Episode 13, “Kageki Shojo!!”, wraps up the auditions for these coveted 4 positions. However extra importantly, additionally it is a celebration of the collection as an entire, although we do not essentially get to see the precise celebration a.ok.a. the commencement showcase.
Similar to with episodes 11 and 12, the auditions proceed to please, particularly Sarasa’s, which is beautiful to witness as a result of she earnestly delivers, utilizing her background with Kabuki to depict a Tybalt that might knock the footwear off of any correct actor. Lead character Sarasa could also be, however she nonetheless has to work arduous to ensure that issues to go her means, which is a throughline that I love and admire. Sarasa’s on-screen characterization additionally owes loads to Sayaka Senbongi, who’s carried Sarasa’s explosive character throughout 13 episodes. Her appearing chops dazzle on this episode, extra so than within the earlier twelve. The truth is, the whole voice forged has been on level with bringing their best possible since episode 11, and additionally it is a part of what makes the ultimate, in-show casting so fascinating.
Our forged is thus: Ayako as Juliet, Minami Shirota as Romeo, a really minor character (I did not catch their identify) as Juliet’s Nurse, and Sarasa as Tybalt. And actually, I’ve no complaints. Most of those characters have been so fastidiously written and completely realized that I’d have discovered happiness with any of the women getting the roles. I am particularly right here for Ayako as Juliet as a substitute of Ai as a result of I actually suppose Ayako delivered and wholeheartedly really feel she deserves the position. And regardless of it being considerably apparent that Sarasa would get the position, it feels earned, which is admittedly issues ultimately. Nonetheless, there’s this deliciously pleasant rigidity constructed up earlier than the reveal of the forged checklist, which incorporates Sarasa not getting to instantly entry the checklist. It heightens the drama one final time earlier than we are saying goodbye to those ladies.
And really, that is one thing I need to speak about as a result of… we by no means see the efficiency. We by no means get to see greater than the Tybalt that Sarasa has the potential to play in entrance of an viewers. And you already know what? I feel that is nice! I feel it really would have been much less impactful if we might skipped to commencement and seen Sarasa carry out. For me, it is extra satisfying to glimpse her potential within the audition than it might be seeing her official efficiency as a result of it leaves one thing to the creativeness. Moderately than skipping forward a couple of months, the viewer is left to surprise simply how significantly better Sarasa will probably be when it comes time to carry out. And whereas not everybody goes to love the collection ending in such an open-ended means, I completely adored it.
In the direction of the top of the episode, I could not assist however suppose again to the premiere, to Sarasa and Ai standing beneath a cherry blossom tree as the college yr kicked off. It is superb to see how far they’ve come, and know that there is nonetheless loads to their journeys (at the very least to readers of the supply materials). As of the writing of this evaluate, there’s been no official announcement of a second season of Kageki Shojo!!, which actually is a disgrace. This present has been a delight from begin to end, and whereas we have got the continuing manga collection (which is being translated and localized into English), the sprawling voice forged and lovely course of the animated collection will probably be missed. That mentioned, Kageki Shojo!! episode 13 is gorgeous solution to say goodbye, although it undoubtedly leaves room to say howdy as soon as once more. It is bought all the weather that make a stable episode: drama, character progress, and feminine friendship, and all of it SLAPS, proper as much as the credit. Hats off to all of the individuals who labored on this: the localization is gold, and leaves me hungry for the dub, every time that drops.
As at all times, I am immensely grateful for having the ability to revel within the pleasure of a superb collection, and Kageki Shojo!! is actually considered one of Summer season 2021’s finest. It has reignited a ardour for creativity inside me, which I feel is secretly one of the best a part of the collection. It is also simply usually gotten me studying rather more shojo, which may solely be a superb factor. Kageki Shojo!!‘s gonna stay rent-free in my thoughts: that is simply how highly effective its narrative is, and the way superb of a collection it has been.
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Kageki Shoujo!! is at present streaming on
Funimation.
Mercedez is a JP-EN localization editor & proofreader/QA, popular culture critic, and a journalist who additionally writes for Anime Feminist, where she’s a staff editor, and But Why Tho?. She’s additionally a frequent visitor on the AniFem Podcast, Chatty AF. When she’s not writing, you will discover her on her Twitter or on her Instagram the place she’s at all times as much as one thing.
