「優勝候補」 (Yūshō Kōho)
“Next in Line to Win”

If anything this was undoubtedly an excellent episode for Superstar, not one, but two performances, al-be-it one by the new mysterious pink hair performer, revealed to be super popular middle school student Vienna Margaret (Yuuki, Yuna), I love this soft goth aesthetic they have going on for her. It’s dark and fits the music so well, her melody was haunting and fascinating all at the same time. You can clearly see it in the girls’ reactions over at Leilla when they pan over to show them during Vienna’s performance. I loved the BGM track that played during her formal introduction to Kanon, vanishing just as she appeared. She really gave that otherworldly vibe, and of course, all she serves is but to taunt Kanon, the introduction of a proper villain if I’ve ever seen one. Her song’s title, Butterfly Wing, click that link to rewatch the performance, courtesy of the official Love Live Youtube channel.

The pacing really picked up for me during this episode, I really enjoyed it. Then just before this week’s attack ends, Leilla get’s to perform once more, with a new song (link pending), I loved the guitar in this one, it just had this youth rebel power to it that I enjoyed quite a lot. The whole song was about overcoming fears and picking yourself up when you make a mistake and how you can learn from that. In the end, Leilla gave each other one big hug. It was so wholesome I absolutely loved it. It was so much fun to watch, Love Live is one of those series that I’m genuinely interested in the drama between the characters, and when they actually sing it’s such a treat!

Other than that it seems Kinako is doing some good progress and the attitude she has towards the training is super cute and just magnetic. Even though the girls get invited to another Fes at the most convenient time plot-wise, a little too convenient if you ask me. Non the less it was all good as they once again won a participatory award, or something equivalent because Vienna just basically stole the show. If you want to know why they lost just rewatch that part of the episode because it’s certainly something, something very different from what Leilla would ever do. I mean the vibe that is. It was intrinsic and captivating to a point where you could feel how Vienna beckoned you to the stage or something like that.

Other than that, this episode was a great one to watch, and it made me super happy that we had two performances in a single show. I’m not getting my hopes up for next week, music-wise, but you never know, Superstar has seemingly just ramped up since S2 started, and it’s shaping up to be one of the best! More girls are bound to join the club at some point, we just have to wait and see, and if need be, the show will just montage through their initiation to the point where they are far enough of a good level to compete with the rest of the cast. At least that’s my little prediction, can’t wait for more! And I hope Vienna becomes something more than just a villain that puts you down because she feels like it, with her passive-aggressive tone. Kanon should not be even communicating with her, she is so beneath Leilla. Her cocky attitude doesn’t quite piss me off, she’s just there, but I need to see some character development on her part to make her more than just that. Here’s hoping it happens!

Full-length images: 39.

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