Ep 2. Cold Skin

The show Nagi no Asukara is a fascinating anime that follows the lives of five young friends who live in an underwater village called Shioshishio. In season 1 episode 2 titled Cold Skin, the story continues from the previous episode where a group of students from the underwater school are about to attend school on the surface.

The episode starts with the students preparing for their trip to the surface. As they get ready, one of the students, Chisaki, expresses her worries about leaving their underwater home and going to the surface. She is afraid that they will lose their special abilities to breathe underwater and that they won't be able to return home. Her concerns are shared by other students, but they all seem excited about the rare opportunity to experience life on the surface.

Once they reach the surface, the students are amazed by how different everything looks. They are fascinated by the trees, the sky, and the sea creatures that they encounter. However, they soon realize that the surface world is not as perfect as they had imagined. They are confronted with pollution, litter, and other problems that they never had to deal with in their underwater village. This realization makes them appreciate the beauty of their home in a deeper way.

Meanwhile, the group of students from the surface school is not very welcoming to the underwater students. They treat them with suspicion and fear, which makes it hard for the underwater students to adjust. One of the surface students, a boy named Tsumugu, is more curious than afraid of the underwater students. He tries to talk to them and befriend them, but his efforts are met with mixed reactions.

As the day goes on, the students from both schools are challenged to participate in a race that involves swimming from the surface back to the underwater village. However, the race is not a friendly competition. Instead, it is a way for the surface students to humiliate and insult the underwater students. The underwater students are horrified by the blatant discrimination, but they push through and try their best to win.

The race is the climax of the episode and it is very exciting. The animation is top-notch, capturing the movements of the sea creatures and the environment in a way that feels realistic. Even if you are not into sports, you will find yourself rooting for the students and feeling the tension of the race.

Overall, Nagi no Asukara season 1 episode 2 Cold Skin is a great continuation of the series. It builds on the themes introduced in the first episode and explores them in more depth. It also introduces new characters and conflicts that promise to make the series more interesting. If you are a fan of anime or just looking for a good show to watch, Nagi no Asukara is definitely worth checking out.