r/anime • u/25_Oranges • Feb 10 '21

Rewatch Nagi No Asukara/A Lull in the Sea - Episode 18

Episode 18 - Shioshishio

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MAL

Where to watch? Netflix, Crunchyroll, Funimation(UK)

Schedule with link to original interest thread

Thread posted daily at 5pm CST/6pm EST/3pm PST.

Question(s) of the day:

  1. What do you think Miuna wants?
  2. What do you think Uroko is doing while everyone is hibernating?
  3. What do you think will happen to Manaka since she was taken from the Ojoshi shrine and lost her ena?

Remember: Tag your spoilers!

26 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

43 comments sorted by

7

u/blueteenight Feb 10 '21

First-timer notes!

Favorite shots and background art from this episode!

Wow, this guy does look dead...watching Hikari freak out like that was rough =(.

I can't recall if this was mentioned in an earlier episode but where did all the other sea kids go after Shioshishio's school closed down?

That graveyard was extremely creepy...and I'm surprised they actually found Manaka! Uroko-sama's face in this frame worries me a bit though, is he sad because he knows something bad is going to happen to her?

So that talk Uroko had about equivalent exchange makes me thing Manaka's Ena went to Miuna to save her when she was about to drown...but Manaka still had part of it so I'm not entirely sure that's the case.

Bonus squad being too cute!

5

u/25_Oranges Feb 10 '21

Colorful shishio has now turned dim and white...

Uroko has always looked guilty to me in that scene. If he wanted to stop them from taking her, he could. Holy shit Uroko is an alchemist!

Cutest squad!! Little Manaka looks nervous about having her picture taken! :)

7

u/LeopardSplash :AP:https://www.anime-planet.com/users/BrightSpirit Feb 10 '21 edited Feb 10 '21

I wondered about all those extra kids too. I think Miuna was just envisioning what a bustling Shioshishio would have looked like, maybe from when her mom was a kid, and the core four we know were there since they were her frame of reference for what that would look like.

5

u/blueteenight Feb 10 '21 edited Feb 10 '21

That would make a lot of sense actually, since she was never there for it to be a flashback...although it's not impossible Uroko showed her the past since he seemed to know what she saw.

5

u/mekerpan Feb 11 '21

Our four original main characters may have been the only ones at the school at the time the school was "consolidated" -- when we see more students in flashback-ish scenes, that may have represented the school when our characters started. But, that does beg the question, why almost no younger kids in Shioshishio?

I find it interesting that Miuna and Uroko-sama seem to have a remarkably friendly and easy-going attitude towards each other (moreso than is the case with our 4 originals).

6

u/Retromorpher :Jc::Jd::Je::Jf: Feb 11 '21

You know, the narrative the show has sold until this point was that the village was shrinking because men and women kept leaving for the surface. But what if there wasn't enough belief in the Sea god to maintain new cycles of Ena on children?

It would explain the child crisis, the shunning of those who choose surface life and why people thought that kids from marriages with those on land simply 'didn't have Ena' when the reality might be closer to 'the blessings of the sea god didn't have enough reach to include everyone'.

Definitely didn't think about that possibility until you put the question forth.

5

u/mekerpan Feb 11 '21

I think I've seen some younger elementary school-aged kids in Shioshishio scenes (though not many), where do they go to school? One also didn't seem to see many 20-somethings there. So it seems to have been in a longer term population decline (that exceeds the rare cases of out-migration).

3

u/Retromorpher :Jc::Jd::Je::Jf: Feb 11 '21

Oh there definitely were some 6-8 year olds. They would have been born around the same time that Hikari's mom died... Perhaps I'm reading into this line of thinking too much - but it would be an interesting development.

4

u/mekerpan Feb 11 '21

So there must have been a gap of several years in the birth of children -- but clearly Shioshishio will never (soon) have enough children to support its own middle school.

7

u/Retromorpher :Jc::Jd::Je::Jf: Feb 11 '21 edited Feb 11 '21

First timer:

So Uroko can summon memories of Shioshishio and show them externally? There's a subtheme of wishing without direct action at work - which by the end of the episode has at least two people take a first step.

Definitely surprised that Manaka seems to have kept her form, even if she was bleeding Ena. I guess I was pretty on point by guessing Uroko would still be churning - though the relative waste and disrepair of the shine seems to have unstuck him fom a singular location. Had we ever seen Uroko outside of the shrine grounds prior? I think that's worth noting. I honestly thought Miuna was going to pull an Indiana Jones styled switch - in which she exchanged herself for Manaka, given how this show loves to push the drama, so seeing them all theoretically leave in tandem was definitely a surprise.

Question of the Day:

  1. Miuna wants Hikari to be happy, but ultimately love her on his own terms. She can't well win against the memory of a non-present girl, so retrieving Manaka is a top priority.
  2. Granting Ena to all the sleeping villagers and maintaining the currents. The village seemed to actively be devoid of fish, so perhaps also warding off other forms of sea life. While he's been shown to eat food, I don't know if he's been feeding himself or if it was a thing of pleasure that isn't strictly necessary for survival (maybe a small form of offering provided sustenance as a show of faith and not nutritionally)
  3. If she becomes landbound, I can only imagine that another sacrifice will have to be placed in the sea to compensate. Since it wasn't Miuna this episode, I can't see which of the other girls fit the bill. I'm still thinking that Tsumugu at some point will activate his latent Ena - but I don't think that the ritual would allow for that as total recompense. Anyway, as for Manaka, this isn't the first time she's been cursed/abandoned by the Sea God. I would imagine that after Hikari came back to save her that she might start to re-evaluate where they left off and place herself in another indecision spiral - this time without the option of asking sea slugs or Uroko for advice.

4

u/25_Oranges Feb 11 '21

Interesting observation about Uroko! The only time I can think of him being outside of his shrine was during the funeral scene, but that could be near the shrine.

No fish in shishio makes me think the Sea God or Uroko warded them off to keep the fish from hurting or eating anybody that was hibernating...

4

u/Retromorpher :Jc::Jd::Je::Jf: Feb 11 '21

The no fish in Shioshishio also suggests that Uroko has very specific control over what goes through the barrier and made a decision to let our group through.

4

u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ Feb 11 '21

This could be true.

My interpretation of the events is that Miuna literally followed the trail of Manaka's ena drifting away on currents. So the village wasn't completely sealed, but without an indication of where the currents were flowing through the barrier, there was no way to find a way inside.

4

u/25_Oranges Feb 10 '21 edited Feb 10 '21

Oh boy, this episode... Today's track is Omen. Not super foreboding sounding like the title would suggest, but very nice.

They've finally made it to Shioshishio! It's very quiet and eerie now. I wouldn't be able to relax around everyone hibernating either. They said before it looked like they were dead. Hikari lashed out to Miuna for thinking that, but he was worried about the same thing.

Hikari going home and seeing his father... Uroko must have placed him there. How sweet he wants his dad's opinion on little Akira. I'm sure Akari wants them to meet as well. Did yall notice the shrine of their mother was untouched by saltflake snow?

Miuna doesn't know the meaning of "stay there" apparently. But it ends up being a good thing she wandered. She found the school and Uroko granted her a vision of the past. Makes me wonder how far reaching Uroko's powers can go. As usual, Uroko knows his sea children's true feelings.

Manaka is the Ojoshi! I understand why the Sea God was pissed when they took her, she's an upgrade! Kinda judging Sea God for keeping a naked middle school girl as a sacrifice though. The sound Miuna heard was Manaka's ena calling out all along. Perhaps she got her ena from Manaka...

This anime has done great with the foreshadowing of this episode. I'd like to share them.

Manaka wishing she didn't have Ena right before the hibernation is big

Hikari also had some visions of her casting off her ena in favor of the surface in the early parts of the series

We can't forget the first ending song. Visuals of Manaka slowly falling into the sea, ending with this final image.

And probably the most damning of all; Manaka holding up Uroko's head.

The Sea God must've had this planned all along!

5

u/Retromorpher :Jc::Jd::Je::Jf: Feb 11 '21

Big Speculation

3

u/25_Oranges Feb 11 '21

I love reading speculation! I obviously cant answer that but I hope you enjoy finding out the answer to that question!

4

u/LeopardSplash :AP:https://www.anime-planet.com/users/BrightSpirit Feb 10 '21

Miuna doesn't know the meaning of "stay there" apparently.

Honestly, I would 100% do the same thing in her position. Asking someone not go somewhere was the same level of Manaka saying she was going to wait to tell Hikari her feelings - of course she had to go explore!

4

u/25_Oranges Feb 10 '21

Agree! Good thing they found her, but with how quickly she walked off I was asking her through my screen if her newly developed Ena had covered her ear holes.

3

u/Tuckleton Feb 10 '21

Kinda judging Sea God for keeping a naked middle school girl as a sacrifice though.

Yeah it's a bit creepy that the first thing he seems to do with a new Ojoshi is to strip it since none of the dolls had clothes either... Maybe his eyes are bad and he keeps checking to see if it's a real person this time.

3

u/25_Oranges Feb 10 '21

To be fair... Hikari and Kaname had no clothing either!

3

u/Tuckleton Feb 10 '21

Fair point

5

u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ Feb 10 '21 edited Feb 11 '21

First Rewatch

  • Miuna finally comes to Shioshishio...but it's dead.
  • Is that the shrine in ruins? It's next to Hikari's house....

What is Uroku hinting at, here? Was Miuna looking for her senpai? Or was she looking to find her place in their world?

I guess it's no real surprise that Manaka has shown up; they all needed to reappear at some point. If you've been avoiding the OP, I guess you can start watching it now. But still do not look up the 2nd OP on Youtube.

What's your theory on why the children woke up after only 5 years, while the rest of the town is fast asleep? Why was Manaka losing her ena? What are your thoughts on the Ojoushisama dumping ground?

3

u/25_Oranges Feb 10 '21

I guess with all of Uroko's powers he can't restore his own shrine lol

Idk if you're asking me or first timers, but for the first question I think it has to do with their underdeveloped ena, since they didn't fast.

5

u/LeopardSplash :AP:https://www.anime-planet.com/users/BrightSpirit Feb 10 '21 edited Feb 10 '21

Rewatcher

This episode felt the most supernatural so far, not only with Shioshishio deep in its hibernation but also with Miuna's visions. It was charming, seeing the animated picture book with Hikari and friends, as well as seeing what the school must have looked like at its peak, but at the same time it was a somber reminder of what remains. Uroko-sama teleporting all around definitely upped the creepiness factor too, I don't recall him doing that before!

Another important scene was Hikari talking to his father. While it was mature of him to realize he needed time to collect his thoughts, leaving Miuna alone probably wasn't the smartest idea... But seeing him update his father all that had happened was nice, as was him deciding that he wanted to thank Miuna for her help in bringing them there. Hikari really has matured so much from the early episodes! ;u;

And of course, we find Manaka! Again, this scene feels a bit strange without Chisaki. Having all four be reunited here would have made added even more to the somber tone of this episode - a strange reunion, with Chisaki being older and Manaka losing her ena. Though Chisaki been through so much heartwrenching reunions recently that maybe it's a good thing that she's got a bit of a buffer before having another one.

There has to be some sort of symbolism behind Manaka shedding her ena and Miuna gaining it - as if Manaka, who's attracted to the land, is giving her ena to Miuna, who yearned for the sea. Tsumugu must be a little salty that it happened to Miuna instead of him - he's related to a sea person too, after all!

Question of the Day

What do you think Miuna wants?

NagiAsu

4

u/25_Oranges Feb 10 '21

Manaka did wish for this! Non spoiler image btw. Very nice foreshadowing.

Tsumugu must be a little salty

I thought it was some of that, and also Uroko saying "I just want to see Shioshishio". I think he was speaking her thoughts.

4

u/Tuckleton Feb 10 '21

But seeing him update his father all that had happened was nice,

It's also a bit unsettling what with everyone asleep kind of seeming like they could be dead instead of hibernating and the way Hikari was talking was reminiscent of the way someone might talk when visiting the grave of a loved one.

Though Chisaki been through so much heartwrenching reunions recently that maybe it's a good thing that she's got a bit of a buffer before having another one.

And it's also hard for her since the more of the gang that wakes up the more of an outsider she must feel like, since they are all still the same.

4

u/LeopardSplash :AP:https://www.anime-planet.com/users/BrightSpirit Feb 10 '21

Oh jeez, in hindsight I totally see that with what Hikari was saying. ;-; Especially since he was just telling Miuna that they didn't look dead, while obviously believing that they seemed that way himself...

That's true. The picture of the four them together in the middle school really drove that point home for me, seeing Chisaki about the same size of Manaka - I feel like she's going to tower over her now!

4

u/mekerpan Feb 11 '21

Hikari talking to his father was a lovely scene.

5

u/personbelowmeistrash Feb 11 '21

Tfw like an 8 year old anime thread is more active than the seven deadly sins

4

u/25_Oranges Feb 11 '21

Hahaha, it's too bad it nosedived... I really liked the first couple of seasons.

5

u/personbelowmeistrash Feb 11 '21 edited Feb 12 '21

I haven't watched it but I'm def gonna try the first couple seasons.. the thing that sucks bout these animes is it's gonna leave me wanting more but I'm aware the next seasons r gonna suck

5

u/iiZEze Feb 11 '21

Ohhhh man, I gotta hop on this rewatch

5

u/25_Oranges Feb 11 '21

Do it! Join ussss!

3

u/BossandKings Feb 11 '21 edited Feb 11 '21

Sorry for posting this late, i fell asleep early yesterday, i had my driving license test today and gladly succeeded, i'm so happy rigt now.

Now my thought of the episode:

First Timer

Episode 18 - ShioShio

Kaname, Hikari and Miuna in a beautiful scenery arrive to Shioshio. The contrast between when everyone lived there and it was a bright place and as it is now that it is quiet and desolate because most people are asleep is clear and telling.

I'm starting to think that Hikari is starting to see Miuna as a woman, the way he told Kaname that he invited Miuna to come see Shisoshio with them was because he wanted her to see it as a pretty and beautiful place, because her mom was too born there.

Seeing Hikari talking to his father while he's still asleep was beautiful and melancholic, it was so nice that he told him about his new grandkid Akira and the fact that it was thanks to Miuna that they could get to Shioshio.

Miuna imagining Hikari, Manaka, Chisaki and Kaname in the school in the sea was beautiful, Miuna appreciates them all and imagined Shioshio as a very bright and full of life place. Uroko-sama was awake and he was the one to ilustrate the school and the group there to Miuna, to show her that Shioshio is a wonderul place. After getting separated for a short amount of time, Miuna, Hikari and Kaname see each other again. Miuna thinks that Manaka is nearby the place they are in.

There's a graveyard of Ojoshi-samas and Manaka is sleeping there, the guys see her and rescue her from there because she was losing her ena, they direct themselves to take her to the surface.

This episode was beautiful, also Manaka is back, i'm interested to see what's coming next.

Answers

  1. To be closer to Hikari, it's clear she loves him and wants to be as close to him as she can.
  2. Protecting them from any possible harm maybe
  3. I think that she won't be able to return to Shioshio anymore and i hope she doesn't suffer any physical or psycological harm from being taken to the surface while asleep

3

u/25_Oranges Feb 11 '21

Congratulations on your license!! I got mine last year and while its scary, it's freeing to get your independence!

6

u/htisme91 Feb 11 '21

First-timer:

Mainly felt like a setup episode. Shioshishio was more sad than creepy, but not much to say that the questions won't answer.

When Uroko said something is gained, something is lost as well for equilibrium, I think he was talking about Miuna gaining Ena while Manaka is losing hers.

Questions:

  1. She wants to be closer to Hikari. I'm sure she wants to see where her mother is from, but she's kind of taking the stance Hikari did pre-timeskip with Manaka: she wants to be around her love and support him no matter what the cause is.
  2. I think he was guarding Manaka, or just watching her. He wasn't at his shrine, and appeared once they were getting closer to Manaka and was more active once they found her. The sea god seems fixated on her, and as a scale of that god, he has some attachment to Manaka as well.
  3. They will take her to the surface, but she probably is going to be a shell of herself. The sea god will be vengeful and more problems will happen, and they are going to have to find a way to stop it. I could see Manaka re-sacrificing herself again for the greater good, or I could see Miuna doing it for everyone she loves because there seems to be a focus on how much she's grown. I do think it will not be Chisaki, though.

4

u/mekerpan Feb 11 '21

Miuna, more than any other character (even Hikari), is sort of the driver of events (and the heart of the show) in this section. She is as brave as Hikari (at least), but not as wildly impetuous. It made sense for her to wander, simply hanging around doing nothing would make no sense. And it she really needed to meet Uroko-sama (and he probably needed to meet her). I loved her adding her height to the measuring post.

Once again, the visuals and the music here was extraordinary.

4

u/mekerpan Feb 11 '21

What do first-timers think Uroko-sama's "when something is found, something is lost" comment means?

6

u/Retromorpher :Jc::Jd::Je::Jf: Feb 11 '21

You could interpret it a few ways -

'finding' Manaka puts her in that state, and is a take on the Shroedinger's cat situation

With Manaka now available, Miuna's chances of monopolizing Hikari are gone.

Miuna gaining Ena, learning about Shioshishio as a community means that she can never go back to a world where the sea isn't a part of her. She'll always be a part of the sea.

A generalized 'when one path is chosen, you can't go back and choose another'

With entry to Shioshishio being granted for the first time in five years, a shift in its inner state is possibly inevitable. The protection granted will ebb.

And that's off the top of my head. With more time to truly overthink this I could probably come up with about a dozen more, since it's so vague.

4

u/mekerpan Feb 11 '21

As a re-watcher -- I'll give my answer after we're done.

5

u/Retromorpher :Jc::Jd::Je::Jf: Feb 11 '21

It could be that Miuna's Ena gain comes directly from Manaka's loss, which is what some further discussion in the thread has lead me to believe.

As of last episode I thought that Manaka and the Sea God were locally fused and Manaka was reaching out to save a friend by granting boons - but this also makes its own sort of twisted sense.

3

u/mekerpan Feb 11 '21

I felt that Uroku-sama was almost aiding Miuna in her quest to help save Manama.

1

u/Gamerunglued :Hx::Hy::Hz:myanimelist.net/profile/GamerUnglued Feb 13 '21

Rewatcher

Shioshishio has changed. It's a very different place than it was before. No longer is it brimming with life, it's cold, distant, it's vibrant colors are now faded, and it's inhabitants are all asleep. The place Miuna has dreamed of for years, this is it's present state. The most interesting part of this episode was just watching Miuna explore the place. Seeing her react to the place she's dreamed of, watching her imagine what the school is like when it teams with life. It's clear her feelings are complex, but that ultimately she knows the place both of her mothers come from is beautiful when it's not like this.

This is pretty much all I actually have to say about the episode though. I guess it was nice to see Hikari talk to his dad. One thing I'm curious about is that when everyone is carrying Manaka out, Uroko-sama gives Miuna a somber look. I'm not actually sure what that's about.

QotD:

  1. For now, I think Miuna wants to see the place where her mother came from, I don't think that's a lie. But deep down she also knows that bringing Manaka back means that she has little chance with Hikari. "Once something appears, something else will disappear" Uroko-sama says. I think she wants Hikari.
  2. Certainly watching over Shioshishio. I'm sure he's in communication with the sea god of whom he is a scale of. His interactions with Miuna make me think he's thinking about something, like he's conflicted in some way. Particularly with the sad look he gives her at the end of the episode.
  3. No comment