I must say that my big fear for this series would be its conclusion. This show has already proven that it’s good, but even good shows have a hard time with their conclusions (take Kurenai for example). This is a series about the past, and how it can influence the present, but that black-haired woman was really being set up as your stereotypical evil villain. This episode only fueled my suspicions when they portrayed her even more like some overused bad guy who was planning to kidnap Arashi and use her powers in order to help a loved one of her. Yawn. Been there, done that, and it completely doesn’t fit in with the rest of the themes.
Or so I thought…
The end of this episode really pleasantly surprised me.I never imagined that that woman would actually be a grown up version of Arashi! Now this really puts things into a different perspective that’s totally in line with what the rest of the series has built up for. Especially this episode spent a lot of time talking about time paradoxes, which is exactly what happened at the end of this episode. It was some clever foreshadowing that at the same time you really recognize unless you’ve seen the rest of the episode. Especially since they used a rotten fish as example.
So yeah, this episode rocked. There was a lot of talking in it, but it did exactly what it was supposed to: delve into the details of time travelling. This really allows the series to go in-depth into its setting, rather than compared to series with relatively little dialogue. This is also why I’m such a big fan of series with lots and lots of dialogue. On top of that, we also got some very nice development between Arashi and Hajime, which is always welcome. That hug/kiss scene worked really well.
I’m also intrigued by that scar on the bar table. It just keeps returning over and over, and there’s always someone who’s trying to clean it. The obvious meaning is symbolism: no matter how hard you try, that past ain’t gonna erase itself. And yet I have a feeling that there’s more to it. I have no bloody idea how the creators are going to do it, but something is telling me that the origin of that scar is going to be central to the plot.
Rating: ** (Excellent)
Great HajimexArashi chemistry, nice surprises, the beginning of the end that is promising to be very exciting.
“I never imagined that that woman would actually be a grown up version of Arashi!”
How did you work that out?
Well, that seems to be the only explanation for why Arashi started to nearly vanish, wasn’t it?
hmm if they’re both arashi shouldn’t they both be vanishing when they’re close to each other?
That kinda took me by surprise too… IT didnt even cross my mind it could be a future Arashi
I mean how is that even possible? Are you saying that in their current reality, Arashi didnt actually die? Because her ghost form doesnt seem to age at all, which means the future arashi would look exactly like the current one, and it doesnt
I totally disagree.
Don’t forget that Kanako AND Yayoi appear in the first episode working at the Ark with everyone else. So we already know the conclusion. Things get worked out and both of those ‘evil’ characters wind up working with Arashi and Kaya. The first episode still hasn’t happened yet chronologically (cutie strawberry-chan). I don’t buy that it’s a future Arashi. I think its a totally different ‘ethereal being’.
I like the music in this ep. It’s very ‘Jigoku Shoujo’ish. 😀
I don’t think that women is Arashi too. Just as mentioned above, I think she’s just another ghost of the past.
The ‘going back to the past to change history’ dialog was interesting. My personnel opinion is that they did not change history at all. They are simply acting out history. They’ve always save those people in the past, so there was never a future where these people were dead.
did you guys notice the 2 people sitting while they were discussing bringing the mackerel back in time?
It was GOD and the priest from maria+holic.
Lol. wonder how many noticed it