A Star Brighter Than the Sun Episode 4 Review

Episode 4 of A Star Brighter Than the Sun digs into one of those feelings we have all wrestled with: the wish that you could simply decide to stop liking someone. Hearts do not work that way, of course, but that does not stop Sae from trying her best this week.

After Koki mentions that he likes someone, Sae assumes he is out of reach and decides to quit her crush cold turkey. Her plan is to avoid him completely and hope the feelings fade on their own. As anyone could guess, that approach does not go very smoothly.

Part of why it fails is that Koki is not oblivious. He notices her dodging him at every turn, from brushing him off to picking a different partner for their school’s dreaded endurance run, and he cannot understand why. Normally I prefer characters who just talk things out, but the way this misunderstanding unfolds is genuinely sweet.

The quiet heartbreak is that Koki’s confession was actually about Sae. His hints have been small but real, the way he seeks her out, defends her, and blushes when their eyes meet. Sae simply cannot see it, because years of being teased as the tall girl have left her certain that a popular boy could never like her.

That gap between what Koki feels and what Sae believes about herself gives the episode its gentle ache. A Star Brighter Than the Sun is currently streaming on Amazon Prime.

My take: I have such a soft spot for romances built on quiet insecurity rather than manufactured drama. I just want to gently nudge Sae and tell her to give herself more credit.