Biggest gripe about this season of this anime: the pace is way too fast. I can follow what’s going on because I played the original VN and watched the original anime… but even then the pace is so fast that you don’t get the opportunity to experience the inner experiences of the characters.
That said, now that Rena arc #1 is over, we move to the Shion arc #1. This whole Shion-Mion thing is so intense… well like everything else. The swirling depths
I think I will rewatch the first anime show… to add to my to do list right.
So, I am convinced now. This is NOT a remake of the original. There’s something deeper brewing.
The original name of the first arc is Onikakushi-hen but was changed to Onidamashi-hen. The second arc is originally Watanagashi-hen but now is Watadamashi-hen – again with the DECEPTION and altered name.
As in there is a deception or trickery. One layer of this is that this is following the original storyline except for a few differences ESPECIALLY RIKA’S ACTIONS and a total different direction of the plot… though ironically ironically the story turns out predictably with Rena being the villain in this arc … which is counter to the original plottwists… so the deception is a double deception. This is hard to explain without giving everything away.
That said, it looks like this is going to get very interesting.
Rika’s attempts. Which succeeded… but did not expect that things might be different this time… so she was deceived too. But what caused this this time?
I was deceived I thought it would go the way it did originally but then I knew when she scratched her neck.
I’m watching a few others shows…but honestly this is the only one that is really exciting me. Which is fine. I can catch up on some older shows.
I really think they were careful to make this anime to be good for old fans and newcomers. You can enjoy this without knowing anything and learn the foreshadowing later… or realize the differences already being seeded.
The only reservation I had was highlighting Rika so much in the OP… but it makes sense since she already got more attention and air-time than in the original flow.
I was a bit disappointed how they did this important and trademark scene. I think it was because they rushed it a bit. The OST was a bit weak here too. Rena’s voice acting is significantly weaker too. They also took out the super dramatic birds flying off from the tree part which gave the chills.
You don’t get the fear Keiichi has compared to the original VN.
I had dig up and rewatch the original anime scene.
Wow my anime snobbery has increased. (at least i didn’t go far back as to redo the VN)
I think this isn’t a remake per se… Considering how this world AND multiple hints so far it is reasonable to think that this is a sequel.
It is hinted that things have shifted through what Rika pays attends to and what she says. This is hinted in episode 1 but explicit in episode two.
2. Some scenes are different. Rika watching Rena and Keiichi at the end of episode 1. This meta-world which we don’t learn about originally until way later.
3. The name of the arc is different.
They are calling this the onidamashi-hen – Oni’s trick or Trick the Oni arc versus the original is Onikakushi-hen (demoned away arc). Also the name itself implies there may be a trick to this whole thing.
More evidence for point 1. Rika doesn’t gain her confidence until later in the original.
4. A loose evidence – They used the original anime song to end episode 1 but introduced a new OP and ED (both awesome in terms of the animation and music. the ED gave me CHILLS).
She is absolutely one of my favorite characters. Maybe part of it is the tragic heroine archetype. Maybe it’s the transcendent figure type.
on another note
Too bad this didn’t show during summer as originally planned since this takes place in June 1983. It was delayed due to COVID.
What an annoying way to end this cour… and we have to wait to January for the next episode.
That final revelation from Roswaal was big… but not unexpected at this point. It did a nice job clashing with Subaru’s new resolve… to challenge/obliterate it right away.
So I was trying to debate whether Subaru is an Enneagram 2 or 4… I really think he is in the heart triad. He is most likely a 2 considering his motivation to help and his own value. I can 1 and 3ness in him too so 2 makes sense. There are definitely scenes of him going to 4 but not really to 8 as much. The first part of this episode really explores Subaru’s struggle with source of validation versus his own needs.
Roswaal on the other hand is probably a 4, confirmed in this episode with this extreme obsession with his value and what he wants… layered on this eccentric way of speaking and appearance.
I think this anime blog will slowly become Enneagram and Jungian psychology analyses of shows.
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