, but since it's a josei, the result is a pseudo reverse harem-esq situation involving the afro timpanist (who I originally thought to be a girl, but who is actually a guy who acts like a girl, apparently) and Nodame fighting over Chiaki as he is rendered helpless from the fear of drowning. The event actually slots into one of the episodes in the series where Chiaki's gang is going to the music festival - it takes place during a detour en route to the festival. So perhaps rather appropriately, it feels like sub-standard material that didn't make the cut for the original series. It's more mildly amusing than downright terrible, but ultimately it's pretty forgettable. If you don't see it, you're honestly not missing out on much.