Higurashi no Naku Koro ni – 21 – Thank Goodness The Shion Arc is Over

I’ve really got some issues with the way this arc ended. There are so many things that don’t make any sense at all. I kept hoping for this episode to include some unexpected twist. But no. Basically, all that happens is the things I predicted two episodes back.

We first start with the phone call, which is indeed one of Shion’s plans. We then switch to Rika’s and Satoko’s house and Shion freaks out again by the mention of Satoko. We then switch to the basement, and it seems that Shion tormented Mion by killing Satoko. Badly animated as usual. (Also notice that there’s no blood on the floor, even though it’s been gushing out of Satoko? Also notice that Satoko only seems to have one cut on each arm, even though Shion stabbed her multiple times?) Shion also tells Mion that she’ll let Satoko go if she says “I’m sorry” 1000 times. At one point, however, she stops. Why would she do that? In any case, Satoko dies and Shion realizes that she didn’t hold herself to Satoshi’s last wish: to take care of Satoko. Shion then becomes more paranoid by the minute.

We then switch to the next day, when Keiichi and Rena talk to Shion. For some reason, the fact that Rena mentions that Satoko wasn’t supposed to come is left out. It’s strange, as it’s a large plothole. Why did Mion freak out when she heard this? Because her name was mentioned?

In any case, Shion asks thirty minutes alone with Keiichi, and this is where the bad parts begin. First of all, she’s way too calm, if you compare this to her actions before. She actually holds his hand. Shion also tells herself that she couldn’t tell whether she was Mion or Shion anymore, though later in the episode she shows no signs of this statement anymore. Also, did Keiichi pat Shion on the head in the second arc?

Next up, Mion sees Keiichi, rejoices, sees Shion and screams. Shion then drops a rock on Keiichi. Shion’s next sentence: “I plan to kill her after she hears the screams of all the people that died because of her”. I’m sure that we didn’t get to hear this sentence during the second arc. During the entire talk between Keiichi and Shion, Shion’s behaviour just doesn’t sound right if you compare this with when she killed the others. And why did she tell Keiichi about the doll? Keiichi also starts crying. Did he do this in the second arc? In any case, Shion shocks Keiichi, and goes to Mion. It seems that I indeed was right: they’re going to switch places again. Shion will go back to Shion and get rescued, while Mion will return to Mion, get killed and fall in the well.

And now comes the part I really have issues with. Mion makes a confession. She also liked Satoshi, so she confronted Obaba. Obaba then said that the Sonozaki-Family did nothing at all regarding Satoshi. Obaba actually approved Shion’s love for Satoshi, ever since she ripped off her nail.

Why the heck did Mion wait so incredibly LONG to say this to Mion?! She had enough chances for this. Why does she reveal this only now? Couldn’t she just have told Shion the minute she found out, or the minute that Shion captured her? Talk about not making sense, sheesh.

In any case, it’s clear now that the major culprit of Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (at this point, probably Takano) also managed to kill Satoshi. What follows is Shion getting shocked and dumping Mion in the well. Shion and Keiichi then get rescued. That night, Shion is really getting paranoid by the curse, and decides to go and stab Keiichi. That means that Keiichi only imagined Shion’s last attack. In any case, Shion returns to the hospital she’s in, climbs over the balconies to reach her room, trips and falls to her death. She has a strange moment in which she apologizes to everyone, before the ground crushes her.

Still, one interesting fact was revealed. Mion told Shion that Obaba looked into things, and it seems that nobody within the village has killed Satoshi. If she spoke the truth in this, didn’t lie and was indeed right about this fact, then Tomitake has suddenly been placed on the list of major suspects.

In any case, I’m SO glad that this arc is finally over. I’m really looking forward to the Rena-arc now. This arc may have been horrible. Shion may have been horrible. But I’ve been dying for a bit more Rena vs. Keiichi. Another good point is that arc six won’t be exactly the same as arc 1 (as with arc 2 and arc 5), as it’ll feature Rena, being placed in Keiichi’s place.