White Album Episode 10 Discussion

chicanerous said:
I'm not nearly as invested in this series as this post will make me out to be. I swear. Hahaha.


How would you portray the aftermath?

In the last episode, Misaki was strung out from the hard work and basically snapped after Touya tried to appeal to her and say that he loves her. As Misaki states in this episode, after a night of sleep, she has head back on straight.

As we already know, Touya just can't say no to anyone he considers a Goddess, as this episode makes even more explicit. (But can evidently say it to his everyday Yuki.) So, we can understand why he did that, even if we might not like him for flippantly toying with her (or elsewhere sexing up Yayoi and "cheating" on Yuki).

In the scene at Cafe Echoes, Akira makes it pretty explicit that he's with Misaki now and Touya is not to bud in anymore. He does this after the consideration Misaki shows to Touya a few seconds earlier suggests that she really was just snapping at Touya in the last episode -- that she may harbor some feelings for him even still. Akira is probably still afraid that Touya's going to distract her even now that he's manned up and finally gone for Misaki. Consequently, you can definitely see the awkwardness between him and Touya in his response and, perhaps, even a hint of stronger emotions on Akira's part.

Back to Touya, you're right that he, at least, pretends like it never happens, though he does at least ask Misaki about her foot. This is the probably the most understandable response of all. I mean how else are you going to act when you have an absolute need to remain on the best terms with every girl you know (as they're all your Goddesses after all), but you just flippantly confessed love to a girl only because you thought that was what she wanted to hear?

Meanwhile, the Drama Club President is publicly disgraced, as the critics left in the middle of the performance due to Misaki and Touya's interruption. Consequently, he's creeping around looking almost murderously at Touya (who has essentially defeated him and "stolen" his Misaki) and giving major stalker vibes to Misaki herself later with his hiding behind a pillar and hurt, yet fixated expression. I say "stolen his Misaki" because, if you're spending that much time tormenting some poor girl, there's obviously some sort of twisted attachment -- he just couldn't let go. As soon as Touya, the interloper, steps in, he has a new target for all his hate and, perhaps, is realizing even what twisted feelings he still has for Misaki. Of course, he could also just straight hate her as well now, but, in any case, there's clear repercussions here from the last episode.

I'm really not sure where you're getting the idea that it seems like the last episode never happened. This episode dealt quite thoroughly, effectively, and dare-I-say realistically with the aftermath. In fact, I thought the series had lost it last episode, as that episode pretty well threw me for a loop. However, this episode definitely redeemed the last by bringing it back into a coherent (albeit still nuanced) storyline.

I'm continually impressed by the remarkable amount of complexity and nuance the show has when you really get down to it. It's also quite interesting to take a step back and look at the different and often subtle ways the show is constructing meaning and influencing interpretation. On the level of epistemology, this sort of analysis seems to be particularly rewarding here. Maybe I just need to watch more in this genre...?


Wow...I finally see someone who can break down and appreciate this anime. Kudos to you wise one.