Episode 11 – Narenare – Cheer for you! –

Okay, earlier than we dive into this evaluate, I’ve a small correction to make. I stated final time that Mari hadn’t actually appeared within the present, except for the flashback within the first episode, however we did see her throughout the scorching springs journey. Particularly, it was a dialog between her and Megumi the place she requested her how she’s coping along with her situation, which no less than type of foreshadowed what we’ll find out about Mari on this episode, so we no less than obtained just a few hints about this week’s twists. That stated, that was nonetheless the one time we’d actually seen her in a significant method earlier than final week’s massive reveal, and the truth that we by no means noticed her work together with Kanata specifically nonetheless implies that the present’s try and indicate that the 2 was once shut nonetheless isn’t working the best way it ought to. Presumably this lack of interplay was meant to raised protect the plot twist, but when that was the intention, it actually didn’t work. Moderately than feeling sorry for her, a lot of what we study right here inadvertently paints Kanata in a destructive gentle, because of a sequence of more and more uncomfortable writing choices.

After studying the reality about Mari, Kanata decides to report the state of affairs to the opposite PomPom members. That is the place issues begin to get bizarre, as a result of even earlier than Kanata names the wrongdoer behind the web submit, the others all react as in the event that they know precisely who it’s, regardless of by no means truly chatting with Mari. The one one who appears shocked is Megumi, who appears to do not know that Mari is identical individual she spoke to on the scorching springs, and likewise appears to know nothing in regards to the historical past between her and Kanata, regardless of them being the longest-lasting buddies. That is additionally the place Kanata reveals that she injured Mari within the accident we noticed in episode 1, however the different women do not even have a lot of a response, aside from Anna, who is usually upset in regards to the web drama that Mari’s submit brought about. It is weird to say the least. I would not anticipate the women to simply activate Kanata, however it simply feels awkward that nobody appears to care that she saved {that a} secret, although she saved her mouth shut even when that submit obtained them concerned in her private points.

If we take a look at issues from Mari’s perspective, we see that she’s struggling to get well from her damage, simply as Megumi did along with her, and the way a lot it is taking a toll on her psychologically. It is why she hated Kanata for getting again into cheerleading by the PomPoms, and it led her to make that web submit after which delete it when issues began to get out of hand. By itself, this may be the most effective dramas we have seen from the sequence, however the issue right here is that it has to tie into what we have seen of Kanata’s character, and it actually would not. For many of the sequence, Kanata has given the impression that she would not actually know what’s inflicting her to cry, but when we take all of that actually, it is fairly ridiculous to assume that she could not join the dots right here when she is aware of she by chance damage somebody. It unintentionally gives the look that she’s intentionally averted the subject as a result of she’s afraid her buddies will decide her for it, and the truth that even Megumi appeared utterly unaware of the reality would not assist alleviate that. You could possibly even argue that the truth that Kanata did not speak to her or carry this up earlier implies that Mari’s resentment is justified to some extent, because it actually would not make Kanata look like a really thoughtful buddy. What makes this all of the weirder is that it is someway introduced as extra about how Mari made Kanata really feel unhealthy with that submit than something main as much as it, and even after sitting by a few of the present’s different odd writing selections, I used to be fairly baffled that this was even thought-about a good suggestion.

However someway we’re nonetheless not on the finish of this experience, as a result of the worst half comes after we discover out all this. Even when I have been to disregard all the brand new issues this has brought about for Kanata as a personality, I’d have no less than anticipated her and Mari to attempt to speak issues out and rekindle their friendship, since there’s fairly a rift between the 2 of them. As a substitute, Mari is the one to apologize and resolve to make up for what she did to the PomPoms channel by providing to turn into their latest member. I actually gasped when this got here up on my display screen as a result of I used to be shocked at how poorly this was dealt with. I may perceive if it occurred after Kanata and Mari had talked issues out, however as an alternative it simply skips any kind of confrontation totally. What’s even worse is that regardless of Kanata most likely being the one who needs to be probably the most uncomfortable with this proposal, she’s excited in regards to the thought of ​​Mari becoming a member of the group, and the 2 begin hanging out collectively like nothing occurred. The one character who desires to emphasise how insane this all is is Anna, and that is solely as a result of she’s irritated with Mari for her previous web misdeeds (which is someway nonetheless probably the most real looking response we have ever gotten from any of those characters).

The closest we get to an precise dialog between Kanata and Mari comes towards the tip of the episode, when Mari discusses her previous as a cheerleader, however even that falls flat. She talks about how she used to cheerlead competitively however by no means actually loved it till she noticed Kanata’s real cheerleading, and as an alternative of feeling prefer it has to do with the rest within the episode, it comes throughout as a strategy to discuss how cheerleading needs to be performed to help others quite than as a aggressive sport, as a result of that is the one subject this present is actually concerned about. However even when we put apart the plain badness of claiming that there is something unsuitable with the thought of ​​aggressive cheerleading, the present hasn’t even performed a very good job of tying the “spirit” of cheerleading to any of its dramas in a method that may help that argument. The one factor this scene actually accomplishes is absolving Kanata of any guilt she might need over Mari’s damage. In any case, she turned out to be her supply of inspiration. And though that was most likely not the intention, it in the end felt that method.

I will give the present the good thing about the doubt in assuming that that is largely a results of Kanata’s character growth threads not being correctly linked, however that it was performed on objective, however the finish result’s that the shortage of acknowledgement or penalties for Kanata’s errors has solely turned me in opposition to her as a personality, and much more so in opposition to the present usually. It looks like there could also be extra to this story, provided that the episode ends with Mari abruptly disappearing from the group, however the present has been steadily shedding steam so I’ve no actual purpose to assume that may lead wherever. With how a lot battle was outright averted right here, there is no telling what we’ll truly get within the finale, however no matter we do find yourself getting, I doubt it will be sufficient to make up for the way unhealthy this episode was.

Judgement:

Narenare – Cheer for you! – presently streaming on
Crispy bread.