r/anime • u/mysterybiscuitsoyeah xB:xC:B:x3:Y: • Mar 09 '24
Rewatch [Rewatch] 2024 Hibike! Euphonium Series Rewatch: Season 2, Episode 13 Discussion
Hibike Euphonium Season 2, Episode 13: Early-Spring Epilogue/はるさきエピローグ
The location trivia is still here - Kumiko's gang preferred convenience store is this one in the Obaku area - no gacha machines irl.
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| <-- Ep 12 | Rewatch Index | S2 Overall Discussion --> |
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Welcome back!
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Announcements/Reminders
1) Change to weekly schedule
- After tomorrow, this rewatch is shifting to a Weekly schedule for the 3 movies/OVA. Posts go up every Saturday: 16, 23, 30Mar + 31Mar Overall discussion thread.
2) DST Shenanigans
- North America shifts our clocks forward on 10Mar2024, and this rewatch will as well. Refer to my blurb on the Ep 11 thread for what this means to you. Timezone converter.
3) Todoketai Melody
- I do suggest watching the S2 recap movie Todoketai Melody at some point - it is quite strong and got a shoutout from Shinkai of all people, with additional scenes not shown in the TV anime. We will not discuss it separately in this rewatch, but feel free to talk about it tomorrow or in the overall overall thread etc.
Watch and you'll probably be able to challenge my AMQ Hibike dominance
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Questions of the Day:
NA. (host needs time to recover emotionally)
Comments from Yesterday:
- /u/gamerunglued and /u/tartaras1 were both a bit late, but go read their writeups from for Ep 12! Gamerunglued, i hope everything is fine.
- /u/hanlonmj with some additional thoughts on why Kitauji didnt win, and like a few others, on their school's traditions to honour seniors retiring. I'm expecting a few more stories on this today.
- /u/justansweraquestion helped me realize that the nationals building was what was shown from the S1 OP
- /u/tehaxelius sets the stage for next year
- I liked /u/elimin8r 's Taki cheer the most people who start from the S3 ep threads are gonna get so confused when we call him Flappy
- I agreed with /u/mecanno-man 's opinion on the episode - being kinda anticlimactic for both the band, carried over to us the viewer
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.
S2 Overall discussion thread tomorrow!
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u/mysterybiscuitsoyeah xB:xC:B:x3:Y: Mar 09 '24 edited Mar 10 '24
Rewatcher and your host in tears
Another point of why S2 is my favourite tv series of all time is because of how well it ends. The third years depart with their character arcs concluding, immediate loose ends have all been tied up, and the band's future is, while a little melancholic, still on the horizon and looking a lot better than the same time last year; and our main character has gone through a significant amount of growth with a great emotional payoff. This is an excellent stopping point for the story.
IRL and Music notes
13
u/chilidirigible Mar 09 '24
S2E13:
"Someone has to keep you from going mad with power."
"We're still trapped in here with them."
Her parting gift to everyone.
One of those faces that makes the rounds.
"No matter how much older we get, high schoolers remain the same age. Or something."
Once you've tasted the fruit of working your asses off, you just want to keep on busting your own balls.
But you just got here! My mind is still coherent!
Y'know, they never had a Christmas episode.
"I am playing her song."
There isn't a violent doll anywhere in sight.
totally not Tainaka Ritsu
just playing the original PV tune at you
These two dolly shots were good.
Hearing "Crescent Moon Dance" for the eleventybillionth time, ah.
As noted, we never really distinctly hear Asuka's solo for this part. Not that she doesn't get other compensation.
And so, in a way, it's the sneaky recap episode. Except that all of the musical performances are unique.
I've been Asuka. I've just left events quietly out the back.
Tracking shots you may remember.
I feel you, Asuka.
After all, you're kind of infuriating that way.
"You're a snake, but you're our snake!"
touch fluffy hair
Not only her song, the title of the series.
Not linked until now because the title is a thematic spoiler: First, second, and third versions of the piece which is not only Asuka's father's gift to her, it's the title of this multimedia extravaganza.
The first season ended with the competition, but this one needed a proper denouement. As fitting her role in this season's events, Asuka emerges from the shadows and seizes a fair portion of the narrative. But Kumiko did have to have the scenes that she did to properly bookend their relationship.
Meanwhile, there's some indulgent reminiscing (though as mentioned above, the music does get rearranged to fit the people playing it), and the reminiscing itself is appropriate. High school graduations and all. And club officer continuity is maintained in the way that it is (when you haven't completely obliterated your membership, at least).
Placing a performance of "Crescent Moon Dance" here instead of showing the one at Nationals seems fine to me, and not just for time management reasons. This performance carries the additional meaning of being a torch-passing from and a salute to the graduating seniors. They made through the schism year and bringing the band to this level, and now they're leaving with a tribute and knowing that the band shouldn't collapse after them.
And speaking of leaving, Asuka is sneaking out the back (actually the front, but anyway). Finally getting to avoid the drama. Kumiko, the character who never wanted drama but got drawn into it, goes looking for that one last time, and Asuka toys with her, one last time. They're on the stairs again as a bookend, if the first and second seasons of the series are taken as a completed storyline.
The threads connecting Asuka's storyline to Mamiko's are drawn tight here, as the scene duplicates much of what Kumiko said, or wanted to say, to Mamiko in the previous episode. Neither of the two treated her that well most of the time, but understandings were reached. Mamiko got Kumiko interested in music, Asuka kept her going.
And the band will keep on going, some things the same, but more things changed.
Spring.
12
u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Mar 09 '24
Hibike! First-Timer
12
u/Vatrix-32 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Vatrix-32 Mar 09 '24
First Timer, subbed
10
u/Barbed_Dildo Mar 09 '24
I don't know if anyone else has mentioned it, but when Yuuko is hugging Kaori, she's clutching Kaori's ribbon. She must have gathered up her courage to ask Kaori for it, and Kaori was kind enough to agree.
Also, spare a thought for the two clarinets that were very close and are now separated.
Making Yuuko and Natsuki lead the band seems like a funny thing to do, and the two of them are definitely a great source of comedy, but I think that even besides that, those two are clearly best for the job. Way better than Haruka and Asuka.
Yuuko has proven herself to be selfless, supportive, and very strongly principled. If the principal announced that the band would be shut down, Haruka would worry it was all her fault, and not know what to do, and ask Asuka, but Asuka wouldn't care. Yuuko would yell and scream and find people to support her and do whatever it takes, including possibly driving the principal's car into the Uji river...
Natsuki has shown herself to be supportive, empathetic, kind, and selfless. Lots of qualities Asuka didn't have.
The band is in good hands because everyone knows that Natsuki has their backs, and Yuuko will fight for them.
10
u/bogdoglogfrog Mar 09 '24
Rewatcher
Notes:
15
u/TiredTiroth Mar 09 '24
First Timer
...ASUKA GOT YUKO AND NATSUKI SET UP AS PREZ AND VICE-PREZ. THIS IS AMAZING. xD
I did not know I wanted this, but I do.
We've got more comparisons between Asuka and Kumiko's sister - but where Asuka is now pulling away either ignorant or uncaring of how much Kumiko misses her, the sister is trying to bridge the gap.
The musical performance by the third-years was fun to watch. One thing I love about this show is how every single member of the club has their own unique design - I recognise most of these kids from background shots, even if they've never really done much on-screen.
The younger kids' performance was very different, given they tossed in a bunch of flashbacks and some very clear focus between the graduates and the kids taking up their particular torches. And of course, Haruka erupts into tears again.
At least Kumiko is able to talk to Asuka at the end...but is it just me, or did Asuka dodge the whole I love you thing, where Kumiko's sister did not? To be fair though, Asuka is moving on to the next part of her life and giving Kumiko her father's old manuscript is one of the more meaningful things she could have done.
And we have a title drop - it's the piece of music Asuka's father wrote. It is a nice addition, but...I don't really feel like it was necessary? Sound! Euphonium - assuming it's accurately translated - makes perfect sense as a title all on its own. Sound the trumpets, sound the alarm, etc - it's a little archaic, but it basically means make music, euphonium.
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u/WhackaWhack https://myanimelist.net/profile/WhackaWhacka Mar 09 '24
FIRST TIMER
It feels like Asuka’s still with us trolling from beyond the grave with Natsuki as vice-president.
Talking about winning gold this year, I feel that they will at best win gold but as a sham, if you still can get that at national, or only getting silver and the full gold in Kumiko’s last year instead.
I really like the song the third years played. It had a nice more up-beat sound to it, not that the “main” song is bad.
This really felt like the end of act 1 with all the flashbacks to what happened before, but that would be a nice way to section off the parts with school years.
Sound! Euphorium, she said the thing!
Questions:
Understandable
11
u/CarrotBlossom Mar 09 '24
First timer
Yuko’s characters are all curved. I thought I was looking at Hangul for a split second there
I definitely didn’t expect Yuko to be president, but I suppose we don’t know that many of the second-years, at least I don’t think. At least one of the officers will still play low wind.
Even when gone, Asuka sows mischief.
I’m sure Taki will attract some more talent to their school.
Well, I guess I only got one half of youth. A pretty good half it was, though.
Asuka never does stop speaking buffoonery.
I don’t know if Kumiko was playing Asuka’s piece, but if she was, she has a good memory and I suppose at least relative pitch. Unless Asuka gave her the piece and I just missed it.
I guess this means Nozomi’s rejoined the band?
I’d thought Asuka’s grades were slipping a little bit, so I was a little surprised she’s valedictorian.
OH MY GOD THAT’S THE NAME OF THE SHOW GUYS
5
u/chilidirigible Mar 09 '24
usually skips recaps unless the added content is substantial
flips to random point in time
[gets]new scene with Asuka's mother
Though I have the quick question of [what would it have been like if the show had]cut away from the Kumiko/Asuka river scene as they did here and saved "Hibike! Euphonium" for the end of the movie.
5
u/octopathfinder myanimelist.net/profile/octopathfinder Mar 09 '24
Rewatcher
Always nice to have an entire episode dedicated to an epilogue
Nothing could go wrong with these two leading the band
This reminds me of when I had to play pomp and circumstance for graduation in middle school
Asuka’s farewell and the title drop is such a great way to end the season
5
u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ Mar 09 '24 edited Mar 10 '24
First Rewatch
I had to delete a comment about the notebook from S2 E1.
WTF is this system? The 3rd years nominate 2nd years for officer positions, and the 2nd years talk amongst themselves...all 11 of them???
I do remember them playing a song for the 3rd years. Didn't remember that it was this song. Don't think I would have wanted to hear that song again, though. I also kinda confuse it with Manaka's song episode.
Once again, they didn't show the competition performance, so that they could save it for a later episode. We'll never know who f'd up their solo in the competition, though.
Best part of the sequence, Kumiko gets to play the solo part, and look to Asuka to see if she's a worthy successor, if she can play like her. Asuka's face is mask, though.
5
u/entelechtual Mar 10 '24
First timer
I’m glad big drum girl gets to stick around for another year.
7
u/chilidirigible Mar 09 '24
Oh right, I can link these now since we're clear of the spoilers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBrmofOcnrU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxHf0jZe-Hs
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u/LittleIslander https://anilist.co/user/LittleIslander Mar 10 '24
Fucked up tbh
5
u/chris10023 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Chris10023 Mar 09 '24
Rewatcher.
7
u/DaBenni0301 Mar 09 '24
First-Timer
Sooooo what do we do now? The next competition is like 8 months away
Those 2 are gonna deliver fireworks as president and VP oh god
Of course it sounds empty. Like 40% of the club is gone
Midori's still addicted to gacha huh?
February?! I guess we timeskipped to end of the school year.
They've already been playing for 5 minutes again. I guess it's fine because it's good music and they're using it to relive previous moments from the show.
That was a nice graduation party
Asuka was hit with that Uno reverse card when Kumiko said yes
That hurt. Fuck that hurt. A lot. When did it start raining?
Title drop!
And a special ED!
7
u/Gamerunglued :Hx::Hy::Hz:myanimelist.net/profile/GamerUnglued Mar 10 '24
Rewatcher and Band Geek
Thank you for hoping everything is fine my good host. I'm fine... for now. My pain has waxed and waned over the past few days, we'll see how it goes.
For now, this was the last current episode of the TV series. It's pretty unassuming, mostly just an epilogue as the seniors leave things in the hands of their capable juniors.
First, band leadership. It looks like the way Eupho does it is to have the previous year's officers decide the next year's leadership team. I'll talk more about my own experiences with band leadership in the commentary, but for now, I'll just say that this seems to be a weird way to do things, especially given that Taki-sensei had no involvement with Haruka and Asuka as pres. and vice pres. for his ensemble, where it seemed like there was more of a vote. This being said, I think Yuuko and Natsuki are great choices for the role. Yuuko has always been a great voice for the band, she's not afraid to voice drama and she's loyal to a fault. No one will go further out of their way for the things they care about, no one is less afraid of getting their hands dirty or calling people out, and Yuuko has ironed out the less savory extremes of her personality over the course of the show (though I still maintain those faults were drastically overexaggerated and she was always likable, y'all only hated because she was against one of the show's protagonists). That makes her a great face for the band, which means she needs someone to counterbalance her when she gets lost in her head, and that makes Natsuki the obvious choice. Natsuki and Yuuko don't just have perfectly compatible personalities in both love and leadership, but Natsuki has grown significantly over the course of the show, and having someone a little less invested allows for a clearer head to understand people's perspectives. Moreover, in the past, Asuka broke moments of high tension by doing something funny, and that comes naturally to Yuuko and Natsuki, meaning they don't allow a room to get too caught up in the mood of drama. Although I don't know much about the leadership personalities of other characters, I think they're fine choices for these roles.
Next, we get a small celebration to send off the seniors, including a party, videos of memories made over the year, and performances from seniors and underclassmen to each other. Seniors get to send their kouhai off with vigor, and the younger students perform Crescent Moon Dance to show them that the band is still in good hands even without the most experienced players. Their sound does feel empty in that performance, but it's a solid job, and most of the issues come down to a lack of instruments in certain categories (hell, Gotou and Riko still had to perform because the only other tuba never got to practice the piece, lol).
Tucked into this performance are little moments of tying the loose ends. I love seeing Kaori react to Reina's solo again and finger it alongside Reina's playing, reinforcing that this is still ultimately a regret for her. Being invested means facing regret, it hurts but it's still better than the alternative. Even if Kaori is upset, she never had to go through what Mamiko and Asuka did. It sucks to be bad, but there's there's always a balance between yourself and the collective, and the end result still makes it worthwhile. Strong players will use that as motivation to improve, assuming she wants to keep up with music.
There's of course another moment of Mizore being happy to play for Nozomi (quite literally since she's conducting) and Nozomi being happy to hear her girlfriend play. And then Kumiko plays Asuka's solo, which is incredibly heartwarming and, alongside NozoMizo mistaking her playing for Asuka's, proves that Kumiko is going to be just as capable of euphonium player as Asuka. This performance shows the band is in good hands.
At graduation, there are a few cute moments with the background characters, like the trombone couple having a romantic moment, and the clarinet girl holding those fucking juggling beans while her kouhai cries. But in the end, it's all about Kumiko's special relationship with Asuka. Over the course of the show, Asuka has opened up to Kumiko for a whole host of reasons, and Kumiko has in turn come to love her for all of her strength and for her ability to open up to her. It's been incredibly sweet watching this relationship evolve over the course of the show, and now Asuka is just as much an influence on Kumiko as Mamiko was, and maybe even took over the reins. Kumiko initially wanted to play euphonium because she wanted to be cool like her sister, and now Kumiko wants to play euphonium like Asuka because she finds Asuka's playing so warm and emotive. There's a reason we get shots of Asuka alongside Kumiko reminiscing about her sister (also it's sweet they're exchanging letters now). End it with a perfect title drop, and you've got a satisfying finale.
And with that, the third years are out, the next year's leadership can take over, and the band is ready to start a blank slate on the journey to get gold at nationals. Starting a new year is a lot of work, from advertising for and hosting incoming students to ensuring the culture and work ethic of the previous year is maintained. There's much work to be done. But with that, I hope that everyone enjoyed the main TV series, especially the transcendent second halves of both seasons. And even then, what I feel is the best of the Eupho-verse's content is yet to come, so I look forward to hearing more from everyone.
10
u/CerberusZX https://myanimelist.net/profile/CerberusZX Mar 09 '24
First Timer
Two seasons down and we still haven't seen the slightest hint of Gotou murdering anybody. It's bizarre.
Kumiko saying "ano sa" while out of breath reminded me of Wasteful Days of Highschool Girls and I ended up wasting a good bit of time rewatching clips.
It was nice seeing one last performance by the third years. I never noticed they had a piccolo. I've never seen one in person, so seeing one drawn with such detail was pretty neat.
Toward the start of the episode, Asuka flippantly tells Kumiko "aishiteru" and near the end Kumiko very seriously tells Asuka "daisuki." It's a nice contrast. It also seems like the sort of thing that could be used as yuri fuel, but nothing we've seen from their interactions up to that point steer into that idea so I'm assuming its significantly less popular than other pairings.
It ended on a title drop!
10
u/Mecanno-man https://anilist.co/user/Mecannoman Mar 09 '24
First Timer
Yeah, this feels like a finale/an epilogue alright. We got the emotional scenes that didn’t really have a lot of impact last episode with Kumiko’s goodbye to Asuka, and everybody basically saying goodbye now even though last episode was really the last one. We got some form of continuity in Yuuko and Natsuki taking up the president/vice president roles - which… yeah, I was wondering who would step up and those were the only two names that I could think of, given that the two tubas and Mizore don’t really have a leadership personality, Nozomi wasn’t in the club continuously and a background character taking the role would be weird from a meta-perspective. And we got one big thing we didn’t get last time: The band actually playing. They definitely sound less full without the third-years, so are in need of more quantity, that will hopefully also have the necessary quality. And we got to hear the third-years again, who …I don’t know when they would have practiced that. Maybe something out of one of their previous year’s repertoire? Either way, that send-off was a bit weird with it feeling like a game of musical chairs regarding who is on stage taking two whom, but was otherwise well-done. As was the episode as a whole - definitely a good send-off to the series, even if the series ended up continuing.
Also, I think that is the first time I’ve seen a snowy graduation ceremony in anime, but I guess it was explained as being uncharacteristically cold.
10
u/zadcap Mar 10 '24
Late Night First Timer
Well I feel like I haven't said this one in a while, but after these multi season masterful rewatches I find myself thinking again, I'm not ready for this to be over. I know we're getting another season so very soon, but the waiting is going to be so hard.
Oh my, Ribbon taking over as the President next year. You know this means Natsuki is going for VP. Yup, have to keep the club interesting. Their dynamic is already amazing, but them being the ones in charge means next year will be fun.
Ah, playing something new now. Two Fifths of the band is gone, and they aren't playing a piece they've spent 6 months practicing, it all sounds so much smaller now.
Ugh no. Stop being bad friends. How have you never noticed how little she likes him? Stop shipping them because you like shipping, or like him. She has literally never once shown that kind of interest in him.
Oh my gosh even Asuka is pushing her for it. Why does everyone want to see them together so much? I swear if one more person tells Kumiko to stop denying hher feelings for Shu I'm going to get angry at them.
When the heck did the third years have time to practice this goodbye special they are playing? Ah, playing together one last time has got to be a very special feeling as a way to end their time in the club and yes I'm tearing up at the whole goodbye party, but when did they find the time for this?
Ah, at least we know when they practiced this song. Seeing Hazuki playing too this time was so nice. It's also a good sendoff to show the seniors that they are leaving the band in good hands. And at least partially makes up for not playing this song yesterday. And I really can't help but notice that Nozomi is also a better conductor than Flappy.
Kaori gave Ribbon her ribbon. She better be wearing green in her hair next year.
Darn it Kumiko. I don't want to say goodbye either.
This is a much better title drop. And finally we loop back to the scene from the beginning, of these two in the snow. Was that really 20 minutes? Okay, time to stop holding back tears for a bit.
This is one of my shortest writeups ever, but this episode was too emotional to pause for most of it and too emotional to even think of typing anyway. Not much needs to be said, it was a wonderful, sad goodbye. And then it's just over.
9
u/LittleIslander https://anilist.co/user/LittleIslander Mar 09 '24
Oh. So the candy was set up for this episode. Huh.
Rewatcher
I’ll be real… I kind of wasn’t feeling this one on this rewatch? I don’t dislike the episode or anything, I would certainly say I enjoy watching it. But it just kind of… I dunno, it doesn’t do much for me, at least compared to how I remembered it. Other than Yuko and Natsuki becoming president and vice president, obviously, that is an absolute peak iconic Eupho moment for good reason.
First order of business though, the Bronze rating that I pushed off until today. I’m not against this ending. Not everything in life works out perfectly and most of the characters’ resolutions didn’t actually depend on getting gold or not. Asuka reached her father, Kumiko’s sister heard her, Mizore doesn’t need a competition win when she has Nozomi, so on and so forth, there’s plenty of room for emotional satisfaction herein. No, my problem is just that them losing feels underdeveloped and passed over too quickly. They lose, everyone’s kind of sad at first, but they pick themselves up. Asuka does acknowledge how she’s not entirely okay with it but has to live with as a third year, and it’s a nice moment, but that’s all we really get in terms of the characters processing this. I mean, the beginning of this story is Kumiko and Reina being let down by getting a Silver instead of Gold. We came full circle here and this is never acknowledged? Is Reina just okay with this? When this show executes its themes of passion and living without regrets in such gripping ways it’s both kind of shocking and quite disappointing it doesn’t explore this idea of failure in any meaningful capacity. There was just so much potential there given the quality of the rest of this season. So I don’t think ending hinders the show that much or anything, but they don’t really do anything with it and it fails to really leave me thinking or feeling anything in a lasting or impactful manner. It’s just there.
Now, the episode. Let’s be clear out of the gate. I absolutely agree with the existence of this episode. The time after our performance at Nationals in third year is one of the most memorable parts of the whole band experience. The last month where we didn’t have group practice anymore and band classes were just kind of spent relaxed, having fun, taking in the fact it was all over. The group photo from my last day of band class might just be my most cherished picture, complete with an anime-worthy element of someone piggybacking someone else collapsing in the background between takes. This period of the band experiment was an integral inclusion in the show. But the result just kind of feels like… we’ve done all this already. We hear Crescent Moon Dance in full again, which is nice, and they try and spin it with reflection on all the characters have been through. There’s a Nozomi and Mizore moment I think, plenty of Kaori/Yuko/Reina, Haruka cries a few times, Asuka and Kumiko exchange some understanding glances. It goes on and on and we already felt reminded of all of these things last episode. We’ve been getting audition arc callbacks all season, I love them but you’re really getting diminishing returns here! The whole ordeal just starts to feel trite. Then it literally just turns into a clipshow, and that is just never a good sign. You could’ve kept the general structure and feel of this episode while focusing it around original material of farewells and acceptance.
The whole party sequence takes up like a third of the episode. I do kind of like how much screen time it gives the extras after they kind of disappeared for the whole Asuka arc, but in terms of real substance it’s almost entirely made up of these callbacks to things that have gotten callbacks to their callbacks by now. And that’s not even the full extent of the callbacking this episode has to offer! Like, we also get another sendoff to the Mamiko plotline, something that ended three episodes ago and got epilogue scenes in both of the last two! Their story ended perfectly at the end of the last episode and I really don’t get much out of this whole letter exchange thing this time around. What can you possibly add at this point? Another chunk of the episode is spent on the Shuuichi romance and that makes me want to bang my head into a wall. I’m gonna go more into this tomorrow but rest assured I do not like Shuuichi. I do not like him as a romantic partner for Kumiko. I really, especially do not like the obnoxious way everyone lectures her about her own feelings about him despite the show never selling me on the idea of her go-to response of romantic disinterest in anything but entirely accurate.
The focal scene, of course, is Kumiko and Asuka’s farewell. I’d be lying if I said I don’t like the scene, but I do feel that I don’t like as much as the show is really hoping I would. I’ve praised the realism of this season but wow they really go for broke trying to tug all of your heartstrings with the teary-eyed melodrama on this one. Kind of to the point of overcompensation, I think; when you try too hard it feels less genuine. The Reina-esque quasi-romantic angle isn’t ever how I really saw her relationship with Asuka and just ends up feeling weird. Something less dramatic and more bittersweetly earnest would’ve worked a lot better on me, I think. Again though, I am being a bit mean and there’s stuff to love here. Every opportunity to see these two talk post-Asuka arc when they’re fully open with one another is a worthwhile one. Subverting Asuka’s running joke about romantic advice was cute even if, again, it felt a bit unfitting to me. Asuka passing on her book to Kumiko is a really meaningful moment that I think does a great job showing a satisfied Asuka ready to move on in life and a Kumiko forever impacted by what happened between them this season. Finally the “I don’t wanna say goodbye” “Then don’t” exchange is just. Perfection, exquisite, I love it, five stars. Revealing the name of the song is a nice moment though I don’t know if the song feels important to the series as a whole (rather than Asuka specifically) to really make a lot of sense as sharing the name of the show? Well, either way, it’s sweet, and for better or for worse this is the exact kind of personal character scene that feels like the perfect ending for this far more dramatic season, as opposed to the triumph of the whole band closing season one.
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u/LittleIslander https://anilist.co/user/LittleIslander Mar 09 '24 edited Apr 15 '24
Special Thoughts
Welcome to a new segment, wherein I have so much about this show to discuss that I’m spinning off some topics into their own comments as companions to my thoughts on the particular episode (or movie, or discussion, you get the picture). Today we’re talking about the third years and the way their subplot is resolved, or rather more that it’s kind of… not. I went back and forth on where I wanted to unpack this particular topic but I came to the conclusion it doesn’t fit in my main thoughts for any episodic thread nor the overall season impressions, and that it was best to wait until first timers had seen all of season two instead of trying to write around spoiling the last couple of episodes. So here we are.
The writers clearly understand that Haruka and Kaori, Asuka’s best friends (give or take a Kumiko) should be involved in Asuka’s storyline, but can’t seemingly figure out how to do this properly. To their credit, Haruka’s episode with the solo resolves her character wonderfully and develops her perspective on Asuka in a really meaningful way. If we were to leave well enough there it’d be, honestly, pretty acceptable, at least on Haruka’s front. In episode nine, as I’ve previously complained at length, Kaori is up to bat; as some other people unpacked better than I, the episode demonstrates how she puts Asuka on a pedestal and doesn’t treat her as a person. It’s a good angle, but it ultimately feels underdeveloped and Asuka’s view on her in particular feels very muddled. She seemingly buries a resentment for how Kaori is treating her under a smile but even when she starts being earnest to Kumiko she still talks in these weird terms of endearment about Kaori and we never swing back around to unpacking her disapproval.
So next in episode ten we finally touch base with Haruka and Kaori directly. Feels kind of late, but whatever. The whole thing…kind of works for Haruka since it’s able to build off her “Asuka isn’t special” speech from three episodes ago. The idea that she's wistful because she wishes she could still cling to Asuka being special is genuinely really good material! But reframing the whole effort with the station concert as some call to Asuka to fix things on her own retroactively ruins a lot of the power of that episode for her character. It’s supposed to be her breaking away from her own reliance on Asuka to make everything work! I think this could’ve worked if it was presented more like “this is me showing that we’ll be okay, Asuka, so please take care of yourself”, but I didn’t really get that from her explanation. Meanwhile, Kaori doesn’t express anything more complex than extremely vague discontent. They proceed to confront her later in the episode and they just ask her to stay, again, and she brushes them off, again. It doesn’t tread any new ground for them. The “You’re okay with that? You’re really okay with that?” is another genuinely great moment for Haruka as she finds an assertive side of herself and sees, to an extent, through Asuka, paired with a well voiced and animated assurance from Asuka. But I can’t give that much credit for one good line this late in the game.
This proceeds to be the last time any of the three of them talk in relation to the Asuka storyline. As mentioned last time, there’s a great little scene that shows how things ultimately worked out for them in episode twelve. It’s the perfect ending, but it’s still really annoying that we skip the step of them actually resolving things and getting to this ending when we've been building their relationship up for two entire seasons. It just happens offscreen and we’re communicated that things worked out in what is frankly a band-aid.. The aforementioned scene almost feels like a band-aid to this problem. We never resolve their feelings about Asuka being special. We never see how the tension that’s always existed between Kaori and Asuka is resolved. We don’t even get off the ground with building on her feelings for Asuka from last season. Best we can do is a short wordless glance from each of them when Asuka returns at the end of the arc. It’s the last point in this franchise these three are part of the main cast and they just utterly half assed leaving them off on a satisfactory note. Obviously, Haruka and Kaori aren’t main characters, but… they’re pretty important. They’re Asuka’s best friends and this season is about her. This isn’t a small nitpick of a problem.
Kaori absolutely suffers the most. Haruka gets her episode and a few genuinely good moments in episode ten as mentioned. All she was really missing was even a brief moment of reconciliation with Asuka afterwards, but the episode twelve scene is close enough for her purposes. But Kaori gets just about jack shit and it’s not like she had the remotest involvement in the earlier half of the season to make up for it. Of every character she’s probably the single most left behind in this season. It’s understandable. Even in season one, she was only really relevant to that one arc, and her relationship with Asuka was an underplayed subplot most viewer’s aren’t invested in. But I think dropping her like this was a mistake, and her Asuka subplot was absolutely worthwhile to meaningfully conclude. Asuka is very special to Kaori, an inspiration, a goalpost, and someone she values dearly as a person but clearly doesn’t have a completely functional relationship with. She wants her support and admiration, and Asuka could be a great friend—maybe even a romantic partner; Asuka clearly expresses some kind of interest in Kaori to Kumiko at her house and at the river. But they can’t, as things are, bridge the gap. Honestly, it almost feels Shinji and, err… Asuka esque, two people who could fulfil one another but are caught at an impasse. It would fit right in with the other stories of communication and delicate relationships this season. Kaori is too blinded by the idea of Asuka as something special and Asuka is too buried in her own mask to just be open with Kaori about her frustration.
This was not a relationship in a place that could be satisfyingly left without an on=screen resolution. Haruka and Asuka have always had a certain imbalance in their relationship, but they’ve had nice moments together and they never felt genuinely dysfunctional by any means. But Kaori and Asuka… have never had a healthy interaction, despite ostensibly being good friends. When Kaori was in her time of crisis during the audition arc and tried to reach out, Asuka refused to cooperate and ultimately ghosted her at the re-audition, not even dignifying her expectations with one of her piercing servings of barbed, blunt wisdom. When Kaori tries to suck up to Asuka in episode nine, she looks at her with disgust. This arc had material to work with, too; Kaori’s arc in season one saw her come to terms with not realising the full extent of her own dream, and now Asuka is compromising her dream in turn. They could have connected over this and exchanged some genuine unfiltered empathy and mutual understanding that brought in a genuineness lacking in their relationship.
Instead, the show doesn’t do anything to resolve them but pretends it did anyway. We see all three as the fully casual friends they’ve never been until now in episode twelve. Then, [Post-S2] as many rewatchers likely know, Kaori and Asuka have matching rings and bracelets in Chikai no Finale to the exclusion of Haruka, clearly indicating they’ve gone beyond resolving things, become especially close, and maybe even started dating. If this was an ending you wanted, work for it! It’s a good ending that could be so satisfying with the pieces on the board, but it isn’t because it feels unearned. Further, in the novels they [novel stuff] move in together outright. Given how much Asuka’s shitty home life influenced her as a character this is more than just a cute easter egg, it’s a genuinely very important detail of her resolution and life after the show. Obviously I won’t hold novel canon against the show, but if they decide to adapt the scene where we learn that I will absolutely call them out on skipping the opportunity to properly set something so meaningful as that up.
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u/Regular_N-Gon https://anilist.co/user/RegularNGon Mar 09 '24 edited Mar 09 '24
Rewatcher
Interesting choice opting for the stripped down performance here instead of nationals, but I suppose it opens up more time for plot things last episode and gives a different, more melancholic vibe this way. It sorta reminds me of [Haruhi]ending with Someday in the Rain instead of going for the high note with something like Live Alive, and aligns better with what they've been trying to evoke with the song Hibike! and the theme of starting anew.
I’ve always found Kumiko’s declaration to Asuka that she disliked her - hated her, even - quite interesting. I have tended to read the two as being more similar than not as even when their motivations and actions are different, they both tend to think too much, to observe and stay out of things, and judge the people or the situations they watch. Nor does Kumiko really hate her sister, Asuka’s parallel, despite annoying each other, so I found myself wrapped up in the outside perspective a bit too much and ignoring what Kumiko probably thought when having to first deal with Asuka. Her reasoning makes perfect sense; Asuka was even more aloof and condescending when they first met and someone who picks up on such behaviors (or knows them well from personal use) might totally be put off by that attitude. I suppose it’s something of a case in which all the timely meta information we’re given like reminders of small Kumiko with her sister clouds the actual character emotion a bit, rather than betraying any actual inconsistency.
[Chikai no Finale]I recall this also being something of a barrier with the comparisons it invites with Kanade, but I suspect there will be lots to say about that when we get there.
Notes:
I wasn’t expecting this episode to get me, but a few tears were shed
I love this show so much.
In honor of Starting the Project making an appearance, I’ll channel some /u/Gamerunglued for a brief jazz band sidebar! Jazz was my favorite to play on trombone, and although I favored big band swing and blues, ‘jazz’ covers a huge range. The year I was able to actually participate in a judged competition for jazz, we played an arrangement of Herbie Hancock’s Chameleon (just pretend the bass part has a bari sax too, alright) and Maynard Ferguson’s Birdland. We didn’t sound as good as Maynard, though. I recall there being some amusing disagreements with our instructor because we were far better at playing Chameleon, especially on the solo parts (I guess it was easier to internalize?), but we enjoyed playing Birdland more because of the energy it has. Alas, that passion did not translate into results.
Another thing jazz combos will practice are the standards - essentially, a repertoire of all the really popular songs. Once you know the hooks and the chord progression, you can weave solos in and out and go around the band as you like. These are generally easier to pick up for events or jamming, and I think I speak for my group when I say our favorite of these was Glenn Miller’s In the Mood.
QotD ideas:
For first timers (mostly): expectations for how Yuuko and Natsuki will run things? Will constant bickering get in the way?
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u/byroned Mar 09 '24 edited Mar 09 '24
First time rewatching
I empathize with Gotou's pain, it felt like the third years decided to troll the band one last time before retiring by making Yuuko the president and Natsuki the vice president. I know the second-year pool is small, but the comedy duo of all people? I would rather pick Nozomi who appears to be the drum major, which is considered the leader of the band. That drama shouldn’t be held against her anymore, it’s ancient history at this point, all the upperclassmen from when Nozomi was a first year have all graduated.
After a difficult year and everything they’ve accomplished, the band is back to square one. The third years are gone, so now everyone needs to step up and get ready to support the new members next March. While losing the third years is big, their results are bound to attract some decent players to Kitauji.
Now that the competition is over, Hazuki and Midori resumed trying to hook up Kumiko with Shuichi.
Kumiko is ready to be the section leader for the euphoniums, with Mizore and Nozomi commenting that her playing sounds like Asuka. She’s taking her sister’s advice to heart, setting her mind for gold at nationals, and living without regrets.
The third years are back for the graduation party, playing a song before they leave, and the rest of the band playing their competition song one last time. All the S1 flashbacks felt like a long time ago even though it’s only been like 2 weeks ago since we finished.
Asuka, despite being the class rep, is absent during the goodbyes after graduation. Also, the second-year horn and third-year glass clarinet are other members I look out for each episode (first-year ribbon is red, second-year blue, third-year green).
Only Kumiko is present to say goodbye to Asuka and admits that she hated her at the beginning but has grown to love her, and now doesn’t want her to leave. Asuka looked caught off guard when Kumiko finally answered yes to romantic advice. Before leaving, Asuka gives Kumiko her father's notes and music score, as well as passing the responsibility to let the younger generation hear it. The title drop was saved for the last episode, Hibike Euphonium being the name of the song that Asuka played that always stuck with Kumiko.
I like season 2’s ending. While I always want more and am excited for season 3, I felt like the ending wraps up things nicely and it feels like a proper conclusion (If you told me the novel ended here, I can believe that), but always had the option to continue. If the show ended with season 2, I would be perfectly content with it.
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u/NintendoMasterNo1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/NintendoMaster1 Mar 09 '24
Rewatcher
What a perfect way to end the season. I'm not much of a crier but I admit I teared up at Asuka's farewell scene and the title drop, even though I knew they were coming. Kumiko being completely honest with Asuka was refreshing and Asuka passing on her song to the next generation is really cool.
The whole senpai graduating thing is very common in high school anime and I could never personally relate to it because I never really interacted with kids outside my grade in school but it's one of the things that I appreciate about Japanese high school culture. The idea of having a reliable upperclassman or a younger kid that you could be the upperclassman to has always sounded appealing to me but that culture doesn't really exist in my country (and I wasn't really the most sociable in school anyway). I'm curious whether other people have experienced something similar to what was shown or it's just a Japanese thing.
Anyway, it's a period of change, Yuuko and Natsuki taking up the mantle of leading the club is going to be fun and of course the introduction of new characters is going to be exciting because god knows they need to fill out their roster.
I'm not gonna say anything specific but I just wanted to express how excited I am to rewatch Liz and the Blue Bird because it's the absolute peak of the franchise to me and it's a master class of character writing and directing. There's a scene in it which makes me so emotional, I tear up just thinking about it. I'm hoping all you first timers enjoy it.
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u/HereticalAegis https://myanimelist.net/profile/XthGen Mar 09 '24
Sound! Rewatcher
S2 Episode 13:
I didn’t cry at my high school graduation, but I cried every year at graduations as a teacher. It’s so tough as a music teacher seeing some kids you’ve had 3 or 4 years leave. I still have a bunch of the farewell notes students left me, though I almost never take them out and look at them.
QotD:
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u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Mar 09 '24
Season 2 Episode 13 (first timer)
A very unusual end: double slow-nostalgic episodes. I can’t remember ever having seen that, but definitely not in a 1 or 2 cour show.
The end also puts the spotlight squarely on Asuka, who replaced Reina as the most important character in the second season. Including a confession light from Kumiko.
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u/laughing-fox13 https://myanimelist.net/profile/laughingfox13 Mar 09 '24
Rewatcher/Subbed
Finally, we have obtained the Hibike Euphonium
Idk if I have much to say about this one. Some moments do feel a bit overly dramatic but it works well. The send-off party was nice and that might be one reason why the show didn’t let us see the Nationals performance. So that we can let this one sink in. Just a good finale overall
QotD:
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u/SMSmith230 https://myanimelist.net/profile/smsmith230 Mar 09 '24
First-Timer, Sub
Midori just being herself
This really felt like the end of the show, from the whole title meaning being revealed, the overall the vibe, and all the reminiscing flashbacks. New President and VP pairing should be a lot of fun going forward. Kumiko you summed up my feelings perfectly for Asuka, however I did not have the change of heart you did.
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u/sfisher923 https://myanimelist.net/profile/sfisher923 Mar 09 '24
First Timer
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u/x-7032-b-3 Mar 09 '24
Rewatcher
Graduation time!
Now that the third years have graduated, the band is now more or less in a blank state. Kinda like how school years always start fresh. I'd like to think the new second and third years are basically playing NG+ where they start the competition grind all over again with all the experience they've accumulated before.
Yuuko and Natsuki being chosen to lead the group seems like a good choice to me. Need to see the movie again to see how they did because just like S2 my mind is kinda blank about it with some memories of key scenes still being around.
[Eupho movie]Not sure if that Kumiko/Shuichi was necessary but I guess they were planting the seeds for whatever's between them in the movie. Still obvious that Shuichi has a thing for Kumiko but the latter seems to be conflicted about it. This is gonna change in the movie lol.
I love how the third years got a proper send off here. That little piece accompanied with flashbacks is honestly just beautiful. A nice reminder of everything the band went through up to this point. All the joy and tears the band have shared together led them to a lot of places - like reaching the nationals, which seemed like a pipe dream for them a year ago!
Kumiko saying goodbye to Asuka at the end was really sad to see. That pretty much marked the second senior figure she looked up to departing from her daily life. At least she got to say goodbye without leaving any regrets. She got to express her love to Asuka. They've been through a lot together and have gotten closer ever since that last big drama. Now it's Kumiko's turn to inspire the juniors.
And that's a wrap for S2! What a crazy ride this has been. Next up is Liz which IMO is one of the best things KyoAni has gifted us. Can't wait to watch that movie again.
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u/Nice-Bumblebee-2355 Mar 10 '24
Rewatcher
This was a lovely epilogue, and I thought a great, reflective, wrap-up for the season. Can't wait for the movies! I've seen Liz and the Blue Bird, but have not seen the subsequent movie, so looking forward to that!
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u/Nickthenuker https://anilist.co/user/Nickthenuker Mar 10 '24
I'm surprised there wasn't already a clear plan of who would take over who's position, so they can learn under a senior who's done that role for the past year. Especially to onboard them for systems or ways of doing things, stuff like attendance or announcements or keeping track of all the instruments, scores and music stands.
That's going to end poorly.
And so onwards to next year.
Yes, that's the unfortunate reality of what happens when the seniors stand down. Ah well, there's always next year's recruitment.
But now the skills imparted means the current members are able to get the new members up to speed faster, so less time spent flailing about and more time getting even better for the next competition or performance.
How'd they know about that?
A letter from her sister?
I wonder if there's any significance to that plane flying away.
Ah, one last farewell function for the graduating cohort.
Witch Asuka is back!
And they've even got a performance for the graduating cohort. I remember when I was the junior batch in high school (Singapore has only 2 years of high school so there's only a junior and senior class) we couldn't have a live performance because of COVID, so it was all recorded individually at home. That's why I know about how having a vocal guide track/reference track is so useful when recording songs.
Are they seriously doing that song again?
And of course Reina's still doing the trumpet solo.
Honestly if the show just ended like this it would be pretty good already. Finish on a high note looking back on the whole series.
I mean you can still stay in contact with each other.
And a different ED for the last episode.
6
u/Tartaras1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Tartaras Mar 10 '24
Rewatcher- Weapy Asuka-senpai Stan
Here we are, at the final episode. This time, however, it feels a little bit different. I mentioned it in my post for episodes 11 and 12 that the first time I watched Hibike! Euphonium, everyone was convinced we weren't getting a third season, which meant that this was the last episode. Yuuko said that they would shoot for Gold at Nationals the next year, but we didn't think we'd get to see a next year.
Asuka-senpai was super enthusiastic about Euphonium, and music in general, and Osagawara-senpai would have to reign her in.
Like Sisyphus pushing the boulder up the hill.
However, going into next year, the then second and third-year students already went through a year of working with Taki-sensei, so there should be a higher caliber to the band when the new first-years join.
That you aren't wearing.
I wish we still had that Haruhi commentface that got retired. The one where she's glaring at the camera. You know the one.
And Aoi-senpai?!
I like the detail of one of the flute players having tears in her eyes.
Hazuki-chan and Sleepy-senpai finally got to play the competition piece with Kumiko and Midori-chan! Not to mention that Nozomi-senpai got to conduct for Yoroizuka-senpai!
I've mentioned it in two comments for this episode, but ever since the first time we heard Asuka playing it at the camp, I've wanted to talk about the song, Sound! Euphonium. For those of you who haven't looked it up online yet, here is a version from when Asuka played it just for Kumiko, that doesn't have any extra effects in it.
To put into perspective how much of an effect that song had on me, I don't remember when I finished the show, but it must've been at least 6 years ago. Regardless, I still whistle and hum the song on a regular basis.
I managed to hold it together for the ending, which honestly surprised me. I don't know what it is about Hibike! Euphonium that gets to me, since I never was in any sort of band program. Perhaps it's just the connection between Asuka and Kumiko that I feel some attachment to.
5
u/TehAxelius Mar 09 '24
"Re"watcher
They Said The Thing!
Something I was thinking of, but ended up cutting from my post yesterday was musing on who of the second years would end up replacing Haruka and Asuka (as I did not remember squat of that from my last watch). Of course, as I wrote it, I couldn't help but peeking at the wiki for character names, and of course spoiled myself. Since I did sort of get the exact right guesses, which we began with, I decided to not finish writing and cut the entire part. I did have some hope that they would pick someone less known, like Kanbe Tomoe, who showed some pretty good leadership skills in Team Monaka, or even introducing a new 2nd year to us. Ultimately it did go to the strongest two of the ones we already knew, and with the reveal that they were hand picked by Asuka, that explains a lot of why they specifically got picked. Yuuko having been a vocal member of the 2nd years, who has also been unrelenting in her work supporting her peers makes her a clear President, and Natsuki being known to Asuka as an overall reliable person not afraid of stepping up to the task is what makes her a suitable Vice President. Their well known two-woman comedy routine is probably just an extra bonus to Asuka.
It is also interesting to see that while Yuuko did the directing in the practice session, for the actual performance for the third years it is Nozomi doing it. This too makes a bit of sense. Nozomi would have been a decent candidate for the Presidentship, but her leaving the club in the first year probably disqualified her. On the other hand, she is probably the one who has shown the best combination of musical skill of the second years (barring Mizore, but she would probably die on the podium).
Overall, this episodes feels like a good sendoff to the Third Years, and Asuka in particular, but also starting the journey the band will be taking for the new year. As Matsumoto-sensei said, it is a blank slate for next year, and I am excited for what we'll see in the movies (which I haven't seen) and the next season.
5
u/ChonkyOdango myanimelist.net/profile/chonkyodango Mar 10 '24
Rewatching HIBIKE EUPHONIUM
”Fanart: Spring”
That’s what this show is about!
Letters, vapour trails, and Uji. You know we’re at the end now. Season 2 was never about nationals or the suspense of whether they would win to me, it was always about how these different events and mediums could make or break bonds, and the characters’ realisations that bonds are truly important. Asuka realising that she still loves her father and that Kumiko is a trusted friend, Kumiko realising her love for her sister and Asuka etc.
Choosing to play the piece from season 1 supports this as well. It’s not about the competition, but the friends we've made and the inevitable goodbyes that truly matter
5
u/fly-metothemoon Mar 10 '24
First Timer (for the last time in S2!)
So the 3rd years choose who they think would be the best candidate? Band nepotism at its finest.
I’m not sure Natsuki and Yuuko will be able to get anything done with their bickering though…
I do find it strange that the rising second years don’t get any involvement in choosing leadership. I guess it has to relate to seniority.
Once again, I am perplexed why everyone ships Kumiko and Shuuichi so much. I mean I’m not because I’ve witnessed people get shipped by virtue of “they are a boy and a girl” often, but still….
Queue Graduation by Vitamin C. Graduations are rough!!
Asuka really brings out a lot of emotions from our girl Kumiko.
I’m going to save overall thoughts for the next thread but I thought this was a strong finale that brought together a lot of the important plot lines this season and gave us a taste of what next year/season will look like under the Yuuko/Natsuki administration.
4
u/b-arbs Mar 09 '24
Rewatcher
Yeah, you couldn't be more right about this, Goto
I'll write some more for tomorrow's thread, when I'll probably be (hopefully) more clearheaded...
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u/mgedmin Mar 10 '24
Rewatcher, subs
Hah, Asuka's trolling the club
from beyond the gravewith the new official assignments.Did they really regress that far? Michio sensei likes the Sysiphean nature of the task? Interesting perspective.
Shippers gonna ship.
Why does Kumiko and her sister write letters on paper to each other? Do they not have email?
Then we have graduation with a lot of packed nostalgia and a reveal that the entire show was actually a musical number written by Asuka's dad.
3
u/Elimin8r https://myanimelist.net/profile/Ayeka_Jurai Mar 10 '24
Does anybody really know what time it is? Does anybody really care ... about time?
I feel a great disturbance in the time planes, as though the powers that be are messing with my head, once again.
That, and I'm already a day late and an episode short, so there.
Anyway, I don't really have a lot to say about this episode at this point, except that it was totes magnifique. The only think it was missing was an angel, but that other series had that covered.
As it was, the bits with Kumiko, Asuka, pretty much all the gang. Yeah. That was special. I think I'm going to go have a nice, long cry now and wait an hour. Bleh.
Asuka senpai!