Okay this was the best episode in the show thus far, but it was even better on re-watch! We had no idea on the first pass that Lily is a transgender girl! That re-contextualized so much that was already incredible in this heart-felt feels trip! If you want to see the next episode's reaction right now, check out our Patreon: www.patreon.com/semblanceofsanity
Easily my favorite episode. With anime being the way it as as a product of japan being the way it is its so amazing to see a trans character actually represented well, and this ir probably one of the best there is. As a trans woman myself I realised immediately that thats what the show was going for with lily this ep once she started going over her backstory. Another aspect of the ep that I think was a deliberate way for them to make it unquestionable that lily is trans was that sakura's shorts for her pyjamas when shes sat with lilly are the colours and pattern of the trans pride flag. Pretty much the only downside to the episode was how it made the trend of transphobia in the anime community more pronounced. For years a section of the anime community has thrown the slur "trap" around at every crossdresser in anime but insisting they werent being transphobic with it, despite the term reflecting a mentality that gets trans people murdered. But then this episode came out and out of the woodwork they crawled to call her a trap and reveal their true colours.
Something that can slip by easily by us non Japanese speakers. Is that Lily is biologically Male and her worst nightmare was going through a male puberty hence why she got so distressed by seeing facial hair.
@@Zimzky91 I remember when the episode first came out, and a lot of people didn’t catch it. Which is funny, because it’s the whole BIG TWIST of the episode. It all hinges on wether or not you realize Masao is a boy name.
I mean you’d think the one beard hair, Sakura asking who this Masao guy was, and Saki laughing at how manly Masao Go sounds would’ve been enough clues. Sure, guy can be gender neutral, but the Saki part later seems to really enforce it’s a masculine name.
I feel like the bros aren't giving Kotaro the credit he deserves. He literally writes and performs all of their songs, manages all of their gigs, and has a method of raising the dead. He may be a smug asshole at times, but like, it's sorta warranted.
Speaking as a trans woman, this scene was done very well. And while it was a little exaggerated what it feels like to have gender dysphoria, it is almost exactly like that IRL, especially if it gets to the point that you are suicidal. Especially if you knew you were trans as a kid. The existential dread and inevitability that your body is going to betray you eventually. I want to give Lily the biggest hug.
They word the cause-of-death very oddly, but since Lily's heart is physically beating out of her chest as a zombie, I assume it was specifically stress-induced heart-attack.
I don't know too many trans characters personally, but I feel like Lily is one of the rare trans characters who I feel is done really well, especially for one who hid her biological gender. It doesn't feel forced in at all and isn't made a big deal of, the worry of growing beard/leg hair was an interesting topic to bring up, and being trans is only a part of her character, where it focused on the bond with Lily and her father. I feel like it would be difficult to write a trans character honestly, just due to the gender aspect. Hide their biological gender for the plot twist "They are trans", can cause pretty big backlash and feel forced in if not hinted properly, while saying they are trans from the get go, can feel like it's a forced character aspect if introduced wrong. So I'm happy Lily ended up being one of my favourites from Zombie Land Saga personally and this is one of my favourite episodes. I even remember voting for Lily in the 2018 anime awards (though can understand why people would be controversial with the choice)
I think the parent/child dynamic really helped with the reveal. Lily's dad is this towering masculine figure, yet he's never shown to have a problem with his child identifying as female. Despite that, during their fight he constantly called her Masao, her masculine birth name, and she strikes back by blaming him for aspects of male puberty. It shows that they were both dealing with the transition imperfectly, and the tragedy of Lily dying is somehow magnified by the fact they weren't able to go through it all the way when Lily clearly had a shot at being supported through it all.
I saw a theory once that said that the show uses CG on their more typical "idol" performances and 2D on their more personal, emotional performances as if they're taking off their masks.
Ah man I'm excited for next week, "Though My Life May Have Ended Once By Some Twist of Fate I Have Risen, and If Song and Dance Are to Be My Fate, Then Carrying the Memories of My Comrades In My Heart As I Sally Forth Shall Be My SAGA" is one of my favorite episodes.
This episode is fucking amazing. Not only uses the zombie gag on its full emotional potential, but it also adresses a character as trans without making that her defining trait. And the father daughter story is just heartbreaking
This is, honest to God, my favorite episode of the show. It catapulted it from another great comedy into a genuinely touching comedy. I love the turn back to 2D for the idol show at the end, I love Lily's dad, and I love how well written this episode is. Lily is a trans icon, and I appreciate how the gang just keeps accepting her as she is. It's beautiful. Next week's episode is probably my second favorite, it's just as amazing.
I love how this episode hits hard on both the pretty niche level of gender issues, and then the wider reaching level of big dad feels, so there's no escaping the tears.
You know, even if you guys didn't touch on that Lily was born a boy (not many people got it the first time either when this episode first aired), but you guys still managed to touch on so many interesting points and even bring p something I didn't really see many touch on. You guys pointing out that the whole hair thing was not only shattering LIly's identity as famous child female Lily, but also possibly threatening her only connection to her dad, as her father was perfectly fine with going on with her identity as a child, but her growing up and the father saying she has to grow out of that someday really threatened her love with her father, in regards to those days where they were happy together. Man, this is why you guys are my fav reactors, you guys don't just react, you really discuss and bring great commentary to a lot of this stuff. Loved seeing you guy's reaction to this one, hope you enjoy what the rest of this show has to offer.
Lily's deadname is so funny to them because it more-or-less means "proper man" which of course is the exact opposite of Lily. The closest thing in English would be like naming your child "Guy Noble"
@@nessesaryschoolthing oh right, there's an English equivalent. We use Andrea here, but the meaning _should_ be the same. Ironically, Andrea is also a name for women, because another country came up with the same name from a different word, so Andrew is probably better
I remember a saying, "It isn't a parent's job to bury their children." The huge stress he must of felt seeing what he assumes was a girl who looked exactly like his daughter.
Oh god the opening puns, but for real though this episode brought me to tears. I was on the verge for about 5 episodes straight, but this one broke me. Great reactions guys.
I know lots of people prefer the earlier episodes, and I agree that they are probably the most entertaining. But these next few episodes where they explore all the characters backstories are just so good, they're easily the best parts of the show in my opinion.
Except that she didnt. You realize that girls have facial hair as well right? Some more than other girls and even some men. Lily doesnt have an issue with being a boy. She has an issue with being noncute, like her dad. + Lily already had a weak heart and was exhausted by her work. Gender never played a role.
Essentially this. I've seen a lot of people react to Lily's death as extremely comedic and exaggerated. While I can't really deny a bit of exaggeration, her death is nothing to scoff at. Gender Dysphoria AND being constantly overworked as a TV star, *AS A CHILD NO LESS,* can build up an extreme amount of stress to the point that it becomes incredibly unhealthy for someone at such a young age, even to the point that death from such amounts of stress is not unrealistic. I'm glad that SOS were able to see Lily's death past the surface level unlike most others.
This episode always gets me too. Especially as a trans person who went through a puberty i hated, and as someone who has dealt with the tragic loss of family members. I love how bittersweet the ending is as well! While he'll never get to know that Lily is still "alive", she made him want to enjoy TV again, even on his own. Oddly more satisfying and heartfelt than them truly reconnecting as father and daughter. I also really appreciate you two being positive about lily being trans. A lot of people were gross about it or in denial when they saw the episode. So its a real breath of fresh air to see people who support trans characters.
Being trans, I can confirm that growing facial hair as a trans girl really can be traumatic. When I hit puberty, I fell into a deep despair and put everything off for years because it all felt pointless. I was always... dishevelled. Finally after coming out, I gotta shave twice a day and it's a real pain in the ass, especially because I'm a clumsy idiot, but I'm alive now. I wish I'd started sooner, but here we are. Bless Lily. She's incredible. Although as you're going to find out, my experiences as a trans person I relate more strongly to another character in the show...
So by the description we know that they know she's trans. Hope we won't have to wait too many episodes for them to readdress it in the discussion, 'cause it really does add a lot.
Ditto to what Kirathian said really. Sad you didn't discuss it, unless I missed it in the discussion somewhere. Hence why she was so shocked at facial hair.
So, I cant help but notice you didnt really bring up the fact that Lily was/is also trans. I'm curious as to your thoughts on that and how it fits into your dissection of her story.
I haven't listened to the discussion yet, but depending on the subtitles they were reading it could be slightly (and I mean slightly) more difficult to infer that she's trans. I remember some people raising a ruckus about it, but I can't remember the details. It's incredibly obvious though, for sure.
It went completely over my head in my first viewing. I thought that all of the shock and laughter was simply about the way she died and her masculine non-stage name, stretched out for the gag. The CR subs didn't help
They missed the punchline of Masao being a boy's name, so the other implications flew over their heads. Also, they don't read youtube comments since there are spoilers everywhere; go on discord and have the mods tell them.
It's weird for me how most viewers find this episode so sad or even the bros saying this is the best episode so far but for me the way she died just killed all the sad atmosphere about her death, maybe I'm cruel or something but I think Lily killing herself or something more realistic would really reach my feelings, but her death kinda reminded of Satou Kazuma dying of shock...
The shock isn't the only reason of her death, it was the final blow It began when Lily became pretty worn out as we can see that she has bags under her eyes and pretty stressed because of her Father/Manager
@@fruitspunchsamuraig6430 To be fair, while you can infer the really heartbreaking reasons for her death from later context, that first scene is definitely... Oddly comedic in nature. I mean, it’s almost like Sakura’s death at the beginning, except of course, the same episode treats it far more seriously, so it feels a bit janky in comparison to, *spoilers* The way Sakura’s death is flipped on it’s head in a much later episode, using the additional context to add actual emotional weight as you KNOW what’s about to happen, after she built herself up out of her depression, you know that hilarious, out of context scene at the beginning suddenly feels like an inevitable train wreck unfolding, before delivering the inevitable gut punch. MUCH better execution of what I think they where attempting on a smaller scale here. It’s still emotional from that point on, but I have to agree that the death made by crack up momentarily before I realised that she straight up died with the cartooney scream and facial expression.
Okay this was the best episode in the show thus far, but it was even better on re-watch! We had no idea on the first pass that Lily is a transgender girl! That re-contextualized so much that was already incredible in this heart-felt feels trip!
If you want to see the next episode's reaction right now, check out our Patreon: www.patreon.com/semblanceofsanity
Easily my favorite episode. With anime being the way it as as a product of japan being the way it is its so amazing to see a trans character actually represented well, and this ir probably one of the best there is. As a trans woman myself I realised immediately that thats what the show was going for with lily this ep once she started going over her backstory. Another aspect of the ep that I think was a deliberate way for them to make it unquestionable that lily is trans was that sakura's shorts for her pyjamas when shes sat with lilly are the colours and pattern of the trans pride flag. Pretty much the only downside to the episode was how it made the trend of transphobia in the anime community more pronounced. For years a section of the anime community has thrown the slur "trap" around at every crossdresser in anime but insisting they werent being transphobic with it, despite the term reflecting a mentality that gets trans people murdered. But then this episode came out and out of the woodwork they crawled to call her a trap and reveal their true colours.
I think it's easier to miss because of emotional part
The Dad really was an amazing father, he just wanted his daughter to be happy and follow their dream.
@@rainbowrose8802 if you remove the emotional part it would be a paint dry episode
Is it me, or did you not realize that Lily was originally a boy? That's why she was so shocked about the face hair.
Something that can slip by easily by us non Japanese speakers. Is that Lily is biologically Male and her worst nightmare was going through a male puberty hence why she got so distressed by seeing facial hair.
I thought it was pretty obvious. Don't know how some people don't notice
@@Zimzky91 I remember when the episode first came out, and a lot of people didn’t catch it. Which is funny, because it’s the whole BIG TWIST of the episode. It all hinges on wether or not you realize Masao is a boy name.
@@raiserzero2 And the beard hair, that's what mainly called it out to me.
I mean you’d think the one beard hair, Sakura asking who this Masao guy was, and Saki laughing at how manly Masao Go sounds would’ve been enough clues. Sure, guy can be gender neutral, but the Saki part later seems to really enforce it’s a masculine name.
I admit. It slipped past me the first time and I was slightly confused at first. But after replaying the scene again, it clicked.
I feel like the bros aren't giving Kotaro the credit he deserves. He literally writes and performs all of their songs, manages all of their gigs, and has a method of raising the dead. He may be a smug asshole at times, but like, it's sorta warranted.
I dont think the show has made it clear that he does all the writing yet
Also I'm pretty sure that persona is all put on, because that is what Kotaro thinks a big shot producer acts like,
I doubt he was always like that
Not gonna lie, I'd talk mad s***, too, if I were a friggin' necromancer.
@@AceBattleStorm This is the episode that shows him up at night writing a future song, playing both guitar and piano.
Speaking as a trans woman, this scene was done very well. And while it was a little exaggerated what it feels like to have gender dysphoria, it is almost exactly like that IRL, especially if it gets to the point that you are suicidal. Especially if you knew you were trans as a kid. The existential dread and inevitability that your body is going to betray you eventually. I want to give Lily the biggest hug.
The fact that lily won crunchyroll's best girl award back when this season came out ;3;
it gives me hope for humanity!
They word the cause-of-death very oddly, but since Lily's heart is physically beating out of her chest as a zombie, I assume it was specifically stress-induced heart-attack.
That is what the show says it is. Stress induced heart attack triggered by gender dysphoria.
Funny thing to know is that Masao is an incredibly butch name, it’s like calling someone Bruce or Jonathan
I don't know too many trans characters personally, but I feel like Lily is one of the rare trans characters who I feel is done really well, especially for one who hid her biological gender. It doesn't feel forced in at all and isn't made a big deal of, the worry of growing beard/leg hair was an interesting topic to bring up, and being trans is only a part of her character, where it focused on the bond with Lily and her father.
I feel like it would be difficult to write a trans character honestly, just due to the gender aspect. Hide their biological gender for the plot twist "They are trans", can cause pretty big backlash and feel forced in if not hinted properly, while saying they are trans from the get go, can feel like it's a forced character aspect if introduced wrong.
So I'm happy Lily ended up being one of my favourites from Zombie Land Saga personally and this is one of my favourite episodes. I even remember voting for Lily in the 2018 anime awards (though can understand why people would be controversial with the choice)
I think the parent/child dynamic really helped with the reveal. Lily's dad is this towering masculine figure, yet he's never shown to have a problem with his child identifying as female. Despite that, during their fight he constantly called her Masao, her masculine birth name, and she strikes back by blaming him for aspects of male puberty. It shows that they were both dealing with the transition imperfectly, and the tragedy of Lily dying is somehow magnified by the fact they weren't able to go through it all the way when Lily clearly had a shot at being supported through it all.
Lily isn't trans , "He" is a cross-dresser.
Tastes like food
She is trangender. Even the rest of the girls refer to lily as she, sad some viewers can’t even do that.
@@AlsoNotimportant yeah I found out by watching the show to completion
@@Moody.Smiruai then why did she win the best girl award :thinking:
this is my absolute favorite episode. and I really love how they animated Lily's song in 2D, really made it feel more sincere.
I saw a theory once that said that the show uses CG on their more typical "idol" performances and 2D on their more personal, emotional performances as if they're taking off their masks.
Ah man I'm excited for next week, "Though My Life May Have Ended Once By Some Twist of Fate I Have Risen, and If Song and Dance Are to Be My Fate, Then Carrying the Memories of My Comrades In My Heart As I Sally Forth Shall Be My SAGA" is one of my favorite episodes.
that title is worthy of being an isekai series title
LN Titles be like "Finally! A worthy opponent! Our battle will be legendary!"
Reminds me of Gintama episode titles xD
This episode is fucking amazing. Not only uses the zombie gag on its full emotional potential, but it also adresses a character as trans without making that her defining trait.
And the father daughter story is just heartbreaking
This is, honest to God, my favorite episode of the show. It catapulted it from another great comedy into a genuinely touching comedy.
I love the turn back to 2D for the idol show at the end, I love Lily's dad, and I love how well written this episode is.
Lily is a trans icon, and I appreciate how the gang just keeps accepting her as she is. It's beautiful.
Next week's episode is probably my second favorite, it's just as amazing.
I love how this episode hits hard on both the pretty niche level of gender issues, and then the wider reaching level of big dad feels, so there's no escaping the tears.
You know, even if you guys didn't touch on that Lily was born a boy (not many people got it the first time either when this episode first aired), but you guys still managed to touch on so many interesting points and even bring p something I didn't really see many touch on. You guys pointing out that the whole hair thing was not only shattering LIly's identity as famous child female Lily, but also possibly threatening her only connection to her dad, as her father was perfectly fine with going on with her identity as a child, but her growing up and the father saying she has to grow out of that someday really threatened her love with her father, in regards to those days where they were happy together.
Man, this is why you guys are my fav reactors, you guys don't just react, you really discuss and bring great commentary to a lot of this stuff. Loved seeing you guy's reaction to this one, hope you enjoy what the rest of this show has to offer.
Lily's deadname is so funny to them because it more-or-less means "proper man" which of course is the exact opposite of Lily. The closest thing in English would be like naming your child "Guy Noble"
Andrea. That's literally the meaning, from "andros"
@@fedechan6325 Andrew
@@nessesaryschoolthing oh right, there's an English equivalent. We use Andrea here, but the meaning _should_ be the same. Ironically, Andrea is also a name for women, because another country came up with the same name from a different word, so Andrew is probably better
@@fedechan6325
Yeah ,Andrew came from the French "André" (Andréa is the feminine version) itself coming from ancient greek "Andros" which mean "Man"
I remember a saying, "It isn't a parent's job to bury their children." The huge stress he must of felt seeing what he assumes was a girl who looked exactly like his daughter.
The finding of the facial hair was the traumatic event because of her going through puberty and she “doesn’t want too look like [dad]”
A dead child singing goodbye to her father, it's impossible not to cry.
a neat detail in the scene where Lily reveals she is trans to the group is that Sakura's shorts are the Trans pride flag!
This episode always makes me cry. She can't return to his dad but she'll always love him :')
I watched this ep a lot of time, and still crying ^^' glad to see that you guys were touched by Lily's perfomance and backstorie
Is anyone gonna tell them about how Lily appeared in a British Parliament meeting?
Oh god the opening puns, but for real though this episode brought me to tears.
I was on the verge for about 5 episodes straight, but this one broke me.
Great reactions guys.
OH god F this show, got me crying from a reaction. Damn, who knew a show about idol zombies would hit so hard.
Homies we all crying
x2
I know lots of people prefer the earlier episodes, and I agree that they are probably the most entertaining. But these next few episodes where they explore all the characters backstories are just so good, they're easily the best parts of the show in my opinion.
Oh, Saki episode is coming that is my favorite song in the series
YOROSHIKU
The one thing I really like about Lilys death, is that it hammers home the point, that she is a transgirl. She dies from gender dysphoria.
Except that she didnt. You realize that girls have facial hair as well right? Some more than other girls and even some men.
Lily doesnt have an issue with being a boy. She has an issue with being noncute, like her dad.
+ Lily already had a weak heart and was exhausted by her work. Gender never played a role.
Essentially this. I've seen a lot of people react to Lily's death as extremely comedic and exaggerated. While I can't really deny a bit of exaggeration, her death is nothing to scoff at. Gender Dysphoria AND being constantly overworked as a TV star, *AS A CHILD NO LESS,* can build up an extreme amount of stress to the point that it becomes incredibly unhealthy for someone at such a young age, even to the point that death from such amounts of stress is not unrealistic.
I'm glad that SOS were able to see Lily's death past the surface level unlike most others.
Yeah, that's true, but most of people do not know that this is actually a thing, that's why none of them take this seriously.
Lily's old name 豪正雄 Go Masao = Strong TrueMale
Lily's father's name 豪剛雄 Go Takeo = Strong ToughnessMale
This fricking episode made me cry twice
This episode always gets me too. Especially as a trans person who went through a puberty i hated, and as someone who has dealt with the tragic loss of family members. I love how bittersweet the ending is as well! While he'll never get to know that Lily is still "alive", she made him want to enjoy TV again, even on his own. Oddly more satisfying and heartfelt than them truly reconnecting as father and daughter.
I also really appreciate you two being positive about lily being trans. A lot of people were gross about it or in denial when they saw the episode. So its a real breath of fresh air to see people who support trans characters.
Being trans, I can confirm that growing facial hair as a trans girl really can be traumatic. When I hit puberty, I fell into a deep despair and put everything off for years because it all felt pointless. I was always... dishevelled. Finally after coming out, I gotta shave twice a day and it's a real pain in the ass, especially because I'm a clumsy idiot, but I'm alive now. I wish I'd started sooner, but here we are. Bless Lily. She's incredible. Although as you're going to find out, my experiences as a trans person I relate more strongly to another character in the show...
Another character? Huh?
this episode mwkes me cry every single time without fail
Seven episodes of comedy are in. Now let's break some hearts. 😭😭😭😭
This episode made me cry my eyes out 😭 it was so…. I don’t even know what. It made Lily my favorite character in the show however.
So by the description we know that they know she's trans. Hope we won't have to wait too many episodes for them to readdress it in the discussion, 'cause it really does add a lot.
I imagine they'll touch on it in the intro of the next episode's reaction.
Ditto to what Kirathian said really. Sad you didn't discuss it, unless I missed it in the discussion somewhere. Hence why she was so shocked at facial hair.
Discussion starts at 15:53.
優しい二人が大好きです
Also, I love how the dad is definitely an oremonigatri reference
ah yes the Attack on Titan episode
MASAO is the name for boys
So, I cant help but notice you didnt really bring up the fact that Lily was/is also trans. I'm curious as to your thoughts on that and how it fits into your dissection of her story.
I haven't listened to the discussion yet, but depending on the subtitles they were reading it could be slightly (and I mean slightly) more difficult to infer that she's trans. I remember some people raising a ruckus about it, but I can't remember the details. It's incredibly obvious though, for sure.
I, too was wondering if they actually noticed that or if they Whooshed on that.
yeah I gotta admit I didn't catch that she was trans when I first watched the ep. But they made it less ambiguous in the english dub.
It went completely over my head in my first viewing. I thought that all of the shock and laughter was simply about the way she died and her masculine non-stage name, stretched out for the gag. The CR subs didn't help
They missed the punchline of Masao being a boy's name, so the other implications flew over their heads. Also, they don't read youtube comments since there are spoilers everywhere; go on discord and have the mods tell them.
This is the big one
Also yay trans anime peeps
@@HypnoLama um what
@@HypnoLama no she is 100% trans
@@bubbalubber um no
@@9822703 what makes you say that? Because the show says otherwise
What a rollercoaster ride. :'(
Awww shit, here we go again, the pain is coming
Man, watching this was like having a ninja cut onions right underneath my eyes, except without the onions and no ninja.
directo al cocoroko :')
you guys should watch jjk after this show
You guys look different and I cant put my finger on it 🤔
It's a little cruel I think that they don't tell him his daughter is alive. I know it would have complicated things but still.
Her time ended, they have to let it go and go on with their lives
She isn't alive though, she's undead.
@@CWINDOWSsystem32 Lily's the only transgirl I know who has a dead and an undead name.
@@ZLScratch ,,,,was that a pun-
:'))
First time I saw this episode, I also didn't notice Lily was dressing up as a girl despite being a boy.
She is a transgender girl.
It's weird for me how most viewers find this episode so sad or even the bros saying this is the best episode so far but for me the way she died just killed all the sad atmosphere about her death, maybe I'm cruel or something but I think Lily killing herself or something more realistic would really reach my feelings, but her death kinda reminded of Satou Kazuma dying of shock...
Death of shock is a real thing, with added stress as a child no less.
The shock isn't the only reason of her death, it was the final blow
It began when Lily became pretty worn out as we can see that she has bags under her eyes and pretty stressed because of her Father/Manager
@@fruitspunchsamuraig6430 Also her mother also died young so there may be a genetic heart condition in her family too.
@@fruitspunchsamuraig6430 To be fair, while you can infer the really heartbreaking reasons for her death from later context, that first scene is definitely... Oddly comedic in nature.
I mean, it’s almost like Sakura’s death at the beginning, except of course, the same episode treats it far more seriously, so it feels a bit janky in comparison to, *spoilers*
The way Sakura’s death is flipped on it’s head in a much later episode, using the additional context to add actual emotional weight as you KNOW what’s about to happen, after she built herself up out of her depression, you know that hilarious, out of context scene at the beginning suddenly feels like an inevitable train wreck unfolding, before delivering the inevitable gut punch.
MUCH better execution of what I think they where attempting on a smaller scale here. It’s still emotional from that point on, but I have to agree that the death made by crack up momentarily before I realised that she straight up died with the cartooney scream and facial expression.
@@matthewbibby8921 I think the over dramatic nature is meant to take the attention away from the name drop of Masao. So the twist is even better