xxxHolic – 13 – Pidgeons



xxxHolic returns with a normal case again, this episode. This time, we have a fallen angel. It’s a strange creature who can attach itself to a person who wants to be stronger so badly, that he doesn’t care if he loses control of himself. The fallen angel then lives as a parasite on its host, while this host loses its mind’s ability of self-control. In exchange, the host is freed from any burdens it suffers from. When the fallen angel has done its work, it detaches from its host, leaving it behind as an empty shell, and just goes and searches for a new host to leech from. The previous host has lost all critical thinking at that time. Only through active nurturing, the host body can be able to recover.

This time, the host body belonged to a girl named Rie. Everyone sees her as a very nice and quiet girl. Though when the fallen angel chooses to reside in her body, it seems that she’s been acting that way. She probably felt incomplete, she probably wanted to be free (hence the pigeons who kept flying across the screen during the episode). I alos like the fact that we never know what happened to her in the end, or whether she got saved or not.

Apart from that, some further information about Maru and Moro is given. Watanuki tries to invite the two of them to a festival, but then their cheery self disappears, and they explain that they can’t ever leave Yuuko’s shop. They’re both soulless bodies, only able to live inside. When they go outside, they wouldn’t survive. I loved the way the pipe fox broke the tension in this. ^^

It could also have been me, but Watanuki and Himawari seemed much closer than before. The two of them talk much more to each other than at the beginning of the scene. Even with Domeki near. I think that this is supposed to be a subtle hint for the relationship between the two of them. Either that, or Watanuki’s mind’s playing tricks on him again.

Surprisingly, Domeki didn’t choose for art class, while Watanuki and Himawari did. Still, that doesn’t mean that Watanuki hasn’t got enough time to yell at him. The two of them have (Watanuki’s) lunch together (At this point, Watanuki’s given up on trying to stop him), and they walk homewards together as well. Another interesting fact is that Domeki got some nasty cuts in his hands while he tried to save Watanuki from being stabbed by a small knife. I also loved how Domeki and Watanuki ended up together at the fishing game during the festival. ^^

There wasn’t any tension in this episode. The climax was badly deus ex machina-ed away by the pipe fox. Yuuko also was a bit too serious for her own good. Normally, she’s much more playful. And why did she go out? I was also a bit disappointed when the creators decided not to show Watanuki’s and Himawari’s self portraits. I’d like to have seen what they managed to draw.

The art style also was extra messy this episode, and I loved it. I can really appreciate it when an anime differs from the standard art style.

(On a side-note: you would think that the creators would do something about the number thirteen in this episode, but then again, this is japanese animation, not european).

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