sola - Episode 4 Discussion / Poll

[monir]

Welcome to the discussion thread for sola, Episode 4.

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or

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[spoiler=title, i.e. your reason for the spoiler tag]Don't forget to use a title for the spoiler![/spoiler]

...becomes...

Spoiler for title:

Don't forget to use a title for the spoiler! Kon dared to forget, and look what happened!

[Kaoru Chujo]

Well, for whatever reason, I really loved this episode. Nothing much happened, I guess you could say. But the feelings linger in my heart. Aono's loneliness. Kotori's...whatever it was. The gentle pace, the quiet music. The voices. Whether you can say she acts well or not, Shimizu Ai's voice as Koyori really reached me this time. As did Nakahara Mai's as Aono. As did Honda Youko's as Mana. As did Yahagi Sayuri's and Koshimizu Ami's. Like a symphony of sweet sounds from these "sad girls in the dark."

I have to admit, however, that Torito (Okamoto Nobuhiko) sank back into harem-lead nonentity this time around.

The director and co-storyboarder of this episode was Nishimura Hiroaki, who directed four episodes of Mahoraba, two each of Karin and Nanoha A's, and one of Nodame Cantabile. He also did storyboards for Karin and Mahoraba. Give this man a series.

I said that not much happened, but Aono asking to go home is something big, as is her making friends with Koyori. And the hunter Takeshi's awareness of Yorito going home gave me a chill. The character design and Fujiwara Keiji's voice work together very well.

[monir]

Screenshot for Episode 4:



This is actually a pretty eventful episode with a bit of personality exploration on Aono, but as Kaoru has mentioned, the consistency holds in how the episode has been paced. The pacing is just as deliberately soothing as ever. This is an episode:

Spoiler for dialogue and image specific from episode 4:

Where Aono smiles for the first time!!


Aono has a magnificient smile!

More I see the more I like Aono's character. Here is an interesting exchange of dialogue between Koyori and Aono when they met for the first time in the hospital lobby.

Koyori: Can I ask your name?
Aono: The wrong thing came out.
*Aono is speaking meditatively as she stares at the cup of liquid on her hand*
Koyori: Hmm?
Aono: When I pressed the button, the wrong thing came out.
*Koyori observes the out-of-order sign near the vending machine that has fallen under*
Aono: I hate coffee... because it's bitter.



The dialogue that follows after is pretty cool. We get a glimpse of what is churning inside of Aono for the first time. I won't give it away.

The episode is pretty much provided a lot of those glimpses about Aono which dismisses the notion that she might be a one dimensional character. Just look at those screen above. Aono smiling is so uncharacteristics. As we saw from earlier episodes, Aono tosses those dolls aside as soon as Yorito brings them in his visit. Today he forgets, and Aono is pretty unforgiving in her own way. Yorito wants to make up to Aono. Aono demands Yorito brings her 5 of those dolls tomorrow. Aono also knows exactly how many dolls Yorito has brought her, and her favorite of them is the one that Yorito has brought the first time. She smiled that sweet smile when she was talking about it.

I've enjoyed this episode very very much.

[dkellis]

When I was watching this episode, I was going "I hope they're going to go somewhere with this" for most of it.

But by the end, all I could think was "Awwww."

Koyori is, oddly enough, quickly becoming one of my favourite characters of the show. She's holding up astonishingly well under her hospitalization, and she's a great deal more mature than I'd imagine kids her age to usually be. (Possibly her extremely polite manner of speaking factors into this.)

And Aono actually gets some character development. I'd probably need the subs before I can really figure out what exactly happened this episode, but for some reason, just on gut feeling alone, she seems more human now, rather than just Yorito's unnecessarily demanding older sister.

Overall, a slow episode, and I'd have to admit that at the end, I remembered that there was still the whole Matsuri-as-night-demon thing going on that probably should be getting some plot advancement soon enough (what with the reported series length). Even so, I really can't fault this episode as a standalone, since it was impeccably-paced and thoroughly touching.

[lightbringer]

Originally Posted by dkellis

When I was watching this episode, I was going "I hope they're going to go somewhere with this" for most of it.

I felt like this too, with the exception that at the end I felt they went nowhere. It just dragged on and on. So we get character expositions for Aono and Koyori, but honestly I couldn't care less about either of them. Was their friendship and Koyori's release from the hospital really worth one whole episode? It's a bit too early in the series to give this much attention to side characters.

At least the old guy got a clue at the end, so Mitsuri might be involved in another battle sometime soon. So I guess I'll keep watching for now, even though the magic of the first three episodes has been lost for me already.

[babuji]

Hmmmm........Gotta say that the pace is going slow enough..but the story line might speed up after episode 5.

But I give an 8.

hehe.

[kelvie]

Originally Posted by dkellis

Overall, a slow episode, and I'd have to admit that at the end, I remembered that there was still the whole Matsuri-as-night-demon thing going on that probably should be getting some plot advancement soon enough (what with the reported series length). Even so, I really can't fault this episode as a standalone, since it was impeccably-paced and thoroughly touching.

My thoughts exactly, though I did find this episode enjoyable. Perhaps it's because I was in a good mood before watching it.

Also, I find aono to be very dull, something about people that are just overly passive like that just bugs me. Especially those scenes where it's just a closeup of Aono's face, and no part of it moves an inch.

Still.. every Friday morning I try my hardest to get the HD ep the minute it comes out.

[Anacone]

Ah...drama!! Good drama wins always fluent action and gives so much more... although everyone is unlikely watching this just for action . I just felt this is deepening overall impact of story with giving enough space to all characters.

[Deathkillz]

yes this was the ep i have been waiting for ~ gimme more Aono love

Spoiler:

well it wasnt totally uneventful as it does give us a glimpse into the character Aono and her relationship with mana's sister Koyori (who i never knew was staying in the same hospital! O.o)

what did i say about aono being mysterious and pretty much she is...we still dont know what reason she is the way she is but at least its getting somewhere...its evident that she loves her "little" brother from the reacion given to him forgetting to bring her a doll...so thats what she is really like ~ giving a dear one the cold shoulder but with burning passion inside...in no time i can see that outer shell melting (i hope )

as for Koyori ~ it seems that even though she goes to aono everyday they arent exactally friends...or rather aono is giveing her the cold shoulder as well...and for what reason she is in hospital it could be the lack of self confidence...Koyori doesnt seem to have much friends so she is very happy when aono considered her as one ~ she is able to go school...

i just love the start of this ep...matsuri and mana acting like close himitsu friends really takes the cake

and this line is just gold!

mana: "matsuri san ohiyo"
matsuri: "oyasumi nasai" (yes its only natural to sleep in the morning

the ending for this ep was just beautiful...asides from seeing Aono smile...Koyori's reaction to it with teary eyes is just beautiful! *goes to make avie*

[Anacone]

Originally Posted by Deathkillz

yes this was the ep i have been waiting for ~ gimme more Aono love

Spoiler:

well it wasnt totally uneventful as it does give us a glimpse into the character Aono and her relationship with mana's sister Koyori (who i never knew was staying in the same hospital! O.o)

Yes Aono needs more love ...As being sickly kid I can feel sympathy toward to anyone who needs to spent time in the hospital.

Spoiler:

You just weren't observant...why otherwise Koyori had that hospital dress if she weren't in same hospital .

[wontaek]

Judging from the preview pattern, I think next episode will be about Mayuko and Takeshi's past. The series is still toying with my expectation. On one hand, they show us the mental state of each character, on other end, they are parading character background like a character background introduction to a game series.If my guess is correct, soonest we can have some fast action would be ep. 6, not 5.

[Ascaloth]

Originally Posted by lightbringer

I felt like this too, with the exception that at the end I felt they went nowhere. It just dragged on and on. So we get character expositions for Aono and Koyori, but honestly I couldn't care less about either of them. Was their friendship and Koyori's release from the hospital really worth one whole episode? It's a bit too early in the series to give this much attention to side characters.

At least the old guy got a clue at the end, so Mitsuri might be involved in another battle sometime soon. So I guess I'll keep watching for now, even though the magic of the first three episodes has been lost for me already.

You need patience, and lots of it, for this kind of show, you know. If action's all you're on about, this probably isn't your thing.

Sorry, but I felt I had to put this out.

[lightbringer]

Originally Posted by Ascaloth

You need patience, and lots of it, for this kind of show, you know. If action's all you're on about, this probably isn't your thing.

Sorry, but I felt I had to put this out.

Nah, I am not all about action. In fact, I find action shows horribly boring. Nothing put me to sleep quicker than Gundam SEED. Like I said, I loved the first three episodes, especially the third one, but this one is just plain boring. Especially Aono, who just sits there with her mouth closed all the time and has nearly no facial expressions to speak off. It's like watching a snail race.

But now that this show has hit rock bottom for me, it can only get better

[Ascaloth]

Originally Posted by lightbringer

Nah, I am not all about action. In fact, I find action shows horribly boring. Nothing put me to sleep quicker than Gundam SEED. Like I said, I loved the first three episodes, especially the third one, but this one is just plain boring. Especially Aono, who just sits there with her mouth closed all the time and has nearly no facial expressions to speak off. It's like watching a snail race.

But now that this show has hit rock bottom for me, it can only get better

Ah well, guess it's just you then.

As for me, I'll not comment any more until I get to watch it. And seeing that my comp went on the fritz today, and that the subs aren't going to come out that soon anyway, it'll be a while...

[lightbringer]

Originally Posted by Ascaloth

Ah well, guess it's just you then.

As for me, I'll not comment any more until I get to watch it. And seeing that my comp went on the fritz today, and that the subs aren't going to come out that soon anyway, it'll be a while...

Lol. Well, it might just be me, and you might love it after watching it, but you should really at least watch the episode before criticizing others' opinions Btw, lovely avatar.

[Deathkillz]

Originally Posted by lightbringer

Especially Aono, who just sits there with her mouth closed all the time and has nearly no facial expressions to speak off. It's like watching a snail race.

its called the "emotionless/withdrawal" type and one of my favorite arctypes...which so happens to be one of my favorite archetypes :3

but really this ep wasnt bad at all imo...a bit of character development of someone desperately in need of one was just what the doctor ordered

[Cyz]

Screenshots and summary of episode 4 courtesy of Random Curiosity. Pls. look at it at your own risk!!!

Spoiler:

A Koyori episode! I love hearing Ai Shimizu's voice

[octoberasian]

I didn't realize until watching this episode that Koyori was staying at the same hospital as Aono. But, another episode we get to learn a little something about the characters especially about Aono and Koyori; and the interactions between them. Now I know where Yorito gets those stuffed dolls from.

(I do hope the soundtrack comes out soon, I'm really liking the background music here. There is a lot of piano music, especially what is played towards the end.)

[monir]

The one other thing about Yorito that I've neglected to mention from the episode:

Spoiler for specific event from episode 4:

When Mana observes Yorito should get Aono some other things for gift instead of thess dolls since Aono doesn't like them, Yorito wonders if that's the truth. I found that brief scene touching because it once again demonstrated the bond between these two siblings. Yorito and Aono know about each other more than anyone else. Mana can't see the joy those dorky dolls bring to Aono even though, seemingly enough, Aono acts indifferent toward Yorito's gift. Yorito, of course, knows better.

Btw, couldn't help but observe that Omni's summary reads/feels different than his usual style of writing.

[octoberasian]

Originally Posted by monir

The one other thing about Yorito that I've neglected to mention from the episode:

Spoiler for specific event from episode 4:

When Mana observes Yorito should get Aono some other things for gift instead of thess dolls since Aono doesn't like them, Yorito wonders if that's the truth. I found that brief scene touching because it once again demonstrated the bond between these two siblings. Yorito and Aono know about each other more than anyone else. Mana can't see the joy those dorky dolls bring to Aono even though, seemingly enough, Aono acts indifferent toward Yorito's gift. Yorito, of course, knows better.

Wow, nice observation, had to rewatch the episode to see that. It seems, to me, that Mana does not know a lot about the relationship between Yorito and Aono. She sees as if Aono doesn't like those stuffed dolls. Yorito thinks otherwise.

See, if Yorito saw that Aono didn't like those stuffed dolls, why would he continue buying them in the first place? I think Mana is a bit oblivious to that brother-sister dynamic that Aono and Yorito have. Their relationship is subtle and deep, but not quite obvious.