Early Access: Silent [Japan] E1, E2 (Patreon)

E1. I knew I liked this one, from just the first 10 seconds of watching episode 1.

That's saying a lot, because, in looking for a replacement show for this slot on Patreon, I actually checked out Stealer and Queenmaker, both of which are more recent releases.

The thing is, while I don't actively dislike either show, I also don't feel like I want to write episode notes for either of those shows. They're very different from each other, and so for different reasons, I feel like I would prefer to just watch 'em both without having to think too much about it.

Also, neither show as inspiring me to write a whole lot, either.

But this one - my gut tells me that I will like this one, and that I will naturally have things that I'd like to put into words after watching each episode, which is why this is the replacement show for The Heavenly Idol, instead of Stealer or Queenmaker.

And now that I've finished watching episode 1, that's exactly right; I do feel like I'd like to spend a bit of time chewing on the episode, before watching episode 2.

First of all, I really like the vibe of this show.

It feels real and relatable, but at the same time, it's also got a slightly dreamy touch about it, thanks to the very nice music and the touches of nostalgia and whimsy, as we look at the past flashbacks, when stacked against the scenes of the present.

This is kinda-sorta giving me vibes adjacent to First Love: Hatsukoi, which I count as a very good thing, since I enjoyed First Love so much.

At the same time, this also feels like it's its own thing, which is important.

I also feel like this one might be similar to First Love: Hatsukoi, in the sense that, like First Love, it's also giving me the feeling that it will be kinda-sorta like a Classic Melo from the early 2000s - but better.

So far, I really like this.

On a macro sort of level, I like how our storytelling is efficient.

What I mean is, Show is pretty good at filling us in on things, by fitting in details quite naturally, into our characters' conversations. This way, it feels like Show is coloring in our story world quite effectively and efficiently, even though we're only on episode 1.

So far, I am enjoying the contrast between the high school scenes and the scenes of the present, and I also like the contrast between how innocent and shiny the high school scenes are, and how muted and poignant the present scenes.

The way Show moves between the idyllic charm of the past, to the more muted tones of the present, is sometimes sudden and abrupt - like the way the lilting music suddenly cuts off - and I feel that that is done intentionally, to amplify the contrast between the two realities, especially from Tsumugi's point of view.

I think that's a nice touch.

It gives me heartachey type feels for what our characters have lost, and yet at the same time, I feel like I'm starting to maybe-just-maybe have hope that that joy that they'd lost, will be re-ignited in the present.

We spend almost all our time from Tsumugi's perspective, so I feel like I'm more connected to her, than our male lead Sou, in a way.

I like how she's bright and cheerful without coming across (to my eyes anyway) as try-hard; it really feels like her sunny disposition is part of her, and even in the present, where everything feels more muted, I feel like Tsumugis' innately positive nature comes through.

And, when we learn about how she and Sou had broken up, where Sou had told her via text that he'd found someone else, she doesn't even seem bitter about it; she just seems rather wistful and sad, when it comes to mind.

She's warm and positive with the people around her, and seems genuinely excited about moving into a new home, potentially with Minako, her boyfriend, who, we soon find out, also happens to have been besties with Sou, back in school.

I'm glad for Tsumugi, that she seems pleasantly happy and settled in her life now.

She's on the cusp of making her job at Tower Records a permanent one, she's about to settle on a new home, and she's in a stable, cordial romantic relationship with a nice guy.

It's not bad at all, really.

He doesn't even get upset, when Tsumugi shares that she thinks she saw Sou at the train station; he's just quietly bothered on his own.

And even then, it's more to do with his own friendship with Sou, than him feeling jealous of any space that Sou might still occupy in Tsumugi's heart.

Sure, Tsumugi's relationship with Minako does come across as rather placid and tame, but.. that may not be a bad thing, to have a pleasantly warm and cordial relationship with a supportive, kind husband, I think?

But of course, this is a drama, and so, I'm guessing that Tsumugi's never fully gotten over Sou, and this story might well be about following Tsumugi and Sou on their journeys, as they make their way back to each other.

I don't know how I feel right now, about a potential reunion between them, since Minako seems like a genuinely nice guy, and I'd hate for Tsumugi to hurt him by breaking up with him for Sou, but.. let's see how Show handles it.

So far, my gut tells me that Show will take care of it in a way that won't be offensive.

Also, even though I'm saying that I think Minako would make a very decent husband, I do like watching Tsumugi and Sou together, in the high school flashbacks; they look so happy.

Also, based on the information we're given this episode, I feel like I can understand why Sou broke up with her the way he did.

As a young man on the cusp of adulthood, it must have been devastating to be told that he would lose his hearing completely, and that there was nothing he could do to prevent that from happening.

I can imagine his future crumbling before his eyes, and I can also imagine how he would hate for Tsumugi to see him as pathetic, &/or decide to stay with him out of pity.

I'm guessing that it was his last bit of pride, to want to be remembered by Tsumugi as healthy and whole, even if it meant that she might hate him for dumping her like that.

The scene at the end of the episode, where Tsumugi and Sou finally come face to face, is powerfully played.

On a tangent, I will say that I'm confused about the part where Sou seems unable to speak at all, because it's not like he's lost the ability to speak, right? He's lost his sense of hearing, but his ability to speak is intact?

And so, even if he can't hear, based on his many years of experience speaking, he should still be able to talk, even if the words might sound rather garbled, thanks to his inability to hear himself?

I thought it was strange that he would appear so desperate to communicate with Tsumugi, but not even attempt to speak, even though I'm sure he remembers how.

I wonder if Show will shed more light on this, or.. are we to assume that Sou has also lost his ability to speak? I'm curious about this.

That said, it was a very powerful scene, with the pain, frustration and desperation written all over Sou's face, and the confusion, shock and heartbreak written on Tsumugi's.

I'm very curious to see how Tsumugi reconnects with Sou going forward, especially since he seems so reluctant to see her now.

However, I'm daring to hope that things won't actually be sad and weepy, in Show's treatment of it all, even though the situation is a poignant one.

I'm feeling pretty encouraged by the breezy, uplifting song that plays at the end of the episode; to my ears, it's pretty stirring, and I'd love to see a renewed connection between Tsumugi and Sou, in exactly this vein. 🥰

E2. Oh, this show. It hurts, but it hurts so good, y'know? 🥲

One of the things I love about this show, is, things seem to move pretty fast, story-wise.

I feel like if this were a kdrama or a c-drama, we'd be spending a lot more time dancing around Tsumugi meeting Sou again, after their run-in outside the train station.

And, Tsumugi would probably be angsting over whether to tell Minato that she's planning to meet Sou (or has already met Sou).

Not here, not in this show.

There's no dancing around, waiting for the right time for Tsumugi to meet Sou again; they just do, quite soon after they first run into each other.

Sou feels that it's only right for him to return Tsumugi's earbud, and then, after that, Tsumugi refuses to only text Sou, and basically won't take no for an answer, when she asks to see him face to face.

I love that. I love that our characters don't hedge for very long, because not only does that make our story move along faster, it also gives me the sense that they are pretty strong characters, at least in not shying away from the difficulty and awkwardness of seeing each other again.

On a more macro level, I like that this story feels thoughtfully told.

Like in the flashback at the top of the episode, we hear Sou say in voiceover, that at this time, all they talked about was silly things; it's the time spent with the person you like, that is meaningful.

That feels quite profound, actually; the more I think about it, the more it feels like there's some truth to that.

Quality conversation is important too, sure, but also, it's not necessarily the things that you say to each other that leaves an indelible mark in your life; it can simply be the time spent joyfully in each other's company.

I really like these little nuggets of thought and reflection that come through, in the writing.

That opening flashback really paints a happy picture of Sou and Tsumugi, happy together, and ready to take on life and the world at large, with each other for company - even if it meant having a long-distance relationship.

In that moment, they look invincible, almost - and that's exactly when Sou first starts to hear the ringing in his ears.

Oof. What a steep fall, from the highest of highs, to the lowest of lows. 😭

I really appreciate that we get to see a lot of things from Sou's perspective, this episode.

The way he stalls, before admitting that there's something wrong, to his mother; the way he talks about going for multiple tests; the way he watches, as Mom cries.

These highlights really bring out what a difficult season this must have been, for him, as a young man who should've been focusing on simpler things, like school.

That scene in the park, where he makes the decision not to tell Tsumugi about his condition, is really poignant too.

I was mistaken; he didn't keep it from her in order to protect his pride. He'd actually planned to tell her.

He'd ultimately decided to keep it from her, because he couldn't bear to disappoint her and make her sad.

He'd seen his mother be heartbroken for him, and he didn't want Tsumugi to be heartbroken for him too. And, with the way she naturally gravitates to voice and sound, he didn't want to force her to have to give that up, on his account.

Oof. What a lonely decision this must have been, for Sou.

That scene of him hurrying off from the park, because he could barely hold in his tears, is just so heartbreaking. 😭

Another thing I appreciate about our story, is that both Sou and Tsumugi are honest about their meeting with their respective partners.

At least, I assume that the girl with Sou is his girlfriend. Also, it's weird to see the actress, Kaho, in this role, because she'd also been the second female lead in First Love: Hatsukoi. It feels like a weird mashing of story universes, somehow. 😅

Sou doesn't mention (yet?) that Tsumugi had been his girlfriend in high school, but I'm willing to accept the idea that he's too overwhelmed in the moment, to be in a properly explaining sort of mood.

Tsumugi, however, is refreshingly upfront and candid with Minato, that she's meeting Sou.

The only time she waits to tell him, is after she'd run into Sou outside the train station, and been too overwhelmed to talk about it.

Afterwards, though, she does tell Minato about it, and then, as we hear her tell her brother, Minato is fully aware that she's going to meet Sou, later on.

I also really like how forthcoming Tsumugi is, in showing care and concern, when she's with Sou.

She doesn't come across as being condescending or anything; I just genuinely believe that she's interested in his wellbeing, and wants to catch up with him, to communicate, and see how he's doing.

Like, when Sou moves to leave after returning her earbud, Tsumugi won't take it sitting down, and is quick to run after him, and grab onto his sleeve, and ask him to sit down with her, just for a while, because she'd really like to talk with him.

I really like this about her. She's so sincere, in such a wholesome way. 🥰

I love that she makes Sou smile, just by being herself, as she tries to talk to the app, but forgets what she wants to say because she gets nervous. 😁

I love that as the ice breaks, Sou's starting to smile again, and there's a softness in his gaze that tells me that he's relaxed in Tsumugi's presence.

There's a wistfulness about him too, which lends such a layer of poignance to the time that they spend together. It's quite perfect, honestly.

As for Minato, I'm not super sure, but I'm starting to feel like he's backing away from the situation, to maybe let Sou have the chance to reclaim the space that he'd left in Tsumugi's life, when he'd broken up with her.

I mean, Minato's declining to meet Sou, even though Tsumugi insists that he should, and instead, tells Tsumugi to send his regards instead, when she next sees him.

Also, I'd originally been a little upset at him too, for not telling Tsumugi about Sou losing his hearing, when he found out.

But, when Tsumugi asks him why he hadn't said anything, I actually find his answer - that she'd be uneasy if she knew about it - quite reasonable.

After all, Tsumugi and Sou broke up a long time ago; what was she supposed to have done, if Minato had told her about it?

Plus, he does get brownie points from me, for telling Tsumugi about the sign language class that she could sign up for.

I mean, this is something that would help Tsumugi communicate with Sou, so again, it kinda feels like Minato's giving Tsumugi the chance to get back together with Sou, if she wants to?

In any case, I love that Tsumugi actually goes to the sign language class, and is determined to learn to sign, so that she can communicate better with Sou.

That's such a sweet gesture, isn't it, especially since, at this point, it's unclear just how present Sou is going to be, in her life.

I love that, once again, she won't take no for an answer, and insists that Sou meet her face to face, so that she can talk to him.

And I love that we can see that she's been practicing hard, for this, because there is a grace about her hands, even as she slowly signs her various sentences to him.

More than that, I really love that Sou tells her properly, about his condition, and Tsumugi is quick to make the connection to the last conversation they'd shared at the park, and understand and apologize for how her words had burdened Sou, and created painful memories for him.

Aw. And, she says this even before Sou tells her that he didn't actually have someone else, when he'd broken up with her. That she'd been the one whom he meant, when he'd said that he had someone he loved.

Guh. 🥹💔 That is so poignant and beautiful at the same time.

They both start crying, and it really feels like an important moment of catharsis for them.

She's finally released from the belief that he'd dumped her for someone else, and he's finally released from this secret and burden that he's been carrying all these years too.

The way Sou smiles through his tears, is so very poignant, beautiful and wistful, at the same time.

It's like, in this moment, we're seeing the old Sou, all over again; it feels like this is the him that we knew from high school, and that's so wonderful and sad at the same time.

Wonderful because how lovely to see the old him, still there, and sad because, at this point, we don't know whether the old him is here to stay, or ready to disappear under the surface of his sadness again, once this moment - and the afterglow of this moment - is over. 💔

As we close out the episode, this bubble of sweetness and nostalgia looks set to be interrupted, as Sou and Tsumugi's goodbye is interrupted by Minato's arrival on the scene.

I'm curious to see Sou's reaction, upon realizing that Tsumugi's now dating Minato, and I'm also curious to see the two friends reunite, after such a long time of being cut off from each other's lives.

I'm ready and eager to see how Show continues to unfold our story next, so I'd call this an excellent start.

Next episode notes will be out on: Tuesday, 2 May 2023!

*This show will be covered on the Early Access Plus (US$10) Tier!*