RDG: Red Data Girl Episode 7 Discussion

Stark700 said:
Man, those things with the red masks are freaky and ugly. I guess they're not exactly friendly.

Meh, episode felt slow again to me. The ceremonial stances with the robes were okay I guess. I kinda laughed at that scene with the horse. *runs, hops on*, *rides away like a boss*.

are a type of legendary creature found in Japanese folk religion and are also considered a type of Shinto god (kami) or yōkai (supernatural beings)). Although they take their name from a dog-like Chinese demon (Tiangou), the tengu were originally thought to take the forms of birds of prey, and they are traditionally depicted with both human and avian characteristics. The earliest tengu were pictured with beaks, but this feature has often been humanized as an unnaturally long nose, which today is widely considered the tengu's defining characteristic in the popular imagination.

Takuan_Soho said:

As for the whole Tabi episode, perhaps a foreshadow of the "choice" that Izumiko has to make: is it time to put the human race out of its misery? As we cut ourselves off from the natural world, will we become like a horse who cannot walk, crushing our internal organs and necrotizing ourselves?

Takuan_Soho said:
As for the whole Tabi episode, perhaps a foreshadow of the "choice" that Izumiko has to make: is it time to put the human race out of its misery?

Takuan_Soho said:
I saw nothing to support the syncretism this week. I had hopes with the Tengu, but I didn't see anything that would support that possibility. I think we will either get Amaterasu or some sort of composite deity.

Takuan_Soho said:
Well, another week to wait for a little more clarification.

RedRidingHoodie said:
I tried to hold back myself from watching the raw BUT I COULDN'T HELP IT!

Still no romance between Miyuki and Izumiko yet :( But what's up with Tabi and Manatsu? DID TABI DIE?!

I'm hoping that episode 8 will have some romance...( I'm basically watching this anime for Miyuki :D)

-Shiori said:
I dont know what the hell is going on anymore

ahmed_great2005 said:
I don't know what is going on anymore..

clone4 said:
Maybe I'm stupid, but this show just seems to get more and more confusing as i goes on.

bippo said:
So we have triplets.

One girl who is suspecting MC's boyfriend-cum-underling to have some incredible powers of some sort because he is MC's "partner" at the schoool.

A guy who is dead that likes to crossdress and seems to like boyfriend-cum-underling, and one guy who is obsessed with a freaking horse.

Horse-lovin' brother lost his girlfriend-cum-pet horse to some illness and will try to follow her to the afterlife to be with his girlfriend-cum-horse and be with his sister forever.

The girl, however, likes his horse-lovin' brother and is thinking that the horse is more important than herself.

Pro-incest sister don't want horse-lovin' brother to die and wants him to stay by her side alive instead.

In short, pro-incest sister is jealous of girlfriend-cum-horse.

Yup, interesting.

AlexTheRiot said:
^Not quite. What I understood about Manatsu saying Masumi can take his place was that he would die and become a spirit like Masumi, which would allow Masumi to maintain a constant presence around others. In that case, he wouldn't have to constantly rely on Mayura on Manatsu seeing him the same way to be able to keep his form, instead Mayura will be able to see them both the way she wants. I don't think there would be a ''living" Manatsu, rather two spirits, one acting as the living Manatsu. At least I would prefer it that way lol

I was wondering why the two of them couldn't both act as Manatsu in spirit form, but I guess that's because Mayura will surely see them differently which would change their appearance. Also Masumi is probably a stronger spirit than Manatsu would be..I'm sure they'll explain it next ep.

Triskel said:
I'm getting frustrated with this show u__u.
I liked the premise and the overall feel of it but we don't get much information or at least, none that ''seems'' relevant to the story introduced at first. I mean, I did not understand most of the episode (WTF's going on >< ...) and I have no idea where this is going. While this might be super fun in other circumstances (good plot twist are cool), in this case, I feel more confused than anything else. The characters interactions are weird (« Let's test your skills...sorry, you really are just weak ») and the show just doesn't ''come together'' well, even as a mystery. All I see is that this is episode seven and we have just five more to go. Since this is based on a novel (six volumes), I sure don't think this is meant to cover the whole story but I don't even feel we are half way through a novel :/. What is this ? Maybe if this was a 25+ series, I'd feel less trolled.

The last episodes are focusing a lot on the triplets and their story. I sure hope next episode will be good in bringing a sense of closure on this or some kind of plot twist...just...please...something >__>'. I really want to like this.

TL'DR : I'm not sure if this show is going anywhere or if I'm just too confused to care anymore.

Triskel said:
The characters interactions are weird (« Let's test your skills...sorry, you really are just weak »)

Triskel said:
and the show just doesn't ''come together'' well, even as a mystery. All I see is that this is episode seven and we have just five more to go. Since this is based on a novel (six volumes), I sure don't think this is meant to cover the whole story but I don't even feel we are half way through a novel :/. What is this ? Maybe if this was a 25+ series, I'd feel less trolled.

I saw a lot of people saying they don’t understand RDG. So let me sum up and explain everything that happened until this point without spoiling everything beyond episode 7:

Houjou gakuen is the school of people with special abilities, unique to Japanese culture. Izumiko, with a unique lineage of being possessed by Himekami; Takayanagi is from an onmyouji lineage, and Souda family is a ninja family. Everyone there has the chance to be a candidate to be a World Heritage (like Mayura said in episode 6), but the school can only chose one as a candidate, so they are competing with each other to get the candidacy. The school president committee is one of the judges.

So far the ones who want it so much are Takayanagi Ichijou and Souda Mayura. Takayanagi thought that he could get the candidacy by being the first place in academics, and influence other students with the strange website. Mayura, on the other hand, could never beat Takayanagi’s grades. She thought that Takayanagi was doing some weird spell so he couldn’t be beaten in the academics. That’s why she is really interested in Izumiko, cause Izumiko could see beyond Takayanagi’s spells.

Mayura, like Takayanagi, has gathered members to support her. It’s the SMF (Souda Mayura Fanclub), which is also known to others as the “Japanese History Research Club”. Mayura invited the president committee to her home in Togakushi; and nearby, she had the Japanese History Research Club meetings as well. The committee president (Kisaragi) realized this and told Mayura that, “IDKY you invite us and have the Japanese History Research Club nearby but our judgment cannot be affected by your doings.”

The partner system is the system in that school that let others who can support the candidates in the competition, enter the school. Mayura had Manatsu enter the school through the same system; and that’s why they thought Izumiko was there to support Sagara (or Sagara to support Izumiko). Izumiko was clueless about everything, so Mayura concluded that Sagara was the stronger one (and the mastermind in their effort to become the candidate), that was why she was testing him, so she could confirm his true power and motive in the school. Since Mayura confirmed that both Izumiko and Sagara don’t have any ambition nor power to get that candidacy, she is trying to influence both to support her (mainly to get Izumiko).

And that’s where we are right now.

The World Heritage terminology is used because the lineage is rare, had historical value, and need to be protected and preserved. Probably they will have government support or and power if they get the candidacy. And I have to remind that it’s called Red Data Girl, in reference of the Red Data Book for endangered species.

SummerYoung said:
For anyone still confused about what the hell's happening, here's the easiest explanation for what's happening so far

Takuan_Soho said:
That is my biggest fear. I really don't care how this show ends just as long as it ties together all the loose threads. My fear is that it won't and will instead "leave the mystery" with a very boring ending.

My thoughts on the Triplets is that there is a Japanese belief that a dead animal's soul can latch onto a living soul. This is why you can't dwell on the death of a pet. Manatsu's depression over not being able to protect Mayura, has opened him up to being "possessed" by the horse's spirit. At the same time, this give Masumi a chance to take over Manatsu. Remember though siblings, Masumi is a spirit and spirits in general are not happy beings. Manatsu, letting Masumi through to deal with Takayanagi knew he had to pay the price to Masumi (remember Manatsu's comments after Masumi's true nature being revealed), and I have a feeling that Masumi being near Izumiko has also strengthened him allowing him to try to return to the living world.

So Masumi probably has strengthened the horse's spirit, and has manipulated Manatsu. Manatsu already depressed over Mayura, has become more depressed in having to put down Tabi. In this state, Masumi is making his move.

SummerYoung said:
For anyone still confused about what the hell's happening, here's the easiest explanation for what's happening so far I found on Tumblr.

Triskel said:
Interesting interpretation. Are you just really insightful or did you read the novels :p ?
I also hope the series will leave us with a respectable ending.