Toradora! – 13
I would let Ami whip me.
Summary:
As the class prepares for the festival’s next activities, Ryuji notes that Taiga’s father never made it in time to see his daughter perform in the play. The girls soon notice how well Ryuji has prepared Taiga’s dress for the next activity, but Taiga herself can only be absorbed with her phone. Ryuji leaves the room when the girls are ready to change, then only wondering if Taiga’s father would make it to the festival at all. The school becomes very excited once the beauty contest starts, but Ryuji can only despair upon seeing the text message he receives. Taiga’s father would not be coming to the festival, and further more, he has changed his plans about living with Taiga. With this, Ryuji realizes that he was wrong all along.
The school is extremely shocked upon seeing Taiga appear in the dress that Ryuji made for her, as she actually looks quite attractive in it. Her face, however, does not match well with it. Ami calls for a word from Taiga’s father, something that was planned ahead of time, but this never comes. The only thing Ryuji can think of to save Taiga is to start clapping, which a teary Minori does from the back as well. The student body supports Taiga in response, and even when Taiga’s suffers from her usual clumsiness, she saves herself by taking advantage of her own unique appeal.
Taiga ends up winning the contest, but a challenge for the boys is then brought up by Sumire. Whoever won the proposed race would crown the winner of the beauty contest. Not caring about the rewards, only needing to be by Taiga who is now alone, Ryuji rushes past the rest of the boys in a rage. Ryuji makes his way to the front of the race despite obstacles, and he finds that his greatest challenge turns out to be Minori. Ryuji and Minori are both overcome by the rest of the boys, but with a little help, Minori is able to fend them off for Ryuji to take the lead. Ryuji refuses to do this, however, then taking first place as a tie with her. Watching the two as they do this, and continuing to while they crown her, Taiga assures them that she can stand on her own.
Alone with her during the festival dance, Yusaku realizes that this would be Sumire’s last festival. In response though, she can only express how glad she was to be the school’s council president. After all, the festival was a huge success. Sumire allows Yusaku to enjoy the festival while she performs some last duties, and while watching him agree to, she can only put on a smile. Elsewhere, Taiga expresses to Ryuji that she did not care about her father in the first place. When she sees Minori, she embraces her while trying to hide the thankful feelings she has for Ryuji. She moves on to challenge Ami as usual soon after, leaving Ryuji and Minori to talk alone.
Minori finally tells Ryuji that a similar event happened the previous year, in which Taiga’s father did the exact same thing. Minori had supported Taiga just as Ryuji did, which only created disappointment in the end. Despite his belief that he is the one who is wrong, Minori apologizes to Ryuji for not telling him about this. Minori then expresses how much she cares for Taiga, a bit worried about the fact that she did not tell her about her father this time around. When a few of the usual classmates appear to make Ryuji join the festivities with everyone else, the dance truly takes off. Taiga even gets to have a dance with Yusaku.
Preview: Return to the happy school days?
Impression:
Holy crap, I’m crying. No, I really have tears in my eyes. Am I really allowed to believe that a lovcom can have such spectacular storytelling? Direction-wise, I can only recall that JCStaff is the studio that handled Honey and Clover, which was, and still is, the most influential anime I have ever watched. Nagai Tatsuyuki, the director of Toradora!, played a major role in the sequel to the original H&C, and seeing how strong this episode was, I cannot see that as a coincidence at all. Watching Ryuji run with nothing in his mind but the wish to be by Taiga gave me such a nostalgic vibe, like some shounen anime about boys reaching for their dreams, and seeing Minori appear to challenge Ryuji was so perfect. We all knew it was going to happen, but it had to, and having it happen was so strong. I just don’t see how someone could hate this show. Please leave your bad stereotypes at home. I’m so ready for the rest of the ride.
Notes:
- Ryuji, multi-millionaire dress maker in the making?
- Ami likes to dress up like a whore. *wapshh*
- Why hello there, Siesta……?
- Even angels can faceplant.
- MI~NO~RIN~~~
- Minori is totally into girls.
- Yuri seems so happy.
- Merry xmas.
14 Comments so far
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Looks fantastic. So pleased that this is continuing onward. Looking forward to more Sumire!
Taiga looked like a completely different character in those last few shots by the fireside – part of it’s the shorter hair, and part of it’s the total lack of hostility towards anyone in her expression. Although Ryuuji beats Hige out in the ’scariest face while running’ category.
… and yes, that maid DID look a lot like Siesta might’ve before puberty hit her.
Scratch the haircut comment – it’s just the wings blocked the rest of it from appearing.
This definitely one of my favorite shows this season. Usually I’m not a fan of haremsesque type shows because of the nature of the male leads tend to be indecisive pricks but for me Ryuugi is awesome. Plus I can see him actually be with all three of the girls even though it seems he is fated to be with Taiga. Here’s hoping the second half of the season will be as great or even better than this half.
Scary. Those shots almost make taiga look like she’s mature. Char development exists in this show, which is awesome. I really can’t wait for the finale, but at the rate it’s going, it’s probably only going to be able to get through volume 8 (Spinoff seems unecesary imo). God, I’m hoping for a second season, or special of sorts to finish as opposed to an original end if that’s the case. Call me bias, but if it ends with no pairing or any other pairing than RyuujixTaiga, I probably won’t be satisfied
Then again, the other camps probably won’t be satisfied if I have it my way. However, I seriously don’t hope for this show to end with an open conclusion. If it’s a bad trait of lovecoms, it’s to leave it open ended. It satisfies nobody, and it’s taking the easy way out, so here’s hoping that it has a ‘GOOD’ closed ending.
Merry xmas!!!
Next “arc” is the one of Sumire and Kitamura? Anyways, great episode, which makes me wonder if the show will end with a better episode than this.
Well I would prefer a non Love Hina esque ending where I felt I wanted Keitaro to be with all the girls to make em all happy
err need to remember to not use smiley faces, but the rest of my comment is, I hope the director chooses to follow the light novels. And from that statement I assume it will be a TaigaXRyuugi ending. Stuff like Mutusumi sitting on the side lines just makes me angry even though I do like naruXkei.
Let’s hope that lesbian thing isn’t another one of those random things.
great episode and all, but WHERE’S MY CLANNAD! T_T D: WAAAHHH
“I just don’t see how someone could hate this show”
Taiga = Louise = their is a reason to hate or at least dislike this show! LoL, Taiga is even worse than Louise. Her crap attitude and her sense of slaving around the main guy made me drop this show at episode 5. For me and some others, it was painful to watch. Did she change now? if she did, i would gladly resume watching….. could someone tell me? (=_=”
This show is like if H&C and zero-no-tsukaima were blended together into a drink.
I was crying throughout most of this episode’s run too ;___;
“Please leave your bad stereotypes at home”
well said, totali. People who hate this show don’t have a heart! or something. ToraDora is probably one of the rare love comedies out there with a whole LOT of heart, or at least the LOVE takes precedence over all other aspects, comedy or any fanservice for that matter.
the teacher remains my favorite charater. lol.