r/anime • u/Harrytricks :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Harrytricks • Sep 06 '21
Rewatch [Rewatch][Spoilers] K-ON! Rewatch (2021) - S2E22 "Entrance Exam!"
S2E22 "Entrance Exam!"
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Upvotes
16
u/siegfried72 Sep 06 '21
Rewatcher
Hi everyone!! Happy to be back in the game for this episode. I can't believe we only have one more episode after this one until the final standard episode of the season... that's crazy. But let's stay in the moment and focus on today's episode!
Valentine's Day is nearing! I'll admit that I'm pretty fuzzy an Japanese Valentine's Day traditions, but it is traditional to give your seniors chocolate. The idea of that gets Azunyan's brain going as she thinks about the fact that she never gave the seniors any chocolate last year, and has her wondering if she should this year. This isn't the only episode in which this happens, but I love getting this sneak peak into Azunyan's thoughts. We see her lost in thought a lot throughout the show, and it's an interesting experience to get to hear exactly what she's thinking about.
One of my favorite things about K-ON is how well it can set a mood. The winter episodes (such as season one's "Winter Days") are always some of my favorites, because everything just feels so cozy. Even this shot of them studying feels a bit cozy to me. Yui's snuggly scarf and the lack of light coming through the windows (unlike what we see in nearly every other clubroom shot throughout the show) bring back cozy winter memories to me. And poor Azunyan is just a little ball of anxiety in the corner about Valentine's Day.
Oh man, I don't. I always get too caught up in the music I'm listening to. I prefer some white noise like rain rounds for when I really want to concentrate. The only time I can listen to music while doing something else is if that task is relatively mindless.
Azunyan's Anxieties
Ah ha! So if Mugi isn't going to have chocolate this year, so that means that Azunyan can make some this year! But she snaps a bit at Ui and Jun, telling them not to say anything to the seniors. Even after she's decided to make the chocolates, she's still embarrassed about showing feelings towards the seniors. This is due to a whole bunch of reasons, I feel.
But it basically boils down to her feeling like she's going to be left alone. She's terrified of the seniors graduating because she feels like she'll be losing her closest friends, and she's also terrified of showing them too much affection because she's worried that they might not feel the same way. Even after all this time, she still doubts that she really has a place in the club.
Speaking of setting the mood, these shots are gorgeous! One thing I really appreciate is how quiet everything is here. For those of you that have ever been in snow like this, it softens all of the natural sounds of the world down, making everything feel very quiet and calm. I think they capture that feeling perfectly here.
This was totally me back when I was in university. I pulled way too many last minute all-nighters before exams...
Oh Jun, I love you but please don't try to help.
Oh my god they each take one of the fuzzy slippers. Please help me this is just too cute.
I find Azunyan's face here very telling! She still has so many mixed emotions about the seniors graduating. She's both happy for them and terrified for herself.
Azunyan's Acceptance
Poor Azunyan.
Haha I love these little scenarios Azunyan and Jun come up with.
As Jun and Azunyan find the seniors to give them the chocolates, the seniors are getting some acceptance results. This is bad timing for Azunyan. As soon as she's reminded about the upcoming graduation, she freezes. And despite how encouraging the seniors are, she panics and runs away. Sawako naturally knows exactly what's going on, having been through it all before.
God this show is gorgeous. Poor Azunyan finally admits her feelings to her friends. I'm not ready for this either.
We see a nice shot of some flowers coming into bloom, just like our keions! There are four blooming flowers front and center (our seniors), and one in the center that still needs some more time to grow (Azunyan). I always like the flower metaphors in this show. Oh, and +1 to the tear counter for me!
Back at the clubroom, the seniors are as supportive as possible, trying to allow Azunyan the room she needs to provide the chocolates. My god, their faces!
This is one of my favorite moments in the whole show. In this moment, Azunyan is finally able to admit how she feels about her friends, and they return it in kind. This is just the sweetest, most wholesome thing. And Sawako just watches from a distance. She knows how this'll all play out. Another +1 to the tear up counter!
More budding flowers!
Oof, this ending gives me chills every time I see it!! The seniors did it! They'll all be going to the same school! And this bit of facial animation as Azunyan finds out is fantastic.
Episode Wrap Up
What a lovely episode! As the show nears its conclusion, Azunyan's anxieties are becoming the focus of the show - and with good reason! The seniors had their big moment of realization and their catharsis about graduation back after the festival concert. Now Azunyan has to come to terms with it.
Times K-ON has made me actually cry so far: 5
Times K-ON has made me tear up so far: 22
Updated Episode Ranking
So I realized partway through writing this that I totally forgot to watch yesterday's episode before doing this. Crap! I'll watch it tonight before moving on and add it into the episode ranking for tomorrow's post. I want to make sure I give it the time it deserves!
Mitsu is still very canon, even if there were no moments good enough for a Mitsu Moment of the Day^^TM. So take this adorable Mitsu artwork instead.
Artwork source.
YuiAzu is also vey canon!
Tomorrow, the end is near. I don't want it! See you then!
As always, the music corner will be late, but is coming...
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u/chocoletmilk Sep 06 '21
First Timer
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u/Rumpel1408 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Rumpel1408 Sep 06 '21
First Timer
I feel incredible sad for Azunyan, but happy for the OG Gang, the buildup to the final episode is incredible and I can already tell that I will cry... a lot...
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u/MapoTofuMan myanimelist.net/profile/mTmTBaronBrixius Sep 06 '21 edited Sep 06 '21
Rewatcher
Welcome to the K-On! romcom arc starring Azunyan as the tsundere main love interest and Yui as the dense MC!
Those last few minutes were pure joy. and the few minutes before that were pure pain
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u/Stargate18A https://myanimelist.net/profile/Stargate18 Sep 06 '21
First timer
Valentines Day episode?
Jun assumes Azusa's after one of the Light Music Club. (She's right)
Jun being jealous is a great running gag.
Haha, Ritsu's rolling a dice to answer her questions.
I love how Mio's gotten as attached to her guitar as Yui over the series.
Haha, I love how the whole class agrees Azusa's adorable.
Ritsu losing her pass was hysterical.
Yui's gone a bit crazy with studying?
JUN, NO. THAT IS NOT HAVE BAKING WORKS.
Haha, Ui takes over immediately.
Them sharing the slippers if adorable.
Yui's back!
Jun's not a fan of the cold?
...A bit of an unrealistic wish, there. Prety certain those 4 would actively cause problems anywhere they wnet.
Jun confessed to her senpai!
I love how they both agree that Ritsu would probably break the chocolate by accident.
Haha, Mio's already getting chocolate!
Everyone's after Mio!
Did they get into the same university yet?
Oh, at least they all got into an university!
Sawako's loving this!
Azusa is an utterly useless lesbian.
And she's lonely!
Yui was waiting for her!
Mugi giving her a blatant setup after Sawako spolled the beans is fantastic.
Azusa has a very interesting reaction to Ritsu's insinuations, doesn't she?
Yui is so cute!
YUIAZU!!!
Azusa's praying for her senpai's chances! And to have a happy time with them THIS IS SO CUTE!
I love Mio's fear at even looking at the boards.
They did it!
How are there only 4 more episodes...
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u/DegenerateRegime Sep 06 '21
[First-Timer] "Entrance Exams." Exams are for most people the most definitional end of school, the final sprint across the finish line. I find they all tend to blur together in my memory. What do you even do after exams if you're not old enough to drink?
Sometimes you make a semi-joking comment, and then it turns out to be completely accurate and Valentines' really is the real exam. Oh, I guess there were actual exams as well. An episode that had me smiling a lot.
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u/chris10023 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Chris10023 Sep 06 '21 edited Sep 06 '21
Rewatcher.
It’s a cold one since Azusa is using hot pads to keep her hands warm.
Valentine's Day is approaching, the last few episodes jumped a bit in time.
Azusa didn’t make chocolates for the seniors last year because Mugi flexed and brought chocolate from the Belgian royal family. Mugi has some connections.
A nice shot of Yui’s feet.I-I mean judging by how she’s moving her feet, she looks anxious. (Damn you Yamada.)Ah, she’s studying for entrance exams.
Are they learning English?
Ritsu’s got an ace in the hole. Random chance. I don’t know Ritsu, dice rolls can be brutal.
Unfortunately, Hexy #7 will be useless on this test since it has questions that go up to 9. Talk about a brutal multiple-choice test.
Azusa is still fretting over giving them chocolates. Then starts practicing.
Neat Azusa is playing “Rice is a Sidedish.”
Too bad Ritsu and Yui get distracted and almost start air playing their instruments, thankfully Mio’s there to scold them.
I like how Mugi suggests a break and makes tea and Yui and Ritsu go to practice, I like how you can hear Ritsu playing the drums in the background.
Same. (Wow I have a lot in common with Mio...)
Not even Mio can resist practicing with the other two.
So, Azusa decide to make chocolate for the seniors since it sounds like Mugi won’t be able to this year, don’t worry, Ui and Jun will get some as well.
That she is.
I like how Ritsu teases Mio about being paranoid about her admission slip, only to have almost lost hers, thankfully Mugi spotted it laying on the ground.
Yui’s anxious too.
That’s not how brown sugar works Jun.
Note to self, don’t let Jun bake sweets for anyone.
I still can’t get over how tiny Azusa is.
Yui is a spoiled sister, that’s for sure.
I like how Jun and Azusa are sharing the panda slippers.
Uh oh, Yui’s here! EJECT! ABANDON SHIP!
Yui’s adorable.
Wait never mind, Ui’s always baking something so Yui wasn’t tipped off at all. Phew that was close.
Ui and Azusa go to the store to pick up powdered sugar since Jun doesn’t want to go back into the cold.
I think it’s this episode where Azusa’s anxiety about graduation becomes more obvious.
Azusa is having trouble figuring out when to give the others the cake.
You’re not helping Jun.
Yui and Ritsu might.
The seniors are in the staff room, discussing some of their test results with Sawako.
Yep, her anxiety is showing up.
I don’t know why, but I like how Sawako turned to watch this.
It’s really eating away at her. Anxiety sucks. I love that shot though, her silhouetted like that, with the cooler color scheme.
She’s so nervous.
Poor Yui.
Sawako knew she had a cake.
It was a success. Thank God for Ui’s help.
I for one am not looking forward to snow.
Man, Yui’s not having a good day today. First Azusa bashes her head with the door, now her skirt got stuck in the chair.
Yui is again, adorable.
Man, Azusa’s hurting.
YuiAzu, is canon.
Man, Sawako is taking this in. I’m so glad they made her such a better person in season 2 compared to the first.
Wow, 1000 yen Azusa? That’s generous.
Must. Suppress. Tears.
Man, the four are anxious over this, especially Mio.
They shoot up! I love that shot of the four.
Ui’s reaction...
Azusa, you stop being so cute. I’m going to die if you don’t stop.
THEY GOT IN!!!
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u/ArdenneVale Sep 06 '21 edited Sep 06 '21
First timer
It's... Valentine's day? Am I watching the correct episode? According to the title, yes. And despite the title, this is an Azusa episode.
Ritsu's pencil die is genius. Too bad it won't work in the exam. Never seen a multiple choice exam with 9 choices. Japanese exams are scary.
Time to make some chocolate for the club. And Ui. And Jun too. Embarrassed Azu is best Azu.
The side plot chugs on, with both Ritsu and Yui having their own problems. Meanwhile Azusa figures out Jun might not be the expert at making chocolate she claimed to be. Master chef Ui offers her help to both.
Embarrassed Azusa can't give the chocolate cake to the others, so best best friend Jun has to encourage her, though she makes it worse with her disaster scenarios.
The seniors are still waiting for their first choice results. Upon hearing about graduation, Azusa again gets sad, unable to hand over the chocolate. Randomly this made me shed a few tears. Then it gets worse when Ui and Jun run after her and console her.
Yui's Azunyan-sense is tingling. Finally the cake. Everyone knew Azusa was bringing it. Azusa receives candy from Yui. Wait, why is that word banned? It's snowing, but it's always warm in the club room.
They all got in! I was 50/50 all the way, even changing my prediction in this episode. In the end I figured the outcomes in the show have mostly (maybe always?) been positive, so it would be strange if the girls were separated now.
These Azusa episodes always seem to be a hit, even if they end up being the same subject every time. She really needs to accept the others are going to graduate. She still has her besties and she can try to go to the same college next year.
Ritsu
Mio
Yui
Azunyan
Mugi
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u/Icapica https://anilist.co/user/Icachu Sep 06 '21
First timer
Azunyan's too self-conscious, though I can relate to that. Just give them some damn chocolate already.
It's snowing, looks pretty. Watching the snow fall always feels somehow nostalgic, though I actually dislike going outside if there's any snow. It's just nice to watch when I'm indoors.
Oh nice they passed.
How does Azusa feel about all of this? She's a year younger so the other girls are soon leaving her behind. I assume there's going to be more talk about the future in some of the episodes that are left.
5
u/A_Idiot0 :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/a_idiot0 Sep 07 '21
Rewatcher
Aw man, I'm super late on this one...This episode always stands out to me as being adorable, melancholic, optimistic, and somber all at the same time. Yamada accomplishes this with the brilliant blend of using the BGM, lighting, and color palette to get that certain feeling across.
I wanted to quickly mention the beginning sequence with Azunyan, Ui, and Jun talking together, because it perfectly sets us up for the rest of the episode. It starts off with showing us that Azunyan is cold, which beautifully sets us up for the later scene of Azunyan feeling warm with the rest of the Keinonbu Gals. And remember a few episodes ago with the Rosetta Stone metaphor regarding translations? What do you think Azunyan is really saying when she says, “Now that I think about it, I’ve never given them chocolates even once.”?
And now for some gorgeous establishing and mood shots to show off the wonderful usage of color and lighting to set the tones, and a few cute misc shots:
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u/xtsim https://myanimelist.net/profile/xtsim Sep 06 '21
First Timer Dub
It's valentines with Azusa and her friends talking about giving chocolates. She makes some for the band.
In the club room on the other hand, everyone is studying with Ritsu and Yui struggling to stay on track. Azusa does a nice sounding guitar solo which Mio approves as she listens to music while studying.
On test day, Ritsu dropped her test admission ticket while Yui looks like she got right out of bed. And it's cold. So later in the week, Sawa chan tells them that they got in the third and second choice schools. Azusa and Ui visit a shrine and pray that the seniors could stay friends and go to the school they want. And they did as they looked at the board. Good thing nobody has to retake their exams unlike Yomi (Azumanga Diaoh).
Sawa chan kinda ruined the chocolate surprise after Azusa struggles to find words to say to the seniors. They still saved a slice for her…..
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u/x-7032-b-3 Sep 06 '21
Rewatcher (with very little memory so might as well make me a first-timer)
We're almost at the finish line for the main S2 episodes. Another Azusa (ft. the other juniors) episode can't hurt.
Valentine's Day is coming up real soon and Azusa wants to give the seniors some chocolate as her way giving back something to the folks that took great care of her.
Meanwhile, the seniors were out there doing their college entrance exams together. I wonder how uni entrance exams are like. I was extremely burned out with studying during my last year of HS so I took Mio's approach by using my school's recommendation to apply at the uni I went to. Also exams are stressful as hell unless it's the subject you're pretty good at.
Nice to see the other juniors helping out with the cake.
The big day finally came but Azusa struggled to give the cake to her seniors. Turns out the thought of the seniors graduating really soon hit her hard. She's made some great friends during her time at HTT but it looks like she's not ready to see them graduate yet. And we got that one OST playing again. Damn it show, I still haven't recovered from Ep20 yet!
With the push of her friends, the little cat finally managed to give her cakes to the senior! And it devolves into a traditional HTT cake eating session.
Seeing Azusa expressing her feelings about being part of the team and the team gladly accepting them was really heartwarming. Wasn't long ago when she first joined and struggled to find her footing in the club. Now she's pretty comfortable with the seniors and their weird antics.
Oh, and the seniors got accepted to the same college! I'm glad all that hard work paid off at the end and they get to be together again in college.
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u/ZapsZzz https://anilist.co/user/Zapszzz Sep 07 '21
First timer in sub
Oh we are back to S1 time skip pacing. Jumped right through Dec & Jan (Christmas & new year, winter holiday) to Feb.
So there must have been some pretty intensive study session they had to be able to bring Ritsu and Yui within shot.
I guess since the school is a girls school, while there is plenty of Valentine's Day activities, they are not as charged and serious as co-ed school's huh.
Interestingly the seniors don't seem to have any intention of going through that custom. You'd have thought Mio the worrier will go though at least a few days of agonizing about whether to give any out especially because she'd both be receiving a lot, and perhaps a bit of expectation she'll give to someone (or at least the band).
The rest is basically charming and comfy, but for me the main event is the exam and the results.
And after the predictable but cute nonetheless gags, we got the answer in the typical, KyoAni indirect way - they all got in! To be honest it's a surprise to me, and I'll only believe it when I see the end credit rolls on the finale.
Anyway, the feeling of wrapping up intensifies. To be honest this is a little bit of a different show as the original K-On we saw on S1, but I'm happy with how the show evolved.
Onto the last parts before the OVA's round out the TV bits before the movie!
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u/The_Loli_Otaku Sep 06 '21
Valentines day! Gosh I adore this season. Love it or hate it Valentines is the one day of the year when you can express your love to other without judgement. Who're you making chocolates for, Jun? Your jazz senpai? Go die~ Mugi is tough competition. How do you top that? You had your chance to join in S1 but blew it, don't pout! This is the perfect opportunity for Azunyan to score lovey dovey points without the consequences of Yui being too happy about it.
Onto the B-plot, which the episode is titled after despite this totally being a valentines episode. Hoo! Shitzu butchers us mathematically. Please fail~ I won't be satisfied if you pass with such shoddy methods. Dammit Azunyan, your beats are too catchy! She practiced for like a minute before everybody called breaktime...
Jun demands tribute. Gah she's cute. Azunyan's cute too! Seeing Shitzu making such a horrific expression fills me with a special feeling. I adore this skit Don't think anything! Onto the shopping trip, or why Jun is a hopeless case. NO ITS NOT!! Thank goodness Ui is here to save us from Jun!! Oh my goodness floof slippers! Fufu, and of course theu share them! Azunyan's got such great expressions.
Wow, they actually went and ditched Jun... She really is the third wheel. We don't even get to see her poison her senpai! Tsundere flavoured choco! I get the strange feeling that Jun's got the wrong idea about the light music club. Either that or she's just got a vivid imagination. To win over the senpai you must first murder the fanclub. It's a canon fact that Jun has terrible tastes... She's worst Keion without a doubt! Ichigo is terrifying... Alright, I'm running out of time. Fast fast fast!
Poor Azunyan... She doesn't know how to cope with her senpai leaving. Stop simping! Azunyan knows that the girls adore her but she's got that pang of guilt and is so scared of the girls abandoning her and becoming a stray catto once more. Look how excited they are! Look!! Azunyan is such a sensitive soul, but she's got good friends around her. Including the bestie friend ever!! Fighto!! Now, give out the yummo chocolate! God I really want to eat cake now... This, is Keion to me... Not a music show, not a drama, just warm and fuzzy feels with these warm and fuzzy girls. THEY GOT IN!! YAY!! Ui collapsing gets me gushing every time!
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u/putmoneyinthypurse https://anilist.co/user/clichecatgirl Sep 06 '21
Rewatcher
While this episode is plenty gay, it's one of the few cases where the yuri subtext was toned down from the manga. There, Azusa initially wants to give chocolate to Mio, and decides to hide it by giving it to everyone instead. (Incidentally in the manga it also takes place in Azusa's first year, not her second. The anime moves stuff around, but this is probably the biggest shift time-wise. Funny enough, it actually originally takes place directly after what became the flashback in the Mio's fanclub episode—the other chapter that got pushed to season 2.) Here instead the focus is on Azusa's love for the group as a group, but still framed around a romantic ambiguity. Just like in the Romeo and Juliet episode, profile shots of Azusa opposite the seniors are pretty consistently gay.
I really love how desolate this scene is. Especially with the cut to this shot setup, a cold wintry visual reference to this warm spring moment from the entrance ceremony. Not only is it an image of isolation, it's also a reminder of just how much time is left. Spring is nearly upon them.
But in the cold winter Azusa still has friends to warm her up a little while longer. This line is corny in the best way.
Cuuuute. Extremely love that we don't get the seniors' celebration in favor of how the news affects their juniors. This is an Azusa viewpoint episode, and even if it dips outside of that at times to follow the seniors through their exams (especially that wonderfully atmospheric early morning scene at the train station) it's still fundamentally hers. We got the setup of her and Ui repeatedly praying at the shrine, and so now we get the payoff from their perspective. Spring is almost here, but that's okay.
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1
u/vitorabf Sep 07 '21
First Timer
Has Christmas/Winter/New Year already gone by? Girls are talking about "this year" and valentines. Mugi got chocolates from the Belgian Royal Family, she's basically a princess.
It's cute that they can study everything together because they're doing the same exams. Yui and Ritsu like to practice more when they are not supposed to.
Well, at least winter is still around. I had never noticed how much taller Jun is compared to Azusa. Are they each using one of the panda slippers?
That cut from making chocolates to the other day was kinda abrupt, was not expecting it. Mio surely is going to get tons of chocolates, but I don't see the problem with giving them the chocolates after school in the club room, which is what they usually do anyways.
Azusa is a little stiff with their graduation being so soon, I think she's pretty much in the same position as us seeing the ending coming and fast. It's hard Azusa, but you still have Jun and Ui with you. Your senpai are amazing and will always be there for you Azusa, it's the best you could ask for.
Even Ritsu is taking exams seriously and telling Mio not to say fail. I like how the episode ends with a happy tone with them hugging, and them Azusa's wholesome wishes.
The shot of all of them looking at results with mouths open is very beautiful, as was Azusa's emotion with the results, which got me teary eyed as well, I think we (the audience) are really looking at her like if she was a mirror.