The time has come. The show is over, even though it seriously seems like it has just started.
So here are some of my thoughts on the finale (and the overall season, too) to wrap this up!
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Can I already say that I loved the finale? Well, I did say it. And I did love the finale.
And I'm particularly happy that I loved it especially because I wasn't really too enthusiastic about the previous two episodes, so I was a bit worried I might not like the finale that much.
While the highlight of the episode is obviously the long awaited resolution between Ayaka and Hiroko, I have to say I believe the real MVP has been Keiko, and the parts involving her are those that moved me the most! So let's start...
The first scene is a very important one, not only for this season but for Hiroko as a character in general, even looking back to everything we've seen of her last year. She might be slow, very slow, extremely slow (due to her partially reasonable but also preeeetty frustrating fears) in understanding what matters in a healthy relationship, but after a faint attempt at continuing her hiding...she quickly worked up the courage to very simply, very genuinely, very calmly open up to her sister about being a lesbian and being with Ayaka.
Cute little Tsumugi was the catalyst.
Keiko being clueless despite reality staring her in the face made me feel so many things. It was funny, it was sad, but most of all...it was extremely realistic. Particularly if you're a lesbian yourself, and even more if you're not super young, you will know that some straight people (even some young people) seem to see the world from a perspective that excludes homosexuality from their "normal" so much, that even when presented with an obvious (for anyone who does not do that) example of homosexuality, they will NOT be able to see it. They won't. You know, the..."they seem like very good friends" trope. It is real. They don't pretend not to see. They don't see. Even the obvious has to be made explicit for them to see. And as disheartening as feeling invisible can be (a feeling hardly comparable to anything else), most of the time these people (like Keiko) don't do it out of malice. Not at all. You can't even get mad at them. I mean you can. But for what? It doesn't serve anyone.
It's different for kids. They're yet to assimilate all our silly conventions and constructs. They see things simply, at face value, and translate them in the words they can find that feel right in the moment. Which can both turn into Tsumugi's "so you two are family?", or in another kid's "only a man and a woman can be together", depending on the various factors that have shaped their worldview to that point (plus, I am sure, at least some little bit of something unique that must be in any one of us).
So, Hiroko has to make it more than obvious. She has to say it.
And when Keiko finally wraps her head around it, she's back to her "benevolent homophobic" stance, going on about how cool and special homosexual people are, how they have main character energy, about wanting these weirdos to experience real happiness (hence marriage) like normals, and all that... But this (again with no ill intent at all, even though it's silly), also hides (well, not so much) Keiko's own insecurities, sense of inferiority and inadequacy, both generalized and in respect to how she sees herself compared to her sister, who she's always admired.
Did you all see Keiko after Hiroko forced her to reconsider her concept of happiness? When Hiroko tells her she thinks she's really cool, a hard worker, in a great marriage, a good mother, a caring person?
When Keiko said "That's just normal", I was seriously about to lose it. It brought me to tears (I've rewatched it now as I'm writing this and I've cried again). The fact that Keiko herself was about to cry didn't help. Seriously, what's not special about that? Everything about that is special. I truly believe it as my own self. I have to leave a comment to the actress somewhere, telling her how much I loved her portrayal as Keiko...
Now, at this point Hiroko is still an idiot, even though she's an idiot who came out to her sister and niece! She's still thinking she has to be more perfect, rather than more herself. So...once again, once more, just like last year, Ayaka has to do all the heavy lifting (relationship-wise) and devise a strategy to bring Hiroko out of her enraging shell. In season 1 Ayaka did all the work to try and get together with Hiroko. In season 2 Ayaka did all the work to try and...bring Hiroko to have an actual relationship with her (sexual part included, but not just that)!!
As I mentioned in last week's thoughts, Ayaka was hit by the realization that Hiroko seemed unable to speak her mind with her, even though apparently (based on the words in Keiko's letter) being able to speak out was part of her personality, and something her sister admired her for. So, while making us and Hiroko think she was leaving her because of this, since it obviously seemed like she wasn't satisfied in the relationship with her, in reality Ayaka was forcing them to...have a very needed, healthy "fight", and finally confront each other. Katoshi got a chance to show off once again her running skills. Always appreciated!
I loved Ayaka pushing and pushing whenever Hiroko would start letting her thoughts slip out, like with the Jun thing. I also loved when Hiroko says "it's none of your business", when...it absolutely is! It's about Hiroko. Of course it's Ayaka's business! Her girlfriend's business! While I liked Ayaka's chain of insults, and I loved it when Hiroko finally tells Ayaka she was afraid to be open with her because she couldn't stand the thought that she might end up hating her...don't @ me, as the kids says, but I found the crying a bit unconvincing, or anyway it didn't really touch me, or made me feel like crying (which often happens). It didn't look or sound genuine enough, but I know not every actress can have an emotional breakdown and cry her heart out, unable to stop even when they call the cut (referencing without saying! Ah!), so...
Something else that made me unable to become as emotional as I wish I could've, in this scene, is the use of the word "Monster"... Unlike Hiroko, Ayaka's teary "I'm not going anywhere" was about to move me, but then she mentioned the deplorable monster and my feelings dispersed again...
Ayaka kept doing the work after this part too, when she had the lovely, truly lovely idea of bringing to life a goal for their relationship: getting their own home, like the one Hiroko dreamed of as a kid. Very cute moment, and nice portrayal of the concept of making a goal for yourself. It doesn't have to be marriage. Anything can be a couple goal, provided that it's something you want to reach together. Then again, someone will do her best to make it so that they will be able to marry if they ever want to (referencing without saying! Ah!).
And they have sex, my friend. They do! No massages!!! They actually make love! Hiroko touches Ayaka! Ayaka gets to be touched by Hiroko and discovers that she really doesn't need to do anything to entice Hiroko, because she's basically horny and ready 24/7. She just needs to be there, and Hiroko will jump on her. Ayaka's first experience wasn't as merely relaxingly pleasurable as the massage in episode 3, and she looked kind of troubled and very embarrassed after it. On the other hand, Hiroko was pleased not only to have done the deed, but also by Ayaka's reaction. The interaction in bed was seriously super cute, as was the final kiss on the sofa, and them trying Ayaka's breakfast for once!
A few words for the second most moving moment for me...You got it, smartasses! It's the other scene with Keiko! Turns out their mother is not one of those straights who couldn't smell homosexuality even if they had it under their nose. She knew, like many mothers know. Not all mothers (the saying that mothers know is not an absolute truth, it really isn't), but many do. Keiko seems very surprised, and part of me couldn't help but feel that she felt some sadness/regret for never having realized this about her sister. But it's not even this that got me, it's what happens next, with Keiko standing up to gently reprimand Tsumugi for playing too recklessly, as it's not what a girl should do, and being immediately hit by how wrong what she was doing was. Not even there, Keiko had ill intent. Most mothers (parents; but yes, even now it's still mostly mothers caring for childrearing) also have no ill intent when they drill potentially harming stereotypes into their kids. But that doesn't change the potential harm. Some never find, in their life, the right trigger, the right chance and occasion to widen their horizon, but Keiko did, thanks to Ayaka, Hiroko, and her own mother. I'm sure she will end up saying some more funnily silly things from now on as well, but she's on her way to be an even better person, and an even better mother. You have to forgive me (?), I know this is a show about Ayaka and Hiroko, but the parts with Keiko somehow hit me more in the sense of making me want to write about them...
Back to AyaHiro, let me say something real quick, taking their future into consideration.
I know that Ayaka said that she's happier if Hiroko is jealous of her, but...how to say this? If Hiroko really is as possessive and jealous as she apparently is...they absolutely will have to confront each other again in a few months, because I seriously doubt Ayaka will (or...should, to be fair) stand for it. That's the sort of disposition that shouldn't be ignored or repressed (it could get bad...), but that might need to be talked about, and "regulated" with your loved one. Am I bringing too much reality to a work of fiction? Maybe, but there's a lot of real stuff here, so it doesn't feel wrong to do so, gne gne!!
As for the season overall, even though Eda's angles and peculiar shots were very impactful, I think I noticed the change between the first and second half more in terms of writing and content than in directing. I still believe that the first half presented a better balance between serious and comedic elements. Since that's always been one of AyaHiro's charms for me, I felt like something was lacking, but the finale brought it all back together beautifully.
I'm not sure how I generally feel about repeating the same structure from season 1, with continuous buildup through the episodes leading to a resolution scene in the finale, but I guess it works well enough for the genre. Season 2 was, in my opinion, definitely a good continuation for AyaHiro, though it needed more bar time and KyonRisa. I think I'd rate season 1 as altogether a bit better, but not enough to consider the sequel poor in quality. In other words, I didn't feel the drop I experienced with Chaser Game W. AyaHiro 2nd Stage was in line with season 1. It coherently built on it, both in terms of plot and character development.
One last lighthearted note: I don't care what role-fixated lezzies will think (gne gne! x 2), I shall use some space in my personal blog to say that I hope that soon enough, after a few more rounds, Hiroko will stop being the only one doing the touching, if you know what I mean. I'm confident that Ayaka can definitely tame that "monster" in more than a sense!
Now: is there a future for the series? Is there a chance for a third season?
On one hand, there is. The second season has brought in much more attention and much more popularity compared to the first. The numbers are there. The DVDs and BDs will surely sell well.
However, this finale seems like a finale. An actual finale. It feels definitive.
Kanna's words about being happy to have had the opportunity to play Hiroko, also read like a goodbye to me. Let's not forget that Kanna also had initial doubts for S2 because she feared the risk of a S2 that felt not unnecessary, and S2 made much more sense back then, that a S3 would make now, in my opinion.
At the same time!!! At the same time, my friends, since I think it's not far fetched to consider the real possibility of a KyonRisa spin-off (they SOOOOOO underestimated how popular the pair is, otherwise they would've put more of them in the season), we could totally hope to see some of AyaHiro again there.
It got long this time, uh? Well, it is the end, after all!
So, what's your take? I always like to read your thoughts, so feel free to drop a comment and tell me what's on your mind! Whatever happens next, if we get a continuation or not, a spin-off or not, I'm definitely grateful to have experienced this beautiful and messy journey!
Aloha!!
And I'm particularly happy that I loved it especially because I wasn't really too enthusiastic about the previous two episodes, so I was a bit worried I might not like the finale that much.
While the highlight of the episode is obviously the long awaited resolution between Ayaka and Hiroko, I have to say I believe the real MVP has been Keiko, and the parts involving her are those that moved me the most! So let's start...
The first scene is a very important one, not only for this season but for Hiroko as a character in general, even looking back to everything we've seen of her last year. She might be slow, very slow, extremely slow (due to her partially reasonable but also preeeetty frustrating fears) in understanding what matters in a healthy relationship, but after a faint attempt at continuing her hiding...she quickly worked up the courage to very simply, very genuinely, very calmly open up to her sister about being a lesbian and being with Ayaka.
Cute little Tsumugi was the catalyst.
Keiko being clueless despite reality staring her in the face made me feel so many things. It was funny, it was sad, but most of all...it was extremely realistic. Particularly if you're a lesbian yourself, and even more if you're not super young, you will know that some straight people (even some young people) seem to see the world from a perspective that excludes homosexuality from their "normal" so much, that even when presented with an obvious (for anyone who does not do that) example of homosexuality, they will NOT be able to see it. They won't. You know, the..."they seem like very good friends" trope. It is real. They don't pretend not to see. They don't see. Even the obvious has to be made explicit for them to see. And as disheartening as feeling invisible can be (a feeling hardly comparable to anything else), most of the time these people (like Keiko) don't do it out of malice. Not at all. You can't even get mad at them. I mean you can. But for what? It doesn't serve anyone.
It's different for kids. They're yet to assimilate all our silly conventions and constructs. They see things simply, at face value, and translate them in the words they can find that feel right in the moment. Which can both turn into Tsumugi's "so you two are family?", or in another kid's "only a man and a woman can be together", depending on the various factors that have shaped their worldview to that point (plus, I am sure, at least some little bit of something unique that must be in any one of us).
So, Hiroko has to make it more than obvious. She has to say it.
And when Keiko finally wraps her head around it, she's back to her "benevolent homophobic" stance, going on about how cool and special homosexual people are, how they have main character energy, about wanting these weirdos to experience real happiness (hence marriage) like normals, and all that... But this (again with no ill intent at all, even though it's silly), also hides (well, not so much) Keiko's own insecurities, sense of inferiority and inadequacy, both generalized and in respect to how she sees herself compared to her sister, who she's always admired.
Did you all see Keiko after Hiroko forced her to reconsider her concept of happiness? When Hiroko tells her she thinks she's really cool, a hard worker, in a great marriage, a good mother, a caring person?
When Keiko said "That's just normal", I was seriously about to lose it. It brought me to tears (I've rewatched it now as I'm writing this and I've cried again). The fact that Keiko herself was about to cry didn't help. Seriously, what's not special about that? Everything about that is special. I truly believe it as my own self. I have to leave a comment to the actress somewhere, telling her how much I loved her portrayal as Keiko...
Now, at this point Hiroko is still an idiot, even though she's an idiot who came out to her sister and niece! She's still thinking she has to be more perfect, rather than more herself. So...once again, once more, just like last year, Ayaka has to do all the heavy lifting (relationship-wise) and devise a strategy to bring Hiroko out of her enraging shell. In season 1 Ayaka did all the work to try and get together with Hiroko. In season 2 Ayaka did all the work to try and...bring Hiroko to have an actual relationship with her (sexual part included, but not just that)!!
As I mentioned in last week's thoughts, Ayaka was hit by the realization that Hiroko seemed unable to speak her mind with her, even though apparently (based on the words in Keiko's letter) being able to speak out was part of her personality, and something her sister admired her for. So, while making us and Hiroko think she was leaving her because of this, since it obviously seemed like she wasn't satisfied in the relationship with her, in reality Ayaka was forcing them to...have a very needed, healthy "fight", and finally confront each other. Katoshi got a chance to show off once again her running skills. Always appreciated!
I loved Ayaka pushing and pushing whenever Hiroko would start letting her thoughts slip out, like with the Jun thing. I also loved when Hiroko says "it's none of your business", when...it absolutely is! It's about Hiroko. Of course it's Ayaka's business! Her girlfriend's business! While I liked Ayaka's chain of insults, and I loved it when Hiroko finally tells Ayaka she was afraid to be open with her because she couldn't stand the thought that she might end up hating her...don't @ me, as the kids says, but I found the crying a bit unconvincing, or anyway it didn't really touch me, or made me feel like crying (which often happens). It didn't look or sound genuine enough, but I know not every actress can have an emotional breakdown and cry her heart out, unable to stop even when they call the cut (referencing without saying! Ah!), so...
Something else that made me unable to become as emotional as I wish I could've, in this scene, is the use of the word "Monster"... Unlike Hiroko, Ayaka's teary "I'm not going anywhere" was about to move me, but then she mentioned the deplorable monster and my feelings dispersed again...
Ayaka kept doing the work after this part too, when she had the lovely, truly lovely idea of bringing to life a goal for their relationship: getting their own home, like the one Hiroko dreamed of as a kid. Very cute moment, and nice portrayal of the concept of making a goal for yourself. It doesn't have to be marriage. Anything can be a couple goal, provided that it's something you want to reach together. Then again, someone will do her best to make it so that they will be able to marry if they ever want to (referencing without saying! Ah!).
And they have sex, my friend. They do! No massages!!! They actually make love! Hiroko touches Ayaka! Ayaka gets to be touched by Hiroko and discovers that she really doesn't need to do anything to entice Hiroko, because she's basically horny and ready 24/7. She just needs to be there, and Hiroko will jump on her. Ayaka's first experience wasn't as merely relaxingly pleasurable as the massage in episode 3, and she looked kind of troubled and very embarrassed after it. On the other hand, Hiroko was pleased not only to have done the deed, but also by Ayaka's reaction. The interaction in bed was seriously super cute, as was the final kiss on the sofa, and them trying Ayaka's breakfast for once!
A few words for the second most moving moment for me...You got it, smartasses! It's the other scene with Keiko! Turns out their mother is not one of those straights who couldn't smell homosexuality even if they had it under their nose. She knew, like many mothers know. Not all mothers (the saying that mothers know is not an absolute truth, it really isn't), but many do. Keiko seems very surprised, and part of me couldn't help but feel that she felt some sadness/regret for never having realized this about her sister. But it's not even this that got me, it's what happens next, with Keiko standing up to gently reprimand Tsumugi for playing too recklessly, as it's not what a girl should do, and being immediately hit by how wrong what she was doing was. Not even there, Keiko had ill intent. Most mothers (parents; but yes, even now it's still mostly mothers caring for childrearing) also have no ill intent when they drill potentially harming stereotypes into their kids. But that doesn't change the potential harm. Some never find, in their life, the right trigger, the right chance and occasion to widen their horizon, but Keiko did, thanks to Ayaka, Hiroko, and her own mother. I'm sure she will end up saying some more funnily silly things from now on as well, but she's on her way to be an even better person, and an even better mother. You have to forgive me (?), I know this is a show about Ayaka and Hiroko, but the parts with Keiko somehow hit me more in the sense of making me want to write about them...
Back to AyaHiro, let me say something real quick, taking their future into consideration.
I know that Ayaka said that she's happier if Hiroko is jealous of her, but...how to say this? If Hiroko really is as possessive and jealous as she apparently is...they absolutely will have to confront each other again in a few months, because I seriously doubt Ayaka will (or...should, to be fair) stand for it. That's the sort of disposition that shouldn't be ignored or repressed (it could get bad...), but that might need to be talked about, and "regulated" with your loved one. Am I bringing too much reality to a work of fiction? Maybe, but there's a lot of real stuff here, so it doesn't feel wrong to do so, gne gne!!
As for the season overall, even though Eda's angles and peculiar shots were very impactful, I think I noticed the change between the first and second half more in terms of writing and content than in directing. I still believe that the first half presented a better balance between serious and comedic elements. Since that's always been one of AyaHiro's charms for me, I felt like something was lacking, but the finale brought it all back together beautifully.
I'm not sure how I generally feel about repeating the same structure from season 1, with continuous buildup through the episodes leading to a resolution scene in the finale, but I guess it works well enough for the genre. Season 2 was, in my opinion, definitely a good continuation for AyaHiro, though it needed more bar time and KyonRisa. I think I'd rate season 1 as altogether a bit better, but not enough to consider the sequel poor in quality. In other words, I didn't feel the drop I experienced with Chaser Game W. AyaHiro 2nd Stage was in line with season 1. It coherently built on it, both in terms of plot and character development.
One last lighthearted note: I don't care what role-fixated lezzies will think (gne gne! x 2), I shall use some space in my personal blog to say that I hope that soon enough, after a few more rounds, Hiroko will stop being the only one doing the touching, if you know what I mean. I'm confident that Ayaka can definitely tame that "monster" in more than a sense!
Now: is there a future for the series? Is there a chance for a third season?
On one hand, there is. The second season has brought in much more attention and much more popularity compared to the first. The numbers are there. The DVDs and BDs will surely sell well.
However, this finale seems like a finale. An actual finale. It feels definitive.
Kanna's words about being happy to have had the opportunity to play Hiroko, also read like a goodbye to me. Let's not forget that Kanna also had initial doubts for S2 because she feared the risk of a S2 that felt not unnecessary, and S2 made much more sense back then, that a S3 would make now, in my opinion.
At the same time!!! At the same time, my friends, since I think it's not far fetched to consider the real possibility of a KyonRisa spin-off (they SOOOOOO underestimated how popular the pair is, otherwise they would've put more of them in the season), we could totally hope to see some of AyaHiro again there.
It got long this time, uh? Well, it is the end, after all!
So, what's your take? I always like to read your thoughts, so feel free to drop a comment and tell me what's on your mind! Whatever happens next, if we get a continuation or not, a spin-off or not, I'm definitely grateful to have experienced this beautiful and messy journey!
Aloha!!
I really enjoyed the finale a lot. It was a nice wrap to the season but it does feel like the end so I don't feel too confident about a possible season 3. I loved Keiko, I think she was a nice push for Hiroko to finally be herself with her family. I've seen some people say they don't like her because of her lowkey "homophobic" comments but I think she's not doing it out of malice but ignorance, she's learning about all this stuff as she goes and I think she's doing great.
ReplyDeleteI hope we get more content in the future, we still have the DVD to look forward too and they did the live a few days ago, from which I've seen you translated some clips. I hope this team stays together forever!
Talking about the live, I've seen you say that Katoshi gets shy easily, I don't know much about her personality, how would you describe her?
And I was also wondering if you've ever made a post about the season 1 DVD because, if you did, I can't seem to find it.
Thank you for everything you do, SapphicLoner!
Thank you so much for your comment!
DeleteI so agree with you, with everything!
I do have hopes for something with Kyouko and Risa, though!
I think the fact that Keiko is such an amazing and realistic representation of a super common kind of homophobia is what makes her character great! Through her, and how everything unfolds around her behavior and that little taste of growth, the show even brought us an example of how to deal with people who, like her, have super obviously zero malice. Shutting off, throwing a fit, getting angry, trying to shame (which I often see happen even at the slightest hint of homophobia) does not help, never leads to improvement at all, nor encourages people to learn and get better! Also, the actress did such a great job with a role that I think wasn't easy at all!
The extras for S1 were already amazing, and something tells me they'll be much more so for S2's DVD and BD!! I have not written anything about the extra footage for S1! I hadn't even started the blog yet back then! If ever there's a period with no other content and I have time, I will consider it for sure though!!!
As for Katoshi, I definitely don't know her as some Hinatazaka46 fans might, but I've followed their variety show for years and she was one of my favorites because of how entertaining she was. When they say she's weird...they're not exaggerating. She absolutely is an unusual kind of young woman in many ways. Even in terms of shyness...having Kanna feed her in the live made her feel so embarrassed she kept being troubled for a few minutes afterward, but then you'd see her touching the butts of her group's members without any issue, and putting herself out there saying all sorts of absurd stuff, doing weird stunts, fully committing to them (like her memorable Evangelion Shinji impression ahah), without seemingly having any issue! She laughs very easily, is easily entertained and jokes around a lot, but other emotions strangely don't make it to her face in the same direct way. She apparently also has trouble expressing them with words. I think her getting embarrassed might be circumscribed to, you know, affectionate/physical sort of things, rather than more generally things that would make many others feel embarrassed (because otherwise she would often be actually quite reckless!). I think she has a sort of purity to her, when it comes to that, which I find very endearing also because she's young but not like super young (27).
Thank you so much for reading and commenting!! 🤗
Hello SL! I was re-watching the finale and suddenly it hit me that Keiko's actress could play Mio's sister. Their mouths look a bit similar and also Keiko's actress' (sorry, I don't know her name) voice or way of speaking reminds me of Mio. What do you think as a Mio expert?
ReplyDeleteHey there!!
DeleteYou gave me a big laugh, with that "Mio expert" ðŸ¤
I have to say that while I do not see the similarities, I do think that they could work nicely as sisters. There's definitely a feeling of matching vibe, especially with some characters Mio has played!
Looks wise, there's this weird thing with Mio reminding me (and others), from certain angles and with some expressions, of Sakurazaka's Hono. And someone else who reminds (again from certain angles and with some expressions) of Hono is the actress who will play opposite Habu in Love Sea, so getting those three as sisters would be interesting 🤣
I don't see the similarity between Keiko's actress and Hono, but I do see it between her and the Love Sea actress! Another Hono lookalike is Konno Ayaka, who played Saeko in Sakamichi's "Borderless". She's like a perfect mix between Hono and Hikaru! I've seen some people say that Mori Kanna and Hono also look similar, but I don't see the resemblance at all. Speaking of Hono... HER IN A GL WHEN?
DeleteNot Keiko's actress and Hono, but Mio and Hono!
DeleteThat's the first thing I thought when I first saw the CallMeNo trailer, and was pleased to later find out I wasn't the only one thinking that! 😊
I'm not super familiar with Ayaka (but I have seen Borderless!).
I'm with you in not seeing Kanna and Hono looking alike, though!
It's funny how so many women seem to remind someone of Hono! 🤣
I wonder how much interested in acting Hono actually is! I definitely wouldn't be against her in a GL of course! On the contrary lol
My n°1 pick (picks) for next idol in a GL would still be my favorite =LOVE members, though!
But hey! Let's be greedy and hope for whatever we can hope for! ðŸ¤