I have already read the previous comments and episode analysis, and while I thought they were great and I don't want to retread the same material, I think this superb episode deserves another person's subjective interpretation. So those of you who share my sentiment, read on for this will be a long one!
This episode 10, within the frame of 25 min and while effectively pursuing the "scare" plot, nevertheless movingly portrays the evolving relationship of at least three character pairs, and in doing so catapaults Toradora from the mass of mediocre romantic comedy anime into something more.
In my opinion, the show stealer was Takasu x Minori, although Takasu x Ami runs close behind. Last came Takasu x Taiga in brief but very effective moments. Let me discuss each in turn.
Takasu x Minori:
While Takasu x Ami got the more screen time, I feel Takasu x Minori was the most effective, partially because it built off of an great earlier scene in episode 9. It is impossible to fully appreciate episode 10 without knowing this scene. There, when Takasu builds up the courage to ask Minori if she has a girlfriend, Minori seemingly goes off into a tangent about believing in ghosts. But the watcher soon realizes that it is an analogy for love. Minori is skeptical about the existence of true love (and ghosts), and yet can't help herself to want to believe they exist. The seeming frivolousness of the subject makes it easier for both to talk about the real subject, like a secret code known only to the two.
I myself didn't particularly like Minori in the beginning. She seemed the typical forgettable hyperactive personality and humor which plague anime. Episode 10 presents another rare moment where we see the real multi-faceted Minori. This was hinted to earlier, when Minori and Takasu were trapped in the equipment shed, and Takasu intuitively senses a sadness in his crush. Minori's bubbly exterior is another mask, like the similar ones worn by Ami and Taiga.
In the first scene where Takasu and Minori work together in the kitchen, Minori expresses admiration at Takasu's cooking skills and seriousness (nice to see his merits are appreciated by someone). Takasu returns the subject to the ghost analogy, and Minori asks Takasu to keep it quiet, as it is a side that she rarely reveals. (Btw, I found Minori's purposeful lisping of "TA-KAS-KYU!" in response to Takasu's high-pitched "Kushieda!" to be absolutely adorable.) And I note, watching the scene where Minori tears from putting an onion near her eye, she is truly the "air-headed" compassionate girl that Ami pretends to be.
Last, we come to the great fireworks on the beach scene. Minori shrewdly asks Takasu for the motive behind trying to scare her, showing that she is both extremely perceptive and understands Takasu's personality perhaps better
than any other character, not at all the 1-D stereotype. (She also uses reverse pyschology! Don't you think she's a better actress than Ami?) In this wonderful scene, we see the first hint that Minori may reciprocate Takasu's feelings. When Takasu thanks her for a fun time and hints at his motive, Minori understands and she whispers, in a face not at all like her mask, that if Takasu continues to "change her world", showing her UFOs and going monster-hunting, perhaps one day... she will start believing in ghosts. At that moment, at Takasu's cry, Minori sees distant fireworks. She disbelieving says she saw an exploding UFO. As she cried, "I really saw it! It's like a dream!" I could sense the unshed tears of happiness in Minori's voice as she began to hope at finding true love again.) Some
stirring string music tied up the scene nicely.
Takasu x Ami:
Despite the moving Minori scenes, the interaction between Takasu and Ami is perhaps the most interesting and subtle. In her usual manipulative way, she seeks to attract Takasu. She has the advantage that she is aware of both Taiga's
feelings for Ryuuji and his feelings for Minori. Unsurprisingly, she uses her favorite tools of her bodily charms and flirtatous "Ami-chan" mask to turn his head.
Ironically, she may be attracted to Takasu precisely because he is immune to her usual charms that causes thousands of drooling fanboys to her feet. She was drawn to Takasu initially only to annoy Taiga. But Takasu was the one who saw through her original facade and didn't fall for her (thanks in part to Kitamura), but furthermore maintained her secret, stayed her friend despite seeing her true personality, and urged her to drop it for her own sake. At this point, Ami begins to feel something more and aggressively pursues Takasu.
Even the seemingly eyecandy swimseat scene held content, as Takasu's reacted like any guy but is strong and indifferent enough to control himself, frustrating Ami. As she counts down from 5, Ami jealously realizes that Takasu is obviously in love with Minori yet not willing to share his innermost feelings with her. Shes hopes that by rejecting helping him, she can bind him to her in some way. But when she sees Takasu's plan progressing anyway with Kitamura's efforts, she abruptly cuts in to help anyway, wanting at least some way to shake the status quo.
In the cave, she again dons Ami-chan and suggests that Takasu needs her. Revealingly, she clearly desperately wants him to need her. She shifts tack and briefly drops the act and directly tells him that he and Minori are not suited.
The sun/moon analogy went a little over my head, but I think Ami was trying to say that Takasu may highly admire Minori, but like her, he is a source of light. (I know, to all you astronomers out there, the moon is only reflecting the light of the sun. But I think such subtleties escaped our charming model.) He is incompatible with another warm personality, but rather should be paired with something shrouded in darkness, like herself (and incidentally, Taiga). Her sudden mention that Takasu would never beat Minori was quite shocking, and hinted at an
awful upbringing Ami may have suffered.
Her sudden trick pretending she was lost may have been another attempt to shake Takasu, but it only confirmed to her his dependability and kindness. Yet at the very moment of confession, Minori's scream forced both to dash after her.
Ami grew worried as Takasu seemingly ran away from her in concern over Minori. Yet when she slipped, Takasu caught her with an apology. A visibly relieved and moved Ami, gladdened that he had not forgotten her even in his hurry, for once selflessly urges both to continue.
And last, we come to the beach scene. Takasu quite clearly understands the problems Ami faces and tells her to face her loneliness. Ami revealingly pouts and says wouldn't that be painful, showing just how vulnerable and fearful of rejection she really is. Takasu, the good friend he is, tells her to let it out, as he is her friend. Ami surrenders and walks away, confronted by the Takasu's kindness and yet his unshakeable love for Minori. I couldn't help feel sorry for her, as she looked sadly out from the veranda at Takasu and Minori. Yes, Ami is a selfish and twisted personality, but my heart couldn't help going out to her desperate loneliness and aching hunger to love and be truly loved.
Takasu x Taiga:
The focal relationship of the series got a welcome backseat, though its presence permeated the entire episode. We have two short but very suggestive scenes. Both scenes suggest the same thing. First, at the climax of the Takasu x Minori fireworks scene, we see a quick flash of Taiga looking lonely while watching the two, even as she reflected earlier on the meaning of their shared dream. Symbolically, her firework goes out even as Minori's explodes in the distance.
Lastly, as all return home, Taiga looks painfully at the retreating back of Takasu, and like a "baka inu" chases after his side. We see that while Taiga is physically abusive and seemingly lords over Ryuuji, he is in effect the stronger character. Despite mostly helping Taiga with her relationship with Kitamura and despite her plan completely backfiring, Takasu, in his steadfast and selfless way, has made more progress with his crush. Meanwhile, Taiga can only admire Kitamura from afar (just as Ami warned to Takasu) and realizes how dependant she really is on Takasu's kindness.
Wrapup:
I cynically believe that Takasu x Taiga will be the eventual pairing. The books make this more likely, and in particular Takasu seems to have feelings for Taiga that are not apparent in the anime. But personally, I am not a Takasu x Taiga fan, if only for the sake of being contrarian. I would respect a romantic comedy anime that does not take the benchmark pairing, but has the courage to show sometimes the non-obvious ones can work out. But I expect to be disappointed. However, with the possible exception of Ami, it is Taiga of the three who needs Ryuuji the most. Let's await with bated breadth for the next episode. I'm guessing it will not come near to the brilliance of this one.
THANK YOU FOR READING!
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