Mayoiga – 03
The true hero of the show arrives.
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Wow, I don’t think I’ve been that satisfied about a murder attempt for a long time. Surprisingly, Mayoiga is making the names easier to remember. …Even if it’s through focusing on how dysfunctional the characters all are one at a time. |
The arguments seemed to increase this episode, since tensions are now running high and people have started to doubt in the whole finding utopia thing. It’s hard to believe that this was the same group that was all laughing and singing together on the bus. …They can’t even play rock paper scissors without arguing. Even if they hadn’t disagreed with each other in the past few episodes about pretty much everything, this probably speaks volumes. Though (some of) their reasons for arguing were somewhat justified this episode. Masaki’s information was pretty important to figuring out what really happened. The thing with Jack probably didn’t help either. Though I’m pretty sure Jack was doing what a lot of people who were watching wanted to do to Hyouketsu. Even if he was just looking to scare Hyouketsu off as opposed to killing him, it’s kind of nice seeing someone take action instead of sitting there and arguing. In this whole event, Maimai seems to be redeeming her character a little bit too.
Best girl?
But hey, we now got to experience the true extent of Lovepon’s craziness. I’m sure she has a great backstory that explains why she wants to execute everyone for everything, but for now I guess we can just sit back and appreciate how much she adds to the intense atmosphere of everyone not trusting each other fully. Plus her words of trying to stop tragedy in the beginning could probably be taken as some kind of foreshadowing of what’s going to happen the rest of the season.
Mitsumune seems to be becoming more like a main character though, with all of his defending of Masaki and Jack. Masaki didn’t seem to appreciate his concern though, which makes her character slightly more interesting. What is her deal? And what kind of reasons would she have to change her story (if she really did make up some things about Yottsun’s disappearance)? Though Mitsumune might have gained an ally with Jack after standing up for him when no one else would. It seems like Jack really had a good reason for trying to kill his classmate (well, a better reason than he just likes hurting people), so at least someone recognizes it. On the other hand though, it also revealed possibly a darker side to Hayato. Normally the characters that go “just listen to what I tell you and you won’t have problems” aren’t the best people to have around. Especially when they look kind of angry like Hayato did. But maybe the anime can prove this wrong and show how Hayato really was just looking out for Mitsumune’s best interests. Though seeing how everyone on this trip is pretty dysfunctional, probably not.
Koharun seems a bit less likely to be in on whatever is going on, since she was the one who pointed out that the vegetable patch was extremely well maintained. She didn’t tell anyone else about this, but if she were in on whatever is going on, she would probably want to ignore the suspicious stuff and pretend that it doesn’t exist. Or maybe that was just to throw the viewer off. She seems to be constantly watching everyone, so who knows what’s going on in her head. However, if she’s planning something, her motives in approaching Valkana and asking about his past don’t quite make sense yet. Maybe she was just truly concerned though, whether or not she has a role in what’s going on. Speaking of Valkana, he’s gone from the guy who seems angry for no reason to one of the people who are actually making sense. His past seems pretty melodramatic, like the bus driver’s, so it’s hard to pity him. At least he’s slightly more likeable though because he’s not afraid to yell at everyone to get their priorities straight when someone disappears or they’re arguing about things again.
So the guy with the tannest skin is gone. Next is probably whoever gets laid first.
Seeing how the next episode is titled “Yottsun’s Drowning”, it’s probably pretty safe to assume that Yottsun died by drowning. And now they’re probably going to argue about if Masaki or Lovepon killed him. Masaki will probably be blamed because her story wasn’t believed by anyone, and Lovepon will probably be suspect because she literally just tried to drown Mitsumune. Now, maybe it was one of the group, or maybe it was whoever that creepy eye belonged to. Or maybe Yottsun had a freak accident and drowned himself, but in any case, I’m sure we can expect even more disagreements coming up. It’s interesting how they’re still leaving it ambiguous if this mystery is human caused, or supernatural caused.
So, the state of the town is even more mysterious with the well tended vegetables, and the mysterious claw marks and eye. Plus when people have had strange things happen to them, such as the bus driver and Yottsun, it really seems like they see something they recognize. I wouldn’t be surprised if Masaki’s account of Yottsun’s disappearance was at least partially true, since it’s kind of similar to what the bus driver encountered.
I can’t help but wonder from all of the arguing that this isn’t some elaborate game where the mastermind(s) gathered a bunch of semi-annoying people, decided to trap them in a forest and keep them there by pretending that there’s of a large vicious animal nearby, and took bets on who would kill who first. Quality entertainment. But in more seriousness, wow the bus driver seems suspicious. It’s like they removed all of the character traits he displayed in the first episode. Especially when it came to getting mad at the people on the trip because of their delusions. Where did all of that frustration go? Now he’s just really bland, and something seems weird about his dialogue about seeing things through as the adult. I wonder what they’ll really find if the characters ever decide to go back to the bus.
I have to admit in all of the unintentionally funnier moments of the anime (such as Lovepon), the eye was actually pretty creepy. Hopefully they can bring even more of that creepiness in even with the amount of drama going on. I can’t help but think that whatever the animal is, it’s more to keep them from running away from the village than an actual threat, just from how untouched the village seems. From my experience with bears and Canada, they don’t care if they’re in the woods or not, they’re going to go wherever they want if there’s food. The village wouldn’t be any safer than the woods. …Though there’s always the possibility that the people in charge of Mayoiga just don’t know how bears work. Or maybe bears in Japan are different. I wouldn’t know.
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 10997 comments
“How To Determine What Crazy Sh*t Happens Next: Mayoiga Version” Roll a six-sided die
1)one of them goes apesh*t
consult character trait chart2)same but different type of ape
3)the busdriver says something that probably doesn’t add a thing to the scene
4)someone starts to make sense
5)snack time and/or crazy jail in the basement with silent high school kid
I’m finally on board with the show this time around. If I had to base my opinion on the first two, then I would toss it.
But most of the build up started to make sense, my snarky chart aside. The little details, rather than the broad weirdness that been more annoying than off-putting, are going to be the show’s bread and butter.
Pointing out that the crops are to well maintained. Discovering that there is a working JAIL in a basement. Seeing the loop closed with a person disappearing and a body floating downstream. And like you point out, Best Girl actually bursting her seals.
I’m only hoping they don’t add on too much too soon and forget about some off these details as time goes on, ala Lost…
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
If that’s really the way they’re deciding things, let’s hope that this doesn’t go Chaos Dragon halfway through…
But if all of these little things are working their way to make a big thing, then I’m definitely looking forward to that.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10997 comments
It kinda has that “It’s like Lost. It’ll be about something…eventually…maybe next season?”. I’m hanging on. I want to see who get’s choked next if nothing else…
POWUH: Novice (36-50) with 38 comments
Precisely the feeling I had. It felt much like a “Lost” episode.It’s the roaring monster in the woods all over again. At least the characters are more charming/detestable than Lideloff’s boring stereotypes.
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
It seems that now they are trying to give some character development to at least some of the characters, and I have to say that it’s working.
I have an empathy for bullied characters having experienced it and lashed out myself in elementary school. And I think I would have smacked Mr. Judgeness myself, if I was Jack. I’m from the “don’t let anyone put their hands on you, south-side of Chicago” school of dealing with bullies, and after 7th grade, I decided to myself that I would never let another bully get to me again. So, in a way I can connect to Jack’s character.
And I watched as Jack’s entire demeanor changed when Mitsumune stood up for him. I’m interested in seeing more from him, and I am adding him to my very small list of characters that I want to live.
Valkana is another one that I’m interested in seeing more from. Finding out about his backgound and what happened to him, I’m interested in seeing where he goes.
Speedstar telling the MC to just listen to him, makes me wonder if Speedy is all in Mitsu’s head again. It just seemed like such a weird thing to say.
So we’re down 1, 20 something to go.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10997 comments
Rapper-dude must be made of tissue paper…or something really horrible behind “eyeball of vague menace” is afoot.
POWUH: 500-599 with 540 comments
Actually IreneSharda this youtuber who is doing episodic reviews of this series also made the exact same theory that Hayato/speedstar is Mitsumine’s delusion. I think its a pretty convincing theory considering all the crazy stuff happening this ep and Hayato (known for being competent and amazing) wasn’t involved in any of it at all… almost like he didn’t exist… Also my list of characters I don’t really want to die is a fair bit larger. Pretty much anyone with any amount of reasonable development or screen time so far. I’m too lenient 😛
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
I would think he was a dilusion by now, if it weren’t for the fact that several other characters have acknowledged Speedy’s presence. Lion, Meimei, and the tour guide have all actually talked too or about Speedstar, so all of them have seen him.
Hayato is indeed a strange case.
The problem with the characters is that most of them have zero development. The only ones that are getting any are Jack, Valkana, Mitsumune, folk lore girl, MeiMei, and maybe even Lovepon a bit. Everyone else is the exact same as when they started.
The driver, I am convinced has been killed and replaced with a replica of some kind.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10997 comments
…where do you keep spare busdrivers? Where!!!!????
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
In the box marked ‘Spare busdrivers’.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Excluding those who have development so far, I’d take that as a universal sign the rest are on the dying list. All that’s left is wondering in which order and how many manners it’s going to go.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
(In Voldemort’s voice): “Kill the spare!”
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
I wouldn’t mind Jack surviving. Or Valkana, since he’s one of the few people making sense right now. I also want Koharun to last a while, but mostly because I like her character design. I actually kind of want the over-the-top, annoying couple to live a while, just because I’m sympathetic to lovey-dovey couples like that.
…Though I can’t deny that they’re pretty dumb. If they wanted to be together, they could have just moved to a different city. There really was no need to ditch society altogether.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
1 casualty down, 29 more victims to go, to be exact.
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
Yeah, if they try to develop characters bit by bit every episode, I’m sure they’ll be easier to remember… Hell, even Yottsun was more memorable than a lot of the cast, simply because he was someone who disappeared.
Yeah, Jack seems like he’s been through some things. Show ▼
POWUH: Lovely-pyon~ with 261 comments
So we finally got a casualty here, huh…!
Not surprising just yet, still I’am waiting for some more!
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
They’re going to have to pick up the pace if they’re going to end this in 12 episodes…
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Whoa, nice! The descent into paranoia and distrust is accelerating faster than expected. As a plus, the body count has finally started.
The difference between fantasy and reality, my dear. Not to mention it was all talk between them until it was time to “start a new life” and see what it actually meant and cost.
Despite the arguing getting annoying, some of the characters are worthy of sympathy. Mitsumune is the naïve goody two-shoes but I support him up in his defense of Masaki and Jack/Sasaki. Yes, some of Masaki’s info doesn’t connect but it’s no reason to immediately suspect her of committing foul play. Where Jack is concerned, I can’t really blame him as he comes off as a pacifist who only reacts when forced. Therefore, it’s easy to see him as a victim of bullying and if that’s the case, which is sure to be, a person can only take so much before they snap. So whether he was going to get killed or not, Hyouketsu had it coming.
Then there’s Valkana, whose insight has made him a bit easier to tolerate. I can understand where he’s coming from. I, myself, don’t like getting involved in anything where I know the axe is likeliest to fall on me if things go awry.
I can’t begin to imagine Lovepon’s deal so until a valid backstory on her behalf comes along, I’m going to label her as “batshit crazy”. As if her personality until now wasn’t enough of a warning, that attempted drowning really makes me question her sanity. If she has any, that is.
The setting truly is a mismatch. Buildings with interiors that seemingly haven’t been touched in over a year (mentioned in the previous episode) but preserved crops that appear to have been maintained up until the day before. Whoever is making the story really wants to throw us off.
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
Yeah, even I wanted to shut Hyouketsu up during that whole thing, so Jack coming in like that really made me like his character a lot more. I can agree with you on Valkana. Though I really didn’t like him in the first few episodes because of that same aggressiveness.
As for Lovepon… I would hate to meet her in person, but I can definitely appreciate her here for how crazy she is and how she adds to the entertainment factor. Man, good luck to the other characters with dealing with her.
I’m really excited for the reveal of the mystery. …Though they can take as long as they want as long as it’s good.