This episode is clearly one of those building-up episodes. There wasn’t really a sign of mystery, but instead it focused on the political roots of the story, in order to save Satoko. Basically, Keiichi gets the support from the village council, the Sonozaki-family and eventually the city council. Pretty straightforward, but things are about to get interesting: the Watanagashi is only one or two days away, Satoko is about to be saved and she’s also about to reach the point beyond recovery.
I liked some of the details in this episode, by the way. Most of all, it seems that there isn’t a grudge against the Houjous after all; it seems that everyone thinks that someone might have a grudge left, which is what keeps these rumours alive. We also finally see Mion and Shion’s parents do something, other than just sit next to their grandmother. Oh, and it seems that there actually were a few worlds in which Keiichi didn’t transfer. It would be interesting to see them.
Apart from that, there’s not much to say about this episode. I do, however, keep wondering why nobody finds it strange that Rika sometimes switches to a voice of a middle-aged woman…]]>
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni – 36
I can’t take away the feeling that the Gas is going to kill them all…
>,> too negative maybe…?
Well, it IS the “Massacre Chapter.” That suggests it won’t end particularly well. (:
This episode was very good in its own way, but the series is starting to become something of a tease now. I want closure, dammit!! Wrap up this chapter already!! SHEESH!! (:
-Tom
Wyrdwad: well, it had it coming. The current arc is supposed to be the longest one of the original game, and for the final two arcs, there were about nineteen episodes reserved. I suspect that this arc will go on for a bit longer. 😉
I think everyone knows there is more to Rika then meets the eye, so her talking like that doesn’t bother them. She’s always been wise beyond her years and known things nobody else does obviously. Though of course some of the time I don’t think they hear her talk like that.
Rika has actually lived for hundred years. Of course she evolved, matured, and stuff. But she shouldn’t forget that she is physically stuck in a 10-years-old (not more) girlie-chan…
Liked this episode too, though it lacks a lot of story-development. What I truly admired about Higurashi no Naku Koro ni is how the series is able to equally the characters AND the plot. Heck, even Death Note didn’t do as much (um, sorry, but L and Aizawa have about the same amount of background, something’s definitely wrong…)
IMO, this episode was really sub-par. It was so slow, yet over-the-top that it ended up being rather boring.
A few of the things that I liked were Rika making reference to cycles when Keiichi didn’t transfer, as well as Mion’s mother mentioning her massacre weapon of choice, a traditional Japanese sword.
I wonder if we’ll ever get to see her use it.