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Inuyasha: The Final Act | 9 - Sesshoumaru in the Underworld
Ah, finally, at long last...we get to see SessMom! And, truly, she does not disappoint :D
It seems the anime is falling back into line with the manga, and the paced has slowed considerably (thank goodness). Even though this arc was contained in a single episode, it didn't really feel all that rushed, compared to some of the earlier anime episodes. Which was definitely a good thing.
I love, love, love SessMom! She was exactly as I'd always pictured (or read?) her. I loved that they kept the little exchanges between her and Jaken ("little youkai..." "my name is Jaken, my lady") because that goes just as much to her character as any of her actions. The way she watches her son, almost bored, as he goes through this event...the way she is determined not to be sad or worried, as his father commanded...the way she finally reacts, when she realizes Sesshoumaru is indeed sad about losing Rin in order to strengthen his sword? Wonderful :)
That was my favorite moment, just as in the manga - when she tells Sesshoumaru he had to lose Rin in order to learn this lesson about Tenseiga and the extent of the powers it granted him. It is just like Sess to have to be hit over the head in such a way in order to truly acknowledge his weakness, but when Jaken bursts out that he must cry in his lord's stead, you see the true depth of the mother-son relationship. As cold and calculating and almost cruel as she seems, she doesn't wish her son to suffer unnecessarily. She loves him, as any parent would, and she wants to make him happy - so she does.
Classic!
To me, this also shows just how much Sesshoumaru is his mother's son. The way he interacts with her, on that same distant, icy level; the way he refuses her offer of help without so much as a kind word for the option; the way he doesn't put up with her teasing about carting around human children - they are very much cut from the same cloth, these two, and I really love that we have the chance to meet her, since we are denied direct knowledge of InuPapa. Her presence and the way it effects Sesshoumaru is a clue to how and why he became the character he did.
This arc also goes to show that he learns his lessons the first time - losing Rin to understand the weight of the power vested in him means he won't have to be pushed to such extremes again, when he learns that the meidou zangetsuha power ultimately wasn't meant for him. This was a huge moment of growth for his character, and, some would see it as a strengthening of his relationship with Rin. I, personally, don't believe in the romantic love of this particular ship, but it is obvious to one and all that he cares very much for her. I love that - it shows his capacity for "human emotion," when its been stated time and again that youkai don't understand the depths of love and how it drives humans to their actions.
So there's more to him than a single-minded icy demon lord, eh? Good to know :)
I will say one thing about this episode - the animation was not all that impressive. I'd been warned beforehand, but it was still a bit disappointing to see this art director attached to this episode, since its so important. The action sequences weren't as impressive as other episodes, and it seemed like there was a lot of cutting away, so the emotion was a bit stunted. Oh, well - I'mma try not to bitch *too* much, because at least this SessMom is better than no SessMom at all.
This is also the episode where we say farewell to Koga, and it was quite touching :) I like how he leaves on a good note with all of the members of the Inutachi, even Inuyasha - somehow, its fitting that it's him who (literally) kicks Inuyasha out of his funk. I wish he'd shown up again in the epilogue chapter, just so we could know what he was up to...and who knows? Maybe the anime will give us an answer.
Next episode: the Kaou arc, which I'm kinda surprised they're leaving in, but hey! Tears of blood, anyone?
It seems the anime is falling back into line with the manga, and the paced has slowed considerably (thank goodness). Even though this arc was contained in a single episode, it didn't really feel all that rushed, compared to some of the earlier anime episodes. Which was definitely a good thing.
I love, love, love SessMom! She was exactly as I'd always pictured (or read?) her. I loved that they kept the little exchanges between her and Jaken ("little youkai..." "my name is Jaken, my lady") because that goes just as much to her character as any of her actions. The way she watches her son, almost bored, as he goes through this event...the way she is determined not to be sad or worried, as his father commanded...the way she finally reacts, when she realizes Sesshoumaru is indeed sad about losing Rin in order to strengthen his sword? Wonderful :)
That was my favorite moment, just as in the manga - when she tells Sesshoumaru he had to lose Rin in order to learn this lesson about Tenseiga and the extent of the powers it granted him. It is just like Sess to have to be hit over the head in such a way in order to truly acknowledge his weakness, but when Jaken bursts out that he must cry in his lord's stead, you see the true depth of the mother-son relationship. As cold and calculating and almost cruel as she seems, she doesn't wish her son to suffer unnecessarily. She loves him, as any parent would, and she wants to make him happy - so she does.
Classic!
To me, this also shows just how much Sesshoumaru is his mother's son. The way he interacts with her, on that same distant, icy level; the way he refuses her offer of help without so much as a kind word for the option; the way he doesn't put up with her teasing about carting around human children - they are very much cut from the same cloth, these two, and I really love that we have the chance to meet her, since we are denied direct knowledge of InuPapa. Her presence and the way it effects Sesshoumaru is a clue to how and why he became the character he did.
This arc also goes to show that he learns his lessons the first time - losing Rin to understand the weight of the power vested in him means he won't have to be pushed to such extremes again, when he learns that the meidou zangetsuha power ultimately wasn't meant for him. This was a huge moment of growth for his character, and, some would see it as a strengthening of his relationship with Rin. I, personally, don't believe in the romantic love of this particular ship, but it is obvious to one and all that he cares very much for her. I love that - it shows his capacity for "human emotion," when its been stated time and again that youkai don't understand the depths of love and how it drives humans to their actions.
So there's more to him than a single-minded icy demon lord, eh? Good to know :)
I will say one thing about this episode - the animation was not all that impressive. I'd been warned beforehand, but it was still a bit disappointing to see this art director attached to this episode, since its so important. The action sequences weren't as impressive as other episodes, and it seemed like there was a lot of cutting away, so the emotion was a bit stunted. Oh, well - I'mma try not to bitch *too* much, because at least this SessMom is better than no SessMom at all.
This is also the episode where we say farewell to Koga, and it was quite touching :) I like how he leaves on a good note with all of the members of the Inutachi, even Inuyasha - somehow, its fitting that it's him who (literally) kicks Inuyasha out of his funk. I wish he'd shown up again in the epilogue chapter, just so we could know what he was up to...and who knows? Maybe the anime will give us an answer.
Next episode: the Kaou arc, which I'm kinda surprised they're leaving in, but hey! Tears of blood, anyone?