Utawarerumono: Itsuwari no Kamen – 05-06
Guess who’s back?
I wasn’t expecting Utawarerumono to bring back characters from the first season, but this turned out to be a good thing.
Surprising Introductions
Kuon’s mothers.
Either the odd-numbered episodes of the show are inferior to the even-numbered ones, or I just remember less of the former because I tend to write these posts after the latter. But in any case, I don’t have much to say about episode 5. We are introduced to another princess. She is a troublemaker. Haku entertains her for a day. End of story. Episode 6, on the other hand, is significantly more interesting. We are introduced to two members of the main cast from the first season: Karura and Touka. This move is interesting to me as I would think that those who haven’t seen the first season will be left in the dark as to who these characters are and why they’re important. However, Utawarerumono overturns my expectations by keeping the roles of Karura and Touka relatively straightforward. The two are simply introduced as Kuon’s surrogate mothers, and we are further told that Kuon was raised by a number of women, all of whom she considers her mothers.
Family
Hnnng (click to enlarge)
To those who have seen the first season, Karura and Touka don’t change much. The former is still a heavyweight liquor-drinking champ, and the latter is still a hilariously ditsy tsundere. We also catch glimpses of some of the other original harem members through flashbacks to Kuon’s childhood1, with some special focus placed on Eruruu. Those who have seen the first season should already understand Eruruu’s importance as it pertains to the lore of the Utawarerumono universe. But again, I maintain that the show does a great job at giving uninitiated viewers something to go on by implying through the alcoholic family bonding moment in the hot springs near the end that Eruruu holds a special place even amongst Kuon’s many mothers. And this emphasis naturally brings up the question of who Kuon’s biological mother is.
Kuon has been a bad girl!
To the uninitiated viewer, I suspect that it is easy to conclude from episode 6 that Eruruu (aka the mysterious unnamed and faceless character who finds the drunk young Kuon) is Kuon’s biological mother. And I can see those who have seen the first season making the same conclusion as a result of Eruruu’s importance. However, unless you fail to notice physical similarities between Kuon and one of the other members of the first season cast, it should be obvious to the latter group who Kuon’s biological mother really is. And of course, her father is even more obvious. It can only be Hakuoro, the protagonist of the first season. Anyway, the words and mannerisms of Karura as she reminisces about Hakuoro when she meets Haku serve to build upon the suggestion that there is a link between the two leads beyond simple physical resemblance. I personally hope that the show gets around to exploring this link sooner than later. But with 20 episodes to go in the new season, I will likely be left hanging for a while longer.
Extra Kuon
Episode 6 really does wonders for the show. We are introduced to Kuon’s family circumstances and learn why they are separated. A connection between the first and second seasons is established and the mystery surrounding Haku’s identity is casually built upon. And intrigue about the empire is built through Karura’s and Touka’s investigations of the capital, though their inquiries are played off for laughs here.
1By the way, young Kuon is unhealthily adorable.
Family bonding.
About Sumairii
POWUH: 400-499 with 462 comments
One thing I am certain of: had Eruruu been Kuon’s mother, Kuon wouldn’t have needed so many other “mothers” when she was growing up. Not that the others wouldn’t have helped out Eruruu in raising her daughter if she’d had one, don’t get me wrong, but I am quite certain that Eruruu would have been a good mother. If she had been Kuon’s biological mother, than she, and she alone, would have been “mother,” and the others would have been “aunts” or “sisters” depending on their preference.
Besides, Eruruu has doglike animal traits, while Kuon has catlike animal traits. There were only two catgirls in Hakuoro’s group, and Karura’s behavior seems to make it fairly clear that she wasn’t Kuon’s biological mother.
POWUH: 400-499 with 462 comments
Putting all that aside, this episode was wonderful. A nice look into Kuon’s backstory, a real feeling that we’re coming to understand greater depth of her character, and some beautiful family bonding. The really was a delight to watch.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
So this does have a direct link to the previous season going by this post. This is pretty much Kuon being so formal as to call her guardians “mothers”. Though one is negating the term on possible worrying of her age. That said, since they’ve known Kuon since her childhood and they apparently still look the same, do people of their species age slowly?
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
A family that drinks together stays together…and Haku just joined!
…yes, unheathily adorable…
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
You know a woman is exceptional if she can drink a guy under the table and still hold hers.
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
Just a small warning, gameplayers who have finished the source False Faces game say some of its later plotlines are still left hanging at the end. They think this was purposely done to provide setup for Game #3′s plot.
Utawarerumono’s creators say they are currently working on the story now, and hope to release Game #3 in 1.5 – 2 years time. Hopefully they make another anime then to coincide with Game #3’s release.
So don’t be too shocked if the anime suddenly leaves things unexplained.
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
An Aruruu! A Kamyuu! Urutori!
An Eruruu Is Fine Too!
Urutori is definately not the mother. >_>
Yes, completely sloshed. Obviously she inherited her escaping skillz from her Papa.
I believe they have had it that Karura x Touka. Mmm… .oO(ideas)
POWUH: Metanorn Lover with 154 comments
I was definitely surprised to see Touka and Karura show up in this series at this point. I thought there would have been more references/picture flashbacks like we saw before they showed up. I have to say I do like it though, with all those little bones they threw to those who watched the first season. Glad to have these two and their antics back.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
I did not expect them to put old characters in either. Maybe as a passing reference, but not as actual topics for a whole episode. I’m glad they did though! Man, after just watching season 1, they look amazing in comparison. So much more detail…and I dig the new outfits, too.
Oh Kuon…so unlike your biological mother…but we love you because you’re adorable.
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
Spammy ate the post I’ve tried to send 2 times already. Can anyone help recover it?
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1692 comments
Since this show is bringing back characters, even if only briefly (though it remains to be seen how large a role Karura and Touka will play), from the first season and making references back to it, I’ve felt compelled to order the first season and watch it so I’ll understand this one better. I should have it by the end of the week then I’ll marathon it.