Current Favourite Things
I don't think the pacing of Shiki could be any more perfect for me. I've often felt that anime series have a tendency to move too slowly in the middle and then wait too long for the climax. Too often, the final episode feels like a rushed attempt to cram in some action and fill in the blanks. But that's just not true here. I love series with a fast pace that can still hold everything together, and that's just what Shiki is doing. Three episodes left, and I'm feeling optimistic that the ending is going to be as solid as the series has been for me. I do have some ideas about what might happen, but predictable is one thing this series is NOT. The most recent episode was yet another good one. I am so tense about this series. AND BEST OF ALL, IT YIELDED WHAT MIGHT BE MY FAVOURITE TATSUMI OUTFIT YET. I even had to take a screencap of it (the screencap itself is not a major spoiler and I'll warn for spoilers before discussing the episode further). BEHOLD. WTF DO YOU CALL A GARMENT LIKE THIS?
WTF, TATSUMI.
I really don't know how I feel about Tatsumi as a character.
CONSIDER THIS A SPOILER WARNING.
ANYTHING BELOW HERE IS LIKELY TO CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR THIS EPISODE/THE ENTIRE SERIES.
I mean, I do feel like I kind of like him just because he is so gloriously WEIRD in terms of clothing choice and the public persona of his that is so different to how he truly behaves but at the same time I don't WANT to like him because there's nothing about him that is anything other than irredeemable. He's a terrible person. He does horrible things, horrific things (and damn it I still can't stop thinking about what he did to Akira, the situation he left him in...even though I am fairly confident that Akira's not dead I'm not sure I can forgive that and thinking of it sickens me and even worse is the fact that a certain kink meme prompt is undeniably tempting). So do many of the other characters, but the difference with them is that there's a moral ambiguity to them, and understanding of them that leads to empathy despite their making bad choices or harming others. Tatsumi? I haven't seen much to indicate that he gets anything other than enjoyment out of the torment that other characters face.
Perhaps, in this most recent episode, there's a hint of what might be affection or protectiveness when it comes to those he serves (especially Sunako). I just can't figure him out, and I want to get inside his head. I can't tell whether he felt regret or sorrow or sadness about what happened to Chizuru. But he must at least feel loyalty to the Kirishiki family, or surely he would have deserted them, or disobeyed their orders? HNNNG as soon as the anime finishes, I'm heading straight for the manga.
I've heard that the anime has condensed chapters quite a lot in some places, so hopefully there'll be more insights into various characters in the manga. I'd like some Tatsumi backstory.
OTHER THOUGHTS?
SEISHIN, WHAT ARE YOU DOING.
IF YOU ARE KILLED BY TOSHIO I WILL WEEP FOR DAYS. IF YOU DIE AT ALL I WILL PROBABLY CRY (okay so I am obviously destined for tears in these final episodes because THERE IS GOING TO BE BLOODSHED). I just... Is he really hoping that someone is going to kill him, take the decision/act out of his own hands? Is it going to be Toshio?
I think it looks like Ritsuko might be the first shiki who doesn't give in to their hunger...and that is an interesting thought, because until now it's basically been accepted by those who have risen (perhaps because it's the easiest option) that the sensation of hunger is far too intense to deny. If she manages to disprove that, if she somehow holds out and doesn't give in and drink blood or kill to stay alive, then there's another choice instead of killing to stay alive. There's another option besides giving in, and as some of the shiki have been both conflicted and tormented by what they've done (TOHRU) then surely the knowledge that it's possible, difficult but possible, to resist that instinct is going to cause further angst (but having said that, the shit is truly hitting the fan right now so perhaps that is never going to become common knowledge before the end of the series).
HOW IS TOHRU SO GOOD AT ANGST.
I feel for him so much. He can't bear the thought of Ritsuko choosing not to live, dying for a second time after rising. He can't bear the thought of the things that HE has done. I feel for him and I FEAR for him, because I don't think he'll make it out of this alive (and I'm not sure that any of the shiki will...depends what kind of end we get). At the most (and this is the guess I feel is most likely), I can picture him welcoming his death. I just don't see him wanting to continue on with such an existence if Ritsuko does die. And I wonder whether it will be Natsuno who comes for him? If Tohru has to die, I would like it to be Natsuno. I don't think it would be fitting for it to be anyone else.
I don't know what will happen to Toshio.
I have such a fierce love for him, too. I can't stand the thought that after everything...
I don't know what's going to happen to Kaori, either. I don't want her to die.
IS ANYONE GOING TO GET A HAPPY ENDING IN THIS SERIES?
I AM SURE I AM GOING TO BE SOBBING OVER THIS SOON.
I WILL NEVER EVER GET TIRED OF TOHRU CRYING.
I can't help it. I have such a thing for characters who cry easily. I LOVE IT SO MUCH.
I'm sure this post had more of a point to it (didn't mean to spend so long talking about Shiki). HOW ABOUT ANOTHER ADORABLE RUGBY PICTURE BY WHICH I MEAN YUI AND AKIRA AND THEIR TOTALLY PLATONIC FRIENDSHIP. AND SOME MAO BECAUSE I SHIP HIM WITH YUI TOO. THIS SERIES NEEDS A BIGGER FANDOM.
...
IS THAT A LITTLE HEART I SEE?
HOW AM I SUPPOSE TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN SHIP IT?
WTF, TATSUMI.
I really don't know how I feel about Tatsumi as a character.
CONSIDER THIS A SPOILER WARNING.
ANYTHING BELOW HERE IS LIKELY TO CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR THIS EPISODE/THE ENTIRE SERIES.
I mean, I do feel like I kind of like him just because he is so gloriously WEIRD in terms of clothing choice and the public persona of his that is so different to how he truly behaves but at the same time I don't WANT to like him because there's nothing about him that is anything other than irredeemable. He's a terrible person. He does horrible things, horrific things (and damn it I still can't stop thinking about what he did to Akira, the situation he left him in...even though I am fairly confident that Akira's not dead I'm not sure I can forgive that and thinking of it sickens me and even worse is the fact that a certain kink meme prompt is undeniably tempting). So do many of the other characters, but the difference with them is that there's a moral ambiguity to them, and understanding of them that leads to empathy despite their making bad choices or harming others. Tatsumi? I haven't seen much to indicate that he gets anything other than enjoyment out of the torment that other characters face.
Perhaps, in this most recent episode, there's a hint of what might be affection or protectiveness when it comes to those he serves (especially Sunako). I just can't figure him out, and I want to get inside his head. I can't tell whether he felt regret or sorrow or sadness about what happened to Chizuru. But he must at least feel loyalty to the Kirishiki family, or surely he would have deserted them, or disobeyed their orders? HNNNG as soon as the anime finishes, I'm heading straight for the manga.
I've heard that the anime has condensed chapters quite a lot in some places, so hopefully there'll be more insights into various characters in the manga. I'd like some Tatsumi backstory.
OTHER THOUGHTS?
SEISHIN, WHAT ARE YOU DOING.
IF YOU ARE KILLED BY TOSHIO I WILL WEEP FOR DAYS. IF YOU DIE AT ALL I WILL PROBABLY CRY (okay so I am obviously destined for tears in these final episodes because THERE IS GOING TO BE BLOODSHED). I just... Is he really hoping that someone is going to kill him, take the decision/act out of his own hands? Is it going to be Toshio?
I think it looks like Ritsuko might be the first shiki who doesn't give in to their hunger...and that is an interesting thought, because until now it's basically been accepted by those who have risen (perhaps because it's the easiest option) that the sensation of hunger is far too intense to deny. If she manages to disprove that, if she somehow holds out and doesn't give in and drink blood or kill to stay alive, then there's another choice instead of killing to stay alive. There's another option besides giving in, and as some of the shiki have been both conflicted and tormented by what they've done (TOHRU) then surely the knowledge that it's possible, difficult but possible, to resist that instinct is going to cause further angst (but having said that, the shit is truly hitting the fan right now so perhaps that is never going to become common knowledge before the end of the series).
HOW IS TOHRU SO GOOD AT ANGST.
I feel for him so much. He can't bear the thought of Ritsuko choosing not to live, dying for a second time after rising. He can't bear the thought of the things that HE has done. I feel for him and I FEAR for him, because I don't think he'll make it out of this alive (and I'm not sure that any of the shiki will...depends what kind of end we get). At the most (and this is the guess I feel is most likely), I can picture him welcoming his death. I just don't see him wanting to continue on with such an existence if Ritsuko does die. And I wonder whether it will be Natsuno who comes for him? If Tohru has to die, I would like it to be Natsuno. I don't think it would be fitting for it to be anyone else.
I don't know what will happen to Toshio.
I have such a fierce love for him, too. I can't stand the thought that after everything...
I don't know what's going to happen to Kaori, either. I don't want her to die.
IS ANYONE GOING TO GET A HAPPY ENDING IN THIS SERIES?
I AM SURE I AM GOING TO BE SOBBING OVER THIS SOON.
I WILL NEVER EVER GET TIRED OF TOHRU CRYING.
I can't help it. I have such a thing for characters who cry easily. I LOVE IT SO MUCH.
I'm sure this post had more of a point to it (didn't mean to spend so long talking about Shiki). HOW ABOUT ANOTHER ADORABLE RUGBY PICTURE BY WHICH I MEAN YUI AND AKIRA AND THEIR TOTALLY PLATONIC FRIENDSHIP. AND SOME MAO BECAUSE I SHIP HIM WITH YUI TOO. THIS SERIES NEEDS A BIGGER FANDOM.
...
IS THAT A LITTLE HEART I SEE?
HOW AM I SUPPOSE TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN SHIP IT?