Having just read the episode 2 and 3 impressions of his and seeing no such flaw, I'd like you to point out those bits.
zzz.
I strongly dislike the notion put forward in the referenced article that Chitanda is mindfully "managing" Oreki. When Oreki says his solutions to the previous mysteries were luck she does not "recognize it as a lie". The author is too strongly reading into the translation maybe, but also shows a crucial misunderstanding of who Chitanda is as a person.
So for this:
Chitanda is having none of this. A quick shot of her lip stiffening cuts to then let me rely on that luck, a line that simultaneously respects his self-image while recognizing it as a lie. You cant rely on luck, and Chitanda knows what Oreki has isnt luck.
Chitanda is not the holder of some greater knowledge. She wants to take a chance on Oreki's luck, even if it is just that. She does not hold some greater knowledge that she is using to manipulate Oreki. Chitanda's naïvety is core to how she operates, and even if she can get Oreki to help her she does this unknowingly. This is why Irisu's tasks shatter things later on in the series.
This read:
Initially guarded fronts give way to each of them admitting a degree of weakness, and coming to a stronger friendship as a result.
On the scene just doesn't really line up with what I see going on. There's not really an admitted weakness. Chitanda opens up an entryway to her past for Oreki that holds the potential for a deeper bond, and his indulgence in at least respectfully playing along keeps that entryway open.
What should really be emphasized about this scene is how these characters are being brought together. It's by characters we will never really see or meet, but they have a profound impact on the story. Chitanda draws similarities between her lost uncle and Oreki that pushes her to trust him. Oreki is prodded along by his sister to reach out to others, which is maybe the greatest prompt to him helping someone else in need. I don't really feel like the bond between Oreki and Chitanda is completely built at this point in the story, like the article seems to suggest. There is a trust these characters place in one another, but it's reliant on factors influenced outside of Oreki and Chitanda interacting with one another. At this point though, these characters are still mostly strangers, enabled by stronger outside connections.
Not to just keep going on forever, but this also stood out:
And just like when he betrayed her feelings in regards to the club poster mystery, Oreki is shamed by his own actions. He cant betray that existing trust.
This is not really the right read. After suggesting Chitanda ask around to others close to her, it comes to light that Chitanda does not want to openly discuss this topic with others. Oreki does not feel shame in the sense that he is betraying Chitanda's trust, the sense of shame comes from Oreki missing the bluntly obvious. For someone who is supposed to piece data together and draw logical conclusions he was unable to read the situation he found himself in. Not the best way to start things off when someone asks you to be their detective.
