This series still had a chance of closing off well. But the ending of this episode pretty much ruined it. With that, Yukio showed that he was Letter Bee’s Cabernet: the major flaw of the anime original material.
For the majority of this episode, it didn’t feel 100% right, but at least I could finally understand what had been up to Yukio during the past episodes. Yeah, the potential to turn Rin back into a human makes sense for him to completely change in order to achieve this. Not telling his brother anything fits him perfectly, and it’s a good twist that he had been doing all of this behind his back. Him becoming a paladin was a bit forced, but ah well: gramps must have pulled a few strings behind the scenes.
So let me ask the creators this: why the heck did you suddenly back down? The twist at the end rendered all of his development useless. Having him deceived and turn into a demon himself… what an incredibly cheesy twist. If you wanted to do that, then build up for it. Don’t just indecisively throw a deus ex machina there in order to get a soap opera ending. At this point there was more than enough conflict between the two brothers. Yukio trying to save his brother would have made for a compelling finale. This however, just sucks.
Rating: – (Disappointing)
I… am really at lost at what the producers are thinking at this moment. They could have made this original arc awesome, and they screwed it up. Big. Time. They could have made AnE less cliche during the Trial arc by just following the freaking original source then throw in a bit filler, or give Rin’s classmates more convincing reasons to accept his condition. Or just do like what you mentioned before: Throw in lots of slice of life fillers in like they did in the 19th episode. But, no. They just have to freaking kick the good points of this show and bury it in concrete. Along with the possible second season.
It’s too late to drop the show now, though. I’ll just turn off any logic-filter from now on and see how they’re gonna end AnE’s anime adaptation.
I don’t know why you continue to torture yourself like this psgels. I ran away screaming from this anime as soon as they deviated from the manga. Because anime original material usally = black pit of despair.
2evolstar
To be fair, psgel doesn’t read the manga, and he’s here for the anime so original or not he will continue to watch it. And it IS almost the end already so he might as well continue.
Hopefully there will pull off a Brotherhood one day, seeing as AnE’s manga sells like hotcakes in Japan….
Yeah, this episode sucks. Anime original material written all over it. Since most anime original material just plain sucks I’m just prepared for the ultimate suckage this season.
well I thought that this ep was epic I just loved it especially the end and I am reading the manga.
I am sorry, but it was obvious from the moment he said demons blood was required – Rin is a demon. But, judging from the preview, this may become quite a nice ending.
It took me hours to puzzle out this episode, and I’m anxious to see answers in back stories in the next episode.
In the meantime, I’m making guesses.
Such as…gramps is a Satanist? He obviously lied about how his daughter died, but I’m guessing he told part-truths. The Blue Night gave him an opportunity to offer up his daughter to his cause. After she gave birth, he might have sacrificed her in a failed attempt to pacify all exorcists.
I was impressed that Yukio’s realization of his betrayal was a part of Egin’s ceremony. That didn’t sink it immediately, but it makes sense. Even with an open gate, Satan still needs a vessel to move in our world.
Rin isn’t completely out of the fight, I believe, and Yukio has a chance of surviving. Being the half-demon princes to Hell gives them advantages, right?
What disappointed me was the neglect of certain side characters. I expected Rin to talk to Shiemi at the camp. The exwires (esquires, whatever) should have fought or at least argued near the end; instead, they hung around like set pieces. The creators seemed to have run out of time and started skimming the story–which happens in too many otherwise excellent anime.
It might still end well, in my opinion. It just won’t be perfect.