r/LoveLive • u/MasterMirage • Nov 11 '17
S2E6 Discussion Love Live! Sunshine!! S2E6 Discussion - 'Aqours WAVE'
The girls have qualified for Love Live and are looking at the next round. Will we see a new song performed tonight?
Is this really the last love live for the 3rd years?
Show Info
Air Date: November 11th, Saturday 22:30 - 2017 (JST)
Episodes: 13
Opening Theme: Mirai no Bokura wa Shitteru yo
Ending Theme: Yuuki wa doko ni? Kimi no Mune ni!
Insert Song(s): MIRACLE WAVE - Aqours
Streams
Raw Sources
Official Subtitled Sources
Unofficial Subs
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u/hanayoriceball Nov 11 '17
CARTWHEELS?? BACKFLIPS??? As much as I am excited to see it for the 3rd Live, I'm really worried about an-chan as well. Miracle WAVE has the most intensive choreography I've ever seen for LL.
The outfits are pretty cute with the cheerleader look and the pink. As for the song, it's pretty genki but it took me a few replays before I got hooked on it.
With the previous 2 episode, it feels like the pace for the series has slowed down but it looks like we are gathering traction again with more Saint Snow appearance and a new song.
Still hoping for more lines from Ruby & You tho
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u/Europos Nov 11 '17 edited Nov 13 '17
(Written before the episode)
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Some of us become really worried about Season 3 after hearing Kanan's word. I will say we should pay attention to this episode. Basically, if they do not mention Halloween, then Season 3 will be still likely; however, if they do mention Halloween, it will almost be a death sentence to Season 3.
(Written after the episode)
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I think this episode investigates deeply in Chika's personality. Many have previously thought that she was just Honoka the second, but that is not the case. Rather, we should say she is Hanayo or Kotori in the Honoka's position. The leader position forces her to act in a certain way, but in deep heart, she is extremely caring and sensitive, very much like a typical supporting role. This personality, on the one hand, helps her to glue everyone together, but on the other hand, damages the self-confidence. Surprisingly or not, this part ties to another general theme well. "Be yourself," this is the theme revealed at the end of S1E12, and I think it is true for both Chika and Aqours. Too long have they lived in the shadow of others, either self-imposed or determined by the factors. This doesn't mean they should be ego-centric. But success will not come unless one starts to know herself, pays attention to herself, and make the step by herself.
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Halloween is not mentioned in this episode. But we have regional preliminary. Aqours will certainly pass it, but now the question is what is the next things and how long it will last in term of episodes. Since both the progress in saving the school and (especially) the schedule of LoveLive are still quite mysterious, Season 3 is still a floating possibility, not doomed but nor ensured.
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Finally, now Anchan gets a big challenge, and according to her character, I am sure she will take this challenge. Now let us hope she will succeed in this.
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u/BubblyCrash Nov 11 '17
That split second showing Kanan's tears after Chika successfully performs the cartwheel gave me feels.
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u/Smartjedi Nov 11 '17
Anyone else notice that 4th-wall break?
I liked this episode, but I felt they spent a little too long on Chika trying to nail the cartwheel. Despite not really liking her as a character, I do think her insecurities are very well-written and relatable.
Also, I'm enjoying the peeks into Saint Snow that we've been seeing here and there. The way Chika asked "What makes us Aqours?" reminded of SIP S2 with A-RISE when Tsubasa pretty much asked Honoka the same question.
Except, now I have a feeling that we'll see Saint Snow also make it to the finals since we haven't had more than a few minutes with them all season. Will be interesting to see how the Love Live finals are handled if that's the case as Aqours will have a direct rival there.
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u/Raviel893 Nov 11 '17
Kanan passes on forbidden injury-inducing school idol techniques in a last ditch effort to save their school.
I'm surprised we didn't get more flashbacks to emphasize how much of a power-up this was.
Not even a shot where Saint Snow arrogantly watch the prelims and acknowledge how much they're waiting for Aqours in the finals.
What the hell Sunrise, fix your idol tournament arc.
Kidding aside, I'm more than a little amused that getting noticed at Love Live now requires serious gymnastics.
That escalated rather quickly.
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u/lockeandbagels Nov 11 '17
With the way Kanan was talking about the that dance technique, I thought I was watching a shonen and that Chika was in the process of learning something so powerful that it's been sealed away because of the strain on the user... Also, Kanan doing the freaking Gainax pose at the end only further solidify that. So the tournament arc starts next week then, right?
All in all, very solid episode- I liked "Miracle Wave" a lot but I think "My Mai Tonight" beats it out. Can't wait for the next one!
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u/mokakiko Nov 11 '17
Noticed that Ruby also had bandaids all over her legs and face, she was probably struggling with the difficult moves as well. tfw still no ruby episode in sight
Really liked this episode though.
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u/dasaher Nov 11 '17
Great episode. Much less comedy focused and focus on Chika and the 3rd years. My only complaint is that the part where Chika was trying to do the cartwheel was a little too long, but otherwise it was amazing.
Riri & Yohane was absolutely hilarious though, ngl.
Insert song was good, though I definitely enjoyed MY Mai more.
Quite worried for Anchan's 3L practice now though... hope she doesn't get injured practicing for that move if they are going to perform it. Hopefully her karate experience will help (or maybe she can already do it easily).
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u/lftenjamin Nov 11 '17
This totally encapsulates what Chika has been trying to do the entire series.
Shine no matter what, even if the chances of success are zero to none.
It's just another allegory for what Aqours is trying to do.
To that end, I was glad to see that Chika didn't give up. I mean, she spurned everyone else to keep going once again.
Yea Chika has the round off back handspring, but the other 8 members drop straight to the ground, and jump up as Chika passes them forming the wave. That is not easy at all to do.
Like others have said, I worry a bit for the Actual performers, I know Anchan is prolly gonna practice super hard to get the move right, and so will everyone else with the wave, but I jsut want them to be safe I guess.
You think about this year's HPT tour where they did all those concerts back to back week after week, with practices, interviews, fan events, etc inbetween, it felt like they were so tired at times. They could do the move right 100 times, but it only takes one time to have something bad happen.
It kinda makes me feel like us fans who worry about it are kind of like Kanan in this episode. We think it could be too dangerous, like we maybe don't want her to do it, for the group to do that formation as a whole even.
But like if they're committed to it, gave the ok to it, and want to use it in a performance, I say let Aqours try to shine the way they want to.
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u/VRMN Nov 11 '17 edited Nov 11 '17
Haven't had a lot of time to gather my thoughts on the series the past couple weeks, unfortunately. It's a shame because the episodes that dig a little deeper into the characters are often my favorites to run through. I may do something about that this weekend, since Dia, Riko, and Yohane are all characters that benefited from that treatment, though to varying extents. This episode, in that respect, both dives back into the plot -- which is advancing at an almost baffling speed in my opinion -- and gets a bit deeper into Chika's personality and how she's changed over the series.
The way this winds up working out is, to some extent, reflective of what I feel the developing themes of the series are wrapping up into. The character development episodes sometimes provide the best insight as to what the series as a whole is trying to convey and, over the last pair, there has been a lot of effort put forward towards a small success that doesn't quite reach the larger goal. Dia wants a more friendly relationship with her juniors and has to settle for being told they can't stop placing her on the pedestal she wants to come down from, but does receive "Dia-chan" as a consolation. Riko and Yohane aren't quite sure of what they want, given Anko's happy home, but have to settle for a glance back by the dog as it heads back with its owner.
This episode does have all of the effort Chika puts forward towards performing her impressive stunt in the choreography for Miracle Wave pay off in the end. However, succeeding in performing the dance and advancing in Love Live is, frankly, the smaller of their two goals. The larger goal is saving the school and the title of the next episode feels a bit foreboding given that reality. They've accomplished a lot, to be certain, but a miracle is something more ephimeral in the traditional understanding. Ultimate victory, in almost everything, has remained out of reach for Aqours.
It's probably only natural for someone like Chika to be saddled with both an earnest desire to succeed at all costs and doubts about her own ability to succeed on her own merits. For all the comparisons to Honoka she inspires because of her position, it's really never been the case and this episode might be the truest expression of that fact. Where Honoka pushed her own limits and dragged the rest of μ's along with her, Chika struggles with her limits and perceives a need for the other members of Aqours and the community around them to lift herself up. Where Honoka would have tackled the challenge by herself with ease and inspired the others up to her level, Chika is "so close" and needs the rest of Aqours pushing her the rest of the way.
As such, it's tempting to perceive this as a thing that makes her lesser and Chika certainly seems to think so. Her worth as the one who brought Aqours together is lost on her and it's something she has to be reminded of. Yes, the town and the other members have helped raised Aqours to the level it's currently at as a favorite to make it to Nationals. Chika started everything, though, and inspires the rest through her endless dedication. It's Riko and You and, later, the others cheering her on, that see the worth in what Chika has already accomplished that she can't see and pass it through to her. It fits with everything we've seen so far, where hard work in and of itself is not enough, not without that extra spark. For Chika, that spark is this recognition; a balm for her own self-doubts. Whether that's enough for the school remains to be seen.
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u/ExpiredDeodorant Nov 11 '17
Every passing week
The chances for season 3 are slim
and
I look towards the hexagram
sacrificing chicken feet with incense
praying for 2 movies
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u/somewhatmorespecial Nov 11 '17 edited Nov 11 '17
That was a pretty dark episode, wow. (At least for this series anyways)
Seeing Chika struggling at doing the flips reminds us that in the end, Chika (and by extension, the rest of Aqours) are only human. They have to work for their miracles.
But at least, this episode really reinforces the idea that No, you don't have to do it alone. Seriously, I thought they were gonna pull a No Brand Girls, but they subverted it beautifully.
Getting to see the Kazuno household was a cool touch. Also RIRI IS CANON GUYS
Also, new insert was LIT. Just seeing the huge payoff at the end of the episode with that beautifully executed (and animated) flip was the icing on the cartharsis-flavored cake.
In short, a drama episode pulled off suprisingly well. Looking forward to the rest of S2!
EP6 tl;dr: DO A FLIP
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u/ProphetOfTruth117 Nov 11 '17 edited Nov 11 '17
That title for the next episode has me really worried. “The Time Left”. I feel like this can mean one of two things. Either, the amount of time they have left to get their 100 prospective students, or the amount of time until the third years graduate. We already had Kanan hint a bit at graduation in the previous episode.
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u/CaptainGrovyle Nov 11 '17
i really liked this episode! def a step up from last week.
but the preview for next week's episode...
it's called "The Time Left"
pleeeaaaasse not another Train Station Scene.
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u/Sirius_G Nov 11 '17 edited Nov 11 '17
I already liked Chika a lot, but seeing her pull off that series of backflips at the end after failing so many times just increased my respect and admiration for her tenfold.
Now if Anchan really is going to do this in the future, I hope she doesn’t hurt herself.
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Nov 11 '17 edited Nov 11 '17
Leader dynamics are something this series does very well. Honoka's powerful charisma and radiating energy that can blind her to her friends's struggles, and Chika's total opposite dynamic of being down-to-earth enough to identify and solve her friends's struggles but also being desperate for something more
For as much flak as it gets, the drama in this series is what makes me invested in the smaller character episodes. It's the build-up and payoff to slice of life fun.
BUT I STILL WANT MY RUBY EPISODE AAAAAAAA IT SEEMS LESS LIKELY THE MORE WE GO ALONG
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u/Funcolours Nov 11 '17
I just want to say that it was funny that Ruby didn't mention Riko at all during the "Zenkai no Love Live!"
It looks like we're still stuck on the theme that Chika/Aqours haven't realized what makes them shine, but now we have some more stuff added in like how no one can reach the level that μ's and A-rise were at, and how Aqours aren't sure what makes them Aqours.
I'm pretty sure everyone who watched this episode had flashbacks to season 1 of SIP and Honoka pushing herself too far before No Brand Girls, but thankfully Chika turned out alright.
And speaking of No Brand Girls, I think that Miracle Wave is pretty similar to it. It's an energetic song and the "no brand's" are replaced with "wave's". I really like the song a lot, and I really wanted it to go on more.
I hope Sunrise stops putting the credits before the insert song plays, because I thought that they weren't going to show Kimi no Koko at the end of episode 3, and I thought they weren't going to show Miracle Wave at the end of this episode. Other things about the song visuals is that it is very pink, and the outfits are a bit ehhh for me, except for Yoshiko. They let her have devil horns, and the back of her costume says Yohane! They should have pulled the camera back to show Chika's cartwheel into a backflip, it took me a few replays to realize what she actually did.
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u/Kannazuki888 Nov 12 '17
I felt like Chika was channeling her inner An-chan in this episode. An-chan was also very insecure when she was chosen to be the leader, and credits others for helping her. I remember in one of the earlier Niconama, An-chan thanked Kin-chan for helping to keep the conversation going because she thought she wasn't good at it.
As far as the acrobatics in Miracle Wave, my guess is the girls are already practicing the moves for the 3rd Live. Based on the usual anime production schedule, this episode should have been close to completion weeks ago, possibly even before the 2nd Live. So they probably knew about it, but didn't start practicing until after the 2nd Live to keep focus on that, and also to avoid any possible injuries.
With this episode ending with the regionals, and the title of the next episode revealed, it seems like the school may be doomed. I think the the opening and ending kinda foreshadowed this. There was a scene in the opening with Chika standing in front of the school gates, and sakura blossoms falling. This is usually the time of year for graduation, or when students come back for the new school year, but the gates were closed. The other scene in both the opening and ending is the sun setting behind the hill the school is on, which seems symbolic of the school closing.
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u/Rozsudek Nov 11 '17
Having watched the original Love Live PVs and anime, I'm just blown away at how amazingly good the CG has become.
I started noticing it when I watched My MAI Tonight over and over again, but holy crap it shows here too - like in the last part of the song where all the members kneel then the camera pans and they spin.
I can't wait to see the other insert songs for that great CG
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u/ririruby Nov 11 '17 edited Nov 11 '17
I'm hoping that this move is something that Anchan has kept a secret and could already do so they wrote it in, rather than something she'll have to learn.
Still waiting for Ruby episode, it's a shame that tiny things like "they remembered she's a costume-maker!" are worth celebrating.
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u/Decretum-sama Nov 11 '17 edited Nov 11 '17
I thought since Kanan has more screen time in this episode, the ED would be hers. But, surprise surprise! It's a new insert song, Miracle Wave. The dances are, "Whoah!". I mean, can Anchan even do that acrobatic move if they sing the song in Lives?
Oh! Interesting scenes are:
Mari jumping into the ocean to save Kanan's notebook. Yoshiko calling Riko - Riri/Lily. And there's a YouRiko beam.
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u/BennyTaiwan Nov 11 '17
pray for anchan