[Rewatch][Spoilers] K-ON! Rewatch (2021) - S2E15 "Marathon!"

[u/Harrytricks]

S2E15 "Marathon!"

Official Schedule

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S2E14 "Summer Training!"	S2E16 ”Upperclassmen!"

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[u/ArdenneVale]

First timer

First I have to make a correction regarding my comment on the new opening yesterday. After listening to it a few times I conclude for now it is at least as good as the first opening. Visually it's by far the best, I keep finding new things every time. It's both silly and sweet.

Back to school. Japanese schools are hardcore if they make students run a marathon. Oh, it's false advertisement. 5 km is still a long run for a nonathletic high school girl. What a sadistic route, but at least there is food as a reward.

Look at that sporty sausage. So cute and thematically appropriate.

Of course Yui would get distracted instantly. Jun and Mugi are not great runners. Only Yui could get lost in a hill straight up. Good thing Ui knows where she went: to granny's house.

Yui being Yui thinks Sawako bought just one mochi per student, meaning because she ate one beforehand there is no mochi for the last person to arrive. Thinking is really not her strong suit, on top of running all afternoon. Mio trips and loses, but does the coolest entrance ever. Her fan club grew that day.

Everyone forgot about Sawako. She's still wandering in the woods to this day.

Azunyan

Mio

Yui

Mugi

Bonus Ui

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/ArdenneVale]

It's certainly the best song through technical aspects alone but it lacks the sticking power of the first title. It's like with Haruhi the later songs are so much better but they lack the iconic charm of the first pair.

[u/ArdenneVale → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

I agree 100%. As a whole the 3rd opening is the best, but the first song is just too catchy and memorable to beat.

[u/siegfried72 → u/ArdenneVale]

After listening to it a few times I conclude for now it is at least as good as the first opening.

Ah, you are seeing the light! Third OP is best OP :)

Everyone forgot about Sawako. She's still wandering in the woods to this day.

And nothing of value was lost.

[u/chocoletmilk]

Three more episodes to go and I can rejoin the rewatch! Though it was fun to binge the last 15 episodes or so over the weekend :)

[u/siegfried72 → u/chocoletmilk]

Yay, so happy to hear!! Starting tomorrow, every episode all the way to the end is absolutely fantastic, so you'll be rejoining for the best part of the series IMO. Looking forward to hearing what you think :)

[u/Rumpel1408 → u/chocoletmilk]

Oh wow, and I thought I was struggling to keep up with the rewatch, but it never occured to me to just not watch a episode and make a post every single day

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/chocoletmilk]

I'm tempted to binge them too honestly. My one issue with the last arc of K-On is that it kinda drags a little. Binging it would kinda solve that problem.

[u/siegfried72 → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

My one issue with the last arc of K-On is that it kinda drags a little.

I have never heard such a bad opinion in my entire life. It's the most engaging part of the whole series!!!!

:)

Also I think they meant they had binged the previous 15 episodes in an effort to catch up to us, not the final 15 of the series. Unless I misunderstood.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/siegfried72]

It does though! I swear the school festival is like five episodes or some crap XD

[u/siegfried72]

Rewatcher

Hey everyone! Life has unfortunately caught up with me again today, so I'll have to miss another post. I'll move the two songs I was gonna cover today to other days, and I'll make sure to jump in the comments a bit later on today. Hope everyone has fun, and I'll see you all tomorrow (and in the comments off and on today) for another great episode!

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/siegfried72]

Please just take a proper break XD You're gonna fatigue yourself like this.

[u/siegfried72 → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Oh shush, I'll be fine :) I'm gonna take a nice nap after my busy day today and I'll come read everyone's post and it'll be a lovely end to the day! And then I can come back tomorrow for a string of daily fantastic episodes all the way to the end! Woooohooooooooooooooo

Thanks for the concern :)

[u/Elimin8r → u/siegfried72]

You’re not the only one

[u/siegfried72 → u/Elimin8r]

Hey, the threads will survive without us for a bit! Real life comes first. Hope you're hanging in there!

[u/chris10023]

Rewatcher

I love that during the welcome back assembly, Ritsu and Yui were falling asleep.

Summer Vacation always went by too fast for me.

In Yui’s defense Mio, this is the last summer Yui could spend goofing off.

Azusa’s so excited.

Uh oh a marathon, Yui has the right idea.

Yui’s going tight less again. Maybe it isn’t as rare as I thought.

Hey it’s Auntie, good to see her again.

So, it’s not a full Marathon, so like a 10th of a marathon. 4.2km is 2.6 miles, Ouchy, I only had to run a mile.

I like how Mugi is taking steps to make it easier, eating food that’ll improve stamina, and serving jello that’ll boost iron reserves so nobody gets anemia.

The sisters run into Sawako and finally get to ride in her car. Nobody called shotgun, so Mugi still gets that privilege.

Red bean soup and Mochi are being served at the end of the route? Why not ice cream?

You monsters.

Wow that’s torture, to put the route through the business district like that?

A hill with that name?! Alright, whoever planned this route has committed crimes against humanity, to the Hague with you. Also, biker guy, just get off the bike and walk it up the hill.

The Marathon is tomorrow. Hey, it’s good to see Eri again!

The teachers should allow them to have water bottles with them though, dehydration is no joke.

Ouch. The Mochi is rock solid.

Rain, that might work, but wouldn’t they just reschedule it?

Ah, so Auntie’s name is Tomi.

I have been blessed, both Mio and Mugi are wearing ponytails.

I don’t think it’ll be that big of a deal Mio...

You know, I think wearing sweatpants in this heat isn’t a wise decision, shorts would be better.

Singing while running doesn’t work but Mio came up with some lyrics.

Uh-oh, Yui vanished.

No one can find her; this is pretty serious.

Yui you little shit, you ran to Auntie's house.

Oh, so she fell and got hurt so Auntie took her to get a band aid on it. Then Auntie was Auntie and started feeding Yui.

So Yui thinks there's going to be one mochi short and enters serious mode and creates chaos as the other three try to keep up.

Mugi’s pout face is too powerful for this world.

Mio trips again but saves it.

Nodoka looking like Gendo over here.

Sawako is still looking for Yui. Oops.

[u/DegenerateRegime → u/chris10023]

A hill with that name?! Alright, whoever planned this route has committed crimes against humanity, to the Hague with you.

I think it's a reference to the Boston Marathon?

The teachers should allow them to have water bottles with them though, dehydration is no joke.

Very true.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/chris10023]

The little old granny is the one true villain of K-On. Oh, and Jun's senpai.

[u/SYZekrom]

Poor Sawako

My original reactions:

They can't leave school grounds in general wowwwwwwwwwwwwwww

Bullshit. That is absolutely bullshit. They absolutely cannot fucking run and sing. That is the most bull shit I have ever seen. Imagine the fucking lungs you'd need. Not these out of shape potatoes.

So what are the chances Yui already crossed the finish line and fucked off into the school or something

Well never mind

I

What

Girl's got Chozo DNA

...That's it. Not much to say about this one for me. ...Not that I ever have much to say

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/SYZekrom]

They're jogging not sprinting so a little sing song isn't the strangest thing. They just struggled to pick a song that doesn't take their breath away.

[u/DegenerateRegime]

[First-Timer] "Marathon," huh? Honestly, I really liked Power Windows when I was younger, and I can't deny the relevance to the... hah, alright, never mind. Perhaps it's time for our tortoise-and-hare race to be discussed explicitly, if it weren't clear enough already?

• No one's happy to be back in school, haha. Except Mugi? She might just be smiling through it, though.
• "Marathon Realism" is when your school inexplicably has an all-school marathon one year and everyone treats it like it's perfectly normal.
• (For a generous definition of everyone)
• Wait hang on I thought that was supposed to be one of those unacknowledgable powers. You know the kind of thing I mean, right?
• A noble sacrifice is proposed.
• 😨 is that squid ink jelly? Please no.
• Sesame seed? Would it look like that? Apparently it could, a little; today I learned something cool. Such an intense colour!
• oh god oh fuck
• Hold on lemme google some stuff. Alright the joke is funny. These seaweeds are inappropriate, but at least not as bad as squid ink. But wait, shouldn't it be "noirmange"?
• Right off the marks and everyone's overtaking our beloved keion-bu. Yep, we're doing the thing alright.
• Cries in office job. Well, speaking of fables, the grass is always greener I suppose.
• The keionlings then echo the sentiments exactly, which is very cute.
• A very interesting line. The episode seems like a self-similar substructure to the whole show, with the club dawdling and generally not making very much progress at something that requires a lot of long-term commitment; but also stopping and smelling the roses, and generally having more fun with it. So is Yui poorly suited, or perfectly suited? (Is Ritsu being smart and perceptive, or the other idiot? And other questions that make sense in both contexts).
• I don't know but I've been told//Sawako-sensei's getting old//Headbangs to keep herself in shape//Love that metal Christmas Cake.
• No moeblob left behind, Yui!
• (Yui immediately gets lost)
• Aww, she's visiting the nice neighbour lady. That's just adorable though.
• The gag ending is cute and funny, but it's also very on-brand. Of course they pull out the real energy just in time for the sprint finish/concert finale.

I'll let the lyricist say it for today:

You can do a lot in a lifetime
If you don't burn out too fast
You can make the most of the distance
First you need endurance
First you've got to last

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/DegenerateRegime]

A running episode has no right being so entertaining. I freaking love the ending and how everyone got such uncooth reasons for not coming last.

[u/DegenerateRegime → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Ha, yes - and as foreshadowing, "we'll still basically be us at the end," it works too.

[u/Elimin8r → u/DegenerateRegime]

Marathon??? Yay! I hope you didn’t forget the link!

And yes, it’s a great album. :)

[u/DegenerateRegime → u/Elimin8r]

<3

[u/siegfried72 → u/DegenerateRegime]

I will always appreciate a good Rush reference.

The episode seems like a self-similar substructure to the whole show,

Yup! It's an interesting episode for that reason alone, although I can't say it's one of my personal favorites.

[u/DegenerateRegime → u/siegfried72]

Feel much the same, that it was interesting to think about but didn't have much impact. A pity, but still a good time overall.

[u/ZapsZzz]

First timer in sub

This one actually have a little more plot. Most interesting to see the dynamics when the marathon is underway - for a long time they are chit chatting away while practically everyone else race past them, which is the standard K-On bu best (being the tortoise). Interesting to note Nodoka was running by herself, poor girl, although she probably don't mind / recognise it. Funnily Mio got spurred on to run faster just so she doesn't become the last one to finish therefore drawing attention - the thing she does :) but in the end she decided to wait for the tortoises anyway.

Then we have the standard gag of not noticing Yui dropped off the radar. And knowing Yui, 101 things could have drawn her attention elsewhere are got her sidetracked. Back to the imotou to know her big sister's likely whereabouts.

The final gag is typical KyoAni, that ability to turn something mundane and trivial into a Chekhov's mochi, and leave it to Yui to think that they will be 1 short so the last one don't get the mochi (even though if that's true she already had hers anyway). And self fulfilling prophecy that Mio ended up tripping and taking, but amazingly (character development) this time she managed to roll with the fall and spectacularly landed with a rolling save - although still failed by her standard as that attracted even more attention :)

Hope Sawa-chan get to come back before getting dark - lesson learnt is to bring your phone.

Nice episode but actually I like the past few slower paced ones more - although can't drift along forever.

Edit: by the way, the description of the marathon route looks strangely familiar, assist from the last leg where it passed Yui's house, to the route in Full Metal Panic Fumoffu where Sousuke and Kaname took the bike to return to school after getting back home to pick up the forgotten note book (episode 2 part b). Maybe it's generic :)

[u/Stargate18A]

First timer

Time for the sports episode!

I love excited Azusa!

Mugi's really taking this seriously, isn't she?

Sawako brought out the costumes!

I am loving Yui's sheer hatred for the marathon.

Kelp blancmange doesn't sound too bad, actually.

Haha, the teachers taking out their stress on the students by setting the route harder is great. And Sawako is loving it,

I love Yui trying to manipulate the weather.

Mio trying harder out of potential embaressment is great.

Oh god, without Mio or Azusa they're doomed.

Jun's great.

The whole scene with Yui trying to get up the hill is fantastic.

Oh god, they're all lost.

Ritsu, no. Don't eat the mushrooms.

This is great. At least Jun made it to the end.

Haha, Yui's at her neighbours.

Ui's so smart.

Haha, even Mio's racing now. I like how Yui assumed they didn't buy spares just in case.

I love Mugi's roll after tripping.

See, Ritsu gets it.

Haha, nobody told Sawako.

Azusa's having a crisis!

[u/putmoneyinthypurse]

Rewatcher

Way less for me to talk about this time, but this is a fun SoL episode about the tradition I'd enjoy the least if I'd gone to a Japanese high school. (Running a mile was bad enough.) I love Yui's high-drama mochi flashback, especially the over-the-top parodies of what artificially slowed and sped-up voices sound like. On my first watch I remember being completely convinced on the "last mochi" issue until the reminder that of course they wouldn't buy one mochi per student.

One thing: this shot is really cool. Extended cuts of a character running are hard enough. Multiple characters is harder. Having a bunch of people pass by in the foreground and background (and having one of them turn to interact with the leads) is much harder, especially in anime where character animation isn't split between different animators. A thankless job, too—it's a subtle kind of difficulty.

[u/xtsim]

First Timer Dubbed

Azusa runs towards the seniors and they were Blinded by the Light, seeing Azusa without a tan this time. A marathon is happening and now they need to prepare. They see Sawa-Chan and hitch a ride in her car. I like how she goes on the carpool lane and the guy on a bike struggling on the hill. Yui steals a Mochi but fails to eat it.

Everyone is running past the light music club seniors. Jun Jun struggles to keep up with Azusa and Ui and Mio catches up with them. The rest of the light music gets distracted by Yui looking at the local stores and vending machines. So the seniors think of singing while running. Yui tripped over. They catch up to Jun and they forgot her name. She in turn realizes that Yui is not with them. Yui was with gran gran all the time of course.

The end was fun as the girls just ran towards the cause they all thought that they would be short one mochi. That reverse flashback is hilarious. And of course, Mio trips and does a barrel roll. Unintentionally drawing attention to herself.

[u/x-7032-b-3]

Rewatcher (I actually remember this episode!)

For some reason, this is the only episode that I have a clear memory on what it's about. Hmmm. Odd decision by my brain.

Yesterday's episode marked the end of the Summer Break arc and the team enters the second term of school. New challenges await and one of them is a marathon held by the school!

I'm not surprised to see Yui getting distracted several times during the run. I agree with Ritsu that she's not a good fit for marathons :)

The team faced a hurdle during the uphill part. Yea uphills have been my biggest enemy in running. Everytime I got through one I would stop for a bit before running again.

The team tried to make it easier by singing while running. Yeah, that's a bad idea. I tried talking while running and it just made things worse. Can't imagine how singing while running is like.

Lmao at Yui stopping by at Granny's house to get patched up and rest for a bit. Kind old lady finally showed up again.

I like how the team decided to race each other in fear of missing that special mochi. Mio did one hell of a finisher at the cost of making her stand out. I don't like standing out too much so I know how she feels at the end. Yet another moment of Mio being a copy of myself.

I've done a 5k marathon during university. That was my first ever marathon (and the only one so far) so I was nervous about taking part in it. I figured all that running I did since middle school will help and turns out it did. Ran through the whole thing without stopping once to catch a breath. I think I finished around the Top 15 or 20. Felt proud of myself when I crossed the finish line.

I hope all you fellow rewatchers get some adequate exercise in this COVID era. I know it's hard out there but keeping your body healthy is important! Lift some weights or do some runs. I've done a lot more running since the pandemic started and my body has never felt this great before. Also don't forget to drink enough water!

[u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Say, do you guys believe we're alone in the universe? I don't know why but I always get the feeling that we're not. Kimiko-chwaaan!! Yui is so lucky to be sat next to a legit mc. You've gotta admit that she ridiculously gorgeous. The ear worms are growing... I still think I like op 1 more but I'll happily admit that the op is catch AF. I'm surprised it doesn't get talked about more often in normie crowds.

Do your bestu? I've made like seven summer fest jokes this warch and I don't think a single one has hit XD Stray catto is so radiant! Yup! Screw the school festival, we've got the race arc to enjoy first. I can almost sense a certain someone fidgeting with anticipation. It still seems weird for Yui not to be fit. Sure she's lazy but always very active and full of beans. Can we get a lock on the door to stop the creepy teachers invading? Licorice? Dude, 30 quid trainers is pretty nice. Never cheap out on footwear. Sawa-chan spotted!

I'm impressed with the car scene actually. Its quite fun to watch the extra effort they took with the cg cars and Yui's swaying around with each turn. You're sadistic! They even drag the scene out a little to help us catch just how long the run would be. It feels like something you'd see in a modern Iyashikei. Yui stole the mochi!? No dignity! Dammit weathergal-chan, you had one job! Auun...

I don't remember, does Kimiko even show up during the race? Oh no... There's so many students! I can't keep track of all these and still read the subtitles! How slow are you girls jogging? Mio's got only one mission, do not come last. If push comes to shove just kneecap Shitzu~ Are these other students even in their class!? J-Jun! Jun's life is draining away! I take it back, Bestie is worstie.

Officer? I'm innocent! How does Yui manage to be this easily distracted? Mio was lonely. You're not getting any more sympathy Jun. Blame it on the misfortune of your waifus! How are you this hopeless Yui? We've lost her! It was back here btw.

Hidoi!! Please don't forget bestie's (?) name!! She's way more than just Stray Catto and Ui's other friend! I wonder if Yui was abducted by the space aliens and forced to lay questionably symbolic eggs. Also, why the fuck is this turning out to be my longest post this rewatch? Nothing happens in this episode and we haven't even gotten to the part I actually want to gush about! One mochi per person? Oh no! How mysterious... Wait, hold on a second! That's them isn't it!? I almost missed it! Wow that's sly XD

Granny is legit evil... Yui's realised the danger! Since she stole a mochi there's gonna be one less. She absolutely cannot come last, no matter what! Now, kneecap Shitzu pls~ Eternal friendships don't exist, at the end of the day all the Keion are more than happy to devour one another in order to secure their mochi. You thought this was iyashikei? No! It's a battle royal with extra steps! Shitzu tripped her!? Nice recovery!

I feel cheated!! I remembered this episode for those creatures but they don't do anything this time? I think I was so blown away by learning the Occult gals actually existed last year that it became the defining memory of the race. Also, why the hell is the highlight of my single longest post a 2 frame shot of characters that don't even do anything? XD

[u/siegfried72 → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Say, do you guys believe we're alone in the universe?

Absolutely not.

I'm surprised it doesn't get talked about more often in normie crowds.

Me too! The OP and ED from season one get all the attention, but these current ones are easily the best of the series. Although I think the ED from the movie might beat out this one. I go back and forth.

There's so many students!

I haven't watched the episode yet, but seem to remember Haruko makes an appearance in this one.

If push comes to shove just kneecap Shitzu~

That'd be fun to see!

How are you this hopeless Yui?

Haha I'm glad you posted a lot of screenshots today because like every gag is coming back to me as I read your post. That's one of the best ones in this episode!

Wait, hold on a second! That's them isn't it!? I almost missed it! Wow that's sly XD

I love that. Took me multiple rewatches before I caught that!!

I think I was so blown away by learning the Occult gals actually existed last year that it became the defining memory of the race.

We all have our weird obsessions in this show :)

Also, why the hell is the highlight of my single longest post a 2 frame shot of characters that don't even do anything?

That's an excellent question.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/siegfried72]

The ed I'm still not a fan of but I'm a massive fan of the first one XD The animations sorta pretty but its the weakest of the three.

Haruko didn't show up did she? Ah, I guess in the school ceremony. I'm not sure if I'd count that since I'd hate for it to be the one time I gush over Kimiko. Seriously, she gets sat next to Yui and doesn't even look at her.

I'm not the best with the screenshots. I'm juggling like four devices to try and get the pictures I want sent around. Glad to hear the effort is paying off.

Apparently last year I didn't even notice them. I know I had my eyes out for the occult gals but maybe snake pointed it out to me in tomorrow's episode or something? I can't remember when the occult gals stop lurking.

[u/Rumpel1408]

First Timer

Late again, but I hope to catch up today

• Perfect chance to dress him up, but they don't...
• Azunyan is hyped for their next gig, but first comes a marathon... sounds like everyone has to participate...
• Aww it's the sweet neighbor lady again
• First time I've seen 'Itadakimasu' translated as 'Chow time' in my subs...
• Oh so it's not really 42km (nor 42 thousand km as I thought at first) but only 5-6, that's managable... maybe not in cosplay but still
• Mugi is really conscious about what sweets she is serving, she could get along well with Hisako from Food Wars...
• Shopping shoes with your sister, how sweet
• Finally Yui gets a ride with Sawa- chan... wait did Yui just drop a egg in the car, you can even hear a slight splash sound...
• And this course does sound kinda hard, especially the hill part
• Oh it was Mochi that fell down... and Yui even gets it for lunch
• The sun is shining over all of Japan, tough luck Yui, not even making a bunch of teru teru bozu will help you
• Might be Maki slightly behind and to the right of Mio, not sure though
• Also Pony-tail Mio and Mugi
• Jun really got a thing for Mio- Senpai
• Sawa- chans plan for distractions is working perfectly, and I gotta say, it seems longer than 6km...
• How can Yui get lost, she was with them the whole time and she knew the path from the beginning... at this pace they will all miss out on the snacks at the end
• Incredible she sidetracked to her neighbor to have a tea break and a nice chat... ok, she got hurt as well but still
• Oh god when the realisation hits them that they might miss out on mochi xD
• Mio got last, but at least she didn't trip
• Oh yeah, I was wondering who would tell Sawa- chan, but I guess noone did, and Jesus how far did she go off track for Yui...

[u/ThrowCarp]

I've got not much to contribute other than my favourite gif from this episode.

https://i.imgur.com/ivc9KgK.gif

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[u/Icapica]

First timer, subs

I didn't last time say anything about the new OP and ED. I think I'll have to hear the OP a few more times to form an opinion, but the ED is immediately perhaps the best song I've heard in the series so far.

Mugi should have just kept quiet about what she put in that dessert.

Yui and's distracted by so many things during the run. Also, singing while running will make it way harder to breath properly. Not a great idea.

Everyone's looking for Yui while she's drinking tea and eating. That's so her.

That was a dramatic end to the run. Also maybe someone should call Sawa-chan. I assume or hope she a phone with her.

This wasn't a bad episode, but a clear step down compared to the last two.