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「何度負けても」 (Nando Maketemo)
“No Matter How Many Times I Lose”
This episode gave Special Week some redemption with her recent victory this week. Not all was golden right away as she had to train meticulously, pack on those carbs, and lose alongside TM Opera O, the second horse to pass away during the airing of Uma Musume Pretty Derby. However, everything that she has been told about trying to re-contextualize why she races in the first place is finally paying off as she starts to process the inspiration that she’s had up til now.
Although she’s faced the idea of her mother and foster mother offering her the motivation she needed to push forward and start racing, it took her visiting her foster mother’s home for extended training to help get her back on the right track. She put Spe-chan through some standard training exercises, but the most valuable thing she saw during her visit was how much her accomplishments have been truly valued and commemorated. Her foster mother had always followed and documented Spe-chan’s victories this whole time through albums and signage, but her devotion to her late friend and her daughter put into perspective how meaningful it is to Spe-chan to see in-person just how much her accomplishments mean to her and what they would have meant for her mother. As a side note, the dedication to the carrot motif is endless with Spe-chan’s favorite meal being a Salisbury steak with a giant carrot stabbed through the middle.
The stance that the Trainer had tried to instill in her by making Silence Suzuka her rival worked for the both of them as well. They have been on very friendly terms throughout the series, but with Spe-chan promising to be a formidable rival to Suzuka, it gave them both the motivation to be able to try to compete against one another. As Spe-chan won her most recent race with the drive to surpass Suzuka and make her mothers proud, Suzuka used the extra push to challenge herself to not let herself lag behind after her injury. It’s encouraging to see them make it through to their ideal performance, and it was especially touching to see how the animation had the two of them nod to each other as they reach their own personal milestones for the episode. There’s still some work for them to do, and with Team Spica gaining a winning streak of their own, it’ll be interesting to see how it all culminates in the next few episodes.
I loved how the show built up from Special Week’s failures over the past few episodes to really make this comeback race that much more satisfying. Out of curiosity, was it just me or did King Halo and Seiun Sky not even make the top 3? Funny how the announcer neglected to say anything about the 2nd and 3rd place Uma Musumes.
Few other things that got chuckles out of me:
-The giant carrot in the Salisbury steak. Japan and their giant carrots…Funny how all the carrots I get from the Japanese grocery are that size…
-Special Week on foster mom’s leash
-Gold Ship’s machine gun punch!
Man, with only a few episodes left, I’m already feeling the anime season blues for this show.
Spe-chan’s winning race in this episode is based on the autumn Tenno Sho held on October 31 1999. The 2nd placer is Stay Gold (who has no Uma Musume equivalent, apparently). It’s probably the same case with the 3rd placer.
Meanwhile, her 7th-place finish is based on the Kyoto Daishoten held on October 10, 1999. 😛
Next episode would probably focus on Silence Suzuka’s first race after returning from injury. There’s 2 more episodes after that. Too early to feel the blues. 😀
SPE WON! SHE WON! Ugh so happy!
Wouldn’t eating more just make her gain weight?
Also more good news: Spe-chan is getting a Nendoroid!
It’s also giving a lesson on basic exercise – remember to also REST WELL to give your body time to recover and adjust.
https://randomc.net/image/Uma%20Musume%20Pretty%20Derby/Uma%20Musume%20Pretty%20Derby%20-%2010%20-%20Large%2027.jpg
Gold Ship is still best (horse) girl.
Also gotta love how every scene of Spe-chan eating also had Oguri Cap in the background with her own big helpings of food.
What are those things on the side of Gold Ship’s head where human ears would be?
I think they’re supposed to be the strap that goes on the sides of the horse’s mouth.