The narrative beat of Revue Starlight has reached its new tempo with the end of the audition. All the things that Revue Starlight has been building up to begin to payoff this week. I must say though, it comes out a bit too predictable this week. We have the last stage audition with literally the supporting cast was put on the audience sits, the duet duel that decides the ultimate pair. But before that we have both Karen – Hikari pair and Tendou – Claudine reaffirm their roles and their relationship again. And then the ending which parallels exactly with what going on in the Starlight play. Mind you, there are still two episodes left so it’s possible (there’s a high chance it will happen eventually) that Karen and Hikari will rewrite the Starlight’s written fate. That can’t hide the fact that Revue Starlight this week lacks a factor to truly wow us.
“The central pair” emerges as the main theme of this week. Revue Starlight cast functions in pairs (poor Mahiru) and in this instance the final test is to decide the ultimate pair. Last year’s Tendou and Claudine against our Karen and Hikari. Before that final audition, we have a glimpse to Karen and Hikari’s time together, which sadly plays out as an extended episode 4. We don’t learn much of new thing regarding their relationship, and that’s the main thing that makes the final scene where Hikari “betrays” Karen doesn’t feel earned. You don’t see much of Hikari’s motive and I suppose she does it because she’d be the one who sacrifice. It makes more sense in that context so I just want to learn the true ending of Starlight play. Is that one girl fall of the cliff while the other one reaches for the star the true ending after all?
We also learn more about Tendou Maya – Claudine relationship and for me it fares better. They can’t hide the fact that they’re rivalry, but they also have deep respect for each other’s talent. It’s like they’re your typical fated rivalry where both try to improve themselves to surpass the other. Claudine and Tendou lose, with Claudine crying in French can be a little cheesy for my taste, but I love how Tendou accepts it quickly. She (and Claudine) have tried their best, so there shouldn’t be any regret, right?
It’s this episode where we also get the real sense of “supporting cast”. Personally, I would prefer to have develop every member of the cast more, in this episode they’re only there as your typical side-characters. It feels as if the climax (or the closing act, depend on how you view it) has no place to flesh them out more, which for me is a wasted opportunity. Maybe it’s me who was fond of the Banana-arc so that now when they address the main arc I don’t feel it as exciting. Hopefully Revue Starlight stays away from the soap opera and still manages to catch us off guard again, like what it did in the first episode and the Banana arc.
I also thought this episode was a bit underwhelming, though perhaps not entirely for the same reasons. For me it were mostly the stage design and choreography that were really lacking. One of the things Revue Starlight has done very well is to convey its themes through imagery, but that “show, don’t tell”-approach seemed to go a bit by the wayside here. We’re told that Hikari and Karen won because they make a better pair, but the show doesn’t succeed very well in showing us this. Most of the fight is 1 vs 1, and even in the finale it didn’t feel like Hikari and Karen were working together especially well. And compared to previous weeks, the decors were really lacking in creativity and imagination. No grand symbolism to reinforce its message – just a few blocks, and that’s it.
But the inevitable Karen-Hikari confrontation (and its aftermath) was always going to be much more important than the showdown with Maya and Claudine, so if this episode turns out to be set-up for an amazing finale, I’ll gladly forgive the show. Hopefully it’ll deliver. 🙂
I definitely agree with you. I mean, the most teamwork moment Karen and Hikari have is that Tarzan-inspired ‘grab and throw’ scene which feel underwhelmed at best. Decors were indeed lackluster. But I’m grateful with what we had considering the production of Revue Starlight has been fighting with schedule and resource since the beginning.
We all hope for an amazing finale here, let’s see if it still has what it takes to surprise us again.
Well, I think Hikari’s motivation will be explained in the next episoide. With Banana’s comments during hers and Hikari’s fight, I think she [Hikari] has an idea… but remembers, when it’s almost too late, that someone will need to stop Banana.
I think part of Banana’s flashback was not just to show her motivation for what she wants, but to show the contrast… the academy with and without a certain someone.
Maybe I’m over-analyzing it… I’ll find out this weekend.
I still don’t get who you refer to by “certain someone” (the giraffe?), but don’t spoil me because it you were correct, it would be a nice surprise for me.