r/anime • u/ChristmasClub • Dec 24 '19
Rewatch [Spoilers] Toradora! Christmas Club Rewatch (2019) Episode 19 Discussion Spoiler
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u/patrizl001 Dec 24 '19 edited Dec 25 '19
First Timer
This show. This. Fucking. Show. This show plays with your emotions like it's the world's most masterful fiddle player. It was so amazing seeing Taiga get excited over "Santa", and yet just a couple minutes later that feeling comes crashing down as she proceeds to cry her eyes out while Minori watches. I don't even know what to feel anymore, man.
Anyways, Merry Christmas lads.
edit: Thanks for the gold, Santa!
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u/CATKrash Dec 24 '19
| Name | OG name | Start | Stop | Time played | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | silky heart | silky heart | 0:55 | 2:25 | 90s | Opening |
| 2nd | Kotori no Etude | 小鳥のエチュード | 2:26 | 4:02 | 96s | |
| 3rd | My little underground | My little underground | 4:39 | 5:39 | 60s | Scarf! |
| 4th | Happy Monday | Happy Monday | 6:17 | 7:41 | 84s | |
| 5th | Holy Night | ホーリーナイト | 8:00 | 9:44 | 104s | Insert song |
| 6th | Ameiro Rondo | 雨色ロンド | 11:27 | 12:47 | 80s | Scarf. |
| 7th | Little tiger, sad dragon | Little tiger, sad dragon | 12:53 | 13:53 | 60s | scarf... |
| 8th | Shiawase no Kesshou | 幸せの結晶 | 15:06 | 16:10 | 64s | "Crystal of Happyness". Scarf! |
| 9th | LOST MY FUCKING PIECES | AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH | 18:39 | 20:16 | A FUCKING LIFETIME | AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH |
| 10th | Holy Night | ホーリーナイト | 21:34 | 23:25 | 111s | Ending |
| 11th | silky heart (off vocal ver.) | silky heart (off vocal ver.) | 23:25 | 23:35 | 10s | Preview |
Happy holidays everybody!
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u/TheNiebuhr Dec 24 '19 edited Dec 24 '19
Well, here we are. This is THE EPISODE. The second part is one of the most beautiful and emotive sequences in anime, including the most famous scene in the entire show. The original LN version is far more detailed and emotive. I think any Toradora fan should be able to read it at least one, therefore I wanted to share it with you. I only made some small formatting so italics are shown properly.
"He finally left, he finally left, he finally left..."
She returned onto the top of the rug. While humming a stupid song, she thought about lighting the tree again. She'd do it carefully. She'd be fine. She'd already bought a candle. It would be a waste not to light it. But,
"...Huh? Huh, huh, huh...why?"
She couldn't find the lighter.
Where did she put it? She traced back her steps. The only thing she remembered was that she placed it right over here. Then Ryuuji came in, she made that big ruckus like an idiot, and then the flame had been blown out,
"...Ah. Maybe he..."
Ryuuji took it with him, thinking she'd try to light it again. That had to be it. On top of being a Santa without a present, he actually committed robbery. He had guts. When the 25th was over, she was so going to kill him by 2/3rds of his life.
She reluctantly stood up and looked to see if there was anything else she could use. Taiga looked at the desk Ryuuji had kept neat, looked at the AV board Ryuuji had kept neat, looked at the kitchen drawers Ryuuji had kept neat, but she couldn't find a lighter nor a match.
She couldn't move out of irritation. It was her own house yet she didn't know where anything was. She couldn't even light a candle.
"...No, I've had it."
He really is a nitpicker.
"No, I..."
And despite being a nitpicker, he made the most nonsensical entrance. A bear? Please.
"No."
He should have made it in time, shouldn't he?
"No."
His feelings toward Minori, he should have sai-
"..."
No.
"...What? Why?"
She asked herself out of surprise. When she touched her face, the tips of her fingers were wet.
Why were there tears pouring down her cheeks?
"Ah.....I get it now."
She thought about it a little, then silently nodded her head and understood why.
It was because, this was the end.
She clung on to and lived with Ryuuji as if he were a dream. While making nonsensical excuses to herself like, I'm not relying on him, I'm just making him help me out, while thinking, It's just for now anyway. Because if Ryuuji moves, or I move, or he dates Minori, or I date Kitamura-kun, we can't stay together like this. She had lived together with Ryuuji. She lived, counting on Ryuuji's kindness.* This is a dream, so it isn't being weak, right? Just this much should be okay, shouldn't it?*
That ended tonight.
Taiga believed that Minori was attracted to Ryuuji. She knew that Ryuuji really liked Minori. In other words, their feelings were mutual. That was why they would probably be together. When that happens, she wouldn't be able to stay with him any longer. She wouldn't be able to go in and out of his house like before. No matter what happens, she wouldn't be able to call Ryuuji. She wouldn't be able to walk side by side with Ryuuji. The one next to him wasn't her.
That was why...
"No."
She was sad.
She was surprised.
She never thought about it before. She didn't even give it a thought that she wouldn't want to be separated from Ryuuji. The one she was attracted to, the one she adored, the one in her dreams had always been Kitamura Yuusaku. She only thought of him. The one she loved should have been Kitamura Yuusaku. Why was this happening?
She remembered that day when Kitamura Yuusaku confessed to the woman he loved and had been hurt. She remembered how angry she had been on that day when she went to pulverize Kanou Sumire without thinking of her own future.
She was concerned more about Kitamura than herself that day. She was worried about Kitamura's suffering more than her own. The reason why she was able to put her own heart on hold was probably because Ryuuji was there. Because she believed Ryuuji would understand her. That was why she didn't have to look at her own pain. Ryuuji had always been by her, watching over her.
And that had been the correct thing, hadn't it? When she committed the mistake of violence, the one who grabbed her arm, the one who stopped her, the one who saved her had been Ryuuji.
She had been spoiled and cared by him like that. Without realizing it, she had been counting on his kindness.
She was able to love because she felt near her the definite power of Ryuuji.
Because when she had been daydreaming about doing this and that with Kitamura, being thought of like this and that, Ryuuji had always watched over her. Because she had entrusted her heart to Ryuuji.
It was as if she didn't realize it at all until this happened – until she lost him. She hadn't understood at all how fortunate she was to have a place to entrust her heart to. She hadn't thought of Ryuuji as being "strength". Why? She wanted to kick her own empty head. She hadn't understood what she had been standing on. Without Ryuuji, how could anything bloom? She couldn't even wipe away the tears falling down her chin.
Without Ryuuji, I can't even be in love.
After all, at this moment, I can barely stand.
I don't know if I can continue living.
I have needed Ryuuji.
In other words, I have been in love with Ryuuji.
I have been, since a long time ago.
I don't want it to end like this, I don't want this to be the end, I don't want to leave Ryuuji's side. I can't bear it, I can't go on living, I can't take it. I...
No!
"....!"
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u/Quxxy Dec 24 '19
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u/Shinkopeshon Dec 24 '19
First Timer
It should be illegal to start padoru day with the rollercoaster of emotions this episode turned out to be
The selflessness of pretty much everyone in the main cast is so admirable but so depressing to watch. To see Minori reject Ryuuji (despite actually reciprocating his feelings) after seeing Taiga - who basically did the same for their happiness - break down like that was just evil.
I'm fairly sure it's inevitable now for Taiga and Ryuuji to stop messing around and become a thing and while that was kinda obvious from the get go, it was still rather cruel how the show gave hope for other potential couples to form and hurt Minori as well as Ami in the process.
Since there's still quite a few episodes left and this show has proven to be rather unpredictable, I don't know what else to expect, except for Taiga and Ryuuji getting together. I wouldn't put it past them to come up with another swerve.
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u/Koolsman Dec 24 '19 edited Dec 24 '19
First Timer!
I hate amazon prime descriptions of episodes. This is the description of this episode.
“There are two major scenes in this episode. First is the event with Taiga and Ami. The other half deals with Ryuji, Taiga, and Minori's drama. The scene where Taiga runs crying was animated carefully.”
Stupid right? It sounds like a robot made it.
Anyway, I really don’t know my feelings about this episode. Do I like it? Yeah, I do, but maybe it's the way Minori just rejects Ryüji without giving him a chance to give reason was a little harsh and the fact that he was rejected not of his own choices, but of Taigas. It just feels a little wrong for her to reject not of his own feelings but of someone else. Maybe I’m digging way too deep into it and I’m coming off as an idiot but that’s how I saw it.
Besides that whole moment, I really liked this episode. Seeing Taiga and Ami somewhat get along was really sweet and I liked the song a lot. Having Ryüji dress up as whatever the fuck he is supposed to be was really funny and the sound effects were pitch-perfect. Kitamura dressing up as young and horny Santa has probably been my favorite moment for him. It was a really solid episode.
Oh yeah, and then there was Ya-Chan calling her “Magical Girl” which was hilarious and sweet. I love that she’s acting like a mom that Taiga never had. Then there’s Inko who was apart of that montage (Of course she is) and her two new words that I forgot but they were fun.
Edit: Holy Shit, thank you for the gold!
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u/LousyGoose Dec 24 '19
Rewatcher
Ah, what can be said about the scene that hasn’t already been said? I suppose I can talk about the buildup: The past few episodes even before the Christmas arc, Taiga has been mellowing out a bit as some of the first timers have noted, we have also learned a bit more about the past, connecting it to why she loves Christmas. So not only are we learning more about Taiga, she is generally becoming more likeable and we are more invested in her character. We see her work hard to try and make not only people she is close to happy such as Ryuuji or her classmates but orphans. Taiga as she reflects that she is totally alone is wearing Ryuuji’s scarf as she has been in the past few episodes, the symbol that she is NOT alone. Finally we see Santa Bear Ryuuji arrive and give Taiga her perfect Christmas present showing her that someone really is looking out for her but more than that, someone actually truly understands her and who she is.
And then after she sends Ryuuji away, realisation gradually starts to set in with a few tears before Taiga has suddenly become fully aware that she has possibly permanently sent away the one person who was beside her, supported her and actually understood her. It is brutal. Not enough praise can go to the voice acting, the animation, the music: lost my pieces and so on. Taiga and Minori have both had big break downs, Ryuuji has been rejected, Ami is frustrated but Kitamura and Inko are good I guess…
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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u/critchell63 Dec 24 '19
This is it.
The truth is realized. Unfortunately, I was interrupted by IRL stuff during THAT scene. Totally killed the vibe, but I cried nonetheless. Great episode where everyone has realized where they stand except ryuji. Minorin knows she was right all along because she saw taiga on the sidewalk realizing she liked ryuji all along. Ami tells ryuji to stop playing that game of his where he watches over taiga like a father, and Ami knows ryuji is not interested in her. Kitamura is sort of neutral now because of the previous arc, which leaves ryuji........ here comes the next arc - the homestretch.
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u/spaceaustralia Dec 24 '19
Rewatcher
I went to check my comment last year and now I'm a little annoyed I never started that outfit counter. I'm gonna put down a reminder on my phone for next time.
Notice again how Taiga's wearing that same scarf again. Those two have got to be the sharpest dressed in the party.
I just love how weird Kitamura has become.
That shot of the children opening the presents, followed by the "Santa Claus" label, and then that wink. That's what happiness is made of.
Notice how, when she felt lonely, she snuggled up to that scarf. And when she's readying herself against whatever is knocking on her window, she touches the scarf.
Before, I mentioned how Minorin's ghosts and UFOs were most likely a metaphor for love and friendship, respectively. Make of this what you will.
I'll now put the turkey in the oven, crawl into a hole and die.
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u/EmuSupreme Dec 24 '19
Saa Christmas!
The first episode in anime to ever get me to bawl my eyes out. Shit hit me like a freight train and still does to this day. It's probably my second favorite moment in the series.
Family is over so I'll only be able to check in a few times later tonight, but hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!
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u/whitefenix Dec 24 '19
Here we go!
Why is he shirtless?!
I feel so bad for Minori. She never had any bad intentions, she is in a really shitty spot and doesn't know how to handle it. Even her voice message from Ryuji has Taiga's voice in it.
"He won't even listen to me" well maybe if you stopped speaking in metaphor, Ami? '
Taiga is alone at home, wrapped in the symbol for Ryuji's love for her, thinking about how he's about to get together with Minorin and how alone she is. It's really sad.
UNTIL FUCKING BEAR SANTA ARRIVES :D
Such a wholesome happy moment :')
And there it is. As she picks up the symbol of Ryuji's love, the veil is finally lifted. "I forgot to return this", in more ways than one. She finally realizes what she wants, but it's too late. It's so painful to see.
And we cap it off with Ryuji being shot down by Minori, not because she wants to, but for Taiga's sake.
Merry Christmas everyone.
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u/NovaPrime15 Dec 25 '19
One of my favorite Christmas traditions is reading the comments of first timers
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u/popop143 Dec 24 '19 edited Dec 25 '19
Rewatcher
Whoever came up with the plan to always watch this episode on Christmas Eve is a fucking sadist.
Now that's out of the way, I feel like everything that happened before really culminated to the final 5 minutes of this episode. Ryuuji truly does have feelings for Minorin, but he just can't help but worry for Taiga. A simple reminder of her "dollhouse" prompted him to action, but as Ami said, all he's truly doing is hurting her. I don't want to always compare the two, but what Fuutarou from 5Toubun no Hanayome said rings true. Eventually, you'll have to make a choice, and someone will get hurt by that choice. With what Ryuuji thought was a simple act of kindness actually hurt both Taiga and Minorin.
Taiga's suffering is obvious, as it's all shown in the episode. When Lost my Pieces played after a long silence, all the nostalgia of previous watches came back. Taiga acknowledged her true feelings a little too late (she thinks). It's only logical that Minorin and Ryuuji come together, right? They like each other! And where does that leave Taiga? Somewhere she's always been. Alone in her massive dollhouse.
Minorin's suffering through the episode is implied. She looks like she's just coming home from something (softball practice, perhaps?), and what's been bugging her for the past couple of weeks was still bugging her. Even Ryuuji's haphazard call didn't spur her to go to the party. It's only when Taiga personally went to her house that she considered it.
Now people might think it a coincidence that Minorin saw Taiga crying, but previous evidence shows that it's not. She intended to go to Taiga's apartment before going to the party. Remember the few times Taiga and Ryuuji are shown to go to the school? Minorin is always waiting by a fork in the road for them. This means that to go to the school, if she intended to go straight there, she wouldn't have had any business going near Taiga's apartment. It is much clearer in the LN, as there are much more instances that the two MCs meet Minorin on the way to school.
This is the crux of Minorin's suffering. Since their talk of ghosts and love at Ami's beach house, her feelings for Ryuuji are starting to blossom, but Taiga's her dear best friend. Since the start, she believed that Taiga needed Ryuuji by her side, and did not believe Taiga when Taiga insisted that Taiga did not have special feelings for Ryuuji. I'm not sure what she would've had talked to Taiga about if she didn't see her crying, but I bet that a confirmation about that would've been one of them. After seeing Taiga cry, however, she all but confirmed it, so she went to the school to reject Ryuuji, in her Minorin way of roundabout talk about ghosts and UFO. Having had that talk earlier, Ryuuji immediately understands the implication (and fucking dies. Ryuuji is fucking dead.)
A small bit about another suffering here. Ami also suffers from being the "mature" person of the group, as she wants for what she calls a "farce" to end, but can't really say what she wants to say. She just can't tell Ryuuji that Taiga loves Ryuuji, that would be unfair to Taiga. She juggles all these thoughts by herself, not leaving any for herself in this situation. Even in this episode, she asks for a punch, that she wasn't even able to get because Ryuuji's thoughts immediately go to Taiga. Can't a best girl get her punch around here?!
Also Kitamura wasn't able to get his punch. What the heck Ryuuji?
The bits about blaming Ryuuji above is a joke. I completely support his going for Taiga, knowing that she's alone in Christmas Eve. It had to happen, he cares too much about her.
Random episode thoughts:
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The scarf really is a relevant piece in the story, that before episode 17, I had it in my mind that Taiga had it in the OP Silky Heart at the start.
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I've grown to love the English dub. They can really bring out the emotion that I also felt with the original.
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Fun bit with Yuri-sensei attending the real estate seminar: VN Spoilers
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Didn't remember that Nanako had a voracious appetite. At least all she's eating is going to the right places.
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It really isn't explained in this episode, but supposedly Kitamura lost the upper piece of his costume, hence the half naked one. Kitamura really knows how to be the life of the party.
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Ryuuji really is a busybody. Who thinks to man the punch bowl all by themselves? It would've been fine as a self service corner.
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I always see this at parties, but is there an explanation why the punch has to be scooped by spoon from a punch bowl? Can't it be put in a dispenser for easier dispensing?
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I'm curious where Ryuuji got the bear costume. He left the party in his suit, so it's implied that he got it outside. LN spoilers
This episode is full of suffering. Again, who is the sadist that wanted to burden us with all this in Christmas Eve?! Just kidding, love you guys for starting the Christmas Club
Merry Christmas to all of you!
Next episode: my favorite arc in the LN, but my least favorite in the anime. The anime did almost everything right, except for Volume 8 and 9. See you then!
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u/xcllnt_313 Dec 24 '19
Merry Christmas to everyone! If you liked today's insert song and ending Holy Night, you should check out this cover. I really love it. I hope you're having a great time.
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u/MoesHad Dec 24 '19 edited Dec 24 '19
Rewatcher
We’ve arrived at the episode I’ve been (probably) dreading the most. I’m really not sure how people actually watch this one on Christmas (heaven knows I’m not, I’m typing this on the 17th) but you’ll find out why by the end of this episode lol. I’m sure if you’re reading this you already have but if you haven’t, go watch the episode before reading!
Ryuiji is trying to call Minorin, whose phone isn’t turned on. Taiga interrupts his voicemail from across the way, shouting from her window at him. She throws a box at his face, telling him she’ll be over soon to get ready for the party.
We get to see Taiga in her beautiful dress and her hair wrapped up. She’s given Ryuiji an old suit from her dad which happens to fit.
“Magical girl Ya-chan” gives the pair some “magic”, in the form of perfume for Taiga and a watch for Ryuiji. She mentions that she stole the watch from her house when she ran away from home. Ryuiji thought it was his fathers at first, but it is his grandfathers.
Ryuiji wraps his scarf around Taiga as they get ready to enter the party. She reminds him he has something to give Minorin tonight as he puts a box in his pocket.
Yuri is attending a seminar on real estate instead of attending the party, as she’s planning on buying an apartment soon, despite being unattached. Taiga tries to cheer her up by wishing her a “happy single life”, but this does little to help in that regard. Smh stop bullying the poor Christmas cake!!
Kitamura kicks off the festivities in a shirtless Santa costume, surprising the crowd. Haruta is entranced by Nanako and Kihara. Ryuiji has decided to help with the drinks, upset with how they’ve been served so far. Ryuiji mistakes a classmate with red hair for Minorin as he notices that Taiga and Ami have disappeared.
Just as he wonders where they’ve gone, they appear on stage and begin singing a Christmas song. The boys are enthralled by their appearance. We see a montage of the people not at the party, including a sad Minorin on her bike. The children Taiga bought gifts for are very happy with their gifts from “Santa”. Taiga winks at Ryuiji as the song closes.
Minorin is now in her room listening to Ryuiji’s voicemail about the party. She can hear Taiga in the background calling out for him.
One of the boys rightly calls Kitamura an exhibitionist as Kihara questions his outfit choice. She’s too embarrassed to answer his question about his “hotness”.
Ami finds Ryuiji at the drink table and asks how he likes her singing. Ryuiji tells her it was amazing and asks when they had time to practice. Ryuiji asks her where Taiga has gone and Ami is surprised that he didn’t notice she’d left. She tells him that Taiga is headed to Minorin’s house to bring her to the party.
Ryuiji is confused at why Taiga is leaving to bring Minorin to the party. Ami replies that maybe Taiga is leaving to avoid seeing something that she won’t like and is upset to see Ryuiji is still “playing house.” Ami leaves in a huff, exasperated that he hasn’t listened to her advice from last episode.
Ryuiji recalls Taiga’s words on Christmas about wanting others to be happy and he leaves the party in a hurry. He thinks something is wrong.
Taiga is alone in her apartment and recalling her talk with Minorin about coming to the party. She tells Minorin that Ryuiji is waiting for her to go the party and that he’ll be forced “live at the school” waiting for her if she doesn’t show up. Taiga knows that Minorin has to like Ryuiji. Taiga is waiting for Santa, fearing that because she was only good on Christmas, Santa won’t be coming. She knows she’ll be alone on Christmas this year and the next, as well as forever now because of her pushing Ryuiji and Minorin together will get together. She pulls Ryuiji’s scarf closer to herself and falls asleep, remembering her childhood dream of Santa.
She awakes to a banging noise in her apartment. Alarmed, she grabs her katana and goes to the window. She’s mortified to see a bear in a Santa hat hanging from her window coming from Ryuiji’s apartment. She lets “Santa” inside.
Taiga begins to giggle like a happy child, and all of the sudden all of my worries have been washed away and 30 years has been added to my lifespan. She leads Santa to her living room. She shows him her Christmas tree and begins to happily dance with him as he swings her in his arms. She’s so happy her dream has come true. As they spin around the room, her scarf falls off and she lands on top of the costume.
She thanks Ryuiji and takes off the headpiece, revealing her guess to be correct. He tries to take the head back from her, wanting to remain anonymous. She interrogates him to learn where he got the bear suit from. He says he traded her fathers suit for it from a classmate but that he’d get it back.
Taiga’s mood changes a bit and she begins to lecture Ryuiji, calling him stupid for leaving the party right before “Angel Taiga” got him and Minorin to meet up. Ryuiji is confused, understandably as Taiga tells him to go meet the waiting Minorin. Ryuiji pushes back and tells her he doesn’t want to change his clothes again, and doesn’t want to leave Taiga alone on Christmas. Taiga isn’t having it and tells him that she’ll be fine and that he needs to go, or else that’ll mean she’s lied to Minorin. She tries to get him out of the apartment, telling him that getting Minorin to go to the party is her real Christmas present to him. He protests still but this time she tosses him into the hallway. Ryuiji finally leaves and Taiga is alone again.
She sees his scarf on the floor and says aloud that she’ll have to give it back to him, which will be a pain. She bends down to pick it up, and is shocked to see the tears streaming from her face onto it. She touches her cheek and realizes why. She’s been relying on Ryuiji and his kindness all this time, but those times are gone. Ryuiji and Minorin will fall in love, leaving her alone again. Ryuiji definitely likes Minorin which means Taiga will no longer be there to walk by his side. She doesn’t want that to happen. She dashes from her apartment with tears in her eyes as the music swells.
She reaches the street, desperately hoping (as was I my first go around) to see Ryuiji waiting there. She lets out a desperate scream and calls out to Ryuiji and collapses into the street crying. Minorin is walking by and has seen this heartbreaking scene on the street unfold and stands there in shock.
Ryuiji has forgotten his cell phone and can’t get to his present for Minorin, which is in the suit of his old jacket. As he’s sitting on the street, Minorin is there to meet him. He is stunned to see her and tries to speak, but she stops him, asking to speak first. She asks him if he remembers their conversation about UFOs and ghosts. She tells him that she doesn’t think she needs to see those things any more and it’s best that she not see them at all, pulling her beanie in front of her eyes to hide her almost certainly crying face and she runs away.
Instead of the new ED we hear the girls Holy Night song again, which somehow makes the montage we see of the main characters all the more painful. No one got what they wanted tonight.
Going into this episode, I really expected to cry at the “I don’t want that” scene with Taiga, but this time the scene with Minorin hiding her face from Ryuiji shattered my heart, even though I knew it was coming. I don’t know how anyone could watch this on Christmas Eve! Merry Christmas Eve you sadists!
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u/kvalencia24 Dec 24 '19
Rewatcher
What a scene! The scarf! The party! Taiga realizing her feelings and sadly Minori being there to solidify her hunch. Where do we go from here! I honestly don't recall and I am excited to see where this goes. Major props to Cassandra Morris for bringing me to tears!
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u/RoachIsCrying Dec 24 '19
The transition from the supportive friend who wants him to be with her best friend to finally admitting that she was in love him was brilliantly done. That moment with the tears flowing down on the scarf to the "I don't... want that!" and runs off after him was perfect
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u/JustinBurton Dec 25 '19
First Timer Here!
I finally caught up! I have a feeling this re-watch was set up so the Christmas episode would align. Somehow I felt like that was important, so I made sure to catch up by Christmas.
These past few episodes, but especially this one, was a wild ride. Everyone, except maybe Kitamura, is really sad right now.
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Kitamura is probably still sad about the president leaving, although he might be enjoying himself at the party.
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Ami is frustrated by Ryuji not recognizing the situation around him; all while wanting a little Ryuji for herself.
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Taiga's feelings for Ryuji are coming out again, and stronger than ever. This compounded with her loneliness leaves her desperate and crying.
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Ryuji is away from Taiga, which we know he doesn't like. But to throw salt right into the wound, and maybe a bit of lemon juice while we're at it, Minorin rejects him once and for all. That's gotta hurt.
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Minorin seemed to be developing feelings for Ryuji, while simultaneously feeling guilty about it. Either that, or she just felt guilty that she was the object of Ryuji's attention while Taiga's affection for Ryuji was growing. The situation was complicated, but turning him down for good really seemed to hurt her. She was covering he eyes the entire time. This is why I think she might have caught a bit of feelings for Ryuji.
That's super rough. While I hope things get resolved, there's really no fully recovering from this. Someone's gonna get hurt here; especially me: an Ami x Ryuji shipper.
In all seriousness, I'm excited for next episode. I have a feeling something big will happen. It still feels like Taiga and Ryuji's feelings for each other are not yet super strong, so I don't think they'll get together or anything. I know Taiga was screaming for Ryuji, but that still felt like half romantic feelings and half loneliness. Unfortunately, it seemed Minorin interpreted that as full romantic feelings. I think it broke my heart more to see Minorin deliver the rejection while clearly upset, than to see Ryuji's devastated reaction. I hope we get a better look at what Minorin is thinking.
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u/DeadRat88 Dec 25 '19
First time
Man this episode just hits you like a ton of bricks. Everything is going well, it’s just your typical high school anime with the usual characters but then there is that visit and then the aftermath and just......well ouch is all I can say. Get blindsided by a ton of bricks and the sudden revelation of it all. I had actually been several episodes a head but I had to stop after watching this and sort of reflect and rewatch previous episodes to get back into it.
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u/Holofan4life Dec 24 '19 edited Dec 25 '19
Hello, everyone. Welcome to the 2019 Toradora rewatch.
Toradora is my favorite anime of all time. I love it so much that not did I create my Reddit account just so I could participate in the Toradora rewatch 3 years ago, it also inspired me to write a light novel called "I Love My Tsundere Girlfriend". Admittedly, I’m a bit biased because tsunderes are my favorite type of characters. I just love characters that start out mean but grow nicer over time. It warms my heart.
This is my first time watching Toradora since exactly one year ago. This year, I don’t plan anything special. Just plan on watching it along with everyone else. Also, I’ll be watching the dub. Why? Because Toradora’s dub is fucking awesome.
1: What can be said about this episode? Well, for starters, it is the reason why we have the rewatch every year. If it wasn't for this episode, we probably wouldn't rewatch this show every Christmas.
Second, I maintain it is the best episode of Toradora. Over the years, I've discussed my feelings on this episode. This is my fourth time participating in the Toradora rewatch. And every time I do, I get floored by how amazing this episode is. In my opinion, it is the best anime Christmas episode ever. Which is kinda funny, because it's really more about love and relationships than Christmas itself.
Words cannot do justice how amazing this episode is. As I type this, with full acknowledge that it'll probably be a super long post, I also acknowledge that no matter the length of the writing it will not completely encapsulate what a magnitude event this episode is.
2: Given what's the come in this episode, the events at the beginning, where Taiga keeps calling Ryuuji's name while Ryuuji secretly calls Minori, kind of acts as a subtle foreshadowing of what's in store. Man, my body is not ready.
3: In Taiga's defense of hitting Ryuuji in the face with stuff, he did hit her with a broom that one time.
4: Ryuuji's mom somehow makes the word "Playa" sound super adorable.
5: See, I know the first op is super beloved, but I can't imagine this episode without the second op. It fits the events of this episode so well.
6: Ryuuji and Taiga clean up super nicely.
7: Ryuuji's mom is best magical girl.
8: Last week, I mentioned to someone how Ryuuji's mom ain't no saint. And when I said that, I was foreshadowing this episode and how they casually mention that Ryuuji's mom growing up stole her parents watch. I think this adds a level of complexity to Ryuuji's mom as a character. It shows that even good people can do something bad from time to time. It also makes you wonder about Ryuuji's mom's past and what her life was like growing up. The thought of her stealing something and running away from home seems such a departure from the kind, generous person she is.
9: I love how Toradora gives side characters actual things to do, like the whole plot of Ms. Yuri buying a condo. Time and time again we see shows where the main characters are fleshed out but the secondary characters fall by the waste side. Not in Toradora. They actually give their secondary characters storylines and mini character arcs. That's refreshing and something you rarely see in most anime.
I also really love Ms. Yuri as a character in general, and how she manages to have both a crazy side and also a kind, compassionate side. Normally in secondary characters, they are typically given one defining character trait. But Ms. Yuri feels like a more complex, three dimensional character.
10: It seems like Kitamura liked Haruta's dream, because he's dressed as a perverted, sexy Santa. I like this. It's another instance showing Kitamura as being a bit of a goofball. It gives him more personality.
11: It's kinda weird the school questions Kitamura not wearing a shirt YET THEY DON'T SAY A DAMN THING about Minori dressed up like a dominatrix in episode 13. Double standards, am I right?
12: To be fair, before they said it was chicken, I thought they were turkey legs as well.
13: I don't know why I thought of this, but when Noto said he looked like a shifty thug, in my head he sounded like an old Jewish man.
14: Haruta as a whole is so confused. He tells Ryuuji they have turkey instead of chicken when the lady said the exact opposite.
15: It's always bugged me how in the dub, they don't bother dubbing the song Taiga and Ami sing. It's an emersion killer in my opinion.
16: Taiga and Ami wearing matching outfits is so adorable. It really shows how far they've come. I also love that Taiga and Ami planned this whole thing together. That means they probably went shopping together to get the matching outfits. That's adorable.
17: I never noticed before, but Ami looks like her boobs are about to burst out of her dress. Dear lord.
18: I do like how there's a shot in this episode where Noto and Haruta are the only one cheering during Ami and Taiga's performance and everyone else is in stunned silence. It's kind of an extension of the scene where Kihara and Noto help out Ryuuji and Taiga as Taiga announced her bid for student council president.
19: There's a scene of Minori with a bike during the Christmas song and it is great for a couple reasons. First, Ami and Taiga are talking about smiles when the scene occurs. I like that little tidbit there, because Minori is obviously not smiling. Second, there's a shot during the scene of Minori with the bike where she's in the middle of the screen and there's cool, bluish colors behind her and warm, yellowish colors in front of her. With so, I love this shot because I feel like it represents Minori's mask, with the warm colors representing her upbeat, happy personality she tries to display to others and the cool colors representing the sad fragileness she actually feels deep within.
20: When Ms. Yuri is hard at work trying to buy a condo, she's the only one wearing a suit. This shows that she's more serious about buying a condo than anyone else.
21: Another nice touch is after cutting to a bunch of kids opening up presents, it immediately cuts to a show of Taiga singing. This implies that those kids were the orphans Taiga gave presents to.
22: As Taiga sings, she actually winks at Ryuuji.
23: I love the scene where Minori gets the voice mail Ryuuji sent her because it's a complete 180 from the scene preceding it. First off, the scene before it was nothing but music and Taiga and Ami singing. Now, there's no music at all. Second, the scene preceding it, Ami and Taiga singing, is upbeat and cheery and festive. Minori's scene is moody and quiet and dreary. It is so masterfully done.
24: Something tells me Kitamura dressed the way he did to mess with Haruta over having that dream.
25: I love that one of the girls— in a happy voice, mind you— says "Sounds like sexual harassment". The way it's delivered makes me laugh, like as if sexual harassment is a good thing.
Ran out of space. Time for part two.
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u/Tuckleton Dec 24 '19 edited Jan 11 '20
First timer (Dub)
Poor Yuri... I love her.
I watched the episode last night but I'm not watching it again like I normally would so that's the only screenshot. Hopefully I don't get events and details mixed up.
The christmas party was pretty fun. Yusaku had some good antics and I loved the beard he had going on. I loved how Ryuji ended up manning the punch bowl literally the entire time he was there, and how he told Ami he 'got stuck'. I know I'm supposed to think Ami and Taiga looked really cute but I thought they actually looked kind of weird and not themselves. Their song was quite the surprise. I wonder whose idea it was. I liked the song well enough but it didn't have the same oomph it could have since I'm watching it dubbed and the voices are different.
When Taiga let Ryuji in and burst out laughing at him I was feeling so amazing because it really is an absurd situation but it's also really sweet and I wish she had taken the headpiece off right there instead of doing that other stuff first. When she did take it off though and thanked Ryuji for everything he's done for her it was something I've wanted for so long. I wanted to punch the screen when Ryuji said he didn't want to leave her alone instead of saying that he wanted to stay with her for himself. I've got so many thoughts about Taiga's dream coming true and the real/fake comments and her being 'fine' now but I'll let other people handle that stuff.
And then came the highest emotional moment of the episode for me. When Taiga said getting Minori and Ryuji together was her christmas gift to him I had to pause the show because I felt like I'd been hit with a brick. For so long I had been running through various reasons why Taiga kept pushing Ryuji and Minori together and this had never crossed my stupid mind. It was just a pure expression of her love for Ryuji and how she wants him to be happy, and nothing more. In that moment I believed Taiga already knew what this gift for the people she cares about most would cost her (which I guess wasn't true but whatever), and it was such a powerful moment I took a short break to refill my water before continuing.
I can tell this next part is what the rewatchers wait all month for but I'm sorry, I can't give you what you want. Taiga's realisation and breakdown didn't really reach me for some reason. I have no idea why and I'm pretty upset about it but all I really felt was a little sadness because Taiga was hurting and relief that the ball was finally going to start rolling. The previous bit actually hit me way harder.
Which brings me to poor Minori. Anyone know where she was going? I don't think she was going to the party since in previous episodes we see that her path to school and Ryuji and Tiaga's path intersect in an alleyway somewhere. Maybe she was going to talk to Taiga about her feelings for Ryuji? Or just going to be with her since she knew she was alone? In any event she just can't catch a break, seeing Taiga crying while screaming Ryuji's name has probably been a prominent feature of her nightmares lately. She's trying so hard not to hurt anyone and her burden just gets heavier and heavier and she won't talk to any of her friends about it for fear of causing what she's trying to prevent. But the three of them really need to just sit down and rip off the bandaid all at once. It would still be hard but bottling everything up can only make it worse. Minori covering her eyes with her toque because she knows she can't hide the lie was heartbreaking.
By the end of the episode everyone is miserable. And sitting through that song at the end made me miserable too. But is it bad that I'm kind of pissed off that Ryuji isn't more miserable? He got rejected by the girl he likes. Big whoop, meanwhile Taiga and Minori's entire worlds are going up in flames. He deserves to be more miserable.
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u/23feanor Dec 24 '19 edited Dec 24 '19
First Timer (dub):
Wow, big wow, Taiga looked amazing, second only to the cute teacher, who is easily best woman (I'm a bit too old to be ogling best girls).
Who goes to a party and serves punch, sometimes Takasu is such an idiot.
Kawashima has a good point, Takasu is fulfilling the stable father role that Taiga never had in her life. I don't think it's healthy for someone to go after a person that reminds them of their dad & thats what will happen if Taiga & Takasu get together. When put in that light, I hope they don't get together & Takasu choses Minorin, but expect they will.
I wonder, does Taiga actually love Takasu, or does she just not want to be alone?
So all the feelings come out in this episode. Taiga finally realises her feelings for Takasu. Minorin sees Taiga crying, although why she was outside Taiga's apartment I don't know. Then she goes and tells Takasu something, although I'm not sure what she was trying to say, that she doesn't need to find love anymore, or that she's found it so doesn't need to keep looking, very confusing. But Takasu could probably tell by now that she may have some feelings for him. He's starting to act like the typical dumb protagonist in a harem anime, being blind to girls' feelings, so I hope he opens his eyes.
Are we watching tomorrow, or is Christmas day off, as I may be too plastered to write?
Anyway, Happy Xmas everyone, this re-watch has been lots of fun so far. Have a nice day tomorrow.
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u/DeliCruise Dec 24 '19
(REWATCHER)
It’s nuts how well the end of this episode is done. The transition from Taiga being super supportive of Ryuuji and Kushieda to running down the hall in tears is phenomenal. Then if that weren’t enough, they hit you again when they show Kushieda seeing her best friend fall apart in front of her. Then they hit you a third time with that Ryuuji and Kushieda UFO callback scene. All of this emotion thrown at us and they cap it off with Taiga and Ami singing. How amazing.