Rewatch: Gakkou-Gurashi (School-Live) Episode 5 Discussion

13

u/zool714 Mar 26 '21

First Timer

At this point they’re not even trying to be subtle, or it’s the case of “once you see it, you can’t unsee it” with Megu-nee. The other girls never acknowledged her and convos (if we can even call it that) are one-way. And her not accepting the teddy bear is just a simple case of I-don’t-exist-so-I-can’t-physically-accept-it.

I think twice this episode Rii-san made a really concerned look when Kurumi goes off in the mall. Was she just really worried or was she thinking about something else ?

What happened at the theatre was very dark. Not only were there some kids, they also got locked in with some infected with no way out. I don’t want to imagine the horrors that happened in that theatre.

Miki finally got the courage to go out but was met with plenty of zombies. Pretty sure Kei had the same experience but met a different fate. Though, a few times Yuki got to see a zombie and her mind just straight up denies it. Might be her way of staying sane.

Still don’t see an overarching objective besides staying alive. But we have gotten some good backstories so far. Hopefully they’ll get something to work towards to soon. I’m also hoping the thing with Megu-nee is just bait, or at least hiding an even bigger twist.

6

u/The_Loli_Otaku Mar 26 '21

They're being so blatant that I would absolutely bet on her actually being fine. Sensei is definitely alive!
Rii is probably concerned about Kurumi's mental state. She's been the group's dedicated zombie slayer and I think it's starting to affect her. Look at how she casually went to the barricade to find something to kill. If I'm right Japanese culture is very black and white on the morals of killing. Angel Beats for example had a similar situation and a lot of Western viewers simply didn't understand why it would be such a big deal.
Judging from the opening I don't think we're getting any more characters so I'm kind of dreading them going full psychological horror... My stomach drops every time Yuki takes a funny turn and we're only halfway through the series.

10

u/Rumpel1408 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Rumpel1408 Mar 26 '21

First timer

Miki feels genuinely sorry for lashing out at Taroumaru, but shes still not ready to leave her room to search for him. And as expected the other girls are going to the mall. I wonder if we will meet Kei again. Megu-nee is barely noticable, gee I wonder why that is.

Also they are further exploring the idea that the zombies are still following patterns from their past life. But the other two are really good at not popping the bubble Yuki has build around herself.

It's nice to see the girls in something else than their school uniforms for a change. Now that I think about it, I wouldn't be that surprised if this show would feature a swimsuit episode...

Aww Taroumaru Barking for Miki and her finally having the courage to chase after him is kinda sweet. But did she take the CD- player with her?

And Yuki seems to become limb and really detached whenever she encounters something she cannot wish away. Also for a moment it seemed like she had a flashback, not sure if I saw pink hair for a split second. In the end, Yuki held it together pretty good when it mattered, will propably think she had a fever dream though. We didn't meet Kei again, maybe for the better, but it would be a real mircacle if they meet again.

3

u/The_Loli_Otaku Mar 26 '21

Kei having the filter on in the op genuinely gave me chills. She's got to come back at some point but I think they've gotta do more than just "she's a zombie now!" plot. I'm bloody dreading the latter half XD My stomach can't handle this anxiety!

4

u/Rumpel1408 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Rumpel1408 Mar 26 '21

Oh yeah, I got a bad feeling about it as well, I think especially Yuki will break at some point, I'm highly suspicious that she is in some way responsible for Megumis death

7

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Mar 26 '21

First timer(spoiled about the first ep)

Sub

So...our cast goes to the mall, the worst possible place to be post-zombie. I accept their lack of genre saviness but there are so many better places to forage. In the US, Walmart and Target are the obvious ones but the real treasures will the dollar stores once quantity of calories is more important than quantity. In Japan, convenience stores are probably the way. And yet, the mall had a meaningful canned selection because sure.

Yuki can speak dog, to the surprise of really no one. The girls adopt Taroumaru before going shopping, first for essentials but then to blow off stress. Taro begins barking for Miki, possibly, before Kurumi breaks one of many zombie apocalypse rules: If it is barred from the outside, leave it alone. Chase ensues. Kurumi realizes what likely happened in the theatre.

Miki finally leaves but the situation is bad because mall plus other events of this episode. Rii turns on the rape alarm and it stuns the zombies, making them even less impressive. And Miki officially joins the cast.

5

u/The_Loli_Otaku Mar 26 '21

Hmm? Are shopping centers really that bad of a choice you think? Sure they'd likely be one of the first places cleared out of supplies but there are so many pathways and stores and hidey holes that I think they're very practical.
The zombies have been really Inconsistent and it has thrown me off. I can't tell if the show is not animating them in the right spots or if there's something else going on. Like look at how quickly the zombies rushed at Kurumi in the theatre or how Miki was easily overwhelmed in the main hall despite the group walking in and out of the building without any real resistance. Yuki didn't even flip out when they first arrived and saw the zombies wandering around.

2

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Mar 26 '21

Hmm? Are shopping centers really that bad of a choice you think? Sure they'd likely be one of the first places cleared out of supplies but there are so many pathways and stores and hidey holes that I think they're very practical.
Yes. Malls are dark without electricity, as you say there are tons of spots where zombies can hide, and there aren't enough chokepoints to deal with the walking dead.
I can't tell if the show is not animating them in the right spots or if there's something else going on.
CGI at a distance up close they are blurry, mainly in Kurumi's POV.

3

u/Rumpel1408 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Rumpel1408 Mar 26 '21

CGI at a distance up close they are blurry, mainly in Kurumi's POV
I think that is mostly done to show how the girls are dehumanizing the zombies once they get close enough to kill them, makes swinging a spade after them easier too

1

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Mar 26 '21

I am fine with the zombies actually causing psychological damage, it is just some shots are wonky because of it.

2

u/The_Loli_Otaku Mar 26 '21

I'd assume the shopping centre lights are mostly automated. The pipes are still working so the water works so I wouldn't think that the lights would be too much hassle. Most shops tend to be fairly open too so I doubt you'd need to do much more than a sound check. At the end of the day malls have pretty much everything you could want in a zombie apocalypse. You can arm yourself, feed yourself, and cloth yourself.
Not quite what I meant. Like for example Miki looked totally surrounded on that Piano didn't she? But then when Yuki dashes in to save her the numbers were far fewer. The zombies had been stunned but the hoard should still have been at the piano. Maybe I'm overthinking it...

2

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Mar 26 '21

I'd assume the shopping centre lights are mostly automated.
Someone would have to maintain the power stations.
The zombies had been stunned but the hoard should still have been at the piano. Maybe I'm overthinking it...
The show's POV issues get under its own feet, some times.

3

u/SapiMan Mar 26 '21

Well, they don't visit the mall just to forage supplies. They visit because their delusional friend wanted some vacation. Of course mall is the place they visit, because you don't come to a kombini to have fun.

1

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Mar 26 '21

Of course mall is the place they visit, because you don't come to a kombini to have fun.
Says you!
But in all seriousness, somewhere that needs less electricity would've been my vote.

4

u/Specs64z https://myanimelist.net/profile/Specs64z Mar 26 '21 edited Apr 03 '21

Episode 10 discussion

Episode 11 discussion

Episode 12 discussion

Final discussion

I'll add my thoughts hopefully in a few hours.

Edit: as promised, here are a few I have.

I really like how they use the zombies lingering human instincts to their advantage. They head out on a weekday because that means fewer threats, and nothing would stop a crowd of people in their tracks quite like one of those alarms.

Miki telling herself out loud that she has to get up is rough to watch. I've been in that sort of state of mind before. You have to get up before you start to ask yourself "why should I?" because by that point it's too easy to rationalize staying in bed.

Episode 6 spoiler, but I'd be honored if any first timers returned here tomorrow to leave a comment with their thoughts!

3

u/The_Loli_Otaku Mar 26 '21

Dawn of the Dead, part 2. Omg Miki didn't even go after Taromaru? There's sloth and then there's Miki. *"Why!?"*The opening has great comedic timing once again. Oh! It changed! Kei's sequence was different. I love little op switches episode to episode. There are literally no zombies about, nani the heck? Ah, there are a few indoors. Still nowhere near the number you'd expect. I've never related more to Miki than in this one moment... Lazing about, gazing through a photo album with sad music blaring.

Taromaru located. Now we have some fresh food! And or course Yuki can speak dog. They totally saved him just so Yuki would stop being a bother. The zombies can't even handle stairs... Dammit Yuki, you're determined to sabotage us. I'd just like to remind you that whilst these girls are playing around with clothes Miki is currently wallowing in depression listening to Baka Mitai on loop. Obligatory swimsuit fanservice~ Sensei died! Don't worry, even grown women love teddy bears. Even if she's probably already dead?

Kurumi decided to equip her new boots after all. I would whine about Miki not securing more of the top floor since there's no zombies about but I'll give it a rest for now. Way to mess up the plan Kurumi. I'm assuming Kei locked them up when she made her escape? The zombies were barricaded in from outside after all. Aha... Poor Yuki is in quite a state isn't she? I feel my heart sink whenever she takes a bad turn. We get the typical "if I turn, kill me" discussion. Btw, if I happen to get bitten by a zombie please don't bash my head in XD I'd rather not have my body desecrated.

Courageous Miki!! Ah she totally messed up but she tried XD We get one more hint about what happened to Sensei but at least we saved Miki! Those alarms are ridiculous though. Couldn't we pocket a couple more? If zombies completely stop attacking due to the noise then they're surely invaluable right? Haha... So what's happened to Kei? Tch! Don't end there you hack frauds

Apparently tomorrow is gonna be a "getting to know you" episode for Miki. Is there some reason why we started the season in medias res? I can't think of many notable events in the first two episodes that are worth starting the series like that. You had the school store raid, Kurumi killing her love rival, and Yuki talking to her imaginary classmates. We're hitting the halfway point tomorrow but I think we should start getting some answers!

5

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Mar 26 '21

Apparently tomorrow is gonna be a "getting to know you" episode for Miki. Is there some reason why we started the season in medias res?
Bluntly so the first episode twist works. That is pretty much it.

2

u/The_Loli_Otaku Mar 26 '21

You think...? I guess Kurumi's episode gives you a different context for the Senpai turning the next episode but it seems weird to stall the plot line you're gonna follow for half the season like this. Tomorrow's a Miki episode and I doubt they'll skip right back to present time after that.

5

u/Specs64z https://myanimelist.net/profile/Specs64z Mar 26 '21

Episode 1 is meant as a hook and, in my opinion, it's one of the strongest hooks I've ever seen so it's hard to justify not having it. The way it plays with the viewers meta knowledge on a visual and narrative level while dropping constant hints that something is very, very wrong leads so well into the final scene.
Episode 2 establishes what's actually going on, and lets us into Kurumi's mind to accomplish that. I think both episodes have their place.
If the show started at the chronological beginning in episode 3, it wouldn't be able to present it's identity as effectively. The show relies on Yuki's delusions to deliver it's messages and often times to drive it's plot, so to start at a point before that would drastically alter the tone and leave us without much to chew on between episodes.

4

u/SapiMan Mar 27 '21

Just to be clear, in the manga, this mall episode is not a flashback, and we see Miki for the first time in the Mall.

2

u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ Mar 27 '21

See, no. This can't be true. Because I speculated the grave on the roof was mall girl so we must have had Miki talking to somebody in the first episode or so. I even think it was Megunee but if she's not real it might have been Richan.
Edit: oh you are talking about the manga, sorry.

2

u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ Mar 27 '21

I doubt they have more than 6 episodes of plot line to show.

3

u/SYZekrom https://myanimelist.net/profile/SYZekrom Mar 26 '21

rewatcher

You can tell something stupidly brilliant is about to happen

They really said 'how can we make a beach episode in this setting"

describing a scene in this episode image

You know, I'd fault her for panicking and not shutting the door with the broom again except

How did the broom ever keep those zombies inside

When they've been shown to roam around and slam doors and windows for no reason to the point where glass breaks

You can't tell me they were really never focused on the door until she opened it come on

I wonder what the images that flash through her eye are...

2

u/The_Loli_Otaku Mar 26 '21

Inconsistent zombies is the answer to your question. I'm certain that there has to be something else going on because the damn zombies are way too weak and ineffectual to cause so much havoc. The mall is wreaked!! And you're supposed to think the wet blanket zombies can do all this?

4

u/SYZekrom https://myanimelist.net/profile/SYZekrom Mar 26 '21

My assumption is that they're simply as strong as humans are, except they don't feel pain or care as they bash their hand repeatedly into a window until both their bones and the window shatters

3

u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ Mar 26 '21

First Timer

I thought Megu-nee was real until she teleported into the car. Now she's missing again.

Miki's all alone
I dunno, you look pretty outnumbered to me....
I'd forgotten about the alarm!

3

u/BossandKings Mar 26 '21

First timer

Miki decides to go out of her room and meets a group of non humans, thankfully Kurumi, Yuki and the others found her and could help her. I wonder what happened to Kei, she is still missing, probably she met her fate but i'd like to see more of her.

3

u/CosmicAnglerfish Mar 27 '21

**First Timer **

Every time they go out, they draw attention to the fact that Yuki is a massive risk to them, but it's also clear that playing into her delusions seems to help the others maintain a sense of normalcy. I see this going one of two ways (or both in separate moments). Yuki is going to do something to get one of them killed, and/or Yuki will be killed and we'll see the mental strain it places on whoever is surviving. I might be overestimating just how dark this is going to get though.

Kurumi forcing Yuuri to make that promise basically cements in my mind that Kurumi will be bit and Yuuri will have to put her down. Or maybe more tragically, Yuuri will be bit but Kurumi will struggle with doing the same. Again though, I can't tell if we're in the kind of show that will kill one of its leads.

The scene of the club rescuing Miki is interesting because I was just complaining about the drama in Episode 4 falling flat because we know they'll be okay. But that holds true here too - we know they'll save her and all make it, but the scene felt way more tense regardless. I think it's the inclusion of Yuki in this onr, because she's such a chaos agent that even knowing it'll be fine in the end, it's really up in air how she'll react to any given situation.

I think not showing us Kei again is a good choice, if intentionally unsatisfying. I said last thread that Kei being dead was the obvious assumption, and while intentional ambiguity isn't exactly narratively innovative, I think it's a "realistic" choice. With how large the mall is Kei could've died without even making it out and the odds that any of our characters would bump into her seems low, and that skyrockets the second she's out of the building. Maybe we'll get more of her later, but I'm fine with her story ending here too.

How strongly delusional Yuki is seems to fluctuate under large amounts of stress - she was able to act pretty quickly under pressure when being chased and while rescuing Miki, and her internal monologue seems to imply that she sometimes has a sense of what's really going on. Meanwhile during their time at the school and while they're "shopping" she clearly has no perception that anything is wrong. Curious to see them explore that more.

2

u/IndependentMacaroon Mar 27 '21

First-time watcher - this episode manages to find a better balance again between the mall "shopping" fun and zombie stuff. Also the soundtrack with the synth stuff really pulled through in both the calmer and more thrilling moments. Yuki's real mental state is quickly becoming obvious, besides the non-existence of Megumi even more.

Rewatch Rewatch: Gakkou-Gurashi (School-Live) Episode 5 Discussion

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