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ローゼンメイデン 
What an excellent episode this one turns out to be. The two storylines presented here are so well-written and easy to relate to. I'm glad to see the Yamada/Mayama/Rika triangle finally reaching some kind of a resolution. This may not be a permanent one but at least there's possibility that the characters will be able to move on from their current situation. Another thing that is equally interesting here is Takemoto's storyline. This storyline is actually the beginning of a major arc for the character. I do wonder, however, if the anime will be able to cover that arc. Judging from the official site, there are only 24 episodes scheduled for the series. That means there are only 8 more episodes to go before the anime reaches its completion.
The episode begins with Fujiwara brothers deciding to split the company into two. This means that half of the company will stay in Tokyo while the others will have to move to Tottori. Nomiya and Miwako have the job in deciding who will stay and who will leave. After some thoughts, they eventually choose to sent Mayama to Tottori. Meanwhile, Takemoto has been obsessed with his tower-building project to the point that he begins to make Hagu worried about his health. However, despite the impressive height of the tower, Takemoto doesn't seem to be happy with his creation. Back at the Fujiwara Design, Mayama decides to quit the company so he won't get send to Tottori and can work for Rika again. The problem is, Rika is reluctant to accept Mayama. She believes that she will hurt him again if he works for her. Mayama, however, tells her that he doesn't mind if that happens because he won't get hurt from it.
The second half of the episode starts with a wedding between Tatsu, a Sushi shop owner from the Hamadayama shopping arcade, and his gold-digging bride, Akemi. Yamada, who's also invited to the wedding, ends up feeling down the whole time because she realises that her own love life is non-existent. Elsewhere, Shuuji decides to give Takemoto a help after he finds out that his fellow lecturers are not impressed with the tower that Takemoto has built. Shuuji tells the other lecturers that he's very impressed with Takemoto's work, causing the other lectures to agree with him and give Takemoto a good mark for his work. Meanwhile, Yamada is in a state of shock after Nomiya arrives at her shop to tell her the latest news about Mayama and Rika. Things take turn for the worst, however, when the rest of the shopping mall eligible bachelors decide to propose to her.
In one of the funniest scenes from the series, Hagu finally gets her wish to obtain a set of beautiful legs when Yamada uses Hagu to hide herself from her amourous suitors. Eventually, Shuuji decides to ask Yamada if there isn't anyone that she likes from the shopping arcade. This question makes Yamada realise that all of these times, she was being unreasonable in hoping that Mayama will love him. She realises now that just as she can't consider the guys as anything more than important friends, Mayama only sees her as his important friend instead of potential love interest. This makes Yamada wonders if she should reject the guys like Mayama rejected her. Shuuji tells her that human can only choose between making an effort for something that they want or giving up. He believes that Yamada only need to tell the guys the truth and leave the rest to them. Once Yamada left, however, Shuuji admits that there's one more choice that a human can make.
Impression:
I actually felt a bit stung when the teachers who judged Takemoto's work tell each other that Takemoto's creation is nothing out of the ordinary. The comment sounds familiar somehow. When you're working in art/design industry, criticism of your design is an inevitable part of the job. But that doesn't mean it's easy to accept that someone is not happy with what you've created. Especially when you've already put so much energy and enthusiasm into it. This, however, is nothing in comparison to the disappointment that you feel when you can't see anything special in your own design. Judging from the look on Takemoto's face halfway through the episode, I think he already knows, without having to be pointed out, that his creation is not extraordinary. I think the realisation that you haven't created anything special despite the hours you've spent on it usually hurts your confidence more than anything else.
Meanwhile, an equally interesting development happens in the Yamada/Mayama/Rika triangle. It seems that Mayama has made a steely resolved to go after Rika and Rika doesn't seem to have too much objection apart from her fear that she might hurt him again. The best thing about this episode, however, is the realisation on Yamada's part. Hopefully now that she realises what Mayama really feels for her, she'll be able to move on and find another person to love. Although I hope that the person won't be Nomiya. I am also interested what Shuuji meant when he says that a human has a third choice apart from going for what they want and giving up. I wonder if that choice is loving/longing for someone from afar?
Timeline
This episode begins one day after Mayama 'kidnapped' Rika, continuing down to the wedding in the second half of the episode which still takes place during the Autumn season. To me this suggests that at the most the episode only covers the span of one or two weeks.
I was wondering about Yamada's future decisions. Now that she knows that Mayama went back to work for Harada designs (meaning Mayama is happy with that setup, as long as he can see Rika-san), will Yamada do the same thing (watching Mayama from afar)?
I loved the Rika-Mayama development, as that's my favorite aspect of the story. I am also wondering what the third choice is. Shuuji says that if you think there are only two answers, you can move ahead, so the third one must be some kind of impasse. Is that maybe like one-sided loving?
That or the third answer is to have Rika and Yamada go out, leaving Mayama to dangle in the wind, OH NOOOESS T__T.
The third answer is to leave things as they are, not let go. Have Yamada's heart continue breaking, the plant continue collapsing. ;_;
yeah I agree that the 3rd choice a human could make is leaving things as is.... Shuuji mentioned that if you believe in the two choices, that it would open oppertunities, if you give up, or at least a goal of pursuing continously.
that 3rd choice would only stubbornly chain you down, and you'll never willingly let go.
Heh, Kabitzin, the third choice would indeed be to change your sexuality wouldn't it? X) If Rika and Yamada go out then... Mayama'd have to pair up with Nomiya! Chaos ensues.
But Garten, I'm surprised you didn't mention that what saved Takemoto's work wasn't just Hanamoto-sensei's words, but also the fact that he gave it a title... The title makes a *huge* difference, I assure you...
and echoing a comment you had on ep 13, I agree, Waltz is just irreplacable... I love that song. It fits the show so well! And the piano version is worth dying for...
Kabitzin, you're ruining the ending for everyone!! :P
Wao, the reason I didn't mention it is because it was kind of hard to summarise why the word "Tower of Youth" is funny and made the judges change their minds. I have to talk about how art/design people like the judges (and myself) have the tendency to pull a meaning out of something that may not have one to begin with. And I was trying to keep the paragraph short. On a hindsight though, maybe I should have included it.
And yeah, I really do miss Waltz. The song for some reason always gives the ending scenes some kind of immediacy and impact. This seems to be lacking lately thanks to the new ending song. These days I also wonder if changing theme songs after only 12 episodes is such a good idea. After all, Fruits Basket did just fine by keeping its theme songs similar throughout its 26 episodes run.
i just watch eps.16 yesterday.
And this is one of my favorite anime ever. I love the drama that is going on throughout the series. the soundtrack to it just plain rocks i have all the songs i could possibly have but the one i am missing is the piano version of waltz which i love to hear every time it plays.
Ah, didn't mean to spoil the entire series!!!
Also, as silly as the judges' turnaround reaction was, I think it makes a lot of sense. Oftentimes appreciating art is like understanding the artist's vision. When the judges see the giant meandering tower, they recognize Takemoto's skill, but don't understand the message it conveys. Hence, they think it's nothing special. Shuuji's addition of the title is the one missing piece the judges need to understand Takemoto's state while he was constructing the tower, and it allows them to see the tower in a new light.
Hi,
I'm kinda new here. Just want to let you know much I love your summary and analysis. Certainly opens other views in mind after watching the episode. Keep up the good work !
Watching the episode yesterday, I was really intrigue by the scene where Yamada was opening her hearts to the others after being chased around and there's the part where they showed Takemoto's face reaction and how what she said really applied to him. I really wonder what he's going to do next.
Oh, I just love Honey & Clover ^_^
Didn't like this episode so much...don't know why. Maybe because there weren't that much humour in this episode compared to others...and that it was too sad. I feel for Yamada. How come Yamada doesn't get a chance while Mayama does??
This is my first time posting a message on this site. After reading all the comments, I just couldn't allow myself to not join in.
I don't think Yamada will be able to just give up and look for a new guy. If what everyone said was true that the third choice is to leave things as they are and not let go.I think Yamada will be more than happy to just stay by Mayama's side and watch over him.
H&C is set to run for 26 episodes.
H&C is set to run for 26 episodes.
Hmm, the JC Staff website (http://www.jcstaff.co.jp/sho-sai/hachi-shokai/hachi-index.htm) really does list the series as 26 episodes. But the Official site (http://www.hachikuro.net) only lists it as 24. Maybe it's just a case that they haven't updated the Official site's flash animation yet. I really hope it'll be 26 instead of 24 because I want them to include Takemoto's arc.
mayama x yamada forever!! T__T anyway the 2nd ending theme started growing on me.. wonder when its going to come out
(i bumped to this site while searching for info on the theme songs, they all rock :3)
I was happy with the turnout of the events in this episode for the most part. It allows you to finally understand Mayama's feelings towards Yamada and why he can not accept her feelings for him despite him being protective of her. I'm sure most of us can relate to this. You can't force yourself to love someone you have no feelings for no matter how precious they may be to you.
Moving along, often with art you sell the whole package and not just the visual effect. Most artists want their viewers to see and feel the level of emotion and feeling they felt working on the project. A small detail such as a title can entirely change the meaning of anything. Quick thinking on Shuuji's part. I hope Takemoto will be able to find his happiness before the end of the series.
With the change of the ending song, I was a bit saddened. I really loved Waltz. It gave you a sense of completion and it fit perfectly with the flow and the feel of the series. This was actually one of the only ending credits I would fully watch and not skip through. It was just so beautiful and captivating. On a side note, I like the new opening credits. For some reason, it puts a smile on my face seeing the possibility of these characters existing in real life. Some of the images from the first were a bit disturbing (lobster claws and breaded hands).
I agree with Garten. Whoever Yamada chooses, I hope it isn't Nomiya. That guy looks like a playboy with a hidden agenda. I didn't like the way he smiled when he told Yamada that Mayama started working with Rika again.
Akemi and Akiko plotting together during the wedding was hilarious. Those two remind me of the black widow spider.
By the way, I find Miwako's dog very disturbing. His lecherous smile and thoughts. This is no ordinary affection of a dog towards his owner ^_^;;
I don't think the affection is extraordinary. It's just that you usually can't read a dog's mind in clear English.
And as a VERY late comment.. I think Shuuji made the third choice a long, long time ago, and it contributes to the slight hint of bitterness in his words at the end, when he admits to himself that he lied to Yamada. One could suggest that he too liked Rika, at least to judge by the way the true confessions in Episode 6 went, though Harada was ultimately the one who 'won the day'. We don't really see him getting much interactions outside of his students, Hagu, and maybe a few friends like his old teacher and Rika... though whether this is because he does it off camera, or because he just doesn't interact with many people otherwise is unknown.
Perhaps this has something to do with his ambivalent feelings towards the Hagu->Morita->Takemoto triangle? One could draw parallels between the friendship that Morita and Takemoto (the extremely talented and charismatic, and the diligent but less artistically gifted) and their interactions with Hagu which dance across the line between friendship and courting more than once.
The major difference I see here is that Harada didn't appear to be afraid of interacting with others, even if he was cheerful and outgoing at all times, and could make others admire or love him the way Morita cannot, due to the latter's reluctance to engage himself so closely with others. Takemoto, on the other hand, seems a little less hesitant in his interactions with others than Shuuji may have been in the past, at least after his long bike trip. Of course, the Hagu-Rika comparison is where things fall apart (Rika was an ice queen and effectively isolated because of her cool attitude towards others, Hagu's less isolated due to her friendships with Yamada, Takemoto, and Morita but is otherwise isolated due to her talent and the protective actions of the teachers around her).
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