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So, the moment is finally here – did it live up to the hype?
Four episodes in, I think it’s pretty safe to say that the Bishamon Arc can back up the build-up – this is good stuff on every level. Noragami is a series that integrates character and plot better than most, and disparate elements of comedy and tragedy too – when this series is working (which has been the case most of the time it was adapting manga material) it all flows together as a seamless whole. And this arc definitely presents as a logical ramp-up of everything that’s come before.
We’ve been building up to the eventual confrontation between Yato and Bishamon pretty much since day one (well, day two anyway) of the story, but in Noragami the past is a living part of the present. Many of the riddles of the past were answered here, starting with the incongruous “-ma” at the end of Kazuma’s name. Turns out that the suffix is a common way for a Kami to express the solidarity of their clan of Shinki, and Kazuma is the lone holdover from the prior clan – the rest of whom died, as we know, at Yato’s (and Nora’s) hand. The new clan is the “-ha” clan – though certainly none of them (bar one) are laughing at the moment).
The big mystery, of course, was the matter of just why Yato would have killed the -ma clan – and the answer is pretty much what’s been hinted at in the last couple of episodes. Bishamon’s habit of turning every stray spirit she finds into a Regalia seems inherently susceptible to the sort of problem that caused Kazuma to ask Yato to kill all of his clan, but the problem of course is that Bishamon has no idea why Yato did what he did – from her perspective, he simply slaughtered her family. And that slaughter and the guilt it sparked in her has made her even more reckless in inviting the same thing to happen again.
There’s a part of Kazuma’s story that’s conspicuously incomplete – which Regalia was corrupted, causing the cycle of discord that forced Kazuma’s hand (I also wonder why Kazuma seems to have aged, which I didn’t think was possible for a Regalia)? For now there are larger fish to fry – Hiyori is imprisoned with Kazuma and will die if separated from her body for much longer, and Kugaha’s plan seems to be working perfectly. The endgame of that plan, it seems, is for this Bishamon to die at Yato’s hand and a new one be born, subject to Kugaha’s control.
There are a lot of nice little touches here – Tenjin’s bemoaning that a great storm is about to happen at the height of plum blossom season (Sugawara no Michizane was known to adore ume blossoms), and his unspoken second condition for transporting Yato to Bishamon’s estate, Kofuku placing a bet on Bishamon in order to try and jinx her and help Yato. But the headline here is always going to be Yato and Bishmon clashing in battle at last, and it doesn’t disappoint. Kugaha has weakened Bishamon – via his “medicine” and Aiha’s corruption – but even weakened and without Kazuma to channel her other Shinki’s power, she’s still a God of War.
If this was the week you were expecting Yukine’s luck to turn, think again. I’m pretty convinced his plot armor is thick enough that he’s not going to die (for reals) four weeks into the season, but getting sliced in half isn’t going to do anybody any good. That said, there would be a certain poetic justice to Bishamon killing Yato’s entire family of Regalia – albeit that’s a family of one – after what’s happened in the past. Rather, though, I think we’re going to see her finally be forced to confront the truth, both about herself and Yato – a truth she’s been aware of on some level all along, and simply refused to believe.
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sonicsenryaku
October 24, 2015 at 10:33 amthe bishamon arc is good and all, but i cant wait for the nest arc. One of noragami's strengths is building up on themes and concepts from previous arcs and the next arc sort of eclipses this one in everyway
hgfdsahjkl
October 24, 2015 at 12:39 pmwhy would Bishamon have no idea why Yato did what he did ?everyone turned into phantoms infront of her eyes?add to that that the reason why he killed them is justified and understandable on every level
kazuma could have made it clear 50 years ago rather than just watching his master burning with unjustified anger
I don't know but that part felt forced for me
sonicsenryaku
October 24, 2015 at 5:05 pmjust try to think about it; think about the kind of character bishamon is; kazuma's devotion to her and yato's nature and you'll see why it's not forced and makes sense
beverley-chan
October 24, 2015 at 2:28 pmYou're confusing shinki (神器) with Sekki (雪器). Sekki is Yukine's vessel name, Yato uses it to call Yukine as a weapon and is an alternative reading of his name Yuki (雪) as Setsu + ki (器).
Another example: Kazuma (兆麻), when Bishamon uses him she calls Chouki (兆器) which is another reading of his name + ki. In this episode Yato summoned Nora as Hiki (緋器).
Gary Cochran
October 25, 2015 at 3:07 amI find all too often in anime impossible situations come to happen because folks don't communicate well. Its great storytelling but its really stupid that no one told Bishamon what really happened hundreds of years earlier.
Roger
October 29, 2015 at 12:52 amIt kinda makes sense that no one would tell Bishamon what exactly happened. Yato didn't care, while Kazuma still has that master-regalia relationship to contend with. And considering how Bishamon can be close minded, she probably won't believe it either.
The only odd one out is Kofuku, who Bisha seems to have high respects for, so she could have told her directly. Though, I guess Kofuku not doing so is due to that "mind your own business and I'll mind my own" mentality that the gods have.
blip
October 25, 2015 at 8:38 amI don't think Kazuma really aged – maybe it's just his glasses?
melodic thoughts
November 1, 2015 at 5:04 pmUnlike some here, I don't think the truth being hidden from Bishamon was forced here. Kazuma would not have wanted to tell Bishamon for his own sake (how could he even speak of having hired Yato to slaughter his family), and also for Bishamon's sake (calling out on Bishamon's kindheartedness being a double-edged sword may potentially change her, and Kazuma had liked her for her kindness. Also, imagine what the additional anguish would do to her, after she had to spend so much time just to recover).
In Yato's standpoint, he would not have wanted to butt into their clan's affairs (he was hired for a job, he did it and that was that) and left it up to Kazuma to reveal the truth of the events – in fact, I think that is only respectful since it is a sensitive affair. Of course, it can be argued both ways – this secret has caused danger to Yato many times, and for that he has no obligation to still keep the secret. But we all know Yato's personality is like that, he can be pretty obstinate.
Overall, I think this episode was beautiful in every way. I really like how Kugaha is framed here – self-serving, despicable yet not really to be faulted. The way I see Shinkis, because of the need to serve their master, their desires have mostly been suppressed and it isn't normal. There will surely be some who have other goals or have different thoughts on how to protect their God, and these conflicting views have been ignored for too long. Hence, history repeating itself.