Kurenai 10
Writing about Aria is like … writing about watching paint dry, so it’s taking its sweet time. It’s coming.
Meanwhile, Kurenai 10 sums up really what makes the series worth watching–drama through layered expressions of varying degrees of subtlety. To be fair, the drama in episode 10 is well within genre and stereotype confines; there’s nothing new about it. When a man gets beat and loses the thing he wanted to protect, he could move on and admit his inability or he could hopelessly try again. But when everyone in your harem except the “older mentor” character realizes you will be a better man for trying, it’s time to take a clue. And hey, even Benika thought well of Shinkuro. At any rate, we are watching Kurenai for the character drama to begin with, amirite? Let us not be concerned for trifle plot details.
What makes episode 10 so good was how everyone manages to express what they feel with relatively few words. A lot of what was expressed was unsaid, but expressed through reactions and free flowing emotions, the way people talked and how it sounded.
What got me was the very last scene when Shinkuro was saying his farewell to Tamaki and Yamie. He tried to keep it pro by shaking their hands but the tickle-hugs were just a lot more meaningful. The voice acting worked well as they are freed from the confines of frame-by-frame animation. After all, they’re tussling.
Probably for the third time of the series up to this point, the background music kicked in at a very good place. Ken Muramatsu is credited for the music for the show, and the shamisen stuff is definitely something you can see right at his home page. Well, this time it was piano, but still.
The expressive stuff in Kurenai 10 isn’t perfect and it is rough at parts. What helped to carry things through was Shinkuro’s simple adherence to the principles he is living by, and we didn’t get much in terms of introspection. And it isn’t necessary; he just needed to laze around, to clean the house, and to call up a couple school friends to get that point across. It’s hard to run away when you live a spartan and disciplined life. It’s impossible to run away when you’re surrounded by nosy girls who are looking after your welfare.
And that’s how this kind of plot and dramatic elements should be played out.
Having heard of the negative sentiments of people regarding this episode (nothing happens, Shinkurou had to waste an entire episode to decide on what he wants, etc), I was expecting to be filled with rage once I watch it. I was preparing myself to bash how they made Shinkurou more pathetic and lame than in the novel, where he was much more decisive.
But I watched episode 10, and that didn’t happen. The episode went in the same natural pace of Kure-nai, with each of the characters serving as pillars of support for Shinkurou. They paved the way for him to realize what he wants, and it just reinforced the value of these people in his life. Brilliant execution. We need not see Shinkurou’s introspections and monologues in the novel with the way this anime was handled. Actions (coupled with great music) speak louder than those words.
Yea. Again, I think Kurenai episode 10 is just one of those really great moments in drama anime, just because it managed a down, depressing, turning point episode so well.
I’m glad at the same time Shinkurou realized that he’s best at being who he is. Or so I hope. :P
And I’m really liking the stuff I heard from Muramatsu in Kurenai and in Sketchbook ~full color’S, but I also like his voice from the episode previews for Kurenai. Maybe he should try voice acting sometime for fun? :P