Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 20: I can see Saki as Cinderella.
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Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 20 Review – Best In Show

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Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 20 – Quick Summary

In Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 20, “Are You Okay?”, there was a lot going on at school. Yuki tried to juggle his time between student council and the upcoming play, and he found it hard to give either his full attention. That became a real problem just outside the student council room. A book and crashing glass almost injured him and Kakeru Manabe! Inside, they found Machi Kuragi standing amid a flurry of papers and scattered folders. Why would such a quiet young woman wreck the room? Why did Kakeru offer to help so readily? And wait — who did the class pick to play Cinderella and the Prince in the upcoming school play?

Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.

Favorite Quote from Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 20

Tohru, after Yuki asked her if she could handle to role of an evil stepsister in Cinderella, said (16:51), “I’ll be more evil than the devil himself!” I now have a new reference example for the word “hyperbolic!”

Best in Show Moment for Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 20

Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 20: Kakeru might be a jokester, but he has enough sense to help Machi.

Kakeru stood beside Machi, who was clearly upset and barely in control. His hands in his pocket, he was completely unthreatening. Yuki was smart enough to support the two of them. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

Setup: Machi Experiences an Incident

Do you remember back in Season 2 Episode 1, when we first met Machi (08:27)? She was in the middle of the student council room. There was paper wreckage all around her. Binders were strewn everywhere. At the time, we didn’t know what had happened, but Yuki was shocked whereas Kakeru was pretty laid back about it.

In this episode, as Yuki and Kakeru approached the door to the student council room, a book crashed through its window, just centimeters from them. Yuki carefully slid the door open. Machi, her eyes wide and her face distraught, turned to look at him. The room was a disaster. Papers were everywhere, just like before. Machi was alone in the room.

She didn’t respond when Yuki said her name. Yuki watched as Kakeru walked past him, saying (04:22), “Man, you make a mess again?” His voice wasn’t reproachful. His tone was matter of fact, his expression neutral. Before Yuki could react, Naohito Sakuragi, the high-strung student council secretary, and Kimi Todou, the considerably less high-strung student council secretary, arrived. The former went ballistic and seemed like he wanted to confront Machi right then and there.

Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 20: A scolding was the last thing Machi needed.

This is not the expression of someone who needs scolded. Her expression is begging for help. Kakeru was smart enough to know what to do. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

“Hey,” Kakeru said calmly (04:35). “Could you leave this to me to take care of?”

I don’t know if you’ve ever had to intervene in a psychological episode. I’m by no means an expert, but over the years, I’ve learned a few things. Naohito’s approach was not only wrong. It was hurtful and dangerous. Confronting someone who is clearly upset, and who is just as clearly remorseful, with the property damage they’ve just unleashed is only going to escalate the situation.

Delivery: Yuki Strikes the Right Note

Yuki’s response was great. Even as Naohito tried to object and say there was no way he was going to let Kakeru handle it, Yuki said (04:43), “Yeah, okay. I’ll leave this to you for now.” It was the same tone he would have used if Kakeru has asked if Yuki could hand him a requisition form. Yuki was giving Kakeru time to help Machi, and he was also telling Machi that he wasn’t going to get in her face about what just happened. Both are important points.

As Yuki led Naohito and Kimi out of the room, Naohito exploded. He couldn’t believe would “turn a blind eye” to what had just happened. The tightly-wound young man kept it up, saying that there were rumors about Machi and that she was destructive. Yuki asked him to drop it, but Naohito kept it up.

Finally, Yuki turned, stared hard at the young man, and said, enunciating each word clearly, “I said later.

Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 20: Yuki impressed Kimi with his resolve.

Maybe his own past made his empathetic to Machi’s situation. But Yuki wasn’t going to put up with Naohito berating her for a psychological condition. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

Kimi certainly approved of Yuki’s tone!

That was cool and all, but the moment Yuki decided to give Kakeru and Machi the space they needed was my favorite moment. On one hand, it showed how much Yuki, a main character, had grown, probably with Tohru’s help. On the other hand, it was both a statement of trust in Kakeru and a statement of compassion to Machi. I don’t know if Machi has a condition that can be diagnosed, but at least since the first episode of season 2, it’s clear she needs help. When a work of fiction takes that kind of thing seriously, I have to cheer. I guess it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Fruits Basket is doing such a fine job with this kind of thing!

What did you think of Saki Hanajima brushing Arisa Uotani’s hair while they were casting Cinderella? What was your Best in Show moment? Let me know in the comments!

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4 thoughts on “Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 20 Review – Best In Show

    1. Before this season… heck, even early in the second season… I really didn’t like Yuki. But you’re right! His “fantastic growth” is such that I kinda respect him now!

      And my heart really went out to Machi… I’m glad Yuki was kind to her.

      1. I feel the exact same way. I’m glad he’s become his own person.

        And yeah, Machi. I’m glad that Machi is paying back for the kindness in some ways.

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