Golden Time Episode 8 | TFP Review
Hitsugi Amachi: Well, the Love Triangle of Despair has come to pass, as it seems that current Linda may well have feelings for Current Banri that Past Linda did not have; Current Banri, of course, has feelings for Kaga Koko; Past Banri still is holding a torch for Current Linda, though he’s just heard that Current Linda does not want to go there, at least on the surface. Let the games begin!
GingaDaiuchuu: So the past Banri still has the occasional bit of control over the body, and the present one doesn’t realize it. Interesting. I’m sure we all assume Linda was lying about her answer to him to try to make it less complicated since he’s in a relationship now, but I’m not 100% sure what Banri himself thinks.
Sensuifu: I don’t think she was lying. I think she said what she meant to say back then. The thing is, what she meant to say (which is the answer Banri was looking for) might not be applicable to how see sees Banri now. Banri never did ask how she feels for him now, the current Banri. All he did was ask for the answer for the past. Interestingly enough, Banri wants to go back to that time, but Linda’s probably thinking otherwise.
If she was lying, I question how that would benefit her. It’s Banri that’s confusing her; because while Linda’s given up on old Banri, the current Banri is attempting to make amends with her, while indirectly attracting her to this ‘different’ Banri…something she’s probably struggling with because of the relationship he already has with Koko.
GingaDaiuchuu: That’s true. I’d say it would benefit her to say no regardless of her answer to the old Banri because of his current relationship and her insecurities regarding how to deal with him in a state she’s unsure of, but you make a good point in that she probably feels a lot more attraction to the new Banri than she ever did the old one, and that’s due mostly to him being so friendly with her in a way that was so different from the old him.
sonic: I think Linda both was and was not telling Banri the truth. At the moment Banri asked her about the past she seemed to understand it was his past self speaking through the current Banri, and I take it she was turning the Banri she used to know down. However, I get the sense from her behavior she has feelings for the current Banri, so maybe her answer for the current Banri is indeed yes?
Sly05: I’m most enjoying the scenes between Banri and Linda. I’m not sure if Linda was telling the truth about her planned response to the confession or if that was a white lie to protect Banri, but either way she continues to show that she’s one of the most likeable characters in the series. I’m rooting for her, but even if she’s not interested in Banri romantically I do like the portrayal of friendship between people of the opposite sex. We see a bit of the same thing with Mitsuo and Chinami in that even if Chinami isn’t interested in him romantically, she still seems to appreciate Mitsuo enough not to want the failed confession to wreck their friendship.
Sensuifu: btw, poor Chinami. She wants Mitsuo but his self-consciousness is ruining it for her. And I think 2-D Kun should really hook up with Linda, then everyone will be hunky-dory.
—
sonic: This episode established what I think is the main conflict in the series moving forward; ghost Banri versus current Banri, who will lay the ultimate claim to his body and be with the girl they want (sort of like in Natsuyuki Rendezvous). This episode reinforced the idea that ghost Banri is indeed separate from the current Banri, as they have competing goals to win over different love interests. So it’s not really what girl will win over Banri’s heart so much as which Banri, past or present, will win over his body and be with the girl he desires. …
Sensuifu: I’m still not seeing ghost Banri in the same vein you are. When ghost Banri says he feels like he’ll disappear when he leaves current Banri, it’s just that. Of course he’ll disappear. Ghost Banri is in a sense a memory. If current Banri can live his life without reverting to his old self, it’s not surprising that ghost-Banri (the amnesiac, personified version of old Banri) will disappear. Current Banri would not need him anymore. His memories are now lost forever, in affect, old Banri’s personality goes out with it. If his ‘memory’ (ghost Banri) tries to fight back and current Banri regresses to that old Banri, he’s not only hurting Linda, but Koko as well. …
sonic: I can also vaguely see ghost Banri as a plot device to show two competing wills dwelling in the same body but separated in his mind by amnesia to the audience, but a lot less so now with the developments in this episode. Ghost Banri’s statements on the balcony indicate to me he has a choice to leave the current Banri and watch over Linda instead; but it’s his fear of what might happen to him if he gets too far away from the current Banri that is holding him back from doing so for now. Assuming he has a choice to leave the current Banri means he’s not dwelling internally in his body as part of his subconscious mind, but rather externally as he initially claimed a couple episodes back. The one thing that may negate that though is if what freedom he thinks he has is not the absolute truth of the matter. It could also be the case he thinks he’s free from the current Banri’s body only for it to be revealed later he’s still attached to it contrary to what he thought. What’s fascinating to me is how these two very much separate personalities are both Tada Banri; even though they have different desires and wills, they are both technically the same person. I’m very intrigued as to how the story will address this conflict moving forward. I love thought provoking series such as this one, and the romantic entanglements in this one are the icing on the cake for me.
Sensuifu: I think one thing to keep in mind is how this ghost Banri is reactive to the situation at hand. In essence, none of ghost Banri’s intentions would’ve been possible had Linda not been around affecting current Banri’s feelings. In other words, what ghost Banri says all this time is a result of having been engaged with Linda. It’s current Banri’s involvement with her together with Linda’s desire to keep him in her sights that’s causing ghost Banri to say these things, effectively altering current Banri’s feelings for her and between Koko. Ghost Banri does have free will, because he’s really Banri..at least the amnesiac state (memory) trying to fight back in order to regain what he once lost (despite the truth to the matter of Linda rejecting him). Banri, as a whole, is having a really hard time deciding the person he wants to be. The problem is, Linda may not be wanting to go back to the old Banri, but would rather stay with the current one, despite him regaining his memories. What’s making it difficult for Linda to accept current Banri’s wish is the fear she has of him returning to his old self and dating a guy who is basically confused about his identity. Does Linda really feel comfortable loving the person she once rejected due to his personality? And is she okay to compete with Koko, the girl current Banri decided was his match despite having mixed emotions with his past-self? I feel Linda’s predicament is significantly worse than any of the other characters’ right now.
—
GingaDiauchuu: I still think Koko is too controlling and mean-spirited at times, but otherwise everyone is still really likable and I’m loving this show.
EmperorBrandon: Kouko isn’t particularly nice to Oka still, but it was good how she moved things towards her normalizing the situation with Mitsuo. Kouko’s eccentric displays of jealousy always amuse me too, like not wanting Banri to see another girl’s crying face.
Sly05: Koko is often very charming, but given her tendency towards jealousy and cruelness to Chinami, it’s often hard to understand what Banri sees in her.
Hitsugi Amachi: Sometimes, like Sly05, I do wonder what Banri sees in Koko. Sure, she’s beautiful and rich and can be quite loving, but…seriously, her clinginess and the meanness that can accompany it is very off-putting. More the latter than the former, even. With the way she behaves towards “Okachi Nami,” even when she’s trying to be “nice,” it does make one curious about her (Koko’s) true nature. Banri is incredibly patient to put up with it.
More fireworks to come, I’m sure, when Koko learns about Banri and Linda’s former connection.
Sensuifu: I think the overall pacing seems appropriate for the matter, though I do think this particular point in the relationship felt kind of awkward knowing how rushed it looked. Example- Banri has his yes-no shenanigans, asking Koko to leave him alone. Koko responds by playing yes-no, (maybe so?) with him by nearly running him off the bridge, confessing her love. The next scene they’re attached as if none of that ever mattered. I want to fault Banri in this case more than Koko. Koko is a mess, yes. And her bipolar nature does get tiresome, but maybe the same could be said about Banri since he’s really the confused one, given that he’s fighting with his amnesia. Banri’s patience is probably the side-effect of his alter-ego/new-Banri personality. I doubt he’d have the same patience as past-Banri.
Hitsugi Amachi: Past-Banri might break down and cry every time he suspected Koko was thinking about Mitsuo. Someone would need to carry a mop and bucket around
