Toradora! – 19
Deyansu!
Summary:
Ryuji attempts to contact Minori on the day of the xmas party, but only gets her answering machine. He again expresses his hope that she would make it to the party, just to be called by Taiga shortly after. Taiga throws a large package in Ryuji’s way when they see each other, which turns out to contain a very lavish suit once belonging to her father. Taiga enters Ryuji’s house shortly after, revealing to the Takasus her appearance in a splendid dress. Yasuko further helps the two by giving Taiga a bit of perfume, and Ryuji a watch from her father.
The party gets started that night, as everyone arrives in various forms of dress. Ryuji cannot help but notice that Minori has not shown up though, troubling him because of the small gift he had been preparing to give her. Taiga and Ami eventually surprise everyone by performing a song for them. Ryuji compliments Ami for her singing when he meets her later, but when he asks about Taiga, Ami claims that she has already left. As she would only stop by Minori’s house before heading home to meet Santa, Ryuji wonders why things had turned out this way. Seeing that he had not taken her advice, still acting like Taiga’s father, Ami becomes very annoyed as she leaves Ryuji. With the information he has just gained in his mind, Ryuji also takes the chance to leave the school grounds.
After telling Minori that Ryuji planned on staying at the school until she showed up, Taiga spends her time alone at her house. She had of course acted in the way she thought would benefit her friends the most, but as she realizes that Santa is not real, she predicts that she would spend her xmas alone once again. Taiga eventually wakes to the sounds of knocks, however, finding a santa suit-clad bear at her window. She of course lets him in, and when the bear embraces her, she expresses that her dreams have come true. Taiga had obviously realized that this was Ryuji though, thanking him after removing his mask.
Ryuji attempts to stay with Taiga because of his realization that she would be alone, but she convinces him to leave after stating that his being with Minori would be her real present. Taiga finds herself in tears after Ryuji leaves though, finally realizing that she would not be able to be by his side if he and Minori were to become attached to each other. She runs out of her house to scream Ryuji’s name, but unknown to her, Minori has seen this from not far away. When Minori meets Ryuji at the school, she takes the chance to speak before he has a chance to. Bringing up the previous conversation they had about ghosts and UFOs, she states her decision that it would be better if she did not see them. With this, she simply walks away from Ryuji with this implied answer.
ED: A special song by Eri Kitamura and Rei Kugimiya, reflecting Ami and Taiga’s performance in the episode. So, who’s ready for the single?
Preview: Time for the new year.
Impression:
This episode contained quite possibly the creepiest costumes and looks that the series has ever had. If Yusaku’s half naked santa outfit wasn’t enough, Ami and Taiga looked just plain frightening while singing on stage. Something about their faces and expressions bothered me greatly, and the gestures didn’t help. But with all that out of the way, the end of this episode once again made for a killer conclusion to an arc. I guess I should start getting used to this, especially since it’s JCStaff that we’re talking about.
I’m pretty sure Taiga has always realized her true feelings for Ryuji, but her finally expressing it to herself (in tears at that) was probably what we’ve all been waiting to see. We got back to the theme of loneliness with that too, which is one of the things that made me appreciate Taiga’s characters to much in the first place. Ryuji’s basically being turned down, and the preview from the next episode, might hint that Ryuji and Taiga could be getting even closer after this. But with Ami and possibly other factors still in the mix, and the fairly long time we have left till the end, I somehow doubt we’ll be getting exactly what we want right away.
Gotta throw in my appreciation of direction/writing this week too, with Minori’s covering her eyes to hide her feelings during her conversation with Ryuji. Subtle, I know, but such things make scenes all the more powerful. Taiga did the same thing in a previous episode.
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The singing bit really WAS a bit creepy, I blame it on lack of budget or something. The ED threw me off though, a nice surprise.
Very much looking forward to subs on friday.
I really hate how Kitamura always goes naked everywhere in every episode/
Minori Four Life yo, word…. up
Yea, the kimikiss ordeal is showing… crossing the line of friendship… but is it better that way? dunno. I really wish both Ami and Minori show their truths before this is over… honestly hope for a follow-up season in HC fashion as well.
I demand it
http://subculture.animeblogger.net/images/toradora/toradora19_05.jpg
Hell yeah! Yakuza hair!
Won’t be a followup season, final novel is coming out in a couple weeks and I’m pretty sure JCStaff has known the ending.
Yeah agreed, this epsiode was full of fashion crimes. The only person (who dressed up) that looks acceptable is Ryuji.
Nobody ended up happy at the end, but I’m glad that at least Minori made up her mind.
Kitamura is a sub who wants his leather-clad Ryuuji… I think.
At least the way he’s been ACTING suggests that.
And Ryuuji’s a bastard for stomping all over Taiga’s little bit of happiness there by running off.
kitamura= japanese harry potter
btw, i might be wrong but im pretty sure that the watch belongs to his grampa, not his father…
just a tiny detail, thats all
“and Ryuji a watch from her father.”
Like the summary says. Yasuko’s father would be Ryuji’s grandfather.
Their hair styles looked suitable for old women from the 1920’s in Canada. Calling it frightening is pretty accurate.
Yuri-chan sensei was also quite fashionable.
Oh, right. Forgot to mention. Delicious tears. DELICIOUS. OM NOM NOM NOM.
I know why they look funny while singing and stuff! They are wearing lip stick! Lip stick doesn’t look good on young girls! Well to me at least. Especially a little loli. Unless its a young loli who is experimenting with make up and ends up looking silly then its cute.
I’m one of those tsundere/loli supporters. So, I hope there is a ‘happy’ ending even if she doesn’t end up with Ryuuji or anybody. The ending song was very fitting and I wish every character the best possible outcome.
I found the transition from the emotional scene of Taiga’s realization to the scene of Ryuji’s rejection a bit jarring. We went from teary-eyed powerfully emotive scene to one that could have been equally powerful but instead they went a goofy route. Ryuji’s reaction was just so ridiculous that I found it funny and then the cheery christmas song as he gets rejected starting in the background just seemed like it was making fun of Ryuji’s predicament.
I don’t know if I liked that but one reason could possibly be that ending it in such a way seems to be a final decision and Minori won’t be “troubled” in later arcs. The sort of absurdity was a direct contrast to Ryuji and Minori’s normal conversations that happen to have so much metaphor and impact wrapped up in them. Instead in this conversation Minori subverted the metaphor and the scene instead of coming off impactful came off rather silly.
hmmm they really should leave singing/dancing to kyoani
other than that, really good episode
minorin has been acting like taiga’s mom and ryuuji like lker her father especially when both tried to prtect her and taiga is the child.Taiga has realized she loves ryujji not as her dad but summin more.While ami realizes ryujji is playing a role that he hasnt realized is wrong yet thats why ami is upset cause he hasnt realized yet
I am in love with Yusaku’s exhibitionism and welcome more of it. It definitely shows his personality outside the ‘top student’/’student council pres’ cover. But, yes, the lack of expressions in the Taiga/Ami duet was creepy. Maybe the animators thought the girl group similarity called for it.
I want Taiga and Ryuji to end up together, but I wonder if it’ll happen with Ami, Ami’s crony & Yusaku still in the mix -
I have a new level of respect for Minorin. I felt bad for her but I felt worse for Taiga. I still hope for that Taiga x Ryuji ending.
It’s obvious Minorin’s just looking out for Taiga. You know, I like Ryuuji, but he’s such a dense bastard sometimes. He’s trying to make everyone happy, and he doesn’t realize how much it hurts the people he’s closest to when the balls hit the wall and he has to play favorites.
I know Minorin had a thing for Ryuuji, or at least became interested in him, but put a lid on it for Taiga’s sake. I’m wondering what will become of Ami, I know it won’t just end as is for her, but I can pretty much guarantee she and Ryuuji won’t be together.
Maybe it’ll be one of those new anime endings, the ones that rebel against fairy tales, and no one ends up with anyone else? Ah the intrigue has me hooked.
I’m glad Yusaku is being himself, he’d be such a boring character if he didn’t pull crap like his costume.
Well, nuts to you all because I LIKED the duet. Great episode.
[...] reading (ambiguous) She runs out of her house to scream Ryuji’s name, but unknown to her, Minori has seen [...]