[ThereminVox]

Spoiler for SPOILERS: Menma cries:

I didn't take the nosebleed as anything more than a way to end the conversation, probably brought on by stress. It's possible Jintan has ClannAIDS, and this show could probably carry it off, but I'd still rather they not go there.

I was disappointed at how little we saw of the beta "couple". We're getting so deep into the season now that I suspect Tsuruko's story is going to be tied in fairly tightly with Menma's, or they'd probably be well into dealing with it by now. Right now she's a satellite character just waiting to hit center stage. I do like the way her real relationship with the others is always being teased, but never explicitly dealt with. They're definitely building to something with her.

The recollection that Menma called everyone to the secret base that day felt like the "ah-ha!" moment we've been waiting for. I think we finally have a solid lead on Menma's wish.

Again, Anaru's my favorite character, and since she's all over this episode she stole the show. We got to see a little mini-arc for her, as interacting with Menma's mother seemed to give her a minor epiphany regarding her own relationship with her mom. I wonder why she ends up back at the clubhouse? Maybe it didn't go so well after all? Jinta obviously has some mom issues as well, so perhaps we're seeing a theme developing.

I know I'm a bad person for being taken out of it whenever Menma starts to cry, but now that you guys have pointed out that it's her once-per-episode spot, I can't unsee it.