Short Synopsis: There are two possible options: let Matsuyama die, or send the curse back to the students who originally casted it, dividing its power.
Good: Mai was pretty touching.
Bad: Yet again, despite this arc being very good, it still doesn’t match up to the fifth episode.
Overall Enjoyment Value: 6.5/10
This episode was all about Mai. Finding the solution the curse took a step back from what’s really important. The only way to save Matsuyama is to reflect the curse to the students who casted it. It may divide the power of the curse, their lives still are in danger. Mai didn’t agree with this, and she was determined to let the whole world know about it. She even labelled Naru-chan as a murderer, and she wouldn’t even acknowledge that Matsuyama, another human being, would die if the curse wasn’t reverted. The episode ends with a romance-element. It seems that Naru-chan and Mai are getting closer and closer.
Still, I’m getting more and more annoyed with this series. Like mentioned above, I’ve been waiting for something to equal the fifth episode. But so far, the best thing that happened was the ending of episode 13. That doesn’t mean that the previous arcs have been bad, it’s just that they all missed something. The question is: what? Could it be the fact that a high school is the wrong place for a setting for this? While it’s true that I dislike anime which spend too much time inside a high-school, I don’t think that’s all.
Come to think of it, I’m starting to believe that Mai’s the reason to blame. She was very interesting in the second arc. She did things herself, she took initiatives, she wasn’t scared to voice her opinion, and all in all, she acted really professional. But what did we get in the latest arcs? In arc 3, she kept whining and whining about how she feels that Kasai isn’t the real culprit. Apart from that, she walks around the school a bit, and that’s ALL she does. Oh, and she faints once, to get saved by Naru. To make matters worse, what did she really do in the sixth arc? She faints a few times, she walks around the school aimlessly YET AGAIN. She has a few visions, tells everybody about them. This episode, she kept whining about her own morals, and even got herself almost killed, ONLY TO BE SAVED by Bou-san.
I really don’t like what’s happening here. Mai is turning into the helpless Damsel in Distress, who can only whine, and tell others what to do. While I praised the second arc because of its professionalism, the current arcs have been focusing way too much on Mai’s feelings. Not only that, she was way less helpless back in episode five. It’s probably because of Ayami. Because this girl had been entrusted to Mai, she was actually forced to protect someone, instead of being protected. And THAT’s exactly where she shines, and fails miserably respectively.
I now totally understand why the end of the thirteenth episode was so good: Mai disappeared. Because of that, the show focused on factors other than herself.
Dammit, I hate it when a main character ruins an anime.]]>
Ghost Hunt – 17
I have to disagree with you on this arc. Mai does play the part of the damsel in distress, but she did show some direction trying to learn the protection spells. And was the only one that was proactive about the students’ fates. She took a boneheaded leap into danger, but she was the /only/ member of the team that tried to actually protected the students who were innocent.
They got duped and did a silly little act that had awful consquences. I wanted to hit Naru, accessories to murder? They had no clue what was really going on and were the damm lambs for the dead student’s plan.
I was with Mai; three hundred students or one evil teacher who drove this entire plot.
Of course, Naru was a prick to not to tell the others.
What you said is indeed true. Mai indeed did try a few things, like practicing Bou-san’s exorcism and yelling at Naru. My annoyance is that this did absolutely nothing to the main plot so far. In the end, she has to be saved by Bou-san yet again because she walked inside a room full of spirits, and Naru-chan still executed the three hundred studends – or wooden dolls.
Ok I really liked your summary on this series, it made me really crack up I can’t write stuff like this, I have no talent for comedy.
But I do disagree with you on a few things. Mai mostly, I agree that she does act a bit useless but you have to remember that she is an ordinary girl. You see too much of a ordinary person suddenly being able to deal with hurting and fighting. Thats harsh no matter how evil the thing is.
Also you need to think about masako and naru a bit. Review ep 11 and notice how masako is obviously forcing him into this. She even states it!
And please get over ep 5. it was really good but dont be so harsh on the other eps.
If you wanna know all the answers go here.
http://that.animeblogger.net/2007/04/05/ghost-hunt-some-of-the-puzzle-pieces-not-shown-in-the-anime/
Be warned! it reveals everything!!!!!
Its a pain that they didn’t bother finishing the story. You have some strange ways of reading things. Davis is Naru’s father?!!! where did that come from? No offence but I really really liked this. Very funny and reflects some interesting points.
I completely agree with you about the supporting characters not getting enough screen time.
It’s your very own opinion and I’m going to respect that. But try to be on Mai’s shoes.. She’s just an ordinary high school student..just a “normal” girl..(at first) then suddenly dragged into Paranormal activities with no training about the subject. How can she protect herself on her own and not just rely on others? She’s not fully aware of her abilities yet so she’s trying to learn spells. However, she’s not that smart or skilled to learn them at Bou’s or the Priestess’ (forgot her name) or Brown’s level in a short time. I only watch the 25 Animated episodes.. Not yet read the manga or novel.. But I guess, I NEED to read them all to GRASP the FULL story.