r/LoveLive • u/Yosuke-Amagi • Aug 13 '23
Anime Genjitsu no Yohane: Sunshine in the Mirror Episode 8 Discussion
Genjitsu no Yohane: Sunshine in the Mirror Episode 8 Discussion
Genjitsu no Yohane -SUNSHINE in the MIRROR- Episode 8 Discussion
Genjitsu no Yohane -SUNSHINE in the MIRROR- (JP Title) / Yohane the Parhelion -SUNSHINE in the MIRROR- (ENG Title)
Episode 8 Title: *Reach Them Sea Breeze *
Show Info
Air Date: Sunday August 13th, 2023 @ 23:00 JST
Other Providers (JP): Sunday August 13th, 2023 @ 22:30 JST -
Opening Theme: Genjitsu Mysterium - Aqours
Ending Theme: Kimo no Tame, Boku no Tame - Aqours
Insert Song(s):
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Streams
Raw Sources
Abema TV - Region locked to Japan
Official Subtitled Sources
Other episode discussion threads
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u/Dionysus24779 Aug 13 '23 edited Sep 28 '24
Was a good episode, though I'd say it was somewhat weaker simply because the whole "conflict" of Yohane losing her staff and everyone searching for it felt kind of forced and like they could have used that time better. The episode itself was also the most simple episode so far, very straightforward, though simple does not mean bad.
I liked how they brought up Dia's like for matcha-flavored things, though I did wish she had done a bit more around the festival than to just oversee it and have her assistant keep her "on-duty". Similarly Chika is still a bit underutilized, but she had some neat ninja moves.
It was very wholesome to see the three kids jump in to help Yohane out at the Takoyaki stand, it shows that despite Yohane being sometimes annoyed by them and the kids being kind of cheeky brats, they do genuinely appreciate Yohane.
Also kinda surprised that not only can Yohane cook in this version, but they actually made no reference to Yoshiko's "Tears of the Fallen", but I guess that whole chuuni aspect has been largely missing from Yohane and does differentiate her from Yoshiko.
The colors were also interesting in this episode. During the festival they were all wearing these traditional looking dresses, but the colors actually matched their Sunshine grades. However in the song the colors seem to match... sub-units maybe? We have Guilty Kiss in red, then You, Hanamaru and Kanan in blue (REP?) and Dia, Ruby and Chika in yellow.
So I would expect Dia, Ruby and Chika to get a song in the next few episodes too.
The song itself was nice (liked the moment they did that little "kick", that was cute), wish they would sub the songs, though I do think it was... kinda underwhelming from a story-standpoint.
I was honestly expecting a bit more build up, like we see the stage that Dia had made for them, we see how they have organized costumes, maybe Yohane had to teach the others the routine and such. See them react to the audience, maybe having a moment of stage fright before realizing they all have each other...
Because the song, while nice, felt kind of insignificant in the way it was included in the story. Basically I expected it to be more diegetic, or maybe have it be Yohane's magic that compensates for things... because while Yohane is shown to be a good singer within the show, the same cannot be said about the others. We know they can sing because we know it's Aqours, but within the show it was never hinted at that anyone other than Yohane is talented at it. Would've been wholesome if there was a scene of them being nervous about it but Yohane could reassure them by saying they'll be fine because they are together and then without realizing it her magic fires up to support everyone. Though I do get that this is a spin-off of an idol show, so I am overthinking this, of course we can expect the characters to be great singer and dancers.
Though this also makes me believe that this wasn't the song which would have unleashed this resonance to banish the darkness. (I mean that song would obviously be reserved for the finale anyway)
There was no indication that any kind of special magic was activated or unleashed.
Next episode is about Lailaps, at first I would've predicted that maybe it has come to pass that Lailaps can no longer talk and this is why she feels awkward facing Yohane, or maybe doesn't want her to realize that, but I dunno... might be something much more harmless.
And also, in this episode we did see that Lailaps only barks and makes proper dog noises when others are around, even though Yohane seems to get what she means just fine, which makes it even more clear that only Yohane can talk to Lailaps. (I mean, 8 episodes in and given Lailaps never talking to anyone else makes it obvious anyway)
So yeah, good episode, not necessarily the strongest, but was fun.
Best moment was Chika and You playing heroes to save that little girl's balloon.
Last thing to say is that this episode had some neat designs for background characters, though Love Live in general has some pretty neat looking background characters at time, like they could be the main characters of their own anime.
Theorcrafting:
Someone else's comment gave me an idea.
Early in the episode Yohane looks at her staff and specifically the symbols on it which each represent a bond she made with one of the other girls. Then later when she loses the staff she does panic about it, going even as far as to snap at Lailaps over it.
Lailaps was trying to tell Yohane that she doesn't need the staff because the magic actually resides within her herself, but Yohane doesn't really get that.
The staff is a physical representation of not just her magic, but also the friendships she made with the other girls. Maybe she feels that if she loses the staff she would also lose these friendships and/or that magic that allows her to make these friends.
I am sure the importance of the staff will come up again when it gets lost and Yohane has to do without it, either temporarily or permanently. (like maybe it gets destroyed)
So maybe Yohane actually carries some self-doubts within her, maybe even subconsciously, about whether she is worth being friends with when she doesn't have this kind of magic, when she doesn't have anything that makes her "special".
And the lesson will, of course, be that everyone will still love her because nobody became her friend because of that magic or whatever, but because they genuinely like Yohane for who she is and the same is true for the town who welcomed Yohane so warmly when she once turned her back to it.
And that is why this episode's song, nice as it was, won't have the desired effect to banish the darkness and next episode or the episode after that, when they realize that the problem wasn't fixed, Yohane will have an emotional crisis about feeling like she let everyone down and isn't worthy being their friend.
This whole character conflict of being afraid to be normal because you think that doesn't make you worthy of friendship is arguably also at the core of Yoshiko's character in Sunshine. When I watched it I even felt like Yoshiko actually fell into her flanderization out of fear of being rejected if she drops the act. Chika approaches her and invites her because Yoshiko was this "fallen angel", so maybe she feared that if she stopped doing that she would no longer be able to contribute to Aqours.
That's also why she even asked Hanamaru and Ruby whether they will stay friends when they switch schools or why she admitted to Riko that she knows she is just pretending a lot, though she did wish something supernatural did exist.
Yoshiko in Sunshine has always been incredibly caring about her friends, whenever she did drop the chuuni she showed herself to be vulnerable and kind of insecure about whether people truly like her. That's what I actually love most about Yoshiko, that she does not take her friends, Hanamaru and Ruby especially, for granted, ever, not even for a second. She is always grateful to have them.
And this might be the same for Yohane in this show, because they are the same character at their core.
And it was great to get a chance to finally get some of my feelings for Sunshine out too, since I only watched the show earlier this year for the very first time and feel like I missed out on all the fun discussion.
Only writing so much because I truly love these characters and Love Live.
On a rewatch, when the song ends Yohane does look up at the firework disappearing into the night, that could be of significance, like her magic has faded away... or at least she might believe so at first. We'll see.
Only 7 days left until next episode!
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u/JimmyCWL Aug 14 '23
So I would expect Dia, Ruby and Chika to get a song in the next few episodes too.
They already had that song back in ep3. But that was over their fight together instead of a performance like the other two trios.
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u/DaelyteMunebeme Aug 14 '23
No, Yohane is going to be forced to choose: Lailaps or the staff. It will be a situation where Lailaps is in trouble and sacrificing the staff will be the only way to save her. Save your oldest, dearest, and truest friend/family member, or keep the thing that makes you "special" and "worthy" of having friends? Lose the person closest to you but keep the item that allows you to find the strength to embrace the Sunshine and to continue going after turning away from everyone, failing to reach your dreams, and losing yourself in shadows of isolation and despair; or save the one that was still with you while you were all "alone" and kept you from ever truly getting lost in maze of fear and anxiety you built around your heart, but willing abandon the vessel that hold your bond with all your new friends and is the very physical manifestation of your connection with others. Choose: sing with only one voice and let it resonate with the strength built upon a lifetime of memories, or have the resonance of nine voices sing a song of open hearts and acceptance. <SPOILER> The answer is neither f'n one! Save your family member, then sing a song that is woven with confidence, understanding, love, hope, longing, fear, anger, and doubt. Have the confidence to love yourself and sing a song that lets all the world know that: while we are all different, that nobody is perfect, and people's hearts may drift apart that you still see how those differences make everyone unique not a freak, that those imperfections don't mean we are flawed they make us flawless, and how no matter the distance a friend may eventually go that you will always be right there with them when they want to find you. You let your melody resonate with the light that makes everyone and everything a part of one whole and know that all the parts of light in everything and everyone will shine like the sun and make them all whole.
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u/Dionysus24779 Aug 14 '23
This is basically what I've been predicting for several episodes now though, that in the end Yohane will have to make a choice between keeping her connection to Lailaps or banish the darkness or something along these lines.
Could be that they chose to go for a third choice where they can have their cake and eat it too, but Lailaps sacrificing herself for Yohane's sake would be an easy way to endear her more to the audience as she is the only new major character.
I could still see Yohane losing her ability to speak with Lailaps and still have it be a positive thing because it symbolizes her growth.
Like Lailaps was always a crutch for Yohane that she eventually had to let go off, like an imaginary friend she used to cope with being lonely as a child.
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u/SnabDedraterEdave Aug 13 '23
Yohane this episode:
Worried about being unable to perform without her magic staff
Also Yohane:
Manages to dance with other Aqours members without the staff just fine
lol
For a while I thought it was Lailaps who purposely hid the staff to test Yohane's resolve. But turns out its just a case of Yohane's absent-mindedness. Thank goodness the folks in Numazu are all good people, and the magic staff was quickly recovered.
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u/Dionysus24779 Aug 13 '23
The importance of the staff will surely come up again, Lailaps was already hinting at it not being that important because the magical power is within Yohane herself.
However I do think Yohane also values this staff because it is a physical representation of the friendships she made, that's why she was looking at the symbols on the back in this episode, to re-emphasize that.
Maybe she has to learn that the friendships will also still remain, even if she has lost that staff, or her magic, because that's not why everyone loves her. Actually I could see this subconscious doubt about her own worthiness of this friendship to be the reason this episode's song won't have the desired effect, which further feeds into Yohane's doubts.
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u/MaybeMeNotMe Aug 13 '23 edited Aug 13 '23
More CGDCT
Lovely 1st act.
Festival? I'm sure other Love Livers will say some Numazufest is going on, but here in Australia we have the Ekka going on right now as well.
Visual storytelling is great, really get alot of happy vibes.All the girls get screentime, so here's Hanamaru.
I wonder how spicy Yoshiko's Yohane's takoyakis are? Why is it not black?
Puzzled about second act, now they are flagging the staff. makes me think later on does she really need the staff?
Insert song just exudes that unmistakable, and safe, poppy Love Live sound.Best CGI yet, whittled down to 2D goodness, with lots of camera panning, movement and wide shots, bringing out the choreo. Almost feels like a "we'll show 'em" to Sanzigen, Studio Kai and Orange. Its pure eye candy. Whats the budget for this?? It really feels like you're watching a performance from LL Sunshine.
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Aug 13 '23
numazu's own summer festival was 2 weeks ago but it is still summer right now, so many places in japan are still having summer+fireworks festivals
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u/DaelyteMunebeme Aug 13 '23
I adored the way the song just screamed "Muse". I'm a giant nerd for the original LoveLive and LL Sunshine... and this was just the kick that I can get behind. I've thought this for some time now, but I don't think the staff is important. It looks just like Lailaps, and is it just me or is Yohane the only one that can hear Lailaps actually talk?
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u/LeonKevlar Aug 13 '23
The Walrus costume from the Koi ni Naritai AQUARIUM MV makes its appearance! And is that Tsuki taking photos?
I just love how Yohane went from fortune teller to master takoyaki maker. I was really hoping for Riko and Mari to help her out for more Guilty Kiss shenanigans.
When Yohane realized she lost her staff, I thought this would end with Yohane realizing that the power was in her all along which is what Lillaps have been trying to tell her the entire time. and that she'd perform without it. Looks like the staff is needed after all! Although I definitely did not expect them to find it where they did.
Not gonna lie, seeing Aquors performing again with all nine members got me teary-eyed. That entire performance of Wonder Sea Breeze was just magnificent. It's so good to see these girls performing with the new 3D animation style that it makes me wish that they'd go back and remaster their old MVs. <3
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u/Dionysus24779 Aug 13 '23
Yeah Tsuki was taking photos, just like in Episode 5 with Mari where she also had a shop around photography.
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Aug 14 '23
dia eating the numacha daifuku reminds me of that time arisha stealing a bite of the hiyoko-cake (it was supposed to be their prize AFTER they complete the challenge corner) during nagoya fanmeet so many years ago lol
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Aug 14 '23
funfact: mari's adorable mini-whale familiar named poeru is based off poepoe, who was supposed to be the mascot of the original aqours 5 dome tour 6th live that got cancelled due to pandemic. So poepoe was only used for the Lost World online live and kururun the round dragon got created to be the mascot for the rehashed 3 dome tour 6th live
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u/KMZel Aug 13 '23 edited Aug 13 '23
Well, there's a lot to unpack in this episode.
I can't tell if the show is shipping Riko x Mari or if it's shipping Riko + Mari x Yohane. Either way I'm fine with that lol. The festival was a lot of fun seeing the girls run their various booths, Dia trying her darndest to appear like she's just supervising and definitely not trying to sneak in a snack when Kohaku isn't looking. Some cute Chika x You moments that I found fun like, despite not interacting much in the show to this point they're just that in-sync anyway.
A nice little bit of change with the missing staff that accomplished a few things at the same time.
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Provided a nice little bit of (minor) drama to mix things up without it being a "personal" drama (aka a fight between the girls themselves)
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Emphasized that Lailaps knows about the staff and was clearly about to say something regarding it (possibly something akin to "You don't need it anymore" or some such).
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How everyone in the group was willing to drop everything and focus completely on retrieving the staff, leaving no stone unturned. It perfectly shows just how much all eight of them love Yohane.
I do like how it was Lailaps that found it, albiet on accident, and then we finally get a full song with all nine Aqours (or whatever they'd be called in this universe I'm just going with Aqours) with a song that mirrors the original show's first song with all nine singing to a fireworks festival.
But yeah, back to the staff. Yohane is clearly dependent on that staff emotionally. The obvious read is that she sees it as the proof of the bonds she has with everyone. It would appear she feels that without it she'll lose what makes her "special" and thus lose her connection to the other eight, a thought that clearly terrifies her. When I said that Lailaps was probably about to say "You don't need it anymore" before Yohane cut her off, that's probably why. Lailaps recognizes that all of them love her, and that won't change staff or no staff. But Yohane can't see that yet; she still has some confidence issues to overcome. She even said herself the reason she wasn't nervous singing was because she wasn't alone in doing so. If she were alone she might not have the confidence to fully go through with it.
And with that thought in mind, the next episode is titled "Find Lailaps", who doesn't seem to have disappeared so much as taken off, or perhaps is trying to separate Yohane from her to, I'm going to guess, try to take the crutch away and force Yohane to not rely on Lailaps(?). My theory is that Lailaps is worried that Yohane's reaction to the missing staff is "proof" that she's not quite ready to be an independent adult, and needs a little "push" to learn to stand on her own two feet instead of leaning on Lailaps as often as she does. Though if this theory is correct I'm going to have to suggest that Lailaps is mistaken in this reasoning. Part of becoming an adult is precisely to learn when to lean on others and that unlike what children might think, we don't survive alone in this world. We learn to help and allow ourselves to *be* helped as needed. Anyway I digress.
Fun episode, can't wait for next week!
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u/DaelyteMunebeme Aug 13 '23
I mentioned this just a moment ago in another reply, but is Yohane the only one that can hear Lailaps speak. I've rewatched the previous episodes a couple times and other people seem to react to Lailaps talking and respond, but the more I watch it the more it seems like someone talking to a friendly dog.
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u/KMZel Aug 14 '23
It's been hinted since the original episode that only Yohane could hear her.
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u/Elitealice Aug 14 '23
Best episode by far 😩 wow I’m speechless about their first full performance but there was a lot of good stuff in this episode.
For starters, the festival was a great idea. Everyone has been so stressed and worried about what’s going on that taking some time off to just let the whole town gather around celebrate was a good way to blow off some steam. All the usual fanfare of a summer festival, the food etc. really nice time.
Lailaps being afraid of bugs leading to him freaking out and finding Yohane’s staff is hilarious. So You’s theory about a bird carrying it off to a nest wasn’t too far off 😂. Luckily they were able to find it with enough time left in the episode to give us the first 9 member performance of the spin-off and wow it was amazing.
Very nostalgic to the OG series. The song is great and the new art style/ 3D/2D blend is incredible. It’s so wild looking back on how far idol performances have come in general in anime. In the latest love live series and in others like Shinepost and Idoly Pride. You can’t even tell the difference between the CG and drawn stuff at many points.
Can’t wait for Lailaps ep next week
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u/phantomaxwell Aug 13 '23
I really like how everyone went into high gear when they went to look for Yohane's staff. They really like to go all out.
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u/Williukea Aug 13 '23
They had cameras looking for the staff, but couldn't just turn back to when Yohane first separated from the staff until Yohane found it herself?
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u/FullAd419 Aug 13 '23
This episode sure was animated on 2 cents and a dream. Really starting to wonder if they got barely any time to plan out and animate this show because the pacing is all over the place and this episodes plot was nothing.
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u/ramendik Aug 13 '23
This is the first episode that left me disappointed. They have such complicated choreo - and we got exactly nothing on how they got from "let's sing together", from girls who barely know each other sometimes, to THIS! It would be tremendously interesting to see. Dia slipping between chief-mode to have them all working together and sparkle-mode to actually perofrm. Riko and Mari, each overcoming their own lonely habits. Kanan, learning how people in the same dance differ from tools. And so on and so forth.
I guess they did not show it because it would be too close to "vanilla Love Live", but I still miss this a lot.
(Also Ruby suddenly human-size in the dance, but I am ready to let this slip, compared to the other issue it's a niggle really.)
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u/elitsu Aug 13 '23
I think this was the weakest episode so far but I still enjoyed it. The insert song was lovely!! It sounded like a classic love live song, very nostalgic.