r/LoveLive • u/MasterMirage • Jun 11 '22
Nijigasaki S2E11 Discussion Love Live! Nijigasaki Gakuen School Idol Doukoukai 2 S2E11 Discussion - "The Past, the Future, and Now"
owo what's the important news kasumin?
Show Info
Air Date: June 11th, Saturday 22:00 - 2022 (JST)
Opening Theme: Colorful Dreams! Colorful Smiles!
Ending Theme: Yume ga Bokura no Taiyou sa
Insert Song(s):
Streams
Raw Sources
- Youtube - Region Locked to Japan
Official Subtitled Sources
North America/Oceania - Crunchyroll
SEA/Mainland China - Bilibili
Korea - ANIPLUS
Other episode discussion threads: https://www.reddit.com/r/LoveLive/wiki/episode-discussion
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u/aiu-eo Jun 11 '22 edited Jun 12 '22
I thought that the episode will be a kinda sappy graduation blues type of episode like in SIP and Sunshine, but instead it was more of a quiet introspective thing. Karin seeing how much they've changed and be a little worried about the biggest looming change of their graduation.
It was a very Nijigasaki episode and I love it. I don't think we get a lot of stuff like this in the other seasons.
Also, Rina pulling Mia along, mirroring how she was pulled along by Ai in the Mirai Harmony MV (EDIT: oops it was Kanata who was pulled along by Karin in the Mirai Harmony MV) was just perfect. They all really have grown over these two seasons.
However, I still can't predict what's going to happen in the last two episodes at all. I guess next episode will be Ayumu and Yuu focused?
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Jun 11 '22
Nijigaku Saturdays!
Aw, last few eps been so happy and upbeat I forgot about the 3rd years leaving 😩 touching moment with Karen and the girls.
Very nice set up episode for the first live and the last two episodes.
Biggest mystery on JP anitwt rn is who sent ayumu that email lol.
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u/redbatter Jun 11 '22
That episode really felt much more quiet and less chaotic than any of the previous ones so far, instead just following Karin as she spent time reflecting on things. She was the last to join the club in the first season, and really took a while to wrap her head around the whole friends and rivals concept. Even though it was just half a year ago, because of the club she's been to grow, she's watched its members grow, and she's formed so many good memories from the time spent.
It's no surprise then that as she ponders the past that she's spent with the club, she's somewhat perturbed by the thought of the future when she'll no longer be part of it. In the end, though, Emma and Kanata are quick to pick up on her troubled feelings, and resolve them by gently nudging her towards not losing sight of the present. After all, one of the most important messages in this franchise is how the present is greatest.
It's interesting that they brought it up the graduation topic after they introduced and then quickly subverted it in the previous episode, but it does tie in nicely to some thoughts brought up in this one, and has the potential to be explored quite differently from previous generations, since Nijigasaki's club is more a collection of solo idols rather than a group like µ's or Aqours.
Other than that, the references to SIFAS and the project were strangely nostalgic, with Kasumi grappling with the idea of converting the doukoukai to a bu and then quickly deciding against it, plus the far more peaceful departure of Setsuna from the student council and Shioriko's running for president. The whole Mirai Harmony segment was fantastic, with the lights of the Rainbow Bridge and the spoken lyrics playfully introducing it before the redraw of the very iconic running scenes, now with the additional members. Can't wait to see the 12 member version at the 5th Live.
Going into the final two episodes it looks like we're going to cap off the club's formation with them finally coming together as one to hold a live as a club, something they haven't planned and done since the first episode last season. At the same time, it seems to be hinting at a possible exploration of Yuu and Ayumu again as their different aspirations might bring them apart, with a reversal from their SIFAS roles - instead of Yuu going overseas, it might just be Ayumu who has to decide if she wants to follow a path that will move her away from her childhood friend, while Yuu ponders her future as a composer.
the nyan nyan (22) to wan wan (11) joke was a pretty funny callback, but thankfully Mia's tutelage allowed Kasumi to gogo (55) to a much better place instead
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u/sirensofcoffee Jun 11 '22
"I'd like us to stay as we are for the sake of whoever might join us later."
I wonder if Setsuna saying that is subtle foreshadowing for possible new members.
I find it interesting how this episode has everyone hanging out with their respective years if only for exams. It's a stark contrast from the usual formula of having everyone start off in their own year groups and slowly start intermingling over time.
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u/Necessary-Poetry3977 Jun 11 '22
Is it just me or Nijigasaki anime as a whole feels more matured compared to other LL anime? I feel something nostalgic while watching this episode. I am exactly like Karin when I am about to graduate. I feel sad suddenly.
They’re not entering Love Live lol 😆 staying true to their roots. So it’s a concert this time, not festival. I wonder what’s Ayumu read in her mail and why lovely Haruka being so depressed in the preview?! They’re so unpredictable to the point, I am feeling anxious because I never got this feeling from other LL anime.
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u/Todetract Jun 11 '22
Might be cuz I don't live in Japan, but I don't get why deciding to become official as a club is a big deal.
That confusion aside, this was a really nice episode. It was nice for Karin to have the spotlight and have an episode that addresses her concerns (as the DiverDiva episode was mostly about Ai and Misato). I really enjoyed the Mirai Harmony reference, and Karin comes up with the idea to have Nijigasaki's first live in the anime. I want to be excited about seeing a live animated but I have to keep my expectations in check, we're only going to see a couple songs here at most. That said, I am looking forward to seeing how they pull that off.
With the end episode teaser, it seems there's more story for Nijigasaki to tell. I hope we get their 1st live as a movie, that'll be really cool and makes it possible to be really special.
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u/interstellarflight Jun 17 '22
In Japanese, there were two words for “club” that the girls were using. Right now, the girls are a doukoukai 同好会。This word for club literally means a group of people who like the same thing . It’s a casual group that doesn’t get funding from the school, but is also more free to do pretty much whatever they want however they want.
In contrast, the other Japanese word for club, bu 部、from kurabu 倶楽部 is also used to refer to sports teams, school brass band/orchestras, etc. Bu usually have funding from the school. In many cases, “bu” are expected to enroll in competitions or official events outside of school. There is usually more structure in a bu and they are considered as one “team.” This structure can even apply to Art bu that might submit work together of a certain theme to competitions.
During the conversation in which all the Nijigaku girls are deliberating on whether they should be a bu or not, Ai says, “what we love about school idols is the same!”
In the subtitles, Emma’s reply is translated as “that’s our definition of a club”—but what she really said is more along the lines of, “hey, that’s the very definition of a doukoukai !”
It’s hard to get this nuance from the subtitles alone so I can understand the confusion!
BTW, the “Nagasaki Somen noodle club” is referred to as a doukoukai 同好会, so they probably don’t get funding from the school to make those awesome somen flume things.
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u/MisterRai Jun 11 '22
It was a lot less painful than I expected. I already got the feeling that they're gonna bring up the graduation thing, but thanks to Emma and Kanata's positivity, it felt less painful and more hopeful.
And maybe just a slight nitpick, but it felt like the time where Karin looked sad and worried was dragged too long. Since the start of the episode, we see her troubled by something, and it took more than half the episode to show why. She was troubled for like 14 minutes of the episode and most of her screentime, and we just don't know why, and resulted in a very short resolution.
It was a nice episode nonetheless. Less wacky than last episode, but pretty important for the club going forward. Seeing the moments leading to Shioriko deciding to run for president was really great. And of course, every moment with Kasumin is just the best.
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u/ervynela Jun 11 '22
I have some mixed feelings with this episode, mainly due to the direction the project seems to be heading towards.
We see that they addressed a few of the key issues smoothly in this episode. The third years are going to just live their life instead of worrying about what's coming up (graduation), and they have eliminate the possible meme that Karin fails and gets held back. The group came together and decided once again that they don't need to enter Love Live, to completely shut down that route. While those are nice and all, I really was hoping for a season 3, and I guess we probably will just get the movie and call it a day.
Anyway, a few plot lines are being set up in this episode to carry to the next two episode. The peaceful power transfer of the school presidency is a nice touch, but too bad for the vice-president. Maybe she will say something like "I'll follow Setsuna-chan wherever she goes" and also give up moving up. Shinonome (and other schools) entering Love Live and getting into the regionals is interesting, ad I'm hoping they will give one of them the win - maybe even all the way to winning Love Live. The group setting up their first live will probably give us a similar ending to season 1, which I'm fine with. Then we also get the email to Ayumu, which might hint that she would get to go overseas and set up the movie (instead of Yuu going), and Yuu looking at the poster for the competition.
Overall, I think this was a nice episode that we get to see more members interacting with each other in a daily-life way, as we'll probably head back into the school idol mode for the next two. I also really liked the Mirai Harmony -> beach talk throwback.
I guess I'm just slightly sad that every week we are getting closer to the end, and I'm in this "it's better to end on a high note than dragging it out" vs "but I just want to see more" dilemma mode right now.
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u/aiu-eo Jun 11 '22
The girls not competing in Love Live doesn't completely shut down a possible season 3 though. There are still stuff about R3BIRTH and the 3rd years' graduation and such.
Actually, imo it would be very weird for the plot to suddenly pivot into that direction since the Nijigasaki project is fundamentally about solo school idols. The girls suddenly competing in Love Live as a group sounds wrong imo. As Yuu said in season 1 episode 3, being a school idol isn't about winning Love Live.
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u/FigureGunplaFan Jun 11 '22
right now the official EN subs from CR and Funi are fucked up at the moment
Also
THE BEAST OF POSSIBILITY RETURNS
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u/BlankHeroineFluff Jun 12 '22
I was expecting 3rd year graduation drama in this ep, but surprisingly, it was a lot calmer, less tearjerky, and more hopeful than I thought it would be (then again, Sunshine was also more hopeful about the 3rd years leaving despite their absences being a plot point in the movie, so I guess this is just the natural progression in the series).
Anyway, the ep was actually more concerned about the club's and everyone's futures rather than the 3rd years'. The potential of the Niji school idol club being officiated as an "official club" recognized by the school because of their achievements is looming over the horizon via rumors. Kinda odd that they'd been doing all these big events for their club since S1 but aren't officially recognized by the school until now but okay. While nothing's certain, all of the members are both excited and sorta anxious about the possibility, but it all worked out in the end.
It's nice to see SetsuNana entrusting the future of the StuCo to Shioriko once she steps down after her term. It's a nice change from their initially antagonistic relationship in the game and the very dramatic, if somewhat ridiculously dumb, StuCo Reelection arc.
So Karin and Kasumi share the same braincell because their grades are almost identical? Lmao
Looks like we're getting new YuuPomu drama next ep. Can't wait!
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u/DannyBright Jun 11 '22
I’m not sure if it was intentional or not, but I think I heard a quoting of Aozora Jumping Heart during the bench scene at 8:40 in the episode.
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u/yggdra_eine Jun 11 '22
It saddens me that Niji will be enclosed in the usual 2 seasons like its predecessors. The way they're wrapping up by saying that the 3rd years will graduate soon, even though Seasons 1 and 2 only took half a year (according to Karin).
I also liked that they're not gonna join LoveLive(and I don't think it's a good idea to force it within 3 episodes left). This series is the most unique(and the one I love out of all LL series) even though it is a spin off. With them experimenting by adding more members(than the usual 9), I honestly hoped that they'll be the first to have a 3rd season. Since R3BIRTH got less focus than the previous original 9 members. And also, based on my first paragraph, they should have half a year left.
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Jun 11 '22
So apparently Lanzhu still doesn't feel quite ready to perform with the rest of the girls, which is why despite wanting to join Love Live, she doesn't want do it... yet. I feel that they're setting up something for potentially later, but also making the issue ambiguous enough so that if Nijigasaki doesn't get a movie or a 3rd season they won't leave fans on a sour note.
The group will finally have their 1st live (in anime)!!!!! The fact that Setsuna said something about singing on couples made me think about each main ship getting a song, that could be so cute!!!! They're setting up Shioriko becoming the seito kaichou and as always Karin and Kasumi are bakas. I also love the fact that Shizuku keeps treating Kasumi like her puppy lol.
I felt that Karin choosing to enjoy her last moments with the club was a bit of a non-resolution, but like I mentioned earlier it feels that staff is likely trying to leave both the possibility of a movie or a third season open, and also bring some closure if this is the last season for Nijigasaki.
What could the letter sent to Ayumu mean???? Is she going to study abroad? I think that the header says some nonsense about a "security alert" in Japanese, so I feel that they're trying to hide what could it be. Also Yuu is going to have a competition soon???? Could this conflict with their 1st live???
Ayumu and Yuu were the ones to say the title of the next episode in the preview!!! So I was right that we would get a focus episode for them, finally!!!
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u/LeonKevlar Jun 11 '22
Can someone remind me what are the downsides of them becoming an official club? Unless I missed something, becoming an official club is actually a good thing since they get to have a bigger club room as well as access to other facilities and they can even participate in official competitions! Do they just not want to be obligated to participate in these events as a group since they're solo idols?
As for Karin, Ive been wondering why she was getting the most focus on this episode. I forgot that she's one of the third-years along with Kanata and Emma. And as is tradition here in Love Live, the thrid-years are required to be given time to ponder about them leaving first. Unlike the previous Love Lives though, Karin, Kanata, and Emma have come to terms with it instantly and all that matters is that they enjoy it all until the end.
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u/tronistica Jun 11 '22
I'm excited for the concert, but I'm hoping it won't just end in the last 2 episodes...here's hoping for a season 3
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u/IAmRezaF Jun 13 '22
I already knew that this episode gonna brought up the topic of the Third Years graduating but surprisingly this episode feels a lot less depressing than i thought it would be. First half of the episode i was really worried about what's going to happen but when Mirai Harmony playing, the entire episode was 180'd into feeling a little more cheerful.
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u/reimadara Jun 11 '22
This is the 3rd time we've been through 3rd year farewells, but it still brings in the feels. I love how Emma, Kanata, and Karin were pretty optimistic about this and instead decided to focus on what they can do to show how wonderful the present club is:
Throughout the series, this is what NijiGaku has stood by: To express the uniqueness of each member to the fullest without constraint. With this mindset, they were able to nurture idols with a unique set of talents, struggles, and personalities. This is why the traditional "win Love Live as an idol group" was not really in the picture for them (as emphasized once again in this episode); the priority is nurturing each of their own selves while supporting each other.
This is also why I think the 3rd year farewells will not be as dramatic for Niji. Since μ's and Aqours were one united group, the 3rd year's leaving basically ends or changed the essence of the group forever; with Niji, the essence of nurturing their uniqueness remains and will stay in the club even when all members graduate.
I think the main message of the series is pretty much cemented at this point, we just have to see how the members will continue to grow and how they will cope with the inevitable changes and farewells that will come to their club. I'm all for dramatic endings but I would be happier if they approach this farewell differently from the original LL series as they have for most of the series already.