And we’re into another two-part arc for this series. This one is focused on Hiiragi and Natori, with a few hints that Matoba is involved as well.
The focus on this episode was about Natori actually having to seal away a god, rather than a youkai as he gets a very strange request to do all this within one day. I think this was the first time in which we’ve seen him uncomfortable.
Natsume in the meantime is of pretending to be the opposite of said god, and with this he seems to ignore one thing that I find rather strange: his smell. In the past he has been very often sniffed out as a human when he tried to dress up. I find it weird that he still doesn’t seem to have learned after all that.
Also, someone mentioned it in the comments last week, but with this episode it again caught my attention: the creators are having trouble to separate Natsume and Nyanko. In this episode Nyanko wanders off and something happens to Natsume. After that Nyanko accidentally gets touched by one of Natori’s exorcist-thingies, and afterwards something again happens to Natsume. As much as I like this series, it is starting to get a little repetitive this way.
Rating: ** (Excellent)
Natsume is basically powerless when Nyanko is not around.
This is evident when you see how much Natsume rely on Nyanko.
Also, if Nyanko-sensei didn’t leave him alone as much as he does, most of Natsume’s adventures, for good or ill, probably wouldn’t have happened. I do agree that they should think of a better variety of ways for Natsume to encounter different youkai, rather than just using the same “Natsume getting attacked while Nyanko-sensei is away” pattern. I wonder if there’s some deeper meaning to it. It’s almost like this nuance to their relationship is being emphasized.
It’s nice to see Natori and Hiiragi again though. And Hiiragi has alot more stage time this round.
I think the idea is that putting Nastume in yokai clothes+putting him in the middle of a large group of them is supposed to help keep them from finding out he’s human by scent (especially since several have commented in the past that they aren’t immediately sure if he is human, not sure if that has to do with scent or with something else however).
psgels, have you watched Hotarubi no Mori e yet? I have a feeling you’re going to love it. I sure did.
I was just going to ask that. XD That said, I second this notion. It takes heartwarming up another notch.
I believe it’s made by some of the same people as Natsume…
It still bothers me that Natsume doesn’t learn some self-defense techniques from one of the many people around him who could give him instruction. If he doesn’t like the idea of asking Natori (though I get the impression he would be thrilled) he could ask Taki to show him some books…or ask Tanuma’s dad for some help…
Instead he remains basically helpless without Madara…except the “enoki punch”
I think Nyanko-sensei is intentionally letting Natsume do as he pleases. His way of interacting with humans seems pretty influenced by their relative lifespans.
I wonder if at some point natsume will ever start actively calling upon his youkai friends for help, that horse dude is pretty awesome.