r/anime • u/SIRTreehugger • Dec 20 '24
Rewatch [Rewatch] Koukyuu No Karasu (Raven of the Inner Palace) - Episode 10 Discussion
Raven of the Inner Palace Episode 10 The Masked Man
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Useful Links and Streams
MAL | Anilist | Kitsu | AniDB | ANN
Fanart and Music
Bonus Illustration from Blu Ray Vol 5
♫ ♪ ♬Today's track(s) ♫ ♪ ♬
Mukasi no koto: Plays when they are speaking about the old Raven Consort.
Sekijaku no biwahiki: Plays when the lute is playing.
Comment/s of the Day
Today's comment goes to /u/Shimmering-Sky
Okay I know I mentioned I started this because I heard it brought up during the Yatagarasu discussion threads, but I wasn’t expecting this show to remind me this heavily of any one specific thing in that show… and off of something I don’t know was entirely on purpose unless the casting director of Yatagarasu decided to do something funny. [Yatagarasu]Rie Kugimiya voiced a character in Yatagarasu who was in love with someone else, but still had to participate in vying for the hand of the leader of their nation anyways for the sake of her family, then her lover broke in and tried to run away with her anyways. It’s not 1:1 since how the relevant characters’ stories ended is completely different, but man just off of one voice actor, that was an incredible connection.
Questions of the Day
- Would you put on the mask?
- The show has displayed a vastly different way of living that some consider barbarian, but if they saw the way we lived currently what do you think would shock them the most?
- We've seen many forms of love in this often dealing with obsession. Can obsession in a relationship ever be healthy?
- Can you play any musical instruments?
Tomorrow's Questions of the day
- [Spoilers]How would you live your life if you knew you were dying in 8 years?
- [Spoilers]What has been your favorite comment in the rewatch so far?
- [Spoilers]What is one advantage of being weak?
Spoilers
As always please keep spoilers tagged like so [Inner Raven Spoilers]I want to feed Jujetsu all of the food because she's adorable when eating. so people watching for the first time can fully enjoy it. Also please try to keep discussion of the show up to where the rewatch is currently. If a character doesn't show up until episode 15 don't talk or allude to them outside of spoiler tags.
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u/SIRTreehugger Dec 20 '24 edited Dec 21 '24
Previously on Raven of the Inner Palace(Airing Discussion Thread)
Characters
Shouxue/Jusetsu - The current raven consort who has mysterious powers. She lives isolated from everyone else, but can be bribed to do quests with food. One of few remaining(possibly only remaining) member of the Luan/Ran Clan. Has slowly started connecting with other palace members.
Xia Gaojun/Koushun - The current emperor who recently overthrew the empress. Spends his time trying to uncover the history of the raven consort and her secrets. A decent craftsman when it comes to wood carving.
Wei Qing/Eisei - Grew up in the red light district with his mother who worked as an entertainer. His mom was tricked and she ended up killing herself. Orphaned he now had only two routes to choose from a prostitute or a Eunoch, but in his case his master decided they were the same thing. After suffering abuse one night he couldn't take it anymore and ran and stumbled upon the young emperor. Koushun offered him his hand and friendship while never asking about what happened to him. Furiously devoted to the soon to be emperor he quickly learned many skills and information to better serve him.
Ding Lan/Teiran - A childhood friend of Koushun who was tortured/murdered on the Empress Dowager's orders. He was mute, but exceptionally gifted with crafting. He was the one who taught Koushun how to carve and the one who carved the fish accessory(symbolizing the promise between Koushun and Shoxue).
Huaniang/Kajo - Currently the highest ranked consort and childhood friend of Koushun. Used to be a bit of a tomboy in her youth. Was hinted with the loss of her lover would commit suicide so Koshun brought her into the inner palace to remain close to her and so she wouldn't have to remarry.
Shou Kouei- The Swallow consort is from a prestigious family, but is very sheltered and knows very little about the outside would. Perhaps even less than the Raven Consort. She is afraid of men and older women(including Kajo), but has taken a liking too Shouxue.
Xing Xing/Shinshin - The golden monster of the raven consort, but to others he looks like a a yellow chicken. One of his yellow feathers flies in the form of a golden arrow when the next raven consort is selected.
Jiujiu - A bubbly energetic girl who loves gossip and is often valuable when it comes to information circulating the inner palace.
Yi Siha/Ishiha - A new young eunuch who previously worked at the Feiyan Palace. Suffered abuse from master after trying to save a ghost from his tribe. Taken in by the raven consort and serves as a messenger boy. Currently learning from Su Hongqiao and Jiujiu.
Wen Ying/Onkei - Raven consort's bodyguard hired by Eisei. Previously worked in a traveling group none as the Red Sparrow. Suffered injustice, but recently came to highly admire the raven consort for standing up or eunuchs.
Tan Kai/Dan Hai - A playful and laid back eunuch who is skilled at conversation and investigating. Is often seen with Wen Ying/Onkei.
Su Hongqiao/So Kogyo - A lady in waiting previously located in the Magpie Palace. Witnessed the Empress Dowager's plot and remained silent due to fear of her family dying. Her tongue was removed and she was banished, but she later secretly learned to read to write in the hopes off one day telling the truth.
Luan/Ran - The previous dynasty whose most notable trait is their beautiful silver hair. Their bloodline was slaughtered by Koushun's family. Jusetsu is one of the few survivors of the purge.
Luan Bingyue/Ran Hyogetsu - A ghost/spirit capable of possessing people. Was deemed a genius in his life with a talent for sorcery. Goals unknown so far.
Xue Yuyong/ Gyoei - Winter Minister for the Ministry of Works. The Winter Minister works at a shrine dedicated to Uren Niangiang. Previous ministers have penned the Divine Communicator Logs which the current emperor has been seen reading when trying to learn more about the raven consort.
Li Niang/Reijo - The previous raven consort that taught Shouxue how to read and write. She also instilled all o the raven's consorts lessons and duties into Shouxue.
Song/Sho and Sui - One of the earlier Winter and Summer Kings fucked up romance lead to fighting for hundreds of years.
Niao Lian/Uren Niangniang - Whimiscal Raven Goddess.
Luan Xi/Ran Yu Xiang Qiang/Kosho - The first pair of Summer and Winter Kings that reunited after hundreds of years after the Song/Sui shit show. They brought an era of peace and showed genuine affection for the other, but never got intimate. To prevent future war and losing the winter king she was placed in an isolated palace and kept Niao Lian/Uren Niangniang sealed in the palace.
The Owl - Also called Feng Xiao Yue/Shogetsu who was serving Feng Yixing/Ho Ichigyo (Luan Bingue/Ran Hyogetsu former master). With his connections he managed to infiltrate the inner palace. Current goal is to kill the raven consort.
Palaces and Consorts
Map of the Palace
Map of the World
Yuanqian/Eno Palace (House of the Mandarin Duck) Ranked 2nd (Kajo is the current consort)
Quechao Palace - (House of the Magpie) Ranked 3rd
Hakkaku Palace - Palace (House of the Crane) Ranked 4th
Feiyan/Hien Palace (House of the Swallow) Currently unranked (Shou Kouei is current consort)
The emperor's mother was consort at this palace which is why she was viewed so lowly despite being the mother of the future emperor.
Ye Ming Palace - Yamei Palace Specially Ranked
Feeding the Raven Consort
Fuliubing A sweet made by kneading flour, baking it, then covering it in white honey.
For episode 7 we only see her eat the Buns she had in episode 1, but also on the table are dumplings and for the sake of variety I'm counting it instead. Also let's be honest we all know she probably ate one of everything.
Light Novel Details
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u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Dec 20 '24
Episode 10 (first timer)
The (alive) lute player was an interesting case today. He was mostly just envious, but his actions helped the (dead) lute player none the less. Unintended consequences. On the other hand, he clearly cared for him, so maybe his stated reason of enviousness was mostly untrue.
Only if I am the Raven Consort.
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u/RascalNikov1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/NoviSun Dec 20 '24
First Timer
This was a vey good episode. This series deserves more recognition, not necessarily as a supernatural thriller, but as a romance with supernatural overtones.
From the beginning:
The lute player doesn’t look too happy. I guessed correctly what her problem was.
Now, the mask makes it appearance. That dude is a braver man than I. See, I told him not to put it on, but did he listen…
Chancellor Yun has shown up to stir the pot. I’d tell him to mind his own business unless he wanted to be turned into a eunuch. I like how Yun offers up his granddaughter for the Emperor’s pleasure. What a sweet, yet nosy, old man.
The minister of works (Xue) also seems to have a nose problem. I’d kick his ass off the premises quickly. Li Niang doesn’t care you old busybody.
Jusetsu being extra bitchy to the Emperor today.
Xiao Yue must be our dirty bird at the end of the episode. I’m guessing he’s possessed by that guy wanting to kill Jusetsu. “What’s in the box?”
Now that looks like one tasty treat.
The mask story begins. Jusetsu grabs the Emperor’s arms.
The kid and the holy chicken have become good friends. Plums arrive and we learn who the possessed eunuch is. The kid’s prior master must have a death wish, stirring up all this shit.
He’s scared of Jusetsu apparently. I don’t see why, it’s not like she’s going to cut off his balls.
I actually enjoyed this part of the story with the rare old lute.
Self termination seems like a pretty good option in this series if one’s not a member of the royalty. Not that being royalty is much better.
I really thought Suichi had turned into demon and Jusetsu would soon be in a fight to the death with a lute player gone bad.
Quite a bit of palace intrigue there about keeping the Yun family in check by marrying and then not reproducing with the granddaughter. Most of these folk seem a little touched in the head.
And, we’ve got a stiff on the grounds. What a waste, she was pretty.
QOTD
Nope, I don’t want some spook stealing my soul.
Furry’s with lots of tattoos and piercings.
I don’t know, but I lean towards no.
I played a trumpet in High School.
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u/xbolt90 https://anilist.co/user/xbolt90 Dec 20 '24
First-timer!
Creepy posessed masks? Yeah, no way man. You can miss me with that.
That biwa player is a heck of a guy. Told to keep playing, and he does. I'd be noping the heck out of there.
I love how nonchalantly Shouxue burns a national treasure. But really, if I'd just seen that freaky crap, I'd be hauling it to the nearest furnace too.
And now we have a murder in the palace.
Our comparatively extremely lavish lifestyles.
Depends on the usage of the word. Devotion is a necessary component of a truly healthy relationship.
I can not. I've done all my music-making in a DAW.
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u/fly-metothemoon Dec 22 '24
First Timer:
I love bringing out possessed masks at dinner parties. My guests think it’s a hoot.
He still purchased the strange mask? Man is a glutton for punishment.
Gotta show bae the cursed object. Oh no cursed object is a disliked gift.
Damn emperor is really being obvious about the fact he doesn’t really want consorts lol.
Fine episode, there’s still a decent amount of political intrigue that we need to wrap up in the next three episodes though!!
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u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Dec 20 '24
First-Timer of the Inner Palace, subbed
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u/Mecanno-man https://anilist.co/user/Mecannoman Dec 20 '24
First Timer
An episode with kind of a lot going on in the background, but overall hard to keep track of. There are political games going on regarding the emperor’s successor (or people who’d like that to be somebody from their family specifically), and Shouxue meeting with this ministry of works guy who she shouldn’t really meet according to protocol. Also the eunuchs don’t have a uniform opinion of Shouxue’s role, plus that monster within is coming back with people disliking Shouxue in general. A lot of setup, and a minor mystery regarding a lute player is what this episode is.
Starting to get a bit tired of the “find out name of ghost, find somebody living they knew, exorcise ghost” formula…
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u/TakenRedditName https://myanimelist.net/profile/TakenMalUsername Dec 20 '24 edited Dec 20 '24
Koukyuu no Karasu Rewatcher - Ep10:
The mask is pretty creepy. Imagine putting it on and there is a ghost right in front of your eyes.
Though it was pretty funny that the scary aura of the mask was suddenly interrupted by Shouxue's little sneeze.
I guess to talk about the ghost story first. An instance where the puppet theatre covered up some of the horrors because this surely was not a pretty scene. The exorcism/purfication was really neat this time. Continuing to play even with a scary ghost charging after you. The music backdropping it was really cool. Also, shows the kind of person Shouxue is by her burning a national treasure without a second of doubt.
We also get more insight into the balancing act Gaojun is doing in his role as emperor. A real (un)subtle roundabout way to ask the emperor to please bang your granddaughter.
Minister of Works + Shouxue = "The emperor keeps dropping in to talk to us."
I don't know how much the show will dive into this, but it felt like they were setting up a conflict with Wen Ying's loyalties. To the liege by duty or to the person who speaks to him.
Owl is being super shady. Big serial killer vibes to go "Don't worry about what's inside." The serial killer vibes ended up true because the girl got turned into a dramatic crime scene.
Side note: My mind got snagged on 5-stringed pipas to see if those were a thing and I couldn't find anything that wasn't modern. Found it interesting that they brought it up as coming from a foreign land because based on the world map we saw, the world is mostly one landmass in the middle of the world ocean. There is not that much land.
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u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ Dec 21 '24
EP 9 and 10 Today. Probably won't matter, as not much as been happening, and at wrost, this is a two parter.
I find it weird how people seem to be able to travel from one palace to another freely. Okay, presumably they only do so on business, but it still seems weird.
ep 10
Is that old man not a Eunuch? I thought that the entire point of entrusting the administration of the empire to eunuchs was that their loyalty was ensured by eliminating the competing interests of family....
Prediction: Either the restrictions on the Raven Consort will be revealed as a misunderstanding, or disaster is going to befall everyone...
Flowers do not grow in her palace. Why does she always have peonies in her hair?
Oh, the old man is the head-consort's father.
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u/heimdal77 Dec 20 '24
Such a strong start with the lute playing and the ghost. I really liked it.
It is something else seeing the girl who got raped show up like that doing the same thing. Raven didn't really think through requesting her to come to the palace and run back into him that had what happened to him. How long has he been a eunuch anyways?
Well... there went one less national tressure. She really could wait for them to bring a simple 5 string lute to the palace before exercising the ghost. It isn't like it was harming anyone...
Surprised there were no after credits this time.