Sound! Euphonium episode 4:
KazeShiki wrote:On Euphonium, the teacher is just horribly portrayed. He has them decide what to do with a vote based on zero discussion then doesn't do anything for awhile then just says they suck and then later starts giving them instructions, all while having a face that makes me angry for irrational reasons. I don't have any problems with any of these individually but when combined, it makes his character inconsistent and more of a walking plot device.
...Oh dear. I don't see it that way at all.
I guess I'll explain it this way-- much as any/all of us might have wished for the mechanics of this setup to be different, the simple facts are these:
*Taki-sensei is NOT teaching a music class (here), he is NOT grading anything (here), and to be quite frank he is NOT actually obligated to 'teach' them anything whatsoever (here-- outside of his own classroom, whatever one that happens to be). Because this is NOT, in any way, a class. It is merely an after-school club, and he is merely the adviser of it (and a first-time adviser, at that!). Again, from what I can gather, in Japan it is supposed to be the responsibility of the student senpai to teach the basics to those who don't yet know them, and no matter what country you're in it is ALL of the students' responsibility to get some darn discipline (though in this case especially the senpai). Turns out that their attitudes stank, their discipline/practice was nonexistent, and their respect was dismal; so, at first, Taki gave them a (very well-deserved) verbal slap (and warning/ultimatum) to try and wake them up. It is only when Taki sees that even after the wake-up-call-attempt they are simply not going to cooperate unless forcibly driven to that he starts really pushing and training them himself (which he actually has no specific obligation to do, BTW, so I applaud him for that)-- all of which is perfectly appropriate in this setting.* In context, all of this combined with the students' attitudes (particularly those of the third-years, the senpai, who were *supposed* to be shouldering the bulk of the responsibility originally) makes everything make perfect sense (at least to me
). (Also: What, pray tell, is wrong with Taki's face?
He's quite good-looking to me, LOL.
) *Ahem*-- anyway, now that we have all of that cleared up
, let's get on to the actual episode...
...And man, was it satisfying!
After that truly anger-inducing bit in the previous ep. (though I actually mean that in a good way-- I am impressed that the show made me feel that), I was very much hoping that these kids would get some much-needed discipline pounded into their stubborn heads, and man, did this episode deliver on that
beautifully. I was smiling throughout the entirety of each of the (multiple!
) sequences where Taki was very, very politely, but also very, very *firmly* putting each section through their paces (actually quite literally at one point, LOL). When one girl broke down crying at this and another complained in response that there is merit in just having fun, he also explained that they all (nearly unanimously) *chose* to be driven harder than they would have for merely just sitting around and having fun (the latter of which they weren't even going to be doing regardless, though, *precisely because* of their lack of discipline in the first place!), so really they're getting not only exactly what they deserve (and, quite frankly,
really need!), but also what they asked for. (Did I mention this was satisfying?
) Also: I noticed that most of the students in the bass section have had a better attitude overall, and they were treated accordingly (as they also discovered later, LOL), so that was nice, too. (I also really liked the addition of the little detail with the overtone and harmonics.
) So, in other words, I wholeheartedly agree with Kousaka: "Taki-sensei is awesome!"
Oh, and speaking of Kousaka, Kumiko's little breakthrough with her, as well as the drive that was sparked from that to even ask the one apathetic senpai in the bass section to play properly, was also quite nice. And then, best of all, everything payed off just as beautifully at the end of the ep. as it did at the start-- I was downright beaming at the band's performance (which was imperfect, yes, but finally *united* into something that actually sounded-- and felt!-- good regardless), and at the gentle (and finally-deserved) praise and spark of inspiration Taki gave them in response. (Have I mentioned I loved this episode?) Can't wait for next week!
And
Blood Blockade Battlefront, a.k.a.
Kekkai Sensen, episode 4:
GeneD wrote:I can't get over the directing, it's so brilliant. I loved the whole sequence at the party, especially that characters are off doing hilarious things in the background. I ended up having to watch it a few times to catch everything going on while also reading subtitles.
^ This!
I'm also adoring the direction, and oh man, the background stuff was indeed hilarious.
(Especially once that cursed specialist showed up-- ROTFL!!
) On a more serious note, though
, wow-- the plot points revealed in this episode were both more-than-slightly terrifying and also *really* interesting. The terrifying part being
SPOILER: Highlight text to read: that the 'vampires' and their (nearly-a-thousand-strong!) Elders could pretty much wipe out humanity single-handedly whenever they please , and the really interesting part being
SPOILER: Highlight text to read: the implications about where the Libra members' blood-powers come from, considering the fact that said blood was apparently *designed* to be the only thing that can possibly even *seal* the 'vampire' Elders, no less harm/destroy the mere turned-'vampires.' And then that whole second-to-last scene with Leo's little narration... wow.
SPOILER: Highlight text to read: Also, the very last scene with White's brother (apparently dubbed 'The King Of Despair') was quite interesting, as well... there were some very interesting hints on who/what he might be there. Very much looking forward to more!