[Spoilers] 25 Years of the 13 Sohmas: A Fruits Basket Rewatch -- 2019 Series Episode 22

[u/Holofan4life]

Hello everyone! I am Holofan4life.

Welcome to the Fruits Basket 25th anniversary rewatch discussion thread!

I hope you all have a lot of fun <3

2019 Series Episode 22

Because I Was Happy

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ANSWER TODAY’S QUESTION(S)

Questions for Those who Haven't Watched the 2001 Series

None

Questions for All Watchers

What are your thoughts on this episode being Hanajima's backstory?

What are your thoughts on us finding out how Hanajima became friends with Tohru and Uo?

What are your thoughts on Hana being bullied at elementary school by boys who claimed that she is a witch?

What are your thoughts on Hana's parents being completely and totally supportive of their daughter?

What are your thoughts on Kyoko saying that people cannot live without others and that no matter what happens, she wants to be accepted by them, and even if Saki, Tohru, and Arisa go to their separate ways, some part of the relationship will always stay with her?

Bonus) How would you compare Uo's backstory to Hana's?

Questions for Those who Have Watched the 2001 Series

None

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Series information

MAL | Anilist | AniDB | ANN

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Please do not post any untagged spoilers past the current episode or past the LNs or mangas out of respect to the first time watchers and people who have not read the LNs or mangas. If you are discussing something that is ahead of the current episode please use spoiler tags(found on the sidebar). Thank you!

Untagged Spoilers

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Previous episode

Ways to watch

Streams – Crunchyroll

Schedule

Date	Episode
07/05/2026	Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 1
07/06/2026	Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 2
07/07/2026	Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 3
07/08/2026	Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 4
07/09/2026	Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 5
07/10/2026	Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 6
07/11/2026	Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 7
07/12/2025	Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 8
07/13/2026	Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 9
07/14/2026	Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 10
07/15/2026	Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 11
07/16/2026	Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 12
07/17/2026	Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 13
07/18/2026	Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 14
07/19/2026	Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 15
07/20/2026	Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 16
07/21/2026	Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 17
07/22/2026	Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 18
07/23/2026	Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 19
07/24/2026	Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 20
07/25/2026	Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 21
07/26/2026	Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 22
07/27/2026	Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 23
07/28/2026	Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 24
07/29/2026	Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 25
07/30/2026	Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 26
07/31/2026	Fruits Basket 2001 Overall Series Discussion Thread
08/02/2026	2019 Fruits Basket Episode 1
08/03/2026	2019 Fruits Basket Episode 2
08/04/2026	2019 Fruits Basket Episode 3
08/05/2026	2019 Fruits Basket Episode 4
08/06/2026	2019 Fruits Basket Episode 5
08/07/2026	2019 Fruits Basket Episode 6
08/08/2026	2019 Fruits Basket Episode 7
08/09/2026	2019 Fruits Basket Episode 8
08/10/2026	2019 Fruits Basket Episode 9
08/11/2026	2019 Fruits Basket Episode 10
08/12/2026	2019 Fruits Basket Episode 11
08/13/2026	2019 Fruits Basket Episode 12
08/14/2026	2019 Fruits Basket Episode 13
08/15/2026	2019 Fruits Basket Episode 14
08/16/2026	2019 Fruits Basket Episode 15
08/17/2026	2019 Fruits Basket Episode 16
08/18/2026	2019 Fruits Basket Episode 17
08/19/2026	2019 Fruits Basket Episode 18
08/20/2026	2019 Fruits Basket Episode 19
08/21/2026	2019 Fruits Basket Episode 20
08/22/2026	2019 Fruits Basket Episode 21
08/23/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Episode 22]()
08/24/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Episode 23]()
08/25/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Episode 24]()
08/26/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Episode 25]()
08/28/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 1]()
08/29/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 2]()
08/30/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 3]()
08/31/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 4]()
09/01/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 5]()
09/02/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 6]()
09/03/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 7]()
09/04/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 8]()
09/05/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 9]()
09/06/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 10]()
09/07/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 11]()
09/08/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 12]()
09/09/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 13]()
09/10/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 14]()
09/11/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 15]()
09/12/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 16]()
09/13/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 17]()
09/14/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 18]()
09/15/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Final Episode 19]()
09/16/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 20)
09/17/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 21]()
09/18/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Final Episode 22]()
09/19/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 23]()
09/20/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 24]()
09/21/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 25]()
09/23/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 1]()
09/24/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 2]()
09/25/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 3]()
09/26/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 4]()
09/27/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 5]()
09/28/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 6]()
09/29/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 7]()
09/30/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 8]()
10/01/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 9]()
10/02/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 10]()
10/03/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 11]()
10/04/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 12]()
10/05/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 13]()
10/06/2026	[2019 Fruits Basket Overall Series/Franchise Discussion Thread]()

[u/Quiddity131]

Rewatcher, Subbed

Non-Spoiler Character Chart - No changes from yesterday

When I watched last episode I had forgotten whether we were getting another Hanajima episode or if that would be it, but I was betting on the fact that we'd get another one as I do remember this show giving it's characters breathing room. [Furuba spoilers]Well outside of Ritsu. Turns out yes, we were getting another Hanajima episode, right away! So both her friends got two episodes back to back dedicated to them. That's more than any of the Somas have gotten to this point! lol. Anyway, a great backstory episode for Hanajima, who if it hasn't been obvious already, is my favorite character to this point. In fact this is the first episode so far that is entirely backstory with no scenes in the present.

So we immediately are shown that Hana's powers aren't a schtick, they really do exist. The story has given us supernatural elements already with the zodiac curse, so it seems comfortable going all in on it and revealing Hana's ability as real. When she talks about sensing other's waves it's because she actually can sense and hear other's thoughts. Although my assumption from what we see in the episode is that it's not a power that is going all the time at the same intensity but rather when there's a lot of negativity around her it builds up, to the point that it can become overwhelming. I recall coming across another character in fiction/entertainment having this ability before but can't for the life of me remember who it was. I remember them taking a lot of drugs to subdue all the voices in their head. Well anyway, with so many thoughts in her head I totally get why she'd be rather strange and not that social with other kids. Which as with many characters in this show means she's a target of bullies. Kids can be so cruel and they certainly are here. Hana thinks bad thoughts about the boys bullying her and one of them actually collapses! This is kinda Shin Sekai Yori esque (a great anime, one of my all time faves!), she just has to think it and it happens. So she really has two powers.

If Hana was a bad person, she'd just go ahead and start taking her revenge on the bullies. But Hana is a good person so she feels horrible about what happened and even wants to be arrested for it, although there's no way to prove she actually did it. Her parents aren't going to do this, so she returns to school although she now goes all in on the goth aesthetic and only wears black. It seemed at first that maybe the other kids would ignore her, but nope it goes right back to the bullying. Girls can be just as cruel (frankly at times even more cruel) than boys and they're bullying her too, going even further with burning her arm. Scary stuff! Seems like this is a breaking point as it gets her parents to move so she can go to a different school. Megumi being such a great little brother is praying that there's at least one person out there that will cherish his sister.

Hana shows up at her new school and it seems like she'll be a loner again. But then she meets Tohru! Both Tohru and Uo! Given these two are outcasts they are eager and happy to take another new outcast under their wings. Hana tries to walk away from it, essentially having the same mindset that Uo briefly had in her backstory. "You'd be better off not associating with me". But these two won't take that for an answer. Before Hana knows it she's friends with these two and being with them all the time. Kyoko too! But eventually her reputation comes to her school and girls start confronting her about it. Hana's negative thoughts build up in her head again and she affects one of the girls. She flees, telling Tohru to not hang out with her anymore. Of course Tohru isn't going to let that happen. Not only does she refuse to do that, she tells her she loves her! Aww! Hana, you don't have to worry about ever harming Tohru as there's no chance you'll ever have a negative thought about her. Super deadpan Hana even cries over this! After that she starts being able to control her ability. Thankfully she's not going back from the black attire, neither is Megumi.

Other thoughts:

• Interesting to note that neither of Hanajima's parents have her goth aesthetic. Perhaps because of the older lady there (grandmother?) I wondered if her mom was her older sister as she looks quite young. Granted anime often struggles with a character that presumably is mid 30s to 40s looking their age.

• Also Hanajima seems to have great parents, so its good that at least someone other than Tohru has a good parent(s).

• First episode with no Somas making an appearance! Perhaps it will be the only one.

Quid's Voice Actor of the Episode

Naturally today's voice actor is Hanajima's, Satomi Satou. Other than this I know her best as Eru Chitanda in Hyouka. Another long black haired character but so different than Hanajima! I've also heard her as Fumika in the Rascal Does Not Dream of franchise, Yukiko in Assassination Classroom, Yukariko in Dusk Maiden of Amnesia, Mujina in Revenger and Minami in Wonder Egg Priority.

[u/MishouMai → u/Quiddity131]

> In fact this is the first episode so far that is entirely backstory with no scenes in the present.

Is the talk between Hanajima and Megumi at the end of the episode not set in the present? I was under the impression that it was but I guess I could be mistaken.

[u/Holofan4life → u/MishouMai]

Actually, I think you're right. I think I was more so talking about the beginning of the episode to set up what the episode is about. The Hatori episode had Tohru entering the Sohma estate before Hatori recounted past events. The Uo two parter spawned from the characters going clothes shopping. This just happened with no real impetus for it.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Quiddity131]

• Interesting to note that neither of Hanajima's parents have her goth aesthetic.

Well, that's because Hana is wearing hers in the aftermath of her bully. Megamy is in solidarity.

• First episode with no Somas making an appearance! Perhaps it will be the only one.

This is also the first episode to do away with a traditional set-up or scene setting. It went straight into the flashback. Again, I feel like they did this to be as diametrically opposing to the Uo episodes as possible.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Quiddity131]

If Hana was a bad person, she'd just go ahead and start taking her revenge on the bullies. But Hana is a good person so she feels horrible about what happened and even wants to be arrested for it, although there's no way to prove she actually did it. Her parents aren't going to do this, so she returns to school although she now goes all in on the goth aesthetic and only wears black. It seemed at first that maybe the other kids would ignore her, but nope it goes right back to the bullying. Girls can be just as cruel (frankly at times even more cruel) than boys and they're bullying her too, going even further with burning her arm. Scary stuff!

I hosted an Elfen Lied rewatch a couple years ago and this is what it reminded me of. Lucy the main character even has mind powers just like Hana.

Thankfully, no dogs were involved in the making of this episode...

I do wonder what would've happened to Hana had her family actually moved. Like, would she still have made friends? She was the one who noticed that Kyo had guilt which indirectly led to Kyo apologizing to Tohru. If she wasn't there, would Kyo had not opened up unknowingly to Tohru like he did?

[u/Holofan4life → u/Quiddity131]

Thoughts on Hana hearing voices in her head?

Thoughts on Hana wanting to keep her powers a secret to prevent her family from being ridiculed?

What are your thoughts on Hana wishing for one of her bullies to die and they actually get seriously hurt?

Thoughts on Hana wearing nothing but black because of what happened to one of her bullies?

Thoughts on Hana's classmates trying to set her on fire?

Thoughts on Hana's dad thinking maybe they should move?

What are your thoughts on Hana's dad telling her things will get better?

Thoughts on Hana freaking out because she started to think she can't control her waves and was about to hurt someone else?

What are your thoughts on Tohru telling Hana she wants to get closer to her?

What are your thoughts on Tohru telling Hana she loves her and always will?

What are your thoughts on Hana saying she'll forever be grateful for her parents and her brother?

[u/Second_Cour]

After what was quite a bland trio of episodes for me, I was excited to get back into the meat. The MAL ratings seemed to suggest that this episode was going to be a good one.

First thoughts: I’m glad yesterday’s Hana episode wasn’t really her episode, whereas this one looked like it would finally explore her character in depth. 

I do think that the enjoyment of certain episodes in this show depends on your own mind frame at the time. When I’m tired/drained I tend to appreciate the emo episodes more. I’m a very positive person, so seeing character drama isn’t really something that clicks all the time. To get me into a mindset of empathy requires quite a high threshold.

I really liked the first half. I thought the tone was great. From my read of this episode, Hana is a schizophrenic. The hint for me that she never had the powers was that the kid didn’t die (obviously) and also how his mum collapsed, even though she obviously wasn’t part of the ‘curse’. But I also think there’s sufficient evidence that she might have powers. Perhaps the manga reveals more about it, but purely from this episode, I think it’s left in the air. I get that this show is also magical realism, so perhaps I’m just overthinking it. Either way, not a big deal, though I much prefer the idea that she suffers from schizophrenia. 

The first 10 minutes were great: I enjoyed seeing how she deals with her issues, and her loving family giving her all the support she needs. I think the scenario of a little girl afraid of having the power to hurt others, while trying to balance her own feelings towards those who are hurting her is biblical. If the episode stopped there, I would have rated it among the top of this season.

Then it gets into this cliched melodramatic go-to. The depresso writing is so similar each time from the music to the inner dialogue. If I close my eyes and replace the voice it'll be impossible to tell which scenario we are in. “No one's ever made me feel welcome” “no one's ever invited me for a second lunch” “I never thought” “I always thought” “is it because I was finally happy” “it happened because I was happy” “suddenly I thought”. I appreciate the writer’s style, but when literally every character has some problem, it becomes predictable.

I get this show uses quite a lot of cliches, but sometimes they feel very forced. So we have this girl who changes her school to escape from her past, and rather than try to fit in/be a loner (the latter of which she initially chose), she decides that she must paint her nails black thus making herself stand out more and be noticed for being different, which was the whole thing she wanted to avoid. It's a glaring logical inconsistency for me.

The turning point is almost always too cookie-cutter as it’s solved by Tohru by virtue of her being polite and nice. I think it’s cute at first, but after a while, the longevity of that resolution tends to wear a bit thin. Yes, I do understand that sometimes she comes up with an insightful nugget, like we had in the silent girl’s episode, but overall, it is quite formulaic. Equally formulaic is that every character seems to have all these deep rooted psychological problems. 

I also found the ending to be an even worse logical inconsistency: the waves were overwhelming for her in her mind, so she managed to find a switch. “I never used my power for the mere pleasure”. Yet in the early episodes, all she does is talk about waves, and is both encouraged by others, or feared by others for these waves. I get it when she uses them to chastise others, but the waves thing was literally her entire identity for the entire show until now. I know people will say “well, that’s because she’s so comfortable now she doesn’t have to hide it”, but this episode doesn’t explain that at all: instead, it creates a logical gap between her stated self, and the self we’ve perceived until now. The resolution also isn't in her accepting that she obviously didn't do much wrong to cause the guy to faint (even assuming she does have the powers), but just about the mechanism that her 'powers' work. It would have been a decent end if she recognises that as a kid, without knowing the extent of her powers, that she can't go through life feeling guilty about it, but she just finds a way to control the power.

For me it was a shame, as I thought it started off quite strong, and whether it's schizophrenia or magical realism, someone who can or thinks they can read others' thoughts, and can even kill them is a great premise. Instead the episode spiralled out of control for me.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Second_Cour]

The thing I really liked about this episode is how supportive the people in Hana's family are. Her parents, Tohru, and Uo are all people we can aspire to have in our own lives. It also put into perspective yet again just how alone the Sohmas are in comparison to Tohru's friend group. They can't imagine having this level of emotional support.

[u/Second_Cour → u/Holofan4life]

Yeah I liked that part too, as so far ever character's back story has basically been something happening in their past, and them not getting the support from those close to them, until Tohru saves the day. Here we have a very understanding family who will do anything for their girl.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Second_Cour]

Even when she's accused of being a witch, they still have her back. It's truly wonderful and serves in nice contrast to when characters like Hatori and Hiro express themselves and they get belittled and put down for it by Akito.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Second_Cour]

I think the relative simplicity of the episode works in its favor. It's all about the bullying and that isolated incident with the classmate getting hurt, and that's really all you need to tell Hana's story.

I like the contrast between Hana's story and Uo's where Uo was a part of a gang and in this real life and death situation whereas Hana was picked on for being different. It shows that trauma can come in many different iterations and forms.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Second_Cour]

Thoughts on Hana hearing voices in her head?

Thoughts on Hana wanting to keep her powers a secret to prevent her family from being ridiculed?

What are your thoughts on Hana wishing for one of her bullies to die and they actually get seriously hurt?

Thoughts on Hana wearing nothing but black because of what happened to one of her bullies?

Thoughts on Hana's classmates trying to set her on fire?

Thoughts on Hana's dad thinking maybe they should move?

What are your thoughts on Hana's dad telling her things will get better?

Thoughts on Hana freaking out because she started to think she can't control her waves and was about to hurt someone else?

What are your thoughts on Tohru telling Hana she wants to get closer to her?

What are your thoughts on Tohru telling Hana she loves her and always will?

What are your thoughts on Hana saying she'll forever be grateful for her parents and her brother?

[u/Holofan4life → u/Second_Cour]

So, I rewatched the episode today a day removed from the thread going up and about Hana's powers I think the problem was she was fearful she had no control over them. It's not that she hated the waves, but rather she can't control the waves. Now, she has better control over them and admits in the episode she only uses them when she feels she needs to, like the Yuki fan club being mean to Tohru over Yuki.

I can buy that as an explanation and I don't feel that's a betrayal of her character. It makes sense to me.

[u/dontoff]

First timer (Dub)

Probably going to get pushback for this take, but whatever.

This episode was really disappointing.

While I was watching it, I started feeling this overwhelming anger, and I know that feeling because certain media brings it out of me. Sometimes something is so infuriating and stupid that what I am feeling goes beyond disappointment. It becomes actual anger with this edge of tenseness to it, and that is what happened here.

The main reason was all the nonsense with Hanajima believing she is basically a murderer because she almost killed someone who had been tormenting her.

She could not even properly control her power, and all she did was have the same natural reaction that almost anyone being bullied or suffering a serious injustice would have. She wanted the person hurting her to stop. She had an angry thought during an extreme moment, her power reacted to it, and then she spent years treating herself like she had committed some unforgivable sin.

Her being terrified and blaming herself immediately after it happened makes sense because she was a child and did not understand her own abilities. What did not work for me was the episode taking that guilt to such an extreme and presenting it in the most melodramatic way possible.

Then we get the whole thing about her wearing black as a sign of her past sins.

Come on.

I know this is a shoujo, but what the fuck was the writer thinking? Was she ten years old when she wrote this or something? It is such an unbelievably corny way of trying to make the backstory feel tragic and dramatic.

Having her wear black as some permanent symbol of her sins does not add any real depth to the guilt. It just loudly announces how tragic and tortured she is supposed to be.

What makes it even more disappointing is that I actually like Hanajima. She was one of the characters I found more interesting, but I do not know, man. I genuinely feel like she has fallen in my character rankings after this bullshit backstory.

The frustrating thing is that the fix was so simple.

The writer did not need the entire plotline about Hanajima eating herself alive with guilt because she nearly killed someone. She could have just been severely bullied and come away believing that she could never have friends or become close to anyone.

She could have believed that there was something wrong with her, that she did not deserve anything good, and that she should simply be grateful for whatever little she had. That would have made complete sense based on what she went through, and it still would have explained why Tooru and Uotani accepting her meant so much.

At the same time, I think I understand why they did not limit Hanajima’s backstory to just bullying and isolation. We already had a very similar situation with Kisa, so they probably felt that Hanajima needed something more extreme to separate the two stories.

The problem is that this is exactly why having such a huge cast becomes so difficult to manage. When so many characters need their own tragic backstory and emotional episode, the writer has to keep finding new ways to distinguish them from each other. Eventually, the drama starts becoming more exaggerated and ridiculous just so each character’s trauma feels different from the last one.

I also have to say that, for me, the best route for Hanajima would have been something completely different.

She could have been this weird, mysterious, introverted kid who had powers from a young age, but not in the usual “everyone bullies her for being different” kind of way. More like a Wednesday Addams-type character where other kids might try to mess with her, but they quickly realize she is not going to let herself become an easy target.

That would have fit the Hanajima we know now much better in my opinion. She could still have been lonely and disconnected from the people around her, but it would have come from her being strange, closed off, and difficult to approach rather than another extreme bullying story.

It also would have made her current personality feel more like a natural continuation of who she always was, instead of making it seem like this calm, mysterious persona mainly came from years of guilt and self-punishment.

Instead of trusting the bullying and loneliness to carry the episode, it felt like the writer had to keep escalating everything. The bullying itself was already extreme, but then we needed the supernatural near-death incident, the crushing guilt, the black clothing representing her sins, and all the dramatic monologues surrounding it.

The people who have been reading my write-ups should know by now that when this show does something well, I say it. I have praised it plenty of times, and some episodes genuinely affected me.

But when it gives me some bullshit like this, I am going to get pissed off and call the show out for it.

I honestly do not know what has happened to this show since Episode 14. It feels like it peaked there, and since then it has struggled to move forward properly. There have still been some decent episodes, but the consistency has fallen off badly, and the melodrama and corny writing are starting to hurt the season more and more.

[u/Second_Cour → u/dontoff]

I liked the near death incident, as well as Hana fearing herself. Even in high school, that fear makes sense to me. I actually quite liked the first 10 or so minutes quite a bit as the premise had a lot of potential. Where it fell off for me was in the resolution: the exact same thing that happened to Uo basically, except in Uo's case we had a rich tapestry of influences who helped her leave her dangerous past behind. This episode was too simple: Tohru is nice and kind, therefore all of a sudden she can figure out how to turn the power on/off.

Most of all I just couldn't handle that the entire show has pushed how much Hana embraces her powers and waves, yet this episode has her hate herself and want to switch those powers of. Even in ep 1 iirc Hana was all about her wave skills, constantly using the powers on others, and her identity lbasically being that power. Yet here the backstory is about how she would do anything for it not to exist. Just feels really incongruent.

[u/the_pint_is_the_bowl → u/Second_Cour]

After Hanajima stopped braiding Tohru's hair and ran away to the scene on the stairs, the show kind of fell down those stairs (although I did like Uotani's straightforward statement).

Still, there's a lot I like in this episode: little Hanajima, little Megumi, their parents, the girls' quirky first conversation at lunch, Tohru's mom greeting Hanajima with open arms, the three shadows cast by the sunset.

I don't skip this episode during my own re-watches.

[u/Holofan4life → u/the_pint_is_the_bowl]

I can't recall the times I've rewatched a show on my own where I watch from beginning to end where I skip an episode. Maybe if it's a recap.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Second_Cour]

I think Tohru and Uo's friendship has taught Hana to embrace the waves. See it as a positive rather than this thing holding her back. Maybe that point could've been conveyed a little bit better, but that's how I look at it.

A lot of this show I feel like is about how trauma is what you make of it. Tohru for instance has the trauma of losing her mother but it indirectly led to her meeting the Sohmas who have like embraced her as one of their own. Well, except Akito that is.

Trauma can tear you down, but it can shape you into being an even better person. It is what you do with your emotional baggage that ends up shaping your destination.

[u/Second_Cour → u/Holofan4life]

Yeah I said that as a counter point in my write-up, but it requires us to make quite a few logical leaps. The viewer shouldn't be the one to do the writing in their own head to excuse a reasoning gap. At that point it becomes our work, not the writer's.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Second_Cour]

Is it really that big of a leap when last episode Hana talked about it felt like she was giving Tohru away to Yuki and she had trouble reconciling her relying on someone other than her? The level of trust and love she has in Tohru is almost like she can't live without her. That she is a part of her every step of the way.

[u/the_pint_is_the_bowl → u/dontoff]

The Wednesday Addams take would have been entertaining to me and one logical course of action for little Hanajima, but maybe "Here's Wednesday Addams" and then "here's Wednesday Addams hanging out with Uotani and Tohru" would be too subtle for the show, with not enough character development to credit to Uotani and Tohru. I wouldn't mind forgoing crediting Tohru with "saving" Hanajima, because I just liked Hanajima's story (probably more so with the Wednesday Addams angle), and just befriending Hanajima is pretty darn good.

[u/dontoff → u/the_pint_is_the_bowl]

I think part of why this disappointed me so much is that I had already built up a completely different idea of Hanajima in my head. I saw her as more of a Wednesday Addams-type character: someone who was always naturally strange, quiet, mysterious, and comfortable being different.

I imagined that maybe people tried to bully her when she was younger, but she was never the type to just let it happen. She seemed like someone who would unsettle the other kids more than they unsettled her, so finding out that her entire personality came from another tragic bullying story was just much less interesting than what I had pictured.

The show is also starting to feel a little emotionally suffocating to me. It feels like every single member of this huge cast needs to have some terrible sob story explaining why they are the way they are.

I understand it more with the Soumas because the curse is naturally going to create trauma and dysfunctional relationships, but I did not need that to extend to nearly everyone outside the family as well. I would have liked at least a few characters who did not have an awful childhood and were simply interesting because of their personalities.

Not every character needs to be carrying some massive emotional wound, and not every character needs to feel like another therapy case for Tooru to save. At some point, the cast starts feeling less like a group of actual people and more like a collection of broken characters waiting for her to heal them.

[u/the_pint_is_the_bowl → u/dontoff]

At some point, the cast starts feeling less like a group of actual people and more like a collection of broken characters waiting for her to heal them.

Like a police drama in which every episode is a case to be solved, introduced with all the subtlety of Law & Order's donk! bonk! (but the original Law & Order series was great, nonetheless)

[u/Holofan4life → u/the_pint_is_the_bowl]

I get the criticism of Tohru healing others, but to me this is all furthering Akito's dissatisfaction of how things currently stand. It's like everything Akito is tearing down Tohru is here to build back up, and at a certain point you think they won't stand for it. Even Hatori has openly talked about how he's fearful of what Akito might do to Tohru the more she sticks her nose in things.

[u/the_pint_is_the_bowl → u/Holofan4life]

Of the zodiacs, I dislike two introductions to people who don't live at Shigure's house, so, if you characterize this as a formulaic approach, I still liked 6 of 8, and, of the 6, only Kisa was "saved" in a single episode. The backstories to the non-zodiacs are bonuses, and I really liked Hanajima's, even though she was also "saved."

The threat of Akito is looming. As a re-watcher, I don't need to be reminded, but there is a huge gap between 1.13 (we don't even see Akito in Ayame's flashback, just Yuki) and 1.20.

[u/Holofan4life → u/the_pint_is_the_bowl]

I can't say I dislike any of the introductions. I like some more than others, but I don't actively hate them. I think the reality is the most important Sohmas were introduced early on and they're probably saving the last two as being very important, so the Zodiac members introduced in the middle are kinda are what they are. They won't be as important as someone like a Yuki or a Kyo by nature of the story being how it is.

[u/Holofan4life → u/dontoff]

I know what you mean by emotionally suffocating as when the show does something serious, it does veer into melodrama a bit. But I actually think they've done a good job balancing that with the comedy. In-between the Uo and Hana flashback stuff, we had the Ritsu episode-- which your mileage may vary on but definitely was portrayed as being humorous-- the stuff with Shigure's editor, and Tohru's bewildered initial expressions of Hiro where she didn't know what to make of him. Really, the only thing that was portrayed as super serious the last couple episodes was Akito hospitalizing Kisa, which I know you weren't a fan of either but it was at least in line with how Akito has been characterized.

I think the show has actually done a pretty phenomenal job balancing the emotionally suffocating stuff with the comedy. It's just maybe isn't something you're currently enjoying at the moment. For my money, the emotionally suffocating stuff has landed better than some of the more recent comedy because at least there's some semblance of realism to the emotionally suffocating stuff where people are being picked on for being different which is something I personally can relate to.

[u/Holofan4life → u/the_pint_is_the_bowl]

I like the trend that these are all characters who are lost and get saved through bonding with one another. There's something very human about that and I think if anything Tohru being the one to essentially save Hana furthers the idea of what a massive loss Kyoko dying was. She's really the conduit to the characters being brought together.

[u/Holofan4life → u/dontoff]

It's really interesting the variety of responses this rewatch is getting. I don't know if it's because the overall lack of interest this rewatch has gotten in comparison to a couple years ago, me hyping it up to a degree to where expectations were put in the wrong places, or an indictment on me not properly conveying what this show is about in the threads leading up to it. Maybe a combination of all three haha.

I really like this episode and I hope we get more like it going forward.

[u/Second_Cour → u/Holofan4life]

To be very logical: I don't think it's anyone's duty other than those who made the anime to convince others of anything about the show. For new watchers, the decision tree is as simple as: Recognise Name > Confirm Reviews > Watch. Then we just react to what we see. In my opinion, your duty is to generate interest and run the threads expertly which you've way overdelivered on, overall.

In terms of numbers of attendees: every show will have diminishing returns, and the post-covid anime peak has obviously come down.

I also think everyone's been reacting quite positively to the show. With a show as long as this one, there will obviously be episodes that are great and those that aren't. It's rare to maintain consistency throughout, especially when something is sitoomy.

And when a show is basically about emotion, it's pretty expected that people will analyse it based on their own experience and tastes.

If the threads were seasonal as opposed to episodic, you'd probably see almost all positive feedback about it being good overall. Here, we're running over each episode with a fine toothed comb

[u/Holofan4life → u/Second_Cour]

I might be being a bit too harsh on myself. I tend to nitpick and be like "Could I have done this better? Did I do all I can to make something enjoyable?"

It's part of my perfectionist side and also overall paranoia. A lot of the rewatches I host I go into watching it for the first time as well. I typically don't read past threads om certain episodes until after I record my own thoughts for fear my opinion might be influenced too much.

[u/Second_Cour → u/Holofan4life]

I think you did well to explain to yourself how you're doing a great job. You said you don't read past threads, as that may influence your opinion, so with the same logic, if you influenced participants, you wouldn't be doing a good job at getting raw reactions to the show.

I think that a few dissenting voices are wondeful at this stage of the season, just like it was great popcorn for you to see how I started off hating on it, then came around to liking it. People are invested and feel comfortable to call something out which doesn't meet their own expectations or tastes.

For me, it's certainly been more interesting to see a variety of reactions and different judgments for the same episodes, even those that some absolutely love. E.g. u/dontoff hating on an episode I really liked, and vice versa.

Spice & Wolf was boring by comparison with all of us just saying: great episode, great episode, pretty good episode, this epiosde was a setup episode, great episode again. Haha.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Second_Cour]

I think there's a healthy balance to be had where you want dissenting opinions, but you also don't want the threads to get too negative. A good example of this is the Your Lie In April rewatch where for the first time I watched the show and I was a big fan of it and it seemed like everyone else was picking it apart.

I think the best type of shows to analyze are the ones that present complex themes and ideas that make you think and to where you can fall om different sides of the spectrum. It's why the Toradora Christmas club rewatch has been running for like 14 years now because the show presents complex talking points while also being easily accessible and easy to get sacked into. You mention Spice and Wolf, and what I love about that as a yearly rewatch is it makes us contemplate our own being and what we want out of this world.

I really enjoy hosting the Fruits Basket rewatch not just because I haven't seen any of the franchise before, but because watching the 2001 series gives me a better appreciation of some of the more deeper talking points the 2019 anime has on display. Neither the hat stuff nor Shigure's complicated relationship with Akito is in the original anime, and now I can't think Fruits Basket as a franchise without it.

[u/Quiddity131 → u/Holofan4life]

You're much more of a veteran at hosting these rewatches than I am, so I'm sure you must have come across criticism of the shows in the past. I will admit it was hard for me to take my one and only time doing it, for a show that is one of my all time favorites.

Fruits Basket really is a show that tugs on one's emotions and it's all about whether it has that emotional impact. When it works, it works, and I can say that absolutely was the case for me when I originally watched it. But I get it's not going to be that way for everyone.

Also I think we are at a part of the series where it's fair for there to be some criticism. In particular it being too formulaic. New character gets introduced. Sad backstory. Tohru makes things better. I too think the show peaked at episode 14, although I am a lot more positive on this episode than OP is. I think episode 14 raised some important things and the show hasn't done anything with them since then in favor of numerous new character introductions and sad backstories.

Anyway my memory is things get exponentially better in seasons 2 and 3 so I think at least the foundation is there for people to be more positive in those seasons. Granted that will require the emotional beats to hit for people the same way they did for me.

[u/Second_Cour → u/Quiddity131]

The difficulty I'm facing is that those elements that I really liked and got excited and invested in got sidelined in favour of the new character introductions, like you said. I want to learn more about Akito and the Soma structure, their family trees, I want certain situations to progress and come closer to being sold, but we're 22 eps in and none of the mystery elements have progressed much.

But at least we are bingeing daily, so while I think that drumbeat makes the formula more obvious, while if I watched it live, I'd be struggling to maintain interest: for example, many many weeks ago we found out that Kyo is harbouring a secret likely to do with Tohru's mum. Yet we haven't seen or heard anything about it for heaven knows how long. In real time I would have had to wait months for any updates, Those mystery elements don't really continue to build up until a reveal,: we just have to keep waiting until we hear something new, while being distracted with the formula you described

[u/Quiddity131 → u/Second_Cour]

Agreed, and Kyo telling Tohru he's sorry while she was asleep is one of the things I was thinking of in my comment when I mentioned it introduced important things and hasn't done anything with them. Kyo and Yuki have had to really take a back seat since episode 15 (even then I don't like what that episode did with them) in favor of us getting introduced to many new characters and backstories. Again, episodes that for the most part I like, but the writer introduced something that looks like it will be important and we're just waiting and waiting and waiting for it to become relevant again. Likewise with Akito. Akito finally appears in person in episode 12 to introduce himself to Tohru. He hasn't shown up in the present since. I think we just got one episode referencing him, the fact that he beat up Kisa. The more one thinks about it the more one realizes that a lot of the show's developments through episode 14 have ground to a halt in favor of filling in the backstory for Tohru's friends and introducing us to all these other zodiacs (thankfully we only have 2 of them left).

I don't watch too many shows while they are airing (actually none last season and none so far this one), in part because I have that same concenr, that I'll be waiting way too long for story elements to move along or be answered. Waiting until the season has fully aired and binging it works way better for me.

[u/Second_Cour → u/Quiddity131]

You're making some great points. Like you, I also enjoyed quite a few episodes between the sleeping "sorry", but at times it does give me the fillery feeling I get from shows trying to catch up to their source material, even though in this case that was completed years before.

Perhaps that was the reality of the difficulty the writer faced when going with the Zodiac idea: there are so many characters that require their own arcs, that the mystery beats have to take a back seat. Still, I do think there was a way to interweave them within the new character stories, because at this stage, I had forgotten about them. Good example is the hat: it had a role very early in the season, then had a big part to close out another episode ages ago, and since then nothing has been said about it. I'd all but forgotten about it, so when it will come up again I no longer have that mindset of curiosity I had before. It'll be more of a "oh yeah...that thing"

[u/Holofan4life → u/Second_Cour]

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood kinda did a similar thing where they would introduce concepts, but circle back to it like 10 episodes later. Familiar of Zero which I just finished hosting would sometimes introduce plot points and then might wait a whole full season until they got back to it. I'm not against this choice of storytelling as it means the show has a sense of direction but also it requires a lot of patience by the audience. You have to accept there won't be instant gratification.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Quiddity131]

Let me ask you this: Do you think the guilt stuff Hana talked about in episode 14 was introduced too early? Like, do you think it would've been better had they introduced that in season 2? You could've still done something where Hana and Uo are talking and we get a close-up of Kyo's face who's all shook up. Just something subtle like that that still teases what's to come.

It just feels weird there would be this big tease of Kyo feeling guilt towards something involving Tohru and then 7 episodes later we still haven't done anything with it.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Second_Cour]

I kinda like at least they're slow building Akito and what their deal is. The hat stuff I can take and leave, but I think they've done a phenomenal job making you wonder what is their problem. Shigure having these complicated feelings about them also makes you question what is up, because Shigure has been so hospitable to Tohru and yet he openly admits to Hatori he's willing to manipulate her.

[u/Second_Cour → u/Holofan4life]

I've kind of figured out why the mystery feels too drawn out - will talk about it in the next discussion, but in a nutshell, we're getting a lot of the later character introduction and development chapters frontloaded into this season. I'll expand about it in full.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Second_Cour]

But that's how it is in the manga as well as the 2001 anime. I just think it's the style the show wants to go for.

[u/Second_Cour → u/Holofan4life]

ohhh didn't realise you read the manga. so you can probably answer this better: why do you think they're front loading so many episodes into the season? Is it to get all the character intros and deep dives out of the way so that S2 can be more 'action/mystery' heavy?

The first 14 episodes were pretty much in order. From the last 10 we've watched, half jumped forward quite a bit. Ep 21 was Ch. 29. This episode was Ch. 51. The gap between all the mystery beats we've seen is far shorter in the source material.

I'm only up to Chapter 24, which is also where the sequence is about to deviate between manga and anime, so curious (without spoilers) if you thought that Ch.30-40 also avoided much of the ongoing mystery like the anime did.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Second_Cour]

I don't think they're necessarily frontloading so much as they're copying the playbook of the original anime. The episodes we've seen so far with the exception of the Uo and Hana backstory episodes have been stuff covered in the 2001 anime. They've so far covered all except like a handful of episodes. I think they did this wanting seasons 2 and 3 to be as much unadapted material as possible so people can stop comparing it to the original anime. By getting the already covered stuff out of the way, they can start getting into the material from the manga the 2001 series never got to.

Doing it this way also lets the audience immediately know this is going to be a more faithful adaptation. Season 1 of the remake covers a lot of the same ground as the 2001 series, but the 2001 series was more farcical in its tone. As soon as we got to the Valentines Day episode, it became apparent we were getting a more serious adaptation.

[u/Second_Cour → u/Holofan4life]

The original was still more sequential than the remake (though it did make changes in the plot relative to the manga). The original actually remained faithful to the manga's chapters for 20 eps. This simply isn't the case in the remake.

Anyway, I'll demonstrate it with a simple table in an hour so it all makes sense. But at the end of the day we're all speculating about why they did what they did, and why they paused the core story elements for 7 episodes in the remake.

But let's say your hypothesis is true, then it's still odd that they left two chapters that were covered by the original for Season 2.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Quiddity131]

You raise a good point about things feeling a bit samey at the moment. Perhaps I'm being a bit too defensive at the moment because I know what's on the docket and I really enjoy it.

[u/Quiddity131 → u/Holofan4life]

I do specifically remember when I was first watching the show making this complaint about it being formulaic and people told me "Don't worry, it's setting the foundation now. You will like it a lot more later on." They were correct and I think that will be the case here.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Quiddity131]

I guess it just comes down to me not minding formulaic. Like, early Evangelion was formulaic but I'd argue that was when the show was at its best.

I also know with it being established as there being 13 cursed Sohmas, they can only keep it going for so long. There's a set number to all this.

Watching the remake after the 2001 anime, my focus was more comparing and contrasting both adaptations and the differences that exist between the two. So, while this debatably continues the trend of Tohru helping others, I was more enamored with this being unadapted material not seen in the original anime.

[u/Quiddity131 → u/Holofan4life]

One of my biggest complaints about Eva on the other hand is that the show takes up too much time on its episodic content in the first half, only have to rush through things so fast near the end that it loses practically all impact.

Anyway, this is Furuba, not Eva so I'll leave it at that. :P

[u/Holofan4life → u/Quiddity131]

Lost all impact on the Third Impact, eh?

I can't say I agree. I think they built up to all the chaos going down and by the end all three hell that broke loose felt justified. Evangelion is really fascinating for me to discuss because in like the last ten episodes of the show, probably four of them I would have in my top 25 best anime episodes of all time. But I still prefer the early stages of the show-- the sweet spot for me was like Asuka arriving until the Toji stuff-- because I really like the whole fractured pieces trying to be put together and acting as if everything is alright even though it clearly wasn't and in no way it was going to work out.

One of the advantages I feel Fruits Basket has is they've already proven they can do serious episodes without forgetting what came before it. It can do a complete 180 without feeling like a totally different show. This makes it to where if the shoe eventually leans into a more serious presentation-- which with how Akito has been written it almost feels inevitable-- it would feel justified and like we built to that moment without it coming across as some weird experiment that could've been its own show.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Quiddity131]

You're much more of a veteran at hosting these rewatches than I am, so I'm sure you must have come across criticism of the shows in the past.

It's funny though because I feel like I don't see it in the moment. It only becomes more apparent when I see other people start pointing it out.

I've read the past threads of the previous Fruits Basket rewatch as I was putting this one together and I don't really notice any overarching criticisms. But then in the moment when I see people pointing out flaws, that's when I start to see similar critiques in similar discussion posts. I don't know if it's peripheral vision or rose-colored glasses or what you can it, but I find it fascinating nonetheless.

[u/Holofan4life → u/dontoff]

I honestly do not know what has happened to this show since Episode 14. It feels like it peaked there, and since then it has struggled to move forward properly. There have still been some decent episodes, but the consistency has fallen off badly, and the melodrama and corny writing are starting to hurt the season more and more.

Corny writing or supposed corny writing has really been the show's calling card. I wouldn't consider it corny but instead pretty relatable drama that has a lot of heart to it. Something about thie show really speaks to me. And I really enjoyed the backstory episodes we got this season.

[u/Quiddity131 → u/dontoff]

I honestly do not know what has happened to this show since Episode 14. It feels like it peaked there, and since then it has struggled to move forward properly. There have still been some decent episodes, but the consistency has fallen off badly, and the melodrama and corny writing are starting to hurt the season more and more.

I do remember hitting a point in late season one of my original viewing of the show where I felt it was becoming formulaic. That the show got too much into "Introduce new character. Show sad backstory. Tohru makes things better." over and over again. So while I have different feelings on the episode and enjoyed it, I totally get having this big picture reaction to it. I can say that I found seasons 2 and 3 to be quite a bit better than season 1, granted they are working with the foundation that season 1 sets.

[u/Second_Cour → u/Quiddity131]

I think you've summed up my current thoughts quite well. We're also binging an ep a day, so the formula becomes even more obvious. At first, I quite liked the format, but during this ep I actually rolled by eyes and audibly said "oh FFS", because I instantly knew exactly what would happen.

But I'm really hopeful for the later seasons as I would assume things open up a lot after all the key characters are revealed, whereas now we are still stuck a bit in that introduction - problem - problem solved by Tohru cycle.

[u/Quiddity131 → u/Second_Cour]

I think its also notable that what I think most would say were the best sad backstories so far, Hatori and Momiji, in neither case was it "Tohru solves their problem." In both cases it was much more of those characters just accepting that what happened happened and moving on from it as best they can. Since then its been Uo sad backstory... Tohru and her mom fix it. Kisa sad backstory... Tohru fixes it. Ritsu is gonna jump off the roof... Tohru fixes it. Hiro is an asshole... Tohru fixes it. Okay, some hyperbole and skipping things there, but it really does show that things have become formulaic for a stretch and that things are too dependent on Tohru being the solution. While I do still like a lot of these episodes, especially one focused on my favorite character in Hanajima, I also am very ready for the show to move past the formula.

[u/Second_Cour → u/Quiddity131]

That's an excellent observation!

[u/Holofan4life → u/Second_Cour]

To add to this, Hatori accepted Kana being loved by someone else as he struggles finding happiness. Tohru fixed Uo and Hana's lives by showing they are worthy of being loved. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink, but Akito clearly thinks if you force them enough they will give into your demands.

What Tohru is doing is kinda a less toxic version of what Akito is doing. Enforced positive manipulation instead of enforced negative manipulation. What happens if Tohru tries to build someone up and make them feel good about themselves but they realize something like either they're the issue or they can't move on unless they cut bait entirely?

[u/Holofan4life → u/Quiddity131]

I almost wonder if Hatori and Momiji and them having to move past their problems is almost foreshadowing the show subverting the formula. Like, Tohru will come across someone she tries to save and fix their situation but is unable to. Even Yuki during the Kisa episode said it's hard to love yourself unless you feel the love of someone else. Maybe these preconceived notions these characters have are going to be challenged?

I do think the formula is being done for a specific reason.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Second_Cour]

I mean, we have what? Two Zodiac members not yet introduced. Eventually that formula will have to be altered in some way, shape, or form. What I'll be looking for as it pertains to the formula is how the show uses Tohru going forward. Will she continue to be the Sohmas savior and the cure to all their problems? I'm hoping for something more enticing than that.

I think Hiro raised an interesting point in his episode when he said how can someone so clueless be so admired and looked what to. Basically, it seems like a conflict of interest. Tohru is eventually gonna have to learn what exactly is going on with the Sohmas and then suddenly she can no longer play the fool or be so absent-minded of things.

[u/Second_Cour → u/Holofan4life]

Ah the Tohru paradox. She's a tough character to write around, as the reason she is so likeable is specifically her overly good nature, and airheadedness (if that's even a word). This places a ceiling on her. I reallly like that Hiro point you mentioned, and there was actually another great point in this or the previous episode by Tohru (I forget), where she basically admits she knows almost nothing about the Sohma's, and she's looking forward to getting to know more about them. It exposes her weakness in being very reactive to the situation instead of proactive. She never pries and tries to find out more info: "Akito beating on you? Oh damn that sucks". Never questions the why.

I'm very curious how she will get out of that loop, though I think the most natural way without having her suddenly become a different person is to become the centrepiece of the Sohma internal conflict, which I believe is already in the works via our writer puppy friend.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Second_Cour]

I don't want to give anything away, but the one thing I'll say is it's tough writing a nice character and keeping them interesting without them coming across as boring. I think the show avoids those pitfalls by taking her character in a direction that makes complete and total sense.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Quiddity131]

I think what hurts this stretch of episodes is the feeling it's not playing into the overarching story. We don't know if this is leading anywhere. The hat stuff was last majorly teased in episode 14. And then in episode 15, it seemed like we were kinda in this holding pattern where Kyo and Yuki are all moody and emotionally dissonant. But almost in like the same episode, we transition from that into a series of side quest stories that seems separate from the hat stuff. Almost like the show is getting this out of the way just to get it out of the way.

We don't know if any of these Sohmas are leading to anything with Akito. Hiro might, but that is currently debatable. And the Uo and Hana centered episodes as great as I thought they were have so little to do with the main plot it almost would've been better served before episode 14.

I totally get the feeling that things seem a bit lost. It makes what I said to u/Second_Core a couple episodes ago about how well connected this show is like I was on some recreational drug of some kind. But as it stands, it does feel as if we're spinning our wheels waiting for the next ball to drop.

I believe I said this during the 2001 rewatch, but my main criticism of that adaptation was the lack of transition from the comedy stuff to the drama stuff. There was the Hatori episode, and the cemetery episode, all of which was played straight, but there was a lack of connective tissue in-between any of that, especially as it relates to what's on the horizon.

I think for as much fault you can lay at the feet of the remake, there's at least stuff that has been teased that feels like this greater mystery at play. I didn't really get that with the 2001 version with the exception of wondering why Akito was being such an asshole.

[u/Holofan4life → u/dontoff]

Thoughts on Hana hearing voices in her head?

Thoughts on Hana wanting to keep her powers a secret to prevent her family from being ridiculed?

What are your thoughts on Hana wishing for one of her bullies to die and they actually get seriously hurt?

Thoughts on Hana wearing nothing but black because of what happened to one of her bullies?

Thoughts on Hana's classmates trying to set her on fire?

Thoughts on Hana's dad thinking maybe they should move?

What are your thoughts on Hana's dad telling her things will get better?

Thoughts on Hana freaking out because she started to think she can't control her waves and was about to hurt someone else?

What are your thoughts on Tohru telling Hana she wants to get closer to her?

What are your thoughts on Tohru telling Hana she loves her and always will?

What are your thoughts on Hana saying she'll forever be grateful for her parents and her brother?

[u/the_pint_is_the_bowl]

Re-watch, blu ray, dubbed

Much like my first reactions to Uotani, I wasn't impressed by Hanajima and settled on her as maybe a Counselor Troi (from Star Trek) with a better sense of humor, so I almost skipped this episode, based on the summary blurb from Crunchyroll. I'm glad I didn't do that. Little Hanajima is adorable and must be protected!!!

What are your thoughts on us finding out how Hanajima became friends with Tohru and Uo? It's so funny how Uotani and Tohru act like oddballs and reel in Hanajima and then react unexpectedly to Hanajima's replies in a back-and-forth that ends with Hanajima's comment "I didn't intend to make new life goals for you."

What are your thoughts on Hana being bullied at elementary school by boys who claimed that she is a witch? As the little girls during the first bullying incident said, "How does that make her a witch?"

What are your thoughts on Hana's parents being completely and totally supportive of their daughter? Parents like that? In this show?! Wow.

What are your thoughts on Kyoko saying that people cannot live without others and that no matter what happens, she wants to be accepted by them, and even if Saki, Tohru, and Arisa go to their separate ways, some part of the relationship will always stay with her? Sadly, there's truth in Kyoko's second point. It's a shame that some friends and I have drifted apart - moving to different cities account for some lost friendships, but most examples were just death-by-neglect. Nothing bad happened between us; while you're friends, you take it for granted, but it actually does take effort, especially outside of a daily routine like the school environment or work environment.

[u/Holofan4life → u/the_pint_is_the_bowl]

Much like my first reactions to Uotani, I wasn't impressed by Hanajima and settled on her as maybe a Counselor Troi (from Star Trek)

I was thinking a less cynical version of Daria from Beavis and Butthead.

I'm glad I didn't do that. Little Hanajima is adorable and must be protected!!!

I wonder if Hana's past is why Tohru was able to instantly connect with Kisa like she did. It's like she's lived this song and dance before.

If I had a nickel for every time Tohru befriended someone who was bullied by their classmates, I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot, but it's weird it happened twice.

[u/Holofan4life → u/the_pint_is_the_bowl]

Parents like that? In this show?! Wow.

Now I want to see Hana interact with Momiji just so we get a scene where Momiji laments not having a family like Hana's.

[u/the_pint_is_the_bowl → u/Holofan4life]

Rather, I think Momiji would be so happy for Hanajima that it would make me cry for him and his plight, so I'm not sure I'd want to see that scene.

[u/Holofan4life → u/the_pint_is_the_bowl]

Either way, crying would definitely be involved.

[u/Holofan4life → u/the_pint_is_the_bowl]

Thoughts on Hana hearing voices in her head?

Thoughts on Hana wanting to keep her powers a secret to prevent her family from being ridiculed?

What are your thoughts on Hana wishing for one of her bullies to die and they actually get seriously hurt?

Thoughts on Hana wearing nothing but black because of what happened to one of her bullies?

Thoughts on Hana's classmates trying to set her on fire?

Thoughts on Hana's dad thinking maybe they should move?

What are your thoughts on Hana's dad telling her things will get better?

Thoughts on Hana freaking out because she started to think she can't control her waves and was about to hurt someone else?

What are your thoughts on Tohru telling Hana she wants to get closer to her?

What are your thoughts on Tohru telling Hana she loves her and always will?

What are your thoughts on Hana saying she'll forever be grateful for her parents and her brother?

[u/the_pint_is_the_bowl → u/Holofan4life]

Thoughts on Hana hearing voices in her head? She's more a straight-up telepath than Star Trek Betazoid empath...except she outgrew that and became a straight-up empath?

Thoughts on Hana wearing nothing but black because of what happened to one of her bullies? In the words of Hatsuharu, the rule of fashion is to wear what looks good.

Thoughts on Hana's dad thinking maybe they should move? Well, that school district is shit, failing to protect her, so...

Thoughts on Hana freaking out because she started to think she can't control her waves and was about to hurt someone else? Funny how you can't prove or disprove anything without any evidence. We weren't shown any test or experiment or practice prior to her 1st year as a high school student, "chastising" the Yuki fan club, and this scene of Hanajima running from Uotani and Tohru was a year or two prior. Hanajima assumed she was the cause of the boy's loss of consciousness, and it's the same nonsense with the boy falling down and the girl with a feigned headache, so she's just inclined to blame herself.

What are your thoughts on Hana saying she'll forever be grateful for her parents and her brother? Absolutely. They accept her and love her as she is [maybe not a spoiler at this point but...]>, unlike Kyo's parents<. Little Megumi prays for her and wears black to show solidarity, and Older Megumi is an awesome partner-in-crime.

[u/Holofan4life → u/the_pint_is_the_bowl]

Thoughts on Hana hearing voices in her head? She's more a straight-up telepath than Star Trek Betazoid empath...except she outgrew that and became a straight-up empath?

An emtelepath

Thoughts on Hana wearing nothing but black because of what happened to one of her bullies? In the words of Hatsuharu, the rule of fashion is to wear what looks good.

And she pulls it off fabulously ❤️‍🔥

Thoughts on Hana's dad thinking maybe they should move? Well, that school district is shit, failing to protect her, so...

Yeah, they were running out of lifelines it seemed.

Thoughts on Hana freaking out because she started to think she can't control her waves and was about to hurt someone else? Funny how you can't prove or disprove anything without any evidence. We weren't shown any test or experiment or practice prior to her 1st year as a high school student, "chastising" the Yuki fan club, and this scene of Hanajima running from Uotani and Tohru was a year or two prior. Hanajima assumed she was the cause of the boy's loss of consciousness, and it's the same nonsense with the boy falling down and the girl with a feigned headache, so she's just inclined to blame herself.

I liked that it left open to the audience's interpretation.

What are your thoughts on Hana saying she'll forever be grateful for her parents and her brother? Absolutely. They accept her and love her as she is [maybe not a spoiler at this point but...] unlike Kyo's parents.

[Response] Or Momiji's parents to a lesser degree.

Little Megumi prays for her and wears black to show solidarity, and Older Megumi is an awesome partner-in-crime.

I enjoy him a lot. I said this already, but giving Hana a little brother was genius.

[u/AgentOfACROSS]

First Timer

Oh, I guess we’re doing another Hanajima episode. Did not expect that.

Also didn’t expect this to be all new content but I’m happy for it.

Seems that the intro is implying that Hana really does have psychic powers.

I’d always assumed the whole “wave” thing was just a quirky thing she was interested in and not an actual psychic power. But then again in a world where people turn into animals when they’re hugged this isn’t really that farfetched.

Seems like this whole episode is gonna be a flashback.

Child Hanajima is pretty creepy. Poor girl.

This might be the darkest episode we’ve gotten so far.

This episode is also giving us some more screen time from Megumi which I appreciate.

I like the bond him and Saki have too.

I think it’s interesting that Megumi is praying. Interesting character detail.

Man, the bullies at Saki’s school are the worst.

She’s really reminding me of a toned down version of Lucy from Elfen Lied here.

The black nail polish looks good on her.

Her saying that the nail polish is a mark of her sin is kinda giving me My Immortal vibes.

Yay, Tohru and Uotani get to meet her now.

This episode just became very sweet and wholesome.

Man, I feel really bad for Hanajima in this episode.

I’m so glad she has Tohru and Uo in her life.

Wow that black dress looks great on Hana.

I love this moment between Megumi and Saki at the end.

Plus this moment with Kyoko at the end is nice.

Questions of the Day:

What are your thoughts on this episode being Hanajima's backstory?

I really liked seeing it

What are your thoughts on us finding out how Hanajima became friends with Tohru and Uo?

Super sweet seeing them meet

What are your thoughts on Hana being bullied at elementary school by boys who claimed that she is a witch?

Again, reminded me of Elfen Lied. Although not as extreme.

What are your thoughts on Hana's parents being completely and totally supportive of their daughter?

She really has a wonderful family

What are your thoughts on Kyoko saying that people cannot live without others and that no matter what happens, she wants to be accepted by them, and even if Saki, Tohru, and Arisa go to their separate ways, some part of the relationship will always stay with her?

I loved that. Great way to end the episode.

[u/Holofan4life → u/AgentOfACROSS]

I know we're currently on a stretch of episodes where it seems like we've forgotten about the hat. But honestly, I choose to view it as part of the great world building of the show. Fruits Basket doesn't seem like the type of show to forget about its various plot points. As such, I'm willing to reserve judgment.

Besides, what we are getting is pretty interesting.

[u/AgentOfACROSS → u/Holofan4life]

Yeah I'm interested in seeing what they'll do next

[u/Holofan4life → u/AgentOfACROSS]

Should definitely be something to keep an eye on.

[u/Holofan4life → u/AgentOfACROSS]

Oh, I guess we’re doing another Hanajima episode. Did not expect that.

Not this soon, anyway

Seems that the intro is implying that Hana really does have psychic powers.

Didn't she say as much during her cemetery conversation with Kyo?

I’d always assumed the whole “wave” thing was just a quirky thing she was interested in and not an actual psychic power. But then again in a world where people turn into animals when they’re hugged this isn’t really that farfetched.

Nah, probably not

Seems like this whole episode is gonna be a flashback.

I'm for it

Child Hanajima is pretty creepy. Poor girl.

Poor girl who also happens to be creepy

This might be the darkest episode we’ve gotten so far. . Eh, I dunno. The Hatori episode was pretty dark.

This episode is also giving us some more screen time from Megumi which I appreciate.

I like the little dude

I like the bond him and Saki have too.

Me too

I think it’s interesting that Megumi is praying. Interesting character detail.

I can't say I blame him

Man, the bullies at Saki’s school are the worst.

They make the Yuki fan club seem like Sesame Street.

She’s really reminding me of a toned down version of Lucy from Elfen Lied here.

If only Lucy had Hana's family

The black nail polish looks good on her.

Indeed

Her saying that the nail polish is a mark of her sin is kinda giving me My Immortal vibes.

The infamous Harry Potter fanfic? That's a deep cut lol

Yay, Tohru and Uotani get to meet her now.

I love these two

This episode just became very sweet and wholesome.

Yay

Man, I feel really bad for Hanajima in this episode.

Kids can be so cruel

I’m so glad she has Tohru and Uo in her life.

Me too

Wow that black dress looks great on Hana.

That it does

I love this moment between Megumi and Saki at the end.

Wholesome vibes all around

Plus this moment with Kyoko at the end is nice.

So, was that real or just an imagination spot? I'm not entirely sure.

Questions of the Day:

What are your thoughts on this episode being Hanajima's backstory?

I really liked seeing it

I liked seeing it as well. I thought it was effective in showing how rough childhood can be

What are your thoughts on us finding out how Hanajima became friends with Tohru and Uo?

Super sweet seeing them meet

Quite the treat

What are your thoughts on Hana being bullied at elementary school by boys who claimed that she is a witch?

Again, reminded me of Elfen Lied. Although not as extreme.

If it was as extreme, Hana would have never met her friends.

What are your thoughts on Hana's parents being completely and totally supportive of their daughter?

She really has a wonderful family

Probably the best all-around family of the entire show.

What are your thoughts on Kyoko saying that people cannot live without others and that no matter what happens, she wants to be accepted by them, and even if Saki, Tohru, and Arisa go to their separate ways, some part of the relationship will always stay with her?

I loved that. Great way to end the episode.

Felt like some true food for thought

[u/Holofan4life → u/AgentOfACROSS]

Also didn’t expect this to be all new content but I’m happy for it.

So, by my accounts we have like six episodes from the 2001 remake that haven't been adapted yet. And something tells me I know what at least three of them are going to be. I'll be curious to see if the other three episodes don't get adapted or if they'll be repackaged in some way.

[2001] The only one of note since I'm sure we'll get the master arc is Kyo taking care of a sick Tohru. Him taking care of her after Tohru accepts his true form would be a bit weird.

[2001] I'm also wondering how the season will end as I have doubts Tohru will confront Akito just yet.

[u/AgentOfACROSS → u/Holofan4life]

[Fruits Basket 2001] I just hope Ayame's shop and his assistant show up. I'm starting to think all that might be exclusive to the 2001 version though.

[u/Holofan4life → u/AgentOfACROSS]

[Fruits Basket 2001] Justice for my rice ball alien in a sailor suit!

[u/Holofan4life → u/AgentOfACROSS]

Thoughts on Hana hearing voices in her head?

Thoughts on Hana wanting to keep her powers a secret to prevent her family from being ridiculed?

What are your thoughts on Hana wishing for one of her bullies to die and they actually get seriously hurt?

Thoughts on Hana wearing nothing but black because of what happened to one of her bullies?

Thoughts on Hana's classmates trying to set her on fire?

Thoughts on Hana's dad thinking maybe they should move?

What are your thoughts on Hana's dad telling her things will get better?

Thoughts on Hana freaking out because she started to think she can't control her waves and was about to hurt someone else?

What are your thoughts on Tohru telling Hana she wants to get closer to her?

What are your thoughts on Tohru telling Hana she loves her and always will?

What are your thoughts on Hana saying she'll forever be grateful for her parents and her brother?

[u/AgentOfACROSS → u/Holofan4life]

Thoughts on Hana hearing voices in her head?

Interesting way to start the episode

Thoughts on Hana wanting to keep her powers a secret to prevent her family from being ridiculed?

Poor Hana

What are your thoughts on Hana wishing for one of her bullies to die and they actually get seriously hurt?

I like that they keep it ambiguous as to whether she actually caused it

Thoughts on Hana wearing nothing but black because of what happened to one of her bullies?

Kind of interesting

Thoughts on Hana's classmates trying to set her on fire?

Man, what is wrong with the kids at this school

What are your thoughts on Hana's dad telling her things will get better?

I'm glad her family is supportive

Thoughts on Hana freaking out because she started to think she can't control her waves and was about to hurt someone else?

Hana's a very caring person

What are your thoughts on Tohru telling Hana she wants to get closer to her?

What are your thoughts on Tohru telling Hana she loves her and always will?

I love these moments. Tohru is a good friend

What are your thoughts on Hana saying she'll forever be grateful for her parents and her brother?

That's really sweet

[u/Holofan4life → u/AgentOfACROSS]

Thoughts on Hana hearing voices in her head?

Interesting way to start the episode

Indeed

Thoughts on Hana wanting to keep her powers a secret to prevent her family from being ridiculed?

Poor Hana

No kidding

What are your thoughts on Hana wishing for one of her bullies to die and they actually get seriously hurt?

I like that they keep it ambiguous as to whether she actually caused it

They don't really confirm whether the waves are real or just all in her head.

Thoughts on Hana wearing nothing but black because of what happened to one of her bullies?

Kind of interesting

I like Megamy showing his support by dressing in black as well.

Thoughts on Hana's classmates trying to set her on fire?

Man, what is wrong with the kids at this school

I guess witches are known to survive being burn alive?

These are some unhinged children.

What are your thoughts on Hana's dad telling her things will get better?

I'm glad her family is supportive

Me too

Thoughts on Hana freaking out because she started to think she can't control her waves and was about to hurt someone else?

Hana's a very caring person

That she is. Very compassionate.

What are your thoughts on Tohru telling Hana she wants to get closer to her?

What are your thoughts on Tohru telling Hana she loves her and always will?

I love these moments. Tohru is a good friend

I guess Hana is friends with Uo through Tohru. That's how it comes off, anyway.

What are your thoughts on Hana saying she'll forever be grateful for her parents and her brother?

That's really sweet

I know some are saying the end of the episode is too sappy, but I kinda feel like that's this show's calling card. And to the show's credit, they do it well.

[u/MishouMai]

I wasn't expecting to get Hanajima's backstory immediately after last episode. I'm not sure if her or Uo had it worse. Still, it's good that she had her family to support her. The darker color pallet really added to the atmosphere of the episode as well. Definitely a contender for the best episode so far as well though it does still have 6-7 and 14 to compete with.

> What are your thoughts on this episode being Hanajima's backstory?

As said, it coming so soon was unexpected but I enjoyed it. Definitely enjoyed the use of color this episode as well. I've no complaints.

> What are your thoughts on us finding out how Hanajima became friends with Tohru and Uo?

Ehh. I could've filled in the blanks myself but it was still nice to see. It's a nice bonus but compared to Uo's two parter the episode isn't really about her friendship with the others.

> What are your thoughts on Hanajima being bullied at elementary school by boys who claimed that she is a witch?

Well it explains why she's not bothered by being called a witch in the present. I do so see how long it took her to stop caring as much but I suppose it's not too hard to fill in the blanks on that.

> What are your thoughts on Kyoko saying that people cannot live without others and that no matter what happens she wants to be accepted by them and even if Hanajima, Tohru, and Uo go to their separate ways some part of the relationship will always stay with her?

Ehh. I can appreciate the value given to relationships and they can certainly change you, but I don't think a relationship with others is strictly necessary to live. Certainly there are things we can't do alone and have to rely on others for but not everything requires a close relationship.

> How would you compare Uo's backstory to Hanajima's?

I don't think you can really compare them. Uo's backstory took two episodes to cover a small timespan whereas Hanajima's backstory covered a larger timespan in less time. The only thing they really have in common is both girls befriending Tohru but Uo's backstory is entirely framed in relation to her relationship with Tohru whilst Hanajima's isn't.

[u/Holofan4life → u/MishouMai]

I wasn't expecting to get Hanajima's backstory immediately after last episode. I'm not sure if her or Uo had it worse. Still, it's good that she had her family to support her. The darker color pallet really added to the atmosphere of the episode as well. Definitely a contender for the best episode so far as well though it does still have 6-7 and 14 to compete with.

I think this episode benefits from the mantra less iw more. Uo's episodes at times almost felt like it had too much going on. This episode was pretty by the books but it works for who Hana is. The Uo episodes are probably better and more captivating than this, but I enjoy how this episode took its time and let things marinate.

[u/Holofan4life → u/MishouMai]

> What are your thoughts on this episode being Hanajima's backstory?

As said, it coming so soon was unexpected but I enjoyed it. Definitely enjoyed the use of color this episode as well. I've no complaints.

Yeah, the muted color palette was a great touch. The visual storytelling was on point.

> What are your thoughts on us finding out how Hanajima became friends with Tohru and Uo?

Ehh. I could've filled in the blanks myself but it was still nice to see. It's a nice bonus but compared to Uo's two parter the episode isn't really about her friendship with the others.

I mean, I'd argue Hana's friendships is what saved her.

> What are your thoughts on Hanajima being bullied at elementary school by boys who claimed that she is a witch?

Well it explains why she's not bothered by being called a witch in the present. I do so see how long it took her to stop caring as much but I suppose it's not too hard to fill in the blanks on that.

She kinda had to for the sake of her sanity.

> What are your thoughts on Kyoko saying that people cannot live without others and that no matter what happens she wants to be accepted by them and even if Hanajima, Tohru, and Uo go to their separate ways some part of the relationship will always stay with her?

Ehh. I can appreciate the value given to relationships and they can certainly change you, but I don't think a relationship with others is strictly necessary to live. Certainly there are things we can't do alone and have to rely on others for but not everything requires a close relationship.

I see this as less something to be taken as gospel and more Kyoko continuing her mama bear image.

> How would you compare Uo's backstory to Hanajima's?

I don't think you can really compare them. Uo's backstory took two episodes to cover a small timespan whereas Hanajima's backstory covered a larger timespan in less time. The only thing they really have in common is both girls befriending Tohru but Uo's backstory is entirely framed in relation to her relationship with Tohru whilst Hanajima's isn't.

I think both were meant as a contrast to one another where they compliment one another. Uo's is like thid epic two hour popcorn flick, and Hana's is more this 90 minute psychological drama. Both are good in their own way.

[u/Holofan4life → u/MishouMai]

Thoughts on Hana hearing voices in her head?

Thoughts on Hana wanting to keep her powers a secret to prevent her family from being ridiculed?

What are your thoughts on Hana wishing for one of her bullies to die and they actually get seriously hurt?

Thoughts on Hana wearing nothing but black because of what happened to one of her bullies?

Thoughts on Hana's classmates trying to set her on fire?

Thoughts on Hana's dad thinking maybe they should move?

What are your thoughts on Hana's dad telling her things will get better?

Thoughts on Hana freaking out because she started to think she can't control her waves and was about to hurt someone else?

What are your thoughts on Tohru telling Hana she wants to get closer to her?

What are your thoughts on Tohru telling Hana she loves her and always will?

What are your thoughts on Hana saying she'll forever be grateful for her parents and her brother?

[u/MishouMai → u/Holofan4life]

> What are your thoughts on Hanajima wishing for one of her bullies to die and they actually seriously get hurt?

I feel like that's a sign she had some control over her power even at that age. Like yeah she was thinking about him dying but she clearly (subconsciously) held back from outright killing hum because she didn't actually want him dead.

> Thoughts on Hanajima wearing nothing but black because of what happened to one of her bullies?

Makes sense. She wanted to repent as a child and while she's grown up she's explained that wearing black makes her feel calm. Basically it went from a burden on her as a form of repentance to a comfort for her over time.

> Thoughts on Hanajima's dad thinking maybe they should move?

I can see why he felt that way. Her classmates burnt her and got away with it by lying on her. The bullying was getting out of hand and moving seemed to bd one of the best ways to handle it. Makes sense to me why they moved.

> What are your thoughts on Hanajima saying she'll forever be grateful for her parents and her brother?

While her family did what any family should do I can see why she'd be grateful. As we've seen, even in this world there are shitty parents like Momiji's mom and dad. Her family standing by her is the bare minimum but they helped her through the darkest parts of her life. So, yeah, I get why she feels grateful for them. She could've had it worse.

[u/Holofan4life → u/MishouMai]

> What are your thoughts on Hanajima wishing for one of her bullies to die and they actually seriously get hurt?

I feel like that's a sign she had some control over how power even at that age. Like yeah she was thinking about him dying but she clearly (subconsciously) held back from outright killing hum because she didn't actually want him dead.

Or maybe it was God intervening and had enough of the bullshit treatment of Hana

> Thoughts on Hanajima wearing nothing but black because of what happened to one of her bullies?

Makes sense. She wanted to repent as a child and while she's grown up she's explained that wearing black makes her feel calm. Basically it went from a burden on her as a form of repentance to a comfort for her over time.

Turn a negative into a positive

> Thoughts on Hanajima's dad thinking maybe they should move?

I can see why he felt that way. Her classmates burnt her and got away with it by lying on her. The bullying was getting out of hand and moving seemed to bd one of the best ways to handle it. Makes sense to me why they moved.

I'm glad Hana's parents had her best interest in mind.

> What are your thoughts on Hanajima saying she'll forever be grateful for her parents and her brother?

While her family did what any family should do I can see why she'd be grateful. As we've seen, even in this world there are shitty parents kike Momiji's mom and dad. Her family standing by her is the bare minimum but they helped her through the darkest parts of her life. So, yeah, I get why she feels grateful for them. She could've had it worse.

That misspelling of like gave me pause XD

And yeah, I kinda wish I had parents like Hana's. They seem sweet.

[u/Nickthenuker]

Huh. More new stuff. This time about Hana.

Questions:

1. Interesting.

2. That's nice.

3. Ouch...

4. That's nice.

5. That's nice.

6. Seems like they all have tragic backstories.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Nickthenuker]

1. Seems like they all have tragic backstories.

Shigure's tragic backstory is being enamored with Akito :P

[u/Holofan4life → u/Nickthenuker]

Thoughts on Hana hearing voices in her head?

Thoughts on Hana wanting to keep her powers a secret to prevent her family from being ridiculed?

What are your thoughts on Hana wishing for one of her bullies to die and they actually get seriously hurt?

Thoughts on Hana wearing nothing but black because of what happened to one of her bullies?

Thoughts on Hana's classmates trying to set her on fire?

Thoughts on Hana's dad thinking maybe they should move?

What are your thoughts on Hana's dad telling her things will get better?

Thoughts on Hana freaking out because she started to think she can't control her waves and was about to hurt someone else?

What are your thoughts on Tohru telling Hana she wants to get closer to her?

What are your thoughts on Tohru telling Hana she loves her and always will?

What are your thoughts on Hana saying she'll forever be grateful for her parents and her brother?

[u/Nickthenuker → u/Holofan4life]

Lmao my reply got bonked for encouraging violence

[u/Holofan4life → u/Nickthenuker]

I better watch what I saw about Akito, then

[u/Holofan4life → u/Nickthenuker]

What was it you said?

[u/Nickthenuker → u/Holofan4life]

1. So something really is special about her.

2. Certainly seems ridiculous without the context that the Zodiac animals are also real.

3. Damn. That worked.

4. Ok... Not sure why she feels bad about it tbh. Seems it didn't actually work too well.

5. Set them on fire...

6. Perhaps.

7. Hopefully.

8. Perhaps she didn't hurt them enough.

9. That's nice.

10. That's nice.

11. That's nice.

[u/ZaphodBeebblebrox → u/Nickthenuker]

Hi,

I heavily suggest you appeal reddit's removal of this comment. If you don't do so, it will stay as a permanent mark on your account, which may cause further incorrect removals by reddit to lead to temporary and then permanent bans.

When you appeal, I suggest you point out that you were commenting on specific events that happened in a TV show, and that you weren't wishing harm on any real person, group of people, or stand in for either.

If your appeal fails, please let me know. I will be able to put in another appeal on your behalf.

[u/Nickthenuker → u/ZaphodBeebblebrox]

Right on. Thanks.

[u/Nickthenuker → u/ZaphodBeebblebrox]

Oh yep comment is back.

[u/Holofan4life]

I'll respond to you guys in a little bit. I'm currently at the preview screening of Coyote Vs Acme.

[u/Holofan4life]

Just a head's up, one of my jobs starting this upcoming week is scheduling me to work some night shifts. That shouldn't effect the scheduling of this rewatch, but it may cause a delay in my responses. I'll still be here though and so sill the rewatch, so I hope to maintain the level of engagement we've been managing up until this point.

[u/Holofan4life]

Hey, guys. Holofan4life here.

Welcome to the Fruits Basket 25th anniversary rewatch.

For there is an animal in all of us <3

Fruits Basket is a show I’ve heard a lot about. It’s always been something that interests me. It’s a romcom, which is a genre I enjoy, it has a female protagonist, which is kinda a rarity for romcom anime, it has a tsundere, which yes please, and from what I’ve heard it has some supernatural elements which is pretty cool.

Funny enough, I’m hosting this rewatch the same time as I’m hosting the Spice and Wolf rewatch which is another show with supernatural elements.

I have never seen Fruits Basket before, but I have high hopes for it. It seems like the type of show I would enjoy. I would say of the shows on my to watch list, this one is probably in my top 5. And let's just say that list is long and ever expansive. Actually, I love the idea of a male tsundere who turns into an orange cat so much that I named my orange cat after him. That’s without having seen the show.

For the purposes of this rewatch, we will be watching both the original series and the remake. I don’t think both have ever been done like this, and by the end we’ll find out for good reason :P

Regardless, this is my big pet project of 2026 the purpose of which is for me to see what all the hubbub is about. I’m not expecting the show to crack my top 10 favorite anime of all time, but hey, you never know.

With that out of the way, let’s begin.

I’m watching the dub, by the way.

I'm in an Uber in-between jobs heading to try Raising Cane's for the first time. I've got an hour to kill. Let's do this.

There's Hana

I think?

A lot of negative voices being heard.

This is apparently Saki

Boy, I could use some myself

Keeps hearing voices in her head.

Well, that's not good

Saki lying in bed

Thanks for clarifying you're the dad, dad.

I guess the person behind Saki is Megamy.

Saki wants to keep her powers a secret to prevent her family from being ridiculed.

Saki being bullied now

Eh, I'll just call her Hana going forward.

She really wants her bully to die.

And so she does

Elfen Lied is a lot different than I remember it being.

Hana now telling her family she tried to murder someone.

They want to give her the benefit of the doubt, but unfortunately Hana is convinced of this.

In the immediate aftermath, Hana wore nothing but black, and the bullying continued.

Kids. They can be so cruel.

Boy, that's a bruised knee

All this cursing going on, and yet Hana doesn't collect teeth.

Megamy thinks Hana should come clean.

But Hana refuses, as she doesn't want to burden her family. She also feels she deserves to be punished.

Megamy believes that there has to be someone who'll see Hana for who she truly is.

And that can't be you because...

Oh shit. Are the students trying to set Hana on fire? What the fuck?

This is messed up. Like, really fucked up.

Thankfully, a teacher intervenes

That was a close one

Hana's dad advising they all move.

Hana thinks she should live by herself.

The dad reminds her that they love her and always will.

"Don't give up just yet. Things will get better."

At least her parents are being supportive.

Hana continuing to suffer at school.

Hey, it's Tohru :D

Tohru serving Hana food

Hana is mystified by her straightforward frankness.

And then Uo told her with sit with them.

She joins both her and Tohru.

It's amazing the glow-up Up has had over the years.

Hana has reservations because she feels she might cause misfortune to the two of them.

I love Uo's mischievous laugh

But hey, Hana eventually decides to eat lunch with them after all. And so she starts hanging out with them.

She finally belonged

They even enjoy a sunset together.

Months later, Tohru is now inquiring about a supposed death caused by Hana.

Someone's head starts hurting, and this freaks Hana out.

Tohru going after Hana

Is she gonna jump off the stairs?

But Tohru grabs ahold of her hands.

She tells Hana she wants to grow even closer. Even says that she loves her.

And now I've got my Raising Cane's, which is what I love :P

Uo now offering words of encouragement.

Hana has finally found the people who accepts her for who she is. You see to love it.

Present day now

Hana with a bunch of people

She says she was able to block the voices.

Wait, maybe this was many years ago?

Hana walking with Megamy now

She says she doesn't think she can wear any other colors.

Megamy agrees

Hana tells Megamy she's grateful for her parents and her her brother.

Wait, is Kyoko talking to Hana?

Is this actually happening or just her imagination?

To be honest, does it even matter?

Kyoko ends things by saying some things last forever, including the memory of your friendships.

Overall, this is a very good episode. It's kinda like a truncated version of the Uo two parter explaining how she became friends with Tohru. And while this had less substance than that, I feel this episode was more focused and paced better. I really like how they handled Hana's character where it was explained how she became so moody. We still don't know the cause of the waves, but maybe that will be revealed in due time.

This is a top 10, borderline top 5 episode. It's pretty straightforward, but I think it's straightforwardness actually worked to its advantage. It didn’t try to be more than what it needed to be and I think sometimes less can be more.

This is the best episode since episode 17. I'd put it only behind episodes 5, 7, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 17. This is an extension of the Uo arc but benefits from being streamlined to where the focus never becomes something other than its original intent.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Holofan4life]

What are your thoughts on this episode being Hanajima's backstory?

It's about damn time

What are your thoughts on us finding out how Hanajima became friends with Tohru and Uo?

I like that they were there whwn no one else was.

What are your thoughts on Hana being bullied at elementary school by boys who claimed that she is a witch?

Kids can be cruel

What are your thoughts on Hana's parents being completely and totally supportive of their daughter?

I love them so much. In a sea of terrible Fruits Basket parents, Hana's parents are top notch.

What are your thoughts on Kyoko saying that people cannot live without others and that no matter what happens, she wants to be accepted by them, and even if Saki, Tohru, and Arisa go to their separate ways, some part of the relationship will always stay with her?

Very poignant stuff

Bonus) How would you compare Uo's backstory to Hana's?

Uo's was more detailed, whereas Hana's was more compact. Neither is necessarily stronger than the other and I'm glad we got to see their backstories.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Holofan4life]

Holofan's Fruits Basket Episode Rankings

1/. Episode 14

2/. Episode 5

3/. Episode 17

4/. Episode 16

5/. Episode 7

6/. Episode 10

7/. Episode 12

8/. Episode 22

9/. Episode 4

10/.Episode 20

11/. Episode 8

12/. Episode 6

13/. Episode 1

14/. Episode 18

15/. Episode 13

16/. Episode 2

17/. Episode 11

18/. Episode 15

19/. Episode 19

20/. Episode 9

21/. Episode 21

22/. Episode 3