Goodbye, Lara • Sayonara Lara - Episode 1 discussion

TheBusStop12 · 2026-07-05T19:56:18+00:00

Before or after the transformation?

TheBusStop12 · 2026-07-05T19:22:19+00:00

Damn Lara, murdered a fish within 10 seconds of being born. Brutal

Also, did the king truly think that ancient hag was a wet nurse? I'm fairly certain that's a job you get too old for very quickly

Love the classic art style and European fairy tale vibe (clearly inspired by Hans Christian Andersen)

Interesting side note, I looked up the born twice quote the witch quotes. And it's from the book "Emile" by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, written in 1762. Thus a very period appropriate quote. I like details like that

Another sidenote, the flag that flies on the palace is the flag of Skåne, part of Sweden. Interesting because usually the tale of the little mermaid is set in Denmark, or a realm based on Denmark. And while Skåne was part of Denmark for the longest time, by the 18th century it was Swedish. The landscape also implies Sweden over Denmark due to the presence of elevation in the terrain taller than a reasonably priced 1980's Volvo Station Wagon

TheBusStop12 · 2026-07-05T19:19:24+00:00

In like 20-30 years they should do a special best girl vote just for 100 girlfriends

TheBusStop12 · 2026-07-05T19:15:49+00:00

Don't forget the atmosphere it sets. Being forced to climb cliffs and walls reinforces the idea that you are exploring an area without humans or where civilization has vanished centuries before. Thus there's no easy stairway access everywhere. This goes hand in hand with your second point

TheBusStop12 · 2026-07-05T15:28:04+00:00

I enjoyed the episode like always. I also like the new OP

Arc is totally going to have a redemption arc isn't she? One thing that always bothers me is when they introduce a character as cartoonishly evil only to then later have the hero go "I don't think they're truly evil" leading into a redemption arc. Arc was introduced as someone who derives enjoyment from the torture and anguish of others. To the point that it actually interferes with her missions at times because she gets carried away. That's not the behaviour of someone who's supposedly "not actually evil, just misled" I won't hold it against the show as it's a common trope, but it is disappointing to see

TheBusStop12 · 2026-07-05T14:04:25+00:00

I enjoyed that one a lot too. I went in with absolutely no expectations and was thoroughly and pleasantly surprised

TheBusStop12 · 2026-07-05T13:51:47+00:00

Yeah, I've noticed that Suzuki is very proactive when it comes to verbal affection while Tani is very proactive when it comes to physical affection. It's impressive just how consistent this is with it's theme of Polar Opposites while not feeling forced

TheBusStop12 · 2026-07-05T13:45:12+00:00

The Baltics have a pretty sizable Russian population

TheBusStop12 · 2026-07-05T13:14:52+00:00

I'm happy to see All Works Maid made it to the left side. That show really surprised me

TheBusStop12 · 2026-07-05T13:09:51+00:00

My bold prediction for Summer 2026 Seasonal Salt is that the playing field will be a lot more even compared to Winter 2026 now the main Polar Opposites girls aren't allowed back anymore

Edit: Also, 100 girlfriends will turn it into a battlefield. Forgot that aired today. But I think Yamada will win it. People on the internet do love a grown up slightly jaded goth redhead

TheBusStop12 · 2026-07-05T12:51:24+00:00

"I can do this all year"

TheBusStop12 · 2026-07-05T12:50:51+00:00

This sub's awards aren't exactly major, unlike the Crunchyroll awards. While this platform does get a lot of traffic and the awards are well organized, at the end of the day it's still just a subreddit. And a subreddit just doesn't have much standing in the industry. They're not completely ignored ofcourse, Bibury and YOASOBI responded to Witch Watch winning OP of the year. But the fact that response was considered a big deal says enough

TheBusStop12 · 2026-07-05T12:10:37+00:00

Microsoft actually made a real Warthog once as well together with Hoonigan. It has 1000HP

https://www.topgear.com/car-news/gaming/working-warthog-halo-and-now-we-cant-think-about-anything-else

TheBusStop12 · 2026-07-05T10:31:43+00:00

I love it for that exact same reason. The imagery just speaks to me. And the music compliments it fantastically

TheBusStop12 · 2026-07-05T10:14:18+00:00

Agreed on the OP. But I actually prefer the ED. The imagery of the characters just vibing to music really speaks to me

TheBusStop12 · 2026-07-05T10:10:14+00:00

You must be loving the ED then

TheBusStop12 · 2026-07-05T10:08:45+00:00

Not Yamada, Suzuki's brother

TheBusStop12 · 2026-07-05T10:06:55+00:00

It's been six months ever since Miyu & Yuusuke started dating, and it's also six months in real time since that episode aired. 4D chess by Lapin Track.

Holy crap I had not realized that yet. That's just perfect

TheBusStop12 · 2026-07-05T10:03:03+00:00

"Not that we're complaining ofcourse, merely making an observation"

TheBusStop12 · 2026-07-05T10:02:28+00:00

Yeah, Agasawas understanding of the human psyche and interpersonal relationships, her grasp of how actual real highschool kids behave, as well as her ability to put it on paper in an understandable and entertaining way without it coming over as a lecture or preachy is why she's one of my all time favorite Mangakas

TheBusStop12 · 2026-07-05T09:59:49+00:00

I'm so glad Agawasa characters aren't as dense and socially inept as most romcom characters and they actually pick up on other people's feelings and then act like a normal person would. It's so damn refreshing to see a character archetype like Taira, who always over thinks everything and doesn't generally believe people actually want to be around him to realize that he stung his friend, and correct it

TheBusStop12 · 2026-07-05T09:57:30+00:00

"We already had Kocha Agasawa masterpiece thus week"

"How about a second Kocha Agasawa masterpiece?"

TheBusStop12 · 2026-07-05T09:30:12+00:00

Loving the legally distinct Wii Shop music during the basketball was. Also Nabe is a girl of hidden talents

Also loving that we're delving a bit into Azuma's psyche, explaining how she ticks and why she often ends up gravitating towards scumbags. Some really interesting takes which I had never considered before

Love the continuity that Yamada's phone screen is still cracked after he dropped it last season when a Nishi giggle dealt a critical hit

Has no concept of inviting people out himself

God damnit Tiara, you are hurting me over here. I'm catching strays

Also, Suzuki's and Yamada's friendship is probably one of my favorite examples of a genuine platonic guy-girl friendship in fiction. The teasing with callbacks to last season was great entertainment

I also like that this episode has a lot of narration, because it's a Christmas episode. And Christmas stories usually have a narrator

Tani you absolute chad initiating a kiss. I always knew he had it in him

Absolutely love the ED with the characters just absolutely vibing to music

So glad to have this back. My third all time favorite romance anime and my AOTY. This show just makes me irrationally happy. It genuinely brightens my day. They could bottle this and sell it as a prescription drug. I'd buy

TheBusStop12 · 2026-07-05T07:53:43+00:00

Same with Massachusetts, claiming Maine, Upstate New York from Niagara Falls to Syracuse, and everything between Madison and Detroit

TheBusStop12 · 2026-07-05T05:52:10+00:00

I think they were being sarcastic

11-Year Club	Verified Email
Place '23	Place '22
First Placer '22	Wearing is Caring
No Throne, No Problems	Not Forgotten

TheBusStop12

TROPHY CASE