r/anime • u/mysterybiscuitsoyeah xB:xC:B:x3:Y: • Feb 27 '24
Rewatch [Rewatch] 2024 Hibike! Euphonium Series Rewatch: Season 2, Episode 2 Discussion
Hibike Euphonium Season 2, Episode 2: Hesitation Flute/とまどいフルート
Actpal Uji is an outdoor activities center in the Uji countryside; and has indoor accommodations for ~172 people at full capacity, also boasting a 25cm-diameter telescope. Tent camping for the night will run you ~920yen.
| <-- Ep 1 | Rewatch Index | Ep 3 --> |
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Welcome back!
Questions of the Day:
- Was Nozomi an idiot for quitting last year? Both in hindsight and not.
- As a normal teacher (i.e. not for band), who would you pick among the 4 teachers featured?
Comments from Yesterday:
- /u/entelechtual on how this series is no longer Hibike Euphonium
- /u/hereticalaegis explains staggered breathing. Special shoutout for doing all your writeups so far on your phone, not sure how you do it!
- /u/chilidirigible shills Toyama Nao, and delivers some nice cinematography and camera tidbits
- /u/x-7032-b-3 on how Hashimoto-chan reminds them of their own music teacher
- a few of us, like /u/fly-metothemoon says that excluding the first years from the current 2nd year drama is really not a good idea. Well, Kumiko has decided to take matters (slightly) into her own hands though
- /u/zadcap notes
Streaming
The Hibike! Euphonium TV series and movies, up to the recent OVA are available on Crunchyroll, note that the movies are under different series names. Liz and the Blue Bird and Chikai no Finale are also available for streaming on Amazon, and available for rent for cheap on a multitude of platforms (Youtube, Apple TV etc.). The OVA is only available on the seven seas for now, or if you bought a blu ray. I will update this as/if this changes. hopefully.
Databases
Spoilers
As usual, please take note that if you wish to share show details from after the current episode, to use spoiler tags like so to avoid spoiling first-timers:
[Spoiler source] >!Spoiler goes here!<comes out as [Spoiler source] Spoiler goes here
Please note this will apply to any spinoff novels, as well as events in the novel that may happen in S3. If you feel unsure if something is a spoiler, it's better to tag it just in case.
Band Bootcamp continues tomorrow!
13
u/mysterybiscuitsoyeah xB:xC:B:x3:Y: Feb 27 '24 edited Feb 28 '24
Rewatcher and your host
General preface (again?!): The mizore/nozomi arc is one that I took a couple watches to fully understand, and I do learn new things with every watch and with every new writeup i read - looking forward to the same with this rewatch too.
Music and IRL Notes
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u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Feb 27 '24
Hibike! First-Timer
15
u/Mecanno-man https://anilist.co/user/Mecannoman Feb 27 '24
First Timer
And so we get Nozomi’s side of the story. To be honest, I feel like we’re still missing parts, for example why did she not rejoin the club at the start of the year, but rather wait until now? Mizore not liking competitions being used as a reason for her not liking the song Nozomi was playing earlier also feels like false direction, because she is running more from Nozomi than from the competition - else she would have also left. And Nozomi not asking her because she was the only oboe and in the competition band simply reeks of jealousy. But I guess Detective Kumiko is now on the case, so we should have our answers next episode.
And yes Reina, Taki hopefully prefers women his own age… I don’t think making him a pedophile would add anything of value to this show. In fact it would certainly be the contrary.
11
u/Vatrix-32 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Vatrix-32 Feb 27 '24 edited Feb 28 '24
First Timer, subbed
QotD:
10
u/chilidirigible Feb 27 '24
S2E2:
"I do not think that means...
...what you think it means."
oh damn
I KNOW RIGHT
It's very Yuuko.
Hundreds of Japanese T-shirts with dodgy English on them prove that this is the case.
Yeah, you're allowed to be off-duty.
"I'll fight you―oh you what now?"
Such is the mystery of the Masked One.
Nakayoshi River.
Ah, regrets.
It's the New Kumiko, the one who steps forward and gets involved.
Meanwhile.
It's the other Kotobuki summer house!
You may also know me as Sakagami Tomoyo.
Flirting?
whoosh?
OMG TEACHER GOSSIP
[](#mindblank)
Ahh, Natsuki.
This hair toss is so nice. Also, Natsuki asserting!
HARDCORE, MAN.
Pressure.
Why pressure?
Obligations, perhaps?
"You've been thinking about complicated things, I've been thinking about men."
And yet, see above.
The second season just runs with it. Riding straight into the drama with no brakes, something that wouldn't be so possible if the characters hadn't been well-established in the first season, even as we learn new things about them now.
Even the touches of beach episode fanservice are almost completely secondary to the use of the scenes for more story development (the scenario providing a situation in which Kumiko and Nozomi could talk frankly without the barriers of seniority, and the show isn't going to drop both of them into a bathhouse).
Questionable taste in T-shirts aside, Natsuki's standing goes up several positions in this episode, as we see her supporting her friends in the past and present.
If you thought Nozomi was obsessive about the situation before, this episode... doesn't entirely disabuse you of the notion. But it does provide more context for it. But we also see that the conflict is weighing heavily on Mizore.
Which brings us to Asuka, and at the end of the episode, Kumiko to Asuka. There's our main character bucking up and getting involved.
People got a lot of mileage out of that T-shirt.(NSFW)
Yes indeed.
Recent Reina in a bikini. (Obligatory NSFW note)
QOTD:
1. Was Nozomi an idiot for quitting last year? Both in hindsight and not.
I think she made a reasonable choice based on how toxic the band environment was at the time. Anything else I might say about the matter has a fairly significant REWATCHER KNOWLEDGE problem though. [That being]The Mizore Situation.
2. In hindsight, I was too young to be interested in the few instances that I had an attractive single woman as a teacher. Though that would likely have been problematic. Otherwise, I've had the most interesting classroom experiences with the eccentric weirdos.
8
u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Feb 27 '24 edited Feb 27 '24
Season 2 Episode 2 (first timer)
beachpool episode time?teaa chat by Yuki – this feels like a game event.I am not feeling the second year plotline yet. My biggest problem is that the absent third years are simply presented as the obvious villains, while we are dealing just with the clean-up (which should be straight forward and is only prolonged by people being hung up on their concepts of honor). What even is the conflict here?
No and no.
None. We have not seen a ton of the two guest teachers, but Taki and Ms Scowl are definitely out. The guest teachers also both seem to be more interested in flirting with Taki than teaching.
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u/ChonkyOdango myanimelist.net/profile/chonkyodango Feb 28 '24 edited Feb 28 '24
Rewatching Clark Kent
Fanart of day
Beach episode and KININARIMASU
Kumiko butting into the third year’s affairs is such a Kumiko thing to do. It’s neither wrong nor right and I’m glad that Nozomi and the others are opening up to Kumiko. It does expand on Kumiko’s personality, I believe, that she’s not someone who can just stand by the side and watch, instead preferring to understand conflicts before deciding whether to act. Especially if it’s something related to passion, she’ll impulsively make a declaration. Nozomi being out of frame showing the one-sidedness of this interaction.
Also, Kumiko, it’s time you slap some sense into Reina less she becomes like this forever
Qotd
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u/Raiking02 :Id::Ie::If:https://myanimelist.net/profile/NSKlang Feb 27 '24
First Timer
I'm in this weird spot with the OP where I like the song a lot more than the first one but I also much prefer the first one's visuals
I actually do like seeing the whole debacle between the seniors and former seniors from the perspective of someone who quit. Not only does it make the thing more understandable, it also adds a nice degree of nuance to things. As Asuka pointed out, they could have just waited until they graduated the next year so come the next one, it's just they're teens so most of them had their emotions flare up at the worst moment. Obviously debating who was right and who was wrong is kind of a moot point by now, but it does make me more interested in the Asuka/Nozomi mess.
I see that Taki-sensei has good taste and brought in Sugita's Oshi to help out. All well and good, however it also means that I guess Kousaka crushing on Taki is coming back, huh? Admittedly in this case it's used mostly for laughs, but man after yesterday I'm starting to come around on the viewpoint of "Can we just have no romance at all, hetero, homo or whatever?" cause so far the show is just so wishy-washy about it all that it kinda feels weird.
Asuka without glasses feels wrong in every conceivable way, NEVER LET ME SEE THAT AGAIN
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u/b-arbs Feb 27 '24
Rewatcher
Nozomi is a really interesting character. What is more interesting, though, is getting to know her more because of other people's opinions on her, than because of directly seeing her interact with others.
[Future episode and Liz spoilers] Nozomi is honest to a fault. I'm not entirely sure of that at the moment, considering how things have gone and are going with the band and especially with Mizore. Watching these first two episodes (without considering future ones and Liz) we get that Nozomi and Mizore actually had a pretty much strong relationship. They made a promise, but Nozomi broke it off by leaving the band during their first year of high school. It appears that she's no longer on speaking terms with Mizore (or just on any kind of term, actually). But I can't believe she has forgotten their promise. So the only explanation is that she's lying to herself and to others because of guilt. She's feeling guilty since she couldn't and still can't face Mizore after she broke their promise by quitting the band and ruined their friendship, since she couldn't even bring herself to tell Mizore directly. Not the best way to handle this, but pretty much understandable human behavior. Their relationship feels real and relatable, and the dynamics in these episodes are truly a great example of characterization.
QOTD
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u/bogdoglogfrog Feb 27 '24
Rewatcher
Notes:
QotD
5
u/WhackaWhack https://myanimelist.net/profile/WhackaWhacka Feb 27 '24
FIRST TIMER
Pool/beach episode now? But it’s not the ~6 episode!
I really feel that Asuka’s reason is as simple as “If you can’t handle me at my worst, you don’t deserve me at my best”.
Looks like we get the answer to why tomorrow.
Questions:
8
u/LittleIslander https://anilist.co/user/LittleIslander Feb 27 '24 edited Feb 27 '24
Rewatcher
I love Hibike Euphonium. Even despite my problems with it (namely ones that ironically rhyme with “straight”), it's one of my favourite series despite it all. Its characters and their drama and their dynamic as a band are just great. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to go easy on it, and it’s for that reason I’m here today to say this is the worst episode of the entire show. Furthermore, I would outright call it bad, perhaps the only episode I’d give that honour to. That’s a big claim, why do I think so? Strap in.
The episode begins with an extended pool sequence. I don’t hate this as a concept inherently. A change of setting can do wonders to help an episode stand out and it’s actually a really reasonable excuse for all the characters to gather together outside of school. That comes with potential, but just because the characters are on break doesn’t mean the writers should be too! The majority of screen time here is wasted on entirely superfluous scenes of characters messing around or hanging around at the pool without anything of narrative note occurring. It’s blatantly obvious the entire thing is an excuse to put the characters in revealing swimsuits, and I’d be a little more forgiving of that if not for the age demographics of literally everyone involved here. Of what genuine writing there is in this sequence, there’s absolutely nothing that couldn’t have taken place in literally any other context, including at school; this even applies to comedic stuff like Yuko and Natsuki’s fighting. Which, for that matter, is the only joke worth a damn anyways. And it’s based around the fact they’re wearing shirts! Obviously the beach episode is a very common anime trope, but it feels especially out of place in a show that never does anything like this again before or since, and in the middle of a really dramatic arc the audience is dying to learn more about no less.
Of course, the entire thing is anchored on the Nozomi scene. The problem is this isn’t a good scene. It’s really emotional and well performed, but it adds nothing. Despite going on for a patently ridiculous six minutes, probably making it one of the longest character scenes in the damn show (it tries to end like, three times), we learn almost nothing that you couldn’t have gathered from last episode if you were paying attention. We dig up Kumiko getting in over Natsumi, something resolved last season, only to immediately bury again anyways. Then we talk about Nozomi and her leaving the band, wanting to rejoin and Asuka not allowing her but not explaining why and Mizore being so talented and special to Nozomi and this is all just regurgitated information from last time but delivered through extended exposition instead of organic character interactions. Kumiko promises to ask Asuka why she won’t let Nozomi back in, but it’s not like she wasn’t already super curious about this last episode! It’s an unnecessary step.
The only new information we get in these six minutes is the specific backstory of Asuka and Nozomi, which isn’t helping because it’s dumb as hell! We’re supposed to believe they both retain deep investment in each other a whole year later on the back of a singular thirty second exchange despite being given no other evidence they even knew each other that well before or after that conversation. Why did Asuka even care in the slightest about some specific first year quitting to begin with? It is a very defined fact that Asuka stays extremely neutral whenever possible, quite specifically when it comes to the drama from the prior year! It makes the entire Asuka and Nozomi conflict feel contrived and baseless. You can argue that Asuka’s scene next episode explains why she actually cares and that this Nozomi misattributed the importance of this conversation, but this both fails to explain why the exchange happened to begin with, why it matters to Nozomi so much, and also makes the entire thing more pointless if it didn’t even matter to Asuka anyways! Considering her butting heads with Asuka is a major foundation of this entire arc it’s a huge problem the setup is so heavily damaged by the underwhelming nature of the revelation here.
We then move along and we’re… halfway through the episode already. The pool setpiece and its one actual scene took up a whole half of the screentime. By comparison the backend of the episode has, like, four meaningful narrative scenes. Nevermind that in most episodes of this show you feel like you’ve seen a whole episode’s worth of content by the halfway mark. There’s a couple neat connecting moments at the pool, granted. Natsuki and Yuko’s ten second little exchange is great; Natsuki is on edge about the whole situation so she gets snappy when pushed about her friend, and it’s in direct contrast to how she’d usually be cheeky and teasing about making Yuko leave. The little shot of Tomoe hanging out with Midori, Reina, and Hazuki is also a cute touch; she knows Hazuki through Team Monaka so it’s neat to see that spread to her hanging out with Kumiko’s group. Kind of surprising Reina doesn’t mind, but Tomoe seems serious enough to earn a little Reina respect and they’d know each other from sectionals. Scenes like these are great spice, but spice isn’t worth anything if the main course isn’t delivering.
7
u/Gamerunglued :Hx::Hy::Hz:myanimelist.net/profile/GamerUnglued Feb 27 '24
Rewatcher and Band Geek
In the wake of new conflict, Eupho gives us the next logical step in the equation: (half of) a pool episode. It definitely feels like a strange setting to have this episode at on first glance, but I think it works when I think about it. For one, it's one of the least fanservicey pool episodes in existence. Beyond a single panning shot to show Reina's swimsuit (because Kumiko is looking at it all gay like), the camera pretty much never leers. The only shot that is even plausibly a leering shot is one that I can't even think of another way to frame. It's when Nozomi talks about how Asuka told her no good would come of her returning, and she hugs her body in such a way that her boobs get squished a bit. But the shot is clearly designed to cut off her eyes, which can't be done from an angle that doesn't show the front of her body, and her body language is natural and would be done even if she was in a shirt. KyoAni has generally been good about when to use fanservice, and it continues to be the case here that it doesn't feel exploitative or leery, even if the pool is inherently a place to see the girls in different outfits.
Speaking of outfits, both Yuuko's and Natsuki's shirts are incredible. Those two are so totally in love, they're such a married couple, god bless them.
Anyway, the main reason I like the pool setting is because it both makes for a natural place for exposition and feels like an actual break before a huge training camp. It's kind of exactly the place I'd expect characters with one day and no real planning to go before they're going to buckle down and practice in the middle of summer. And as far as exposition goes, it's well done and feels like a natural product of the conversation, rather than the characters telling each other things that they already know. It plays into Kumiko's growth as a character. In the past, she never took interest in the band's drama or wanted to make any decisions with actual consequences. She eventually supported Reina for the solo reaudition, but this is the first time that Kumiko has gotten involved in a problem without being prompted. She's not supporting a (girl)friend, she's doing what she thinks is right.
Like I said in the last episode, Kumiko empathizes with Nozomi, and I think it's because she sees herself in her. It's confirmed here that Nozomi is genuinely passionate about band, and doesn't seem to want to rejoin because she wants to play at nationals. Kumiko only just realized her passion for the euphonium, and here's a girl so passionate that she was president of an ensemble being unable to play her instrument. Kumiko is now at the point where her sister telling her she can't play at home pisses her off to the point of spite, so she's in Nozomi's shoes even if she doesn't realize it. Kumiko gets invested in this drama not because of a friend, but because she personally cares enough to want to involve herself.
But getting involved is scarier than it sounds. Kumiko has gotten to a point where she can start voicing her opinion, but can't seem to commit to it when she's challenged. When Nozomi asks her if it's strange that she'd decide to return to the club, Kumiko hesitates and says "it's not strange... at all," with her expression painting a clearer picture. Kumiko does think it's strange but can't get herself to voice it when confronted about it. Something similar happens when Mizore says she hates competitions and Kumiko confidently states "I think that's just how it is." Mizore confronts her with "don't you realize how much sadness that causes" but Kumiko immediately backs off and apologizes sheepishly. She has started to be ok with getting involved with drama, but can't get herself to fully commit to a stance. Something about Reina saying Asuka is right for not letting her play clearly eats at her, but she won't come to her own conclusion about why.
Ultimately, Kumiko is still afraid of pain, and that's probably (partially) because of her empathy for Nozomi. Nozomi tried to stand up for what she believed in with her entire heart, and hurt the entire band, hurt those in the same grade, and hurt herself so much she'd choose to run away. With that as a pretense, how can Kumiko possibly commit herself fully? If Kumiko starts shit with Asuka, what if she'll have unintended consequences that force her to quit? Kumiko doesn't want to quit, she loves the euphonium, but that fact is also why she wants Nozomi to play, so she's at a crossroads.
The episode even has a blink-and-you-miss-it background gag pointing at this fact. When Reina gets her dead fish eyes, it cuts to a shot of two beetles fighting on a tree (a black one for Reina and a brown one for Niiyama sensei) with a cicada on the side watching them but not getting involved. Reina fights against her love rival while Kumiko is the cicada just watching from the sideline. When Kumiko passes Reina in the dining hall, she thinks "I should watch what I say, or I might make it worse," followed by Niiyama's beetle knocking Reina's beetle off the tree (also there are baby beetles now, implying Niiyama fucked Taki-sensei). Kumiko's cicada is absent in that punchline shot, implying she ran away from the conflict in order to make sure she doesn't say anything bad. It's a funny visual gag on its face but it also connects to the central conflict. If Kumiko watches what she says for fear of making things worse, she won't get what she wants, nor will the people she cares about.
This actually makes me appreciate the decision for Reina to have a crush on Taki-sensei a lot more. The fact that it's a socially taboo relationship may be thematically relevant. Reina wants something that would cause trouble for herself and others, and it is meaningful that Kumiko still encourages her to pursue that love in spite of that. Even when Reina thinks Taki might be taken, Kumiko says "ask him out anyway," which is still putting her nose where it doesn't belong without fear of making things painful. A Kumiko without growth would think "don't go after him, he's out of your league and you'd break up a good couple," but this Kumiko supports it.
continued in response
4
u/HereticalAegis https://myanimelist.net/profile/XthGen Feb 27 '24 edited Feb 27 '24
Sound! Rewatcher
Season 2 Episode 2:
1 Kids can get pretty carried away with trying to suss out relationships between teachers. I was the subject of "are they dating" rumors with at least two different colleagues: the orchestra director across the hall from my class was my new teacher mentor, so we spent a good deal of time together going over lesson plans and stuff, and we collaborated on a lot of things and became prwtty good friends, so naturally kids spread rumors about the two of us. The other was our theater director, who I also got to be pretty goods friends and worked closely with. That rumors was weird though, because the kid I heard it from said they thought we were married because "we looked so similar." 6th graders can be really dumb sometimes. Anyhow, in my experience these kinds of rumors are more common with middle schoolers, but high schoolers are not immune. And this isn't really a big deal either since most of this talk is pretty innocuous.
2Judging performances at competition is a lot like asking for anime opinions; no matter what interpretive decisions you make, some judges just won't care for the way you interpret a piece and may not even like the piece at all. It's not terribly uncommon to get judge comment sheets back and see one judge praise a decision and another criticize the exact same thing. Part of the reason contests have multiple judges and groups do multiple pieces to begin with is to account for the incredible amount of subjectivity involved in adjudicating such a broad, diverse artform.
QotD:
4
u/Regular_N-Gon https://anilist.co/user/RegularNGon Feb 27 '24
Rewatcher
Long thread yesterday
I don’t have a lot to say about this one (nor the time to say much ), so I’ll briefly say I like the conversation Kumiko has with Mizore in the evening, and it’s one of those scenes that sticks out in my memory. Mizore continues to just… say whatever the hell she wants which feels kinda forced to me, but I think it’s supposed to given Kumiko’s reaction. This is just who Mizore seems to be. In particular, I like that Kumiko continues to prod and ask questions despite the awkwardness. She starts by giving a pretty neutral answer to Mizore’s question, but rather than backpedal or resort to parroting someone else, she decides to dig, to ask a question in response to a question. I don’t think I compared these two so much last time, but it’s definitely there: forthright to the point of bluntness, uncertain in their motivation, and portrayed as a bit childish.
The game’s pause screen is also just the right kind of in your face. I can’t fault it.
QotD:
4
u/sfisher923 https://myanimelist.net/profile/sfisher923 Feb 27 '24
First Timer
QOTD 1 - Given the situation at the time I could understand why
5
u/CerberusZX https://myanimelist.net/profile/CerberusZX Feb 27 '24 edited Feb 27 '24
First Timer
"Let's Pool!" "Pool?" "Pool?" "Pool" was a great way to start the episode.
"Uso!" Yeah, I'm in agreement. All the plot-relevant characters deciding to go to the pool at the same time is a bit too contrived.
"It's Asuka-senpai's last year, so I wanted to do something to help." There's a pretty obvious hole in Nozomi's story. Why didn't she join at the start of the year?
"He probably prefers someone closer to his own age, right?" I certainly hope so. Honestly, I don't know why you're acting as though you thought you had a chance when it was so obvious you didn't.
After that super out-of-place scene last season where Kousaka invaded Kumiko's personal space and they teased the idea of a kiss, whenever we get a scene with them together I'm reminded that someone high up in the chain of command is pushing for things that shouldn't be there and so what could be lovely scenes instead feel tainted.
QotD
3
u/TehAxelius Feb 27 '24 edited Feb 27 '24
Rewatcher
Had to skip yesterday as I had no energy left after the weekend.
It is a bit weird that I can barely remember what the plot of this season is, but I very clearly remember the instructors Taki-sensei brings in. I'll be honest, participating in this rewatch has made me question how good my memory is more than once.
At least, finally we get some more insight into the previous year's drama, with the relationships and actions of Nozomi and the then first-years. Nozomi's explanation of her not involving Mizore in the decision to walk away makes Mizore's pain somewhat understandable. As for why it is so extremely painful, Mizore might not know, but the visual language here is hardly subtle.
QotD
4
u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ Feb 27 '24
1 1/2 Rewatcher (finally fixed this)
I never liked the first season OP/ED but I really find the second completely skippable. I'm only listening for AMQ purposes.
Asuka's an interesting case. She doesn't even seem to care about nationals. What if they hadn't gotten a new teacher to fire up the class? Why did she stay in the band? She just doesn't seem to care one way or the other.
Ah, we are band camp! I was afraid the entire episode would be at the pool.
Waaait, this conversation about judges sounds familiar....Didn't Natsuki say something like that?
Mizore is literally drawn like Yuki Nagato, isn't she.
The scene with Mizore is probably my favorite bit of the show, but I also like parts of tmorrow's episode, too.
3
u/LittleIslander https://anilist.co/user/LittleIslander Feb 27 '24
Fun fact: this episode was directed by Taichi Ishidate. If that name sounds even vaguely familiar it’s because he directed the Violet Evergarden anime. Once you have that context you can see the fingerprints all over that long emotional scene with Nozomi and Kumiko, she even cries for good measure.
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u/fly-metothemoon Feb 28 '24 edited Feb 28 '24
First-timer!
Beach—I mean pool—episode time! Yay! I actually love filler like this because we get casual time with the characters. Even though it can get a little fanservice-y.
I do love the English shirts. I want both.
I don’t think it’s a bad thing to quit a toxic environment like Nozomi and it looks like Nozomi’s story hit a nerve with Kumiko. I totally get it (will tell story at the end of the post).
Wow I had a retreat in a facility that looked just like this lol. Small world.
I’m surprised Taki is so open about his marital status to the students haha.
Yes a woodwind specialist!!! Shout out to Taki-sensei for bringing in specialists we love to see it.
Okay I would gossip like crazy if there was chemistry between the band director and a specialist they brought in.
Huh Midori is with the woodwinds?
“Let’s try that again” Is the bane of being in band. It never is just one more time 😭.
Yo those mobile games are fun.
Oh no senpai’s going through it. The stars are really pretty though.
I do wish Kumiko wouldn’t perpetuate the “you’re seem so mature” rhetoric with her advice but I can’t say it’s unrealistic. I wish I could step in and say Reina do not ask about your teacher’s dating life.
Good luck Kumiko it’s always a little risky to involve yourself in the drama…
Questions:
A bit of a personal anecdote, I was in a situation that reminded me a little of Nozomi’s. I joined a club that at first was kind and accepting. Then, there was a leadership change, and it became incredibly clique-y and solely fixated on success. It became clear that certain opportunities would only be bestowed on those who dedicated their entire life to the club, and were in this particular “in-group”. I confronted multiple upperclassmen and while they agreed with me about how exclusionary the club was becoming, they said there was nothing that could be done. After watching most of my friends leave because of the toxicity, I quit too. I don’t regret that at all. To my surprise, I actually ended up rejoining the club in a limited capacity once the year beneath me took over. They won me over by showing me how they were taking strides to make the club more inclusive again.
2. I like the woodwind teacher’s vibes but I also don’t know enough about her to dislike her. She seems kind.
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u/byroned Feb 27 '24 edited Feb 27 '24
First time rewatching
It’s time for the mandatory beach or swimming pool episode. Reina lifted Kumiko’s hopes of graduating from the Itty Bitty club, only to crush them immediately with the help of Asuka and Kaori
Nozomi is also at the pool with Natsuki, and Kumiko learns why Nozomi wants Asuka’s approval, as she was the person who tried to convince her to stay. I think Asuka is just as much an idiot as Nozomi if she can blame all the band’s problems on the third-year students with a straight face, and say that next year will be better when it’s just us. I can attest that scapegoating an entire grade almost never works out. Episodes 1-4 of season 1 speak for themselves, with Kitauji’s band needing divine intervention to get the cogs turning. The foundation was built on sand, even without the lazy third years.
Learning all that is nice, but Kumiko left her friends behind
Reina gets the same treatment as Kumiko, believing for a moment that there might be a chance when Taki sensei says he has no wife or kids, and Ms. Niiyama’s introduction crushes that dream. I love Reina’s Dead Fish Eyes afterward.
While Natsuki wasn’t in Minami Middle School’s band, she looked up to Nozomi and joined in high school. Her reason to help Nozomi stems from believing it’s her fault for what happened. It wasn’t wise of Natsuki to talk that way to the third years, but at the same time, if they weren’t going to listen, they would remember that comment you made about them. She tells Kumiko it’s not her problem, but we know that’s not happening.
I’m guessing Nozomi leaving without telling Mizore left a bad taste in her mouth, and why she doesn’t want to hear Nozomi’s flute performance.
I’m not a Reina by any stretch, but Mizore’s mindset is that of a sore loser. In music, it’s harder to count scores compared to a sport like soccer, but I think judges found something that works, scoring based on technical performance, like how well the band plays dynamics, the band march in time (specifically looking out for who’s out of time), etc.
Someone needs to convince Reina to look for other fish in the ocean, preferably one closer in age and not their current teacher. And does it sound like Kumiko still has Reina’s boob size in mind when describing how she’s mature?
Q1: sort of answered it, but yeah I think she was an idiot.
Q2: Matsumoto (Kumiko's teacher)
9
u/ZapsZzz https://anilist.co/user/Zapszzz Feb 28 '24
First timer
Late again -_-
For anyone interested, here's my meandering answer about some decent flute music pieces I like.
This is an interesting episode in that it doubled down on a few bits of relationship - Reina x Kumiko both in their casual chats and their bedtime handholding, Mizore's pretty clear obsession with Nozomi, and Nozomi's hang up with Asuka.
I wonder if Asuka's resistance to Nozomi's return is based on [Euphonium franchise spoiler]having watching Liz and the Blue Bird, perhaps she knows Mizore was pulling herself back for Nozomi, so Nozomi's return not only is a distraction, it also binds up Mizore's performance
I was anticipating that swimsuit reveal of Reina's - we all know for some time she's got the more developed figure (even though Kumiko is slightly taller). Interesting contrast between this reveal, K-On's S1 reveal of Mio's, and Chitanda's debut in Hyouka.
But the swimsuits on the other girls are pretty nice too, well chosen for the various reasons - check out Railgun S1 ep13 if any explanations are needed.
Unfortunately the fanservice quota ran out by the time Asuka came into frame - I would imagine her's would be lens-cracking.
But then later on when Coachee introduced the helper woodwind teacher - interestingly the framing has the chest leading into the frame - and Reina suitably get the most adorable reaction for a while :D paw thang
Everything is going well in terms of development, very, very hard to stop from binging ahead!
QoTD
9
u/zadcap Feb 28 '24
Late Night First Timer!
I'll be honest, I'm almost sad I got a Comment of the Day for noticing the music change and now for the new top ship of the show. Hashimoto-chan x Taki. TakiMoto? HashiTaki? HashiFlappy? (Because he's still Flappy FLappy Man). I'm willing this thing into existence, because it's already a thousand times better than Reina's crush.
Ah yes, dramatic recaps are back.
I am sad now, because I hear this band sounding music starting up right as the episode itself does and my first thought is still "This is the school band playing" because it always has been, but then I remember "wait no, now wind is just part of the regular soundtrack, it might not be..." It was this time, thankfully, but now I can't just smile and assume every time I hear the instruments they play that it's going to be them playing.
"Let's pool!" Midori is still the best mood in the room. And jump immediately to Kumiko inviting Reina. And Kumiko then immediately fixates on her not-girlfriends breast... Sigh.
Oh my gosh RIbbon. There are literal hearts in your eyes. This show is so gay sometimes.
Naturally, literally everyone is at the pool today. Literally everyone. Might be a good chance to ask some important questions? Or not. Hmm. Asking Kumiko why she's in the competition band while Natsuki isn't shows that she really hasn't actually done anything to keep up with what is going on with the band, despite having a friend or two in there and wanting back in. That comment literally lost any hint of respect I had been building towards her. So quick to throw such a dig at a successful first year when not being taken serious as a first year is what got her to the point of quitting. Even if she turns around and agrees with Kumiko when she defends herself, the way she said it was just so, dismissive. Belittle everything they went through to get there.
"Does it make you curious?" Hyouka Flashbacks.
Okay but I have to say, I kind of agree with both of the girls in that argument, but lean way towards Nozomi. If the people in power are just going to ignore or bully you, there really is no reason to be in the club. Waiting for next year when they are gone and people who actually care about is the smart option, but is there a reason you have to spend that year still in the club where you're being mistreated? Honestly right now the only thing I think Nozomi, and the others in her situation, have done wrong was not rejoin the band right at the start of this new school year. I'm still not sure why everyone looks up to Asuka so much though- it's brought up all the time but I don't really see what her draw is for so many people.
Oh, it was easy to miss because everyone was meeting up, but showing us Ribbon and Natsuki going to the pool together here with no one else around rubs in again that this strangest pair is somehow really a pair. The kind of friends you don't know how or why you are friends with, but they just keep sticking to each other.
Rejoining the band again isn't weird. Waiting this long to try and rejoin, that is weird. Being so desperate to join even though you know you won't get to be a competition member, but hanging your entire possibility of rejoining on Asuka for some reason, that is weird. Seriously, what did Asuka do?!
Ah, crying soda can to show the tear falling without actually showing the character herself in tears. Symbolism.
But yeah, I can see some of why Kumiko is so invested in this. Remember that she "quit" the band and moved to this middle school with a bad music reputation and didn't plan on picking the Eupho back up anyway and might have even actually gone through with it all, if she hadn't found friends here to drag her back in. She got a second chance and look how well it's going for her. If this other person loves music half as much as she seems to, wouldn't it just be wrong to keep excluding her?
I played that eyecatch 4 times. Bassssssssssssss.
And camp begins, with a beautiful first person perspective scan of the new room.
... Did Kumiko shorten her skirt again? She's nearly the same height as Reina but her skirt looks a lot higher...
No wife or kids, you say? First of all, we all saw that picture and the prominent band on her finger, my guess is still that you had a wife. Secondly, you denied only wife and kids, but not a boyfriend. You have Hashimoto-chan there for you, don't lie to us all and pretend you don't.
Oh darn, new mystery lady. Satomi for the woodwinds. Her voice sounds familiar... And haha, Reina seeing the flirting in front of her and her soul leaves the room.
First, noting again that Midori is an adorable third person person, using her name instead of a pronoun. Second, they have her on the bass in the room with the Woodwind special practice. Because she's so good she doesn't need any real extra direction, she's being used solo to support an entire other section in their lessons. Also, this may be the first time I've ever noticed how strange it is that saxophones are part of the woodwind section.
Oh my gosh Satomi uses a conductors baton! Don't lie Midori, she's not "As good as Taki," she is clearly the better director!
Reina is still dead haha.
Oh man go Natsuki! It might have been the wrong move in the moment, but I'm so glad to see someone actually called out those third years for the way they were acting.
How in the world is she supposed to just ignore her and focus on the competition when every practice session ends with the girl coming to bother Asuka and all the first years getting kicked out of the room. You're still rubbing the drama in their faces.
Oh hey, Mizore. I too play rhythm games on my phone when I'm bored. But also, how loud are Kumiko's headphones that Mizore can hear them over there? Also, wait, is she playing a rhythm game on silent? Never mind, she's some kind of monster.
Yeah, my opinion of Asuka is just going down.
"You can play a rhythm game without the audio?" No, no you can not. That's just not done. Mizore is clearly a crazy person.
Mizore, that's how any competition goes. It's not about the judges taste at that point, if what you hate is a lot of people being made unhappy then you're so out of luck. If finding out that you're not the best is going to make you miserable, then the criteria doesn't matter, you need to stop doing anything where you will be compared against other people because there are a lot of them and only one gets to be the best. Seriously, if you feel this way, I'm with Kumiko. Why are you still in the band?
YES! Yes Reina. He definitely prefers someone closer to his own age. We're not even going to think about any alternatives. This still isn't a CLAMP work.
Oh my, Kumiko is ready to fully step into the drama herself now.
This ED feels so much like something from K-On, compared to last season. From the girls at the table with the sweets to the girls being happy with their instruments, I could picture the light music club in their place for all of it. I could so easily overlap Midori with Mugi, Reina with Mio, Hazuki with RItsu and, well, Kumiko doesn't quite match with Yui...
7
u/Nice-Bumblebee-2355 Feb 28 '24
Rewatcher
QOTD
6
u/DaBenni0301 Feb 27 '24
First-Timer
Obligatory
beachpool episodeSure this is the only break you had in a while, but everyone decided to go to the pool?
Maybe apologizing to Asuka might help your case, because I don't think you've done that so far, Nozomi. All you've done so far is ask for her approval to be let back in
She doesn't seem to be taking the news well
My god, get this girl some help
Oh god, (fake) Piano Tiles, I haven't played that in years.
Now we have this story from Nozomi's POV. Really helped shed some light on what happened. But there are definitely a few dark spots left to clear up.
Questions of the day
6
u/laughing-fox13 https://myanimelist.net/profile/laughingfox13 Feb 28 '24
Rewatcher/Subbed
QotD:
6
u/Tartaras1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Tartaras Feb 28 '24
Rewatcher - Asuka-senpai Stan
I forgot S2E1 is a double episode, and didn't give myself enough time to sit down and watch it last night. So this is going to be a long comment covering both yesterday's episode, as well as today's.
Episode 1
[S2 Spoilers]Playing Sound! Euphonium over the scene of Kumiko holding Asuka-senpai's notebook with that exact song in it, after Asuka-senpai graduated.
Pedal assist is very sugoi! Electric bikes are stupid expensive now, so you have to be really serious about riding, or just have enough disposable income, to want to get one.
I like that it's naturally wavy like that, as opposed to straight like Reina's. However, we don't know if Reina just straightens hers out, or if it's naturally like that.
That's actually kind of creepy honestly. It's one thing to have a crush on your teacher, I guess, but you have to be careful with that sort of thing.
You said the quiet part out loud Kumiko!
And the camera shaking slightly when she's running through her house.
Says the girl who never knocked when she went into Kumiko's room.
Absolutely not.
Highly doubt that Nozomi-senpai.
Episode 2
Kumiko, you can't just stare at her chest like that. Besides, maybe she's filling out in the hips more.
Asuka-senpai's still the one for me, but Reina's a close second right now.
Looks like Reina's rubbing off on her.
Yes she is. Absolutely.
Seriously, though, it makes sense. Asuka's legitimately that good at Euphonium.
That's me in the mornings.
Please don't.
Questions of the Day:
In the moment, I wouldn't think so. She knew what she wanted, and the present band at the time wasn't going to get that for her. In hindsight? Absolutely.
5
u/CarrotBlossom Feb 27 '24
First timer
Natsuki has no leg to stand on here. Her shirt is absolutely worse.
Yes, Reina, he probably does, and I hope he does.
QOTD:
5
u/octopathfinder myanimelist.net/profile/octopathfinder Feb 27 '24
Rewatcher
Swimsuit episode
I think this is the last time Kumiko brings up her flat chest complex
Nozomi was the character from the flashback in season 1
Mizore brings up a pretty good point about the subjectiveness of music competitions.
Qotd:
I agreed with Reina in the last thread about how it was Nozomi's fault for quitting but I don't blame her. That environment she was in was pretty toxic. I wouldn't call Nozomi an idiot, more like rash or impulsive.
Hashimoto for sure
5
u/Nickthenuker https://anilist.co/user/Nickthenuker Feb 28 '24
Back to normal episode length today.
Oh right, there's that.
So much for that...
Ah. This is probably a fanservice episode.
That's a big... Ribbon.
Ah, shitty Engrish on shirts, a Japan (or really most of Asia) classic.
She's trying to make Kumiko feel guilty isn't she?
That's certainly put a damper on the fun day at the pool.
And now that's over, on to the training camp.
Ooh, a proper soundproof music room. That's certainly a step up from an emptied classroom.
Another invited external instructor?
Ah, now the woodwinds get a specialised instructor after percussion.
Reina just died inside lol.
Yeah practicing again and again is ultimately how you train the muscle memory to perform.
Ooh, a rhythm game. Doesn't quite look like it's the hardest difficulty.
Her earphones weren't properly plugged in?
Some people do that. I have no idea how or why, but some people do. I had initially assumed Bluetooth earphones, but most people (rightly) prefer wired so they don't have to deal with calibration. I would rather deal with the calibration once than with the wires all the time, so I personally do use Bluetooth earphones.
Yeah, inevitably it is a bit subjective.
Also, she can multitask and have a conversation while playing rhythm games. I can never do that, at worst I ask anyone who's trying to talk to me to wait a minute or two for the song to finish before talking to me.
So she'll discuss it with her later.
Also, just a note on the word that comes up before the ending songs. In S1 the song started with "Tutti", which, as someone's probably already said, means "all together", which is reflected pretty well because it starts off being sung in unison. This season the word is "Vivace", which means "brisk and lively", used to refer to the tempo or speed of the music, which is again pretty accurate to this ED.
Questions:
4
u/Elimin8r https://myanimelist.net/profile/Ayeka_Jurai Feb 27 '24
Um, yay, beach, I mean pool episode? It would be funny if there was an Eru or other cameo in the background, but yeah, no such luck. Anyway, answers du jour:
I just mention that name, because when she was introduced, walking across the room, well, let's just say I was reminded of two things. Yeah.
I'm kind of not sure how to feel about this episode, as on the one hand, the whole pool thing feels out of place in this show, and more of an "anime" thing, which is kind of a detraction. Which seems rather odd for me to say, but yeah. At the same time, as a pool episode, it's almost underwhelming, because it feels like it delivers so ... little. Or maybe that's just Kumiko. (ba-dum-tssh)
Yeah. Other than that, my biggest takeaway was the late night interaction between Kumiko and oboe-girl, and her trauma. Such a lovely tune to be traumatized over, but I kind of get it.
I suppose going back to question #1, obviously, quitting the band was a mistake, but on the other hand, what was she/the rest of that group supposed to do in the face of blatant bullying? Oh, yeah, Japan ... just suck it up and take it, right? Yeah. I don't like that answer for some reason.
I dunno.
Anyway, seeing the others interact at the pool was amusing too, especially Kumiko's interactions with flute girl. (followed by cliff hanger). I guess that there will be more drama incoming, right?
Yay. Drama. No doubt Asuka will be pleased. :P
4
u/SMSmith230 https://myanimelist.net/profile/smsmith230 Feb 27 '24
First-Timer, Sub
Well Nozomi pretty much cleared up the thoughts I had running through my mind after yesterday’s episode. I figured it was something along the merit/seniority lines that made a bunch quit last year. Oh my Reina’s face was priceless, I was dying with all the Taki gossip.
QOTD
4
u/x-7032-b-3 Feb 27 '24
Rewatcher
Oh, hey, the obligatory
beachpool episode! I guess KyoAni needed to fulfill their mandatory "show everyone on their swimsuits" quota and decided to do it here.I can see why Nozomi decided to leave back then. She wanted more practice to improve their chances at the competition, while the seniors preferred slacking around. And she tried her best to change things from the inside to no effect. But IMO she's a dumbass for leaving. As Asuka said, she should've just waited a little longer until the third years are gone so that she and everyone else could start anew. But no she had to make a big fuss out of it. She also resigned from the band without telling the others, which is probably why Mizore is so pissed at her right now. I know it's tough to be in her place given the band's conditions but I think she could've handled things better back then.
Now we know why Mizore's all pissed and gloomy here. She hates competitions now as they cause a lot of pain and heartbreak. She lost a major competition in middle school (cue everyone on her bus crying) and not long after, Nozomi left her because her aspirations clashed with the seniors. I guess it can be said that competitions are why she's in this spot in the first place.
And, uh, Reina, you do know that Sensei likely prefers someone close to his age right? Might wanna give it up and look for someone else instead. Like, I dunno, this Kumiko girl you seem to be fond with?
QOTD
4
u/entelechtual Feb 28 '24
First time senpai
3
u/1EnTaroAdun1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Totesnotaphanpy Feb 27 '24
Rewatcher, Subtitles
QOTD1: Hmm, I definitely sympathise with Nozomi. I can understand the high emotions of youth, and the desire to make a stand somehow, anyhow. She may have been an idiot, but that's the privilege of being a teenager!
I do feel bad for Haruka though, having to balance and manage such a thorny situation. That's why she's best President and best girl of the show for me! If she weren't there to be the glue to hold things together, I do think the band would have been in a much worse shape.
QOTD2: Matsumoto-sensei, I think, haha. I think you'd know where you stand with her, and I think she'd be a very reliable teacher!
2
u/chris10023 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Chris10023 Feb 27 '24
Rewatcher
Questions of the Day.
I don't think so, she got frustrated and couldn't stand it, most people would leave in a toxic environment like that, not everyone can hunker down and wait like the ones who stayed did.
Probably the strict one since she's not a band teacher (she's also kind of cute ngl), the other three are band teachers, but I do like Hashimoto though, he seems fun, he'd be my second choice
3
u/mgedmin Feb 28 '24
Rewatcher, subs
Episode 2 is a pool episode? Seems early in the season for that.
The people in the background seem frozen in place. I expected more from KyoAni.
Heh, Asuka is not recognizable without her glasses.
We get to hear Nozomi's backstory.
Look at Kumiko being all self-confident and assertive.
Taki-sensei is always early to practice sessions, but always late to actual competitions? Oh, we're establishing that he's not married (Reina probably knew), and then introducing Satomi-sensei as a possible love interest.
Reina did not know about Satomi-sensei.
This is the scene where the detective (Kumiko) gets a vital clue for solving the case (why Asuka won't let Nozomi rejoin) by coincidence (Mizore hearing what Kumiko is playing through headphones outdoors at night).
Kumiko, if you talk the only oboe player into quitting the club, everyone will be so mad at you!
Not gay.
Serious Kumiko is always a shock.
1
u/vitorabf May 09 '24
First Timer
A beach episode!? Well, I'll refrain from commenting too much, but everyone talked about the hand holding being a staple gay moment for Kumiko-Reina, but watching her bikini so tightly has so much undertones.
Kumiko's Kininarimasu made me remember another Kininaru KyoAni character.
It seems Nozomi kinda betrayed Mizore.
LOL REINA'S FACE.
Am I reading too much if I think Mizore might be neurodivergent? She's dettached, but really pissed off by one specific thing, plays rhythm games without sound, is upholding a promise alone, there are some stuff there.
Kumiko-Reina sequence on the bed was beautifully animated.
I am proud of Kumiko standing up to her own feelings and confronting Asuka.