Short Synopsis: The doll arc finally ends
Highlights: Have I already said how amazing this series is for its climaxes?
Overall Enjoyment Value: 9/10
Oh my god… when I thought that the previous episode was good. I may have my problems with this series during the quiet parts, but boy… does it deliver when it gets serious. Like mentioned above, this episode closes off the doll-arc, but there’s much more to be said than just that.
We learn how during the war, Nijuu Mensou worked as an investigator of these supernatural weapons. At one time, he worked together with the doll-woman, when she was still human, and there they exchanged their two necklaces. The doll-woman really was in love with the guy, it seems, and underwent the operation that turned her body into that of a doll for him, but in the end he betrayed her.
It’s indeed like I thought: Nijuu Mensou was involved with a lot of supernatural research during the war, and he just left everything without cleaning it up, and now his past is back to bite at him. He tried to live his life as a famous thief, probably in order to forget his past, but after the mass-murder in episode 6, he realized that he couldn’t just ignore his past. This is why he abandoned Chiko and Ken: to not involve them with his problems. Unfortunately, Chiko is now known as his daughter, so all of his enemies will now be going after Chiko because he makes himself unfindable. Nice strategy. The guy is screwed, and a perfect example of the proverb “you reap what you sow”. The fact that he left again at the end of this episode shows how his problems are far from over.
Also, it turns out that Akechi really does exist, but Nijuu Mensou likes to dress up as him. The big question is of course: who was the one who gave Chiko Nijuu Mensou’s necklace. It’s obvious now that Nijuu Mensou has been doing other things ever since he faked his own death, but to what extend did he keep in contact with Chiko?
I must applaud the creators for coming up with such a dynamic cast. Out of all th series that aired during the past spring season, Nijuu Menosu no Musume and Real Drive have a cast of characters that feels most away from any stereotypes, and now that these have hit their second halves, you can really see the results of that. Stereotypes may be best and funniest when they first appear, but they falter in the long run, whereas the developed and fleshed out characters only get better as the series progresses.
Finally, some answers. The way Twenty Faces faked his death kinda bugged me and for a while I was afraid that Chiko would approach Mary Sue status (tragic past, check; orphan, check; deus ex machina always happening to explain how awesome at everything she is, almost happens a few times with those hapless thugs up until the doll-arc). Glad to see the show start to answer some of its most glaring questions at last.
I agree: great episode in a great series. Personally, I’ve never seen anything like this show. One slight difference: I don’t think their research was “supernatural.” I think it was research into super-weapons, including augmented humans. Can NJM survive this? Not really, but in this show you never say never. I’m glad to see from the preview that they are not just going to switch quickly to the Detective girls arc, but will take an episode to save Chiko from the crash of the zeppelin.
There goes Ken again…he really needs to keep his angst to a controlled level. And why does he look like he’s five years younger when he stands with Nijuu Mensou? He looked like a 40-year-old drunk when he’s first seen in the bushes. Nijuu Mensou also got stabbed like 10 times… but he always stands back up like nothing happened.
oh my, picoodle says “bandwidth exceeded”. it looks like you have to find another image sharing site. =( good luck!
Wow Im amaze what things are turning out! I hope they sub this soon!
I’m really starting to think that 20 Faces has regenerative powers. It said on the fansub that the research included such things.
@Maureen
Yeah, that would explain how he walks elegantly with his crazy injuries as if nothing happened.