So, this is the direction the story went with. Taking over the body really turned out to be a huge plot point for this series, rather than a random gimmick. This entire episode was building up to the big twist at the end, after which there still was no sign of Hazuki getting his body back. Instead, Rokka ended up confesing her feelings while his body still was occupied. Now that’s going to be awkward.
This really was a slow episode, especially after the bath scene. I really like that it focused on Rokka sorting out her feelings, and how this episode took its time for that to let everything just play out. It’s likely that she had feelings for Hazuki before the whole body switching went on, but Atsushi definitely contributed to them afterwards. What I’d like to know is: would she also have confessed this way if the switch didn’t happen? How would things have progressed if Hazuki never got into that drunk mood?
What’s also interesting for Atsushi here is the use of the story of Thumbelina, in terms of symbolism I mean. For those who don’t know about the general story (I couldn’t remember either until I read up on it), it’s the story of a tiny girl who escapes all sorts of shady marriages and friendships (symbolized by various animals). She then meets a swallow and heads off to a far away land to meet her tiny flower fairy prince, after which she transforms and receives a pair of wings and a new name. Atsushi actually put Hazuki, right at the moment where she meets that swallow. Despite what he might say or do, he actually supports Rokka moving on. And yet this episode came and complicated things again by using that confession, getting his feelings all jumbled up again. The wait is for what the creators intend to be the “far away land” of the story of thumbelina. That will be the key here.
Rating: 5.5/8 (Excellent)
Good episode coverage as per usual psgels. Glad you mentioned and remembered the thumbelina story and pointed out the symbolism I’d forgotten it myself, this puts a new perspective/meaning on the episode reflecting on it having read this post.
I liked this episode, now where is the series going to go from here would be the major question..
This was a wonderful episode. I’m looking forward to seeing the story progress in the next one.
Wow now I feel like this would end really quick. Well this is noitamina, so 11 ep is not uncommon
I’m just glad Shimao-kun is acting more mature about this situation. When he states firmly: stop using your dead husband me as an excuse (or something of the kind), my respect for him soared.
What I also found interesting was the use of The Little Mermaid in this episode.
The original story ended with the Little Mermaid watching the prince marry another, and her sister’s presenting her with a magical blade. If she used the magical blade to kill the prince and drip his blood onto her feet, she will become a mermaid again and will be able to live, but she instead chooses to let her prince live and stay as a human who will die and turn into sea foam when day breaks.
I wonder if this is the version that is going to be used/focused on in this series, and if it is, I am wondering how exactly it is going to be used. Rokka has already been shown as being the mermaid, with Kazuki being the “prince”…I’m just really fascinated by how that will get worked into everything, and if any other fairy tales are going to work their way into this series.
Anyway, I’ve been enjoying every episode greatly and look forward to next week’s as well!