Hibike! Euphonium

[shinta|hikari]

I don't know why you would call her pretending to be caring. She values her friends like anybody would

Wait, where did you get this? She obviously doesn't care about friendship. She just stated that she didn't care who gets the solo, despite her friend being part of the selection. If she loved music, she would answer that the better one should get it. But she said she doesn't care at all.

Remember her blank eyes when Sapphire was talking about friendship (it was about friendship, not romance, because she felt guilty for pushing her friend)? Yeah, Asuka is not caring. But she goes and speaks with Kaori to make her feel better. Two-faced.

@Ryll - I'm actually not sure. I'll hold off til we see next episode to see if your interpretation is correct.

[Buffalobiian]

@Buff: What you said and what I said are not the same thing. She not only doesn't accept that Reina is better than she is, she also doesn't accept the audition as a whole. She's doing the exact same thing her worshippers are doing, just pretending she's not.

I don't think so. On what basis do you think she has a problem with the actual audition / teacher?

[Kraco]

Wait, where did you get this? She obviously doesn't care about friendship. She just stated that she didn't care who gets the solo, despite her friend being part of the selection. If she loved music, she would answer that the better one should get it. But she said [I]she doesn't care at all.

That's a matter of interpretation. She does care about social interaction, the latest example being for example surprising Kumiko with the cold bottle and then going to speak with Kaori to cheer her up. That's caring about her social circle and not wanting to be an outsider and alone. Maybe it doesn't fulfill your image of friends, which might be deeper, but it works for me. Compare her to Reina who always looks and acts like she barely suffers the company of the rest of the band. She only got closer to Kumiko because Kumiko approached her multiple times. That's a person who is genuinely not caring and doesn't care about friendship.

I simply can't read too much into the not caring who gets the role and then going to chat with Kaori. You might as well say that conversing with Kumiko is choosing Reina's side, because Kumiko is the only bloody friend Reina has in the entire school. That's how I see it: She's not adopting any side, which means accepting the best/chosen person winning.

[shinta|hikari]

I'm talking about friendship as actual genuine concern vs social interaction, as you may see it. I see all of her "kind" and "friendly" actions as a guise to fit in/be popular/not be ostracized (because that is easier and better than being the enemy like Reina), not because she actually cares about the others.

[Kraco]

It doesn't matter what she thinks inside of her head if her actions are sufficient. That's how it goes. Nobody's going to read her thoughts anyway, though many may try. It's not like you'd normally need to count on your schoolmates to watch your back in a life or death situation, requiring a true, trusted friend. Zombie apocalypses only come every so often, and even more rarely in KyoAni shows.

[shinta|hikari]

That's what two-faced means. She is being insincere and deceitful.

[Kraco]

Episode 11 - HS



- -- --- -




Hah, what a farce this second audition turned out to be. Only a few people were ready to make any sort of decision, and those were the people who had decided their vote beforehand. Still, I suppose, despite the fact nothing was actually decided by the audion but by Kaori herself, that this will at least shut the malcontents' mouths and allow everybody to concentrate on the music and performance.

Another nearly yuri scene between Kumiko and Reina, with corny lines fitting a cheap period drama to ice the cake. Actually without those lines the scene would have been worse in my opinion as they added a joke to it. Without the humour it would have looked too much like they really meant it. I suppose they partially did, but not literally (the confession part, not the killing part).

[Ryllharu]

I was appalled that only two people clapped for either contender. Cowards.

I think Asuka didn't fare too well this episode. Noncommittal to a fault, cowardly, and dishonest. Selfish to the core, putting a smiling face on while lying to those who sought her advice. Even when they asked her to cut the bullshit, she refused.

Squeaky Ribbon Girl looked good by comparison, and she was a melodramatic wreck. At least she was honest about who was better to Kumiko, even though intended to carry out her goal to the end. She meant well, but the way she went about it all was awful.

[Buffalobiian]

The crowd didn't applaud, but that didn't matter. That was probably for the best actually considering the characters involved in this show.

They know that the audition wasn't biased, but they don't have to pick sides for any further "civil wars" to follow. Their noncommittal allows them to gel together as a group (in guilt). They also know now that since they don't have a productive opinion they should shut the fuck up in the future.

There's a difference between them and Asuka though. The class definitely didn't clap for Kaori because she was worse. They hesitated to clap for Reina because they don't want to be responsible for the decision. Asuka simply refused to participate outright. That's not necessarily bad.

What really matters is Kaori - and she feels satisfied. The only people in this picture are Reina, Kaori and Taki. This audition is for them. That's why I hated that clarinet section the most. For all their talk, it's not even their section.

Reina and Kumiko can be bi for all I care. Throw in Taki and Tsukamoto for variety.

[shinta|hikari]

Reina and Kumiko scenes are the best. And please stop making it sexual. Can't people have close same gender relationships anymore? Love isn't always romantic, you know.

So Kaori was a real nice girl, and Asuka was as two-faced as expected. Thought so.

[Ryllharu]

I have to agree with Buff on this one.

It's definitely a Reina x Kumiko Friendship Love Story. But KyoAni (or the original author?) are going out of their way to make every one of these "encounters" as sexually charged and romantic as possible.

- It's not that Kumiko and Reina have a tender moment alone, it's Reina seduces Kumiko on a mountain and touches her face tenderly.

- It's not that Kumiko checks on Reina and Reina sighs, grabs Kumiko's hand and thanks her, it's that Kumiko goes to check on her, and Reina grabs Kumiko's face tenderly, whispers to her intimately, and confirms that she'll kill her if she betrays her at Kumiko's insistence that she can.

It isn't going to be a Strawberry Panic friendship, but it might be closer to Marimite. The viewers aren't the ones making it romantic and sexually charged.

[shinta|hikari]

That's obvious, but people should stop buying into it too much. This is exactly like Free!, only with girls.

[Buffalobiian]

I love it this way though.

[Kraco]

I don't much care for yuri, but the trip to the temple was so artistic that it sold it to me. The fact Reina is romantically interested in a man also makes it easier for me.

[shinta|hikari]

I love yuri, but this just looks like it. It isn't.

This show needs more waki, though.

[David75]

Ep 12 1080p http://www.nyaa.se/?page=download&tid=704310
720p http://www.nyaa.se/?page=download&tid=704308


Liked the flow of that ep, some scenes with very nice animation, sound background and VA.
Most of the time, it felt like watching a nice OVA.
Glad I watched the show for that ep.


All in all, Tanaka is a little bit like Reina. She's so high above in skills she doesn't care about the rest, besides what she wants to do.

[Kraco]

A little blood spilt makes any show better!

It was a good ep and KyoAni really made it look like it was a hot weather. Kumiko's troubles for so long felt a bit stretched, though, only for the sake of some tension. The show began with people being impressed by her skills, so it doesn't make sense she would have that much trouble despite practicing like crazy. Things should have been like this if she didn't manage to practice and was trying to barely pull it off with old skills alone. Shuuichi's distress I don't mind because there's nothing impressive or interesting about him.

[shinta|hikari]

That part was just that hard. Anyone who ever played tried playing a musical instrument seriously would understand.

The best part about this episode was jelly Reina. She really does love Taki, going so far as interrogating her hurting friend the moment any suspicious activity turned up.

[Buffalobiian]

HS - Episode 13 END


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Yes, Tuxesdos really are sexy. I think you can't be too muscular in them though. It has to be just the right amount to look both elegant and manly.

At the same time, KyoAni has always been able to draw female characters as being of idea weight - not anorexic, but not fat. I don't think they're particularly short either. Maybe it's the rounder heads? I dunno.

This feels rather short, but I won't with it goes on further. The musical goals aren't reached, but the character relationships have matured to the point where I'm happy to stop watching. Reina x Kumiko got to be special. Tsukamoto and Kumiko got off to a bit of a start, and Taki is well accepted by his students.

Next KyoAni show please.

[shinta|hikari]

This has sequel novels. It will probably have a sequel anime too.