Training for the joint concert appears to be going well for Kasumi, Rina, Emma, and Kanata. Rina and Kanata started out as the least physically active of the club so I kind of expected this episode to do a repeat of that gag. That surprisingly doesn’t happen but then again, these two must be used to training at this point. Maybe if they follow μ’s training regimen like Aqours did, they’ll pass out again.
The real roadblock afflicting the subunit is the creative process. Everyone has their own gimmicks. Kasumi wants everyone to dress up in cute clothes. Rina likes to incorporate technology. Kanata wants to go to bed. Emma is Swiss likes wearing a kigurumi. That the four is at a complete impasse is a bit of stretch. Like, I don’t see how they can’t wear cute or silly costumes with some of Rina’s tech. Kanata’s gimmick is about the only one that’s the most out there. Regardless, the four girls finds themselves with the same issue that plagued the idol club when it first started and they begin to doubt the prospect of performing together.
Meanwhile, Yu and Mia are assigned to produce a song for their music class. While Mia has no problem getting it done, Yu finds the assignment challenging. Mia advices Yu to simply compose her song based on what she thinks people want to hear. Since it’s for the class, all Yu really has to do is apply what she’s learned (talk about accurate). The advice is somewhat helpful though Mia is a bit grating with how elitist she sounds.
During an idol club meeting, Yu confides with her friends about her assignment. While everyone agrees that it’s important that the audience likes the finished product, they encourage Yu to make sure that she herself is satisfied with her work. I love that everyone immediately drops what they’re doing to ask Yu if she’s okay. Adoration for Yu is about the only thing the nine idols seem to agree on. Another detail that stands out to me is Yu’s belief that she isn’t unique compared to her friends. Understandably, her friends are quick to point out her strengths. I can’t help but feel this is meta, as if the show is aware that Yu comes across as a blank slate and it’s aiming to rectify that.
I’m curious if this renewed attention towards Yu will extend to the rest of Season 2. I like Yu just fine but there were times in Season 1 where she felt sidelined or she didn’t have much to do in a given episode. Having her study music, making her question if she has any unique traits, and expanding on her relationship with the school idols are all steps in the right direction. It’s up to subsequent episodes to keep these balls rolling. At the very least, Yu’s involvement in this episode ties nicely with the main plot. The music assignment acts as a parallel to the quartet’s creative process. By having everyone come to Yu’s aid, the four begin to realize that one common ground that they do share is how well they know and support each other and that allows them to find the synergy they need for the joint concert.
At the joint concert, Kasumi, Rina, Emma, and Kanata introduces themselves as a subunit named Qu4rtz and they perform the first ever subunit song in a Love Live! anime. The song is a cheery, feel good bop; I dig it. I do think it lacks the individuality expressed by the girls’ solo efforts but that’s to be expected with a group performance. Plus, it makes sense as the girls are aiming to put aside their differences and express one shared vision. The mixing of styles manifests more through the aesthetics. The miscellaneous shots has everyone dressing up in silly or cutesy outfits that Kasumi and Emma likes to wear. The stage Qu4rtz primarily performs in has a lot of virtual backgrounds, something which Rina could definitely pull off. One of the backgrounds is a field of flowers, which feels like a nod to Emma’s MV in Season 1. I’m not sure how Kanata is reflected in the aesthetics but again, her gimmick is out there. Also, I’m really glad that Qu4rtz wears matching outfits for the concert. That seems like a no-brainer but I wasn’t 100% sure on that after the group song in the Season 1 finale didn’t provide matching outfits. Thank goodness that’s the case here as it wouldn’t make sense for the girls to act as a group, only to then wear completely different outfits for themselves.
Among the audience are Lanzhu and Shioriko. Funnily enough, Qu4rtz’s concert does not convince Lanzhu to join the idol club. Lanzhu admits that she can’t replicate their performance but that hilariously motivates her to continue working solo. I guess it’d prove her point if she can outshine a whole group of school idols but goddamn, this girl is stubborn. As for Shioriko, she seems dazzled by Qu4rtz’s concert so I’m guessing the show is setting for her inevitable recruitment into the club. I predicted that Mia would watch the concert and that would kick off her character development though evidently, she does not attend the concert. That said, the show does provide a breadcrumb by having Yu present her song in class (how cheeky that it’s a piano rendition of Season 1’s ED), impressing Mia. I’m guessing Mia will join the club via a budding friendship with Yu.
Watch Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club on Crunchyroll and Funimation
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