Half-Masked

Something occurred to me while nearing the tail-end of the series’ run:

They never had a 3rd Culture Festival. What a gip! >=(

Also, I felt the series kind of slowed down in the middle, and I was hoping for more character development. I thought to myself “Oh come on, YET ANOTHER ATHLETICS FESTIVAL SNORE“. Then it hit me: That was the last time they’d ever have an athletics festival. And I ended up barring myself from enjoying that. I suspect I’m going to re-watch previous episodes quite a bit, and appreciate them a little more than I did when trying to rush through the show.

The thing about me is, I crave continuous character development. I am perpetually starved for it. While the show does provide this in the last few episodes, I only now realize why the show “drags on” in the middle by just showing these characters having fun: I think the people behind Azumanga Daioh realized that it was going to end sooner or later, and gave these characters some good experiences to look back on when that time came. Or maybe this is how it is in the manga as well. I came to just sort of -expect- another culture festival episode. It still hasn’t sunk in that there’ll never be more than what I’ve already seen. That’s going to be mighty depressing for me.

At episode 24, they are all talking about where they’re going in life after school is over, because yup, school is almost over for them. They have to start thinking about where they’ll go with their lives in the context of the show after it comes to a close. Sakaki plans to move out on her own and go to a veterinary college. Chiyo plans to circle the globe to further her studies. Tomo wants to be in some form of law-enforcement. Osaka would be lost without these people looking out for her. It’s shattering to think of how she’ll adapt to a life without any of these people there to keep her from “flying away”, and with no known academic or athletic talents to point her in any direction. Hell, I’m 22 and I’m still living with my parents, with no idea of what to do next!

Chiyo suggests that she consider teaching, which Osaka takes to heart. She even starts wearing a similar sweater that their own teacher wears in many episodes. However, her abilities in that field are put into question when we finally see that Osaka has a mean-streak. Apparently, chopsticks are SERIOUS BUSINESS. Tomo disobeys the instructions necessary to separate them from their original, joined state, and this sets Osaka off.

This is one of my favourite scenes. The way they drew her cute little hissy fit, and the way she’s voiced never fails to crack me up. It’s so uncommon for this girl to fly off the handle like that, and of all things. Although it’s clear she’s more worried than angry at Tomo. The girls are all concerned about their college entrance exams. I’ve heard suicide rates in Japan tend to spike around exam-time. If the good luck “charm” of cleanly breaking the chopsticks in two did work, then Tomo’s failure to do this would surely herald doom.

We worry about our friends.

Since Chiyo is not taking the college entrance exams with the other girls but still wants to support them, all she can do is pray. The method she chooses for this is a touching and clever tribute to her friends.

END OF LINE

~A.H.