This match is very different from usual for Chihayafuru. Normally, it delivers in every episode. Last episode felt a bit flat. Normally it tries to push forward as many characters as possible. Here however, the focus was different. This really was about Chihaya versus Megumu. This episode at least.
Perhaps I’m not a fan of making the match go on for three entire episodes, but that allowed this episode to have that clear purpose for a change: a really detailed view of how Megumu changes through a match. That really had me fired up much more than I expected and I really have to say that how she gradually lost that ditzy behavior of her was done in this episode.
Oh and I said that this episode didn’t really focus on pushing forward the other characters. but still, Chihaya forcing herself to contest cards, Nishida losing badly, Tsutomu trying hard, the other girls trying really hard for Megumu, they were all really nice touches. I just meant it for the really high standards of this series. Seriously you do not see series that are as consistent as this series. Especially considering that we’re almost forty episodes in!
One point of criticism: that point where Tsutomu figures that a girl will likely want to grab cards about broken hearts because it’s one of the themes that the singer whose name is on one of the towels of the girls sings about… that is overanalyzing things a bit too much.
Rating: 6/8 (Awesome)
Not really enjoying this match, there seems to be more characters than necessary and a lot of annoying ones too. Also odd for Chihayafuru to continually having flashbacks of the opponent’s past, usually it’s all done in one go but there was an unusual amount of interjections.
I would love to see some of the Hokuo v Fujisomething match too! Damn you audience, stop looking over this way!
Dear Chihaya, please kick Megumu’s ass so that we can move forward.
I thought Tsutomu merely wanted to grab those specific cards to gain a psychological advantage over his opponent.
I thought it was really tense and went eek a few times, and I loved that desk kun got the final win spotlight.
I also liked how Mashima wordlessly knew what to do for Chihaya
All the team supporting each other moments were great.