Episode 30, damn that was good *SPOILERS*

[drifterx]

I just have to say, this episode shows everything I love about JK. Seishuu's tragic and senseless death is our introduction to the big bad. Rakushun giving Shoukei the reality bitchslapping of her life and it seems to be getting thru to her, and the first ever crossing of paths of 2 of the main players. It looks like Asano is in a heap of trouble.

Awesome episode, the best of arc so far, a perfect 10.

Now excuse me while continue weeping for Seishuu. OH TENTEI WHYYYYY!!!!

[garamir]

Agreed, I thought this episode was the best of this arc... but now the arc's ending. *sigh*

Seishuu's death seems to be a recurring theme. Sagelike kid gives down-to-earth advice to main girl who then learns to cope with her new life. Seishuu was Suzu's, and he died. Sugimoto's was the catboy, who died. Youko's and now Sonshu's is Rakushun, so I'm hoping three's not the magic number. o_O*

[MegaDuck]

I really do not think that The MightyMouse shall die. The other two where rather tragic charecters while rachsun just rocks. I think he will be with us for a long time (Longer if he becomes a minister)

Also the cat boy did not give advice he mostly showed that Sugimoto was not irrideamable and she did still care. Seishuu showed Sezu that life is tough for everyone. Cat boy did not really teach a lesson that is what Youko did.

[Shinkun]

Indeed, this is one of the better episodes from this arc. I still shed a tear or two every time I watch that scene or hear that song.

But, the arc picks up from here on. You can expect lots of action, twists and cliffhangers!

[drifterx]

Rakushun may not die! I forbid it!

Well at least Raku and Youko should get it on first before anything happens to him.

As for Shoukou, I'm getting hints that he is not as simply evil as he seems. Typical JK complexities.

[Atosryac]

Agreed, I thought this episode was the best of this arc... but now the arc's ending. *sigh*

Seishuu's death seems to be a recurring theme. Sagelike kid gives down-to-earth advice to main girl who then learns to cope with her new life. Seishuu was Suzu's, and he died. Sugimoto's was the catboy, who died. Youko's and now Sonshu's is Rakushun, so I'm hoping three's not the magic number. o_O*

Eh, the arc's not really ending. Even though 31 is a review ep, there's a few new bits, including a scene w/ Rakushun looking his most flustered since being hugged by you-know-who. Story continues straight on without any time/continuity breaks.

BTW, Seishuu's death may seem familiar for another reason. One of the stereotypical elements of a bildungsroman, or coming of age story, is the death of a mentor figure (Obiwan Kenobi, anyone?). Now, usually the mentor is an older individual, but then again the classic bildungsroman hero is male, too.

I meant to post this at one point in the "themes of JK thread", but anyway JK incorporates a number of elements of the bildunsgroman: journey and conflicts within an extablished societal order, establishing one's identity, finding one's place in society, etc. Obviously, these are pretty broad themes and apply to multiple charas in JK. ...Gah, I had more to say but am too sleep-deprived today to think straight.

Well at least Raku and Youko should get it on first before anything happens to him.

As for Shoukou, I'm getting hints that he is not as simply evil as he seems. Typical JK complexities.

*cough* Rakushun x Youko...and the _kaikyaku_ sex thread... _Someone's_ got a one-track mind. J/k, j/k. (Feh, why is there no proper : P smiley?)

One word that comes to my mind for Shoukou is amoral, but that's not completely correct b/c he definitely has an evil bent. Uh, maybe "deliberately amoral" or "evilly amoral"?

[rakucho]

As the Raku God, rakushun has divine power watching over him. If he dies, i'll have to change my nick to something else, and i'm too lazy to do that. Therefore, he shalt not die.

As for Raku getting it on with Youko, i only have 1 thing to say. Somebody's feeling a little sexually deprived -__-;;

[shouki]

I think it's much too early to say what effect Seishuu's death will have on Suzu. It's fairly logical to assume that she'll get better by the end of the current story arc, but I think this one goes up to episode 39, so there's still a long way to go.

His words while he was living certainly has had an affect on her, though somewhat minor so far. Ie gotten her to re-evaluate some of her basic assumptions about her life.


PS It's kinda ironic that Youko meets Suzu for the first time here, but then immediately leaves again. We've known Suzu for a number of episodes now, but so far to Youko she's just a brief chance encounter. (She'd probably remember Seishuu much more)

[drifterx]

The death of mentors is definitely a persistent theme. It's something that has to be done, I guess. In the harsh reality of JK, it is one of most effective ways of building the character of those they teach. If there be gods, there will be martyrs.

Ok, ok. I'll stop the sexual commments. But don't think I'll keep quiet if there's a big orgy scene in the upcoming episodes (not that I wish for it or anything)! :p

[shouki]

btw, I was just re-watching ep 30...

I noticed Rakushun called the Suugu "Tama".

Tama is a "typical" name for a kitty-cat! I dunno if that was meant as a joke, but I laughed out loud at it

[garamir]

PS It's kinda ironic that Youko meets Suzu for the first time here, but then immediately leaves again. We've known Suzu for a number of episodes now, but so far to Youko she's just a brief chance encounter. (She'd probably remember Seishuu much more)

That's the beautiful irony of that episode. Even more so, there's a good chance everyone will end up meeting again... and again...

Imagine this: Asano has just jumped an important minister. He'll probably be arrested soon. If it happens immediately, Suzu will probably find out and hang around. Youko will almost certainly know, since she knows where to look for the hit-and-run driver. But will Youko blow her cover and save Asano (or even accuse the minister openly)? Or will she and Suzu just keep bumping into each other for the moment?

But then, everyone on this board seems to know how the whole story is going to run anyway, so ignore my speculation. -_-

I wonder whether it wouldn't be better for Suzu to meet Youko in imperial court mode, to help her realize that empresses have their own problems to deal with and can't just be best friends with every kaikyaku on the planet.

[_tsunami]

Rakushun may not die! I forbid it!

Well at least Raku and Youko should get it on first before anything happens to him.

As for Shoukou, I'm getting hints that he is not as simply evil as he seems. Typical JK complexities.

Heh in my opinion having abit of japanese understanding myself I think shoukou is just plain evil. His japanese accent was so stuck up, even when referring to himself as "kono shoukou" i hated him already!!!

Poor seishuu i had to shed a tear on that dying scene
so touching how he said he wouldn't want suzu to cry ~~

[Shinkun]

Yeah, although "Kono Shoukou" litterally means, Me, Shoukou. I used "The great Shoukou" to depict his arrogance in that statement.

[_tsunami]

Yeh i think that english translation suits well ^^

[Janster]

I wonder if Asano gets to pull the trigger...
come on boy..its not so hard..just squeese a little.....harder...

Janster

[_tsunami]

Just realised at that last scene of ep 30
Asano and Youko came so close to seeing each other!
i mean they were in the same place.

[MegaDuck]

The bigger question is would she have recognized him if she saw him? He looks just a TAD different sience she saw him last. He might not recognize her now that she is so self confidant and all.

[rakucho]

most likely she would. Remember how she had that dream about him early on in the arc (more like a nightmare). The swords showed her Asano sitting in what looked like a barn and he was, like usual, fondling his gun -___-;;

[MegaDuck]

I think that is when he found the gun but you are right. She might.

[Trinity_Destler]

One word that comes to my mind for Shoukou is amoral, but that's not completely correct b/c he definitely has an evil bent. Uh, maybe "deliberately amoral" or "evilly amoral"?

I think 'sociopath' is the word for which you were searching. Fits him in my opinion, anyway.