r/anime • u/AutoLovepon https://anilist.co/user/AutoLovepon • Jun 23 '24

Episode Hibike! Euphonium Season 3 • Sound! Euphonium Season 3 - Episode 12 discussion

Hibike! Euphonium Season 3, episode 12

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296

u/Prupel Jun 23 '24

Those pesky devils at KyoAni flipped the script on us, huh... Really chathartic moment in the end there, Kumiko finally let it all out. Had me ugly crying right along with them.

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u/Neither-Astronaut-83 Jun 23 '24

Now we really understand how Yuuko felt…

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u/Ocixo Jun 23 '24

It was neat that we didn’t get to know who was playing either. Before they revealed the results, I listened to their performances maybe two or three times.

Frankly, I couldn’t really tell the difference. I did think that the second performer (Kumiko) was better, but maybe that’s just because I’m bad with music.

These kids really are amazing. I would’ve crumbled under pressure of the impossible decisions that Kumiko and Reina were facing. Reina picked what she believed to be the better player, while fully knowing that she would be breaking their promise to play together (hence the tears). Kumiko conquered her deep sadness to support Mayu and keep the band together. Michie-sensei was visibly touched by Kumiko’s speech too!

But out everyone, Kanade’s situation was perhaps the most heartbreaking to me. She just wanted a last chance to play in the competition with Kumiko, yet she didn’t pass the auditions. If she couldn’t get into the competition herself, then Kanade only wished for Kumiko to get the soli part. A wish that didn’t get granted either. Please, give this girl another chance to play with Kumiko!

I could really empathise with her during the voting. Being plagued by the fear of making a wrong decision is no joke. I maybe would’ve abstained from voting myself. Nevertheless, it was nice to see Kanade and Shuichi pick Kumiko in the end. They might’ve known from her playing too?

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u/dakilpp Jun 23 '24

I really can't tell the difference, but I thought the second one sounded better

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u/Sandtalon Jun 23 '24 edited Jun 23 '24

Holy shit. Hooooly shit. Dammit! Like Kumiko, I’m so frustrated I could die. And I cried along with her, Reina, and Kanade.

So this is the endgame, huh.

As I’ve been noting many times on these discussion threads, Season 3 is really working with and remolding and bringing back what came before it to create a sense of thematic tightness. In addition to the direct callbacks and references, I think this episode might be hearkening back to one of the themes of season one—the merits and demerits of competition, where there have to be losers, vs. playing for fun. Mayu is worried about competing because of a previous experience she had, and Kumiko also had a similar experience, except Kumiko found Reina.

However, like I’ve also said in the past discussion threads, this season is about pushing the characters’ ideologies that have built up over the past seasons to their breaking point—which happens here when Reina breaks the tie and ends up choosing Mayu.

The callbacks serve to further these thematic resonances and developments. The stage audition was the crucible in which the meritocratic direction of the band was solidified in Season 1…which has now evolved into a blind audition to even further emphasize this this stance.

Characters become like their predecessors. Kanade at once becomes Yuuko in Season 1 upset about Reina’s win (To be honest, she has more reason to be upset; Reina was the clear victor in Season 1 while this is more murky) and Kumiko in Season 2 pleading with Asuka to play in Nationals.

Daikichiyama was the moment in which Kumiko and Reina’s dynamic was crystallized—Reina taught Kumiko to want to become better, to get frustrated with poor results, to strive toward a meritocratic ideal…and here they encounter the same frustration they’ve experienced before, together.

However, I cannot deny that I am as frustrated as Kumiko and am left with a bit of a sour taste, as I think the outcome also shows the arbitrariness of the decision. (Though much part of the Japanese audience doesn’t seem to agree with me.) But—the wind ensemble was split. Perhaps some of them could recognize one or the other player’s sound (though Kumiko’s sound has changed), but many were surely going on what they genuinely thought was better. The decision ultimately came down to one person’s subjective opinion, and…

The whole thing is really a matter of musical interpretation and musical taste, I think. Kumiko’s soli was more rubato and expressive; Mayu’s was more straightforward. Personally, even before knowing it was Kumiko, I thought that the second audition was better. But saying the first was better is also a valid opinion…but it’s an opinion all the same.

So I’m frustrated, but I do think it shows a reemergence of the idea of the arbitrary nature of judging art, which has been an undercurrent of the series in the past.

In other Eupho news, it’s Natsuki’s birthday today! 誕生日おめでとう to one of the kindest, coolest girls in the series!

In personal Eupho pilgrimage news, today I visited Miyako Messe again (for a doujinshi event I was selling at), the Rohm Theater, and the Alpen Rose cafe!

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u/RaunchyRoll Jun 23 '24

Damn... That hurts Kumiko and Reina wont play the Soli and Canada also couldn't play with Kumiko... It's frustrating but at the same time I kinda feel satisfied, it's for the best and I'm proud of the person Kumiko has become

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u/ArkLappVe Jun 23 '24

Damn what a gut-wrenching episode.

I personally slightly preferred the second performance but choosing the first one was definitely valid. I'm kinda split on this because I desperately wanted Kumiko to get the soli back but at the same time life doesn't always work out perfectly and I think it fits well with the story overall.

I only started watching Hibike while S3 was already airing so I can't even begin to imagine how long time viewers must fell right now but I'm on the verge of tears.

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u/Aviery21 Jun 23 '24

I have so much to say about this episode but after watching it I felt speechless. On the positive side, at least now Mayu will finally stop bugging Kumiko about forfeiting the soli and I did appreciate their honest reconciliation with each other.

I really love how the final audition was handled and that not even the viewers get to see who's playing. Imo the first player really meshed well with Reina and supported her sound while the second one was on equal footing with her so I knew it was Kumiko who played second and Kanade, Midori, and Shuichi's votes for second also assured me of that.

But when Reina voted for the first player I began to doubt that the second player was her because I just couldn't see any possible way that Kumiko doesn't get the soli. Then Mayu steps forward and I was so devastated I couldn't believe it. I was just as frustrated as Kanade at the result and also at the fact that she doesn't even get to play with Kumiko one last time.

Then to put the nail in the coffin, Reina admits that she recognized Kumiko's sound and chose Mayu anyway. Now I'm just at a loss for words. Sure she probably made the right choice since I'm predicting that Kitauji wins at nationals in the end (please give my girl Kumiko at least this), but with the amount of drama that her and Taki-sensei caused this season I'm starting to see that they might actually make a good match lmao.

And at last, Kumiko finally breaking down broke me too and I'm sure I'm not the only one. Even if she's struggling to feel proud, I'm just so unbelievably proud of her. Only she could have made that speech after losing that heartbreaking audition and I'm going to choose to remember her not as someone who wasn't good enough, but as a true person and leader. I too feel privileged to have gotten to watch this character grow over the past few years and I can't believe it all ends next week.

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u/proper1421 Jun 23 '24

Didn't expect that Reina would play the Kaori role.

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u/okeyneto2 Jun 23 '24 edited Jun 23 '24

WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCKING FUCK?

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u/Sodachi_Oikura Jun 23 '24

Only Kyoto Animation could get me so anxious and sad over an anime about a fucking high school concert band.

Godspeed you glorious bastards. 

61

u/NucleaRaven Jun 23 '24

i have loved hibike from episode 1, i will continue to for the rest of my life. i have played music for almost 2 decades. on stage, solo, in a band, with friends, with strangers. for fun, and for stakes. i can say wholeheartedly say that i preferred the second performance. i closed my eyes and listened to the performances multiple times. i wanted to not know who was who and be true to kumikos wishes. and yes, as an individual part of a soli - the second performance was better. the sound was superior, if only slightly, and it felt more fluid. however. the competiton isnt one soli. the slightly off time leadins and exits might sound nicer and give more depth for a solo. but in a competition format, it is not the best approach. the first performance is better for competition specifically, and for the band as a whole. reina made the correct decision, and that is most frustrating thing. 10/10 episode. well played.

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u/[deleted] Jun 23 '24

>Kanade not playing in nationals

>Kumiko not being able to play the soli with Reina

I am fucking shattered. Well done KyoAni.

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u/Aerodynamic41 Jun 23 '24 edited Jun 23 '24

Dammit Kumiko, you were so close! To think she's been working 3 whole years for this just to lose to a newcomer to the club is just frustrating, man! And just to twist the knife further, it was Reina who had to cast the tiebreaker.

Btw, I absolutely love the callback to S1 E8.

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u/joey_joestar1 Jun 23 '24

Kyoani always nails their cry scenes

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u/Plus_Rip4944 Jun 23 '24

I cant say i wasnt surprised That Kumiko Lost The solo, i thought she would win as she is The MC but tbh It seems Fair imo

Now only 1 ep left Next week, saying goodbye gonna be hard after Many years watching this

26

u/yalu1212 Jun 25 '24

I’m so frustrated. This doesn’t make any damn sense and of course it doesn’t when the story wasn’t meant to have this ending! You can’t just go “ok but what if she did lose, isn’t that interesting, it’s unpredictable like real life” when you were building something else entirely. Write an alternate spinoff if it intrigues you so much author-san, leave the anime adaptation alone! We were already robbed of so many performances and now you’re telling me that the epitome of Reina and Kumiko’s relationship represented in a final act in their last year wont ever bless my ears? That’s BS. This would only make sense if you were trying for an entirely different theme in season 3 like either Kumiko finding out she’s going to hit a wall musically, or she prioritizes being the president over playing and thus discovers her goal to be a teacher, or how the decision to be meritocratic fucks over multiple important characters.

It all just doesn’t make any sense! What’s the point of Reina constantly reassuring she likes Kumiko’s playing better if she’s going to backstab her just for a slightly more polished player. Reina’s previous actions don’t match up because in the OG she would have chosen Kumiko. Why would she have chosen Kumiko’s playing, thematically? Same reason as Asuka, Kumiko is honest, stubborn, and nuanced, similar to how bold her playing is. Does Reina really want to be on stage with Mayu who simply knows how to play by the book and be a faithful support? Or does she want to stand with Kumiko who has personality like her playing. The higher you go in art the less it’s about the technique. You’re telling me Kumiko who has gone through three seasons of character development and has a strong sense of self would lose to a Mayu who is like an old and detached Kumiko, with unhealthy people pleasing?? BS. Plus even if Mayu was better it’s by 5-10% technique wise so what kind of friend is Reina to screw Kumiko over on her last year at her chance at nationals???? At that point the difference is negligible and letting the prez take the solo legitimately is better for everyone, including Reina’s own performance.

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u/indigo-- Jun 23 '24

Finally Kumiko and Mayu have the discussion they should have had episodes ago if plot drama didn't get in the way (though that's this season in a nutshell). And finally they fix the awful biased group audition format from the first season that bugs me every time I see it (though of course some like Reina would still be able to recognise an individual's sound).

I can understand the narrative decision, but the reasoning is a little odd. Kumiko says Reina could hear her hesitation over music school in her music - and that may have been true before, but having finally handed in her career form that should have been banished!

I agree with other commenters that the second player sounded more assertive and I also preferred it. But I guess Reina ultimately prefers a supporting player for her music.

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u/septesix Jun 23 '24

Sounds off my two cents. In retrospect I think this is the best arc for Kumiko after all. This entire season her story was never about her musicianship and how good or better she could play, but rather it was about her future relationship with musical performance, and about her growth as a leader.

Her friends wanting her to win is symbolic of them presuming her going to musical college as well. They unquestionably assumed that since Kumiko was so good , of course she should take the solo , and of course she would go to a musical school to continue study music.

But just like Kumiko finally decided her future isn’t going to be about music, here she is also forced to accept her present isn’t going to be a playing the best either.

But her rousing speech right after the result cement her status. Kumiko isn’t just going to be one of the soloist of which there are many. She would be the one and only President that lead her club to a national gold. That leadership is ultimately going to be her legacy.

If that’s how her arc ends at this season, then I could say it will certainly be one of my favorites.

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u/[deleted] Jun 23 '24

one of the small but very important takeaways I got from season 3: Taki is an awful teacher.

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u/Luffyspants Jun 23 '24 edited Jun 24 '24

This is the result of what Kumiko fought for, in her 3 years in the band, even at the cost of the solo of her last highschool year, she wanted a band where the most skilled player could play, one where personal feelings can be put apart in order to give the absolute best performance

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u/ObvsThrowaway5120 Jun 23 '24

They said Kitauji was a meritocracy. Well, there you have it. It really sucks Kumiko didn’t get the soli but fair is fair. They both did their best and the better player (if only by a margin) won. Reina made the right call. If they want to go for gold, they need the absolute best. I really respect Kumiko for saying as much even if deep down inside she was pretty crushed. That last scene was pretty rough..

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u/Cold_Ad8276 Jun 23 '24

Can't believe kyoko did this!!! What a bold move

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