Nagi no Asukara – 25
There can be only one
Have I used the word penultimate this week? Probably not, because all the shows are on their ultimate episode. But with one more after this week for Nagi no Asukara, I can use it here for this penultimate episode!
The Episode Where Everything Happens
Kaname picks the right person to save this time
Maybe it’s a trademark of Mari Okada, but the second-last episode of so many of her series seems to be where the big action is, and that was true for this one as well. Finally getting all the preparations done for the ofunehiki, it’s time for the big ceremony. But some finishing touches on some relationships first, and a not very surprising reveal.
Fast kid
I still think there’s something up with Akira. He steals the pendant off of the ojoshi doll, and drops it in the water as he’s running away, and when Miuna catches up to it, she realizes she can hear Manaka’s feelings, confirming that’s what the stone is. And they say, loud and clear, that Manaka loved Hikari. And that’s something that Tsumugu confirms, having been told by Manaka before the last ceremony 5 years ago, but of course, he’s kept it a secret because Manaka asked him to, even while Chisaki beats herself up for liking the guy that she thought Manaka liked, and it would have really benefited that guy to speak out. There’s such a thing as taking it too far, Tsumugu. So now Miuna, knowing that Manaka loved Hikari, and confirming that Hikari loves Manaka, is the confirmed odd girl out, and is trying to get herself to stop loving Hikari by making it hurt too much. Poor girl.
The Past Repeats
Miuna realized she’s the girl on the outside looking in
This ofunehiki looks a lot calmer… until the ojoshi with the pendant with Manaka’s feelings goes into the water, awakening the feelings of the sea god again. And once again, Manaka seems to be destined to be the actual sacrifice. But this time, Miuna makes the same decision Manaka made last time: there’s someone waiting for Manaka, and even though Miuna loves Hikari, she would rather he be with the person he loves. And this time, the sea god isn’t going to give up his girl, blasting Hikari away as he tries to get Miuna out of the same place Manaka was. But I think she’s lost for good. Poor Akari and Itaru, I feel bad for them most.
Chisaki might finally let herself love Tsumugu
One thing that doesn’t repeat, tho, is that we don’t seem to be losing the rest of everyone. Kaname saves Sayu from going over the side of the boat, Chisaki and Manaka seem safe, and I have to believe that both Tsumugu and Hikari will be able to return to the surface. Will they all be able to live happily with the person they love? It seems that all of the love conga lines and triangles have been resolved, as well as the thing weighing on Chisaki’s mind: “I can’t be the only one who’s happy.” Can Chisaki finally allow herself to admit her love for Tsumugu, to revel in it and enjoy it? She’s been so hard on herself, so self-restricting. It would be so nice to see her let all of that go and give herself to her feelings unreservedly.
Is Miuna lost for good?
I think the big action is over, and next week’s finale is going to be more of the wrap-up. The big question I have is whether it will go for the Crowning Moment of Awesome. I would love to see one happen, but they’re so hard to pull off well, and I don’t know if there’s been the same kind of buildup that a series like Toradora had (the crown jewel of the romantic Crowning Moment of Awesome).
It’s interesting that I don’t feel as sad for Miuna as I might have thought. She doesn’t get what she deserved, but it was looking like she was going to be forever alone. Is it perhaps better to be the bride of the sea god, at least until the feelings of the sea god realize her love for Hikari? Or would the same thing happen? The preview was intriguing, so let’s see what will happen.
About Highway
Proving that you don't have to be young to love anime, I enjoy all genres and styles of shows. If it's not hurting anyone else, you should never be ashamed of what you like!
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I dunno about a wrap up. I still think Hikari has a lot of fight in him to get Miuna back, so we could see something in that respect.
This very much has been the wind up, and next the inevitable pitch. The metaphor breaks down, of course, but I believe we are going to see a bit of a curve in there somewhere. As you’ve pointed out, Akira still has a bit of oddball plot stuff going on with him. Akari was pregnant with him during the last Ofunekiki, so some of that Sea God may be around him more than expected. That might be the curve I speak of, or not….
Does anyone think that Tsumugu was just a tad strong? Or is that what he needed to do? For me, I thought he did that well enough not to be either clingy or stalkerish.
As for him not telling anyone of Manaka’s feelings, keeping his in check all the time. Well, Chisaki also keep’s hers in check. I would say it’s a match made in heaven, but that isn’t quite right.
Don’t hit a grounder PA Works.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
I think Tsumugu was perfectly in character for him, perhaps a bit more forward than he usually is with his “No, I still think you love me, I’m just trying to figure out how to make you admit it.” Of course, that was a perfect line for that moment, and it was what Chisaki needed to break down the walls she was building. But it wasn’t too much, it wasn’t too overbearing. Chisaki needs someone sometimes to tell her what to do, because we’ve seen that she won’t make progress on her own all the time.
I almost worry more for Miuna if Hikari goes to the same lengths to get Miuna back that he did for Manaka’s feelings. What is Miuna supposed to do with that? How is she supposed to feel? She *already* loves Hikari, and he’s already out of her reach, especially with Manaka’s feelings back (presumably). If there were another 6 episodes, I think the show could deal with the soul-crushing reality of that, but we only have one episode. Of course, I don’t think that Miuna will be recovered by others, I think that she’ll be released on her own, as the preview kind of showed, probably with the same deal that Isamu talked about: The man she loved on the surface was gone. Really, the pain of the sacrifice has been visited upon Miuna, the odd girl out.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
How is she supposed to feel? Well, more than one kind of love, and it’s not like he doesn’t enjoy having a little sister and little brother. That’s a nice family, and should be fought for.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
That’s true, and I can see Hikari’s side of it, because Hikari is also the type to fight for ‘justice’ (although he thankfully never calls it that). I was just speculating on how hard it would be for Miuna. Of course, Miuna is 14, she’s got a lot of life ahead of her, and she’d likely find someone else that she can love as much as she loves Hikari now.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Ugh, I’d rather you not use that word. It’s depressing seeing the shows I’ve grown accustomed to on their way out. But it was inevitable.
I knew something would go awry. These kids just can’t seem to catch. As if their lives aren’t strenuous enough trying to keep their emotions in check. Hopefully Miuna doesn’t end up in the same state as Manaka.
I know Tsumugu loves Chisaki but the way he goes about it, even rationalizing aspects in a rather logical way, it’s like he’s forcing himself on her which is leaving a bitter taste in the mouth.
Akira is an odd individual. For one so young, he’s awfully self aware and the way he took Manaka’s necklace like he’s jealous shows it’s more than simple affection towards her.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
You might argue that Akira thinks he’s going farther than he really is, since the first thing he does after getting a good response from Manaka is go for the kancho! *waggling eyebrows*
Sounds like you go the other way on skylion’s question from me. I think he’s more firm than forceful, and that it’s definitely not out of bounds.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I side with HWY on that question, but I asked it because I think the discussion is interesting. In that I do see how BB feels. But I think that bitterness can be offset by how sweet he really is on her.
I loved in the the series, how quietly and assuredly they show how the two fit each other’s habits in the kitchen. And, as I say above, how they both have the same emotional register that compels them to protect the people they care about.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Yeah, they depict them as a couple that is extremely comfortable with each other, who fit together well. And it’s interesting that that comfort could develop even while Chisaki has consciously been trying to hold herself apart from Tsumugu. That would seem to indicate that they’re even MORE compatible than they currently show
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
A scale of the Spam God just cursed me with a fish knee.
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
I’m actually curious about the sea god more than the kids (except who Hikari is going to end up with. If he ends up with Manaka, I’ll be a mad shipper). Why would he take Manaka’s ena away? Tsumugu said something about ena being connected to love? I’m totally lost on that since I know ena as a special trait sea people develop, something that distinguish them from the land people. Not some love thingy. And last, how is the whole thing here connected with the original Ojoshi? I’m just confused with everything now except with the drama
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
I think that it’s probably more connected than you think. Consider the sea people as the ‘chosen’ of the sea god. Therefore, he gives them a gift, ena, to allow them to live in the preferred realm. So when Manaka ‘rejected’ the sea god, by staying in love with Hikari rather than loving the sea god, he released her from her unhappiness, but as punishment (because gods tend to be spiteful) took her ena. But instead of just taking it, it was dispersed throughout the sea, so that those who came to the sea could be given that gift. That’s why Tsumugu says Miuna’s and his own ena are Manaka’s love, because it was Manaka’s love and sacrifice that caused it to be dispersed through the sea for them to get.
How it’s connected to the original Ojoshi? It’s essentially history / legend repeating. The circumstances are the same, although the sea god is more dispersed feelings now, not an actual entity.
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
Ah, everything makes sense now.
The sea god reminds me of Greek gods somehow. Loving humans when they’re devoted to them, cursing them when they turned away even only for a while. I guess it shows the nature of every god in this world.
So I guess there will be no more Manaka-going-back-to-the-sea-god theory? *sigh* Will threesome even work in this anime?
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Well, considering that Manaka2 (Miuna, with her long hair grown out because of Hikari and her ena and feelings that match Manaka’s) went ‘back’ to the sea god, I think there’s no chance of a threesome now.
I’ve been thinking that the sea god is similar to the Japanese gods, but Greek works as well. It’s a common theme that gods can manifest power commensurate to the amount of belief they have.