Despite some resistance from Eli, Honoka gets permission to perform a concert in the school’s auditorium after an upcoming Welcome Party event in a month’s time. While designing costumes for the concert, Kotori points out that she and her friends don’t have a group name. Unable to come up with one, Honoka creates a suggestion box to receive some outside help. Honoka and Kotori then approach Umi to write lyrics for a potential new song. Umi agrees to do it on the condition that her friends follow a rigorous exercise plan she creates for them, in order to gain the stamina they’ll need for the concert (Umi already trains for the school’s archery club so this is not an issue for her).
It’s funny. Having seen all of School Idol Project‘s successors, a lot of what’s happening here feels very familiar to me. The prospective idol club facing resistance from the school council president. The girls practicing on the school’s rooftop because they don’t have anywhere to go. The one athletic member whipping everyone else into shape. All the planning that goes towards the first concert. The context is different but these are the same beats that I’ve seen in the later series. I do need to bear in mind that in School Idol Project‘s case, none of this stuff is a retread. Technically, this show set the precedent for all of this material. And when I first watched the show, I had no idea any of this would become tradition. The only thing I can critique is the execution and I don’t have any complaints in that regard. There isn’t anything illogical going on here and the show manages to get some solid banter between the trio with these moments. I can see why the later series uses them because it seems to already be working here in the original show.
In the midst of training, Honoka receives one anonymous suggestion for a group name: μ’s (pronounced “Muse”). You do find out who suggested the name and why exactly they went with μ’s but I’ll save that for when I get to the respective episode. For now, Umi speculates the name is referring to the Greek goddesses of the arts and sciences. I’ve always found μ’s to be a great group name. It’s catchy and the symbol really makes it stand out.
After Umi finishes her lyrics, Honoka approaches Maki about composing a song with it. Maki refuses at first, finding the prospect embarrassing and not a good fit for her, but she begins to change her mind when Honoka approaches her a second time and reveals how much work she and the others are doing to become school idols. With some advice from Nozomi, Maki decides to compose a song for μ’s, even going as far as to record it on a CD. She also votes for them anonymously on an idol ranking website. It’s pretty cute how Maki begins to open up to μ’s and becomes their secret fan. Plus, it’s a good setup to her inevitable recruitment into the group.
Nozomi proves to be a valuable ally to our idol trio. She helps them with getting the concert approved and she allows them to train around Kanda Shrine, where she works as a shrine maiden. As mentioned earlier, she more or less convinces Maki to compose for μ’s. The show gives Nozomi a silly reason to help the three. Apparently, she did some Tarot card readings and no matter how many times she does it, the cards tell her to help them. Love Live! is actually saying that it is Honoka, Umi and Kotori’s destiny to be school idols. As absurd as that sounds, Nozomi is still an interesting player in the plot. Her being Eli’s closest friend and “second in command” makes her a much needed middle man between our idols and the student council president.
Another thing to note about Nozomi is that she’s a pervert. A running gag in this series is her groping the other girls’ breasts, either as a prank or a punishment. This is first demonstrated in this episode with Maki. I get that this is to give the generally mature and serene Nozomi a mischievous side and to encourage some yuri ships but I never found this gag to be very funny.
Watch Love Live! School Idol Project on Crunchyroll
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