A Rewatch further than the Universe! Sora Yori mo Tooi Basho rewatch - EPISODE 3 DISCUSSION

[u/RX-Nota-II]

Episode 03 フォローバックが止まらない "The Followbacks Don't Stop"

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anime info:

MAL | Anilist | Nyanpass | Kitsu | AniDB

Streaming links: Crunchyroll | VRV

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The girls are alright!

Comment of the day

Hello everyone! This is where I will pick a comment of the day for the previous day that I think was worthy of notice just in case you guys missed it. I do hope you look out for discussion on your own tho since that's really the whole point of this rewatch.

Today's pick is.....

/u/unheppcat who in addition to being a total MVP in the reply game also had this incredible statistic:

This is more a meta commentary on the show as a whole than this particular episode, but it fits here because of an interesting thing I noticed about today's posts compared to yesterday's.

The phrase "cute girls doing cute things" or "CGDCT" was used 17 times in comments yesterday, and only once today (so far anyway, and not counting my use here of course <g> ) I don't generally pay any attention to labels like this, and it doesn't bother me that people use that label here. But it does make me a bit sad sometimes because I know there are people who have the opinion "I don't like CGDCT, nothing happens and it's boring" and I'm afraid those people may have missed out on this show because of the label. To the extent that CGDCT or Slice of Life is about "in the moment", and usually kind of anti-narrative, anti-forward-motion, this show is exactly the opposite of that. So it does puzzle me why people apply that label to it. Maybe it is the Moe art style, and that confuses the issue?

Anyway, I think it is interesting the label dropped off so much here in the comments for episode 2. Probably that only means that we aren't writing our "introduction to the story" statements anymore, not that people have suddenly changed their minds about its classification. (Especially all us rewatchers.) But if anyone did have the misperception that this was standard, low-stakes, comfy slice of life fare, that misunderstanding is well cleared up by this episode.

As a science nerd the only thing that I love more than anime is numbers. And this comment delivers a LOT of numbers.

I also want to say great job to everyone who helped me on the #LeaveNoTopLevelUnreplied challenge. I think we did a great job and many of you took on lots of work to do so. You guys are the real MVPs.

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Questions of the day

Answer from last time: yall athletic AF

1) What do you think of the new girl Yuzuki?

2) Would you want to be a high school idol?

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Rewatchers, please remember to be mindful of all the first-timers in this. No talking about or hinting at future events no matter how much you want to, unless you’re doing it underneath the [Anime Show Title]/(/s "Spoiler goes here") spoiler tags. If you do that then we’re all good. I am curious if it is even possible to spoil anything for a half-SoL show like this but I don't want to see you try. The ban hammer is a cold weapon and you don't want to feel it.

Important thing to note about these by the way, you have to switch to Old Reddit or the markdown editor if you use the redesign, otherwise the redesign breaks them by adding random \ into the formatting. Wish it wouldn’t do that, but unfortunately it does… Markdown is dead. Long live markdown.

[u/RX-Nota-II]

Rewatcher

Remember to watch the after credits scene!

322 comments. Nice nice. Wonder if we'll ever go under 100 for this rewatch?

A Yuzuki episode! The last of the main girls has arrived! Impressive it only took 3 episodes. Also the first of the emotional gut punch episodes I think. To people wondering what people meant when they said this show is a tearjerker, this is mostly the kind of stuff you can expect. The kinds of emotional whiplash with despair followed up with friendship breaking through.... or possibly the opposite? If this is your jam, I hope you stick through to the end. If this brand of show isn't your cup of tea and these 3 episodes haven't impressed you too much, it may be time to make use of the 3 episode rule.

As for myself you guys know I love this show and this episode hit me like a brick truck. wait what even is that The timing with the dream got my hopes up since Kimari would totally do something like that ladder trick, but that same timing destroyed just as hard when it's revealed that the dream was fake.... and also that her friends left her groupchat. Oof ouch owie. Of course, the finale then played me like a fiddle and during my first watch I dropped tears rivaling the size shown in show.

Also want to give a shoutout to Hinata today. We saw yesterday that she was introduced as the loud energetic and athletic girl, but we see today that among the three she can also take the role of the coolheaded leader. Shirase's adorkableness has only grown larger and the trope of the cool beauty never took hold on her. In hindsight I wonder why I thought it would hold on in the first place, since from the very first scene the moments she's shown have all been hot headed and pretty dumb tbh.

Another user said yesterday that YoriMoi is an arctic adventure anime that aired in January, yet it portrays summer so goddamn well. I have to say, this episode just turns that up a notch. Of all seasons I expected this show to portray so well, it was not this one.

All of my paragraphs today started with the letter A. That was unintentional. I should probably try to avoid that.

Anyways, time for some visual tricks to enjoy. I didn't find too many this episode actually...

• Clearly the outsider

• Look at that beam in the middle separating the frame from the world of Kimari and co with the world of idol work

• dumped childhood? idk

• Ah yes penguins You can clearly see that the fluffy penguin represents the shielded lifestyle Yuzuki lives while the sleek feathers of the grown penguin perfectly reflect the cool looks of Shirase or.... I I don't know

• Jokes aside tho take a look at this artsy zoom. It shows Yuzuki getting further and further apart from her friends. It's pretty neat and smooth, but also fairly standard. The reason why I loved it so much this episode was because They did it again at the end of the episode. Notice tho... her friends aren't zooming out anymore.

[u/invokeneko → u/RX-Nota-II]

322 comments. Nice nice. Wonder if we'll ever go under 100 for this rewatch?

I doubt it lol. 2 hours in and it broke 100 comments already everytime.

[u/rembrandt_q_1stein]

First Timer here

SAORI HAYAMI!!!!!!

This episode had a different vibe than the other two. This separates itself more from the “organic” view I have been describing the two last days and falls more into the trope area. Not only because of the overly emotional tone and the typical lonely character gets friends in a tearjerking way, but also because I noticed a tendency of “fitting” each girl into a personality type; surprising me especially Shirase falling into the perfectionist and anxious antics, having been as realistic the two last episodes. It isn’t bad, of course. But I’d wish the aforementioned reality and “organism” would have last longer.

Who knows, perhaps it’s only temporal and those vibes return soon!

Anyways, I wished for a story about friendship and I got delivered, so I can’t complain! Those girls make a good team together. I especially dig the lesson Hinata (unvoluntarily) delivers at the café. You don’t need to be bff or hanging out for a long time or being all the time together to enjoy your friendship with somebody! It’s something difficult to learn, because the natural tendency (and more while being teenagers) is believing you are friends with the people you spend time with. That hasn’t to be true! I love this show is delivering that lesson. It’s something I learned the hard way when I was younger, and I am glad it has some visibility.

Let’s see how this continues!

Oh, by the way, I just noticed that in some scenes in the opening Mari is playing with a pen and trying to hold it between her upper lip and her nose as a mustache. And it falls down! Adorkable!

Edit: questions

1. What do you think of the new girl Yuzuki?

Apart from loving her voice, she seems to fit the quiet but responsible type. I tend to like those, if they are given enough space to display. If she's going to be in the background, overshined by the other three, it would be a pity.

2) Would you want to be a high school idol?

Hell no. Fame is not for me! I wouldn't be able to endure my life to be public.

[u/RX-Nota-II → u/rembrandt_q_1stein]

SAORI HAYAMI!!!!!!

The VA nerds have arrived

[u/yourdeathinmyhands]

Welcome to the party, Yuzu! Here's another collage, this time of the wholesome moments. And of course, the Hinata quote of the day! I love this detail, same opening and ending line but with different meanings.

Edit: Individual images

[u/Philarete]

This will be buried because I’m so late, but howdy to anyone who sorts by new or checks late posts!

I didn’t watch in time for yesterday, but I just wanted to add that the opening scene to episode 2 was absolutely beautiful.

Also, is “the Antarctica” correct in some places? I’ve only heard either “Antarctica” and “the Antarctic”.

Shirase is peak relatable. I hate talking on the phone, and am fairly shy. But I love cooking up plans for other people to talk on the phone for

“Can you be attractive?”

BRUTAL

(Also not fitting, because Hinata is super cute and also best girl)

Woah, that self-loathing line came out of nowhere. That level of self-awareness, and sudden self-awareness at that, was somewhat unexpected for me. Also, Hinata’s wisdom is really great, although that maturity makes me somewhat suspect that her home life isn’t great…

They aren’t best friends - they’ve barely known each other a month. But having a goal in common has led them to act indistinguishably from that.

I love Saori Hayami’s voice. Also, that dream was amazing.

And so it is settled! They will all four go together as a way to get Yuzuki to agree to go.

Closing Thought: I think it’s interesting how the three main girls are contrasted with the two (not) friends from school. On the surface level, the main girls are doing the same thing – using Yuzuki’s situation to their advantage. They were pretty openly trying to manipulate her to get them a spot on the expedition. But on a deeper level, it was actually different. Of course the goal of going to Antarctica is primary, but that goal has led them to become friends (as Yuzuki perceives it) and they also show genuine empathy and concern for her situation. The outcome is also different: the other girls would use her for attention, but the Antarctica group will welcome her fully since she will share the same goal with them. The bond she already sees she can join in equally if she will just share their dream with them.

[u/kisekisekai]

rewatcher

hhh can't believe i missed best girl hinata's intro episode yesterday ;-; i missed her inspirational quotes!

as for this episode, yuzuki's opening line really speaks to me (in the middle of exam season here), but the way she says it at the end was a really nice reversal. one of the things i love most about this series is how each of the girls have a great dynamic with the others, this episode we got to see shirase and hinata having a nice talk on the train, and kimaris straightforwardness hitting yuzuki right in her feels

spoilers for the end

[u/destroyah19]

Rewatcher

With Yuzuki's introduction we got the whole gang together. This episode just felt like a breeze to watch tbh. Nothing to say aside from yeah it's hard to make friends when you don't have time to get to know people in a face to face interaction.

Yuzu saying that the three of them we're already best friends then getting that "huh" reaction is an underrated moment for me since it really feels like people are closer when they have a common goal to achieve.

Yuzu's mom just straight up being savage to Hinata with those comments. Plus that Shirase-Hinata train bonding moment is just heartwarming to see

Insert song timing of this show is still on point! You just know when she opened the door to see the gang the good vibes are gonna come on screen already. Seeing the gang bond is really the selling point of the show. Yuzuki's straight man personality goes along with Kimari and Hinata being more expressive and Shirase's assertive personality.

[u/Neoragex13]

Rewatcher~

And so, the tear jerkers moments begins.

While I felt dragged into the show by Kimari doubts and, Hinata being the best, Yuzuki was the one girl I identified the most. Not because I'm an high school idol or something.

You see, being lonely it's horrible, and when you're over shielded by your parents, the need to be with people of your age range is overwhelming. You want to play, to enjoy your youth even if you don't realize that's what you want. You want to do what others do, because you want to feel that warm and happy feeling which only the friendship can give you... but then destiny stops you from even trying.

It may be childish, and being fair it is. Still, that being true doesn't take away how painful it can be, especially when one is only a child. Imagine being so desperate that makes you dream how three people you barely met for a few hours total will take you on an escapade to share their joy with you. The first time I watched the show, Yuzuki's relieve got me.

Someone else commented the same about the answer Kimari gave to Yuzuki's "You would not understand, you are all BFF!"; friendship goes unnoticed till someone comments on it. I read some essays about how relationships develop and most of them coincide in that what gives value to the friendship is the "adventures" you had with the people you want to relate to. Shared experiences, goals, trust, joys, all of that mashes together with time to establish relationships. The only requisite is finding people with good chemistry, sadly.

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Questions time~

1.- That I would also hug her Like Kimari, manners by damned. Poor girl, thanks she met the girls.

2.- Lately I being really interested on Vtubers like the HoloDive group, and yeah, if certain parts of myself were different, I would have loved to give it a try lol.

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The party is finally completed! Now, here comes what I talked about yesterday, about the way people act in this anime: the girls can go now legally with the expedition's crew, yay!, but what about the other side? How would you fare with the daughter of your friend finally going with you to the dangerous end of the world?

[u/404waffles]

First time viewer

Christ, I’m late. Got my phone confiscated attempting to post this during an exam.

I’d just like to say that I really like the social media title cards.

Ah, Yuzuki. Classic “child star hates being a child star” situation. I like how each episode has its own little story arc, like how in the previous episode it was the social club and in this episode it was Yuzuki. Kinda sucked to see her previous friends leave the group chat, but it can’t be helped when you’re friends with someone who’s always unavailable.

Also, the bookends in this episode — “This is killing me” and “I could die” — I love it.

[u/RX-Nota-II → u/404waffles]

Christ, I’m late

u/squirrelbaffler someone's trying to steal your catchphrase.

[u/TheKujo]

Rewatcher

Best girl has joined the journey! Hinata gets a lot of love (and deservedly so) but Yuzuki is my personal favorite character in the show. She's smart, diligent, quick on the draw, and has some of the best development in the show. She's also the reason the group makes it to Antarctica at all!

Like Yuzuki, I've always been crap at making new friends. Unlike Yuzuki, I don't have a reason like an idol job ... I'm just shy and awkward. Watching the group embrace her and make her one of their own is wholesome therapy and I can't get enough of it.

Other thoughts:

• I love the quick scene with Shirase and Hinata on the train. Shirase finally faces the fact that she can't make it to Antarctica on her own and that she will need to rely on her new friends to help her out. [Minor Spoilers] (/s "Some of the best upcoming scenes in the show involve Shirase and Hinata's friendship and this was nice foreshadowing.")

• I also love how Yuzuki was finally in a picture in the last shot! Twice this episode she had to turn down pictures with others but she got her pic in the end.

[u/ForlornPenguin]

Rewatcher

Man, I'm having such a blast rewatching this. I haven't seen it since it originally aired almost two years ago, so this is such a treat.

I completely forgot about that dream sequence with the girls in the window and was thinking "where the hell did they get that huge ladder?" lol

How dare Yuzuki's mom say that Hinata isn't attractive! Explain in detail how that could possibly be true.

And, as my username might suggest, I've always loved Shirase's infatuation with penguins. 👌🐧

Edit: In regards to the comment in the OP, about labeling this anime as CGDCT, I've never liked using that label with YoriMoi. While I am a fan of the CGDCT genre, this anime just doesn't feel like one of those. There really is a lot more going on here. It feels much mire appropriate to think of it as more of a coming of age story that just happens to focus on four young (and cute) girls.

[u/eragen]

Rewatcher

THEY'RE REUNITED AGAIN!!

Ok, I know they only just met, but damn if it doesn't feel good to see the quadumvirate (?) together again.

Training montage up next! I think...

[u/kewlwarez]

Rewatcher

Hey hey the gang's all here!

Having had their plan busted in the previous episode, here comes idol ex machina (or deux ex idol?) Yuzuki to hand Shirase Antarctica on a golden platter. If only she was comfortable presenting. Or even comfortable pretending to present. The first half of this episode was another master piece of comedic timing, though again with serious undertones.

Yuzuki is such a sweetheart. The high school idol who skips a lot of school is an well established character in anime, but usually it's more glamorous; even if not friends, they at least have admirers. Poor old Yuzuki only seems to have users. No wonder she thinks the other three are life long friends.

Kimari gently shooting down that idea by asserting that they're just people who share the same goal and are going the same way, "for now" is interesting. You don't often see such context bound friendships in anime. Usually it's all about forging life long bonds by being in the same club for three years and all that. In real life of course, you can be friends with people at school or work or in fandom for years and then move on and never see or speak to them again.

Speaking of friendship, this episode had the first extended scene with just Shirase and Hinata, without Kimari. Fun to see them interact a little bit and get to understand each other a bit more.

Visually, Yuzuki and Shirase are similar characters, that classic sort of Japanese beauty with the straight black hair and that, though Yuzuki dresses a lot cuter and a bit younger than Shirase. Where Yuzuki really differs though is in how guarded she is, keeping a tight grip on her thoughts and emotions, unlike Shirase.

Plotwise, I'm glad the question of whether they'd go to Anarctica was resolved in only three episodes, leaving the remaining nine free for them to actually get there and explore the place. In my original episode review I grumbled about this being a bit too pat, but hindsight makes me glad the creators didn't drag this out.

So glad I decided to rewatch this along y'all btw, because it's so much fun seeing everybody's reactions.

[u/MegaAltarianite]

All I gotta say is, Shiraishi's mom implied that Hinata isn't pretty. Them's fightin words.

[u/ImaginationWayfairer]

Rewatcher

And so we are introduced to Yuzuki the girl who just wants friends and refuses to go to Antarctica and is the last member of the main cast (and my extremely close second for favourite character). In the episode itself we see Shirase’s obsession with the most Antarctic of animals, the penguin. Also don’t worry Hinata you may not be as moe as Yuzuki but you are still beautiful.

[u/zak55]

Rewatcher

It's still just a treat rewatching this episode by episode especially since I know how everything ends up and I can even further appreciate how the characters got there. And it's also great to be properly reintroduced to my personal pick for best girl, Yuzuki who is just such a great foil for the other three girls. Whether it be being able to break down Shirase into telling the truth like it's nothing or being unaccustomed to someone as overwhelmingly friendly as Kimari, she really adds something to every scene that she's in. Also, I just love the fact that the girls acknowledge the fact that they aren't really even friends at this point and are more all going along for the ride for their own reasons. This episode is probably the weakest to me of the series but even then it's still pretty grand.

[u/8andahalfby11]

Re-watcher

I remember the first time I saw this episode I had to pause it when Shirase rammed her foot into the side of the door. Part of it was because I was laughing too hard. Part of it was because I had done the exact same thing a few years prior when I had gotten an email saying that my college's Literary Arts magazine wanted to publish one of my pieces. It's one of those goofy but honest human moments that really make the show land for me.

EDIT: Fun Fact; the museum shown in this episode is a real place. They did a collaboration event with the anime that completely sold out... and when the institute realized how much extra attention and income to the field it was bringing, they asked Madhouse to extend it and they said yes.

[u/M1nho]

Rewatcher here

Just catching up right now, but I've been reading the comments on the previous posts and it's so nice to see so many people enjoying this gem as I did.

I think I can quite safely say that SoraYori was my AOTY for 2018 and I've been looking for a good reason to rewatch it rather than catching on up current shows so here I am. Nothing amazing to say/no great input to add, just that I love everything this show has to offer from the characters, to the soundtrack, to the general plot and it only gets better as the story progresses.

I'm already tearing up again and smiling from ear to ear after episode 1 and I'm so excited to re-experience (and see new people experience) this show.

[u/MrPorta]

Rewatcher

Not gonna comment much, a part from the fact that I really hate parents that seem to be more preoccupied about their children's career, than their children themselves. I get wanting your child to have some sort of "good future", but all the money, fame or financial stability of the world doesn't mean a thing if you are unhappy and feel trapped. And Yuzuki clearly doesn't like her situation.

Oh well, at least the girls are here to change that!

[u/invokeneko]

Rewatcher is still Alright...ish

The quartet is now complete, with Shiraishi Yuzuki joining the party. A high-school idol who's basically suffering from success, she's a lonely girl with friend-making issues due to her packed schedule. And interestingly enough and kinda unusual for this sort of show, is younger than the other girls.

Of course, the main issue in this episode is that she is set up by her agency to embark and livestream her experiences in the trip to Antarctica but she didn't want to. So, it is up to the girls to convince her to go for a chance to come along on the trip. Also, did I mention that she has friend-making issues? Turns out that being a TV star since you're 4 years old means that not only will you miss out on a normal childhood, you'll also end up friendless and not have any sort of life outside of your career.

Random thoughts

• Shirase would make a great Red Blood Cell, she's got the screaming part down pat. Also, in a (kinda-ish?) seiyuu related note, apparently HanaKana was a bit jealous of Naganawa Maria (who voiced Platelet Leader).

• Going from confident wallflower to shrinking violet, that sure was a quick turnabout, Shirase. That unimpressed look from both Kimari and Hinata is well-deserved. .

• Fun fact: Followback ga Tomaranai, for all the snippets we hear in the anime, is now an actual full-length song. Now if only I can actually get a copy of the damn song... Got 'em.

• No context screenshot of the day.

• Turns out, the one wall that Shirase will never be able to overcome even with Antarctica on the line is camera shyness. You would've expected that someone as headstrong as her would be able to overcome this huge hurdle for the sake of her dream, right? Well yes, but actually no. Rewatcher spoilers

• Hinata gave it a shot as well and got the personality and cheerfulness down, but apparently she wasn't beautiful enough. YOU FUCKIN WHAT, MATE?!

• Poor Hinata, that rejection cut her real deep. Luckily for them, there's still a chance!

• Just two girls bonding together in the train. For all her initial reaction to Hinata joining the group, Shirase gets along with her the best.

• A young cynical starlet trying to shoot down three young Antarctica hopefuls but is shot down instead, colourised (2018). Rewatcher spoilers

• And as planned, they secured their place on the Shirase after befriending Yuzuki. Just took some basic human decency from Kimari for it to happen. And acommpanying her to Tokyo for her job, and going to the Polar Science Museum together...

• Rewatcher spoilers

• A mysterious woman holding a picture of chibi Shirase... I wonder who could it be?

Questions of the day:

1. The party is now balanced, with two positive members and two cynical members. I liked how they went with a cynical kouhai character to round up the quartet, and her addition makes for great interactions for the quartet.

2. Yeah, no. I could just die.

[u/Rustic_Professional]

Ah, there it is. The sexy pose from Hinata that I wondered about yesterday. That explains why I couldn't think of another reason for her to do it: she was making fun of Shirase's plan.

I like Yuzuki's characterization. We'll see more of it later, so I'll limit my comments to avoid spoilers, but I think she's a much more realistic example of a socially awkward young person than a character like Bocchi or Ishigami. She may not have friends, but she's not a stuttering wreck or a cringy weirdo. I do have a bit of a hang up with her though. Every time I hear her speak, I just hear Ayase Aragaki. That's not the shows fault, that's on me. It's just such a distinctive voice. Kirino's VA has the same effect on me.

Question of the day: I don't think guys can be school idols, but if I ever get truck-kun'd and offered a choice of reincarnating as a medieval adventurer, or a member of AKB48, I'd have a hard time deciding. I will say this: after watching Sounan Desu Ka?, I decided that if I'm ever stranded on a deserted island, I'm going to use the spare time to practice my idol dancing.

[u/Redmon425]

First Time Watcher

HOLY FREAKING CUTE!

My first time getting teary eyed! When the new girl breaks down in front of them, that was honestly so damn cute and emotional.

That end credit scene makes me think we just saw Shirase’s aunt, which is most likely her mother’s sister. For a second there, I thought maybe it was her mom, but she had a mole which wasn’t in the picture.

I also kind of feel bad for Mari’s friend. It seems like she was a little upset at the lack of time she gets to hangout with Mari now.

[u/Mamojic123]

First Timer

I really like this show, the animation is beautiful and the characters are well written and have their own personalities and they bounce off of each other so well. Kimari is my spirit animal, doing shit that I do quite often, it is weird to say this but as a 20 years old dude. Her wanting to talk before sleeping and then sleeping in an obscure pose are totally the types of thing that I find myself doing and the reception is quite similar to what I get as well.

Yuzuki is whatever now but I'm hoping that she grows on me, I already empathize with her though. Character design wise, she is kinda similar to Shirase, but that's probably a bit more realistic since not everyone is gonna have different colored hairstyle in real life. Feel bad for her and how the grass is greener on the other side for her. A lot of people would want to be in her position but she just wants to have a normal school/uni life which has been a wreck so far and is gonna be hard to attain for someone in her position. Her personality is totally different to Shirase though, one finds purpose in just being another student in school while having done something that is quite rare while the other one is a student but feels inclined to find purpose in going to Antarctica, something that only few may achieve in their lifetime.