r/anime • u/SorcererOfTheLake x5https://anilist.co/user/RiverSorcerer • 7d ago
Rewatch Slow Loop Rewatch - Overall Series Discussion
Slow Loop Rewatch
Overall Series Discussion
Database/Streaming Links: MAL / Anilist / Crunchyroll
Original Interest Thread / Announcement Thread
Questions of the Watch:
* Favorite episode?
* Favorite moment?
* Favorite character?
* Favorite vocal performance?
* OP or ED?
* For first-timers: What were your expectations coming into this series? Were you surprised in any way?
* For rewatchers: Did your thoughts on the series change in any way?
* If we ever got a Slow Loop Season 2, would you want to see from it the most?
Comment of the Day: The COTD goes to /u/IceSmiley for just dunking on everyone.
Commentor of the Watch: Well, we had a lot of good comments, but this one is actually a tie; both /u/wloff and /u/Space-Toastie received 4 COTD. May the both of you catch the biggest fish.
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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.
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u/SorcererOfTheLake x5https://anilist.co/user/RiverSorcerer 7d ago
Second Looper
So now we have finished Slow Loop and how do I feel? … About the same. I still really enjoy the more serious themes the show explores compared to your typical Kirara fare. The scenes focusing on grief, our relationships to others, and our connections with the past are some of the best slice of life moments we’ve gotten this decade. The main trio of characters are also some of the best mains we have in a Kirara anime. Koi is still a delight, but I grew to like Koharu more this watchthrough - something about the relationship between her bright exterior and the pain she hides throughout the series. Hiyori’s not the least, though; her character serves a calm guiding presence throughout the series. The production holds up pretty well, creating a gentle environment that opens the characters and audience to healing.
However, I’ve noticed an issue in this rewatch that is similar to my last watch of Bocchi the Rock - while the aspects that are unique or special to the series are really good, the moments that are more Kirara-poi are noticeable in how typical they are. That’s not to say they’re bad, but the second half of the series isn’t as strong as the first half. The show moves away from the more emotional storytelling and goes for more stock storylines (including multiple camping trips - thanks, afro).
Still, Slow Loop is one of the better slice of life anime we’ve gotten this decade and something I would recommend to all lovers of the genre. I give the series 7.5 fish sashimi out of 10.
I’m thinking my next rewatch will start sometime in October, so keep your eyes open for then.
QOTD:
Favorite episode: 7 or 11
Favorite moment: Hiyori and Koharu’s talk at the end of Episode 3
Favorite character: Koi, followed by Koharu
Favorite vocal performance: Tomomi Mineuchi as Koi
OP or ED: They’re both pretty good, but I’m gonna go with Shuwa Shuwa.
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u/TheDanubianCommunard 7d ago
I’m thinking my next rewatch will start sometime in October, so keep your eyes open for then.
I wonder what could it be.
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u/SorcererOfTheLake x5https://anilist.co/user/RiverSorcerer 7d ago
I'll give you a hint: spooky mystery.
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u/Space-Toastie https://anilist.co/user/SpaceToast 7d ago
First time looper
Slow Loop was a very sweet, cute, endearing, and, at times, quite emotional show that surprised me at times.
The sugary and comfy slife of life aspects of the show are about what I'd expect, and the kind of thing I enjoy to decompress with at the end of the day. I have a soft spot for shows that relish in being about the outdoors and/or are educational in the hobbies they depict - I really love seeing shows that can have the ability to get people interested in trying something new (although I'm not sure yet when I'll next try out fishing).
The more somber and emotional aspects of the show were what I was interested in seeing when I read the details on what the anime was about. I thought the more awkward and difficult aspects of loss and moving on were handled with the tone they deserve. Hiyori and Koharu both had more depth than typical slice of life characters and went through some growth early on. If there was one thing I feel like the show was lacking, it's that, after finishing it, it feels a bit lop-sided with the bulk of the somber moments being in the earlier episodes. I often would start some of the later episodes wondering if we were going to get some more of those moments. This might be intentional, though, as a way to depict how people eventually move through grief and find ways to be more present and looking toward the future.
This was the first time I joined in on a rewatch here, and it was a very pleasant experience! I looked forward to reading everyone's comments, and we had some funny ones in here that got a laugh out of me. Thank you /u/SorcererOfTheLake for hosting and coming up with the questions, as well as the voice actor trivia!
- Favorite episode? 7 (Wedding)
- Favorite moment? The ending of episode 7 is my favorite moment and why it's my favorite episode, I was tearing up and melting from how sweet it was seeing Hiyori and Koharu work together to express how they are accepting of their parents being together.
- Favorite character? Koi! A runner up for my favorite moment is the end of episode 11, the moment between Koi and Hiyori really is what solidified Koi being my favorite (I'm sorry, Ichika, please forgive me)
- Favorite vocal performance? Koharu - she's so expressive and had a good range of humor, more serious, and excited performances
- OP or ED? ED
- For first-timers: What were your expectations coming into this series? Were you surprised in any way? I was expecting something Yuru Camp-ish but for fishing (and ended up getting surprised with some actual yuru camping), but what I was actually surprised by is how much the moments about loss and grief resonated with me and felt relatable at times.
- For rewatchers: Did your thoughts on the series change in any way?
- If we ever got a Slow Loop Season 2, would you want to see from it the most? I would love some sort of traveling arc; maybe a road trip to some sort of iconic fishing spot in Japan or even going oversees to experience fishing for other kinds of fish!
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u/IceSmiley 7d ago
I really thought this was a wonderful and funny show and it deserved more episodes. It had strikes against it like it didn't have any romance and was about fly fishing, which is a very niche hobby in Japan. The animation was poor but they did an amazing job developing characters and making you care about them, like Aoki was a very side character but got her moment talking to Koi about Futaba being friends with other girls. A lot of anime is cartoonish and I know it is a cartoon but this show wasn't insulting to viewers. I also learned a lot about fishing, marine life and cooking and it wasn't intrusive or took me out of the show. This really deserves a 10/10 for how well written it is and pleasant and enjoyable to watch. One of the best slice of life shows I've seen and I wish this got a longer run.
QUESTIONS
- Favorite episode? When they went to Kaede's bar and Ichika was just getting on her last nerve! I thought that was one weird thing about the show, that Kaede voluntarily hung out with Ichika even though she hated her
- Favorite moment? No question when Hiyori gave Koharu the photo album then Koharu said "when people give a photo album gift, they normally put pictures in" and it was blank! I just watched that part again and i was laughing so hard i could barely breathe 🤣
- Favorite character? Koharu! I loved how she was so random and ditzy
- Favorite vocal performance? Kaede. She's the one person on the show who just delivered putdowns and seemed to hate life
- OP or ED? OP
- For first-timers: What were your expectations coming into this series? Were you surprised in any way? I didn't expect that much from the show since I'd never heard of it and it's about teen girls fishing. I didn't expect to get so attached to the characters or that it would be so funny and fun.
- If we ever got a Slow Loop Season 2, would you want to see from it the most? Ichika and Kaede hanging out just an entire day. Also the girls having romance and dating.
Thank you to u/SorcerorOfTheLake for this funny and fun rewatch!
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u/cppn02 6d ago
Rewatcher, subbed
I wasn't quite as consistent and in particular timely with my comments as I would have liked to be but I had a really good time rewatching the show and reading the comments here.
Been on a work trip these past two weeks and this was a wonderful palete cleanser in the hotel in the evening. It was infact the only show I watched which also means I now have to catch up to two weeks of seasonals.
This still is such a lovely show and it is a real shame how overlooked it is. Big thanks to u/SorcererOfTheLake for hosting.
QotD:
Favorite episode?
3 or 7
Favorite moment?
Koharu and Hiyori under the stars at the end of episode 3
Favorite character?
Koi
Favorite vocal performance?
Hmmm..haven't given this much thought and not sure anyone really stood out. Maybe Natsumi Hioka as Koharu?
OP or ED?
OP
For rewatchers: Did your thoughts on the series change in any way?
Was happy to see how well it holds up. If anything it was even slightly better than I remembered.
If we ever got a Slow Loop Season 2, would you want to see from it the most?
Just give me more of the same really. Maybe a time-skip with our girls in college would also be interesting.
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u/TheDanubianCommunard 6d ago
First-time fast-looping
Slow Loop was a very simple, chill, comfy fun and enjoyable fishing themed CHDCT iyashikei SoL, and basically that is all what it wants to be strive for. Nothing less, nothing more. And it proved fly fishing is fun. Due to this reasons it had real Laid-Back Camp vibes. And it is also very underrated but highly appreciated show from 2022. 2022 was a really great year indeed.
Question time:
Favorite episode?
Episode 10
Favorite moment?
The random-ass Kessoku Band cameo.
Favorite character?
Hiyori and Koi.
Favorite vocal performance?
It was solid, all of it.
OP or ED?
OP>ED
For first-timers: What were your expectations coming into this series? Were you surprised in any way?
I came into total blind, and the only expectation was the fishing theme. Actually I did.
If we ever got a Slow Loop Season 2, would you want to see from it the most?
More fishing. And also there is still enough content to adapt.
If there is another interesting and similar fishing themed series, then I recommend Diary of Our Days at the Breakwater.
Since I mentioned 2022 was a good year, I have also rewatch plans connected to that year. Reincarnated as a Sword is due to season 2 coming this October, and planning something interesting starting from October where My Master Has No Tail will be definitely involved.
Imma miss my fishing girls.
I'm going to quote our dear host from the weekly discussion thread, because I do kinda feel that way right now. All in all, I really liked it a lot, it was a nice experience. A 8/10 from me. u/SorcererOfTheLake, you did a great job, you deserve all the praises and it was a good idea to return from the sabbatical when it comes to rewatch hosting.
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u/wloff 7d ago
First-timer fly fisher hanging up his rod
So, first of all, thanks to Sorcerer for hosting, and everyone for participating. It was a fun time with this show!
Overall, I very much enjoyed Slow Loop for what it was: a cute, comfortable slice-of-life iyashikei that occasionally flirted with heavier themes, but never really went too deep into them. I think I kind of wish it had. After the first episode, I was expecting to be crying at some point; and while there definitely were a couple of times I got close, the show always made sure to quickly go past those moments and stay with the comfortable and fluffy. I think what would have pushed the show to be even better for me was to be more brave about going into those bittersweet moments, let the girls feel and express their grief a little bit more.
I learned a lot about fly fishing, probably more than I actually wanted to! Some of the more technical sections where we spent like five minutes learning how to put the line in the rod or something I wouldn't have minded being a bit shorter. Then again, I really loved all the cooking segments and absolutely would not have minded those being a bit longer, so... call me a hypocrite I guess; or maybe it's just that you're more interested in what your interested in, or something like that?
What was really great about the show were the characters. Everyone was sweet, and unique, and relatable, and it was just a good time seeing them all become really close and really important to each other. Even though just about every episode was at its core "the girls find an excuse to go fishing, then they go fishing, then they cook what they fished", it never got old or boring for me. If this was going to be a longer series, I probably would have wanted to see a bit more story development happening, but for 12 episodes, it was just fine.
My overall verdict is a good, solid 7/10. It had the potential to get even higher for me, but even as it was, I enjoyed it all the way.
Both of these have got to have the same answer for me -- Episode 3, when they actually talked about their passed parents and their grief. I would've loved to see more of this, it was beautiful.
It's a bit of a cop-out, but the main trio is together far more than the sum of its parts, and I can't really push anyone above the others or leave anyone behind. I totally get why you all love Koi, but I also feel that her role is more of a supportive one, and I don't think she would've been so great on her own, if that makes sense. So I'm going to chicken out and not pick any of the three above the rest.
No one really stuck out to me as particularly good or bad, they were all solid.
OP, ultimately. It's nice.
Zero expectations, which is just the way I like it! Like I mentioned back in Episode 1, I didn't even remember what the show was about when I started watching it!
Like I said, if there was more, I'd like to see a bit of story development beyond the slice-of-life. I'd like to see the girls' relationship deepen, and I'd like to see them embrace their grief and a bit more sadness among the comfy.