Empress : Kaiserin: Tactics 21

Donnerstag, Januar 05, 2006

Tactics 21

I’m glad things are really getting more serious now. Only four more episodes to go… Yes, I’m counting down the days… Sigh… Tactics will only end next year… Arrrgh… So slow! Lol – I’m anticipating the anime ending too much!

Because of what happened previously, Kantarou has not been his normal self. From the start of tonight’s episode to the end of it, there’s not one comical expression from him at all. Okay, maybe some exception – Hasumi leaving Rosalie under Kantarou’s care and the latter was giving him a cunning look. Haha, that’s one new expression of Kan-chan. However, after that, he became really serious and quiet in the house while the girls (Youko, Suzu and Rosalie) played on. He was busy writing stuff down and researching books, talking very little and no schemings of his at all. At first I find it suspicious and thought “whoa, Kan-chan is actually doing some work. That is too rare.” And then it made sense – Kantarou is unable to keep his mind off the previous incident, and is researching deep into the matter. There’s hardly any Haruka x Kantarou moment – Kantarou knows that Haruka is still feeling emotionally terrible after the close shave of regaining his past memories and also for Yuri’s case, and knows that he needs some time alone. There’s the air of melancholy throughout that scene, Kantarou keeping himself busy in his study while Haruka silently sits on the roof. Physically near to each other, their heart and mind are very far apart indeed.

The presence of Kantarou at home is also a convenience – since Rosalie has a body which is easily possessed by demons, the girl is always shape-shifting into some other strange youkais, and just a call away, Kantarou will be right out of his study, and – “Rin!” The youkai is exorcised. Mu managed to stay on screen for more than ten minutes, and you know who’s going to appear next. Yes, Sugino came charging towards the Ichinomiya lodge… Alas, everyone except Kantarou had left for Asakura (some area nearby). So who will face Sugino’s wrath? Kan-chan of course! And unlike the usual times, Kantarou continues on with his writings and research while answering Sugino with a no-nonsense tone that Mu wasn’t around. The only comical thing I can pick out is Sugino’s reaction: he expressed relief when Mu wasn’t sticking around with Kantarou. Tsk tsk… So Sugino only meant to keep his wife away from Kantarou, lol. Hey… can’t he see that Mu is also pretty sticky towards Rosalie now? Hohoho. And at that moment Kantarou found a vital clue regarding the “Sorcerer’s Stone”, and got the white-winged to fly him over to the Asakura area. Now that’s something rare too. That Sugino was actually convinced by Kantarou on carrying him across the skies when we know by heart that Sugino is a proud creature. Seems that the serious tone in Kantarou’s voice allowed this to happen. Good for Kan-chan ^^

What happened at the end was really angsty… And it’s still not clear what transformation did Haruka really go though. The climax was full of tension and anticipation…that I can never express well. Another new track from the fantastic OST – during the moment between Haruka and Suzu. In previous episodes there was a prominent track with a sad melody – and it appears again tonight, only in a completely thematically transformed melody. There’s more of a jazzy touch as well as a carefree feel to it. It’s no longer sad, but more or less suggests a sentimental approach. The shamisen music (Ibaragi’s), unlike the previous episode, is now accompanied with the sound of a sho. That reminds me so much of Gagaku! I miss the sounds of the Gagaku [ancient Japanese court music]…

Crossover section:
1. Haruka on rooftop - Susumu from Peacemaker
2. the name of the place Asakura - Shaman King
3. the Sorcerer’s Stone - the Philosopher’s Stone from Fullmetal Alchemist
4. the possessed Rosalie (last scene) - Joshua from Chrno Crusade