As often happens – well, pretty much always happens – just when I’m ready to slap Fruits Basket 2019 on hiatus it dumps an episode I want to talk about. It comes down to the all-or-nothing relationship I havre with this show – when it focuses on the characters I care about, I care about it. And pretty much all of them were reasonably prominent in this episode.
On balance the whole “Cinderalla-ish” thing worked better in support of the drama than it did supporting itself as comedy. That’s pretty much SOP for Furuba, which is better when it’s serious than when it’s trying to be funny. The best thing about the play was bringing in Momiji and Hiro & Kisa – my favorites among the supporting cast – as part of the audience. Watching the two little ones interact with the world is always interesting, especially as Hiro wrestles with his inner demons non-stop.
As for the play itself, the headline moment was obviously when Kyou and Tohru ad-libbed their true feelings into the script (such as it was – the whole thing had a sense of improv to it). In the guise of fiction they were almost able to talk about that which they daren’t as themselves – their romantic feelings for each others, yes, but also the sentence hanging over Kyou that’s not that far from being carried out. Baby steps I suppose, but there are so many elephants in the room with these two that they’re running out of room to walk.
Also of note here was Hiro spilling the beans about Haru and Rin, something he’s not supposed to know about in the first place. One upshot of this is that Kisa gets the mistaken idea (thanks to Haru’s usual density) that Hiro is interested in Isuzu himself. Momiji, meanwhile, gives us a rare glimpse into his serious side, though he’s quick to lapse back into fairy prince mode once he’s made his point with Tohru. There’s more untapped potential with him than anyone else in the cast by a long shot, and it’s frustrating sometimes how slowly Takaya taps into it. But I won’t spoil – it’s baby steps too there, I suppose…
Jordan
September 8, 2020 at 10:44 pmI’m going to enjoy your unconditional hatred review for the next episode as it is going to be Yuki focused.
Guardian Enzo
September 8, 2020 at 10:57 pmI know it is (they almost all are, really) and you’re going to be disappointed because that one I will skip.
Jordan
September 9, 2020 at 4:42 amI don’t think you can skip because that one is actually important to the story.
Jordan
September 9, 2020 at 4:43 amUnless you mean that you’re not going to review it then yes you can for sure skip. I would still look forward to your response.
Guardian Enzo
September 9, 2020 at 6:36 amYeah, I mean not review it. I watch all of them, even when they’re about stuff that I don’t much cares about or really annoys me.
Rasu
September 12, 2020 at 9:19 amWhat’s with you? You’re taking too personal the fact that he dislikes Yuki. You need to be more objective with the character as both a character and “a person”, Yuki isn’t the best, but it’s ok, despite everything “FruBa” stands alone as shojo classic; even it wasn’t also as deep and as great as it could ve one, it was one of few works (popular works) that dared to introspect more into heavy themes in a way nobody else did before, the sadness withn its MC didn’t make her more tragic or less bright, it showed how that human part of them could be perceived as dark sometimes but beautiful too, that it wasn’t neccesary a big drama/trauma to turn a scar into something meaningful since the point is that is ok, it matters anyway, their feelings are valid and they don’t have to be ashamed neither they have to allow those scars to control them along with every aspect of their life and personality. That’s the point! Things are constantly changing, and it’s ok just as is ok that somebody doesn’t like or appreciate a character you do, it is called liberty and expression liberty. What isn’t ok is spaming someone without better argumenta that “just because yes” only because they don’t share your opinion or point of view, moreover since it is a thing of taste and not an objective critic.
Lacey Ashford
September 10, 2020 at 4:53 amYou’re way too hard on Yuki. Yuki and Kyon have both gone through similar traumas, but Yuki’s remained a generally friendly person whereas Kyon is aggressive and kind of a dick. That should count for something.
aldeayeah
September 12, 2020 at 10:56 amMan, I know I will cheer when Momiji (redacted) (trying not to be too spoilery)
Guardian Enzo
September 12, 2020 at 1:08 pmSorry, that’s too specific.