Suzuka ep.5-6

August 17, 2005 | 6 Comments

I know, I'm late. However, some major real life work constraints have forced me to hold off on major sequential time investments (a blog entry usually costs me around 4 hours), and the fact that I knew where episode 6 would end made commenting on the events leading up to it particularly difficult. When do comments end and spoilers start? Also, the airing date for the second season of Mai HiME (Mai Otome) has been set, with the first episode airing at October 6th. This show is SO mine to blog, but I will hardly be able to manage two full entries in one week.

Nevertheless, I'll not drop Suzuka, since the show _is_ very enjoyable. However, I will postpone my entries to around 2 days after the release of the subbed version, and I will not summarize the contents anymore, but only add comments to those spots I consider noteworthy. This should be done for slow-subbed shows with a major raw audience, not for quickly and reliably subbed series. It should also make the entries a bit more concise and interesting.

Especially episode 6 of Suzuka was excellent. It was the very episode which convinced me to work on the anime when I read the manga version, because it goes against so many iron romance anime rules that it's amazing. After a very generic and harem-ish year, Suzuka is a breath of fresh air. Oh, and spoiler warning: If you haven't watched episode 6 yet, don't spoil yourself!

Episode Ratings 5/6: o/++

Suzuka's hot-cold treatment is slowly but surely getting to Yamato. His seething with anger over the fact that an unknown senpai is able to score a date with Suzuka while he is constantly brushed off by her indicates how focused he already is on her - and that he is still very very young.

He can't hold a candle to Honoka's naivete and inexperience though. Her blushing in a deep red over the "indirect kiss" when he confused their glasses shows how little it takes to affect her. When I read this part in the manga, I was worrying a bit that her character would never grow beyond this current Love Hina-Shinobu touch. I'll only say this much: Boy, was I ever wrong.

Suzuka freaking out over senpai's "I know that you're Suzuka's type" had me in stitches. For some reason it's exceptionally pleasing to me whenever she is losing her cool - it also adds alot of depth to her character. Whacking Yamato down with the side of her bag just because she is highly embarrassed over senpai's comment... poor Yamato really is her personal punching bag.

Consequently, I liked the power outage sequence quite alot. It was funny how Suzuka knocked on Yamato's door only a few seconds after the outage itself. We have some poor editing there.

Of course, Suzuka's denial scene was morbidly amusing. She is so dead set on appearing controlled and on top of everything that she can't even admit to be frightened by a thunderstorm alone in the dark. And again, Yamato is hit by the emotional feedback of the mixed signals which Suzuka is sending to him.

Nevertheless, it can be safely concluded that she doesn't dislike him. Fear or not, you don't seek skinship to anyone you can't stand like this. She would never admit it to others or even herself, but Yamato does have a good effect on her, and whenever his clumsy inexperience and laid-back no-care-in-the-world attitude doesn't rile her up, Suzuka enjoys his presence. However, these tender moments disappear as quickly as the power is restored.

Well, Suzuka isn't the only denial specialist. Yamato is taken in by some phony horoscope just aswell. Still confused by Suzuka's hot-cold treatment, he is asking Hattori for advice, and he gets it: Confess to her, then you will know! Totally oblivious to Honoka's interest in him he actually asks her about confessions... and the poor girl continues to be shaken by him just the same way he is constantly rattled by Suzuka. It's a shame really ^_^;;

Some major development is hidden in a side scene: We see Suzuka panting after running to catch up with Yamato. This is the first time that Suzuka is actually showing some active effort to be with Yamato without a clear reason. After continuous leaving for school on her own and caring very little about him, she's definitely not seeing him as a nuisance anymore.

Yamato's still struggling with himself whether or not to confess his feelings to her. The good old problem "What will become of us if she refuses me? Do I want to risk what er have?" is rearing its ugly head. For now, he decides to play it safe and gives her a verbal whack for exploiting him as personal bearer - which is a good approach for the tomboyish strong types. Looking at Suzuka's reaction, it worked - and they're having a good time with each other.

Seeing Yamato agonize over asking Suzuka out for a date was painful to watch. I can sympathize with him over almost all other problems, but Jeeeeezus, what's the big deal about asking a girl out? Maybe it's a face issue in Japan, but I really find it difficult to identify with this aspect.

Somebody please give Saotome a thorough spanking, but in a painful and non-kinky way. This brat is royally getting on my nerves. Throughout the manga she has exactly ONE "positive" scene which should air in episode 7. Other than that, she's a big nuisance. Good riddance to her.

The date setup with a depressed Yamato on the stairs indicated once more what I can't understand: The difficulty in asking a girl for a date. What the fish is the big issue? Well, he tried his damnedst to botch it, but Suzuka was clearly lenient today. In fact, she's starting to tease him a bit - a sign that her perception from him is definitely changing.

In the rain, Suzuka gets all bitchy over Yamato once again over the one thing she really can't stand about him: His lack of interest in control and planning. He's a spontaneous guy, she is a control freak. Oil and water, fire and ice. Fortunately, she's having a ball in laughing over a stupid look on Yamato's face, so they're having a good time together overall. And again, she easily outdoes him in what's supposed to be a boyish ability: Not collapsing after too many rides ;)

The fateful moment which will doom Yamato happens outside: Delighted that the rain has stopped, she takes Yamato's hand and pulls him on. I understand that in Japan, holding hands holds some major significance, and accordingly, Yamato is shocked by this open display of affection, but falls into her pace.

The key scene leading up to the climax is when Yamato is fighting his fears inside over the question whether or not to confess to her. Involuntarily, he squeezes her hand a bit, causing a slightly surprised Suzuka to look down on their linked hands and she seems to ponder it for a few seconds, before she accepts their holding of hands with a smile. This was the first time that she clearly and positively sanctioned physical contact with him - and this detail is going to give Yamato just the courage he needs to wreck himself.

The internal struggle in Yamato has fully broken out. On one hand he is scared to lose the good relationship he's currently having with Suzuka. On the other hand he wants to get clean with his own feelings and decides to take the plunge, since the mood and opportunity are excellent. Her initial reaction was tough to deal with, because she obviously didn't take his confession seriously, giving him one more chance to back off by declaring it a joke. His inner voice is pushing him to do just that, but he grits his teeth and confirms and enhances his confession. Kudos to his guts here!

Suzuka is clearly flabbergasted when she realizes that he's serious. Her weak initial defense attempts are determinedly wiped away by Yamato, so the question is on the table. How will she reply?

It should be noted that she is taking ALOT of time to ponder her answer. In general, she's as brutally clear and straight-out as it gets. If she had no interest in Yamato at all, she'd be the type to flat-out reject him. But she doesn't, instead she goes through half a minute of soul-searching, before she refuses in a very apologetic and gentle way. Contrary to the manga, a clear indication about the main reason why is omitted, but an acute viewer should be able to predict it.

On the way back, their relationship is already changing a bit. Suzuka requests to carry her own bag, since otherwise she'd feel bad. Unfortunately, if she wants to make him feel better by not "exploiting" him, this actually causes more harm than good: It confirms that his fears to "lose" their current pleasant relationship are very real. It _is_ changing already, in the wrong direction.

On the other hand, she is clearly aware of the hurt she is inflicting on him, and she hates having to do it. Just check the look on her face before bidding the "ja ne", ending the day. And the frightened way she's hugging her frog plushie while staring into space while she's deep in thoughts is telling enough.

Yamato took the rejection in stride. Telling her that he just wanted to say it is admirable, because he did NOT laugh it off as "not serious". He offered his coins for what they're worth, and so did what probably all anime viewers WANTED him to do. He so owns all other harem leads because of his guts that it's almost funny. Unfortunately, no cookies for him this time.

Hattori deserves some props for being able to pick up the signs quickly and drawing the right conclusions. He's been a good friend for Yamato so far and sure collected brownie points when he left some tissues behind for his friend who experienced the first heartbreak of his life...

Conclusion

So much for cliches. They really did it. An everyday scene - guy confesses to a girl he likes and gets turned down. But how many animes have the guts to SHOW this, and so early on? What about the uncomfortable aftermath, especially in a situation where you can't easily avoid each other? Ouch!

It's a funny paradox that by being so totally normal, Suzuka is effectively such an unusual show. It pulverizes so many iron rules for comedy shows that it's almost funny. And this perfectly valid confession resulting in a painful rejection takes the cake so far. Yamato deserves the purple anime heart for fulfilling the wishes of the viewers - and the Suzuka producers deserve a medal for denying them like this. It keeps the show fresh and surprising.

On the other hand, the show badly suffers from the low budget. I'm not just talking about the occasionally atrocious animation here, I mean the lack of a good audio score. In episode 6, for the first time we got two new musical scores to underline the confession and the heartbreak, and immediately the anime gains alot of impact. That's what was missing in the episodes before, badly. I can only wonder how much better the show would be with a bigger animation budget and a Kajiura/Fiction Junction soundtrack underneath.

Nevertheless, after the slew of harem, Suzuka is a very enjoyable change of pace. I'll keep my fingers crossed that they're able to flesh out the interesting developments resulting out of this key episode 6 properly, without messing up. They sure managed to deliver episode 6 just the way they were supposed to. More of that!

© memento 2003