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Nodame Cantabile Paris 08

Summary:

After the disastrous performance, Rui’s attempt to cheer Shinichi up is derailed by Nodame drawing away and, then, her mother showing up. Rui gets a tight slap while Shinichi is handbagged as Mrs Song believes that he has seduced her daughter, like master like student. Shinichi shows Nodame how the haters laid on the criticism of Rui’s Carnegie Hall concert last year and feels that she is putting up a merry façade even to him. They have one of their heart-to-heart talks where Shinichi tells her to persevere, that her efforts will not go to waste; she tells him that the concert was fun because everyone was so human and they muse about the dream, first enunciated at the end of the first season, of them performing as a golden pair.

Shinichi looks up the Marlet archives for inspiration in its 130 years of tradition and finds Stresemann’s old annotations and even an original composition by the maestro. Shinichi butts in Simon’s preparations for auditions of new members, even producing a Rena moment about having Deprieste’s backing. The Yakitorio come knocking to ask for Shinichi’s advice on their performance of Poulenc; Nodame ends up directing the piece Kansai boke-tsukkomi style which works surprisingly well. Shinichi covets Paul’s bassoon and Yasunori’s oboe for Marlet and invites them to audition. But the Marlet only has a spot of a faggott while Yasunori wants to get a tres bien in his exams first. Before leaving Paris, Rui goes to over, ostensibly, to apologize to Shinichi but she hears Nodame’s piano in the courtyard and leaves without going upstairs. Nodame plays a tad too colourfully during her exam but gets her tres bien (and pheromone reward from Shinichi) anyway; an examiner’s comment gives Charles an idea – she will play her first recital, at a church by the sea in Bretagne, during the summer break.

Reaction:

Rui continues to fascinate. Aside from her Mom Issues, it also seems that she, as a professional performing pianist, is in a funk. I'm particularly gratified to see that she was perturbed enough by Nodame's piano playing - an affirmation of Nodame's skill and talent as well as recognition as a rival in the professional and personal sense. Yasunori also provided much LOL with the way Shinichi could read his cry for help and came to his ally's aid when the Yakitorio came to seek his input as well as his reaction to Paul's family - it's their grins that nearly did in his performance I tell you! Shinichi was also at his Black Prince best when he carjacked Jean; all's fair in love and sales wars!

Nodame's declaration, at the end of the episode, of her first recital has been a long time coming. It was clearly conveyed (twice) in the first season that Nodame had learnt the joy of performing before a live audience and soaking in the applause. Another important diversification of her sources of motivation away from playing for fun (i.e. her own amusement) which doesn't quite cut the mustard given the demands of the contemporary classical music scene (from audiences to peers to the educational pedagogy and standards of professionalism) as well as playing to be recognized by Shinichi (he has his own problems and challenges and is, still after all this time, a bit of an arse).

Related posts:

1. Nodame Cantabile Paris 06
2. Nodame Cantabile Paris 11 (Final)
3. Nodame Cantabile Paris 10