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gildedstageThe end of the year is quickly approaching so I’m forcibly reviving myself and actually blogging instead of thinking about doing it. Title is channeling my inner Polka and her panic about the month changing even though she hasn’t accomplished anything yet. I haven’t posted anything since around that devastating name reveal stream, but it feels like a lot has and hasn’t happened at the same time.
I felt that the story was alternating between getting lost and dragging on for a few months. I understand that the school festival plot is meant to be their first big roadblock, but it was still strange because it felt like we were being told about their struggles instead of shown. It’s as if the conflict and resolution is happening off-screen and we’re just given the cliffsnotes of what happened. For example, it’s like if the original Love Live included everything leading up to the “No brand girls” performance but they skipped the actual performance and told us through dialogue alone that Honoka collapsed and the performance was cut short.
Something similar happened with the first IRL meeting in August. I think everything about that subplot but the meeting itself was executed well. We were told how their first performance went and how they had fun together, but we didn’t actually get to see anything since it all happened offscreen. A lot of people have suggested ways to improve on the real time social media format (by including art, letting the girls interact with each other directly, etc.) and while I agree with all of that, I wish they would use what they already have better. They could have *shown* the girls first meeting IRL or their MC during their first live performance through voice dramas similar to what they’ve uploaded on the channel.
The Noriko will-she-or-won’t-she-transfer arc also felt painfully drawn out since transferring was never a real option, robbing it of any stakes. I even started coping by creating theories (maybe she’ll transfer out temporarily and we’ll learn more about the world building like what a school with an idol history would be like in a timeline where idols are part of the past and we’ll get rivals). It didn’t help that they derailed the story, both group and individual, for an entire week so every character could give their thoughts in what she should do.
Even though it’ll likely have similar problems, I’m happy that the group story is picking up again with the Christmas performance subplot. I thought they were going to pull a cheap trick to get them all together IRL at the last moment, but I think the idea of simultaneous streams at different events throughout Japan is a great solution that is very Love Live.”
I still think the individual character stories are LLBB’s strength so far.
I’ll be honest, I waited very impatiently but the icons are really cute. I think it was a good idea to unite them through the heart motif. I was disappointed when the cat ear headphones won for Shion but they did a good job at making it unique and interesting. My only complaint is that Noriko and Miracle’s are a bit too plain for my liking… Still imagining what we could have had if the vintage radio option won (I say that as if it even made the poll options lol).
There was a bit of debate over Akira’s icon since “bike” won over “mountain” and yet her completed icon includes a mountain that takes up more space and visual weight than the bike. I understand the complaints on an artistic level, but as someone who voted for mountain, it was a really funny and unexpected outcome.
They started releasing the cover songs in the funniest way possible by mentioning “oh yeah we’re uploading it tomorrow by the way” in response to mail from a listener who mentioned looking forward to them. I remember them overreacting and overacting to just being allowed to show merch that was previously announced, so it’s really funny that their reaction and preparation was so subdued for something people have been looking forward to.
I didn’t know any of the songs picked when they were first announced, but UFO and Kimi Janakya Dame Mitai were my favorites after listening to them. So it surprised me that I ended up liking the Koi Suru Fortune Cookie cover more than the UFO cover. The latter just lacked the power of the original which made it boring to listen to. The art made up for it though.
I’m really looking forward to the next two songs. Maybe it’s uncool to admit, but I do like the fanservice in the solo singles (but to be clear, not the Noriko fanservice that ignores her characterization and is just ugly lol) so I’m excited for another love song sung by Yukuri. And, of course, Shion sympathizing with all the “Ikizulivers” pain. Oyuki and Aoi also have given great singing so far.
The future is undecided and none of us have any idea of what it holds, including the voice actors, but I’m looking forward to tagging along for the journey. Ikizuraibu has already pushed me out of my comfort zone and I’m grateful for that. I constantly beat myself up over what I’m lacking, but in the past 6 months I’ve been trying to participate instead of lurk, started socializing with other fans again, started writing and drawing again, and translated for the first time. So I’m grateful.
I’m excited to see where this goes.
I think my goal for the rest of this year is to finish the posts that have always been in the back of my mind for the past few months. It’s the parallels between Yukuri’s sister and Polka, and how I think Noriko and Miracle are more similar than different at their core. I’ve also considered trying my hand at a ship manifesto (or maybe even two now?), but I don’t mind waiting until early next year for that.
Story Thoughts
I felt that the story was alternating between getting lost and dragging on for a few months. I understand that the school festival plot is meant to be their first big roadblock, but it was still strange because it felt like we were being told about their struggles instead of shown. It’s as if the conflict and resolution is happening off-screen and we’re just given the cliffsnotes of what happened. For example, it’s like if the original Love Live included everything leading up to the “No brand girls” performance but they skipped the actual performance and told us through dialogue alone that Honoka collapsed and the performance was cut short.
Something similar happened with the first IRL meeting in August. I think everything about that subplot but the meeting itself was executed well. We were told how their first performance went and how they had fun together, but we didn’t actually get to see anything since it all happened offscreen. A lot of people have suggested ways to improve on the real time social media format (by including art, letting the girls interact with each other directly, etc.) and while I agree with all of that, I wish they would use what they already have better. They could have *shown* the girls first meeting IRL or their MC during their first live performance through voice dramas similar to what they’ve uploaded on the channel.
The Noriko will-she-or-won’t-she-transfer arc also felt painfully drawn out since transferring was never a real option, robbing it of any stakes. I even started coping by creating theories (maybe she’ll transfer out temporarily and we’ll learn more about the world building like what a school with an idol history would be like in a timeline where idols are part of the past and we’ll get rivals). It didn’t help that they derailed the story, both group and individual, for an entire week so every character could give their thoughts in what she should do.
Even though it’ll likely have similar problems, I’m happy that the group story is picking up again with the Christmas performance subplot. I thought they were going to pull a cheap trick to get them all together IRL at the last moment, but I think the idea of simultaneous streams at different events throughout Japan is a great solution that is very Love Live.”
I still think the individual character stories are LLBB’s strength so far.
Icons and (2) Cover Song(s) Revealed
I’ll be honest, I waited very impatiently but the icons are really cute. I think it was a good idea to unite them through the heart motif. I was disappointed when the cat ear headphones won for Shion but they did a good job at making it unique and interesting. My only complaint is that Noriko and Miracle’s are a bit too plain for my liking… Still imagining what we could have had if the vintage radio option won (I say that as if it even made the poll options lol).
There was a bit of debate over Akira’s icon since “bike” won over “mountain” and yet her completed icon includes a mountain that takes up more space and visual weight than the bike. I understand the complaints on an artistic level, but as someone who voted for mountain, it was a really funny and unexpected outcome.
They started releasing the cover songs in the funniest way possible by mentioning “oh yeah we’re uploading it tomorrow by the way” in response to mail from a listener who mentioned looking forward to them. I remember them overreacting and overacting to just being allowed to show merch that was previously announced, so it’s really funny that their reaction and preparation was so subdued for something people have been looking forward to.
I didn’t know any of the songs picked when they were first announced, but UFO and Kimi Janakya Dame Mitai were my favorites after listening to them. So it surprised me that I ended up liking the Koi Suru Fortune Cookie cover more than the UFO cover. The latter just lacked the power of the original which made it boring to listen to. The art made up for it though.
I’m really looking forward to the next two songs. Maybe it’s uncool to admit, but I do like the fanservice in the solo singles (but to be clear, not the Noriko fanservice that ignores her characterization and is just ugly lol) so I’m excited for another love song sung by Yukuri. And, of course, Shion sympathizing with all the “Ikizulivers” pain. Oyuki and Aoi also have given great singing so far.
Happy 6 (Now Nearly 7) Months of Ikizuliving
The future is undecided and none of us have any idea of what it holds, including the voice actors, but I’m looking forward to tagging along for the journey. Ikizuraibu has already pushed me out of my comfort zone and I’m grateful for that. I constantly beat myself up over what I’m lacking, but in the past 6 months I’ve been trying to participate instead of lurk, started socializing with other fans again, started writing and drawing again, and translated for the first time. So I’m grateful.
I’m excited to see where this goes.
I think my goal for the rest of this year is to finish the posts that have always been in the back of my mind for the past few months. It’s the parallels between Yukuri’s sister and Polka, and how I think Noriko and Miracle are more similar than different at their core. I’ve also considered trying my hand at a ship manifesto (or maybe even two now?), but I don’t mind waiting until early next year for that.
