From the PVs, the premise and all, I was expecting a more intimate, a more heartfelt story with Chino and her mother. This is after all, after several years of buildup and we've known so little of this figure beyond her name which was only revealed via an April Fool's gag on the official website earlier this year. To have so little of the episode dedicated to the mother-daughter relationship or even the ultimate fate of Chino's mother is a tad bit disappointing.
Still, for better for worse, it's a Gochiusa episode with your standard trappings and structures and plots. Not even one of the better episodes, just around par with Dear My Sister. This is especially true with regards to the animation quality which is a cut rougher than the first two seasons and even Dear My Sister at times.
More Gochiusa is always fine, and this is far from a betrayal of the entire series, but one wishes more could have been done than what we have gotten in a 25 minute OVA where ultimately not much happens.
Once the end credits start rolling and Gin no Spoon ~Blend of Memory~ starts playing, I was moved if only for a bit. It's a beautiful song that serves as a bridge between a mother and her daughter from past to present that is heartwarming and a tad melancholic.
And a sad reminder of what could have been.
Also it's slightly disappointing there was an enka song and Nana wasn't the one singing it. It wouldn't have made much sense in context, but it would have been nice to see. Oh well.
5/10
