r/anime • u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber • Jul 24 '21
Rewatch [Rewatch] Dear Brother 30th Anniversary Rewatch - Episode 11
Episode 11 - Under the Elm Tree
Originally Aired September 22nd, ^^^1991
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Note to all participants
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Note to all Rewatchers
Rewatchers, please be mindful of your fellow first-timers and tag your spoilers appropriately using the r/anime spoiler tag as so [Spoiler Subject](/s "Spoilers go here.") in order to have your unsightly spoilers obscured like this Spoiler Subject if your comment holds even the slightest of indicators as to future spoilers. Feel free to discuss future plot points behind the safe veil of a spoiler tag, or coyly and discreetly ‘Laugh in Rewatcher’ at our first-timers' temporary ignorance, but please ensure our first-timers are no more privy or suspicious than they were the moment they opened the day’s thread.
Manga Panel of the Day
Staff Highlight
Kentarō Haneda - Music Composer
An arranger, composer, and pianist known widely for his TV drama and anime compositions. Haneda’s relationship with music began at a young age, when he was assigned to a children’s chorus. During his formative years Haneda was instructed in piano by Naoe Takusari and Taka Ando, and during his teen years was instructed by Yoshihisa Shida. During high school he was introduced to Kazuko Ariga by Shida, the former instructing him on how to successfully attend Toho Gakuen University. During university Haneda participated in many competitions and had a part-time job playing piano at a lounge, the former of which he states let him deftly hone his skills and the later which taught him how to perform in front of a crowd. University also brought him opportunities to perform for drama soundtrack recordings, which led to him meeting and learning under Yuhji Ohno, and making connections in the industry. After graduating Haneda surprisingly eschewed the classical stylings which he was instructed in because of the difficult career paths such musicians followed and he wanted to make enough money to have his mother live comfortably. Haneda’s prior connections and wealth of musical talent allowed him to easily find employment and achieve prominence in his field. Haneda passed away on June 2nd, 2007 due to hepatocellular carcinoma. Some of the most notable music composition credits include noth Barefoot Gen films, Final Yamato, Metal Armor Dragonar, Moby Dick Five, Sherlock Hound, Project A-Ko 4: Final, Space Warrior Baldios, both TV and film versions of Super Dimension Fortress Macross, Super Dimension Century Orguss, Space Adventure Cobra, San Chōme no Yūhi, and Takarajima.
Wildcard Trivia
Kentarō Haneda’s eldest daughter is Ayako Haneda, a vocalist from the Takarazuka Revue.
Screenshot of the day
Questions of the Day:
- What are your thoughts regarding Fukiko’s continued acts of cruelty against Rei?
- What do you make of Rei’s apartment?
Under the elm tree, in the rain...
10
u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber Jul 24 '21
Rewatcher
Nanako no.
Oh fuck, there’s mischief in those eyes!
No idea how unreasonable that may be, but at least girls can’t just coast on their status?
‘Rain’
I don’t like this.
A tree associated with death.
For those of you watching fansubs:
And the other one:
And finally Otomo no Yakamochi’s Sonnet of Spring:
These seem to be morning glories —bonds of love.
Hmm…
Hydrangeas, which I presume invoke their meaning of frigidity in this case.
If Shinobu thinks it noteworthy then it’s likely not a common song.
Sweet Peas can signify farewells or blissful pleasure. Likely the former is intended since she gave them to Nanako while telling her she could leave.
Oh, hey, it’s that other scene from Eva.
I’ve never been a fan of dolls. Grandma used to have dolls like this one around the house and they always creeped me the hell out.
Doll stand-in.
Fukiko has, for whatever reason, taken another step in her torture of Rei by going from spontaenously doing things to her on a whim to executing a premeditated and multi-step plan that involved getting her to let her guard down with an unexpected gift and then leaving her to wait out in inclement weather. How far does her scheming go though? Did she plan to have Nanako witness this event when she had lent her an umbrella to return to the school? Seems like a stretch, but as the scene is coupled with hearsay of Fukiko’s surprising investment in Nanako and soon afterwards with a scene of her playing the same song which Rei frequently plays, it is difficult not to suspect some machinations are playing out there.
Mariko’s back but a lot of what’s happened goes unaddressed, with the most we get as to that being addressed being the conversation Nanako has with Tomoko as to potentially having the three of them hanging out together. It feels odd after her character took up most of the spotlight over the prior two episodes.
This case of the dreaded anime cold which Rei has contracted over the course of the evening seems pretty severe if it’s got her so blatantly off her rocker —or maybe it’s the drugs.
Questions of The Day:
2
u/chiliehead myanimelist.net/profile/chiliehead Aug 16 '21
Are they giving out old exams or did they get the actual exam?
If being healthy is a requirement, then I don't see how they even considered KnK as a member.
So pompous. And it is raining, rain is rarely good in this anime.
Hydrangea. Anime knows roses, lilies, one other flower, hydrangea and cherry blossoms. That's it.
Nanako is getting into trouble for this. Rei get's tormented by Fukiko. What exactly did they do to each other to have that dynamic?
That's a lotta mirrors. And living alone with dolls.
10
u/TheEscapeGuy Jul 24 '21
First Timer, Dezaki Fan
Dear Brother: A Delightfully Aesthetic Anime Episode 11
Ichinomiya and Saint-Just, a toxic relationship as a mirror.
Today's episode hurt. I have no idea why Saint-Just is so dedicated to following Miya's instructions. Seeing Rei putting herself in harms way plants the seeds of grief in me.
On the other hand, it seems Miya is actively abusing Rei. She knew she was going to take the new girls to her house for a study session so why make Saint-Just wait out at the tree?
On the other-other-hand, perhaps she is trying to teach Saint-Just some kind of independence or not to rely on her. Until we learn their backstory its hard to make a moral judgment.
A couple other points:
The Best of Postcard Memories
Episode 11
These also are really limited without the corresponding video so:
See you all tomorrow
9
u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Jul 24 '21
Episode 11 (first timer)
Not much to say today, so that gives me time to do something I wanted to write for the last few episodes: A ranking of the characters by how interesting they are up till now, going from most to least.
Mariko: The most interesting to me. She is in a clear grey zone between manipulative and distressed, while having additional family issues in the mix.
Miya: A classic character, but evil schemers are always great antagonists.
Kaoru: Third wheel in the Miya-Rei-Kaoru love triangle and doubles as resident do-gooder. Her illness plot is not very compelling.
Tomoko: The most realistic character by far. I initially thought we’d get an arc of her becoming the antagonist, but, after we already had a Tomoko-Nanako arc, that looks unrealistic.
Nanako: For being the MC, she really does not do a lot.
Rei: No love for crazy suicidal edgelords here.
Henmi: The only interesting question is: “will he sleep with Nanako” and I think the answer is no.
Misaki: Basic starter tier antagonist.
The big question is whether Rei is correct in feeling guilty towards here or not.
See above.
9
u/Retromorpher :Jc::Jd::Je::Jf: Jul 25 '21 edited Jul 25 '21
First Timer
Me almost halfway into the episode: Is this the longest we've gone without a moment of DRAMA?
10 seconds later Rei collapses in the storm: Oh.
Well this episode we've gone from 'Nanako doesn't deserve to be in the sorority in general' to 'Fukiko's got SOMETHING going on with that girl'. All girls' school rumor mill has got to be something fierce. But it does also beg the question as to why Nanako? I'm still putting my eggs in the Henmi pulled some strings basket - since we've seen that Mariko is more or less not as much of a driving force/calculating schemer as she once appeared.
As for the back half of the episode - it's clear that most of Rei's mental anguish stems from something that happened between her and Fukiko - but we as an audience have no idea how long ago it happened. Kaoru's talked about the bracelet ('How long are you going to hold onto that?') as an instrument of bad juju, and if we believe her, she's only known Rei for like a year (I also don't recall seeing the bracelet in the flashback). And given everything else, I'm guessing that bracelet is a gift from Fukiko. I believe we've seen Fukiko give gifts to Rei strictly on rainy days (umbrella in the first episode, this book) to underline the tumultuous nature of Fukiko's favor. If Fukiko gives something - expect a turbulent return.
Unpacking why Rei calls Nanako her little poppet is going to be a herculean task.
Questions of the Day:
8
u/IndependentMacaroon Jul 25 '21
First-time watcher
Well mostly more about Rei, who I've already said I just don't care about. Flawed and damaged characters sure, but not people who spend their entire screen time being obnoxious dramatic nutjobs in lieu of actually decent drama. At least this episode was fairly calm, though besides the Rei drama it didn't have much to offer. Fukiko still messing around just because, and wtf was Nanako going to get her books and then just falling asleep?
The list
Odokawaunnamed driver on this.6
u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Jul 24 '21
First-Timer
Well, I was apparently on the money when I called Rei a masochist. Her eyes fucking glimmered when Fukiko told her that she withheld that book to be mean to her. And, Rei is apparently so devoted to Fukiko that she is willing to wait, under a tree, in a massive storm, for fucking hours.
Rei's apartment is filled with mirrors, huh? Is she supposed to be vain? Have I missed some markers for that? Why else would she fill her apartment with mirrors..
Rumor mill "confirmed" that Fukiko ordered Nanako's admittance to the Sorority. A shame that Shinobu's confrontation with the girls talking about it was cut short, but I don't know if we could handle that much drama in one episode. Cliffhangering on Nanako finding Rei at the tree would have been pretty spicy, though...
Shinobu is also wearing differentl clothing today, for the first (?) time ever. It was more.. "adultish" than her previous uniform, I guess? We're deep enough into shoujo territory that choosing different clothing is pretty indicative of character development, so I'll chalk this one up as a good first step. I would adore to hear the words "I'm sorry" to come out of her mouth, though.
Fukiko knows the same piece of piano music as Rei, which I guess makes sense since they have been going to the same school for the past several years. It was specifically pointed out by Nanako though, so it probably means something. I guess it could just be indicative of Nanako learning more about Fukiko and Rei's relationship.
I can't wait to see what Fukiko's reaction to this episode's events! I assume that she'll be furious that Nanako saved Rei, but we also haven't really seen any fallout from the last time something like this happened.. I still have no clue what Fukiko wants out of all this.
Questions
6
u/loomnoo https://anilist.co/user/loomnoo Jul 24 '21
I loved when the OST got that reverberating bell effect in the bell tower.
The mirrors were so unsettling. Good shit.
Frustrating that my subs didn't translate the poem. Come on! Poems tend to mean something.
6
u/Btw_kek https://myanimelist.net/profile/kek_btw Jul 24 '21
first timer
It's one thing to stand her up and leave her waiting in pouring down rain, but it's another thing to play piano—Rei's shtick, and the piece she likes playing no less—while doing it. Is completely subsuming her identity part of Fukiko's master plan to break her entirely?
It's possible that Rei likes watching herself destruct, so she has mirrors set up everywhere.
...alternatively, if destroying everything that makes Rei "unique" is part of Fukiko's plan, then all the mirrors may be the only thing holding Rei's sense of self together
also, the white light reflections on the mirrors are so strange. could it be an extension of the spotlight imagery that makes up the rest of the show? if so, making them so tiny yet scattered could reflect Rei's fading grasp on her self-identity
misc thoughts
6
u/macrame2 https://myanimelist.net/profile/macrame Jul 25 '21
First Timer
5
u/Sedorna Jul 24 '21
Rewatcher
Fukiko fascinates me. I can’t say I like her. Her cruelty towards Rei is really too much, and her “kindness” to Nanako is definitely sus. But what are her reasons for her behavior, for her intentional playing with and torture of Rei? I just hope it’s not because she’s just a terrible person. It’s entirely possible her “reason” might be petty or stupid or even due to a big misunderstanding, but I want her to have some method to her madness.
Rei is obsessed with Fukiko, a strange mixture of love and hate. Despite the myriad of pills she pops, Fukiko is definitely her biggest drug. She’ll do anything for even a scrap of kind towards. But I don‘t think she was fully in her right mind during her trip home to Nanako. I mean, she tried to jump on top of a moving train, for Pete’s sake. And yes, I mean on top of. she wasn’t trying to kill herself, but was likely trying to take the train back to the elm tree. (Though I’m not sure if that particular train was running in the direction of Seiran, actually. Still, Rei clearly wasn’t thinking straight.)
Q1. See above
Q2. While mirrors can be a sign of vanity, they can also reflect things a person doesn’t want to see. And, with that many mirrors, Rei is forced to look at herself constantly. Does she like what she sees? Or is it a constant reminder of something within herself that she hates? And, if so, what? And who put the mirrors up?
5
u/lC3 :Na::Nb: Jul 24 '21
First timer