©Ayano Takeda,TAKARAJIMASHA/Hibike Partners2024
I've ticked enough when Yuko and Natsuki return to Sound! Euphonium returns in the seventh episode. So now that Asuka is back this week, I can't take it anymore—and I won't apologize for it. That's the brand of this episode anyway because Kumiko's visit with her old senpai is meant to reinforce her motivation to move forward, confidently sticking to the decisions she's already made. go out. She will say that she regrets the apprehensive way they initially approached the audition, but she knows she wasn't wrong when she started taking that approach. Just like I knew I wasn't wrong when I clapped my hands like a trained seal when Asuka appeared on screen.
Talking to Asuka turned out to be the “break glass in case of emergency” option that Kumiko needed. The band's current atmosphere is really bad. Kumiko's initial attempt to confront Taki about finding out the whys and wherefores of his choices contributed to that situation fails due to the indecisiveness she still feels. Struggling up to this point. She can't ask him for a solid answer about why Kuroe was chosen over her, then just to smooth things over, Taki sends her off by giving her a candy— The power imbalance and maturation of the environment that fosters this situation could not be further reinforced.
Worse still, after last week's incident, the executives couldn't even get along to try to stir up controversy over the club's work ethic. Reina seems to be trying to pretend that her argument with Kumiko didn't happen and that she and Shuichi are actively sniping at each other in full earshot of the band. Between that and the depleted trust in Taki, it all goes to show how seriously the leadership failed in this situation. Kyoto Animation, as they always do, conveys that chaos with unexpected animation. The camera shifts focus and zooms in on Kuroe at calculated incriminating moments. It revolves around debate moderators to make school halls and rooms feel constricted and discordant.
The interactions are a series of peaks and valleys, suggesting that the strained relationships between the characters in Euphonium are not necessarily defined by one-sided drama. Kumiko and Reina actually try to talk to each other and find a rift between them due to their reactions to Taki's decision. It confirms that they are still friends, no matter what, wanting what's best for their relationship and the overall possibilities of the band. But they cannot be on the same level, communicating frankly but excellently by changing their height when arguing with each other.
And so, Kumiko needed to ask someone for help from the outside. It's really entertaining to see her pondering the choice of finding Asuka throughout the episode, turning over the postcard and wondering how much this might set her up for failure in managing the band on her own. The irony is that making that decision sets Kumiko's path before she even talks to Asuka—she just needs to be able to make a choice instead of wavering without commitment.
Asuka's appearance is still essential to this episode and this season of Euphonium in general, and I'm not just saying that because she's the Best Girl of All Time. To be sure, it's still there. She makes the most of her first scene here, playing into a lot of viewer expectations about the Kumiko/Reina rift, while not so much giving Kumiko “advice” as repeating what she learned about yourself. The artists at KyoAni are clearly excited to be filming with her again. I could watch Asuka gesticulate with an Oreo while playfully baking Kumiko all day. It was no surprise that Kaori was interested in her.
It's great because it also serves as a sign of progress in this season of Sound! Euphonium was very unsophisticated. Asuka has changed markedly, breaking away from her self-imposed objectivity in the club to simply being blunt about how selfish Kumiko should act in it—or how wrong she thinks she is. in his notes in Part 2. As I said, it's less about the content of Asuka's advice and more about the simple act of listening that helped Kumiko come to her conclusion. She does this by running fast and monologuing about how sure she is that she wants to do something. We have returned.
Sure, I can criticize this episode for missing out on another top-notch competitive performance. But I have a feeling they're saving that part of the show for the big season finale and Kumiko's decisive speech right before it's supposed to be the more exciting climax for this story to reach. Importantly, it demonstrates that she is not blaming Taki or trying to divide that responsibility among executive leadership. She will be upfront with the band about what she thinks the band should be, and like Asuka, she won't apologize for it. Reaching that conclusion through the exquisite art of this episode, and bringing back one of my favorite characters to be a part of it, almost makes this a perfect read for me .
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Sound! Euphonium 3 is now streaming on Crunchyroll.
Chris was more involved in drama than band in high school, but he says the motivation was similar. You can follow what he is commanding on Twitter or find your way to blog orchestra.
