Love and Lies Episode 9 Review: So Bright It Doesn't Seem Real

In yet another episode of Love and Lies that focuses on secondary character drama than on the actual plot, we look at the outcome of Yukari’s class effort at putting together a play for their school’s cultural festival. But that’s not everything…

Japanese Original Episode Title: 嘘みたいな煌めきで

Plot

The day of the cultural festival is finally there and everyone’s hard work is about to deliver its fruits. Yukari struggles with handing out leaflets of the play to attract the festival visitors, while Takazaki and Yusuke are having fittings of their costumes done. Takazaki attracts lots of attention and Yukari is stressing out, considering himself incompetent, worrying about Ririna coming, and staring at Takazaki from a distance, who looks as if she’s about to have a nervous meltdown (can I just say here how much I empathize with this feeling?). Random people keep flocking to the festival, until the time of the show arrives, and Ririna walks in. She meets with Yukari, and they both freak out, exchanging few words. Yukari also meets the ministry guy who had double checked whether Ririna really is his assigned partner, and announces to him that the results are absolutely correct.

Yukari joins his friends to watch the play and is amazed at how emotional and intense both Yusuke’s and Takazaki’s performances are. On his way out, he is stopped by the weird white haired girl who looks like a student but actually works for the ministry, who, rather aggressively, announces to him that his real assigned partner is Takazaki, and not Ririna, who is, by the way, eavesdropping the conversation. TA-DUH!

Episode Highlights

Yusuke’s drag: You may or may not have noticed Yusuke wearing the Juliet outfit during the show’s opening. I initially thought he was dressed in drag but turns out he’s just been forced to be a lady for artistic reasons. Oh well.

Takazaki really is losing it: I am constantly changing opinions on this character – she starts off as sensitive and sweet, then turns out to be lying for her own benefit, then breaks down and cries over her lost love… her composure during the whole episode was so miserable, I really did feel sorry for her. Also, great Romeo.

The message mystery: Finally, the mysterious message Yukari received on the night of his notice is being analyzed in the show. I had started believing that it was nothing more than his imagination, but turns out it’s much more than that. The question is: why? Why would anyone bother doing such a thing? Is it an experiment or just someone having more complex motives?

Yukari is such a cute loser: Yukari is overall a rather pathetic figure; he’s not particularly good at anything, something that really manifests itself in this episode, where he struggles to do the most basic of tasks, let alone play an important role in the play’s production. He is, however, so kind-hearted. His character is absolutely adorable. Personal favorite from this episode: his face when he drops the contents of the box.

Weird t-shirts: I am not entirely sure who would be responsible for the choice of this abhorrent t-shirts everyone from Yukari’s class is wearing, but, really?! No, really? Black t-shirts with red tie stamps on? What is this, kindergarden?

Sexy Juliet Yusuke: Somebody has to say it – and it is unfortunately going to be me. Yusuke looks damn good as Juliet. I’m getting some really weird vibes coming this way. *avoids eye contact*

Themes & Trivia

Skipping the thread: Another little thing I noticed in the opening titles is Yukari playing skipping rope with the threads of fate. HOW CUTE IS THAT.

That white haired-girl style character: Even though I am not the type of otaku that is able to recite numerous characters from numerous anime, doesn’t that girl remind you of a very standardized quiet-hidden genius-oddball sort of character that we see more often than not? Like that NGE chick (*looks her up*) Rei. Yes, Rei. My brain hurts.

Please stop with the fillers I really wanna know what’s going on (;_;)

Skip to the real deal and stop focusing on random stuff that nobody (and by saying nobody I mostly mean myself) cares about like school festival and gender bending. School plays are a no-no-no. Stahp. I want to know what’s going on.

With such a crazy cliff-hanger (and omg, it’s almost the end of this season!), we’re bound to find things out next week! So see you then with another Love and Lies episode review on MANGA.TOKYO!

NEXT TIME: A Love to Give Everything For (すべてを捧げる恋)