Anime Best in Show

Review: Fruits Basket Episode 08 – Best in Show

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Quick Summary

In Fruits Basket episode 8, “See You When You Get Back,” the time for New Years’ parties are upon them. Arisa Uotani and Saki Hanajima both ask Tooru Honda to spend the time with them, but Tooru begs off, saying she wouldn’t want to get in the way of their family time. The Souma family is planning their own party at their compound, and Yuki Souma, Kyou Souma, and Shigure Souma have to attend. That will leave Tooru alone on New Years! But she cheerfully encourages them to go fulfill their family obligations. As they trudge towards the gala, Yuki and Kyou are filled with misgivings. Will Tooru be alright? Will she fall down the stairs again? Choke on food? Or are they completely missing the point?

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

Best Moment in the Show

Saki was worried enough about Tooru to intercept Shigure, Yuki, and Kyou. With great results! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

Shigure, Yuki, and Kyou are heading for the family celebration. Yuki and Kyou are worried about leaving Tooru alone, because she might fall down the stairs (again!), she runs into walls, and Kyou is worried she’ll choke on her mochi! Shigure decided he had had enough of their worrying and reminded that they had decided to come so they should just put it behind them and enjoy the banquet. Deciding to have a little fun at their expense, he added that he’d just read a story about a burglar in their area (9:30). Shigure is enjoying their obvious panic when, almost literally out of nowhere, Saki appears behind him (9:57). 

In case I haven’t made it clear, I love Saki. She’s my favorite character in a series jammed with great characters. But her entrance wasn’t my favorite moment. My favorite moment is when she notes that Tooru will be “truly alone this year… She’s never spent a New Year’s holiday without her mother, but she’ll be all alone this year” (10:15). 

She drove her point home with a few more observations, but by this time in the conversation, Yuki and Kyou had already made their decision. They ran all the way home to Tooru. 

How did she know where to find them? How did she know exactly what to say? Because she’s Saki, that’s why. 

On the site called A Girl & Her Anime, in the post The doctor will you see you now: Fruits Basket (2019) Episodes 6 & 7 Review, I made the comment that “I strongly suspect Arisa and Saki are actually goddesses sent to protect Tooru.”

You know what? I was only partly kidding!

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2 thoughts on “Review: Fruits Basket Episode 08 – Best in Show”

  1. “What Fruitsbasket does really well is play perspectives against each other. I mean take a look at Shigure gloating over Akito…”

    Shigure’s gloating moment nearly edged out Saki as my favorite moment — it gave me chills! Just what is he up to? Whatever it is, isn’t it dangerous?

    This show’s seemingly effortless ability to draw me into the characters continues to impress me.

    Reply

  2. That was a great scene. I especially liked the way the show contrasted Saki and Arisa in this episode, with Arisa being straightforward and honest, and Saki working the seam in the background. That extends and is compatible with their respictive social arrangements, and ties back to when we first heard Tohru mention why she didn’t want to burden them (too many people, too little place respectively). What Fruitsbasket does really well is play perspectives against each other. I mean take a look at Shigure gloating over Akito…

    Heh, Arisa and Saki being goddesses sent to protect Tohru is a fun image (the sun and the moon, so to speak).

    Reply

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