Maria-sama ga Miteru 4th - Episode 11 Discussion / Poll [Archive]

4Tran

2009-03-13, 21:42

Welcome to the discussion thread for Maria-sama ga Miteru 4th, Episode 11.

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cynicalicious

2009-03-14, 02:10

Great job of adapting the second half of the novel to a 22-minute slot. They cut out a ton of stuff (obviously) and moved some things around, but overall very well done.

So the cat's out of the bag. Yes, Touko is adopted. And you can finally see the inner turmoil that Touko has been holding back the whole time start to spill out. This season's "Rainy Blue," Touko-style, I guess.

Suguru nailed it pretty much on the head-- Touko both loves and fears Yumi at the same time. (Gotta love his outfit... no, you don't look like a suspicious person at all...) Of course I love how she romanticizes the way Yumi was being pursued by the other students during last year's Valentine's Day treasure hunt... Yumi wasn't so thrilled about it at the time, lol.

Also, you can tell *just* how protective Suguru is of his little cousin. It was nice to see him get furious when he realized that those mean and nasty girls from Vacation of the Lambs had also tormented Touko over being adopted. (Which is why she had canceled her trip to Canada-- to try to protect Yumi, because she had been a victim of them before.) She calls him onii-sama for a reason, she's like a little sister to him, and he's like a big brother to her.

And when Touko suddenly misunderstands Yumi and lashes out at her, we see Yumi 3.0 react in a very mature way. Good job, Yumi.

Noriko saves the day. Awww...

Next week should be fun. I hope they don't cut out the really funny stuff... but then again, the whole planning of the Valentine's Day treasure hunt story is the opening of the series, and the cute scene between Mami and Hidemi got dumped into the preview for next week's episode. Ah well. Mami truly is the demon of the Newspaper Club.

Eleutheria

2009-03-14, 03:19

That was a GREAT episode! It's probably the first episode of Maria-sama (from the beginning) that really tugged at my heartstrings (and I'm a heartless b*stard).

Yumi's growth as a character is staggering, although I understand that in the novels they dragged it out for quite a few volumes. The way she handled Touko this episode was very mature and effective. I'd hoped that the hand that reached out to Touko at the end was Yumi, but I guess they have to stretch things out just a bit more.

Alas, next episode doesn't appear to be the pair doing the rosario, so we still have a couple more weeks to wait. The preview appeared to be yet another "event" filler, although I suppose you would have Touko find the card at the end?

Lastly, I laughed when Suguru said he didn't want to stand out. Not bloody likely, especially when loitering outside a girls' school.

The Suguru-Touko car conversation was very well written.

Obviously Suguru has admitted to liking Yumi, but Touko's mood has made her so dense that nothing penetrates :D

Then there was the bit where Yumi bumps into Touko and goes "well great let's walk to the station" and immediately turns around and starts walking. Oh, she's grown up and learned some new tricks...

Seiryuu

2009-03-14, 05:48

So the truth comes out here.Funny, I think I took the possibility of adoption out of my Christmas ep post. Originally I'd been thinking that she was either illegitimate, or she was adopted, since both cases would make her feel like an outsider, an intruder taken in out of charity whose best efforts always come up short because, no matter how perfect a lady she is, this fact of her past will not change. Bastards often show this sort of inner turmoil, but so do adopted children. Apparently I was right at least in terms of her conflict. She fears that her entire life, all the love and joy she'd been given was merely a matter of charity, or an attempt to replace something irreplaceable. She desperately wants to show that she's worthy to call herself her parents' daughter, but no matter what this is something she feels she can't be. Sometimes she may wish she'd given up on trying to be the perfect daughter and just accepted the love she was given, but just like drawing a fun map to please herself instead of a "perfect" map, this was beyond her.It looks like I was right about a few things, such as the fact that Touko's behavior toward Yumi during the OVAs, warning her and trying to protect her from the harsh way some people would view her.
In a way, I can't help but wonder whether Touko originally started acting because she loved it, or because she felt like her entire life she'd been merely playing a role.

mintyfresh

2009-03-14, 06:46

As to be expected, this turned out to be a great episode. I can't stop rewatching it.

Especially Touko's flashback to last year's Card Hunt. Sure looks different from how I remember it. ( ¯3¯)

In the end, the episode was something of a mixture of the two things I expected -- just about half was taken from a third person perspective, while the rest was from Touko's POV.
I'd sort of wished that the episode had spent a little more time on the latter actually, like it did with Ibara no Mori in the first season. It would have been nice for everyone to hear the interesting things going on in Touko's mind while she was in the Drama Club room, or while she was with Yumi. Granted, her long soliloquy during the second time she was counting to 100 just about made up for everything else.

Also, I have to admit that I found it a little dispiriting to read the last episode's thread and see so many people picking up on the clues that Touko was adopted. When I learned the truth while reading Anata wo Sagashi ni (which I for whatever reason read before Ookina Tobira, Chiisana Kagi), I was floored.
I suppose the preview for the last ep was really what laid the hints on thick...

As for the episode itself, the animation team really worked hard on this one. Though speaking of working hard, Rie Kugimiya was AMAZING in this episode. After hearing her in so many other roles very much unlike this one, it's certainly something to hear her put so much emotion into her performance.
And was that Miyuki Sawashiro playing the Drama Club pres? Strangely, the anime's imagination of her wasn't far from my own...

Anyhow, I'm looking forward to seeing what others' opinions on this ep will be. Personally, there were a few times where I thought things were being a tad bit rushed, but I'm not sure if that's because I knew what was being skipped, or because I was just anxious for things to get to a certain point in the episode.

cynicalicious

2009-03-14, 11:07

Also, I have to admit that I found it a little dispiriting to read the last episode's thread and see so many people picking up on the clues that Touko was adopted. When I learned the truth while reading Anata wo Sagashi ni (which I for whatever reason read before Ookina Tobira, Chiisana Kagi), I was floored.
I suppose the preview for the last ep was really what laid the hints on thick...

Yeah, if you had read Ookina Tobira first, you wouldn't have been floored... or rather, you would have been floored earlier. :D

It's true that they skipped a ton of Touko's inner monologue, but I'm still impressed with the job they did, given the constraints they're working under. Then again, the books will dwell on things like how first years decorate their shoe lockers, and how second and third years don't bother with it. I'm so glad I started reading them. It was slow going at first, but now I can read them at a decent pace.

It's two different series, really. The books are one whole world full of complex details, and the anime just hits the highlights. That's all it can do without bogging down. (And without going nuts on the budget.) The only shame is that they're plowing through so many books so fast this time through. They're skipping a lot of stories they might not have skipped before just to focus on this one plotline.

I like Yumi, don't get me wrong, she's one of my favorite characters, I just kind of miss Yoshino and Shimako... and I doubt we'll get any of their stories this time through, which is a shame.

One thing I was relieved to see (or rather not see) this week-- no Pizza Hut stuff.

sa547

2009-03-14, 12:55

After watching this...

This is the best damn feel like in Touko's shoes (and an episode focused mostly on her): an episode so powerful that for some the emotions and the dilemmas she feels needs no translation. Reminds me so much of Sense and Sensibility.

The situation is different this time: Yumi's more remarkably restrained compared to previous episodes, even if confronted by Touko's anger. As for another confrontation, I don't know what Sachiko was saying to Touko but it seems obvious that she finally said the awful truth that left her stunned and then crying, everything come crashing back in. Boom!

And hey, with the getup he's wearing, is Suguru trying to get an audition at neighboring GetBackers? :heh: Nevertheless he never fails to smoke his Maserati Quattroporte.

*Now plays Pearl Jam's "Daughter"*

Strangely, March 14 is White Day.

Lesca

2009-03-14, 14:32

Good episode, though I'm probably not the biggest Touko fan, I did like her in the OVA's and a few episodes so far, some I haven't but I felt for her in this one.

Everyone handles being adopted differently, some take it better than others, so can see why she hasn't found it easy. Does it say in the episode what age she was adopted at?
Was the girl with short black hair, her drama club president or something? they seemed quite close.
Yumi's jump from Touko's view, from the last card hunt reminded me of the girl who leapt through time :p and the scene between her and Yumi by the statue, for a minute Yumi just reminded me of Sachiko so much. Noriko proved again to be one of my favourite characters when she was comforting Touko, after her breakdown.

really looking forward to the next episode.

cynicalicious

2009-03-14, 14:59

Okay, so at the statue of Maria-sama, Yumi makes the comment that she's been thinking about Touko's parents, her relationship to them, her childhood-- and then Touko thinks that Yumi knows that Touko is adopted, and is trying to either pity her or slight her, and Touko starts seeing red and goes all ballistic. Yumi's just wondering what made Touko run away from home, but she realizes that Touko has stopped listening.

So when Touko storms into the classroom to talk to Sachiko, she thinks that Sachiko told Yumi that Touko was adopted.

But what Sachiko tells Touko is that she never knew that Touko was adopted-- it was news to her. Since Sachiko is only 2 years older than Touko, it reinforces the assumption that Touko was adopted at a *very* early age.

Sachiko tells Touko that there's no way that Yumi could know that Touko was adopted. Sachiko knows this because she's Yumi's older sister. Touko realizes that Suguru wouldn't tell Yumi and not tell Touko that he told Yumi. So she realizes that there's no way Yumi could know she was adopted.

And that's when Touko realizes that the misunderstanding is all her fault, and it brings her to her knees. (Nicely animated, BTW. Loved the music, too.)

They make Sachiko look kind of mean in the anime because she walks off looking angry, leaving Touko on all fours and crying, but remember that Sachiko said before that this was something she couldn't get involved in-- it was between Yumi and Touko. More Sachiko "tough love."

dahl_moon

2009-03-14, 18:15

Oh my goodness, it was sooo hard not to let out any spoilers that I just had to shut up for the last couple of episodes.
Rainly Blue season two; nothing describes this episode better than that. Theme here again is misunderstanding, keyword someone (lowly) like me. I'm wondering if this will turn out to be a Chinensis tradition.

There are so many memorable moments in this episode but I'll just pick two. The first one is when Yumi tells Touko to count to 100. Athough Touko tries hard to show that she has an upper hand to Yumi, how she obediently starts counting betrays just how much Touko looks up on Yumi and respects her. Yumi really out shines as an Onee-sama here.

Of course the second counting to 100. This time though, Touko "realizes" just how much she's pushed her close ones away from herself, just how lonely she's become. But all that's in her mind. What's she's really dreading, is physically realizing how lonely she's really become when she opens her eyes.

And, at that moment, that very moment before Touko dropping into dispair, appears Noriko. Touko would have just "broke" if Noriko had appeared even a few moments later. We would also have headed for "bad end" if someone else appeared. Not Yumi, nor other Yamayuri-kai members. Maybe Kanako, I'm not sure. This is also the moment Noriko is elevated from "Noriko-san" to "Noriko." The tears just started flowing..

I've noticed how important decision it was for Yumi not to ask Kashiwagi on "why" Touko ran away from home. Everything just might have fallen apart if she knew beforehand that Touko was adopted.

My most favorite episode ever. Probably even more so than the original Rainly Blue since this time I've read the novels beforehand. Extra props to Kugimiya Rie.

EDIT: The Drama Club president deserves an honourable mention here. She also understands Touko to a deep extent, recognizes that Touko repeatedly gets hurt from getting close to Yumi (even though they're mostly self-inflicted). She would've made a wonderful Onee-sama, too.

mintyfresh

2009-03-14, 22:52

I like Yumi, don't get me wrong, she's one of my favorite characters, I just kind of miss Yoshino and Shimako... and I doubt we'll get any of their stories this time through, which is a shame.

Heh, even though I like both Yumi and Touko very much, I agree with you. Also, that reminds of another point I thought of while wathing this week's ep.
If this season really will be 13 episodes, then they'll likely take up the next two episodes covering Kriss Kross (which we know already to be true) and then close with Anata wo Sagashi ni.

And I must say, I'm a little surprised they didn't stop at a Pizza Hut as well.

inisipis

2009-03-15, 02:32

A very emotional episode, that very nicely done.

Lets see if i get this right. Touko knows she is adopted, but her father doesn't want her to thinks different about it. Touko went to the drama club. i guess wishing to resign. The pres. of the Drama club wants to make Touko her little sister, but understands that Touko has feelings for Yumi.
Suguru fetches Touko in a rather sinister clothes so that they can talk. Suguru wants to know from Touko what happened at Christmas, when Sachiko hinted about this at the last episode.We found out that Touko has admired Yumi since she say last Valentines contest. (I always knew she likes Yumi at the getgo, that's why she was totally scolded at Yumi when she doesnt seems to care about Sachiko at season two, were she said she was disappointed at Yumi)
Suguru realizes that the other rich brats were also mean to Touko as well to Yumi. Suguru turn really frightening and is very protective to those he cared about. (he did Bitch-slapped all the members of the Detective club that abducts Yumi.) :)
She meet up with Yumi. they talked for a while, and i guess they had a misunderstanding and Touko becomes Angry. Yumi doesn't bite it and calmly walks away.
Touko i guess confronts Sachiko on if she tells Yumi she was adopted. Sachiko tells Touko she's mistaken. Touko finally realizes this and begs for forgiveness. Sachiko tells her to ask Yumi's forgiveness because she Hurt Yumi's feelings. Touko cries alone blames herself on distancing herself from people who cares for her.
Noriko came and consoles Touko. Noriko probably says to herself that Touko finally removes her Mask.

Very good Drama

ladholyman

2009-03-15, 04:20

The animation in this episode is godly. It's like Studio Deen and Pizza Hut suddenly got a large influx of cash.

Shiroth

2009-03-15, 07:07

Personally that was the best episode from this series upto now. Only focusing on Touko does help --- she's one of my favorite characters, and i've been waiting for an episode like this. Basically (by accident) we find out that she's not the real child of the parents she's with. There's still a bit more to learn regarding her backstory, though we're getting there.

Animation was top notch in this episode, especially for the facial expression of Touko and Yumi during their confrontation scene. There were some great ott scenes like the car drive and dramatic wind towards the end.

Few more random notes --- Noriko to the rescue, and hello Sawashiro Miyuki-senpai. Small role, though she was lovely.

Anh_Minh

2009-03-15, 07:45

Seeing Touko hit rock-bottom was unexpectedly pleasant. Not because I bear her any ill will, but because now it feels like she can finally go up again. Anyway, well done, Noriko. Nice save.

Question: why would the three ojou know, but not Sachiko?

Re: next ep: I guess we'll see Touko try hard for Yumi's card, as a way to get out of her downward spiral. And maybe a kind of apology. The start of one, anyway.

Shigan

2009-03-15, 08:57

Best episode this far, and the drama club president do deserve an honorary mention. It's nice to see that there are other people who care and understand Touko too.

Molenir

2009-03-15, 11:39

What an amazing episode. Probably the best of the season. I really like Touko, have since Season 3, when she warned Yumi about the girls in episode 1. Finally understanding what she was going through, all the pain and hurt she was feeling. Even though most of it was self inflicted. Her realizing that everything with Yumi, the one she admired so much, was just her own misunderstanding. Seeing Yumi act so mature and graceful, in the face of anger as Touko lashed out at her again. Just so amazing. I think this makes my top 5 favorite Maria-sama episodes.

Question: why would the three ojou know, but not Sachiko?

This is just my guess here, but I would think it has to do with the social circles the families are involved in. After the death of their child, adopting another one is going to be news. However Sachiko's family is very close with the Matsudeira's, and they're not going to just gossip about things like this. Unlike those other families. The other girls Sachiko's age probably had trouble gossiping about things like this in front of Sachiko. Her demeanor being very forbidding. Hence the reason the other girls would know, while Sachiko didn't.

Master Chibi

2009-03-15, 16:48

Definitely the best episode of the seasons thus far, I wanted to reach in there and hug Touko soooo bad.

D:

Nochgo

2009-03-15, 19:12

Wow, what a powerful episode, and indeed the best episode of the season so far. The episode focuses on Touko (about time) and it does so well in depicting Touko's situation to the audience. This is one of those 'a picture is worth a million word' moments for me. I was gripped during the scene between Suguru and Touko. Seeing Suguru's anger in his face, you can really see and appreciate his care for Touko. At the realization of Touko's bitter past, I again found myself angry at those haughty girls as I had during the OVA, while sympathizing for Touko.

And during the confrontation between Yumi and Touko, you can really see how much more tolerent and mature Yumi as become in continuation from the last episode. Its was really something see, Yumi keeping her calm and telling Touko to stay behind and count to 100, and Touko obidiently do so and in the end finding herself alone. It was such a nice imagery to what we have been told just minutes ago by Suguru, how Touko will be alone if she keeps on running away.

And of course, the last scene, where Touko finally realize that Yumi hadn't known anything all along was done very effectively, showing her despair and how much she regret her actions. Of course, Sachiko did her role ever so perfectly in conveying this information to Touko. Just watching Touko count to hundred again, was very painful to see, and I teared up as well, but it was also nice to see; we finally get to see Touko's real, true emotions. And, we had Noriko to count on (I kinda forgot that though...), and it was a relief that Touko didn't end up alone finishing counting to a hundred.

And notable mention to Suguru's attire; I wonder if that is his interrogation outfit. He looks waaaay too suspicious :D

The animation in this episode is godly. It's like Studio Deen and Pizza Hut suddenly got a large influx of cash.

Maybe they were saving up for this episode :D

textgirl

2009-03-15, 20:00

well my mom always told me never burn your brideges and i see why though touko she burned everyone around her and she had to pay for it by being alone just thank god noriko was there for her man this was such a powerful episode i was so moved with it i was like in shock on how the way yumi told her to count to 100 and i think touko got wat she deserved when it came to sa-chan and yumi it like they both want touko to know that they came about her but they are not going to put up with her crap ether surguru told touko the right thing and he has been such a wonderful help in this season at first i was disappionted about last week but seeing this episode opened my eyes to how great and powerful this show can be well great episode i cant wait to see hpw it ends

Proto

2009-03-15, 21:10

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
........................

You might want to use them, but maybe you got some of those evil French keyboards that don't evil have points and commas.

Droplet

2009-03-15, 22:15

It'll be very hard to top this episode. The pacing kept me at the edge of my seat, but at the same time told me to sit back and relax.

Here we see Touko from a more intimate perspective. A stellar installment. 10/10. I could be out on a leg here but that was more intense than what I've seen from the novel translations.

"You keep running away, but you want to be caught." <3

Kaoru Chujo

2009-03-15, 23:57

I've never liked Touko before. But now I get it. Sometimes we can't help doing things that hurt us, and we have to learn new ways of being.

I agree that this was one of the best eps of the season, but I've been away and had to catch up by watching three episodes in a row, and they were all good. This is just a good series, period.

xris

2009-03-16, 18:01

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Kylaran

2009-03-17, 07:04

inisipis

2009-03-17, 09:16

I've really enjoyed the past few episodes of MariMite, but did anyone find Touko's reactions this episode to be a bit incredulous? I mean, from a viewer's stand point some of those animations of her face were very, very dramatic. Dramatic to the point that it was hard to believe in their authenticity.

.

Perhaps Touko just can't turn-off being a Drama Queen, even when she is being true to herself. I guess being in the Drama club has it's drawbacks.:heh:

But, you're right i find the Touko her more expressive and more emotional than the norm, that it's quite surprising to those who watched her in the past. I guess she's been keeping inside all her sadness and fears for such a long time , it overwhelms her and at this episode the Dam finally burst.

4Tran

2009-03-17, 12:26

I've been on a bit of a shoujo anime binge (30 episodes of Utena in three days) lately, but Marimite still hits a high note relative to that. I'm really quite pleased with the way Touko dug herself deeper into a hole before realizing just how self-destructive she's been. Her reasons for turning Yumi's offer was what I thought, but the creators did a very nice job of putting that into words and pictures. It's nice to see everyone - Sachiko, Suguru, and especially Yumi - finally get angry at her for how she's been behaving. I imagine that Touko is going to feel obligated to do a bit of grovelling to get back into Yumi's good graces; and given what we've seen with the "count to a hundred", it's pretty clear who's going to be figuratively wearing the pants in that relationship :).

Overall, I especially appreciate all the nice little touches of nonverbal communication that's in the show. This episode does a little more with little gestures, but it's been very well handled all season. I feel that these touches do way more to establish meaning than most other shows can aspire to.

I also have to commend Kugimiya Rie's acting in this episode. I haven't been all that fond of her other recent work, but she's been excellent in Marimite so far.

Question: why would the three ojou know, but not Sachiko?
Quite simply, the others are obsessed with status and actively look for ways to bring down those who seem to challenge it. Sachiko never gave a damn about status so she never pried into the affairs of the Matsudairas (and of course, wouldn't really care even if she knew).

I've really enjoyed the past few episodes of MariMite, but did anyone find Touko's reactions this episode to be a bit incredulous? I mean, from a viewer's stand point some of those animations of her face were very, very dramatic. Dramatic to the point that it was hard to believe in their authenticity.
The overly dramatic reaction has been a staple of shoujo manga/anime pretty much from the beginning. It's not for everyone, but it's actually more restrained than some older shoujo like Oniisama e. In this case, I think that it's well warranted given the depths of Touko's realization, and how much her little world/facade have shattered. She used to be able to convince herself that she was the victim in this whole affair, but that's no longer an option - and something like that has got to hurt.

Anh_Minh

2009-03-17, 13:06

agila61

2009-03-17, 14:10

I've really enjoyed the past few episodes of MariMite, but did anyone find Touko's reactions this episode to be a bit incredulous? I mean, from a viewer's stand point some of those animations of her face were very, very dramatic. Dramatic to the point that it was hard to believe in their authenticity.

Nevertheless, I quickly forgot about those few moments of drama and enjoyed the rest of the show. Just wondering if I was the only one that felt this way about some parts to this episode.

But she's been wearing her "mask" for a long time ... as we learn in this episode in part in reaction to taunting from the rich girls the cluster jealously around Sachiko ... ... its fairly realistic that when the dam breaks on a long-suppressed pain, the original pain is relived.

Its not in character with "the perfect little actress", but its in character with the reason why she became the perfect little actress.

4Tran

2009-03-17, 22:55

She may feel the obligation, but I think Yumi will forgive her relatively easily, once she knows what that was about. In fact, I think there's good chance she may blame herself for blundering to the situation blindly.
Precisely. And that's also why it makes for such compelling drama. Yumi's nature is such that she wouldn't care about what Touko's apology entailed, or even if she made one. All Yumi would care about is Touko's sincerity. Touko's nature is quite different, and she simply wouldn't be comfortable without making some sort of grand gesture. And it's in these two dichotomies where all the fun lies - we know that Yumi is so easy-going that she wouldn't really care what Touko does, but the latter is going to go all out because she doesn't know that (and because she doesn't really function that way). And really, if Yumi took any pleasure in Touko's grovelling, then it would seem vindictive, and it'd be harder for it to be fun.

Sachiko will be the hardest sale. No matter what the circumstances, Touko hurt her beloved little sister pretty bad.
Nah, Sachiko is only angry for Yumi's sake, and as long as Yumi is fine with it, she would be as well.

Mentar

2009-03-18, 15:55

This was the single best episode in the MariMite universe in a long long LOOOONG while. Awesome. A 9.5 in my book, and I'm extremely stingy with anything above 8.

So many things done right.

o They gave Touko a credible backstory for her behavior

o Finally the "old" Yumi from seasons 1/2 reemerges

o Even Sachiko finally gave one of her trademark withering glares. Her all-soft-and-kind elder oneesama always felt a little off to me. It's good to get a glimpse on her steel beneath after all.

o Nice symbolisms in the technical handling. The counting, the gradual desertion...

o I always liked Noriko alot due to her independence and resilience. Here, she picked up some extra brownie points with me.

o Let the healing begin...

Wonderful stuff, looking forward to 12+13 alot.

Maceart

2009-03-18, 18:06

As sad as I am that it's only going to be 13 episodes, this episode made me drop my mouth in awe due to its amazing plot handling and characterization.

4Tran

2009-03-18, 22:33

o Finally the "old" Yumi from seasons 1/2 reemerges
I don't really think that it's the old Yumi at all. Her mannerisms are fairly toned down from the old Yumi, and she exhibited a restrained disappointment towards Touko that we've never seen before. It seems to me more as if she's showing off more of the kind of character she's growing into than anything else. This new Yumi is very similar to the old one in terms of values and what not, but she's also a lot more capable of taking things in stride.

o Even Sachiko finally gave one of her trademark withering glares. Her all-soft-and-kind elder oneesama always felt a little off to me. It's good to get a glimpse on her steel beneath after all.
She just hasn't had as much chance to use it in quite a while. You can chalk it up to a mollifying influence from Yumi. :)

Wonderful stuff, looking forward to 12+13 alot.
I have to agree with that; and I really wish that some more shows would go to similar lengths of character and mood work. The facial expressions in Marimite have been top-notch all along, but they're done even better in this episode. Unfortunately, this seems to be very hard to accomplish, so there isn't more of this kind of richness of material.

Sinestra

2009-03-19, 10:34

I really need subs for this episode i had hard time following i really need to brush up on my Japanese more.

I thought this bit of news was pretty cool

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-03-19/maria-sama-nagasawa-to-remake-nichiyobi-wa-issho-ni-manga

gokigenyou

2009-03-19, 11:14

I loved this episode. Probably my favorite of all the episodes, in fact.
We finally got some great insight on Touko, and finally got to see her without her mask.

I thought this was also the best animated episode. The facial expressions, the constant body-movement... usually, alot of anime series will have lots of motion, but bad character design. Or, good clean character design, but the animation is very static. I was really surprised (and pleased) to see that we saw alot of motion (watch Touko in the drama club room, for example) that was still well animated.

I give this episode 10 gokigenyou's!

Sinestra

2009-03-20, 13:21

Another emotionally charged episode and i think it was delivered perfectly. Touko's secret is out and those of us that knew kept quiet about it which i like since it was part of the emotional experience and a huge chunk of why Touko is the way she is. But her parents love her like she was their real daughter. Very few people knew the situation surrounding Touko's birth and i believe her parents wanted it that way they never wanted her to feel she was adopted she is their daughter in ever sense of the word. There is a lesson here for people who keep things bottled up it effects others around you even if you dont notice it and when it come bursting forth its the like flood gates have opened. Even Sachiko didn't know and much to a very shocked and very emotional Touko.

I wouldn't call Touko jaded but her birth and constant conflicting feelings really puts her on edge. Once again she lashes out at Yumi in front Maria-sama (i love how most of the important conversations are done in front of her). She once again misunderstands Yumi's intentions and goes back to the angry spiteful Touko speaking without listening rarely ends well, we have seen and heard all this before. What made this scene so great was of course Yumi, who has matured at an alarming rate since the events around Christmas. Yumi taught Touko a lesson by telling her to count to 100 and keep her eyes closed. The result was Touko realized how very much alone she was this event only reinforced what Kashiwagi told Touko "If you keep running one day no one will chase you" I cant stress how true these words are. I felt this whole episode was just a giant eye opener for Touko.

Its been a while since we have heard such harsh words and tone from Sachiko. But when it comes to protecting Yumi Sachiko is all business. That look she displayed while setting Touko straight said so much. Touko finally understood that Yumi knows her and cares for her more than she could have ever thought. Yumi knew nothing of her families circumstances but just pointed out that whatever was going on with her doesn't matter her feelings will not and would not change and as usual Touko misread what she was trying to say. When Sachiko said she felt for sorry for Yumi for always worrying about Touko i think that was the nail in the coffin and finally that little light bulb in Toukos head went off. The result was a rush of emotion and regret and her finally realizing that even before the audience was aware of Yumi's feelings for her it had started long ago when she first caught a glimpse of Yumi when she first became Sachiko's en bouton. The link is great because it shows that Yumi and Touko have been connected for a lot longer than everyone thinks and Touko now is just realizing what all those weird feelings she was having were. She was scared of Yumi but in a way it was more like being in awe of someone or being drawn to them.

I was happy that Noriko came along and so was Touko who for the first time can admit that she does not want to be alone she does not like being alone and watching her have a good cry and let it all out i couldnt help but to think it was long over due. Noriko is a great person to support Touko at the moment because i feel that she cares for Touko as much as Yumi does and Norioko has shown that she can be super supportive even when Touko is not cooperative.

I suspect that we will have further developments as the card race begins and im sure that Touko will enter the race which is funny because its a race to find a card but instead of running away Touko would running towards something namely Yumi.

Great episode 10/10