© あfろ・芳文社／野外活動プロジェクト

First, let's get the important stuff out of the way: The beloved Shimarin Bun returns in all its spherical glory this week. Apparently, the animators heard us all bemoaning its absence because it appears twice—once in Nadeshiko's imagination and a second time at the hot springs—in honor of the fruit. hair bridge. And I guess the rest of the episode was good too.

Congratulations to some train enthusiasts this week with a lovely explanation of train car combinations. I had ridden a similar type of cog railway to the top of Pike's Peak so I was somewhat familiar with the mechanics and excitement. Like the woman Nadeshiko befriended, I was also not very interested in trains, but it was still a unique system that was fun to ride and see firsthand. It's just like the Nagashima Dam or any of the suspension bridges that appear in this section. Humans utilize ingenuity and technology to immerse themselves in the vastness and harshness of nature.

Of course, the historical record is full of the destruction of these natural landscapes due to these pursuits. However, this series instead highlights examples of coexistence with their environment because it wants audiences to know that a better world is possible. When Nadeshiko looks across the “egg” (i.e., Okuōikojō Station), it is dwarfed by the lake, trees, and landscape. It was downplayed by them. Each destination in Laid-Back Camp has its own unique characteristics. The iconic stations, forests, restaurants, roads, mountains, rivers, dams, and bridges are as lively as any girl's—and that goes double for bridges on a windy day.

Laid-Back The camp's sense of community is another important aspect of the camp's warmth. I'm not a fan of camping, but I do enjoy hiking and the nods, waves, and hellos between strangers passing each other on a road. These are small but comforting gestures. They are affirmations of mutual humanity. Likewise, Nadeshiko becomes snacking companions with two women on the train, and Rin and Ayano hear stories about the area from the old couple who own the restaurant. These are fleeting connections, but they don't get any less. The fabric of society is woven from intimate interactions between people who may never meet again.

But if we want something more intimate, Rin and Ayano's adventures show how quickly friendship can be forged in the flames of each other's struggles. It's not surprising that Ayano didn't calculate how expensive this trip would be. Similarly, Rin also underestimated the power of a suspension bridge from afar. Yet together, they push each other through their fears and weaknesses, and both girls come out the other side wiser, stronger, and closer. It's adorable to see how excited Ayano was to find another girl with an interest in riding motorbikes. If that isn't a solid foundation for a relationship then I don't know what is. She also shows another side of Rin, a glimmer of mania behind those purple eyes. Obviously, Nadeshiko is still Rin's girlfriend, but I'm starting to believe in Rin/Nadeshiko/Ayano OT3.

While the rowdy racing girls brave the hellish roads together, Nadeshiko's journey is closer to the quiet solo than the camping trip we've seen before from Rin. There's time for silliness and reflection, at her own pace. The spooky tunnel that the locals turned into a haunted house is a great set, and like everything else in the show, it's very real. And while the Nagashima Dam is quite impressive, my favorite spot has to be Okuōikojō Station. It just cuts through a unique scene between the water, the island and the train track network. I'm not surprised this is a popular spot for photographers.

The last thing I want to highlight is the background music. While I've previously praised Akiyuki Tateyama's music as an irreplaceable component of the series' core warmth, this week he outdid himself in choreographing the motorcycle montage Rin and Ayano's many tunnels. It's composed in a more cinematic style than the normal stories we're used to hearing, but it fits the scene perfectly. I especially like the melodic transitions between the accordion, trumpet and violin throughout the piece. That interaction provides just the right amount of fun—just what Laid-Back Camp needs.

Rating:

PS Sound off in the comments whether you cross that bridge or not. I certainly agree.

Laid-Back Camp Season 3 is now streaming on Crunchyroll.

Steve is on Twitter while it lasted. Watching this show again will make him feel guilty about going on more hikes. You can also catch him chatting about trash and treasure on This Week in Anime.