It’s been 84 years but Love Live! Sunshine!! finally has Aqours heading to Tokyo for the titular competition’s final round. Of course, the performance is saved for the very end of the episode so there’s still a half hour of padding to go. I’m enjoying the second half of this season but I must admit that the six episode wait for the finals has been a test of patience. Somehow, it feels slower than the gang getting together and that was nine episodes long. At least with that, it makes sense to slowly explore every character and have them join Aqours over time. Thank goodness for Ruby and Leah’s collaboration three episodes ago. Without that, I’d be starving for another insert song.
Upon arriving at Tokyo, the girls pay another visit to the local shrine. There, they run into Saint Snow again, who has traveled to Tokyo to cheer them on during the finals. For some reason, Sarah asks Chika if Aqours wants to win and who they are performing for. Those could be rhetorical questions though the timing is lousy. Can’t you just let them cool their jets before the big show, Sarah? Naturally, Chika develops some last minute doubts. You quells them a bit with an impromptu pillow fight (and I am not the least bit surprised that Best Girl Dia gives it 110%) though Chika still feels the need to ask everyone the same questions Sarah gave her.
Everyone gives their own answers in line with their characters. Ruby wants to win for the third years’ sake but she’s also just happy to perform with her friends and to have grown out of her shell. Mari feels obligated to win for the school but she admits that she also wants to win simply as a member of Aqours. The list goes on. I like that Chika asks You and Riko last. They were the original trio that founded Aqours together after all. It’s only fitting to end the discourse with the three of them. Having the trio’s scene take place at the same walkway where Chika got inspired to become a school idol is a nice touch.
Rather than do some last minute practice, everyone splits up and tours around Tokyo before reuniting for the big event. Some of the locales each of the girls are really fitting. Hanamaru visits a library. Kanan heads to the beach and stares out to the sea. The most notable one however is Riko visiting the music room in Otonokizaka. I think this does a better job than Season 1 Episode 12 at conveying the peace Riko has made with herself. There’s no mention of μ’s so the spotlight is entirely on her. Riko actually steps foot inside the building rather than look at it from the outside. For Riko, Otonokizaka is simply her old school. It no longer represents her troubled past. I also like that Riko plays the song from Season 1 Episode 11 on the piano. It’s a neat detail considering that Riko didn’t get to perform the song with everyone. In fact, we didn’t even get to see Riko play piano at all in that episode.
Before the performance, Chika discards the Tokyo event results from way back in Season 1 Episode 8, the one where Aqours had zero votes. The gang had been holding onto it as a reminder to defy expectations and prove themselves as school idols. I figured they would forever hold onto that as a sort of a memento, albeit in an ironic sense, but I think it’s appropriate to get rid of it now. Regardless of whether or not Aqours wins Love Live, the fact that they made it all the way to the finals makes that zero look quaint. There’s really no need to hold onto that piece of paper anymore.
As for the Love Live finals, I’ll admit that expectations were unrealistic. Sunshine!! has had its fair share of quality insert songs and with this possibly being the last one, the bar has been raised pretty high. I think the previous song in Episode 9 is still more impressive to me in terms of presentation, animation, and the added bonus of having Saint Snow singing with Aqours. That said, I still enjoy Aqours’ performance for the finals. I can’t put my figure on it but there’s just something about this song that screams “finality”. Even if this isn’t the last song in the show, it really comes across as such. One thing about the song that I can articulate is how evenly girls divide their singing parts. Everyone each sings line and they also sing a part within their respective school grade. I don’t know who gave the girls such a great fog machine and lighting but I really like the illusion that the girls are performing high up on in the sky. Considering that their goal is to “shine”, I think this stage is awfully fitting. Last but not least, the outfits are great. There’s a nice mix of uniformity with the use of blue and differentiation with the use of black and white. I also like the different affectations each girl has on their outfits such as the music note Riko adorns on the side of her head or tiara Mari has on top of hers.
Given that this is the final round of Love Live and writing 101, it feels guaranteed that Aqours will be declared the winners. Even if the writers make the bold move of having them lose, I imagine they’ll still put a positive spin to the results. Regardless of the results, there is no way Aqours doesn’t leave their mark in Love Live.
Watch Love Live! Sunshine!! on Crunchyroll, Funimation, and Tubi
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