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| The saddest thing about Maniwa's descent the fantastical is that his Radar Man Holy Warrior Outfit is far less cool than his actual attire. Regardless, I find myself mostly commenting on obligation since I've left one for every episode so far, not really certain I can articulate my thoughts on this one without the last episode. In a lot of ways, this was one of my least favourites in awhile, I guess I prefer the more self-contained stories to the actually over-arcing narrative, though several of my favourite moments here were directly tied to Tsukiko's story. I guess it's more the Maniwa side that doesn't click with me. The Maromi and Shonen Bat connection has been obvious for awhile, especially since the last episode made that overt, but the missing pieces for me have to do with the Master's role and Maniwa's delusions leading him to the correct conclusions. Like, with the bunny girls and hacking that lead him to the truth. Stuff like that kept me pretty disengaged with the story. |
| Maniwa is in the fantasy world fighting Lil Slugger (who vanishes into thin air) and then it cuts to the static TV set. Kon is showing us that fantasy worlds (which can include television and thus Maromi, who was once an innocent sweet idea and is now mass marketed as a 'supposed balm for the soul'). Maromi represents fantasy/ideations/grandiosity. Maromi is also TV, video games, the internet, social media, shopping, addiction, obsession, the media, the 'latest trends.' etc. Living in these can make us lose not only our grips with reality but lose our lives just as much as real death. "Maromi is dangerous." We know how Mrs. Ikari faced Lil Slugger/Maromi. She was not afraid of death nor wanted to die. She wants to live. She also mentioned she lived a modest, simple life. She spent her time caring for her husband and finding joy in real life and real love, not materialism. This is how she defeated and avoided Lil Slugger / Maromi. Then Maniwa is in a room of figurines then plugged into an anime video game type scenario which is deeply tied into otaku culture and hikikomori: a way in which we can lose ourselves and lose a sense of living and reality. We learn that Tsukiko created Maromi to cope with trauma as we often turn to Maromi for comfort or distraction. It's also interesting how it cut to the homeless woman (who has nothing) and made eye contact with Tsukiko. When Maniwa calls Tsukiko and says "you don't have to suffer alone anymore." This is huge. Just as Mrs. Ikari leads a life of love, Tsukiko is offered REAL love/support, as opposed to the imaginary comfort of Maromi. In turn, Maromi freaks out and Lil Slugger comes. Facing the real world would mean abandoning Maromi and facing traumas, fears (fear of death/ideations of death), and pain. This is much too painful for Tsukiko so she runs off with Maromi. Maniwa is there to stop Lil Slugger because he's there to help Tsukiko face reality and offer support. However, he's lost some of himself in the process, thus his skewed reality. Mrs. Ikari's death and her asking for Mr. Ikari pretty much confirms, to me, that Mr. Ikari is dead via Maromi/Shonen bat. |
| Well I know for sure now what I don't like about this show, and this episode specifically. One is the animation quality drop. Like it drops so hard sometimes, it's almost unbearable for me, knowing most of Kon's works look like a damn painting. This really is just painful. There are a few other things. But for this episode specifically, the montage of people getting into their troubles again, after their so-called "salvation" from shounen bat, as well as the wife not being able to find her husband who's drowned in his escapist delusions, just feels too ham-fisted. It's a shame coz at its best, the show has what is perhaps moments of Satoshi Kon's greatest artistic accomplishment. But it also has a lot of moments that don't fare well with his other works. Still, I love how absolutely, insanely unconventional and just generally how far the narrative would take us to (much, much more so than anything else he did). I actually love how un-obvious Kon presents his idea in a seemingly totally incoherent and unrelated fashion. It's charming to me because it works, though not for obvious reasons. Nurularifin said: this story feels too real yet too unrealistic at the same time... i haven't experienced such an art-house vibe for a long time Well surreal realism, or just the mix of whimsicality and reality isn't very uncommon. But Satoshi Kon's brand of surreal realism is simply irresistible. It's probably among the most imaginative of directors (animated or otherwise), both darkly humorous and subliminally terrifying. It's just his weirdness and genius coming into play, basically. |
| . . . |
| The shonen bat is just the urge to escape from reality. A lot of people face it. But Tsukiko Sagi was the one who gave a shape or a form to it.She drew the picture and explained the characteristics of it and since she was popular the news channels covered it and people thought of it the same way.She anthropomorphized the urge to escape reality bcoz she had encountered a violent assault or parental abuse in her childhood. |
 |
| What the hack is going on ? |
| Oh finally, thank god. The series finally continues from where it left off. It's a pity that they'd have to wrap everything up in 2 - 3 episodes but oh well. They really could have just made this one long film or a two part film series. If it weren't for the fillers, this would have truly been a great fucking show. Well, Maromi and Shounen Bat being the same thing sure does make things interesting. I've always had a weird feeling about Maromi. Well next ep is the last one. |
 |
| "Shonen-Batto" is actually a pun. There's a word in Japanese "Shounen Ba (正念場)" that roughly translates to something like a tough moment in your life, a critical moment. Satoshi Kon was a genius. |
| Mada mada dane |
| My takeaway: Maromi and Shounen Bat are both avatars of escapism, on opposite sides of the coin. Maromi is the blissful denial of reality - losing yourself in distraction - but the bliss is ephemeral; you can only run from what's in front of you for so long - enter Shounen Bat - bargaining, wishful thinking, desperation - your wake-up call to the pain you refuse to realize. Hence, the bodies encircling Maromi in the outro - the ephemeral relief from cold reality only cornered them for permanent captivity to it. |
| A bit clichéd but very good |
| That news station desperately needs to to get a new mic lmao Also I'm sorry what is happening? Did the detective just completely lose it? How is he getting around like that? He went from the old guy's hospital room to the roof in a manner of seconds. And apparently the dolls are alive and they somehow helped him, and that guy is making figures of all the characters...? And now Maromi has disappeared everywhere? I think I might actually be done with this show... lol Like I actually don't care how this ends now. Some final thoughts though, Shonen Bat was never real. From what it looks like they're probably some ghost or maybe an urge to end your own life. But that doesn't make a whole ton of sense. And Tsukiko made them up from the start to get out of the corner she felt trapped in, but then suddenly everyone started to see them, I'm guessing because Tsukiko started the rumor, but then it spread to everyone in the city. I feel like all the murders happening are people just assuming it's Shonen Bat or something though, like it's not actually them, it's all because of that rumor. Maybe like mass hysteria or something? And they're most likely some kind of childhood trauma that Tsukiko had, which has now turned into Shonen Bat, and has spread to everyone Idk, but I can't help but feel like this is not getting explained in the last episode. I'm not even sure if I'll even bother with the last one. I've lost like all motivation to keep watching. This went from me bingewatching the first like 7 episodes, and giving it an immediate 8, to now forcing myself to keep going, and giving this show like a 4 or maybe a 5... Edit: I agree with a lot of people here. I think I would've much preferred if this show didn't go supernatural. It had such an interesting first half. That's why I was so invested and eager to keep going. But now? I just want to watching something else... |
AlkimiaAug 6, 2024 8:05 AM
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