TRIGGER left their scandalous their production company and tried to do idols independently, their only way out after Ryo Tsukumo’s insidious scheme ruined their reputation. But it’s not over for Tsukumo, who isn’t reconciled to using his male idol group ZOOL to destroy those who stand in his way. With both TRIGGER and IDOLiSH7 trying to stave off his plot, he reaches out to Re:Vale’s Momo, escalating his plot to truly insane levels. Can no one stop him? Or are all groups destined to serve his ego?
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TRIGGER have left their production company due to the scandal and are trying to Indie idols, the only way out after Tsukumo, have a sinister plan to ruin their reputation. But it’s not over for Tsukumo, who isn’t reconciled to using his male idol group ZOOL to destroy those who stand in his way. With both TRIGGER and IDOLiSH7 trying to stave off his plot, he reaches out to Re:Vale’s Momo, escalating his plot to truly insane levels. Can no one stop him? Or are all groups destined to serve his ego?
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If you think the first court It’s getting dark, put on your hat. This drama, fueled by Ryo Tsukumo and his villainous ego, is elevated to the point where it could almost be classified as a 19th-century melodrama, with everything from match-fixing rumors to outright murder on the table. Yet despite these excesses, the story manages to stay tense and engaging, largely thanks to a very specific point: until the show firmly establishes its characters and world, ensuring that when the melodrama hits, things don’t change. With such nervous fans, we the audience are completely invested. Most of us are drawn to this point in the narrative that is still unfolding, making the drama feel “melodic” only in reflection. It was a risk, but it paid off here.
Although i7 is still the title of the series and can be said to be the main lineup, the focus of the second half of the season is TRIGGER. Once the i7’s main rival, the team has undergone an orchestrated fall from grace thanks to Tsukumo and his new team, ZOOL. Tsukumo’s unabashed aim is for ZOOL to replace TRIGGER and i7 as the top male idol group, and he’s handpicked the group’s members to ensure maximum obedience. That means all four of them have huge chips on their shoulders, often harboring specific grudges against members of the other two bands. Tsukumo may be mean, but he’s not stupid, and he seems to be banking on the idea that if he lays out his plans in the right way, ZOOL will have their way.
What’s even more interesting is that Kujo, who adopted Tian and Huan’s sister, is once again at the center of all grudges. A member of ZOOL is particularly upset with him, having been unceremoniously taken out of adoption for failing to fulfill Kujo’s zero dream. While we’ve had plenty of indications that Kujo isn’t good to his “children,” this is the first time we’ve seen his cruelty expressed in this way. Kujo doesn’t care about his adopted children; he cares about rebuilding the glorious world he shared with the now-gone Zero, and everyone he interacts with is just a cog in the machine of his ambition. Including the people he personally wronged (as opposed to Riku and Tamaki, who were wronged tangentially) is important because it strips away the last of his appearance and reveals the pathetic, unhinged man he really is. Kujo’s eyes look back, and while he does see well, he’s really interested in recreating past glory. The Tenn are beginning to understand this. However, when he tells Riku that their biological parents are no longer him, it’s hard to tell if this is what he really thinks after being brainwashed by Kujo, or if he’s trying to protect his brother again.
The relationship between Tenn and Riku is another exciting component of these episodes. When TRIGGER was forced to go it alone, Riku went out of his way to make sure to help in any way he could. He wants the best for his twin, and Tianen’s reaction shows that it means a lot to him, even if he doesn’t want to say that much in front of Riku. Both brothers feel they need to protect each other from the world—Tian wants to save Riku from himself—but their relationship becomes so difficult due to Kujo’s behavior that they barely Open and honest communication is possible. This is highlighted by the interactions among the other i7 members; Tamaki helping Sogo against his father, Mitsuki and Nagi’s interactions (especially in episode 30) are more brotherly. It’s worth noting that Tenn’s TRIGGER members also have a hard time breaking through his prickly shell, which may again come down to the kind of upbringing he’s had at Kujo’s hands.
The main thrust of this arc is Tsukumo trying to destroy his opponent, with TRIGGER’s misery front and center. But that doesn’t mean he hasn’t destabilized the i7 quietly (or at least as quietly as possible), and he’s targeting Nagi specifically. The revelation of who Nagi is is not a surprise, but how Tsukumo wields his truth is still disturbing, especially from the last episode where it seems to be working. Also worrisome is Tsukumo’s apparent fondness for Riku; he also likes Momo, which leads to an attempt to kill him, if not through alcohol intoxication, and then pushing him off a balcony to his death. On the positive side, Yuki is less passive than one would think, and Toma, one of the members of ZOOL, starts to see Tsukumo for who he really is and questions what the hell he’s doing in an alliance with someone like that. The series seems to be gearing up for at least a partial ZOOL redemption in the next arc, and as long as Tsukumo isn’t a part of it – he’s beyond redemption at this point – we should hope for a fourth season to be announced, in writing This is not the case at the time of this article.
there is light in this total darkness
course. Re:Vale got a lot of lighthearted moments, and TRIGGER was having fun trying to live together. The music has remained solid (ZOOL’s ending credits are a real earworm), and the dance CG has been vastly improved. There is also an overall theme Why These guys are idols and they love it. While the more cynical among us may roll our eyes, it’s still good to see them so invested in their work and the benefits it brings to other people. This reminder is crucial, and the shadow of Tsukumo’s selfishness darkens the entire plot. We’ve gotten past the point where it’s easy to dismiss this as just another racy, candy-colored idol story. It’s a good show with a solid plot and engaging characters, and it more than earns its right to have cheesy moments. If you haven’t seen it, you’re missing out.
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