Netsuzou Trap -NTR-, Episode 1
Produced by: DMM.com, Ichijinsha
Studio: Creators in Pack
Genre(s): Drama, Romance
Episodes: 9-minute episodes
Premiere date: July 5, 2017
Synopsis: Yuma and Hotaru have been friends since childhood, so it’s only natural that when Yuma is nervous about her new boyfriend, she asks Hotaru for advice. But when Hotaru starts coming onto Yuma for what feels like more than just ‘practice,’ what does it mean…? With boyfriends in the foreground but a secret, passionate tryst in the background, will Yuma and Hotaru try to forget what happened between them or have they fallen into a trap of true love and betrayal? – MyAnimeList
I was completely taken aback with what I saw in the first episode of Netsuzou Trap -NTR-, and I say that in the best way possible. I know the kinds of relationships that are presented in this series do exist in the real world, I just didn’t expect it to be explored the way it was in the first episode at all. I thought there would be some kind of slow build up to the tension, sexual and dramatic, that was shown. Instead, the episode almost immediately dives into the situation and I applaud that creative leap for not insulting the viewer and giving us credit to put the pieces together in our minds and not to have to hold us by the hand and lead us there bit by bit.
The relationship presented in the first episode between best friends Yuma Okazaki and Hotaru Mizushina feels sweet and real, but also feels a bit taboo and forbidden. Oh, I have nothing against lesbian relationships, and I applaud the creative team for putting it out there right from the start – but the way the girls go about their relationship behind their respective boyfriends’ back gives it that taboo and forbidden feeling. But seeing as how some relationships I know have started off that way, both straight and gay, it seems pretty grounded in reality.
And some people may feel that the more experienced and free-spirited Hotaru may be taking advantage of the more shy and quiet Yuma, but I found no problems with their relationship in one bit. Instead it did feel rather real to me as I have found myself in similar situations in various relationships I have had in the past.
But I really have to stress how surprised and approving I was of seeing that relationship between Yuma and Hotaru immediately explored in this episode. I love it when there is a freedom to explore relationships of any kind right off the bat, especially those that challenge social norms. But to give the viewer some credit to our intelligence and not to have us walked through by the hand explaining to us that Yuma and Hotaru are long-time friends and this is how they feel about each other… it feels rather refreshing and enlightening. If for no other reason than that, I want to continue watching Netsuzou Trap -NTR- to see where the relationship between Yuma and Hotaru goes and see where the story will take these two young characters as they explore their young love lives and sexuality.
