Rating: A
This episode earns a top-tier rating primarily because of how much it accomplishes and how seamlessly it does so. With just a single episode, it explains older mysteries, delves satisfyingly into the fallout from last episode’s big revelation, lays the groundwork for its final big plot push, and even includes some flashbacks to never-before-hinted-at scenes involving Ai, and it handles it all with a remarkable bit of delicacy in its character writing despite how potentially sensational a lot of this is. Honestly, I’m not sure I could have asked for more from this episode, as it even gave me some things I wasn’t expecting.
On the fallout front, this was the confrontation with Ruby which had to happen. Looked at coldly and pragmatically, revealing the truth about their mother now is absolutely to their benefit. Sure, the barter that buries Kana’s scandal protects both Kana and B Komachi in general, but being outed as Ai’s children brings both of them even greater attention at pivotal times in their careers and allows them (especially Ruby) to play the “following in Mama’s footsteps and trying to realize her dream” cards. Logically, Ruby understands that, which is probably why she chose to reveal in the later press conference the detail about how Ai (truthfully) said, as she lay dying, that she foresaw Ruby becoming an idol; you’d have to be immensely cynical for something like that to not resonate, and even probably-jaded reporters are shown reacting to it. Indeed, the way that endears the twins to people washes over the more negative comments poking at Ai.
Of course, this has never been about logic for Ruby, and Aqua clearly knows that. He’s been protective of Ruby up to this point, and ironically, believes he’s still doing that here as he makes zero effort to blunt his statements or give them an emotional appeal. It’s all part of him actively trying to push her away, to prepare her for the eventuality of him not being around anymore, the same as he did for Akane last episode. To Ruby’s credit, she at least gets in one good blow: that Aqua has stopped being Ai’s fan. We – and I think she as well – know that’s the farthest thing from the truth, but frankly, Aqua deserved to have that thrown in his face. Aqua also tries to brush off Misaki the same way, but her reaction suggests that she has at least some sense of what Aqua’s doing; after all, he’s played a long game with calculated reveals before.
All of this makes Aqua’s later scene with Kana even more interesting. Though Kana may not be as intuitive as Akane, she’s still sharp enough to reasonably figure out that the timing of the reveal wasn’t a coincidence. She also realizes that he’s up to something beyond just protecting her; she’s been around him plenty enough now to be aware of his devious nature. Unlike with Akane and Ruby, though, Aqua doesn’t actively try to push Kana away, too. Maybe he realizes he doesn’t need to because Kana is naturally more independent, but it really does seem like she’s the one Aqua doesn’t want to completely break ties with. Akane may have provided Aqua better emotional support, but even when he was taking their relationship seriously there was still some sense of him just going through expected motions, like he was just doing what he thought a high school boy with a girlfriend should do. Kana would have been a far more dynamic and fun pairing, and there’s a definite sense he’s still her fan.
Ichigo was also upset, but Aqua doesn’t need any convincing beyond revealing that he knows who his father is to get Ichigo on board. After all, he’s the one person Aqua can see eye-to-eye with on end goals. What’s a bit disturbing here is how long Aqua has been working out the plan; little Aqua with those hateful eyes is both sad and unsettling. Director Gotanda figures into this, too, thus explaining one odd reference at the end of season 2: the file on his computer labeled “The 15 Year Lie.” That’s here clarified to be a movie proposal that he and Aqua had worked on based in part on a never-released documentary Ai had once pestered Gotanda into making for the original B Komachi. A key part of that effort was the one truly candid scene Ai ever filmed, one which she insisted he’d never be able to use because she was dropping all the lies. That gives the episode its most striking scene: the only time we’ve ever scene Ai’s eye stars go dark. What secrets are behind that smile, and will we ever find out?
I also wanted to see Kaburagi’s reaction to the big reveal, but instead we get something just as interesting: his reaction to Aqua and Gotanda pitching The 15 Year Lie. He was close enough to Ai himself that I have to think his reaction – the way his eyes widened at one point when Aqua insisted that they could back their story up and the way he said he thought Aqua was taking both him and Gotanda for a ride – means that he has at least some inkling of Aqua’s real intent here. Kaburagi may well have a personal interest in knowing the truth, and even if not, could he really pass on such a juicy opportunity even if it may carry some risk?
Lastly, we have this episode’s other big reveal: who the young woman seen dying at the feet of Hikaru Kamiki at the end of season 2 actually was:
Apparently that scene was a flash-forward to this point in the story, as she’s an actress capable of carrying a movie at the box office. Every suggestion here points to her being the one Kaburagi was referring to as the actress who would play the role of Ai (being 25 is hardly a barrier, since even older actors have played teenagers before in live-action movies), though I can’t shake the sense that this may be some misdirection on the series’ part, since she never does mention the role she’ll be taking on. Turns out that her drinking partner is Hikaru (Kamiki is his family name, so the nickname “Miki” naturally follows), though I did see that one coming. The question here is still why Hikaru decided to off her. Was it because he knew she’d be slated to play Ai, or is he just that much of a sociopath? His proclamation at the end certainly suggests that whatever he felt about Ai has become twisted over the years.
Even without Yura, the casting for The 15 Year Lie is going to bring out a lot of familiar faces, including ones who have only been on the fringe before (like Frill). Seeing how this all plays out – what kind of trap Aqua is setting, and the kinds of tensions will be in play given what some of the participants know about the situation should be quite lively indeed.
USA Anime 