SHUFFLE! - 18 November 17
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Short Summary:
Seeing Rin talking happily with Asa, Nerine and Sia decide that he should go on a date with her. When they suggest it, he’s a bit reluctant, but decides to do it. Itsuki and Mayumi also get involved, and the four plot out a schedule for Rin at an amusement park, with the ultimate goal being a confession. Rin and Asa go to the Kanto Cupid Land as planned, but since Rin seems to be rather nervous and is not taking the initiative, his (disguised) friends (Itsuki, Mayumi, Nerine, and Sia) have to give him several pushes. Asa notices that Rin is still paying more attention to the schedule than to her, so she takes the lead and pulls Rin onto several rides. The two actually manage to have some fun before the day draws to a close. Rin takes Asa on a Ferris wheel ride during the sunset for the confession, like the schedule tells him to, but he is unable to go through with it. Asa tries to kiss him through eating a cookie together, and the two get close, but the ride ends before they can. After disembarking the Ferris wheel, Asa calls out Rin’s friends who were watching nearby and takes and reads the schedule/map, which tells Rin to do things like confess on the Ferris wheel. Asa is very hurt and furious that Rin’s own feelings weren’t behind this, so she slaps him and leaves. At home, Kaede has been busying herself while Rin is out. She even makes him dinner, but he doesn’t eat it when he gets home. The episode ends with a very blank-eyed Kaede standing in the dark and dumping Rin’s dinner into the garbage.
What ever happened to our strong, resolute Rin? Today’s Rin flounders around so much that even I wanted to slap him silly. He royally screws it up with Asa, and the continued negligence of Kaede has started to take its effects. Granted, Sia, Nerine, Itsuki, and Mayumi weren’t really helping when they pushed Rin into the date because he probably wasn’t ready to take the next step yet. But Rin himself is unable to confess or kiss her. It’s also interesting to note that Rin never admits that he likes Asa. I think that shows that there’s still some conflict in his heart, since he can’t come out and directly say that he likes her (to her or anyone else).
And that leaves us with Kaede, who basically hasn’t gotten any story since back in episode five. She looks downright scary standing in the dark at the end of the episode, and the preview shows more scenes from their past. I think Rin “losing” Asa right now, and the story moving forward in a Kaede direction means that it will ultimately go back to Asa. Especially since the preview also shows and ends on Asa looking shocked and maybe having an attack of some sort.
Closing Thought: It appears that SHUFFLE! isn’t airing the week before New Year’s Day. The schedule lists episode 23 on December 22nd, but then there’s a movie shown in that timeslot the next week. So this is advanced warning that it appears that SHUFFLE! isn’t airing on December 29th.
Fodica at 2:58 pm on November 17th, 2005
Oh yes, Asa episode! Though screenie Asa(?) slapping Rin bothers me a little.
Yay for RinxAsa
Rasmiel at 3:31 pm on November 17th, 2005
Heh, Sia and Nerine spying on Rin and Asa XD
I think this indicates that Asa would go down first and leave Kaede to snatch Rin though
Hooray!
Losttek at 3:41 pm on November 17th, 2005
Whoa Kaede looks scary in the last pic..
EliteF22 at 4:03 pm on November 17th, 2005
I don’t think Asa is out yet. Seems like Kaede realizes she doesn’t want Rin to be sad and may make him tell Asa his feelings. Strange how Rin always drops subtle hints that he likes Asa, but can’t come straight out and say it.
EliteF22 at 4:03 pm on November 17th, 2005
Dammit, forgot to mention I loved Nerine and Sai’s hairstyles this episode.
Mentar at 4:16 pm on November 17th, 2005
Interesting how different the perceptions can be. I haven’t even WATCHED the episode yet, but would say that it pretty much locks an Asa ending.
First of all, since Asa is clearly the designated girl who Rin likes, would you consider it a likely ending to see him end up with another one he doesn’t? Also, the classical drama arc would indicate Asa aswell, because about now it’s time for the final complication. The other girls recognize Asa. Finally, Kaede has simply failed too many Keepalive Pings. Unlike Asa, she did not receive these important little “Rin likes her” tidbits throughout the show, so any Kaede ending now would run danger to feel “forced”.
Also keep in mind that here, Rin didn’t reject someone else, ASA slapped Rin.
No, no. 2:1 on Asa victory
Zyl at 4:42 pm on November 17th, 2005
Mentar, I agree with you wholeheartedly except for the little point that it seems that Kaede, unlike Lisianthus and Nerine, has yet to give her blessing. For a satisfying Asa ending, Kaede should also somehow come round to supporting Rin-Asa like Shia and Nerine. And if it isn’t Asa FTW, I’ll be so bummed - not just because I’m an AAA member but because, like you said, it will probably seem forced. So far SHUFFLE! has exceeded all my (low) expectations of a harem series but I still don’t dare to get my hopes up too much… X_x
EliteF22 at 4:49 pm on November 17th, 2005
Anyone think there’ll be a sequel? Right now Nerine says her love can’t match yet and I don’t think Sia’s just going to give up. Plotwise, there’s a possibility. Anyone know what Shuffle’s ratings have been?
cleanwater at 5:14 pm on November 17th, 2005
damm. good eps cant wait lots of asa!!! too bad shuffle wont be aired next week =[
Omni at 5:39 pm on November 17th, 2005
There’s SHUFFLE! next week. If you read my note, SHUFFLE! is off the week before new years day (that’s still a month away).
Lexus at 6:25 pm on November 17th, 2005
Now is Danger to all relationship right? As we expected that had to end up with ASA, but now I think there is no chance with ASA anymore (sorry to AAA club). Next ep. (or next 2-3 ep.) will absolutely be Kaede ep. but might be “very SAD ep.” more more ever before.
Mentar at 6:37 pm on November 17th, 2005
And why would there be no chance with Asa anymore? Wishful thinking?
For Kaede it’s both a bit too late (missing keepalives) and a little bit too early (too many remaining eps for the final twist)
Shinji103 at 7:01 pm on November 17th, 2005
Nope, sorry, with 6-8 episodes left they wouldn’t be already getting the main pair together. In fact the final scene of the episode gives a dang big hint that Kaede is going to be the main. Kaede has been getting ignored the whole series save episode 5, and it’s starting to have its toll on her to keep silent about her feelings. Also the fact that Rin is hesitant about Asa goes and shows that he still has feelings for Kaede, if he didn’t like Kaede why wouldn’t he just move in and kiss Asa?
The simple fact that Kaede has gotten all of 1 out of 18 episodes, coupled with that final shot of her in the dark with those eyes, is all you need to see she’s going to get Rin. It appears that it may go as I predicted. Next episode and maybe another episode or two after that, we’ll see more RinxAsa, then they start getting serious about each other. When this kicks in, something happens with Kaede and Rin realizes that he loves Kaede.
Shinji103 at 7:09 pm on November 17th, 2005
Actually we’re forgetting one person here: Nerine. Rin still has to turn here down nicely (I just don’t think it’ll be her :P), and that will probably happen during the time Rin and Asa are going out or whatever. That will take an episode. So here’s how it could go from here:
Next 3-4: Rin and Asa go out, get closer. One of these episodes will be about Rin turning Nerine down. Maybe have a filler in there too.
The remaining 2-3 episodes: Something happens with Kaede. Rin realizes he loves Kaede.
Remember that this series is going to be 24 episodes, not 26.
Shinji103 at 7:12 pm on November 17th, 2005
Hmm, maybe probably two episodes for Nerine actually, it would be harsh for her turn-down to get only one episode when Sia got two epiisodes. And then we won’t have time for a filler, but a filler at this point in the series would be wierd, unwanted, and out of place. ^^b
Vexx at 7:12 pm on November 17th, 2005
Asa certainly passes the hot’n'fun test as well as the depth test in this one.
I *love* the way Nerine’s ears drop when she’s feisty.
Glasses-girl Sia ought to get some hearts thumping (and yeah, both S&N’s hairstyles are cute).
I’d say the next few episodes will focus on Kaede and some resolution to her personal crisis of wanting things to stay as they are forever and afraid to say anything but watching it fall apart anyway.
Hmmmm, I am hesitant about an Asa “win” scenario but am betting its an Asa “advantage” at season end. The [spoiler] ending with Asa’s crisis will wrap the season up and then the writers will go for the $$$ win with a number of profitable OVAs.
Come on.. go for the OVAs — you know you want them.
relentlessflame at 7:19 pm on November 17th, 2005
I don’t think I can afford OVAs in addition to the 13 DVDs… They’re already going for the $$$ win… ^^;;;
cyw1988 at 7:27 pm on November 17th, 2005
hmm i dun think there ever will be anymore nerine episodes… primura, nerine and shia all lost… the battle is now between Asa and Kaede… i dun really care who wins but i am sure looking forward to a good ending… remaining episode titles are:
19. Unforgettable Memories
忘れ得ぬ想い
Wasureenu Omoi
20.Unforgettable Sins
忘れられぬ罪
Wasurarenu tsumi
21. Whereabouts of Feelings
気持ちの行方
Kimochi no yukue
22. To A New Tomorrow
新しい明日へ
Atarashii ashita e
23. Revealed Truth
明かされた真実
Akasareta shinjitsu
As we can see the next two eps will probably feature kaede.. and ultimately i guess Asa will win Rin.. oh well.. hope this ends well…. Shuffle! is the most improved show of the season and it has done it so well that it makes contender DCSS look like crap…
cyw1988 at 7:28 pm on November 17th, 2005
credit goes to ANN by the way..
bj0rN`- at 7:34 pm on November 17th, 2005
Funny on how the hell they assumed that Rin likes Asa even though he doesn’t admit it. Come to think of it, kinna weird to see him ending up with a senior though, then again, who cares about it! I would love see a Asa ending. A Nerine ending would be great too. But I guess he’ll neither be God nor Demon. So it’s down to either Asa or Kaede.
Anyway, i love picture 8 and 17!!! LoL! They really look like a couple don’t you think so? So 6 episodes left. So my prediction would be split into, 1 or 2 episodes of Nerine, and rest on Asa and Kadae. As for the ending, I doubt he’ll pick anyway since the game was also multi ending. It’s best to leave it as he picked none as not to (LoL) offend any fans of other girls.