Anime Best in Show

Review: Fruits Basket Episode 10 – Best in Show

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Quick Summary

In Fruits Basket episode 10, “It’s Valentine’s, After All,” the day opens with Kyou Souma acting subdued. Saki Hanajima’s wave analysis confirmed it. Tooru Honda, being Tooru, wants to get to the bottom of the mystery, but she doesn’t have to sleuth long before she sees Kagura Souma waiting for Kyou after school. One mystery solved! Can Kagura convince Kyou to go on a date with her? Will Shigure Souma’s idea of the two going on a double date with Tooru and Yuki Souma (along with Tooru’s enthusiastic endorsement) help? And just why is Shigure so interested in them going out, anyway?

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

Best Moment in the Show

I always suspected he had a darker side. We got a frightening glimpse into his resolve in this episode. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream. 

I am so tempted to pick one of Saki’s moments (and, as usual, there were several), but I’m going to force myself to diversify. 

In this episode, Shigure was being even more Shigure than usual. He pried into Kyou’s business so obviously that even Shigure wondered if he’d gone too far. He ditched his editor (even if just for a few hours) and pushed her to almost harm herself. The show seemed to play that moment for laughs, but I had to wonder: was it really making a serious and ominous point about Shigure? As in, how much was he willing to inflict on others to have his way?

Hatori Souma seems to wonder the same thing. Shigure visited and presented Tooru’s Valentine’s day chocolates as if they were his own (Hatori saw through that lie in a hurry). Shigure proceeded to brag about how he’d convinced Kyou, Kagura, Yuki, and Tooru to go on a double date. He added that it had to be Tooru’s influence that allowed such a thing to happen. 

“You certainly look satisfied,” Hatori said (16:12). “Things are going just how you planned them…” Then he got even more serious and said, “Like hell you’re ‘not using’ her, you bald-faced liar. You and Akito are both using Honda-kun as a pawn to play for your respective ends and gains.”

Two things stood out about what happened next. First, Shigure spoke of a moment in their past when they all shared some dream; but of all of them, only he still clung to it. Desperately. Second, he not only didn’t deny what Hatori said. He confirmed it by saying (17:19), “I’m not bothered about deceiving or using a few people to get it. Even if it ends up hurting someone.” 

Even more shocking — Hatori said he wouldn’t oppose him! He wouldn’t support him, either, but just what is Shigure’s goal? It’s something he’s willing to hurt Tooru to obtain (and that alone might be enough to condemn him!) — and it’s something important enough that Hatori, who really likes Tooru, is willing to stand aside and let it happen.

What is it with the Shouma family? 

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2 thoughts on “Review: Fruits Basket Episode 10 – Best in Show”

  1. Oh Shigure, you suspect you’ll eat a punch from someone protecting Tohru, but the way things are going, you’re going to punch yourself the fiercest.

    I’ve seen the first anime, but I don’t remember the plot at all, so I’m really just half speculating. (I don’t even know if the first anime got anywhere near a Shigure reveal.)

    Reply

    1. “you’re going to punch yourself the fiercest.”

      The situation has that vibe, doesn’t it?

      I watched the original series too, and I don’t recall this subplot either. So I’m really curious to know what Shigure’s plan really is!

      This show really knows how to build anticipation.

      Reply

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