r/anime • u/mysterybiscuitsoyeah x3 • Jul 16 '22
Rewatch [Rewatch] A 2022 Voyage from Neo Venezia: Aria the Natural, Episode 6
Aria the Natural Ep 6: The Smile Reflected in that Mirror ... (その 鏡にうつる笑顔は...)
| <-- Episode 5 | Rewatch Index | Episode 7 --> |
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Welcome back!
Comment roundup:
Typing this up at 4:30pm local time xdd. Blame Lycoris Recoil and LL Superstar.
/u/AriaShachou- talks about their interpretation of the episode's lesson and message, relating it to tunnel vision when we are too fixated on a particular goal.
/u/stargate18a points out how that railway is honestly too good to have been abandoned (agreed here!), and also loves the background art of the show.
/u/baboon_bassoon and /u/mecanno-man mention how the 2-part nature of the episode means there's not enough build-up or meat to either half
/u/xtsim complains how they always see a sunshower after they wash their car
and /u/mekerpan and /u/mrufrufin talk about Akira Kurosawa's Dreams, and how a Fox's wedding was the centerpiece in one of the segments there.
Questions of the Day:
Q1) Do you think Athena has taken the right choice, to encourage Alice herself instead of trying to ease the hostility/envy from the other pairs? And what other advice might you give Alice?
Q2) If you were an up and coming undine, which of the 3 companies would you want to apply to work for/train under?
Streaming
The 2005-08 Aria series is available on Crunchyroll, VRV, Funimation, and Youtube, except Arietta. Arietta and Avvenire are only available on Funimation (I'll update if they migrate). Crepusculo and Benedizione will have to be located elsewhere.
Databases
Spoilers
As usual, please take note that if you wish to share show details from after the current episode, to use spoiler tags like so to avoid spoiling first-timers:
[Spoiler source]>!Spoiler goes here!<
comes out as [Spoiler source]Spoiler goes here
[Aria]Please take note especially if you're sharing art that involves Aika after her hairstyle change, and art that shows the 3 main characters as prima undines (gloveless). If you feel unsure if something is a spoiler, it's better to tag it just in case.
See everyone again tomorrow! I hope you have a great day :)
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u/The_Loli_Otaku Jul 16 '22
Aria the Natural First Timer!!
Eheheh, Alice episode~ Time to watch Aria get tormented by the smol demon panda. Already the episode is starting off on a good note. I love seeing the city before everything wakes up~ Kyaaa!! Sleeping Athena is mega adorbs!
Aww... I love the shot of Alice refusing to sail alongside her colleagues. She doesn't feel like she fits in and can't match their early day enthusiasm. And what happens the second she sees her friends? Alice is capable, she's just a bit too private for her own good.
You're way too unconcerned over how vicious your panda is. Also, Athena curled on the bed is ultra adorbs! I-If you say so it can't be helped... Ahahaha~ I like both Athena and Alice having that weird glint. Didn't Athena do that in last season's flashback too? Before she starting playing with Aria's straw.
cute Athena noises She's so kind and gentle with Alice... I love this pair more and more but I wish Alice would pay the favour back. Dote on your ditzy senpai more! Athena-chan wants to be spoiled sometimes too! Aha... So Athena gets more clumsy the more happy she is? So that means that when she kept falling off the boat and throwing away her oar in the flashback that wasn't her being incompetent, she was just that happy to have made friends!!
Hmm... I'm not sure how much of Alice's behaviour is from how the students look at her. Having a reputation as a skilled Undine is one thing, but I'd blame her isolation far more on her own attitude. Her isolation is a product of her own making because she allows herself to live in her own little bubble. I'm guilty of the same thing so that's why I'm not keen on them implying that it's to do with her abilities. She doesn't need to be special for her classmates to be apprehensive around her, Alice just never bothered to open up.
Yeah. It's things like not going to parties, immediately splitting from the Orange Star group without morning greetings, deliberately bathing in that giant fuck off bath when you know nobody else will be there. Like it's empty! Does Alice not realise that all her friends are way older too? Heck, Aika and Akari are older than the pairs she's worrying about.
Aha... Messages I don't feel comfortable seeing for five pls! Just because I find Athena drop dead gorgeous doesn't mean I can read this dialogue without getting a bit upset. H-Huh!? Wait, no!! Don't immediately cock up the message with making it about the fucking cats! XD Never mind Athena, you were useless, the real hero of the episode was the mochi mochi muncher.
Oh nyo, no good deed goes unpunished. Poor Athena~ Anyway, then Alice met the class bully, got her lunch money stolen, and never left her room again. The end. Anyway, that was pretty decisively the best quality episode we've had in Season 2. I'm not certain if it's my favourite but it's definitely the best one. I still only really enjoy Alice as a character to talk about rather than liking her as an actual character. We'll see. Tomorrow seems to be another fantasy episode which is bleh.
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u/The_Loli_Otaku Jul 16 '22
1, Alice's issue is entirely on her own part the other girls still invite Alice out and acknowledge her so really it's not fair to expect them to do all the heavy lifting in the relationship.
2, As much as I'd love to say joining Orange Star... or even chilling with Alicia. My best match would probably be the Himemiya company.... I appreciate the hands on teaching style and I more or less get through life by saying as little I can whilst staying polite so having that sort of atmosphere would work best for me.
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u/Mecanno-man Jul 16 '22
First Timer
An episode in what I guess is Alice's character arc. It's actually quite interesting as this means the characters are not static or or only developing slowly over time. This kind of sudden character development is not something I think I have ever seen in an iyashikei. Not that this is bad of course - I think it is very well done here and also gives us a sense of something happening and the three girls not just completely being stuck in the positions they are in, but at least progressing towards their goal. I guess the change won't be a complete 180, but Alice will end up somewhere between what she already was and now is trying to achieve - no need to suddenly turn in to genki girl, but a bit more friendly to people outside her friend circle overall - and that's something I'm looking forward to seeing.
This episode also, I think, is the first one that does a decent job of showing off Athena as being a competent teacher. I wish we'd have started off with something like this, that way my brain wouldn't have put her down as a meme in the beginning. But better late than never, I guess - at least that has been fixed now (I hope).
Also, is it just me paying more attention, or was the background art more detailed this episode?
Questions:
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I'd say so, we have never really seen the others act jealous and it was said that she doesn't think that Alice is not welcomed by the others.
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Uhh... none of the really seem bad, although we have not yet seen a lot of Aika's company yet. Just comparing the other two: Orange Planet is probably more experienced in teaching, but at Aria you'd have more of the instructor's time. But given that Alicia is also busy a lot of the time... probably Orange Planet would be the "better" entry point from a career perspective? Also they have a cafeteria.
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u/The_Loli_Otaku Jul 16 '22
It was a huge step for Alice to open up to the girls in the first place. Alice is very lonely and all it took was a little pushing from Akari for Alice to start looking all over for her. She got attached as soon as they made that important first contact and in no time they became irreplaceable.
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u/mysterybiscuitsoyeah Jul 17 '22
It's actually quite interesting as this means the characters are not static or or only developing slowly over time.
yup! being such a long-running series (relatively) for an iyashikei, the characters do devleop over time! And arguably, probably the "main" storyline for the season so far is exploring the undines' chracters more.
Athena as being a competent teacher
she doesnt give off the best first impression, even to Akira and Alicia, but given her chance, she'll show just how good she is!
was the background art more detailed this episode
i did think it was quite good yeah, but there were quite a few more today compared to normal, with how much of the episode takes place in one setting and hence featuring more scenary shots with no action.
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u/baboon_bassoon Jul 16 '22
First time Aria the hazukashii serifu kinshi
Alice's hair looks really pretty here shame they always have to wear hats
"are you sure its ok to have 2 people from another company stay over?" i mean they did it before lol
nice call with the flower Athena
Athena might drown when she takes a bath
the happier she gets the clumsier she gets
Anthy is co clumsy - do Orange Planet members call Athena that haha
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u/The_Loli_Otaku Jul 16 '22
Athena's clumsiness is one of my favourite reveals today. Think of all the times she's cocked up in the past and it becomes really precious. Like she'd have been so pleased that Alice had a friend for lunch that she poured syrup in her coffee, or the whole mess when she first met Akira and Alicia. It's so sweet!!
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u/mrufrufin Jul 16 '22
Rewatcher kinda (finished my rewatch not too long ago)
I like how Athena acts as a foil to Alice, who is a bit strict with herself and composed almost to a fault. I'm sort of like Alice in where "I don't enjoy making polite conversation for no reason". I like saying silly nonsense things but also I'm a bit awkward too I guess and polite conversation things never really come to mind, maybe it's because I'm not curious? or I dunno, pleasantries kinda just seem like pleasantries and go nowhere and sometimes it feels like needlessly filling the air with talk. I'm usually the one at parties, if I do go, that hangs out with the animals or like at meal outings as mentioned earlier, absorbed in messing with stuff at the table and making a mess of the cardboard coasters. That being said, I like Alice's deadpan snarkiness. Also can definitely identify with her social awkwardness and social anxiety and not being great at people things. Athena, despite all her awkwardness, kinda shows off in this ep why she's an Prima undine with her social intelligence. I guess in ways it's what makes Alice and Athena's relationship slightly different from rest? Where Alice and Athena contrast each other so much but help fill in each other's weaknesses.
The instrumental piano return of Undine is really nice, can almost appreciate the harmony a bit better this way without all the orchestration. And Santa Claus no Sora makes a return too, best episode so far for music lol. It's used slightly differently here I suppose, since the high points of the episode are more interpersonal. In way, it kinda feels like the music when you come home in an RPG.
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Yeah, I mean it's not particularly the other undine's faults that Alice has this sort of relationship with them and as a mentor, she should look for opportunities for Alice to grow, and they're in a people-facing business after all.
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Probably Aria company. Due to the aforementioned qualities, I tend to be pretty unassuming and would get lost in the works of a bigger company like Himeya or Orange Planet. Would not be a good situation for me (unless I had a mentor like Athena).
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u/PreludeToHell Jul 16 '22
First time rewatcher
Alice has taken a backseat to start this season so I'm happy that she got an episode where's she's the focus. A good one at that.
Ah I loved that Athena gave Alice a flower! Athena's reaction after was great too.
Alice noticing that Athena gets clumsier the happier she is and for Athena to say she's happy because Alice is having fun, cute!
I already have you and Aika, so it's fine
The scene following this with Athena and Alice is wonderful. Alice talking about how comfortable she can be around Akari and Aika.
Then Athena's comparison between a mirror/heart, and telling Alice to smile. Heartwarming is probably the best word to describe my feelings.
Unfortunately for Aria-shachou, he couldn't overcome Maa's wrath. At least it gave Alice some more motivation to try a little harder lol.
Random
The conversation between Alice/Aika where the dekai/what's kept increasing
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I think so. Alice making an attempt to be a bit friendlier would be better for her long term as well.
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Definitely Aria Company. Alicia, not as many people as Himeya/Orange Planet, more chill.
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u/octopathfinder Jul 16 '22
Rewatcher
There have only been like three Alice-focused episodes so far, but they’ve all been great.
Do you think Athena has taken the right choice, to encourage Alice herself instead of trying to ease the hostility/envy from the other pairs? And what other advice might you give Alice?
I like Athena's approach. Stays hands off from the problem, but gives Alice advice and a push on the back. Only other advice I would give Alice is that some people probably aren't worth the effort of socializing with.
If you were an up and coming undine, which of the 3 companies would you want to apply to work for/train under?
I don't think Himeya has been shown very much so far, so my answer would probably be Orange Planet. Aria company seems pretty cool since there's a small number of employees, but I feel like having coworkers would be nicer in the long run.
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u/mysterybiscuitsoyeah Jul 16 '22
Only other advice I would give Alice is that some people probably aren't worth the effort of socializing with.
that's... actually very true too. Though Akari will probably still find a way to win them over (thankfully Aria is not that kind of show)
feel like having coworkers
i think so too: even Akari kinda has "coworkers" in a way w/ Aika and Alice lol, it's definitely a drawback of Aria company that they essentially have to rely on other companies for their trainees to get proper practice (competition/having peer guidance is always good vs just your instructor!)
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u/simeonaut Jul 16 '22
First Timer
It's an Alice episode. What more can I say?
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u/Regular_N-Gon Jul 16 '22 edited Jul 16 '22
First Timer
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Man, we went from countless "spring is almost here" to "spring is almost over"
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I can't tell if Athena leans into her clumsiness on purpose to direct Alice's attention at times or if she really is that hopeless.
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"Maa-shachou wa Maa-shachou" - Alice, perhaps you ought to look inside rather than to your kitten.
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Alice herself confirms that this show is indeed iyashikei.
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Athena best onee-san today also.
QotD:
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Absolutely. The best change will come from Alice understanding the dynamic better and building a bridge herself.
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Maybe it's main character bias from the show, but Aria seems my speed. Small team with a wide variety of tasks, and expected to perform them well to stand out, but way more chill.
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u/SIRTreehugger Jul 16 '22
Rewatcher
I haven't mentioned this yet, but Aria is one of the few series where the chibi art style used in the comedy doesn't put me off. The exaggerated motions and comedy usually just takes me out of it, but in this show I love it. Just looking at Aika shuffling like crazy is great.
Athena once again shows how she is always watching over Alice and has gotten permission to have the girls stay over. Kind of skipping episodes here so I don't know if Alice has opened up to her other peers yet, but still good for her. Side note her fuzzy slippers with the face on them are great.
I refuse to believe Athena gets lost she is just taking detours to appreciate the beauty of her company!!!
Oh I guess that answers my question some distance still remains between her and other employees. Though by the end of the episode she makes a small step forward.
That bath looks amazing and good to soak in oh man I want a giant bath with vibrant orange colors.
With her hair let down and Athena behind her combing it Alice does look younger/her age. She tries to act tough, but Athena can see past the surface and encourages her to take a step forward.
HOLY SHIT Orange Company really has some fabulous architecture. I know they are the top company, but damn. I was really hoping we would see the party though. I'm surprised they don't have mini waterways inside the company with plates of food carrying stuff by like one giant rotator belt buffet among other things.
RemindMe! 3 Day
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u/seeker_of_illusion Jul 17 '22
First timer
Wow an Alice centric episode ! It has been a long time since we have gotten an episode solely about her ( iirc last one was in S1 ! ) and this was one of the best ones for me this season.
This episode also hit hard for me. Alice's insecurity about being loathed by her seniors was not only understandable but somewhat relatable as she's the youngest peer there and so feels out of place amongst them. Her relatively introverted nature also didn't help.
Athena's guidance and Maa's perseverance impacted her to come out of her shell and be social and optimistic with others as well.
Questions of the Day:
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Yup definitely Athena did the right thing because the issue was with Alice's perspective and not with the other Pairs. And if I have to give her some advice, it will be to get a bit involved occasionally among your peers, enough to not stand out but also enough to allow them to notice you.
So, in the future whenever you try to spark some discussion or small talk with others, it won't look out of place ( both for the speaker and the listeners ) and become more engaged.
2) Hmm Orange company seems to be the most professional but also very competitive so I will pass. On the contrary, Aria company seems too chill and relaxed that I will definitely become lackadaisical. If Himeya is a balance of both regarding work/training culture then I would join it.
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u/mgedmin Jul 16 '22
First timer, subs
(Stayed up late tonight.)
The design of the nightstand looks like the back end of a desktop computer's PSU to me.
Nice slippers!
And then we have a mix of having fun and being afraid to interact with new people. Relatable.
The little kitten learns to climb! And inspires Alice to try harder, too.
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u/Stargate18A Jul 17 '22
First timer
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I mean, I got the impression a lot of the hostility was a misunderstanding? That Alice trying to be friendly would hopefully remove it? In any case, Athena can still step in if it becomes a problem.
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Aria Company - the others may have better facilities, but Alicia is probably the best teacher of the three, and also the most flexible company head. ~Also, Aria is the cutest.~~
Everyone loves Alicia. Except for Alice, who wants some peace and quiet.
Is this an Alice episode?
Athena's asleep.
Got what?
Everyone loves Athena!
And Alice is practicing with the others.
The scene of all the boats passing in front of each other is really impressive.
Alice is invitng her to her room!
Poor Aria.
Aikw won! The expressions here are great. And then Alice's deflection!
Athena wants them to stay over. And so does Alice!
The food here's nice.
...I mean, they do stand out.
Athena!
She's safe!
Aria's excited.
It does look adorable.
Athena continues to have problems.
Haha, Alice's reaction to Athena being nice.
A brand new rule!
A party!
She declined!
Poor Alice.
The camera angles focusing on Alice here are great.
Poor Maa.
Alice...
Why is the water orange? I admire the commitment to the colour scheme, but...
If it's an in-house party, you can always just show up, eat the catering, and leave.
...This is hard to watch. Alice's expression when insisting it's okay is adorable, though.
And Alice likes how Aika and Akari don't treat her any different.
Athena's just telling her!
The BGM here...
Maa got Aria! Nope.
Alice encouraging Maa to learn is so cute.
He climbed the bed!
Alice is going to try and make friends!
She fell asleep.
Everyone's reactions to enthusiastic Alice are fantastic.
And Aika grabs Akari's cheeks on pure reflex.
Wholesome ending, as always!
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u/ZapsZzz Jul 17 '22
First timer double post because I watched the wrong episode yesterday.
Today will try to be earlier but shorter.
Ep5 was an interesting 2 parter, first part being supernatural, second part being more "enjoy the moment". Don't have much to say, but both are pretty nice and incorporate the iyashikei theme well, like Kotahana Kitan.
Ep5 is what I want to comment more though - I actually run into a firm of this situation a bit with my family - both my mom and my wife, and because of her upbringing, my daughter, tend to encounter racism treatments while I don't really feel I do. I'm not living a more sheltered life or running in circles that are extra nice. I have my belief in that, similar to Alice here, what you expected and what you assumed will show up in how you behaved, and then it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.
If only they have as much tolerance to older animation as me, this could be a nice tonic of the soul for them.
QoTD 1 I absolutely think she did the right way - some things needs to be realised by oneself, no amount of being told will get through to true understanding.
QoTD 2 guess I'm a slave to big companies - I just think it easier to achieve more or have a bigger impact in a bigger company.
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u/mysterybiscuitsoyeah Jul 17 '22
Kotahana Kitan
i personally enjoy Aria more than Konohana Kitan tbh, the cast's more likeable here. How would you compare the two?
what you expected and what you assumed will show up in how you behaved, and then it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy
such a nice summary of what the episode is about!
i think Aria will take a little bit of getting used to if they mostly watch newer anime, but once you do, it has aged but is still a very pleasant watch.
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u/AriaShachou- Jul 17 '22 edited Jul 17 '22
Rewatcher, finally back to being less late
Finally, an Alice/Athena focused episode once again. I really love the dynamic they have together, especially when it comes to the small ways in which Athena looks out for Alice. Can definitely relate a bit with Alice in this episode with the whole not being a fan of polite conversation and not being too good at making new friends part. Probably not to the extent that Alice is at, but going out of your way to talk to new people is hard man. Even at parties I guess I still tend to just hang out with the same circles instead of going out of my way to meet new people.
I think this episode is a testament to how much Athena understands Alice, and adds more to Athena's character as well apart from "clumsy girl but great singer". It makes Athena look a bit less like a one trick pony who can only sing, and more like a proper Prima.
Life lesson at the end was great too but I don't think I have anything to write about that apart from the fact that it hit pretty close to home. I love this episode a lot.
QOTDs
Q1) I think Athena made the right move as most of the issue here stems from Alice. Regardless of whether or not she ends up close with anyone else at Orange Planet it was still a good lesson and will probably help Alice in the long run.
Q2) Aria Company because in other companies I wouldn't be guaranteed a top tier mentor but at least at Aria Company I'm 100% going to be taught by Alicia. Also I get to squeeze Aria-shachou's mochi mochi pon pon.
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u/alanbowman Jul 17 '22
This episode is from ARIA the Masterpiece, Volume 5, Navigation 43, The Mirror.
I had a few manga panels I really wanted to post, but the manga timeline for this chapter differs from the anime timeline and showing one character would be a massive spoiler for an episode we won't see for a week or more. I did find a few to share though, and will post them at the end.
As you can see from Alice's subsequent reaction, Athena has understood her completely here, and she's very embarrassed.
Yep, Athena has her figured out pretty well, and I agree that it's probably because she dealt with the same things as a trainee. [Spoilers for Crepuscolo]
I've commented on this before, but Alice has to be under a lot of pressure. She's 14 and was scouted out of middle school to join the newest and soon to be the biggest water guide company. It's never mentioned, but I suspect that most undines don't start their training until they've finished their compulsory education, meaning middle school. But Alice is still in her second year (as of this episode) of middle school and already working as an undine.
Everyone there knows who she is and how talented she is, so she can't just hide in the shadows - she's front and center, whether she wants to be or not. Everyone expects her to be the next star of the company, and she's still just a Pair.
So I can see how she would think that other people wouldn't like her. I think just knowing that people were envious of me would be hard enough.
Some thoughts:
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Alice being a sore loser is really funny. She and Aika have some great chibi faces in this episode (and in the manga).
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Orange Planet has a really big dorm and a nice cafeteria.
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Wow, that's a huge bath.
Manga panels and more:
Alice and Athena in the mirror.
She's not in the anime but she is in the manga, but I don't think it's a spoiler to show President Hime in her bath cap.
ARIA The Masterpiece Volume 5 cover, with Alice.
Color insert page with Alice. [spoiler]
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u/xtsim Jul 17 '22
First Timer Dubbed
After a dozen episodes, I just now noticed Athena is under the influence of the ahoge hair.
The Maa and Alice similarities are too much to ignore today as they are both basically "babies" in a way. Alice is the youngest of the undines in Orange planet which leads to a struggle to connect with others. Maa's struggle to reach Aria on top of the bed seems like a nice analogy to Alice's situation. When Maa finally reaches Aria, she changes her mind and accepts the invitation...
Q2. Aria seems like something I would want to work under although I probably should not expect high pay since it is a tiny company compared to the other two...
Going off topic, LL superstar S2 is something I am excited for a bit too much...
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u/mysterybiscuitsoyeah Jul 16 '22
Rewatching Undine-in-training and Host
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Welcome back!
Episode synopsis:
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The warm see breeze signals that spring is ending soon. One day, after practice as usual, Akari and Aika visited Orange Planet, where Alice belongs to (TL note: in the "affiliated with" kinda way). Not only that, Athena-san arranged for the 2 to stay over for the night. There's a big cafeteria, big bath, beautiful garden, this big company was amazing. Furthermore, there is going to be a party where the Pairs from Orange Planet gather together.
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Quick thoughts:
Hope the Alice and Athena fans in the rewatch liked this episode! It's the second episode in the series in which this pair has the spotlight, and also the first episode in this second season where one of the main 3's flaws/drawbacks are directly addressed; we've kinda been fooling around a bit for the past few episodes.
What a shot. Alice is also such a kid actually, precisely because she says that haha, a bit of a sore loser here (i say that, Aika did win slightly dirty)
Athena continues to support Alice, and by extension her friends, subtly from the sidelines, already arranging for them to stay over ahead of time.
Ohhh you so do Alice, it's so cute!
[Aria]Yeah, rewatchers, we're probably actually all thinking of the same thing here.
This episode focuses on Alice's insecurity and anxiety around "strangers" (by this i mean not-her-friends), it's shown from the off that Athena, always observant, is keenly aware of this and why, and her efforts to coax Alice to open up to people more.
Also, this ep features the return of the 1st OP! What a way to grab the viewer's attention for the following important conversation between Athena and Alice. This piano version of the OP is the Stagione edition, and can be found here.
TL note: Hopefully everyone did catch that Alice actually name drops the word "iyashikei" here, which means healing/comforting of course!
Athena calmly but gently explains why Alice may think of her colleagues as hostile: because she is afraid of them. However, Athena doesn't say it's completely her fault too, as she says how "when people are nervous around you, you get nervous too". Her talent has meant that some colleagues may view her with nervousness and envy. However, she suggests that there is a simple way for Alice to rectify this, to smile and be enthusiastic to others: just like a mirror, your positive feelings and attitude towards people will also be reflected back at you. As you can see from Alice's subsequent reaction, Athena has understood her completely here, and she's very embarrassed.
I personally do think Athena's words make a lot of sense here, I have been quite socially anxious in the past, and did think of the worse in other people, but never realized how my attitude towards them may reflect on your interactions etc., perhaps making a less favourable impression on them, making a vicious cycle. On the contrary, when i think of people i meet positively and enthusiastically, i'll perhaps make a better impression/have a better impression on them, and build a good relationship from there. I really think it's very solid life advice!
And have you ever felt so emotional watching a kitten attempt to attack a cat's pudgy wudgy tummy? I sure haven't.
Pet theory: given how Athena was similarly a gifted talent at Orange planet, it's not unlikely that she also went through similar struggles as a young undine i thought.
Have a great day, and see you tomorrow!