Wake Up, Girls! Episode 11
EmperorBrandon: So the bad news from last episode really wasn’t all that bad. Though it fits pretty well with how Hayasaka’s character has been. Not really evil, just eccentric.
Like to see some more conversation among the I-1 girls, and the contrast between Megumi and Shiho playing a part in it too. It’s neat to get some of that apart from the “soullessness” that’s been emphasized throughout the series.
I was wondering if Yoppi being too nervous was going to be a problem, but looks like it’s going to be worse that that. Poor Yoppi.
Nork22: Yeah… guess Hayasaka was doing it for “lols”, but beneath it, it does make people become aware of WUG and to be compared with I-1.
But poor Yoppi. Looks like Mayu will have to take center otherwise it will do no good for Yoppi and her ankle.
I agree with the seiyuus that 1-cour isn’t enough and we hope that there will be another cour.
bctaris: I’ve really loved the next ep previews. Nice, too, to finally get them all in the same room. The idol-choreographed stuff with it all has been clever, with the background girls seemingly not paying attention until the last beat. (And last time they were back in the engineer’s booth.)
But on the question of another cour, maybe it’s just me, but it’s interesting how much story there seems to have been, that it feels like they’ve come a longer way than usual for a 12-episode run. And that pre-series movie is the difference–that’s basically 2-3 extra episodes right there. So, sure another cour would be great. But I’d take another movie like that, if not.
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Hitsugi Amachi: So, Hayasaka decided to change things up and go with a third option: it was not to screw with WUG, but to challenge them even further. “First Rate Smile” is nice and all, but how about something even more challenging? Though, sadly, this comes as something of a letdown to all of us in the viewing world, since we’re already more than familiar with this song “Seven Girls War,” the series opening theme. I say a letdown, because, you know, we already know the girls can sing this one 
bctaris: It makes sense, of course, but it was nice to have the song finally be used. I was just the last couple episodes starting to appreciate it more. That two-part opening to it is quite fun.
And I don’t think there’s been a better song in the series.
Sensuifu: I had a feeling something was off with Hayasaka’s decision to pull a stunt like that. It wouldn’t have made any sense in real life either, so I’m glad to see he was just gauging his songs against the girls’ talent. Also nice to see he was gracious to give them something else (even if we’re already familiar with the song) to compete with. Though I do think WUG’s success is going to lead them into more complicated matters, whether or not they’re related with Shiraki/Hayasaka. For example, Tange is already thinking way ahead of the game.
Hitsugi Amachi: She has a tendency to do that. Unless she’s been conversing with the god of Good Fortune and knows something we viewers do not
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Hitsugi Amachi: But we have to have our final episode drama and this comes in the form of Yoppi getting a minor injury during the rehearsal. We can’t claim this as just bad luck or a misfortune? Why? Because we were already told by Tange at the beginning of the episode that “misfortune” is simply an excuse people use when they fail. So, what is going to happen?
I don’t know. It could be noted that it’s not Yoppi who has the “center” position in the OP animation where the girls do “perform” the song. So, is that one way out of this trouble spot? But that’s not so easy, because will Yoppi tell the others about it, or try to hide it and just soldier on?
I have questions, but no answers.
Sensuifu: I think there’s a catch to all this ‘Center’ focus, which Hayasaka vaguely points out despite the girls not realizing it. He mentions ‘This song’ and indiscriminately points to Yoppi. Then he leaves and says good luck. The girls are expecting to count on her; but the thing is, the group has to work as one unit to make the center shine. They’re making it sound as if relying on her is the way to their success, which really shouldn’t be the case. That pressure only put Yoppi in a bind, because what the girls should’ve said was “we’ll do our best to make you shine as the center.” As cheesy as that sounds, that’s basically the essence of it.
It’s a group effort, not a solo act. It’s no wonder Yoppi’s been troubled with the thought of carrying the entire group, when really, it’s each individual idol doing their best to promote their center. It’s also the center’s obligation to instill that sense of independence to the girls. So while Yoppi does have reason to worry, WUG needs to take the time to acknowledge that their individual talents are complemented if they work together. At least that’s what I got from that scene because a center stays center, (until they’re replaced or resign), not just for a specific song. Of course she was appointed the leader of the group earlier on, but that’s irrelevant since everyone has an equal chance to becoming the center. This was even alluded to in the I-1 scene where they talk about the center role.
Hitsugi Amachi: I think you have an interesting point here. Perhaps this is a final and elaborate test of the group’s cohesion and ability to work as a group. They were accused of being solely reliant on Mayu’s talent and abilities before, so by deliberately assigning the center position away from her Hayasaka took away that “safety valve” from the other girls of just mentally saying to themselves “we just need to not look foolish, Mayu will carry us.” But he wasn’t just trying to change it to the girls thinking “we just need to not look foolish, Yoshino will carry us.” And with Yoppi injured, they really are going to have to work as a group to get past thing.
Sensuifu: As for Yoppi’s injury, I’m guessing she’s going to endure it, but again, it’ll require the girls to follow through any flaws that might happen. They’ll need to do that for each other, regardless of their position in the group. That’s the way they’ll be acknowledged by their fans.
So what may happen is that each girl will take that center position momentarily during the song, just to give their fans ‘fan service’ of their favorite idol of the group. We’ll see. Hopefully there’s a chance for another cour, because more WUG is always a good thing.
Hitsugi Amachi: That would be a way of handling it. And it might be interesting to see another cour of WUG if this season doesn’t end on some kind of satisfying note.
