It’s been an issue I have wanted to bring up before but the previous episode recaps of this series are rather long. Today’s was the biggest offender as the first three and a half minutes was just footage from the previous episode. While these kinds of recaps are handy for those watching weekly to catch up, they do pose a problem to those marathoning the series in the future as they will likely be moving from episode to episode which each starting with an unnecessary reminder. Of course I realise that these recaps are not so much for informing the viewer of previous events but rather making it that less needs to be animated for each new episode. I doubt Made in Abyss is a cheap series to produce and those backgrounds alone must take serious effort. Regardless being the greedy sod I am I cannot help at feel disappointed that less content is present in each episode. Whether you love it or hate it, Re:Zero did right by making it that the opening and ending were often cut from the episode in favor of animating more content. (Still waiting on a second season White Fox. New Ova is giving me hope, but there better be a second season announcement.)
As the episode title suggests, this episode was all about Nanachi. Nanachi being living proof of what happens when you try to ascend the abyss from the sixth layer. She got off lucky by keeping her sanity and personality despite be turned into a rabbit like creature but her friend wasn’t so lucky. Mitty is more like the real result that would happen should a human try to ascend the abyss, a gelatinous genetic mess with little cognitive function. It’s still uncertain as to what the curse of the Abyss is but this certainly qualifies as a fate worse than death. I really like that this show really doesn’t hold back on the glorious duties of hospital treatment. Suppositories, piss soaked rags and even attaching fungi in a similar manner to leech therapy. This stuff isn’t pretty but it gets the job done and when you’re a patient, dignity stays at the door. So far I like Nanachi’s dynamic to the group as she’s the more experienced but also playful and smarmy addition to the group. She already works well with Regu’s straight laced nature and with Riko’s earnest attitude I think she could add a lot to the series. Of course it’s still a question of whether she is actually going to join the two on their quest to the bottom of the abyss but the opening and ending of the series almost makes that a certainty.
There is a small glimpse into Regu’s memories as he recalls being present at the grave marker for Riko’s mother and the words he recalls seem to suggest that Riko’s mother was the last to see Regu off when he journeyed to the surface. I sincerely doubt that RIko’s mother is alive at this point and even if she is alive i would say she’s likely no longer human. In fact I was willing to bet on Nanachi being the transformed form of her mother but considering her reactions to the whistle and her connection to the other white whistle that is looking to be unlikely. We are nearing the end of this series and while the last episode is an hour long feature I have to wonder on just what note Made in Abyss will end on.
We know now Regu saw Riko’s mother grave. What about Regu being Riko’s mother?
She transformed like Nanachi into another being.
An odd theory but rather unlikely seeing as Regu isn’t fully organic. Plus he has a penis and it would be pretty weird if the curse of the abyss performed makeshift sex changes.
Odd that you didn’t mentioned the flashback by Nanachi when she met Matti in her original form, which is heartbreaking. This episode is the fetch quest by Nanachi to Reg. Next episode gives you more information about what’s down at Layer 5 and you’ll cry your eyes out at the last episode of the season, guarantee.
It also introduces in the flashback what the manga reader have jokingly call “Best Dad Ever ” character of Bondrewd the Novel, Sovereign of the Dawn. He’s voiced by the original voice of Griffith from Berserk as well as the Kira Yoshikage from Jojo’s Bizarre Adventures: Diamond is Unbreakable. He always voiced characters doing despicable act that sounded so reasonable. Bondrewd tops both of those two characters.
I really should have mentioned those. I have been a little preoccupied with writing a review for a visual novel, work and other matters so this was more of a lacking effort to write a post than usual. Top it off with needing to write the Fall anime preview and managing to catch a cold. On the plus side next season is looking to be very strong indeed.