This is technically the second part of Nijigasaki‘s introduction of Ayumu, Setsuna, and Shizuku’s subunit, A・Zu・Na (which this episode finally name drops). It does include a few scenes involving the three and it ends with them performing a song together. That said, this episode is strictly centered on Setsuna and Ayumu and Shizuku are kind of just there. I still enjoy the episode but this is definitely a weird move. It almost feels like someone forgot that the show is still setting up A・Zu・Na so they storyboarded in what few scenes the trio has together at the last minute.
Part of this episode is about Setsuna’s dual identity. There’s crackpot theories speculating on who she is and some of the students working with the idol club for the upcoming festival are hoping to get a peak. Setsuna is hesitant to reveal herself however as she feels her personas should stay separate and her identity should remain a mystery to her fans. Her tenure as the student council president is also ending soon so part of her wants to end her double life with a bang. It is an interesting dilemma though it does feel a bit sudden. Apart from a couple of scenes, Nijigasaki has largely glossed over Setsuna’s double life. I suppose it’s better late than never to discuss it now but had the show taken the time and depicted Setsuna navigating her two worlds, having her contemplate over revealing her secret would feel more organic.
Early on in the episode, Shioriko finds out that Setsuna and Nana are one and the same. Between this and last episode’s post-credit scene, you’d think this would be a big deal and it would set up some conflict. How baffling then that the show doesn’t follow up on this at all. Shioriko takes no issue with the student council president spending time as a school idol and she agrees to keep it a secret. This development pretty much goes nowhere, especially at the end of the episode. I’m not really sure why the show bothered to tease it in the first place.
After that, the episode frankly glosses over Setsuna’s dilemma. A good chunk of time is instead dedicated to the girls figuring the logistics of the joint festival. The school idol festival has received too many applicants so Setsuna has to consider postponing it. With her friends’ encouragement, she meets up with the other schools’ idols to figure out a solution. Ultimately, they settle on hosting the festival across all the different schools. It is fun seeing the girls sort through this logistical nightmare but it comes as the expense of depriving Setsuna’s arc of some oxygen.
The sidetracking is most detrimental at the end. I’m fine with Setsuna revealing herself as the student council president but this episode doesn’t provide her with a motivation to do so. You’d think it would after Setsuna insists on keeping her personas separate but no, there isn’t a scene that serves as the impetus to her reversing course. It just looks like she’s doing it on a whim. It’s especially baffling when Setsuna decides to tell her mother about her school idol activities and most of that happens offscreen. Admittedly, Setsuna’s folks are barely in the show but Setsuna’s strict upbringing is what led to her creating her double life. Cutting right when the conversation begins is extremely anticlimactic. On the bright side, the show doesn’t disappoint with that one student council member who’s a Setsuna fangirl. Her reaction to the big reveal is priceless.
A・Zu・Na’s MV is pretty good but I’m a little disappointed that the trio busts into song without performing Shizuku’s magnum opus. I don’t care if the show gave a glimpse last episode, you can’t have Shizuku write that and not present the whole thing. My only guess is that the play is performed after the song. Either that or Ayumu and Setsuna realized what exactly Shizuku had envisioned and they told her she’s only getting a pop song concert.
In the post-credit scene, Shioriko talks to her older sister Kaoruko (Yoko Hikasa). Apparently, Kaoruko will be working as a student-teacher at Nijigasaki’s music course (which could be interesting, especially for Yu’s arc). Kaoruko mentions that Shioriko wanted to be a school idol, which then begs the question as to why she doesn’t join the club. Maybe Shioriko thinks she doesn’t have what it takes? There’s also Setsuna possibly leaving the student council. I can see Shioriko succeeding her in the role. It’d be funny if that’s the case as Nijigasaki will have the honor of having not one but two student council presidents as school idols.
Watch Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club on Crunchyroll and Funimation
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