Aria the Animation - Episode 10: That Warm Holiday...

For another action packed analysis of Aria.

One of life's mysteries.

That might be a bad thing.

That hit a little too close to home.

It's winter on Aqua and Alicia goes to collect wood with Akari. Akari notices snowflies coming out of hiding as they are collecting wood. One of the snowflies becomes attached to Akari and Alicia tells her that she should bring it back home.

I spy a second Alicia.

Venezia Pot.

Alicia and Akari go out shopping to store up food for the winter with Akari's snowfly friend tagging along. They run into Akatsuki while shopping and talk about how the salamanders keep everyone warm during the winters. Akari spots a poster on a billboard advertising a hot spring. Akari is fascinated by it and Alicia offers to take her to one on her day off.

R.I.P. Aika

Heaters were never invented in this universe.

Akari later invites Alice and Aika to go with her to the hot springs. Both of them accept it. While riding her gondola, Akari spots the mailman and they sit together and talk. Akari and the mailman admire the smoke from the chimney's and the sunset, saying that it feels warm. Akari gets home finally and she lights the fireplace with the new firewood she and Alicia brought. Alicia proposes that they knit a hat and a muffler for President Aria while in front of the fireplace.

and this fanservice-free blog.

I'm not joking.

Actually I am...here you go.

The snowflies fly about the city of Neo-Venezia while Aika, Alice, Akari, and Alicia head to the hot springs on their gondola. After getting their room, everyone immediately heads for the hot springs. Akari is nervous about going in the hot springs since this is her first time being naked around people she doesn't know.

Degraded? More like annihilated.

When Akari and Aika get to the hot springs, Akari discovers that it is actually an abandoned house that is flooded with hot spring water. Akari relaxes by herself but when she leans back, a door behind her opens up and leads into an unknown area. Alicia calls over Akari before she decides to explore it.

No one else is able to use that chair.

Alicia's great words of wisdom.

After the bath, everyone eats a delicious dinner together. In their room, Aika, Alice, and Akari have fallen asleep under the kotatsu. Akari wakes up and is greeted by Alicia. Akari expresses her un-comfortableness about relaxing like this and not practicing. Alicia tells her that it's necessary to relax in order to survive. Their conversation wakes up Alice and Aika and everyone goes to take another bath.

Super Special

Still no service.

Yu-no what this picture reminds me of? *hint: it has a lot more blood

This time, Alicia takes everyone through the door that Akari had discovered earlier. Alicia admits that she has been here before so she knows a secret spot. They enter an open area where the hot spring connects with the ocean. Akari, Alice, and Aika swim in the open hot spring while Alicia brings some peach soda that they enjoy together.

Because thats why everyone came here.

And Santa Claus is real.

Call the exterminator.

Back at the room, everyone is resting and then suddenly Akira and Athena come to visit. Alicia invited them to stay over, which depresses Aika. While things get livelier, Akari sees snow outside and steps out onto the balcony. Alicia tells Akari that the snowflies are getting ready to leave. Akari says farewell to her snowfly friend and Alicia comforts her saying that snowflies live long so they will definitely meet next year.

Analysis:

Winter finally starts on Aqua and so Akari and Alicia prepare for it. While doing so, Akari encounters many signs of winter. She meets a snowfly, watches the chimney smoke, and feels the warmth of the sunset. All of these together truly make Akari feel like winter has arrived.

It is hinted in the middle of the episode that Alicia has been to the hot spring before because she notices Akari open the door and calls for her so she wouldn't accidently discover the place. Alicia didn't want Akari to accidently discover the place because that time wasn't the best time to go see it. When they went to see it later, it was beautiful at that time at night. Alicia wanted it to have a bigger impact and went when she thought that everyone would enjoy it the most.

The theme this episode is taking a break. Like in the last episode, it is good to have fun while you can. In Japan, one of the ultimate relaxing experiences during winter is to go to a hot spring. Akari and her friends do just this to take a break from their practice and adventures. Although Akari feels guilty about not practicing since she is a trainee, Alicia tells her that relaxing like this is essential.

This episode is called "That Warm Holiday" because Akari spends her day off not only relaxing at a hot spring but also making warm memories that will help her through winter and look forward to it next year.

Foreshadowing?