Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 22: Mine's back! She brought Ayame.
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Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 22 Review – Best In Show

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Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 22 – Quick Summary

In Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 22, “That Isn’t What I Want,” Yuki finished telling his story to Kakeru Manabe, who felt frankly astonished that Yuki saw Tohru as a mother figure. But the admission brought a real sense of peace to Yuki. Later, partly because Tohru’s attempt to be evil did not work out well, they had to rewrite the script to Cinderella. At Tohru’s request, they agreed to change Kyo’s role, too, in an attempt to get him to attend rehearsals. Yuki agreed to search out Kyo and ask him to attend so Tohru would stay put. When he found Kyo, it became clear why he wasn’t attending rehearsal. And something else became clear, too.

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

Favorite Quote from Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 22

After Tohru broke down trying to tell Cinderella, played by Saki, that she’d have to go without dinner, an unnamed classmate said in reflection (13:43), “Hmmm… I can’t shake the feeling that we’ve miscast the play.”

Oh, ya think?

Best in Show Moment for Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 22

Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 22: Kyo took Tohru's breath away.

Kyo momentarily overwhelmed Tohru. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

Setup: Kyo Confronts the Spectre of Himself

I think I just watched Yuki call in love with Machi Kuragi. I thought there was something between them when she broke down the door to free him from the closet in episode 20. But in this episode, when an unnamed girl was flirting with Yuki by saying he should have been the price in Cinderella, Machi spoke up. She was quiet, she didn’t quite look a them. But she said Yuki was the most un-princely man she knew (20:30).

It struck Yuki that there was a woman who saw him. Not the idealized prince of high school. It took his breath away.

But it wasn’t my favorite moment. It was close, but it didn’t quite make it. My favorite moment saw its setup a few moments before Machi’s statement. Yuki had gone looking for Kyo, and he found him. Kyo didn’t react well at all. In fact, he let loose a deluge of pent-up fury, saying things like Yuki had had everything handed to him; that his parents had loved him; things like that. Yuki’s expression when he turned to face Kyo wasn’t angry or recriminating. It was shocked sadness. As in “Dude, how would you call the hell I lived in anything but that — hell?”

Finding nothing for his fury to attach itself to, Kyo punched out the window and stormed away.

Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 22: Kyo's anger was misplaced.

As soon as he saw Yuki’s expression, Kyo realized his fury was misdirected. And he didn’t like where he thought it should be directed. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

And then things got even better.

It’s hard to say with Fruits Basket, because the characters are so well done that their motives are sometimes as complex and unclear as real folk’s motives. But I think Kyo was furious with himself. He had hated Yuki since he was a kid, and now as a young adult, he seemed to be questioning what he thought he knew.

Delivery: And Tohru Wins

It was in the angry/contemplative frame of mind that he encountered Tohru. She was sitting alone in the classroom, and she had been waiting for him.

When she told him that she’d been waiting for him and that everyone else had gone home, he seemed taken aback. Tohru then unleashed a torrent of words as cheerful as Kyo’s words to Yuki had been harsh and furious. She said she was excited to share the rewritten script with him and that she hoped he would come to rehearsals now because the part might be better for him.

Her words drew him out of himself. He wondered what she’d been thinking about as she sat alone. He wondered if something Yuki said was right — had his absence really worried Tohru? Then she saw his wounded hand and made a fuss.

The irresistible force that is Tohru completely overwhelmed him. He bowed his head, almost touching her shoulder, then gave her a look that simply said (21:45), “You are the world, and I can’t believe I’m so blessed as to be here with you.” I have never seen that look animated so well before.

Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 22: Tohru's Torhu-ness overwhelms Kyo.

Tohru, just by being Tohru, completely overwhelmed Kyo. Everything that he was went into the look he gave her. Then it was her turn to feel overwhelmed. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

Heck, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen it animated.

He completely capitulated. He said he’d star in the play. Then he said it was time to go home.

Tohru had never experienced a moment like that before. I’m not sure she was breathing. Her blush extended all the way to her ears.

Moments like this are why I watch anime.

What did you think of Kakeru and Yuki’s soccer match? What was your Best in Show moment? Let me know in the comments!

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2 thoughts on “Fruits Basket Season 2 Episode 22 Review – Best In Show

  1. I’m a little disappointed they re-write the play. I’d have loved to see Tohru go out of her comfort zone and portray a mean step sister. That might have given her insight into how other people tick. Few people have as little of a mean streak as Tohru has, and it’s something that would she profit form understanding. That said, a re-write is fun, too; definitely miles better than a simple re-casting.

    And yes, that Kyo shot was absolutely stunning. It absolutely expressed his state of mind.

    1. “I’d have loved to see Tohru go out of her comfort zone and portray a mean step sister.”

      She seemed really fired up to try a couple of episodes ago! As you said, it would have been interested to see how she interpreted how evil acted.

      “That said, a re-write is fun, too; definitely miles better than a simple re-casting.”

      I’m really looking forward to it, especially because Saki’s playing the lead.

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