AnimeSuki Forums

Dop · 2018-03-13, 16:36

Marvellous episode, telling us more about Hinata. The sheer brass neck of those girls who screwed up Hinata's high school years for coming on the video link claiming to be her friends.

Requiem-x · 2018-03-13, 23:55

Its not everyday anime reminds you it's ok to tell a-holes and backstabbers to piss off, and I must say it was done very well this time; showed just enough to understand where Hinata is coming from, brought up her connection with Shirase, which makes perfect sense since she knows exactly how its like to be scorned and looked down upon, and still added plenty of small moments in between to breathe life into everything. I also appreciated how Shirase had serious doubts about checking the mail because of obvious reasons, and seeing Kimari also stand up for Hinata at the end. Ahhh, these four are such good friends! I don't think I've ever felt the power so strongly in anime before! Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating, but this series does it so well!!

Yes, I became Yuzuki for a moment there, and I regret nothing. Of course, I also loved that part.

Next time... who knows, but I can only hope it lives up to the rest of the show.

Oh, one more thing, I kinda want to see someone being like Kimari in Saki now. Shinohayu or Toki works too.

BBOvenGuy · 2018-03-14, 01:29

I love how the OP sequence is full of "missing scenes," things we saw but didn't see. On the ship, we heard them talking about the jump-rope contest, but it's only in the OP that we actually see it. Then we saw them in the helicopter, but not the same helicopter scene that's in the OP. This time, we see Kimari with her suntan, but we've been seeing it all along.

In the OP clip where they're marching through the mountains, you can see Kimari pull her face covering down. Then in the next shot, you can see her posing with her suntanned face while Hinata and Yuzuki laugh at her.

Spoiler for See for yourself...:

So what other shots are they going to explain in the remaining two shows?

jwai · 2018-03-14, 05:58

I don't think I quite understood what exactly went on with Hinata at school. It looked like she got stood up, but I think I'm missing something...

Kazu-kun · 2018-03-14, 06:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwai

I don't think I quite understood what exactly went on with Hinata at school. It looked like she got stood up, but I think I'm missing something...

Hinata was the ace of her track team and was about to sandbag (or sit out) some trials to let her upperclassmen take part in their last meet before graduation. That was also what the upperclassmen wanted so it was cool for all the parties involved. But then Hinata's "friends" convinced her to go all out instead. Hinata had her doubts but ended up doing so anyway and won the trials so she was picked for the race. As you can expect, the upperclassmen were really pissed off. That's cool. What's not cool is that Hinata's "friends" washed their hands on the matter and blamed everything on Hinata, despite the fact they were the ones who egged her on in the first place.

So you can see why Shirase was so mad. These bitches got Hinata in trouble and turned their back on her afterwards.

BBOvenGuy · 2018-03-14, 12:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kazu-kun

Hinata was the ace of her track team and was about to sandbag (or sit out) some trials to let her upperclassmen take part in their last meet before graduation. That was also what the upperclassmen wanted so it was cool for all the parties involved. But then Hinata's "friends" convinced her to go all out instead. Hinata had her doubts but ended up doing so anyway and won the trials so she was picked for the race. As you can expect, the upperclassmen were really pissed off.

A similar scenario played out in the first season of Hibike! Euphonium, where Reina wanted to play the trumpet solo and people got mad at her for not giving it up to her third-year senpai. At the time, I had a long conversation with someone who taught in Japan, and apparently this is a debated topic. There are some in Japan who feel like they're holding themselves back with their tradition of choosing seniority over ability.

ScrewySquirrel · 2018-03-14, 14:45

I think this episode answered the question of where Shirase's dad was.

She never had one, she's "Gin and Takako's daughter" - meaning dad was at best, a turkey baster.

Random Wanderer · 2018-03-14, 20:10

She was raised by Gin and Takako, in the sense of Gin being there often enough to serve as surrogate parent. However, given what we saw of their past in previous episodes, it seems pretty unlikely that Gin was legitimately Shirase's second mother.

Gan_HOPE326 · 2018-03-15, 07:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kazu-kun

Hinata had her doubts but ended up doing so anyway and won the trials so she was picked for the race. As you can expect, the upperclassmen were really pissed off. That's cool.

I mean, cool by Japanese standards, which put deference towards your elders above everything in social interactions. Any self-respecting athlete would not be happy with opponents holding back and letting them win because they're their senpai. Heck, even in anime, look at Sugawara (3rd year) and Kageyama (1st year) in Haikyuu!!, and how gracefully he took being unseated as main setter by someone more talented than him - without for that reason giving up on supporting the team. Frankly the whole affair to me reeks more of an absolutely toxic culture in that club, and I guess I wouldn't have been quite as pissed at those girls as I would have been at the third years.

YAS · 2018-03-15, 09:49

Sadly, people who stands out often bullied in Japanese society. However,most of Japanese feel it isn't good.

Kazu-kun · 2018-03-15, 10:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gan_HOPE326

I mean, cool by Japanese standards, which put deference towards your elders above everything in social interactions. Any self-respecting athlete would not be happy with opponents holding back and letting them win because they're their senpai. Heck, even in anime, look at Sugawara (3rd year) and Kageyama (1st year) in Haikyuu!!, and how gracefully he took being unseated as main setter by someone more talented than him - without for that reason giving up on supporting the team. Frankly the whole affair to me reeks more of an absolutely toxic culture in that club, and I guess I wouldn't have been quite as pissed at those girls as I would have been at the third years.

I meant cool in the sense that it was within Hinata's expectations. What fucked her over was that her friends didn't back her up.

FlareKnight · 2018-03-16, 16:54

I might have had more issues with the 3rd years...if Hinata's "friends" didn't stab her in the back. If they'd held to it being their idea then it might have been a crazy mess, but Hinata wouldn't have felt betrayed. Would have been an issue of seniority vs ability. Instead they covered themselves when they were the ones who convinced Hinata to go for it.

Just glad the episode didn't have some message of Hinata just forgiving them. A pretty human stance on her part. If it'd make herself feel better she'd forgive them. But the idea of them being relieved by her forgiveness would just piss her off. Much better to have Hinata's actual friends stick by her and speak their minds. Hinata is just fine without those people in her life. If they feel bad about what they did, good.

Liddo-kun · 2018-03-18, 18:06

Watched episode 11:

Glad to see Shirase heping Hinata with her problem. Hina does not need those fake friends from school anymore, she has real friends now.

Haak · 2018-03-18, 18:20

I wonder if there's any point in dropping this show when there's only two episodes left? I wouldn't hesitate if this were a two cour show but when there's two episodes left you kinda feel the need to see it through. I know I'm in the minority here but I just can't find it in me to care about all these girls' stupid friendship problems when there's such a more fascinating subject matter and setting that would be worth exploring more. But it seems this show is intent on having cute girls with their cute drama and relegate Antarctica to background appreciation and general trivia. Here's hoping that they've gotten the crap out of the way and will now be soley focusing on Antarctica for the last two episodes.

LoweGear · 2018-03-18, 19:27

That sounds like rather misplaced expectations on this show: this is clearly a show that uses a trip to Antarctica as the general backdrop and catalyst for personal drama, not an edutainment show about Antarctica (even if it does have such elements). It's even in the title itself: it's called "A Story That Leads To Antarctica", not "A Story About Antarctica".

The build-up from the past couple of episodes already makes it known that this next episode will likely be the finale to Shirase's personal story, and thus I doubt they'll suddenly abandon that for simple Antarctica documentaries.

BBOvenGuy · 2018-03-18, 22:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoweGear

That sounds like rather misplaced expectations on this show: this is clearly a show that uses a trip to Antarctica as the general backdrop and catalyst for personal drama, not an edutainment show about Antarctica (even if it does have such elements). It's even in the title itself: it's called "A Story That Leads To Antarctica", not "A Story About Antarctica".

All true. However... Can't it do both? The Japanese are very good at combining those elements, better than most entertainment industries. Trust me, I've checked. My own writing style (for middle school kids' books) tries to combine STEM with storytelling, so I've looked around for examples to learn from.

With two episodes to go, though, I must admit that the chances of anything materializing are slim. But I continue to have this nagging feeling that there's a second season - "A Story That Leads Back Home From Antarctica," if you like - that at least made it to the drawing board and proposal stage. Who knows?

SeijiSensei · 2018-03-19, 07:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haak

I know I'm in the minority here but I just can't find it in me to care about all these girls' stupid friendship problems when there's such a more fascinating subject matter and setting that would be worth exploring more.

I made a similar, though shorter comment to this effect over at ANN: "Less angst, more penguins."

I really liked the first half of this show, but the last few episodes have been very frustrating. If the intended audience is fourteen-year-old girls, then this might have been the way to write this story. As an adult, I find all this focus on maudlin adolescent issues very tiresome when Antarctica is just outside the door.

BBOvenGuy · 2018-03-19, 21:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeijiSensei

As an adult, I find all this focus on maudlin adolescent issues very tiresome when Antarctica is just outside the door.

It's not easy to find the right balance. Real science-y science can be painstaking and tedious, and that's hard to capture in a way that will hold an audience's attention. The reason I study shows like this is to see what I like about the things they did, and what things I'd do differently.

(Oh, just to toot my own horn for a second, here are my picks for the top Anime Nerd Girls of Science.

)

Stark700 · 2018-03-20, 08:03

Saw episode 12 today.

Wow, what an emotional journey. The way the episode ended just teared up me a little inside especially with what Shirase discovered. There's only one more episode left but I already miss this show.

Mistyclear · 2018-03-20, 10:39

What a sad episode, very emotional. I’m looking forward to the next episode and yet not because I don’t want the show to end.

2018-03-14, 20:10	Link #288
Random Wanderer Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007	She was raised by Gin and Takako, in the sense of Gin being there often enough to serve as surrogate parent. However, given what we saw of their past in previous episodes, it seems pretty unlikely that Gin was legitimately Shirase's second mother. __________________

2018-03-16, 16:54	Link #292
FlareKnight User of the "Fast Draw" Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Canada	I might have had more issues with the 3rd years...if Hinata's "friends" didn't stab her in the back. If they'd held to it being their idea then it might have been a crazy mess, but Hinata wouldn't have felt betrayed. Would have been an issue of seniority vs ability. Instead they covered themselves when they were the ones who convinced Hinata to go for it. Just glad the episode didn't have some message of Hinata just forgiving them. A pretty human stance on her part. If it'd make herself feel better she'd forgive them. But the idea of them being relieved by her forgiveness would just piss her off. Much better to have Hinata's actual friends stick by her and speak their minds. Hinata is just fine without those people in her life. If they feel bad about what they did, good. __________________ Anime-Evo

2018-03-18, 18:06	Link #293
Liddo-kun is this so? Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Gradius Home World	Watched episode 11: Glad to see Shirase heping Hinata with her problem. Hina does not need those fake friends from school anymore, she has real friends now. __________________ Clearing 4 domain with Qiqi / MTGNexus - Magic Art Gallery / AnimEVO 2020 - EFZ tournament / Cool Japan Festival 2015

2018-03-18, 18:20	Link #294
Haak Me, An Intellectual Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: UK Age: 33	I wonder if there's any point in dropping this show when there's only two episodes left? I wouldn't hesitate if this were a two cour show but when there's two episodes left you kinda feel the need to see it through. I know I'm in the minority here but I just can't find it in me to care about all these girls' stupid friendship problems when there's such a more fascinating subject matter and setting that would be worth exploring more. But it seems this show is intent on having cute girls with their cute drama and relegate Antarctica to background appreciation and general trivia. Here's hoping that they've gotten the crap out of the way and will now be soley focusing on Antarctica for the last two episodes. __________________ MAL \| AnimeSuki Choice Awards 2020 Winners

2018-03-18, 19:27	Link #295
LoweGear Secret Society BLANKET Graphic Designer Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 3 times the passion of normal flamenco	That sounds like rather misplaced expectations on this show: this is clearly a show that uses a trip to Antarctica as the general backdrop and catalyst for personal drama, not an edutainment show about Antarctica (even if it does have such elements). It's even in the title itself: it's called "A Story That Leads To Antarctica", not "A Story About Antarctica". The build-up from the past couple of episodes already makes it known that this next episode will likely be the finale to Shirase's personal story, and thus I doubt they'll suddenly abandon that for simple Antarctica documentaries. __________________ Against all the evil that hell can conjure, all wickedness that mankind can produce... We will send unto them, only you.

2018-03-13, 16:36	Link #281
Dop Mmmm.... Join Date: Sep 2006	Marvellous episode, telling us more about Hinata. The sheer brass neck of those girls who screwed up Hinata's high school years for coming on the video link claiming to be her friends.

2018-03-13, 23:55	Link #282
Requiem-x The slacking one Join Date: Apr 2012	Its not everyday anime reminds you it's ok to tell a-holes and backstabbers to piss off, and I must say it was done very well this time; showed just enough to understand where Hinata is coming from, brought up her connection with Shirase, which makes perfect sense since she knows exactly how its like to be scorned and looked down upon, and still added plenty of small moments in between to breathe life into everything. I also appreciated how Shirase had serious doubts about checking the mail because of obvious reasons, and seeing Kimari also stand up for Hinata at the end. Ahhh, these four are such good friends! I don't think I've ever felt the power so strongly in anime before! Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating, but this series does it so well!! Yes, I became Yuzuki for a moment there, and I regret nothing. Of course, I also loved that part. Next time... who knows, but I can only hope it lives up to the rest of the show. Oh, one more thing, I kinda want to see someone being like Kimari in Saki now. Shinohayu or Toki works too.

2018-03-14, 01:29	Link #283
BBOvenGuy Math Ninja Author Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ventura County CA Age: 59	I love how the OP sequence is full of "missing scenes," things we saw but didn't see. On the ship, we heard them talking about the jump-rope contest, but it's only in the OP that we actually see it. Then we saw them in the helicopter, but not the same helicopter scene that's in the OP. This time, we see Kimari with her suntan, but we've been seeing it all along. In the OP clip where they're marching through the mountains, you can see Kimari pull her face covering down. Then in the next shot, you can see her posing with her suntanned face while Hinata and Yuzuki laugh at her. Spoiler for See for yourself...: So what other shots are they going to explain in the remaining two shows?

2018-03-14, 05:58	Link #284
jwai Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Australia Age: 38	I don't think I quite understood what exactly went on with Hinata at school. It looked like she got stood up, but I think I'm missing something...

2018-03-14, 14:45	Link #287
ScrewySquirrel Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004	I think this episode answered the question of where Shirase's dad was. She never had one, she's "Gin and Takako's daughter" - meaning dad was at best, a turkey baster.

2018-03-15, 09:49	Link #290
YAS Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: TOCHIGI,JAPAN Age: 37	Sadly, people who stands out often bullied in Japanese society. However,most of Japanese feel it isn't good.

2018-03-20, 08:03	Link #299
Stark700 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Somewhere on Earth	Saw episode 12 today. Wow, what an emotional journey. The way the episode ended just teared up me a little inside especially with what Shirase discovered. There's only one more episode left but I already miss this show. __________________

2018-03-20, 10:39	Link #300
Mistyclear Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2016	What a sad episode, very emotional. I’m looking forward to the next episode and yet not because I don’t want the show to end.