Hyouka – 15

This episode returned to the mystery, mostly to building up everything for what will probably be the climax next week. For the first time, we’re also looking at a thriller, rather than solving a mystery that has already happened, because the classics club will be the last one on the list of clubs to be robbed. I have to give it to Hyouka: every major arc is distinct and different: the first was about solving a mystery of more than 40 years ago, the second about writing a mystery plot and Oreki being wrong, and now this.

I’m especially curious how this series will end up using the really slow build-up of the past arc. I mean, this episode diligently continued that: it shed more light on that annoying club member for Sayaka, it subtly developed Chitanda’s attempts to reach out to other clubs, and Satoshi’s classmate returned, on top of him trying out a few things to catch the culprit.

At this point, I can only think of how someone just stole things for the heck of it. Either to make some sort of statement, to entertain a bunch of people by spicing up the school festival or something. Beyond that I can’t think of why someone would steal these random things, and leave notes about them in the process.
Rating: 4.5/8 (Nice)

20 thoughts on “Hyouka – 15

  1. I haven’t see this particular episode yet, but from the previous episodes I’d say the item were stoles in a “treasure hunt/item hunt” game, ie people were asked to get random items from a specific list and leave notes as proof.

    1. Don’t think so. A pattern has started to emerge. I’m not sure if it’s a group of thieves but I have a strong feeling that Kaho Jumonjii is somehow involved. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that her name and the mysterious thief’s title can be written in the same way. The characters might be dismissing it because it’s too obvious and because Kaho herself is apparently one of the victims. There’s a chance that this could be a sanctioned festival event though so you could be half-right.

      Mayaka’s missing doujinshi subplot is also taking shape. Chitanda has some character development too but it’s true form is yet unrevealed. And serious Satoshi appears. That sad look he had during the Mystery Movie arc is starting to come into context. I wonder if Oreki noticed.

      One thing I don’t get: Why does Mayaka get mad when someone (like Oreki, this time) calls what she’s doing “cosplaying”? Isn’t that what she’s doing? A similar incident happened at the beginning of the arc when Mayaka dressed as that “They were Eleven” character too. How did she shut Satoshi down?

      1. It also could be that the list of the items is not as random and have some sort of meaning. We shall see!

      2. When it comes to Mayaka, well, doing cosplay and the like is a definite indicator of someone being an otaku, which is something you don’t want to be in Japan. And while Mayaka may have a room filled with manga and drawings up on the wall, her reason for being apart of the Manga Society seems to stem from her desire to create stories. She wants to be a manga-ka, but wanting to be a manga-ka does not mean that one wants to be, or is a part of, otaku society.

        After all, instead of cosplaying something popular (like the other members did with Vocaloid) she instead went with older and (possibly?) more obscure titles. Ones that she viewed as having actual merit and depth to their stories.

        Then, as coming from someone who cosplays, there is the added aspect that when you cosplay you *will* get looked at. You get stares, especially when you are out in public and not at the event at which you are cosplaying. Mayaka seems like the type, unlike Satoshi, who prefers to blend in rather than stand out. And cosplaying makes you stand out no matter what, so she was probably on edge and a bit uncomfortable in that department (and she did not want to be reminded of the fact that she was cosplaying because it would basically be a declaration that was an otaku).

        Finally, by the time Oreki brought up her cosplaying, she already had her drama and issues with the other cosplayers. So, bringing up cosplay in general may have just reminded her of the other members, which is why she got really mad with him, unlike with Satoshi where she places her hands on his cheeks and tells him to “not say the word in public.” She doesn’t get angry with him like she did with Oreki, because it is most likely tied to the other two issues I talked about before (not wanting to be seen as an otaku and being embarrassed by the attention and what not that comes with cosplaying).

        Those are just my takes on why Mayaka gets mad/upset whenever someone points out that she cosplays, though. 🙂

        1. Ah. So Oreki basically stepped on a landmine. Haha, I see. Thanks. Actually makes a lot of sense. I’ll keep it in mind.

          1. No problem! 🙂 I really like how this arc is giving some good characterization to both Mayaka and Satoshi, who were both in great need of it. Oreki and Chitanda get some little bits here and there as well, so this arc feels very rounded, very inclusive, in the character development department.

      3. Something else that I’ve been thinking after watching this episode. Last time when they brought up “Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?”, it was a significant hint. Now they brought up the ABC murders. And while you could say that they covered it with the use of the alphabet, I kind of wonder if there is more to it. The thing is in ABC had one particular twist in regards as to who the murderer was (not going to say what because it’s a spoiler for the book) and I’m wondering if they will use it too. If that the case then it’s definitely not a treasure hunt but something much more directly related to the Classic Club. Ah, I wish they would show the next episode already!

  2. I think Mayaka just finds it a little embarrassing maybe?

    I’m really liking Hyouka. Glad that it got so many episodes to work it’s story with so it has quite a lot of time to tell it’s stories. 🙂

    1. I wonder if that’s all it was. It felt like there was some cultural rule broken. It’s kind of like how in Japan, it’s not nice to call people “otaku” unless you know for sure that they feel that way about themselves.

      1. I agree with Tuuli, notice how her costumes are not as flashy/absurd as the other and can almost pass as normal clothes.

        1. Yeah but it’s obvious that she’s dressed as a character from an anime, right down to a mirror accessory that she keeps hidden in her pocket. If that’s not called cosplaying, what is it called? Role-playing? Just curious. It seems like a cultural thing and I want to keep it in mind in case I run into a real japanese cosplayer one day and somehow have to engage in conversation. I’d hate to take a mirror (or gunblade, or some other accessory) in the face for calling them a cosplayer. XD

          Nice touch keeping the bruise on Oreki’s face after the scene.

          1. Maybe she doesnt consider herself to be cosplaying.

            A lot of cosplayers has a sense of pride about it. It’s not just wearing the costume, it’s about capturing the essence of the characters. Ohno in Genshiken is like that. I suspect Mayaka might be like Ogiue who was embarrassed either way, she was embarrassed to show her otaku tendencies, but she was also embarrassed that she’s not “doing it right” when she does put on costumes

  3. Psgels. . .what’s 4.5/8? that’s like less than 50%. . .59% and below is an F grade in school. . .so…huh???

      1. The way I see it, with the new system, most of the series psgels enjoys should have their bulk of their episodes in the 4-5.5 range.

        While a 6 is saved for episodes that are extra creative, or deliver a cool twist (or a good pay-off after a long build up).

        I don’t see 7 being used very often and we might not see a 8 ever 🙂

        So, my interpretation of 4.5 is : “This was good episode, as I’ve come to expect from this series, but it didn’t do much to stand out from the rest of the series”.

  4. So I don’t think anyone’s mentioned it, but what items does the Classics club posses that starts with the ‘ko’ character? That’s what I’m curious about! What could they possibly steal, and with Hotarou in the room no less? Unless they pickpocket one of the other members whilst they’re walking around the school…

  5. What I found the most interesting from this episode was Satoshi’s development. At first one would think that he found Tani annoying just because, but now I think that he sees himself in Tani (projection of the jealousy he’s starting to develop towards Oreki). Also, after all the drama Oreki had to deal with the last arc, it’s nice to see that he is mostly having a good time.

    1. I wonder if they are going to use the thing that happened a couple of episodes back, that Satoshi pulled in some favours to make the Classics club appear last in the catalogue? (so that it stands out)

      Like, the motive behind the “thief” is that he wants to expose that they broke the rules and their club isn’t put in alphabetical order in the pamphlet (was it in alphabetical order? I don’t remember).

      1. It wasn’t in alphabetical order but your theory is quite interesting. I also believe that Juumoji is acting with the Classics Club (maybe Oreki) as his central objective.

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