|
View Poll Results: Hyouka - Episode 17 Rating | |||
Perfect 10 | 36 | 42.35% | |
9 out of 10 : Excellent | 35 | 41.18% | |
8 out of 10 : Very Good | 9 | 10.59% | |
7 out of 10 : Good | 2 | 2.35% | |
6 out of 10 : Average | 2 | 2.35% | |
5 out of 10 : Below Average | 0 | 0% | |
4 out of 10 : Poor | 1 | 1.18% | |
3 out of 10 : Bad | 0 | 0% | |
2 out of 10 : Very Bad | 0 | 0% | |
1 out of 10 : Painful | 0 | 0% | |
Voters: 85. You may not vote on this poll |
|
Thread Tools |
2012-08-13, 06:31 | Link #41 |
Romanticist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Age: 33
|
I could feel the love and effort that went into music and cinematography that went into this episode. It's like the show really knows how to create a good ambiance. I mean, this show gets a lot of bile for the perceived triviality of its conflicts, but on the other hand, it could also be said that the show's ability to immerse its audience in the conflict, regardless of how trivial, is in itself impressive.
The story content itself was rich with juicy nuggets of characterization. Houtarou himself takes a backseat in this arc in favor of the other three main characters, so I wasn't all too fond of his exposition scene with Tanabe Jirou. But then again, I understand that the episode had tie up loose ends, so I guess it was inevitable. What I particularly loved is the melancholic mood that dominated throughout the entire episode. I think this arc underscores something that is so often trivialized, but nevertheless remains a sad truth about life. That is, people are not born equal. In whatever field, there will always be some individuals who manage to stand above everyone else. This episode portrays how different characters respond when faced with an overwhelming difference in ability. For example, Kouchi Ayako went as far as denying it through her outspoken views on manga. In contrast, Satoshi, while he acknowledged the disparity, tried to resist it by through sheer persistence. But in the end, there is nothing they can do but to accept it eventually. It a sense, you could call it something of a rite of passage for an individual to be integrated into society. From that standpoint, I'd say that this arc was rather bittersweet, though a bit more to the bitter side of the spectrum.
__________________
|
2012-08-13, 07:25 | Link #42 |
Crax
Author
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: MY
|
What? That was some of the best reality I've seen portrayed in an anime. Most of the tragedy/sad stories were too heavy on the subject of sadness and pain, and totally forgot that happiness also has an equal weight. If anything this arc was sweet and true to both its characters and audience; there's nothing bitter about learning life's lessons.
__________________
|
2012-08-13, 07:30 | Link #43 | |
Black Steel Knight
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Indonesia
|
Quote:
As for this episode, I don’t have anything more to say that’s not already better addressed by others. It’s just fun to see Irisu’s reaction that an honest & straightforward person like Chitanda said that her “persuasion” method is tiring after (trying) to use it for what? Two days? Now that must’ve hit Irisu’s conscience at least a bit if she’s smart enough to realize it. So, it's 9/10 from me. A minus since it doesn't solve the bullying problem.
__________________
|
|
2012-08-13, 07:44 | Link #45 |
Kana Hanazawa ♥
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: France
Age: 37
|
Brilliant ending to a fantastic arc. It was definitely the best arc so far. Tons of amusing moments, an interesting mystery, and plenty of character development; what more could I ask for?
This arc really made me feel for Satoshi. I believe most of us can relate to him to some extent, we've all realized at some point that there are people we can never hope to match. It's frustrating and it may seem unfair, but that's how it is.
__________________
|
2012-08-13, 07:48 | Link #46 | |
Romanticist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Age: 33
|
Quote:
Even more distressing is that most people can do nothing but accept it as "reality". The episode just leaves it at that, so it doesn't look to optimistic in that respect. But still, life goes on, and we continue to exist.
__________________
|
|
2012-08-13, 07:50 | Link #47 | ||
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
|
Quote:
I wonder why the promo for the next arc depicted Satoshi in such a light. Quote:
Last edited by rulfo; 2012-08-13 at 08:13. |
||
2012-08-13, 07:57 | Link #48 | |
Senior Member
Author
|
Quote:
Not everybody is going to be completely equal at everything. Personally, I'm glad that's true - The world would be a dull and boring place if everybody was equally talented at everything. There's "sweetness" in knowing that some people have breathtaking natural talent. There's joyful awe and wonder there, such as awe over Chitanda's hypno-eyes and wonder over Houtarou's deductive reasoning skills. The bitter side of this bittersweet ending comes with the lesson that many talented people never fully utilize their talents, or even truly appreciate the talents that they have. And that's a real shame, especially when so many people would love to have such talents. So the final takeaway from all of this, in context? Houtarou should develop his talents, and shouldn't let them go to waste. And hopefully Hyouka will show him maturing to a point where he truly embraces his talents, and puts them to consistent good use.
__________________
|
|
2012-08-13, 08:13 | Link #50 |
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2006
|
Interesting way to end it, wonder if he will be able to ignore Chitanda's curiosity about who Juumoji is, or really ends up telling her everything. Probably wont know for sure but would have been nice to see her reaction to the blackmail if she was told xD.
Over all though best school festival I've ever seen in an anime, and a nice mystery as well, sad to see it end but I'm curious to how the next and probably the final arc will be
__________________
|
2012-08-13, 08:21 | Link #52 | |
Romanticist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Age: 33
|
Quote:
While I don't deny that the inequality that dominates society can be beneficial in certain aspects, the fact is that society, especially in capitalist cultures, is highly competitive. It's a cutthroat environment where individual differences can go a long way in determining one's place in society. Those who have the talent tend to rise while those who don't are left gazing upwards. This is the "reality" that exists in society today, one that each individual is powerless against. Before anyone labels my views as pessimistic, I'm only expressing the idea in the way I felt the show wanted to portray it.
__________________
|
|
2012-08-13, 08:44 | Link #54 | |||
Senior Member
Author
|
Quote:
It's funny how the guy that got so upset with Irisu is proving to be very much like her... Quote:
But you can take egalitarianism too far - It should be balanced with respect for individualism. Beyond that, there's the old saying of "Variety is the spice of life". And you can only have variety with differences, and you can't have differences if everybody is completely equal in every way. Certain equalities should be insisted upon, such as legal equality. But certain inequalities gives society color and flavor. Without that, we wouldn't have wondrous spectacles like the Olympics. Great talent in the hands of a fortunate few often makes for great stories, as we see with Michael Phelps. Quote:
I don't see a problem in "gazing upwards" from time to time. It's nice to have heroes, in my opinion. And while it's even nicer to be a hero, that tends to bring added responsibility to it, so there is a cost to great talent. The more Houtarou uses his talent, the more he's forced to accept how a normal life may not be the one for him. A normal life is not without its charms - Speaking personally, I'm not sure I'd want the sort of pressure on my shoulders that Michael Phelps had to carry into the most recent Olympics.
__________________
|
|||
2012-08-13, 08:59 | Link #55 | |
Black Steel Knight
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Indonesia
|
Quote:
Just like a robber and a thief. Oreki and Irisu use different methods. One uses blackmail and the other uses manipulative persuasion.
__________________
|
|
2012-08-13, 09:21 | Link #56 | |
Les Pays Bass
Join Date: Jun 2011
|
Quote:
kininarimasu :0 |
|
2012-08-13, 09:25 | Link #57 | ||
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
|
Quote:
The "good work" implies nothing of the sort. It could be the typical formality to thank him as a fellow Executive Committee member, or even if Kugayama did find out Tanabe was the culprit, it doesn't mean he understands that he's being asked to work on another manga. Quote:
Tomoe only found out about the Juumonji incident and the message after she read the school newspaper. Understanding the message and having a copy of the manga does not prove she's related to the makers of the manga - Houtarou figured out the message, and Mayaka also had a copy of the manga even if she lost it somewhere. I do agree that Tomoe was giving Houtarou a big clue when she traded away a copy of the manga, but it does not prove that she helped make it. Last edited by Shadow5YA; 2012-08-13 at 09:39. |
||
2012-08-13, 09:29 | Link #58 |
Crax
Author
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: MY
|
Note: Houtarou's 'blackmail' this time was more of a fair trade than a blackmail. Supposed that the chairman man up and let Houtarou announce the truth of the Jumonji Incident then his entire scheme would be rendered meaningless. Houtarou knows that and was actually on the toe for quite some time and actually gave some good conditions to the chairman. This was totally unlike the first blackmail where it was a complete one-sided threat and Houtarou completely uncaring for the smoker's feelings.
You could say that it is a sign that Houtarou grew up to consider people's feelings as he exerts his presence over the others. And about the whole 'difference in talent' thing, I really never bothered about it quite much. It wasn't really something one should mull over too deeply. I'm good at writing, he's good at doing maths, she can draw, he can drive, she's good at fighting - once you really think about it, what is the point comparing your weakness against the another person's strength? Perhaps it's because the characters portrayed are very young, but it may have been slightly exaggerated in my opinion. We are unique the way we are. Even if I'm supposedly 'talentless' compared to him in let's say, deduction, there WILL be something along the same path that I can do better than the genius. This is especially true when it comes to creation. 'A masterpiece is a masterpiece from the beginning', and adding behind this sentence, 'It does not matter from whom it is born from'. The most important thing is to recognize your own masterpiece and to be proud with it. To put it in a sappy way, won't your talent feel sad that their own owner wouldn't recognize and acknowledge their biggest strength?
__________________
|
2012-08-13, 09:33 | Link #59 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
|
Juumoji vs Classics club.
Chitanda's hosting on a radio show really fired things up! Well, at least their anthology was selling now. Even they got hit in the end. There was no avoiding it. All that didn't sidetrack Oreki one bit. That guy's a genius. It's amazing how he figured out the real culprit = Tanabe. Using him to dump the anthologies was brilliant too.
__________________
|
2012-08-13, 09:45 | Link #60 | |
Romanticist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Age: 33
|
Quote:
Wherever people gather together, a pressure to conform will naturally arise. As the gathering steadily becomes larger, the need for conformity grows stronger along with it. In time, this pressure will manifest into what are now called "cultural norms" and "tradition", possibly laws as well. Such is what I believe to be the birth of society as we know it, so I don't think it's too much to say that society is founded on principles of egalitarianism, but I digress. I didn't mean to undermine the idea of individualism, but I honestly interpreted the show's take on the whole talent inequality thing as predominantly pessimistic, which was probably enhanced the melancholic feel of the entire episode.
__________________
|
|
|
|