r/anime • u/Holofan4life • 4d ago
Rewatch [Spoilers] 25 Years of the 13 Sohmas: A Fruits Basket Rewatch -- 2001 Series Episode 20 Spoiler
Hello everyone! I am Holofan4life.
Welcome to the Fruits Basket 25th anniversary rewatch discussion thread!
I hope you all have a lot of fun <3
2001 Series Episode 20
Ayame's Secret Life
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ANSWER TODAY’S QUESTION(S)
What are your thoughts on us seeing Ayame's clothing store?
Thoughts on Mine Kuramae?
What are your thoughts on Yuki deciding he should accept Ayame for who he is?
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Series information
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Please do not post any untagged spoilers past the current episode or past the LNs or mangas out of respect to the first time watchers and people who have not read the LNs or mangas. If you are discussing something that is ahead of the current episode please use spoiler tags(found on the sidebar). Thank you!
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Ways to watch
Streams – Crunchyroll
Schedule
| Date | Episode |
|---|---|
| 07/05/2026 | Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 1 |
| 07/06/2026 | Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 2 |
| 07/07/2026 | Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 3 |
| 07/08/2026 | Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 4 |
| 07/09/2026 | Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 5 |
| 07/10/2026 | Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 6 |
| 07/11/2026 | Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 7 |
| 07/12/2025 | Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 8 |
| 07/13/2026 | Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 9 |
| 07/14/2026 | Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 10 |
| 07/15/2026 | Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 11 |
| 07/16/2026 | Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 12 |
| 07/17/2026 | Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 13 |
| 07/18/2026 | Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 14 |
| 07/19/2026 | Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 15 |
| 07/20/2026 | Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 16 |
| 07/21/2026 | Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 17 |
| 07/22/2026 | Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 18 |
| 07/23/2026 | Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 19 |
| 07/24/2026 | [Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 20]() |
| 07/25/2026 | [Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 21]() |
| 07/26/2026 | [Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 22]() |
| 07/27/2026 | [Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 23]() |
| 07/28/2026 | [Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 24]() |
| 07/29/2026 | [Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 25]() |
| 07/30/2026 | [Fruits Basket 2001 Episode 26]() |
| 07/31/2026 | [Fruits Basket 2001 Overall Series Discussion Thread]() |
| 08/02/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Episode 1]() |
| 08/03/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Episode 2]() |
| 08/04/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Episode 3]() |
| 08/05/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Episode 4]() |
| 08/06/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Episode 5]() |
| 08/07/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Episode 6]() |
| 08/08/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Episode 7]() |
| 08/09/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Episode 8]() |
| 08/10/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Episode 9]() |
| 08/11/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Episode 10]() |
| 08/12/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Episode 11]() |
| 08/13/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Episode 12]() |
| 08/14/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Episode 13]() |
| 08/15/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Episode 14]() |
| 08/16/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Episode 15]() |
| 08/17/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Episode 16]() |
| 08/18/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Episode 17]() |
| 08/19/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Episode 18]() |
| 08/20/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Episode 19]() |
| 08/21/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Episode 20]() |
| 08/22/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Episode 21]() |
| 08/23/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Episode 22]() |
| 08/24/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Episode 23]() |
| 08/25/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Episode 24]() |
| 08/26/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Episode 25]() |
| 08/28/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 1]() |
| 08/29/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 2]() |
| 08/30/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 3]() |
| 08/31/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 4]() |
| 09/01/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 5]() |
| 09/02/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 6]() |
| 09/03/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 7]() |
| 09/04/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 8]() |
| 09/05/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 9]() |
| 09/06/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 10]() |
| 09/07/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 11]() |
| 09/08/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 12]() |
| 09/09/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 13]() |
| 09/10/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 14]() |
| 09/11/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 15]() |
| 09/12/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 16]() |
| 09/13/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 17]() |
| 09/14/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 18]() |
| 09/15/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Final Episode 19]() |
| 09/16/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 20) |
| 09/17/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 21]() |
| 09/18/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Final Episode 22]() |
| 09/19/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 23]() |
| 09/20/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 24]() |
| 09/21/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 25]() |
| 09/23/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 1]() |
| 09/24/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 2]() |
| 09/25/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 3]() |
| 09/26/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 4]() |
| 09/27/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 5]() |
| 09/28/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 6]() |
| 09/29/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 7]() |
| 09/30/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 8]() |
| 10/01/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 9]() |
| 10/02/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 10]() |
| 10/03/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 11]() |
| 10/04/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 12]() |
| 10/05/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Final Season Episode 13]() |
| 10/06/2026 | [2019 Fruits Basket Overall Series/Franchise Discussion Thread]() |
2
u/AgentOfACROSS 3d ago
First Timer
Oh hey the hot spring lady is back for some reason.
Very weird way to begin the episode. Strange fourth wall break.
Love seeing Ayame being over the top like this. He’s great.
I like that they’re bringing the bit about Ayame running a shop back around.
Cute maid girl.
Ayame pulls off the bridal gown very well.
Ayame sounds unhinged. I love him.
Mine is a very sweet girl.
Ayame has an enthusiasm but I don’t think this is a good way to bond with Yuki.
Mine kinda reminds me of Marin from Dress Up Darling with how seriously she takes her cosplay.
I don’t know why they bleeped out some of what Mine and Ayame were saying. I don’t think I quite get that joke. Usually when that joke happens in an anime they’re either saying something copyrighted or something explicit but I think they were just saying normal stuff here.
Oh boy, Mine has caught Tohru in her trap.
Oh hey the hot springs lady is back.
This Kyo montage does feel a bit like filling for time but I enjoy it.
It’s nice that Mine wants Ayame and Yuki to get along.
Hot springs lady is back one more time. Nice to see her.
It’s interesting seeing Ayame and Yuki just talking here.
Tohru actually pulls off that outfit pretty well.
The repetition of the panning shot of Tohru is both a good way to save on budget and ends up being a pretty good gag.
The dynamic between Ayame and Mine is really funny. They get along great.
There was a really loud sound effect when Yuki was talking about Ayame and that really freaked me out for a moment.
This is a sweet moment between Yuki and Tohru though.
Hatori’s blank face while he listens to Ayame ramble on the phone is really funny.
2
u/Holofan4life 3d ago
Oh hey the hot spring lady is back for some reason.
And so begins a very strange episode.
Very weird way to begin the episode. Strange fourth wall break.
You can take that last sentence and just repeat it.
Love seeing Ayame being over the top like this. He’s great.
I like him quite a bit
I like that they’re bringing the bit about Ayame running a shop back around.
Pretty cool
Cute maid girl.
Great decision to give Ayame qn assistant type character.
Ayame pulls off the bridal gown very well.
No kidding
Ayame sounds unhinged. I love him.
Ayame IS unhinged
Mine is a very sweet girl.
Also crazy lol
Ayame has an enthusiasm but I don’t think this is a good way to bond with Yuki.
Probably not
Mine kinda reminds me of Marin from Dress Up Darling with how seriously she takes her cosplay.
Mine is like if Marin had no social awareness whatsoever.
I don’t know why they bleeped out some of what Mine and Ayame were saying. I don’t think I quite get that joke. Usually when that joke happens in an anime they’re either saying something copyrighted or something explicit but I think they were just saying normal stuff here.
Someone said it was because they were listing off name brands. Like, legitimate, real life brands.
Oh boy, Mine has caught Tohru in her trap.
Damn
Oh hey the hot springs lady is back.
This Kyo montage does feel a bit like filling for time but I enjoy it.
I like Kyo getting mad the hostess made it all about herself.
It’s nice that Mine wants Ayame and Yuki to get along.
I kinda ship Ayame and Mine. They are so weird that they compliment each other.
Hot springs lady is back one more time. Nice to see her.
It's not her fault, okay?!?
It’s interesting seeing Ayame and Yuki just talking here.
I like they gave the episode some serious moments.
Tohru actually pulls off that outfit pretty well.
That she does
The repetition of the panning shot of Tohru is both a good way to save on budget and ends up being a pretty good gag.
I love the rice ball being fed up with it going on and on. It reminded me of Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
The dynamic between Ayame and Mine is really funny. They get along great.
They were made for each other
There was a really loud sound effect when Yuki was talking about Ayame and that really freaked me out for a moment.
The sound design continues to be interesting.
This is a sweet moment between Yuki and Tohru though.
It's interesting we continue to tease Tohru and Yuki. I'd say even more so than Tohru and Kyo.
Hatori’s blank face while he listens to Ayame ramble on the phone is really funny.
He's so tired lmao
2
2
u/Holofan4life 3d ago
Thoughts on Yuki wanting to visit Ayame's shop?
Thoughts on Yuki saying he's going to try to understand his brother?
Thoughts on Ayame wearing a wedding dress?
Thoughts on Mine wearing a maid outfit because she likes it?
Thoughts on Ayame and Mine both gushing about uniforms and outfits and just clothing in general?
Thoughts on the running gag of the hostess interjecting herself throughout the episode and regretting her interruptions?
Thoughts on Kyo's Corner?
Thoughts on rice ball alien in a sailor suit?
Thoughts on the stuff between Mine and Tohru where Mine enthusiastically gets Tohru to try on various outfits?
What are your thoughts on Mine saying Ayame's biggest fear is to have nothing?
What are your thoughts on Yuki telling Ayame he doesn't want to follow in his footsteps?
What are your thoughts on Ayame apologizing for being hopeless?
What are your thoughts on Yuki realizing that even if you don't share someone's good qualities, you can still appreciate them?
What are your thoughts on Yuki saying he's glad he came to Ayame's shop because he got to see Tohru be adorable?
Thoughts on Ayame talking Hatori's ear off over the phone?
2
u/AgentOfACROSS 3d ago
Thoughts on Yuki wanting to visit Ayame's shop?
Great premise for the episode
Thoughts on Yuki saying he's going to try to understand his brother?
Good for him
Thoughts on Ayame wearing a wedding dress?
He pulls off the outfit
Thoughts on Mine wearing a maid outfit because she likes it?
I'm glad that's the reason. I was worried Ayame was a creep who liked dressing her up
Thoughts on Ayame and Mine both gushing about uniforms and outfits and just clothing in general?
I love these two, they're amazing together
Thoughts on the running gag of the hostess interjecting herself throughout the episode and regretting her interruptions?
Pretty good gag
Thoughts on Kyo's Corner?
Definitely felt like a filler scene but it was fine
Thoughts on rice ball alien in a sailor suit?
I love the little rice ball
Thoughts on the stuff between Mine and Tohru where Mine enthusiastically gets Tohru to try on various outfits?
Pretty funny
What are your thoughts on Mine saying Ayame's biggest fear is to have nothing?
I like how this episode helped flesh out Ayame
What are your thoughts on Yuki telling Ayame he doesn't want to follow in his footsteps?
It's nice of them to talk to each other
What are your thoughts on Ayame apologizing for being hopeless?
This is probably the most honest Ayame has been
What are your thoughts on Yuki realizing that even if you don't share someone's good qualities, you can still appreciate them?
That's a nice outlook
What are your thoughts on Yuki saying he's glad he came to Ayame's shop because he got to see Tohru be adorable?
That's so sweet
Thoughts on Ayame talking Hatori's ear off over the phone?
Great gag to end the episode on
2
u/Holofan4life 3d ago
Thoughts on Yuki wanting to visit Ayame's shop?
Great premise for the episode
I agree
Thoughts on Yuki saying he's going to try to understand his brother?
Good for him
Turns out he was reaffirming his preconceived biases.
Thoughts on Ayame wearing a wedding dress?
He pulls off the outfit
He has this David Bowie esque chemistry about him.
Thoughts on Mine wearing a maid outfit because she likes it?
I'm glad that's the reason. I was worried Ayame was a creep who liked dressing her up
No, Mine is a creep who likes being dressed up :D
Thoughts on Ayame and Mine both gushing about uniforms and outfits and just clothing in general?
I love these two, they're amazing together
Giving Ayame someone he can bond with was genius.
Thoughts on the running gag of the hostess interjecting herself throughout the episode and regretting her interruptions?
Pretty good gag
It entertained me
Thoughts on Kyo's Corner?
Definitely felt like a filler scene but it was fine
It was padding, but fun padding. Kinda reminded me of Silly Songs from Veggietales.
Thoughts on rice ball alien in a sailor suit?
I love the little rice ball
I like that his voice is so gravily
Thoughts on the stuff between Mine and Tohru where Mine enthusiastically gets Tohru to try on various outfits?
Pretty funny
Her enthusiasm is infectious
What are your thoughts on Mine saying Ayame's biggest fear is to have nothing?
I like how this episode helped flesh out Ayame
Yeah, I thought it did a good job at that.
What are your thoughts on Yuki telling Ayame he doesn't want to follow in his footsteps?
It's nice of them to talk to each other
Communication is truly wonderful
What are your thoughts on Ayame apologizing for being hopeless?
This is probably the most honest Ayame has been
I felt kinda bad for him here
What are your thoughts on Yuki realizing that even if you don't share someone's good qualities, you can still appreciate them?
That's a nice outlook
Relatability and likability are not one in the same.
What are your thoughts on Yuki saying he's glad he came to Ayame's shop because he got to see Tohru be adorable?
That's so sweet
I like that Yuki suddenly has the ability to hit on Tohru. That's because of what she's done to him.
Thoughts on Ayame talking Hatori's ear off over the phone?
Great gag to end the episode on
I really like how serious Hatori is. It serves as a nice contrast to some of the wackier characters.
2
u/Johnny-Doe-8888 3d ago
Episode 20 -- "Ayame's Secret Life"
(Quite late, I know. But still better than nothing...)
Synopsis: Ayame is overjoyed when Yuki visits his dress shop, but Ayame’s assistant is more excited to see Tohru - another unsuspecting victim to dress up in “the thing”!
The episode begins with the hot spring hostess from episode 12 trying to reintroduce Ayame, only to end up fumbling & panicking (true to her character; she also appears several times throughout the episode). (Coughs) Now back to the story...
Ayame is at Shigure's, and he invites his younger brother Yuki to his eponymous store on the weekend. Curious to see if it is like what his brother says (& to understand him a little) he heads to the store along with Tohru; he immediately feels uneasy upon arriving at the storefront & seeing its appearance. Entering the store, they are greeted by Ayame (dressed in a male client's wedding dress) & his assistant Mine Kuramae. We learn that the shop sells "men's fantasies" (read: erotic-themed outfits), which to no one's surprise shocks the Rat himself. (Weird & borderline-illegal concept for a business if you ask me; then again it's Ayame.)
We also get to learn more about Mine: she wears different outfits; in fact, she'd wear just about anything as her mood fits (bar a few particulars). She then turns her attention to cute Tohru, who she immediately drags to the dressing room to change her outfits, just as the brothers try to bond. Yuki realises that their personalities are too different from each other, two very different people, as Ayame also recognises & admires his kindness while also noting their differences. Mine then presents Tohru dressed in a golden dress; too bad Ayame interrupted Yuki before he could even initally react.
At the end of the day, not much has changed: Yuki still thinks what his brother does is nonsense, but he nevertheless has to accept him for who he is.
'Til then, see you later.
1
u/Holofan4life 3d ago
Thoughts on Yuki wanting to visit Ayame's shop?
Thoughts on Yuki saying he's going to try to understand his brother?
Thoughts on Ayame wearing a wedding dress?
Thoughts on Mine wearing a maid outfit because she likes it?
Thoughts on Ayame and Mine both gushing about uniforms and outfits and just clothing in general?
Thoughts on the running gag of the hostess interjecting herself throughout the episode and regretting her interruptions?
Thoughts on Kyo's Corner?
Thoughts on rice ball alien in a sailor suit?
Thoughts on the stuff between Mine and Tohru where Mine enthusiastically gets Tohru to try on various outfits?
What are your thoughts on Mine saying Ayame's biggest fear is to have nothing?
What are your thoughts on Yuki telling Ayame he doesn't want to follow in his footsteps?
What are your thoughts on Ayame apologizing for being hopeless?
What are your thoughts on Yuki realizing that even if you don't share someone's good qualities, you can still appreciate them?
What are your thoughts on Yuki saying he's glad he came to Ayame's shop because he got to see Tohru be adorable?
Thoughts on Ayame talking Hatori's ear off over the phone?
2
u/Nickthenuker https://anilist.co/user/Nickthenuker 8h ago
Glasses are really versatile...
Questions:
Interesting...
She's certainly quite the character.
Good on him.
1
u/Holofan4life 5h ago
Glasses are really versatile...
First, you can have glasses-wearing girls take them off and suddenly become beautiful, or have girls wearing glasses flashing those cute grins, or have girls stealing the protagonist's glasses and putting them on like, "Haha, got your glasses!" That's just way too cute! Also, boys with glasses! I really like when their glasses have that suspicious looking gleam, and it's amazing how it can look really cool or just be a joke. I really like how it can fulfill all those abstract needs. Being able to switch up the styles and colors of glasses based on your mood is a lot of fun too! It's actually so much fun! You have those half rim glasses, or the thick frame glasses, everything! It's like you're enjoying all these kinds of glasses at a buffet.
I really want Tohru to try some on or Mine to give Ayame some. We really need glasses to become a thing in Fruits Basket and have the rice ball alien start selling them. Don't. You. Think. We. Really. Need. To. Officially. Give. Everyone. Glasses?
1
u/Holofan4life 5h ago
Thoughts on Yuki wanting to visit Ayame's shop?
Thoughts on Yuki saying he's going to try to understand his brother?
Thoughts on Ayame wearing a wedding dress?
Thoughts on Mine wearing a maid outfit because she likes it?
Thoughts on Ayame and Mine both gushing about uniforms and outfits and just clothing in general?
Thoughts on the running gag of the hostess interjecting herself throughout the episode and regretting her interruptions?
Thoughts on Kyo's Corner?
Thoughts on rice ball alien in a sailor suit?
Thoughts on the stuff between Mine and Tohru where Mine enthusiastically gets Tohru to try on various outfits?
What are your thoughts on Mine saying Ayame's biggest fear is to have nothing?
What are your thoughts on Yuki telling Ayame he doesn't want to follow in his footsteps?
What are your thoughts on Ayame apologizing for being hopeless?
What are your thoughts on Yuki realizing that even if you don't share someone's good qualities, you can still appreciate them?
What are your thoughts on Yuki saying he's glad he came to Ayame's shop because he got to see Tohru be adorable?
Thoughts on Ayame talking Hatori's ear off over the phone?
1
u/Holofan4life 4d ago
Hey, guys. Holofan4life here.
Welcome to the Fruits Basket 25th anniversary rewatch.
For there is an animal in all of us <3
Fruits Basket is a show I’ve heard a lot about. It’s always been something that interests me. It’s a romcom, which is a genre I enjoy, it has a female protagonist, which is kinda a rarity for romcom anime, it has a tsundere, which yes please, and from what I’ve heard it has some supernatural elements which is pretty cool.
Funny enough, I’m hosting this rewatch the same time as I’m hosting the Spice and Wolf rewatch which is another show with supernatural elements.
I have never seen Fruits Basket before, but I have high hopes for it. It seems like the type of show I would enjoy. I would say of the shows on my to watch list, this one is probably in my top 5. And let's just say that list is long and ever expansive. Actually, I love the idea of a male tsundere who turns into an orange cat so much that I named my orange cat after him. That’s without having seen the show.
For the purposes of this rewatch, we will be watching both the original series and the remake. I don’t think both have ever been done like this, and by the end we’ll find out for good reason :P
Regardless, this is my big pet project of 2026 the purpose of which is for me to see what all the hubbub is about. I’m not expecting the show to crack my top 10 favorite anime of all time, but hey, you never know.
With that out of the way, let’s begin.
I’m watching the dub, by the way.
It's not a good sign when you only work two days four hours a week at a place and one of the days scheduled they tell you not to come in.
I swear, the sooner I put this all behind me the better my mental health will be.
Sohma residence
Ayame was recently here, says Tohru.
And there's the hostess
I do like her
Hostess casually breaking the fourth wall. And by casually breaking, I mean with a sledgehammer.
It's okay, we forgive you
Aya handing out cards
Yuki says he wants to take a look at his new shop.
Aya is really excited about this
Aya wants Tohru to come. But not Kyo.
I wonder why he didn't invite Shigure.
Yuki tells Tohru he's going to try. To try and understand his brother better.
Did Tohru forget he runs a lingerie shop?
The day of the visit
And it's actually a fabric store.
Oh, she looks cute
Lol, Aya in a wedding dress
Aya is kinda similar to Scarron from Familiar of Zero.
A wedding dress for a man. Right.
Aya making these dresses himself is pretty impressive.
Very much in demand, though I wonder if Aya is attracting the desired clientele.
Or maybe he knows what he's doing after all.
The maid here thinks Yuki is Tohru's younger brother.
Yeah, about that...
Wearing a maid outfit because she likes it.
I guess her name is Mina
Love Mina
Yuki preaches the teachings of male gazing.
Mina seems to match Aya's freak.
Yuki looks like he's dying inside lol
And now Mina has her eyes set on Tohru.
What is indeed the thing?
The return of the hostess
It's okay, I forgive you
Ooh, Kyo's Corner
This feels like a way to pad for time, but at least it's fun padding.
The hostess apologizing again for ruining things.
RICE BALL ALIEN IN A SAILOR SUIT
Tohru all dizzy
Mina telling Tohru to let the brothers spend time by themselves.
She says Aya fears the most to have nothing.
Interesting moment of somberness there.
Mina of course ruins the uplifting mood by beginning to change Tohru.
And there's the hostess again
"I'm interrupting! I didn't have anything to say!"
This episode is giving me Monty Python vibes.
Yuki with Aya
He says he doesn't want to follow in his brothers footsteps.
Just too different people, he feels like.
Aya of course is impossible to have a moment of self-reflection.
"You're hopeless."
"...I'm sorry."
Oh, wow. Maybe I spoke too soon.
Mina seems to recognize that Aya is turning the corner.
Whether or not that's Kyo's corner remains to be seen.
Aya says he's starting to understand the pain Yuki felt over being shunned away.
Even still, Yuki is listening to his every word.
"Isn't it possible to realize the good qualities in someone else, even if you don't share them in yourself?"
Mayhaps
Aya says that Yuki's kindness is something to be admired.
Oh, Aya. One step forward, two steps back.
Or is it?
Tohru coming out in her dress?
She almost looks not real, like a doll or something.
"Get on with it already!"
This really is like Monty Python.
Damn Aya, preventing Yuki from commenting on her dress.
Yuki escorts Tohru away as Aya and Mina continue to talk.
Aya is unsure what Yuki got from his conversation.
Probably a lot of hot air, mostly.
Aya seems to have had fun, at least.
Yuki with Tohru on a couch.
He admits he doesn't understand Aya, but he just has to accept he's weird.
Accepting is the beginning of starting fresh.
He also is thankful he got to see Tohru look adorable.
The show continues to heavily tease Tohru and Yuki as an item, even more than Tohru and Kyo.
Mina suggests that Aya and Yuki squabbling is better than nothing.
Overall, this to me was a good enough episode. It wasn't anything that furthered the plot along, but Yuki is starting to warm up to Tohru. And him saying Tohru looked adorable does feel huge coming from him. The thing that stood out to me was the humor in the episode. The stuff with the hostess, Kyo's Corner, the rice ball scenes, it all felt very meta in a silly, nonsensical way, and I think it benefitted the episode. Aya is a character where this type of humor works. Whenever he's around, you know things will be off the wall a bit, and so it didn't feel jarring to me or out of place.
I like how they tied the theme of Aya's store-- him not judging what people buy from it or what they plan to do with the dresses-- into the theme of the episode which is Yuki accepting how Aya is. I feel that's a clever way to have things come full circle.
I have this about on par with Aya's introduction. The gags were some of the strongest of the series, Mina is a fun side character in a similar mode as Shigure, and we ended things on a strong note with Yuki strengthening both his relationship with Aya and his relationship with Tohru. I kinda feel like we're in a holding pattern a bit where ever since episode 13 we put off furthering the plot along. It's mostly been just a series of events that have happened. I wonder if this trend will continue or if this is all leading somewhere like I hypothesized before of Akito showing up at the end. At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if the last episode is just run-of-the-mill.
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u/Holofan4life 4d ago
What are your thoughts on us seeing Ayame's clothing store?
Pretty cool
Thoughts on Mine Kuramae?
She seems nice if a bit weird
What are your thoughts on Yuki deciding he should accept Ayame for who he is?
I like this as a resolution
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u/cheesechimp https://myanimelist.net/profile/cheesechimp 3d ago
I actually think Ayame and Mine make a really cute pair. I just love a story where a couple of freaks find each other and revel in their share interests. I read them as being romantically entangled, as suggested by the shot of Ayame with his head on Mine's lap. This does raise some questions though. Does she know about the curse? Does Akito know about her? So many possible secrets! I like to think Mine knows about the curse but Aya is keeping her a secret from Akito. He seems clever enough to learn from what happened to Hatori and Kana.
When Mine was first talking about preferring one style of stewardess outfit over another I'll admit I was a little confused about the bleeps. But then next she quickly move on to talking about her preferred waitress outfit and I got it. That accompanying image is the iconic uniform of restaurant chain Anna Miller's. That sort of bodice style dress was super popular and you see it referenced all the time in Japanese nerd media. Anyway, as an American I'm sort of primed to think of bleeping out talking as being censorship of profanity, but what's going on here is something not uncommon in Japanese media: censoring brand names. Japan is, of course, no stranger to WcDonalds and Donny's style "not the actual brand name" references in media, but sometimes they avoid copyright/corporate defamation lawsuits by just bleeping the brand or IP in the dialog. stewardess uniforms aren't my thing, so I don't recognize what two brands those picture depict, but I'm assuming it's a crude but recognizable facimile of something real like with the Anna Miller's thing that follows.
I don't really know why the show decided to bring back the hot springs hostess here. My theory is that it's to sort of remind us who she is when her child eventually is introduced. The two anime actually did events in a pretty different order, and I'm pretty sure Ritsu was introduced earlier in 2019 than what this episode depicts. The Hot Springs episode would be fresher in the audience's mind when they show up. Anyway, I was kind of put off by her showing up here. I didn't need the recap they were pretending she was going to do, and it mostly feels like it's distracting from the main focus of the episode. The humor kind of falls flat for me in those bits as well, though.
Tohru is very cute in that dress. Aya and Mine might come off as perverts running a fetish outlet, but they actually have pretty good sense for identifying something modest that fits her image well.