Hyouka – 05 – 06
…And then Eru vowed to never own a pet rabbit. EVER.
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Karakuri here! I’m substituting for Miyu for a bit while she deals with her busy life. (Fight, Miyu! I believe in you!) In other completely unrelated news, everything I’m allergic to is in full bloom AND IT ISN’T AFFECTING ME IN THE LEAST BIT. I THINK I’VE GROWN OUT OF MY ALLERGIES! YEAAAAH! |
Episode 5
Houtarou notices something off about Sekitani’s story after a talk with his sister and the whole truth of Hyouka is revealed via the librarian (aka the girl who wrote that paragraph in the anthology book). Most of Houtarou’s theory was correct, however, Eru’s uncle was actually forced into the position of leader. You see, the cultural festival was something the students used to mess around, so that’s why the teachers tried to cut it short. The students rebelled and forced Sekitani to be their leader …and then they somehow lit the dojo on fire. Thus, Sekitani took the punishment for everything while everyone just kind of stood there and watched him get expelled. Why the name Hyouka? …Because it translates to “ice cream” and in English, it sounds like “I scream”. Ahahaha those crazy Japanese. As for why Eru was crying, it was because her uncle told her that she had to be strong or she would be eaten (…and she got scared).
It didn’t help that back in Sekitani’s day, the students were all on drugs.
Episode 6
With the main mystery over, Hyouka focuses more on club activities. …Which means sitting around and talking. After a conversation about why Eru doesn’t get angry (…that girl is a saint), she asks Houtarou why she did get angrier early in the day. A teacher who was normally very vigilant mistook what the class had already learned and then got angry at the students for not knowing what he was teaching. Eru, in turn, got angry but now she wants to know why such a well organized teacher would have gotten something like that wrong. Houtarou’s answer to the great mystery is that the letters a and d look similar and the teacher’s note in the book about what class ‘d’ had learned was mistaken for ‘a’. At the end, Houtarou notes that it’s not that Eru doesn’t get angry, but instead that she doesn’t like feeling angry.
KyoAni will not be satisfied until everything they animate spouts it’s own religion.
KyoAni, you amaze me. That scene with the metaphorical rabbits and wolves was absolutely perfect. While part of me is still wishing that the Hyouka story was darker, I’m still extremely satisfied with how the whole thing wrapped up. All of the individual mini mysteries that popped up in this story seemed to fit together rather nicely in the end. …Even if it did happen pretty fast. The mystery was solved in about two episodes where I was expecting this to get solved more towards the end of the season to be honest. Asking the librarian wasn’t the most exciting climax, but I think this series’ strong suit is how realistic it all feels (plus the visuals more than made up for it). The story that happened with Eru’s uncle could have happened in real life. The same goes with how the people acted in the story.
So now that the main mystery is solved… now what? Will there be another big mystery now, or just a bunch of tiny ones? I kind of want to say that there might be more to the Hyouka mystery than that explanation, but the entire thing seems pretty conclusive. Even episode 6 had absolutely no intentions of going back to what happened in the past. What really surprised me in this though was the fact that Houtarou wanted to try something other than his usual grey life. I mean, the guy was pretty dead set on staying in energy conserving mode. I’m surprised at how much Eru has changed the guy in such a small amount of time. … Er, well, I guess it could have been the rest of the members as well, but really, the only reason Houtarou seems to do anything is because of Eru (…or fear of his sister). I mean, look at those mini imaginary Erus pestering him in this last episode. I couldn’t say no to that either.
Episode 6 was great for the club’s characterization. I loved Houtarou’s inner monologue about how Eru doesn’t want to get angry towards the end of the episode. The answer was obvious enough looking at it now, but his explanation about how she wanted to justify getting angry added just that extra bit of closure. The same goes for the members pointing out at how unemotional Houtarou looks to the people in that series. We’re a bit more informed about his emotions since we always see his thoughts about things, but this served as a reminder that the other characters don’t. To them, he just acts like everything is a pain and the only time he really opens his mouth is when he’s explaining things. Even the one line explanation as to how Satoshi doesn’t like to show his emotions in front of others was great (I don’t care how one dimensional he is, Satoshi is one of my favourites on this show). Miyu talked about how Satoshi might have something hidden behind his outward personality on her last post and I really hope she’s right on that. When you start off with a one dimensional stereotype, there’s just so much potential for development.
About Karakuri
University student and the one at Metanorn who's known for wearing glasses. Likes blood, insanity and plot twists, but also plays otome games and adores cute romance anime. It balances out... somehow.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10997 comments
Wish in one hand, (do something vulgar which I won’t enumerate here) in the other, see which hand gets fulfilled first.
Oreki wishes for a less grey lifestyle. We’ve seen that. And the sixth show is one step in the process. This young man has a dilemma on his hands. Either he closes the gap between himself and Chitanda, or he pushes her away. This is perhaps the biggest mystery he will have to solve. His own heart.
Oh, and notice how well she manipulates him? As if she really needed to know why she got angry. Chitanda-san really does know how he ticks, even if it even means pushing him away for a spell.
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
… If he starts pushing her away, I might have to flip a few tables. Though yeah, that’s a good point. This guy has logic down, but emotions seem to perplex him a bit more.
Ahahaha Eru is great at that. Though I’m not entirely sure that she’s conscious of how well she can get him to listen to her. That’s part of what makes her charming xD.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
If he tries pushing her away, it will be a futile attempt. Just like what is shown in the sixth episode, the more he tries to distance himself, the stronger she forces her curiosities on him until he eventually gives in to her. I see him as the type of person who doesn’t let emotion interfere with his logic because it might unnecessarily overwhelm everything.
Whether it’s intentional or not, Chitanda has a way of getting what she wants out of Houtarou. All it takes is being assertive and have a cute face.
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
I hope so. I couldn’t stand if the storyline started to morph into Houtarou avoiding Chitanda. …There’s already a whole lot of nothing going on currently. It doesn’t need any less.
Heheh, words to live by.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Episode 5:
What I didn’t get was why they would try publish an anthology based on a theory? It would have been pretty embarassing if someone walked up to them in the middle of the festival and started explaining how it’s wrong, right? Houtarou’s sister has already put a dent in his theory about Sekitani Jun.
Personally, I didn’t much trust in that librarian’s words. I suspected that she wanted to keep the past hidden to the kids, particularly its uglier details and may have simply pretended to confirm Houtarou’s theories so as give the kids the closure they wanted, without actually revealing too much.
Episode 6:
One of the best parts was the bit with Chitanda talking about her Seven Deadly Sins theory which is true that they can’t be useful and treated as absolutes in daily life because everyone is susceptible to them and it’s just a matter of degree. Her explanations on why pride, greed, envy and anger were necessary was really interesting. I would have found it especially interesting if she’d gotten around to Lust, and explained why it was good in moderation (I have no doubt people would agree with her reasons no matter what they are).
One of the other good parts is when Chitanda said that she doesn’t get mad because it wastes too much energy that she’d rather focus on something else and then Houtarou started looking at her as if his mind just got completely blown. That bit was hilarious. Houtarou looking disappointed that Chitanda was actually joking was also funny as well.
Chitanda is starting to have a profound effect on Houtarou. Just her aura is making it difficult to maintain his energy saving lifestyle. His slacker indifference is a little forced where she’s concerned and now he’s beginning to show interest in figuring out what makes her tick.
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
5:
…I guess they really wanted the truth out there? Plus if you think about it, it’s not like the club has really accomplished much else from what we’ve seen. They might as well write about the one important thing they did uncover (and to tell you the truth, I don’t even know what the club’s actual purpose is).
Eh, I feel as if the mystery seems pretty closed. …Though the title is “Hyouka”. Is that really all there is to it? Maybe they’ll find another mystery in a different volume? I don’t know.
6:
Ahahaha. Knowing Chitanda, I’m sure she’d put lust on the same level as love or something.
Oh yeah, that was probably the best part of the episode. Ahaha Houtarou’s look of absolute awe and amazement. Imagine if she had been serious though. Maybe I’d have something to ship.
That’s another thing that made me laugh this episode: Eru saying that she doesn’t get mad because it wastes energy. For what we’ve seen from Houtarou’s POV, that’s all she does xD. Though it is good that it’s affecting him. He’s slowly progressing as a character.
POWUH: Metanorn Lover with 243 comments
At the end of episode 6, Houtarou described it as a waste of his day. I couldn’t have put it better myself.
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
….Shhh. I’m still trying to convince myself that it’s okay if nothing significant happens.
POWUH: 900-999 with 915 comments
OMG, I would go crazy with that lots of mini-Eru talking “Kininarimasu, kininarimasu, kininarimasu” =.=
About the episode 5, that scene with the rabbits and the wolf was awesome. I can’t help but remember it every night, on my nightmares – kidding =P.
Anyway, in this episode, all my expectations went down when they successfully asked the librarian to tell them what happened =.= They should struggle a little more to figure it out for themselves! Anyway -.-‘ I’m still rooting that sometime, the anime return on Sekitani. He can return from India… Who knows?
I didn’t like too much the episode 6. They were locked the whole episode in that stupid club room that we already saw ten times =.= It’s so beautiful when they visit new places and they show new amazing animations, but it didn’t happen in this episode =.= Too bad.
About the mystery, it sounds funny seeing they struggle with the letters A and D. When he put the letters A, B, C and D, I’ve already solved the mystery… But they’re japanese… They use Kanji and Kana, after all…
Ah, I can’t forget… Amazing animations again. Just expecting for more exciting mysteries next episode.
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
B-but they were adorable! ….In a… kind of… annoying… way… yeah.
I think I lied the rabbit scene because it was just so different from the happy slice of life stuff that we’ve seen so far. Imagine if the entirety of Hyouka was that dark… It would be amazing.
Yeah, I see where you’re coming from. the title is Hyouka. It would be weird if there wasn’t more to the anthologies than just something they solved in 2 episodes. I’m also still wondering where the “you can’t escape” part of the title comes from.
I wish they’d leave the classroom too. Sigh. KyoAni does so much with their animation and yet 90% of this has been inside the school. Seeing Eru’s house before was cool. They should go there again sometime. OTL
Ahaha yeah, I thought so too, but it’s a cultural thing I guess. I know I mix up my kana sometimes too and it’s something that a Japanese person probably wouldn’t do.
Yeah, hopefully. Though nothing so far has been all that exciting. I’ve half given up on hoping for something exciting to be honest.
POWUH: Meta Resident and Werewolf Chaser with 1270 comments
Wow, KyoAni is officially waging a war with SHAFT and Silver Link to out SHAFT each other.
Man, tons of tiny Chitanda…..She is one Dead Apostle with Mystic Eye. And she decide to start a
cultfriendship with Houtarou……And HoutaSis, can you plz gv us/Houtarou some useful exposition plz? And I suspect she will play a larger role in the future….
POWUH: Meta Resident and Werewolf Chaser with 1270 comments
Sorry for the double post…..
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
No probs. One was eaten by spam monster so no worries.
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
Hmmm, yeah, there are 21 episodes to this as far as I’ve been informed. That gives plenty of time for her to make an appearance and become important.
POWUH: Meta Resident and Werewolf Chaser with 1270 comments
Chitanda Eru, Dead Apostle with Mystic Eye, has form a
cultfriendship with Houtarou. Salute the tons of mini Eru saying “Kininarimasu, kininarimasu, kininarimasu”….Seriously, is like KyoAni just wage a war with SHAFT and its like to see who can out SHAFT each other…. Glorious animation, nice music…..
I foresee the increase of importance of HoutaSis in the future……
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10997 comments
If it’s an out-SHAFT SHAFT competition then the folks that bring us Sankarea over at DEEN need to be invited!
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Make an invitation for SILVER LINK as well after the great job they did with C³: Cube x Cursed x Curious and Tasogare Otome x Amnesia! Their sharp visuals are to be reckoned with!!
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10997 comments
Good follow up.
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
They can all have a massive SHAFT-off. Ahahaha best idea ever.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10997 comments
Mildly embarrassing follow up…
POWUH: 800-899 and Flying Sage with 856 comments
I really liked the way the first arc was resolved. As you said it was very realistic — something that could happen in real life.
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
I just hope the next arcs end just as well. …If they even go into more arcs.
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
I’ve finally caught up and I really love this series. So atmospheric and kinda addicting with its slow and steady pace.
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
Ahahaha it does have a charm to it! It’s immersive for sure.