Flashback time! If there weren’t already enough reasons for a second season, then this episode added another one. Episode eight usually is the point for 13-episode series to start building up for their climaxes. If there’s going to be a flashback, it’s most often used as a revelation of an important mystery. This episode instead chooses to give more depth to a set of three characters: Kuchiha, Shamon, and one of the monks that works at the temple of the princess.
Especially the latter is a clear indication that this series is aiming beyond thirteen episodes. Heck, I never could have guessed that that guy was so important to have his own background story. It took me a long while to figure out who the heck he was again, but it seems he was the one who guided Toki, Kon and Kuchiha around the temple when they arrived, and explained their customs a bit. To think that he actually was more than a handy way to give background on the temple. The director is no idiot, so he wouldn’t have given background to such an obscure character at this point if he knew that it would be a pointless waste of time.
This episode also shows how Shamon came to adopt Kuchiha. The village she lived in used to shun her because of the huge demon in her. That’s why she’s always so gloomy when this demon gets mentioned. It’s nothing new, but it’s good to see this with more detail. I also really like Shamon; he’s a strong character, and yet he’s down to earth and has a sense of humour.
Overall, this episode was very enjoyable. The cast is really showing that it can be great, even without a heavy atmosphere. Oh, and I like it when an anime doesn’t feature its main character at all for an entire episode as well.
This is a 13 ep series? I could’ve sworn it felt more like a 52. :/
Anime News Network lists this series as thirteen episodes, but like I said: there’s got to be a second season somewhere in the future, so I guess that the creators decided to split this series up.
ANN lists everything as 13 (one cour) until they can get a proper episode count. Unless the companies state how many episodes it is (like Bones saying 51 for Soul Eater) we have to wait for the dvd listings to get a proper guide.
For instance we know Macross Frontier is 25 because…
Vol 1 = 1 Episode (32 Min Final version of ep 1 + original deculture version)
Vol 2-8 = 3 Episodes.
Moral of the story is don’t go off what ANN lists.
Heck, I never could have guessed that that guy was so important to have his own background story. It took me a long while to figure out who the heck he was again, but it seems he was the one who guided Toki, Kon and Kuchiha around the temple when they arrived, and explained their customs a bit. To think that he actually was more than a handy way to give background on the temple. The director is no idiot, so he wouldn’t have given background to such an obscure character at this point if he knew that it would be a pointless waste of time.
I dropped this series after ep6 so I don’t know how this flashback is played out. But doesn’t it make more sense to build up a character first and then reveal some of his background? From what you wrote, it feels like another Rose from FMA in which the writer, after introducing her in the first two episodes, decided to keep her in the dark until the last 5 or 6 episodes when nobody even remembers her. IMO a strong impact can be delivered from telling backstories only if the characters are developed thoroughly in the present time. Otherwise it becomes a pathetic attempt to beg for tears, or emotions as in this case.
(Spoiler?)
^ And who would have thought, from the fairly recent reveal in the manga, the guy turned out to be very important in an unexpected way.