Quick Summary
In Fruits Basket episode 19, “I’m So Sorry,” Ritsu Shouma decided to visit Shigure Shouma’s house just as Mitsuru was leaving — at a furious run. Apparently, she had come to collect Shigure’s manuscript, and you can guess how willing he was to just give it to the beleaguered woman. She almost crashed into Ritsu, who apologized profusely — almost as profusely as Mitsuru. Why does Ritsu apologize so much? Will Mitsuru ever get Shigure’s manuscript? And why didn’t we get to see Tooru Honda until almost a minute and a half into the episode?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Best Moment in the Show
Can someone this pure and good really exist? I keep half expecting reality to collapse all around her… Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Depression is nothing to sneeze at. At first, I wondered if I was comfortable with this episode playing some of Ritsu’s crippling anxiety for comedic effect. That’s especially true given how his bouts of anxiety often left him very, very depressed. But this is Fruits Basket. I’ve seen before how it uses comedy to soften us up before it lands an emotional punch. I was honestly relieved when that’s what happened in this episode.
My Best in Show moment happened as a result of one of these punches. Shigure had finally given Mitsuru the finished manuscript, and she was so relieved she was crying. Tooru was half way into the room with a tray of coffee cups when Ritsu learned that Shigure had played a trick on him earlier. Shigure had asked Ritsu to send Mitsuru away because she was a stalker! Mortified yet again, Ritsu jumped up to apologize loudly.
He sent the coffee cups flying, and a couple of them landed on the manuscript, ruining it.
It’s like the whole “almost dying” thing is just something her body needs to take care of while her soul is busy saving Ritsu. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Ritsu couldn’t take it. He dashed up onto the roof, and it looked like he was going to hurl himself off. Tooru was beside herself with worry. As Yuki Shouma, Kyou Shouma, and Shigure looked on, they were suddenly shocked to realize that Tooru was no longer with them. She had climbed onto the roof!
She crawled along the roof, uncertain of her footing on the tiles. She tried desperately to reinvigorate Ritsu’s will to live by saying that he was here to find the reason for his life, just like she was.
The tiles gave way, and Tooru slid towards the edge of the roof. Right into my favorite moment.
Clinging to the the tiles, trying to find her footing amid the cries from Kyou, Yuki, and Ritsu, she kept talking. She kept trying to share her passion for life with Ritsu. She was literally clinging to the edge of the roof, but she thought reassuring Ritsu was too important to stop. Even to give herself a few moments to focus on getting a grip.
Recalling scene of her mother, recalling her friends Arisa Uotani and Saki Hanajima, recalling even her recent warm experiences with the Shouma family, she finally regained her footing, stood, and declared that she wanted “To become someone who can live for the sake of others” (17:20).
Kyou, Yuki, and even Shigure could only look on, their mouths open.
This really wasn’t far off from my reaction at this point. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
I loved that moment.
What did you think of Ritsu’s introduction? What was your Best in Show moment? Let me know in the comments!
Other Posts about This Series
Other Anime Sites
- Reddit: Fruits Basket – Episode 19 discussion
- The Otaku Author: Fruits Basket (Episode 19) – I’m So Sorry!
- AngryAnimeBitches: Fruits Basket (2019) – Episode 19
This Site (Crow's World of Anime!)
- Review: Fruits Basket Episode 01 - Best In Show!
- Review: Fruits Basket Episode 02 - Best in Show!
- Review: Fruits Basket Episode 03 - Best in Show!
- Review: Fruits Basket Episode 04 - Best in Show!
- Review: Fruits Basket Episode 05 - Best in Show!
- Review: Fruits Basket Episode 06 - Best in Show!
- Review: Fruits Basket Episode 07 - Best in Show!
- Review: Fruits Basket Episode 08 - Best in Show!
- Review: Fruits Basket Episode 09 - Best in Show!
- Review: Fruits Basket Episode 10 - Best in Show!
- Review: Fruits Basket Episode 11 - Best in Show!
- Review: Fruits Basket Episode 12 - Best in Show!
- Review: Fruits Basket Episode 13 - Best in Show!
- Review: Fruits Basket Episode 14 - Best in Show!
- Review: Fruits Basket Episode 15 - Best in Show!
- Review: Fruits Basket Episode 16 - Best in Show!
- Review: Fruits Basket Episode 17 - Best in Show!
- Review: Fruits Basket Episode 18 - Best in Show!
- Review: Fruits Basket Episode 19 - Best in Show!
- Review: Fruits Basket Episode 20 - Best in Show!
- Review: Fruits Basket Episode 21 - Best in Show!
- Review: Fruits Basket Episode 22 - Best in Show!
- Review: Fruits Basket Episode 23 - Best in Show!
- Review: Fruits Basket Episode 24 - Best in Show!
- Review: Fruits Basket Episode 25 - Best in Show!
