Yoppi is chosen as the center for their new song, but is the stress too much for her?

What They Say:
“Idol Rhapsody”

Content: (please note that the content portion of a review contains spoilers)
After the twist at the end of last episode, it seems like the girls are facing a crisis: I-1 sings the song Wake Up, Girls! used to get into the finals, and since they’ll be releasing it on CD it’s not possible for them to sing it in the competition. They’re all ready to turn on Hayasaka — the only one who could have given their song away — but when he arrives he has his own news. Acting surprised that Wake Up, Girls! won, he announces that he thought of a “better song” that he wants the girls to learn for the finals. They only have a short time to learn this song, but, as Hayasaka points out, top idols learn new songs and choreography in a day, so if they can’t do this, they don’t deserve to win.

The top members of I-1 Club make their own appearance while Wake Up, Girls! train, as they also practice their new choreography. They’re perfectly aware that their new song was first sung by Wake Up, Girls!, and know that, no matter what, some fans will compare the performances. Shiho, the center who still views Mayu as a rival, and despite protests of others in the group who still view Mayu as a friend, she repeats their own company president’s proclamation: they have to crush them.

Mayu’s big problems — her secret behind leaving I-1, the problems with her mother — have been resolved, so none of the drama is focused on her. Instead, Yoppi gets the unfortunate honor. A big difference with this new choreography is that, instead of Mayu, Yoppi will be the center. Yoppi is shocked, but honored, and everyone is happy for her to do this. But, it’s the shift in a sudden downward track for her. As everyone prepares to leave, and then later when she and Mayu unpack in their bedroom, she pops some stomach pills, presumably for the nerves eating at her. Then on stage, after they’ve practiced, she becomes flustered, and trips over a wire. While she brushes i it off and acts fine to everyone, we see that she may have done too much damage to continue on.

In Summary
The girls move on to the final competition, proving their ability to work together (despite previous fighting) and to improve themselves, as with Airi, with all of that culminating in their final training montage. With no group drama, or personal drama, left, the anime invented a little bit of tension with a new problem for Yoppi, but it’s more stressful, because unlike training, self-esteem or relationship problem, Yoppi’s new disaster is not something that can be talked out or will-powered through. So far this has been a show where the girls always prevail in the end; with a member who won’t be able to perform at top capacity, the final performance will be more interesting, even if the drama is a little too convenient.

Grade: B+

Streamed by: Crunchyroll

Review Equipment: 13″ Apple Macbook set to 720p