[Spoilers] Bocchi The Rock Let’s Rock Rewatch (2024) — Episode 3

Hello, guys. Holofan4life here.

Welcome to the Bocchi The Rock Rewatch.

I presume the ones that don’t participate are introverts like Bocchi 😛

What really can be said about this show? It’s hard really to put into words. For what amounts to a music show, it really is a breath of fresh air. Why? Because unlike a lot of other music shows, it’s less about the music and more about the characters and the comedy.

When it originally came out, I wasn’t planning on watching it. It kinda flew under the radar at first, probably because I like a lot of people thought it was your generic show in a similar vein as Love Live or Show By Rock. But then clips started to circulate of the show and I said to myself “Alright. I’m gonna have to check it out.”

One of the best decisions I made in the year 2022.

I’m really excited to host this rewatch because I think it’s going to get a lot of engagement. People look back fondly on this show, and I think there’s good reason why. It should be noted that I’m coming off the heels of the Spice and Wolf rewatch which is renowned for its dialogue and how clever it is. Bocchi I kinda view in a similar light, and as we’ll soon see it can be just as infectious.

With that out of the way, let’s begin.

I’m watching the sub, by the way.

Gonna try to get this done in 80 minutes.

“A melancholy Monday has arrived.”

Garfield agrees

Bocchi combing her side ahoge

Little Bocchi bothering big Bocchi.

“Guess you’re a real pain in your own ass, sis!”

Who taught her that?

Bocchi feeling she might have graduated from her introversion.

And she’s being cheered on by… lobsters? Wha…

But at school, she is ignored as always. Once an introvert, always an introvert.

Bocchi hearing band talk, which gets her excited to say something.

But she can’t find the words.

I like that her classmates were actually eager to talk to her. It shows her being isolated is all in her head maybe.

Bocchi eating behind the staircase now.

I like the use of paper figures to symbolize Bocchi’s classmates. I believe this is the first use of real life imagery in the show.

Bocchi is way too hard on herself.

More unique animation, this time with an older Bocchi being interviewed.

Two people talking about Kita-chan.

Bocchi listening on two desks stacked on top of each other.

Kids, you really shouldn’t try this at home.

Bocchi feels she has to find a guitar/vocalist to prove her commitment to Kessoku Band.

Bocchi horrified that Kita is like the complete antithesis of her in every way.

And we get the real life imagery of a balloon being popped by a needle. The balloon says “Identity”.

And here I thought SpongeBob lost it [](#chitogheh)

Now we get the intro

Bocchi spying on Kita

But Kita knows she’s there

This is so awkward

And Bocchi runs away, though it’s more like she speed runs away.

Bocchi playing a song now

Double Dark Past, Bocchi Acoustic Version

Ah, my favorite

More live action imagery

I think this is the episode where the people behind the show said “Screw it, we’re really going to use the medium to our advantage”.

Only problem is the song is not long enough.

Kita is enamored by what she saw.

Unfortunately, though, she can’t join her band.

Bocchi making promises she knows she can’t keep.

But the true problem with Kita is that she can’t actually play guitar.

Lied to the previous band because she wants to get close to her senpai.

I wonder if we’ll ever meet her.

Kita comparing playing guitar to baseball.

I feel like that would piss off both the music and baseball community.

Bocchi mentioning she learnt herself, and Kita thinks she could maybe help her learn how to play.

Bocchi continuing to happily melt under all the praise.

Even her uvula is freaking out

And a flower grows out of her head Rocky and Bullwinkle style.

Bocchi telling Nijika and Ryo to be something they’re not, which is party ravers.

L.M.F.A.O.NO

Bocchi and Kita heading to the club now.

Bocchi now walking behind Kita

But suddenly, as Bocchi tells her about Nijika and Ryo, Kita suddenly can’t go.

But Nijika is already here

Even got the energy drinks like was instructed of her.

And yes, it turns out that it was Kita who was the runaway guitarist.

Ah, yes, my favorite energy drink. Moffster Hamagy.

Kita explaining the situation of why she always skipped practice.

Lol, Ryo thought she was dead, so she lit incense for her every day.

To make up for her past transgressions, she’s going to help out around the club today.

Kita in a maid outfit

She kinda looks Eris when she wears hers.

“She’ll give me extra time to slack off.”

Ryo continuing to be a real one.

Woah, who is that girl sniffing Kita?

Kita being afforded opportunities that Bocchi never was.

And Bocchi is now in the trash can.

“The Elegy of the Part-Time Worker Who Lost Her Identity to the Just-Arrived Newbie.”

Bocchi churning out banger after banger.

AND WE GET A VARIATION OF THE LAST EPISODE ILLUSTRATION CARD, I LOVE IT

What’s that gold thing in Ryo’s hand, though?

Bocchi going to teach Kita how to make drinks.

But she can’t do it because she’s being watched.

Ooh, that can’t feel good [](#gabdisgust)

Kita bandaging Bocchi

Something about Kita’s fingernails Bocchi notices.

Bocchi doesn’t want to tell Kita that her motives for joining a band is to achieve popularity, so she says world peace instead.

Well, I guess nothing brings the world together quite like music.

Oh, so Ryo is the one who Kita wants to get close to.

Oh, so she love loves her. I see.

Kita mentioning that Ryo dropped out of her last band pretty suddenly.

She initially joined Kessoku Band because Ryo was recruiting.

Calls a band like a second family. Says they can even be closer than your real family.

“I wanted to join Kessoku Band and become Senpai’s girl! So much deeper and more intimate than friendship!”

I do like that the show isn’t being subtle about Kita’s love for Ryo. She’s gay, and that’s okay.

**Ran out of space. Part two in the replies.**

Rewatcher! Episode 3 Be Right There

Official introduction to Kita! Clap, clap, clap! While I love all four members of Kessoku Band, Kita is my favorite and not just in BTR but one of the favorite anime characters period. Her Kit-aura is just too effective.

Initially, Kita seems like the complete opposite of Bocchi by being a natural social butterfly. While Bocchi couldn’t even manage insert herself into her classmates’ conversation about music Kita even tries to salvage Bocchi’s awkward beatboxing attempt to communicate with her by responding in tow. After Bocchi storms away and hides herself in a dark corner Kita actually followed her and got there in time to compliment her guitar skills.

Kita’s persistence to connect gives Bocchi the chance to invite her to join Kessoku Band. I don’t know if it was an intentional animation choice by CloverWorks but the dumb low res face Kita makes in this scene cracks me up. I like it think it was since the animation is so good for the rest of the episode.

Bocchi thinks Kita is hesitant to join because the band doesn’t sound fun enough so she gases it up with a ton of funny lies, but instead Kita opens up that she actually doesn’t feel good enough to join a band after already running away. Immediately Kita feels like she has layers both Bocchi and I didn’t expect the first time. How could this super popular, athletic, and extroverted girl have these anxieties. Obviously, how could she not, being super sociable doesn’t mean you can’t feel insecure. For the fellow older anime fans who watched Toradora, Kita reminds me a bit of Minori who is also a really well done extroverted female character.

Kita convinces Bocchi to tutor her in guitar by buttering her up, so after school they both leave to go to Bocchi’s workplace which Kita doesn’t know yet is Starry. As not too much of a surprise the band Kita ended up running away from was actually Kessoku Band. It’s nice to see them not try to dangle that plot thread for long and instead pull Kita into the fold after Bocchi got two episodes to bond with Nijika and Ryo. Kita feels really guilty over running away so she wants to make it up to them which the manager takes advantage of by having her work at the club for the night. I wonder if that maid outfit the manager had on hand was originally for Nijika who didn’t wanna wear it.

I have to mention it’s really cool they included a piece of art from BTR’s author Aki Hamaji as part of a gag. It looks super nice.

While both behind the bar, Bocchi notices something about Kita’s fingertips after she helped wrap Bocchi’s hand after a drink accident. The subtle foreshadowing here of Kita being a hard worker despite her saying she only joined Kessoku Band because she was really thirsty for Ryo is a nice contrast. Bocchi has “selfish” motivations too for wanting to join a band, but she doesn’t feel comfortable enough to share them with Kita yet. I feel her since she’s known Kita for less than a day, yet Kita doesn’t hesitate to share her real motivations. While Kita isn’t afraid to share what’s on her mind Bocchi also wears her heart on her sleeve. Kita tells Bocchi again that she doesn’t deserve to be in the band which just doesn’t sit right with Bocchi who not too long ago also didn’t feel good enough.

That’s why it’s so satisfying to see Bocchi advocate for Kita even if she fell on her face. She knows exactly how it feels to want to run away. Bocchi says that Kita has calluses on her fingertips which Ryo comments that she must’ve been trying really hard. Nijika then assures Kita that if she didn’t run away they never would’ve met Bocchi. Ryo on the underhand is down for Kita to join because it would save her money. Can’t say I didn’t expect that from Ryo.

Now that the whole trio wants Kita to join the ball’s back in her court. The subtle change in her facial expressions just conveys her conflicted happiness on hearing everyone’s desire to have her with the guilt of her initially running way so well without saying a word. It’s easily my favorite shot of the episode.

Three episodes in and now we’ve been introduced to all four main characters, and honestly the level of characterization we have on all of them is testament to both how good the anime’s direction and Aki’s manga writing really are.

**Rewatcher**

* Poor Bocchi didn’t know how to initiate the conversation and then retreated under the stairs for lunch
* Identity crisis
* Kita joins the party
* We learn Kita can’t actually play and skipped out on practice
* Then, Bocchi gets thanked for getting the band back together

**Socially anxious rewatcher!**

Bocchi’s sister is savage. Definitely a younger sibling.

Oh Kita, you ray of extroverted sunshine!

Bocchi’s “BUEEH” when Kita asked her to teach guitar is fantastic. Yoshino Aoyama knocked it out of the park doing Bocchi’s noises throughout the whole show.

Kita’s “GAH” upon learning she accidentally bought a bass is also fantastic. Everyone brought their A-game for this.

And I love that Kita also has a bit of social anxiety. You might think extroverts would be immune, but no!

Favorite of those songs is probably Double Dark Past.

Weirdest thing I’ve eaten is marshmallows dipped in baked beans. Tastes like it sounds.

*side note: I’m going to be swamped this weekend. I did binge the next couple episodes, and have my thoughts written up on my phone to post when I can. Won’t be able to reply to the questions though*

Rewatcher

We start off with Bocchi going back to school after saying that even missing a day would leave her forgotten.

Tried to join a conversation and immediately panicked.

Bocchi sees Kita and is nervous about inviting her, with the gag of the water balloon labeled identity being popped.

She works up the courage to go to ask Kita and she flubbs the ask. Kita tries to cover and starts beat boxing but Bocchi runs away from sheer embarrassment.

Into her corner she plays a song and Kita is right there behind her.

Kita-Aura is a nice gag. Kita says she cant join a band and Bocchi obviously lies to try to make them sound cooler than they are.

Kita asks Bocchi to teach her how to play guitar and she cant say no.

Kita is nervous to be in the area and when Bocchi brings up Ryo and NIjika Kita confirms what was obvious and how she ran away from them. Right on cue they show up with the energy drinks Bocchi requested as all good band members would do.

Ryo thought Kita died so she had been lighting an incense everyday. they are understanding and felt like they should’ve known how she couldnt play guitar with her always skipping practice.

Kita is asked to help and she is wearing a maid outfit. She is very competent and Bocchi cant help but compare herself. Back into the trash Bocchi goes. With a thanks for watching illustration as Bocchis spirit ascends.

Bocchi gets her chance to show her usefulness and tries to teach Kita how to make drinks. She panics and then burns her hand.

Kita says why she wanted to join and it was because she thought Ryo was cool and fell in love.

After closing Kita leaves and says she cant join. Bocchi musters up the courage and smacks into the wall before telling her she sees how much shes been practicing. The other two are cool with it and Kita is now back with the band.

Kita stumbles at the first step with her having purchased a bass instead of a guitar.

Kita is frustrated trying to learn and Ryo makes good on her promise to eat weeds. End of episode three.

QotD

Kita coming up was a nice addition.

Double Dark had actual lyrics instead of just strums so it wins in my eyes.

Havent ate anything that could really be considered weird.

Pretty sure I ate grass in the past at one point just because thats what kids did and couldnt tell you what it was like.