I really wanted TomaKanoTe to get that guest spot for the Yoyogi Festival, if only so that poor Kanon can finally win that damn contest. But alas, the new group didn’t meet the threshold so they don’t get to compete at the venue. I’m convinced Kanon is cursed or something. On the flipside, it seems that the remote concert is still a success as people are starting to change their tune on Wien.
For the time being, TomaKanoTe is practicing for Love Live. Actually, I guess it’s just KanoTe right now because Tomari isn’t showing up for practice. She’s explained to Kanon and Wien that she’ll only attend practice when it’s necessary, which may or may not be another way of saying she’ll show up when she feels like it. Naturally, Wien is annoyed that Tomari isn’t taking school idols seriously. It probably also doesn’t help that Tomari can kind of get away with this, given how quickly and easily she can keep up with Wien and Kanon when she actually has to perform. I suppose Wien and Tomari’s bickering is fundamentally a repeat of Keke and Sumire’s but be that as it may, I’m still all for it. For starters, Tomari is the exact kind of character for Wien to bounce off of and vice versa. And second, it’s funny seeing these two argue while Kanon is left to mediate between them.
The main plot of this episode shifts Superstar‘s attention back over to Liella!. While happy for Kanon’s recent success, everyone is worried that TomaKanoTe (or “Newella” as Keke calls them) may give them a run for their money. More importantly, they realize that they need a new center now that the orange-haired main protagonist has left them. I half-expected someone to dye their hair orange to fill in the void.
Sumire suggests that Chisato should be the center, reasoning that the latter is the only one who could compete against Kanon as an equal. I honestly did expect Chisato to serve as center. This episode is titled “The White-Colored Center” and well, Chisato is the one white-haired character in the cast so it just seemed like a no-brainer to me. Joking aside, Chisato has always viewed Kanon as her rival since they were little. It would be perfect for her to take what has generally been Kanon’s role in the club and it would the two’s relationship a new angle for the show to explore. I also buy Sumire’s reasoning. Chisato is the club president and one of the most experienced members of the club. Suffice to say, she probably does stand the best chance at going toe-to-toe against Kanon. Interesting that Sumire asks someone else to be the center. If this was early Season 1 Sumire, she would’ve reveled in the opportunity to take Kanon’s role for herself. It really goes to show how much she’s grown since then.
Chisato declines to be the center. She wants Liella! to do something unprecedented for their reintroduction so she advocates for a second-year to take on the role. Immediately, Chisato offers the role up to Shiki (Wakana Ōkuma). That took me a bit by surprise. I figured if we ever had a second-year as the center, Kinako (Kozomi Suzuhara), would be the first one to assume it. Then again, Shiki is overdue a new featured episode and having her as the center gives her an interesting dilemma to confront. You almost forget it since Shiki is often surrounded by her friends but she is one of less sociable members of the cast. When she isn’t with the gang, she’s off working alone in the science club. Until she joined Liella!, her only friend was Mei (Akane Yabushima). Being the center is really the last thing on her mind and suffice to say, Shiki is very uncomfortable about the role.
Due to the pressure, Shiki passes out during practice. While recovering, Shiki takes advantage of the situation to execute an elaborate escape involving a projection of Yuigaoka’s mascot (I didn’t know until now that the school has one). I really like how this scene effectively portrays Shiki’s anxiety while still providing a good laugh. The over the top nature of Shiki’s escape plan is funny enough but I also like how on point it is for Shiki to pour all of her time and energy towards weaseling her way out. Talk about relatable.
Later that day, Chisato overhears Wien argue with Kanon about Tomari’s absences. Wien feels Tomari should be kicked out but Kanon vetoes against it as she thinks the variety between three of them will help them shine. Part of me thinks Kanon is being a little too lenient towards Tomari but she has put up with plenty of people who weren’t fully onboard about school idols (including Tomari’s own sister no less) so this level of patience is characteristic of her. Plus, Kanon does have a point in that having different kinds of people in a group can result in something special.
Aside from convincing Wien to give Tomari a chance, Kanon indirectly inspires Chisato to stick with her guts and keep Shiki as the center for the Yoyogi Festival. I really like the use of color on Kanon’s and Chisato’s part. Kanon places some mugs that conveniently have colors that match her, Wien, and Tomari to illustrate her desire to keep Tomari in the group. Chisato meanwhile attributes her decision to pick Shiki as the center to the color of “white”. Like the color white, Shiki doesn’t stand out but much like how white stands out when next to other colors, Chisato reckons that Shiki will be able to shine so long as she’s surrounded by her friends. It’s all a cheeky metaphor but it ties nicely with the origin of Liella’s name: people connecting like different colors of light.
The episode ends with Liella’s performance at the third and presumably final onscreen interaction of the Yoyogi Festival. I believe this insert song is the first one in the Superstar!! anime without Kanon. Everyone in Superstar!! sounds good so it’s not like Liella! was suddenly going to sound bad all of a sudden. It’s just interesting to hear what the group sounds like without its usual center. I noticed throughout this MV that Shiki usually has Mei right next to her and so, these two more or less share the role of center as a result. Right before the concert scene, Mei tells Shiki that she’ll be her “shadow”, someone who will back her up and help her shine onstage. I’m sure the Mei and Shiki shippers are quite happy with this arrangement. This does kind of muddle Shiki stepping up to the plate but having Mei act as her shadow helps prove Chisato’s point that Shiki will shine if her friends are by her side. It also addresses the issue of having a center when the roster is an even number. One last thing: I really like the outfits used for the MV, which is of course predominantly white. They feel reminiscent of the outfits used for “Wish Song” in Season 1 Episode 8. In-universe, those were a tribute to Ren’s mother and the previous idol club so evoking those designs again is befitting of Liella’s return.
Watch Love Live! Superstar!! on Crunchyroll.
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