Top Ten Monumental Moments in Inuyasha
Counting down the Top Ten Monumental Moments in Inuyasha history. The moments that had the biggest impacts to the series as a whole and to us as readers.
10) Sessmom appears.
Ch 466-471: Parting Thoughts-Merciful Heart, July 19, 2006-August 30, 2006.
After almost 10 years, this long-debated, controversial character finally made an appearance--and set the Inuyasha fandom on fire.
But her snarky attitude and sense of style made us glad Sesshomaru's mother was indeed alive--and kicking. Plus, she saved Rin, so like Jaken, we are eternally grateful.
9) Kagome's school friends finally meet Inuyasha.
Ch 332: A Small Happiness, October 8, 2003.
For a long time Kagome worried about what her friends would think if they ever met Inuyasha, her "jealous, two-timing" boyfriend. Besides that, how could she keep his being hanyou a secret?
This chapter finally put the issue to rest, and Kagome learned Inuyasha wasn't such an embarrassing boyfriend to have after all. Plus, we finally got rid of Kagome's bike once and for all.
8) Kikyo "dies" at Mt. Hakurei.
Ch 281: New Body, September 18, 2002.
The long-awaited conclusion to the riveting Band of Seven arc. The Band of Seven have been defeated, but Naraku "wins" his true objective: using Mt. Hakurei to dispose of his human heart and kill Kikyo. Kikyo falls down the cliff, presumably dead, and Inuyasha must deal with the fact that once again, he couldn't save her from Naraku.
This moment set up a whole deal of angst for Inuyasha to deal with, and ended up taking Inuyasha and Kagome's relationship to its closest breaking point yet when Kikyo eventually returned.
7) Tokijin breaks.
Ch 407: Sesshomaru's Crisis, April 27, 2005.
The unthinkable happened when Mouryoumaru stole Inuyasha's Kongou Souha: Sesshomaru almost died. It was a definitive moment that showed that both Inuyasha and Sesshomaru had changed over the course of the series. Sesshomaru showed fury on another's behalf for the first time, the secret key to unlocking Tenseiga's power as a weapon. And Inuyasha expressed guilt over his stolen power being used to hurt Sesshomaru.
When Tokijin broke, it marked the definitive end of old rivalries, and a new emotional beginning.
6) Miroku proposes to Sango.
Ch 292: A Special Girl, December 11, 2002.
After the countless ass-grabs, face-slaps, and head-bops of their courtship, Miroku and Sango finally make a commitment, giving them (and us) one more reason to hope they take down Naraku. But if you thought that was the end of the jealousy plot device, don't worry; with a monk as lecherous as Miroku, we were guaranteed plenty of entertaining quarrels (and "mistakes") along the way.
It was a memorable moment for Miroku, too, no doubt, when a woman finally answered yes to that infamous question of his: "Will you bear my child?"
5) Inuyasha kisses Kikyo goodbye.
Ch 465: Light, July 12, 2006.
After 50 years, Inuyasha and Kikyo finally get their proper goodbye as she dies in his arms. In striking opposition to Ch 76: Smell of Death, June 10, 1998, where Kikyo kisses Inuyasha and then tries to drag him to hell with her, here Inuyasha kisses Kikyo, and she dissolves into light peacefully. She has become an ordinary woman.
She may have died with a smile on her face, but I'm willing to bet most of us had tears in our eyes.
4) Kagura finds freedom.
Ch 374: Wind, August 25, 2004.
Kagura finally achieves her series-long ambition: to regain her heart from Naraku and be free. As she lies wounded in a field, unable to fly away, we are treated to one of the series' most unexpected moments: Sesshomaru shows up to save her.
Tenseiga fails for the first time, and the last image we have of Kagura is one of the most beautiful and emotional in the series: A feather floating freely on the wind.
3) Sesshomaru wields Tenseiga for the first time.
Ch 131: The Girl's Life, July 28, 1999.
Sesshomaru's a bad guy. Or so we thought until this groundbreaking chapter. Who knew that the elitist guy who tried to kill our hero and heroine on more than one occasion had a heart?
Apparently Tenseiga did. Sesshomaru saves Rin, and Jaken's been sighing ever since.
2) Inuyasha wields Tessaiga for the first time.
Ch 18: The Memento, March 26, 1997.
Tessaiga is useless--until Inuyasha professes to protect Kagome, that is. Not only does this mark a pivotal moment in their relationship, and the springing board for the rest of the series to come, but Inuyasha creates a moment that will live forever in series history: He cuts off Sesshomaru's arm.
Although Tessaiga has been accused of stealing the show at times, who else could lead our hero on his emotional journey? And as much as we love demon!Inu, it's nice that Tessaiga's around to keep our boy in hanyou check. Plus, swords are cool. ;)
And the #1 Monumental Moment in Inuyasha is:
1) The ear tweak heard 'round the world (Kagome meets Inuyasha).
Ch 1: The Sealed Away Boy, November 13, 1996.
Okay, okay, okay. Character deaths, professions of love, and that oh-so-rare canon kiss are sure signs you're going to make this list. But what about the little moments that define a series in just as big a way?
You knew this series was going to be something special when Kagome, an average schoolgirl, goes face-to-face with a mythical creature for the first time--and tweaks his doggie ears. (Wouldn't you?)
She fell down the well, and in that jump, Inuyasha the series fell straight into our hearts.
And it all started with one small (monumental) ear tweak.
Thank you.
---
In a list like this, many, many wonderful series-defining moments had to be left out in order to cut it down to 10.
Honorable mentions of mine are:
-Inuyasha shows his tears for the first time.
-Rin dies (again).
-Kikyo kisses Inuyasha.
-Onigumo tricks Inuyasha and Kikyo in the past.
-First "sit".
-Miroku sucks in too much miasma, and almost dies.
-Koga and Kagome hug farewell.
-Sesshomaru sees Inuyasha's human form.
-Kikyo is resurrected by Urasue.
-Kagome saves Kikyo in the water.
-First time Inuyasha changes to human.
-Tessaiga breaks.
-Tokijin forged.
-Inuyasha learns the Wind Scar/Kongou Souha/Red Barrier-Breaking/etc.
-Tenseiga reforged as a weapon/Sesshomaru learns the Meidouzangetsuha.
So, what do you think? Agree? Disagree? Which monumental moments of yours didn't make the cut?
I'd like to see top ten lists of your own. ^^
10) Sessmom appears.
Ch 466-471: Parting Thoughts-Merciful Heart, July 19, 2006-August 30, 2006.
After almost 10 years, this long-debated, controversial character finally made an appearance--and set the Inuyasha fandom on fire.
But her snarky attitude and sense of style made us glad Sesshomaru's mother was indeed alive--and kicking. Plus, she saved Rin, so like Jaken, we are eternally grateful.
9) Kagome's school friends finally meet Inuyasha.
Ch 332: A Small Happiness, October 8, 2003.
For a long time Kagome worried about what her friends would think if they ever met Inuyasha, her "jealous, two-timing" boyfriend. Besides that, how could she keep his being hanyou a secret?
This chapter finally put the issue to rest, and Kagome learned Inuyasha wasn't such an embarrassing boyfriend to have after all. Plus, we finally got rid of Kagome's bike once and for all.
8) Kikyo "dies" at Mt. Hakurei.
Ch 281: New Body, September 18, 2002.
The long-awaited conclusion to the riveting Band of Seven arc. The Band of Seven have been defeated, but Naraku "wins" his true objective: using Mt. Hakurei to dispose of his human heart and kill Kikyo. Kikyo falls down the cliff, presumably dead, and Inuyasha must deal with the fact that once again, he couldn't save her from Naraku.
This moment set up a whole deal of angst for Inuyasha to deal with, and ended up taking Inuyasha and Kagome's relationship to its closest breaking point yet when Kikyo eventually returned.
7) Tokijin breaks.
Ch 407: Sesshomaru's Crisis, April 27, 2005.
The unthinkable happened when Mouryoumaru stole Inuyasha's Kongou Souha: Sesshomaru almost died. It was a definitive moment that showed that both Inuyasha and Sesshomaru had changed over the course of the series. Sesshomaru showed fury on another's behalf for the first time, the secret key to unlocking Tenseiga's power as a weapon. And Inuyasha expressed guilt over his stolen power being used to hurt Sesshomaru.
When Tokijin broke, it marked the definitive end of old rivalries, and a new emotional beginning.
6) Miroku proposes to Sango.
Ch 292: A Special Girl, December 11, 2002.
After the countless ass-grabs, face-slaps, and head-bops of their courtship, Miroku and Sango finally make a commitment, giving them (and us) one more reason to hope they take down Naraku. But if you thought that was the end of the jealousy plot device, don't worry; with a monk as lecherous as Miroku, we were guaranteed plenty of entertaining quarrels (and "mistakes") along the way.
It was a memorable moment for Miroku, too, no doubt, when a woman finally answered yes to that infamous question of his: "Will you bear my child?"
5) Inuyasha kisses Kikyo goodbye.
Ch 465: Light, July 12, 2006.
After 50 years, Inuyasha and Kikyo finally get their proper goodbye as she dies in his arms. In striking opposition to Ch 76: Smell of Death, June 10, 1998, where Kikyo kisses Inuyasha and then tries to drag him to hell with her, here Inuyasha kisses Kikyo, and she dissolves into light peacefully. She has become an ordinary woman.
She may have died with a smile on her face, but I'm willing to bet most of us had tears in our eyes.
4) Kagura finds freedom.
Ch 374: Wind, August 25, 2004.
Kagura finally achieves her series-long ambition: to regain her heart from Naraku and be free. As she lies wounded in a field, unable to fly away, we are treated to one of the series' most unexpected moments: Sesshomaru shows up to save her.
Tenseiga fails for the first time, and the last image we have of Kagura is one of the most beautiful and emotional in the series: A feather floating freely on the wind.
3) Sesshomaru wields Tenseiga for the first time.
Ch 131: The Girl's Life, July 28, 1999.
Sesshomaru's a bad guy. Or so we thought until this groundbreaking chapter. Who knew that the elitist guy who tried to kill our hero and heroine on more than one occasion had a heart?
Apparently Tenseiga did. Sesshomaru saves Rin, and Jaken's been sighing ever since.
2) Inuyasha wields Tessaiga for the first time.
Ch 18: The Memento, March 26, 1997.
Tessaiga is useless--until Inuyasha professes to protect Kagome, that is. Not only does this mark a pivotal moment in their relationship, and the springing board for the rest of the series to come, but Inuyasha creates a moment that will live forever in series history: He cuts off Sesshomaru's arm.
Although Tessaiga has been accused of stealing the show at times, who else could lead our hero on his emotional journey? And as much as we love demon!Inu, it's nice that Tessaiga's around to keep our boy in hanyou check. Plus, swords are cool. ;)
And the #1 Monumental Moment in Inuyasha is:
1) The ear tweak heard 'round the world (Kagome meets Inuyasha).
Ch 1: The Sealed Away Boy, November 13, 1996.
Okay, okay, okay. Character deaths, professions of love, and that oh-so-rare canon kiss are sure signs you're going to make this list. But what about the little moments that define a series in just as big a way?
You knew this series was going to be something special when Kagome, an average schoolgirl, goes face-to-face with a mythical creature for the first time--and tweaks his doggie ears. (Wouldn't you?)
She fell down the well, and in that jump, Inuyasha the series fell straight into our hearts.
And it all started with one small (monumental) ear tweak.
Thank you.
---
In a list like this, many, many wonderful series-defining moments had to be left out in order to cut it down to 10.
Honorable mentions of mine are:
-Inuyasha shows his tears for the first time.
-Rin dies (again).
-Kikyo kisses Inuyasha.
-Onigumo tricks Inuyasha and Kikyo in the past.
-First "sit".
-Miroku sucks in too much miasma, and almost dies.
-Koga and Kagome hug farewell.
-Sesshomaru sees Inuyasha's human form.
-Kikyo is resurrected by Urasue.
-Kagome saves Kikyo in the water.
-First time Inuyasha changes to human.
-Tessaiga breaks.
-Tokijin forged.
-Inuyasha learns the Wind Scar/Kongou Souha/Red Barrier-Breaking/etc.
-Tenseiga reforged as a weapon/Sesshomaru learns the Meidouzangetsuha.
So, what do you think? Agree? Disagree? Which monumental moments of yours didn't make the cut?
I'd like to see top ten lists of your own. ^^