Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian Episode 3 review: Doga Kobo does justice to Alya and Masachika's backstory

Produced by Doga Kobo, Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian Episode 3 aired on July 17, 2024. The episode titled And So They Met revealed the much-anticipated backstory of Alia Mikhailovna Kujo aka Alya and Masachika Kuze, including how they met for the first time.

Doga Kobo meticulously adapted the written words of SunSunSun's light novels in animated form to showcase Alya's growth, who realized that there was another person who shared the same mindset as hers. Undoubtedly, the studio highlighted the beautiful chemistry between Masachika and Alya.

Aside from that, Doga Kobo focused on using flashbacks to reveal a crucial detail about Masachika Kuze's past in Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian Episode 3.

Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian Episode 3 review: Evaluating Doga Kobo's treatment of Alya and Masachika's backstory

While fan service certainly helped the series generate an unprecedented buzz in the anime community, Doga Kobo's production showed in Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian Episode 3 that the series is more than just fan service.

The episode centered around Alya narrating her backstory, revealing how certain events shaped her worldview, and how some unforeseen events shattered the same. While SunSunSun conveyed Alya's feelings beautifully in written form in the light novels, Doga Kobo elevated them with the faithful adaptation.

The narrative for Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian Episode 3 revolved around Alisa Mikhailovna Kujo, who revealed that six years ago in Vladivostok, she received a group assignment from her homeroom teacher in middle school.

Alya as seen in her childhood (Image via Doga Kobo)

While Alya was eager to perform and accomplish the task, other students in her group didn't show the same enthusiasm. Unfortunately, Alya's group lost to their competitor. Following that incident, the girl made up her mind that she wouldn't rely on anyone. Instead, she would shoulder the responsibilities, and do everything on her own.

In this process, she started isolating herself from others. However, everything changed when she met Masachika Kuze in Seirei High School. Alya realized that Masachika wasn't a "slacker," but a person who truly shared her worldviews. She began to realize that there's merit in depending on others and it's not possible to shoulder everything on your own.

Masachika Kuze, as seen in the episode (Image via Doga Kobo)

Masachika shattered Alya's childhood vision and left a permanent impression. Perhaps that's why the girl saw a figure in Masachika that she couldn't in others. She was still the "Ice Princess" to the rest of the class, but to Masachika, she was his "Alya."

Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings Episode 3 wonderfully set the stage for a budding romance between the silver-haired girl and Kuze. While the former doesn't want to realize it, she holds Masachika dear to her heart. Otherwise, she wouldn't appear glum to see the boy with his childhood friend (Alya doesn't know that Suou is Alya's sister).

Alya and Masachika, as seen in the episode (Image via Doga Kobo)

That said, Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian Episode 3 emphasized the backstory from Alya's point of view. Perhaps, Doga Kobo will focus on what Masachika truly feels about Alya in future episodes. However, the latest episode confirmed that Masachika was Alya's knight in shining armor.

Coming to Doga Kobo's credits in elevating the backstory, the studio perfectly knit the narrative to ensure the audience connects with Alya. Whether it was the emotional outburst in childhood or the smile she shared with Masachika in high school, every mini-episode lent the backstory its merit.

Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian Episode 3 review: Masachika's painful past and Maria's introduction

Aside from Alya's backstory, Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian Episode 3 formally introduced Maria Mikhailovna Kujo, the elder sister of the silver-haired heroine, and teased Masachika Kuze's painful past, concerning the separation of his parents.

The episode firmly established that Maria adores her sister. She was jubilant at the prospect of Alya finding someone for whom her heart wavered. When she met Masachika in the Student Council room, she was enchanted by the boy's eyes.

Maria in Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian Episode 3 (Image via Doga Kobo)

She truly exuded the charm of an elder sister, when she warmly hugged Masachika after noticing the boy's glum face. Doga Kobo deftly improvised on the source material to ensure that Maria got more screen time in the episode, which was otherwise heavily centered on Alya.

That said, Maria's presence in Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian Episode 3 only enriched the narrative. It only complemented with Alya and Masachika's backstory. However, that's not all. Doga Kobo dropped a bomb with the revelation that Masachika had a rough childhood.

Masachika, as seen in the past (Image via Doga Kobo)

Throughout the series, it was implied that Masachika had a unique story to share. Aside from the Russian girl, with whom he shared chemistry in childhood, the boy turned out to have one more secret: His parents had filed for divorce when he was a child.

Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian Episode 3 implied that due to the parents' separation, Masachika had to live away from his younger sister. While not much was revealed in the latest episode regarding Masachika's past, it has most certainly opened up a narrative for exploration.

Besides, the episode heavily implied that Maria could be the childhood friend of Masachika Kuze. Otherwise, the boy wouldn't have found Maria's hug "familiar" and "relaxing." It would be interesting to see the direction Doga Kobo takes in the upcoming episodes to elucidate Maria and Kuze's past.

Conclusion

Alya and Masachika in the classroom (Image via Doga Kobo)

Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian Episode 3 truly exemplified the production prowess of Doga Kobo, as the studio elevated SunSunSun's light novels brilliantly to showcase Alya and Masachika's backstory.

The voice actors breathed life into the characters, with Sumire Uesaka conveying Alya's anguish and joy, and Kohei Amasaki displaying Masachika's composure.

At the same time, the staff at the Doga Kobo cleverly set up the storyboard for Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian to ensure the narrative seamlessly binds together. Overall, the episode encapsulated the esteemed studio's heights.