Last week we left off with Hazuki finally giving off his body to that ghost in a drunk mood. This episode carries that further, and it’s definitely different from usual anime, in which such a possession only lasts a few minutes: at the end of this episode there still was no sign of him being content with leaving Hazuki’s body. In fact, things only seem to have just started yet.
In the meantime we have a wonderfully subtle portrayal of Atsushi in Hazuki’s body. It was emotional, but not melodramatic. It was sad, but not consistently sad: it actually balanced his feelings for finally being able to talk to Rokka again with his attempts of getting used to Hazuki’s new body, getting a better understanding of the guy in the process. I like how he tried to cut his own hair as a way of dealing with his frustrations, but he didn’t exactly end up ruining the guy’s image in front of Rokka. Of course she thinks he’s a horrible drunk right now, but he did nothing that would make her outright hate him, interestingly.
Hazuki meanwhile… didn’t really do anything. His part in this episode was mostly building up as he ran around in this dream world along with ythe younger Rokka, although she did provide a few hints about Atsushi when he was younger. The actual meat of that subplot will probably be revealed next week, although it is surprising to see this series beat around the bush a bit. But that’s something that I also find that this show does really well: it’s really well balanced, on top of its excellent voice-acting, script, music, characters, timing, etc.
Rating: 5.5/8 (Excellent)
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I’ve been reading this blog for 5 years, but this is my first comment. How can you set an “excellent” if you put a 5.5 /8 ? The “excellent” should be for 6 at least. Cool post anyway
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Carlise: the idea behind that was that I wanted to save the ratings for 6/8 and higher for the really awesome episodes, but you indeed have a point. I do need to tweak this scale a bit more.
Maybe 6 should be Excellent, 7 Awesome, and 8 Fantastic…
Just sayin’ :P…
still waiting for Psgels to add Fabulous Max! — or Just fabulous. But I prefer the former
Second! Hot pink font too.
I’m loving this show, and I certainly feel for the poor ghost. Honestly if I was in his position I would permanently highjack a body and attempt to reincarnate. I’d let her know about it all too, not saying that would work out well but heck, thats just me.
That would totally blow up in your face, especially the telling her part. You would make the previous owner of the body a total martyr of love and it’d be wedge because you two essentially killed another person.
First of all, I highly doubt there is a 0% chance of things working, second I think it depends on the poeple involved, speaking of which, aren’t their coma patients who show no brain activity? At anyrate, I doubt it would work out with these two in our story here, Rokka seems like the righteous type, I just find this subject of afterlife, ghost, and spirit fascinating. I’m simply musing, and so what if another person was “killed”? not everyone wants to live anyhow
I was assuming the situation is as is in the anime where the body is Hazuki. Rokka would be a totally horrible person to accept it without conflict, even if Hazuki were to tell help that he willingly give up his body.
I think it’s one thing to give up life, quite another to have life given up for you. Anyone shrug it off with a “so what” would not be a person that I want to love. Not to mention the other conflict that you inflict upon yourself, preparing to live a lie your entire life to your family, to the family of the body. The underlying guilt of being fraud to the body’s family and friend, whether you maintain contact with them or break it off like a stranger. It would be a very strict criteria of a host body, if you were to look for comatose patient with no strings attached and drama free(then there’s the question of how did this person get kept on life support if he had not family or lover supporting it financially)
Actually, Colorful has a premise you may find interesting, a soul was given a second chance at life via a body of a 14 year old that just killed himself. He was given this chance to figure out his own greatest sin in his former life as well as why the boy killed himself within a certain period of time or risk never to be reincarnated again
That does sound rather interesting, and I don’t necessarily think it would make her a bad person, love is something powerful, afterall, you never want to loose that special person, sometimes no matter what. At anyrate, you have very righteous feeelings I see, life must have been kind to you, all that aside I love this show, I don’t care where they take it, the story is what I’m after, devouring it I mean, I can’t get enough of it, the things people create
I’ve decided to spoil myself by looking at the end. It’s a satisfying ending, but it’s not perfect for either of the leads.
I dont think I’m righteous per se, but I’m not also in the camp of letting go is also an act of love
I suppose you’ve never really been in love than, but I suppose its different for everyone, I just happen to be the type that gets very attached, which is strange for me, since I don’t ever feel attachment to anything, that stupid emotion twists everything for me. Well if the ending is good I’m fine, as long as its a real conclusion I’ll be happy, I hate stories that just, give half ass endings
It’s more of the latter. It’s a bit fair to tell someone you never been in love. I don’t think love equals consuming devotion and possession, at least not always. I suppose if you look at things from the ends, maybe I havent found that special person, but that doesnt mean they arent special at the time, or even now.
I had a real rocky relationship before, we fought and bickered over real things and meaningless things, have break-ups and get back togethers at least 4 or 5 times. Friends say it was stupid, and it’s not love, but I think the only thing we never disagreed on was that we loved each other. We were immature and certainly both of us had our own issues. We broke it off because it wasnt healthy for either of us to keep doing it. I don’t think life is kind. People believe true love conquers all and therefore reach the conclusion that it wasnt love, but I’d still vehemently disagree
Weirdly enough, the Thumbelina version of Rokka is the first time I feel like Ohara’s voice being out of place. It could be because I’m so used to hearing that voice as a mature women, seeing it coming out of a fairy’s mouth.
It’s hilarious that he cut his hair. I’d be so mad to wake up and found my hair was cut without my knowledge
I think the key for Hazuki to get back into his body was the statement he made near the start of the episode of having no sympathy for Atsushi. That has to change.
As for Atsushi … well he’s in a tricky position. If he’s too obnoxious then he’s just ruined his chance to spend time with his love. If he’s too nice then she’s going to fall for Hazuki. If he reveals that he’s Atsushi possessing Hazuki then he comes off as a bad guy.
Yeah, I love the portrayal of Atsushi. He’s really into one hell of a bind. Can’t be a jackass or else she won’t be with him. Can’t be too nice or else things might progress and he doesn’t want that to happen, obviously, since it ain’t his body.
And naturally, she’s not gonna accept him using Hazuki’s body were he to tell her who he really is. He’d come off as incredibly selfish and essentially robbing Hazuki’s life.
Really eager to see how this whole thing turns out.
What a difficult situation. Hazuki has no obligations whatsoever towards the ghost, and Atsushi depends entirely on him. Although as long as Rokka is unwilling to move out Hazuki ought to compromise and work out a way to get Atsushi to move on.
A way that doesn’t involve possession. I was really uncomfortable with this episode; what Atsushi did was an awful violation, even if his motives were understandable.
i loved this episode and the dilemma it posed for shimao. jun fukuyama’s voice is so goood.