Tokyo Ravens – 16
Plot.
I dunno about you, but this episode of Tokyo Ravens was particularly lackluster to me. Perhaps it was due to the fact that it was mostly pure exposition.
Big Bad Ogre Man
So serious half of his shades became glasses.
To start off we have Reiji’s return. And he spends it being stuck-up as usual and interrogating Bakatora about Jin’s showdown with Douman. I’m not sure why he was so keen on gleaning info on Jin aside from plotting to get the guy back for basically humiliating him when they last met. But that doesn’t seem to be the case. Instead, it felt more like what we were supposed to take away from the exchange is that there’s still more to Jin than meets the eye. Which is fair enough, because while we’ve learned a lot about him from the battle and his hospital stay, there’s still so much we don’t know. For example, how and where did he learn such obscure and ancient spells that even Douman couldn’t counter? I’m even beginning to wonder if there’s some direct connection between him and Yakou, as unlikely as it may be. But enough about Jin. In spite of his general attitude, Reiji isn’t all too bad though. In between talking smack at poor Bakatora, he does encourage the idiot hero to keep working at becoming an exorcist. So I suppose in a roundabout way he’s not a complete asshole (if we ignore the part about promising to beat Bakatora’s ass over and over again). He just needs to work on learning some general manners and etiquette.
Battle of Words
Chief Amami: smooth talking his way to victory.
The next big thing is, of course, the battle between Atsune and Chief Amami. I wish I could say it was as spectacular as the oft-mentioned Jin-Douman showdown. But it just wasn’t. To be fair, that’s a direct consequence of the nature of the battles, but knowing this doesn’t make it any more exciting. Basically, it was a bunch of deception (looks like it’ll be a recurring theme), as Chief Amami is revealed to be highly skilled at the ability. I might even say the events of the battle were akin to some sort of genjitsu from Naruto, but mentioning that name is taboo so let’s forget about that. So really all that happens is Atsune pulls out some hotshot familiars (these are interestingly the only ones capable of casting spells themselves) but it was all for naught because Amami had his mind in the palm of his hand from the very beginning. I guess the lesson to learn is no matter how strong a familiar may be, the outcome of the battle comes down to their wielder’s own abilities. Which is something I’m sure we all could have foreseen by ourselves.
I rather like how the Twin-Horned Syndicate is now portrayed as having lost sight of its original purpose. This is to be expected, as so far most of the Yakou fanatics have been just that: fanatics. Some sort of crazed cultists without any real vision or purpose beyond excessively admiring their own delusions of Yakou’s grandeur. If what Atsune would have us believe is true, he is the only remaining member who retains a truly clear sense of purpose. And that purpose is apparently to make one of Yakou’s two desires come true (try not to roll your eyes as much as I did). Unfortunately, while the purpose of the Onmyoji School Yakou left behind is quite clear (to nurture new Onmyoji), we are still in the dark as to what his second desire that the Twin-Horned Syndicate champions might be. Oh, and about that twist at the end; I have no idea. At least Takiko repeatedly stating that she is a “fellow student” in the previous episode now makes more sense.
whuuuuu-?
About Sumairii
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 139 comments
Heh, I really liked how the exposition was handled here, but it does one of two things simultaneously:
Subverts the “Villain his/her explains plans” trope while actually making it make sense. It’s clever bit of writing, that really links back to what he said at to the start of the confrontation, “Only I can ask questions here”.
That said, Amami’s specialties lie in illusions and Kodama. It’s one of the more subtle field of magic within Onmyoudo one of most difficult master, but is exceedingly efficient when done so.
Actually, it’s more to show how a fight between high skilled Onmyouji can sometimes be over even before the battle begins irrespectively of their power. Hirata didn’t lose because his own skills were lacking or anything to do with his shikigami, but rather due to being unable to perceive Amami’s underlying strategy in the midst of all his others.
Sure this may have been forseen too, but no less important given the nature of the battle. especially when one won’t know the outcome of it.
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
Sometimes our spam monster gets overactive so I see you have posted four times, but as we do save genuine comments, no worries for next time.
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 139 comments
Ah thank you.
Sorry for quadruple posting. ^^;
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
No problem at all! Your comments are very valuable to us. 🙂
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
Oh, and about that twist at the end; I have no idea.
@Sumairii: I think it means that Takiko IS Hirata.
Hirata Atsune was never a real person, just Takiko magically disguised as a man to infiltrate the Bureau.
Amami’s surprised face told me he’d anticipated Hirata was the mole, not that he was actually a she.
POWUH: Meta Resident and Werewolf Chaser with 1270 comments
…..You know, frm the impression I’ve seen I thought the trap is the other way rounbd which makes me WHUUUUUUUT for a while. XD
So what do you think, Hokuto VA used as Takiko is just reusing VA or does it implies something else?
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
PS. Wonder what Shaver’s problem is. (ーー;)
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 139 comments
He’s Blood Knight that’s what his problem is. Makes given his origins which you will find out next episode. He’s kind of perfect as a Servant familiar for Kagami in that sense.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I find the exposition was great. For some reason, it’s exciting to see a bunch of betrayals going around the bad guys when the pressure is cracking down on them. It’s fun watching them squirm around.
Chief Amami has become a sudden favorite after his flawless display. The guy is a total badass keeping his cool even though the tables have temporarily turned on him and had a trap planned three steps ahead.
What’s on my mind is, if both the Two-Horned Syndicate and the Shaman School are both founded by Yakou, then which side is truly in the wrong and has gone astray if both were designed to carry his will?
I’d keep an eye on Shaver. The guys looks like a bomb ready to go off at any moment. Especially with the fact Suzuka said he was basically blacklisted for being crazy.
POWUH: 600-699 and Romance Expert with 652 comments
the other side’s goal is probably the same as most other goals: find the secret of the universe/life/something.
fits well enough, the school was in order to share the knowledge while this other one was to continue gaining knowledge.
and of course like in most other plots, people went too far ala the “for
sciencemagic!” justification.