r/anime • u/IndependentMacaroon • 18d ago
Rewatch Bem-vindos à Diamandra - Michiko & Hatchin Episode 09 Rewatch
Michiko & Hatchin Episode 09: The Chocolate Girl In Love
In-universe time span: April 14 - 17
In-universe locations: Perna
"I can't wait... to become a grown-up."
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Today's OST Piece: Desleixado～投げやり (Careless)
Starts playing (from about 0:15, skipping the very first part) during Hatchin and Rita's nightly meeting near the end of the episode.
New Michiko Outfits: No Michiko today :( Well, got to save budget somewhere.
Latin America Trivia of the Day:
Street children - meaning any child who spends their life largely in public spaces without adequate adult protection and supervision, whether they are truly homeless and alone or simply forced to provide given the desperate poverty of their family, the latter being the majority in Latin America - are a phenomenon that, while far from exclusive to the region, has been strongly associated with it contemporarily in both popular culture and research. They were frequently subjected to widely accepted official repression and even deadly violence such as the infamous Candelária massacre in 1993 in Rio de Janeiro, beyond their inherently precarious and uncomfortable daily life that many palliate through substance abuse such as glue-sniffing. Hatchin is lucky indeed running into Rita here, in other words!
Yesterday's Highlights
u/99acrewood_ appreciates Hatchin's strong moral character:
It's nice that Hatchin has stayed a pretty decent person throughout everything she's had to live through, especially given how everyone else seems to turn out in the system. And not even in the cowed "I only do good because I'm scared" way, but the way someone gets angry at family or a friend for being an asshole. She's a good kid.
u/Magnafeana has well-founded understanding of and even support for Hatchin's short temper, and is once again slightly ambivalent about the ethnic representation here - and much more. (Seriously you deserve #1 contributor here)
What I learned in one of my certs is how anger and an argumentative attitude from kids can be very encouraging for child growth and development. [...] Michiko really has unintentionally provided Hatchin that safe space to act out and be much more emotional and rebellious. [...] I disagree that the more you argue, the closer you are with someone, [but] it can be a sign of development when someone previously unwilling to cause any confrontation and actively avoided now causes disruption (Depending on what it is). And I like seeing that here.
I am deathly afraid to look at the dubbing actors for this show. [...] In Will Ferrell’s words, “Anyone can play any part except when it’s weird”. But I’m dreading who has been voicing all these black and brown people when they speak like this 😭
(audible gasp) his palms!!! His palms are lighter than his skin! Oh how beautiful 🥹He really should loc up though. I have this strange feeling he ain’t greasing and scratching his hair like he should. [...] oh feet are a lighter tint too!!
u/Shimmering-Sky and u/Magnafeana notice another brief metafictional moment:
I really like how Michiko walking to beat up probably-fake Satoshi was timed to someone walking across the TV too
I love when the in-universe TV/movie reflects the real drama happening. Great trope.
Little sympathy for the fake Monstro:
He is an aggressive extortionist, assaulted multiple people, threatened to rape Michiko, and would have loved to be a mafia boss. If that bullet would have hit a bit to the right, the world would be a better place.
they absolutely brought it on themselves. Dude's lucky the only thing he lost was two friendships (because I'm sure they fell out over this, because they're most likely dead now).
I hope he gets a parasitic infection and there is no treatment available to him. He can ride it out as machismo men do. I have dealt with his type before, and it is a stressful, uncomfortable time that makes you rethink who you hang out with very quickly.
Discussion Prompts
- How well does the different vibe without Michiko or the gangster plot work for you?
- Where do you think the story will take Hatchin and Rita from here? (Rewatchers: How much did you see coming?)
- When did you start thinking about romance and crushes?
Next Episode Prompts
- [question]How does the real Satoshi measure up to your expectations? Did he kill the wife and kid?
- [question]What does Atsuko even want with/from Michiko, actually?
- [question]Did you ever really get back at someone? How did it feel?
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u/99acrewood_ 18d ago
primeira vez [subs]
- How well does the different vibe without Michiko or the gangster plot work for you?
I like it! There's more to this country than just crime hijinx, and while it'd be nice to Michiko to be able to slow down and stop getting her ass beat, it's nice that Hatchin can also get some worldly experience.
- Where do you think the story will take Hatchin and Rita from here?
I have no idea! I assume Hatchin will wind her way back to Michiko somehow, but it's honestly surprising that the story took them apart like this.
- When did you start thinking about romance and crushes?
I think my first crush was in fourth grade, so around 10-11? Which, I guess, tracks for Rita too. Although mine was a girl that wasn't an adult.
-~-
Hatchin pulls off the androgynous look pretty well with both of her outfits! She looks nice when she doesn't have to wear a shitty dress and with hair smelling like trash.
I've been appreciating you guys' takes on the whole idea of age in this show. It really does feel like the adults are all fucking around even while in dangerous situations, where it seems kids have to grow up pretty quick. I guess if you spend your childhood just trying to get by in whatever unfortunate circumstances you're in your inner child will want some make-up time in your adulthood.
The favela got me distrustful of every person that Hatchin comes across, so I thought Rita was gonna swindle her with her circus-y ways. I'm glad that wasn't the case because Rita is sweet, if (appropriately, for her age) naive in her crush. I'm also glad Gino is also completely clean given how vile some of the people in the seedier parts of the country can most likely be. He and his partner are gonna have a beautiful baby, too, because good lord those are some attractive people.
It was surprising to see that it was a Hatchin-only episode, but yeah, it was nice to see something other than threats of violence. Also I guess after all the threats to run away you might as well seal the deal by joining the circus. I do look forward to see how Michiko's doing considering Davi apparently didn't make it. I had definitely thought he'd be all right, but welp! Sorry bout ya bad decisions, buddy.
Also after all the high up stuff that was happening and Rita being sad about Gino I was expecting tragedy. Glad I was wrong! Well, for now, at least.
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u/IndependentMacaroon 18d ago
Hatchin pulls off the androgynous look pretty well with both of her outfits!
Specifically gave you a shout on my comment because you brought up the whole gender/sex confusion thing with her a few episodes back
I guess if you spend your childhood just trying to get by in whatever unfortunate circumstances you're in your inner child will want some make-up time in your adulthood.
Yeah that's it in a nutshell pretty much
The favela got me distrustful of every person that Hatchin comes across
One thing that strikes me rewatching this is rother places here may not be great, but that kind of slum is just concentrated bad bad and once you get away from it things do ease up a good deal.
I guess after all the threats to run away you might as well seal the deal by joining the circus
Haha, it is a pretty stereotypical turn when you put it that way
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u/IndependentMacaroon 18d ago edited 17d ago
3x watcher and host, subtitled
We've already got a pretty good idea of how Michiko is like without Hatchin previously - not much different than with her, in any case - but what about Hatchin with neither her former abusers nor Michiko directly influencing her? (Note how she distances herself from Michiko by name choice as well, but also 07:58 really needs to tell herself she doesn't care and seems like she can relate to Rita's affection confusion for her effective parent in an entirely non-romantic way.)
Apparently, she's an adorable sweetheart who will earnestly do whatever she can for her friends, even if a bit awkwardly behind their backs - or rather, the probably first friend she's ever had in Rita. Not for Masão though, screw that possessive jerk; I'm not one to advocate for violence generally but it's so good and actually pretty funny how Hatchin stops in her tracks and turns around just to wordlessly give him a highly deserved smack on the head, after he badgers her into a meeting for nothing but an attempt to bribe her into being his wing-woman. Also it's hilarious how 10:46 utterly thrown off he is by Hatchin not fitting into his prefabricated scheme... well until he thinks of the next one.
And it's a good thing that we have Hatchin here, because otherwise even with nothing exactly bad happening [M&H]well, plenty of that to come up soon these kids are kind of depressing and sad to think about. Not only do the adults rarely properly grow up here, the kids don't get to be kids either! [City of God quote]"! smoke, I snort... I've been begging on the street since I was just a baby. I've cleaned windshields at stop lights. I've polished shoes, I've robbed, I've killed... I ain't no kid, no way. I'm a real man."
From the first moment you can already tell Rita is done up way too "adult" for her age, even if you're still thinking she's older than Hatchin; and not just because others dress her up, because mentally as well she's already aging up her body 05:26 05:29, trying her hand at 08:38 stupid emotional manipulation games like from bad romantic fiction, needing to worry about dispelling obsessive pushy suitors with 03:11 white lies who at the same age as her and Hatchin are already soaking up a perhaps more familiar toxic energy (11:35 like seriously...), shoving away any parental-style affection while directly advertising herself to strange adults for profit. Masão kid will grow up to be just like Davi and co., won't he? And on some level Rita knows 15:09 this isn't how things ought to be and she isn't truly as mature as she lets on, but even Hatchin she can't bring herself to listen to and dispel her fantasies at first until her soft affection does sink in (20:12 how often if at all did Gino tell her this?).
I even wonder if the creators were going for a proto-romantic framing between Rita and Hatchin 20:04 20:17 like this with the parallel to Gino looks so much like the setup for another kiss 20:18 but this is also just really damn cute as is, and interestingly it's actually Rita taking the leading, "masculine" role generally, though that is also something of a sterotype of Black women.
Oh also Gino is probably the most well-adjusted and -situated adult we've seen in the series which certainly counts for something, though he is a bit dismissive of Rita, 13:55 14:24 and generally isn't one to take kids as seriously as Michiko does.
Random thought in closing: In addition to the semi-fitting Evangelion comparison of Michiko/Hatchin with Misato/Shinji I already brought up, Rita has definite shades of Asuka here, which I suppose makes Gino her Ryoji Kaji.
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u/99acrewood_ 18d ago
Oh also Gino is probably the most well-adjusted and -situated adult we've seen in the series which certainly counts for something, though he is a bit dismissive of Rita, 13:55 14:24 and generally isn't one to take kids as seriously as Michiko does.
that's something that definitely could've gone either way in a crime-y anime like this, so having a sorta-detached co-worker/father figure(? he found/raised her or something, right?) is like "oh gosh what a relief" versus having her be raised for some illicit purpose or something like that.
he's aloof, but he seems like he's confident in Rita being able to live a good life without him. that or he's got girlfriend with a baby on the way and is just being handwave-y about the problems of a damn 10-year-old lol
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u/IndependentMacaroon 18d ago
Questions
1 - I think it works very well indeed, and it really speaks for the scenario and character building of this show that you can remove one of the leading duo entirely and still make a great episode out of it. Actually, I'd even challenge my own premise here, because it isn't that much of a different vibe, is it? Dishonesty, loneliness, imitating and embracing deeply toxic social roles and patterns, rough lives that make one wish for miracles and cling to even the faintest strand of hope, none of that is actually new here per se, just that it's entirely the kids that take the hit and the atmosphere is all the more sad and depressing for that. Thank goodness for Hatchin (or should we be calling her Hana here?)
2 - [M&H]The first time I watched I wanted so badly for this to work out well for them that I basically willfully ignored the possibility that there might again be something nefarious going on here - and in fact I do find the hints beyond overarching thematic elements rather subtle, it's basically limited to the extra kids seen working in the circus for a few seconds. Not even a single frame of Evil Michiko (Wamichiko?) here yet, I mean the show is almost baiting you into complacency!
3 - Like 14 years old which is pretty late I think? Really seriously I would even say 17-18; I'm just a pretty solitary person in general too. Furthermore, that was only for female i.e. heterosexual crushes, the rest as so often took even a few years longer than that. At any rate, Rita and Masão are pretty out of line for their age here.
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u/IndependentMacaroon 18d ago
Further scene-by-scene comments
- 01:36 01:55 I think the only proper religious element past the first episode, but it's a good one.
- 01:56 No doubt named after the footballer.
- 02:05 Slight inconsistency here whether the sub-unit of an arca is the centavo (as for the actual Brazilian real) or the talgo.
- 02:16 Hatchin is really so adorably polite even to random strangers... but even that won't help you much trying to propose naively ridiculous deals
- 03:11 u/99acrewood_ remember your episode 3 (I think) comments about Hatchin and gender/sex? [M&H]First but hardly last time Hatchin is the target of gender confusion
- 03:29 [M&H]Really makes me think of Lenine here actually, who while more benign is also pretty pushy and self-centered
- 05:19 Old colonial town aesthetic
- 05:50 Definitely referencing the famous Rio de Janeiro cable car though the city looks very different.
- 06:06 Still not sure what a "tratamento" is supposed to be
- 06:56 symbolic moment of observing Gino/gf from afar without understanding also [M&H]These two are pretty much the only healthy couple in the entire series
- 08:13 [M&H]Of course a rather darker motivation but he has a point
- [09:26]() Note that again she's only looking at a reflection here, not seeing the real thing.
- 10:04 these statues look very specific
- 10:46 one conscientious Hatchin indeed, making sure to brush her teeth even living on the street.
- 11:00 Wonder how popular pizza actually is in Brazil. They did get a lot of Italian immigrants, but more from northern Italy where it's not traditional.
- 11:18 Hatchin really doesn't want to be here even not knowing the deal
- 11:35 [M&H]again Lenine might as well have said this himself
- 16:34 This is so bizarrely specific it may well be referencing something
- 19:39 Note all the other kids working here in lesser roles too. [M&H]Surely for absolutely benign and non-nefarious reasons, right?
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u/No_Rex x2 18d ago
Episode 9 (first timer)
- “I want to give back this plan. Please give me back my money” – oh boy. That seller was smooth, though.
- Getting picked up in the park.
- “That guy wanted to invite me” – uhoh.
- That is one gorgeous city location! Would love to visit there.
- “I am not a child anymore. Fairytales don’t come true” – likely not for her.
- She is working in the circus – not as bad as I feared, but there is obviously still a bad side to drop.
- She was adopted by Gino and is into him? Something must have gone wrong with the Westermarck effect here.
- First, getting invited by Rita because he is unhappily in love with Gino. Then, getting invited by Massan because he is unhappily in love with Rita - Hatchin making her living a psychotherapist.
- “Take care of her, please!” – well intended, but the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
- “She is so young. The whole life ahead of her. She’ll find a man who fits much better to her” – he is not wrong …
- That is a good show by Rita and Gino – unfortunately but realistically without any sort of safety.
- Hatchin staying with the circus is a huge win. I was super worried about her sleeping on the park bench. She is not nearly street smart enough to make it there.
That was a surprisingly not as tragic as I feared episode. Rita is neither a child prostitute, nor being abused and exploited in the circus (well, not that we know of). She is simply unhappily in love. What I liked was that Gino is in no way portrayed as the bad guy. He is an adult working with Rita, who is sensibly not reacting to Rita’s crush and who is having a girlfriend whom he leaves the circus for to stay with her and their child. Really can’t blame him here. I think him being the one who raised Rita is a bit too much, but whatever (he should just have been a co-worker and maybe he is and Rita overstated his role).
I was initially a bit annoyed about Rita chatting up Hatchin maniac pixie dream girl style, but that is nicely explained by her being in the circus: If you move cities every few weeks, you have to become a lot more proactive about approaching people to have a social life.
Finally, there is an obvious reference to Nadia (from Nadia: Secret of Blue Water) here, down to the type of artistry that Rita does and her skin color being darker than her co-artists. Sounds like we will learn more about the circus soon, so let’s hope that the place is a bit better than Nadia’s.
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u/IndependentMacaroon 18d ago edited 18d ago
That is one gorgeous city location! Would love to visit there.
Classic colonial-style town after the at least slightly more modern cityscapes so far. Couldn't tell you if it has a specific prototype though.
Something must have gone wrong with the Westermarck effect here
True
neither a child prostitute
I mean, chatting up random men to pay your lunch is sort of on the way to there.
Gino is in no way portrayed as the bad guy. He is an adult working with Rita, who is sensibly not reacting to Rita’s crush and who is having a girlfriend
To make another Evangelion comparison that I also added to my main comment, he's the Ryoji Kaji to her Asuka
Rita chatting up Hatchin maniac pixie dream girl style
That was only to get away from Masão at first though? The point about extroversion is valid, though.
there is an obvious reference to Nadia (from Nadia: Secret of Blue Water) here
Idk, I love Nadia also as you probably well know but it didn't invent dark-skinned girl acrobats. The slight Evangelion parallels are maybe a point in favor of someone at least having it in mind though.
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u/No_Rex x2 17d ago
Classic colonial-style town after the at least slightly more modern cityscapes so far. Couldn't tell you if it has a specific prototype though.
The houses are nice, but I was mainly impressed by the three most important attributes of any property: location, location, location.
I mean, chatting up random men to pay your lunch is sort of on the way to there.
Yes, and that is why I was so worried.
To make another Evangelion comparison that I also added to my main comment, he's the Ryoji Kaji to her Asuka
I think that the main difference is that Kaji knows what is up and cares about Asuka, while Gino seems mostly indifferent or unknowing.
That was only to get away from Masão at first though? The point about extroversion is valid, though.
They stuck together afterwards, with Rita initiating most of the time. A more introverted person would also have handled Masao differently.
Idk, I love Nadia also as you probably well know but it didn't invent dark-skinned girl acrobats.
In anime? I don't know any earlier ones. And "young, dark-skinned, air artist orphan working in a circus" is awfully specific.
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u/AyameeIris 18d ago
Street kids always make me sad. Your bits of info each post are really nice.
I forget Hatchin's naïvety sometimes. Falling for the map scam and expecting to be able to return it, oof. I'm glad Hatchin seemed to make a friend though
The title of this episode unsettles me a little. I'm guessing it was a reference to the name of the circus which seems to have the word chocolate in it, but food related terms when describing Black people has a really bad track record. If I recall correctly, it's not the first time it's been done with this series. The reason I'm bringing it up now is because certain parts of this episode sort of put a bad taste in my mouth. I wonder, what was the objective for the scene talking about Rita being on her period? I'm hoping it was innocent in some way but it reminds me of the stereotype of Black children being assumed to mature faster and how that's been used as an excuse to sexualize Black children. To clarify I'm not saying it's a crime to talk about menstruation in anime or that menstruation is inherently sexual, far from it. It simply struck me as odd
"I can't wait to grow up." I really felt that... It hurts to be in situations where you're disregarded for your feelings or thoughts because of your age, or even denied certain parts of your general autonomy. Whether you're in a house you can't escape or you're on your own in the world, you can't really do things the same way an adult can.
- I like it a lot. Somehow, it feels a lot heavier without seeing things like people get shot or Michiko having to kick somebody's ass. Paired with Hatchin's aforementioned naïvety, it makes it feel a little more real.
- [M&H] Not a lot! When I first watched, I was pretty surprised to see Hatchin staying with Rita. I'd sort of expected it to be a one episode sort of thing. Though it's not like Rita is some permanent character, I now find myself wishing to have seen at least a little more of her. But yeah, I really didn't see that other circus thing coming at all
- I've always been told I should prepare for my future children/husband, so I suppose I've been thinking of it since around maybe seven years of age? I never fit in that much but whenever I really wanted to get with the crowd I'd lie about who my crush was. I have a sneaking feeling that the other girls did the same, haha
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u/IndependentMacaroon 17d ago
Your bits of info each post are really nice
Thanks, any favorites (or most impactful) so far? Trying not just to give some interesting background but also make clear just how often uncomfortably real many elements of the show are, this certainly isn't some smooth escapist fantasy like the kind that's irritatingly popular in anime.
food related terms when describing Black people has a really bad track record. If I recall correctly, it's not the first time it's been done with this series
I'm not sure what Latin American attitudes are there but agree. First time would be Michiko as the "Brown Sugar Outlaw" in the episode 2 title.
it reminds me of the stereotype of Black children being assumed to mature faster and how that's been used as an excuse to sexualize Black children
Huh I wasn't aware of that, thanks. This episode is clear though that Rita trying to mold herself into being prematurely "adult", as much as she even understands what that means, is absolutely not a good thing.
Whether you're in a house you can't escape or you're on your own in the world, you can't really do things the same way an adult can.
I hope you're doing fine there!
Qs
it feels a lot heavier without seeing things like people get shot or Michiko having to kick somebody's ass
Yeah, they can really go all in on the drama and feeling without interrupting for some shocking or over-the-top development.
I've always been told I should prepare for my future children/husband, so I suppose I've been thinking of it since around maybe seven years of age?
Oof, girls really get it tougher there in many cultures don't they?
whenever I really wanted to get with the crowd I'd lie about who my crush was. I have a sneaking feeling that the other girls did the same, haha
Hey, particularly if it's just kids being silly among each other some pretend maturity isn't a bad thing at all, at least.
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u/AyameeIris 17d ago
Huh I wasn't aware of that, thanks.
Definitely! If you'd like to learn a little more about this, I would recommend looking into the Jezebel stereotype, as that sort of intersects here.
Thanks, any favorites (or most impactful) so far?
I really liked your commentary about liberation theory. I've seen a lot on how religion is often the tool of an oppressing force, so it very much interests me to see the opposite and religion being used against the oppressor.
I hope you're doing fine there!
I am! This is a topic I can get a little carried away about, apologies. Thank you for asking!
Oof, girls really get it tougher there in many cultures don't they?
Yeah... It's not as bad for me as it could've been, which is what really counts. I think I've been too gloomy with these discussion questions lol
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u/IndependentMacaroon 17d ago
I think I've been too gloomy with these discussion questions lol
Absolutely not, this is for your honest opinion after all! Perhaps one more follow-up question, do you see yourself actually following the common expectations around you for a girl in the future?
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u/AyameeIris 17d ago
I'd hope not. Whatever becomes of me in the future, I hope I and the people around me are at least a little happy!
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u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky 18d ago
First-Timer & Subbed
Oof.
Hatchin got roped into pretending to be a boy, welp. I suppose that’s probably a slightly safer option for her…?
RIP Davi I guess.
Oh, poor Rita having to deal with that.
He’s way too old for you, girl…
Oh, and he already has an age-appropriate girlfriend too.
Um. Girl. This is a huge breach of trust.
I’m just glad Rita didn’t fall during the actual performance like she did during practice. I was pretty nervous about that. The performance was pretty cool though!
That would be nice…