In our fourth episode, we return to our roots with a look at the foundational work of the modern slice of life anime, Hidamari Sketch - a show that is near and dear to both of the hosts' hearts. Does it withstand its eighth rewatch by Mallory? Can Ranka prevent themself from writing Yuno x Miyako fanfic live on air? And how does Shaft's unique visual treatment of the series provide an insight on character psychology, the physical space as a representation of the mental landscape and human openness in a way that the genre has rarely touched on again?  

Due to the extreme length of this episode (there's a lot to get through!), we are providing these chapter dividers so you can enjoy this episode at your own pace.  

Part 1 (00:00-39:39): An Introduction to Hidamari, Its Characters and Staff

Part 2 (40:39-1:25:22): Relationship Diagrams, The Hidamari College Experience, and Mallory Taking The Official Hidamari Superfan Quiz

Part 3 (1:26:47-2:34:48): Episode Discussion, Visual Analysis, and 'Hidamarisou As A Character'

Part 4 (2:35:55-3:36:00): Mailbag, Ranka's Descent Into Feverish Madness, and Final Thoughts  

Audio credits in the outro.