Idolish7 Episode 17 (Final) Review: Making the Dream

We’re here! The anime adaptation of Idolish7 is officially finished! At 17 episodes, we got spoiled for a one-cour series, despite the wait between Episodes 15 and 16. I’m already waiting patiently for the inevitable second season! Let’s take a look at the finale, shall we?

“I feel like I might accidentally cheer them on”

Story

IDOLiSH7 have won best newcomer at JIMA! It’s a dream-come-true for our boys, and this will allow them to compete with friendly rivals TRIGGER at the year-end show, Black or White.

Tsumugi receives a congratulatory phone call from Gaku. He’s clearly very chuffed too (although I personally think he just wanted an excuse to call Tsumugi). Banri, of course, thinks it’s wonderful, and he lets slip to Tsumugi that he used to make music too (!!!!). The agency later gets a phone call in English. Poor Tsumugi has no idea how to communicate, so they call on Nagi for help. He tells them that it’s American superstar Douglas Rootbank! He wants the boys to perform with him at Christmas! Wow! A while later, the man himself is at the door! He sure is a strange and super positive man, but poor Iori and Tamaki mistake him for somebody else. This angers superfans Sogo and Otoharu, who apologize for their rudeness and then proceed to go into full fanboy mode. Douglas gives them a great speech on what it means to be an idol, and talks of his respect for Zero.

New Year’s Eve arrives and i7 and Trigger cross paths. Trigger tell us they are going to go all out against the newcomers, but it’s clear there is no animosity there. TRIGGER are well put-together, IDOLiSH7 are well put-together; we get a great show. The audience are loving it, the viewers are loving it, I’m loving it! However, we see a glimpse of a girl with blue-gray hair. Is that…Aya?

Soon it comes to the results of the audience vote and the winner is, of course, IDOLiSH7! We see an amazing moment with the twins on stage, TRIGGER are genuinely happy for them and Tsumugi bursts into tears. It’s very much a feel-good moment. However, this is just the beginning…

Highlights

My biggest highlight is re:vale appearing!! They’ve been mentioned from time to time in the series and are actually one of the 3 main groups of the game besides IDOLiSH7 and TRIGGER. It’s a shame they didn’t get a speaking cameo (it would be difficult to get hold of Soichiro Hoshi and Shinnosuke Tachibana for just one line, I guess…), but Yuki’s sigh of relief and Momo’s cute peace sign more than enough made up for it. <3
Iori being very casual yet serious as he took the bunny charm was one of the biggest moe moments of the series (for me).
Tenn not only asked for a group high-five, but he actually blushed! Sometimes he does resemble his younger twin brother.
The set up for Season 2 was very clear. What music did Banri used to make? Why did Tenn leave the Nanase’s? Was that Aya? Why is Kujo back and what kind of man is he? And so much more.
Otoharu’s fanboying was so cute! Hell hath no fury like a fanboy scorned.

Trivia

The song the boys performed at BorW was ‘Memories Melodies’. This was the first song to get a traditionally animated video and was animated by Studio Bones. It also has fairy Tsumugi! You can watch it below:

TRIGGER performed ‘Leopard Eyes’, which also has a music video. However, this video is quite infamous for being a little painful to the eyes. The title is very fitting as all 3 members of the trio have cat-like pupils.

The boys are doing the same poses in the final shot as they are in the key visual (which is also the eyecatch for this article).

We are S.E.V.E.N

That’s it! It’s over! That was the anime adaptation of Idolish7! I had a lot of fun, and I hope you did too! I spent most of my time fangirling (I’m so sorry), but I’m sad that it’s over. I’m glad to see the setup for Season 2, which I’m certainly keeping my fingers crossed for. The final episode didn’t really out all that much emphasis on Black or White, and they definitely went for fun over drama. Despite that, there were some pretty great speeches in Episode 17, including Douglas’ take on Zero to make it a very well-rounded finale. It DOES feel a little unfinished, but that’s to be expected when there are many more parts to this story! I’ll see you soon for the series review!