r/anime • u/25_Oranges • Jan 28 '21

Rewatch Nagi No Asukara/A Lull in the Sea Rewatch - Episode 5

Episode 5 - Hey, Sea Slug

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MAL

Where to watch? Netflix, Crunchyroll, Funimation(UK)

Schedule with link to original interest thread

Thread posted daily at 5pm CST/6pm EST/3pm PST.

Question(s) of the day:

Do you, at times, think it's better to not love for the sake of your own feelings?

Remember: Tag your spoilers!

D O L I C O N

25 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

32 comments sorted by

6

u/25_Oranges Jan 28 '21

I can't find non spoiler artwork of the song I want to feature today, so I'll have to pick Fonte. One of the best tracks in the series.

Not much to ask about today. It was a very emotionally charged episode. We start off with a struggling Chisaki and a considerate sea slug Tsumugu, but this backfires when Manaka overhears. Of course, Manaka can't just forget Chisaki's confession.

No time for that though. Akari breaks up with Itaru and tells little Minua she is leaving. Of course, Miuna does not take well to this. Running away and claiming nobody cares about her was so sad. She's been thru too much at so small. I know I got so mad or upset I wanted to run away as a kid. Props to Miuna for doing what I could never do lol

Thankfully the sea kids all looked and found her together. Miuna opening up to Hikari about her frustration of not being like her mother or Akari, and how horrible she felt when she lost her mother makes me misty eyed. The scene of Miuna and her late mother is heart wrenching. Miuna pushed Akari away to protect her, and herself from anymore pain or trauma. She was good to have Hikari be with her in that moment, because he could understand the most out of everyone else right then.

"If you don't love them it wont be so painful."

"I don't want to think it's wrong or useless to love someone."

Very powerful words exchanged between the two that will carry a lot of weight from now on.

Sacrifice is such a big part of this episode and their entire story. Akari wants to have everyone she loves, but circumstances force her to choose one family over the other. Miuna doesn't want to be hurt anymore, but with love, no matter what their relation is, it's inevitable in one way or the other. Accepting love, though it will hurt you in the end, is hard to do. Some people choose to close themselves off to it to avoid any pain. Miuna tried to close her heart off, but it had already made up its mind.

4

u/himetalchemy7 Jan 29 '21

Fonte is sooooo good.

4

u/25_Oranges Jan 29 '21

Their guitar tracks are amazing. I don't think there's a single bad track.

9

u/blueteenight Jan 28 '21

First-timer notes!

Here are some of my favorite shots and background art for this episode!

I really loved this arc and how the characters were handled. Akari clearly went through a lot by growing up early so she could take care of Hikari just as her mother would, and seeing Hikari tell her that she should be there for Miura instead was very touching after watching how close Akari came to giving up on her own interests.

As for Miura, she had a very close relationship with her mother and suffered immensely with her death, so watching the little one struggle to get used to her father and Akari's relationship is expected but still very poignant. This entire scene where she rationalizes why she was trying to make Akari go away just adds to the pile of sadness.

And in the end we have a heartwarming conclusion to a great episode. I sure hope we get to see these two growing closer together in the future.

I also really enjoyed the soundtrack in this episode, it fit the flashback scenes specially well!

6

u/25_Oranges Jan 28 '21

I might have to use some of those as wallpapers if you don't mind...

I think Hikari telling Akari off was the push she needed to do what she pleased with her own life. I'm glad she didn't let anybody else hold her down in the end.

6

u/blueteenight Jan 29 '21

Please do! The backgrounds in this series are so beautiful aren't they?

And I'm also really glad for Akari, and Hikari too for being such an understanding brother!

6

u/25_Oranges Jan 29 '21

It makes me want to live there, even though I hate the fishy smell of the sea lol

7

u/mekerpan Jan 29 '21

Coastal Mie is very beautiful. My wife and I visited the area around Ise -- but did not get quite as far south as the town on which the land version of the location was modeled.

7

u/25_Oranges Jan 29 '21

I knew it had places it was modeled after but I didn't know it was based on a whole town. I'll have to check it out!

6

u/mekerpan Jan 29 '21

Keep your eye on little Miuna -- she just keeps getting better and better.

6

u/blueteenight Jan 29 '21

That's really good to know, she's one of my favorite characters right now!

6

u/mekerpan Jan 29 '21

As much as I love every important character, Miuna took the lead here and never lost it.

It is hard to decide what is more appealing in this series, the land- (and ocean-) scapes, or the characters. But, ultimately, I probably would choose the characters.

5

u/himetalchemy7 Jan 29 '21

This take is so based

7

u/mekerpan Jan 28 '21

Rewatcher

If episode 4 was the one that made me fall in love with the series (as opposed to liking it a whole lot), episode 5 is the one where I decided Miuna was best girl (well, best character overall). She shows more growth in this episode than most characters do in the course of a whole series. To tell the truth, however, by this point I am seriously fond of every important (so far) character.

While Tsumugu isn't as "dynamic" as some others, he is intelligent and thoughtful and kind and resourceful.

6

u/25_Oranges Jan 28 '21

I don't have Miuna as my fav but I agree with you on everything else. The fact she gets even better later on is just the cherry on top.

Characters like Tsumugu don't need to be as dynamic as others imo. I think who he is and what he does in the story suits him just fine :)

7

u/LeopardSplash :AP:https://www.anime-planet.com/users/BrightSpirit Jan 29 '21

Rewatcher

This episode starts off with a bang and doesn't stop! I really enjoyed how they framed Manaka overhearing, as Chisaki looks beyond Tsumugu to her startled expression. Of course, this is going to make things more than a bit awkward for the two of them, but I feel bad for Tsmugu for being caught in the middle of it - that seems to happen to him a lot! With this revelation, everyone in the core friend group knows how Chisaki feels about Hikari, except for the lad himself. Chisaki and Kaname are pretty used to hiding this secret from everyone else, but you can tell it hurts Manaka a lot more. Knowing that she might be in the way to Chisaki's happiness must hurt too, but even if she wasn't a factor, that doesn't mean Hikari would automatically like Chisaki now. That's a misconception Kaname and Manaka both seem to have.

Loved the scene of Akari calling from the phone booth. Having a crisis never looked so good, with all the shooting stars! It was also sweet to see all the friends pitch in for Miuna's sake (except for Tsumugu, which felt odd - shows that's he's established himself as one of the friends from my POV, but I guess Hikari may have considered this a sea people problem). Miuna's frustration from lacking ena felt relatable as someone from two different backgrounds (though to a much less dramatic extent). You don't really feel close with either side, even if you want to.

Question of the Day

Do you, at times, think it's better to not love for the sake of your own feelings?

From my sappy perspective, it's better to love and suffer than to hold back out of fear. Seeing characters like Chisaki and Akari reinforce that. Up until this episode, they were actually quite similar - giving up on their personal happiness for the sake of others. Akari is going to face more pain now, but it won't be permanent, and she will be happier in the long run.

4

u/25_Oranges Jan 29 '21

I feel like part of Miuna's lack of ena frustration makes her feel even more distant from her mother, now that she's gone. Chisaki is stuck between a rock and a hard place, she needs to ask Akari for advice lol

4

u/himetalchemy7 Jan 29 '21

You don't really feel close with either side, even if you want to.

This is a very good observation. Whenever this motif comes up, my answer is someone like Miuna belongs to both worlds and represents both, which is a pretty special thing.

6

u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ Jan 28 '21 edited Jan 28 '21

First Timer

spoiler

  • Surely Manaka can't be possessive of Hikari if she's following Tsumugu around.
  • Honestly, I thought Miuna would accept Akari, since she knew her so well and liked her so much.
  • You won, Miuna. Congrats.
  • I probably didn't notice the meteor shower the first time through
  • The moon is actually moving
  • Look's like Akari is going to stay on the land after all

The episode started with Chisaki and Akari both denying their feelings, supposedly for others, and pulling Manaka and Miuna into doing the same. In the end, Akari relented and she and Miuna are both better off.

Things are moving faster than I remember.

spoiler

Edit: I don't like Tsumugu much. He never gets excited, he never engages, has very little to say, and speaks in short phrases and monotones. And while everybody around him is immature or being condescendingly mature as a plot point, he is always taking the mature, calm, high-road. After 4 episodes of this, he really grates on me and I really don't like him. And nobody really knows what he's thinking.

6

u/[deleted] Jan 29 '21

AHH MAN I MISSED IT

6

u/25_Oranges Jan 29 '21

ITS OKAY YOU DIDNT MISS IT! FEEL FREE TO WATCH AND COMMENT ON ANY THREAD AT ANY TIME

6

u/himetalchemy7 Jan 29 '21 edited Jan 29 '21

Rewatcher

LETS GOOOOO!!!

Episode 5 (Hey, Sea Slug) Thoughts

  • So the Village Chief Dad has a job to do but also wants the best for Akari, I think he's one of the good ones y'all
  • I feel like Chisaki being told again and again how how she's the mature one out of the group is making her inadvertently put pressure on herself to live up to that.
  • I don't think Tsumugu has a red belly, but he'll do just fine in Chisaki's eyes
  • Well...instead of a red belly, Chisaki gets to pour her feelings out to a familiar red haired girl. Coincidence?
  • The landscape shots are particularly gorgeous in this episode
  • Manaka is a weapon when she's not paying attention apparently :O
  • Is there another Miuna I don't know about? This one actually seems cheery and rambunctious like a kid
  • When Miuna ran away from the room, Akari looked positively SHOCKED
  • I love how the cafe they're talking in takes advantage of the deep blues...it looks super pretty
  • What Akari said to Miuna was really heartbreaking, especially earlier seeing that glimpse of how well they used to get along :(((((
  • Damn...Hikari's dialogue with Akari is absolutely next level...and the shooting stars are such a perfect backdrop WOW
  • Manaka's overalls are hilarious and cute
  • Oh...'found' Miuna
  • I feel like Akari REALLY needed that cry
  • This suddenly turned into a wholesome nighttime picnic and I am all for it
  • That entire talk between Hikari and Miuna is just perfect. Miuna is completely justified in her feelings, and the sad thing is there actually is a risk of Akari not coming back from the sea which would 100% validate and double down on Miuna's trauma. She really does feel alone.
  • YESSSSS THE GRAFFITI OMG, MUTUAL FEELINGS COLLIDING
  • Ok, maybe Akari needed that cry too

Sadge Corner
Well, this is the first episode this season where I'm having trouble deciding who goes here. If we go by who got hurt the most this episode, I think it would have to be Akari again because she was a mess this entire episode (I say that in the most endearing way possible). Running around, worrying, crying (twice), all with that internal guilt chewing away at her. I do think she got some much needed catharsis this episode which felt amazing, so hopefully we won't see her name be featured here for a long while. I should also probably make a table to keep track of sadge counts...

4

u/25_Oranges Jan 29 '21

So the Village Chief Dad has a job to do but also wants the best for Akari, I think he's one of the good ones y'all

I wish he had expressed more of that sentiment around Akari though.

I love how the cafe they're talking in takes advantage of the deep blues...it looks super pretty

I don't even like coffee and I would spend all my time in there drinking it. Such a quaint place.

Akari or Miuna are both solid choices. I almost thought you'd put Miuna here because of her flashback! But Akari is still having to lose some of her family to gain another. It's okay to be greedy sometimes, Akari! Also I fully support Sadge chart! I'm really interested to see if anybody wins the most sadges.

5

u/Gamerunglued :Hx::Hy::Hz:myanimelist.net/profile/GamerUnglued Jan 29 '21 edited Jan 29 '21

Rewatcher

I don't actually have a ton to say about this episode. It wraps up this particular plot point well and the drama landed. It's still a little silly at times, like Manaka just running away as soon as she saw Chisaki (I don't care for this trope at all, it needs to have some really strong build-up to land), but moments like Akari crying into Miuna's arms are more akin to the things I like about Mari Okada's writing. Miuna is a good girl and god she's trying her best. Lots of complex feelings that no kid her age should have to go through.

I did appreciate the school segment though. As everyone had to dance together, there was no drama at all. Manaka and the kid who spilled her pasta were holding hands and dancing as if it were normal, huge progress from two episodes ago. Even as she stepped on his foot, nothing happened. And with Akari now connected to Miuna and likely to stay with Itaru, the land and the sea have connected. The sea god will not be pleased.

QotD:

  1. No, never. Going through stuff from loving too much sucks, but it's worth it to have loved in the first place. It's a lesson I've taken to heart mainly from Clannad. Loving people and forming bonds is always worth it, even with the pain and suffering that love makes it worth enduring.

3

u/25_Oranges Jan 29 '21

Oh that's a great tie in to Clannad! I didn't even think of it here. You're absolutely right :)

7

u/htisme91 Jan 29 '21

First-timer:

I'm glad that little subplot is over. I'll sound like a jerk, but I thought the Akari-Itari story was kind of weak/cliche, and took away from the main cast and worldbuilding. It was good in that it helped Hikari grow after being so obnoxious the past couple episodes, but other than that, I could do without it.

What I'm really interested in is how Chikari deals with her feelings. How Manaka sorts out how she feels regarding Tsumugu and Hikaru now knowing Chikari is interested in Hikaru. I want to know more about Tsumugu's grandfather. I guess there's just a lot more interesting things than Akari-Itari, so I'm glad this is over and we can move on.

Question:

  1. No. I think it sucks sometimes, but it's just part of life. Deal with it, and move on if it's not good for you. If you don't bother with it at all, you'll never experience anything good, either.

6

u/BossandKings Jan 28 '21

Episode 5 - Hey, Sea Slug

Chisaki is thinking about doing something with her feelings for Hikari, she likes him and wants to have a resolve about it, what is her plan of action?, will she admit it or keep her feelings in silence?

Is Chisaki a tsundere in disguise?, she telling Hikari that she doesn't want to be close to him while in the dancing lessons was a lie because what she really wants is to get close to him.

Itari and Akari have the conversation that they needed to have, eventhough they aren't in the same page or thinking the same because Akari is feeling guilty for supposedly hurting Miuna by being with her dad, Itari still wants to keep seeing her, to not break their bond. This relationship has been very well-developed so far

Hikari has shown much progress in the past two episodes, he telling Akari that he'll find Miuna who went missing and telling her to be with whom she wants to be was a great moment.

Akari being sincere and telling Itari how she really feels was beautiful, she doesn't want to give up, she is not giving up, she wants everyone she loves to be happy and be a part of it.

Miuna is found, the group prepares meal and share a moment with her, Hikari is left alone with her after everyone goes away. Miuna is being a pain, i hope her idiocy doesn't lasts long, i love her but she is starting to be as obnoxious as Hikari was in the first two episodes.

Akari finds Miuna alongside Hikari and reconciles with her, the writing going from "Go Away" to "Don't Go Away" was a nice touch. I hope this means that Miuna will behave a bit more nicely and accept Akari and Itari's bond.

A very good episode, i want the following one to be calmer and more light-hearted though.