![[AnimeUltima] Nurarihyon no Mago Sennen Makyou - 25 [400p].mkv_snapshot_00.57_[2011.12.18_21.25.09]](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-vXi4V1UJedE/Tu7YI7CjYYI/AAAAAAAAlOA/oeiv3x3CObc/s1600-h/%25255BAnimeUltima%25255D%252520Nurarihyon%252520no%252520Mago%252520Sennen%252520Makyou%252520-%25252025%252520%25255B400p%25255D.mkv_snapshot_00.57_%25255B2011.12.18_21.25.09%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg "[AnimeUltima] Nurarihyon no Mago Sennen Makyou - 25 [400p].mkv_snapshot_00.57_[2011.12.18_21.25.09]") |
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I gather from the buzz on the interwebs that Nurarihyon has decided to go with a manga “ending” for the season, rather than come up with a more conclusive anime-original ending. Of course we still have another episode to go next week, but it looks as if DEEN has made the odd choice of finishing the season with another recap episode. I’ll hold my fire until after I’ve seen it, just in case there’s new material there, but at this point it looks as if what we saw is what we’re going to get. Of course that prompts the inevitable question of whether or not there’s going to be a third season, and while I haven’t heard anything conclusive I wouldn’t be shocked. I don’t think this show needs to hit the “Manabi Line” (somewhere around 3K BD/DVD sales) to break even the way most series do – as long as it comes close and drives manga sales, I think everyone is happy.
So with all that said, if you were hoping for a definitive ending (I was) you’ll be disappointed, though perhaps only partially. The battle with Nue was sort of anti-climactic after an entire season of buildup. He tried to use the same “destroy” attack on Rikuo that he used on Tsuchigumo and send the Night Parade to hell, but Rikuo was able to withstand the attack and extend his protective aura to his team. This obviously left Rikuo pretty spent and Seimei moved in for the death blow, but just at that moment his sword arm turned into natto and he fell to his knees. He explained helpfully that his body hadn’t adjusted to the living world yet, and returned to hell with his followers in tow – leaving Rikuo with a compliment on his growth and a promise to return to kick his ass in future. Problem solved – for now.
I’d certainly hoped for something more epic and more decisive, especially as there really hadn’t been any foreshadowing – nor was there any real explanation after the fact – for what happened to Seimei. But while that was a letdown, there were certain other elements to the ep that I rather liked. I thought it was very interesting that Rikuo elected to allow the Kyoto youkai (including Hakuzozou) who were purely loyal to Hagoromo-Gitsune to keep her body and leave, even after all they’d done and allowing that she was his stepmother (which the Keikain were none too happy about). I especially liked the way the symbolic transition of generations was portrayed, with Gyuki and the other old-timers standing by and watching as Rikuo and his new Night Parade took the battle to Nue.
We also got another performance by Fujiwara Keiji as the GAR father figure speaking to his son from beyond the grave, which has been a staple of this year in anime. Quite nice to see the three generations of Nura Clan leaders get together, even if only in Rikuo’s human dreams, and it certainly points to his confidence in basically demanding that his Grandfather make him the Third Heir immediately. That’s pretty much where things are left, after a brief reunion with the Kiyo Cross (remember them? I really wonder why they came to Kyoto at all, as they were never really used in the plot) – Rikuo is to lead the Nura Clan in their coming battle with Nue, which Hidemoto guesses will be in able a year. There’s your third season, I suppose, assuming you’re going to get one – otherwise, there’s always the manga.
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Mads
December 19, 2011 at 8:36 amah there was some anime-original stuff in there but still, good episode. Enzo, I think why you found it anti-climatic was that this arc, even in the manga wasn't a conclusive thing. there are a lot of quesitons to be answered and the arc after this attempts to explain a few things like the nura clan's history with uh sanmoto. now thats interesting as hell. i hope this show gets a third season!
Nayrael
December 19, 2011 at 8:59 amWell, they at least made the arc ending more epic than in the Manga ^_^; (but than again, in the Manga the whole fight was shorter and Nue started rotting immediately after slashing 'lil Yamabuki so nobody expected something too climatic).
It was a nice touch they added that dream sequence and a little RiTsu moment as well.
Oh, and you rae not the only one wondering why the heck did Hiroshi even bring Kiyo Cross Squad to Kyoto ^_^;
admin
December 19, 2011 at 9:02 amMaybe I missed this, but did they ever explain why he's called Nue?
Nayrael
December 19, 2011 at 10:45 amIt wasn't but I think he used it so that humans wouldn't know that their beloved Exorcist Seimei was also a vicious Youkai Leader. Wouldn't even be surprised if Seimei claimed in front of humans that he fought against the Nue.
Mads
December 19, 2011 at 11:06 amThat eeeevil guy
Karmafan
December 19, 2011 at 2:21 pmWiki says:
A nue (鵺) is a legendary creature found in Japanese folklore. It is described as having the head of a monkey, the body of a raccoon dog, the legs of a tiger, and a snake as a tail. According to the legend, a nue can metamorphose into a black cloud and fly. Due to its appearance, it is sometimes referred to as a Japanese chimera.[1] Nue are supposed to be bringers of misfortune and illness.[2]
According to The Tale of the Heike, Emperor Konoe, the Emperor of Japan, became ill after having terrible nightmares every night, and a dark cloud appeared at two o'clock in the morning on the roof of the palace in Kyoto during the summer of 1153. The story says that the samurai Minamoto no Yorimasa staked-out the roof one night and fired an arrow into the cloud, out of which fell a dead nue. Yorimasu then supposedly sank the body in the Sea of Japan.
In a local expansion of the story, the nue's corpse floated into a certain bay, and the locals, fearing a curse, buried it. A mound near the bay which exists today is supposed to be the grave created for this nue.
The manga author probably took that tale and created the character of Nue from it. The manga has NOT resolved the Nue arc as of this time (in other words he has NOT returned from hell as of yet. I think they did a good job of finishing the arc well and stuck to the manga as much as possible to finish this with the number of episodes they had. There is easily enough material for a 3rd and even 4th season as well.
admin
December 19, 2011 at 5:23 pmI knew about the Nue, but I wasn't sure why Seimei chose the name.
4 seasons? Well – let's worry about getting a third first!
Nayrael
December 29, 2011 at 4:37 pmWhen can we expect a Series Review?
admin
December 29, 2011 at 6:02 pmStill catching up – likely today!