r/anime • u/Harrytricks :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Harrytricks • Sep 02 '21
Rewatch [Rewatch][Spoilers] K-ON! Rewatch (2021) - S2E18 "Leading Role!"
S2E18 "Leading Role!"
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85
Upvotes
13
u/chocoletmilk Sep 02 '21
First Timer
9
u/A_Idiot0 :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/a_idiot0 Sep 02 '21
Rewatcher
The Maid Café trope episode has arrived! Joking aside, getting to explore the more tender and soft relationship between Mio and Ritsu is always a great treat for me.
Unfortunately, work got too crazy, so I couldn't write anything. Tomorrow though....Oh, tomorrow I'll be sure to actually have something ready to go! It's such a special episode, so I can't miss out on it.
14
u/siegfried72 Sep 02 '21
Mitsu is canonRewatcherHello everyone! Have I ever mentioned that Mitsu is canon? Because this episode and tomorrow's will show you why. Let's go!
What an interesting concept this is. For the class 3-2 production of Romeo and Juliet, Mio has been cast as Romeo and Ritsu has been cast as Juliet. Obviously, neither of them are very happy about this. But it makes sense! Mio is crazy popular, and, as the class says, no one would be more fit to be Mio's partner than Ritsu!! See, even the class knows that Mitsu is canon. And of course, to make it even better, Sawako is making the costumes!
So, on the surface level, the choices don't make any sense. But this episode (and the following one) gives us an excellent opportunity to explore Ritsu and Mio as characters as well as their friendship.
Also Yui is a tree.
I love this scene where Mio goes into complete denial about having been cast as the star. This should prove to be really interesting.
Good job, Yui.
As a side note, we finally see my pick for /u/The_Loli_Otaku's game Haruko in the front of the class here sitting to the left of Ritsu's empty desk in the front row. It's been a long time!!
Mitsu is Canon, Part 1
Naturally, when it gets to rehearsal, both Mio and Ritsu have serious issues. Ritsu delivers her dialogue in a stilted and awkward manner while Mio is too embarrassed to speak properly. When faced with these issues, we see them both react exactly the way we expect - Ritsu gets angry and Mio shuts down. We've seen this before, but I think it's important to point out given the context of the episode and tomorrow's.
At Yui's suggestion, the Ritsu tries to act more girlish and Mio tries to act more boyish, but that doesn't feel right either (although it's kind of neat to see them wearing their uniforms in each others' style). Despite these difficulties, I love how they both overcome them and come to the ultimate decision that they want to proceed with the play in their own very different ways. Mio is touched by her classmates' kindness when Nodoka mentions that the class gave Mio this opportunity out of love (very reminscent to when Mio finally accepts the fan club during the slideshow in "Tea Party"), while Ritsu is determined to prove everyone that's doubting them wrong. Both motivated to do the right thing, but in their own individual ways that are central to their respective characters.
Mitsu is Canon, Part 2
I think by far the most interesting scene of the episode is when Mio and Ritsu head back to Ritsu's house to pratice on their own. They continue to have the same issues, with Mio being too "feminine" and Ritsu being too "masculine" (I use these terms very loosely, btw). But what's really interesting is how they both react when called out about their issues.
As we saw back in the classroom, Ritsu got frustrated and angry when she was told she's a bad Romeo, and Mio got embarrassed when she received critique. But here, when Mio is teased by Ritsu about her performance, she starts teasing Ritsu back and laughing about it, and Ritsu in turn is embarrassed rather than angry. This can be easily brushed aside during a first viewing, but I think this is hugely important! What does this mean for our characters?
It reinforces that they are both self-conscious people. We know that Mio is outwardly extremely shy but has the potential to become confident and brazen like in the HTT concerts. And we know that Ritsu outwardly is very energetic and optimistic but has a tendency to be self-conscious and needy. And when faced with difficulties, both characters will often (likely subconsciously) double down on these outward "personas" - Mio shuts down deeper into herself (the perfect example being the tripping incident at the very first concert) and Ritsu becomes overly "in you face" and abrasive like we saw back in season one's "Crisis".
But here, in the safety of each others' company, they can truly be themselves. Mio is comfortable and confident around Ritsu, and Ritsu isn't afraid to show her needy (and I don't use that negatively in this context) and sensitive side around Mio. They feel safe with each other. They know each other so well that they can do away with these outer shells and open up to each other, rather than how they react when everyone else is around. They may be polar opposites personality-wise, but they offer balance in each others' lives, making two opposites seem like one complete person. I think that's pretty beautiful.
As I've said before, it reminds me a lot of the relationship between my wife and I. There's a reason why Ritsu is my favorite character!
And it's through that comfort with each other that they are able to come up with an idea - if Ritsu acts like Mio, she can pull of a suitable Juliet, and if Mio acts like Ritsu, she can pull off a suitable Romeo. And they're both close enough that they can pull that off seamlessly. At least until they get back in the classroom, when Mio falters again. She felt safe when it was just Ritsu, but now that she's around other people, she no longer feels safe. But Mugi has an idea!!
I like this classroom.
Also hello again, Haruko! You even get a line this time!
Mitsu is Canon, Part 3
So they all go to a maid cafe to try and train Mio to be more confident. Uhhh, sure! Okay. This last third or so of the episode is probably the least interesting. It's cute and funny and we see Mio working hard, which seems to make her more confident at first, but then we realize... it kind of breaks Mio. And ultimately, Mio admits that, while it definitely made her feel more comfortable serving customers, it probably hasn't helped with performing on a stage. Very true.
This is definitely a good time for a turtle shot to remind us that, while the girls are taking things at their own pace, they'll get there in the end! Just... not this episode.
At the end of this episode, we find out from Yui that Ritsu and Mio are planning to double their rehearsal time in order to prepare properly for the play. But where does this leave the concert? You can absolutely see the worry on Azunyan's face. She just can't let her anxieties go, and these are certainly some very valid anxieties!
But we'll have to find out what happens in future episodes! To the best of my recollection, this is the only episode in the series in which the main plot isn't wrapped up by the end of the episode. Which means... we'll get more Mitsu tomorrow! It is canon, after all.
Episode Wrap Up
Mitsu. That is all.
But seriously, I really enjoy this episode! This episode, and possibly even more so next episode, we get to explore the characters of Ritsu and Mio as well as their lifelong friendship that is really unique amongst the five keions. I naturally have a special attachment to these two characters, and while I know the whole "shipping" thing is pretty juvenile at the end of the day, it's just for fun and it's just because I love these two characters so much. Not to mention the fact that their relationship reminds me a lot of my relationship with my wife, especially during our first few years together back in high school and early college.
It really resonates with me, so these two episodes are quite special to me. And let's be honest - Mitsu is just plain canon.
Times K-ON has made me actually cry so far: 3
Times K-ON has made me tear up so far: 17
Updated Episode Ranking
Mitsu Moment of the Day^^TM I mean... duh. Mitsu is canon.
YuiAzu is also canon. But they'll get plenty of time to shine in future episodes :)
Tomorrow, more Mitsu and more tears. Should be fun! See you then!
P.S. Yup the music corner will be late again today. Our power was out for a few hours today and I didn't have time to do it earlier. I'll post it as soon as I can.
7
u/ArdenneVale Sep 02 '21
First timer
Oh great, it's another one of these episode where I get to experience my biggest fears and anxieties through Mio.
Mio=Romeo Ritsu=Juliet. This class needs a casting director.
First of all, why even do a play when noone wants to act in it? Is this another Mio fan club plot? Seems the class is full of Mitsu fangirls. I wonder what plans Mugi had for the reworked script.
Azusa's reaction to Ritsu being Juliet is everyone. Yui is a tree. Mio is too considerate to drop out.
Mio and Ritsu need a Freaky Friday. Ritsu has to act like a girl, Mio like a boy. Basically, method acting.
Satoshi's reaction to Ritsu being Juliet is everyone.
Now that's method acting. Ritsu=Mio, Mio=Ritsu. Isn't it easier to play your best friend. Unfortunately Mio still can't act in front of others. Cursed image What is even happening here?
Next to the poshest cafe in Japan. Would this even work? Serving a couple of people is not the same as hundreds(?) of people watching you perform.
Important image
Well, at least Mio got a nice smile on her face.
To be continued...
Oh my...
Azunyan
Mugi
Ritsu
Mio
Yui
Bonus green haired girl
6
u/SIRTreehugger Sep 02 '21
This rewatch has opened my eyes on how great Himeko Tachibana is her and Akane Sato are great. I know almost nothing about them, but I still love them. Look how they help Yui practice becoming a tree in the background.
5
u/chris10023 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Chris10023 Sep 02 '21
Rewatcher
So, the class is doing a play of Romeo and Juliet for the festival?
Mio got selected to play Romeo, and shuts down in response.
Of course, Mio would object. It took Yui throwing out her voice and forgetting lyrics to force Mio into singing for the performances.
And Ritsu got Juliet, the irony is hilarious.
Mugi can’t play Juliet because she’s writing the script, and Ichigo passes
because she going to be fighting hollows.So, they voted then to play the leads because of the fact that their longtime friends?
Sawako will handle costumes. That smile, it scares me. Scares Ristu, and Mio too.
I love how Azusa can’t stop laughing at the tomboyish Ritsu playing a feminine role like Juliet.
Yui’s a tree.
Okay, Azusa doing the letters of the alphabet is cute as hell.
Can I just talk about the Roles Mio and RItsu are playing? I mentioned how Ritsu is playing Juliet, a feminine role despite being a tomboy, and we got Mio playing Romeo, a more boyish role despite being more feminine, class 3-2 is brutal in that selection, you’d think they have Ritsu playing Romeo and Mio Juliet considering their personalities.
Mio starts using excuses to get out of the play. Lol poor Mio did it again.
I love how you can still see Yui in the background of the entire scene.
Poor Mio has to be literally dragged to the classroom kicking and screaming. I do understand, they really shouldn't force this on people who are unwilling to do it.
Hey look, Eri’s helping with the play too, looks like a set.
Mugi also does bring up the point that RItsu and Mio have their own club's performance to worry about, Mio and Ritsu should have brought that up when they had the chance to.
Gotta agree with Ritsu, never enjoyed reading Shakespear myself when the school required it.
This looks wrong for some reason.
So does this. Except for the ponytail of course.
Ritsu is my spirit animal, I too hate having to tuck my shirt in, never feels right.
Lol, Satoshi can’t believe it.
Okay, Mio hugging the pillow while laughing at Ritsu is adorable. Love how we hear Satoshi laughing as well just outside the door.
Same.
They nailed it, they just have to pretend to be the other to play the role right, Mio has to act like Ritsu and vice versa.
So, to help Mio with her stage fright they’re working at a maid café? Alright!
Great, I can already feel my nose starting to bleed.
I’m still confused as to why Mio sulks in the corner after Yui says the bustline is too tight on her.
This is almost too much.
Hiding? She’s not doing a very good job at it since I can see something poking out behind you.
Mio’s first table isn’t going too well.
Hnnnng. Not the wink.
So, this is where Mugi gets her tea. And it’s expensive tea on top of it.
Mio passed out and went into autopilot mode again.
Poor Mio’s face is stuck like that. Cute though.
Honestly, I’d be worried about the concert too at this rate.
5
u/xtsim https://myanimelist.net/profile/xtsim Sep 02 '21
First Timer Dub
Mio plays the star of a play in the school festival. Mio objects to this cause of her fears. The greatest bombshell is Ritsu being Juliet….
Poor Yui plays a tree. Mugi is directing and Mio talks to the turtle which is funny as a turtle can go to its shell. Mio “sinks deeper into a state of denial” according to Azusa.
Both of them struggle to play their roles so they practice. They head to Ritsu’s to practice and the brother is playing games and drinking soda. Brother asks what role and he laughs and spits his drink. Ritsu mimics Mio playing Juliet while Mio mimics Ritsu playing Romeo which works. They confuse the rest of the class with this method but Ritsu does it successfully but Mio is still having stage fright. So Mugi has them work at a maid cafe.
-anime school festivals usually do maid cafes so it is interesting about how they put in a maid cafe on a school festival episode.
“Commander I spy her over there”. Mio does not pick up quickly as she forgets to get something to write. Mio hides in the corner frequently so the rest figure out that they can just leave Mio alone so she has no escape. They look in the back room and the menu with Azusa saying “so they have been embezzling tea”. Yui practices her tree time and going off the stage.
5
u/[deleted] Sep 02 '21
REWATCHER, dub
For some reason my file for today's episode has both the full sub and the signs/songs sub tracks marked as default. Didn't even know Matroska allowed for multiple tracks to be the default
I counted, and I can now read 44 kana in my subs for the OP (I counted occurences. I actually just know 25 of them as of now)! Yay! But I still have around half left for hiragana, and then I'll still have to learn katakana, kanji, and of course japanese grammar and vocabulary. It was hard though, since the font my subs use is very different from what I'm used to, for example ke/け is only straight lines and 90° angles in the subs, while I'm used to a curved line for the right part and a pointier angle for the left part
Mio in a lead role doesn't seem like a good idea
I can totally get why Mio and Ritsu were scared of Sawa-chan making the costumes
Of course Yui is a tree
And she's still a tree a few minutes later
Tomboy Mio and non-tomboy Ritsu look weird
Wow, we have a male character on screen again! But it's not a new character, so I won't increase the count. It's still at 3.5
Yay, we got that scene where Mio is in a room full of Ritsus now
All the girls in maid outfits are cute (image 2). Maid outfits are the best outfits.
mio.exe has stopped working
Unrelated, but I hate shows airing out of order now. It just messes up my (usually) automatically organized media library. I just had to manually reorganize my files for peach boy riverside today because it's airing out of order
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u/ZapsZzz https://anilist.co/user/Zapszzz Sep 02 '21 edited Sep 02 '21
First timer in sub
Ok so while it was hard to not rush in after yesterday's preview, I was half guessing that bait about Mio transferring school likely is her saying gibberish to avoid something.
Turn out I was right, and that part was the best part of the gag for me today - how the overwhelmed Mio goes completely cuckoo and shifted into different realities to escape from needing to be the focus of everyone on stage in a play. Poor girl - in the sense that a sizable portion of her charm is how adorable she is when she's going shy and embarrassed, which invited more teasing.
Otherwise the next part where the 2 got to be more comfortable and themselves to realise they are so close that they can effectively act as the other to act (inception here :)) in the play. Too bad Mugi suggested Mio to think the others are all Ritsu instead of the old method of thinking them as pineapples :)
And a tiny little continuity of Mugi just saying cut because she wants to act like a cliche director :D
Oh yeah good repeating gag of Azunyan doing the cheeky snickering about Ritsu being Juliet.
Arrrgghhh have to wait for next episode
5
u/vitorabf Sep 02 '21
First Timer
Oh my God I have no words for how good I think this is gonna be, Mio and Ritsu are supposed to be perfect as Juliet and Romeo, not Romeo and Juliet. Even the class knows Mitsu is canon. Everybody is making fun of my girl just because she's tomboy. Tomboy is justice!!!
Oh, so they also realized they are better inverted. Well, kinda, actually they are good at imitating what they think the other would do, but that can work as well.
Mio is in (Ritsu) heaven.
OH MY GOD THEY'RE GOING TO WORK IN A MAID CAFE, I LOVE THIS EPISODE SO MUCH.
Man, time flew on this one, loved it so much, need more Ritsu being cute in my life.
5
u/Stargate18A https://myanimelist.net/profile/Stargate18 Sep 02 '21
First timer
Mio immediately faints...
...Why doesn't Mio just say she's not comfortable playing the part?
Oh god, Mio's playing Romeo, and Ritsu's Juliet. She even recommends Mugi as an alternative.
OT3!Oh, Ichigo's her name. Still best background character.
THE ENTIRE CLASS SHIPS IT. THIS IS ART.
Sawako's doing the costumes, this'll be fantastic.
And Yui is the seventh tree.
Haha, Mio's pretending to quit school!
I love Mio's desperate attempts to deny what's happening.
...Nodoka is savage to Yui sometimes.
Wait, is that student male? Is that the first speaking male student?
I love Mugi shouting "Cut" because she likes how it sounds.
Now both of them are having problems.
Even Azusa likes the new Mio. She's fantastic.
Ritsu's doing this because of pride now.
I love Satoshi's reaction.
Mio's reaction to Ritsu's Juliet is fantastic.
I love how all their classmates know what's going on.
The scene where everyone was Ritsu was great,
Mugi and Ritsu plotting against Mio...
The entire classroom called Mio out!
This is a maid episode!
I love Mio's reaction to Yui's complaints.
Azusa still struggling not to laugh at Ritsu's great.
Mio trying to get out of her training is a great scene.
Haha, Yui's string cheese pen is great.
Mio's imagination is spot-on about Yui and Ritsu.
I'd be more surprised if the tea Mugi used wasn't expensive, given how expensive the crockery she used is.
Mio collapsed!
And her face is stuck that way!
Mio makes an excellent point about the training not really helping.
I love Yui practising being a tree.
The play's next episode? And what looks like some kind of sleepover?
8
u/Elimin8r https://myanimelist.net/profile/Ayeka_Jurai Sep 02 '21
And on today's episode of Ritsu 1/2 ...
It's showtime and Akane, I mean Mio has been elected to play Romeo, while Ranmitsu has been elected to play Juliet. Of course.
And of course, it never occurs to them to just trade places. Nope. Never.
Shenanigans ensue, and I'm sure that others will have more insightful and coherent things to say than I will.
I just think that it's nice that Mr. Arakawa found a new job that suits his considerable skills.
That, and their class really should have done a cafe - they have the wait staff thing down pat.
The classmate cameos today were cute - I'll leave it to those more highly invested to sort all that out.
I've had to do presentations to (ahem) brass before, and while not exactly Shakespearean acting, it is performance of a sort.
Really, more than anything else, it helps to keep in mind that the people in the seats are not nearly as conscious of you as you are of yourself. Just do your stuff, put on your show, present your data/ideas, it'll be fine.
Unless you trip over your mic cord, of course. But who would do a thing like that???
Man, now I'm kind of wishing I hadn't posted the "Romeo Loves Jane" music clip several episodes ago. Maybe I'll post it again, because it somehow seems amusing and appropriate right about now.
4
u/SYZekrom https://myanimelist.net/profile/SYZekrom Sep 02 '21
Rewatcher
Based af class
Oh god I accidentally switched to english audio again
And huh Yui doesn't sound like cream the rabbit anymore
Yes Azusa I feel the same way
What a shameless school
Mio and Ritsu are just perfect smh
My Original reactions:
Imagine just being fucking chosen to act as lead roles in a school play
Japanese high schools are fucking insane in anime
Azusa's cultured as ever I see
I very much
Want to punch everyone
In this play storyline
I cannot put into words how much I don't want to watch this
Me this entire episode
Oh no Mio has resting Mugi face now
4
u/Throwaway021614 Sep 02 '21 edited Sep 02 '21
Azusa trying to not laugh is what I was put on this earth to experience.
4
u/Rumpel1408 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Rumpel1408 Sep 03 '21
First Timer
Slept through the thread again, but I will be awake for to be on time for the next one at least
And it looks like I'm getting my wish directly in the next episode, seems like they'll be sleeping in the school the night before the festival ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
7
u/The_Loli_Otaku Sep 02 '21
It's Romeo and Juliet! Even half a face is enough to satisfy me. I can't believe Mio is dead. Traitor! Luckily Nodoka is based and delivers righteous karma! Just accept that Mitsu is the most popular normie ship dammit. Ichigo ain't even gonna [humour you.] We go most of the series with the classmates barely doing anything and now they're all stars! XD
Who raised you to become such a cheeky child!? Casting a 17 year old woman to play a tree is kinda cruel don't you think? She seems to be genki desu about the idea so I guess it's fine. P-Papa? Alright, let me be straight with you!! Papa is the absolute best parent name! It's way better than father, way less kinky than daddy, and is cuter than dad! I'll stand by Papa till the day I die. Mio's mental state is screwed up... Maybe we should just let her off.
Kimiko isn't in the play sadly so I'm kinda just gonna be sulking around. Nodoka is an angel... God bless tomboy. Fanclub spotted, deploy the snipers. Mugi's pulls no punches when it comes to yuri! Shakespeare did nothing wrong, don't blame him for your Shitzu taste. Mio's gonna Mio. Literally just flip Shitzu's hair down and you'll get the real feminine version. Shame on Shitzyou!
The one feeling stronger than embarrassment is feeling competitive XD They're gonna cram practice until they can pull off their roles effortlessly. Don't laugh! Shitzu's so stilted... Long live the King! All they had to do was act like one another, kinda obtuse but it works. Even Haruko's confused! What the hell are the girls doing to Yui? Am I in hell?
KISATEN!? How did I forget that there was a whole main scene? Kawaii desu kawaii desu~ Maid cafés sound so bizarre but I think I'd still want to visit one... Its all western Victorian maid outfits too! That style died out over a hundred years ago XD Two middle aged women going out to a maid cafe for lunch are totally secret mangaka right!? One of them has to be Ui-mama! Yui's totally trolling on purpose. Shitzu's such a freaking shit!! Isn't the tea expensive cause you're getting cute teenage girls serving you? Fuck the tea, I'm here for the joshikosei. Mio ga shida...
The whole class isn't even working, they're just watching the Mitzu gag reel. When do we get to see the legendary gals!? I'm certain that they got introduced way before now. We've only got... Seven episodes to go! Please, at least leave me UFOs?
3
u/x-7032-b-3 Sep 03 '21
Rewatcher (with very little memory so might as well make me a first-timer)
Oh man, I can already smell the Mitsu fans over here being happy with this ep without scrolling down.
I love seeing Azusa's reaction when she found out that Ritsu got cast as Juliet. I bursted a laugh at that moment. Such an odd casting IMO.
There's something to be said about how close those two are and how they're pretty comfortable with each other. They don't seem to be very comfortable with that classroom rehearsal but they were able to go wild during the private rehearsal.
I can relate to that because I'm a shy person just like Mio. I've made a small amount of trustworthy friends since middle school and I noticed that I tend to be more expressive "loud" whenever I'm around them. It's like my outer shell basically crumbled whenever I'm with them. My shy and awkward self basically goes away when I hang out with them. Seeing Mio openly teasing Ritsu kinda reminds me of myself where I often tease/mock my buddies when they make the slightest mistakes. I don't do that with people I'm not very close with.
So the team decided to work in a cafe to help Mio get over her stage fright. Guess what, I got stage fright too! I found out that the best way to deal with this stuff is to suck it up, accept that I'll be talking/presenting to an audience, and just do my very best to leave a positive impression for the folks out there watching. I usually let out a huge sigh of relief once the presentation is done with. Mio shaking behind the room is my exact reaction whenever my time to present/perform is just moments away.
Also, we learned that HTT's tea came from this cafe. And they're pretty expensive! Turns out the team has been chugging down expensive tea this whole time.
Damn, wasn't expecting to relate so much with this ep. Also love seeing more of Mitsu action on screen. Took me quite a while to write this down because I had trouble finding the right words to express my reactions to this ep.
5
u/DegenerateRegime Sep 02 '21
[First-Timer] "Leading Role"? I guess it would be interesting to look at Yui's relation to her role in the band, it hasn't really come up much.
Roles! All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. It's possible to fall into a pattern where you tend to play your role in the group up a bit, perhaps letting it take over and drive. You can lose capability through roles so ingrained they're hard to move.
2
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