So sure enough, Kanon still has stage fright. Considering that she only brushed it off once, I had a feeling that it’d still be an issue. Good thing Keke asked her to sing in public. Otherwise, the pair wouldn’t know until the day of the festival. I can only imagine how disastrous that would be. Somehow, Ren finds out about Kanon’s issue and she advises that she save herself from potential embarrassment for both herself and Yuigaoka. Ren’s apparent grudge towards school idols is apparent here though she isn’t wrong in arguing that the upcoming performance will suffer if Kanon can’t sing.
Naturally, the gang tries to help Kanon overcome her fear. In contrast to Keke’s insanity last episode, these plans are pretty reasonable. The first one has Kanon taking over Chisato’s takoyaki stand and getting used to dealing with strangers. The second one has her trying on cute clothes to boost her confidence (and Keke and Chisato are definitely not using this as an excuse to take pics of their girlfriend(?)). Sadly, neither plan works. As a result, Keke decides that she’ll sing alone and Kanon can just dance alongside her. It’d be weird and it’d lessen their chances of winning but it really goes to show how serious Keke is about being a school idol with Kanon.
You can tell from the credits what the main cast’s idol group name will be. I figured this episode would be where the name gets dropped in the canon but for the time being, Keke has Kanon and herself going by the name Kuukaa, based on the respective first syllable of their names. It’s not the worst sounding idol group name but its days are clearly numbered. I can definitely see the etymology being an issue once the other girls join.
A few days before the festival however, word breaks out that a highly popular school idol duo called Sunny Passion will be participating at the event. Keke is initially ecstatic over the news as she’s a big fan of Sunny Passion but she soon realizes that they’re a shoo-in for the contest and she and Kanon are very unlikely to win. Sunny Passion did make cameo appearances in the first two episodes so it seems inevitable that they should show up in earnest. Still, their appearance in this episode is a bit too deliberate as it allows the show to deny Kanon and Keke victory even if the former overcomes her stage fright. But whatever, the two resolve to still give their best performance at the festival. They’ve made it this far and they have no other option in getting the club approved anyway.
Once more, Keke invites Chisato to join her and Kanon as a school idol. The timing is impeccable. The group could use an extra performer and Kanon’s fear might be alleviated if her best friend is with her onstage. However, even though Chisato is interested in the hobby, she declines the offer. It’s just as Kanon said last episode, she’s busy enough as is studying under Yuigaoka’s music program. I’m curious if this will eventually change. Like, maybe as Chisato sees the club grow and perform some more, she’ll start to think she’s missing out and that’ll lead to her joining the club full-time.
Keke is interesting to watch during the last act of the episode. A few days before the festival, she cheers a distraught Kanon up when things aren’t looking good for them. On the day of the festival however, we see Keke lose her composure. The pressure of performing well and carrying the performance for Kanon’s sake seems to have been on the back of her mind and now that she’s at the big event, it’s finally caught up to her. In spite of the brave face she puts on, Keke is still afraid of failure and she really does need someone backing her up.
Hilariously, the MVP this episode is Sumire. The girl is barely in this episode and yet, she stumbles upon the festival and accidentally causes a power outage by tripping on a cord. With the lights out however, the crowd light up the area with glow sticks in support of Kanon and Keke and this enables the two to overcome their fears. It’s a great scene that mixes humor with sincerity and it makes me more excited to see what Sumire has to offer to the main cast and the story.
I really like the MV. It’s refreshing to see a duet for a change. That’s surprisingly hard to come by in Love Live!, which typically has songs performed by a trio or the whole idol group. Kanon and Keke bounce off each other really well here, both with their singing and dancing, and the MV does a good job alternating between having them perform off each other and performing together as a duo. The lyrics of the song are a bit cheeky. It’s basically the speakers saying they’re determined to shine like stars, no matter the odds. It’s on the nose and also punny, given the show’s title, but it does sum up Kanon and Keke’s arc these past three episodes. One detail I really appreciate is the lack of stylism in the entire MV. It’s purely Kanon and Keke’s performance on the stage. You do feel the length of the MV a bit more as a result but I think this choice helps sell the hard work Kanon and Keke have put into their performance and their desire to prove themselves as school idols.
As expected, Sunny Passion reigns victorious. The show omits their performance which does make sense. Having it would’ve undermined Kanon and Keke’s big moment. Still, you are left to take the show’s word that Sunny Passion are one of the best idol groups out there. You also don’t have Sunny Passion interacting with our main characters though the show still has a moment where one of them says she’ll talk to Kanon and Keke some other time, suggesting that the group are interested in the newcomers.
Despite failing to win first place, Kanon and Keke awarded a Best Newcomer Award and news of this accolade appears to spread around Yuigaoka’s campus. That alone ought to convince the school director to waive her original challenge and approve the club. At the very least, the girls probably have a lot more support for their club than they did last episode. Regardless of the club’s status, Kanon and Keke have proven themselves and I doubt they’ll be quitting any time soon.
Watch Love Live! Superstar!! on Crunchyroll and Funimation.
Xenodude Scribbles 