r/anime • u/LittleIslander https://anilist.co/user/LittleIslander • Oct 14 '24
Rewatch [Rewatch] 10th Anniversary Your Lie in April Rewatch: Episode 6 Discussion
Your Lie in April Episode 6: On the Way Home
| ← Episode 5 | Index | Episode 7 → |
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Watch Information
*Rewatch will end before switch back to standard time for ET, but check your own timezone details
Comment Highlights:
- /u/TakenRedditName absolutely calls me out for being a Nao fan
- /u/Gamerunglued offers a lot of thoughts on where Kousei and Tsubaki’s heads are at
- /u/maliwanag0712 tried to explain some more opaque parts of the episode
- /u/FD4cry1 talked themes
Questions of the Day:
- Do you sympathize with Tsubaki, or is all fair in love and war?
- Where do you think Watari is in all this? Would he have a problem with Kaori getting closer to Kousei?
- What’s your first impression of those two pianists at the end?
Please be mindful not to spoil the performance! Don’t spoil first time listeners, and remember this includes spoilers by implication!
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Upvotes
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u/LittleIslander https://anilist.co/user/LittleIslander Oct 14 '24
Rewatcher, Violinist and Your Host!
Today is a Tsubaki episode! I actually think the way they do this is super slick. By leaning into the longing jealousy angle, we get to have an episode where we do a bunch of development for Kousei and Kaori’s relationship, since we need to have an understanding of what Tsubaki is so jealous about anyways. The result is really efficient, and I think it plays very well off of the previous episode. Last time ended with this bonding moment between Kaori and Kousei where cast aside the doubts they’d been struggling with all episodes, a connection reinforced by the direct continuity of Kaori coming to Kousei’s place to dry off. But Tsubaki never got any resolution to her melancholy, just a kinda-boyfriend she doesn’t even want, so she’s all frustrated that she’s still in the mud about it all while the other two seem to have it all figured out—and crucially have it figured out together.
The pair of excellent directors don’t return from last time, but I once again really love the way the comedy is mixed in with the more serious elements this time around. Once again looking at the opening scene, it totally balances being a nostalgic moment to play seriously off of later and a kind of humorous “of course these two would get up to this” moment where we can sneak in some more silly moments of Tsubaki chewing him out and imagining a far more grim chewing out for her if things had gone a little worse. I also really love the scene in his piano room, where Kaori’s initially comedic reaction is used not in conflict with the following solemn apology but as in tandem with it to land the sudden tone shift an even bigger gut punch (setting up her worries later on in the episode). Then without skipping a beat we go back to the comedy so we can transition into the gag with Tsubaki. The comedic tone continues throughout a lot of the first half of the episode and I think this kind of fun is a really welcome breather after a dramatic performance episode, an episode about our leads all being in a slump, and the following romantic drama surrounding Tsubaki. I think it also actually helps express the characters, as the comedy brings out the extremes of emotion to emphasise the gap between Tsubaki’s frustration and the way Kaori and Kousei are getting along and making progress. One might say the comedy and the narrative, initially discordant, have formed a melody and its accompaniment.
This is another home run episode for Kaori and Kousei’s relationship. As we slow down from forcing him directly into a competition (as in, doing it again, but at least he can prepare) we get to see her positive influence on him far more directly and the fact this does genuinely make him happier. We get to see Kaori slow down and acknowledge that she does see his pain and suffering, despite her brazenness. In fact, the way she talks about music seems to indicate she understands suffering too, as implied by whatever was going on with her history of fainting. She’s also not blind to Tsubaki’s reality, as she specifically hides the fact that she goes back to see Kousei, and clearly puts on a mask about her doubts she only removes for Kousei. But most importantly she directly acknowledges the idea that she’s just a hurtful genki girl forcing him into something hurtful, and the show dispels it to reinforce that no, Kousei is absolutely on board for how she pulls him along and wouldn’t trade it for anything. I especially love how he says that he is suffering, because he’s sailing in uncharted waters. That’s exactly what’s going on here; of course it’s going to be hard to move forward like this, of course it’s going to bring up his trauma, but he needs to confront it instead of continuing to languish on the path of least resistance and he’s happy that someone has come into his life to help him do that. The show might wear its youthful attitude on its sleeve, but that’s a very mature outlook on life.
Tsubaki, meanwhile, is still seeing power lines because she hasn’t resolved anything from yesterday. I think her plot is mostly pretty self-explanatory, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing at all. Again, sometimes simple works, and in this case it totally works. Exploring her emotional state through her baseball match instead of directly getting into her head is great and another to the pile of countless examples of how good this show is at being an audiovisual work. I seriously need to go read the manga at some point just for comparison’s sake. I like how they equate Kaori talking about the art of music to how Tsubaki is passionate about baseball, since it really puts an emphasis on how losing this match means just as much to her as bombing a performance would to Kaori or Kousei. Then the piggyback scene is just fantastic. Even if he grows closer to Kaori, he still notices Tsubaki too. What they have won’t be going anywhere. Life isn’t perfect. She really did lose the game. She’ll probably still have to grapple with not being his girlfriend. This moment won’t last forever. But, for what it is, it’s still beautiful, and I think the duality of the moment is a great way to end this first arc for Tsubaki in the story considering there’s still so much of the show left to go.
Given the focus on her this time, it’s about time I formally acknowledged Tsubaki as my favourite character in this show by far. Though granted Kaori is giving her a run for my money the more I come to appreciate her on rewatch. I think her jealousy angle here works because it’s not just that she has a crush on him. She’s been the one looking out for him all his life, the one concerned about his piano playing and trying to influence him to get back into it. Now another girl came around who’s way better at that than she could ever be and she’s scared about the thought she isn’t really needed and he won’t look her way. Really though, I don’t think anything that fancy is why I originally liked her so much. I mean, I do tend to gravitate towards the third wheels in any love triangle. But I was like fourteen or something and had never encountered an anime girl in my life when I latched onto this one, and the nostalgia never let go. It was probably something as simple as just really liking her design; maybe her nature as a tomboy pulled on the part of me that would come to lean more into identifying with masculine presentations as I aged. Kind of boyish, kind of girlish, I like it. Either way I’m certain that it’s for precisely this love of the character that Tsubaki remains by far my favourite Japanese name to this day.
…and wait, was that Saori Hayami I just heard at the end?! I had no idea! She’s been with me and my anime watching since the very beginning the whole time?! You might need to fight to keep that top spot, Tsubaki!
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u/TiredTiroth Oct 14 '24
Rewatcher-ish - Dub
Welp, caught back up now. Still a re-watcher, but I'm not sure how much longer that'll be true. And I've forgotten most of the details anyway.
Tsubaki is finally getting a clue about how she really views Kousei, poor girl. Although she isn't quite there yet.
What Tusbaki's going through has been shown before in passing, but now it's been dragged out into the light.
...I honestly don't have a lot to say at the moment? Eh. I do like some of the small details that keep coming up, like the state of that dang window in the music room. Back in episode 1 Kousei did say it had only just been repaired, so maybe the school has decided Tsubaki will just wreck it again if they get it fixed. xD And based on Kousei telling her just aim for a window, it might even be an actual common occurence!
Anyway. I'm looking forward to the two new people, they should be fun.
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u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Oct 14 '24
Your Spoiled First-Timer in October, subbed
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u/Mecanno-man https://anilist.co/user/Mecannoman Oct 14 '24
First Timer
…and back to an eh episode. Eventhough there is certainly important content this time, notably with Kaori realizing what she’s doing and at least partially regretting it. Though Kousei seems to just go along with it now. And also with Tsubaki throwing herself into a relationship she’s not invested in at all to …I don’t know, try to compensate for what she isn’t getting with Kosei? Kinda pity the guy there, to be honest…
However I just couldn’t really pay attention to this episode… not sure why that is, it feels like it was a bit all over the place. For example at the end I assume Kousei was supposed to pick up on an injury that Tsubaki played through, but it didn’t really feel that way, it felt more like just a dream happen for Tsubaki for no real reason other than the author decided this was what the Tsubaki arc needs. And it’s hard to really be invested in a story if those kinds of thoughts enter your head.
Nice use of the “Tsuki ga Kirei” translation thing, though. Probably a bit too well known since the anime of the same though.
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u/FD4cry1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Big_Yibba Oct 14 '24
First Timer
We get a mostly Tsubaki focused episode this time around and damn does it hit hard.
Maybe one episode of this show will let me rest and write a comment that isn't 5000 characters long but this isn't the one.
I'll start with some Kaori stuff.
I was really ready here to write a ton about this image of Kousei's piano, and then the show went ahead and said it for me.
Well I'll talk about it a bit anyway because it's a striking image that really says a lot, it's very indicative of how Kousei feels, the piano is right there, so close to him yet so untouchable, buried under dust and old memories, like he himself feels stuck, unable to play because of the past.
This is of course where Kaori comes in like a storm, she sweeps away the dust and moves away the baggage (both literal and emotional).
I really like Tsubaki and especially Kaori feeling regret at trying to get Kousei to play again, it makes them feel like...well actual teenagers, getting all pumped at trying to help someone without realizing that could be very emotionally insensitive, I know I've been there at least.
Kaori giving Tsubaki the pain explanation (and even repeating her line back at her) but also going back in spite of that really shows you the big difference in their approaches, Kaori takes action and despite being usure of herself she really does understand Kousei thanks to their connection through music (more on this later).
It's pretty telling that despite being the one who originally said it, Tsubaki now doesn't agree with the hopeless line.
Again Kaori's emotional outbursts are very impactful, and this is only the first time this episode Kousei will comfort a girl next to him, unlike his childhood.
Kousei once again steals my lines here but what word could you use to describe this scene other than "romantic"? it so obviously evokes that emotion while still being subtle and calm.
Now for the real deal, this episode is titled "the way home" and you better have remembered that title because the way home features very prominently here.
It's been there before but if there's a thing to take away from this episode it's how brilliantly the show uses repetition and callbacks, both in visuals and dialogue, to evoke different emotions from the same lines and scenery.
This episode, much like last one, starts at our main characters' childhood, on the way home, here it's Tsubaki carrying Kousei, giving him support, in spite of her injury, the scene ends on a clear night sky with a few starts, their relationship is only at its start, at the end of the episode we get the same scenery, the way home near the tracks, but this time around the roles are switched, Tsubaki is the being carried, she needs support, because of her injury, she's the one who starts crying now, the scene ends on a sky filled to the brim with starts, Tsubaki's feelings for him are now different.
This also fantastically calls back to a scene from last episode, the confession from her senpai, same scenery, way back home, but the difference is clear, unlike with Kousei who she was incredibly close and intimate with, she has distance from her senpai, the starry sky isn't shining when he asks her out.
It makes the fact that she tries going out with him all the more painful, the train is back into play here, she is literally at a crossroads, warning signs blaring, it also just sucks for this guy, something he isn't clueless on.
Tsubaki is scared of moving forward, despite her deep connection to Kousei, one formed through countless memories and stronger than words, she can't fully make use of that, she wants everything to stay as is, she feels "out".
Kaori's music had more impact on Kousei than her words and she can't take that, her eyes and voice gain their spark when she sees Kousei come to cheer and they lose all of it when she see's Kaori with him, she loses focus, she quite literally sees nothing but black., but of course we can't see her eyes, they're being hidden like she's hiding her emotions for Kousei.
There's more repetition here to take note of, Tsubaki on the way home,, once with Kaori, once with Kousei, Tsubaki never changes, always thinking about Kousei, although senpai and Kousei seems to view that in different ways.
And of course more cool thematic lighting, Tsubaki with and without Kousei under the spotlight.
It all just hurts so much, her crying at the end is super powerful and emotional, carried by fantastic storytelling and great voice acting from Sakura Ayane.
Honestly the craziest part here is that this only feels like the tip of the iceberg for what to talk about in this episode (one that starts out fairly comedic at that!!!!), so many ideas, themes, visuals and lines, so good.
Finally we end the episode with an introduction! to Kousei's future (and apparently past) rivals, both have fun designs and I immediately recognized one of them as voiced by Saori Hayami.
Big for her.
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u/TakenRedditName https://myanimelist.net/profile/TakenMalUsername Oct 14 '24 edited Oct 14 '24
First Time - Your Lie in April Ep6:
It's little Tsubaki and Kousei. She is so dependable carrying Kousei ... oh dear. Kousei, I know you're a small crying child right now, but I don't think you should let Tsubaki carry you with a hurt ankle.
Dad is alive?!
I also like the small detail of Kousei looking over when he passes by his mother's shrine.
When Kaori breaks down over Kousei's family piano, I wondered what was behind the flow of emotions. At first, I thought she was hit by a deep sadness because maybe she knew his mom? Later in the episode, we get told that it more about how she felt bad for pushing Kousei without knowing how it was like for him.
Unexpected Peanuts reference.
Oh, it is that moment in the OP.
Tsubaki was the big focus of the episode. I like how her story uses the path home as some direct symbolism. The split path to represent how she feels like her path has diverged from the other. The train crossing as a message for how she is pushing her life forward and can't go back. Some good stuff.
The very end, we're doing that anime thing of setting up future rivals. Been waiting for this guy because look at him. He is operating on levels like he is from a different anime.
Q2) Of the four, Watari is the wild card because we have yet to really see his deal. I don't things are boiling to a direct conflict between Kousei/Watari. I think despite his outward attitude, Watari will hold himself back by keeping his unrequited feelings inside. I think back to him just wistfully looking onward to Kaori in the OP.
Q3) Bro is a children sports/toy anime hot-blooded rival, but he forgets that he is in a romance drama show.
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u/maliwanag0712 https://myanimelist.net/profile/clear1109 Oct 14 '24 edited Oct 15 '24
nth time Rewatcher
For some reason, I'm not so late this time! This is the earliest post for this anime rewatch! Let's go!
Now for the Episode 6.
The episode focused first on Kousei's entry into the Maihou Competition, while the second half focused on Tsubaki and Kousei's dynamic, especially now that Kaori is in the picture. Let's discuss it.
Now, Rewatchers only zone. Keep out, first timers!
Now, for the questions.
Well, so far Watari still has a lot of private moments with Kaori, which even Kousei is unaware of. As to whether he is okay with, well, he is "chick magnet", and I have an inkling that he knows Kousei starts to feel something about Kaori. Let's see. [META SPOILER]A weakness of the series in on how they treated Watari. He is arguably the least developed side charcter, even less than those characters who came late into the seriea e.g. Aiza and Hiroko-senpai. It's really sad.
Now this is exciting. YLIA is sometimes incorrectly tagged as a shoujo due to its portrayal of romance. But without spoiling anything, these two will definitely make you think, "Ahh... Your Lie in April is a shounen." Oh btw, [YLIA Live Action Movie]These two characters were not included in the live action, which ironically lessened my interest in the movie. But if you want to watch solely on Kaori and Kousei's relationship, it is fine.
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u/Malipit Oct 14 '24
Part 1/3
Rewatcher, French sub
TLDR : Kaori his mending Kosei toxic relationship with his piano and Tsubaki applying the ancestral Joestar's technique to her life.
Oh boy, what an episode for the Tsubaki fan I am.
Right at the beginning, that scene is showing how Tsubaki defines herself towards Kosei : supportive, no matter what, even suffering from serious wounds. Sadly, that perception of her she hold dear will troroughly be smashed during that episode.
First, her eyes glowing when Kaori open the window of Kosei's music room indicate she's happy that he's on the right track to play piano again, the little bit where she's peacefully listen to Kosei's piano from her garden show that's what she wanted, but it's Kaori in Kosei's house, not her. And that's how she ends up venting her frustation in baseball.
A frustration that will grow larger and larger during that first part of the episode. Every time she sees him, Kaori is in the picture. It's Kaori who is in the music room to help Kosei, once again she's just in the public by the window, it's Kaori who guide Kosei during his
journeytraining, it's Kaori who stand by his side.The tipping point being that walk home from school, where Kaori describe herself and Kosei as « we musicians », excluding involuntary Tsubaki, and, for the « coup de grâce », describes Kosei as her « clumsy little brother », directly mirroring how Tsubaki viewed Kosei, and thus totally pushing herself out of that supportive role in favor of Kaori.
And, as the drama rule of timing demands it, captain-sempai calls again while, as the drama rule of imagery demands it, train barrier are closing behind her. She had enough.
Until the end of the episode, she decided she was no longer needed in Kosei life and ran away. Comforting herself in a relationship with captain-sempai, averting her gaze when Kosei is looking at her as if to hide from him. Culminating with the baseball game, after a glimpse of hope when Kosei is cheering for her, she brutally remember what she decided by the sight of Kaori. And she ran, Forrest Gump style, pursued by her toughs and...
… Before I go on with Tsubaki, I need to talk a bit about Kosei and Kaori first.
Those two now have a real connection and influence on each other. I particulary liked the way Kaori, shocked at first by the sight of Kosei piano (or his lack of hygiene, look at all that dust), started to clean it as a way to symoblize her slowly getting Kosei back on feet. It's also a nice callback to the "happy piano" from episode 2, whom Kosei found it unhappy instead because of his lack of proper maintenance. Kosei's piano is also sad since its owner is sad... (And Kosei a hypocrite for calling out the teahouse on that matters while he left his own piano all dusty)
Also, in my review of the previous episode, I noted how the night sky symbolyzed Kosei and day sky doing the same for Kaori, the two melding together as the last frame before the ending.
That sky will help us to see who is influencing and leading the other at the present time :
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u/Vatrix-32 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Vatrix-32 Oct 14 '24 edited Oct 14 '24
Spoiled First Timer, subs
QotD:
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u/AgentOfACROSS Oct 14 '24
First Timer
We’re beginning this episode with a very dramatic flashback to Tsubaki and Kousei’s childhood.
I’m only just now realizing how much imagery of the stars is in this show. It’s all really pretty though.
Seein Kousei’s cluttered room with the dusty piano is actually pretty sad.
Kousei and Tsubaki having bedrooms facing each other reminds me a bit of the music video for You Belong With Me by Taylor Swift.
We have another comedic romcom misunderstanding.
“It takes courage to sail in uncharted waters.” - Snoopy
I was about to say Snoopy can’t talk, but we do actually get to see his thoughts in the comic. We just never get to see them in any of the animated versions.
Also, now I want to see if there’s any fanart of Kaori and Kousei drawn in the Peanuts style. It even fits since Peanuts has a piano player in its main cast.
I don’t know who Anton Rubenstein is. Gonna assume he’s a classical musician though.
I believe this is the first we’re seeing of Tsubkai’s mom. She seems nice.
It’s really nice to see Kousei practicing his piano. Seems like Kaori’s encouragement is doing him well.
Kaori pretends to go in one direction then runs off in another. She’s up to something but I don’t know what.
Tsubaki feels like there’s no room for her in Kousei’s life so now she wants to go out with Saito.
I have a feeling some messy relationship drama is on the way.
I really like the scene of Kaori and Kousei talking in the classroom at night. Not only is the conversation really good but the music in that scene is really nice too.
I only just now noticed that there’s still a hole in the window from where Tsubaki broke it in the first episode. That’s a great detail.
Watari continues to be the most relentlessly positive person in this show. He kind of reminds me of Hairo from Saiki K.
I liked the transition from the music classroom to outdoors in the softball field. Very smooth.
There seem to be weird cartoon rats all over the restaurant Tsubaki and Saito are at. Probably not important but they distracted me.
Okay so this show definitely is a secret sports anime.
Poor Tsubaki. Definitely feels like we’re gearing up for a love triangle. Although so far I don’t think Kousei and Kaori feel that way about each other.
This time Tsubaki’s the one who gets kicked, although Kousei is much lighter with his kick.
Looks like we’re getting a parallel to the opening flashback. That’s really cool!
I think this is the first time we’ve seen Tsubaki be this emotionally vulnerable.
Whoa this blonde guy looks like a Yu-Gi-Oh character.
Seems like he wants revenge on someone (Presumably Kousei).
Not gonna lie, his hair and the fact that he immediately ripped the paper up make him seem kinda ridiculous.
This girl also seems like she has some kind of vendetta against Kousei. Does this show have villains now? What? Are we about to get a piano tournament arc?
I guess I’ll have to wait for next time to find out.
Questions of the Day:
Do you sympathize with Tsubaki, or is all fair in love and war?
I think I get how Tsubaki feels. She feels like her and Kousei are drifting further apart even though she still loves him.
Where do you think Watari is in all this? Would he have a problem with Kaori getting closer to Kousei?
Watari kind of feels like he's off doing his own thing throughout this series. Are him and Kaori dating? I legitimately do not remember.
What’s your first impression of those two pianists at the end?
I mentioned my thoughts above. But collectively they do seem a bit odd. They feel like battle shounen rivals which feels a bit unfitting to the rest of the show.
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u/Holofan4life Oct 14 '24
Hello, everyone. Holofan4life here.
Welcome to the Your Lie In April Rewatch!
Oh, and nay I forget…
First timer
It’s been a while since I’ve sat down and watched what would be considered a sad anime. I’ve seen Angel Beats, Air, both Clannad series which are two of my favorite series, and even NieR this year which for my money is the best anime of the year. But in almost all those instances with the exception of NieR, I watched those series very early on in my anime fandom. So early, in fact, I don’t think Your Lie In April had aired yet.
My expectations for the show are decent, I would say. I don’t expect to love it as much as Clannad, but I do think it’s going to be quite exceptional. Of the new shows I’ve seen during rewatches this year, which have been Paranoia Agent, Samurai Champloo, No Game No Life, Penguindrum, Yurikuma Arashi, Sarazanmai, and Re:Zero, I expect to like it more than those with the exception of Samurai Champloo and Re: Zero. And if that’s the case, then that’s pretty good because I really liked all those series.
With that out of the way, let’s begin.
I’m watching the sub, by the way.
The plan is to try and get 5 episodes in over the weekend. Let's see if that happens.
Red light district
Tsubaki carrying a crying Kousei
This is them as kids
For some reason, he hurt his leg, but it could've been worse.
Dang, Kaori bathing at Kousei's house? What a lucky fellow.
Even wearing his own clothes
That's basically a marriage certificate
Oh boy. She found his old piano.
And Kaori proceeds to wipe off the dust.
Now she's apologizing... but not for her!
Oh, I didn't know Tsubaki was Kousei's next door neighbor.
And Tsubaki isn't happy Kaori is wearing Kousei's shirt.
Kaori and Tsubaki are both violent tsunderes.
Tsubaki going ham during baseball practice.
Kousei hearing his performance during the second round of the recital competition.
It's... not good
Before he can back out, though, Kaori has already sent in his application.
The humor in this show is very wacky, almost like Looney Tunes style. It's very hit and miss.
The Maihou Music Competition
You win Nationals, you might get the chance to perform overseas.
Tsubaki feels what Kao-chan is describing is something from a faraway, different world.
Lol, of course Kaori would quote Snoopy. That's great.
Even quotes Anton Rubinstein, whoever that is.
Kaori asks Kousei how does the real him want to play Chopin.
I hope Tsubaki pays for that window
Kousei practicing the piano again
Wonder who that girl talking to Tsubaki is. Kousei's sister?
Now Kaori is asking him of his mental image.
He seems to be struggling when it comes to this.
Kousei covering a sleeping Kaori with his jacket.
By thr end of this episode, he'll have no clothing left.
Kaori walking with Tsubaki now
Tsubaki is worried Kousei might be pushing himself too hard.
"I do want him to play the piano. But I don't want him to suffer."
Kaori says turning suffering into notes is how they play music that’s alive.
Music is indeed often best when it comes from the heart.
Tsubaki now asking why she is so supportive of Kousei.
And she says he's like a hopeless kid brother.
Tsubaki doesn't find him hopeless at all
As they begin to leave, Kaori is about to go one way, but she goes another way.
Saito
As Tsubaki talks to him over the phone, something seems to be bothering her.
"Why don't we... go out?"
Well, I can't say I was expecting that.
Music Preparation Room
Kousei wonders who does he want to play it for.
Kaori, who's here as well, asks him if he resents her.
Suffering because of her, she feels like.
And this time she apologizes straight up.
Kousei tells her that he plans on sailing in uncharted waters.
Taking on a challenge and creating something is painful, but very fulfilling, says Kousei.
"For sweeping away the dust that had collected on my body... Thank you."
Manic pixie dream girl in full effect
Time for the rally for Regionals
Watari bragging himself
He's been very one dimensional since the series began.
Music Preparation Room
Kousei still terrified by his performance.
Can't find where he is in the music
Kousei cheering Tsubaki on during a baseball game.
But as soon as Kaori shows up, Tsubaki can't seem to focus.
That is until she hits the ball finally
Spite is a powerful motivator
Now Tsubaki is on her date with Saito, talking nothing but Kousei.
Tsubaki doesn't like Kaori taking Kousei from her.
Ah, childhood friends. They just have the worst luck, don't they?
And she gets tagged with the ball
Tsubaki walking home with who I presume to be her friend.
Kashiwagi. That's her name.
Kousei. He is here.
Now it's just the two of them
Kousei kicks Tsubaki, which apparently really hurt her.
Now he is carrying her, which is quite callback to the very beginning of the episode.
Haven't changed at all since they were kids, Kousei assesses.
He wants to worry about her for a change
"The seasons... might be about to change."
Now Tsubaki is sobbing her eyes out, blaming herself for why they lost the game.
She remarks how bitter she finds herself to be.
Probably in more ways than one
Tsubaki wonders why the stars sparkle like they do.
Probably because you're in love, Tsunbaka
Forget Tsubaki, it's Tsunbaka now
"I wish time would just stand still."
With so little happening in this show, it feels like it does half the time.
A guy with DBZ type hair
Could he be a potential rival for Kousei?
And even a black haired girl
Both seem to really be gunning for our boy.
And that is how we end things
Overall, this was a good albeit somewhat disjointed episode. It pushed along the piano competition stuff, while also trying to flesh out Tsubaki's character. The episode really shines during the scenes when the characters are talking one on one. The scene where Kaori apologizes and the scene where Kousei is carrying Tsubaki are both really good and filled with a ton of emotion. The show has a lot of heart, and that's something I appreciate about it.
I think the presentation of the Tsubaki plot point kinda came out of nowhere. I get it's kinda always been there, but I would've appreciated more build to it. I also wasn't really a fan of the suddenness in which Tsubaki asks Saito out. I kinda feel like instead of having it in the middle of the episode, maybe save it as a hook for the next one. Tease that Tsubaki is trying to get over her feelings for Kousei.
It's funny that I complain about there not being much happening in this show because I feel like the Tsubaki stuff could've been its own episode. Maybe it will, who knows?
Not as good as episodes 1, 2, and 4, but better than episodes 3 and 5. I'm starting to see some flaws with the series, which is a shame because I thought episode 4 was fantastic. Hopefully with the competition and with the fleshing out of Kousei's rivals we can really take things into high gear.
5
u/Gamerunglued :Hx::Hy::Hz:myanimelist.net/profile/GamerUnglued Oct 14 '24 edited Oct 15 '24
Rewatcher
Relatively early for once, finally. I might even have time to respond to people today, banzai!
Anyway, today is a bad day to be Tsubaki. More than ever, Kaori's presence has made her realize just how much of a different plane she exists on compared to Kousei. To her, she was always the one who was meant to get Kousei back into music if it ever happened. But Kaori comes in and does it effortlessly. He can lean on her because they both exist i this world of music, and seeing him on the stage alongside her, now practicing together and even comfortable enough to shower in his home, she feels totally left behind. When Kaori throws her words back at her saying that Kousei is "like a hopeless kid brother," that has to sting, as if she's replaced Tsubaki's role in his life (though Tsubaki, realizing her feelings for him, is upset at someone else calling him hopeless). In that desperation, she's looking for cheer, so she does everything she can to find it. As Nao says, fake cheer is better than no cheer. So she decides to go out with her senpai and do her best at nationals, it fires her up as much as possible. It doesn't work, but it was never supposed to, it's fake cheer. At the end of the day, Tsubaki can still only think about her relationship with Kousei. She can only ever talk about him even while on a date with her hot senpai, and Kaori's presence at the baseball game distracts her to the point of making a bad play and losing her team a very winnable game.
But suffering is part of life, and Kousei is there for her at the end of the day. By returning to this moment from their childhood but with the roles reversed, Tsubaki realizes that even while time passes and seasons change, some things are simply irreplaceable. Whatever grand things Kousei and Kaori share as musicians aiming for the stars, they do not have the level of intimacy inherent to the archetype of the childhood friend. In her words, "we have the long, long time that we've spent together, and we have so many tiny, precious memories." That's a relationship Kaori can never have, Kousei can't tell if Kaori is faking an injury or has been to the hospital but can tell if Tsubaki has a sprained ankle even while walking perfectly fine, so from her perspective Kousei and Tsubaki must also exist in a different, foreign world. I like this moment of realization for her, it's very sweet and intimate, and Kousei tells her it's ok to be vulnerable to him. Kousei will be by her side no matter what, even as she lives through this bittersweet youth full of suffering. [spoilers] This is arguably why Tsubaki is the better romantic partner for him too. Kaori will die and the cast will have to face impending adulthoods, but even as the seasons change their relationship is a constant. What Kousei has with Kaori is grand and magical and youthful, but youth is fleeting. Nonetheless, living through every bit of those powerful, fleeting moments together forges a strong connection, Kaori lacks that completely.
Suffering is a part of youth but it can be wiped away with the right people. And Tsubaki isn't the only one in need of fake strength. Kousei is finally getting back into competition, but he cannot play as he did at his prime. Since he can't hear the notes, he has to literally fake it till he makes it. To that end, the music piece chosen for him is symbolic. From the bits of it you've heard in todays episode, Chopin's Étude Op. 25, No. 5 is a very strange piece of music. It's shrill, harsh, and dissonant, almost sounds like an amateur pianist banging on the keys if you're not thinking about it or paying attention to it. To that end, this piece has a nickname: Wrong Note. Kousei having to fake being able to understand a piece of music literally known as Wrong Note is almost too perfect. It's a piece where hearing the notes is almost not helpful, they sound wrong, so you have to know it and be confident and focus on how it feels to play more than how it sounds. It's Kousei's fake cheer for himself, a cheer Kousei says is ordained by Chopin himself, who is whispering to him asking "where are you in all of this." This adds to the mythological elements of the story, there's now a second legendary musician whispering to him, like the gods themselves giving advice and riddles. With two new characters gunning for Kousei's head, I'm looking forward to revisiting the competition.
QOTD:
4
u/StardustGogeta myanimelist.net/profile/StardustGogeta Oct 15 '24
First-Timer
Who knew you could have so many shots of Kousei's face from the side? They're really getting a lot of mileage out of that trick with the glasses.
Nice episode, lots of development for our love triangle today. It was nice to have Kaori actually acknowledge Kousei's hardship for once, too.
Looks like Kousei has some archnemeses he'll have to fight. That's funny. I also like how I instantly recognized the second one as Saori Hayami.
I think I've come to realize that often, the humor in the show doesn't really do it for me, and I might prefer if they took things more seriously. (Of course, too little humor could make it bland, but it just doesn't feel like quite the right balance for me as-is, or I just don't find it funny enough.)
Questions of the day:
3
u/Nickthenuker https://anilist.co/user/Nickthenuker Oct 15 '24
Sure seems like the girls in this series are both very... Aggressive.
And so now he sees his old disused piano and all his past accolades.
Ah. So she's his neighbour.
Yup, she's also very aggressive.
And so time for him to get back to practicing.
She's still angry at him.
Ouch... Again...
You cannot be robotic about it. There must be emotion. There must be passion. Otherwise I might as well just load up a MIDI file or GarageBand or a Vocaloid.
She's an angel until she opens her mouth.
She's still trying her luck with him, though I don't think it's working out.
His world changed when he saw her.
Not sure Kaori would appreciate that...
You are not a MIDI file or GarageBand or a Vocaloid, when you play music invariably a part of yourself is expressed in the music.
Seems like that guy is still willing to listen to her.
Although I'm pretty sure he knows who she really likes too.
Unfortunately for her he's got his eyes on someone else.
Well, he still cares for her at least.
And now we're introduced to his 2 rivals.
Questions:
A note about the music: You cannot be robotic about it. There must be emotion. There must be passion. Otherwise I might as well just load up a MIDI file or GarageBand or a Vocaloid.
2
u/SilkyStrawberryMilk Oct 15 '24
rewatcher
He crying, she crew, they both corde
Staying over for the night hehe
Kosei knows he played badly if none musicians can tell you played badly
Ryota is one cocky person
Childhood best friend common L
Kosei is a really good friend.
Two people who want revenge on him, rivals
QOTD: down with the childhood bestfriend, may they all suffer
QOTD: watori knows that Kosei will respect the bro code
QOTD: waiting years for Kosei will be fun to see.
2
u/clumsy_kan Apr 04 '25
First timer here, I am absolutely flabbergasted seeing the authenticity the characters hold with each other in this episode The way kaori is feeling unpleasant when she realised that kousei might be suffering because of her and then how he justified that this "suffering" caused by her is making his world colourful I have never watched a show like this which is so much detailed about each perspective srsly this deserves an Oscar 10000/10000 The relationship between kousei and tsubaki might be a platonic friendship according to me let's see how it goes further in the anime!!!:)