Managed to finally cram the last few episodes of Tari Tari and now I’m kicking myself for putting it off for almost a week. Truly, a beautiful ending to a beautiful series. I stand by my initial statement of “It’s K-On!, but with music”, except I want to add “and backstory”. Much like the ending of K-On!, I hated to see Tari Tari end, but cheered it on through the final episodes. Leading to an ending I hate to love because it means no more Tari Tari.
While none of the characters (except maybe Wein) really stand out to me, the group as a whole leave an impression that’s hard to compete with. The Choir and Sometimes Badminton Club was just a ragtag group of individuals who were dragged into a project to spite a vice principal who turned out to not be so mean-spirited after all. As the group learned the meaning of music in people’s lives, the character stories expanded beyond the main 5 to include almost everyone teacher and parent in this music-loving town. And as the story progressed, I ended up hating the spineless principal more than the ice queen of a vice principal (maybe because I was more sympathetic to her towards the end).
As serious as the characters took music, there was always time for comedic interjection. I absolutely loved the Market Rangers, Red Ranger Wein is now my favorite superhero, but the whole scene with Wein reclaiming Konatsu’s stolen possessions helps to show just how important music is the lives of the characters while developing them steadily throughout the whole story.
If I have any complaint with Tari Tari, it’s that the ending left a sign of stories to come. While I feel the series has come to a reasonable, well established ending, I get the feeling it’s left open for future seasons which I don’t think would fare very well. Part of the interest in Tari Tari is seeing the 5 high schoolers developing closer bonds together where they used to be simply classmates, leading to an experience none of them could’ve imagined possible as they overcame obstacles and kept true to the music they love.
Tari Tari had a strong set of character backstories and development with a plot that moved with the characters instead of a set, determined goal. Though slow at times, the events around the high schoolers were strongly written. The animation was nothing short of brilliant never seemed to slip.
Final rating: 91
Apologies for not covering Tari Tari so well, blogging has to take back burner lately as I’m being forced to actually give 100% at school. But now I’m ready to go, as are the Market Rangers! So far, Wein’s internal conflict is the most interesting. Not to diminish the value of the other character’s arcs, especially Wakana.
If Tari Tari is building like I think it is, all the closure will come in the last two episodes. I have high hopes for the ending as the series thus far has been quite the emotional ride and I just hope I’m not setting the bar too high, asking too much from the story.
Following Konatsu’s less than stunning performance with her choir at the recital, everyone who was scooped into the club proceeds to quit, leaving Konatsu, Sawa, and Wakana as the only 3 members of the club. This is more than enough reason for that she-beast of a vice principal to disband the club, along with Taichi’s badminton club, as he was the only member. To rectify at least one of the problem, Konatsu challenges Taichi to a badminton match, loser joins the winner’s club. Wien (Atsuhiro) also joins Taichi as a member of the badminton club, in a 3-on-2 match. In a close match, Wien seals the deal…by slamming the birdie into the net, landing Konatsu her final 2 members for the “Choir and sometimes Badminton club”, also allowing Taichi to continue onto badminton competitions.
First order in any choir is to perform, luckily the local beachfront business scene is planning large musical festival to draw in the crowds, and Konatsu seems prime opportunity to take the stage. If she could get over her fandom for an older group of musicians who’ve come to town. One of whom stalked Wakana across the town, shouting in Spanish until she found out that he was just excited to see the daughter of an old friend of the band. This aging band ends up teaching Konatsu a few important lessons about committing oneself to music and to that music brings people together. They also teach Wakana that no one ever leaves music…
Happily performing for rather critical children, Konatsu’s choir is making strides to integral character development. However, Wakana has yet to sing…will this be addressed soon or is going to be a lingering issue throughout the series? And like feal87 asked, how long will the general life development last, and when, if at all, will the romance or life-altering drama commence? Right now, I’m comfortable with the slow pace Tari Tari is moving at, but surely it’ll have to pick up and move into more serious plot-devices. Also mustn’t forget the letter Wakana received from the band member, a letter written by her mother when she was born. Is this something that’ll bring Wakana back into music, or will the story let it sit for a few episodes before bringing it back up? Sawa also seemed unusually perturbed, I’m curious as to whether it was simply because she was upset at Konatsu for getting off-track, or if something more seriously is happening and yet to be revealed.
Not to be outdone by Teru, Toki raises the bar twofold as she not only manages to see two turns ahead, but after Teru seems to have Toki broken down in the bonus hand, she shines through the darkness, able to see a full three turns ahead! Whether or not this will help is yet undetermined, at the very least it may help provide some insight into Teru’s abilities. Meanwhile, Hanada is pulling defense for her team, designated the “sacrifice” to Teru’s wrath, and Kuro can’t seem to get it together. Although she is being helping by hoarding dora and making it easier for Toki and Hanada to read Teru’s hand, and the dora are kept from boost Teru’s scores as well.
All while Saki sits just outside, she obviously senses disturbances in the force, either from Toki’s time bending or Teru’s spacial distortions, lightening keeps sparking around that mahjong table. Achiga’s plot is definitely winding its way back to Saki’s in order to tie up into a possible joint-conclusion. But with only 4 more episodes, it’ll most likely just put both series slightly closer to the final round of the competition. They certainly won’t be able to go as far in-depth as they have with this first round.
Now then, I have two concerns with Achiga: will Teru fall to Toki’s three-turn time shift, and will Nodoka, Shizu, and Ako reunite? Teru certainly isn’t going to lose that huge lead she’s built, but putting a third stop to her winning streaks will certainly prove a moral victory. If Kuro could manage to help out more, it’d also lift her from near-tears. I was really hoping for more detail, but at this rate, the ending is looking to become rushed.
