The iDOLM@STER Anime - Ep. 22 discussion

[PinoyCruger]

'No Santa Hamzous and Christmas Cakes were harmed in the airing of this episode.'

Well since it's December, then this Christmas episode is going to be memorable for the idols, including Hamzou wearing a cute Santa hat.

Prologue's start with the season change, from autumn to winter. Good lord it's cold in the morning here in my home. As Haruka going to a certain meeting with Chihaya, we have saw a advertisement vid with our freakin' Miki when 'relations' played.  After this, Broducer (that's what I called him) offers some drinks to them after the meeting. Meanwhile, Broducer, Haruka and Chihaya sees a poster as they have a 2nd Live. With this, Broducer informed them that the Christmas event takes place. Boy can't wait for that. Meanwhile, Chihaya sings 'Inferno' (OMG!) when Haruka and Broducer look on. As they continue the HaruChi moment, they watch Miki's CM on television. As Haruka talks Hibiki via phone, I actually saw my Hibikin in winter wear plus the ski goggles, plus Yukiho crying while talking to the phone on her scheduled recording, Mami and Yayoi on stage and more including Takane. At the dance studio, Haruka finishes her dance training, until she receives a call from the Broducer. As Haruka arrives at 765PRO HQ, Kotori presents her with a scriptbook.

Some of the Christmas-esque scenes were here while the new song 'My Wish' is played including Chihaya on a music program, RK in a Christmas concert, Yukiho promoting 'Little Match Girl', Yayoi and Mami were dressed as Loli-Santas when visiting a certain home, Makoto and Hibiki were awesome while playing some kind of a Tennis-esque game (I wonder what is called?), and Takane plays as a choir member when the snow is falling outside. Haruka contacts Kotori while decorating a Christmas tree. Meanwhile as the new song, 'Attaka na Yuki' is played, Haruka buys a Christmas Cake in a bakery, then she runs into a shop as she remembered that Broducer needs a new wallet. As Haruka arrives as she greets Chihaya, they are headed to the office together, only to be surprised by Kotori and their fellow idols, including Mami who is wearing a moustache/glasses combo. Poor Yukiho, tired and tired as she arrives until she is greeted by the idols as they celebrate her Christmas birthday party (Good god isn't this early?). We see Hamzou eating almonds like a chipmunk as RK arrives at the office in time for the Christmas party as Iori is flanked by the twins (LOLI MOMENT) as Iori tells everyone that she saw a bunch of Christmas cakes at the table. Finally, our freakin' Miki and Broducer arrives in time. Haruka fails at opening the champagne, and Hamzou is flanked by Makoto's teddy bear and Usa-chan. Good lord how cute they are! As the idols enjoy their Christmas party, they exchange gifts, and Hibiki has a box from Ramen Nijuurou, Iori's got a scarf, and the twins making fun at the Broducer.

As the Christmas cakes prepared, they decided to pick one. Finally, Yukiho blow out the candles on her birthday. As Haruka prepares to gives the new wallet to the Broducer, President Takagi informed Miki that she successfully complete the CM, and everyone's happy. Hamzou's tummy is full after he enjoy some almonds. Miki's too cute for the Santa costume, and in the end, they enjoy Christmas together. Oh how wonderful this episode has to be, but I have to get myself ready.

Overall: 8/10

Next week, is Kotori previewing this episode? Well I can't for that.

[satty]

Very cute episode, but the preview looks like Haruka's not going to do well...even in this episode, I felt bad for Haruka.

[Saturos]

Takagi does his magic tricks that he mentioned in ep 13 near the start of the ED.

[blake307]

I just watched it and overall it was a pretty nice episode. It wasn't the best Christmas episode but overall it was pretty decent. I'm glad to see they celebrated Yukiho's birthday along with her blowing out the candles for her birthday. I also liked the Little Match Girl sign she seemed to be promoting as well. 

With that said however I wasn't really too happy with Miki stealing the spotlight this episode. I mean seriously, she has had more than enough spotlight already and the way she stole the spotlight from Haruka this episode kind of annoyed me.

But overall I give this episode a 7.75/10.

[PinoyCruger]

Yes it is Blake, Miki's always giving the attention, and she hijacked Christmas/Yukiho's birthday party too early.

And also, I probably called this episode, 'The Miki Who Hijacked Christmas'.

[Ghift]

Most of this episode made me feel depressed as hell, what.

Yukiho probably should have gotten more screen time since they made a point of celebrating her birthday, Miki always needs less screentime.

I find the idea of potential Haruka vs. Miki in the next episode intriguing.

[Crisu]

Enjoyed this episode.  What I like even more is the buildup to ep 23.  May Haruka's suffering also be cured soon~

I still like Miki, even if she's rather aloof most of all the time.  I kinda want to say, can you really blame her if she's just super talented and near-perfect?  I suppose it would be better for her in the long run to be more sensitive of the people around her, but is that really her responsibility?  Or should she have the freedom to live her life the way she wants, regardless of what other people think?  And if it happens to come with all the accolades, so be it(?).

Glad that Haruka got the lead role, though, so this is an opportunity for her to do well when she seems to be feeling like she's fallen into everybody's "second place."  Even Chihaya is now confidently looking forward.  Will Haruka be able to, too?

In other news... everyone’s popular now and making more money right? I don’t know how idol-business finances work. Hopefully Takagi and Broducer are not pocketing a majority of the profits and leaving only scraps to our idols.  Or is it only seiyuu who get paid little but actual idols (who sing and dance and actively promote stuff), such as 765pro idols, get paid more?

So when will Yayoi be not poor anymore?

[blake307]

There was a point I was trying to make when I said that Miki was getting too much spotlight. I will admit that she does have talent but the one thing that really annoys me about Miki is her selfish and self centered attitude which was especially shown in episode 12. I don't dislike her or anything but personally I think she has continued to show that she doesn't really care about anybody but herself and her precious honey and I thought it was kind of evident in this episode as well. I'm not blaming her because Haruka couldn't give the Producer the present but still.

If I offended any Miki fans here then I apologize.

Plus I was pretty disappointed that Yukiho didn't get more screentime this episode considering it was her birthday. I'm not saying it just because i'm a Yukiho fan BTW. 

But when you think about it it just seems that Haruka, Chihaya, and Miki have been getting all the screentime in the second half while everyone else has just been background characters throughout the second half. I know they are supposed to be the main characters but I would have liked for all the other idols to get equal spotlight as well.

That's just my opinion at least. Again if I offended anyone I apologize.

[Crisu]

Oh, no offense meant by nor taken from me.    I just wanted to defend Mikimiki just a wee bit, trying to see it from her own perspective.  But I do understand how her attitude towards life can be viewed negatively by just about everyone else.  For example, how she shamelessly mentions her Honey on live TV shows a disregard for her fans and possibly even her career (since we know how otaku in real life get sooooooooooooooo offended when their pure idols suddenly get boyfriends).  She really just takes life as it comes, and if her tenure at 765 should come to an end, then she'll just go sign up with someplace else.  No big deal at all.

I wasn't expecting Yukiho to get any screentime at all, lumped into the rest of the "background" characters as you say.    But the staff gave her lots of love with Christmas Eve being her birthday, so congrats.

Everybody's at least gotten their one episode (with Haruka's to come next, I'm sure) (Kotori is debatable), so having to cater to 14 girls is a tough task for the production staff in a 25-episode timeframe.  I think they've done well overall.  And in these group episodes, everyone manages to appear and have lines, so that's great.

Let's see...  going a bit off-topic but:
1 - Everyone
2 - Iori
3 - Yukiho
4 - Chihaya
5 - Everyone
6 - Ryuuguu Komachi
7 - Yayoi, plus Iori hijack at the end
8 - Azusa, plus Makoto
9 - Ami, Mami
10 - Everyone, plus 876pro
11 - Everyone (bits of Haruka and Chihaya)
12 - Miki
13 - Everyone
14 - Everyone (Takagi and Kuroi?)
15 - Everyone
16 - Hibiki
17 - Makoto
18 - Ritsuko
19 - Takane
20 - Chihaya
21 - Jupiter, Chihaya, Kotori
22 - Everyone
23 - Haruka (likely)

[blake307]

Well, when you think about it everyone has had their own episode. I just kind of felt that they were making some of the characters completely non relevant in the show. I understand it is kind of tough to manage a big roster of idols in terms of screentime. So I guess I was expecting too much.

I was just glad that they at least showed her birthday and some love in this episode. Otherwise I would have rioted. 

So yeah. I guess it was good overall then.

I'm hoping that Haruka will get more spotlight in the next episode. But that's just my opinion.

[satty]

I'm pretty sure that Haruka will get more screen time next episode, based on the preview. As for the other idols, I do agree that they should have more screen time, but at this point in the series, I think it's nearly impossible for them to have any more other than random appearances. I could be wrong, though.

Rewatching the episode made me realize how weird it is for me to see Chihaya smiling and happy. Part of me is overjoyed that Chihaya's happy, and the other part of me is just freaked out.

Edit: Also, one minor shoop changes things.

[animagic4u]

I love that picture of Haruka.

Did anyone think that 72 building was a Chihaya reference?

Interesting to see Miki like that...I wonder what this means...