Anime Best in Show

Review: Fruits Basket Episode 07 – Best in Show

Quick Summary

In Fruits Basket episode 7, “Spring Comes,” Tooru Honda arrives at the Souma estates per Hatori Souma’s request, though it was more like an order. As she’s nervously waiting for him to join her, she notices a picture of a young woman on his desk. Who is she? Is she another Souma? Why is Momiji Souma trying so hard to cheer her up? What’s all this talk about a curse? And for what purpose did Hatori demand Tooru visit?

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

Best Moment in the Show

In an episode crammed with powerful emotional moments, this is the one that hit me the hardest. It’s the most Tooru of the Tooru moments! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

This show is a mystery to me. It packs tons of big feeling moments into each episode, and yet it doesn’t feel trite or contrived! Even better, it doesn’t neglect the moments of lesser emotion, and it’s in praise of those moments that I selected my favorite from this episode. 

Hatori had stepped away, leaving Tooru with Momiji. He told her the story of Hatori and Kana Souma, of how they’d been engaged and had asked Akito Souma if they could marry. Akito’s rage-fueled attack cost Hatori the sight in one of his eyes, and put Kana on a course to a mental breakdown. Hatori finally had to erase her memories to heal her.

Momiji was afraid the story would scare Tooru, but her tears weren’t in fear. They were in sympathy. She said she understood that Hatori was gruff to her because he didn’t want her to get hurt like Kana had been hurt. And the serious-sounding reason he had asked her to visit the compound?

He wanted to give her a camera for the upcoming Souma family festival.

My favorite moment was when, shortly thereafter, Hatori apologized to Tooru. He said, “Apparently, I do nothing but make other people cry” (9:55).

Tooru just started at him, her mouth open. She was stunned. In the last 10 minutes, she’d come to understand that he was trying to keep her safe. And now, she could not understand why he was apologizing.

Her reaction and the the personality underlying it are among the many reasons Shigure Souma sees her as the salvation of their family.

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7 thoughts on “Review: Fruits Basket Episode 07 – Best in Show

    1. Not sure how closely this follows the original, and I’ve not read the manga, but I don’t think they’ve brought out the heavy ordnance yet!

      1. I’ve heard this is nothing to the sheer angst of the later volumes. I say bring it on, anime has made me cry only twice, and I won’t let this be lucky number 3.

  1. Just look at that screenshot of Tohru. I can’t even imagine anymore why I was worried by the character designs. Perfectly expressive. (I don’t remember the details of the older show much anymore, but I did remember this episode fairly well. I think it’s because Hatori’s dragon form surprised me so much. A seahorse. Why? I learned about the knaji for Seahorse [“dragon’s child”] through Fruitsbasket.)

    1. “Just look at that screenshot of Tohru. ”

      This might sound odd, but honestly, her expression gives me chills. It’s just so _Tooru_ — completely unconscious that the world becomes a little more alive whenever she’s around.

      I look at that shot, and I think about the scene, and I have the same sense I had when trying to review The Ancient Magus’ Bride. There’s something here that I don’t have the emotional sensitivity or vocabulary to sense and express.

      But it’s a lot of fun to watch!

      1. “There’s something here that I don’t have the emotional sensitivity or vocabulary to sense and express.”

        You and me both…

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