I like that we’re explicitly stating the goal that Mizuka’s character arc is and always was about, and also giving us a more concrete “roadmap” for the rest of the season

Ouka filling up the empty seat next to Mizuka is a cute (and symbolic) touch

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The over-the-top effects / reaction to Svietlana & Shizuku’s performance feels kinda hamfisted–not that I don’t like sincere portrayals, but rather it felt like an attempt to paper over something that clearly should’ve been (and textually was) conveyed naturally. I wasn’t expecting breathtaking animation, but that sequence did pull me out of the moment a bit.

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I love that there’s a 2x “being good doesn’t mean you’re good at teaching” thing going on here, both with Mizuka -> Sunflower Circus, and Lotus Circus -> Mizuka. … hold on, isn’t “technical virtuoso needs to learn basic soft skills” just Bocchi the Rock >.>