Whoa, this was a really good episode. I mean, suddenly out of nowhere Kuroto comes and starts talking about his back-story. Of course this adds even more depth to the cast than it already had, but the episode itself also was really well executed, despite how filled it was with death and destruction.
This episode was mostly about Kuroto, but it also fleshed out the people around him, like his grandfather, Senshiro and Yuki’s aunt. He actually received quite a bit of character-development throughout this episode: it’s not like he was the same kid throughout his entire youth, and instead the way that he grew to trust Senshiro and his family progressed bit by bit.
I’m also beginning to think that Luka isn’t exactly being kept away from the main house because of how it would be disrespectful. It’s not like Takashiro hates him or anything, and this episode shows that Kuroto trusts him a great deal. Who would then be left? I can hardly imagine the butler or Yuki’s aunt to hate him with passion. It’s probably some sort of precaution of a power that hasn’t been explained yet, or something similar.
In the past, I used to compare this show with Night Head Genesis. Yeah, so that turned out to be completely wrong. While both series are gothic and have great soundtracks (especially NHG had one of the best soundtracks I’ve listened to), Night Head Genesis was all about its story, while Uragiri is all about its characters. The two series get their depth at completely different points. Of course, I’m still hoping for more series to come along that have plots as tight and interesting as Night Head Genesis, but that has absolutely nothing to do with Uragiri. The plot of this one is simple, but the characters more than make up for it.
Rating: ** (Excellent)
The characterisation in this series is a definitely one of its strengths. I was wary at first when it looked like one of the more minor characters would be the focus of most of this episode. However, as you say, I thought it was beautifully done. This show gets the emotional delivery just right, I feel, without it becoming OTT. The red haired Opast did feel a little like he came out of nowhere too, but at least he looks like a more promising villain than the ones we’ve seen so far. The whole engagement thing with Yuki’s aunt was a bit random, though, but it was nice to see that even this even more ‘minor’ character and the realistic emotions that she’d be feeling at that point were handled in such a concise but sensitive way. Need moar Luka, though!!
“I’m also beginning to think that Luka isn’t exactly being kept away from the main house because of how it would be disrespectful. It’s not like Takashiro hates him or anything, and this episode shows that Kuroto trusts him a great deal. Who would then be left? I can hardly imagine the butler or Yuki’s aunt to hate him with passion. It’s probably some sort of precaution of a power that hasn’t been explained yet, or something similar.”
My guess would be that there is some kind of elder council who is running the Giou clan from within the shadows and that those old men are too trapped in their traditions to allow a Duras in their precious main house.
I mean, Takashiro might be the head of the clan but he is busy keeping all the memories and planning the resurrections while searching for and battling Reiga.
So there HAS to be some other people to manage the worldly part of the clan… especially their political influence and the co-working with the police and the government.
Not to mention all the other non-Zweilt members of the clan.
(I think there was also something mentioned like that when Takashiro took his bath in holy water…)
Well… it’s not that it would be completely unreasonable, though.
To those not directly involved with the fight against Reiga, Duras is Duras and even if Luca might be a nice help in fighting them, they don’t want theminside their own territory.
Especially, after the last time Reiga destroyed almost the whole clan – and that with being only a half-Duras.
For those not involved, this fight might be something important… but not THE most important thing ever. Thy have to think about other things as well.
Or maybe they’re just too stubborn to acknowledge that things aren’t always only good or bad and just want to keep with their out-dated tradidions. Who knows.