Seriously… despite the fact that this is supposed to be a slice-of-life-series, ever since episode nineteen this has been one non-stop roller-coaster ride of bittersweet awesomeness. I was wondering how the creators would spend the final three episodes of the series, now that she’s back in New Moon, and now that her dreams have failed to be accomplished, but this episode shows that they know exactly what they’re doing. This episode was utterly sensational!
I’m not going to say what happens during the main climax. That’s for you to find out, if it ever gets subbed. Let me say though, that it was so sad. It’s times like these when the fact that the fansubbers dislike shoujo-series really becomes a bad thing, because the English-speaking-only community is missing out on a masterpiece because of this.
About the other events of the episode, I still love the irony that surrounds Emily. Throughout the entire beginning of the series, we see her twelve-year old version be extremely enthusiastic about her dreams to become a poet. She keeps working hard, and her enthusiasm forms a great source of inspiration for her friends. I seriously doubt whether Teddy, Perry and Ilse could have gotten this far without Emily. Ilse probably would never have realized that she likes acting if it wasn’t for that play that Emily set up. If Perry didn’t have the hard-working Emily as an example, he probably would have taken longer to say something to his grandmother, and if I remember correctly, Teddy used to love to make drawings of Emily. And now all three of them are going to make it big, while Emily ended up back home.]]>
Category: Finished Series: Slice of Life/Drama
Les Miserables – Shoujo Cosette – 36
The highlight of this episode was definitely the beginning, in which we finally see Thenardiére and Azelma again. It was a short scene, but the two of them were awesome to watch now that they found out that Thenardier has abandoned them. I so hope that they’ll be released somewhere in the story, so that they can try to make Azelma’s dream of living together without their father true. That would definitely be AWESOME.
Speaking of awesome, Eponine also was excellent in this episode, when she actually SAVED Cosette from being discovered by Thenardier, all because it’d make Marius sad. Jean, however, did notice that people were after his house, and this made him worry about her safety. After all, she’d be an easy target and he can’t be sure that all of Thenardier’s buddies were caught by the police. That’s why he proposes her to go to England at the end of the episode.
In other news, there was yet again a strong emphasis on poverty: Paris seems to be struck by a rather nasty disease, which becomes really clear when Jean and Cosette visit a local hospital and Gavroche is getting cuter and cuter with his mother-like attitude against his two brothers(?).
I can feel that another major climax is about to come. The tone of this episode was quite a bit darker and more fast-paced than the past couple of episodes, and les Amis are getting into more and more trouble now that Javert keeps arresting their weapon-deliverers.]]>
Kaze no Shoujo Emily – 23
Yay! Yay! Yay! The Teddy-episode! Interestingly enough, this episode turned into a tragic love-story when it doesn’t focus about his problem with his parents, unlike the others, but about his relationship with Emily. In the last episode, we already saw hints that they liked each other, and they continue to get closer together throughout this episode as well…
…until Teddy is offered a scholarship in Paris!
I absolutely LOVED the amount of realism in this episode. The entire series has been building up to living towards your dreams, and for the past couple of episodes, it really looked like everything went perfect. And now this episode comes with a slap in the face: people are going to have to say goodbye. To make matters even better, it seems that both Ilse and Perry will be able to reach their dreams, though things are different for Emily: she didn’t really reach anything, and plans to actually go back to the New Moon after school ends! Her sole salvation was that she’d be going back along with Teddy, though now that he’s going away too, she’s probably going to feel really lonely.
The thing also is: Teddy is really gone now. There are three episodes left, and we won’t see him in it. This makes me much more curious as to how the creators are planning to finish this. Kaze no Shoujo Emily is without a doubt my most favourite ignored series ever since Mahou Shoujotai, and somehow I just know that the final episodes are going to become awesome, now that there’s no way for Emily to remain with her former friends in the end.
I also loved how, against all clichés, Emily didn’t reach the train Teddy was on in the end. He didn’t even notice her as she was standing next to the train. I think that’s a first for such a scene.
I’ve probably said this before, but my definite favourite series for the spring-seasons are Bokura no, Toward the Terra and Kaze no Shoujo Emily, and all three of them are definite recommendations, not to mention that the finales of all three of them are promising to look awesome!]]>
Les Miserables – Shoujo Cosette – 35
Now that the characters have received a healthy dose of attention, it’s now finally time to develop the plot and setting some more. Both Thenardier (who has escaped from prison) as les Amis (what are they trying to do, actually? Start a revolution for equal rights? I failed to pick up the exact details for this, unfortunately) have started getting active again, and meanwhile, Javert is still searching for his Jean.
Gavroche surprised me when he suddenly rescued his father. The scene could have been build up a bit better, as we see no real signs of him, planning to do anything about what he heard from Montparnasse, but it was definitely interesting to see him do something nice for Thenardier. He’s beginning to become something like a Jean II, with the two kids he’s taken care of. Are they really his own brothers? Were they born once Cosette left, or something?
Anyway, there was one theme that was heavily present in this episode: poverty. Cosette sees people getting sick, and living with absolutely no money, Gavroche had no money to begin with, and I assume that les Amis are also acting against poverty. And let’s not forget Eponine, who unfortunately appeared in only one short scene this episode.
The next big thing that’s coming is probably Thenardier, finding out about Jean’s and Cosette’s location. He came really close this episode, and out of all possible houses, he picked Jean’s house to go and rob.]]>
Kaze no Shoujo Emily – 22
OMG! The characters have really grown up significantly now! This brings so many possibilities with it, and Kaze no Shoujo Emily grabs all of them! This was such an awesome episode, since just about every character that appeared in it showed a different side of him or herself. Seriously, never have I seen a sudden introduction of romance work SO well!
The thing with romance is that it can completely ruin characters when handled the wrong way. But with characters as awesome as in this show, it only strengthens them even more!!! To give a short summary:
– Perry still remembers the promise he made to Emily, and he confesses his love to her.
– Emily declines.
– Perry gets angry.
– Emily realizes she likes Teddy
– Ilse gets fed up with Perry’s angry behaviour after being dumped by Emily, and confesses her own love for Perry
– A few days later, during a local dance party, Perry and Ilse officially become a couple. The same would have happened with Emily and Teddy, if Emily didn’t get some sudden inspiration for her new poem. ^^;
Aunt Ruth, the most underdeveloped character of the cast also shined in this episode, when she suddenly managed to prevent Emily and the others from being expelled, due to some false rumours that have been spreading.
The thing also is: there are still four episodes left. I’m dying to know how this anime will choose to finish! This episode was so incredibly cute, it’s actually getting sad that it’s about to finish.]]>
Les Miserables – Shoujo Cosette – 34
This clearly was one of those building-up episodes. Nothing majorly new happens, and instead attention is focused in developing the characters. Marius continues to visit Cosette, both of them are clearly in love, Gavroche provides food and shelter for two street-kids, Javert is still looking for Jean, Montparnasse continues being a total bastard by even trying to involve Gavroche, and Thenardier meanwhile showed his scariest face yet (see screenshots).
The highlight of the episode was yet again Eponine. Perhaps I’m rambling a bit too much about her, but she continues to go downhill for this episode as well, and I haven’t found myself this inclined to cheer on someone since Shuurei from Saiunkoku Monogatari in her early days. I think that it’s this episode where Marius finally realizes that Eponine feels something for him, when she openly cries in front of him, after saying her farewell to him.
I also wonder whether the two orphan children will remain with Gavroche for the rest of the anime, and whether they’ll play a big role somewhere. I just know that something really bad is about to happen, this episode was way too quiet for some reason. I really fear that all hell will break loose once Thenardier escapes. It can’t be long now, unfortunately.]]>
Kaze no Shoujo Emily – 21
Yes! With a new school come new outfits! I’m not sure why this is the only show where I pay so much attention to them. I know most characters in most shows never really change their outfits, but it’s definitely not unique for Emily and the others to wear different garments once in a while. Mai from Ghost Hunt, for example, also had a diverse wardrobe, but I never noticed this until somebody else pointed it out. I think it’s either because Emily’s clothes only change once in a while, or she just looks awesome in them. ^^;
Anyway, it seems that the final six episodes are going to fast-forward through Emily’s youth. In the next episode, it’s already going to be winter. It’s going to be awesome to watch how Emily and the others will change. I loved how this episode made them look subtly older, and Ilse finally realizes that she’s got great talents as an elocutionist, when she recites some of Emily’s poems in front of a bunch of kids.
And Ruth is even worse than Elizabeth! I actually wonder why she agreed to let Emily stay in her house to let her study, as she treats her horribly. Emily can’t even open her window. I wonder whether the next few episodes will develop this more. I continue to admire Perry, by the way. He’s now reached the point where his grades are at the top of his class. It’s nice to see that everyone is now really beginning to work towards their dreams.
I’m actually wondering, are there still people who watch this series? When it started, it was blogged by two others (Impz and Usagijen), but it seems that they dropped this show. For the past few episodes it’s really felt like I’ve been the only one who’s watched this show. Obviously, I don’t care whether I am (I’ve had this before many times), but it does make me curious. This show is just way too good to be just neglected like that.]]>
Les Miserables – Shoujo Cosette – 33
Yes! The first contact has been made! In the second half of this episode, Marius and Cosette finally managed to meet again, and they actually talked to each other! Let the romance finally begin!
*ahem* Now that that’s out, I obviously liked this episode because of that scene. Eponine has now officially lost, and I can’t wait for her reaction when she finds out. The rest of the episode spent its time building up; both for this, and the general plot as well. Les Amis return again, helping Marius overcome his worries, and they propose to write a love letter to Cosette.
Another pair that returns is Shushu and Gavroche. Cosette actualy sees Shushu at one point, though fails to recognize it. At least she did get a déja-vu feeling. Jean, meanwhile, digs up the last bits of his money, with the intention of using it to pay for Cosette’s university, so that she can keep learning. He’s also scared by a random chimney, mistaking it for Javert’s head. ^^;
Eponine, meanwhile, is getting worse. That idiot of a Montparnasse keeps bugging her into helping him, and now he’s starting to offer bread, a tempting option to someone who’ll probably never find a job again. Especially since her only other alternative would be Cosette. Things are promising to become even worse for her, seeing as the end of the episode features one of Thenardier’s henchmen escaping from prison. She’ll be in really deep troubles if she’s still seeing Montparnasse when Thenardier himself escapes, because he can, and something tells me that he will force her to become involved in his shady businesses!]]>
Kaze no Shoujo Emily – 20
Awesome; an Emly/Elizabeth episode, and quite an important one as well: Emily, Teddy, Perry and Ilse have finished their current school, and are ready to move towards the next one. Ilse and Perry’s parents are really enthusiastic, and happily allow them to go to Shrewsberry School in a nearby city. Emily and Teddy have problems, though. Teddy believes that his mother will never allow him to part with her, since they’ll be staying in dormitories at their new school. Surprisingly, though, she lets him go and study. 🙂
Emily’s problems are worse, though. Elizabeth still doesn’t approve of Emily, studying things like literature. She still believes that things like these are useless. To make thing even worse, she finds and reads Emily’s diary, where Emily liked to complain about how evil Elizabeth was. Of course, she wasn’t 100% serious when she wrote it, though Elizabeth does take it seriously, and the two of them get into a fight.
I must say, that seeing the two of them fighting, and eventually making up again was really adorable. And it shows exactly why I love this series so much. This series is in for an interesting finale, by the way. Now that Emily has gotten permission to go and study further as well, it really looks like the last six episodes will be taking place on Shrewsberry School, without Elizabeth, Jimmy and the other adults. I wonder how the creators will decide to go from there. I’m definitely hoping for more time for Emily, Ilse, Teddy and Perry to be together and develop.]]>
Les Miserables – Shoujo Cosette – 32
Yes! An Eponine-episode! This episode was mainly meant to develop the love-triangle between her, Marius and Cosette. And god, Marius is such an idiot. Eponine finally runs into him, she’s really happy to finally see him, she’s clearly in love with the guy, and what does he do? He asks where his Ursulle is! *headdesks*
Still, this episode was pure win, as it’s because of this that Eponine finally learns the identity of Ursulle: Cosette. Eponine decides to find out her identity, in an attempt to make Marius happy, even though that will totally ruin her chances with him. She then reaches their house, and spots the infamous doll, that Jean gave to Cosette when he came to get her. And even though she knows that, she still decides to tell Marius!
Still, Jean has yet to find out about this. He still believes that Marius works for Javert, and something tells me he’s going to freak out unless Marius approaches him in the correct way. Let’s hope that Eponine can make her move after that.
About the other characters: Jean has finally managed to find a job, answering a question I’ve been wondering about for about twenty episodes. Thenardier and his companions have indeed been imprisoned, though they’re very busy with thinking up an escape-plan. No sign yet of Thenardiere or Azelma, though. Javert meanwhile, is on fire after he finally received a new clue about Jean’s whereabouts. He’ll probably get closer and closer to him in the next couple of episodes.
I also had to laugh when Thenardier’s former house-owner lashed out at the policeman, blaming him for taking away her source of income, and of course at the rather cheesy scene of Eponine, watering the flowers. ^^;]]>