Act-age

I kind of appreciate Riku going down with his pride actually. It fixes the issue of Kei being too overbearing and his presence being needed to make her not freak out the audience, and even if he had gone submissive Kei isn't using the emotions of a woman scorned who still wants to be with her husband, she's using her intense hatred of her dad so it might have gotten in the way of her being 'seduced', the current interpretation of their play seems more of the lines of "Fine, I'll give you the fan, just...leave me alone..."

I don't really care who wins or loses though, Kei and Riku admittedly don't have a lot to lose since Kei's acting will probably stick in the minds if critics no matter how things go and Riku is an international star, Araya will probably still get good publicity for his group so the only loser will be Chiyoko. But in the end I want a fair match so I'll have to wait and see their performance.

And oh yeah I caught up to Act-Age in 3 days, Yonagi has an impressive amount of chemistry with everyone, though I don't particularly ship her with anyone.

89! Little transition chapter, though the tension is still very much there. Kei can control herself as long as she's in actress mode… I guarantee nothing once the play is over though.

…Huh? I was pretty sure I had commented on last week's chapter or the previous one…

Anyway, we reach the climax of Team A's play, where they're in a bit of a bind cause there's seemingly no way they can transition from "everyone is in Blood Knight mode" to "Princess forgives everyone and quells the flames." We finally get a bit of Ichiko's point of view, which had been neglected until now − the point of view of a former child star much like Chiyoko. I do wonder if the series is gonna bring up her connection with Yuki from the Asagaya pilot, because it seems to deliberately ignore that part so far.

On another note, Kei was featured in several ads for JVC earphones. After the fake Daikukoten site and the Weekly Playboy cover, they really want to blur the lines, eh.

Regardly the now very likely anime, I might want to see Studio Orange tackle it… the reason being that Beastars episode 4 felt a lot like what an Act-age episode could be to me.

Chapter 94, where we learn a bit more about Hanako's past… and Kei's dad. Talk about a Dysfunction Junction between her and Kei… also, the dad was a bit of an asshole apparently. Who'd have thunk.

So Hanako's having Kei go dangerously method for the sake of her own personal catharsis. You know, as reasonable people do.

Yes, who could have seen the deadbeat dad suddenly bailing on a relationship.

It was obvious from the get go but this chick unironically needs mental help, I can blame that her classmate for backing away from...all of that.

Kei's terrible dad doesnt help matters either

Alas, this is manga and Japan, so There Are No Therapists. =[

I do wonder in what circumstances she met again with Kei's dad on the day of the mom's funeral. Going by what she said, he had already left her at that point.

Unless he abandonned his children and Hanako on the same day.

Edited by Lyendith on Dec 17th 2019 at 4:14:17 PM

I assumed she's just bullshitting Kei to get a reaction.

Seems a bit too extreme to just be bullshit, but maybe.

Chapter 95! Where "Princess Iron Fan" is now looking for something to lash out at, no matter what. I really don't see this ending well.

Chapter 97. It's almost the end, and Kei apparently chose to hit the brakes and snap out of her character for the last few scenes. Maybe that's bad for her performance, but that's probably better for her right now.

However, she might be scared to go back to method acting after that.

Chapter 98. Yep, they actually invoked The Power of Friendship in a freaking stage play. But god, that was brilliantly done. By deviating from the script, they lost the contest but they saved Kei… and maybe Hanako in the process.

It's an interesting reversal of what usually happens − Kei going off-script to help a fellow actor.

Chapter 99.

Another development I didn't quite expect (though maybe I did in retrospect) − Kei ended up realizing that the feelings Hanako wanted her to channel were Hanako's own. Now whether that means she has forgiven her is another story. And now I'm worried that Sumiji will pull a similarly dirty trick to push Chiyoko beyond her limits.

Happy colorful anniversary to the manga. I quite like the big two-page spread for how much personality the actors convey with how they sit.

As for the story, I'm rooting for B Team here. Victory for emotionally healthy directing!

I'm a bit bummed that all we saw of Kei and Hanako's conversation was the former apologizing. I didn't expect her to strangle Hanako or anything, but at least some explaining, I don't know…

Excited for Team B's play though. I already like how Chiyoko's outfit and attitude are the opposite of Kei's near the start of the play.

Usazaki sure knows how to compose striking color pages.

Given how much clash of opposites material we've got here, it certainly behooves them to lean right in. Really looking forward to where this goes next.

So Kuroyama has plans for not just Kei, but Chiyoko and Riku as well. Araya can just keep sniffing people and doing stage plays, I guess.

I caught the calling-back to Chiyoko's bit in chapter six before the flashbacks made it explicit, and I'm eating that shit up.

And of course, there's Kei being transfixed by the sight of Chiyoko, who was annoyed earlier that kohai wasn't noticing her. The traditional shonen rival-shipping is going strong.

I swear if Kei and Chiyoko aren't married by the end of the series I'll burn my nonexistent volumes. Can't wait to see the arc where Kei will have to play a young girl in love.

Anyway, that's an… interesting approach. That trademark fake angelic smile looks downright sadistic in this context.

Edited by Lyendith on Feb 22nd 2020 at 12:32:40 PM

Tired: I'm gonna direct a great play.

Wired: I'm gonna direct a great play that kicks the other play's ass.

Inspired: I'm gonna direct a great play that kicks the other play's ass, rehabilitates their star actor's reputation, and gives their director therapy.

Yeah, Sumiji reminds us why he's not to be trifled with.

I'm a bit let down by the Team B play, though. Not how the play itself unfolded − that part was brilliant − but rather the fact that unlike Team A's, we lived this one almost entirely from the outside, through Team A and Sumiji's commentary. It made it seem less impactful and kinda… rushed?

But on the other hand they couldn't exactly show us the entire play twice so… I'm not sure what a better course of action would have been.

We did get some backstage chatter from the Team B actors last chapter, but overall I think there's just not as much going on with the interior view as there was in Team A's play. Nobody's getting overwhelmed by their emotions or having to desperately ad-lib, they just worked things out in rehearsal like normal people and can deliver their performance without hitches or worry.

I totally understand feeling it was over too fast, though.

I love that Kei's only objection to having a torrid love affair to get her part down is that it would take too long.

And her solution to not being able to portray love is to bask in Chiyoko's presence. Hmmm.

See, I knew that once she'd have to understand love Chiyoko would be her prime source material.

And yeah, her reaction to Riku's plan is hilarious. It's those kinds of comically misplaced reactions that make her so great.

Still a bit too much "tell don't show" in the first half of the chap but that was kind of inevitable here. Let's see how they overturn this…

…Uuh, okay, did we skip a chapter? >.> Seems like that's it for the PIF arc after all. Kinda anticlimactic.

Buuut that aside, this chapter was hilarious. And of course, Chiyoko also won the popularity poll. All according to keikaku. Glad to see Nanao and Yuki get some recognition too.

PS: That ChiyoKei page though… the authors know what their fans want, don't they.

While the audience stand-in is watching, no less. I foresee a bright career for that kid in the field of Death Island femmeslash.

Bit disappointed we didn't get to see Riku and Araya throw down like idiots, but the impression battle should be fun. Especially since it'll make Riku feel dunked on. I'm expecting Kei to win to get back some mojo after losing the play, and also suggesting that maybe she does better if you don't headfuck her in the daddy issues right before the performance? Like psychological health is good or something?

Anyway, the medalists for the popularity poll aren't exactly surprising. Main rival takes first, Actual protag takes second, memorable and prominent secondary character takes third. Wish we got more than six places. I'm curious where, say, Riku and Kuroyama shook out. Regardless, I'm digging the weird plaid zombie aesthetic they've got going on.

I checked out the Japanese version for the full popularity poll:

7. Ôgami Riku
8. Kuroyama Sumiji
9. Karasuyama Takemitsu
10. Yamanoue Hanako
11. Amachi Shin'ichi
12. Iwao Yuujirou
13. Watado Ken
14. Asahi Hina
15. Usazaki Shiro (1500 votes!)
16. Shiraishi Sou
17. Yushima Akane
18. Asano Ichiko
19. Aota Kametarou
20. Unnamed film director
21. Minamoto Masaki
22. Wakatsuki Sen
23. Arishima Ayumi
24. Yoshioka Arata
25. Hoshi Arisa
26. Matsuki Tatsuya (the writer)
27. Kinashi Kanna
28. Tezuka Yukiji
29. Yonagi Rei
30. Tenkyuu Troupe Member C (?)

Rei and Rui being so low is freaking criminal. =[