Until the final episode, I was quite indifferent towards Hibike! Euphonium; I didn't love it and I didn't hate it, I just kind of kept watching it 'cause, well, why not. Don't get me wrong, there were a few great episodes in the bunch and it is a very pretty anime, but, overall, I just couldn't get into it, even though I love music more than most things in this world; though, I was never in a school band and couldn't relate to what the characters were going through, not exactly.
But then I watched the final episode--"Goodbye Competition"--and, while it didn't make me suddenly realize the potential error of my ways--no single episode will ever have that power--it did wrap up the season beautifully and gave me what I wish the series would have given throughout: great music.
If more episodes featured great musical pieces like the final episode, I would have enjoyed my time way more 'cause, after all, Hibike! Euphonium is a series about a school band, except it's more about the struggles of the band members than the music they play and, while I can appreciate that, I selfishly wanted more and rarely got it; if you haven't been watching the series, most of the music is a handful of short sections from bigger pieces repeated over and over and over again as band members practice specific parts, but never entire pieces, pushing home the hard work that comes with being in a band, but failing to show how that hard work pays off in most cases because we rarely get to see the band perform together in competition.
The more I think about Hibike! Euphonium, the more I think, "This was actually a pretty great series, but I went into it wanting something different and, because of that, I left feeling more empty than the series deserved." That said, I can't help what I want and neither can any of you, so, if you're someone who's musically-inclined and wants to see a story about the struggles that come with being in a band (or can relate to those struggles), not concerned with the actual music, I honestly believe you will enjoy Hibike! Euphonium--hell, even if you can't relate and don't care about music you'd probably enjoy it--but just don't go in expecting a lot of great music or you may leave feeling like the inside of a drum: hollow.
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