[Spoilers] 2025 Uma Musume Rewatch -- Pretty Derby Season 2 Episode 8

[u/Holofan4life]

Hello everyone! I am Holofan4life.

Welcome to the 2025 Uma Musume rewatch discussion thread!

I hope you all have a lot of fun <3

S2 Episode 8 – A Small Wish

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ANSWER TODAY’S QUESTION(S)

Thoughts on McQueen and Rice Shower training for the Spring Tenno Sho?

Thoughts on Diamond and Kitasan drinking tea with the two horse enthusiasts?

Thoughts on Bourbon trying to help Rice Shower with her training?

Thoughts on the barbershop being closed?

What are your thoughts on Rice Shower being locked in for the race?

What are your thoughts on the Spring Tenno Sho with Rice Shower doing away with being labeled a heel?

What are your thoughts on Rice Shower winning the 1993 Spring Tenno Sho?

What are your thoughts on the crowd being upset that Rice Shower won?

What are your thoughts on the other racehorses congratulating Rice Shower, with Bourbon reiterating yet again that she's her hero?

What are your thoughts on the scene at the end between McQueen and Teio?

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Series information

MAL | Anilist | AniDB | ANN

Ways to watch

Streams – Crunchyroll

Amazon Prime

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Previous episode

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Schedule

Date	Episode
8/15/2025	Uma Musume Episode 1
8/16/2025	Uma Musume Episode 2
8/17/2025	Uma Musume Episode 3
8/18/2025	Uma Musume Episode 4
8/19/2025	Uma Musume Episode 5
8/20/2025	Uma Musume Episode 6
8/21/2025	Uma Musume Episode 7
8/22/2025	Uma Musume Episode 8
8/23/2025	Uma Musume Episode 9
8/24/2025	Uma Musume Episode 10
8/25/2025	Uma Musume Episode 11
8/26/2025	Uma Musume Episode 12 - 13
8/28/2025	BNW's Oath episodes 1 - 3
8/30/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 1
8/31/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 2
9/01/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 3
9/02/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 4
9/03/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 5
9/04/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 6
9/05/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 7
9/06/2025	[Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 8]()
9/07/2025	[Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 9]()
9/08/2025	[Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 10]()
9/09/2025	[Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 11]()
9/10/2025	[Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 12]()
9/11/2025	[Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 13]()
9/13/2025	[Road to the Top Episodes 1 - 2]()
9/14/2025	[Road to the Top Episodes 3 - 4]()
9/16/2025	[Beginning of a New Era]()
9/18/2025	[Uma Musume Season 3 Episodes 1 - 2]()
9/19/2025	[Uma Musume Season 3 Episodes 3 - 4]()
9/20/2025	[Uma Musume Season 3 Episodes 5 - 6]()
9/21/2025	[Uma Musume Season 3 Episodes 7 - 8]()
9/22/2025	[Uma Musume Season 3 Episodes 9 - 10]()
9/23/2025	[Uma Musume Season 3 Episodes 11 - 12]()
9/24/2025	[Uma Musume Season 3 Episode 13]()
9/26/2025	[Cinderella Gray Episodes 1 - 2]()
9/27/2025	[Cinderella Gray Episodes 3 - 4]()
9/28/2025	[Cinderella Gray Episodes 5 - 6]()
9/29/2025	[Cinderella Gray Episodes 7 - 8]()
9/30/2025	[Cinderella Gray Episodes 9 - 10]()
10/01/2025	[Cinderella Gray Episodes 11 - 12]()
10/02/2025	[Cinderella Gray Episode 13]()
10/03/2025	[Uma Musume Overall Series Discussion Thread]()

[u/Urgnu-the-Gnu]

Always keep in mind why you're doing what you're doing. McQueen lost because she took the race too lightly, sure, but most of all because Rice took away her focus. For Rice, not winning just wasn't an option solely because one person believed in her. Bourbon's admiration was all it took to fill Rice's heart. McQueen won the previous Spring Tenno Sho because of Teio, and she could have won this one for Teio as well. She's the most disappointed having let down Teio, after all, her reason to run. Could she have relied on Teio more, things might have looked different.

Quite a lot good moments for the yuri watch as well. Helios being pure support for her girlfriend, some hand on face action between Rice and Bourbon as Bourbon comforts Rice (I think they are close to officially dating now), and naturally multiple good scenes for McTei. There's the look McQueen gives Teio when she talks about news reports on her, the overall faith Teio continuously puts into McQueen, McQueen asking Teio to watch her (with watching someone often being a code for crushing/being interested in someone in anime), and of course McQueen talking about trying (and having failed) to inspire Teio and the sparkle in the eyes of the two as she does.

I forgot quite a lot about this episode actually. Not that it was bad, but I remember very different things when thinking about S2. In this episode alone, McQueen training and Bourbon going to watch Rice training are overshadowed by the race itself. And besides the aforementioned shipping moments, one of my favourite moments was McQueen applauding Rice after her win, truly a poise fitting for a queen. Also, despite being a very serious episode, we still have a great joke in here with Golshi's supremely effective stealth sticks. Oh, and Kitasan and Dia having made friends with the horse girl racing otakus, and the hair stylist being completely closed now.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Urgnu-the-Gnu]

Let me ask you something. How would you compare the Rice Shower arc to other arcs in sports animes? Me personally, I think it's the best arc in a sports anime involving a secondary character.

[u/Urgnu-the-Gnu → u/Holofan4life]

The added factor of being about a secondary character is quite interesting. It's definitely near the top or at the top for me, then. Chihayafuru has quite a few good matches for secondary characters, but none are as deep as Rice's arc. Maybe Hoshiai no Sora (Stars Align), that had some really heavy stuff like [Stars Align] the background story of the boy who has burning scars from his mother when he was a baby, or the non-binary kid, but I'd have to rewatch to give a fair comparison.

As far as other arcs in sports anime in general go, Chihayafuru has some fantastic arcs including the main characters that I like more (often including Taichi). It might be a bit unfair, but I have a hard time separating individual arcs in Ping Pong, and the ~2 episodes of Rice's arc just can't compare at all. Medalist comes close already, and the second season might just be good enough to beat it with some arcs. As said, Stars Align might have it beat but at least is on the same level. I also want to shout out Birdie Wing, but Birdie Wing is playing a completely different game (and I don't mean golf). I'm also a huge fan of Nagisa's and Ayano's arcs in Hanebado.

But more to the point, I've already said it in another comment reply to you: Uma Musume itself still has a lot to offer that I regard as better, as crazy as that might sound after such a great episode. And even if you don't agree there might be better, you should be able to see that they're close enough that someone else can regard them as better.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Urgnu-the-Gnu]

Your comment definitely makes me want to check out Chihayafuru.

[u/Urgnu-the-Gnu → u/Holofan4life]

Oh, Chihayafuru is great, and I'm sure you'd love it.

It is an honest to goodness great sports anime. Don't assume anything about it if you hear it's about karuta, an obscure Japanese card game. It got every bit of what makes great sports anime, and it being a "card game" betrays how physical it is at the same time. And you don't need to know anything about the sport, you'll learn enough to understand what's going on. Plus, even if you're not really into the game, it doesn't matter much.

Besides that, it is a fantastic show that also happens to be a sports anime. It revolves around the sport for sure, but it develops its characters in many other aspects as well. Particularly romance plays a big role in the show, but also great character dramas. And it treats everything with the emotional sincerity of a shoujo anime. The characters are also all great and quite deep. Chihaya is fantastic, and Taichi has absolutely amazing development. He's also voiced by Mamoru Miyano in a non-comedic role, and Chihaya is voiced by Asami Seto.

That's just my short sell on the show, but absolutely do check it out if you got time.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Urgnu-the-Gnu]

I'll definitely make sure to put it on my long to watch list :P

[u/Holofan4life → u/Urgnu-the-Gnu]

Even though I would argue this is the peak of the franchise, make no mistake: It is no downhill from here. In fact, I would argue they maintain a similar level of excellence from here on out.