Plastic Memories – 08

Isla is suspicious of that much plot…

…the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference…

Jellyfish Juice

I don’t think it’s too far out of left field to acknowledge that Tsukasa and Isla are given some of the puffier jobs. It’s also not to far out of field to do the same when you see such a plot coincidence happen in the very next scene. As the show opens, it’s really just paperwork during a formal meeting to replace Mirabel. But above that it was a nice bit of scenery change. I like the traditional aspect of that house juxtaposed with the modern idea of the Giftia; the Japanese pay great homage to seasons and to seasons changing.

I found that the opening scene plays through the entire show. Obaa-san is showing a great deal of serenity in her exchange. She knows full well the price she has to pay, and willingly does so. She’s done it before, and she has found, in a fullness of time, that it doesn’t change what is essential to her. Now why she favors this sort of relationship isn’t touched upon, and that’s a good thing, as it is part of the privacy the Giftia have to offer.

But Andi/Olivia’s introduction adds another layer to all of that. It’s seems that her office’s method is the standard model. Retrieve, little if any quarter given. It’s as harsh as it is effective, as we see a clean operation, and the breakdown of the client as pretty darn short, sharp, shock. But in our main cast’s office, Kazuki, using lessons from three years ago, exemplified during the Marcia arc, they’ve changed things. On one face, let the buyer beware, they know what they are getting into after all, it’s all there in the contract. But, as we’ve seen more than a few times, hope can blind, and that Giftia can become more human than many realize, such is Kazuki’s ideology…

…but Andi/Oliva adds so much more than that. I found it so curious that she didn’t change one essential quality about herself, and that’s she likes to be with Eru. That was evident from the past, and is the same in the present. Yeah, some things have changed, and maybe even for the better…if liking jellyfish juice is better. But the long and short of that was Eru’s change in attitude. I like how the ideas transition, with Olivia waltzing into the festival, Eru accepting that, and realizing that she shouldn’t dwell. Though a festival might be a bad simile for leaving sad memories behind. Though you can find other festivals…

…half an hour of sunshine, is worth a week of rain…

But all of this is for the stars of our show. I very much admire Tsukasa’s bravery and candor in this situation. No matter when or where, he will find her, and just in the nick of time. And I not only admire his feelings, I cheer them on. He’s exactly right. You endure the pain when it’s worth it. Sometimes you have to, even when you feel it isn’t worth it. But you find out by living it, not dismissing it. She holds him at arm’s length, and that is not surprising, nor is her eventual reaction to his very honest confession. She’s “to blame”. A thing she might want to let go of…

I love it when a confession comes together. Yeah, they flubbed the ball at the end there, but it was an intentional down, and I’m sure the story will regroup from there. It’s not all about Tsukasa after all. This was a pleasure to watch, and confessions usually play to goofy, extender-not-terrific tropes. I was halfway expecting the fireworks to drown out his words, and that would have been the end of the episode.

So, we’ve got a bit more to look forward to in exploring Isla’s actions. I think there are a great many event’s left in her past that they’ve yet to explore. A few things that will set up the hurdles on her path to come. They might be bollixing the sci-fi of this show, but the other part of the equation has always been well played, and Isla is the heart of that.

I’ll just leave you with a few precious pouts….

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