Barakamon | Episode 11 | TFP Review (Episode 12 Follows)
Buckeye: Handa shows tremendous growth in this episode seeing how he just didn’t have the same passion or drive when he’s away from the island. But all it took was some words of encouragement from the villagers and now he realizes that he can take his skill anywhere. That sure was funny when Handa went all tsun-dummy in his room. In the end, he has the talent and the chief knows that it was not an accident that he produced that sketch. Great episode, and there’s one more left to go and he’s headed back to the island once the exhibition finishes.
GingaDaiuchuu: I don’t know if Stone Wall will really be able to top Stars, and furthermore it’s not even one he wrote while in the community, but more importantly it will represent the effect that all of the people he’s met have had over him, and that fact will manage to overcome all odds.
It’s tough to go through an episode with so little of the crew, but building up to their call to Handa without showing their side of his disappearance really drove home the impact that call had on him, and made it that much more believable that it would inspire his greatest work yet. With one more episode, he’ll have to scoop up that grand prize and go running back to his real home as quickly as possible lest he turn more grown men into little girls (himself included, given the spread of that Naru hair).
Should be a great if predictable finale for sure.
Library-chan: That was sweet scene with the phone call. Miwa pulling a sensei at the end is hilarious.
Sly05: This was a solid episode all around. Handa throwing tea on Stars was hilarious as was the Naru hair. He’s grown as a person, but is still very much an immature goof. I’m looking forward to seeing what Stone Wall looks like.
The final scene was also really fun. Handa’s rubbing off on the islanders as well.
EmperorBrandon: Handa’s mother was hilarious in happening to walk in on a scene like that, and thinking that the island life has corrupted her son so much. Handa’s family is of course just as awkward as he is, which is fun to see. How exactly unusual (or not) is it for a mother to call her son “-san”? Kind of curious about that.
Naru was so heartwarming in her serious “boring without you around” phone moment.
Episode 12 (Finale)
Buckeye: That is a fitting conclusion for this great show. Mother’s pouting is pretty funny there, but in the end she realized that this is a decision that her son must make for himself. In the end, he finished in 5th place, but Handa is much more satisfied now that he has his own style of calligraphy. He definitely is the reason why the village is lively, and it’s a great thing that he decided to return seeing how his father also lived there.
Overall, this show is just simply amazing. It’s funny and the interactions between the characters is just well-done. What I really like about this show is that calligraphy is used to tell a story in the way that the change in living environments for the MC is reflected in the change of style in the calligraphy. The show does a nice job in showing that the way of life on the island is much different than back in the city, and its presentation is the top of the line. Just about the only problem this show has is that the characters can get really annoying at times, but at least its the kind that serves a real purpose because it’s all about learning the ways of a new environment.
GingaDaiuchuu: Ah, so he doesn’t even get close to winning, and that’s the point. That’s what it takes to show he’s grown to the point that such things don’t matter nearly as much as expressing what’s truly important to him and enjoying that to the fullest. It’s a sweet sentiment for sure, although admittedly Stars probably would’ve had a better shot at taking the grand prize. Of course, what those judges really need is a good trip to the island to show them just how powerful the names on that piece really are.
Handa’s mom is quite the character. A woman presumably in her forties constantly acting like a little kid can get old, but I appreciate that what finally changes her mind is seeing Handa’s own maturity and that he’s spending his time there helping out actual kids. I’m glad that subplot of teaching Tama and Miwa resulted in more than just some fun moments throughout and a post-ED scene (maybe the only that actually came back in the show proper).
Such a great show. Never fails to plaster a big grin on my face and has a ton of heart. Love the moments of “cleaning” the room, too (particularly what they do instead). Surprised it wasn’t Aki who got them on track, but Hiro ended up being a pretty good guy as well.
EmperorBrandon: Definitely a wonderful sweet ending as I would hope of the show, with all the goofiness over them preparing for Sensei’s arrival (not getting the cleaning done at first, and then scrambling for the party poppers). Poor Miwa is still brooding a little over being second, but at least this time Sensei himself is not so down over having an even lower place this time.
Mom hilarity continued in full force which I really enjoyed. I liked that she did get to see it was not just weirdness rubbing off on her son, but that he actually got to establish a special connection to the islanders in a more serious role like teaching. I was just thinking it would be really fun to see her get to meet everyone, and then Dad even suggests them going. Dangit, I want to see that.
