English Dub Review: Kono Oto Tomare!: Sounds of Life “Becoming Aware”

Overview (Spoilers Below):

Even after their disappointing loss at the recent competition, the koto club members just can’t stay away from the practice. Mr. Takinami gives them a composition he compiled himself that he wants them to perform at the school festival in September. He also warns them to stay up to date on homework lest the vice-principal ban them from performing. So the guys head to Chika’s friend Tetsuki’s house. He’s a very good tutor.

Back at school, preparations for the festival are in`2 full swing. Chika’s class is doing a cafe, while the three goofballs are doing a classic haunted house. Takezo and Hiro are put in the shopping group, and Hiro slowly starts to realize she may have feelings for him. Satowa, as well, seems to be falling for Chika more and more. High school is fun, but it can also get messy, and it looks like we’re in for a messy few episodes coming up.

Our Take:

Coming off the season premiere last week, I was wondering where the show would choose to focus its new season on. Upon reflection, the premiere really seemed like it belonged as the finale of last season, what with the competition getting the final results and everything. It feels like a slow start to the second season, and this episode didn’t necessarily help things. Becoming Aware is a fine episode of Kono Oto Tomare!, but it certainly doesn’t jump-start much of an ongoing plot.

It does cement just how serious things are getting for the club, though. When everyone comes into practice the very next day after losing a big competition, it says something. I love how involved Mr. Takinami is getting now, also. We’re reminded that he comes from a lineage of musical genius, and it appears that he’s following in their footsteps, even arranging a custom piece he wants the club to play. I guess that’s the price for having an advisor who’s actually involved: they get a say in how the club is run. They even have to listen to a giant mountain of music he brings in!

The first half of the episode mainly takes place at Tetsuki’s house, as he tutors the group of rude boys who come to him for homework help, food, and lodgings. He’s a cool character, and it’s nice to see another male figure who’s as emotionally mature as Takezo. While the guys get a lot of fun stuff to do this episode, Satowa and Hiro are relegated to generic romance. As she eats lunch with a group of girls who are only talking about guys, Hozuki realizes she has no idea how to talk like them. She’s been so focused on the koto that her social skills are lacking. Hiro has plenty of those, but it’s still hard for her to come to terms with the fact that she’s crushing on the guy she used to call girly nicknames behind his back. It kind of sucks that the show is giving the only two female main characters screen time only in relation to the male main characters they like, but I’m invested enough in these characters to cross my fingers and hope they get better, more nuanced treatment as this season continues.

The English dub continues on with its excellent cast, including Alejandro Saab doing a great job as Takezo and Amber Lee Connors really killing it as Satowa. “Don’t you have lives outside of koto?” Sassy Takinami is the best Takinami. “I’m not gonna make it; go on without me.” Dang, Tetsuki should charge these guys for how terrible at homework they are. “What’s the deal with X and Y? Why are they hiding their identities instead of living more confidently?” Still, at least Chika is hilarious in his ignorance. “This is just my resting expression.” Satowa is funny, too. They’re a good match!

The second episode of season two may not bring much forward momentum, but it slowly lets us dip our toes back into the world of Kono Oto Tomare!. The club is continuing to progress in their attitudes toward music, and it’s going to be exciting to see how serious they can get with the help of Mr. Takinami.