Second half begins!
Eps 13
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I found this episode to be a very promising time jump! Kukuru getting "stuck" with a job she doesn't want at Tingaara was a very interesting twist, that perhaps I should have expected. Caught be totally off-guard though. It's hard to tell the motivation behind the director, but with Kukuru being the previous assistant director who did her best to save a dying aquarium, maybe he's expecting her to come up with all the ideas that made Gama Gama such a beloved fixture of the community in their area.

That seems to be the goal of Kukuru's boss as well. He wants enduring aquarium that can become a mainstay, which furthers their research and conservation goals.

I did almost expect Umi to be told by the director that Kukuru's grandfather strongly suggested she be separated from the animal work in order for her to grow. To prevent same outcome when Haebara failed during her apprenticeship. Haebara is in the back, away from the guests. Sure, it's something she wants to do, but I wonder if her attitude from before will prevent her from ever being more than an animal caretaker. She doesn't engage with the guests, didn't want to, and didn't understand their mutual benfit.

Kukuru doing what she doesn't want to do, integrating with the whole of the aquarium, may set her up for long term success. She already knows how to take care of the animals. Her first task, like her boss called her out on, seems like an assignment that ultimately puts Kukuru in a position to know the entire aquarium staff very quickly, coordinate with them, and put her as a bridge across the entire staff and out toward the guests. Maybe the director's goal the whole time?

Overall, this feels like the exact opposite of Shirobako (and also Sakura Quest), and I'm really loving it so far. Instead of everyone getting along and driving through the complexities of a big project, we have conflicting or undermining personalities who get along very poorly. Outright arrogant and nasty in Haebara's case towards Kukuru, and the Chief Shimabukuro clashing with Umi-yan. More like Hanasakur Iroha, but better and more expansive in every way.

It's so much more engaging.

I did think they were going to hold off on bringing Fuuka back.