Just to start, I have already reviewed Kokoro Connect before the four extra episode aired, so if you want an overall review it will be there. I said in it that I would write an update for it if those episodes were actually relevant and here we are again because they are.
The previous review was spoiler free, but this time around I'm going to be spoiling the crap out this because I actually have some points to make. From this part on it will be the danger zone, so hold on to your butts, it will be a bumpy ride.
This time around Culture Research Club is experiencing the phenomenon the Heartseed dubs "Balloon vine". Quiet a strange name for something that is thought transmission, but boy does it cause some drama, that is probably one of the fiercer conflicts of all of the phenomena.
Characters
In these four episodes the only relevant characters were Iori, Himeko, and Taichi. Hell, even Heartseed ignored Aoki and Yui because he though they were too boring now. So we will only be focusing on the three that were actually affected by balloon vine.
Nagase Iori
The main course of this meal of four episodes, Iori was miss Debby downer throughout most of these episodes. We do find why she was being this way, which was that she was tired of all the Heartseed's phenomena, she has been scared for quiet a while, she couldn't live up to what people expected from her, she was frightened, and most important, she was terrified.
It is completely understandable for Iori to be so fearful after each phenomena happening almost right after the other. However, pushing everyone away as hard as she did, wasn't the right way to go.
We do see Iori snap out of her slump when Setouchi and her friends mentions that they will doing something worse to Iori. Not going into much detail past this, Iori works though her conflict with Setouchi after she finally figures out that she should be living her life the way she wants to, rather than living up to others standards; as a surprise to most people, Iori actually befriends Setouchi for having the same problem.
These four episodes really did flesh out Iori out, as a character, and brought a great ending where several clashes were solved and we end with a lot stronger characters compared to the very beginning of Kokoro Connect.
Inaba Himeko
I still consider her my favorite characters of the bunch, Himeko didn't really get any stronger or weak in these four episodes. We do see a more rare side of Himeko, that she would normally hide from most people.
After Iori and Taichi resolve there differences with the love that had for each other and now are just good friends, Taichi finally asked Himeko out. The "dere" was strong with Ms. Inaba because she finally got the prince that she has been pursuing for so long and I couldn't be happier to see all the wonderful faces Himeko makes when around Taichi.
Yaegashi Taichi
I'm still not a fan of Taichi, and its not because he ends up with Himeko. Taichi always felt like one of those stereotypical nice guys in most anime series, and he doesn't fail to surprise me by his stupidity.
The only help he gave to Iori during these four episode was him trying to distract the rumors, of Iori being fake, over to him by basically making it seem like Taichi tried to rape Iori. Not much else from him beside him making Himeko happy and that all I can say he does a good job at.
Closing Thoughts
The point I wanted to make was about Heartseed, I think the way he executed most the phenomena, happening only in CRC, felt like he wanted to better ever person in it. He presented it in a tormenting way, mind you, but I'm thinking it was all for a greater good.
As for the overall impression, I say it was still a good decision on my part to put this as my number one for my top ten anime in 2012. Despite the studio trapping these four episode to a disk purchase, it was well worth the wait and the ending was very satisfying.