Short Synopsis: Natsume buys a picture and wakes up next to flower blossoms.
Episode Rating: 8/10 (Excellent)
Aha! I finally see the big difference in how I’ve been enjoying the first season when compared to the second season. Those who have read my past entries probably know that for some reason, the second season didn’t hit me as hard as the first season did. My guess that the novelty of the storytelling started to wear off, while the first season had me especially in its first half at the edge of my seat, I didn’t experience this with the second one, but now I realize that its episode in exchange felt really satisfying when they ended. Especially this episode: throughout the episode it didn’t feel like anything special, but in the end it felt like everything came together perfectly.
And seriously, Natsume is just TOO nice at times. He buys a picture, it starts sucking the life out of him and yet he refuses to have it removed because it supposedly contains a special person to a youkai he just met days before. As it turns out, the youkai and that person had met centuries ago. At one point, the guy stopped showing up (probably because he died since his health was weak), and instead of waiting for a quarter of an eternity like most Youkai would, Mai (the youkai) instead starts looking for him, and eventually seems to have found him inside that picture. Ever since, she’s been travelling with that picture, even though the guy could never say anything back, or even confirm that he indeed was the one that she made friends with.
And this episode shows again the meaning of masks in this series: breaking them seems to signify being able to move forward and change. In this case, Mai’s hard patience finally paid off when she could meet her loved one again. And I guess that that all happened because of the sacrifice Natsume made for him, but god, he could easily have died if he chose the wrong painting to be nice to.
This episode also had a very short bit about Natsume and his mother. It established that Natsume still has trouble to fully trust his mother, simply because he has a secret that she’s never going to believe him for. It was mostly building up in this episode, but I wonder if the chapters in which this building up is used can still make it within the series.
hi, always nice to read your take on the shows. but that lady is not natsume’s mother right? just his relative?
I thought she was neither, just a previous neighbor. She may not be his real mother, but I like calling her his mother since she takes such good care of him. I don’t know if it is just me, but every scene between them puts a smile on my face 🙂
There is a slight difference between the two seasons. The first was about Natsume learning that he isn’t lonely and appreciating his gift. In the season, he is already aware about it, but now the issue is about opening up. He has loving parent and friends, but but lying and covering up is now second nature to him. He also fears loosing this existing relationship but is aware that they are not the same as his previous guardians.
Hm 2 more chapters left for animation, I wonder if they plan to use the remaining side chapters to fill in the gaps or perhaps use the mysterious one shot love story chapters. I can’t wait for the next one, finally it is Reiko again~
I loved this episode! It was so pretty! Oh! Ummm…the youkai’s name is Miya, not Mai, just in case you were wondering.
Always amazing how the writers can develop should such creative stories each week. It’s not like they are building on prior events but putting together some excellent, self contained stories. This week wasn’t as emotionally strong as the prior but still a good episode.
My only concern is the formula they are using may get old over time. So far, it hasn’t disappointed.