Hyouka 21 (Rewatch)
Best episode or bestest episode?
It's funny how all the talk about Chuu2 and its dull characters contrasts with the great cast of Hyouka. They're all layered, realistic and flawed in a way that makes for their continued interactions and development over time really pleasant to follow. One might leave this episode thinking that Satoshi is just an asshole, but at the end it's hard to dislike him, or any other of the four.
This is such a great episode because the stakes are raised by ten-fold, and the tension is pulled off perfectly. Not only that, the various moods that the episode transits are logical and organic, and don't obstruct each other or the result as a whole. From the anticipation to Satoshi receiving the chocolate, to the lovey-dovey moment between the two leads, to the mood at the end that ends the episode on the perfect bittersweet note. It's a testament to what Hyouka does best, and serves to elevate the show beyond what it would've been without an event like this.
The gradual change in the characters' interactions and personalities is at the forefront in the episode, not only with Satoshi's monologue and Oreki's proactiveness, but even in little details like the snappy joke he makes here:
I can't imagine the Oreki from episode 1 cracking a face like that, speaking with that tone of voice and making that comment to Chitanda. Can I imagine the Oreki of, say, episode 7 doing it? Maybe. The Oreki of episode 18? Probably. But I can't pinpoint a moment when he "changes" and gets his token
marker of growth. There are no triggers dictating the personalities of the cast; just their interactions, gradually making them closer and more open, and at the same time changing the ways they look at life and themselves.
And from time to time, you can see a culminating moment where those little changes add up to make a difference, like the call Satoshi makes at the end.
It's interesting how Mayaka's strong personality is the catalyst of a chain of developments that end up going full circle to reward her. Her promise to craft a masterpiece of chocolate, and more importantly the fact that she fulfils it with great passion, put Satoshi on the edge, forcing him to make a total dick move and having to face his best friend, and himself, about it. Eventually this reconsideration, and Oreki's little push (which can only happen due to his own character arc, and the prior events of the day with Chitanda) lead Satoshi to face Mayaka properly at the end of the episode. The interplay between the characters and the effect they have on each other is at full display, and it's what makes the cast so lovely for me.
But of course, the strongest point in this series is how all of this is depicted with masterful skill. I have to praise the two teams from Animation DO for putting out a stellar performance. They really stole the show with their episodes. Hiroko Utsumi directed 21, and Miku Kadowaki was the animation supervisor. Needles to say, this is one of the better crafted and most expressive episodes on the whole run. The emotional range that the characters exhibit here comes through in their acting and expressions, and in the great drawings that appeared. Particularly, the scene at the beginning where Mayaka confronts Satoshi, and the Chitanda breakdown at the club are intense, due to how the quick-cutting in the storyboard is complemented by the detailed layouts and nuanced animation. The sequence with Chitanda is particularly well done, with some unusual timing for Kyoani and a particular brand of expression I don't see very often. I have to wonder who animated it, because he/she is really something.
Last but not least, the colour design and art direction are top-notch as always. The snowflakes! They were all distinct and well-defined!
The sense of winter really comes through in the characters' breath, the slightly frozen windows and the very cold and subdued colour palette. Kyoani really have a knack for playing up aspects of every season, they always do it in their shows at some point.
The winter set-up that can be viewed at every moment on the screen accentuates the developments in the episode with its moody atmosphere, perfect for drawn-out confrontations and drama. That's the way you do it!
..Can't wait ...
