氷の城壁

Ouch, what a way to end off the season. The sheer anguish in Miki's voice, and Yota going back to his masking mode and suppressing himself. The Koyun x Minato ship are also doing the maintain status quo thing, but the Momoka wildcard is concerning. Random observation: I like how Koyun and Miki's outfits at the BBQ matched each other. Anyway, great season. See y'all at the Polar Opposites discussions!

I have to say, while the Miki Yota ship did not sail yet, I am glad that they didn't leave us hanging with it. When the ending song started playing I was nearly expecting them to end the season on Yota's confession which would have been brutal. but the Momoka wildcard is concerning. Honestly, at this point, Momoka seems to be the strongest player to get the ship sailing. Even if unintentional. I like how Koyun and Miki's outfits at the BBQ matched each other. I noticed the matching outfits of Miki and Koyun in a previous episode as well and someone back then mentioned that this seems to be a pattern in general. When they are hanging out, they always have a similar outfit, which I really like.

Momoka's plan feels weird to me, because it could very easily get Koyun and Minato together. Or maybe that's the point - either they crash and burn so Momoka can swoop in, or they get together quickly and she knows it's a lost cause. If she tried to step in while there were still unresolved feelings, that's always going to be a specter between her and Minato even if she convinces him to go out with her.

I think that it might be that liking/loving someone means that you want to see them happy/joyful... even if that happiness or joy is at your expense. She might like Minato enough that she'd prefer that he has the chance for his maximum happiness, even if it means that she doesn't. Admirable if that's the case, not sure what the plan was otherwise. Akine also seemed in on it if she's trying to push Minato and Koyun together ATM, what with the footlocker scene.

I dunno, I didn't get the sense she was upset, rather... resigned, maybe wistful. Which is why I think this was, more or less, her own plan to force the issue. If there's anything to learn from this series, it's not to take a person's initial actions and premises and outright judge them for it without understanding the character first. As long as I can come up with a plausible explanation that doesn't make Momoka an evil, conniving manipulator, I'll take it.

What are you talking about, that expression on Momoka's face is entirely ambiguous. Eyebrows are neutral, not in any clearly angry, upset, or hostile expression... She doesn't look happy , but she doesn't look unhappy either. I literally just watched that section again, she just looks... thoughtful or wistful. I'll be honest, if you think that expression is "dreadful" I really have no idea how to respond. It's a very normal, neutral expression.

vs I feel like the white dot disappearing from her iris makes her look almost soulless for but a split second. I wasn't really paying attention to her eyebrows whatsoever. I feel like the shadows are both natural yet are intentional in the way that it's supposed to help her look more *dreadful*. If that isn't the case, then I know it's definitely the shadows playing a big part in why it appears so to me.

I'd say it's very clear that she is CURRENTLY not in love. But her saying that she could fall in love in the future because she is not sure right now would honestly be the worst thing you could say to a guy that is currently in the friendzone. Because he is deep in the friendzone at the moment. I think Yota handled it wonderfully and I think that Miki's decision not to push herself to see him as more than friends right now and give him false hope was a very mature decision. She didn't try to soften the blow in the short-term by leaving him with hope and saying she wasn't sure about her feelings.

I mean he would. He doesnt like koyun but still treats her like a good friend. He hasnt really interacted with any girl other than koyun , miki on a consistent basis throughout the series anyway Though i agree with what the person below said because expecting yourself to feel the same way later on just because someone feels that way for you. Koyun decided to go out with igarashi for the same way though they werent really friends outside of that

Yota and Miki took so long, the ED didn't bother waiting anymore and just started. Well, the more arrogant the antagonist is, the harder they fall. Looking forward to season 2 now because I geniunely want to see how Momoka will crash out. I like that they contrast the photos Minato had with Koyun and Momoka separately (with Koyun = wholesome; with Momoka = traumatised). WIth S2 announced, Agasawa's pulled off a hat trick this year with You and I Are Polar Opposites and this series going back to back to back to back now.

I wish we'd get the full version of the song with that lead in Preach. C'mon, powers that be, give the people what they want. You can't create such absolute perfection and then refuse to release it for us to revel in. Like, we need this for educational purposes. There should be a lesson in the Anime Production 401 course titled "How to enhance the anime viewing experience via transitions to the ED - a case study of Ramparts of Ice".

Oh, for sure, Oshi No Ko is included in that; I actually usually talk about how OnK is one of the only other shows that does it this good (they both do it exceptionally well). I actually liked OnK S2's transition even better that S1's, but all 3 seasons did it well. It's surprising to me that this is such the exception that it is. I get that it's not easy to do well, but it does so much heavy lifting that I would expect more shows to attempt it. For one, it helps inform the viewer what's going on. Sure, most have a pretty good feel for the fact the episode is about to end, but I still think that being directly informed that we're about to end is beneficial. But more importantly it really adds to the tension and ambiance. So sure, it wouldn't work with shows that aren't so tension filled like RoI or OnK, but I still think it's underutilized.

The overdrive guitar and drums kicking in was so badass and it fit the feel of the show so well. I don't know if it is a popular opinion because I imagine that it got in the way for some people, I just remember nodding my head along with it. Never watched Kodono no Omocha, though I'm aware of it. It aired just before I started getting into anime. Someone who has watched everything needs to do a top 10 ED transition video on YT or something. Gigguk maybe? Honorable mention for the shows that do something else with it, like Journal with Witch having the ED sung by a character diagetically.

Yota and Miki took so long, the ED didn't bother waiting anymore and just started. The OP/ED just wanted to let Yota cook with his unrequited feelings. Well, the more arrogant the antagonist is, the harder they fall. Looking forward to season 2 now because I geniunely want to see how Momoka will crash out. I like that they contrast the photos Minato had with Koyun and Momoka separately (with Koyun = wholesome; with Momoka = traumatised). It's funny how every time she tries to screw over Koyun she ends up helping Koyun by helping her realize her feelings and then that said feelings are actually requited.

Yota has liked Miki since middle school, so by now he's basically completed a lifetime study in the "Miki Studies" program. Bro knows that Miki isn't breaking down her walls anytime soon, especially when you've spent years speedrunning the "bestest friend" route and accidentally locked yourself into the hardest romance difficulty setting possible. Can't wait for Suzuki's facial reaction and of course, the side couples!

I think she is cool in that at least by her she wants to make a 'fair' competition between Koyun n her. Her way of see don't complain to me later, I asked you for the go ahead. I pointed out Amamiya likes you. If u don't take any action I will do my best Momoka is like the opposite Koyun in that even with Minato being so obvious to everyone and her he likes her, she keeps pulling back because she lacks self confidence. Momoka is going for Minato despite knowing he likes someone else.

I think she is cool in that at least by her she wants to make a 'fair' competition between Koyun n her. Though she was already doing manipulation tactics with saying stuff to discourage Minato from Koyuki in a prior episode when she said Koyuki wouldn't consider friends romantically. So she wasn't playing fair before. So she should've just committed to her tactics and not give Koyuki an opening to have more consideration for Minato romantically when it could easily backfire on her.

Yeah I think that's probably the one inconsistency in the whole story (which is a pretty good feat), but it doesn't make sense for her to point out that Amamiya likes Koyun. The only reason to do that is if she's so damn confident in her chances that she wants to crush Koyun even harder, instead of beating her when she didn't even know she was in the race. But honestly based on all her previous actions it doesn't reeeeallly feel like shes trying to do that.

While so far I don't mind Momoka in the plot basically to help Koyuki sort out her feelings for Minato, I do think it feels a bit heavy handed for Momoka to give Koyuki this specific piece of information that also doesn't work in her own favor. I think it was the perfect balance with Momoka being a catalyst to have Koyuki realize her feelings indirectly in a prior episode. She just brought up the topic of Minato, and Koyuki got to her own conclusion thinking about how Minato made her feel. Though now she directly tells Koyuki how Minato feels, so Koyuki's potential hesitation in pursing Minato could be a bit more of a frustrating process since Koyuki already knows he likely feels the same way - rather than if she is still completely unsure (validating her insecurity in pursing him more) and she could've had more of a journey of getting to that conclusion to see how he feels herself.

No it is more like she considers Minato as something to be gained and sees Koyuki as a rival. That is why manipulating Minato is fair game That is the difference I am seeing. Like I have never seen a 3rd wheel romantic rival just point blank ask the heroine if she should go for the guy. That makes it interesting especially because I don't think it is a ploy as she doesn't know Koyuki likes Minato. But again, you can still date a person you don't like if they like you. Minato, Koyuki n Miki all have done that at some point. And I do think Agasawa can make a character just purely a bitch. She might be bitchy but she acts in interesting ways. Which makes me think what IS she thinking.

I agree. That was the worst thing she did so far and is unforgivable. Which is unfortunate since I do enjoy her interactions with Koyuki where it is more about information gathering etc. Like where Momoka goes, yeh you do know he likes you, most girls have a way of figuring it out. And it makes Koyuki realize she has been subconsciously avoiding it. I like that the girls here aren't dense just because, both Koyuki n Miki have their own self confidence issues which makes them second-guess themselves. Overall, this episode Momoka wasn't too bad imo