Nodame Cantabile: Finale

[Kirarakim]

Originally Posted by Kazu-kun

She's as clueless about herself as she is about Auclair...

Yes I think this describes the situation perfectly.

I will also say that while Nodame sees Chiaki as interfering with her too much he wouldn't interfere unless he thought she was completely worth it (and I mean as a musician). He also sees the greatness in her that is why he would cancel his trip to Italy to work with her. So maybe he didn't go about it the right way but I still think Nodame's anger was misplaced here.

[Joojoobees]

Originally Posted by Kirarakim

He also sees the greatness in her that is why he would cancel his trip to Italy to work with her. So maybe he didn't go about it the right way but I still think Nodame's anger was misplaced here.

Yeah, I was really saddened that she got angry at him for that. Chiaki seemed to be trying his best, but Nodame didn't seem to understand this was his way of saying that he cared for her, and that he was sorry that he had to play the Ravel concerto with Rui instead of her.

Up to that point things seemed to be going well. I was enjoying the Chopin. Then NODAME is the one to push him away? Baka Nodame!

[Anh_Minh]

Originally Posted by SeijiSensei

Does anyone think "anything else" happened after the kiss? In our household the consensus was no.

They "practiced piano". And by "practice piano", I mean "practice piano". Wouldn't be the first time Chiaki gets blue balled by her.

[CWW]

t all the haters criticizing the show for not having enough nodame x chiaki moments:

ha!

[Ascaloth]

Real life, what do you know. Finally got around to watching Episode 6.

You know, I'm getting more and more surprised by this series every week. I'm actually starting to like it; this episode, once again, made me feel like I was watching the original series once again. The pacing is great, the focus on Chiaki and Nodame is nice, even the supporting characters are pulling their weight to some extent. It's actually getting quite good.

[Sinestra]

Originally Posted by Ascaloth

Real life, what do you know. Finally got around to watching Episode 6.

You know, I'm getting more and more surprised by this series every week. I'm actually starting to like it; this episode, once again, made me feel like I was watching the original series once again. The pacing is great, the focus on Chiaki and Nodame is nice, even the supporting characters are pulling their weight to some extent. It's actually getting quite good.

Very well stated. I adore any ChiakixNodame moments especially the kiss in this last episode that initiated by Chiaki something that i s very rare. But Iv found myself caring a lot about the supporting characters as well. Tanya has moved rather quickly on my scale in just 3 episodes. Her character is not only developing nicely and pulling the audience to sympathize with her, but we are also viewing her growth as musician and even though shes had some bumps her improvement is astonishing. She is learning more about herself and her music everyday and actually taking them to heart.

I for one am looking forward to her accompaniment with Kuroki.

@ Kirarakim nope your not being a fangirl i let a pretty loud AWWWWW followed by massive smiling after that kiss.

[Joojoobees]

Episode 7: it really feels like this show is back on track, meaning that the music is at the core of everything. It brings people together, like everyone going in to see Chiaki and Rui perform. It articulates relationships and personalities. It also represents challenges and accomplishments.

[Shiroth]

Spoiler for Episode 07:

"I'm not a Baby anymore!"

What an episode. Probably my favorite so far from the series. The flow of the development for Nodame, as long with Chiaki's interaction with Rui was just so much fun to watch, especially with the heavy jazz feel to this episode (i'm a huge fan of jazz btw ). The little piano piece that Rui played was seriously, seriously good.

Very horrible cliffhanger, though i should have seen it coming. I was just so into the episode that i lost track of time. Hope we see at least some of the performance in next weeks episode.

Preview shows what i kinda expected from Nodame.

[Ascaloth]

You know, it kind of bugs me that RL is finally getting in the way of my anime habits. Must be the girlfriend I didn't have before, lol. Watched Episode 7.

Yes....the feel of Season 1 is definitely back. It still amuses me how Nodame takes such a wholly instinctive approach to her music, to the point where it can (and does) backfire on her. Like Joojoobees said, the music does seem to finally be back at the core of everything, the key strength of Season 1, and not even the compression of limited episodes seems to mute it anymore, at least in this episode. And best of all, Rui underlines just what kind of bond Chiaki and Nodame seems to have, quite nicely. All in all, it's a pretty good episode, even if we put it to the sky-high bar of Kasai's Nodame. I enjoyed it. ^_^

Although this episode, I finally have something of an insight, or not. Is it just me, or is Nodame's approach to her attachment to Chiaki kind of....superficial? I'm sure the heavy feelings she brought from her knowing about Rui taking up Chiaki's time to her 3rd Movement of Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 31 is supposed to symbolize her negative feelings about Chiaki's "betrayal", but it still comes across to me that she's still....playing around, not entirely serious. :\

EDIT: Okay, I do have a few complaints. Due to certain minor omissions,

Spoiler for manga:

a certain "Milch Holstein" is going to seem like he's popped up out of nowhere later on,

but I guess that can't be helped either. This episode is pretty well-crafted on its own, after all.

[aliensporebomb]

Episode 7:

Spoiler:

Well the story continues: and the more it does the more I see similarities and
connections between Rui and Nodame: their apartments are disaster areas!

We see Professor Auclair call Nodame by her given name which is a surprise of sorts.

We see Chiaki feel some guilt perhaps in going to Rui's to hear her play.
Nodame finally finds a way to draw on inner pain to fuel her musical tones..

More Nodame/Rui comparisons: both seem to be able to play the piano with an almost
fiendish energy.

And we find out that Rui has a little affinity for jazz due to her fathers musical direction.

Chiaki gets some sage advice from the concertmaster of the Orchestra Rui Marlet -
don't hold back at any performance.

Chiaki mentions he wants to do an operatic performance with a singer.

Tanya reveals she hasn't decided whether or not to perform as Kuroki's accompanist -
this largely depends on whether or not she does well in her exams and indeed whether
she will stay in Paris at all.

We see a rehearsal with Rui and the Wiltord orchestra that portends great things.

And we find out that Nodame's wish might come true after all.

And we find out that Nodame has been on Rui's mind.

What a cliffhanger. Ouch.

[adamatari]

Spoiler for Episode 7:

I thought it was interesting to bring in "I Got Rhythm" next to Ravel's piano concerto. Though the (real) pianist really needs a refresher on swinging, as usual the music history lesson is neat and fits in the story.

Ascaloth: I don't think Nodame is at all insincere, or superficial. She can be a drama queen or a bit playful, but I don't think her feelings for Chiaki are anything but genuine. I would say that this particular thing is a bit overdone (because she's intentionally focusing on a real but not so serious jealousy), but I don't think there is any question of her feelings on a larger scale.

I had another view of it: in a certain way, she can play around like this because she feels more secure with Chiaki and knows that he's not going to dump her.

[Joojoobees]

Originally Posted by Ascaloth

I'm sure the heavy feelings she brought from her knowing about Rui taking up Chiaki's time to her 3rd Movement of Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 31 is supposed to symbolize her negative feelings about Chiaki's "betrayal", but it still comes across to me that she's still....playing around, not entirely serious. :\

I don't know, it seemed serious to me.

Thanks for pointing to that link, BTW. I thought this was really interesting:

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

Rosen states that this movement is the first time in the history of music where the academic devices of counterpoint and fugue are integral to a composition's drama, and observes that Beethoven in this work does not "simply represent the return to life, but persuades us physically of the process."

[kari-no-sugata]

Ep 8 raw is out.

Spoiler:

I wonder how many anime only viewers saw that one coming?

Nodame didn't expect Chiaki and Rui's to play the piece like she wanted to... and better than she thought possible. This leaves her rather depressed, but she tries to hide it from Chiaki when she sees him at his flat later. He has to go to Italy the next morning... and Nodame proposes to him as he's about to leave!

But he kinda panics and acts like she was acting silly (like how she refers to herself as being his wife quite often) and leaves for Italy but is clearly shaken.

Stresemann goes to visit Nodame's apartment, looking for Chiaki (I guess he doesn't know Chiaki has moved out) and finds Nodame. She cries in his arms. Later, Nodame explained what happened... and feels like she's just wasting her time practising so seriously - ie couldn't ever catch up with Rui because she's lost too much time.

Stresemann asks her to play a piece for him since he hasn't heard her play since Japan. She plays Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 31 and Stresemann is stunned. Meanwhile, Chiaki is still rather out of it and is watching the opera practice - Faust. Yep it is temptation of the devil time as Stresemann offers to use his stature to let Nodame play in a concert with him...!

[aliensporebomb]

Originally Posted by kari-no-sugata

Ep 8 raw is out.

Spoiler:

I wonder how many anime only viewers saw that one coming?

Nodame didn't expect Chiaki and Rui's to play the piece like she wanted to... and better than she thought possible. This leaves her rather depressed, but she tries to hide it from Chiaki when she sees him at his flat later. He has to go to Italy the next morning... and Nodame proposes to him as he's about to leave!

But he kinda panics and acts like she was acting silly (like how she refers to herself as being his wife quite often) and leaves for Italy but is clearly shaken.

Stresemann goes to visit Nodame's apartment, looking for Chiaki (I guess he doesn't know Chiaki has moved out) and finds Nodame. She cries in his arms. Later, Nodame explained what happened... and feels like she's just wasting her time practising so seriously - ie couldn't ever catch up with Rui because she's lost too much time.

Stresemann asks her to play a piece for him since he hasn't heard her play since Japan. She plays Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 31 and Stresemann is stunned. Meanwhile, Chiaki is still rather out of it and is watching the opera practice - Faust. Yep it is temptation of the devil time as Stresemann offers to use his stature to let Nodame play in a concert with him...!

I have to say that I was totally speechless after watching this one. I had no idea
it was going in this direction. I just know enough Japanese to go "no WAY!".

Speechless after this one. I can't imagine what's happening next.

Your synopsis is pretty much what I thought I heard and....yeah. I can't wait to hear others reactions too. And Chiaki!

And I also thought:

Spoiler:

It was just touched upon but she missed a lesson with Auclair. Would the explanation of "I was hanging with Maestro Franz Stresemann and he was entertaining the
possibility of me playing a concert with him....." pass muster with someone like Auclair or would be kick her to the curb as a student? This potentially could be a really
bad thing for her potentially as it seems that Auclair as strict as he can be really has her best interests at heart and keeps her focused.

And...just musing:

Spoiler:

It seemed that Rui wasn't really happy at the end of her concerto as impressive as it was. If Nodame does such a concert with Stresemann won't she
have similar feelings?

And:

Spoiler:

Preview for next week - did anyone else see who I saw? Heh heh heh....

[aliensporebomb]

Oh man, why didn't I think of this earlier?

Spoiler:

Even if Nodame says to Auclair that she was hanging with Maestro Stresemann would he even BELIEVE her?

[Kazu-kun]

Originally Posted by aliensporebomb

Oh man, why didn't I think of this earlier?

Spoiler:

Even if Nodame says to Auclair that she was hanging with Maestro Stresemann would he even BELIEVE her?

Spoiler:

Don't worry about Auclair for now. Just focus on what is going to happen with Nodame and Stresemann. It's gonna be epic, you'll see.

[aliensporebomb]

Originally Posted by Kazu-kun

Spoiler:

Don't worry about Auclair for now. Just focus on what is going to happen with Nodame and Stresemann. It's gonna be epic, you'll see.

I know, that's what I'm afraid of!

[BBOvenGuy]

Originally Posted by kari-no-sugata

I wonder how many anime only viewers saw that one coming?

I'll admit it - I certainly didn't. But I still say using the manga is cheating.

But now I wonder...

Spoiler:

...what Nodame and Stresemann will perform? Now that Rui has done the Ravel concerto, I can't see them having Nodame do it as well.

[aliensporebomb]

Originally Posted by BBOvenGuy

I'll admit it - I certainly didn't. But I still say using the manga is cheating.

But now I wonder...

Spoiler:

...what Nodame and Stresemann will perform? Now that Rui has done the Ravel concerto, I can't see them having Nodame do it as well.

I believe it will be:

Spoiler:

I believe it will be her Beethoven.

[Kazu-kun]

Originally Posted by aliensporebomb

I believe it will be:

Spoiler:

I believe it will be her Beethoven.

Spoiler for I'm not telling what piece they gonna play but...:

Her beethoven is fine to show Milch she's at the level, but for a concert, it's gotta be something different. Something that not only can express her current mood, but also show off her unique cantabile style. After all, this is the concert, so it's gotta be Nodame-like, it's gotta be magic. The ravel wouldn't do either, she isn't in the mood for that.