We’re into the final stretch and I’ve just managed to catch up before the final episode tomorrow! With the tension gone between Hikari and Yaya, I find myself suddenly bored with the Spica arc and am dropping any further comment or screencapping there. Though Chikaru-oneesama was great with her saintly smile as Hikari nuzzled her chest. Mmmm… :D~~~ The big question that remains is: Is it going to be a Shizuma x Nagisa ending?
The dance practice sessions aren’t going well because Nagisa is too nervous. Tamao herself has doubts about why she was paired with Nagisa. Is Miyuki using her as a salve for Nagisa’s emo-wounds and as a wedge to keep Shizuma and Nagisa from re-forging their bond?
I liked Tamao’s explanation about why the Etoile is a pair rather than just one person. But it under-emphasizes the asymmetry of the relationship, there is usually one partner who is the junior (or according to the Dynasty scanlation of the manga, called the "cadette"). The anime is working from a different completely perspective as by Ch 10, Shizuma has entered the Etoile competition with Nagisa while Tamao never had a chance. The anime almost seems to assume that there are a term limit (of one term) on an incumbent Etoile, besides Shizuma is graduating soon.
Whatever the problems of Tamao’s explanation, it proves to be the spur for Shizuma to come out from the shadows to actively assist in the formation of the Nagisa x Tamao pairing. What I think this is setting up is to show that after all their mutual hurt and pain that Shizuma and Nagisa’s chemistry is still there.
There’s a Chinese saying that the bystander sees things more lightly (and thus clearly) and Miyuki’s reaction is a good barometer for how her plan to help Shizuma and Nagisa get over each other is crumbling. Tamao, being a bright girl, quickly realizes it too though she tries to make the best out of a deteriorating situation.
I think Miyuki is right on the money when she thinks Shizuma is forcing herself and Shizuma’s denial isn’t particularly convincing even if it isn’t too sloppy either.
Nagisa mopes about how Shizuma seems to have gotten over her already. Tamao, of course, notices and I’m sure this hurts her and feeds her doubt about whether she’s the one for Nagisa. This also shows how Nagisa has less insight into Shizuma’s behaviour than Miyuki but it also sets the scene later.
Nagisa’s almost hypnotised acceptance of Shizuma’s offered hand, the beauty of their dance, the tenderness of their mutual gazes and Shizuma’s parting words that seemingly handed Nagisa over to Tamao; I had initially read them as both of them letting each other through that last and final dance. Particularly Nagisa’s realization that Shizuma had loved her and that their current state does not render past love meaningless. Given Miyuki’s and Tamao’s long faces, I think it further underlines how easily Shizuma and Nagisa reconnected.
Nagisa seems happy enough to make the announcement the next day. Again the Miyuki Meter eyes the absent Shizuma. Although Nagisa and Tamao have declared themselves standing, the earlier tea session between Miyuki and Shizuma discussing Amane’s recovery seemed to imply that the Amane x Hikari pairing will be a shoo-in (Shizuma’s remark about being to hand over the greenhouse without any worries). The whole nekkid Shizuma in bed thing was a bit puzzling. Is she just given to sleeping nude during the post-Nagisa phase or was Miyuki leaving after a consolatory romp with her long unrequited love?
My speculation for the finale: Amane and Hikari end the Miator hegemony. Miator loses gracefully. Nagisa blames herself. Shizuma comes in and sweeps Nagisa back off her feet. I don’t see Miator winning unless circumstances (deus ex machina) somehow is forces Tamao to withdraw and Shizuma to come in as replacement but that’s pretty far fetched. But StoPani in general is pretty far fetched. Looking forward to the endgame.
After watching the 2 episodes again I once again could not stop laughing. Hello everything! Hello kitchen sink too!
Haven’t watched Ep25 yet, so it took some willpower not to spoil myself. Ep24 was delightful in its’ Miyuki moments, and Tamao got to shine too. One of the more memorable scenes however, was this…
“Mmmm… Chikaru-sama.”
That said, I now have a better understanding on why Chikaru was able to have such a strong standing in the Saimoe Tournament.
Cheers.
Hahaha Skane, that animated gif was hillarious XD…nice fan service XD
Well, I have watched Ep25 and all I can say is… the preview for Ep26 is very depressing. Tamao was on the verge of tears in it, which does not forbode well for her. Preview aside, the amount of depressing foreshadowing( to a Tamao&Nagisa fan) makes me reluctant to watch Ep26.
Gao.
Episode 24:
Ring of Fate
Miyuki continues on her righteous rampage, Tamao continues to get shafted by the producers, more blatant foreshadowing of a reblooming in the Shizuma & Nagisa pairing, Hikari releases her inner repressed sexual deviant onto Chikaru, and Chikaru shows how even she can spout better metaphors than Kaname.
Wait, what?
Nagisa? What about Nagisa?
*flips through notes*
Uh… and Nagisa… erm, remains the ever same ditz we have all grown to love and hate? Seriously though, even though she is THE main character, Nagisa suffers from “Main Characters Are Boring” syndrome in this episode.
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Episode Highlights:
**) After the OP ends, we find Tamao & Nagisa practising for their Etoile dance under the guidance of an increasingly frustrated Miyuki. Being the emo klutz that she is, Nagisa screws up her co-ordination, because as her inner dialogue reveals, she is still angsting about Shizuma.
The scene then goes to the Greenhouse where we see Shizuma watering some dying flowers. These flowers will serve as a metaphor later on.
**) Miyuki’s request for Shizuma to be their dancing coach came as a surprise to me, because considering that Miyuki wanted Shizuma and Nagisa to seperate, should she not prevent them from coming into close contact? I mean, it is no big secret to her that there is a burning sexual tension between Shizuma and Nagisa. Is Miyuki really so desperate for Miator to win the Etoile election that she is willing to overlook this mistake in judgement?
**) Tamao’s questioning of Miyuki’s motives is well founded, since it is never a nice thing to be used as a tool, even if the end result is Etoile-hood.
**) Tamao & Nagisa running around at night brought a smile to my face, because it has already been established that there is a 6pm curfew, so that means Tamao & Nagisa climbed over the walls to get to the Spica grounds. Naughty, naughty. ;)
**) Nearly died from the cliche of a teardrop waking up the one you love the most.
**) Wanted to bang my head on the wall when they used the memory-loss cliche. Now all Strawberry Panic needs is Mecha and Mahou Shoujo.
.
.
.
.
Or not.
**) What mitigated the above scenes was the sight of Tamao schooling Nagisa in the art of spying. Say it with me now…
Tamao sees, Tamao hears, Tamao knows all
That said… man… they looked like aliens in that scene. So cute though, so… adorable.
The best part is, when they later showed the scene where the Spica girls were talking to the doctor, Tamao & Nagisa were STILL spying on them from a window. No wonder Miator frequently wins the Etoile elections. Spica is so vulnerable to information gathering.
**) I normally do not care about the Evil Lesbian Duo(ELD), but the sight of Kaname by herself without Momomi is interesting enough to warrant a mention. Too bad though, they wasted their chances with the ELD by making their characters far too shallow. It is hard to sympathise with a person when you hardly know anything worth mentioning about her.
**) Miyuki continues to exude moe when she sets Tamao & Nagisa straight for suggesting that they postpone their announcement for the running of Etoile.
“Stop fooling around!”
Man, I am waiting for the day when somebody will draw a fanart of Miyuki in which she is frothing at the mouth with constricted pupils and screaming with passion.
**) The first-years are once again reduced to the roles of being cheerleaders. In an unintentional jab to Nagisa, they comment on how it is more difficult to cheer up Hikari because cake will not work on her; Hikari being a higher intelligent lifeform than Nagisa and all.
**) Chikaru overhears the young’uns and plots. Mmmm… plotting.
**) It has been a while since we saw Hikari being emo. Emo in a bathtub no less.
**) Chikaru shows her mettle in dealing with different situations by taking a different approach with Hikari. Hikari is an intelligent girl, and I doubt puppets would have the same effect on her as it did on Nagisa. Opening the conversation about the snow, Chikaru connects it with the state of Amane’s heart and brings tears to Hikari’s eyes while bringing joy to me.
Lovely, just lovely.
Of course, the scene is also win for its’ over-the-top snuggling of Chikaru’s bosom. Laying your head onto it is one thing, but to repeatedly rub your face into it is just asking for misinterpretation.
*wonders if Chikaru enjoyed it*
**) Another scene of Shizuma watering plants in the Greenhouse. As she waters one of the pots, she suddenly realises that the previously dying plant was now revived, and she recalls Nagisa predicting this. One of the most blatant foreshadowing of a Shizuma & Nagisa ending. Urgh… heart… pain…
**) Tamao’s explanation about the need for a pair for the Etoile was sweet, and makes me more worried about her fate in the end. It had the side-effect of making Shizuma decisive and come out of the shadows to personally guide the girls on how to dance for the Etoile elections.
**) Shizuma echoes Miyuki from a previous episode by saying that making Nagisa Etoile is her last mission. I love these kind of statements. It makes it seem as though we are watching a war movie, instead of a romance one.
**) Ending eyecatch is… Ohshibaru.
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Random Thoughts:
..) “Demonic Etoile Trainer!”
..) Girls have impossibly thin legs.
..) Chikaru is the big sister of Strawberry Panic.
..) It is worth mentioning again. Hikari kneading Chikaru’s bosom with her face.
..) Random Tamao screenshot.
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With that, I end this entry for Ep24. Onwards to Ep25!
Cheers, and thanks for reading.
> Main Character is Boring.
I do have to give thanks for small mercies that Nagisa wasn’t actively repulsive *coughShinnAsukacough* Not Mai Nakahara’s best performance either - she’s so much more… bouncy as Mai Tokiha.
> Wanted to bang my head on the wall when they used the memory-loss cliche. Now all Strawberry Panic needs is Mecha and Mahou Shoujo.
Kannazuki no Lyrical Shoujo Panic!
> *wonders if Chikaru enjoyed it*
She’s got the biggest harem of all the main characters. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind. LOL
First off, I would like to mention that I have been spoiled on the ending… :( I tried my best to avoid them, but the whole damn internet was infested with it. That said… while I do know who ended up with who now, I still do not know what actually transpires in the finale.
Due to the fact that I know about the ending… it affected my writing for the entry on Ep25. To put it mildly, I am terribly, terribly demoralised now. The ‘genki’ spark within me committed seppuku for the glory of Tamao-san and I have no idea how I will( or should) approach the final episode.
With that said… onwards to the actual entry.
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Episode 25:
Waltz
A “Good End” for Amane&Hikari shippers in Ep25. Yaya can still apply to be a mistress though, and hope for weekend threesomes. Meanwhile, the Gods of Anime continue to rain on the parade of Tamao&Nagisa shippers. Can the foreshadowing be any thicker? As one of those shippers, I felt so depressed after watching this episode.
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Episode Highlights:
**) The episode starts with Hikari praying in a church, as we listen to her inner thoughts regarding the situation involving Amane.
**) Miyuki’s assistants, Tougi & Kanou, make their return to the series with some spoken dialogue.
**) Miyuki displays her observation powers again as she analyses the situation before her. Shizuma has not gotten over Nagisa yet.
**) This watcher continues to froth at the mouth as Amane continues to grapple with her amensia. Just like every other heavy-handed macguffin that has been slapped into our faces, the macguffin this time round is Hikari’s scarf.
**) Nagisa continues to make Tamao sad, which makes me sad, because it is so heartbreaking to see Tamao not being her usual cheerful self. Will no one be able to notice and cheer Tamao up? :( Can I at least hope that Chikaru will lend her bosom for Tamao to cry on?
**) Dramatic moonbeam spotlight in a snow-covered forest for the win. All they lacked was Amane seeing imaginary angel wings on Hikari.
“Hikari… you were dead all this while!”
^ You either get it, or you don’t.
**) Momomi apparently thought of transfering to Miator because she temporarily became a night stalker in this episode. In the end though, Kaname made up with her for a happy end for the Evil Lesbian Duo(ELD). OMG! Even the ELD gets to have a happy ending?! Where is the justice for Tamao?!
**) Shion continues to show how pathetic her life story is, when she reveals that she was the Spica representative that went up against Shizuma & Kaori. Interesting… who was Shion’s partner then? Maybe Miyuki sabotaged her high-heels.
**) Creepy SPanic BGM does not suit the Amane & Hikari scenes.
**) Hikari’s song of healing was a nice touch, and it was even nicer when they showed Amane’s flashback of Hikari; because in the flashback, there was fog, which relates nicely to the concept of “Fog of Memories”, and how Amane has now unfogged her memories and remembered Hikari.
**) Tamao gets burnt by Shizuma during the dance scene. *sniff* First time Tamao has lost against Shizuma.
**) Ending eyecatch for the episode is that of Shizuma sitting naked on her bed.
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Random Thoughts:
..) I have no idea where I am going to muster the will to write about Ep26. Such is my depression over the ending. It may turn out to be a piece of emofied bitching and whining.
..) Dramatic wind makes its’ return in this episode…
..) Tamao’s voice was breaking-down in her last line for the preview of Ep26… :(
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And so we end the entry for Ep25… Onwards, as we trudge towards the finale…
Thanks for reading.
Doremi has recently released Ep26, so I will be watching that soon. On the bright side, I have considerably calmed down from the relevations of the finale’s ending. I will probably not bitch in the final SPanic entry… much.
*sniff*
Well, if it is any small consolation, Tamao has made it to the fourth round of the Saimoe Tournament. I hope she makes it to the finals. ^,^;
Cheers.