Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso

[Kraco]

Episode 11 - HS




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It feels like she's not counting years anymore but mere months. Her apology to the violin sounded like she expects to play just once more. I reckon she got some motivation to make Arima play again by thinking that leaves the world of music with a plus minus zero situation, not negative, at least, with Arima replacing her. I can understand that. But, man, it's going to suck for Arima. He even had the guts to tell her how much she means.

I liked how Arima wasn't crushed in the least by the lack of applause, only having eyes for Kaori's response. And then again he remained totally calm looking at the list with his name missing, although to be fair he expected no less. Being confronted by the furious Aiza did nothing to crack him. He's really single-minded and independent in a good way, just like a hero to quote Aiza.

[shinta|hikari]

Manly tears.

Whoever voiced Kousei (I can't believe he also voiced Hikari in Nagi no Asu Kara, a character the complete opposite of Kousei) did an amazing job. His monologues never feel too melodramatic. It hits the right spot every time. He rocked it when he quoted Mozart and when he confessed to Kaori.

I really hope Kaori doesn't die. I will never forget this story either way, so I want to remember it without crying each time.

[Kraco]

Episode 13 - HS





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Arima is progressing quite well on his path to becoming a weird pianist. The audience never knows how he's going to play, and furthermore, the style might switch once or twice during the performance. I don't think he will find employment in an orchestra, but he might do well enough as a solo player or in very small bands made of equally weird people (such as Kaori, though I guess she'll die before becoming a pro). But that's only if he can somehow overcome the fact Japan is a conservative country and classical music is rather conservative in itself. Fortunately colourful players, if the music is still good, naturally get their name out better and will be remembered better than strictly by the book ones.

It's an exceedingly forlorn analysis, though, that he would need to lose important people to develop as a musician. That might work for a musician, but what about the person? He took his mothers death so hard that if he now loses Kaori as well, it might rather break him for good than make him an even better pianist. After all, it took someone, Kaori, to forcefully drag him out from the shadows and onto the stage. If Kaori goes, what are the chances there would ever appear another one to do it again?

[shinta|hikari]

I love Emi. She actually did a fist pump after seeing Kousei perform so well. If Kaori is indeed fated to die, I hope Kousei ends up with her instead of Tsubaki.

@Kraco - Kousei is only changing play style mid performance because he is still unstable and growing as he plays. Once he peaks, he would not be a "colorful" pianist, but an absolutely excellent one that can play at an absurdly high technical level while imparting something to the audience. Japan's foremost pianist called him a genius, and she doesn't even call herself that.

[Kraco]

I love Emi. She actually did a fist pump after seeing Kousei perform so well. If Kaori is indeed fated to die, I hope Kousei ends up with her instead of Tsubaki.

It seems to me Tsubaki enjoyed taking care of the broken Arima, and now that he's healing, she finds herself unnecessary. While I reckon she's genuinely happy he can play again, she might even find herself missing the time Arima was a regular nobody, not a genius pianist, and only had her. After all, she had no part whatsoever in making him play once more, maybe even the contrary.

You are probably right about Arima's future, but didn't he say himself that his aim is to become an eccentric pianist?

[Kraco]

Episode 14 - HS





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This show is quite good even when there's little playing. Although it's kind of painful to watch Kaori slowly dying and Arima trying to convince himself she's not. I don't think it's working too well for him, though. Her mother's fate probably taugh him too much, and since he visited the hospital often, I imagine, he must have seen a few strangers sharing the same destiny as well. I don't think Kaori is making the situation any better by just trying to tell it's nothing. That's something he ought to see through. All that is left is whether he believes what he wants to happen or what he fears will happen. He's a bit melancholic so it could very well be the latter.

I suppose it's good Tsubaki realised the reality of her feelings, but she's still my last favourite for Arima. If it's not Kaori, then Emi would be nice, like Shinta said. Tsubaki would be annoying because there's no spark there. I don't see how she could ever inspire Kousei, on the contrary, she might drag him down.

[shinta|hikari]

While I don't like the TsubakiXKousei pairing, I did feel very sorry for Tsubaki this episode. She really did love and care for Kousei all these years. The symbolism using the shiny mud balls, which require a lot of effort to do, to show Tsubaki's nurturing of her feelings was amazing. Her time, passion, and hard work made them shine, but in the end, they are just mud.

The execution of this show is excellent. Even the most trite storylines are delivered flawlessly. Even the timing of the musical score, the sudden news about moving, and Tsubaki's tears was like a KO combination for the heartstrings.

[Kraco]

Epispde 16 - HS




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That was quite a last line for an episode. I guess Kousei must understand already that she's dying. He couldn't anymore help but connect her erratic behavior to his mother's. Previously he had managed to avoid those thought quite successfully, even if visiting a hospital for any reason must remind him of it.

I think getting a student, sort of, is good for him as it keeps him better connected to other musicians. However, I very much doubt it will do much to help him cope with Kaori's death. He's just losing too much. Even though I wouldn't really want Kaori to die, but realistically speaking it would be kind of anticlimactic if she didn't. So, I'm actually looking forward to seeing just how finely this high quality show will pull off Kousei's suffering and struggle afterwards. Although I suppose she could linger on for a while longer and wouldn't die before the end, especially if this show won't cover too much time. It could be easier if she died sooner, however, and thus some sort of a conclusion could be reached.

[shinta|hikari]

I wrote so much about this episode then a fucking ad for farmville caused backspace to take me back to the previous page. FUCK ADS. Screw people who actually buy into them, too.

Was Kaori in the same hospital when Kousei's mother offered double suicide to her own son? The last lines in this episode were quoted in the subtitles, and the way Kaori said them was akin to repeating someone else's words.

If so, it would shed light to the mystery of why Kaori is so obsessed with Kousei. He was not a random hero to her, like he is to the others. He might have chosen life just when Kaori had been sentenced to death (or at least already knew about her time limit). I am so excited for next week's episode even though this one broke my heart.

Kousei didn't need another love interest. Nagi being Spikey's sister was unnecessary. It was heavily hinted, I know, but I would have wanted a mix up in this case.

Kousei is incredibly stupid for thinking that Kaori likes Watari. Unfortunately, we already know he is that dense after seeing Tsubaki's plight. Kaori cried on your back, you doofus.

The coloring used on Kaori's character fades gradually with each passing episode. Her lips are getting bluer, and her skin and hair have gotten deathly pale. The contrast with the flashbacks in this episode where she was as bright as the sun was heartbreaking. I cried when she could no longer hold her bow.

The writing for this story is excellent. I loved Nagi's lines. "I am the phantom. The phantom who lurks in the opera."

[Buffalobiian]

I stopped watching this show a few episodes ago out of time constraints, and even wondered whether I've had enough. I'm glad I didn't though, because the story for the past few episodes has been at its best.

I agree about the colour and what this means. The way it contrasts with Kaori's persona (she's acting 99% the same) just screams "She can't hide it anymore". I'm struggling to work out what she has. It looks neurological, but also very inconsistent. She only lost her dexterity in the last 2 eps or so. She actually appears sicker than her movement would suggest. Perhaps this, but she makes it sound like she's only got months left despite how well she moves. It's not the point though, so I can settle with "she's sick" just fine.

Was Kaori in the same hospital when Kousei's mother offered double suicide to her own son? The last lines in this episode were quoted in the subtitles, and the way Kaori said them was akin to repeating someone else's words.

She's quoting from the book in the wheelchair. The record showed her that Arima also borrowed that book.

[Kraco]

Yeah, it was made obvious she was quoting the words from the book, but nobody quotes such a line in such a situation as a joke. Though at the same time the words of a regretful dying person should be taken with a healthy dose of salt.

[shinta|hikari]

Oh I missed that. Thanks for the reminder.

[Kraco]

Episode 17 - HS




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The lolicon bait is turning out to be a more meaningful character than I gave her credit for, despite the fact I already did call teaching her a positive if not necessary thing for Kousei. I still think it's going to be extremely hard for Kousei to get over Kaori's death, but maybe it's not hopeless, after all. If he has enough other things to worry about, and people who will keep kicking him forward despite his best efforts to feel sorry for himself, he just might pull it through. Even the playboy friend seemed willing to give him a push. I suppose it will help him that he's not extremely extroverted, so even if he feels like it's crucial to have someone you are playing for, it's not like his whole world was about other people.

We could use a bit of Emi now, though, especially with Kaori so tied to the hospital room.

[Kraco]

Episode 18 - HS



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An exquisite episode once again. Even the infernal Twinkle twinke towards the end couldn't ruin it. The piano portion was jolly good, as expected. It's not clear whether Kousei had it all planned like this or if he just decided to do it during the performance, but it worked very nicely. Nagi's personality also was such that it was realistic and plausible. Of course it makes sense that since Kousei's personal objective was to punch Kaori, he needed something extravagant, so in that sense it might have been planned. But nevertheless, the switch right in the middle of the performance was just like the Kousei we are used to seeing. I bet those knowing him among the audience were waiting for it as well.

I don't know what to think of Kaori's situation. The impression given is that she's headed for a grave, not a stage. Even if she lingered, such a performance takes some stamina and strength, so how realistic would it be for her to get another chance? But then again, considering Kousei's behavior, this was natural. It's not like he would simply accept his love's death. I'm simply not looking forward to a no conclusion with this affair. The manga seemed to have ended only this month, if I understood correctly, so a conclusion would be possible, counting the already listed ova in the spring. The worst case would be Kaori staying permanently in the hospital and Kousei playing out there, forever.

[shinta|hikari]

Nagi was really cute in this episode. Yes, I know it's mainly because of the loli waki exposure, but who cares. Kaori did not only revive Kousei. It also paved the way for Nagi to manifest her talent. Even without that final performance, she has already made an indelible mark in Japanese classical music.

I am personally not looking forward to their final waltz. No matter how it turns out, I know that my heart is going into break to itsy bitsy pieces. At least their feelings towards each other are now clear. I hope for a little bit of physical contact between them, though. I still cannot forget them butting heads, holding hands, and riding that bike. Music is amazing and all, but please let these ephemeral lovebirds remember each other's warmth somewhere else.

[Kraco]

Episode 19 - HS





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Hmm... The beginning was kind of annoying since it suggested Kaori's situation was something surgery might solve, even if the chances are low. It's surely genetic, whatever she has, but I thought it was something current medicine simply couldn't fix, let alone surgery. But then again, if she's only looking for a little more time, maybe it's something like benign tumors in her brain. Even if they operated, the same situation would appear again.

Otherwise a good episode, as expected. I'm now glad we got to know some of the people in the audience, such as both Setos and Nagi, as now their reactions and hopes are much more meaningful. The sandwich scene felt like a sudden jump in those three's relationship, but I don't mind. It was good for Kousei.

A jolly good piece we got in this ep as well.

Takeshi is such a jolly big brother:
T: Don't you dare hit on my little sister!
K: I wouldn't!
T: You should! People will think she's not hot if you don't.

[shinta|hikari]

Emi is so cute. Her being silent and pouty all the time is so awesome, and makes Takeshi look like an idiot. Her childhood line when they were together eating was so adorable. Kuudere FTW.

I hope this series ends with Arima destroying the competition. As much as I love drama, I also love OP MCs.

[Kraco]

Episode 20 - HS




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An episode devoid of playing. It started to bother me towards the end, especially since the rest was about the same triangle drama we have seen a bunch of times already. Though of course the confessions were new. Looking at it in retrospect, the emptiness, save for the confessions, was excellent to build the atmosphere for Kaori's sudden and rather dramatic scene. The cat scene felt like a continuation of the Kaori scene because it was like a metaphor of Kousei trying to save Kaori, only to fail and again lose everything.

It would be cool if Kaori really died now and the series ended with Kousei giving such a powerful and sad performance that the audience was full of weeping people. Somewhat cruel to hope for such a forlorn ending for the main character, but what can you do when the chance is so good.

[shinta|hikari]

You're an asshole.

Like Watari.

I just want Kousei to be happy. There's too much tragedy in his life. He deserves a break.

[Kraco]

Episode 21 - HS




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Quite heavy on the emo scale and it felt kind of disjointed between the positive end of the roof scene and then how Kousei seemed like a total wreck in the next scene, sitting all alone on the corridor floor, with the teacher also claiming he was no good. Although naturally one might just put it down to being an emotional issue not connected to Kaori but rather the fact he was so busy feeling sorry for himself he had no time for practice. With all the other emo scenes that's already a bit much. With the show ending, this also means he didn't score a single smooth performance. Isn't that a bit much? I'd have preferred to wonder how he will play, not whether.

I trust the last episode to deliver perfectly, though. Even if Kaori doesn't die.