TARI TARI - 07

Even the smart ones can be blinded by their own desires and act foolishly.



This week, the focus was undeniably on Sawa, although each person in the group got a little bit of the spotlight.  For Konatsu, the next step for the club is to secure the main stage for the cultural festival - which, awesomely enough, they've managed to convince Wien is held in honor a white rhino that is kept underneath the gym.  The vice principal is an obvious obstacle, but her former club members are too, as they snub her group for being noisy and messing things up for them.  Taichi is focused on his studies, knowing that if he doesn't pass his exams, he could lose his athletic scholarship.  Wakana is hard at work trying to finish her mom's song, but looming questions such as her career are affecting both her and Wien's futures, especially Wien, as he questions his own goals and aspirations.

As for Sawa, there seems to be several problems colliding all at once.  Her father's disapproval of her choice in career has bubbled to the surface, and has even made her angry with her mother as well.  Then there's Sawa's "diet".  At first, I thought she was eating little to save money, but it soon become apparent that there might be a weight restriction to becoming a horse jockey.  Then, there was the heated conversation Konatsu overheard (and mistook for a lover's quarrel!).  The stress of everything combined with not eating has taken its toll since we're left with a cliffhanger as Sawa tumbled off her horse.


This has been my favorite episode so far.  It doesn't hurt that Sawa is the focus either!  The pacing finally felt right to me, and I enjoyed that there were little humorous jokes sprinkled throughout ("Girls are scary!") while maintaining a high level of drama and realism.  And despite Sawa being the main focus, I liked that they gave insight to each of the characters, and the uncertainty of each of their futures as their last year in high school is beginning to end.