- Now the face-off begins. The mysterious first-year detective who seems to know everything versus the captivating and intelligent third-year who only knows what she knows. Ougi got seriously annoyed at how Koyomi turned to Tsubasa immediately when promised boobs in episode 4. Now watching the three of them interact and square off…well it is rather amusing. Tsubasa has her fair share of faults (something Koyomi refuses to acknowledge); she is human like every one of us. So the fact that something like the mystery behind Sodachi’s mother’s disappearance has alluded her…and then she happens to arrive out of nowhere.
- Now we have no idea whether Ougi had figured out why Sodachi’s mother was missing…unless she deliberately eavesdropped on the happenings in episode 5 (which is somewhat plausible, now we know what kind of beast Ougi is right now). Kind of curious how taking 10 seconds to drench your hair makes Tsubasa figure the mystery out, but hey, that’s Nisio Isin for you. Or maybe that’s yet another of SHAFT’s little tricks to make us all say this is a damn good show halfway through. The real truth about her disappearance, though, is only something Nisio can do. It’s dark, surreal, and yet very plausible, and it makes Sodachi out now as a poor waif forgotten by society, and as someone we really should feel sorry for. Leaving town entirely will do Sodachi the world of good – no more shadows of her family hanging over her, no more Koyomi, no more shadows of her brief time at Naoetsu High School…being one of those transfer kids that crop up in other shows will be a good thing for her, and will make her love herself more, just as Koyomi wanted.
- And yeah, even with Sodachi’s extremely troubled childhood of domestic violence, neglect, betrayal and damnation, we can understand (now that both Sodachi Riddle and Sodachi Lost are over) how she can harbor so much hatred for the world, and also how everyone in a position like hers deserves happiness after seeing some kind of light at the end of the tunnel. Sodachi doesn’t make out to be the religious type of girl, but she can leave town knowing that the world that will await her in the future can welcome her with open arms.
Dat smile.
- With Koyomi solving the riddle all by himself, Ougi has been forced to admit defeat, and Tsubasa can be at peace that her beloved close friend isn’t the perverted idiot he occasionally makes out to be, even though after all this, Tsubasa will never ever trust Ougi. So as Ougi makes her departure from the show (as next week onwards, it will all be about Shinobu), she gives out one interesting piece of information for the future. Now for this, we have to look at Monogatari in chronological order. See, the happenings in Otorimonogatari (Nadeko Medusa) take place immediately after Owarimonogari; just as Ougi disappears off on her bicycle, I understand. Otorimonogatari is the one arc that really chills me to the bone, and Ougi is the one catalyst for what happens to Nadeko in the arc. None of us can ever trust Ougi at all; she shows up in moments we don’t expect like some unwelcome ghost, successfully sweet talks her way into peoples’ hearts and not caring less about the future consequences, as long as the consequences don’t affect her in person. So the fact that all of his childhood friends (including Nadeko) are one of his biggest weaknesses, so interfering with them is just all part of Ougi’s master plan. To do what, exactly? Have Koyomi all for herself, no matter what? To remain in the chaotic evil area in the alignment chart so she watch over the rest of the world and play around with them like little puppets? Well, we won’t know any time soon.
- If anything, Ougi will be remembered as the one person that otakus will love when they remember Halloween in the future, as opposed to moe witches holding pumpkin heads.
- This episode might seem like another Monogatari classic episode, of being very short on actual scenes, even if the substance inside said scenes is vast. We know many things now…about Sodachi, about Ougi, about Tsubasa, and about Koyomi. About how Ougi and Tsubasa will never look at each other in the eye again as they each fight for Koyomi’s attention. About how Tsubasa will be making a short absence in the show in general. And of course, how lovey-dovey Hitagi really is, underneath that kuudere atitude she gives off. It’s wonderful how their relationship has seriously blossomed now that the con man Kaiki has disappeared from their lives, and now Hitagi can act like a regular high-schooler……okay, so without the fake nails, the phone straps and the gossiping on what was on TV last night.
This is what being a boyfriend is about, you fool!
- Shinobu is my favorite girl, so I seriously cannot wait until next week!!!
- And by the way, in case you’re curious, my SHAFT bingo chart has nearly been filled in halfway through the show.
Dat smile.
