MAO

What a great episode. Gives us a good breather. It's gotta be pretty awful for Kamon seeing Masago in that state. Awful way to go, and then to still not be able to really rest in peace. Otoya is so sweet, and cute. He has to hold onto the bristles while sweeping cause the broom's too tall. I have to give Mao his props, that was a very proper date, very unexpected coming from him. It feels like he's going to be more attentive to Nanoka's feeling going forward,

It's gotta be pretty awful for Kamon seeing Masago in that state. Awful way to go, and then to still not be able to really rest in peace. That preserved lifeless body is really unsettling... I have to give Mao his props, that was a very proper date, very unexpected coming from him. It feels like he's going to be more attentive to Nanoka's feeling going forward, Did he even plan out the cherry blossoms under the rickshaw? Even if he didn't, nice timing!

They're really upping the romance vibes between MaoxNanoka. I guess with Yurako here, now it's REALLY a party! Complete with Shiranui completely flooding the room to kill everybody and escape with Masago's preserved corpse! Preserved because, even in death, she's still cursed by the Goshikido. Shiranui just HAD to make this personal for Kamon. Yeah, I bet Yurako isn't happy about seeing Mao protecting/swimming away with another woman. Nice of Natsuno to save Otoya and also finally provide the truth about Sana's death...how Natsuno was there, how she saw a tearful Sana unable to convince anyone of Mao's innocence in what happened, just like Natsuno was powerless to save Sana from the cursed energy (much like Yurako's) that LITERALLY RIPPED SANA'S HEART OUT OF HER BODY. No one would believe Natsuno's truth over Hakubi's belief that Mao was behind everything, but even now Sana is invested in properly putting Sana to rest. Nanoka needs to mention Byoki if she wants Mao to pay attention to her. He'd never notice how nice she looks in a kimono otherwise because he never pays attention to her...at least in the way she wants. Deep down though, he IS thinking of Nanoka often. You know Nanoka is desperate when she's trying to get help with her crush from UOZUMI of all people. What's this? Mao taking Nanoka on a romantic rickshaw ride among cherry blossoms? Doing an exorcism together? Eating Western food together? Even buying her a perfume satchet? Why, this is positively a date! Seems like Mao is trying to improve his behavior. Of course it's still Mao so he doesn't even notice when he loses Nanoka until he has to search for her...but if it means he grabs her hand and we get some intimate handholding, it's worth it. Especially to make Nanoka finally realize her feelings, that she likes Mao. And considering he did enjoy himself, the feeling might be mutual! Next week: The return of full supernatural horror and Hakubi!

I didn't pick up on this when I read these chapters, but watching the anime it's really struck me how the last few episodes emphasized the tragic pasts and romances of these characters, building them up until finally leading us to a moment of relief in the "present". And that was brought on by Nanoka's prescence. It's like you can tell these former Goko Clan members, especially Mao, have mentally been stuck in the past this whole time while merely existing in the current era. This is the first time Mao has felt in touch with what's happening now. I truly love Takahashi's storytelling.

You can really tell that aside from the bad guys, everyone else has a soft spot for Nanoka to some degree. It's pretty obvious Hyakka cares about Nanoka, despite his foul mouth, and Kamon endearingly calls her "Nanoka-kun". To these Goko clan ex-members, whose jobs were essentially killers, mind you, they have probably seen so much bad things in their long 900 years of living that an energetic, innocent, kind and loving girl like Nanoka is probably such a breath of fresh air.

What? You think a teenage girl from the future has any say in the drama going on amongst murdering sorcerers from 900 years ago who had an insane master? All she knew was that something weird was going on with Lady Sana back then, and given how Mao loses his mind whenever she's brought up she didn't know how best to handle it. That's completely normal. I really think sometimes viewers forget what it's like to actually be the age of the characters, especially characters thrown into circumstances no regular person could comprehend.

So, Shiranui fled with Masago's lifeless body. That sucks. But I'm used to seeing the bad guy running away scot-free after Inuyasha. It really sucks for Kamon tho. Mao MAYBE still has Sana in some form. But to him, his Masago is long dead, and all he has is a lifeless corpse. So, Natsuno knew Mao was innocent all along. But nobody listened to her because of sexism, I guess. That's tragic. Meanwhile, Hakubi seems like a real bastard. Wonder what's his problem. What does he gain from lying about Mao? And who even is Yurako? Did Sana have a secret evil twin sister, or did that heart somehow turn into something like an evil clone? There's also the question of whether Sana herself was really as kind as she appeared. Maybe she secretly had bipolar disorder or something. Just saw on MAL that Sana and Yurako have different VAs. So, that probably means something. The last part of the episode was peak. Finally a real date between Mao and Nanoka! This is probably the first episode where Mao felt like a normal person. Even if he's an immortal 900-year-old, he's still a kid inside. A really confused and traumatized kid. So, his enjoying western cuisine with Nanoka just really felt refreshing. Not to mention him apologizing to Nanoka and realizing that maybe he needs to pay more attention to his women. He messed up with Sana. He can't do that again with Nanoka. Nanoka went a bit overboard with accusing Mao of being stuck on Sana. I mean, who wouldn't be in a crazy situation like this. So, I was really glad when she almost apologized for it. But sadly, it got ruined. But all that aside, Nanoka finally realized she has a thing for Mao! I mean, it was pretty obvious. But now we finally got some development. The ship is finally sailing. It's too bad only 6 episodes are left.

I guess, silver lining, Kamon and Natsuno now both have motivation to continue to assist Mao in his efforts against Shiranui/Yurako. Like Hyakka's beef with Hakubi. Maybe they CAN be the team they are in the OP. Did Hakubi genuinely believe Mao did it or was he just trying to spin it that way to pin it on Mao? Could he have been involved in transforming Byoki? Mao might be very stoic but he has real feelings and cares about Nanoka in his own way. The pair of them have come a long way since the early episodes.

sort of, i understand they are all supposed to be grey morally since we know the goko clan does evil stuff all the time like send out curses to assassinate people 900+ years ago. but the show doesnt really portray the main characters as the ones doing that. they were just training in their magic arts and that the curses were done by the master and a few other wizards in the compound. like in the flashbacks we never see mao or any of the other students like Hyakka or whatever do stuff like that. but what we do see is kamon helping a serial rapist/killer get away/help with his crimes long after the fall of the goko clan. and the show wants me to feel bad for this guy bc his love interest dead body is being used as if he wouldnt be totally ok with doing that same thing to someone else. you say thats the point as if thats makes everything ok. but the show wants me to care about these characters and their situation and honestly its not working. all the characters pretty much just suck and the story is boring.

Natsuno said the Master told her to make poisons, and none of them felt good about being in that clan except Hakubi. They knew what being trained in the art of curses meant but participated in it anyway. Hyakka was virtually a child and Mao wasn't much older. Natsuno despite once having morals was OK with teaching a random man techniques he had no training in which resulted in the deaths of many innocent people, including possible children. I get not being able to forgive Kamon's actions, but over the last 900 years they all seem to have become numb to the concept of humans dying and carrying out horrific crimes. Even Mao wasn't exactly looking out for Nanoka when he first met her. He actively put her in danger. It's not about "making everything ok". It's just acknowledging this is a story about complicated messed up people. If you don't like that then maybe it's not for you.

Multiple people told Mao Sana was dead and that his perception of this woman was wrong. She was also blatantly working for Shiranui. He kept ignoring the signs because he refused to believe this person was anything other than A. Lady Sana and B. a victim. She straight up had evil energy spewing out of her attacking them, and he was still tempted to save her! Idk why everyone seems to think Nanoka giving him horrifying news from the source of Byouki would be met with a cool and reasonable reaction. After she tells him he doesn't even care because he doesn't trust Byouki at all. Like that info was not going to get through regardless.

Right like why would Nanoka tell him that Byouki told her Sana was dead when he already knows that AND from multiple sources and even if she planned to tell him this again she doesn't get the chance Idk why everyone seems to think Nanoka giving him horrifying news from the source of Byouki would be met with a cool and reasonable reaction. Exactly!! That's the reason why it took her this long to tell him in the first place. She didn't know how/when to best tell him because she knew he probably wouldn't have the best reaction and she was right! Tho it was more because he was worried about Nanoka and her safety rather than the Sana thing lol

Yeah! I really think the way he behaved that first time in Shiranui's shrine shook her. This was the most stoic man ever suddenly acting totally irrational and angry. He wasn't interested in information which didn't tell him what he wanted to hear. Before that she told him info as soon as she was able. Yes and that context of her feeling he doesn't care about her at that point is super important. Mao's not an easy person to read or communicate with on the best of days. It says a lot that Otoya is also unsure of what's going on in his head. It was ultimately Natsuno's story, and Nanoka reaching a breaking point which finally woke Mao up to the truth. And like you said, when he asked, "Why didn't you tell me??" it was the Byouki part he was bothered by.

im already 20 eps deep into the show so i feel compelled to finish it. but can i just say im not having a great time with the show. most of the characters arent great, the action is not good, the story is pretty boring and it gets so repetitive at times. there arent that many shows to watch at the moment and i know its a bit unfair to compare it to other shows but if anyone is interested in a classic woman writer making a resurgence with a new piece of work its hard to not recommend daemons of the shadow realm over this.