[Swampstorm]

Originally Posted by Slick_rick

The thing about Alto is that he tries to deny his past. He never talks about his past and when it is brought up he gets upset. I don't think this is healthy behavior. It one thing to pry into his past without his permission but asking him straightforward about it should not be a concern. He will eventually have to make peace with it and talking about it to someone will be a good start. All that person has to do is ask him about it, without the mocking that usually accompanies it. If he doesn't want to talk about it then you don't have to push but let him know that you'll listen to him if he ever feels like opening up.

Not everyone wants to be helped with their problems. Asking directly is insensitive, because it puts Alto in an uncomfortable position. That's why a more sensitive approach would be to let him bring up the topic and gauge his responses before inquiring further.

While people tease Alto and his kabuki ways, they don't make jokes about his relationship with his father. That's an important distinction.

Originally Posted by Slick_rick

Give it you all doesn't mean you won't make mistakes or get embarrassed. She stills continues to show up to the mall and be embarrassed. She didn't stop singing, she didn't run away or go hide. Even though I think she felt like do all of that. She has to overcome her shyness and lack of stage experience but that will come with time.

When you give something your all, then you can't be embarrassed. If you're embarrassed, then it implies that you're bothered by what other people think of you. If you do that, you hold back.

Originally Posted by Slick_rick

Ep 10 Ranka says that she doesn't know if she can do either the kissing or the acting. Once she sees Alto and Sheryl kissing, she realizes her own feelings and how they are similar to Mao's. She was definitely uncertain about kissing Alto before seeing their kiss and feeling the desire to want to kiss him also.

Actually, this is a point that I'm unclear on. The way that Ranka said it, it seemed to me like her realization gave her the insight that she needed to play Mao's role, irrespective of the fact that the scene involved Alto. Otherwise, the scene wouldn't be about Ranka understanding Mao, so much as it would be about Ranka trying to get even with Sheryl for the kiss. It seems like the latter would be a much darker turn to Ranka's character development, and it seems less likely because Ranka didn't seem to fully realize it for what it was until she saw it on the big screen.

Originally Posted by ani_d

Sounds to me that even if she says otherwise, deep inside, she's hoping it would be the opposite. She aspires to be like Sheryl. Besides, someone who bosses her brother around, runs around singing 'Don't be late' in the streets, fangirls over her idol at the risk of being scolded by her manager is not someone who has absolutely zero self-confidence. She already has personality. She just denies herself until someone gives her a push.

That's the thing. She has plenty of people who she can and should draw emotional support from, but she shouldn't need anyone to tell her that she can succeed in the first place. But it looks like she's starting to move past that point already.

Originally Posted by ani_d

Why couldn't she pick herself up? Because she was trying to say goodbye to all the fans that came here to support her. She caught a lump in her throat and she couldn't continue. It doesn't have anything to do at all with herself admitting she's no good. There's nothing in this scene supports that Sheryl's faith in her own capabilities is as low as Alto and Ranka. The girl wasn't crying because she was no good at all lol

Sheryl herself is surprised to find herself crying. Don't forget that the first thing that she asks after recovering is if she can be a little selfish by dedicating her final song to a certain individual... no, group of individuals who are fighting for Galaxy's safety. Then her hand goes straight to where her missing earring should be. There's something a lot more personal here than just saying goodbye to Frontier.

Sheryl still believes in herself, but that belief is not enough on its own. Everyone needs emotional support from their friends to help them through difficult times. It's all about learning to depend on others without being "dependent". This sounds self-contradictory, but think about it for a bit.