luxken27 | Inuyasha: The Final Act | 10 - Flowers Drenched in Sadness

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Inuyasha: The Final Act | 10 - Flowers Drenched in Sadness

And so we move on, more or less in the correct order, and visit Kaou (unnecessarily translated as the 'Flower Prince') and his magical flowers.

I think Kaou is one of the more interesting of the various demons the Inutachi faces. He sees himself as providing a service for the village he inhabits, absolving the villagers of their sorrow and pain in exchange for using them as soil to grow his magical, soothing flowers.

The Inutachi encounters them by happenstance, and agree to stay in their village for the night, as the others are worried about Inuyasha in the wake of Kikyo's death. He doesn't want to sleep, for fear of dreaming about her and continuing to wallow in the knowledge that he failed to protect her while she was alive - and when she was resurrected. (I'd say its hard for you to protect someone if they reject such protection at every turn, but that's his stereotypical character trait when it comes to Kikyo - this persecution complex.)

At any rate, when night falls, the flowers work their magic, luring out the villagers and feeding on their latent anguish. The Inutachi realizes something is wrong and goes out to fight him. Its a very simple story, but it has a nice twist, in that Inuyasha is ultimately the vulnerable one. He becomes ensnared in Kaou's trap and gives in to his sorrow over Kikyo and her death, in a scene that was really nicely animated.

What I really liked about this, though, was that we see Kagome defending him for a change, and she was pretty impressive in doing it! She gave up the protective beads Miroku had given her in order to break the seal on Inuyasha, and then she went firing after Kaou. In spite of all the emotional trauma she's going through - jealousy never quite ends, even in death - she still managed to pull herself together quite magnificently. Its that sort of strength that makes me enjoy setting her up against Sesshoumaru.

Probably because I've been spoiled by the awesome adaptation of this arc for

psyco_chick32's Control, I didn't really like the way it ended - whatever good Kagome had built up with me she almost destroyed when she balked at Inuyasha's suggestion that she was strong, preferring to think of herself as "kind" instead. That's the sort of passive-aggressive bullshit behavior that I have little patience for. Just accept the damn compliment and be glad he opened up to you without prompting! It's what you've wanted for the entire length of the canon story, LOL!!

What was really impressive about this episode to me was the little insertion of the upcoming Kanna/Mirror Monster storyline. I thought it was a wonderful and unique touch to have the episode open with Kanna wandering across the field that Kagura died in, and finding her fan. Laying her to rest was even better - it's nice to be reminded of the fact that none of the characters on the "good side" want to see her death pass in vain. At the end of the episode, after revealing that her Mirror Monster had stolen Tessaiga's powers, the scene between her and the monster was beautiful. I liked the way it tied back to the opening, and we see a little bit of defiance in Kanna's otherwise void of a soul. The next episode covers the arc where she dies, so it should be a good one!

I liked the art direction here - even Shippo looked cute with his sniffles, LOL. Kaou's voice wasn't what I was expecting, but it fit, somehow. Oh, and we see that disgusting move Byakuya makes with his eye, spying from a distance - an eye flapping in the air, gross! LOL.

The ending credits for this episode are different, with a wintry theme and a new song, "Diamond". I'm not too crazy about the song, but I liked some of the images that accompanied it. (Hopefully someone will cap it for us because there were some wonderful, banner-worthy ones!) I found it most amusing that at the end, the Inutachi reassemble in the falling snow, considering none of the canon story apparently took place during the winter. (And has Kagome never heard of pants? Even when she was walking around the 'city' in a coat and scarf, she still had on a short skirt. WTF.)

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LOL - there was an interview with RT published somewhere where she said she's always in a skirt because she likes her in a skirt. And in spite of its short length and the amount of action, she told the animators they were not allowed to ever show her panties.

I do like the first ending better than this one, but as you, I liked some of the scenes it presented. And since we got a new one only 10 episodes in, I'll bet we get at least one more before the ending of the series. They're probably trying to get what they can into/out of the 26 episodes.

there was an interview with RT published somewhere where she said she's always in a skirt because she likes her in a skirt. And in spite of its short length and the amount of action, she told the animators they were not allowed to ever show her panties.

That's from the profiles book ~ I remember seeing that and going, "LOLWAT." But hey, whatever floats RT's boat! (I usually have mercy on her and let her wear 'normal' clothes in my fics, but the skirt-fetish idea is one that's working well for me in Fleeting :P)

I do like the first ending better than this one, but as you, I liked some of the scenes it presented. And since we got a new one only 10 episodes in, I'll bet we get at least one more before the ending of the series. They're probably trying to get what they can into/out of the 26 episodes.

Makes me wonder if they'll animate another opening sequence as well...

She wears pants in the modern era once...I forget which chapter, but it's pretty late...

Yeah, RT doesn't do much with the seasons; but the final battle ends at the beginning of April (we know this because of when the school year starts in Japan), and the HS entrance exams take place in January and February. She does draw Kagome and her mother wearing coats that day...

Ah, Kagome. Wanting her strength to be seen as kindness...and a lot of it is drawn from a loving and protective heart, but she is rock hard strong. Might be a cultural thing with her, not wanting to admit that the strength is there, but it surely is.

But again, she's only 15.

She wears pants twice. Both times it is when Ji-chan is tallking about the sacred Jewel. In the first chapter and in the Right Wish chapter. Jichan had told her about the Right Wish but the Jewel makes her forget

I knew you would know!

She does draw Kagome and her mother wearing coats that day...

Yes, and she's all bundled up when the girls visit the high school they want to attend, as well...I'm not sure how wintry and snowy it gets in Japan, but its definitely something RT could've exploited more. LOL then again I guess that's why we have fanfiction, to fill the voids! :P

Wanting her strength to be seen as kindness...and a lot of it is drawn from a loving and protective heart, but she is rock hard strong. Might be a cultural thing with her, not wanting to admit that the strength is there, but it surely is.

It was just her attitude in making that statement (apparently played up for comedic effect) that got me there. Here was a perfect opportunity for prime I/K squish, and they totally dropped the ball on it.

Oh, well. You're right, indeed, in that she's only 15 and not exactly totally mature all the time :P

RT is rather apt to take the squishible moment and turn it into comedy...and the producers of the video ran right with it...

I loved this episode. My favorite part was Kagome showing so much strength in defending Inuyasha against Kaou. This episode has me wanting to do an Inu / Kag fic. I didn’t mind too much about how she snapped at Inuyasha at the end, especially after all he’s put her through throughout the manga / anime. She probably could have been a little nicer to him but I would probably be a little pissy too.

This is definitely one of the places to go looking for inspiration, if you want it - there's so much going on, and its just ripe for the pickings, especially if you want to write something really emotional or angsty.

It was just a bit of a shock to me, how much her attitude took a total 180 from the way she was acting while acting defending herself and Inuyasha - a jolt back to her old fiery ways, but it just didn't feel like it fit all that well, to me. *shrug* Oh, well.

The violent person in the manga is Kagome. Inuyasha is actually afraid of her especially when she becomes big head Kagome. The anime and fanfiction makes it seem like IY is always angry. He does not call her names. He does not compare her to Kikyou except when she told him her name was Kagome no Kikyou. He calls a shard detector once when Yelling at people. He never called her a weak human. Never refused to stop for the night as in fanfiction. He does yell at her about Kouga, but she yells about and sits him about Kikyou. She never objects to Kouga holding hands with her or showering her with affection.

re IY If you ever need an example of how to write IK.Knittingknots writes the best IK (truest to RT)

Re Strong Kagome. Strong Kagome is found throughout the manga starting with the centipede which she destroys it arms twice. She will save IY from the mirror monster too. I liked her statement that she was not going to let IY go. There are too many examples. The weak Kagome does not exist for RT.
I do not think RT has a weak main female lead. Many of the secondaries here such as Kagura and Kikyou are also strong.

re The kanna scene. This is the second time that the anime directors put in a very good scene. It was touching to see how Kanna felt about Kagura. In the manga Kanna was sitting in a tree feeling the wind blow around her and wondered how Kagura felt now that she was free.

re IY and Kikyou I think that this shows the end of the Kikyou obsession. IY has let her go. Kagome is the reason he stays and does not go with Kikyou. She gives him a reason to live I agree that Kagome should have opened up to IY here about her feelings re IY and Kikyou which were at the heart of the pain of her soul. She is still too worried about being kind.
IY has just begun to realize the pain that his relationship with Kikyou did to her. I told KK I thought that RT was saving the breakthrough between Kagome and IY until 494 when she realizes that she might have to give up one of the two worlds to be with IY.

re The kanna scene. This is the second time that the anime directors put in a very good scene. It was touching to see how Kanna felt about Kagura. In the manga Kanna was sitting in a tree feeling the wind blow around her and wondered how Kagura felt now that she was free.

It was very reminiscent to me of the second movie, sort of the way there is a story contained within the story. I was a bit surprised to see how much of the Mirror Monster story they showed here (I thought the whole episode was going to be devoted to Kaou), but I liked the way they tied it back to the very opening scene. Really nicely done.

And I agree with you about RT saving the breakthrough.

Also, we may underestimate how the trauma first with Naraku's spiderwebs and her working so hard at Mt. Azuza and then failing to save Kikyou affected Kagome, too.

She's got all that, she's doubting still where she stands with InuYasha, and so much wants to protect him from any more pain...that's a lot for a young woman to be carrying. She hasn't had any time to work through her grief, either. It's no wonder she flies off the handle.

I was wondering if this episode was going to get a write-up from anyone. ^_^ As much as most of you looked forward to the "Kikyou" show and the "Hell Arc" show, this is one of the ones I most wanted to see. (Hitomiko being another!)

To me, this is one of the huge turning points in the series--this is the moment when Inuyasha has his eyes opened up to a number of things and starts to appreciate Kagome a lot more. He sees her strength, and he sees her pain, and he sees that he has been wallowing in his own feelings of sadness and guilt to the exclusion of all he has--even to point of being willing to lay down and die. And that's not who he is. If he gave up then, not only would he not have saved Kikyou, (which really was impossible considering, as you pointed out, it's pretty damn hard to save someone who keeps walking away because she thinks she can do better by herself), but he would not have avenged her, either. And once again, Kagome is the one who pulls him back from the brink of death. Deep down, he knows he has something worth living for, and this incident makes him conscious of that.

Kagome is absolutely amazing here. Kaou tells Inuyasha quite clearly that she is in more pain than he is, yet she does not succumb to the flowers and vines. She pulls herself out of them and attacks Kaou. She lets them both know that she will not let her sorrows rule her. I think Inuyasha was completely in awe of her there.

As a side note, I don't think her sorrow is jealousy at all--her sorrow consisted of her own sadness and guilt over not being able to save Kikyou, (Remember: Kikyou told her she could with that arrow!), and having to watch the hanyou she loved suffering to the point that he wanted to die. Watching a loved one give up and fade away and feeling like you can't do anything to help them--heck, to realize the one you love feels like dying is better than being with you has GOT to hurt. LOL!

As another side note, why the heck does Naraku, and everyone else, think the speck of light in the tainted jewel is from Kikyou? Kagome purified the jewel when she shot the arrow at Kikyou. Heck, Kikyou wan't even running on Kikyou's power by the time of her death--she was running on Midoriko's. So, if someone deserves credit for that speck of light in the jewel, it's either Kagome or Midoriko. (It's Kagome. ^_~)

As for the "strong" v. "kind" thing, I have always thought there has to be some kind of cultural connotation we are missing concerning that. I can just about grasp it, but can't quite put it into words.

I love the Kanna scenes. ^_^ I actually wish we could hear some more of her toneless, poignant words of wisdom all through to the end.

I do not like the new ending. I think the scenes in the first one were much more meaningful.

This is the first episode of the new anime I've fangirled. Did I do a good job? ^_^

I was wondering if this episode was going to get a write-up from anyone. ^_^

Schedule permitting, I will be doling out My Thoughts on Yaoi for the entirety of the second anime's run.

This is the first episode of the new anime I've fangirled. Did I do a good job? ^_^

LOL yes! :P As for the new ending...its just different. I think its only there because its December, not because its supposed to be significant of anything. (The first ending had its own issues as well, what with all that reuse of animation from the first anime o.O)

And come on, you had to have cracked a smile to see Rin, Kohaku, and Jaken building that snowman! :P

Somebody over at Dokuga chat said there should be a line that says "This Sesshoumaru does not do snowmen."

*snork* That scene made me LOL for real, and might just find its way into my holiday serial...

I think it's also significant when Kaou tells InuYasha to give in and go to be with the woman he loved best, and Kagome's voice pierces through the room, he breaks through the spell...implying, of course, that Kagome's the one.

Her voice is always pulling him out of the darkness...

Yes! I'm glad I'm not the only one that interpreted it in that manner.

I did enjoy this episode. I think the timing between the two storylines was a little off. They could have transitioned better. That aside, my favourite scenes ended up being Kanna's. The special effects on the flowers (both Kagura's and Kaou's) were beautiful, and I loved how they expanded the very minimalist coverage RT gave Kanna reminiscing over Kagura into something much more detailed and very, very powerful.

The moment where the mirror-monster gave Kanna one of Kagura's flowers was probably the most powerful part of the entire episode, beating even Kagome's shining moment (and it was a shining moment).

I did laugh at Shippou defeating Inuyasha's Kongoushouha, however. I think it was a bit of mistiming on the episode's part - I think it was supposed to be Shippou managed to avert Kongousouha and dodge the rest, but it did look like he completely defeated it.

Well, he does have the potential to grow up into a daiyoukai. That said, I think defeating Inuyasha's Tessaiga is not quite in the cards for a while. :)

I was kinda surprised when they interjected the Mirror Monster parts into the middle of the Kaou storyline, but other than that, I thought it rather seamless a transition. The Kanna scenes were really quite brilliant, reminiscent of the second movie, when Kanna and Kagura are gathering the pieces to bring back Kaguya.

I did laugh at Shippou defeating Inuyasha's Kongoushouha, however. I think it was a bit of mistiming on the episode's part - I think it was supposed to be Shippou managed to avert Kongousouha and dodge the rest, but it did look like he completely defeated it.

LOL, true - who knew those little wailing mushrooms had so much power? :P

A very fine episode--really showcased Kagome's inner strength, her mad skills, and quick thinking. And of course I love all the angst and turmoil. Certainly a turning point emotionally for Inuyasha.

I too liked the Kanna parts a lot. Makes me looking forward to next episode. So far the death sequences have been quite poignant and satisfying.

Doesn't this sort of episode make you just love Kagome? Hehe, even though it was so heavy on the Inu/Kag angst, I just kept thinking This is what I try to do with her when I stick her with Sesshoumaru /LOL such a sekrit shipper :P

I too liked the Kanna parts a lot. Makes me looking forward to next episode. So far the death sequences have been quite poignant and satisfying.

It looks like its going to be very meaningful - that shot of her half-cracked in the preview was kinda gut-punching.

(And has Kagome never heard of pants? Even when she was walking around the 'city' in a coat and scarf, she still had on a short skirt. WTF.)

Welcome to Japan. :) Pants are practically unheard of here. Walk around and all you see is girls in skirts with high boots.

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Inuyasha: The Final Act | 10 - Flowers Drenched in Sadness

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