The new Love Live spinoff began airing July 2nd! A lot people (myself included) were worried it would be a blatant cash grab with knockoff characters, but I think it's shaping up to be really good. (In other words, I saw the pilot and got HYPED) Some of the girls have similar character traits (Chika's Honoka-like pep and small business parents, Dia's Eli-like insistence that there be no idols, Ruby's Hanayo-like interest in idoling, Riko's Maki-like pianism
), but imo those are more of recurring LL thematic elements (alongside "deep down doesn't everyone want to be an idol") (Also it's probably still too soon to say how similar anyone is). Really I think all the new girls are beautiful and wonderful and I love them so much
The new seaside setting works really well (in the first episode alone, they took boat rides, went diving, and had a heart-to-heart on the beach in the sunset
), the music is still really great, and I just can't wait for more episodes so I can get to know these girls better and watch them fall in lesbian love with each other form deep and fulfilling friendships!
Who else is watching? What are your thoughts?
I was anxious about Sunshine being a cheap cashin on the success of the original, but I ended up really excited after the first episode! Probably my biggest surprise was Dia, actually. I thought she was going to be the typical STUBBORN STUDENT COUNCIL PRESIDENT like Eli was in the original, but they threw in a bunch of little details to make it clear that she is trying waaaay too hard at it. :V
Also the first episode did a lot more to introduce the characters from the start. The original Love Live was a pretty slow starter in comparison, though you could chalk that up to them having to explain the whole concept of school idols as well. I also laughed a lot more than I did with the original LL, especially with the form in the puddle and Riko turning Chika down at the end of the episode.
In other news You is best girl