You can fault this episode because that wolf demon took too long in attacking Rikuo’s classmates: if he wanted to, he could have killed them off in a surprise attack easily, like what he did to that fish a few episodes back. On the other hand though, the way in which he played with them like a cat does with a mouse created one heck of an atmosphere.
I really wonder what this episode looked like in the manga, as Rikuo’s classmates really played a key part in it: they were both the main focus of the episode, and they also served to anger that wolf youkai who loathed humans and had huge pride as a youkai. This episode worked well because the previous episodes did such a great job at fleshing out Rikuo’s classmates, but if they would have been just as annoying as in the first ten episodes, then this episode probably would not have worked.
Also, what was up with that scene of Yura, looking at a bunch of ants? It’s a neat detail, but I wonder why the creators decided to include it. I liked it for some strange reason, though.
Rating: ** (Excellent)
This is like a different version of the events in the manga. It kind of makes more sense considering how they have developed the story so far but I still the manga counterpart more interesting.
The director has really focused in providing a bigger role to Rikuo classmates. I wonder if it has something to do with Aya Hirano and Kana ¬¬ Anyway, if this gets a second season I wonder how he will continue to force them into the story… So far he has managed and I’m not complaining, but latter in the story that will be more difficult. In the manga it’s actually starting from here that they slowly fade into oblivion.
If this gets a second season he won’t even have enough time to insert these guys into the story since they’ll be hard pressed to fit the entire arc into 24-16 episodes as it is.. and it’s still ongoing.
Not to mention you a really good backstory and a lot of awesome new characters are introduced. I will say this though.. if the manga had taken it’s time like the anime it would’ve been canceled period
Anime and manga are not supposed to have the same pacing to begin with. Since anime can show more story in a week then a chapter of weekly manga. I can think of quite a few chapters of Ky. arc that should not be directly adapted as the feeling would not be the same.
Also, number of episodes of S2 should not be a problem as this season had (and still has) the chance of becoming long-running.
I hate continuity errors.
Rikuo goes for the phone. His friends leave the house and go to the deserted school walking at a normal pace. Rikuo talks briefly on the phone (for like what, 2 minutes?) then starts to *run* towards them but he can’t catch up? What is up with that?
And the scene where they talk with yura was much bigger than the phonecall. So yeah, whatever.
Puran: actually, did Rikuo know where they were? It probably took him a while to track them down, which is why he was so late.
“Also, number of episodes of S2 should not be a problem as this season had (and still has) the chance of becoming long-running. ”
The dvd listings have been out for a long time…
DVD Listing is never definite, it is often changed… especially if the planned number of episodes changes.
In other words, the DVD Listing shows the minimum number of episodes, not necessarily the definite.
The reason why I said that it had the chance of being long-running is because in an interview with the mangaka and the director, they said that it will get at least 24 episodes and that ratings will decide if the show will be split in seasons or become long-running.