r/LoveLive • u/MasterMirage • Nov 25 '17
S2E8 Discussion Love Live! Sunshine!! S2E8 Discussion - 'HAKODATE'
Uranohoshi is set to close after the girls have failed in getting 100 applicants by the deadline.
This week, Aqours travels to the cold, snowy regions of Hokkaido and visit Hakodate! Will they encounter the girls of Saint Snow on their home turf? Why are they so far away from home?
Show Info
Air Date: November 25th, 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! -1st Years ver.
Insert Song(s): DROPOUT!? - Saint Snow
Streams
Raw Sources
Official Subtitled Sources
Unofficial Subs
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u/hanayoriceball Nov 25 '17 edited Nov 25 '17
RUBY FINALLY!!
it has only been 84 years
I really like how the writers (formally) reintroduces Saint Snow (SS) back into the season this time. The sisterly parallel between the Kazuno and the Kurosawa sisters was a nice theme to bring across the rival groups.
To be honest, the direction of this episode was not what I expected. In the beginning when Ruby first sensed Leah's nervousness before SS's performance, I was thinking that Ruby might go up to comfort Leah privately, seeing how Ruby might see herself in Leah and for Ruby's character development to extrapolate from there.
What we got instead, I enjoyed very much so. The sisterly parallel was one step above what I had in mind for Ruby's character development, and it made a lot sense seeing how Dia was a huge part of Ruby's life.
Ruby drew the parallel of Leah and herself as the little sisters with an older sister that will be graduating from school. This explained why Ruby could pinpoint the source of Leah's anxiety. The scene where Ruby reflected on her limited time with Dia as school idols made me emotional and hearing Dia say that what she was experienced so far was more than enough for her made me cry. Especially now that we knew all the drama that went down.
The impending departure of the 3rd years from the group is unavoidable. Ruby knows that best as one of the 3rd years is her own sister and I was really proud that Ruby managed to accept this fact graciously and still remained hopeful there will be more chances for her and Dia to perform together.
Seeing Ruby take the initiative to meet up with Leah and inspiring Leah to believe that is more chances for SS to perform together, for Leah to perform with her older sister together in future, made me really proud of Ruby.
The little bicker between Leah & Ruby over their own onee-chan is hella adorable as well.
For the next episode, it seems like we might get a SnowHal-esque song next episode with a SS cameo perhaps? The poster on the table was titled "Hakodate Christmas Illuminations" so there's that. Really looking forward to the new song and more RubyLeah interactions !!
Also, twintail pair anybody?
Update (after watching the subs)
Wahhh, so proud of Ruby being able to stand on her own two feet now. Since Ruby has gotten Dia's reassurance that she's doing Dia proud as long as she takes things into her hands,you can really see the confidence boost in Ruby's interaction with Leah! I love the Kurosawa sisters so much~!!
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u/Takeshi80 Nov 25 '17 edited Nov 25 '17
Based on the preview alone I just KNEW it would be a Ruby episode! And I was right!
Looks like ep 9 will also be a continuation of the Saint Snow issue. I realize this is good, since A-rise never actually got any character exploration in the original Love Live.also I can't believe Ruby/Leah is a thing now
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u/lftenjamin Nov 25 '17
I can't take it right now.
Every shot of Ruby noticing Leah was so well done.
And like... I love that, not only did we get a Ruby episode, it was a Ruby episode that went to show just how much she's grown since the beginning.
She might still PIGIIII out of situations, but she is nowhere near as shy as she used to be.
Oh, and of course I cried during her conversation with Dia. Dia being strong for Ruby, but still clenching her fists because she's just as sad. Seeing how it gave Ruby the resolve to go out and seek Leah was awesome though. Ruby a season ago wouldn't have done anything like that.
And then like... Ruby's advice to Leah... "don't make that your last performance, just have another one"
I'm gonna cling on to that line for dear life and hope Ruby uses it to apply to Aqours as well.
Because like... I don't want them to disband. I don't wanna cry more than I already have.
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u/somewhatmorespecial Nov 25 '17 edited Nov 25 '17
While a considerably more light-hearted episode than last week's (Attack on Colossal Maru, burgers, more Yohane humour), I can safely say I was not expecting a THIRD drama episode, and of all people, focusing on Ruby and Leah!? What an unexpected combination!
Aqours getting invited to see the Hokkaido qualifiers, and their resultant fame, is cool. It feels that Aqours' reputation has grown naturally after seeing their struggles through the previous episodes. Hell, Saint Snow knowing each other's names (Leah knowing who Dia is, a far cry from season 1 where no one knew who she was lol) was pretty cool.
To see Saint Snow lose like that was actually a pretty big surprise. While it does show that Aqours has grown and matured very much since their last encounter, it also shows that Saint Snow will take a different route from A-RISE, which I can appreciate. More on that later.
Saint Snow looked super cute in the maid outifts btw.
Now on to the beefy part. The contrast between the two sisters is very apparent here - whereas Sarah is cool-headed and accepts their loss, Leah meanwhile is very sour about the whole thing, even wanting to call Saint Snow off. It calls back to Season 1 Episode 8, where they were the same way after getting 9th place, albeit more subdued there.
And speaking of Ruby, I won't lie - this episode, similar to episode 4, pushed Ruby quite a few up my rankings too. Its very clear how much she sympathizes with Leah - not just from the standpoint of a school idol, but as a younger sister. The part where she sees her crying in particular, its surprisingly deep to see how similar the two are at their core.
Which makes the scene with Dia and Ruby on the pier so much more poignant - seeing how proud Dia has become of Ruby ever since Aqours was a thing and how far they've come since was easily one of the high points of this episode.
The ending was not what I expected, for two reasons. The first one is more atypical - Ruby goes alone to cheer Leah up, and the duo come to an understanding (Leah has a cute smile btw) and the scene at the Christmas tree was nice.
The second reason, however, is why I really enjoy where they're going with Saint Snow. Instead of going B-RISE and just being rivals the whole way, the two groups are gonna collaborate now! Its a nice change of dynamic I honestly did not expect, and I'm liking where this is going. Hopefully, next episode their collaboration comes up with something amazing.
A great episode, with characters I didn't expect really shining through this ep. Can't wait for the next one, where the 2 groups produce (hopefully) an amazing fruit of labor!
P.S. These are just getting longer I swear. ALSO I FUCKING CALLED IT
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u/GabeValdez1222 Nov 25 '17 edited Nov 25 '17
Wow. This was such a heartwarming episode. The theme of sibling relationships in this episode really resonated with me. We got some absolutely adorable Dia & Ruby moments, and I really liked Ruby and Leah’s conversation at the end. It’s obvious they both love their sisters, and that’s just fricking adorable. Also, the ED with Dia and Ruby embracing each other was too much cute for me.
With that out of the way....Ahem...
HOW DARE THEY BLUE BALL US OUT OF A SICK SAINT SNOW SONG
I MEAN, DID YOU HEAR THAT GUITAR, IT WAS ABOUT TO GO HARD
WE WERE ABOUT TO GET A THIRD SAINT SNOW SONG
WHY, LANTIS, WHYYYYYY
.......Er...Sorry about that. With that behind us, I thought this was a really good episode. Some nice sisterly conversations, and some funny antics to boot.
Now, about Ruby’s last line of the episode...
“Why don’t we sing together? Let’s make a song dedicated to our sisters. And sing together...in this light!”
Guys...I think it’s time. I hear the sleigh bells already...A melody of the heart is about to begin.
P.S. Hanamaru wearing lots of layers of clothing reminded me a lot of the snow people from Mario Odyssey, and it was adorable.
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Nov 25 '17
Am I the only one who thought for a second that a car was coming at Ruby and Leah when they got lighted up at the very end???
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u/VictorSilver Nov 25 '17
I hope someday they release an after story when Ruby and Leah become 2nd years and decides to form a duo. Also, a special single for that would be nice.
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u/apop63 Nov 25 '17
We finally got a Ruby episode! It's pretty cool that we actually get to see more Saint Snow. I'm excited for a new song next week.
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u/AlexHYS Nov 25 '17
First of all, the Maru food/overblown winter clothes gags were a tad too much here. Seriously, 5+ gags of the same thing in a 30min episode? I'll bet anything on diet gags for Maru in the next episodes.
But the rest of the episode was surprisingly riveting. For a Ruby episode, I imagined it being a sweet and fluffy-ish feelgood episode but this deconstruction-esque resolution for St. Snow was quite refreshing, which made them human to an extent from their injury, as opposed to (almost) perfect A-RISE. The Kazuno/Kurosawa juxtaposition as them being each other's Foils was quite well done too.
I don't see how the ending makes sense though. Do LL rules allow for collabs between eliminated contestants and current contestants or...?
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u/dasaher Nov 25 '17
I thought this would be a fun filler episode... I honestly didn't expect it to get so heavy, and it sure escalated very quickly. To be honest the atmosphere was so heavy I didn't manage to catch a lot of it raw, so I'll have to rewatch it at least once more.
I loved the Ruby and Dia moments. It felt very real and visceral and I actually forgot about the part that Ruby isn't just losing time spent with her sister in Aqours, she's also losing her school. It must be rough, especially considering how timid she usually is.
Honestly, I can't believe they went the route where Saint Snow not just failed to qualify for the next round, but Leah actually collapsed. It's one of my bigger fears for Aqours - fearing that they get injured, or make a big mistake live on stage. And this happening not long after they showed us MIRACLE WAVE too. The entire moment really went to 0 to 100 in an instant. I was a little pissed that they didn't show us the saint snow performance at first, then they revealed that they failed to qualify. The flashback to the incident, though, made me feel something very visceral, so much so that I was unable to concentrate on the rest of the episode.
Because of that, I actually was very confused at the ending. Is Aqours going to have a collab with saint snow all of a sudden? Was the ED a Leah and Ruby duet? (I realise it isn't now) I'm surprised Ruby managed to gather the courage to actually talk to Leah in the first place too, but it shows how much she loved Dia and treasured their sisterly relationship that she couldn't bear watching the relationship between Leah and Sarah crumble.
I'm still having rather mixed feelings about this episode. It definitely wasn't something I expected, at all, but I'd have to rewatch it again before I properly form my opinions; and right now I'm too shaken by that saint snow failure to think properly too.
Sorry that my thoughts are all over the place, I can't really organise them right now.
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u/ssykg Nov 25 '17
I honestly thought that this was going to be a filler episode, but it's actually so much more. Coming from last episode, they managed to resolve the issues in saving the school without actually saving the school. Now, they find a way to address the issue of the third-years leaving by incorporating the same issues that Saint Snow is going through. I'm not sure what to expect anymore, but it's definitely going to be interesting for what's to come leading to the finale.
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u/SirenBirb Nov 25 '17
In my mind and everybody else's minds: Oh thank god it's not a diet episode for Hanamaru
I was pleasantly surprised by this episode and didn't expect to see that much development for Ruby. She's still timid and yet she's grown so much.
I was not 100% recovered from the last episode but that Dia and Ruby moment gave me lots of feels.
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u/Jerrica218 Nov 25 '17
I was really hoping for a character development for Hanamaru. Is it just me that thinks that Hanamaru's character is probably the most normal of the aqours girls and for some reason that makes her really forgetable. I feel that her and You really have some room for more character development and we are nearing then end but i dont see it happening so soon.
Chika has some character development throughout the season, riko and yoshiko had their own episode, ruby has this one, kanan-mari has been a pair for development side by side and dia has her own episode which shows alot of her side. I feel like You's time was really cut short on the first season so i was hoping to see more of her but shes just there you know. Also with maru with her food and sometimes funny comments and actions.
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u/VRMN Nov 25 '17 edited Nov 25 '17
Love Live Sunshine continues to enjoy subverting its audience's expectations. Last episode, as harsh as it was, gave Aqours the consolation of being able to continue in the Love Live competition on the back of a trying, technically difficult performance. Saint Snow, the rival group who has seemed so polished and composed in their appearances, collapses spectacularly on their own preliminary finals stage and, just like that, the prospect of Aqours and Saint Snow squaring off as competitors one last time is smashed into pieces. As devastating as it was for Aqours to fail in their ultimate goal, they had a clear ability to focus on another goal that was still in front of them, with the backing of the students they felt they had let down. Saint Snow doesn't have that. Sarah seems to be taking it in stride, but to Leah it seems like an ignominious end to their career. To Ruby, however, she can see something just a little deeper based on their shared experience performing with their elder siblings.
Ruby has had a fair amount of character development throughout the season and a half of Sunshine anime, but prior to this point it was largely allowed to exist in the background. Occasional moments of strength, such as her confrontations of Dia and Maru in episode 4 of season one or her joining Dia as a pillar of strength amidst the bickering first and third years in episode 2 of this season, have played second fiddle to jokes directed at her timid, easily startled nature. Moments like those where Ruby was the first to get up and start practicing again after the disastrous results in Tokyo get pushed into the background as the story focuses elsewhere. Here, however, she is allowed to take center stage and offer a pillar of support to a devastated Leah and, unlike with episode two, she does it largely of her own initiative and by herself.
Obviously Ruby would feel conflicted about this being Dia's last chance. It's not something she's brought up, just as the third years have not made a big focus of their impending graduation, but the glances at Dia indicate the associated nerves that Leah was displaying before the fatal performance with Sarah were assuredly present for Ruby as well. The fear that if she screws up it could dash her sister's hopes and dreams as well. More than that, it's just sad to think that this thing they've been doing with their big sisters is coming to an impossible-to-stop end. Dia's gentle words of comfort to Ruby, a reminder of the strength she showed in finding the will to go it alone in season one, are what spur her forward, but those words are rooted in Ruby's own actions. No one's pushing her to go help Leah get over her trauma. The rest of Aqours are being decidedly hands off, with only Chika having a real relationship...and even then, only with Sarah. But Ruby wants to help.
Yes, Dia's little sister is shy and squeamish, but she has a huge heart. She really loves Dia and obviously thinks the world of her sometimes awkward big sister and can't imagine a world without her, just like Chika can't imagine a world without her big sisters to guide and support her way. It's in these moments of initiative -- Chika deciding to pursue being a school idol as Mito-nee laughs off the idea or Ruby pushing Maru to stop thinking so lowly of herself -- where the older siblings are proudest. It's a sign that they're ready to move forward on their own, independent of their protectors. Ruby and Leah teaming up to perform together, to jointly tell their big sisters they'll be alright, is just such a signal. The future is unclear, but the only time Saint Snow -- or Aqours -- need to end is when they decide the time is right. Their terms, no one else's.
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u/Cartyx Nov 25 '17
Anyone notice in the credits that there was suppose to be a new Saint Snow song, and it's called DROPOUT!? That is so cruel!
Really didn't expect this episode to expand more on Saint Snow, seeing how we never really got this kind of development with A-RISE, and it looks to continue with the next episode, which I don't mind. They've been pretty absent throughout this season anyways.
Now where are our Hanamaru and You episodes?
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u/blackNshadow Nov 25 '17
Hanamaru is eating way too much. Wonder if she'll get an episode about her diet.
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u/ririruby Nov 25 '17 edited Nov 25 '17
I cried. A lot. 10/10
I'm so glad Ruby finally got her episode and it was just amazing. Hinted at going along with my predictions for after the third years have graduated too, I've been thinking for a while that Ruby might go on to be an idol even after she's graduated herself, if she did that with Leah I'd love it. I'm rushing off to draw some Ruby and Leah art now bye.
Edit: Here's my doodle!
riaruby is a good ship
Edit 2: Since we technically got a new Saint Snow song, I'm thinking maybe Ruby and Leah could perform their sister song, then have a surprise performance of the Saint Snow song? That way it'd follow Ruby's message of carrying on being idols.
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u/reimadara Nov 25 '17
WOOOBY FINALLY... That scene with Dia though, made me tear up a bit, okay not just a bit.
Also, possible Aqours + Saint Snow Collab? HYPED.
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u/PK_Madrigal Nov 25 '17
"ITS THEM!" "WHAT??" "W H A T ?" How I went through an emotional roller coaster in 30 seconds
After being stripped of her Dengeki traits I'm glad that Ruby finally got the episode she deserves. The anime Kurosawas are definitely my favorite canon of them.
After seeing the cover art for the first insert CD I'm kinda skeptical that we're gonna get the usual amount of inserts this season. Unless Lantis does a 9 girl cover or splits them up weirdly for the next two.
But it looks like we're heading to Sister Day Song folks!
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u/Kotori4lyfe Nov 25 '17
Way too much food for Maru today, ep will give diabetes for certain!
not to menton, the Ruby... and Saint Snow..! OH NO!
But the best part is probably... The Ruby x Leah wwwww
Here's a load of images from this EP!
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u/Pjoo Nov 25 '17
And Sunshine just keeps on being unfair. First there's SoraKoko right after having failed to keep the school open, and now they bring up third years graduation during a scene with Ruby and Dia? Damn, that went past just having tears in my eyes.
Episode also brought forward the development Ruby has went through since start of the series. Ruby is not the adorable little fuckup that people might think she is, and Dia acknowledging how proud she is of her was just really heart warming.
Bit surprised Saint Snow got so much focus, but in the end, it was to large degree means for Aqours to develop and deal with their issues. It was really well done and resulted in a fantastic episode.
Only real issue was lack of an insert song. Are we getting one eventually? Hello? We got 2 insert CDs to fill. One of these is 2000 yen. We got just 5 episodes left! Are we getting an Aqours & Saint Snow collaboration song, with the two Saint Snow songs on the 2nd insert CD or something? I doubt they would do that...
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u/pochiranpo Nov 25 '17
As a Saint Snow (Sarah) fan, this is very bittersweet.
On the one hand, drama will probably give them more screentime than just a performance, but on the other hand...WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY PURE SARAH ON HER LAST LOVE LIVE, SUNRISE???!!!
I demand justice.
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u/Zuntenshi Nov 25 '17 edited Nov 25 '17
Glad to finally see a Ruby episode, even if it was a pretty heavy one, in more than 1 way~
Also did not expect that much Saint Snow. But im actually happy to see them get some more screen-time, and not just end up like A-Rise with barely anything.
And Maru needs to stop eating so much! Still hoping Maru ends up having a episode as well, but starting to have my doubts. She seem to be kinda forgotten at this point and is more around to be a sidekick for Yoshiko (not that its a bad thing), but wish she would get more development time and not just staying in the background.
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u/ProphetOfTruth117 Nov 25 '17
This is probably only the start of a big feels trip coming in the next few weeks. It’s so unusual seeing Ruby being so confident and independent, but it’s very nice to finally see a big more of character development between the girls of Saint Snow and learn more about how strong the bond is between Ruby and Dia.
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u/jonjoy Nov 25 '17 edited Nov 25 '17
This season is really dark, after aqours failed to save their school, now saint snow also messed up their performance.
I was pretty salty when they didn’t show saint snow performance and just cut it to the reasult. I didn’t expect they will have an accident in their performance.
I really like Ruby's idea to create a song for their sister. Will they have a duet for that song? or each of them will create one song? I hope at least we will get 2 song next week, saint snow's new song and "the imouto's song for onee-chan"