Death Parade – 11
Shinigami eat apples, arbiters drink alcohol.
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Hmm, Mamoru Miyano or Mamoru Miyano. Such hard choices. Anyways, wow what an episode. |
More proof that the arbiter’s current system has some problems in it, the test made Mayu take was very unfair in some ways. Yes, it was pretty simple and got to the point of exposing Mayu’s darkness, but this is kind of like what Chiyuki was saying about the arbiters just creating darkness in people. Ginti already knew what Mayu’s bond with Harada was like. Of course she would choose Harada over Light the other guy, since it’s long since been established that she has a thing for Harada. To Ginti though, this just proved a few things he already assumed about humans. For Mayu’s choice of Harada over the random person, Ginti knew the kind of choice she would make. Plus having someone’s life’s meaning be another person probably didn’t even register with him, since to Ginti human life is already meaningless.
However, this is also completely overlooking the moral struggle that Mayu obviously went through before making the choice. Also, it’s overlooking how she was more than ready to sacrifice herself for Harada when she suggested going into the void to wake him up. Though this at least looked a little more in depth at Mayu’s devotion to him, since the judgment before was cut short and it was kind of ambiguous as to if she would have fallen into the pit if she didn’t have that… uh, issue. The destination she ended up being sent to is pretty sad, but that elevator scene was just beautiful. It was bittersweet, since she was heading for the void with Harada, but there was that genuine moment of joy when he woke up, and while their souls fell into the darkness, they seemed to merge together at the end. Hopefully this isn’t the end for them, but if there isn’t any other closure regarding their characters, at least they seem to have each other in the void.
The difference between Ginti’s actions and what Decim would do (well, what Decim would do with Chiyuki acting as a moral compass) is clearer now though. Ginti didn’t seem to have any remorse, interest, or any consideration for Mayu’s smaller actions. He knew when put to the choice, Mayu would follow her own interests and that’s all that mattered to him. Decim probably would have at least taken some kind of interest in Mayu’s struggle or questioned it afterwards. Though this was a good example of how regular arbiters act, since we’ve only really seen Decim. Ginti might have seemed more human in the previous episodes because Mayu was probably throwing him off.
Decim made a point about understanding humans this episode though. Plus he said some things at the beginning of the episode about how humans and arbiters need to go through judgements together, since they do have meaning. So maybe he wouldn’t have done the same thing with Mayu that Ginti did. Or at least he wouldn’t do that now. It’s hard to say what he would have done before, since the situations in the judgements always seem to be unique.
Finally, there’s Chiyuki. There’s not much to say about the skating scene other than like the elevator scene, it was amazing to watch. The flashbacks told an entire story without words, and while Chiyuki’s story was kind of mundane, Death Parade depicted it to have it’s own significance and meaning behind it. They’ve shown us who Chiyuki is through the episodes, but seeing her backstory added a lot to her character in that we got the opportunity to see her live life to the fullest, and how that fell apart at the end. It’s just a shame that Chiyuki only seemed to realize how much life is worth after she ended her own. It still seems kind of a mystery as to how Chiyuki retained her memories (maybe due how she slipped into depression, but then again, that happens to many people), but something unusual like this occuring was probably bound to happen eventually. Again, the system and even the positions on the technical side of judgements don’t seem to be perfect.
What’s left now is Chiyuki’s judgement. We’ve seen before that suicide doesn’t immediately equal a trip to the void, and even if Decim judged as harshly as Ginti seems to, Chiyuki hasn’t really shown any darkness. So Decim probably has some plans if he knocked Chiyuki out like that instead of just choosing a destination and sending her off normally. He also asked for memories which probably plays in to that, since Chiyuki seems to have hers in tact. Since he has a desire to learn about humans, and Chiyuki’s actions seem to have intrigued him, maybe it has something to do with that. But I guess we’ll have to wait until the final episode to find out where this is headed.
It’s going to be hard for the next episode to top this one. I remember saying in one of the first episodes that Death Parade did a lot with the facial expressions and showing instead of telling, and they really took it to another level here. Hopefully the next episode delivers just as well as this one did. I don’t know how they’re going to provide closure on everything, since Oculus confronting Nona seems like it will complicate things, and Decim’s actions are kind of ambiguous, but let’s see what they do.
Though “Suicide Tour” doesn’t exactly sound like a cheery title for the last episode.
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 10998 comments
When I saw this I thought of stars; specifically a binary star system. From our perspective, here on Earth, the two look like a single bright star. But, zoom in and the two are millions of miles apart. I felt that shot was telling us about differing viewpoints.
POWUH: 900-999 with 915 comments
That reminds me of Twin Spica… I loved it.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I’ve not seen this one. Do you care to say why it reminds….
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
Ah, I never thought of that. The void is apparently infinite or whatever, so it’s very possible. That seems kind of depressing though… OTL
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I find it uplifting in a way. A new perspective means you have a choice about how you see things. So yes, millions of miles apart, but here at home, they stay close….
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Beautiful, tragic and nicely executed. There was little to complain with this entry because of how nuanced it was. Agreed on how amazing Chiyuki’s skating scene was. Due to how peaceful and elegant it looked along with me having the downloaded episode, I confess that I’ve replayed it at least three times. It was that good. My one gripe is how Chiyuki’s life ended. Suicide… Hmm, no matter the point of view, that’s rather off putting. Then again, you can’t truly understand someone’s plight unless you’ve been in their shoes yourself. Concentrating your whole life on one thing only to have it taken away with no chance of recovery. Surely that’s capable of breaking a person’s spirit. Decim has a lot to consider before judging her. Hopefully, for her sake, it’s before her present condition worsens.
Mayu is another case deserving of sympathy. I admired how she sacrificed herself to be cast into the void with Harada in exchange for not passing judgment on a stranger since she doesn’t know any specifics of him. Falling together with him in a dark place brings thoughts of Romeo and Juliette. And this is a statement from someone who isn’t a hopeless romantic. I’ve surprised even myself.
I’m waiting to be amazed on what way the finale will cap off the entire series. Death Parade has been nothing but brilliant thus far and there’s no reason to believe the story would disappoint now.
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
Yes, yes and yes. I had to watch her skating scene multiple times too. And Mayu’s scene. Yeah, it’s sad that Chiyuki committed suicide, but I guess that’s kind of what the show has been getting at with people being hard to fully understand.
Oh, I took the scene as that she cast the other person into the void to have Harada avoid being thrown into the void, but it was Ginti tricking her. The mask was the “good” one until the elevator doors closed. It was a really sad scene either way.
I have yet to see the episode, but Kyo should be joining me for it! I hear it was a fitting ending, so I’m sure it’s amazing.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Can someone help? Spammy is at it again.