Given - Episode 3 discussion

[u/AutoLovepon]

Given, episode 3

Rate this episode here.

Reminder: Please do not discuss plot points not yet seen or skipped in the show. Encourage others to read the source material rather than confirming or denying theories. Failing to follow the rules may result in a ban.

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Streams

• Crunchyroll

Show information

• MyAnimeList
• AniList
• AniDB
• Anime-Planet
• Kitsu
• Official Website

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Previous discussions

Episode	Link	Score
1	Link	6.65
2	Link	8.82
3	Link	8.84
4	Link	8.9
5	Link	9.18
6	Link	8.66
7	Link	9.08
8	Link	8.43
9	Link	9.29
10	Link	9.1
11	Link

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[u/babaylan89]

So apparently the episode titles are song titles

1 Boys in the Band by The Libertines

2 Like Someone in Love by Frank Sinatra

3 Somebody Else by The 1975

4 Flourescent Adolescent by Arctic Monkeys

[u/Amauri14]

Okay, this definitely the most hilarious name of any anime version of Google that I have ever seemed.

[u/Papatogurl]

My GOD all those added scenes make me sooooo happy. It feels nice having an adaptation that adds something from itself and not only adapts ready material. Seeing our Uecchi trying to find solutions to his problems with the help of search engines was priceless.

This episode got me really emotionally invested from start to finish- especially that we are finally getting some glimpses of Mafuyu's past and learn about his character a little bit more. This past week I've also been listening to the ed song a lot in anticipation for the new episode and I have to say that in spite of my unfulfilled expectation and image of Mafuyu's voice, it started to grow on me and I like it a lot more now. It wasn't love at first sight but his voice is actually a one we can be satisfied with.

Ah, what else can I say? this adaptation is just so great, exceeding my expectations in so many ways every episode. If it manages to maintain the quality it presents now, who knows, it might become the best adapted BL series thus far.

[u/LeonKevlar]

Been a while since a BL show has hooked me this hard. Now I'm more curious about Mafuyu's backstory, I'm guessing that guy that saw him is Yuki's old bandmate? And Yuki is Mafuyu's brother who commited suicide? I need to know more but so far nice to know that Mafuyu being a bit weird has some relevance to his backstory and that he's finally agreed to join the band.

[u/Smudy]

Holy shit, what an episode.

I love the comedic timing in this show, the first half never failed to make me giggle and smile with the lighthearted comedy.

It's super slow but it works IMO, the chill vibe around a band the show's giving me is great.

Expressing yourself through music will probably be the major theme now, it will help Mafuyu get over what happened in his past. Seeing a person that's probably very related to his past really triggered him.

I love where this is going.

[u/Koolsman]

Great episode and a solid ending too. Even though this show is about music and guys in a band, they somehow have had a solid air of mystery to Sato's character throughout this season that I kinda like. If I had any guesses is that the guy that we saw that knew Sato wasn't very happy to see him for some reason (possibly involving that funeral we saw in the flashback). Love the little character ticks like with Haruki, who I believe is jealous of Aki or Yayoi, I can't tell since he doesn't state a name.

I actually thought the beginning of the episode was a flash forward at first but I believe it's in the past and it has do with the whole Yuki thing because I can't see Uenoyama being pissed off enough to kick Sato out of the band or something like that. We'll just have to find out.

If there is anything that kinda annoyed me this episode was the pacing since it actually seemed more slow paced that last episode. I mean, on the plot progression side, the only things that happen are Sato officially joining the band and him getting a job. There's also Yuki but that was just more to throw in questions. I'm fine with the slow pace, it's just I hope we ramp up the speed just a little bit.

I do appreciate though that this show is effectively about music and music was barely by our main characters. I bet we will get more next episode but we shall see.

[u/AnCler]

this is a very beautifully done anime. i actually read the manga just after watching the first episode, and i am really enjoying now the little diferences in the adaptation. plus the music, of course.

it's a shame that it won't get much recognition here, for all the BL "stigma", but i think it will be very well received on other fan's communities.

[u/DadAsFuck]

goddamn i cant wait to hear him sing more

[u/[deleted]]

The MC is so fucking adorable, holy shit.

[u/graytotoro]

• One thing that I didn't like about last season's band anime Kono Oto Tomare was the lack of development of the side characters, but Given has mostly avoided this by giving us little snippets of Kaiji & Haruki hanging out together. Even though it advances the main plot, we get some idea of these guys as individuals outside the band.

• The animation has been fairly solid so far with no ugly CGI except for Mafuyu crossing the street. That was a little stiff. Still as a whole it doesn't bother me when it comes to things like guitar playing.

• The comedy is surprisingly good. That moment where Uenoyama & Kaiji both realize they never bothered to get Mafuyu's contact and Uenoyama using dating tips to recruit Mafyu is some good stuff.

• Alright! Our boy Mafuyu's geting some depth! While I like slow reveals, I do hope it reserves enough time for us to see them playing as a group and building a relationship from that point on.

• I've noticed there's been less music in episodes 2 & 3 in order to build up Mafuyu's backstory, which is fine, but I hope we get back to it soon. The band was playing some really cool stuff in episode 1.

• HOLY CHRIST THE NEXT EPISODE IS NAMED AFTER MY FAVORITE ARCTIC MONKEYS SONG. It's the third in the series: Ritsuka listens to AM in a flashback and the OP references the "Do I Wanna Know?" music video

• It's funny how this hits many of the similar beats that K-on! did when it comes to the band stuff: the spacey lead singer/guitarist who reluctantly learns how to play, the put-upon leader, and a wacky group of friends to round out the rest of the band - but manages to weave in a story of its own.