Fruits Basket Episode 17 Review: This is for Uo-chan!

Fruits Basket Εpisode 17 is the second part of a two-part episode focusing on Uo-chan and how she met Tohru! Instead of just being a best friend and side character, she is the main focus this time and I really appreciate that we get to see more about all the characters in this series. Let’s take a look at what this second part offered us. If you haven’t read it yet, you can read the first part of Uotani’s story in my Εpisode 16 review:

Fruits Basket Episode 16 Review: She Said Don’t Step on Them

Japanese Title: うおちゃんの分ですっ！ (Uo-chan no bun desu!)

Episode 17 – This is for Uo-chan!

Uotani was in the process of running away from some people who fought her when she bumped into Tohru. Tohru escapes with her together to her house, where she takes care of her. During this moment Uotani realizes that she is jealous of the peace in Tohru’s life. She accepts her desire and she and Tohru’s family become close friends. Their friendship soon is the reason for rumors about Tohru being a bad girl like Utoani, but Tohru is always standing next to her. In the end Uotani decides to leave the gang and go to high school together with Tohru. For trying to leave her gang she gets beaten up badly. The Crimson Butterfly manages to save her just in time.

Highlights

Realization

My trust in Uotani is that she recognizes her own feelings so well and realizes when she is jealous or what it means. When she realizes that she wants the things Tohru has, she gives in to Tohru’s and her mother’s friendship and lets them give her what she wants: Trivial moments but precious memories.

Tohru’s dad

Tohru is using keigo – her polite speech – because of her father. That’s what she has from her father. Give me my tissues now, I feel like crying.

Helping each other

There is so much love in this episode. Tohru standing next to Uotani. Uotani not going the usual, dramatic way and pushing Tohru away but instead sticking next to her when she sees that it doesn’t bother her. Crimson Butterfly making a return for Uotani and not being angry with her. Akimoto-san helping her friend even if she can’t help herself. I just can’t with all the love. This is what the world should be like, even if it can never be perfect.

Loss

We (or at least I) always cry for Tohru and the loss of her mother. This episode however shows how much Uotani lost when Kyoko died. She had a friend in Tohru’s mother as well, had someone who could be something like a mother to her, a role model. She lost her as well and she is so strong for her friend Tohru. Call me crybaby, but I really bawled at the end of the episode.

Good quote

„You need gentleness to feel pain. Don’t let this pain go to waste. It can become nourisment for your future life.“

Comments

A shoutout to the funny girls that try to challenge Uotani. Another shoutout to Uo-chan for ignoring those brats. Their interactions are what made me enjoy this episode because I was overwhelmed by sadness at some points.
I also want to point out that I love the change in Uotani. If we think back to the episode where she spends her (I think it was) New Years with her family instead of with Tohru we can see how much she tries to have her own peaceful family. She is cooking for her dad! She is taking care of him! They are somewhat happy together! I love this comparison and the improvement form her time in middle school to how she is now in high school. People can change.

Doki Doki Barometer

Uuuuhm… I want to say it’s someone else, but there is only Uo-chan. She was the best this week again and made my heart break for her, beat for her and bleed for her.

NEXT: What’s important is…