(L) Akb0048

[ars89]

Spoiler for ep 21:

The loneliness of being a center nova really doesn't sound good. FIgures Chieri's dad was using Mii-chan. So Yuuko becomes a center nova and vanishes at the same time.

[RDF2050]

There is no word for me to describe the emotions I had in this episode...

[Dr. Casey]

Originally Posted by xizro345

I'd rather have a conclusion and let it rest. "Dragging" the series more would just ruin it, IMO.

It would... but I don't think going beyond a second season would automatically be dragging it. Some stories take longer to tell than 26 episodes.

[Requiem-x]

First of all, thank you, Sonata! How didn't I think about that? And Mimomari sure is growing into a nice mistress.

Back to the plot, Yuuko is the protagonist, but there might be a worse price to pay for that than dissapearing.

Spoiler for Episode 21:

Like becoming aizendad's personal battery. If the guy was capable of creating a center nova he probably has the means to catch one in the act. Wouldn't it be horrible if the next episode is all about the girls coming to terms with Yuuko's dissapearance but in the end they find out NOPE, she's chained up in some weird sugestive machinery all the way back in Cheri's place, probably in a truckload of pain. Talk about mixed feelings. Now Cherry is totally gonna blow his dad's face off in one punch. Nagisa could do it too, I'm not demanding.

On another note, I think this episode did a pretty good job showing why Yuuko is worthy of the position, as cliched as "she tries the hardest" might sound, but that really is the case, she has wanted it from the beginning harder than anyone and sure has busted her rear and soul off to do it, and yet, this girl just seems to aim higher and higher. Especially liked that scene in the turbine (Nagisa's cute fangirl outburst included). Too bad those efforts could easily go to waste now.

Oh, and... ARE YOU A FREAKIN MORON, MII-CHAN?! Not only did you get manipulated by Aizendad TWICE, but your big idea was to forcibly take Acchan back from the idol zone!?

-Good to see things were just as gay back in Acchan's times.
-Did anyone else thought "OH CRAP, IT'S HAPPENING!" when s4 glitched out?
-Fourth condition to be a center nova: Dual wield like a boss

[Kazu-kun]

Originally Posted by chaosprophet

I would bet more on Chieri as Yuuko. I think her soul purpose would be more aligned with what we saw with Yuuko, while Nagisa makes me think more of Acchan, like how she acted on Tundrastar, wanting the people there to see the AKB live, similar to what Acchan tells Tsubasa is her reason for doing performances.

I kinda disagree on that. I think there's quite a bit of parallelism between Acchan and Chieri. For example, during her election speech Chieri said "I love you all" and Acchan said pretty much the same thing when she was talking with Mariko in this episode (in a flashback). Furthermore, in episode 13 Acchan told Mariko she wanted to do concerts because she wanted to meet the fans, not because the fans were waiting for her. This is the same thing Chieri said when she was asking Tsubasa to let them perform in Rankastar (Chieri used pretty much the same wording than Acchan did too).

There's also how Nagisa has declared Chieri as her rival. It's kinda like how Yuuko always says that Acchan is her rival. Chieri on the other hand is more like Acchan in that they don't have any specific rivalry. Chieri competes with Nagisa and Yuuko because these two challenged her first.

Than again, maybe all this is misdirection. It wouldn't be rare coming from Kawamori. All I'm saying is that there is enough ground work to make Chieri an Acchan successor if they wanted to.

[Random Wanderer]

...I am going to make that son of a bitch eat his own intestines. And I'll make sure he's conscious the whole time so he can watch himself being cut open.

I am now moderately upset. If evil people are not violently killed for this I may be forced to take my anger out on the series' creators who dared to let them get away with this.

[ndqanh_vn]

Originally Posted by Kazu-kun

I kinda disagree on that. I think there's quite a bit of parallelism between Acchan and Chieri. For example, during her election speech Chieri said "I love you all" and Acchan said pretty much the same thing when she was talking with Mariko in this episode (in a flashback). Furthermore, in episode 13 Acchan told Mariko she wanted to do concerts because she wanted to meet the fans, not because the fans were waiting for her. This is the same thing Chieri said when she was asking Tsubasa to let them perform in Rankastar (Chieri used pretty much the same wording than Acchan did too).

There's also how Nagisa has declared Chieri as her rival. It's kinda like how Yuuko always says that Acchan is her rival. Chieri on the other hand is more like Acchan in that they don't have any specific rivalry. Chieri competes with Nagisa and Yuuko because these two challenged her first.

Than again, maybe all this is misdirection. It wouldn't be rare coming from Kawamori. All I'm saying is that there is enough ground work to make Chieri an Acchan successor if they wanted to.

well, I think the character of the real life (or original one) is more important. Chieri is just too...talented. She shines too brightly to become Acchan. I always think the reason Aki-P chooses Meada Atsuko to be the Ace is because she's extremely normal. She fits well into the "girl next door" (more like idol next door) image of AKB48. She is not the best in singing or dancing and too shy to be a good speaker. That's why some girls reacted badly when she was chosen as the center in the first place, much like Nagisa in the last season. A girl who is at the front, but in the same time was pretty much in the background, I think that's what makes Maeda Atsuko successful. Sorry if it sounds too confusing.

Chieri fits Yuko much more. She works hard. Her personality is very dorminant. She's full of charms. Her talent in singing and dancing is better than other kenkyusei.

That's being said, I wonder why do we have to have the successor thingy? Should Nagisa and Chieri take the names of some idols? Why can't they be succesful as themselves? Kenkyusei could perform well and attract fans while they're still being themselves, like Mimori and Chieri in the general election, why should they become somebody else?

It's ironic that the series sometimes put a lot of emphasis into "creativity" (for example, when Yuko scolded Nagisa for copying her styles) but in the end, all the girls only strive for becomming the perfect clone of some ancient idols.

oh...and suddenly remembered....that family of ALL TOMOMI is too creepy...

[Kazu-kun]

Originally Posted by ndqanh_vn

well, I think the character of the real life (or original one) is more important. Chieri is just too...talented. She shines too brightly to become Acchan. I always think the reason Aki-P chooses Meada Atsuko to be the Ace is because she's extremely normal. She fits well into the "girl next door" (more like idol next door) image of AKB48. She is not the best in singing or dancing and too shy to be a good speaker. That's why some girls reacted badly when she was chosen as the center in the first place, much like Nagisa in the last season. A girl who is at the front, but in the same time was pretty much in the background, I think that's what makes Maeda Atsuko successful. Sorry if it sounds too confusing.

You have a point there, but it has been said that having a similar personality won't necessarily make you a successor. What's most important is the soul's purpose, its goal. For example, what Hikari wanted the most was to beat Acchan the 13th, so she became a Yuuko successor (you know, because the original Yuuko also had the goal of beating Acchan). Matching the goal of the original is what matter the most.

If you think about Nagisa... she's still a understudy but she has already made a public declaration that she wants to beat Chieri and Yuuko and become Center Nova. That kinda goal doesn't match Acchan, who didn't really have such great aspirations at first. In fact Nagisa seems pretty aggressive right now. She feels a little bit more like Yuuko than Acchan.

On the other hand, Chieri's rather passive right now. She doesn't go out of her wait to declare any rivalry and such, for instance. She's pretty competitive, yes, but in a passive way: Yuuko and Nagisa challenged her first, Chieri is merely responding to their challenge. This passive behavior feels a bit like Acchan to me.


But then again, I don't disagree that Nagisa will become Acchan. She's the main character after all. All I'm saying is that they could go in a different direction if they wanted to and it still would make sense.

[Random Wanderer]

Anyone who tries to make Chieri cut her luscious hair will also suffer my wrath.

[Kazu-kun]

Originally Posted by Random Wanderer

Anyone who tries to make Chieri cut her luscious hair will also suffer my wrath.

But if it's anything like this picture she would look really cute. Don't you think?

[RDF2050]

Originally Posted by Kazu-kun

But then again, I don't disagree that Nagisa will become Acchan. She's the main character after all. All I'm saying is that they could go in a different direction if they wanted to and it still would make sense.

We are dealing with Kawamori Shoji. He will show you something then troll you with something else.

Originally Posted by Kazu-kun

But if it's anything like this picture she would look really cute. Don't you think?

I really like this one. (wish people could translate the kanji :3)

[ranchan13]

Did anyone else notice that Acchhan, in the flashback, looked almost exactly like Nagisa?
Just sayin'

[Kazu-kun]

Originally Posted by ranchan13

Did anyone else notice that Acchhan, in the flashback, looked almost exactly like Nagisa?

She didn't really look that much like Nagisa imo. Her face is pretty different (specially the eyes) and her hair, while similar, is a little more straight.

[FlareKnight]

What a mess, that place really got blown to hell. Hopefully those shelters were well made...and people are really good at evacuating in a hurry.

A few close calls with some of them getting shot down. I have to give Takamina credit. She does the smart thing and mostly lays low after potential death flags got waved around. She's a survivor that one .

Sucks for Yuuko though. Struggled with everything she had and went all out. She couldn't back out and retreat. She couldn't just give up that planet when she had a promise to keep. In the end whatever happened to her isn't going to be good. At best she vanished like all center nova (which isn't really good) or at worst Cheiri's dad had some way to capturing her. I can't imagine his plan was actually "get her!" Hoping to suddenly capture someone that's become really powerful in a hurry.

[sa547]

Originally Posted by ndqanh_vn

It's ironic that the series sometimes put a lot of emphasis into "creativity" (for example, when Yuko scolded Nagisa for copying her styles) but in the end, all the girls only strive for becomming the perfect clone of some ancient idols.

So you mean idols are, in the words of detractors, "manufactured"? I don't know what's worse, "manufactured" or having a superficial personality that does only lip service.

Maybe they're members of what constitutes the idol equivalent of a tribute band, but even as successors bearing the name of their forebears, deep down they couldn't be the complete reincarnation of the original members. As much as the successors try wearing the mask of the original girls, their individual true selves still remain, including their dreams and aspirations.

[garbage]

man , death flags galore for yuuko this episode, so did she disappear at the end, man what a cliffhanger. so would that open up nagisa>acchan, chieri>yuuko,or vice versa. since yuuko is still nagisa's idol.
awww poor akibastar ...>.< man zodiac, and chieri's father is really.... can't see chieri ever forgiving him now.
mii-chan, aww you teamed up with such a guy now you're surprised on what he does? sigh

love sonati's new name for mimori/mariko 8th : mimomari

Originally Posted by ndqanh_vn

May I ask a question to those who have watched the raw?

Spoiler for question about stage 21:

Did Nagisa do anything remotely relevant in this episodes? For a character who is supposed to be the main char, she has been very much in the background for this season. She got her dertermination after the election, she declared her dertermination...but they're just declaration without any significant and meaningful action to back up with (and interrupting the broadcast is pretty lame)

I almost forgot she is the main char, and started to think the story rotates its main chars amongst the girls, mostly Chieri, and Nagisa is sort of your viewpoint character here...Or has the main char has been shifted to Chieri already? Hm never guess Mayuyu is so popular...

Hm, I guess I just want to see the main char makes some actual progress.

really this episode is quite the opposite of what you're suggesting, yuuko of course is the main focus here, but at least nagisa had a couple of lines & focus. OTH Chieri hardly did anything, just being & agreeing with the group. But yeah since it's yuuko's episode it's not yet Nagisa's time to shine so to speak, no doubt with the emotions released after either A) Yuuko's disapperance or B) yuuoko's failure to go C-Nova here C) getting C-nova but captured by chieri's dad > would propel Nagisa forward...as i've said above Yuuko is her idol right? It will come.

Originally Posted by RDF2050

We are dealing with Kawamori Shoji. He will show you something then troll you with something else.

,,and ep 26 Sonata becomes Acchan AND Center-nova no! make that makoto?



sigh one week wait again

[chaosprophet]

Originally Posted by Kazu-kun

Than again, maybe all this is misdirection. It wouldn't be rare coming from Kawamori. All I'm saying is that there is enough ground work to make Chieri an Acchan successor if they wanted to.

While I think the opposite is more likely, I do agree both could work and have a good chance.

Originally Posted by sa547

As much as the successors try wearing the mask of the original girls, their individual true selves still remain, including their dreams and aspirations.

I agree with that although one of the things we learned about succession is that the person do need to have similar purpose as the original, so their dreams and aspirations shouldn't be that different.

All in all I really liked the succession system, although I would like if they were able to (and if it ends this season then I don't think they would have the time to spare) show us more how it's like to become a successor than what we saw with Mimori so far. Things like getting used to being called by the new name, reaction from fans (both the fans she did have, new fans that got interested in her succession, fans of a previous owner of the name, etc), other things similar to that about the car/train (don't the successors need to move to a different room?)

I would even like to see a future kenkyusei generation to see how would Nagisa and the others, now veteran successors that the new generation may look up to.

[Benigmatica]

Spoiler for Episode 21:

Needs "Seiken Hikou" playing on the background as Daddy Sono executes his ultimate plan of creating Dualium out of idols!

Anyways, sympathy and condolences for Yuuko... She's gone to the idol stage in another dimension!

[Matts]

Spoiler for Episode 21:

Now I want Nakata to say 'Kira' at one point.
Nice episode, even though I never really cared for Yuuko. And I'm starting to like Mimomari's new hair more than her old look. She and Orine looked too much alike.

[mechdra]

I kind of like this episode as it is very action oriented and a Yuuko episode. By the looks of it, Yuuko transported everything around her to another dimension. It is sad to see her disappear but I guess she get her wish fulfilled finally in such a situation.

Looks like there is a lot of empty position for the senbatsu members. I wonder who will fill them up besides Nagisa and Chieri.