This series… every time I think that the turning point is about to arrive, the Shiki prove me wrong by only nibbling away even more lives. I mean, how many characters at this point are still un-bitten by the vampires? I can only tihnk of Toshio, Toshio’s mother, the three remaining nurses, Seishin and his parents, the awesome beard guy and his wife and Kaori. That’s only eleven characters left, out of who knows how many this show started with.
This series makes excellent use of this hopelessness: this episode was mainly meant to give the Shiki some background, and yet at the same time it went back to the despair when Tatsumi trashed all hopes of Akira of being able to fight back. Just one shot of him was enough for that.
The background of course was very appreciated as well. It’s interesting that Sunako, and not the two vampires I thought to be her parents, turned out to be the mastermind behind everything. Up till now, the biggest potential pitfall for Shiki was shallow main villains, because of the relatively little time that has been spent on this threesome, so I’m glad that at least Sunako has gotten a bit more depth here.
This episode also provided a great view into what Shiki think like: they mostly retain their personality, but what changes them the most is their thirst for blood and attacking people. This leads them to attack their loved ones, in the hope of getting them to the other side. Now, the question remains: what makes special vampires? Why did Natsuno and Tatsumi rise up as vampires who have no problems with Sunlight? Is that random, or do certain conditions have to be met? And if that’s the latter, did the Shiki avoid meeting those conditions in order to have something to manipulate their subordinates with?
Rating: ** (Excellent)
Damn! This show is soooo frustrating! I can’t believe that it’s been 16 episodes, and still no uprising. I hope that Akira won’t die in the next episode, it’s the only one (with Toshio), who finally did something to upset a little the shikis.
I actually don’t understand why no one took action earlier in the show, because it’s been a while since they know they exist. And I don’t want to talk about pussy Seishin.
And sorry, I forgot that Megumi bitch. I can’t stand her anymore. What is Natsuno waiting for to nail her?? (with a stake of course)
The reason why a few of the shiki can walk around in the sunlight will be explained very soon. 🙂 I would spoil it for those interested but the lack of a spoiler-code makes me very hesitant to do so. ^^;;
No Spoilers Please
– psgels
@DarkUberMechaBlastzoidAlienSilverSurfer
No spoilers, please, at least not unless you’re going to mark them clearly.
DarkUberMechaBlastzoidAlienSilverSurfer…why? really??
How creepy was that last scene? I know I would be scared to death if I was in Akira’s position! and seriously, why did you have to spoil it, ugh!
@kat/Souther: i think he’s kidding
” I mean, how many characters at this point are still un-bitten by the vampires?”
Sotoba village has a population of 1300. I don’t think as many as half of those have been bitten and died; I’d guess around… one hundred ? one hundred and twenty ? Not to mention not anyone who died can turn into a vampire: for example, Yasumori Nao’s entire family (husband, son, parents-in-law), or Masao’s nephew. I think Tatsumi once said only one in ten has a chance of rising. So the majority of villagers are still alive, and yes they still outnumber the Shikis by far.
I’m not quite sure Sunako is the mastermind here. Wasn’t that Mr. Kirishiki who originally bit her in the past? It was either him, or someone who looked a lot like him.
No spoilers please
– psgels
It’s a good thing I’m already up-to-date with the manga because you guys just don’t know how not to spoil it for people who didn’t watch it.
Just came here to say that there’s actually a lot of villagers left, a lot more than you’d think. They just don’t show them yet.
Thanks for the clearly unmarked spoiler… 🙁
@ColdBolt88/DarkUberMechaBlastzoidAlienSilverSurfer:
I hope you know that you’ve sort of ruined the suspense for several people who haven’t read the manga or the book and are still watching the series. It’s very rude, and I’m still kind of pissed because now the surprise is gone.
So thank you. =___=
Ahaha… good thing I didn’t see the spoiler. They finally got to the scenes that haven’t been scanlated yet so the suspense is getting to me again. (akira though… *sob*)
Don’t know if it was only the translation but wasn’t it stated in the last episode that Tatsumi is a werewolf? As for Natsuno: I guess he might be somehow related to Kirishiki or at least share the same properties which make these two special Shiki.
@betawatcher: I don’t follow the anime, but (obvious spoiler alert)
if there hasn’t been an uprising yet, then the manga is definitely still ahead.
Why did Natsuno and Tatsumi rise up as vampires who have no problems with Sunlight?
A few episodes ago they reveleaed Tatsumi is a werewolf. That’s what the sub I read said.
Tatsumi has had EARS since day one. No shit he’s a werewolf.