Short Synopsis: Natsume and his two classmates pay a visit to an old inn.
Episode Rating: 7,5/10 (Good)
Yeah, now I’m sure: this series SO needs a third season. What this series needs now more than anything is some sort of continuing story, and according to the manga readers, that indeed is about to appear, though there’s no way that the creators are going to fit that in only five more episodes. Let’s hope that the higher-ups of Brains Base feel the same way. ^^;
In any case, this episode was a great way to flesh out Natsume’s classmates a bit more, as they invite Natsume to an inn in order to spend some quality time on their homework (read: goof off). The second half of the episode deals with the story an old woman who in her childhood used the blood of a mermaid to save a friend she looked up to a lot.
Most of the episode was about both the woman and the mermaid coming to terms as to what they had done, so that both of them could receive proper closure. A standard story for this series, but it’s still a really charming story.
I don’t know I think Natsume Yuujinchou is the type of series that does not need a continuous plot line at all. Personally I enjoy the individual stories very much and I think they work better for this type of series (it sort of have a folk lore feel to it).
Well not really continuous as in progression like shounen but more of well kinda like Taki’s chapter, save that its the entire manga chapter which should be 4-5 episodes roughly. Anyways that does seem to be where the series is headed off to now, my theory is now that all characters seem to be on the table it seems the mangaka may have decided to try arcs now seeing as everything seems to be established. Ccontinuous episodes wouldn’t be so bad seeing as the chapters that do seem to be most exciting are the ones that have the recurring characters. Course I think what the series does need to get back on track with is the book of friends, least the previous arcs included it, in that I do wish it got the same weight as the earlier chapters. Something I think I miss from the earlier chapters/season 1 is the weight of the book of friends and well Reiko, I miss Reiko she really is slowly fading into the background before she just seemed omnipresent now she just seems more or less absent.
if you wanna read on a bit you can try getting em all from here: http://www.megaupload.com/?f=YGN4FF93