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Amagi Brilliant Park Episode 4 – Quick Summary
In Amagi Brilliant Park episode 4, “Not Enough Secretary Competence!,” Sento took Kanie on a whirlwind tour of the park. All of the departments seemed to have insurmountable problems. Sento tried to make some suggestions, but it seemed that Kanie was always one – or more – steps ahead of her. Sento seemed crestfallen and went off to meet Moffle and some others. That’s when Muse and the other fairies of Elementario visited Kanie. They seemed terrified. What were they scared of? Why had they come to Kanie? And what had gotten into Sento?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
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Favorite Quote from Amagi Brilliant Park Episode 4
Sento’s words surprised Kanie. Capture from the Blu Ray.
For most of the first several minutes of this episode, we saw something I really didn’t expect to see the first time I watched this series. Two things, actually. Frist, we got to see that Kanie is nearly as competent in day-to-day management as he said he was. That was a shock. I mean, this is a guy who looked at his reflection and was nearly overcome with his own handsomeness.
Second, we saw that Sento isn’t as self-confident as she acted. Sure, her methods were unorthodox. How many times has she shot Kanie and Moffle? But I only saw the barest hints that she was aware that her approach was unorthodox. In fact, I thought her gunfire was just part of a running gag.
In this episode, though, we got to watch as Kanie helped staff across the whole park, often when Sento had no clear idea of what to do. By the end of that tour, she was even more dour than usual. Kanie had to process paperwork, so he asked her to meet with Moffle – and to keep things smooth. He even repeated himself to make sure he was clear.
“I don’t need you to tell me that,” she said, turning away from him (06:31).
Her statement shocked Kanie. Shocked me, too. It also setup my favorite moment.
Favorite Moment from Amagi Brilliant Park Episode 4
Sento knew she wasn’t cut out for saving the park. But she did her best anyway. Capture from the Blu Ray.
Setup: Sento’s Silent Struggle
Muse and the rest of Elementario opened Kanie’s eyes to a disturbing trend. It had been visible since the time when Sento had been acting manager of the park. It’s perfectly in keeping with what we know of Sento’s character, too. The problem was her negotiation tactics.
Calling what she did a tactic is being generous. For example, a cast member like Macaron would ask her for a replacement piece of equipment – say, an accordion – and she would deny the request point blank. If they argued, she’d slap them down point blank. And if they pushed the point? She’d shoot them – point blank.
I thought it was sadly hilarious how Muse hid behind Kanie as she showed an encounter to him.
Muse seemed terrified of Sento. Capture from the Blu Ray.
Kanie didn’t try to sweep the issue under the rug. He directly confronted Sento about it, but only after taking her out of sight and earshot of the other staff. I almost picked that as my favorite scene. The confrontation was emotionally raw, but achingly honest. Kanie said he couldn’t have her dragging him down like that. She slammed her palm on the wall beside Kanie’s head.
The shot was outstanding. The camera went subtly in and out of focus. “Then… what else can I possibly do?!” she demanded, almost frantic (10:04). She had given the park her all. Kanie just told her it was woefully inadequate. Ashamed of her outburst, she walked away.
I loved how that scene set up the disaster brought on by the combination of a failed water pump and a deluge. Underground areas in the park began to flood. Kanie panicked. This was beyond his experience. But Sento stepped in without hesitation. She established a command center and directed the response.
Delivery: Sento Opens Up to Kanie
Did you notice what Kanie did while Sento worked? He stayed the hell out of her way. Dude’s smart; he knew she was in her element. The effort restored some of her confidence. The staff cheering her overwhelmed her. She thought they all hated her.
My favorite moment was when she and Kanie finished confirming all of the underground electrical boxes were dry. Sento admitted Muse was right by saying (17:36), “I’m the problem.” She disclosed something that put all of her actions into context. She said she was a soldier. A member of the Royal Guard, in fact. Sento came from a military family.
It was sad seeing Sento blame herself. Capture from the Blu Ray.
Why was she there at all? Because she received orders to save the park – orders she thought were impossible. She didn’t want to disappoint her family, despite her conclusion that she was not the right person for the job.
It almost broke my heart to hear her say (18:15), “But I did my best, so as not to disappoint or taint my family name. But I failed.”
Everything I thought about her shifted in that moment. I’d thought she was a hothead, or at least someone who enjoyed whipping a rifle out from underneath her skirt and blasting away. No. She was a loyal soldier following orders the best she knew how. She was in over her head, and she knew it. But she tried her best anyway. Because of that, she went from comic relief to someone I cared about. That’s the power of good characterization!
What did you think of Kanie’s reaction to riding the Ferris wheel with Latifa? What were your favorite moments? Feel free to let me know in the comments!
Amagi Brilliant Park Episode 4: Other Posts
Other Anime Sites
- Reddit: [Spoilers] Amagi Brilliant Park – Episode 4 [Discussion]
- Chikorita157’s Anime Blog: Amagi Brilliant Park – Episode 4 – Cooperation, not Demands!
- The GlorioBlog: Amagi Brilliant Park Episode 4
This Site (Crow’s World of Anime!)
- Amagi Brilliant Park Episode 1: Not Enough Visitors!
- Amagi Brilliant Park Episode 2: Not Enough Time!
- Amagi Brilliant Park Episode 3: Not Enough of a Boost!
- Amagi Brilliant Park Episode 4: Not Enough Secretary Competence!
- Amagi Brilliant Park Episode 5: Not Enough Money!
- Amagi Brilliant Park Episode 6: Not Enough Staff!
- Amagi Brilliant Park Episode 7: Not Enough Pool Safety!
- Amagi Brilliant Park Episode 8: Not Enough Love Appeal!
- Amagi Brilliant Park Episode 9: Not Enough Teamwork!
- Amagi Brilliant Park Episode 10: Nothing Can Be Done!
- Amagi Brilliant Park Episode 11: Nothing to Worry About!
- Amagi Brilliant Park Episode 12: Nobody Knows What the Future Holds!
- Amagi Brilliant Park Episode 13: Not a Good Promo!
Yes, I love the character development of Sento! She was a fun character from the first episode, but as the series progresses she gains depth and becomes even more likable. It’s hard to admit it when you’re wrong or that you’re over your head. The fact that Sento did that, is proof of how much she cares about the park, and the princess. Swallowing your pride and looking for help takes a strong will.
You speak truth! I’d sometimes rather smack my hand with a hammer than admit I was wrong. Though I’m happy to say, the older I get, the less I feel that way. Maybe it’s because I’m learning that hammers really hurt!