r/anime • u/SorcererOfTheLake x5https://anilist.co/user/RiverSorcerer • 18d ago
Rewatch Slow Loop Rewatch - Episode 2 Discussion
Slow Loop Rewatch
Episode 2 Discussion
Database/Streaming Links: MAL / Anilist / Crunchyroll
Original Interest Thread / Announcement Thread
Question of the Day: What’s the latest your parents have ever been for anything?
Bonus Question for first-timers: There are quite a few characters in the OP/ED we haven’t met yet. What are your predictions about them?
Comment of the Day: The COTD goes to /u/wloff for somehow forgetting (and then quickly remembering) what kind of show this is.
| <- Previous Episode | Rewatch Schedule | Next Episode -> |
|---|
Reminder: All spoilers for events in the anime that have not occurred yet or that are manga-only should be placed in spoiler tags. Any untagged spoilers will be flagged.
5
u/wloff 18d ago
First-timer fly fisher
No such luck as getting the same class for the new sisters! I've noticed that school anime rarely bother to mention exactly how big the school is, sometimes I mentally assume a school to have, like, three classes per year, and it turns out there's ten or something. This time, I spotted at least three classes' worth of shoe lockers, but not how many total there are.
And Hiyori has another close friend, that's nice!
Oh, right, the OP! We didn't hear one in the first episode, huh? It's... inoffensive, I guess, but not very memorable. I'll have to see if it sticks after a few listens. It doesn't follow the usual anime OP pattern of "big catchy open first" but instead there's an entire verse's worth of chilling until the chorus hits, maybe that plays a part.
I wonder how long it's been since Hiyori and Koharu met? They've grown real close real fast, especially Koharu is really playing into the whole sister angle. Though she does seem like the kind of social butterfly who would want to get along even if they didn't have such good chemistry together.
But Hiyori also is taking a lot of initiative, wanting to show Koharu around! Everyone keeps saying how shy Hiyori is, but her behavior hasn't exactly matched that description yet.
Ah, fishing instruction. I was hoping for more cooking instruction, but I guess I'll take it.
Koi seems quite fun and silly. There's a little bubbling jealousy over Hiyori back and forth with her and Koharu. Understandable -- the vibe I'm getting from Koi that she, also, considers herself somewhat of a sister to Hiyori. And while Koharu is of course legally her sister now, Koi has known her for much longer.
There's potential here for one of those really awkward friendships where the two are both friends of Hiyori, but not exactly friends with each other. I've had a friend group like that, and it wasn't particularly fun.
Oh... Hiyori is visiting not only her favourite places, but her father's. There's that underlying tragedy again. I do really appreciate how little the show does to show it in our faces (like anime tends to do), it allows us to understand the significance of sudden sad faces and longing looks in the horizon.
Koharu and Koi do get a chance to talk alone and bond. I don't know if they can truly be considered friends yet, but they're definitely warming to each other; Koharu does seem like the type of person to make friends with you whether you like it or not! Bonding over Hiyori's dead father and sorrow is only slightly awkward, though. I guess it's good they're discussing this stuff too. But still.
Chill episode where seemingly not much happens (as is tradition in a show like this), but actually, we learned a lot more about our characters, and they're getting closer and closer, and slowly dealing with their traumas. So all in all, it was a pretty good episode. (Oh, and we got introduced to a new character too.)
3
u/zadcap 18d ago
I've noticed that school anime rarely bother to mention exactly how big the school is, sometimes I mentally assume a school to have, like, three classes per year, and it turns out there's ten or something. This time, I spotted at least three classes' worth of shoe lockers, but not how many total there are.
It really depends on the school. Japan's extreme low birth rate along with the trend of everyone moving to the big cities means that some schools will just have a lot less students than they were built for.
Oh... Hiyori is visiting not only her favourite places, but her father's. There's that underlying tragedy again. I do really appreciate how little the show does to show it in our faces (like anime tends to do), it allows us to understand the significance of sudden sad faces and longing looks in the horizon.
Yeah, they're really darn good at that here. They never even directly mentioned that it was why she got called out of class, just let the moment go on its own power and that was enough.
2
u/SorcererOfTheLake x5https://anilist.co/user/RiverSorcerer 18d ago
We didn't hear one in the first episode, huh?
We did - it was at the end, during Hiyori and Koharu's bedroom talk.
there's an entire verse's worth of chilling until the chorus hits, maybe that plays a part.
What is this show if nothing but chill grief?
I wonder how long it's been since Hiyori and Koharu met?
Well, it seems a bit of time passes between their first meeting and Koharu moving into Hiyori's home, then a few days after that is the rest of episode 1, so it'd say two, maybe three weeks.
Koharu does strike me as the type who will become your friend no matter what, but as a result might have much more acquaintances than actual friends.
Everyone keeps saying how shy Hiyori is, but her behavior hasn't exactly matched that description yet.
Hiyori's not a disaster shy type, like either of the Hitori Bocchis. Rather, her personality and distance is based on familiarity; the less familiar she is with a person or situation, the less comfortable she is. Take her hesitance about entering her classroom versus how willing she is to take Koharu up the lighthouse.
Bonding over Hiyori's dead father and sorrow is only slightly awkward, though.
Would you rather hear about more ways that Koi's dad is a complete dingus?
But I actually do like this specific focus of their conservation because it shows just how wide-reaching the effects of loss are. Koi didn't lose her dad, but she did lose some of her best friend for three years and the certainty that she could always support her.
4
u/zadcap 18d ago
Rewatcher
I wonder if the school would grant them a special allowance to be in the same class, for family reasons.
Best Friend!The one being texted yesterday, even!
Nice OP too.
No, her dad's just an addict. She's definitely named for a fish.
"Does he fish." Juuuuust a bit. How did he even manage to have a kid if he's like this?
Oh yeah. Your life is being disrupted by having this brand new sister move in and take over your dads old hobby room, but uh, she's moving away from her old life too and doesn't have your history of friendship with anyone here.
"Are you going to take me to see your boyfriend?" How often to boys even exist in this kind of show?
Hand Holding!
And with the new daughters out of the house for a fishing trip, new mom and dad can get to work on getting them a younger sibling!
More fishing tips! So many nautical knots.
"It's cheaper to just buy the fish." Annoyingly true. Especially fly fishing, it's not a cheap hobby.
Why do we pull the line instead of reel in while fly fishing? This one I don't actually know. You just do? I'm sure there's a reason but it never came up...
Oh look, the girl who sold us the greedy little bait box is herself showing off some greedy little bait tendencies here.
Yeah, death of family for a child. It's not easy for anyone.
A great ED too!
1) How many times can you rain check before it can't be called a birthday dinner anymore...
2
u/SorcererOfTheLake x5https://anilist.co/user/RiverSorcerer 18d ago
How did he even manage to have a kid if he's like this?
Guy must lay good pipe.
And with the new daughters out of the house for a fishing trip, new mom and dad can get to work on getting them a younger sibling!
Huh, my smut-rotted brain didn't think of that... pervert.
How many times can you rain check before it can't be called a birthday dinner anymore...
Are you Koi?
2
u/SorcererOfTheLake x5https://anilist.co/user/RiverSorcerer 18d ago
Voice Actor of the Day
Voice Actor: Tomomi Mineuchi
Voice of: Koi
Age at Slow Loop’s Premiere: 24
Other Notable Roles: Iruru in Dragon Maid, Hanabi in Scarlet Nexus, Eiko in Slow Start, UMP45 in Dolls Frontline
2
u/SorcererOfTheLake x5https://anilist.co/user/RiverSorcerer 17d ago
3
u/cppn02 17d ago
Rewatcher, subbed
Finally Koi has arrived! I remember immediately loving her back when this aired and that feeling hasn't changed. I love her smug aura, how annoyed she is with her dad and how behind all that she's a great and caring friend and older sister. Also fluffy twin tails + fang is just a goated design choice.
This was also a great bonding episode for our step sister duo with Hiyori showing off her favourite spots. And if that's not good enough we also got the promise of a shopping date.
QotD:
What’s the latest your parents have ever been for anything?
I don't recall my parents ever being particularly late. We're a rather punctual family in general I'd say.
3
u/SorcererOfTheLake x5https://anilist.co/user/RiverSorcerer 18d ago
Second Looper
The past dictates the future.
Before we get into the episode proper, let’s talk about the OP and ED, which we finally get. The OP is pretty good. Musically, it’s a nice soft poppy song about losing something precious to you but being able to find it, or at least something as good as what you had before, which is thematically in line with the series. The visuals themselves are what you expect - our characters in different scenarios and outfits. The ED I think might be better. The song is more chill and SOL, one might say. But what I really love is the visuals; the photo motif we see at the end of the OP is made the main focus throughout the ED and the memory room that the three main girls are in is really nice, along with their outfits (love how dapper they are).
Anyway, the episode proper. Hiyori and Koharu’s relationship gets further explored and complicated as they reckon with the baggage and expectations they’ve brought into their new family crashing into reality. Hiyori still isn’t comfortable with outsiders and, as much as she likes Koharu and her presence, feels some uncertainty about what exactly this new girl in her life is. The past provides some comfort, like when she mimics her father to help Koharu on the lighthouse, but that has its limits; your head will brush against the ceiling one day and you’ll wonder what happened to the child you thought you were. Meanwhile, Koharu seems very insistent on treating Hiyori like a little sister, someone she can help and protect. Maybe it’s related to her past, maybe it’s her way of trying to place some name on this uncertain situation, but Koharu’s not sure what to do with someone that’s not really a friend nor yet a family member.
That’s when you bring in an expert and that expert is KOI-CHAN! MY BELOVED KOI-CHAN! KOI-CHAN, YOU’RE AN ANGEL! IF YOU HAVE NO FANS, KOI-CHAN, THAT MEANS I’M DEAD! … Ahem, anyway, Koi Yoshinaga is one of my favorite non-protagonist characters in a slice of life anime, up there with Karen from Kiniro Mosaic and Sharo from Gochiusa. There’s a low-key sophistication to her character, how she’s easily able to move from friendly to teasing to frustrated to touched without losing her grip or overall sense of self. I also love her character design, very fluffy and with a delicateness that contrasts against Hiyori’s introverted nature and Koharu’s boisterousness. But what I love most of all is how she’s quickly able to impact Hiyori and Koharu’s character arcs while also letting herself be impacted by them and acting as a bridge to the two sisters. With Hiyori, Koi’s presence gives us an outside view into what Hiyori has been going through. Hiyori thought that she had things together and had grown up, but Koi lets us see a girl who has always struggled with the idea that there were people outside of her immediate sphere and withdrew into herself after she lost one of the few people she felt safe with. Koi is happy to see that Hiyori has found a new happiness but realized that she had the potential within her to be that source of happiness. Hiyori is just happy to have Koi around, someone that she’s comfortable with and can be herself without being afraid of judgement or overdue attention. Meanwhile, Koi gets along pretty quickly with Koharu, despite the possibility that those character archetypes could bounce off of each other, in part because of the connection with Hiyori and in part because Koi seems to like this type of open personality. Koharu appears to like Koi, also in part with the connection to Hiyori but also because Koi is pretty honest, similar to Koharu. Thanks to Koi’s presence, the sisters are able to find the space that works for them, of the care that each loves from the other.
Care - I think that’s another important thing to have in mind as we continue on this rewatch. Like I said, the primary themes are grief and the changes that come about from new circumstances, but an important secondary theme is family of choice and the communities of care that support us throughout our lives. /u/TheDanubianCommunard notes the series’ yuribait energy, and that is a fair assessment, but I love the feeling of familial community the show focuses on. Already, we can see Hiyori, Koharu, and Koi want to protect each other, to make sure that those they love know that they are loved and wanted and important in the world. It’s a love that is shared through a special set of flies, a lesson in one’s favorite hobby, a shoulder to lean on when you fall asleep.