(NOTE: Meant to get this published while I was out of town last week, but site issues kept me from accessing the draft to publish it. But it’s still technically the holidays, and it’s in before the year is over, at least going by US EST) In accordance with Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei vol. 4, this holiday season I have decided to celebrate Kurushimimasu in place of Christmas. While many out there in the blogging community have posted their best moments and the things from the past year in anime that have made them thankful, in the spirit of Kurushimimasu here’s my listing of anime-related things that made me suffer and/or despair. So, it’s time to hang my disappointments and frustrations from the Kurushimimasu Tree and indulge in some bitterness and you are all welcome to join me in the comments section with your own contributions to celebrate the holiday. It’s the things that I’ve been irked by from the past year and had to endure hearing about or watching, and while it may seem harsh try to remember that it’s all in fun. Merry Kurushimimasu!

Vocaloids

Why is this popular exactly?

Hate me if you want, but this vocaloid shit is ridiculous. The concept itself is kind of cool, being able to make vocals with just a computer program. But people have gone freaking nuts with it. I just do not understand the god damn obsession with Hatsune Miku and the others that has gripped much of the fandom. They’re not even actual characters that have a backstory or development or anything, other than a few traits thrown in for some of them in descriptions. No vocaloid sounds half as good as a real human singing, hate to break that to you fans. Really, I think the obsession people have originates from deep in the hearts of the most twisted nerd/otaku souls: the ‘singer’ isn’t a real person so the crazed fan never has to think of them in any way other than they mental image they have in their head. A vocaloid will never contradict a fan’s obsessed thoughts about them like a real singer would. A vocaloid will never have a relationship with someone, so the obsessed fan can always hold out hope/lift them up as a pure idol. If you think that last comment is too cynical or disparaging, just look at that shitstorm that happened when the author of Kannagi revealed that Nagi had a boyfriend in her past.

The Lack of Mecha This Year

I feel like something’s missing here…

Despite the PURE WIN that was MS Igloo 2, there were only those three episodes plus season 2 of Gundam 00 (which was a poor substitute for a true mecha series) for us mecha fans this past year. You could include Shin Mazinger Z, but I wouldn’t since that’s a Super Robot show and mecha has pretty much come to mean Real Robot shows. And the upcoming winter season is continuing this starvation for mecha fans. I feel like we need to make one of those Save the Children commercials except for mecha fans. Set it to some sad music and have a montage of mecha fans going through withdrawal. Please anime studios, for less than it costs to make yet another harem anime you can feed the thousands of mecha fans in their time of need. To show how your contribution is helping, you’ll receive quarterly earnings reports detailing how your series is selling thousands of model kits and other merchandise. Please, think of the fanboys and fangirls.

Turning Graham Acre into Bushido Bob

Observe how Gundam 00’s writers turned one of their few good characters into crap.

Speaking of. There was a lot to hate about Gundam 00. A lot. The weak, oversimplified, pretentious, uniformed attempts at using real geopolitics and suggesting how to change the world. The insufferable main characters who I wished long and painful deaths upon every moment that I watched the show. The endless deus ex machina that allowed the forces of terror and instability (Celestial Being) to escape the justice that they deserved. There are many examples. But the reason I kept watching the show was because there were a few things that were done well: the ‘bad guys’ who fought against Celestial Being. The people who actually had the best interests of humanity in mind, who bravely faced down the evil that was Celestial Being. And my favorite among them from the first season (alongside Prince Ali al Sarshes) was Graham Acre. He fought the enemy with both professionalism and suave. He was a leader of men, and repeatedly led his squadron of Flag mobile suits (my favorite MS from the series) out in defense of Union. The Flag Fighters worked as a team, and he also had the guts to stand by his men and to get them the very best equipment.

Well, that was in season 1. After his death that no one ever believed for a second was his death at the end of the first season, he reappeared in the form of Bushido Bob, a weaboo solo fighter who imitated Japanese swordsmanship and martial code while not following orders and generally disgracing his former reputation. I should have known that Gundam 00 would ruin one of the few good things about it. Same deal with how Louise actually became a decent, self-confident, and impressive individual, only to be turned back into a docile doll who couldn’t think for herself and had to hang on Saji’s arm all the time. Fuck, at least they didn’t ruin Patrick and Kati by the end.

People Obsessing Over A Few Animation Glitches in Minami Ke: Okaeri

Your disproportionate complaints make Chiaki cry. Is that what you wanted?! Huh?!

While I understand pointing out issues with quality control and whatnot, I was really, really surprised by how much people made a big fuss out of some problems with the animation in Minmi Ke: Okaeri. It went beyond just pointing them out, people just attacked the show for them. And to be honest I barely noticed most of them. Did they affect the quality of the jokes? No. Did they ruin the comedic atmosphere? No. The shut the fuck up and enjoy the comedy. Without Okaeri, we wouldn’t have has such great moments as the Curry no Yousei scene.

The Continuing Degradation of the Once Great Adult Swim

If you’re lucky.

Plenty can be said of the they’re-not-even-trying-anymore, stoner-oriented content that is half of what is aired on Adult Swim these days, but this is an anime blog so I’m going to concentrate on my beef with Adult Swim’s anime series, or should I say the lack thereof anymore. Perhaps I am old and bitter when it comes to AS. I’ve watched it ever since it started back when I was in late elementary or early middle school, and I watched the Toonami Midnight Run eventually turn into AS. Eventually it became an every night thing, showing all different anime series and later on added some original comedy series on Sunday nights. Today it’s 6 days a week comedy, at least half of it anymore being absolute crap (Superjail, Squidbillies, Xavier, etc) though there are some great series as well (Robot Chicken, Titan Maximum, The Boondocks.) But there is only one night of anime anymore, and it’s only ever the big name series like Bleach and Code Geass. Adding insult to injury, in the past year (on one of the few occasions I watched it) the ‘bumps’ during the breaks sometimes even actively made fun of their anime show and the fans of them. What a way to treat the fanbase that got you started.

Back in my day, we walked fifteen miles in the snow…I mean, AS introduced me and so many others to great anime every night, with the premiers on Saturday and Sunday nights. The AS that I knew and loved introduced me to Gundam 0083, Cowboy Bebop, Inuyasha, and Outlaw Star. And it even showed less well known/popular series like Milk-chan and Paranoia Agent. Even if they didn’t go almost completely over to the low budget comedy side of things, I couldn’t imagine AS today taking a chance on the more obscure shows like they did. Granted, this slide towards suck didn’t just occur this year, it just continued along a path it’s been on for a few years now. And it’s not like it’s exactly necessary anymore with the proliferation of high speed connections and fansubbing groups. But it still pisses me off every time I flip past Cartoon Network at night, so I’m writing about it here.

Inuyasha Kanketsuhen Killing Off Two of My Favorite Characters

Kikiyooooo!!! Kaguraaaa!!!

I’m really pleased with the final season of Inuyasha, with the exception of a few leveling up episodes early on, and I’m excited to see the story finally get its conclusion. While I know that deaths are inevitable near the end of the saga, and while I don’t disagree with the need for this, no Kurushimimasu list would be complete without the suffering inflicted on this fanboy by the deaths of both Kagura and Kikiyo, two of my three favorite characters from the show. Both deaths were handled well and the characters got to go out on something of a high note, getting to be with their loves at the end and Kikiyo even getting a final kiss. But god damn if they weren’t upsetting, both in and of themselves and because I liked the characters so much. And their deaths make my two OTPs impossible! I might have to go and make myself taller if anything happens to Sesshomaru, the last remaining member of my fanboy triumvirate. Inuyasha Kanketsuhen has left me in despair!

Got a little behind here, so I’m condensing three episodes into one post. Episode 07 was a mostly just setup, but 08 and 09 were much more significant to the story and quite powerful for fans. Kikiyo and Naraku have their final face to face duel as Inuyasha, Kagome and Miroku do what they can to support her efforts. Kohaku is separated from his protector, but courageously defends Rin and decides on joining up with Sesshomaru. And the Lord of the West acquires a new title and grows as a character. The events of 08 and 09 most assuredly deserve their place in the greater Saga of Inuyasha as all who bore witness can attest to.

(Just a quick announcement: due to taking over primary authorship for our Kimi ni Todoke posts and Crusader’s very limited amount of time, we’ll be shifting Inuyasha posts to two episode, bi-weekly posts from now on. Also, for this post I’ll depart a little from my established format to bring a little bit more of a narrative style that I alluded to in the post title.)

Excerpts from ‘ExecutiveOtaku’s Life of Kikiyo’ and ‘The Sesshomaru-id’

They are well suited to each other. If only Naraku’s evil had not interrupted their love.

Kikiyo gives freely of herself to heal others.

They burn with an intensity that can bring the most heroic man to womanly tears.

‘Proceed to the mountain of the guitar goddess and string the bow with one of her Fender’s strings and thus shall you slay all foes before you.’

Like old times.

Kohaku joins up with Sesshomaru, undeterred by Jaken’s comical helplessness.

Kagome was thus tested by the spirits of Mt. Azusa to ensure her worthiness to carry the bow.

Kikiyo, born of respected but obscure parentage, first of her family and elder sister to Kaede, became the sacred custodian of the Shikon Jewel at a young age. She was, indeed, by long experience and natural temperament, skillful in the mystic arts, true of aim with the bow, brave, valiant, of a strong intellect matched to stunning beauty, ever compassionate to those around her and unrelenting in pursuing vengeance against those who would cause them harm. Falling in love with Inuyasha, the two in their youth set out to use the Shikon Jewel to bring happiness to their lives, but were tragic victims of Naraku’s cowardly deceits. Much has been told of her great deeds and of how she overcame the hatred falsely instilled in her heart, but now I write of her final days. O sorrow and woe! To see the demise of one so noble and beautiful! Her sacrifices ever in the service of love and friendship, and the ridding of this world of evils. Let history remember her life of grace and her sacrifice for the good of all.

The villain Naraku holds fair Kikiyo captive, but it was he who was at her mercy.

He would have met his just fate if not for the unmanly trick of dropping her, forcing Inuyasha to divert from his attack.

Noble monk Miroku again risked body and soul to destroy Naraku, but owing to his miasma cloud all he was able to do was distract Naraku for a time.

Though of lesser spirit than Kikyo, she still aided Kagome in purifying the Shikon Jewel even as she lay in mortal injury.

The Bow of Mt. Azusa fired straight and true, piercing Kikiyo’s breast and purifying the jewel within mere moments of Naraku seizing it for his nefarious ends. Even in her wounded state she managed to deny Naraku his victory.

Wounded mortally from the conflict and from the absorption of Miroku’s poisons, it was a time of intense sorrow for all. The sky turned red as the blood of the fallen and the heavens themselves cried out in anguish and sorrow.

It was said that at this moment she appeared as a ghostly apparition to her sister, delivering her final message to her before departing this mortal plane. Her comrades gathered around her, wept at the sorrow of her situation and were moved by the dignity by which she carried herself even undo death. Inuyasha carried his love apart from the group to speak in seclusion, there moved by the intense sadness the two still managed to speak of their past and of each other. Kikiyo and Inuyasha, at one point having pledged themselves to each other, later deceived by Naraku’s trickery into becoming adversaries, and then brought back to their love by the light of truth, now spoke their final words to each other. Inuyasha, bemoaning his inability to protect Kikiyo was interrupted in his sorrows by her words; coming for her in the moments of peril was demonstration enough of his love, and he need not feel guilt. Their love flared once more in a most passionate kiss as the brave and beautiful Kikiyo breathed her last, her spirit accompanied on its eternal journey by her loyal spirit attendants. As her spirit passed, she imparted a message to Kagome as well, thanking her for purifying her soul before death and was said to have spoken “Weep not friend, for me who is innocent and dies by the treacherous acts of a wicked man. For my condition is far better than his.”

After so long apart, Kikiyo’s spirit returns to her home village to speak with her bereaved sister.

At first he felt guilt, but then Miroku was reassured by noble Sango. For Kikiyo would not allow another love to be cut short by the wicked deeds of Naraku and thus kept Miroku alive to be with Sango.

Of all Naraku’s crimes, the greatest by far was in stopping this love before it could properly begin. It is a tragedy that would reduce even the gods to tears.

Even one so resolved and controlled in his sorrow as Inuyasha could not help but shed tears at such a heart wrenching moment.

A last smile before departing, a final gift to Inuyasha.

Denied to them for so long by Naraku’s machinations, at her end Kikiyo and Inuyasha share a tender kiss. Kikiyo left this earth happy in the arms of her love, but for Inuyasha this is but a drop of happiness in a river of sorrow.

The levity of his comrade Koga was not even enough to fully bring Inuyasha out from the gloom of Kikiyo’s passing. or Inuyasha this is but a drop of happiness in a river of sorrow.

His Shikon shards gone, Koga departs the group as he no longer has the ability to effectively fight Naraku. He returns home to his kingdom, a prince long removed from hearth and home.

The Sesshomaru-id, book VII, chapter ix.

The disturbance caused by the death of virtuous Kikiyo could be felt even at great distance, and there stood Sesshomaru, Lord of the Western Lands with his retinue. He looked into the sky, thinking dark thoughts, when a cloud in the shape of a great hound leapt through the sky and the Lord of the West pursued it, tackling it to the earth. There then stood another being of long white hair, cunning eyes, and perfect features, feminine in form. Jakken shouted out in a fright, until his lord revealed to him that this was his mother. Ascending to her palace among the clouds, Sesshomaru sought her council in strengthening the Meido Zangestuha. Drifting through the clouds, there before her throne a hound of the underworld was suddenly unleashed on him, taking Rin and Kohaku in its gut. Boldly Sesshomaru leapt through the rend that lead to the underworld in pursuit.

Her retainers assembled below, the mother of Sesshomaru spoke of the underworld in terms as uncaring as those often ascribed to her son.

Lavish was her palace and garments. The finest of silks, gold like that of Apollo’s chariot shone in the pure sunlight and all gave off an air of utter refinement.

Queen, do not tempt the Furies that reside at the blasphemous realm known as fan fiction and doujinshi, for their works are many and they need no new ideas to spread their mischief with.

The underworld realm was vast, rough underfoot and defended by dark and bottomless pools. There Sesshomaru chased the hound, finding it soon thereafter and with naked blade in hand slew it with a great slash across its stomach. Rin and Kohaku within were freed, but the heavy and foul atmosphere of the place drew the life out of Rin, having neither youkai blood nor Shikon shard to protect her. At this moment the Queen in the Clouds offered up a way to return for her son, though assuring him that Rin would die. While the dangers and fear were great, he set this offer aside and proceeded further into the foul and terrible realm. Within lay a guardian that held Rin’s body and possibly the key to returning her to life. Slaying the guardian was no difficult task for the noble lord, but there he stood unable to help his companion Rin. In a pit here a whole mountain of corpses lay, as many souls as leaves that yield their hold on boughs and fall through forests in the early frost of autumn. There Sesshomaru stood desperate for a way to help Rin, dropping Tenseiga to the ground and attempting to sacrifice it to save the life of his companion. It glowed with a terrible power, and at this he picked it up and cut his way through to the mortal world, the rend now larger than before.

Caring for his retinue, Sesshomaru did not yield to hellish hound nor skeletal forms of darkness that sought to destroy him.

Its tall and intimidating form standing before the abyss, the guardian holds Rin in its grasp. But Sesshomaru fears nothing in defense of those he cares for.

Rin is now free, but still without the breath of life.

Casting aside the Tenseiga causes it to resonate with the souls and draw power from the underworld. It has become much more powerful, and Sesshomaru was forever known thereafter, among his multitude of titles, as Conqueror of the Underworld.

Returning from the underworld, more powerful than before but distraught for the life of Rin.

After returning Sesshomaru’s grief is expressed through his vassal Jakken and he is scolded by his mother for attempting to master life and death with the Tenseiga. Having brought Rin back to the living once prior with the weapon, he is to be taught that he is not of Olympus and that he should learn to feel strongly for others before having such powers. One with such a stoic temperament would not allow these emotions to be easily seen, but his mother is most perceptive and after speaking with Jakken as well uses her amulet to revive Rin. Sesshomaru’s gratitude and joy at seeing Rin returned to life are profound if still hidden by his nature, but such feelings, as well as those he felt for the most unfortunate Kagura, may become his strength as he wields Tenseiga against the vile Naraku.

There is nothing the gods hate more than arrogance.

Awakening from death’s icy clutches for the second time, Rin’s first sight is that of the face of her protector.

Kohaku is moved by the Lord of the West’s profound display of compassion and pledges himself to his side, while Sesshomaru’s mother wonders at his concern for one human life.

Final Thoughts: – Dear god Kikiyo’s death was sad. Like, almost last episode of Honey and Clover sad, leaves you feeling drained after watching it sad. I’m still kind of recovering from that. And when they played the instrumental version of ‘Dearest’ when she was dying…BAAWWW.

- Kanketsuhen seems bent on killing off all my favorite characters. First Kagura, now Kikiyo. That’s 2 out of my 3 favorites. I just hope Sesshomaru survives this thing.

- 08 and 09 were very enjoyable, even if 08 was kind of depressing. At least 09 ended on a more upbeat note.

No individual post for episode 05 due to not much happening during the episode. There wasn’t much to talk about and I also had some fairly pressing constraints on my time, so I decided it would be better to combine episode post. You could call it an executive decision. Now that I’ve gotten in my required groan-inducing pun, let’s recap. In episode 05 Inuyasha meets with Tottosai to discuss the problems with the Tessaiga that have been occurring ever since it integrated the youki-absorbing scales with the blade. Going to see a master recommended by Tottosai, the gang goes to a small town to seek his counsel. After going through this, the next episode is all about Goryoumaru/Mouryomaru and Naraku.  Sprinkled throughout are various weapons upgrades as the development of new weapons and new countermeasure continues at a pace rivaling that of The One Year War or the Operation Stardust incident.

Episode 05: Starting out two snake-like youkai are fighting their eternal battle against each other when Goryoumaru appears intent on absorbing their power. They briefly unite and are easily beating their foe when one turns on the other in front of their mutual enemy, a move that would make Chiang Kai-Shek proud. Exploiting this Goryoumaru absorbs them just in time for Sesshomaru to show up and attack him. Though once again he’s bailed out and allowed to escape by Byakuya’s intervention. The rest of the episode involves Inuyasha and his group going to the town where the old master lives and seeking his help. His guts where absorbed by a passing youkai, and he tasks Inuyasha with retrieving them without using the Tessaiga. After fighting a disguised youkai, he learns how to detect and attack the vortexes of youki that all youkai possess.

Episode 06: At the opening Naraku comes to absorb a youkai and human eating tree that was sealed long ago by Kikiyo. It’s becoming active again as the barrier fades from age and Kikiyo’s weakening, and Naraku tricks it into attacking him, consuming it himself and taking its youki piercing vines. Kouga briefly encounters Kikiyo who explains to him why his Shikon shards have been slowing him down at times. She tells him that she’ll take them peacefully or by force, but he refuses and runs off to continue his pursuit of Goryoumaru. Kouga’s quarry flies to confront Naraku, considering himself sufficiently powerful to meet him in battle. They fight as Kouga, Kikiyo, and Inuyasha’s groups converge on the area. There they witness Goryoumaru seemingly defeat and absorb Naraku, combining their Shikon shards. Inuyasha and Kouga attempt to slow him down, using the terrain to their advantage, but the Infant’s anti-youki barrier is preventing Inuyasha from finding the vertiexes in his energy. Kikiyo then informs Kagome and Sango of her plan, and despite Sango’s objections Kohaku is willing to sacrifice himself to the plan.

Naraku is a magnificent bastard though, and all is not as it seems. The Shikon shards have no combined and as Goryoumaru attempts to absorb Kouga, Inuyasha guesses correctly that the point of absorption is a vortex and has Kouga fire the Goraishi at the Tessaiga and then strikes this point. Making things worse for Goryoumaru inside his armored form Naraku has endured despite the attempt to consume him. And now inside the shell, normally unable to be pierced, he makes his move. The seemingly random acquisition of the youkai tree is now revealed to be integral to Naraku’s plan. The tree would consume youkai by penetrating their youki field and in the close quarters of Goryoumaru’s interior the vines easily work their way through the infant’s barrier. The tables are now turned and Goryoumaru is destroyed, the infant now a hostage to Naraku in his new form. At this point Miroku sees a chance to destroy him, heart and form now in the same place and vulnerable, and opens his wind tunnel. But this takes time and Miroku strains himself, the curse spreading through him as he draws Naraku in. He’s determined to end things here and not even blood pouring out from his eyes and mouth. In the end, only Inuyasha’s intervention prevents him from taking both himself and Naraku out, though his wounds are still grievous. Kikiyo offers to heal what she can, but notes that a body that has taken that kind of damage will never be fully restored.

Sorry if I’m a bit at a loss for commentary for these episodes. Episode 06 was significant in terms of storyline, but it didn’t give me much to speculate on as things were left up in the air on many fronts. Though Naraku reaffirmed himself as a worthy antagonist by his skillful use of specialized weaponry and deception to strike at the heart of Goryoumaru and the infant, reversing his seeming decline vis a vis Goryoumaru. Naraku was the original Big Bad, and he proved that he still holds the crown in this series.

Crusader’s Song of Sango and Other Observations

Filler aside Sango didn’t do terribly much while the monument to stupidity that that annoying baby created was powering up. Naraku wins yet again but so it was written. Miroku made Sango cry and I do lament how the lowly monk’s hand did not glow with an AWESOME POWER WHOSE LOUD ROAR TELLS HIM TO DEFEAT NARAKU. Oddly enough for once I am starting to like Kikyo more since she isn’t just a cold Miko anymore now that Kohaku is following her around. Wolf boy is starting to get on my nerves he can’t control the shards yet hopes to abuse their power… As fights go it was pretty meh Wolf Boy’s weapon was pretty much a non factor against the Mobile Armor more over Inuyahsa and Wolf boy are no 8th Team nor Immortal 4th Team and Mouryoumaru is no Norris Packard. Indeed  Mobile Armor-san did chicken out and beat a brave retreat when the Lord of the West showed up to field test his newly reforged Narsil Tenseiga. Still the annoying baby is gone the Mobile Armor is now a pile of scrap and all that is left is Naraku and his new boy toy origami otaku. I guess that makes it a net plus before ep seven.

ExecutiveOtaku’s Screencap Commentary, References, and Bad Puns

Kohaku swears his loyalty unto death to the One True Priestess.

Demonstrating that power is useless without wisdom.

My liege would have ended things now if it weren’t for that meddling kid.

Under the bridge downtown…

Apparently a secondary effect of the scales is that it can allow Inuyasha to detect the vertexes and strike at them.

The dangers of mating a new and different technology to an old delivery system.

Out shopping.

Oh Inuyasha, you and your spoiler episode titles.

We can do this the easy way or the hard way Kouga.

Naraku unleashes some of his old chemical weapons to clean out the battlefield.

Upgraded Goryoumaru vs Naraku in something that looks like a cross between a sea anemone and the Neue Ziel.

One step closer to the realization of Kikiyo’s plan, but one more source of power to the enemy.

He’s only really useful as a living I-Field.

Hitting the weak spot.

Hi thar, usurper.

Naraku is in your body, killing your chances of freedom.

Kagome tries to make an opening in Naraku’s armor before he can adjust to his new form.

Miroku may have the most powerful weapon of them all…

…but at great cost.

Sango is so dignified, even now she uses titles of respect.

Despite assured victory, Inuyasha finds that a friend’s life is too high a price to pay.

It’s good to see Kikiyo interacting with the main group, even if it may only be for a time.

Kind of a slow episode this time, though the continuing theme seems to be that the characters’ world is becoming awash in youkai sword technology lately. Sesshomaru conducts more testing of the Tenseiga while Inuyasha and his team attempt to track down the source of the youki-absorbing blade they found and broke last episode. That searching is the main focus of this episode, but we also have the introduction of another agent of Naraku, Byakuya.

Seriously, it’s like it’s becoming a course in arms proliferation. Naraku has maintained the edge in conventional weapons and in numbers, and to counter this lately several parties have embarked on research and development of their own new systems. Goryoumaru obtained his new armor shell as part of the short-lived coup. Sesshomaru continues to conduct weapons tests with weaponized Tenseiga, a dual-use technology that has been converted to an offensive weapon. Kouga has obtained the Goraishi from the burial grounds of his ancestors, making him a much stronger force than before. And Inuyasha has begun tracking down the rogue state of this scenario after he finds a youki-absorbing blade in the hands of a very minor actor.

After consulting with Totosai and tracking the source of the blade to a village, Inuyasha, Kagome and their compatriots find it under attack by a youkai. As it attacks it smashes a building to reveal the blacksmith that forged the Dakki. The youkai itself has a youki-absorbing shield that drains the force of Tessaiga, but Inuyasha intentionally overloads it and destroys the youkai. Though after this is done the blacksmith, Toushuu, uses the new Dakki to absorb the power of the slain youkai which perfects the sword. We find out that the Dakki in the previous episode was just an incomplete prototype stolen from Toushuu, and that his real ambition was to obtain power via a complete Dakki. With this he begins to attack Inuyasha to claim the Tessaiga’s power and we get a real sword fight since Inuyasha’s youki attacks would just be instantly absorbed by the Dakki. The Tessaiga begins to chip under attack and youki-energy drain and eventually reverts to its plain katana form, but not before making a chip in the Dakki. Inuyasha sees this chance, and even with a drained weapon he manages to keep chipping away at the crack, breaking the Dakki and releasing its energy back to the Tessaiga. Toushuu is killed in the process, his arm fused to the broken blade, and Tessaiga even absorbs the scaled form of the Dakki.

Elsewhere Kouga encounters a youkai that has slain a group of his fellows and the survivor that it blackmailed into helping. Once he find the enemy he makes short work of it, but an unknown individual is standing there and diverts Kouga by putting the hostage onto a moth youkai. This eventually leads Kouga and the kid to Goryoumaru, who had just consumed the moth. Midoriko’s soul is having its weighing effect on his Shikon shards, but luckily for him Inuyasha and his group arrive. The two cooperate, and Kagome and Inuyasha hit hard at the spot where Sesshomaru wounded Goryoumaru, forcing him to retreat. Though when Inuyasha tries to use the new Tessaiga form, the blade quickly heats up and then explodes, sending him flying back and harming him in the process. Afterwards Byakuya reveals himself, saying he was merely an observer without identifying his affiliation. After departing he reports to Naraku, who is interested by this new development with the Tessaiga.

Crusader’s Song of Sango and Other Observations

Sadly Sango didn’t have much to do this episode as she sat on the sidelines with most of the cast as Inuyasha and Kouga start bickering again. It’s funny how both Sponge Bob-no-pants and Captain Yin relied on armor to carry the day, there has never been a point in warfare where armor trumped everything, apparently they did not get that memo and relied on fixed defenses instead of sophisticated ECM packages coupled with high mobility, with fancy foot work. Naraku leads his Youkai Soviet but even with this conscript army it is not match the Lord of the West, or Sango and her band of merry morons plus Kagome and Kirara. Ah well the arms race continues but I am hoping for the Upgrade Complete to sound off so things start moving again. I wonder if Byakuya’s sword is merely for show if not he’s going to need a few upgrades.

Executive Otaku’s Screencap Commentary, References, and Bad Puns

Weapons tests with the new weaponized Tenseiga continue at Sesshomaru’s undisclosed location.

Apparently the Maido Zangetsuha attack will increase in size to a full moon disk gateway to the underworld as Sesshomaru masters the attack.

The North Korea of this scenario.

Much like Kim Jong-Il, Toushuu was quite willing to take advantage of the death of his benefactor if it meant he would acquire new weapons technology.

See, the sponsor youkai even had Soviet red eyes.

The blackmailed kid returns for his brother. Some observer this guy is.

Kouga to the rescue, and Goraishi in action.

Boy this hostage situation is really bugging me. *rimshot*

It can drain all that energy, but yet the steel itself cracked. Typical North Korean engineering.

Funny how both Dakki ended up breaking. They seem to have a fundamental design flaw.

It’s just as dangerous to use as to be on the receiving end. Definitely Communist engineering at work here.

But mated to the appropriate delivery system and there may be potential in the basic technology of it.

Oh Goryoumaru, please don’t give the fanfiction writers any more ammunition with your tentacle attacks.

Luckily for the kid Sango and Kirara made a daring extraction.

You can tell the game designers are getting lazy when they just give the boss lots of HP instead of cool attacks.

Always good to have a designated marksman in your squad.

Hit in the same spot as Sesshomaru’s strike. Feel the pain and remember what you got for mocking Kagura’s death!

Working so well together.

But in the end they are still like Patton and Montgomery.

There is potential if the force of the Dakki explosion can be harnessed, but as it is the energy release is uncontrollable.

*yawn* I hope he either quickly becomes more interesting or dies because his first impression was very underwhelming.

Because observers never actually intervene.

A little slow on this one due to midterms and internship applications, but now I finally get to this episode and have Crusader onboard to boot! After the fast paced events of the previous two episodes we now have a somewhat slower paced episode as the characters have a short break. In one case this is spent relaxing (to a degree) while Sesshomaru and his group contemplate Kagura’s recent death and prepare for the next move. As this happens, Totosai appears before Sesshomaru and tells him the time is right to begin the weaponization of Tenseiga.

Always having a flair for the dramatic, Sesshomaru sits on a seaside cliff, his thoughts preoccupied with the recent death of Kagura. Though he maintains his cool, he clearly was affected deeply by her passing. Tenseiga appears to have noticed this turmoil in his heart as well for Totosai appears before Sesshomaru at the calling of his sword. He tells him that the sword has responded to the grief in Sesshomaru’s heart and that it has called out to be reforged into a weapon. Meanwhile the main group is resting in a village and filling in Kaede on her sister’s plans while Kagome attends to her studies back in the present era. Splitting her time between the feudal and modern eras continues to vex her come test time, and the stress even gets to her to the point of dreaming that she’s solving math equations at the speed of Light.

At this point both groups divide up the remainder of the show with their stories. In contrast to the dramatic and fast paced events in the first two episodes the Inuyasha group seems to take a break on something not very plot related while Sesshomaru works on reforging and learning to use his weaponized Tenseiga. First up the Inuyasha group is walking through a forest and being shadowed by an unknown figure when they come upon a suspicious looking inn. Several women beckon for them to stay the night, a ploy which works perfectly on our Good and Pure Monk. After Miroku basks in attention as usual, the women change form into fox youkai and receive points for tricking him. Shippo then follows them and finds out that this is a ranking exam for other fox spirits. Through the night the youkai try, successfully and not, to trick the humans and Inuyasha to receive points.

As day breaks the person stalking the group reveals herself as Mujina and asks for Shippo’s help in taking some of Inuyasha’s power to avenge her father. Shippo, for some reason goes right along with this even when Mujina straight out attacks Inuyasha in an attempt to steal Tessaiga, absorbing his Wind Scar attacks into her sword. She then uses Shippo as a hostage when her attacks prove useless, to which Inuyasha responds with a fist to the face, revealing her true identity as Mujina’s father. After attempting to threaten Inuyasha with the Dakki sword Inuyasha simply cuts it in half and punts the annoying youkai away and dispenses a punch of justice to the head of his treacherous comrade. Still, the fact that Mujina’s father even had a blade that could absorb Tessaiga’s Wind Scars makes Inuyasha want to investigate.

At an undisclosed location of interest to UN weapons inspectors, (Totosai claims he is only enriching swords for peaceful purposes) Totosai finishes the weaponization of Tenseiga for Sesshomaru. Guided by the intelligence that resides within the sword Sesshomaru unsheathes the blade for a test. An oni is summoned as a test subject and Sesshomaru makes his first attack with the Tenseiga: the Meido Zangetsuha. Appearing to not even touch the oni at first, the slash forms a rift between the living world and the underworld behind the target, rending the body into pieces and taking some of them into the underworld. Totosai is once again a little jealous at how quickly Sesshomaru can pick up new techniques, but knows that his heart and the sword are now aligned for a righteous purpose. Sesshomaru has a brief flashback to Goryomaru’s words taunting Kagura’s death and reaffirms his determination to avenge her. As he sets out, the wind picks up behind him, Kagura’s spirit following him on his journey to strike down Goryomaru and Naraku with great vengeance and furious anger.

Crusader’s Song of Sango and Other Observations

It has been many years but it is good to see Sango-san beat the crap out of Miroku once again. How I have missed her, but at any rate times have changed Miroku has not and was most faithless. As for the tail check it was understandable and warranted as Miroku cannot run if he has no tail to tuck between his legs. I must say though I am sure those transforming fox demons would have probably at least known loyalty but time changes nothing and Sango-san is willing to marry well below her stature. The Lord of the West was noble as always as he conducted a Soviet Style Weapons Test, no doubt the ogre was a coward who violated the “Not one step back!” order and as a result of “There are no POWs only traitors” order, met a most well deserved fate. Rin might not be Noto’s best role of the year but I have no ill will towards the kid, but i hope at some point she supplants Jaken as Sesshomaru’s #1 fan. Besides as a poor war orphan she has suffered enough though I await the day that the Lord of the West metes out justice on Koga for massacring Rin’s village all those years ago. I kind of feel bad for Kagome as time has not been so kind to her situation as she lacks the latest in educational technology, as surely there is a lightning demon somewhere to charge lithium ion batteries. If she is having problems with math…well there is an app for that. I still find Shippo to be rather annoying, as he’s the kind of achievement whore that would throw his friends under a bus and sell his father’s pelt for a PSN trophy. I was most delighted when it turned out his new playmate was a dirty old geezer. I doubt his masculinity will soon recover after he was attracted to an old man in young woman’s clothing. In the end it was delightful, though I by this point I don’t really mind filler if the episode gives me a so much as a hint of my adorable Sango or even a bit of the Lord of the West being badass.

One last not though, the weaponization of Tenseiga was within the confines of the Treaty, after having lost Tokijin the development of a new weapon was mandated to retain the balance of power. Though please not that the Lord of the West has the option to convert his weapon to have multiple warhead capabilities should he feel the need to match Inuyasha’s ever increasing arsenal and Naraku’s military build up of questionable quality and loyalty.

Executive Otaku’s Screencap Commentary, References and Bad Puns

Sesshomaru has huge rats to kill and needs a Totosai blade.

How dare he imply that my liege’s heart is not filled with wisdom and compassion!

Sesshomaru can now obtain his Soul Calibur.

Sango can be just as much of a lech. Well, she claimed to be making sure he wasn’t Shippo, but really now?

Trying to get into the same school. Best bet: somewhere with a great history department.

Kagome seems to be having a visit from Queen Mab. Though a rather boring one going by what Mercutio spelled out.

Kagome is definitely an F-Class Kotoko girl.

Welcome to the Hotel Youkai Yashiki.

Such a lovely place.

Such a lovely face.

Miroku’s living it up at the Hotel Youkai Yashiki.

Sango’s not surprised, hope he brought his alibis.

Shippo’s ambition.

Don’t feel bad fireball illusion youkai, if the test doesn’t work out for you then you’ll have a promising career as a reading lamp.

Shippo’s surely got those minerals.

Miroku’s just doing his part to help out young youkai students. Yeah, that’s it.

It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Even Sango gets tricked sometimes.

Group hug!

It’s just a cheap knockoff.

Not impressed.

Tango has taken a hostage, Alpha Team go!

Tango down.

Must have bought it on the Shop at Home Network.

Not only has it been weaponized, it’s been equipped with a sophisticated spiritual guidance system.

Tenseiga in action.

It is indeed a potent weapon. Saku has foreseen the source of its power.

Vengeance will be his.

Blood cries out for blood! F*** YEAH SESSHOMARU!

This image furnished for fanboy purposes.

Kagura is with them in spirit.

With Tenseiga thirsting for righteous vengeance and Kagura watching over them Sesshomaru, Rin, and Jakken set out. SO AWESOME, SO BADASS!

Indeed, my liege is the personification of ‘kakoii’.

Knowing that Inuyasha would finally be finished after so many episodes and filler had really gotten me excited. It was one of the first anime that I watched, during the time of Midnight Run/early Adult Swim back in late middle school and high school. And the nostalgic satisfaction is definitely there. While some annoying fans may sully the reputation of an otherwise great show, even bringing some to think themselves too good to associate with it, I (and in subsequent posts, possibly Crusader as well) will watch, blog, and enjoy the final act of a very fun show. So join us for the nostalgia and the final battles of the War of the Shikon Jewel!

The Young Turks: Hakudoshi and Goryomaru approach Kagura to enlist her support in overthrowing their creator.

Meanwhile the old gang is up to their usual downtime antics.

It can be tough for a part-time student who commutes from the feudal era.

Though her day wasn’t all bad.

Hakudoshi convinces Kagura to aid her and Goryomaru as they attempt to overthrow Naraku with the promise of returning Kagura’s heart to her as her reward. Kagura, as in the past, is playing a dangerous game working against the holder of her heart, and he is indeed observing. As Inuyasha and Kagome return to the feudal era, the Hakudoshi faction begins to move against holders of Shikon Jewel fragments as they gather resources to fight Naraku.

Kagome’s shard is the first to be captured.

As Goryomaru attempts to take Koga’s.

But Kikiyo is ever vigilant against the spawn of her hated enemy and bails Koga out.

Kagura is dispatched to take Kohaku’s shard and corners him while he hunts a youkai. But his determination to destroy Naraku overcomes Kagura’s desire to kill him for the benefit of her unsavory allies and she destroys the crystal he had planned to use against Naraku and tells him to stay away lest he be destroyed. But Hakudoshi apparently suspected that she might not be cold hearted enough for the job and appears. Kagura attacks him and tells Kohaku to run, though her attacks have no effect. Inuyasha and his group appears, protects Kagura, but also has no effect against Hakudoshi. But finally Naraku forsakes Hakudoshi and his guardian insects leave, allowing Miroku to destroy him with his windtunnel.

Temporary allies.

His arrogance has led to a quick death.

Sorry, this show only lets you have a limited party size. Plus Kagura is much more badass as a lone wolf/free agent. I only accept her joining forces with Sesshomaru.

Overall the first episode does a great job refreshing our memories of what happened last and where the characters stand, which is important given the length of time in between Kanketsuhen and the previous seasons. Going into the second episode Kohaku goes to pray with Sango at their family’s graves and the 0060s Federal Fantasy Rearmament Program kicks into high gear. Inuyasha, Kagome, and Miroku investigate the cave of Midoriko, a priestess who fought and absorbed youkai long ago. Koga knows that an escalation of conflict is imminent and goes to his clan’s ancestral burial grounds to seek their sacred weapon, the Goraishi. And Kikiyo takes the soul of Midoriko to heal her reopened wounds from Mt. Hakurei as Inuyasha follows her soul collector back to her hideout.

Everyone finds their strength somewhere.

While others seek out material aid in the fight against Naraku.

Such respect for the sacred weapon of the ancestors.

Kagome felt a disturbance in the force when Inuyasha was so eager to guard the cave himself. It is the return of her rival, the lovely Kikiyo!

Quite the cool shot.

It was as if a million the Kagome fans screamed out in jealousy, and were regrettably not silenced.

Kohaku is also drawn to Kikiyo’s location by the shard of the Shikon Jewel in his neck, and Koga feels the disturbance while fighting against the guardian of the Goraishi. With Kohaku listening, Kikiyo describes her plan for final victory over Naraku. Since he is not quite of this world, their only chance is to let him, or even help him, complete the Shikon Jewel and inhabit it. Then, in that instant he will be vulnerable to purification. But this plan will require Kohaku’s shard and removing it will kill him.

The plan.

Allowing this one battle to be lost may win the war.

Alea iacta est.

“Inuyasha, you must be capable of setting aside your fear, setting aside your hesitation, and even your revulsion. Every natural inhibition that, during battle, can mean the difference between life and death. When you can be this for as long as you have to be, then you’re a razor. Naraku is forcing us all to become razors. Because if we don’t, we don’t survive. And then we don’t have the luxury of becoming simply human or half-youkai again. Do you understand me?”

Preparation for the escalation of conflict begins elsewhere as well. Goryomaru kills and takes the shell of Meioju as armor for himself, making him impervious to attack. And Kouga continues fighting the guardian beast of the Goraishi as it denies him the weapon. After repeatedly destroying the reforming guardian, his companions are threatened by the fire it spews just as he is about to seize the weapon. Jumping in to save them, he earns the respect of his ancestors and the Goraishi fuses with him.

Everyone decided to PUT YA GUNS ON and upgrade to new kit for the coming battle.

Kouga’s wolf clan delinquent followers worship their bancho.

This hand glows with an awesome power!

Elsewhere Kagura is floating around, trying to figure out what to do now when Naraku appears before her. He offers to return her heart to her body even though she betrayed him. Despite her skepticism he does so, but then immediately pierces her body and infects her with miasma, leaving her free but condemned to death in a short amount of time. Sesshomaru is nearby and encounters Goryomaru in his new armor. The two fight, but Sesshomaru’s attacks with Tokijin are ineffective against the heavy armor. Being held in place by Goryomaru, Sesshomaru notices a blood stained petal float by. As Goryomaru sneers at Kagura’s impending death, Sesshomaru gains RAGE STRENGTH and breaks free of his grip, delivering an azure energy attack that breaks the shell, unleashes absorbed energy, and breaks the Tokijin.

Naraku eliminating another coup member.

Yes, my liege is back in his full glory!

But nearby Kagura is gravely wounded.

Don’t you dare underestimate his might, nor taunt Kagura’s pain!

Sesshomaru touches the untouchable, breaks the unbreakable! ROW ROW FIGHT THE POWER!

After Goryomaru escapes Sesshomaru quickly leaves behind his broken sword and searches for Kagura. He finds her in a field of white flowers, dying but still appreciating her new freedom. He approaches, but realizes that not even Tensaiga’s power can save her now. There ther share a brief, bittersweet moment together. She assumed Sesshomaru followed the scent of blood and miasma thinking it was Naraku, but he tells her that he knew it was her. She’s initially surprised, but smiles and tells him that she’s glad to see him one last time before she passes. As she dies Inuyasha, Kagome, Sango, and Miroku arrive, and before he departs Sesshomaru lets them know of her final smile. Her spirit now resides in the winds, finally free.

You can call it melodramatic if you want, but I thought this was a very poetic shot.

At least she was able to face her death free from Naraku.

One last meeting.

:*(

Witnessing the passing of a fine character.

Freedom at last.

Final Thoughts: - It’s been so long since I last watched this, it’s a great feeling of happy nostalgia to see the story and characters back again, and this time moving towards a final resolution.

- I really didn’t expect two characters to die this quickly. Especially Kagura. And she was one of my favorites too! I’ll admit that my eyes got a tiny bit watery during her death scene with Sesshomaru. Watery in a MANLY fashion, mind you.

- The OP by Do As Infinity is very nice, and paired with the opening animation I think it does a great job conveying the feeling of all the characters and past events coming back together for the final showdown. I also just like DaI a lot, heh.

- The Hakudoshi mutiny was crushed pretty quickly by Naraku, leaving only Goryomaru alive. I have to wonder if he just hasn’t been targeted by Naraku yet or it Naraku is just leaving him alive to become armor as was his original purpose.

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