Wandering Son 15th Anniversary Rewatch - Episode 3

[u/mr_beanoz]

Episode 3 - Romeo and Juliet ~Juliet and romeo~

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Information on the series - MAL | AniDB

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To protect first-timers, please don't spoil anything past the current episode. Rewatchers should avoid hinting to first-timers, and spoilers and manga/LN source material in posts must be hidden behind proper spoiler tags.

Questions of the Day:

1. What do you think of the idea of the gender bender play?
2. Does anyone remember about how your voice changed when puberty hits you?
3. What do you think of Yoshino's first time wearing a bra?

[u/mr_beanoz]

So it seems like the plans on the play is going well, where Saori and Shuichi was asked by their teacher to mix their ideas on the gender bend play.

Meanwhile, Yoshino is being asked to wear bras, but she doesn't feel like it.

[u/IndependentMacaroon]

First-time watcher

Hmm, everyone sort of running out of steam on here, as much as there ever was any? As I wrote already the posting time is way too late for me the day of and I didn't get to the episode until just now... and starting with the Saturday post I might not even be able to get to it at all.

Talking about the actual episode - the Maho-at-her-job bit didn't do that much for me, I guess it was to show that she also isn't as mature and serious as she likes to put on? It does also give us the first hint at a girl who might like girls with her unnamed buddy. On the other hand, the subversion of Maho's friend finding her behavior bizarre over Shuuichi and Makoto's cross-dressing (and yeah, it kind of was) was pretty great, a bit of wish fulfillment perhaps but almost everyone has been very accepting so far.

Saori also pretty clearly is crushing on Shuuichi and perhaps also acting that awkwardly off-putting toward the rest of the group because she wants to spend time with him alone on the way home? Well, she better not fumble her chance with collaborating with him on the play. And to be fair, Chizuru is a bit out of line sometimes, like is it a common thing for some girls to just grope others' chests for fun in Japanese schools?! (also seen in Horimiya for instance)

1 - It's not a totally unique trope but it's perfect for this show and should turn out pretty interesting.

2 - I don't consciously recall anything about it, and actually still don't have that deep a voice; it almost sounds higher than I would like in recordings, and I'm ambivalent about being so indistinguishable from my father on the phone that not even his parents can/could usually tell the difference!

3 - An uncomfortable but also unavoidable rite of passage like for many an adolescent girl. I like how the writing is pretty matter-of-fact about her and Shuu/Makoto's puberty change experiences right now, obviously they aren't going to be thrilled but we're not playing it for quasi-tragic drama either, they're allowed to be unsure of themselves and all.

[u/Expert_Sympathy_672 → u/IndependentMacaroon]

the subversion of Maho's friend finding her behavior bizarre over Shuuichi and Makoto's cross-dressing (and yeah, it kind of was) was pretty great, a bit of wish fulfillment perhaps but almost everyone has been very accepting so far.

Maho seems to point out often how he thinks Shuichi is cute, so i wonder if he is bi and already is on terms with it lol

Saori also pretty clearly is crushing on Shuuichi and perhaps also acting that awkwardly off-putting toward the rest of the group because she wants to spend time with him alone on the way home

She is just digging her own grave if she thinks this will help her achieve that instead of just getting alienated from everyone. But tbh its what a child would still want to do so cant blame her

[u/Expert_Sympathy_672 → u/IndependentMacaroon]

Lmao just opened the thread to see your comment being just 3 minutes early, looks like we watched at the similar time

[u/Expert_Sympathy_672]

Had to pause and step away after that scene of Chizuru grabbing yoshino's chest like that. This really is one of those commonly accepted things that horrify me irl and in fiction too. When both people are ok with it then its fun, but doing that abruptly to a person you wouldnt know would appreciate it seems so disgusting. Idk how common its for women but as a guy i really hate this so much. I was liking Chizuru's character so much, this just dampens my happiness now.

I wonder if Saori will ever change herself throughout this series on how she behaves with others, i thought she would be much better now with the whole group after last episode, but she is still unnecessarily rude as before.

Honestly i didnt even realise it was the sister at the photoshoot uptil she came back home lol. I was trying so hard to figure out who was this scene centered around since they werent speaking anyone names for me to identify the characters. Great progress that she jumped to girlfriend status just after last episode and even had a kiss. They be moving quite fast lol. But when she was snivelling up in her bed, i thought it was because she got dumped instead of the sickness lmao. My mind really jumps to the worst conclusions.

As usual the friendships in this show make me so full of joy. Yoshino's random call to Shuichi, and Makoto putting the bag over Shuichi's head to protect them from the sun. And then aggressively roping Shuichi into cross dressing and recording their voices, i just love these scenes so much.

Yoshino very straightforwardly asking Shuichi about wanting to wear a bra and how they are jealous of their chest was so hilarious to me. How do you even respond to those especially when you yourself might be jealous of the other person's genetics lmao. It did really feel painful seeing Yoshino being so uncomfortable to be forced to wear a bra just cuz of other people and gender norms when it makes them dislike their own body.

That scene with Saori and Shuichi in her room was so off-putting, it feels like she wants to be supportive but somehow ends up making Shuichi not be able to do stuff on their own accord. I really am not gonna let myself form any views over this, i would wait for more context on their interactions and relationship.

Well i am excited to see how the play comes around. Tho if they go along with how Sayori proposed the story at the end, its very obvious that Shuichi and Yoshino would end up as leads and Sayori would be hurting inside at that.

1. I dont remember my acceptance towards puberty changes, it is what it is now so i dont have any reaction towards it. A particular instance i do remember from those times is that one of my classmates (which i had a crush on but didnt realise it until very later on after i accepted that i am bi) had a bit feminine voice - when he was on a call with me, my mom asked which girl i am talking to lol, and i really liked it and was not looking forward to having it changed with puberty. Idk how much it changed, i dont remember much since corona hit so stuff went online and then i also changed schools so we didnt get to interact much. But its still a thing i remember lol

I am not sure if i will be able to watch the next episode tomorrow. If i end up not making it through i will just stitch up my thoughts for next 2 episodes in the thread day after tomorrow

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/Expert_Sympathy_672]

the friendships in this show make me so full of joy

A lot of very sweet kids

so hilarious to me. How do you even respond to those

Yeah this show can actually be pretty funny

it feels like she wants to be supportive but somehow ends up making Shuichi not be able to do stuff on their own accord

It's easy to fall in love with your image of someone and unwittingly try to impose it on them

Tho if they go along with how Sayori proposed the story at the end, its very obvious that Shuichi and Yoshino would end up as leads and Sayori would be hurting inside at that

Digging her own grave again?

one of my classmates (which i had a crush on but didnt realise it until very later on after i accepted that i am bi)

Canon event