![[OX-] Nurarihyon no Mago Sennen Makyou - 14 An Ayakashi to Avoid [848 x 480][H.264][EC6D14D6].mkv_snapshot_00.36_[2011.10.10_14.11.25]](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BrUqsiEf_6o/TpNrhcFaWgI/AAAAAAAAU7g/svsjSKWq-dw/s1600-h/%25255BOX-%25255D%252520Nurarihyon%252520no%252520Mago%252520Sennen%252520Makyou%252520-%25252014%252520%252520An%252520Ayakashi%252520to%252520Avoid%252520%25255B848%252520x%252520480%25255D%25255BH.264%25255D%25255BEC6D14D6%25255D.mkv_snapshot_00.36_%25255B2011.10.10_14.11.25%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg "[OX-] Nurarihyon no Mago Sennen Makyou - 14 An Ayakashi to Avoid [848 x 480][H.264][EC6D14D6].mkv_snapshot_00.36_[2011.10.10_14.11.25]") |
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Any delusions that we were still in the first season were set aside by this violent, dark and depressing episode. And for daring to touch my precious Tsurara, Tsuchigumo must surely die.
No question about it, Tsuchigumo is a badass. Even Hidemoto admitted there’s no way he’d have defeated the big guy with the tobacco habit 400 years ago – he somehow managed to get him to accept being sealed, for reasons the anime didn’t do an especially good job clarifying. In any case, his strategy seems to have been to avoid taking on Tsuchigumo for as long as possible, but that’s in tatters as the giant youkai comes looking for opponents he can much un, and Rikuo and his Night Parade are the best looking dish at the buffet.
It seems pretty clear that Rikuo is no match for Tsuchigumo even with his Tomo skills worked in, but with his subordinates being attacked he has no choice but to take the battle to the opponent. Miraculously he’s able to land a blow and lop off one of Tsuchi’s fingertips, presumably because he wields the demon-slaying blade. Rikuo’s anger rises to a fever pitch when Tsurara is severely wounded by one of the giant’s attacks, but even as a youkai he seems powerless – so when the sun breaks through and he returns to chibi form, things look hopeless indeed. Again, the anime doesn’t do a great job of explaining why Rikuo has retained his youkai form even during the day since arriving in Kyoto, only to have it revert now – is it because the last of the seals has been broken?
Meanwhile, Hagoromo-Gitsune and her true believers are settling in below Nijo Castle. While Nine-tails is picking out furniture for the nursery her subordinates are squabbling, so she sends them out to collect 10,000 human livers – and presumably some fava beans and a nice Chianti. Where Tsuchigumo could care less for taking sides, caring only for entertainment and sustenance, Nine-tails clearly has a larger plan in mind involving the birth of her child. Looks like it’s going to be a rough time for Kyoto’s human populating – they were already having a bad day, and it’s about to get a lot worse.
The new wrinkle this week is the arrival of Gyuki (Nakata Jouji), sent by Nurarihyon to watch over his Grandson. It seems that someone is always coming along to remind Rikuo how week he is, and it’s Gyuki’s turn now. It’s not exactly clear what role he intends to take her, although he does declare himself Rikuo’s “new commander”. Given his checkered history will the others in RIkuo’s Night Parade – a different generation – follow Gyuki, even if he is such a confidante of the old man? Certainly, the Tono youkai have no allegiance to him whatsoever. The first battle of wills will apparently be over the rescue of Yuki-onna, held captive by Tsuchigumo at Sokokuji Temple. No matter what Gyuki says, I can’t imagine Rikuo leaving that mission to anyone else.
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Nayrael
October 11, 2011 at 12:02 amAfter Kitsune removes a Seal, it is replaced by one of those Black Tornados that radiate with Youkai energies and turn Kyoto into a Youkai land (like Toono). Because of those tornadoes, Youkai are strengthened and Rikuo is able to stay in his Night form.
When Keikain's restored the seal in last episode, the youkai energies in that part of Kyoto started disappearing and, as a consequence, Rikuo would start turning back into his Day form.
As for Gyuki… he is there just to supervise Rikuo's training. After all, he can't fight like that against Tsuchi, yet alone Kitsune.
Also, interesting to see four silhouettes behind "Chibitsune". In Manga there was just one silhouette in this flashback (tough later it was revealed that there were 4 of them so this might be considered a fix)
Nayrael
October 11, 2011 at 1:33 amAlso, a shame the budget is so low and they don't manage to capture the original artwork that well 🙁
http://www.mangafox.com/manga/grandson_of_nurarihyon/c096/3.html
admin
October 11, 2011 at 2:55 amI really thought they did OK with the art, Nayrael. I mean, this is DEEN after all – I wasn't expecting much more.
Nayrael
October 11, 2011 at 6:27 amYeah, thats right. Compared to some other stuff they did (Umineko and its many animation errors), this is actually good ^_^;
Ulisses
October 11, 2011 at 3:32 pmLooking at the screens, it seems that this season has a lot more emotion than the first one.
I have read the manga until chapter 47 and watched the first season until episode 19. It was solid and enjoyable, but the story never went to the next level.
Seems that this season is about rewarding the viewers patience with some dark, shitjustgotreal part of the plot.
admin
October 11, 2011 at 4:04 pmMuch darker and more emotional this season Ulisses, at least for me.
Indigo_Fire
October 11, 2011 at 6:47 pm@Ulisses,
Trust me, the manga gets pretty amazing after ch. 47. Not only is the Kyoto arc magnificent, but the current Hundred Tales arc is possibly even darker and more ambitious than that (which I never would've thought possible from a Shonen Jump series). The character development is also MUCH better than in the stuff before ch. 47.
But yeah, I was really excited for this episode after reading the manga, since it's the set of events that really takes the Kyoto arc up a few notches. I'm glad to see that they did a pretty good job of animating and pacing the whole thing, even though there were a few little plot hiccups.