For a moment, I thought that the creators here were building up to one of those “final final bad guys”-twists, in which the guy who had been built up as the final bad guy throughout the series actually turns out to be someone completely different, with the final bad guys someone either his subordinate or employer, hidden somewhere in the shadows throughout most of the series (which is a nice idea of course, if it weren’t for the fact that those new bad guys often have nowhere near the depth of the original bad guys). I’m glad I was wrong with that.
So yeah, Reiga remembers his time as Kanata. At first I found this rather cheesy, but after second thought this makes for a pretty interesting plot twist, because he actually consciously decided to live as Reiga, rather than Kanata, rather than this being a matter of mere brainwashing. This makes me even more interested in whatever the hell it was that Reiga hates so badly.
So here’s the thing: there are two episodes left, and we end this episode with Yuki in an actual position to talk to Reiga. Sure, he’s kidnapped and all, but I really like what the creators are doing here: on one side they’re building up to an interesting set-up for a final battle, in which the characters, especially Luka and Takashiro, promise to go all out. On top of that, a major theme of these final two episodes will also be an attempt of Yuki to get through to Reiga, while Reiga needs to explain whatever the hell he’s been trying to do, along with try and successfully carry out this plan. If well balanced, it will make for an excellent ending.
The biggest roadblock will be Reiga himself: the way he develops will be crucial whether the ending will be great or just dull. What the creators need to avoid at all costs is another one of those cases of “talking the monster to death”. I want to see some genuine tension between him and Yuki, without having him magically changes sides because of some cheesy speech that Yuki holds at the end.
Oh, and about this episode: I’m glad that the creators didn’t waste an entire episode as a calm before the storm here, but instead kept it to about half an episode, while immediately putting more pressure on the cast. It shows that those general classes aren’t just sitting on their chair waiting for nothing, but actually are willing to act on their own beliefs and agendas. Not because they’re simply whimsical like a cliched anime protagonist, but because they don’t trust Reiga.
Rating: ** (Excellent)
You know what?I still think they’re gonna pull out the “final final bad guys”-twist like you called it,and that it will be Takashiro with the Duras inside him taking control or getting out.
Still the protagonists, except Luka, where pretty naive this time,I saw it coming from kilometers that Yuki would be kidnapped.When people tells you to stay in the kitchen you have to listen.
With only 2 episodes left, I think most likely they would just manage to bring Yuki back and end of story. I’m not going to hold my breath for a definite outcome to the “final battle” between the Giou clan and the Duras. Instead, I’m more interested in how they are going to play out the interactions between the characters, especially Yuki and Reiga.
I think it’s pretty interesting that Reiga still has his memories of being Kanata. I suppose he always had the memories of his life before turning into Reiga once again but I suppose he normally would forget about it pretty soon. But this time he met Yuki and felt for himself that there are also good people on earth. So now he will have to decide what is more important to him: His old grudge from his life as Reiga or his newly found trust in humans (or at least Yuki).
Remember how he tried to stay in his life as Kanata and only transformed to Reiga after Yuki decided to join the battle?
So it will all depend on how much Yuki is able to get through to him and (re)gain his trust.
By the way, this was the first time I thought Yuki was a bit stupid.
I mean, not staying in his room is one thing but even walking through that gate and leaving the security of the Giou main house spell…
Oh, and I was wondering why they didn’t tell Yuki that he shouldn’t se his power anymore. I think he wouldn’t have tried if he knew that.