Meeting Date: 6/23/2019
Disclaimer: The Herald Anime Club discusses shows as they’re airing. Naturally, there will be spoilers for a given episode. You have been warned!
Samantha Ferreira: Hi everyone, and welcome to the Herald Anime Club! I’m Samantha, and I’m here with L.B. Bryant and Anthony Simpson
L.B. Bryant: Hello!
Anthony Simpson: Evening
Samantha Ferreira: Tonight, we’re back and talking up Fruits Basket with episode 12: “The Tohru goes: (￣▽￣)”
Before we begin, though
A pretty big content warning for abuse
But yeah! This was a big episode, with some huge reveals
L.B. Bryant: It’s hard to know where to begin with this one… on one hand, we had some hilarious moments but then on the other, we had Akito
Anthony Simpson: I have to agree with L.B on this one.
Samantha Ferreira: Indeed.
There’s a LOT to unpack
Anthony Simpson: For Akito all I can say is yikes. For everything else especially with the uniforms and hair colors that was fun to watch.
Poor Yuki is clear he went through some rough shit in his younger days.
L.B. Bryant: Yeah, the inclusion of being locked in a room is a new addition to this series. It wasn’t even touched upon in the original so that was just a hint at how dark this series is going to get in the coming months.
Samantha Ferreira: Indeed.
Well
It’s not new for the series – it was in the manga
L.B. Bryant: Yeah, that’s what I meant. Sorry, I wasn’t very clear on that one.
Btw, something strange about this episode that my wife and I noticed. In the dub, Akito is referred to with masculine pronouns. This happens multiple times and we were wondering if that was a mistake or a hint towards something down the line?
Samantha Ferreira: That’s intentional. I can say why but there’s spoilers
L.B. Bryant: Got it.
That’s all I needed to know, please no spoilers lol
Anthony Simpson: No spoilers please either. I’m trying to stay in the dark as much as possible for this show.
Samantha Ferreira: lol – I’ll be good
…
…
…
SNAPE *BLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP*
Joking aside: I really like how the series framed things
They gave it the gravitas it deserved
L.B. Bryant: The entire sequence with Tohru, Yuki, and Akito was very well done. It hinted just enough at Yuki’s past to be creepy.
Samantha Ferreira: Indeed.
And Shigure and Hatori just talking about it detached and clinically was chilling
L.B. Bryant: Agreed. It was unsettling how calm they were about it. To me it showed that they were entirely used to it and powerless to stop it and so they’ve already resigned themselves.
Samantha Ferreira: Indeed.
It’s the “broken stair” mentality. “Yeah, they’re there and doing this, but we can’t do anything”
L.B. Bryant: So, moving onto happier things… the humor in this episode was so spot on.
Anthony Simpson: The humor was great.
The whole hair color and uniform scene was great.
L.B. Bryant: Let it be known that my wife was quite pleased that they left in her all time favorite anime joke (the hair color gag)
Samantha Ferreira: Hehe
That’s still amazing
Anthony Simpson: Let it be known for the record that Momiji is so adorable in his school outfit.
Samantha Ferreira: Agreed
I kind of love how Yuki straight-up turned the student council girls into Momiji fangirls
L.B. Bryant: lol
Samantha Ferreira: Or the student council president going full-on fudanshi
L.B. Bryant: Speaking of the president, they really shot his intensity towards Momiji up in this adaptation. He was a jerk in the original but they really had him spitting fire this time around.
Samantha Ferreira: Indeed
He was a straight-up asshole
Anthony Simpson: He is an asshole.
He has such a punchable face.
L.B. Bryant: lol lucky that Dark Haru ™ didn’t do just that
Samantha Ferreira: Indeed. He just showed the guy his junk
L.B. Bryant: Well he did ask for it.
Anthony Simpson: True.
Samantha Ferreira: Yeah
L.B. Bryant: I will say that I got my dose of wholesome for the week when they all went out and played badminton together.
Samantha Ferreira: True that. Like… that was a great change of tone
Anthony Simpson: That was needed after learning of the abuse Yuki went through.
Samantha Ferreira: Indeed.
It’s like… a good jolt back to happier times
L.B. Bryant: You’d think that this series would give viewers whiplash with how fast it changes tones but they do it so flawlessly that it feels natural
Samantha Ferreira: Indeed. Like… if that wasn’t handled right, we’d be here griping about how crass it is
Anthony Simpson: Indeed.
Samantha Ferreira: Any final thoughts this week?
Anthony Simpson: Looking forward to the next episode.
Samantha Ferreira: Likewise!
I guess we’ll leave things there. ’til next time, remember: Uo and Saki are best moms, now and always.
Have a great night!
Anthony Simpson: Uo and Saki are the best moms.
Good night
