FIF#230-Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian

Alisa “Alya” Mikhailovna Kujou isnt just the top student in her class, she’s the most popular and beautiful student in her entire school.  She also has a penchant for speaking in fluent Russian when she seems irritated.  Unfortunately for Alya, the one person she directs most of these words to is Masachika Kuze…and he happens to understand Russian just fine.  Totally unaware of this, Alya taunts her would be suitor in secret while Kuze tries to navigate the minefield of beratement and adoration from the girl everyone wants a shot with.

 
Anime slice of life rom coms are a dime a dozen, almost as common as Isekai.  There’s little to have one stand out from the other.  Most have the same premise or are just a variation on what’s come before with nothing new added to the mix.  So along comes Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian and I wonder what exactly has made this one stand out amongst so many others in 2024?  The answer doesn’t lie in the show itself, most of the debut episode is standard fare.  What might help this stand out from its fellow slice of life rom coms is the main duo itself, and Alya’s gimmick.  You’d think the main joke of the series might get old quick by the end of the episode.  Surprisingly, it hasn’t.
 
Alya’s clearly a contender for Best Girl of 2024.  Her cute design, complete with silver hair and thigh highs makes her an instant hit with watchers as much as her fellow students.  I’ll also admit, her speaking Russian sounds quite alluring too.  Naturally it’d be nice to have some mystery to that aspect but the series translates her phrases in subtitles.  Does it ruin the gag?  No but I think that Kuze’s reactions might get a bit more kick if he were translating for us. Eh, maybe I’m nitpicking it since the show hinges on Alya’s coded messages actually being understood.  For what it is, I liked it and never got bored when Alya and Kuze were on screen together.  They compliment each other well.  And the big scene where Alya tempts Kuze is clearly meant to be a scene talked about by Otaku everywhere.  No wonder she’s a Best Girl candidate.
 
The rest of Alya’s first episode is kind of dull when Alya and Kuze have to share the screen with their assortment of generic fellow classmates.  You’ve got the cool understanding friend, the friend who desperately wants a girlfriend, and the girl who’s set up as Alya’s romantic rival for Kuze.  As I said, it’s nothing we haven’t seen in dozens of other High School Comedies like this one.  It’s not like personality wise Alya and Kuze are any different in this regard either.  But their chemistry is solid and the big unknown joke between them breathes fresh life and ideas into the proceedings.  The supporting cast, however, didn’t impress and I cant imagine the rest of the Student Council Kuze’s being pressured to join will be any different.
 
So, you’ve got one of Anime’s biggest IT girls; a lost in translation setup that’s not as lost as one might think; and a guy being tempted big time by said IT girl in ways that would anyone crush on her hard.  Wont lie, maybe Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian might be worth sticking around with for a couple more episodes.  The success of the premise rest squarely on Alya and Kuze’s poor shoulders as standouts in a scene of cliches and been there, done that.  And hey, I’m a sucker for the occasional High School Rom Com.  Maybe these two will be a pair worth rooting for…also like everyone I’m sure I could listen to Alya speak Russian all day and not give a single care about what she’s actually saying, it’s that cute.