MAO

As the former members of the Goko Clan come together, the mystery of the Goshikido incident and Byoki deepends. It's good of Nanoka to make sure the school is informed she'll be absent ahead of time! She's getting smarter about this. Welcome to the sight of 3 dudes and former clan members all living together! Complete with Mao keeping some emotional distance from his former compatriots in the Goko clan, Kamon having Beniko at the ready to run through anyone with a scythe who tries to hurt him, and Hyakka acting like a servant who may or may not be trying to poison you! None of the trio think much of Shiranui, but if he WAS at the Goshikido meeting that would mean they've got three down, two to go. And at least someone was out there killing senior apprentices to take out the competition before they killed Mao, even if it wasn't Kamon or Hyakka. I love Uozomi's simple note "WHAT DO I DO?" - I mean, how DO you handle Byoki being around the neighborhood? Luckily Mao's got some talisman's and protective charms to keep Nanoka and co. safe. Nanoka definitely appreciates Mao being more caring and tender towards her, just as she's willing to offer her blood up, even at expense to herself, for him. Of course that's all well and good until Nanoka walks into her house and THERE'S BYOKI IN HER GRANDPA'S LAP LIKE HE'S SOME KIND OF PET!!! And Uozumi is frozen! But Byoki genuinely doesn't seem to want to harm Nanoka...he's even willing to be on call for her if she needs him. But he KNOWS Mao is going to need him at some point, if only to get to the bottom of what really happened. Meanwhile Mao has got a new case...maybe? Of the aristocrat's son whose parents passed away and suddenly he's got new "relatives" taking care of him...including YURAKO who is classily sipping wine like she owns the place. And when Yoshifusa becomes a hassle, she gracefully allows him to be taken in by his former physician who she puts a mind whammy on. But Yurako's unflappable grace falters when she sees Mao...even if she can't face him now, she's in absolute ecstacy over seeing him in the flesh. This girl seems down BAD for Mao. Speaking of, Nanoka can't help but be curious about Lady Sana and she was basically the perfect woman and Mao's first love. Which Nanoka is absolutely so happy to hear that she just bails and forgets to tell Mao about Byoki. Teenagers, amirite? But at least there's some relative peace that lets Mao and Nanoka exchange gifts, even if Nanoka's Onmyo spellbook is a little less romantic...but hey, Mao enjoys his new scarf! Yet the New Year brings new threats...like soldiers being decimated by a white-haired individual wielding metal! Next week: Mao chases Yurako! Shiranui encounters Mao!? And a masked man!

I loved the episode. And since I know what happens next, I can't really join in the discussion here. BUT! If you check out the official MAO anime Twitter or their YouTube channel, there's a trailer for the 2nd cour that just uploaded!! I suggest y'all check it out if you wanna see what is ahead of us! However, if you like being surprised, I would avoid it. Nothing too spoilery but different strokes for different folks. Enjoy!!

Is Yurako really Sana ? We will have to wait and see. If she really is Sana then that's a total 360 from how she used to be. I will say Yurako being this classy baddie down bad for Mao is definitely interesting, especially with Reina Ueda's serene voice. Byouki might want to have Mao's body as quick as possible but he really may have good intentions like not wanting Nanoka to die. He was prickly even as a normal cat but maybe he's still fond of Mao and also Nanoka in his own way?

I wish they'd made it clear Nanoka actually made the scarf. I've been thinking about the pacing complaints, and it makes me wonder, for all the Inuyasha fans watching, how many watched it as it was airing week to week? At this point in Inuyasha we hadn't been (properly) introduced to Kikyou yet or even Miroku. It had more action, but plot-wise it was slower. This wouldn't be as noticeable if you were binging it, and back then it wasn't unusual, but if Inuyasha started now I bet there would be complaints that it was too MOTW focused.

Agreed. I see people trying to compare it to Inuyasha, but it’s not Inuyasha. It’s more of a paranormal mystery thriller drama series. And as you mentioned, even as Inuyasha was airing on Toonami, there were already so many episodes that had already aired in Japan. So by the time we got it, it was basically content galore where you basically got most of the picture already as long as you tuned in. Whereas with Mao, we get to slowly but surely grow with it as the anime will keep releasing more seasons over time.

Yeah, there's a feeling people associate battles with the plot moving, and if the characters aren't working towards a fight then it's a waste of time. This episode established the characters aren't at a point where they trust each other and understandably so. They're still trying to figure out what's even going on. Nanoka is becoming aware of her feelings and figuring out how to deal with them. These things are all important. The mystery unfolding, the world-building, and the relationships between the characters are the show and are classic Takahashi.

First time we're hearing that basically anyone apprenticing or working under the Goko clan during a succession period, were likely to be attacked. Was under the impression the apprentices summoned to the Goshikido were only trying to kill Mao, and not trying to take out their "competition" too. Seems backwards if every time a new successor is to be chosen, you'd potentially have to start the whole clan and training process over again, if your candidates end up taking everyone out. Guess that's why the Goko clan is a thing of the past now.

Uozumi's letter to Mao was so funny, "What do I do??" She's been trying her best but it's been so long since she had any instructions at all. Since this is Rumiko I've been starting to wonder if Nanoka is Lady Sana's reincarnation. Which of course does nothing to stop the lady in the carriage from also being Lady Sana. I enjoy how much the other apprentices are regularly hanging out at Mao's place.

Hyakka is a surprisingly good boy. Serves tea when asked. Answers questions earnestly. Even if he's hanging out a lot at Mao's he's not disruptive at all either. Oh my, the excitement trickling from Yurako's tone after having spotted Mao. Madam please, The nonchalant come and go of Byouki is kinda funny. Almost like taking advantage of the cat distribution system when it has to. Does it spend it's days just watching Nanoka when she's there, or like plotting things? Nanoka is so funny, she really did not want to hear about Mao and Sana like that, she did not even let thirty seconds go by before bye bye, gotta go,

A couple more things: Although RT is famous for slapstick and generally wacky comedy, I love how the humor in Mao is very dry. It adds some needed lightness without feeling tonally out of place. Idk if anyone here is familiar with games like Strange Horticulture and Strange Antiquities, but between the music, period setting, and the animation Mao reminds me of them sometimes. That same unsettling atmosphere.