Nevertheless: The Shapes of Love – J-drama Episode 4 Recap & Review

Episode 4

Episode 4 of Nevertheless: The Shapes of Love begins with Miu running off. She runs into Hikari who asks if she has fallen for Ren. Miu awkwardly deflects but Hikari can understand as she knows the path Miu is on. Hikari has never been good with farewells as she can’t even throw away her torn sneakers. She protects herself by never getting serious with anyone so that there will be no farewell. She does want to cherish Osakabe but she knows herself.

Meanwhile, Miu keeps thinking about Chiaki, the mysterious girl and how Ren gets secretive whenever he is on the phone. At present, he calls Miu and explains that Chiaki is his childhood friend. Miu is not sure if she wants to meet him but gives in when he says it is work-related. 

Turns out, he wants to practise drawing female limbs. He makes a move and she tries to find out if he has ever had an exclusive relationship. He doesn’t care for labels which she doesn’t agree with. But she gives in when he claims he just wants to be with her in the moment. They continue their dalliance and seem to have fun with each other.

Late one night, she hears him talking to someone and her heart breaks. She had hoped she would become his special someone but she is just one of his many butterflies. To worsen it, Chiaki arrives at the university and Ren introduces her as a curator for the art festival.

Miu seems down and Chiaki approaches her, apologising for their abrupt meeting in the past. Miu wants to ask about her relationship with Ren but he interrupts and takes Chiaki away.

Elsewhere, Hikari runs into her ex, Tetsuo. They are amicable as she wonders why they broke up. He reveals they were not too interested in each other and it looks like he is just like her. She tells him about Osakabe and how she is troubled by his emotional nature. Tetsuo claims people like Osakabe can be overwhelming for people like them.

As she leaves, she finds another graffiti by Kamakura Banksy. Against a background full of butterfly wings, a girl is wearing blue, torn sneakers. The next day, Chiaki takes the students out for a meal. Everyone fawns over Kamakura Banksy but Hikari, Miu and Chiaki look troubled. Miu asks Ren if he is the artist and Hikari asks Osakabe the same thing. Both men reveal they did the graffiti.

Hikari knows it is Osakabe since he is the only one she ever told about her torn sneakers. But both Miu and Hikari know that the background is Ren’s style. A flashback shows Osakabe drawing the girl. Ren catches him and claims his graffiti is too direct. Osakabe started the graffiti because he was inspired by Ren’s vandalized mural. He also wanted to express his existence.

Hikari is relieved that Osakabe is the artist and shares it is good to know that he is also jaded like her. She doesn’t know much about relationships but she is ready to try it with him. He is flustered at first but they tease each other as they kiss.

As for Miu, she wants to know more about Ren and presses him till he reveals he made his mural vandal simply to show someone. Chiaki arrives as she too comes to the conclusion that Ren made the latest graffiti. Both women wonder why and Ren declares that he just wanted to draw.

Miu disapproves as she insists one can express themselves without vandalizing. However, Chiaki has the same mindset as Ren and wonders why they need to restrict themselves as artists. She is snarky as she comments that Miu is too privileged to understand. Miu tries to explain herself as she just wants to see art that reveals Ren’s true self. Ren doesn’t say anything and hurt, Miu runs off. Ren tries to go after her but Chiaki stops him.

At the end of Nevertheless: The Shapes of Love Episode 4, Miu is disappointed in herself for holding expectations. Ruki runs into Miu and is happy to see her. She realises that people can’t help but look for comfort elsewhere in such situations.

The Episode Review

These bite-sized chapters are not enough! We need more of the Kamakura gang and their misadventures in finding love. With only 4 more episodes left, we are going to enter the second half of the J-drama which will no doubt focus on the final conflicts before each couple can reconcile and get their happily ever after. 

Nevertheless: The Shapes of Love Episode 4 for once gives us a parallel between a secondary character and Ren. So far, the parallels have been with Miu and how similar and dissimilar she is to her classmates. But here, we see how Hikari and Ren have been keeping people at arm’s length for different reasons.

And while Hikari has gotten over her “nevertheless” principle, it will take a while before Ren can let Miu enter his heart. And while we are glad we don’t remember what happens when Chiaki’s K-drama counterpart makes her entrance, it is nerve-wracking as Ren unnecessarily sways between her and Miu.