Prettycatchy's blog!: AKB0048 Ep 3

Episode 3 starts out with Nagisa, Yuka, and Orine summarizing what has happened to them so far in one line. They are surprised to see so many girls that have been accepted into the selection round.

The person who walks in is Katagiri Tsubasa.

Orine is surprised to hear the word "manager". (To those who don't know, the manager position in AKB48 is held by Togasaki, who has helped Aki-P create AKB48 from the ground up whether it be finding the location for the theater to be built, listening to fans' feedback, or delivering important announcements. He is revered by AKB48 members, and fans alike for all his hard work. It's only fitting that the importance of the manager position is also reflected in this anime. Of course recently, Takamina has become general manager of AKB48 as announced in the shuffle at Tokyo Dome.)

Tsubasa explains that they will be undergoing the selection process, and only those who pass will become understudies (kenkyuusei), and will be allowed to go to Akibastar, where AKB0048's stage is. (It's pretty obvious why AKB0048's home planet is called "Akibastar" because AKB48's theater resides in Akihabara, more specifically the top floor of the Don Quixote building.)

She says that the theme for the audition is "Beginner", so whoever "performs" this song successfully will pass. Yuka loves the song, but Orine is concerned because of the choreography. Makoto surprisingly has confidence that she can pull it off. Tsubasa tells the girls to pay attention, and that they will be undergoing intensive training. Kojiharu runs in, and hands Nagisa a microphone. Confused, Nagisa touches the switch on the microphone, and it turns into a lighsaber. Kojiharu takes it back and says the following:

Everyone is so surprised. They're going to learn how to fight.

While everyone is being whisked away by Kojiharu to the training area, Sonata is left alone in the room with Tsubasa. Sonata tugs on Tsubasa's skirt. Tsubasa doesn't know who she is, but Sonata says her name, and that she's going to participate in the selection round.

Tsubasa turns around to see Sonata give her a determined look.

Tsubasa smiles, and allows Sonata to participate. (More like, Tsubasa appreciates the determination Sonata is showing because she'll definitely need it if she wants to become a member of AKB0048.)

After the opening, we see the girls undergoing intensive "training", which consists of learning how to fight robots, and shooting guns properly.

Nagisa: "These are 'idol' lessons?!"

Despite being totally wiped from the day's training, Tsubasa tells the girls that AKB0048 will be holding a guerilla concert in 10 days, and they must continue to train until they are able to protect the successors without fail.

Makoto is worried that they'll have to fight, but Tsubasa says that they'll just be bodyguards. Makoto says it's impossible, and Tsubasa is quick to point out that if you find it impossible, then your journey is over because if you want to perform on planets that are under the Entertainment Ban, then you have to know how to fight and defend yourselves. Tsubasa says this because if they do join AKB0048, but still cannot protect themselves, then it will cost them their lives. Tsubasa points out that the last song at the concert is "Beginner", and that the girls must hold the fort until the end of that song. That is the selection round.

The girls head to the showers commenting on how dark it all seems now. They get a surprise that there is rust in the showers, and Takamina explains how to properly use the showers. Of course, Makoto gets stuck with the shower that is always rusty, according to Yukirin.

After the showers, everyone is in the cafeteria, but are too tired to eat. Sayaka walks in with steak, and hands it to all the girls, saying that taking care of an idol's body is very important, and you have to eat to maintain it.

In real life, Sayaka is so serious about her body that it's been written about in an AKB48 song called 16nin shimai no uta (16 sisters' song). Here are Sayaka's parts: #1, #2, and #3.

Yuka is about to tell Sayaka that she's too tired to eat, but Sayaka says that this is also part of their training.

Sonata and Suzuko suffering through their meal.

Makoto can't take the richness of the fat in the meat, and Orine feels bad because she's supposed to be on a diet. In the meantime, you see Mayuyu devouring steak after steak.

After eating, the girls are surprised to see what they are sleeping in: capsule beds. Suzuko foresees a restless night. Makoto doesn't think she'll make it back alive. Since Makoto grumbles all the time, Sonata decides to call her "Grumbly". Orine says that she didn't want it to be this way, she just simply wanted to be an idol. Yuka adds on to that saying that she just wants to sing, dance, and sparkle on stage, not sweat while fighting. Chieri tells Yuka to quit whining, and that if she's going to have that kind of attitude, then she should leave and not waste anyone's time in this selection round. Chieri decides to sleep somewhere else, and Nagisa follows her. Yuka follows Nagisa to tell her to give up on Chieri. Nagisa firmly believes in their dream as children, but Yuka tells her that Chieri is not the same person as she was before.

The two of them hear music nearby, and notice the AKB0048 members practicing "Beginner", despite it being really late at night. They are in awe that the members are still practicing, when the selection round lessons ended hours ago. Yuko starts saying that everyone needs to move more smoothly because the dance has so many quick movements. It looks like everyone is about to start fighting, so Nagisa unintentionally enters into the practice room, and tells them not to fight. The members find it funny that she thinks they were fighting. Takamina explains that they are simply trying to tell each other what's on their mind, and fix each other's mistakes so that they can put on the best performance possible.

Yuka is surprised to know that there is a difference between fighting, and letting someone know how you feel. Nagisa was also amazed. Yuka and Nagisa then see a bunch of girls walking towards somewhere. When asked where they were going, they said that they're going to see Tsubasa to tell her to stop this training because it never said that the audition would be a battle. They also go on to say that the members get to perform, while they have to fight. Yuka snaps and tells them that the members work twice as hard, and that if they have that kind of attitude then they're just wasting everyone's times. Chieri passes by without saying a word. Yuka swallows hard, since she said the exact same thing Chieri said to her. The other girls leave, and comment how goody-goody and full of themselves Yuka and Nagisa are. Yuka finally understands that Chieri is not wrong, but doesn't know how to feel and starts crying.

Orine, Yuka, and Nagisa go full blast in the training sessions by working together....

...but many of the girls have given up.

We see Chieri practicing assembling her gun, when Mayuyu passes by and asks if Chieri is going to eat. Chieri says she's fine, but Mayuyu tells her that she won't pass the selection round if she keeps this up. I find it interesting that Mayuyu is telling Chieri this, since the real Mayuyu voices Chieri.

The ship gets out of Kirara Drive, and the candidates see live pictures of the people waiting to see AKB0048. Takamina explains that the fans want to see them no matter what the danger, so as AKB0048 members, they need to put on the best show possible to reciprocate the love that their fans give them.

Takamina gathers the girls for the "enjin" or "motivational cheer". Basically, it's what's done before a show to give a boost of energy, confidence, motivation, and excitement for the concert that they will be performing in just a few moments. These words can be found at the beginning of Shonichi.

AKB0048 reach the planet, and start with their famous song, Aitkatta. The candidates are in the outer perimeter, which look pretty desolate.

It starts to rain, and the enemies appear. Tsubasa nicely times the intro words of "Beginner" ("In your position, set") to indicate to the girls to get in position to fight the enemies. During the fight, Beginner is being performed by AKB0048. This is the last song, so these girls need to keep it up, but they are getting blown away by the explosions and weaponry that the enemy is dishing out.

Many of the girls are so traumatized and shattered that they just give up.

During this time, Tsubasa is selecting the candidates that have failed.

I'm surprised Suzuko's calm demeanor looks like this on the battle field, but her and Chieri are still battling hard.

While looking at the battlefield, Nagisa has come to realize that she's no longer the girl she used to be after being away from home for a month and a half. Chieri is still struggling with the fact that Kirara won't glow for her, and what Mayuyu said concerning her not making it passed the selection round. With an enemy approaching nearby, Chieri tells Nagisa that she'll distract it, but Nagisa tells her that she can't go alone. Chieri is determined to protect this concert, since it's because of the concert when they were younger that gave them dreams, and she wants to give dreams to those watching the concert right now.

As Chieri is about to be shot, Nagisa throws a grenade.

Chieri looks back, and lights up to see that Nagisa protected her, and is also fighting as hard as she can.

Just as Chieri is about to go to Nagisa's side, Nagisa is locked on by the enemy. Chieri gets in the way, and is hit. Nagisa thinks that Chieri has died protecting her.

Just when Chieri and Nagisa started to be on the same wavelength, this had to happen. The concert ends, and Chieri opens her eyes. Nagisa is so surprised to see her wake up, and Chieri is not sure if she's actually alive. Nagisa reassures Chieri that she is alive, and Nagisa notices that the "blood" on Chieri is actually from a paintball.

Yuka and the others call Nagisa and Chieri. Tsubasa tells the girls good work, although they are confused about why she's not more concerned as many of the girls have fallen. Tsubasa says that the concert went fine, and the girls are like "ok..." Tsubasa then reveals that the enemies they were fighting were actually disguised machines belonging to AKB0048.

We then see the Great One uttering new words, and the girls standing by agree to inform Tsubasa.

Tsubasa explains to the girls that they were fighting dummies as a test. These "Agressors" were made from captured enemy crafts, so it was pretty much a simulation that the girls were in. They were not in any real danger. The girls are surprised, but Tsubasa explains further that the planet they were on is not under the Entertainment Ban. Tsubasa says that they're just starting out, so they can't be put in a real battle right away.

Tsubasa further says that fighting will only bring hatred and pain, but using it to protect what's important to you is completely different, especially being there for your friends and comrades.

Tsubasa then explains that they have passed the selection round and are now officially the 77th generation understudies of AKB0048. Tsubasa tells them to switch their weapon for a microphone to sing across the galaxy.