Episode 4 "Accomplishment"

"You can't change the past."

"Of course you can. Of course you can."

This week's episode is filled with tension as Satoru is faced with his first real test since being dropped back into his childhood right after the shocking death of his mother. "ERASED" has made Satoru's quest to change the future an extremely tall order - it involves solving a murder in a time where memories are so long ago that they're distorted and likely have changed to suit whatever Satoru's adult mind would have liked to believe.

In that way, "ERASED" has created the exquisite tension of deep down knowing his goal is impossible, but because the goal is so noble, the audience still wishes that he could accomplish it.

In terms of balancing that tension, the episode turns to Satoru's growth from a hardened 20-something manga creator into someone that genuinely is finally able to bond with someone. That is to say, through this journey of trying to save Hinazuki from her inevitable capture and death, Satoru (inside his child body, which adds a layer of complexity) is able to learn how to truly engage with his life with passion.

The progression of Satoru's actions with Hinazuki is truly sweet, as you watch him bravely proposition Hinazuki for a date, stand up to her mother, hold Hinazuki's hand, and even walking her to and from school. At first, you could say that the actions are just what Satoru feels compelled to do in order to change the past. But over the course of the episode, Satoru's actions begin to suggest that he wants more than to just save Hinazuki.

Satoru also wants to save himself from just floating through life.

Overall, "ERASED" continues to impress me week to week with how it balances the tension of the plot with the journey of Satoru as he tries to change both the past and himself.