Recap: Sawa begins to break down as her hope of becoming a professional rider seems to be getting further and further away. Meanwhile the Choir and Sometimes Badminton club is required to audition to perform on the main stage, and they just might have to go on without her.

Jel’s Thoughts: It seems Tari Tari took the safest route possible out of last week’s drama. Sawa throwing up in the bathroom is written off as some kind of strange diet, and in retrospect I guess their reasoning makes more sense for her character. As far as the episode overall, I can’t help but feel a little deja vu. The whole “will they/won’t they arrive in time” setup is getting worked to death in this series, and the “I can overcome any problem with my friends and family!” theme certainly has been done plenty of times before.

But while Tari Tari may not be packing any surprises this week, I do have to once again give them credit on execution. Sawa’s story was a bit more melodramatic than Wakana’s, but I can’t deny I got a little emotional when she overhears her dad on the phone with the riding school. That’s the kind of moment that continues to make the series a satisfying watch, even if it’s not the most creative or exciting anime out there. Six episodes and three club members to go, we’ll see how close they stick to the formula.