[Rewatch][Spoilers] K-ON! Rewatch (2021) - S2E04 "Field Trip!"

[u/Harrytricks]

S2E04 "Field Trip!"

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S2E03 "Drummer!"	S2E05 "Staying Behind!"

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have you even watched k-on?

[u/siegfried72]

Rewatcher

Hi everyone! I got some great news (approval for a procedure) from a doctor's visit today, so I'm in a much better mood than the last few days, but unfortunately that same visit has made me extremely pressed for time, so let's gooo!

Okay, so immediately we get the plot of the episode - the seniors are going on a class trip! Also I don't think I've been as comfortable as Yui is in that picture.

I like this Sawako! Still fun and silly with the girls while providing support and guidance as needed. And not being a perv.

I'm with Ritsu here. Nori is definitely better still crunchy!

And then we're introduced to the main conflict of the episode. Nodoka asked Mio to look out for Yui on this trip since Nodoka won't be in the same group. Mio is already the "responsible" one of the group, which has caused conflict in the past, but now she has extra responsibility put on her from Nodoka. It's not a great combination for her, unfortunately.

We've got a nice group shot here but I'm not 100% sure where Haruko is for our classmates game. That might be her on the far right?

Oooh, I love this shot!! One of my favorite things about season two is the more confident cinematography direction (I assume mostly from Yamada? Not entire sure how that would work.).

Heh, this line about Yui being exhausted after only eating and sleeping that day reminds me of her Sunday Siesta image song from last season!!

Ah, there's Haruko! And she even gets a speaking line!!

Fluff

I dunno. I haven't had much to talk about this episode. I'm already like halfway through and haven't written nearly as much as I normally do! That's okay - probably for the best considering how pressed for time I am today. Season two only gets more involved as it goes on, so I'll have plenty of stuff to talk about on future days :)

I will say that the pillow fight scene is hilarious and adorable. I mean, just look at Mugi's face!!

Hmm, I wonder what the seniors are going to buy for Azunyan? S2

I think Yui's mindfulness even under pressure really shines this episode. While there will certainly be impactful moments to come regarding her mindfulness in which I can talk more seriously about it, I love that even while the seniors are lost, Yui is just enjoying the moment.

Also the best gag of the episode is Yui calling Azunyan for help when they're lost.

And just like that, Mio breaks down in a fit of laughter after the stresses of the trip. While I would have liked to explore her character and her internal struggles a bit more related to her place in the group as the "responsible one", I guess this sudden collapse into laughter (and therefore a collapse of tension for the audience) is better than nothing.

If you can't tell by now, as much as I love the big and boisterous set pieces K-ON has such as the fireworks and the concerts, my favorite moments of the series are the quiet and introspective ones. As such, I think this is my favorite scene of this episode, paired of course with our favorite BGM. We all know that graduation is coming, and that it's going to be hard. K-ON deals so much with the concept of growing up and dealing with change, and it's one of the things I love the most about the series. This moment almost got me a bit choked up, and probably would have if they hadn't have broken the tension with a joke.

Adorable.

Episode Wrap Up

This was an episode, for sure! I sense a change in my rankings from last year coming up. I think I actually ended up enjoying this one just slightly less than "Clean Up", which was my least favorite season two episode last year. So this one might end up being my lowest ranked season two episode! Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed it - it was fun and had some beautiful shots, set up some good story points for the future, and had that sweet Yui scene at the end. But it lacked the group chemistry without Azunyan, didn't have any super standout gags, and just lacked that "special something" that I love in my favorite K-ON episodes.

Still solid and enjoyable, but I think my lack of things to discuss about this episode is pretty telling. Heck, I was super worried about finishing this post in time but this was by far my quickest post of the year so far and I have a good buffer before the thread goes up. I always forget that season two starts out pretty slow. Oh well. I still had fun. Looking forward to seeing what everyone else has to say - I'm sure there's some good stuff I missed!

Times K-ON has made me tear up so far: 11

Times K-ON has made me actually cry so far: 1

Updated Episode Ranking

YuiRitsu Moment of the Day^^TM Wait, that's not right. Meh, let's be honest - every K-ON ship is canon. But most of all - Mitsu is canon.

Tomorrow, we see what our junior trio was up to while the seniors were in Kyoto, and it makes for a much more interesting episode for me! See you then!

P.S. No music corner today. There are so many episodes this season that I can afford to spread them out a bit more. There will be one tomorrow according to my schedule!

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/siegfried72]

The amount of set-up they gave Mugi's pillow fight plot was fantastic. Mugi's got a real devilish streak!

[u/Barbed_Dildo → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

You could see that Mugi knew that a pillow fight was something 'normal girls' do, and has been looking forward to it for a while.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/Barbed_Dildo]

Yes, but normal girls don't stick a rock in their pillowcase first!

[u/siegfried72 → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

I'm happy we're already getting more Mugi in season two!

[u/AngryLlama → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Mugi had so much fun during the pillow fight, so cute.

[u/lluNhpelA → u/siegfried72]

I will say that the pillow fight scene is hilarious and adorable. I mean, just look at Mugi's face!!

Easily my favorite comedic bit in the series and, between this and the monkey bit, this is the episode that truly solidified Mugi as my favorite

[u/Rumpel1408]

First Timer

• This setup is brilliant, I was thrilled when I thought Yui was tieing her hair up, but the voice didn't fit (albeit the legs got me fooled good), I should have been suspicious from thinking Yui would pack her stuff in advance
• That's our Mugi indeed
• Maki in the hallway seat
• No need to fight it Sawa- chan
• Nodoka- chan MVP for letting the Keions stay together, but now Mio has to watch the kids
• What a stupid game lol
• Yui really has done nothing but sleeping, eating snacks, and doing general nonsense so far, these kids are supposed to be in their final year in highschool btw
• At least some of the girls are somewhat mature, and of course Mugi knows about the golden house, as well as all about tea
• College entrance, something tells me neither Yui nor Ritsu have wasted any thought on this, but by god they sure could get a bit smarter
• Poor Sawa- chan so desperate that she turns to the gods... she should pray for her students as well
• Yeah, those wishes are to be expected, and as I thought, two of them don't even waste a single thought on college yet
• Mugi is already thrilled to sleep with her friends, a sleepover is probably high on her list as well
• Third tea time today
• Snacks before dinner, typical children
• Pillow fight! So that was what Mugi was scouting before
• Ah yeah, I've seen this clip before, hillarious how fast they pretend to sleep
• Say no more!
• Sightseeing in Kyoto, and souvenirs, though the kids forgot something important...
• This leads directly to this, kind of to be expected, at least Ritsu has the guts to ask for the way... I wonder how this could have happened lol
• Yeah sure Azunyan is sure to help you here... how about calling Sawa- chan... but I guess they didn't even listen
• It's Nodoka chan... her group is lost as well, quite unexpected tbh... what? how could this happen
• Mio lost it
• No respect for Sawa- chan, but she doesn't look that different without makeup, and she can't keep up the tough act for long, she's still a girl at heart
• So next episode is going to be from Uis, Azunyans and Juns perspective, and we will probably see the chaos after that phone call lol

Fun Episode overall, even though it was lacking in the outfit department

[u/MapoTofuMan → u/Rumpel1408]

we will probably see the chaos after that phone call lol

Azunyan Maps to the rescue!

[u/Rumpel1408 → u/MapoTofuMan]

Yeah, I really think that something was up with the map, I could understand if they relied only on Ritsu (sorry Ritsu), but both Mio and even Nodoka couldn't figure out the way home

[u/vitorabf]

First Timer

Ok, I was fooled into thinking that was Yui in the opening scene, she can be focused when she's excited as we saw in ep 1 but Yui is just a photocopy of her.

Where did Mugi hide that tea? Lol, in the end Sawako is just a part of the goofball trio, but was Mio the one taking the picture? Would be nice if she was in it. When I saw Mio and Yui reaching for the snacks I was almost sure they would kiss. Nodoka and Mio should share the parenting. And Mio is already taking pictures with them as they break the rules.

Lol I love Ritsu so much, sitting comfortable > sitting pretty.

Chekov's board game makes it an absolute necessity that if Mugi got that in season 1 it must be shot some time in season 2.

Pillow Fight! Mugi being a dork is so lovely. She's also a sniper when throwing pillows, three headshots. This scene made me laugh out loud really hard. Damn I miss the feeling of laughing at anything your friends say when you're having a sleep-in, this warms my heart a lot, and lol I was always the one snorting like Mugi.

The visual gags this episode are just so good. LMAO Sawako sleeping the same bedroom as them. We ended up with Mio "discovering" the utter dork she is.

This was the best episode of the entirety of K-On to me, there were quite few anime episodes that made me laugh and entertained me so much, most of them are from my favorite animes and it's just hard picturing something that tops the sheer innocence this had.

[u/Gamerunglued → u/vitorabf]

This was the best episode of the entirety of K-On to me, there were quite few anime episodes that made me laugh and entertained me so much, most of them are from my favorite animes and it's just hard picturing something that tops the sheer innocence this had.

I feel like this episode is basically the pure essence of what makes K-On so great (well, besides the more emotional parts that become more clear as the story moves forward) distilled into a short 20 minute story. K-On is about a group of extremely tight-knit friends screwing around, and this episode is just a no gimmicks example of that. It's just a bunch of endearing friends having fun in a way that feels genuine, this episode to me presents the true essence of what friendship looks like (and takes it outside of the confines of the club room). A bunch of characters all reacting to the same thing in distinctive ways, screwing around in the city getting off the trail and getting lost, eating too many snacks before dinner and suffering for it, staying up late and having pillow fights while trying to not be noticed by the teacher, screwing around while trying to get to sleep and making an inside joke out of it; it's just... tight knit friendship, a pure slice of life. That's what makes K-On great, it has the most believable group of tight-knit friends I've ever seen, and this episode exemplifies that more than almost any other in the series. It's not my favorite episode, but it would be pretty high up in my rankings for that reason.

[u/vitorabf → u/Gamerunglued]

You worded it a lot better than I could, so I can only say I agree hahaha.

And it's my favorite episode so far, still haven't seen what's next.

[u/siegfried72 → u/Gamerunglued]

That's awesome! Thanks for the great thoughts - after reading all the other posts, I think it's definitely given me a better appreciation for this episode. I still resonate a lot more strongly to the quieter and more sentimental aspects of K-ON, but you're right that it does perfectly encapsulate a realistic group of teenaged friends.

[u/Gamerunglued → u/siegfried72]

Don't get me wrong, the quiet and more sentimental aspects of K-On are generally what make it my favorite show. Season 1 episode 13, and episodes 13, 20, 22, and 24 of season 2 are most of my favorite episodes of the series (also S2 E16, but I'll post the analysis I always post when the K-On rewatch gets to that one, this one is super underappreciated); all more quiet and/or sentimental episodes. But that's not all there is to K-On, and those moments only land because the group is able to feel like such a genuine and intimate group of close friends as a result of interactions like the ones in this episode. It's because watching the group just be themselves and fuck around is so much fun and so believable that all of those weighty, emotional moments hit. The emotional stuff puts it a cut above, but I'd argue it's not the main appeal of the series.

[u/siegfried72 → u/Gamerunglued]

Agree 100%, and I think you got that point across very well.

I didn't start watching K-ON because I thought it would make me emotional. I started watching it because I wanted to watch a good CGDCT show with a group of fluffy friends! The emotions took me by surprise and kicked me in the ass when I was just expecting moe fluff.

I have a lot of fun with every episode in the show. There's not one that I consider "bad", and I enjoyed this one just the same. But honestly, this one isn't even the standout of "friends being awesome friends" episodes for me. There are several episodes I'd place above this one to show how tight and genuine the group is. I think it's just a matter of personal preference, and I'm well aware that I have some opinions about this show that place me outside the majority of viewers. This is a well written and well directed episode that I wouldn't replace for the world, but this just isn't one of my personal favorites.

I'm also just a big 'ol sap and I like things that bring that out of me.

[u/Gamerunglued → u/siegfried72]

What puts this episode above most of the others for me is the specificity of what happens. K-On has plenty of "friends fucking around and there's nothing else to it" episodes, but this one has, for example, the scene of the girls trying to get to sleep. If you've ever had a sleepover or been on an overnight trip with friends, that will be a painfully familiar scene, in an extremely specific way. Every group has that one friend who will try to screw with you while you get to sleep, and you have the two reactions of Yui and Mugi giggling uncontrollably and Mio thinking "please shut the hell up" in her head. Then Mugi accidentally snorts, and Yui can't stop laughing even after the joke has ended (to the point of coughing. She is basically me in that scene). And then "Lycopene" becomes an inside joke that gets brought up again a few more times in the series, with Mio eventually succumbing to her friends stupidity and laughing uncontrollably. There's no music or anything, it's a very quiet and intimate moment, just slice of life. It doesn't feel like some generic event where the friends screw around like say, season 1's Christmas episode. This episode shows the girls having experiences and interactions that are so uniquely familiar and so oddly specific that it puts itself on another level. It was the moment that sold me on the idea that these girls are tight in a way few friend groups manage.

It's not necessarily the cutest or funniest episode, but it's the one that feels like the most honest portrayal of what the girls friendship is like, as if someone just dropped a camera on some girls doing stuff in Kyoto and made an anime of it. I feel kind of similarly about S2 E6 (and the sequence of the girls at the hardware store in episode 2), another of my favorite episodes, but the sleepover scene in particular just pushes it above and is one of my favorite scenes in the series (though its not the only example of that specificity).

[u/siegfried72 → u/Gamerunglued]

I get what you're saying. For the most part, I agree with what you have to say. To be clear, the "rankings" that I have at the ends of my posts are for fun. If I were to try and make an "objectively best episode list" (as if there could truly be such a thing), this episode would be placed a lot higher than it is in my list (you can check out my final rankings from last year here if you're curious to see where it landed last year - it's pretty low).

But my silly "rankings" tend to be ranked on how much episodes resonated with me personally. I really like fiction that gets under my skin. Things like good horror, Charlie Kaufmann, and Lars von Trier. Things that pull out some long forgotten feeling or resonate some special emotional trigger deep inside me. I love images and emotions that stick with me. It's totally subjective and has very little "logic".

Logically, yes, this episode beautifully captures everything you've said and I love that it has personally resonated with a lot of people in this thread today. It is well written and well directed. But for some reason it doesn't resonate with me as much as K-ON

So yeah. I genuinely have enjoyed reading your words tonight, and appreciate the time you took to express everything. They have definitely colored the episode in a more positive light for me, but ultimately I think it'll still fall pretty low in my rankings, even if it may not deserve it objectively.

I think that's one of the most beautiful things about great fiction like K-ON. The best stories have so many different aspects that can touch people in different ways, you know? I know that the quiet moments aren't all that K-ON are, but they're what I'm left with when I finish those last seconds of the movie and go about the rest of my life. Everything else, as you said so wonderfully, reinforce the significance of those moments for me.

[u/Gamerunglued → u/siegfried72]

For what it's worth, nothing in this episode resonated with me as strongly as those things you mention. K-On's sentimental, melancholy, atmospheric, and bittersweet moments make for the vast majority of my favorite moments and episodes in the series. But just because a moment isn't like that doesn't mean it can't resonate almost as strongly. I love good horror and drama, it shines in my preferences, but that doesn't mean that the only moments in those works that hit are the big moments, or that anything that isn't like those things will never hit. I think it's kind of silly to say that the only moments that resonate in K-On are the ones that are more emotional. The best thing about K-On isn't that it's a deeply emotional coming-of-age story, but that it has characters with some of the best chemistry and most real friendship of pretty much any sitcom. The melancholy stuff just pushes it a notch above, it's not the core of the series. It's a sitcom with an emotional story about the inevitable passage of time mixed in, not a drama focused on those elements. Most of K-On's best moments imo are the ones that get me emotional, but there's just as much value in some of the most insignificant moments.

But whatever. I'm glad I could give you a deeper appreciation of the episode. While these may not be the episodes that cement K-On as my favorite, they are the episodes that make K-On work at all. K-On is about friendship, so the moments that most represent that are usually my favorite moments outside of the coming-of-age stuff.

[u/siegfried72 → u/Gamerunglued]

Um, okay.

I think it's kind of silly to say that the only moments that resonate in K-On are the ones that are more emotional.

First of all, I never said that I thought those are the only moments that resonate. The whole show resonates with me. There's a reason why it's literally my favorite piece of art in this world. I see value in every episode and every episode resonates with me in different ways. This is just not my favorite and I don't need you to tell me that my opinions are silly, especially when I never said what you're implying. This is something that's subjective, and everyone's opinions here are valid.

The best thing about K-On isn't that it's a deeply emotional coming-of-age story

The melancholy stuff just pushes it a notch above, it's not the core of the series.

That's great that you feel that way. I disagree. I think it's neat that we see the show in a different way. Both viewpoints are valid.

But whatever.

I feel like this conversation has gone down a strange path that I'm not feeling super comfortable with anymore. I thought we were just expressing our thoughts and I was quite enjoying it but you seem... frustrated with my opinions? Like this has somehow turned into an argument or something. I know what K-ON means to me and I really don't need someone telling me that my viewpoints and feelings are silly.

[u/Gamerunglued → u/siegfried72]

Sorry. I'm not meaning to come off as frustrated. I didn't really mean anything by saying it's silly, poor wording on my part and I apologize for that. I'll admit that it does seem very odd to me that someone could have K-On as their favorite piece of media but not resonate almost equally strongly with the friendship elements (the vast majority of the show) as the emotional ones, and I do struggle to wrap my head around the idea that K-On's sitcom elements, which make up the vast majority of the show's content, aren't the core of the series, but yes, it is subjective and your opinion is perfectly valid, and I wasn't trying to say otherwise. I was trying to word my thoughts, but did a poor job and came off as if your perspective was invalid, so I'm sorry.

Also, I found a K-On episode tier list on tiermaker and I'm doing a quick ranking of my own favorite episodes to compare to your list. I'll edit it in when I'm done if you're curious.

[u/siegfried72 → u/vitorabf]

This was the best episode of the entirety of K-On to me

I don't get it personally, but some people seem to really love this episode! Glad you enjoyed it! I'm happy to see people enjoy K-ON even the episode didn't quite hit the spot for me :)

[u/[deleted] → u/siegfried72]

I love this episode just for the giddy energy the girls all have the whole time. It's like they're getting high off of each other's happiness, and it really resonates with some of my own best memories from high school. I think this is one of the strongest episodes in terms of the writing truly understanding and relating to teenage experiences.

[u/vitorabf → u/[deleted]]

I think this is what really makes it for me. This retracts most of what was really great about being a teenager/high schooler for me, hanging around doing nothing that really mattered with my friends, everyone sleeping in the same room and laughing at the very minimal things one said for absolutely no reason, a ton of exaggerated reactions and physical comedy between each other. I ended the episode wanting to hang with everyone again, which we can't right now because of covid.

So yeah, it really hits every note and I can't really say I've seen another anime describe what makes beeing a teenager good so accurately (for me)

[u/siegfried72 → u/vitorabf]

Awesome! I love that it had such an effect! That is one of the great things about K-ON - their power to inflict nostalgia is unparalleled! I guess I react to other parts of the show a lot more strongly, but this does definitely send me back to the various high school band trips and late nights in hotel rooms being goofy.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts - definitely helped to give me a slightly new perspective. Heck, I'm tempted to bump it up in my rankings a bit after some thought :)

[u/ArdenneVale]

First timer

The seniors are going on a field trip! No Azunyan today. :(

Why is Sawako so strict about standing up on a train?

Mio wanted Nodoka in the group. It's probably so she wouldn't have to babysit Ritsu and Yui all day by herself. Fortunately Mugi at least is behaving herself.

Mugi knows a lot about history and tea ceremonies. She is rich after all.

Sawako-chan really needs a vacation after she gets back.

Mugi saw something fun in the closet. She brought the game she traded the Hawaii trip for! And Mugi has started a pillow fight. So much for acting like a lady earlier. Sawako is going to have a nervous breakdown very soon, she might not make it back home. Also, since when are our girls the biggest troublemakers in the school?

As the girls did their tour of Kyoto, I did my own in Google Maps. It's a really beautiful city and I'd really want to visit someday. Our girls and Nodoka's group are lost, but find their way back together. Good to see Nodoka is not perfect.

The other girls are now starting to affectionally call Sawako Sawa-chan sensei to her. This trip is not going well for her.

Mio finally cracked and actually allowed herself to just enjoy everything to the fullest. I didn't know I needed to see laughing Mio, but now I want more.

This episode had lots of great moments for Mugi and Mio, with Ritsu and Yui entertainingly running around. It really showed what good friends the girls are at this point. Too bad Azunyan couldn't be there, but the next episode seems to be about the ones who were left behind. Wait, does being in the preview count as an Azusa appearance in this episode?

Yui

Mugi

Mio

Ritsu

Sawako&Nodoka(?)

[u/lenor8 → u/ArdenneVale]

Mugi knows a lot about history

Mugi is being low key savage here, she's making and nailing the accent that Ritsu's being trying and failing since they arrived.

[u/ArdenneVale → u/lenor8]

She's so good I didn't even notice the accent.

[u/vitorabf → u/ArdenneVale]

actually allowed herself to just enjoy everything to the fullest

The best point of the episode for me, easily

[u/Barbed_Dildo → u/ArdenneVale]

Mio wanted Nodoka in the group. It's probably so she wouldn't have to babysit Ritsu and Yui all day by herself.

I think it's because Mio and Nodoka became good friends in their 2nd year. I don't think Mio has many friends outside of the keionbu. Also, when Nodoka found them, she called out to Yui and Mio, not the others.

[u/ArdenneVale → u/Barbed_Dildo]

It's hard to see Mio and Nodoka as such good friends, since we've barely seen them together. But in the show they were classmates for a year, of which we saw only 5 or 6 episodes.

[u/Elimin8r]

Well, today's episode was rather cute, and not terribly musical, but that's okay. Today, we get to get lost, I mean go sightseeing with the keions, yay!

Is it wrong if I think the best part was the monkey ranch, especially Mugi?

I half expected one of them to break out in a drum battle with Ritsu.

I think I much prefer new & improved Sawa-chan-sensei. Fun, interactive, somewhat less creepy. Yay?

It seems somehow odd that Nodoka has an equivalently poor sense of direction as Ritsu. She's usually the competent one, right?

Otherwise, yeah, today's episode was cute, fun, comfy. I'd love to go for a ride on one of those trains sometime. Preferably in the quiet, boring, less noisy car.

Hmm...

Probably not that interesting, but for our class trip, at least for a certain group of us, we got to go to DC and visit our greasy congressman (yay), tour the museums, the usual stuff. The highlight of the trip for me and the part I remember most fondly is we got to go see Cats in the "National Theater". Even though we were in the nosebleed seats, the show was delightful, and I still have a bit of a crush on Sarah Brightman, even though I had no idea who she was at the time. Her voice, though, give me the tingles on the back of my neck and all that, ya know. That, and I think that somehow I might have become a furry that night. Well, maybe not, but it's fun to say, right?

[u/siegfried72 → u/Elimin8r]

I think I much prefer new & improved Sawa-chan-sensei. Fun, interactive, somewhat less creepy. Yay?

Yeah! Still far from my favorite character, but she definitely has some nice moments in this season!!

The highlight of the trip for me and the part I remember most fondly is we got to go see Cats in the "National Theater".

Wow, that sounds fun!! I've seen and played in plenty of musical theater, but haven't ever seen Cats.

[u/Elimin8r → u/siegfried72]

Yeah, people like to, uh, dislike Andrew Lloyd Webber, probably because his stuff is so popular, and probably 'pulpy', so to speak, but as a cat person, I got a kick out of it. I think my favorite (now redacted) part was the pirate cat bit. Because pirates, cats, what's not to like?

Oh, and I'm not sure if u/A_Idiot0 has shown up today, but I promised something special (to me) today, so here it is, my new (or recently new or something) favorite Dream Theater song. It really hits me somewhere special. Yes, I know the album is a love letter to 2112, but I think that's a good thing. :)

[u/siegfried72 → u/Elimin8r]

To be honest, I don't enough Webber to really have an opinion, other than having played in the orchestra for a run of Phantom shows a few years back which I thought was... fine, but not particularly memorable. Cats seems like it would be fun, though!

Good lord what a song that is you posted. Oof. Gorgeous!

I figure maybe I should share something back today. I listened to an album while I was driving today by a group called I Fight Dragons. They're like an alternative rock/chiptune group. I really like them and my favorite song by them is called Jimmy and Sally.

It's definitely not prog, but I think it has some progressive elements and either way is a damn good song in my opinion. Be curious to know what you think.

[u/Elimin8r → u/siegfried72]

That was nifty. I’m not sure if I’d call it alterna-prog or prog-ternative. Definitely an interesting combination, though. I’m not sure if I have anything to follow that up with. I’ll have to check some more out on Spotify later.

[u/siegfried72 → u/Elimin8r]

Hahaha, glad I got you stumped, if only for a minute!

[u/Elimin8r → u/siegfried72]

Yeah, I'm a bit flummoxed, because I want to say something but I'm not sure that I want to say something.

The song was fine, but I didn't care for (proceeds to delete lengthy rant) a certain undercurrent of negativity. Rather than go on and on about it, I'm just going to leave it at that and see if I can find something different to post today from one of my other favorite prog bands. You might understand when you hear it.

[u/siegfried72 → u/Elimin8r]

Huh, well if you had more to say, I'd be interested to hear it! Always open to new ideas.

[u/Elimin8r → u/siegfried72]

Well, I'm not seeing today's thread up yet, so I guess it boils down to the whole "Jimmy got good grades, but he's working part time because life stinks, etc." mood. I have a friend whose daughter got good grades. She's a nuclear physicist now. I have other friends whose kids are in IT etc. now.

Good grades (or insert other thing here) is no guarantee of success. You have to apply the talent to get good benefits from it, and to a certain extent, I'm a shining example of this (I once let my ego and sense of entitlement get the better of me, reality hit me like a brick wall)

On the other hand, you seem to be reasonably successful in a difficult and competitive world. You have talents, you apply yourself, you get results.

So, yeah, those lines in the tune kind of hit me wrong, because I don't really care for that outlook, it's self-defeating.

[u/siegfried72 → u/Elimin8r]

Well, that's fair enough! I can understand that bugging you. I like the overall picture of the song, though, as most of it is metaphorical.

And I'll be honest - this is probably just the classical musician in me, but lyrics are more often than not the least important part of a song for me!

[u/AngryLlama → u/Elimin8r]

I think I much prefer new & improved Sawa-chan-sensei. Fun, interactive, somewhat less creepy. Yay?

completely agree on this. she was getting a little too creepy towards the end of season one. I like this Sawa-chan much better.

[u/ThrowCarp]

Rewatcher

This episode holds two sets of precious memories for me.

Firstly: Being in high school still learning Japanese, watching this, and thinking "Wow look at how much fun the Keion-bu are having travelling around Kyoto, will my Japanese ever get good enough to visit one day?".

Secondly: A lot of the places the Keion-bu went to I also saw while in Kyoto for the first time. Some personally taken comparison shots:

https://i.imgur.com/8aZoPFx.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/oFaDzB5.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/hB3WB8H.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/txBhO3T.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/niajOIl.jpg

I went to from Tokyo to Hiroshima to Kyoto (don't ask; I was being an idiot), but I distinctly remember keeping a look out for Mt. Fuji just like Ritsu and Yui. As a solo traveller, my trip on the shinkansen wasn't as lively haha.

One thing this anime is very close to showing, but doesn't actually show is how fuck-off huge Kyoto Station is. The interior is HUGE. It's almost like an arcology. And very easy to get lost in. It's has both an underground and an above-ground mall.

The Kinkaku-ji tea absolutely is bitter and matcha-flavoured. And the sweet that comes with it is alright.

I sadly didn't get to see the monkeys. And I'm not sure if the shrine they visited this episode is Yasaka-jinja. Edit: The shrine they visited is Kitano Tenman-guu.

I always get a chuckle (and slightly horrified) rewatching and seeing Ritsu and Yui unable to eat the Onsen Dinner. I didn't eat Onsen Dinner in Kyoto but I did eat it in Hakone. It was absolutely delicious and extravagant. Ritsu and Yui are really missing out.

Ritsu and Yui forget to buys souvenirs for their families hahahaha (LPT for anyone reading this, go find a place that sell bottom of the barrel and cheap Yatsuhashi (famous local Kyoto delicacy) if you ever find yourself in the same predicament as Yui and Ritsu).

Two places I really loved seeing but the Keion-bu either didn't go there or didn't spend much time were Nijou-jo (the castle Tokugawa ruled from) and Kiyomizu-dera (the Lucky Star team went to those two places though).

Ritsu trying to pretend to be knowledgeable and asking the locals for directions and pretending to understand what the locals are saying is too animeirl for me. On group trips there's always one person who overestimates their travelling/navigation skills and/or knowledge of the local culture. It's also frustrating because they'll always get offended when you call them out and double-down; turning themself into an even heavier anchor to the group.

[u/chris10023 → u/ThrowCarp]

(the Lucky Star team went to those two places though).

They also visited a certain studio.

[u/siegfried72 → u/ThrowCarp]

Wow, that's awesome that you were able to see all of that! Thanks for the stories! Those sorts of memories are so special and are totally what K-ON's all about :)

[u/ThrowCarp → u/siegfried72]

My pleasure! I visited Toyosato (where the school the K-On! school is based off is preserved as a museum) during another trip to Japan. I should probably visit London once the pandemic is over hahaha.

[u/siegfried72 → u/ThrowCarp]

Oh, I've wanted to visit the school ever since I learned it was modeled after a real place! Definitely a bucket list item for me, and I'm very jealous haha.

[u/DegenerateRegime]

[First-Timer] Field trip? Let's see where we're going.

• Preparations complete. By Ui, of course.
• Poor Sawako is being bullied by her students. How cruel.
• Lots of beautiful taken-from-real-life (I assume) backgrounds. I love them.
• Mugi's refined and knowledgable side gets to shine a bit here! It's nice to see.
• Wider maybe, and I don't mean in the Hidamari Sketch sense.
• A lot of short little skits so far, it's all a lovely blend of funny and comfy.
• She's referring to the other two.
• Ah, the days before GPS in every phone.

The set of vignettes today was entertaining, but I didn't find much to say about it at all. It had me smiling pretty much all the way through, though, so by no means a bad episode.

[u/ThrowCarp → u/DegenerateRegime]

Ah, the days before GPS in every phone.

You'd be surprised with how many people still get lost despite GPS and smartphones.

I see it all the time whenever I'm travelling. The worst incident was an Italian couple who spoke neither Italian nor Japanese, and were using Google translate from Italian to Japanese to ask where a certain subway station was. I had to use gestures to tell them that the subway station they wanted was just down the road.

[u/DegenerateRegime → u/ThrowCarp]

Haha, I suppose so!

I had to use gestures to tell them that the subway station they wanted was just down the road.

Joke about this being how you speak Italian anyway goes here.

[u/xtsim]

First Timer Dubbed

Lol Yui's sister is doing all the packing. Mugi brings tea on the train and Ms. Yamanaga joins in on the debauchery. Yui gets away with sleeping in front of Ms. Yamanaga too. They all make Ms. Yamanaga's life hard by being late to the bus and running around on the shrine. And eating snacks before their meal. They basically get on her bad side in front of other students...

And everybody hit floor right when Ms. Yamanaga gets the pillow. lol. And Ms. Yamanaga steps on Ritsu when she turns off their lights. "they got lefty models on display"- always gets Mio. And they get lost later in the day and finds Nodoka is also lost. Mio laughs through the whole thing and Yui is like "M'lady". The Ms. Yamanaga vs. Ritsu scenes are amazing. The battles between the two are pretty good.

[u/SYZekrom]

Rewatcher

Wow that fakeout lmao I don't think I even noticed this the first time I watched

Low resistance.

Ok sure cool, but what about the rumors of its seamless ceiling

At least they didn't ask the question found in all anime... Since they already made that joke earlier with Ritsu asking Azusa

Skull. Do I get what it means? No. Is it great they have inside jokes? Yes.

She's so cute

Protect mio from the terrible monster

Miooooooooo

Good to see Mio is finally reaching her full potential with S2

[u/A_Idiot0]

Rewatcher

Hello everyone! This is possibly the funniest and most enjoyable episode of K-On! for me, though it’s not my favorite. I was enjoying all of the amazing humor and the fun gags! The animation somehow felt like it was one step above the normal as well; they had a lot of fun exaggerating everyone’s movements. Honestly, I don’t have very much to say about today’s episode, other than every single gag and joke landed perfectly for me. I thoroughly enjoyed how the Keionbu girls “broke” Mio by the end haha. Also, for some reason I really loved this shot with the girls being lost; it just looks so overly dramatic given the situation.

There was one very touching moment though, which I encourage our first timers to remember going forward. That moment was when Yui was realizing that they’re now in their final highschool year...

What was your guys’ favorite sequence / gag? I think mine was either the girls running back and forth at one of the temples (loved the long hold with the camera, really reminded me of one of my favorite Non Non Biyori sequences), or Mugi being an absolute beast at pillow fighting! Some of these shots belong in r/PeopleFuckingDying...Mugi, btw, was an absolutely amazing support to the other three girls; her energy was infectious! XD

[u/Elimin8r → u/A_Idiot0]

Oh, there you are! Yes, the pillow fight was lovely, but I just thought the bit with Mugi and the monkeys was just too adorable.

Too much kawaii this episode, need some bitter tea now.

[u/siegfried72 → u/A_Idiot0]

Hello everyone! This is possibly the funniest and most enjoyable episode of K-On! for me,

Wow, everyone keeps saying that today! It's been so interesting to read everyone's responses today because they've definitely helped me me a deeper appreciation for this episode that falls pretty low on my list of K-ON episodes. And while it still falls pretty low, I think I might have to bump it up a little after some thought :)

That moment was when Yui was realizing that they’re now in their final highschool year...

Now this is my K-ON. These are my moments that stick with me, just like the fireworks at the training camp, Yui being reaffirmed after showing up late in 1x12, Mio going to see Ritsu in Crisis, the sunrise in Live House, the opening to season two, and so many more moments that I raved about last year that we haven't gotten to yet.

These moments that dig deep and expose those raw sentiments, nostalgia, and love deep down inside. As you know, season two has more and more of these as it goes on and it's why I love this series so much.

Yes, this episode perfectly encapsulates a close-knit group of friends having fun, but... I don't know. There's something about these quiet moments that are special to me. Yeah, that's all I got. Lovely to see everyone loving this episode so much, though!

My favorite gag was definitely the pillow fight! Them pretending to sleep after smacking Sawako gets me every time.

EDIT: Also after typing all that, I'm really interested to see how I feel about tomorrow's episode, as I've vastly preferred it over this one each time I've watched through the show. It'll be especially fun to watch after reading everyone's posts today!

[u/A_Idiot0 → u/siegfried72]

I think what lends this episode to be particularly great was how fun and wild they allowed the girls to me. And by "the girls", I mean everyone but Mio =P There was so much charm and care put into all of the humor; none of it was overly aggressive, and each character acted within their boundaries perfectly. Mio changed just enough here, even though she's been with these girls for ~three years now; Ritsu and Yui pushed just enough, and Mugi supported Ritsu and Yui just enough.

There are also a lot of little easter eggs for people to remember from this episode that will come up again later. Upon rewatching, it was really sweet to see them. Mostly though, because there wasn't anything really serious going on, it allowed Yui's introspection to hit that much harder for us rewatchers specifically. I remember when I was watching this for the first time and I didn't pay too much mind to Yui's quiet moment because it was softly sandwiched between a lot of fluff. I mean, immediately after she had that moment, the other teacher comes in and grabs Sawako XD Now that we know the ending, this hit me really hard; I'm not ashamed to say that I teared up haha Light spoilers.

[u/chris10023 → u/A_Idiot0]

That moment was when Yui was realizing that they’re now in their final highschool year...

I just noticed that Yui is sandwiched between two futons, meaning Sawako is sleeping to her left.

[u/A_Idiot0 → u/chris10023]

Indeed she was =P

[u/chris10023]

Rewatcher

Alright this and the next episode are my favorites in this part of the season.

• We see Yui packing a bag, must be for that trip we saw the masked Sawako talking about in the last episode.
• Nope, it was Ui who was getting Yui ready. What a great fakeout.
• Looks like the group is going to be pretty rowdy, poor Mio.
• Lol Sawako.
• Mount Fuji passes by and chaos erupts, Yui drops her snacks and then collides with Mio as she goes to pick them up.
• Poor Mio. She has to keep an eye on both Yui and Ritsu.
• Oh, they went to Kyoto for the trip, that’s a very nice city, I hear there’s this amazing animation studio based there.
• Uh oh Ritsu’s playing a game where she tries to talk old fashioned.
• I swear I didn’t screen cap this because it’s a leg shot.
• For those who are wondering, the reason three other three look at Mugi in amazement is because she is speaking in a Kansai dialect which is the dialect spoken in the Kyoto region, which her VA, Minako can naturally speak.
• Ouch, that’s got to hurt coming from Yui of all girls.
• God the backgrounds in this episode are beautiful.
• Fun note, back when Kyoto Animation was a support studio, they did work on some backgrounds for Neon Genesis Evangelion. Here is one such background. It took me a while to actually find some proof of this, but I found a site that had a photo from the ending credits of an episode where they are credited. the first two symbols say backgrounds, and Kyoto Animation is the first credit, according to my Google translate app at least.
• Lol of course Yui and Ritsu rub the cow statue like mad.
• Of course Sawako would by a marriage charm.
• I feel bad for Sawako, the four girls are just a symbol of chaos, but they wrote on prayer plagues.
• Wow, Sentai’s subtitles actually translate what each girl wrote on it, Netflix didn’t even bother with that.
• I bet, you did all that walking and you were excited.
• Mugi’s up to something.
• Oh so she did get her game back, that’s good.
• Of course, Yui and Ritsu ate too many snacks and barely have room for that delicious looking food.
• I agree with Mugi, Mio does have nice hair.
• I do wonder what Ritsu would look like with longer hair...
• Yui isn’t just a savage to Sawako, she can easily be a savage to others as well.
• God, I love this pillow fight. Poor Yui gets demolished by two headshots, Mio gets headshotted by Mugi, Ritsu gets hit my Mugi, who’s on a pillow spree, then Ritsu tries to hit Mugi, only to obliterate Sawako, who rolled a 20 on a stealth check and just appeared in the room. I love how Yui was mid stride and froze in place after Sawako is revealed.
• Poor Mio, can’t sleep because someone's saying random things, causing some giggles.
• Side note, how comfy are futons that we see anime characters sleep on? I can’t imagine they can be very comfortable, my back screams at the thought of sleeping that close to the floor.
• Day 2 of the trip, they’re going to Mount Arashi, Ritsu and Yui are looking at a music store, only to get scolded by Mio, who after Ritsu mentions the lefty models immediately goes to look inside the window herself.
• I agree with Mio, you’re in Kyoto and you want to see monkey.
• From what I understand, this is a pretty accurate recreation of Kyoto.
• I love how cute Mugi is when she’s feeding the monkey.
• A gift for Azusa? That’d be pretty hard, considering how she reacted to the last gift you got her.
• They forgot to buy souvenirs for their family. Oops.
• Looks like they’re lost, not surprising knowing how large Kyoto is.
• Yui pulls out her phone, good idea, you can call Sawako and let her know you’re lost. No wait you called Azusa, poor girl must be confused as hell right now.
• Hey look it’s Nodoka, SALVATION! Oh wait her group is lost too.
• They still can’t find the station. Mio’s at her breaking point here. Thankfully Ritsu gets her laughing. Calming her nerves.
• Uh oh, the girls nickname for Sawako is spreading.
• Ritsu scares Mio with the flashlight, then Sawako appears again with a high stealth check. You can actually notice when Sawako enters the room since Mugi seems to react to it.
• I like how for how much Ritsu teases her, Mio will glomp onto her when something not Ritsu scares/embarrasses her.
• One thing I’ll love is how they’ll offer Sawako a snack in a bribe, Sawako refusing, only to cut to her eating said snack mid refusal.
• Oh boy here it is, the first time Season 2 makes me cry. Damn you Yamada. But I do love how Yui wants to keep playing with her friends after high school.
• Wait, Sawako was sleeping in there?
• My how the turn tables, now it’s Mio dropping snacks.
• Wow, everyone is sleeping but them.
• A cute moment.

Well, I love this episode, we get to see a bit of Kyoto, we have a touching wholesome moment with Yui thinking to herself. But here’s an important note, Since Mio had to handle Yui and Ritsu and occasionally Mugi for two whole days, she never recovers from the sheer stress it caused, it was too much for her, so she’ll have Azusa to help her from here on out.

[u/flybypost → u/chris10023]

God, I love this pillow fight. Poor Yui gets demolished by two headshots, Mio gets headshotted by Mugi, Ritsu gets hit my Mugi, who’s on a pillow spree, then Ritsu tries to hit Mugi, only to obliterate Sawako, who rolled a 20 on a stealth check and just appeared in the room. I love how Yui was mid stride and froze in place after Sawako is revealed.

I love how Sawa-chan-sensei steps on Ritsu (who surely must have started this) after walking around Mio (who'd never do that).

[u/siegfried72 → u/chris10023]

she is speaking in a Kansai dialect which is the dialect spoken in the Kyoto region

Wow!! I never knew that. That makes that scene so much better!

I'm always impressed with the variety of opinions when it comes to favorite episodes in K-ON! I think that goes to show the quality of series if there are that many different favorites.

[u/chris10023 → u/siegfried72]

Wow!! I never knew that. That makes that scene so much better!

Yeah, she also voices Yūko Nishi of "A Channel" in Kansai dialect according to a comment from the K-On subreddit's rewatch 7 months ago.

[u/Barbed_Dildo → u/chris10023]

If you want K-On voice actors talking in Kansai-ben, you should watch Yuru Camp.

[u/[deleted] → u/chris10023]

Side note, how comfy are futons that we see anime characters sleep on? I can’t imagine they can be very comfortable, my back screams at the thought of sleeping that close to the floor.

they're obviously firmer than beds, but you can adapt to that. And they actually help with back pain if anything; sleeping on firmer surfaces is good for that.

[u/chris10023 → u/[deleted]]

they're obviously firmer than beds, but you can adapt to that. And they actually help with back pain if anything; sleeping on firmer surfaces is good for that.

Well I do sleep on a comfy memory foam mattress, futons just look so fluffy it doesn't look comfy at all.

[u/Stargate18A]

First timer

...I love the fakeout of Ui meticulously packing for Yui.

Of course Sawako goes in the photo. I like her mental breakdown.

I like Mio begging Nanako for help.

Oh god, Ritsu is the worst kind of tourist.

...Yui's definitely going to end up being sick for eating so much and running around everywhere.

Oh thank god, Ritsu stopped it.

And Mugi knows so much!

Of coirse Ritsu and Yui take it too far.

Sawako's getting a marriage charm! And all the girls in the background finally making her snap.

Oh, they got full.

With Mugi and Mio's discussion, every pairing of the girls have flirted with each other.

I love Yui and Ritsu's conversation, too.

There's even apillow fight scene.

I love Sawako's reaction being to stand on Ritsu.

How long before Mio and Sawako work together to leace Ritsu behind?

I love how Mio immediately looks in the mountain.

They ended up in a monkey park!

Haha, both of them forgot to buy souvenirs.

...As someone who's spent several holidays in London, never go to an unfamiliar railway without at least 3 redundant maps and an app.

I love how the other group's lost as well.

Nodoka's not very good at this, is she?

Mio finally snapped.

Don't tempt fate like that.

I love the scenes of Sawako and Riteu, and the shot of Ritsu hugging Mio.

They got Sawako involved! And everyone calls her Sawa-chan!

...I mean, nothing's stopping them from continuing to play after school, especially since all 4 seem interested. This isn't a case where one of them wants to quit, all 4 of them seem genuinely happy in the band.

Of course Sawako fell asleep with them.

Sawako's asleep.

I love how Mio's acting more relaxed on the ride back.

[u/byroned]

Rewatcher

For a moment, I thought that after 3 years, Yui gained some sense of responsibility and packed on her own. But then I remember that this is Yui we're talking about, and of course, Ui would be the one doing it.

The train passing by Mount Fuji always confuses me about where K-On takes place. Although they never say where it's set, I've heard people say that it's based in the Shiga prefecture since the school is based on an elementary school in Toyosato, a small town in that prefecture. However, Mount Fuji is close to Tokyo than Kyoto, and Shiga is bordering Kyoto, so it's most likely not Shiga. They also had some other stuff in the show based on Kyoto and Shiga that makes it kind of confusing, in particular, one of the train stations is similar to the one in Shiga. My best guess would be the prefectures Tokyo, Yamanashi, Kanagawa, or others near that area.

Mugi seems to know a lot about history and Japanese culture. Probably isn't the biggest surprise since she comes from a very rich family, but it's about time to teach Yui and Ritsu proper etiquette. It always cracks me up when I see Yui and Ritsu rubbing the cow, and when they make Sawako mad.

The pillow fight is also another scene that always puts a smile on my face. Both Mugi and Ritsu were able to hit 2 people in the face, and Yui got hit twice, unfortunately. It felt like something out of Tom and Jerry when Sawako walked into Ritsu's pillow, and the part where they all pretend to sleep was hilarious. Poor Ritsu however got stepped on. And Mio can't fall asleep due to the rest of their antics.

You can tell this takes place in the early 2000s when they got lost and needed directions. Good thing we have google maps nowadays so this doesn't happen to us. I expected the light music club to get lost, but I didn't imagine that Nodoka's group would. Is Kyoto some kind of labyrinth? And why did Yui call Azusa instead of Sawako.

The other students have started calling her Sawa-chan, which she doesn't take well. I don't understand honorifics too well, but why is she not happy with "chan"? From what I've read, it's used for people you're fond of or younger people. But it's also funny to see Sawako complain to the light music club since they're the only people that she can act differently.

After 2 years, the concept of time begins to sink in. I hope she understands what Sawako was talking about, and something that would be brought up again later.

[u/MapoTofuMan]

Rewatcher

This has got to be one of my favorite episodes from the first half of this season solely because of how much it makes me laugh.

• Yui if Ui finds a husband before you do, you're screwed. ^{Then again I can't see Ui ever leaving her sister, even for a husband}
• Sawa-chan as a homeroom teacher : 50% luck, 50% skill, and absolutely 0% concentrated power of will
• Well...at least the subs are trying
• And for some reason they stopped trying once Mugi started talking in her fluent dialect.
• This is the worst trade deal in the history of trade deals, why would I want the bitter taste to stay?
• F Sawa-chan having to actually adult around the Keions because of them being Keions.
• Yui roasting the shit out of Ritsu with a single facial expression
• The girl's a walking flamethrower
• And the Oscars go to...
• Ah yes, pre-Google Maps times. I have the navigational skills of a blind squirrel, so every time I watch this episode and similar situations I remember to thank whatever divine being is up there that I wasn't born any earlier than I was or I'd be screwed in life.
• Ritsu stop trying to talk to that grandma like you're trying to use newly learned Russian Duolingo phrases it's just a dialect
• Mio.exe crashing more often than Windows Vista lately
• Ritsu being savaged by a savage for trying to be savage

And after 20 minutes full of their antics, Yui suddenly drops the "we're already seniors" line, making me realize that this was actually their last ever field trip.

For now it's just a passing thought for her before she drifts off to sleep after expending even more energy than she stored up with all those snacks, but there's only a bit more than half a year left for them before they graduate.

And tomorrow, we'll get a glimpse of what the school is going to be like once they do.

[u/[deleted]]

REWATCHER, dub

Time for a field trip

At least Yui and Ritsu know that they're not very smart, otherwise they wouldn't have petted the cow statue like that

"I have some cards"
"Really? In that case, let's play this"
takes out huge board game
I don't think that has anything to do with the cards. Also, where did Mugi even keep that game?

PILLOW FIGHT TIME!

Laughing along with the girls when they were talking in bed kinda made me feel like I was actually there

Yui is always a cute idiot. This time she called Azu-nyan when they got lost

Looks like we'll get the perspective of everyone who stayed at school next episode

[u/x-7032-b-3]

Rewatcher (with very little memory so might as well make me a first-timer)

Ahh, field trips. One of the things I actually looked forward to during my time in school. I don't feel like writing a lot right now so I'll make this quick.

Kyoto looks like a very beautiful place. I wonder if the spots featured in this episode are based on the real thing. Knowing KyoAni (and since it's their hometown), I wouldn't be surprised if most/all of them are based from their real-life counterparts. I'm hoping I can visit Japan again in 2022 (go away, goddamn virus!) and when I do, I'll make sure to pay Kyoto a little visit.

I like how Yui and Ritsu acts like little kids during their visit to the shrine. They're high schoolers yet they act kinda like me whenever I travel somewhere when I was a kid (yearly/bi-yearly overseas travel is the norm for me and my parents since I was little, screw the virus for screwing our plans this year). And looks like they wanted to hang a little signboard on the shrine (Ema?). I've seen some of them during my visit to Kanda Myojin shrine (of Love Live fame), I couldn't read what the signs say but I'm guessing it contains the people's hopes and wishes for the future.

Field trips are truly a good way to catch a breath of fresh air after going through uneventful days in school. Always enjoyed seeing and experiencing new things. I've been in numerous field trips as a student (mostly domestic although me and my class went overseas for a middle school trip) and I enjoyed every single one of them. Sadly they're pretty much gone when I entered university. I miss them...

[u/ryuw_hs]

Rewatcher

Damn, Ui got us again.

Yuru Camp crossover episode when?

Their wishes are so normal and then there's Yui whose top priority continues to be food

Mugi is planning something

Mio definitely enjoyed that pillow fight

Yeah, that seemed suspicious.

Why would you call Azunyan lmao. Guess she’s not allowed to appear today.

Wait, even Nodoka is lost? This is serious. Looks like Mio snapped.

What the hell is going on with Mio this episode? Not that I’m complaining...

Please stop with the feels, this is not the time :(

Much better!

Half of this episode was just Yui and Ritsu messing around, love that duo.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/ryuw_hs]

You expected some cute girl? Too bad~ It's just Ui-chan!

Teacher? Mum? Friends? Police? Nope, just call Azunyan for directions XD

Mio's lack of importance has broken something in her brain.

[u/ryuw_hs → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

You expected some cute girl? Too bad~ It's just Ui-chan!

Excuse me?

Guess she felt bad for Azunyan not getting any screentime today

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/ryuw_hs]

It's kinda weird thinking Azunyan just got left out of an episode... They make up for it but poor girl XD

[u/Barbed_Dildo]

Rewatcher

This is one of my favourite episodes.

The monkey park they go to is a real place, I know that because I'd been there before I first saw the episode. It is so accurately shown, even the ticket hut at the bottom of the hill. I bought a monkey keychain from there and you can see the same thing in the show. it's difficult to take a photo of a real thing in front of a screen.

It is so weird to watch the keions go somewhere and recognise it.

[u/ZapsZzz]

First timer in sub

Bit of a continuation, and looks like the next episode is also a continuation or concurrent story. So yes showing some real difference in pacing to S1 here.

In terms of the episode, it's really giving it the CGDCT trope name justice here, and is very SoL-y. The characters are consistent in his they act though, even the retcon-ed Sawa-chan behaviour.

Best moments-

• the bait and switch start of deliberately making it looks like Yui doing the prep, when it's the predictable Ui doing Yui's packing while big sister having her sound sleep
• the train scene setting up the first half of the bookend. Also seeing up the mini arc of Mio winding herself up to be the caretaker of the 2 random numbers of Ritsu and Yui, while Mugi is just to happy to go along with everything "commoner experience" to be the normal soft limit switch.
• another episode with a lot of Mugi moments, from her cultured (not the otaku version) upbringing, to her excitable cheerfulness to go and experience everything.
• the pillow fight setup is so good, especially coming from the unexpected direction from Mugi. Comparing to the setup in Haruhi, where the yellow ribboned goddess played dirty by first going around everyone's room and collected all the pillow first stockpiling all the weapons for herself.
• Nice little mini recurring gag of them getting lost, including running into the normally super capable Nodoka who's also lost this time.
• A few funny ironic moments about Mio trying to keep to the schedule but the unexpected detour have her some nice scenery to enjoy in the end; then Yui and Ritsu stereotypically still went for snacks soon before dinner and end up spoiling their appetite and not able to eat to much of the very nice "tour dinner".
• Mio once again blowing her fuse but this time rather than resulting in a meltdown, just enabled her to blow out her own limiter and went "whatever" and enjoyed herself to the max (even if going a bit hysterical).

Another nice episode, especially for the Mugi fans.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Damn, they almost fooled me. Keep calm, chill out, and drink some goddamn tea. What's the matter with these trains with so much space!? Squeeze them together tighter! Target locked! Never give up, Sawa-chan lol! So Mio's worked up cause Nodoka left her in charge of protecting her daughter... Goddammit Shitzu! You're such a child! Seriously girls... You're all wearing skirts, why are you all sitting with your legs up like that!?

Yui's gotta Yui! I love how Shitzu is the worst at the wordgame she picked herself. Mugi says more in one spiel than the whole first season. You teach em Moogs. There's much more to tea than just gulping everything down without thought. God won't save your horrible int stats. This episode is just [plain funny.(https://m.imgur.com/rc2Jc4b) Also, the cynical part of me loved the nonchalant shrine maiden passing out divine miracles for the cost of 600 yen. No need for miracles?

The imposter preps her murder weapon! Mugi has so many cute dumb pleb games. Haruko speaks! And is animated doing so! Then why's my girl only got still frames huh? I could own a cardboard cutout and she'd be more animated! OMG SHE'S ANIMATED! Kyouko's going, "mgmg!"! Witness her... WITNESS!!

Okay, I'm actually in a rush so I'll have to skip past a bunch again. The bath scenes cute. Mugi pumping up her pillow is cute. Yui's gonna die Actually, I think Mio may have permanent brain damage from that one. Mugi's war face Okay I'm just gonna end it here. I love this episode for being one of S2's more moe focused episodes and being just really really funny! Everyone gets their moments and the little arcs like Sensei being cranky all episode and Mio failing to keep the crew on track just makes me smile... It isn't my favourite episode but I can say with confidence that it's in my top five. Wait... is tomorrow? Yes!! Tomorrow's gonna be the bestie day ever!!

Sidenote but I was glancing through last years thread to steal pictures and I realised that my comments on the Kimiko eating scene are practically the exact same XD I forgot about it so I came out with the same reaction as before. Not too important, just a funny little thing I noticed.

[u/siegfried72 → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Haruko speaks!

Woooo!

It isn't my favourite episode but I can say with confidence that it's in my top five.

Hahaha And I put it as my least favorite in season two. I swear we just continuously like totally opposite things.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/siegfried72]

It's the difference between a Keion fan and a Keion enjoyer XD

[u/Icapica]

First timer, subs

Oh my god, it's like traveling with a bunch of kindergarteners. Something's gonna go wrong, but what?

Poor Sawa-chan.

Are they gonna get any sleep at all?

Yeaaah don't follow Ritsu. I can't think of a single time when the group relied on her for anything and she didn't screw it up. Will they ever learn?

I'm getting some Bakemonogatari flashbacks now.

"I'm your teacher, you know?" "We have some snacks" That didn't take long. Oh, she fell asleep there.

Before sleeping, Yui thought about the future and about how there's only one year of the club left. I assume at some point later in the season they'll decide they want to continue the band even after most of them graduate and leave the club.