posted on 2013-09-09 11:45 EDT
posted on 2013-10-19 13:21 EDT
posted on 2013-10-27 15:37 EDT
Blue Sky, Episode 2 –
Well, Kanade showed them! I’m glad she remembered how much fun it was to play the violin. I get the feeling that was Len in the garden, and it was obvious that his beautiful “Ave Maria” inspired her. Apparently, Kyoya did well too, but I was a bit disappointed that I didn’t get to hear him. I also wonder what is wrong with Ritsu. He seems to be losing the feeling in his hand. If that’s the case, I can understand why it’s so important to him to win the competition. Still, he’s changed from the boy Kanade once knew.
Episode 3 –
Myoga seems obsessed with destroying Kanade, but she doesn’t even know him. Perhaps she just doesn’t remember him. Even so, he remains on her mind and it affects Kanade’s playing. I think her playing may get worse too. With the way Kanade is, when Amamiya tells her that he wants to fall in love with her, how will that affect her? LOL Without even letting her think, he declares that Kanade is his girlfriend. But I wonder if there is something more to this. In any case, they do play well together, and as a result, Kanade is playing better. Amamiya says that his music needs love. He must have thought that he could use Kanade to achieve that. Poor guy has no understanding of love.
Episode 4 –
Hihara ended up being a teacher. Nice! But I don’t understand why the Shiseikan group needs to stay at Linden Hall in the first place. For all the connections and favors, it’s a rival school. Don’t they have their own dorm?
And Chiaki from Jinnan is another one that doesn’t seem to like Kanade’s playing and gives her a hard time. Toki looks to be another one with a health problem.
At least the contest has already begun. As expected, Shiseikan, Jinnan, Amane, and Seiso make it through the preliminaries, but I wonder how long Ritsu’s hand is going to last. And just like that, the competition is down to eight schools! Seiso faces Shiseikan next!
Episode 5 –
The competition is forgotten for a while as almost everyone enjoys a day at the pool. Arata seems to be getting close to Kanade and it looks like Kyoya doesn’t like it.
Kanade overhears that Shiseikan’s wind-orchestral club is getting abolished. Arata hopes they can win the competition and prevent that from happening. Kanade feels bad and I wonder if that will affect her own performance. Nia gives out a little more information about the Shiseikan club.
At the competition, Amane and Jinnan move on to the semifinals. And it’s time for Seiso to face Shiseikan. I wonder what Kanade will do. After Shiseikan plays, there is a moment of complete silence before the audience erupts into applause. They were just that good and Kanade really wants them to win.
Seiso has their work cut out for them! Ritsu and Daichi have a silent conversation about Ritsu’s hand. Kanade just looks out of it. How can they possibly win like this?
Episode 6 –
Here they are on the stage, and Kanade wonders if they can even win. The group prepares to play, but everyone can see that Kanade has a problem. They begin to play, but it looks like Kanade isn’t feeling it, and it shows in her playing. Ritsu steps it up and Daichi panics, his thoughts on Ritsu’s hand. Ritsu lets his music talk to Kanade, hoping it will calm her down.
Kanade is transported by the music and thinks of the things that Ritsu had told her. Her instincts finally take over and she can blend her music into everyone else’s, enchanting the audience. A lovely performance, but is it enough to win? Silence greets the end of the performance, but then the audience slowly begins to applaud.
The decision is quickly made and it will be Seiso that moves on to the semifinals. Shiseikan has just lost everything! And Kanade feels horrible. But there’s no time to think about that as Ritsu collapses backstage. Daichi wants to take him to a hospital, and Kanade sees Ritsu clutching his arm, in obvious pain.
Meanwhile, Yagisawa is determined to keep his abolished club alive. Hozumi falls to his knees, apologizing to his fellow club members. The Seiso group is just walking past them at this moment. Kanade lowers her face, to avoid looking at them, but Ritsu won’t let her. It’s the least she can do to honor her opponents. Yagisawa has words with the emotional Hozumi and will not let him give up. Yagisawa tells them all how proud he was of their performance. Kanade witnesses the reemergence of pride in themselves, making the Shiseikan group stand just a little bit taller.
At the hospital, Ritsu is pronounced as being fine, but will be kept under observation for a few days. Kyoya is annoyed that Ritsu kept his condition a secret, especially from his own brother. Kanade says that this was all her fault. If she had played better, it would not have put such stress on Ritsu in the beginning of the performance. Daichi explains that Ritsu just wanted to give his all and that no one is at fault. But Kyoya has had it and walks away in anger.
So, what will happen to the competition? Kyoya later overhears Daichi tell Kanade and Haruto that Ritsu probably won’t be able to play in the semifinals. Haruto suggests that Kanade become first violin, but she just panics at the thought, feeling that she isn’t good enough to take Ritsu’s place. Actually, Kyoya would probably be the better choice. Kanade is too emotional to lead the ensemble. However, Haruto tries to convince her, but Daichi says that they still have time yet and sends them off to bed.
The next day, Kyoya is still angry and wants nothing to do with the ensemble. Kanade isn’t sure how to handle any of this. She later hears Haruto practicing and thinks about what he said about her becoming first violin. She still can’t do it. The music of the Shiseikan group leads Daichi, Kanade, and Haruto to the tower room where they are thanked by the Shiseikan group for allowing them to stay at the dorm. They all get treated to a great view of a fireworks show. And Yagisawa announces that Hozumi will be their next club president. Kanade feels better until she realizes that Kyoya isn’t there. He’s gone to visit his brother, but walks away from the room without entering. Ritsu is back at the dorm and his arm is in a sling. He announces that the first violin will be Kyoya. I knew it! But will Kyoya accept it?
Episode 7 –
Kyoya resents the way his brother is controlling his life and refuses to be first violin. But he later admits to himself that he can never take Ritsu’s place either. The Shiseikan club is staying for the rest of the competition and wants Seiso to win for them as well. Practice begins in earnest and Kanade is still out of it. Her mind is on Kyoya now. He hasn’t shown up for practice, but Ritsu insists that he’s still first.
Ritsu oversees the practice sessions, but I think he’s just as frustrated. Not only can he not play, but his brother still hasn’t shown up for practice and that seems to be affecting him as well. It doesn’t help when Chiaki and Toki burst into practice, disrupting it. Chiaki berates Ritsu for not be able to play, and putting his brother in as first violin. Chiaki also boasts that Seiso doesn’t stand a chance against him now.
Kanade later learns that Chiaki has his own problems and even his own father wants him to forfeit the competition. She ends up admiring Chiaki’s determination. Meanwhile, Kyoya is still trying to deal with is own problems. I can tell that he really loves his brother even though he resents Ritsu at the moment. I know Ritsu believes in Kyoya. He should be able to believe in himself.
When Kyoya doesn’t return to the dorm, Kanade goes out to look for him, although Ritsu doesn’t want her to. Kyoya almost gets on a train, but then thinks better of it. He ends up in a park instead and that is where Kanade finds him. Kyoya tells Kanade that he can’t be first and that there is no way they can win without Ritsu. Kanade tells him that he at least must try. But Kyoya knows that even if he tries, he will only disappoint his brother. He just isn’t good enough. Kyoya tells Kanade that he just wants to quit everything and run away. He begins to cry as he tells Kanade how scared he is.
Kanade hugs Kyoya, telling him that she’s also scared, but having him with her will help her to do her best. She agrees that he can’t take Ritsu’s place, but that’s because he’s Kyoya. He just needs to be himself. I think she just convinced him! Later, Kyoya visits Ritsu in his room. Ritsu only hopes he’s ready to make up for lost time. But I think some other things were said silently between the brothers.
Episode 8 –
Chiaki doesn’t think Seiso is going to be much of a challenge, but I think he has a surprise coming. Now that Kyoya has put his heart into playing, Seiso is going to be as strong a team as ever. Kanade will also need to keep up. All the practice finally pays off when one day, Ritsu pronounces himself satisfied with their playing. But they still have a long way to go before the competition the following day.
It’s time for the semifinals. Of the four schools, only two will be moving on. First up is Jinnan vs. Seiso. Jinnan plays first and is amazing. Chiaki’s father is in the audience and Chiaki is still seeking his approval of his music. The performance was everything it was expected to be and the audience goes wild.
Seiso is up next and the nerves are starting to get to Kanade again. But a few words from the others and she’s ready. Once they start, Kyoya really shines and the sounds blend together perfectly. Once again, the audience is transported by the beauty of the music. Complete silence greets the end of their performance and then the audience erupts with applause. I think the winner has just been determined! And so it has as Seiso is announced to be the winner of this round.
Jinnan congratulates Seiso and Chiaki tries to entice Kanade to come to his school. Of course she declines, or rather the others decline for her. And as he passes his father in the hallway, Chiaki finally gets a word of long awaited praise from his father. Next up is St. Cecil vs. Amane and Reiji seems to have his own enemy for this round.
Episode 9 –
The Seiso ensemble enters the auditorium to watch the Amane / St. Cecil competition and Kanade again meets a girl that she had bumped into once before. Just before they perform, it’s noted that Enjoji Saeka of St. Cecil’s has switched from violin to flute. All realize that something major is going on here. And it is. The “Empress of Kyushu” is seeking revenge for her little brother. She feels that Reiji ruined her little brother and she is about to destroy him for that. Somehow I don’t think this plan of hers isn’t going to work.
The St. Cecil piece is beautiful and the flute is lovely. The music does seem to affect Reiji backstage and he looks as if he’s in pain as he collapses. Kanade runs into that girl again and she’s looking for her brother backstage. Kanade offers to help her and finds out that this girl’s brother is Reiji. That music really does bring up a horrible memory for both brother and sister.
Kanade does find Reiji and he is not pleased. She is the last person he wants to see. He does not need her sympathy or pity. Kanade asks Reiji why he hates her so much, but he doesn’t tell her. However, these feelings are just what Reiji needs to get past the music that reminds him of the death of his parents. Kanade doesn’t realize it, but she did help Reiji after all. All he tells Kanade now is that he suffered humiliation at her hands and will never forgive her. With a promise to crush her at the finals, Reiji goes off to give his performance. And it seems that Kanade has just unknowingly made another enemy as another watches this incident.
Amane takes the stage and St. Cecil is shocked. Saeka thought for sure that they would forfeit. Not only does Reiji play perfectly, but the performance blows St. Cecil out of the water. Reiji’s hatred for Kanade drives him on. Without question, Amane has won this contest. Saeka falls to her knees in defeat, apologizing to her brother. She should have known things would end this way.
As everyone goes home, Sei approaches Kanade again. He really wants to understand Kanade and why she affects Reiji the way she does. They end up playing together, but Sei still doesn’t feel the love that he should be feeling. Sei takes Kanade to a garden grown by Amane’s chairman. There Kanade discovers blue roses. Sei picks one and presents it to Kanade. Kanade takes it and tells Sei some things that I think will end up helping him.
Seiso is getting ready to face Amane and Ritsu announces that Kanade will be first violin. Well, if that’s what it will take to beat Amane, everyone else agrees with him. But, as Kanade thinks of Reiji, can she believe in herself enough to do it? As for Reiji, well, he intends to keep his promise and push Kanade into the pits of despair. It will certainly be an interesting final round!
posted on 2013-10-19 13:21 EDT
posted on 2013-10-27 15:37 EDT
posted on 2013-12-15 22:45 EST
posted on 2014-02-11 05:36 EST
posted on 2014-04-03 19:45 EDT
posted on 2014-04-04 07:50 EDT
July 21, 2015
posted on 2015-07-21 12:21 EDT
Episodes: 1-12
Starts: Friday, 10/9/2015
Languages: Japanese w/English Subtitles
La Corda D’Oro ~ Blue Sky, Eps 1-12 (Sub), are live at ANO
La Corda d’Oro Blue Sky Official Trailer
