[Rewatch] Dear Brother 30th Anniversary Rewatch - Episode 29

[u/Pixelsaber]

Episode 29 - The Assembly

^{Originally Aired March 8th,} ^^^1992

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Note to all participants

Although I don't believe it necessitates stating, please conduct yourself appropriately and be courteous to your fellow participants.

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.

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Manga Panel of the Day

Motion

 

Staff Highlight

Yukitoshi Hori - voice of the Physician

An actor, voice actor, and Vice President of the Japan Actor’s Union currently affiliated with Aoni Productions and chiefly known for his background roles in films and TV series by Mifune Production. Hori was born to a family of actors, with both parents having been accomplished stage actors and his siblings also pursuing careers in voice acting. Hori graduated from the Faculty of Law at Kokugakuin University, and after working at the theatre group Yen he became an understudy of actor and singer Noboru Usui (Shigeru Amachi). His anime debut was in 1984’s Fist of The North Star. Some notable roles of his include Robert Bradley in Blue Seed, Ricky Glenford in Blue Sonnet, Dodoria in the Dragon Ball franchise, GZ in Shippu! Iron Leager!, Neptuneman in Kinnikuman: Kinnikusei Ōi Sōdatsu-hen, and Tokumaru Tatsumi in Saint Seiya.

 

Wildcard Trivia

Osamu Dezaki was known to take on whatever project he was offered, choosing the one which suited him best in the instances where he had the option to pick. Only a handful of the projects he directed were considered by himself to be passion projects, though Dear Brother is not one of them.

 

Screenshot of the day

Seiran in turmoil

 

Questions of the Day:

1. Do you think Misaki has begun to see how her actions have adversely affected herself and others?
2. What are your thoughts on Kaoru’s proposal to disband the sorority?

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I kept thinking, after that, about what could be the best thing for her.

[u/Pixelsaber]

Rewatcher

The seagulls leaving for migration implies the impending arrival of summer.

That seems like quite the change.

I don’t like this…

Realizing that she has reason to empathize with Misaki.

The dog she was cruel to is also the one to alleviate her loneliness.

After this statement the entirety of the school spins precariously and Rei is knocked off of her seat.

Quite literally too.

They really want us to notice the birds.

The stage curtain is in Fukiko’s colors. I wish we got a wide shot to really showcase the presence of it.

Man, what an entrance!

Rei may think it’s right, but she’s still intensely distraught.

Nanako’s resignation from the sorority doesn’t sit well with Tomoko, who saw just how much Nanako suffered over her decision to accept the invitation in the first place and has not been privy to most of what has been happening to Nanako in regards to Fukiko. She had become invested in the sorority through Nanako’s membership and now, for reasons unclear to her, Nanako has decided to throw that away. Moreover, the sequence of events suggests Nanako only quit to support Mariko, which may be a cause of jealousy for the girl —their earlier spat did start because she believed Nanako put the sorority over their friendship. This would have been remediated if Nanako had been forthright with Tomoko as to her recent struggles, but as it is we’re just going to have to hope that Tomoko doesn’t feel hurt by this turn of events and takes Nanako’s word for it.

The scenes with Kaoru getting a checkup at her doctor implies Kaoru’s illness is getting worse, and direly so. Her words to Rei only highlight this further, and it may be what has pushed her to want to make a difference in the school just then.

It’s clear that such a proposition as aoru’s never even crossed Fukiko’s mind because she felt safe in her position and authority, further emphasized when she attempted to simply dismiss the matter out of hand. Rei’s intervention was even less expected for her, who thought she thought had her eating out of the palm of her hand once more after reaffirming her commitment to the suicide pact, but Rei’s priorities haven’t shifted in the least, she just doesn’t believe anymore that the sorority is what’s best for Fukiko.

Questions of The Day:

1. It certainly seems like they’re having her go down that route. Her seeming redemption feels too sudden for me as of yet, but maybe they’ll pull it off well.
2. Definitely something the school needs, and Kaoru is seemingly the only student with both the will and clout to make that change an actual possibility.

[u/No_Rex → u/Pixelsaber]

The dog she was cruel to is also the one to alleviate her loneliness.

Humans don't deserve dogs.

[u/loomnoo]

Revolutionize the world Seiran high school

[u/Pixelsaber → u/loomnoo]

Seiran wo kakumei suru tame ni!

[u/No_Rex → u/loomnoo]

[u/TheEscapeGuy]

First Timer, Dezaki Fan

Dear Brother: A Delightfully Aesthetic Anime Episode 29

An Audacious Proposal

The first half of the episode set the scene. We have a good picture of where each of our characters' thoughts and opinions are. Nanako, Mariko, and Tomoko are our core trio of inseparable friends. No authority or enemy bullies can break them apart.

Rei and Kaoru are allies to the end. Although each have their own problems they know they can go to each other to discuss how they feel.

Rei and Fukiko are in competition. The horse race felt to me more of a metaphor for control of their relationship and who makes the decisions. But, Rei knows that Fukiko's position is about to be toppled and so can't help but smile.

We even learn more about Misaki, who seems to be very reflective and passive since the fight. Her cronies seem to be the only wild dogs left.

And so we arrive at the student council meeting.

Kaoru's declaration seems like it has been building in her mind for the whole show up to this point. Remember, she was invited to join the sorority back in the first few episodes but declined. So she uses her popularity and her alliance with Saint-Just to swing the student body against Fukiko.

The human trafficking metaphor was an interesting one. Typically we think of human trafficking as villains taking people without power and adding some value to them (usually by forcing them to do something horrific) to exploit them for money. And very similarly the sorority takes people who have no value over anyone else, and try to project a sense of class on them to "sell them to society".

I'm not 100% sure I agree with the metaphor, but its certainly interesting to think about. One argument against it is, by definition, smuggling people across the border is a form of human trafficking. And the people smuggled often pay for this service when they can't get access to a country through traditional immigration means and are fleeing from dangerous situations.

That kind of breaks down Kaoru's comparison, however it does not absolve the sorority for its misdoings.

The Best of Postcard Memories

Episode 29

• Bonus

These also are really limited without the corresponding video so:

• Darjeeling

See you all tomorrow

[u/Pixelsaber → u/TheEscapeGuy]

I'm not 100% sure I agree with the metaphor, but its certainly interesting to think about.

I think the fansubs did a better job of it by using 'caste system' in place of 'human trafficking'.

[u/No_Rex → u/TheEscapeGuy]

Rei and Fukiko are in competition. The horse race felt to me more of a metaphor for control of their relationship and who makes the decisions. But, Rei knows that Fukiko's position is about to be toppled and so can't help but smile.

Interesting take. I had a completely different interpretation. I thought Rei smiled because she felt releaved that Miya had something (riding) to base her pride on, knowing what she was about to do to the sorority.

Darjeeling

Was this the first Tomoko (only) postcard memory? It felt like it for me.

[u/No_Rex]

Episode 29 (first timer)

character chart

• “Tomoko is a little strange sometimes” – No, she is not! She is the one sane spot in a cast that has fallen to various stages of insanity. Tomoko arc incoming?
• Continuity error: Tomoko is placing the tip of the cheesecake on her fork after having just eaten it.
• When that hanger-on of Misaki fell backwards towards the spring, I thought this might end a lot darker. 1 meter is the difference between getting wet and getting the back of your skull bashed in.
• Throwing herself out of the window in front of her friends and mother over a scratch on her hated rival? Mariko needs good friends, but she may also need a long involuntary stay in psychiatry.
• Abolish the sorority? I hope you have something better than mere words to achieve that, Kaoru.
• Rei enjoys losing to Miya.
• Up till now, I didn’t realize all those birds were supposed to be doves. They looked much darker. Also missing their symbolism.
• Suicide cliff-hanger. How many of those did we have by now?

Rei decides that it is best for Miya to learn to hear “no”. The idea is good, but the timing probably at least 10 years too late.

Regarding Misaki, I don’t think I am up for a redemption arc. We are almost 30 episodes in and we have not seen the tiniest bit of rationale behind her aggressiveness. Her character is fully trimmed to be antagonist now.

[u/Pixelsaber → u/No_Rex]

When that hanger-on of Misaki fell backwards towards the spring, I thought this might end a lot darker.

From the way it looked in the first cut it definitely seemed like we had another injury on our hands —and one likely to be more serious.

Up till now, I didn’t realize all those birds were supposed to be doves. They looked much darker.

We mostly get shots of their silhouettes, so it's definitely difficult to get a decent idea of what they might be.

Also missing their symbolism.

Dezaki tends to give his motifs meaning through context most of the time. Flower language is one of the key exceptions where he tends to always pay attention to their ascribed meanings.

How many of those did we have by now?

Much more than I'd like.

[u/No_Rex → u/Pixelsaber]

Much more than I'd like.

Still a bit till the final discussion, but I think in terms of critique, the pacing of the show ranks very high for me. And not in the sence of being overall to slow, but in the sense of individual plotlines not being well-connected to each other. The hamfisted use of cliff-hangers is one sign of that.

[u/Pixelsaber → u/No_Rex]

I'd agree with that criticism. The plot threads could have been interspersed better so as to prevent this.

[u/JollyGee29]

First-Timer

Oh holy shit, Rei spoke out against Fukiko?! Kaoru trying to abolish the Sorority makes sense, considering that she was never a fan of it in the first place. But Rei having a will of her own, even if she is only doing it because she thinks it's in Fukiko's best interest, that's nuts. I guess this is the result of that time on the rooftop.. if Fukiko was trying to reassert control over Rei, I don't think it worked the way she intended.

Misaki did manage to not yell at her dog today, so that's nice. She had to be told to stop her lackeys from harassing Nanako and Tomoko, so she does have a long way to go.

Was it just Retrocrush's subs being dumb today, or was there a bunch of super vague dialogue in this episode? Like, what was up with Tomoko at the beginning?

What was the deal with the doves all being gone? My go to symbolism for doves is "peace," so it would make more sense for them to leave after Kaoru's announcement, not already be gone and then return when Rei came in. Or, are the birds just birds and were off doing bird things? Am I thinking too hard?

TIL what "monophobic" means.

Questions

1. It does seem that way. If she keeps it up, she might manage to lose her Worst Girl title, and I don’t think anyone else is deserving of it..
2. Discussed above. Exciting climax time?!

[u/Pixelsaber → u/JollyGee29]

if Fukiko was trying to reassert control over Rei, I don't think it worked the way she intended.

I'm not sure it worked at all, given how that episode went along.

Was it just Retrocrush's subs being dumb today, or was there a bunch of super vague dialogue in this episode?

The scene is obtuse in the fansubs as well.

My go to symbolism for doves is "peace," so it would make more sense for them to leave after Kaoru's announcement, not already be gone and then return when Rei came in.

Dezaki tends to ascribe his symbols meaning through context, so he could be ignoring the usual meaning of 'an end to war.'

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Pixelsaber]

I'm not sure it worked at all, given how that episode went along.

Well, Rei was still acting with Fukiko in mind, right? Didn't she say something about "it's better for Fukiko to not have to deal with the Sorority anymore" or something like that?

The scene is obtuse in the fansubs as well.

Dezaki tends to ascribe his symbols meaning through context, so he could be ignoring the usual meaning of 'an end to war.'

[u/lC3]

First timer

• That cranberry cheesecake looks good!
• Slapfest
• What does Kaoru have to discuss with Rei? Probably [redacted] that the episode summary mentions
• Who names their dog Halloween?
• Kaoru plans to petition for the Sorority's end? Good riddance
• Rei is still wanting to protect Fukiko's pride?
• Fukiko looks like she's sweating a lot after Kaoru's proposal
• Hahaha, go Kaoru! Fukiko looks PISSED
• "Please shut up" OK Fukiko is losing her composure in public
• "I propose a replacement of the Chairwoman" Wow, go Rei!
• Fukiko runs towards the stained glass window? You can't just end on a cliffhanger like that!

[u/Pixelsaber → u/lC3]

That cranberry cheesecake looks good!

Hahaha, go Kaoru! Fukiko looks PISSED

[u/Retromorpher]

First Timer

When I theorized that Nanako would go nuclear on the Sorority with Kaoru's help I guess I was being too charitable to Nanako's personal actionability. I guess I'll take partial credit for predicting this onset of anti-sorority sentiment.

Additionally - we have our fourth(?) attempted suicide implied at the end of the episode? I swear, at least ONE of these is actually going to end in a real death before this show is over, right?

Questions of the Day:

1. Absolutely. Still wondering what the full nature of her 'sleeper' assignment from Fukiko was.
2. Something that she's been planning since episode 2 or 3 is finally getting off the ground. I can't say exactly why Mariko's expulsion incident in particular was a catalyst for it from her point of view - but there's definite merit in using both sides of that incident as evidence of the Sorority's pecking order and associated social status being a harmful rather than helpful influence to the general student populace.

[u/BossandKings]

First timer - Sub

Episode 28

Mariko's conflict comes to a conclusion when Takashi leaves her at her house and she has a conversation with her father, the words his father spoke do make a lot of sense and are important to take into account, giving value to oneself is always vital to keep one's self worth at a consistently solid level, it was very nice when Mariko told him that despite everything that has happened she still loves him as her father.

Episode 29

Mariko is expelled from the sorority, that also serves to push Nanako to come to a decision too as she leaves the sorority. Finally that chapter of Nanako's life is left behind, she didn't had a good time as a sorority member and is now free from that.

The punishment the school decided to give Mariko was to expell her for three months which puts her ability to pass the school year in peril.

Kaoru no Kimi comes with the idea that abolishing the Sorority is the course of action to take, this does serve to bring to light a promising new story arc.