Kyoukai no Kanata – 10
When I’m gone, dream a little dream of me.
Hello folks! Did you miss me? It’s not like I haven’t blogged last week on Metanorn but it’s been a while since I reviewed my namesake of a series. This episode reveals one of the most important cruxes of this series with some of the things finally making sense to wrapping up the plot. I am glad that we didn’t have to tiptoe through the tulips again to arrive at the juncture of the umpteenth stabbing of Akihito by our very own Mirai.
Girl with a bleak future
I was very glad of this episode even when the staff tried their best in keeping us guessing with disjointed scenes of a dream within a dream. It cleared the disappointment of the previous two episodes, which were very weak in explaining what was going on. Granted, some of the action was good but because I don’t even bother remembering the name of the Association spy, his evil grins and faceoff with Izumi was nothing but bland for me.
However, I am fine with things making sense even if remotely with the heavy burden of effect taken over by Mirai, while Nase family provided the cause. The slate is wiped away with Mirai hard at work over something she has been contemplating for some time. Yes, I remember, a lot of people have been calling her a fluke character but I’m not of the same opinion. From first episode, we have been slowly learning about her. Therefore, the reveal of her being a Nase tool in the beginning does not come off as a surprise. Of course, there was something going on with her when she kept on refusing all attempts of friendship from Akihito, not to mention randomly stabbing him every chance she got. But a lot happened from the time she first met him in person at the school rooftop to the time he jumped in to save her from the Hollow Shadow. Let’s be alone together was one of my favourite moments of this series and we saw Mirai slowly opening up afterwards to extent that she was even able to clear things up with Sakura. Including the filler episodes, we witnessed everyone bonding to the effect of almost complementing each other but of course, it was the calm before a storm.
The flashback helped in putting the pieces of puzzle together but I still wonder why Mirai accepted everything Izumi manipulated her into. She could be slow sometimes but her completely trusting Izumi or even the Nase family influence seems pretty gullible. Sacrificing own life is no easy task but I can totally see it as her attempt for redemption over what she did to Yui, even when it wasn’t her fault. And surely, the fact that she loves the broken boy in Akihito, who tries his best in normalcy with his megane-fetish and actually calling Mitsuki, Hiro’omi, Ayaka and Ai his friends when they are mostly his guardians to police him. Her decision however did not feel like a plot-convenience rather something that she was building up to from the moment she laid eyes on the human version of Akihito and got to know him with time. Her confession was sweet but came at a precarious time of uncertainty. I hope she doesn’t disappear rather gets another chance at a life where she is actually wanted.
Boy trapped in a dream world
Coming to Akihito, man he sure has it rough. It seems in the anime he is credited for the scars on Hiro’omi’s back when this isn’t so in the novels. Anyways, since the Hollow Shadow visited their little town, life has not been that hunky-dory for our meganebu-wannabe MC. Top it with Izumi playing maestro over his inner-mojo and we have him almost at the brink of death due to beyond the boundary youmu and the last nail in the coffin is with the fact that it’s at the expense of the girl he loves. No, we have come far off from the point of calling this friendship or infatuation. This is definitely love, willing to lose everything for the one. Therefore, I don’t think Akihito will keep lying around in a daze between weather changes, rather fight his own demons with his own will.
From whatever I could glean from the dream within a dream, it seems that Akhito is trapped inside his conscience. Mirai has tried her best in channeling off the beyond the boundary youmu off of him but was not fully successful. The reason he’s still in a comatose state fighting within himself for either getting rid of the last remnant of his youmu or filling the gap left by it. However, his inner time is not relevant to outside and thus there’s a switch between summer and winter between which his soul de/activates. Mirai is his guide due to her blood being fused with his, while others are just placeholders from his memory of them. Though, I don’t think Mirai is completely gone with what we witness in the preview.
There are still a lot to be resolved and concluded, but of course, Akihito is at the center of it all being the key in a power struggle between Association and Nase family. Being from the beyond the boundary or most probably channeling something similar to the concept of Akasha, maybe it is either somewhere youmu go to get their concept of heaven or higher enlightenment, which makes them powerful. This might overhaul the gem (which we glimpsed along the bonasi in the club room), value sky high and the reason behind all the hoopla of acquiring it. I swear, the adults need to get their act straight and involve in this almost chuunibyou fight under which Mirai and Akihito are struggling. Someone really needs to kick the Nase adults’ collective butts right about now.
Extra KyoAni Porn Show ▼
This was the most melancholic episode of this series to-date. KyoAni did try with their usual brand of joking around Mitsuki and Hiro’omi but it didn’t last for long. But this is the much needed development after all. The fear of loss is not felt until it actually happens so in both cases of Mirai and Akihito, they have gone through the pain more than once and are definitely hurting real bad. Though, their despair will not finish until beyond the boundary youmu is dealt with.
The dream sequence made me question the concept of youmu on how they are made of human emotions and nobody wants to talk about their origin except for heard conjecture. We know they originate from dark emotions, something comparable to original sins concept but can’t they be neutralized with good emotions? This makes me curious about how Akihito is a half youmu. Was his mother attacked when he was in the womb or she was going through much grief that it affected him this greatly? Being a powerful yet a cuckoo youmu hunter, she has been a cosplaying mystery till now but she must know his true nature. From whatever we have found out, none of them know the true power of it so let’s see what conspires between our main pair, whose story should not end here, in the next episode.
Preview:
It’s not over yet…
About Kyokai
The Boss lady of Metanorn, who makes it all happen. An animanga enthusiast, who watches/reads almost anything that strikes her fancy. Just beware of her Death Perception and always keep her happy. Regularly found at @KyokaiTM & #[email protected].
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Quite the tale they’ve lead up to here. On one side, you have a girl that the more powerful think of only as a weapon to dispose of when done with, on the other, the nuke they don’t want to keep but really can’t afford to let out of their backyard.
Give the adults some breaks, Kyo, there cannot be a roadmap for this. Unless, they break it all down and follow common sense, and let fear go…So not so much positive emotions, and the lack of negative.
I found the two competing dream worlds to be compelling, and not quite as confusing as I’ve read comments on elsewhere. Both had evocative connections to one another, and paths to each other. I think the next show will be quite epic in all departments.
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
It’s sad how Mirai has been reduced to a weapon for Nase family goals. I’d like to know what Mitsuki and Hiro’omi think of this or are even aware of the extent their family has gone in order to get the beyond the boundary power/gem. This is the reason I can’t give the adults a break because this is an adult war being fought by the young. Reminds me somewhat of Enders Game, where the same happened, kids being tools for the adults to reach their goals. It’s just sad how these two have been abandoned and someone needs to do something about it!
I agree about the dream sequence. They were very surreal and made perfect sense. I guess, it all depends upon how much mindscrew stuff you have watched to build a comprehension level.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Even if the ends justify the means, I still see Izumi as a cold hearted bitch. Both Mirai and Akihito have ended up with cruel fates. It’s sad but it also makes their bond stronger and endearing to look at though they each express it in their own way. I feel sorry for Akihito. It’s not like he asked to be what he is.
Finding out most of the first half was a dream induced by Mirai gave some serious Inception vibes. Also, when Izumi told Mirai to observe Akihito because he proved difficult to kill, I immediately thought of Strike the Blood’s Yukina. Not to mention both she and Mirai are voiced by Risa Taneda.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I think she see’s herself as necessary.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
The ambitious, self righteous ones always do.
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
Her character just pisses me off. Cold-hearted bitch more like.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
The fact she acts high and mighty makes her look even worse.
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
Someone needs to teach her humility lessons.
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
I am all about Izumi hate; shank the bitch! I’m sure it would be end up being, the oldman made me do it but c’mon! Use your head. You can’t just use kids to get more power for the family. It’s not natural even if survival of the lineage was ingrained in her upbringing from day one.
Mirai and Akihito broke my heart with their emotions. I hope they survive to spend some actual time together. >< And yes, Risa Taneda is sure going places and doing a good job this season with her two major roles along with the child-voice for Bakatora in Tokyo Ravens.
POWUH: 400-499 with 445 comments
The white world, black world, and the real world…all of these are working in tandem, being told in a dream-like narrative (next ep we will see the black world); you just have to be perceptive enough to know which one is which…and I love it; the fact that kyokai no kanata is being this ambitious has put a smile on my face..its only a shame that this creative ambition came so late in what was just a solid series. Had Know always been like this throughout its run, man oh man……
I hate to be broken record but this is exactly why this series needed to be two course; it has so many ideas to explore and its a shame it got the 1-cour treatment most likely because kyoani wanted to make way for chuu2koi. Like u said kyokai, part of how confusing you thought the ep was probably has to do with how much mindfuck ur use to, and mindfuck is definetly something im too use to watching and figuring out
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
I am just sad that the hype of this anime has died down a bit because of some silly episodes in the middle. Overall, this is still one of the most experimental series from KyoAni, a studio which has been known to be formulaic in nature at least in terms of moe. Even when they haven’t dropped the bomb on moe completely, they have at least tried to get away from it.
This makes me really wish that I could read the novels to know more about the characters because I like most of them. With the series course already decided, let’s hope they will wrap things up properly.