Food Wars! The Third Plate

Episode 4

If you didn't think Nikumi was in the running for “best girl” before, this may be the episode that changes your mind. Not that she plays a huge role, but it is a significant one – when Soma's newly popular booth is starting to wear on his team of Megumi and Mimasaka (who Soma recruited the day before), Nikumi is the first person to offer her help. Yes, Mimasaka's been there longer, but Soma specifically asked him to help; Nikumi comes of her own volition because she wants to support her friends. It's a really wonderful moment not just for fans of the character, but in terms of showing how she's grown since her introduction in season one – Nikumi has overcome Totsuki's dog-eat-dog system to understand that sometimes it can be as rewarding to work with others as it is to triumph on your own. The Aldini brothers shuffling up right behind her is also a testament to this refutation of Totsuki's philosophy, which these two boys have always been aware of, having grown up working together with the staff of their family restaurant. Ultimately, Soma's triumph over Kuga is not just about his ability to be more creative than his opponent, but also about the way he's able to bring people together.

That seems fitting in a story about food, since the traditional view of meals is that they're best when shared with others. But another truth about eating is that that kids get cranky when they get hungry, and it's not a good idea to keep customers waiting too long to dine. Soma capitalizes on both of those things this week. As he points out, he's been observing Kuga's customer base for a few days, so he knows what's bugging them as people waiting in line – and “waiting in line” itself is one of the big issues. From whiny kids to the elderly who have trouble standing, the queue for Kuga's place is generally unhappy, but they feel they don't have any other options for the kind of food he serves. Soma, with his fragrant new dish and easily available seating, shows them that this is simply not true; they can have a similarly tasty (and less painful) treat for less money with immediate comfortable accommodations. There aren't even any stairs for the elderly or disabled to navigate, and Megumi will quickly see that they get what they want. It's another triumph of real-world experience over cooking theory, and in the restaurant world, that counts for a lot.

In some ways, this feels like the first “real” Food Wars! episode we've had this season in its approach to flow and climax. It makes the build-up we got before feel worth it, especially because we've seen Kuga climb to the heights of conceit before crashing down this week. It's too bad that the art this season can't quite capture the feel of the manga, particularly in Kuga's facial expressions, and if I never see that CG mapo tofu cooking shot again, it'll be too soon. The foodgasm this week feels oddly restrained and clunky; I can only assume there's an attempt being made to tone down the sexuality. In terms of being less exploitative, that's not a bad idea, but it shouldn't come at the price of the humor value, which it can certainly maintain without resorting to excessively objectifying imagery.

Now that Soma's hit his stride and taken care of Kuga, it's time to focus on some of the other characters, namely Erina and good old Seat Number One on the Council. Both of these will come with some uncomfortable and interesting revelations for the characters, so keep watching – things are going to heat up.

Rating: A-

Food Wars! The Third Plate is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.