English Dub Review: Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian “Student Congress”

Overview

The student congress arrives and Alya finds herself wrapped up in a shocking amount of political intrigue and maneuvers. Will her teamwork and preparation with Kuze be enough to win them the day?

Our Take

The debate that was previously called out turned out to be far more engaging than anticipated. Initially, it seemed like the focus would be solely on preparation, but the debate itself was shorter than expected. Instead, the episode took the opportunity to delve into character backstories, adding depth and richness to the narrative.

One character, in particular, stood out, and their journey from rivalry to admiration was a compelling twist. Their motivations were tied to past events, which shaped their current actions and led to a significant confrontation. This shift in perspective highlighted the emotional complexity beneath the surface, making the episode more than just a standard school debate.

Overall, this episode while seemingly dull at first, excelled in character development, revealing unexpected layers in the cast. The dynamics between the leads grew stronger as they navigated the debate, showing how well they complement each other. The balance between humor, personal growth, and tension made this episode a memorable one. If I have any major complaints it’s that there’s a particular line in Russian that Crunchyroll themselves didn’t bother to translate in English even in the subbed version. I had to look it up through fan translations just to know what Alya said exactly. But hopefully, those particular translations will improve in later episodes…