In Disk 3 of Maria Watches Over Us Season 4, we turn our eyes towards Touko and, for the very first time, take a good, long look at her.
Until this moment, Yumi (and hopefully we,) have had our opinion shifting so rapidly that we’re really hard put to know just *who* Touko is. And, despite her best intentions, Yumi finds that she doesn’t really understand her at all.
Like Sei, Touko has a secret. Like Sei, Touko has learned to hide it in a way that distracts people from even realizing that there is a secret that is being hidden. And on Christmas, like Sei, Touko does something that changes lives. Interesting, when you think about it that way, huh? ;-)
As I read the novels, what really moved me was Noriko’s reactions to Touko. Her innate understanding of her unlikely friend brings tears to my eyes even now. I swear Noriko cries more on Touko’s behalf than for any other reason.
Disk 3 would be impossible to watch without knowing that Disk 4 was there. But it is. Phew.
Ratings:
Art – 7
Characters – 10
Story – 10
Yuri – 2
Loser Marimite Fan – somewhere between a million and a billion
Overall – 9
There are so many kinds of love touched upon in this series. And, like Sailor Moon, it holds a special place in my heart, because I love so many things about it.
Oh, and, by the way – can you *believe* that I am reviewing the English-language version of this series? How freaking cool is that? I’m going to send chocolates to RightStuf next Valentine’s Day, see if I don’t. :-)
Noriko has always been the logical level headed person. In the second season she was always calm and collected even with the trials with Shimako.It’s nice to see her grown to a person that can let out her emotions, especially to the people she love and fully accepts it.
I would like to point out also(and as warning to those who watched Marimite in a not legal way). After watching these episodes, I noticed that they fixed/improved on some of the mistakes in the drawings of the characters shown on it’s initial broadcast TV. So if you love Marimite, go buy the DVD.
Thank you Erica for all your effort.
@Insipis – You have got a better eye than I do. I get so caught up in the story, I forget to notice the art.
:-)
I am so glad that we have this chance to see this officially released here. I honestly never expected it back in 2004 when the series came out.
@Erica Friedman- The most obvious are the scenes in the first half of “sigh of the red rose” and some faces in the Christmas party.
I hope Nozomi would pick-up the Live-action movie dist. rights as well.