hontou ni Stripey Insists Sisters Cry Oniichan Now

Nodame Cantabile Paris 06

Summary:

Elise, a Jean fan, rubs it into Shinichi about his rival getting the resident conductorship at the Deschamps Orchestra. However he's being appointed, at the insistence of music director Deprieste, to the Roux-Marlet where Stresemann started out 43 years ago. Shinichi takes Nodame to attend a performance but the 'masss food poisoning day' feel hardly lives up to the Marlet's rich history. Roland, who had been attending with his Stresemann fangirl grandma, tells Shinichi that lots of members quit and many present today were extras brought in at the last minute. After a Yakitorio meeting with Yasunori and Paul, Nodame runs into Rui who will also be studying at the Conservatoire. They link up with Shinichi with Nodame trying to one up Rui's friendly greeting with a massive love bite.

The next day, Roland arranges Shinichi, under the codename of Agent Toyota Nissan, to infiltrate the Marlet rehearsal which ends even before it can begin as the conductor has fled back to Poland. Roland and Theo, against the preferences of the crusty old concert master, argue for Shinichi to be summoned. But it's clear that he's not approved by the senior members. Meanwhile the apartment block's starstruck piano group has been helping Rui, who had been dumped by Shinichi, in her house hunt. Elise calls with the wonderful news that the Marlet is eager for him to start straight away. Though unhappy, Shinichi is determined to face up to the challenge of restoring Marlet's past glory.

Reaction:

Elise being extra mean to Shinichi was funny but the context in the manga version would have made it funnier - showing that Elise is no 'closet' fan of Jean. Likewise Nodame's food poisoning metaphor because she had previously poisoned some of her apartment mates with the legendary 'Nodame curry' - again something that has been cut out of the anime. There's definitely more than meets the eye to Rui's arrival; her desire for friendship, fun and freedom hinting at the terrible stresses of having been a child prodigy and world famous star - she's very much the Anti-Nodame and the contrast (as well as the stress it causes Nodame) adds zing to the series.

The Marlet looks like a horrible mess. And this is yet another challenge for Shinichi. It's probably going to be a blessing in disguise that he didn't get the Deschamps slot. After all, he will shine more by bringing up Marlet's standards against all the obstacles of being young and unknown, having to work with an entrenched old guard and dealing with the woes of a professional orchestra - difficulties of a whole different level from his experiences with the S and R*S Orchestras. Oh, and every time the characters pick up the phone and say: Allo, I can help but think: 'You stupid woman!'

Related posts:

1. Nodame Cantabile Paris 07
2. Nodame Cantabile Paris 03
3. Nodame Cantabile Paris 02