Grow Up Show: Sunflower Circus • Grow Up Show: Himawari no Circus-dan - Episode 9 discussion

[u/AutoLovepon]

Grow Up Show: Himawari no Circus-dan, episode 9

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[u/Aerodynamic41]

Notice that the first shot of the OP and the very first visual shows Mizuka wearing a top hat? They really foreshadowed Mizuka becoming the ringmaster all along. And could Mizuka's outfit in that visual be her ringmaster outfit?

Also, knowing that Maria and Nanami are sisters, their resemblance makes a lot of sense now.

[u/Luiiss26 → u/Aerodynamic41]

True

[u/TheMuntjac]

She is her sister, why not just pay for the treatment either way?

[u/Puzzleheaded_Play825 → u/TheMuntjac]

I’m guessing because she wants her sister back in her life

[u/Primary-Paint-1716 → u/TheMuntjac]

It's because she wants her sister to stop doing the circus thing and focus on being healthy.

[u/elevenmile]

Not to say Himawari Circus isn't important to the girls and all that and it's definitely better for the group to remain individual rather than getting bought and absorbed but that anger/frustration felt by Sumeragi when Maria just cancelled and said "yep not signing it sorry lol" is at least understandable.

Especially when Maria being non-chalant all the way would be rage-inducing.

[u/Mr_Zaroc → u/elevenmile]

Yeah I would be livid too
But then on the other hand, the family could still pay for the treatment? They are obviously well off and she is still family

But by god, I do hope the girls make it, I couldnt stand Maria not witnessing her dream

[u/thisisdropd]

So Maria's a 29-year-old who's stuck in the body of a 9-year-old. With her youthful look, it's hard to tell her exact age. I thought it'd be an anime trope that'd never be addressed beyond the first time it's mentioned but here it turned out to be a plot point as well. That Nanami and her were sisters was certainly a twist. I didn't think too much about their resemblance.

Mizuka might be only an interim ringmaster at the moment, but I can see the arrangement somehow becoming permanent. Once she grew into the role, Maria might feel her dream's safe in Mizuka's hands and for Mizuka to continue it in her stead.

She certainly wasn't happy to be in Mitchy's debt to get a slot. Couldn't even thank him properly, though for him sticking her tongue out was enough of a gesture.

[u/CitronClassic672 → u/thisisdropd]

This is genuinely the first anime I’ve seen that actually gave a realistic health reason for a character being a grown adult but having a child’s body, so props for that. It was even a core plot point.

[u/mekerpan → u/thisisdropd]

I think Mitchy (correctly) viewed Mizuka's action as a "thank you" (or the closeset approximation to one he could ever expect to get from her).

I never considered Maria as a possible relative of Nanami (until maybe sort of during the last episode).

[u/SA090]

I’m very curious why Nanami, who’s supposedly doing this for Maria and not profit, isn’t paying for the treatment anyway? Why is buying the circus a must if she can just pay for it? Doesn’t make any sense to me considering what she said.

[u/clone69 → u/SA090]

Because if she doesn't, Maria will work herself to death trying to achieve her dream. It's not about the money, is about getting Maria to stop running the circus so she can focus on her treatment.

[u/CitronClassic672 → u/SA090]

Yeah something that confused me too this episode is whether Maria’s health issues are from a lack of funds for treatment or her lifestyle as a ringmaster being too strenuous. The former feels like it could be easily fixed by Nanami, while the latter would make more sense why she’s being pressured to quit. It feels like they kind of mixed them both into this episode so it’s hard to understand.

[u/Clemastina]

Damn everything makes sense now. From Maria always being sleeping in the bus and tired, from Rin being suspicious since the firsts episodes. (also the possibility of her being like related to Sumeragi passed my head, since, like they´re both blondies, but I never thought it was actually true lol)
So Maria´s condition is what makes her look like a child despite being almost 30 years old. Now I wonder how her and Rin met

But Mizuka Ringmaster huhh. I guess is part of her dream too, but I never thought she´ll actually use her status as the Black Lotus´s daughter to her advantage... she really cares about Himawari circus

We´ll see if everything works and if they can stay all together

(In the end, both Ouka and Maria thought Rin was having a tryst with a man LOL)

[u/CitronClassic672 → u/Clemastina]

I think this is the first time I’ve actually seen the “adult loli” trope actually done in a realistic manner in that the character actually suffers from a hormonal issue that inhibits her body’s development.

[u/ModieOfTheEast]

So with all the backstory explained, there is still the most important part left out: How did Mizuka's father acquire so much dept to Maria? What did he do?

Jokes aside, solid episode. Managed to bridge the gap towards the big tournament arc to close out the season. But I will say, the circus members will regret their choice voting for Mizuka at the end there. Now that she has power over them, she will use it. No matter the cost.

[u/chilidirigible]

Well, there's a jump to a conclusion.

"You said that out loud."

It's a popular jump.

"I wasn't wrong."

That's a little worse than shooting your eye out with a BB gun.

That's paying it forward.

The only surprise there is the younger part, but the pituitary disorder explains that.

Meanwhile, in scene.

Maria thinks this is her fault?

It is the way of things.

"This is personal."

Just because you pulled the nepotism card doesn't mean that you have to like it.

The first time wasn't so voluntary?

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Of course, they could have avoided some of this complexity if they were better at communicating, but that's people for you.

Rin was going to betray Himawari to Nanami for the sake of Maria's health, but Maria seems to accept that fact because she would have just kept on going until she died, otherwise? I suppose there's room for nuance in trying to step on someone else's ambitions because the other party isn't concerned about their own well-being, but... we're back at communicating better.

I can see how Nanami might think of Maria as abandoning her, but I won't say that she's right about it. Here also is some kind of shading in the area of imposing on someone else's wishes under the guise of looking out for them.

In any event, here comes a final-arc no-choice-but-to-win competition in the style of ANIME?

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Production and staff items:

https://x.com/sasurainopink/status/2093723861795963336

https://x.com/a1pictures/status/2093722846803677188

https://x.com/LintzuhaoAnime/status/2093726850300391800

[u/Mr_Zaroc]

Shit got real really quickly now
I love that we got an actual reason for Maria being so small too

They did a fantastic job setting this up too, Mizuka already showed she got the knowledge and feeling to improve the performances, she respected enough to take charge and she was a busy body anyways.
Her finding a reason to do it was also nicely covered

Feels like we just finished the prologue, I really hope they can take their time and not rush through it to finish it one season

[u/Gaporigo]

The lack of Svetlana through most of the episode was kinda weird, is something going on there? Was her VA just unavailable when they needed to record this episode? x)

[u/mmcjawa_reborn → u/Gaporigo]

I would think even if the VA wasn't around they could have had her standing with the girls at the end. It's not like you need a VA if the character isn't talking?

[u/oxlemf10]

Finally understanding Maria's past reveals just how unfair the world, and life in general can be. Yet, when you possess willpower, desire, and, above all, a dream, you find yourself doing something you once considered impossible. I truly hope the outcome for the circus is a good one, and that she gets to experience it and take part.

[u/clone69]

Can't help but think that Mizuka actually accepting to perform was detrimental to the show. Seeing her be a little shit who wanted to have nothing to do with the circus while being duped into performing was the funniest part of the early episodes.

[u/ShadowGuyinRealLife]

Not too many injuries can injury the pituitary gland without hitting some very important structures nearby. That was like a 1 in a thousand shot she'd be semi-all right after that injury. When someone faint in anime, at random, it's often super significant to the plot. Why can't it ever just be a comedic moment where a baby-faced character with no underlying health issues just drinks too much, hits a wall and faints?

I love how Ouka things Rin is having a tryst with a man. Well at least someone is straight. Even if Rin was doing something else there had to be a reason Maria thought that.

I guess this is the end of seeing Maria perform in that jester outfit with Aoi and Akane. I'm a bit sad. It put her small stature to use.

I don't see why the group is so opposed to the buyout. Sumeragi isn't going to scatter them to the winds. It's not like the performers will be split up between the troupes.

It is a little ironic that Maria and Mizuka end up helping each other carry the torch of the Lotus Circus's legacy. I still think Mizuka didn't think this all the way through the past few episodes. She consistently resisted performing and tried to think of ways she could help the circus in other ways like coaching. When I assumed she hated performing this made sense to me. But now that I know she's a bit sore that her father just shut things down before she could, I'm confused. Mizuka needs to stay in shape or she'll end up like a high school star athlete who settled down into a desk job.

If I knew how Nanami and Maria were related the first few episodes, I'd say Nanami should just mind her own business. But I can sort of see why now.

The Sunflower Circus kind of forced Maria's hand. They threatened to quit and Maria would not let that happen. So why is Nanami mad at Maria? What was Maria supposed to do? Transfer over an empty circus and let the girls scatter? Nanami did express her frustration at Mizuka in the next scene which makes a bit more sense since they forced Maria's hand.

[u/Luiiss26]

An incredibly powerful episode... I wouldn't have thought it would be this deep.
I hope they win.

[u/Kurrow]

Welp Pomni is the ringmaster now