©PROJECT YOHANE
This is one of those episodes that is very difficult to write. Not for any complicated or unpleasant reason, but rather it was primarily set up for the final act. After last week spent running to firmly establish the emotional dynamics and premise of Yohane and Lailaps’ relationship, this week is mostly focused on turning all of that into the larger plot and building towards our final climax. It’s a great viewing experience, with some very enjoyable moments and an unusually sombre atmosphere, but it’s necessarily a repeat of the stuff we’ve already mentioned, wait a while until the shoe The other might fall at the end of the episode.
Mostly us we’re just strengthening Yohane’s character plot by introducing some essential plot elements. She is unexpectedly discovered by one of the talented agents(?), who rejected her in the first episode, with the chance to audition again in the big city. The offer, plus the subsequent farewell that the townsfolk have for her, are there only to immediately solve the personal conundrum facing Yohane. She must decide if she wants to try again and risk failure or stay with new friends and community to find happiness in Numazu. While the breakup gave her some perspective and comfort in seeing people come to support her, it mostly just put a tighter time limit on when she had to make a choice. your choice instead of adding anything significant to it.
Similarly, we don’t learn anything new or more specific about what’s going on in Lailaps’ head. The biggest change is that her smoldering anxiety finally flared up in front of Yohane when the good-natured dog inexplicably refused to go to Tokai with her. That doesn’t let us, the audience, move on, but it does allow Yohane to react to how her closest companion seems to be abandoning her. It speaks to how far she has come when Yohane is able to strut her stuff and put her feelings into words, instead of collapsing in self-loathing, and there’s a palpable sadness to think about. having to leave Lailaps behind to follow. her dream.
Come to think of it, this can be considered the best realized version of the Love Live! tried a few times now. Be it Kotori’s potential farewell in School Idol Project or Kanon in Superstar!!, or even lingering anxiety about graduation in the second season of Nijigasaki, the possibility of one of us leaving the group. is an interesting subject for the film. Franchising. Here, however, that seems the most likely, partly because it is a spin-off that does not jeopardize Aqours’ future marketability as a unit, but also because it is clearly John’s story. There’s a very believable possibility that Sunshine in the Mirror ends with Yohane having to say goodbye to Lailaps temporarily, instead of staying to maintain the brand’s marketability and I’d love to know they decided to go. where. this story (again).
However, that is speculation about things that are definitely not in this episode. I really appreciate when shows are willing to give characters and their personal conflicts space to breathe, but that makes this episode feel like a pure build-up. There are some light and somber scenes that perfectly capture Yohane’s hesitation as her decision grows more and more visible outside the window. It’s a good thing to follow at the moment; build tension while slowly inching toward the expected spoiler, ending with the return of that pesky Calamity. While that makes for an enjoyable viewing, it also makes the episode feel transitional. It’s a necessary and effective setup, but also requires follow-up to complete.
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Yohane the Parhelion-SUNSHINE in the MIRROR is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.