Inou Battle 07
All the meta stuff this story is saying is really speaking to me. The subject matter and the way it's discussing it is fascinating. The centerpiece of the episode is Hatoko's speech, which shows how "normal" she is to everybody. And the thing is, I think both of them having some time to self-reflect was good. Jurai wasn't being "spineless", I'll disagree on that, because a guy being willing to look into his emotional inner world, something he does very often, just missed this blind spot, is a good thing. Just as Hatoko trying to get to the root of her problems, and getting some helpful advice, is a good thing.
Jurai has his power because it makes him look cool. Chifuyu has endless, youthful imagination, so she can make dreams reality. Tomoyo wants some time to herself to write, so she has it. Sayumi is the guiding force of the group, the den mother, so she can heal. Hatoko's powers, though, are flexible, but probably the most "generic" set of powers you can get. What someone who wasn't heavily invested in anime literature would think of when they think of superpowers, with the exception of other really basic things like flight and super strength.
Loved the Time is Guilty moment, too. I'm not sure what freezing time and calling on dark flames would do in unison, but the thought process behind it counts. Hatoko's jealousy may slightly have something to do with romance, but it's really coming from a different place. Because romance is a spice that can be added to everything, but it's not always the main flavor. (I swore to myself I'd not use food metaphors. But they're so helpful.) It's this show that consistently gives me the most to write about. Like Tomoyo, I can relate to having writers' block when it comes to naming your characters. Jurai's sister, like Maiya, also provides a nice foil for his home life.
It's a show that needs to be understood, but it falls into a certain niche, so it's not going to be understood by everybody. Anime that works on a meta level is common these days, but this is one of the ones that's really hit home with me, for the first time in a while, because it's talking about anime culture itself. How people would respond to anime becoming real, even in such a limited capacity. The gap between fiction and reality.
It's also honest, the honesty is simply coming from a different place. Because the "real" can be defined in as many ways as there are people.
