English Dub Review: Mieruko-chan “She Still Sees Them”

Overview (Spoilers Below):

Miko and Hana go out on the town for a shopping adventure, but there’s no escaping those spooky sights! Maybe it’s time for an exorcism, or powerful prayer beads?

Our Take: 

After an unexpected hiatus, Mieruko-chan is finally back with another round of ghostly comical shenanigans. This time, we see the main characters going on a brief trip to town for a girls’ day out. But, unfortunately, those pesky ghosts seek to ruin Miko’s fun as usual.

The third episode continues the show’s formula of Miko “protecting” her friend Hana from the malevolent spirits. After a couple more ghostly encounters, Miko decided to buy some prayer beads for protection. Sadly, they didn’t work as well as she hoped as a more powerful ghost keeps breaking them, especially the much stronger beads from a fortune teller. The episode also showcased that Hana has a powerful energy aura that protects her from ghosts and attracts them, which explains why they’re heavily interested in her. While this one fell short of what episode two delivered regarding its humor, “She Still Sees Them” is another enjoyable episode that progresses the series’ arc without relying heavily on its filler plot.

Like the previous episode, “She Still Sees Them” also represents the pros and cons of Miko’s ability. Along with the chatty ghost on the bus, Miko encountered another group of people who weren’t what they seemed to be. She saw that the young man and the woman he’s dating are surrounded by numerous spirits of clingy jealous people, giving her the impression that they’re unfaithful lovers. I find it interesting that the series still represents this plot element in which different spirits define people’s true personalities. Even though I liked the representation in the second episode a bit more, it’s still an intriguing scenario that would hopefully pay off later on.

As mentioned earlier, the comedy in “She Still Sees Them” wasn’t as hysterical as the previous episode, but that doesn’t make it less amusing to watch. The only moment that made me laugh the most was Miko attempting to get Hana’s bunny and wounding up sticking her head inside the ghost in the process. It’s another suitable example of the show’s blend of horror and comedy without relying heavily on one over the other.

Overall, “She Still Sees Them” serves as a welcoming return for Mieruko-chan after a holiday hiatus. While it’s a minor step down from the previous two episodes, the episode is still enjoyable due to its story progression and its horror-comedy elements. With Hana still being the ghosts’ target because of her aura, Miko now has another reason to protect her while keeping herself from freaking out.