As Shun escapes from the room, Shuurei realizes that the assassination of Mou is just part of the master mind’s plan. There has never been a change in the plans. Everyone has been so concentrated with who is behind the assassination that they have forgotten that the target of this is still…targeted. Someone is definitely pulling the strings of this rather elaborate plot, and Shun seems to have a link with the Ran clan. However, nothing is being said and the answer will be revealed in this episode.
Will Shuurei and company be in time to rescue Jyuusan Hime before it is too late?
Screenshots: http://www.sendspace.com/file/w58eao
Episode summary
Shuurei and Ensei rushed over to Jyuusan-Hime after realizing what has transpired. Shuurei also told Seiga to rush to the jail, as Suou Shin is there. Shuuei arrives where Jyuusan Hime is and says he is looking for someone. Jyuusan Hime told Shuuei that she told Ryuuki not to come over. Seiga realized that the death row prisoners are trying to rescue their kind, and is somewhat impressed that Shuurei figures this out. Shun arrived at Jyuusan Hime as Shuuei called him “Jin”. Jyuusan-Hime (Hotaru) screamed at him, and remembered how Shun gave her his name as she is like a firefly. Jyuusan-hime started to weep, saying that he should not be coming as a murderer. However, Shun said he is no longer part of the Shiba clan and Shiba Jin is dead.
Shuuei corrected him, and he said the Ran clan believed that Shiba Jin is alive. It is also why Jyuusan Hime is sent to Ryuuki. Shun said that Ryuuki actually detected Shun, but did not do anything as Shun has no murderous intent. He said Jyuusan Hime and Shuuei will be happy with such an emperor Shun also talked about Shuurei, saying that she is as energetic and intelligent like “Hotaru”. Shuuei warned him about how if a kin clan such as the Shiba clan is found to assassinate in the palace, it will implicate the Ran clan and allows others to take advantage. Shun reiterated that he is no longer Shiba Jin.
Shuuei told Shun not to talk in the way “Jin” speaks, and reminds Jyuusan-Hime that Shun is simply aiming to rescue his fellow mates who are down in this room. Shuuei and Jin starts to fight, while they taunt each other on their strength. Jyuusan-Hime is also attacked by the masked female assassin. It is clear that Jyuusan Hime is not her match, and Shun shouts at Shusui to rescue the others. However, Shusui is about to land the final blow on Jyuusan Hime before Ensei’s timing intervention stopped. When Shuurei shouted out, a clearly hypnotized Shusui had tears falling from her eyes, crying for forgiveness from Shuurei and Shouka. As Shuuei questions what happened, Shun escaped.
Shun finds Shusui fallen on the grass, only for the dark side of Shouka to appear. Shouka warns Shun to let Shusui go. Shun tells him that the “message” has been implanted in Shusui since she is born, and it will simply be a matter of time when she loses all abilities to control. She will then turn into a murderous weapon and be abused forever. Shun says that he has the confidence to stop her and it is better for Shusui to stay with him. Shouka asks why he is doing such a stupid thing, and Shun says he is surprised someone like him is questioning him about this. Shouka says that Shun is disillusioned because he is ordered to kill Jyuusan Hime (who has an engagement) but he is reluctant to do so.
Shouka also says that it is the reason why he calls Shuuei over to protect Jyuusan Hime. Shun says that he has been exposed, but insists that Shiba Jin is dead and he has something more to do. Shun asks if he can go, and Shouka tells him to take care of Shusui. Shun promises to find a way to remove the “message”. At the palace, Shuurei tells Kouki about the people who escaped execution by becoming murderers, and they are the “spirits of the jail”. Shuurei thinks about how Mou’s mouth has been shut permanently, but the assassination plot continues. This means someone else is pulling the strings.
She is about to question, but Kouki cuts her off immediately. Kouki says that the assassins probably knows nothing, and asks if the head of the assassins is related to the Ran clan. Shuurei says it’s not. Kouki asks why she is so certain and tells her that she has to mistrust anyone, even if they are family or lovers. Shuurei asks if they should mistrust him since he had the ability to string such a plot and Kouki says she should since he has a lot of experience and knows how to cause turmoil secretly. Kouki says that the case is over and tells Shuurei not to be an officer if she wants to dispute it. Shuurei left the room, unable to retort.
Seiga told Kouki that Mou, like the death row prisoners, was punished for misdeeds and asked to pick out suitable warriors for the assassination. However, someone up there has been unhappy that Mou used one of the warriors for his own use and instructed for Mou’s death. Kouki asks if Seiga wants to usurp his superiors, and Seiga says he will use more refined techniques compared to Shuurei. Kouki says Shuurei realizes about the death row prisoners, while Seiga about the disciplined officers. Kouki says that it is evenly matched. Kouki, as an afterthought, wonders how it is so similar to the “Black Wolf clan”.
Kouyuu is waiting for Shuuei to talk, and Shuuei asks about the difference of the two. Shuuei says he is part of the Ran clan since birth, while Kouyuu is not from the Kou clan. Shuuei tells Kouyuu to stay by Ryuuki’s side, and says that the two years have been extremely happy. However, things cannot stay this way. Shuuei asked to fulfill his promise. Shuuei is thinking how many times he has to hurt such a gentle emperor.and Ryuuki defeated a non-serious Shuuei. Shuuei says he no longer has the ability to protect Ryuuki and asks to leave as he returns his flower and the sword besotted to him. Ryuuki gives him the embroidery he was doing and told him to do what he wants. Ryuuki eventually decides to get Shuuei back as Yuushun supports his decision.
Thoughts
Seriously, the biggest shock for me in this episode is not really the plot, but Shouka. I am not sure if Shouka has ever saw his eyes before but I am glad that he never shows his eyes. It is downright creepy and it makes me think how dark and cold blooded Shouka can get when it comes to people that he wants to protect. I can actually feel the intimidating presence of Shouka just viewing it, and it is clear that he has not lost his touch at all. The eyes are extremely vicious, and it is clear that he cares a lot for Shusui, and that he can kill without batting an eyelid. I really hope that he does not open his eyes too much next time. It’s scary X_X.
If Shun can rival Shuuei and possibly Ensei in battle, I cannot imagine how batshit insane badass Shouka is. I mean, Shun simply cannot even move at all with the swift movement of Shouka. On a short discussion with my girlfriend, she also said candidly that it is impressive how Shuurei’s mother is able to make such a cold blooded assassin fall heads over tails with her, and persuades him not to kill him. Shuurei’s mother must have been a really persuasive speaker or charming woman.
On the plot itself, I am guessing that Shun and Jyuusan-Hime are a couple last time, but I am surprised that Shun walks out of an engagement with the person she loves. Unless I have not remembered carefully, I do not remember any scene that explains why he will walk out. That plot makes me wonder. The question for me will be to wonder how Shun is actually working for, since he must have a very interesting reason to go against his good friend Shuuei and his engaged wife. It is probably something that will be answered in the future, but it seems to be left for something else.
I must say that the relationship of Shuuei and Ryuuki gives off yaoi vibes in this episode, and I feel a bit awkward when I watch it. I mean, Saiunkoku Monogatari has a lot of bishies. However, they never really give out that much yaoi vibes. When both my girlfriend and I can feel it, that means there is definitely an intent to give some vibes. I really wonder if anyone feels that way after watching the show. I am quite sad that Shuuei has to make the tough decision to go back, but I wonder if Ryuuki is following logic by abandoning his post to get Shuuei back.
Ryuuki: “I want Ran Shuuei…”
That is perhaps the plot of the next arc.
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48 Comments
Don’t worry, you didn’t miss anything. It isn’t explained until the next book why Jin/Shun and Jyuusan-hime didn’t get married.
Hmm, I def. am d/ling this episode so I can see the scariness of Shouka.
..umm.. about Shouka/Kokurou and Shoukun.. I don’t think that Shoukun persuaded him not to kill her. It was Shouka’s own will not to kill her (because you-know-what). At least, that was what I recalled from eps. 11 in season 1..
i’m really tempted to stream the raw ep, even though i barely know any japanese, just to see shouka. ♥.
thank you for the summary. this is the only way i can get my saiunkoku fix, until the fansubbers get to this point (i’m also very thankful to them, btw)
Yes, thank you, Impz! I couldn’t enjoy this story any other way, and I really appreciate the time and effort you put into these recaps.
As to the episode, I love Ryuuki’s determination at the end. He’s lost so much; he’s determined not to lose his friend too. We’ve seen him determined in romance, but I’m curious to see how far he’ll go to retrieve Shuuei and bring him back.
I also love that Shuurei gets to be smart. So few anime let their girls have brains…
Thanks for your summary as usual^^
I agree that Shouka can be rather frightening as the Black Wolf and the fact that he seems so mild-mannered.
I don’t think there are ShuueixRyuuki yaoi vibes i think it shows that the loyalty of an emperor’s advisor makes for a very close relationship and that is why Shuuei is now feeling conflict and why Ryuuki is determined to get back his advisor (who had been treating him like a younger brother… and we all know Ryuuki’s attachment to his nice older brother^^)
I am sad that ep 32 means there are only 7 more to go and still no RyuukixShuurei reconciliation in sight!!!
@Charmian: Yes, it’s so worth to watch this episode simply because of Shouka-papa. Honestly, I know that he’s scary but I never expect him to be so hideously scary. I really feel that he will be able to kill Shun without even batting an eyelid. In fact, if it is a lesser person, they will not even know what hit them. He is truly an assassin.
@Nishi: Arr, well, it’s half half of sorts. She is able to make him fall in love, and there is his own will. In any case, any person that lets Shouka turn into the caring father he is really is a wonderful person.
@Tomyo: hahaha! it’s worth it, seriously. I am glad that it is helping in your saiunkoku fix, even though it is sad that next week is yet another filler of sorts.
@Vesper: Yep, that is actually one thing that I have not mentioned for a while. Ryuuki, at the start of the first season, is carefree and does not lose anything since he has nothing to start with. However, as he becomes the emperor (and looking the part), he realises that there is no longer anything pure like friendship. Yes, there are such pure friendships, but often circumstances stain them and leave Ryuuki apart from his friends.
This is one such case. In fact, I realize that he has become mentally stronger lately, despite being rather gentle to all. He is really a very gentle emperor for being able to control the throne decently well, yet not losing the ability to emphathize with humans. He will be a good king for sure.
Yep, Shuurei does have brains, and she is already one up compared to many of those damsel in distress. Vesper, you might want to try catching Hatenkou Yugi if you like a girl with some brains.
@Bootoye: Rather??? Rather only? I swear it’s like totally insane! I mean, I really do not ever want to be seeing Shouka’s eyes anytime soon.
I do wonder if they are trying to delay the show in order to wait for the novels to come out. I got a feeling that they are taking their time in order to make the third season, even though it’s merely my speculation.
Well, usually, they do not give much of the vibes but it’s simply this episode that makes me feel that way. I don’t think there will be any ryuuki X Shuurei for this season ;_;
i agree with bootoye. though i didn’t actually get any of the actual conversation, the vibes i got from ryuuki and shuuei were more of brotherly than romantic.
i’d thought though that shuuei had gotten himself disowned so that he could follow the emperor (or maybe i’m getting mixed up in all the forums and blogs i’ve been visiting). i hope ryuuki will succeed.
shouka is amazing. and scary. the kou brothers are the best. XD (though reishin is my favorite)
the part of me that is pro ryuukixshuurei is screaming at shuurei right now (and had been ever since episode 7 of season one). when is that girl going to realize that she’s throwing ♥ away?! but the other side of me that believes in following her dreams is conflicting with this thought. there is nothing wrong with following your dreams, but… but… this is ryuuki we’re talking about here.. T_T
@Tomoyo: Of course it’s more brotherly than romantically. However, many of the words like “I want Ran Shuuei” with that longing look just reminds me of yaoi. Yes, I have been forced to watch that genre with my girlfriend, who enjoys to see me squirm in agony from the yaoi scenes X_X
No no, he’s actually thinking about the decision to either 1. disown himself or 2. remind with the Ran clan. However, there is really no choice for him since he is born in the Ran clan. That is why he knew that he is simply escaping from the inevitable when he accepted the job. I guess he feels somewhat lonely, and is of course happy that he can stay with Ryuuki. Yet, Shuuei probably knows that this has to end.
He is of the Ran clan, the powerful noble clan that controls a lot of key markets in the Saiunkoku world. So, he has to leave. That does not mean Ryuuki cannot chase him back, and it seems from the preview of the next episode that Seiga is trying to keep Shuuei from leaving in order to make a deeper investigation about the assassination (as Shun is of the Shiba clan, a subsidary *i think?* clan of the Ran clan).
impz.. thanks again for the summary.. ahh yer shouka really scary like satou from samurai x.. this episode ish kinda gloomy at the end..
Yaoi vibes.. i sorta feel it when watchin… But you know japanese culture is like that, like we all see jap animes and manga wif yaoi vibes.. I learned from a friend, that japs like gays.. heheh.. its because it was ages ago that Japanese men usually favors men. They viewed women before as someone who works on household, gives birth to children etc, like servants. Well can see it in their animes mangas etc(JUST an F.Y.I. For Your Information).
But yer i hate yaoi vibes..hmmm 9 more episodes to go.. i hope they come up wif good ending.. yer imma ryuuki+shuurei fan, this season ish more serious and a bit sad. I feel sorry for Jyuusan Hime and Jin and Ryuuki also.. Well, I hope for the next episodes to be betta.. I think if theyre goin to end in season i hope they would make it happy..
Thanks Impz..!
@Etine: Well, even up to now, the Japanese deviant culture seems to support various forms of interest, especially suppressed sexual tendencies. It is clear that they even have erotica roaming around the streets, as long as you know which street to visit. So, they are more sexually liberal compared to other countries. Yaoi and all that also came from this ability to explore sexuality. Women are all seen as submissive and inferior previously, and despite the better gender equality, still exists to an extent.
I actually feel very bad for Jyuusan-Hime since she cried so badly. I really hope that she does not turn into a standard damsel in distres. She’s too good a character to be wasted into all tears.
Discuss at http://forums.hakuanime.net
Again thank you so much for your entries ^____^
Shouka is so scary… In the first season I remember that he once open his eyes during the plot with killing Ryuuki and making Seien new emperor… and we know that he is assasinator and even Hyou clan’s head won’t to face him openly. All Kou brother are amazing!
I think it’s rather obvious that mastermind behind this all is someone from Ran clan or connected to them. This person don’t want to Shuuei to interfere, Shuurei deny that this could be someone from Ran’s and Kouki’s smirk and his lecture about trusting… And there are two persons, who seems to be important and we don’t know much about them – this Field Marshal General with tiger on his shoulder and his superior (both were at the ceremony of Shuuei’s resignation).
Shouka is really cool with his eyes open. And somehow I can’t help but love a top class assassin who’s also a family man. XD;;
Yep, expect lots of fun in Ran province in the upcoming episodes. We’ll also get to see a little more of the Ran triplets and Gyokuka (the wife of one of the triplets that Shuuei was pining over).
I told you Jyuusan-hime had a tragic past, didn’t I?
It’s very adrenaline pumping!
hmm…. i really do love Shouka’s scary eyes in a way because its sort of cool looking and in a way, i feel a little resemblence to Seiran too…. cause seiran has those eyes when he’s forcing someone to tell him what he wants to know. i mean these two characters are my favorite besides ryuuki and ensei. of course i love our main character shuurei too…. but i mean ya hav to hav guy favs right! nd i never thought that jyuusan-hime and shun had that much of an age difference…. i thought they were in love once and were engaged. i thought they were only like 5-8 years appart but in the flash back they showed in this ep there was jyuusan-hime as an 8 or 9 year old and shun as like in his 20s… i really don’t get it….
@Impz_ ya i do hav a yaoi feeling when it comes to shuuei and ryuuki. i mean i hate it when those two get all pretend(maybe) lovey dovey… it really just creeps me out… i don’t really get it though… in your summary of this ep you said that Kouki was disscussing with seiga about finding better assasins. does this mean that kouki is really the bad guy??? i thought he was just a character that has a misterious attitude. i mean in the begining they gave us the feeling that anjun and kouki had some “plans” when they introed these 2 characters to us…. so we already got some bad vibes there already but then you thought that kouki and anjun were just that way and were really good….. its confusing me…
I really wonder wat “message” was implanted in shusui because i really like her character and it would be sad if anything bad would happen to her. i hope they put some comedy in the next ep something like reishin spying on shuurei or something… i always loved those moments. GO UNCLE REISHIN!!! but ya gotta really wonder when he’ll intro himself to shuurei as her uncle….
aznchocoholic … the average age difference back then was like that. Young girls 14-16 would be married off to men from late 20’s to grandfather age (I’m glad times have changed for us women)! I mean, for us Serian/Shurrie fans there is a 10 year gap (as much as I hate to admit to it) between the two. And besides…isn’t it all about the love.
I’m really hoping for some Shusui/Shoka action going on. That man has been alone too long…and Shusui has loved him even longer than he has been alone. Besides, they make such a cute couple!
@heather_ you are sooo right. i forgot about the fact that this anime is based in like midevil china… haha..(i think i spelled midevil wrong, please ignore my stupid mistake)i do love the seiran and shuurei couple too but not as much as the ryuukixshuurei couple. they’re my #1 choice… and ya you are very right about shouka and shusui. they should really hook up…
marriages way back then were being decided by the parents or the elders of the clan for a match that would be deemed agreeable, that’s why most elders in the court are pretty upset when Ryuuki showed no interest in marrying other possible matches or recommendations (usually their own kids) other than Shuurei.
The reign of Ryuuki is constantly being evaluated by the different members of the court and different clans of the empire. The stage where he is at right now is the stage where he has to prove himself worthy of the trust of his people, that’s why loyalties need to be defined clearly.
There are still other things that would be really exciting in the episodes to come. I just hope that it would indeed follow the novel closely. I believe the anime’s season 2 will stop where the novels also stopped… where almost everything is left hanging. *screams in the background*
then again… thanks for the entry, impzie!
@Nanami: No problem. Wait, did he ever open his eyes before? I do not remember, but I know that Shouka has never been depicted in such a vicious manner before. I think that the person behind this might be possibly an enemy of the Ran clan, but I wonder which crazy clan intends to try anything funny against the clan.
I really have no clue which direction it is going, but by the fact that Shusui is clearly controlled by the Hyou clan, something big is definitely happening that is leading up to a rise up in arms and organization like the “Black Wolf Clan”.
@Mangaka: Who doesn’t?
@L-chan: Well, I need to see more. I do not like my heroines to generally weep and all that. I like a strong woman.
@Azn: Hmm, no, Kouki is just telling Shuurei that she cannot trust anyone, not even her family, her lover or even him for that matter. He also says that it is likely that he can plot such a thing, since he is very experienced in investigation and hence knows how to carry out such stuff. Kouki’s point is that everyone should be a suspect, and Shuurei should not be too sure about anything.
However, at the end of the whole conversation, it is clear that Kouki is not on the evil side. Sure, he has a bloody annoying cold blooded attitude toward all people but it is clear that it is part of his nature to suspect everything and anything. He also disdains people of pure heart since they are naive and gullible, just like Shuurei.
@Kaeboo: Hmm, I do wonder how it will go on, if the novels are about to be completed. No more Saimono for a while then, sigh X_X
Thanks for the summary. It’s the only way I can understand the raw streaming of this episode. As for Shouka, well I think his character is sort of like the Superman a.k.a. Clark Kent thing with him being an assasin a.k.a. librarian. He has shown his scary side before during that episode where he rescues Seiran from Sa Enjun’s clutches. I mean talk about bringing a lot of men down in like a blink of an eye.
Impz, first season, episode 6, time 20:22 ^______^
Well, opening is very good hint too. Shisui’s state obviously have much to do with this women who is head of Hyou clan and Shouka. Next triplet is Shuuei, Jyuusan-hime and Shun aka Jin.
@aznchocoholic: The actual age difference between Jyuusan-hime and Jin is 12 years. Fairly large, but not so much that it’s ridiculous.
@Impz: Trust me, she doesn’t do nothing but weep. But she does have plenty to weep about, hooooo boy.
@Impz_ thank you impz for once again clearing the clouds in my head!!! haha…. that’s my trying to be sarcastic….. but thankx a lot for the explaination. i really get it now…but who could be the one pulling the strings??? but i really can’t help but suspect the hyou clan….. because this has somthing to do with shusui, and riou is in it too… and they’re both from that mystrious clan…. i mean even shuurei herself has some ties with this clan…hmmm…..
@L-chan_ well… 12 years… i don’t think that 12 years is bad for that time in history…… but how did you know they were 12 years appart???
But something worries when i see yuushun walking, with seiran’s help…. i think the guy’s health is going down because of the constant work he has to do as prime minister… i hope he doesn’t die when ryuuki gets back from the ran province….ok i might be going too far for yuushun’s death… no i hope he is still WELL after ryuuki gets back from the ran province.
aznchocoholic…Yuushun has had that limp since Reinshin first met him while taking the exam (one of the side stories in the manga). Though I’m not sure it is ever explained as to how he got it. But other than that, I believe Yuushun is in excellent condition. There is a bit of awsome mystery behind him and I hope that they throw that tid-bit in there.
@heather_ OOOOOO. i guess i didn’t read that… ya and i kno that there’s mystery behind yuushun but i don’t kno wat it is… i hope they make an ep for like the early days of reishin, yuushun, and houju. haha… that’d be like sooooo funny!
Erm, somebody tell me if i translate it right: I surfed recently NHK Saiunkoku official website, and they say this Sat is another highlight special interview with the seiyuus (again!). If it’s a special, at least I hope they have the courtesy to tell if we’re reaching the ending of Saimono. If it’s another episode, hallelujah, let’s get on with the show!
still no news about a 3rd season?
@Fudge: Arr, Superman???? LOL, well, superman is both good in both versions. Shouka completely turns inside out with his transformation. That makes him very cool!
@Nanami: OH OH, let me go back to check it. Well, he isn’t very evil feel in that episode. However, in this one, he really feels extremely intimidating. Like a real assassin.
@Heather: I think it’s probably some birth defect that he has to face since Yuushun does not look to be physical strong compared to the rest of the major characters in the show. Yuushun is really an enigma though, where you really know nothing much of him.
@SeaMaiden: Yep, it’s yet another special for next week.
@Delphyne: Nope X_X
I can’t believe their gonna stop Saiunkoku just when it’s getting REALLY good!!! That’s SO unfair!!!
Thanks again Impz for another great summary! It was good to see more Shouka-sama time. I love his character, scary but still cool enough to be a loving dad to Shuurei and Seiran. I think in many ways Seiran mirrors Shouka. I believe Seiran was taken into Shouka’s home by the age of 13 so it would be quite natural for Seiran to pick up his substitute dad’s traits. It was also good watching Shuuei in action. As for the yaoi vibes, yeah I got that too between Ryuuki/Shuuei. But I also think their relationship is sort of like Naruto/Sasuke or Kyouya/Tamaki from Ouran Club. Best of friends and close as brothers.
Question, I noticed that there are only to DVDs in the English version of SM. Doesn’t seem like it made any waves in US. Does anyone know how SM is doing in Japan? Is there still enough interest where they will do a Season 3? I would really hate have to a tragic anime death, that is, they end the series with major cliffhangers and unresolved love between the main characters. Any news on the lifespan of Saiunkoku? Also, any news on the novel? Haven’t seen anything new in a while. I’m depressed. I think the reason for lack of interest in US is due to Bleach and Naruto. I’ve gone to two anime festivals and the major cosplayers are leaf ninjas, naruto, kakashi and the sand ninjas. Death Note and Bleach are cosplayed a lot too. This wreaks!
finally braved episodes 30-31 and thank god i read these reviews so it actually made some sense to me XD thank you for blogging ;P
I’m looking forward to the next episode ^0^
Gypse-chan
Actually SM was picked up by Geneon who file BK and all their Anime series came to a screeching hault. Otherwise we would be up to Vol 4 in English subs. So right now, SM could (and hopefully will) be picked up by another co. I ended up by the English subtitled ones which get you up to season 1 ep 23 (possibly 26). But there are some SM fans that are trying to put something together to send to the other company’s to pick SM back up.
As for a season 3… SM is doing VERY well in Japan right now, but the anime looks to be where the novels are. So unless they do season 3 on side stories, it will probably end where the Manga does.
season 1 fansubs finished up to ep 39. There are a lot of torrent sites that would get you those. If you just want to watch them, try crunchyroll.
Season 2 fansubs, the shared proj by flc and ssf is on going but there’s this other person who does the same proj on her own and has overtaken the eps being done by the other two. They say the subs can be found on youtube, only that i haven’t tried watching them. I’d rather stick to the joint flc/ssf proj.
I am getting this strange feeling that producers will take a break until the novels end, just like what happened to kyou kara maoh. It’s only now that they resumed the anime by producing 5 ova’s before the 39 eps that will start end of 1st quarter. The print version has concluded the story.
They just might do the same to saimono and if that happens, all we can do is wait.
X(
Grrrrrrrrr!
X_X
Thnks Heather and KaeBoo for answering my questions. Man this wreaks! It’s just like Rurouni Kenshin. They practically killed the anime with a few mindless fillers while waiting for the Jinchuu arc to be finished by the author. By the time he finished many fans lost interest. The final OVA answered a few questions for those who followed the series but the ending was not based on the manga. I also read where the author wasn’t happy with the way Sony ended his anime either. He wanted Kenshin to have a peaceful ending. I’m really hoping that doesn’t happen to Saiunkoku. The story is very intriguing and rich in character. I really love Shuurei’s role as a strong lead with all the hotties (especial Seiran) around her. I have a feeling it will end in unrequited love for everyone. (another Tenchi Muyo saga) The author must have some kind of writer’s block. That’s too bad. I just hope the TV anime proders end Season 2 in a way that will encourage the fans to want more. There aren’t many good animes out there like Saiunkoku.
@heather
Btw, what you mean by Geneon filed BK? Do you actually mean they went bankrupt? Since when? If that’s the case, no wonder I cannot get anything from them! I’ve been trying mad as hell to find SM DVD Season 1!! I could only obtain Episode 1-26 by another co. but their translation is… *aaaaaaaarrrgh, beat TV to pulp!* :O
@Gypsy-chan
Re: Saimono Season 2 @ http://www.youtube.com
crystalis, a fansubber like Four-leaf Clover, has recently join the SM fansubbing group. She has just recently added episode 14 and she does not disappoint with her translations! She has started subbing since episode 9.
Bad news for Eng-subbed SM fanatics (like us, haha!) – youtube has only 14 eng-subbed episodes currently. The rest are sadly in RAWs (grrrrr!)
Re: Saimono cosplay?
I wouldn’t count on Saimono to be cosplayed. It’s hard to beat the popularity of Bleach, Death Note or Naruto. I wonder is fanamine the same as cosplay though. I caught on youtube a Saimono cosplay titled ‘Hanabee @ Fanime 2007 – #06′. They apparently won the Judges Award Craftsmanship. It’s 3 mins long, but it’s a agonizingly funny lol
Re: Saimono’s future
I’ve waited for years for a hard-to-find gem like Saimono! It’s scandalous if they screwed-up Saimono’s finale! Although not in league like Miyazaki’s ‘Spirited Away’, Saimono is ranked among the best potential of animes. I’m sure Japan is on Saimono high ’cause SM DVDs are always a sold-out. That’s how popular SM is now. I hope the market for Saimono isn’t dwindlin. I hate it if Saimono is kill off suddenly, leaving us in an awful empty limbo.
@seamaiden ahhh, crystalis. I just might look her up although youtube vids are normally broken into 3 parts for each episode. I’ve been relying too much on veoh lately.
I just hope they would end this anime properly based on the novels and not like what they did to samurai X.
There are still a thousand questions left unanswered.
*sigh*
Seamaiden ->> Yep bankrup. They stopped all production on ALL their Anime Dec. (12 days short for Vol 3 in Engish Voice subs). So buy anything you want from their co right now, because once it is gone, you won’t be able to order it. I’m hoping that when they begin to sell off their Anime, Saiunkoku will be bought and picked up by another co. But even if that happens it could be a year or two off. But here is to hoping!
I only found out about their BK because I pre-ordered up to vol 4 in English voice trans and I got the notice that vol 3 and 4 would not be arriving.
My litter bro, sis, and friend were all very sad. I don’t mind watching it with subtitles but my little bro and sis won’t do it.
Anyway, I’m really hoping that Saiunkoku doesn’t get a crappy ending thrown on where Ryukkie and Shurrie will suddenly marry. I’m hopeing that they will end it where the Manga left off till more are written.
And it isn’t because the author has a writing block, acutually the author has been producing a lot of material lately. Saiunkoku is so popular in Japan that you can actually by a Shurrie, Ryukkie, Kouyuu, Shuuie Ran, or Serian (in his “normal clothes”) costume. I tried to talk my friends into it for Halloween, but it didn’t happen.
ooooh, that explains a lot. Thanks heather!
I admit it’s my preference that all foreign films speaks their native dialect to maintain their original authencity. With Saimono, I like it with their original Jap voices but with English subtitles on. But I feel sorry for your bro + sis. It’s a shocking adjustment that needs time to overcome. I hope they will get over it soon…
Do you happen to know any other anime co other than Geneon that produces quality Eng subtitles? I’ll keep them in mind once the whole Saimono series is finished & I’ll buy the whole SM is 1 DVD Collection package. I don’t mind the wait. It’s worth it
I agree with both you + Kaeboo. I rather have the directors end Season 2 earlier than intended March with their finale close to the novels than have too much fillers + highlight specials. And please, I love RyuukiXShuurei pairing but I don’t expect marriage from them that fast before Season 2 ends! Rushing things up spoils the beauty of SM lol :O
Seamaiden, pretty much all of them have their perks in their own rights. I’ve never really came to an anime co i did or didn’t like, it is more of individual taste over the anime itself. I find I own Anime from all the different copany’s. But, I have notice something. If I don’t buy it from a US company (like how I’m having to buy Saiunkoku Subtitled dvd’s overseas) They tend to do weird things with the characters names for the first few episodes. Like Serian = Jing Jun, Shoka = Miss/Mr Red, ect. Then they eventually seem to get the name right and it continues smoothly from there.
I just want to ask…is SM2 gonna stop???…what I mean is are they no more episodes going out since you are talking about the bankrupcy of a certain anime co.
@jellyfish888
The bankruptcy of an anime co. we’ve been talking about is Geneon from USA. It’s the main anime co. that have been licensing SaiMono + other animes to dub them from original Jap into English. Geneon is now closing down.
SM 2 would not be stopping, in fact Season 3 should be on the way since the story isn’t finished. Just that it’ll be in Jap most of the time now.
Whether the whole SM2 will be dubbed in English by another anime co. remains a question. We don’t know who’ll be the next licensor for Saimono now.
Tnx for the clarification…but how come the summary for episode 33 doesn’t come out yet?
@Jellyfish: Arr, cos they had a week break ^^ The broadcasters, that is ^^
Yikes! Been off the planet for a few weeks and now I feel so behind w/ Saimono eps. Work has been hell.
I haven’t watched the raw of this episode yet, but addressing the whole yaoi vibe between Ryuuki & Shuuei. I think relationships between guys in Japan and in some parts of Asia is more lax than in the west. I recall seeing guys walk around w/ an arm slung casually around another guy’s shoulder without automatically being labelled as anything but just hanging around.
Also, in one of the Gaidens. Shuuei reflects on his relationship w/ younger bro Ryuuren. Shuuei actually thinks that he feels like Ryuuki is more close like a younger brother than Ryuuren.
But, on the other hand, they have both sorta admitted to being “double-edged swords”! heheh…
Eeeek!
Shouka-sama’s eyes are a KILLER o_O
Poor Shuuei ):
Somebody should make a yaoi couple out of some saimono characters in an OVA to make the fangirls squeal in delight.
;x
Ep 33 is gewdy-good, and the BGM for the last few minutes is SO sad. I hope the third OST comes out with that BGM, or I’ll kill myself.
@Nanami – about the two characters you asked about (”this Field Marshal General with tiger on his shoulder and his superior (both were at the ceremony of Shuuei’s resignation)”): this would be Haku Daishogun and Koku Daishogun respectively, wouldn’t it be? We saw both of them, briefly, in the first episode of this season, when Shuuei was trying to get out of the Uringun’s drinking party, but Seiran shot arrows at him until he had to come inside, remember? (Haku Daishogun was also the person who gave Seiran an elevated military rank in the first season, when Shuurei and Eigetsu were imprisoned by Kochou in Kouga House.)
@ Tiff – I agree with you about the 3rd OST. It needs to come out quickly. Some of the music is the same as in the first season, but there are some bit that are wholly new to this season that are absolutely beautiful. (Like the music in episodes 10 & 11, when Ensei and Shuurei are trying to get into Kouling town.)
I hope the third season is announced soon. They shouldn’t keep the fans waiting long…and an English dub company needs to pick it up and do a good job dubbing it.
@souven
I don’t think there will be a third season any time soon. Such an announcement can only come after 1-2 more volumes of the novel are released. Even so, it would take about half a year for the third season to air, so that even more volumes can be released.
About dubbing…There is a very low chance that any company will pick it up. To release two seasons is crazy and expensive. Unless the series has a strong fanbase, no company would be stupid enough to spend money on dubbing an anime that is not widely popular with non-Japanese people. I’d rather get the Jap dvd box sets ;p