MAO

Hyakka is growing into that tsundere frenemy role. Honestly, in hindsight, the fact that Tenko works with Mao should've been the first indication she wasn't 100% human...though also probably for the best she turned out to be an animal Ayakashi who could bite Tenhiko before he could rape her! And Mao is there to defend her from Kuchinawa! Whoever Kuchinawa is. But Kuchinawa isn't actually there for her OR Mao, he's there for Tenhiko. Turns out you can only get away with so much as the prestigious son of a rich guy, at least before your dad pays your retainer to kill YOU to stop your killing spree and provide a convenient way of bumping you off. Watching him get consumed by plants before his heart gets squeezed out of him...it's graphic, but it's hard to argue he didn't have it coming. Kuchinawa isn't just someone with plant spells, he's also one of Mao's Senior Apprentices, Kamon! Who joins the "surprisingly long-lived with white hair" club along with Mao and Hyakka! Though it seems like all the Senior Apprentices are under the impression that the only reason Mao would find them is to exact...revenge for being told to kill him? Not that Hyakka seems to care, I mean...he was hooking up when all that Byoki business was going on. He doesn't seem to be an enemy (or a passionate ally), which I guess is better than nothing. But he too wants to know why he's seemingly immortal like Mao. That poor circus troupe. Hyakka comes back and then ditches them just as quickly. So much for avoiding the capital. Nanoka can't make sense of these mysteries AND she has to keep drinking the awful smoothies. When having Byoki powers would actually have been useful for PE. So Hyakka can control insects? Enough to use them as scouts? That way he can find Mao and get his help with some incoming frogmen...emphasis on the MEN, because they're apparently transformed humans sent after Mao and Hyakka. It's Nanoka's time to shine! Even if it means fighting slimy frogs she wants no business with! But at least she's got a weapon, her newfound Earth Element, and Mao the most stoic motivational speaker of all time.

This seems like a solid and interesting, if a bit old fashioned looking series. This season has lots of competition, so not surprising this isn't a blockbuster. Still, I would think it would be getting more attention than it is. I see this will go on for 26 episodes -- so I assume its viewership will probably go down further next season (judging by shows like the woefully-under-noticed Blue Miburo). I wonder what goes into poor Nanoka's disgusting smoothie? How is she keeping up with schoolwork -- given her highly irregular school attendance? It sort of looks like Hyakka is going to become part of the regular crew.

Damn. That was probably the most brutal death in a Rumic series, at least for the long-running ones. I think Mermaid Saga had some pretty brutal deaths, too. Mao is probably the most serious Rumiko Takahashi series. Justice for Tenko and all the other victims. Wait, she's an ayakashi? I thought something was off about her. Didn't think she'd be one of them. But what makes an animal ayakashi different from regular ones? Kamon doesn't seem too interested in Mao, unlike Hyakka. I guess he's just living his best life. It can't be a Rumic series without some morally dubious side characters. The frog people reminded me of KonoSuba. Yeah, I'd be disgusted too. Looks like Mao will fight another senior in the next episode. Since he's ugly, I don't think he'll last long, whoever he is.