Love Live! S2 – 03
Getting ready to do their best
There are some points in some dance sequences that just put my heart in my throat, and they’re usually throwaway parts, or short bridge moves. One of the ones that always gives me this thrill is at the very end of Snow Halation, when Honoka, Umi, and Nozomi do that crossover skip up the middle of the group. The reason I bring this up is that the new OP for Love Live! has one of those moments, at the short bridge into the chorus: “Chance for me, chance for you.” Anyone else have any moments like that? Anyway, on to the episode!
More Ridiculous Rules
What Umi fears…
Maybe these aren’t as conveniently made up as last time, but this time we find out more about the format of the Love Live Preliminary rounds: 5 minutes of live performance, streamed on the contest website when it’s your turn, and that’s all you get. Technical problems, screwups, lateness, too bad so sad. As usual, the Gloom and Doom Duo of Nico and Hanayo come up with every reason why this is so hard, but it sounds like pretty much every other time they’ve had to perform, so it really isn’t that big a deal. What’s a bigger deal is trying to convince Umi that they should wear a sexy dress (and Kotori lampshades the return joke by mentioning how long it’s been since Umi reacted like that). The real secret is that Umi would love to wear something like that (judging by what she always thinks of when it comes up) but could never get over the embarrassment.
A Welcome from your New Rival
The other thing to figure out is where to perform. They reject all the places they’ve performed before in PV’s, and even start looking outside the school in Akihabara (where they’ve also performed before, although personally I really dislike Wonder Zone). But while last time they welcomed performing there as a challenge to UTX’s A-RISE, this time they’re a little more reticent about thumbing their noses at the reigning queens of the school idol scene. But the real surprise comes when µ’s is gawking at the UTX signage and Tsubasa, the leader of A-RISE appears in front of her, dragging her (and the rest of the girls eventually) into the school.
Starting a Rivalry
How to feel outnumbered when you have 9 and they have 3
I think the relationship between A-RISE and µ’s is established well in this episode, and like that it’s the top group that acknowledges our heroines as their competition. It’s certainly a surprise to everyone that the girls in A-RISE know about them, although I’m not sure how much they’re trolling some of the members, talking about Rin’s flexibility and coordination (when the first series’ run up to Bokura no Live spent so much effort showing Rin’s inflexibility and lack of coordination) and Hanayo’s singing (when I think most would acknowledge she’s got one of the weaker voices in the group), or even Kotori’s secret past as “Charisma Maid Minalinsky”. But perhaps that’s just showing the progress that µ’s has made, both as a group and as individuals. And truly they do seem sincere that they view µ’s as their competition, something that Honoka and the others would never have assumed on their own and is really powerful. Therefore, in the end, Honoka takes them up on their offer to use UTX as their stage for the big show.
Punchy vs Pastoral (click for full size)
The two performances to end the episode were very good, and maybe a perfect example of the difference in style between the two groups. A-Rise brings it first with a tight, punchy number that challenges you to a “Shocking Party”, with close tight movements that befit their three person group. And after seeing that, there’s a little defeatism in the air, but Honoka dispels it quickly, saying that they should use that as inspiration to perform their best in response. And they do, inviting everyone to find the “Door to Their Dreams” with a positive bouncy song and almost fairy-like gauzy outfits, combined with soft lighting, a stage that resembled a pool, and choreography such that at times evoked some of those beautiful old Esther Williams pool numbers, a large number of beautiful ladies in well-rehearsed synchronization. And like I mentioned in the introduction, there was one of those heart-catch moments for me, with the whole group crossing sides, touching hands in the middle.
Beautiful ambience in a lovely performance (click for full size, Full gallery here)
Quick Points: Things that I wanted to mention because I found them interesting
- I wonder if Tsubasa’s (btw, my favorite Japanese name) and Erina’s tsurime eyes give that feeling of insincerity when talking about µ’s, even if it’s not meant that way.
- I really liked Honoka’s pun when responding to Tsubasa’s “we won’t lose” when she says “A-Rise, minna-san” and everyone in µ’s stands up to answer the challenge. Nice little touch there.
Honoka and µ’s arise to the challenge
This may have been the best overall music performance in Love Live! for me, even if I still like the sexy coreography in No Brand Girls (“Hai Hai Hai!”) a little more. They’ve also really made strides in the mixing of CG parts with the drawn parts, particularly making the hair motion more consistent between the two (I think I mentioned in the first impressions the differences in prior videos). I also really liked these outfits, although I don’t know if Karakuri will think these were as cute as previous ones. They just gave off a more natural feel to me (maybe it was the flowers), and I still love that there are no two matching outfits. There’s always some little difference, whether it be hats, armbands, or frills. It really helps raise the interest. So we’ll see how the results go, although I think it’s a lock that µ’s will end up in the next round with no problems (especially with a lead in from A-RISE).
About Highway
Proving that you don't have to be young to love anime, I enjoy all genres and styles of shows. If it's not hurting anyone else, you should never be ashamed of what you like!
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Ah, they set out to make your really like A-Rise, and it worked.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
They’re like the opposite of I-1 Club. Powerful and well regarded, but interested in what is going on around them and enjoying being pushed to the top. I think it’s also good that they’re referring back to the first season, when they showed A-Rise watching the µ’s video of Start:Dash and getting wide-eyed. So there’s credibility there when they say they’ve been keeping an eye on them.
POWUH: Occasional (51-75) with 51 comments
Interesting way to introduce A-RISE.
Should I be shipping HonokaxTsubasa now? She did say she found Honoka charming. Can’t really argue with that.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
I thought it was very effective in setting them up to be a fun rival. It really lowered the tension both now in the initial meeting and for the future by making A-Rise not be the ‘evil’ group opposing the ‘good’ µ’s. To me, this is a big deal, because Love Live! isn’t about ‘battling’ like Wake Up Girls! or even AKB0048 is. Yes, they want to win, but it’s not nearly as all or nothing as it could be.
As I said, there is a question of their sincerity when they were talking about the different members of µ’s, but I think it’s telling that A-Rise seemingly didn’t ask any other groups to join them at UTX, so they probably were telling the truth that they find µ’s to be their biggest challenger.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Calling the rules ridiculous is an understatement. Do they have them all planned out or do they just make them up as they go along?
The confrontation with A-RISE was inevitable though it came a lot sooner but went over smoother than expected. Nice to know the µ’s more popular rivals are girls who aren’t stuck up, intolerable and only care about image. That was real refreshing.
The funny part is how A-RISE described our high school idols. They were so thoroughly profiled in detail that you’d think they were part of a hit list.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
It certainly seems like they’re making them up as they go along.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Good News, I think. hashi’s 2channel survey of anime post activity shows Love Live! as the most talked about show, with 33 threads started since April. That means over 32,000 posts. JoJo is second at 29 threads, Mahouka third at 20, then it falls way off to Mekakucity Actors at 12 and Gochuuman Usagi at 11, with most things under 10.