Let's see... Let's start with the plot in this ep. It started pretty normally, right after that some sort of performance thingy. It's actually pretty casual, almost domesticated if I'm being honest. I almost got fooled into thinking it'd be a boring episode, so you just kinda need to get through the first few minutes. We even got a bit of a lecture from Kacchan, but I guess Akira needed that reality check, too. But he did kinda overstep, too, for not asking for Akira's consent before he uploaded those audios. Even so, it was necessary, and I like how this episode did that part really well. It wasn't just some random crisis of sorts. Kacchan had a very grounded reason for doing it, and Akira eventually realized it. So there it was— episode 1 setting the stage for the series' plot and future developments. Not much of a fan of the CGI, though, I think? I mean the movements were pretty well done on that studio practice scene, but the very first scene of the ep, the performance thingy—it wasn't exactly that good for me. Objectively, it is. Subjectively, not so much. And that's only because there were some parts that seemed a tad too stiff or unnaturally exaggerated. It's not that I'm complaining, but if I make an objective comparison of it against Maebashi Witches and even Love Live! School Idol Project, which was even behind in this aspect considering the year it was released... I'd still prefer to watch their animated PVs and performances. And that doesn't include yet the ones used after years of Final Live. But yeah; in terms of well-done, UniteUp! really did a pretty great job here. As for the soundtracks, it's not my type of genre (first performance in the ep) nor Akira's singing of Crossfire. But the one Akira listened to after Kacchan's request really hit different. It was great. So I really have high hopes for the next eps.