Reviewing episode 3 of "Girls' Revue: Revue Starlight"! The End of Noble Haughtiness

In the third episode of "Girls☆Play Revue Starlight," Nana Oba declared her intention to go behind the scenes, including writing the script, which led to various changes in relationships. Karen and Futaba did not return to the dormitory, and the neglected Mahiru and Kako bathed together. And it was Futaba who visited Claudine after learning of her major setback.

Kako's comment on the discomfort of this situation was "The person who was always together is no longer there, and two unexpected people are taking a bath together. Don't you think it's strange?　Hikari Kagura, since she came. All the changes in their relationship started with Hikari's transfer to a new school. Thinking back, the reason Junna and Hanako were paired up in the lesson in episode 2 was also because Banana and Hikari were paired up first. There are eight main casts in "Drama Starlight." Banana's declaration to take a back seat can be considered as a form of being pushed out as the "ninth member," which was not the case last year.

On the other hand, it was Futaba who detected the strange atmosphere between Maya and Claudine, who played against each other in the last review, and Claudine's poor performance. The relationship between Futaba and Kako had been complete between the two of them and they were a little apart from the other members, which may have allowed them to look at the scene objectively. In the lesson hall after school, the subtle emotional distance between Claudine, who sits in gymnasium by the wall, and Futaba, who turns her back to her and mops the floor, is depicted. But after the two perform an intense dance, a sign indicating position zero, the center of the stage, is shown in large scale in front of the camera, which shows them a little closer to each other.

Claudine is reminded of the difference between her and Tendo Shinya, while Futaba, who has always treated herself as a supporting player, expresses a small "dream" that "I might be able to play the leading role, too. Perhaps it is the commonality of their wish that they cannot give up on reaching out to each other even though they think they may not be the main actors that brings them closer together.

The main revue scene this time was Tendo Shinya vs. Concurrently, the battle between Futaba Ishidou vs. Saijo Claudine was depicted. The theme for the third day of auditions was "Revue of Pride. The title of the revue song is "Pride and Conceit. Who does pride and conceit refer to? I felt that the clue to this question is exactly in the review piece "Pride and Pride. The first half of "Pride and Pride" focuses on Hanako's unfinished singing, which shows her potential for the future. The second half is a solo performance by Maya, who shows her isolation and overwhelming presence as the one who stands at the top of the heap. There is almost no dialogue between the two singers.

The only time they can communicate with each other is at the beginning of the song, when Hanako sings, "I should be able to see the view from the top," to which Maya responds, "No, I can't." Maya sings from the top of the staircase and sings, "I can't see the view from the top. Shinya looks down from the top of the staircase and tells her to climb it if she has the will (not the pride) to do so, but the staircase is twisted and disconnected, giving the impression of endless distance. The two are disconnected, not even on the same stage at this point in time. Hanakoi stares at the heights and murmurs, "I can't reach them at all. The same kind of emotional connection and mutual recognition that was created between Junna and Hanakoi, or Claudine and Futaba, did not emerge from this revue.

Who, then, does "pride and conceit" refer to? Maya's "That child was dedicated. It is a noble will to challenge the stars" and "There is one star shining at the top. But ...... the flame of her passion. The overlapping visual effects make it clear that it is Saijo Claudine who is in Tendo Shinya's heart. It was inevitable that Shinya's feelings for Claudine and Hanako's fighting revue for Hikari would not intersect.

The word "conceit" is a word that, on the surface, has a negative connotation. Claudine's words, "I thought I was the only one who was special," would be one part of it. However, it is only Claudine Saijo who has truly stood up to Shinya Tendo, whom everyone has regarded as special and exceptional, as a rival, burning with passion and jealousy. Only those who continue to reach for the unreachable star, who never give up, and who continue to reach for it steadily and earnestly, may be able to transform their conceit into genuine pride.

For Shinya, who has maintained her isolation as a top star by cutting down even those whom she recognizes and feels special in a sense, Hanako's naivete in wanting to become a star with her best friend must have seemed unbearable.

Shinya Tendo is a symbol of Kirin's view of the stage: only a girl who cuts something off and gives something up can rise to the top as a top sta. Having keenly realized the difference between herself and Tendo Shinya at this point in time, will Hanako choose to offer something of her own from now on? Or will he ......?　At this point, though, it is Claudine and Junna who still cannot help but reach for the stars, and I strongly sympathize with them.

And I would like to see a revue of "that girl" who is just taking a turn to be stressed out, too, soon.

(Text by Kiri Nakazato)