After a couple of commenters here and at RC pointed out some changes that Ballroom e Youkoso made to the manga in this arc, I did something I generally try to avoid when watching an adaptation. That is, I went ahead and read the chapters covering what’s currently playing out on screen. And it’s true, there was a lot of interesting detail omitted from Kugimiya’s backstory – which is actually way more compelling than Akira’s, which got two episodes while Kugimiya’s got ten minutes. It’s obvious enough why the anime did this, but it’s still frustrating – and that’s why I try to avoid doing this sort of thing normally. Really, I’d have been happier not knowing.
A side-effect of that is that I find myself torn about what I’d like to see happen in the final stages of this competition, and that’s not a bad thing – conflicted rooting interests in a sports anime are a good sign. Kugimiya’s story is so different than the other characters in Welcome to the Ballroom – it’s not just that he’s older, but he’s a dancer driven by negative emotions. Hatred of losing, fear of being judged by those watching – he’s no Sengoku with his reckless abandon or a natural like Hyoudo. Many great athletes are actually wired that way, but especially given what Kugimiya has been through, it’s easy to see winning this event as more important for him than it is for Tatara.
As we rejoin events here, that really doesn’t look like being much of an issue – Tatara and Chinatsu have barely scraped into the finals in fourth place, while Kugimiya-san is vexed by having dropped a single mark (when he lost his concentration and started watching Tatara on the floor). The final result seems a foregone conclusion – but Tatara takes some inspiration from a surprise phone call from Sengoku. Not to say he was pleased, but Tatara literally jumps up and down with excitement that Sengoku has not only called, but implies that he’s watching (he’s not – he’s somewhere in Europe, but Gaju has sent him a photo).
Honestly, this whole business about giving up on understanding the other person as a key to Tatara and Chinatsu finally breaking through seems like a bit of a deus ex machina to me – or mumbo-jumbo at the very least. While it is true that other people always remain a mystery and coming to accept that is an important stage of maturation, I still don’t see any critical threshold that was reached her which allowed Tata-Natsu to level up – but level up they did, dominating the waltz round to the point where Kugimiya tenses up so much he cramps during the tango.
Idogawa-san comes into her own here, literally propping up Kugimiya as he struggles through his pain. Again, I see Kugimiya’s story as really compelling and quite unique in this series – even here, it’s negativity that drives him forward into positive results. Kugimiya can dredge up his pain – both physical and emotional – and use it as a spur to overcome his own limitations. The whole “classic” vs. “radical” divide with these two pairs is overblown a bit, but for Tatara to win the waltz and Kugimiya the tango is an interesting and unexpected twist.
The nature of the judging for this final round is quite different than the others – it’s simply a matter of getting the most first place votes from the seven judges. Unless that number is tied, where the other judges rank you is irrelevant – second or last makes no difference. And I think that system inherently favors Chinatsu and Tatara, whose more unorthodox and daring style is going to be more divisive than Idogawa and Kugimiya’s much safer, reassuringly classical approach. If Tatara and Chinatsu can close the gap enough technically for it to matter, I think the enthusiasm factor will push them over the top – and it feels like that’s the ending Ballroom e Youkoso is setting up for next week’s finale.
Molly
December 10, 2017 at 5:20 pmAt this stage and despite – as you so aptly put it – their deux ex machina breakthroughs – Tatara and Chinatsu do not deserve to win. A well-deserved second place sure but first place… Eh. Yet given the fact that we caught up with the manga and that a second cour might never come to pass or at the very least be years ahead in the future, I can see how they might nicely wrap the story by letting an emboldened Tatara catch a break and finally score win. Though taming Chinatsu should count as a victory on its own and that should be enough considering how poorly they danced in the previous rounds.
On the other hand, given the changes they made to Kugimiya’s arc – which saw him for most of the cour dance in the background – I doubt that a casual viewer would be put off by his loss. After all we just spent 10 episodes dealing with a redux of Tatara’s shortcomings as a leader and now when he came into his own, his essentially set up to win.
It will be disappointing though not at all implausible to have the Tatara pair dance better and better while Kugimiya falls apart. It would be in line with the deux ex machina pattern established earlier on.
P.S. I feel I must apologize for interfering with your enjoyment of the series. It was not my intention and I would be annoyed if someone or something ruined an anime-only-view experience.
Guardian Enzo
December 10, 2017 at 9:40 pmNah, don’t sweat it – I’m glad in a sense to know how much more interesting Kugimiya is, because it makes me more sympathetic towards him in the anime.
Skidda
December 11, 2017 at 7:05 amI tihink Sengoku’s call has a minor part in that power-up. It’s mostly due to Chinatsu adjusting to Tatara’s pace in semi-final’s Tango and Tatara assuming “Sengoku mode” in the following foxtrot that the couple have reached a new level and the finals is just a continuation of that. For me the whole “appreciate the differences of others so you can appreciate yourself more” speech is just another layer in that leader-follower narrative (it has a more direct consequence in the new manga chapter but whatever). The main development in this episode is that Chinatsu has build-up enough trust in Tatara and she finally completely gives in to his lead (the whole blooming thing).
Anyway thanks for your reviews. Feels like I can finally comment freely now that the anime has caught up ! I always thought Kugimiya would win the tournament so I guess I’m sticking to that prediction (and like you I’m rooting for him anyway). Molly’s comment makes sense but Tatara-Chinatsu staying as a couple despite losing (contrary to Chinatsu’s suggestion during the training camp episode) would make for a nice finale too I think.
Guardian Enzo
December 11, 2017 at 9:07 amThanks, it’s a shame this is almost over with so much unresolved. But the manga has effectively been caught up now, so that’s it for the anime.
Skidda
December 12, 2017 at 3:26 amIt definitely feels like the journey has just begun. For me first half is more like a prologue and Chinatsu’s arc marks the time Takeuchi-sensei gained enough confidence to tackle the dance theme in a more personal way.The manga has the room for a long run too : we have yet to see Tatara doing any Latin dances competition for example, not to mention his family/personal issues. But with Takeuchi-sensei’s health problems, the future is incertain and the chances of seeing an anime sequel is basically null in my opinion. A few days ago, a new hiatus was announced for the february/march manga chapters so the current tournament will probably ends in like summer 2018 at this point.
Guardian Enzo
December 12, 2017 at 7:35 amYeah, I don’t see any chance of an anime sequel either, but it’s really a shame that even the manga is somewhat in limbo at the moment. Being a mangaka is so stressful and physically demanding this sort of story is sadly becoming more and more common.
Julia
December 10, 2017 at 10:47 pmHey Enzo, which manga chapters did you read about Kugimiya exactly? I think I will read them too. I have not read the manga so far, so I have no idea which chapter we are in right now.
Guardian Enzo
December 10, 2017 at 11:01 pmI want to say around 39-40, something like that.
Julia
December 10, 2017 at 11:38 pmGreat Thanks!