I like Your Lie in April. Because of that, I feel it's necessary to be critical of it.
Music-based shows have a innate advantage to their setups. They have a large catalogue of musical pieces to work off of, of which are tied directly to the show's own story. They typically boast well-made visuals to compliment their focus on directly stimulating the senses. By virtue of existing, they also have free tickets to make statements regarding the arts, emotions, the human condition, beauty and passion. However, the two greatest advantages they have involve silence - the absense of dialogue and the absense of music.
It feels like Your Lie in April is fighting with itself. One part struggles to be seen and heard, blaring its soundtrack whenever it can, both in the calm everyday interactions an in the sakuga-soaked concert scenes. The other wants to be understood, desparately explaining every minute detail of every single character in every single scene. I've seen extremely brief moments of where those parts stood alone, and those moments were breathtaking. Yet, the next immediate moment would suck me back out.
When I want to get into the concert scenes, they keep getting interrupted by constant cuts to reaction faces upon reaction faces. I mentioned this before, how this show, which claims music is capable of speaking more than words, ironically narrates exposition and poetics over its own music. Conversely, when characters are speaking heavy lines, the soundtrack and visuals seem obsessed in making sure we fully understand what's going on. I enjoy theatrics where the audiovisuals compliment the plot at hand, but something's off in this case. Perhaps it's the dialogue and music fighting to both be heard. Perhaps it's the characters and the set both fighting to be seen.
As an example, this episode was a very opportune episode to not have an opening. It could have continued straight into the main episode's body without disrupting its established tone. The various characters could have doing their silly jokes to soften the mood. I'm fine with that, as it reflects the heavy tone of the scenario where the characters desparately try to keep their spirits up. Though, that would just be a supposition. You could take away the monologues and inner thoughts, replacing them with moments of silence. That'll give us, the audience, a chance to interpret individual scenes. Imagine if Kousei was nearly muted out, leaving us to guess at whether he's falling back into depression or trying to psyche himself into performing. What if Hiroko held onto her own thoughts, leaving us with the visual of her just looking over Kousei as she did two years ago? And thoughout all this, if Kousei really did feel like he lost his music, what if the show managed to go silent with its soundtrack, reflecting how Kousei's world was going dull again, if even for just a moment?That's not what happens though.
I hate the idea that art is subjective. It denies the ability to argue and shoots down any attempt to discuss any piece of work. There doesn't need to be one true meaning to anything, but that doesn't mean there shouldn't be a chance to at least understand the material we're consuming. In the case of Your Lie in April, it constantly gives the audience these answers, leaving little to discuss or think about. Everything is as they are, and there's no wiggle room for interpretation.
The one fear Kaori has is being forgotten, which is the reason why she tried to hard to be heard. Almost ironically, I fear that this anime will be forgotten, as thus far, there's nothing to remember this anime by other than moments. Just...vignettes of disconnected moments, passing jokes and a buttload of tears. I remember hearing so much praise two years ago. It was quite decisive actually, with the show being regarded as either a brilliant tear factory or utter crap. Since then, other shows have entered the spotlight and just as quickly left. And now, here I am, one episode from the end fearing that it won't be as impactful as it makes itself out to be.
Was it because I set my expectations to high? Was it because I was spoiled a while back, thereby allowing me to observe the show's overall workings as opposed to becoming invested in its story? Is it because I've watched a number of other dramatic shows, in some ways numbing me to any emotional investment? Maybe it's because I like shows that are more atmospheric and quiet as opposed to loud and obvious. Thinking back, at least for me, the greatest shows I've watched in the realm of dramas have me thinking years down the line "I wonder what happened there" or "I wonder what they were thinking here." These are shows with a richness to themselves, providing just as much explanations as unexplained mysteries that can slowly be uncovered upon each successive rewatch. Moments are great, but they shouldn't define a show. They're great in creating memorable scenes as momuments to the show's whole, but it doesn't make a show rewatchable by itself.
Perhaps the greatest tragedy is for a show to be watched once, then be left to gather dust. I don't want this to happen to Your Lie in April, as it deserves much more than that. I want to see this show reach even greater heights, though I'm sure that Your Lie in April is set on its course to the end. I wish the show was slower, taking its time to let us observe and listen to what it was trying to do. I wanted it to take its time, easing us into its characters and story. I'm not giving up yet, as in this show still lies great potential to prove to me it deserves the rank it has on this site, as well as the praise I've heard it receive two years ago. I want this show to prove me wrong. |