Underrated New Romance Anime Topples A Polarizing Trope After Huge Plot Twist

Warning: The following contains spoilers for Whisper Me a Love Song episode 2!!

Summary While the typical romance anime goes back and forth for several episodes to allow its character to pine for one another, Whisper Me a Love Song opens with a love confession.

The series has the potential for music to play a key role in Asanagi and Kino's relationship.

Asanagi's feelings and Kino's impact on her music choices will be pivotal in future episodes.

The first two installments of a new romance anime on HIDIVE called Whisper Me a Love Song have already taken viewers on quite the ride. The debut episode's cliffhanger suddenly adhered to a polarizing trope that it had been otherwise strongly setting up to topple only to then reverse its original twist by doing just what it had initially set up to do in the shocking follow-up. Interestingly, veteran romance fans are actually pondering whether it was the right decision for the anime to break from this convention, since the original cliché promised a compelling journey.

Initially, vocalist/guitarist Yori Asanagi thought her love interest and fan-girl Himari Kino confessed to her and was about to do the same before learning Kino was actually just in love with her singing and deciding to keep it a secret in episode #1. But by the end of episode #2, guitarist/vocalist Asanagi tells Himari Kino that she loves her.

This development clearly deviates from most romance anime, since love confessions such as these usually transpire in a season or series finale, let alone just two episodes into the first season.

Whisper Me a Love Song Could Have Revolutionized the Most Formulaic Romance Trope

Original series created by Eku Takeshima; anime adaptation produced by Cloud Hearts & Yokohama Animation Laboratory

Aside from the fact that episode #1 had a massive tease that falsely led viewers to assume that both Asanagi and Kino actually loved each other, many critics of the romance genre will undoubtedly appreciate the outcome of this cliche-defying twist. However, what episode #1 promised by initially complying with this polarizing trope was equally if not more compelling than the unconventional alternative because of the prospective role that music could have played in their "formulaic" relationship.

What episode #1 promised by initially complying with this polarizing trope was equally if not more compelling than the alternative because of the prospective role that music could have played in their "formulaic" relationship.

When episode 1 ended with Asanagi deciding to keep her love for Kina a secret, it put Asanagi in a position where she would easily be able to express her pent-up feelings through the ambiguity and power of song. That's because they had already agreed to meet up after school on most days, so Asanagi could sing to Kina at one of the most romantic places possible - on the rooftops. In fact, Asanagi had already voiced a desire to make Kina fall in love with her by singing, making this prospective outcome even more likely.

How Will The Power of Song Be Depicted In Future Episodes?

While Asanagi can still sing to Kina after the plot twist in episode #2, these crucial moments will most likely be plagued by awkwardness or possibly even pain if Asanagi is rejected. The latter outcome is, unfortunately, most likely, since Kina currently isn't sure of how she feels. In this case, Kina will also undoubtedly be aware of what Asanagi is doing if Asanagi tries to woo her, causing Kina to likely put up her defenses in these instances. But, similarly to how Asanagi's music justified the anime's adherence to the aforementioned trope, music could and undoubtedly will play a critical role in Asanagi and Kina's relationship going forward. It just won't be the same as what episode #1's cliffhanger initially alluded to.

Ironically, Whisper Me A Love Song did have a chance to explore how Asanagi could have sung to Kina before she confessed. Asanagi makes her confession at the end of episode #2, so there were plenty of scenes when it could have happened. But it doesn't. Instead, episode 2 completely embraces the cliché it would later reject by showing Asanagi struggling over the fact that Kina most likely doesn't love her, like most lovers in her position do.

Incidentally, one of the other ways in which Whisper Me A Love Song showcases how music can impact both characters in future episodes occurs when Asanagi's feelings for Kina are strong enough for Asanagi to begin entertaining an idea Kina has about music that Asanagi would never have considered if not for Kina. Hopefully, there will be more scenes like this, and with actual singing, in future episodes of Whisper Me A Love Song on HIDIVE.