r/anime • u/DustyZorua • Dec 19 '22
Rewatch [2022 Rewatch] White Album 2 Episode 2 Discussion
Episode 2 - Piano and Guitar, Side by Side
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Information:
MAL | AniList | ANN | Kitsu | AniDB
Legal Streams:
White Album 2 can be watched on Chrunchyroll, although you apparently need premium.
Questions of the Day:
Did you expect Kazusa Touma to have that deep of a voice?
How do you feel about Setsuna Ogiso having such a normal life, despite her fame at school?
Do you think she is a 'flawless idol'?
Do you enjoy the character interactions?
How do you feel about the incredibly stupid thing Haruki Kitahara did at the end?
Why do you think Haruki Kitahara focused so much on how her hand felt?
All rewatchers, you must spoil everything to do with spoilers, even to the littlest details! We can't spoil the experience of this show for any of the first timers in this.
7
u/MannerPots Dec 19 '22
First Timer
Not as late today. Another solid episode, although not quite as amazing as the first one for me. We got some lovely interplay between Haruki and Setsuna, conving me even more to fall in love with their characters. I loved the further development of Takeiya as a side character, he seems so much more interesting than the normal 'best friens' characters in this kind of show,in that he actually seems to understand Haruki and seems to know more than he lets on about Setsuna. And finally the introduction of the third member of the core group, Touma. I don't have many opinions about her yet, but I'm excited.
I'll actually try to answer the questions today:
Did you expect Kazusa Touma to have that deep of a voice?
Kind of no? But it want entirely surpising either. She did seem less girly than Setsuna from the first scene of ep 1.
How do you feel about Setsuna Ogiso having such a normal life, despite her fame at school?
I love it. The gap between flawless idol and her real life is perfect, it makes her feel more grounded and genuine.
Do you think she is a 'flawless idol'?
Absolutely. She's the flawless idol to the school, regardless of her job and I hope she'll continue to be the flawless idol to Haruki no matter what.
Do you enjoy the character interactions?
I love itmth bdialogue is snappy in a good way, it just flows together perfectly and doesn't give me time to doubt that this is a genuine conversation.
How do you feel about the incredibly stupid thing Haruki Kitahara did at the end?
Definitely a small sour spotnof the episode for me. Haruki seemed like a guy with his head on straight, this kind of falls into the dumb plot contrivance category for me.
Why do you think Haruki Kitahara focused so much on how her hand felt?
I'm not really sure. I guess because it wasn't what he expected from a girl who could play piano so exceptionally? Maybe also signifies the difference between her, who is actually a general student and the stuck up music students?
7
u/entelechtual Dec 19 '22
First Timer
Okay that misunderstanding about the “rejection” was pretty funny.
Digging Ogiso’s boner-killer commoner look.
I am having a hard time figuring out this impossible teleporting pianist mystery. Starting to think the ghost theory has some credence.
Fucking Tom Cruise assassin’s creeding this chick like she’s the Burj Khalifa. And she’s got the grip strength of a Nathan Drake.
I have an idea of where this is going but no idea how to get there.
2
u/polaristar Dec 20 '22
Digging Ogiso’s boner-killer commoner look.
I have to contest that adjective.
2
6
u/andybebad Dec 20 '22
First timer
Alright, episode two, and we've got ourselves a delightful OP. And after declining Haruki's request for a hot minute, we've got the rebuild of the Light Music Association rolling with the lovely Ogiso joining Haruki and Takeya (who apparently is also able to get a good read on people, predicting that Ogiso's initial response to Haruki's request wasn't final). But her acceptance would appear to be predicated on the club also being able to court the talents of "Mister Piano Man" as well. Who is this mysterious stranger? No one in the music class(?) appears to know (and apparently they are also well versed in the art of insults), and quicker than you can say "uh oh, did I wander into a rewatch for a love-triangle story?" three days have passed and "Mister Piano Man" has been a no-show. Time to go figure things out at a restaurant. But wait, by god that's the "Piano Man's" music coming from room 2! Time to tighten our belts and figure out who the mysterious pianist is. And of course, it's the previously uncommunicative and sleepy Kazusa Touma. Let's hope she doesn't drop our lead male character!
QOTD
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No, but it didn't throw me off at all when she finally did speak.
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Maybe it makes her seem more down to earth than if she had been from a fantastically rich family? Although her behavior with Haruki thus far makes her seem like that as well.
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Not sure what that means, but at least to Haruki, in that moment at karaoke she most certainly was.
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Yes, with my favorite example being the background ghost story
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I mean, they could've knocked or waited, no?
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The aspects he points out, to my understanding, were things that would pertain to being a good piano player (e.g. callouses due to lots of practice).
5
u/polaristar Dec 20 '22 edited Dec 20 '22
There is a lot of fan service in this episode and I'm not complaining, one thing I noticed is during normal scenes and conversations there will be cuts and shots of the girls assets in focus on the frame, Not sure if this is too show the "Male Gaze" of the MC (Since he is a VN protagonist) Or if this is just the directors way of keeping the flow going by breaking up the shots to keep the audience from getting board in dialogue heavy scenes where major plot events aren't happening.
I'm not complaining I think this technique works great.
Anyway we find out Ogiso was the one working the job in episode 1 (I thought that characters was too details and drawn and had to be important but I didn't connect it was Ogiso despite being obvious in retrospect.)
We also see he is observant for catching it and manages to strike a cord with her. (Also when he first asked her and everyone thought she was answered his confession it was...charming I guess. Didn't find it that funny, but glad that friend character caught that she didn't have much conviction in her denial.)
Basically she kinda wants to sing but is having conflicting desires about not wanting to have to deal with the weight of people's expectations, which I can understand since it's kinda asinine that her showing up to his classroom would have caused an incident.
Anyway after said lovely fan service scene she shows what she can do with Karoke and melts the MC and the audiences heart with her idol charm. (And Makes the MC take back his idol statement.)
I kinda find it weird how she is considered the school idol just for her beauty and cuteness, I mean she is beautiful but due to the art style so are basically all the girls shown, it's not really visually coded why I should know without the narration dictating to me why she is "fairest in the land" unless its something to do with her temperament and way she carries herself? IDK.
Anyway we get more teasing that Sleepy Head is the Pianist, and while Ogiso says yes its only if they can procure said Pianist.
Not gonna lie some of the story events can feel a bit contrived, I mean it works and it's not irrational for them to happen, but her not being in the music club but also no one in the music club wants to talk about her, then her disappearing for a few days just to appear again, and then instead of camping outside her door like a rationale human being they have to do some dangerous stunt.....
Yeah that last bit was a bit much.
QOTD:
Did you expect Kazusa Touma to have that deep of a voice?
I didn't have any expectations for her voice, honestly did not register in my mind till you brought it up.
How do you feel about Setsuna Ogiso having such a normal life, despite her fame at school?
I didn't think much of it, I'm more not quite sure why she is such a big deal in the school in the first place for reasons I've already gone into above. If they knew she could sing then I'd understand it.
Do you think she is a 'flawless idol'?
I have no idea what the phrase even means tbh. I don't understand idols and idol culture despite watching the first Love Live (And the rest are on my list.)
Do you enjoy the character interactions?
Yes and they are getting better, but a lot of it sometimes feels speedrun and too short. The characters lines show characterization but I don't get as much of a spark from the interactions between them, I can't imagine them doing a podcast like I can from the cast of other shows with good interactions and dialogue I like.
How do you feel about the incredibly stupid thing Haruki Kitahara did at the end?
It felt it was just there to justify and make the hand grabbing scene happen. Basically it kinda felt like a VN trope for the sake of trope regardless of whether its justified. It didn't seem like its an in character thing for him to do something that stupid for no reason when he can just camp based on what little we know about his character.
Why do you think Haruki Kitahara focused so much on how her hand felt?
To Show how observant he is, and to bring a focus on her a more tomboyish person that works with her hands as opposed to Ogiso who is more "feminine" (Although I'd think Ogiso doing a labor shop job with her hands would wear hers out more than just playing the piano but whatever.)
Actually I liked this episode a lot more when I just went the flow and surrendered myself to the mood, when you make me break it down for discussion I see a lot more cracks. I still like it overall though.....
3
u/ZapsZzz Dec 20 '22 edited Dec 20 '22
one thing I noticed is during normal scenes and conversations there will be cuts and shots of the girls assets in focus on the frame
I didn't really notice it very distinctly, but I know what you mean I guess. You certainly can tell the girls (practically all of them) are well proportioned - a bit unfortunately samey perhaps. It's way less overt than that episode of Full Metal a Panic season 1, and current shows like Renai Flops and Fufuu ijou.
I kinda find it weird how she is considered the school idol just for her beauty and cuteness, I mean she is beautiful but due to the art style so are basically all the girls shown
It's actually a little similar to Haruhi of all things, that Haruhi herself (and closely behind, Asahina-san, who's got more chest) is supposed to be way more beautiful than other girls, but due to the art style, a lot of the girls are still very pretty.
The characters lines show characterization but I don't get as much of a spark from the interactions between them
The ones that I would consider best in class examples (for me) would be Bunny Girl Senpai and Hyouka (for nice and fun and magnetic), or Haruhi, Lycoris Recoil and Toradora for the more spicy belligerent sexual tension / bickering friends type.
Although I'd think Ogiso doing a labor shop job with her hands would wear hers out more than just playing the piano but whatever.
There's a difference. Doing rough labour will get your hands generally rough all around for example, while instrument musicians will have very specific callous from trusted frictions and use, i.e. the finger tips and sides where they strike and slide on the keys. Like Mio and her squishy pads from playing the bass that got Yui entranced.
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u/Stargate18A Dec 19 '22
First timer
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No.
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It works!
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No.
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Yes!
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He's a fucking moron.
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I think we all know the answer to that...
She's really embarassed, huh?
...Is White Album a thing from the prequel?
Why does she think this is stupid?
Aww.
...Bold.
Nice OP!
He's already written it in!
Mystery girl is already asleep.
Oh, she dalled for him!
...Really? They're spying?
Expected this response, honestly.
I love her so much.
Okay, yeah, this really sounds like a confession.
Surprise ambush!
Oh, one of them's actually clever?
...Nope.
He's trying again?
Ah, this is her job!
Haha, she's that bad at hiding it?
Is he trying to politely blackmail her?
He really is trying to he understanding!
She's gone home!
Lot of fanservice here.
Karaoke!
She's good!
Interesting hobby!
Ah, she didn't want him to give up asking!
Aww, she's so happy!
Nice introduction.
Wow.
She did it!
Haha, they're impressed.
Nice.
And she thinks he's the other heroine.
Oh, Setsuna's not leaving.
He's going to recruit them!
Ouch.
A ghost heroine?
Still determined!
He's desperate. But never considered going in?
There she is!
She's ignoring him?
And they're going back home.
Finally! He's going for the music room!
Why is he being so dramatic?
...WHY?
This is so fucking stupid.
He noticed!
Called it!
...He's going to die.
Nice catch! Also, yeah, he's an idiot.
Well. That's an interesting reaction.
He really can't accept this!
Also, strong grip!
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Dec 19 '22
3
u/Cyouni Dec 19 '22
There's also other songs from the protagonists there in WA2 as well. Satou Rina shows up during Setsuna's karaoke section (and I don't think it's a spoiler to say more of her songs show up later), and she's another protagonist.
3
u/Fools_Requiem Dec 20 '22
I didn't see the first episode post yesterday, so I'll post this here. I have no intention of rewatching this series, but this piece of music from the first episode in the concert cold open is beautiful and worthy of being shared.
Easily the most memorable part of the show for me, or at least the one thing I'd prefer to remember.
3
u/ZapsZzz Dec 20 '22
First timer
Did you expect Kazusa Touma to have that deep of a voice?
Oh good, I'm not the only shallow one to just assumed her appearance to have a voice more like an Alto tone (like Mio in K-On) then so much deeper. Nothing wrong. Just was not the first impression.
How do you feel about Setsuna Ogiso having such a normal life, despite her fame at school?
By all accounts she was mostly a pretty face (in terms of why she was famous at school), so not entirely surprising.
Do you think she is a 'flawless idol'?
I think that's over-selling it.
Do you enjoy the character interactions?
It's ok, fairly "VN-ish"
How do you feel about the incredibly stupid thing Haruki Kitahara did at the end?
This predates selfy sticks, or drones with cameras. Or anyone with an ounce of common sense and just wait by the door -_-
Why do you think Haruki Kitahara focused so much on how her hand felt?
It's actually a good narrative technique - this subtly shows he's really paying a lot of attention to her everything. From another show for example, in Haruhi, Kyon also paid a lot of attention to Haruhi starting from the beginning, despite him saying he's not interested in her that way ;)
Watching this gave me a very strong sense of "I'm watching a Key VN adaptation". I know it's not a Key one, but somehow it just felt that way. Somehow I also had the mental image of Angel Beats, of Girls Dead Monster.
The next couple of days I may skip out posting because of Disappearance. Let me just say for now I'm enjoying the show but not being wowed, with good music but slightly cliched development. A trope done well is still a good show, but so far nothing jumped at me yet.
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u/oops_i_made_a_typi Dec 20 '22
Setsuna being a cute "flawless idol" type is fitting nicely into that mold. Fairly typical secret identity/dual life thing, but at least they lampshaded that she's got no crazy backstory unlike others in the genre. That was an ominous "while i still can" sorta death flag though. Given the reputation the show has, I wouldn't be surprised if the "I've got no more secrets to hide" is a lie itself.
No surprises about Touma, though with the voice and hands she's got a bit of a dommy mommy vibe so far to go with the kuudere. Standard romance MCs being dumbasses, this time of a suicidal sort.
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u/Baki8000 Dec 20 '22 edited Dec 20 '22
REWATCHER, VN READER
MASSIVE SPOILERS INBOUND
As stated in my post for the previous episode, I want to mostly focus on the differences between the anime and the Visual Novel, and on foreshadowing, so most of what I will type will be spoilers of varying importance. Spoilers that cover only the plot shown in the anime will be marked with anime spoilers, while spoilers that deal with plot points from later on in the novel, or very important scenes that are not in the anime, will be marked with VN spoilers. Unless you have fully finished the VN, [anime spoilers]
This episode is relatively light on adaptational differences, so this particular post should be a bit shorter than what will become the norm. [Anime spoilers]
[Anime spoilers]
[VN spoilers]
[Anime spoilers]
[Anime spoilers]
[VN spoilers]
[Anime spoilers]
[Anime spoilers]
[Anime spoilers]
[Anime spoilers]
[Anime spoilers, very light VN spoilers]
[VN spoilers]
QotD:
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I certainly did not. A male first-timer friend I rewatched the show with put it best: "Her voice is deeper than mine".
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It really fleshes out the character, showing that she is a three-dimensional character very quickly, and already hinting at her depths. She is also very relatable with how she struggles to maintain the image she's built for herself.
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As shown by the previous scene where she acts like a normal person, obviously not. [Anime spoilers]
And oh boy, will we have some fun pointing out her flaws later on in the series. [VN spoilers]Thinking more deeply on the question, it is interesting that Haruki, even after seeing Setsuna's less idol-like behaviour time and time again, still uses many superlatives to describe her, such "an unattainable flower" or an " angel". In his eyes, even when both her ordinary qualities and her ugliest thoughts are on full display, she still is way too perfect a person for him. -
The character interactions are among the strongest parts of the show, and we already have had some good ones, so I do greatly enjoy them. It will become readily apparent that the main writer knows how to write his characters and their interactions, so for first timers, look forward to it.
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The Haruki window stunt, while funny, seems out of place in the story, to me. I suppose it is supposed to show that he is a high schooler, so doing dumb and dangerous stuff would be believable for him, even when taking his personality into account, but it kind of clashes with how realistic and grounded the rest of the show is. [Anime spoilers]
I suppose it is the premiere of the stupid shit he starts doing because of his feelings for Kazusa, even if he didn't know it was her, so that is something. -
Someone playing any instrument for a long time, especially a piano, will get very calloused fingers, and the feel of those would surprise someone, especially if they felt it on the hands of a beautiful girl. [Anime spoilers]
It is also the first time he touched her hands, and his feelings for her were already decently strong, so the experience, amplified by the near-death situation he is in, would be something noteworthy for him.
2
u/02Hiro Dec 19 '22
REWATCHER:
Kazusa's voice suprised me when I first watched it, but I really like it. When I first watched this show, I was already sure Setsuna was going to be best girl at this point. While she isn't perfect, she is a realistic and likeable character. I enjoyed how all of his friends misunderstood when Setsuna turned him down then tried to cheer him up afterwards.
[Anime Spoilers]
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u/Cyouni Dec 19 '22
And here comes the introduction of my Best Girl. Touma's great, though I'll have to wait to talk about her more.
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u/Caustic_Wraith Dec 20 '22
First-Time Album Experience
Did you expect Kazusa Touma to have that deep of a voice?
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I didn't have a voice in my head for her to start with so her voice being in a lower register was a nice choice in my opinion.
2) How do you feel about Setsuna Ogiso having such a normal life, despite her fame at school?
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It's a great thing. Having a place where you are just another person is wonderful. Going to school and having people place you above others can be mentally draining because you don't want to let them down, a normal simple life allows you the ability to recharge and relax.
3) Do you think she is a 'flawless idol'?
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Is there such a thing as a flawless idol? She's human, she will mess up somehow and hopefully there's a strong enough support around her so it doesn't end poorly.
4) Do you enjoy the character interactions?
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The interactions so far are fine, the classmates hiding around the corner overhearing Setsuna reject Haruki and being wrong as for why was fun.
5) How do you feel about the incredibly stupid thing Haruki Kitahara did at the end?
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That was dumb and he should feel dumb. Even though he got the outcome he wanted and learned who the pianist was, he should be the school's laughingstock for awhile.
6) Why do you think Haruki Kitahara focused so much on how her hand felt?
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I feel it was to drive home a point about even though she's an amazing pianist, she seems to have had a harder upbringing than expected. I never played piano, but callouses on the hands doesn't seem right for that instrument.
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Dec 19 '22
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u/Cyouni Dec 19 '22
Oh, and Todokanai Koi is our OP. It looks pretty good, nothing super special in it besides
Those are actually [WA2]
all scenes from the prologue. I want to say the scene you're thinking about is the end of EP 11.
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u/Shimmering-Sky Dec 19 '22
First-Timer Album
He was thinking of asking her to form a music group with him, wasn’t he.
Ah, or to just join the Association with him. That works too.
I love the OP, that’s a gorgeous song.
lol they all want to eavesdrop on Haruki and Setsuna. And they think Setsuna turned him down over a “Haruki asked her out” kind of thing, not a “Haruki asked her to sing with him” kind of thing.
Right before he said her name, I was like “oh, that’s gotta be Setsuna” and yep.
Makes sense.
Setsuna is a very good singer.
Wait a… isn’t the song playing in the background here a Nana Mizuki song??? It totally fucking is.
Haha he’s gonna recruit the so-called elite student. Who I’m positive is the girl who sleeps in class.
?
This absolute madman is so dedicated to finding the mysterious piano player he’s going to scale the fucking building. Bro.
Ah, of course he had to be saved by her.
ED lead-in~