Holy crap! This episode was unbelievable. It was quite possibly the best episode that Shiki has shown us so far, but dear God was it morbid and depressing.
For the most part, this episode continued the trend that the previous episodes had set up: the vampires are having their way, and get more and more powerful as they go along. We learn what happened to Masao: in the end he was just too chicken to kill a human, but strangely enough he was kept alive. We also learn another reason why the vampires chose a small village as their base: its cemetery, in order to ensure that as little people as possible get cremated. Oh, and unfortunately it seems like finally the Awesome Beard Guy’s family is going to be on the list of next victims, along with one of the nurses of the infirmary: Yuki.
But Toshio… the things he does in this episode… at first I thought that his eyes meant that just like Natsuno, he gave up, and collapsed under the stress. But to keep the corpse of his wife hidden, only to brutally experiment on her and kill her afterwards in order to find out the secret of the Shiki, it was just creepy beyond belief. Especially in the way that she actually kept screaming and pleading. Heck, we know that she may have been in a state of confusion when she woke up, but to wake up, only to find your husband trying to destroy your brains…. It’s just completely disturbing, but I loved how well this episode built everything up.
Rating: *** (Awesome)
Wonderful episode and, once again, the atmosphere was just perfect for what the staff is trying to convey here.
Holy crap indeed… The second half was so powerful
I couldn’t agree more with your opening few lines. Certainly one of the best and most powerful episodes of the show.
I love how the studio handled it, flipping back and forth between the black and white ‘filmed’ version of the scene and the standard view. Also loved that, despite the fact that Toshio is acting quite a bit snapped out, he still shows bits of humanity through out the scene–between the little forehead press (you so kindly screen caped above) and his attempts to block out her ability to call out his name as if to try to distance the fact that that is his wife.
I hope Seishin does something next episode. If anything, I doubt he’ll be pleased by what his friend has asked him to help clean up. @.@
That had to be the best last line of an episode ever. This show is amazing.
truly awesome episode. I agree that his wife must’ve been confused and it was sad how she cried her tears. I’m sure it pains Toshio but at the same time he acknowledges that she is dead and does what he has to do.
truly awesome episode. I agree that his wife must’ve been confused and it was sad how she cried her tears. I’m sure it pains Toshio but at the same time he acknowledges that she is dead and does what he has to do.
Toshio has finally lost it
Probably the most powerful episode of Shiki so far, absolutely amazing to see how much the take over of the village has affected the people left alive. Toshio’s so obsessed with his duty to find out about the ShiKi he’s lost any ability of emotion or compassion
Probably the best episode yet, haven’t seen an anime this chilling for a while.
One thing that you didn’t mention – it seems that Natsuno is gone for good! I’d never had guessed that.
I feel so very disturbed right now.
I’ve seen a lot of messed up stuff in my life, so for me to feel like this episode destroyed my innocence must mean something…
What in the hell is Seishin doing, besides passively observing things getting worse?
One thing that amazes me with this episode is that despite being a horror story, the possibly most scary scene so far have been carried out by one of the protagonists rather than villains.
I have to applaud the creators for having the guts to allow that.
hm….yeah.they animate the most horrifying scene in manga one right.Good job,Daume.
actually,technically Saya no Uta is even more disturbing…but that’s a visual novel,so that’s doesn’t count…
A cruel scene that was… and it was less cruel then the one ina manga (or ones because there he experimented on her for few days)