Pretend Like It's the First Time

This episode is simply beautiful, the art direction, the plot, the argument that is used to develop the main character of the chapter, I love the role that the music has and the weight that is given when developing and expressing the moments both physical and psychological. Regarding the characters, the ending is extremely tragic and moving, leaving a message capable of creating catharsis in the viewer using the premise of "the story of something that could have been." The animation at no time presents a decadence, and on the contrary is used to better express what is being seen on the screen, telling a melancholic but moving message.

Dude. This episode. After the shocker that was episode 6, this was can be seen as a slow episode. But nah, this is just the antidote that Arcane needed. A constant complaint I see on this show is that "oh, the pacing is too fast". However, this episode takes a step back and shows us what Arcane has up its sleeves. It's so heartbreaking to see what could've been. The pacing is perfect. This is one of my favorite episodes of the series as it TAKES THE TIME to give really well written character development. Also, it fills in the gaps that act ii did not address really well. Really good stuff. Bravo.

Ill keep it short. I really really enjoyed this episode because, arguably for the first time this season, the story of this episode is focused and relatively simple to follow.

That creates space to breath. And, importantly, space to focus on the characters themselves instead of the plot developments. This season has been hectic and chaotic and, while incredibly awesome, it has left me personally little space to really emotionally connect in new ways. I still got emotional, but mostly on emotional currency build in season 1.

This episode creates space for that and essentially creates new emotional currency to spend later on (or in this same episode).

Won't even kid this might be the best episode of television I've ever seen. I'm no snob and I probably haven't watched enough for that claim to have any actual weight but for real this episode is perfectly executed and beautiful. No matter who you are, you have to acknowledge that love is at the very core of everything we are as human beings, and this episode is the pure embodiment of that concept to me. Every single aspect brings together this heartwarming and heartbreaking story of a love that never was. The music is some of the best to come out of this show, and the animation is gorgeous as usual, but certain painted backgrounds and stylized sections of animation are especially worthy of praise here. Even though I agree with some folks that the episodes after this had a few fails, I seriously think that the experience this single episode gives a viewer is, on its own, enough of a reason for the entire show to exist.

The show starts taking a turn to high conceptuality from here. The animations deliver the high concept so well that those abstract places could only be described through those animations and my words falter to deliver the job. However I promise you thst this episode has a huge surprise for you. This episode focuses very strongly on the characters. I could never ever EVER have possibly imagined that the show would go that far in that direction but it did and it delivered it so well that i think anyone who watched it would've had tears in their eyes or at least had eyes precipitation. The use of music and animation style work synergistically to do the job. Arguably the best episode of the show 10/10.