Sora no Method – 10
She can only facilitate so much…
Welcome back to Saucer Town, everyone. Well, it looks like we’ve got a bridge episode. We get an opportunity to bring back all the bits and pieces of the characterization, get everyone on the same page, and then get the ball into position to roll towards the finale.
Where Wishes Go
More tears! Tears are the only tribute the Saucer Lords treasure!
Well, not all the characters are on the same page, actually they might be further from it than they started off when the show first aired. But we can acknowledge that they are coming to understand what the underlying problem is; the first step to solving said problem. But how aware are they of the actual issue at hand is for another time. They are getting somewhat close to it.
Who stands to lose the most….
Shione’s decision to leave is a complex one. On it’s face, it looks like a selfless deed, but in many respects it might be one born of, if not of selfishness, than a very misguided feeling. She was the last brought into the group, her natural shyness keeping her away from making friends easily. With Nonoka it was quite easy to be brought into an already existing group, and with Nonoka’s departure, fading out didn’t really seem that unnatural for her. She’s been bottling quite a bit up over seven years, but if there is one thing she is accustomed to, it’s solitude. So for her, making this break is the easiest of solutions. No one but her suffers, and Noel gets to stay.
Saying goodbye….one more time
But where the characterizations really start to come into play is when all of them know, that once the wish is fulfilled, then Noel will chart off to a brand new sky. All of them have gained something from her arrival and with her staying in their lives, she’s become a valuable part of them in many ways, and so acknowledging her departure is hitting everyone quite hard. This is where they all get Shione Syndrome; assessing who is best qualified to make this sacrifice. Souta knows he might be leaving soon, a point he has been going back and forth on, so this look like a good lead for him to make his own departure. Of course, sister Yuzuki is the first to object to that, and when she suggests she leaves for causing so much Saucer Trouble, he has his own objection. Koharu, as always, is the silent observer, but by the time Nonoka rejoins them (for what was like the billionth time this episode….don’t think the backs and forths were not on purpose of course, they weren’t), even she is shaken by this turn of events.
Not all goodbyes are this final
One of the stock phrases I’ve come to enjoy in anime is, “under the same sky”. It harkens to the idea of even when people are apart, the vast sky connects them; that all of that seemingly empty space contains all the encounters, loves, lessons, and hopes that all live on the planet share. Not at all a big wonder that the sky has been dominated by such a huge metaphor in this show. They all carry a piece of Noel with them, they are just to afraid to let her go, fearing that the piece will tarnish. This in not an illegitimate fear at all. But we get stronger facing it.
Now, let’s not cleave from reality. We got some selfish youth feelings flying around here. But that is part of the growing process, and I’m glad the writers have been paying attention to the warts while wrapping it up in a moe package. The long and short of it is that Noel knows what is going to come to pass, and is eager to move on. She knows it’s necessary. For them to have all the beautiful moments, they have to have a painful one. The best parts of herself that she leaves with each of these kids, are actually the very best parts they have to give each other. With three more episodes to go, I do wonder how they will resolve the story. It seems like much much more than enough time for what they have built, but only time will tell…
Next Time
Noel is all about pulling the plot thread…
About skylion
All around nerd that enjoys just about any anime genre. I love history, politics, public policy, the sciences, literature, arts...pretty much anything can make me geeky...except sports. Follow me @theskylion
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Yosuga no Sora: In solitude where we are least alone.
Similarly like in Kokkuri-san, does skylion take cute pictures of young girls as a currency? :3
POWUH: 900-999 with 915 comments
You… Don’t you dare associate this sacred piece of job with that watchable sin…
Just kidding, but seriously, why remember Yosuga no Sora here? DDDD=
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Sora has such a broad scope. As does Love. We could have had Love Date a Live Lab last year…
…and no…because….NO!
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
And did no one see my Mini-manga Rec last time
POWUH: 900-999 with 915 comments
Well, the drama that unfolds here was what I expected, they all giving up on being together because they don’t want Noel to disappear. Now, talk about clueless, Noel-chan sometimes just say the wrong words in the worst moments… I get that she doesn’t understand that she disappearing is a big deal for them, but saying that she loves them all obviously isn’t going to help either.
I’m hoping that they will pull an ending where they claim that they can’t be smiling forever if Noel isn’t with them. The other option would be a AnoHana-like ending with all of them getting together to see Noel-chan disappearing.
Or I could be totally wrong. I’m not very good with this prevision stuff.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Well, the problem is the naive outlook all these high school kids have, thinking that they are the only causality. “If she doesn’t grant our wish, she has to stay here.” Noone’s ever said that was a reverse condition, and Noel is proving it. So they’re all falling on their swords pointlessly.
I kinda liked the “Oh, you guys are trying to rig it so I won’t leave? Well, too bad, because I’m gonna grant your wish anyway and leave.”
POWUH: 900-999 with 915 comments
She’s like “gosh, you guys are overreacting. I’m just going to disappear, it’s not like it’s painful or whatever.” hahahaha
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Yes, she is totally like that. Saucer LOLi FTW!
POWUH: Lovely-pyon~ with 261 comments
Seriously That Little Girl (Noel, AND YES HER),seem to get in my nerves a bit, and those clueless kids who summon the saucer had get dragged up into it, (sigh) Boy, i was wonder if they are (ahem) granting a wish and…well she’s disappear hah…Good for her!
I Wish she get Kidnapped by Taisha’s Henchmen or a Spy from the Misurugi Empire or perhaps a servant from The Master of the World himself…
To make some Experiments onto her…>:D
But again it will never happened!
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I swear between you and Di Gi, I just may drown in oddsome…