Rating: A
Last episode delivered a remarkably effective exploration of one of the series’ more minor regular characters, so it’s only fitting that the focus should now shift to the major ones – in particular, Kana and Akane and the rivalry between them. And forget that both of them are romantically interested in the same guy, and thus rivals in that realm, too; that doesn’t play into this at all. No, this is about where both stand, and how both relate to the other, as actresses. And like with last episode, that conflict alone proves fully compelling.
We knew from previous episodes that Akane got into acting because of idolizing Kana, and that their acting styles sharply contrast, but as this episode shows (against the backdrop of their characters meeting for the first time in the stage play), there’s way more to it than that. Akane recognizes that Kana is more than just gifted; she has the ability to dazzle with her acting, to steal the show, to be the sun. We saw flashes of that when she first went head-to-head against major talent Taiki in episode 12, and also when she fully let loose during the B Komachi performance back in episode 11. When she allows it to show, she’s incredible. But that’s not always what people want, or what’s best for the project, so she has learned to be the consummate professional, playing to the level of those around her and what’s best for the overall show. In this case, she’s on the precipice of letting loose before her self-training kicks in, forcing her to be the sun that shines upon Akane’s showmanship rather than the one which blinds with its own brilliance.
And that’s what Akane can’t stand, for a number of reasons. She initially became enamored with that brilliance, got into acting to be like that, but the Kana she finally encountered in her youth was one driven cynical at way too young an age. This isn’t the glorious Kana she initially idolized, and how can she have an all-out acting match with someone who’s decided that making Akane’s character stand out, rather than herself, is what’s best for the play? In some senses it’s the classic shonen action case of a fighter being frustrated that a foe isn’t giving her best in a fight because of some perceived propriety or self-imposed limitation, but adapted into acting form, and kudos to the production teams for so beautifully demonstrating that through the clash between their characters and the way that Akane’s reaction to Kana syncs with the way her character responds to the growing conflict. The other interesting detail here is that wanting to understand Kana – why she changed, how she could have been pressed down by the pressure from the adults around her – is what drove Akane to study psychology and become a fledgling profiler.
How compelling the Kana/Akane part is almost overshadows the progression of the play that is a backdrop to it. Once again, the production shows how dynamic the play format can be; these episodes would be readily watchable just on that content alone.
This series has now delivered three stellar episodes in a row, making it the clear front-runner for the season’s best at this point. If it can continue to perform at this high a caliber then it will be competitive for yearly honors, too.
USA Anime 