rrakku's archive

The more things change, the more they stay the same. When Superstar first came out, I thought of it as the Steel Ball Run of Love Live. While every new entry in the franchise features a new cast, starting with a group of 5 instead of the usual 9 was a monumental transformation that made the show into something that had true potential for mass appeal. The second season, however, demonstrated that if Love Live was gonna change, it isn’t going to be with Superstar: reverting back to a cast of 9 wasn’t a bad decision per se, but the poor writing really shafted its chances of hitting the mainstream.

But if you have stayed with Liella! through that, you’ll be glad to know season 3 is everything you’d expect coming out of any modern Love Lives, pros and cons attached. The plot lines are corny but pure and sincere; characters might be exaggerated but give way for plenty of fun and light-hearted moments; and although its animation is lacking at times, its performances always deliver top of the class 3D modeling and 2D animation within the industry. 

This season’s Wien Margarete and Tomari Onitsuka are welcomed and well-thought out additions to the ensemble cast. Their past with Liella! provided many organic points of conflict that made for great character growth arcs and overall a great story. The ending also offered satisfying closure for fans of the series. Everybody from first gen managed to achieve their dreams and the group at Yuigaoka stayed together despite the departure of its core members. Some might have wanted something different for Superstar, given the blazing start it had had, but many would be satisfied with this same-old same-old ending, I certainly was.

From Wish song to Starlight Prologue, to Egao no Promise to Superstar!!, thanks for the journey, Liella!.