Beyond Goodbye – Season 1 Episode 5 Recap & Review

Beyond the Storm

Episode 5 of Beyond Goodbye begins after the typhoon has passed. Calm tranquillity has descended on Japan and Saeko explains that Yusuke is the name of the person she used to love. Kazu knows that name but before he can elaborate, Shinoda shows up and explains he’s got the PROBAT machine working again.

Kazu decides to look up Yusuke on social media and eventually finds news of the accident. He starts to put the pieces together and realizes that the heart he has inside of him is Yusuke’s. The thing is, he’s already at the scene when Saeko shows up to pay her respects to Yusuke with flowers.

When Saeko finds out that Yusuke’s heart is inside Kazuma, she’s shocked. He can’t thank Yusuke enough and Kazu explains that he’s happy with his current family. Saeko is glad to hear this but similarly, is not sure he’s being completely truthful. After all, he hasn’t once mentioned his partner or his family.

The pair have memorized the letters to one another and realize that all of this is real. It seems to be fate that they’ve bumped into one another, and Kazu is glad that he’s got to see her. Saeko is struggling to wrap her head around this conundrum and eventually shows off pictures of Yusuke on her phone.

Kazu explains what he’s going through, and how Yusuke appears to be a part of him and he’s been experiencing memories. Some of these include the piano playing in Hawaii and the flashes to the avalanche. As they sit together, Saeko wants to hear Yusuke’s heart, so she rests her head on his chest and sobs.

The two continue to hang out, especially as the café at the school is starting to take shape and it’s a hit with students. The pair inevitably spend more and more time together. While Saeko sees this as a great opportunity to rekindle what she had with Yusuke, Kengo is not so sure. He’s concerned that she’s going to get hurt and reminds her that Kazuma is not Yusuke. This is not what she wants to hear and she eventually walks away.

Ironically, Kazu ends up showing at the cafe and explains that he feels like he’s been here before. Kazu actually recognizes Kengo, but he can’t help but feel like he’s making things harder for everyone.

That night, he bumps into Saeko at the station. He tries to make her laugh but knows that Saeko is suffering. He steps forward and hugs her close to try and ease her suffering. The camera, cleverly, pans down to show Kazuma’s wedding ring at this point as they hold each other.

Kazuma is overwhelmed by his feelings and struggles to trust himself, unsure what his feelings are and getting confused over his own love and Yusuke’s love. He can’t decide what to do and decides he can’t go on like this anymore. At the train station, that decision may well be made for him. Miki is there waiting.

The Episode Review

There are some tough choices that need to be made here for Kazuma and while I understand the show is going this sympathetic route, honestly it just seems like a horrific ordeal for him. He loves his wife but doesn’t really show it, and he’s slowly being invaded by Yusuke’s spirit, which is changing the way he feels completely, subsequently destroying his life. 

Saeko is not doing herself any favours by continuing this charade either, and while the end scene with the hug is supposed to be this sweet moment, I can’t help but feel it’s all soured by the fact that Kazu is married and his poor wife has been in the dark all this time over what’s been going on.

Hopefully Kazuma makes the wise choice and stays with his wife, but we’ll have to see how this one pans out.