Anime "Go for it, Nakamura-kun!!" Episode 1 Review

1. Impressions of the first episode

The first episode of the TV anime "Go for it, Nakamura-kun!!" was a "divine adaptation" that perfectly blended modern sensibilities while cherishing the nostalgic 80s-90s charm of the original work.
In particular, the contrast between the direction that emphasizes Nakamura-kun's realistic portrayal as a "shy high school boy" and the ending featuring a classic Showa-era song radiates a universal brilliance that touches hearts across generations.
Exquisite direction that makes you want to root for an "ordinary boy's" love. What I felt most strongly after watching the anime version was an overwhelming sense of immersion in Nakamura-kun's clumsy puppy love.

Vivid changes unique to the anime
The self-introduction, which was narrated at the beginning of the original work, has been changed to a monologue at the end in the anime.
"My name is Okuto Nakamura, a completely ordinary high school boy found anywhere. And I am a shy gay boy who fell in love at first sight with Aiki Hirose."
Through this change, it is conveyed that he quietly accepts his identity not as something special, but as "part of himself," allowing viewers to feel closer to him as an "ordinary high school student in love."

The balance between comedy and pure love
The punchline where he messes up in cooking class and ends up covered in octopus ink, only to be laughed at by Hirose, was slapstick but left a warm lingering feeling that they had "gotten a little closer." By cutting the extreme delusion scenes from the original, it leads to a pleasant post-viewing experience that highlights his pure "admiration."

The vivid synchronization of the Showa classic "Hatsukoi" and modern devices

Deepening the lingering impression of the episode is the ending (ED) featuring Kozo Murashita's 1983 masterpiece "Hatsukoi" (First Love).

A blend of the past and present
In the visuals, Nakamura-kun is operating a "smartphone" in his Showa-retro room, complete with a cassette player and a fluorescent desk lamp. This mix of the past (1980s music and art) and the present (the daily life of the smartphone/SNS generation) is the true essence of this work.

Synchronization of lyrics and emotions
"The spring rain is green, it made me sad," "I was keeping my unrequited feelings warm," "A first love that I can't say I love you is a pendulum heart."
These poignant lyrics perfectly synchronize with Nakamura-kun's state of mind in the first episode, where he hadn't even been able to say hello since falling in love at first sight at the entrance ceremony. The direction where the intro starts playing as he rides his bike home in the sunset was truly goosebump-inducing.

Summary

"Go for it, Nakamura-kun!!" creates a new "retro-pop" worldview as the nostalgic yet adorable characters drawn by Shundei-sensei move vividly through modern school life.
The bittersweetness and brilliance of love that transcends time, delivered by Nakamura-kun, an "ordinary high school boy found anywhere," with a smartphone in one hand and a Showa classic playing. Including the gimmick where the ending changes every week, it was a fantastic start that makes me want to root with all my might for his frustrating yet precious love life in the weeks to come.