Draggle's Anime Blog

The mysteries are finally starting to unravel. Unfortunately this means there’s less to speculate about. There is one big reveal though: the Takakuras’ father isn’t dead. He seems to be heading the mysterious organization that Kanba has been getting money from. Now, what is its purpose?

Another item of speculation: are the people Masako wants to crush Himari and Shouma? She says “I can’t leave Kanba with them any longer” as they’re having a family hug at the end of the episode. Very interesting.

Scene Composition

The way the scenes were arranged in this episode was beautiful. Let’s take a look at a few of them.

First, consider the opening scene about Tabuki and his childhood with the piano. There’s some interesting texturing here, it looks like it was done with watercolors. And the picture of the faceless boy with the hat really reminds me of some painting I’ve seen before. Does anyone who knows more about art recall what painting this is?

The scene in the child broiler was beautiful as well, particularly when Momoka ripped her way into it. What a boss. Notice the lighting and the shadows.

I appreciated everything that took place at the top of the building as well, but I particularly liked the scene where Ringo is gripping the door of the elevator. Half her face is enmeshed in shadow, and the reflections on her eyes wobble gracefully.

My favorite scene from the episode was the family hug at the end though. Shouma is holding both Himari and a wounded Kanba in his arms. And then Ringo joins in from behind. Damn. Shouma sure is loved. This was just adorable.

Unwanted Children

This is the second time we’ve seen the child broiler. The first time was during Himari’s sojourn to the library: she met a mysterious boy there who gave her an apple (I’m guessing it was Mario).

In this episode, we learn that Tabuki went to the broiler because he was an unwanted child, unloved by his mother because he couldn’t play the piano. So why was Himari in the child broiler? She was certainly loved by her parents and by her brothers.

In the picture above, Momoka looks somewhat sinister. I wonder if she has a dark secret as well.

Disciples of Christ

Tabuki makes an interesting statement about Momoka:

Tabuki believes that Momoka should not have died: she was supposed to be the savior of the world. This is much like the disciples prior to the resurrection: they thought it was ridiculous that Jesus would die, because he would lead them to rebel against the Romans.

Tabuki later claims, “I’m a victim whose most precious person was killed in your parents’ attacks.” I doubt Momoka would think very highly of this. Tabuki is like those who use the crucifixion as justification for anti-semitism. In a way, he has betrayed her, and plays the Judas to her Christ.

I’d also like to point out that Tabuki is quite similar to Head from Star Driver: he is frozen in time, at the point of Momoka’s death.

The Sins of the Children

As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him.”

— John 9 1:3

I’m not really sure what I’m trying to get at with this, it just came to mind when I was thinking of the idea that the children should be punished for the sins of the parents. This was a hot topic two thousand years ago. I guess the more things change, the more they stay the same.