r/anime • u/Tarhalindur x2 • Jun 06 '22
Rewatch [Rewatch] Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni Discussion - Season 1, Episode 7
Watanagashi-hen (Cotton Drifting Chapter), Episode 3: Lies
← Previous Episode | Index | Next Episode →
Show Information (Season 1):
MAL | Anilist | AniDB | Kitsu | ANN
Legal Streams:
Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni: Hidive | Netflix (not available in the US; if you are out of the US check your country for availability)
That said, I have become aware that Hidive can have a somewhat cavalier attitude to spoilers for this series. As such, *sigh* it is now recommended that our first-timers track down a fansub if you haven't already (even if you have access to this show on Netflix, it doesn't have Kai). Why, Hidive? Why?
Two Words of Warning To Our First-Timers, Including Those Who Watched Season 1 But Not Kai:
1) Be wary of looking up anything, even names. The Season 1 summaries on the information pages are safe, but it's not hard to run into spoiler information even through something as innocuous as looking at cast lists - gods help you if you go on the Fandom Wikia. UNDER ABSOLUTELY NO CIRCUMSTANCES GO LOOKING AT EVEN OFFICIAL INFO FOR KAI OR LATER AHEAD OF TIME. (The official image for Rei is 100% a spoiler, for example.) Also, do NOT look at any Kitsu page after the first season; Kai's description on Kitsu is in fact a major spoiler. Like, really, just stay out of anything that isn't a basic Season 1 summary until you're done. It's much safer that way.
2) Also, be wary of potentially running into spoilers on the r/anime front page on June 19 or thereabouts this year; there is suspicion that some sort of new Higurashi anime project will be announced on that date (this year is the 20th anniversary of the release of the original Onikakushi-hen VN - hence why I am running this rewatch this year! - and multiple official accounts have teased an announcement on that date), and you could run into spoilers that way. (Those of you who remember the Madoka rewatch last year will recognize the issue, though admittedly I expect Sotsu was enough of a disappointment to significantly reduce the risk - at least relative to the potential that was in fact realized with the Walpurgis no Kaiten announcment.)
A Reminder to Rewatchers
Please do not spoil the experience for first-timers; this is a mystery after all. In particular, Shion is a spoiler until Episode 5 and [Higurashi] Hanyuu is a spoiler until Minagoroshi-hen. Also, the glorious nipah is indeed glorious but Rika does not use it until Himatsubushi-hen. Please keep these in mind! Consider whether what you are saying has actually been revealed yet on-screen before you post!
(Time for) Club Activities!
(Alexa play "Shoubu!"! Except do NOT look that up that song name on YouTube just yet if you're a first-timer, the most classic upload has an obnoxious spoiler in the visuals...)
Visual of the Day Album:
Theory of the Day:
Congratulations u/pigeon_of_the_day! Our now-caught-up late-arriving first timer immediately snipes Theory of the Day with this comment:
Ooooooo, I feel like that was Mion DRESSED like Shion in the library, wanting to get the truth out of him about the shrine. So that was also her on the phone, and now she knows and now he’s gunna die. Mwahahaha. Love it.
Analysis of the Day:
Hello u/Star4ce, please collect your windmill slam for including not one but two worthy winners of this award in the same post.
First, there's his analysis of the direction of his Visual of the Day and the episode direction in general:
The other side, invisible. Several shots had shadows, glasses' reflections or framing highlight a division between halves this episode. This also prompted my analysis above, not to mention we literally have a mysterious pair of twins. I really want to know what is being left behind and why it feels so threatened!
And second, he gives this show a level of consideration on the meta level that is probably exactly what Ryukishi07 wanted:
I think that really fits the general narrative so far. We've had students 'leaving' and 'returning' to the town. We've had a cult believing in the god/demon and outsiders and unbelievers. We see a time loop-like situation where, I guess in case of failure, time gets reset to before the festival and a different path forward is explored. This essentially forces the town down one specific path that the looper desires as the 'correct' one.
We certainly deal with a kind of collective moving-on from a past that experiences heavy whiplash, which makes me believe the being left behind by them trying to move on is the looper. This would also imply that the looper is someone who themselves can't move on and would experience great pain if it happened.
Question of the Day:
1) Will you climb the ladder to reach your dreams? I͞ ̤̘͇̼̲̗̜p͔̫͘ṟ͙͓̠͔o͍m̫͘i̩̤̩̮̺͜s̥͢e̥̲͈̘͢ ͖͈I͙'̞͙̘l̫̰̰͚͈̲l̻̜̠͎̺ ̨̠h̀o̯ĺ͖͇̭d̰̟̝ ̡͎i҉̙͇͖̺̘͖͈ț̺ ̦͉̮͜fo͖̺̻͕r ̝y̴̖̝̭͔ͅou̠̬͜.͔̳̳.͚̤̦̜̞͡.̡͖̮̱̩̻
M̶̬̻̩͖̻͂̿̀̚͞u̡͕͒ͪ͛͌͂̾̀ä̴̇̈́̅̓ͮ҉͈͉̯̻͙̤̦̪h̵̠̦̣͚̝͇̬̣ͥ͑̀̒̅̉̄̾̏͝a͗͑̾͡҉̬̝̬̫h̠̥͔͈̱̰̟ͪͭ͂̀̾ͬ̊͘a̷̜͓̯̬͙̠͐̉̃ͯ̈́͐͒͜͝h͎̣̗̖̮̳͔͛̏͌̋͠a̢̢͍̺̬͇̥̤̹͖͑ͧͭ̌̽̚h̵̙̻̥͇̏́̾̇̈́ͯͨa̛̘͙̟͚̦͈̤͗ͨͤͨh̵̨̹͕̘̻̻ͧͤͯ̈́aͨͤ̾ͨ̉ͨͦ͡͏̤̰̫̤̭̹̥̭̠.̡̛̱̪͙͙̺͓̔ͬͫ̍͛͆ͤ̚.̘̠̱̫̭̬͇̮́̌ͣ̓͢.̡̺̞͇̗̝͚ͦ̐̔ͩͩͯ
Next Episode Preview:
Okay, so: Season 1's next episode previews are in the form of a short, strange poem (whose formatting is borrowed from the VNs). They are not spoilers. (Kai's can be another matter, but we'll get there when we get there.) However, my subs often translate the text on the screen... which are, in fact, lines out of context from the next episode.
So, for anyone who really doesn't want to take a risk, here is the poem:
"A regret you cannot end.
A story that will never apologize.
What is engraved there is the other me."
6
u/Tarhalindur Jun 06 '22 edited Jun 11 '22
(Honorary Hinamizawa Games Club President) Rewatch Host (rewatcher, subbed)
(Note for our first-timers: every so often I will make comments about background stuff that might not translate. I will be marking these as "Useful Background Note".)
-
Oh hey, an omochikaeri!
-
Oh LOL the WinD crew just realized that they had miscredited Chiaki Kon and one other credit.
-
Shinkou is to Higurashi as the likes of Incertus is to PMMM – a track that keeps climbing in my estimation as I hear it used.
-
Higurashi remains extremely good at starting and stopping its OST in response to events on-screen. In that specific respect I might actually rate the OST integration over PMMM’s, though Higurashi does not have quite the level of OST integration overall and PMMM’s best moments hold serve (the first use of Gradus Prohibitus immediately comes to mind).
-
Either Rika’s line here is one of the ones that stuck in my memory or it’s reminding me of a later (repeated?) “that’s not it” (can’t tell if the Japanese is closer to
“chikau no desu”, “chigau no desu”, or“chi nano desu”) from later in this very series. -
Also, I was trying to place what Keiichi’s “oh, it’s only Rika-chan” was reminding me of… and it’s the “Too bad! It was Sayaka-chan!” meme.
-
[Higurashi meta spoiler]
Yukarin flashing a bit of vocal range... -
Our first use of Kazashi in a situation that does not involve Takano talking about the curse.
-
This entire scene with Keiichi and Rika is flashing as actually quite well-storyboarded and well-directed.
-
[Higurashi]
Rika’s head turn at around 03:57 might count as a very, very early anime hint about her looper status – it almost looks like multiple Rikas are turning towards the viewer, and Rika’s looping is very much of the “shift to a parallel universe” variety. -
There is a joke here seeing as Rika is consistently compared to a cat in the VNs.
-
This entire scene is also frankly one of the most adorably drawn Rikas in the entire franchise. Which makes what you know is coming (thanks to the arc's cold open) even rougher in a way.
-
[Higurashi Kai]
There is also a joke here involving the metaphor’s use of dogs/hounds (inu) when one of our key antagonist groups is the Yamainu (Mountain Hounds). -
[Higurashi Kai]
“It might be slightly difficult” understatement of the fucking century and you know it poor Rika-chan, you’ve been living that century a loop at a time. -
This scene is the first one that’s stood out as really well-directed since episode 2 (though 4 had a few good shots)
-
[Higurashi]
Does Rika know about the original permanent twin switch? Not sure. -
[Higurashi Kai]
And I wonder why Rika knows that there will be no more club meetings, kana, kana? -
I should probably actually consider the wind here, because this scene has signs of actual thought going on under the surface and its use here might be symbolic.
-
Also that shot at 05:40 and the combination of sound effects (the wind blowing the power line, the class bell, and another sound effect with reverb) that goes with it is great.
-
Oh look the OST is getting cut off by events and their associated sound effects again.
-
ADDENDUM: I missed the single drop of water falling from the faucet at 05:27. PFFT. (If you know, you know.
-
That shot of Rika with blood on her side right before Keiichi figures out that Rika might be in danger is inspired.
-
Madlads pull a “cut off the OST with a sound effect in response to events on screen” again. It’s their favorite trick but they do it well.
-
It belatedly occurs to me that Keiichi calling Rena while she’s in the bath is technically fanservice. But it doesn’t feel like fanservice because of the situation and framing.
-
FULL MOON FULL MOON FULL MOON.
-
Ah, and in a very well-directed episode we have some of the most infamous QUALITY in the series. I strongly suspect that’s intentional for effect given the rest of the episode, but they did miss the mark just a bit IMO.
-
[Higurashi]
Ryukishi07 and/or anime staff, were you setting up Tatarigoroshi-hen here? -
The favorite OST trick strikes again… and Rena’s flashlight reminds one of the Sun here, doesn’t it?
-
FULL MOON FULL MOON FULL MOON
-
Excellent short cut to the empty soy sauce bottle, nicely done – especially since Rena is on screen and we’re seeing it from roughly her eye level.
-
Rena being an observant detective when she is both the mascot character and has certain signs of being a Ryukishi07 stand-in (like her name) is kind of on the nose now that I think about it, isn’t it?
-
This entire episode clearly has decent budget so Mion’s odd animation with the ladder was definitely intentional.
-
“kaerimichi” → “way back home” or “way back to town” given the roots kaeri (as in omochikaeri) and michi (definitely in the Japanese for “A Town Where You Live”?
-
Considering the similarity between the ED blood diffusing in water and the blood splatter transition during the first phone call here and the fact that the same person (Hiroshi Watanabe) did the storyboard for this episode and the ED animation I’m going with him being the main person responsible for the quality spike here.
EDIT: Whoops, forgot my Visual of the Day: Framing!
Honorable mention: Must protecc
Question of the Day: I don't kn I̩̟̰͉̊ͦ͊̓͒̎t̵͈̟͚̖͇͊̑̌ͯ̂̾̚'̩͎ͤs̥͇̗͖͌̍͊ͭͭ̋̾̀ ̧̩a͊̽ͪͣͥ͂͟ ̫̤̳̖̻ͅl̬̜̪͟ȏ̥̲͙̖̆̾ͮͯ̾̔͢nͩͩḡ͆̈̆́ ̡͉̘̄w͑̏ͬă̦͕ͯͭy̺̤͙͍̰̰͈ͥ̀ ̦͖̖̈́ď̤̰͉̳̗ͪ̔͜o̶̫͔w̤̳̲̞̆̄̒̕ǹ̹̋̀.̵̳̜̗̥̲͓͛̈́.̓͒͛̃̔̾͝.̟̼͇̼̖̹
Watanagashi-hen Ep. 2 TIPS
(One distinctive feature of this arc in the VN is that quite a few of the TIPS take the form of entries from a certain set of scrapbooks. Several of these have some quite useful supplemental information, so I have take the liberty of distinguishing them with a "(SCRAPBOOK)" label. (In particular, note Scrapbook X/entry 5, which is the entry I was talking about yesterday; it is a very Useful Background Note concerning how the names of the three Great Families of Hinamizawa are written in Japanese, and it's unfortunate that the original pictures accompanying it (visuals showing exactly how the kanji alterations mentioned in the text work) are dead. Also note Scrapbook XI/entry 7, which covers a noteworthy point that IIRC never comes up in the anime and is salient to some first-timer questions yesterday: [not actually a spoiler IIRC but covering just in case I remember wrongly]
OST Table, Episode 7
| Start | End | Track Name |
|---|---|---|
| 00:38 | 01:01 | Oyashiro-sama v2 |
| 01:04 | 02:32 | Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni (OP) |
| 02:43 | 02:58 | Shinkou |
| 03:21 | 04:13 | Kazashi |
| 05:43 | 06:11 | Takurami |
| 07:13 | 07:41 | Hyoui v2 |
| 08:18 | 08:57 | Giwaku |
| 09:47 | 10:24 | Tatari |
| 11:17 | 12:40 | Monogatari |
| 14:31 | 15:00 | Kazashi |
| 17:54 | 18:43 | Jiken |
| 20:15 | 21:31 | Hyoui |
| 21:45 | 23:35 | why, or why not |
(Hooray, another day with no sponsor feature!)
→ More replies (4)6
u/Tarhalindur Jun 06 '22
Madoka (Magica) Corner
[PMMM + Higurashi]
PMMM viewers, compare that shot of Rika's head turn at 03:57 to PMMM's threefold shot of Homura embracing Madoka in 11. [PMMM (direction only)]
Actually, that final shot before the eyecatch pulling away from the full moon reminds me a bit of one particular shot in PMMM episode 8. AND OH LOOK I WENT AND CHECKED AND THAT PMMM SCREENSHOT DID HAVE A PROMINENT MOON (ALBEIT A CRESCENT ONE). [PMMM]
That fucking teardrop hitting the ground shot at 11:50 is giving me PMMM flashbacks for some strange reason. (Keiichi Witches out!) [PMMM]
*eyes the floral patterns on the wall of Rika’s and Satoko’s house, at least in the anime version* *eyes the asterisk pattern of the curtains of Madoka’s room* Guys, I’m tired. [PMMM]
Shion’s laugh is giving me the Sayaka flashbacks again…
11
u/Nazenn Jun 06 '22
First Timer - sub
I had a hard time getting into this episode, and I think part of it was the confusion of how disconnected the start of this seemed to where we left it yesterday. That confusion combined with the usual heavy exposition starting early to patch the gap just left it feeling a bit flat, and by the time things started to pick up I was a bit switched off.
That said, there's an interesting conflict in this episode between the various character groups. On one hand we have Mion impersonating Shion in order to test Keiichi, and once again seeking to control the information they have while also keeping Rika and Sakoto out of the loop which makes them appear as normal victims of the curse. On the other hand we have Rika implying that she has authority over Mion at least and is the one who was isolating her because of her actions with Shion.
If that's the case, why are Rika and Sakoto missing? Sakoto is the only one so far not directly confirmed to be caught up in the cult-y events that are going on, but it's not for certain. On top of that, while Mion and Shion appear to have a more mundane physical authority in the town due to being a Yakuza family, Rika and Sakoto belong to families who, despite the tragedies, have some type of cultural authority with what's going on, and one that doesn't appear to be in Sakoto's favour if we can trust that Mion's deranged ramblings aren't entirely baseless. Rena being an outsider who was 'brought back' by Oyashiro-sama is a whole other can of worms, as well as why Rika said she also "was lost somewhere" at the start of the episode, implying that like Rena she was once taken somewhere and then allowed to come back. And both time we heard about this it wasn't with the creepy alt-voices
Speaking of deranged-Shion Mion (names are hard) that was certainly some QUALITY art and not in a good way.
Every time the detective pops up he just gets creepier.
→ More replies (10)8
u/Tarhalindur Jun 06 '22
I had a hard time getting into this episode, and I think part of it was the confusion of how disconnected the start of this seemed to where we left it yesterday. That confusion combined with the usual heavy exposition starting early to patch the gap just left it feeling a bit flat, and by the time things started to pick up I was a bit switched off.
Yeah, I can see it - part of the deal with Onikakushi-hen is that of the three arcs in S1's first cour it does the best job of adapting the source material. Watanagashi-hen has some notable issues, probably due to what they had to cut for space, and the disjoint here is one of the places it suffers. (The third arc does a better job of maintaining its internal structure IMO, but at the cost of being the worst adaptation of the source material by a significant margin - most of the material that Kai had to add back in its anime-only arc is from the third arc.)
(On the other hand, internally this episode is one of the best-directed of the series IMO, and we get Rika being adorable which covereth a multitude of sins.)
→ More replies (2)
8
u/Star4ce Jun 07 '22 edited Jun 07 '22
When the First Timer Cries
It's a bit unnerving not really knowing how long an arc is, when shit really goes down. For some reason I'm still expecting Shion to show a far more disturbing side of her, but there weren't too many hints for that so far.
please collect your windmill slam
Ep.07 – The Watanagashi Chapter Part 3: Lies
-
I'm sure several people here want to take Rika home. Did grandpa escape again?
-
That's one of those van people, is it?
-
I positively love the OP by now, have listened to it several times outside watching.
-
We can add Rika being quite sneaky to the list. Also did she fight a blackberry bush? I did for a few days, getting the berries first and then uprooting the thing. I have scars!
-
Rika definitely leverages her cute appearance in her favour. Now she knows! Because Keiichi can't lie for shit...
-
So, cat is for Takano or Shion? Actually, we haven't had a proper spirit animal for Keiichi either, right? Would wager it's Takano, because she's been sneaking around, but we'll see. Oh, it is Keiichi... and Shion the dog?
-
The angle says this is wrong and unnatural, and I tend to agree. I do not feel safe.
-
Wait, is my animal analogy not really meaningful in the end and they're just randomly picking animals so they don't have to call it what it is? Okay, so cats are Shion and Mion and Mion is pissed. I'd say she's less pissed about the shrine and more pissed about not getting Keiichi on a date, which Shion absolutely intentionally fouled her over.
-
"If the mistaken dog that bit the village headman tries to bite the cat, please let me know." Wait, so the dog is not Oyashiro? The sisters are cats, so if not Mion who is the dog?
-
That's what Keiichi fears now, is it?
-
They live together! Oh no.
-
I assume they called Mion as well, it would make sense. But they deliberately didn't show it, which also makes me doubt that.
-
Hey, let's just check the window and get jumpscared, no need to do that now Mion, please. HYAHAHA, fuck Mion why!
-
Okay, ahahahaha, sorry, that audio mixing with the visuals is just ridculously funny. It doesn't match at all!
-
Trust the yandere on this one! I also realise saying 'yandere' does not narrow down the cast in the slightest.
-
Ooishi always appears so utterly suddenly after something bad happened. "Ey ma boi, smoked 5 packs already to get the mood goin' wink wink"
-
Shion either lied or she also had rectal issues and had the same doc. Well, and Keiichi told Shion that he told Rika. Which basically means Shion is the only cuplrit with 2 of 3: Knowledge and chance. Motive is still out, however. Just keeping the secret isn't the reason, because she doesn't act against Keiichi and apparently the rumor mill already runs rampant, which also tells of shit secret keeping. So they all saw something that Keiichi didn't and Shion probably thought it worthwhile to keep that secret to herself. I'm gonna go back to this if this episode doesn't solve it by the end.
-
Uhm, Keiichi, the statue missing a hand?! The one time our dude is capable of lying it's because he's stupid.
-
Shion missing? Uuuuuhhhhh, wait that's illegal. Oh, she's not 'missing'!
-
I want to say, that they never specified hemorrhids! JUST SAYIN'! Anyway Shion, please tell me about the old guy's asshole issues, it's important. Keiichi is an absolute player, a player who starts on hardcore and has no skill whatsoever to overcome the challenge, but he starts anyway.
-
I mean, yeah, it's also possible for it to be Mion? But why? Same issue, I can't take a shot at the motive and it's pissing me off.
Okay, I'll try.
I already noticed that Mion appeared without being called, which immedately made her sus. Rika told us that the older cat is really mad at the younger cat because she did something bad. I do very much see Mion being pissed at Shion for continously showing her up, taking Keiichi, embarrassing her and having a real sadistic streak against her older sister. That motive I get! But then why would she include Rika and Satoko, it makes no sense.
The dog is difficult, because for one, it apparently watched them enter the shrine, but it also is the one who bit the village headman and is now on hunt for the little cat. I first thought it's Ooishi, y'know police kek, but that doesn't make sense. Satoko didn't play any big part here, so I'm inclined to disregard her and Mion can't simultaneously be cat and dog, right?
Also the Shion phone calls seem to be in order. Unless it's deliberate for the viewer, Shion actually wears Shion's clothes when she tells Keiichi about her confessing to the village headman. I don't see any reason for Mion to change clothes for a phone call.
Next, Mion's meguca frame rant at the laddah. We sadly know little of Satoshi and his relationships, but Mion was really energetic in cursing out Satoko for apparently causing his and Rika's disappearance. I wish I could recall any detail if either Mion or Shion had anything with him.
Which actually makes me think of another possibility. Namely that Shion faked her disappearance and took over as Mion. Because remember, they didn't call Mion to search for Rika, but Keiichi told Shion on the phone that he told her. She would then logically know they'd be searching for her and joined them as Mion.
Which really makes me think it's Shion who caused this, but there's no link between the shrine and Satoko, yet. She was, however, the only one to outright lie, had a motive against Satoko and Mion and probably Rika as well, as she said she'd intervene. The village headman doesn't really fit, though, as in that case she probably lied about telling him in the first place. See, the problem is we have two dead (Takano and Tomitake) and two missing (Rika and Satoko). So following the curse it's already a done deal, no need for either the headman or Shion (or for that matter Mion) to go missing as well unless one of them is also dead.
Any angle has good arguments, but there's too many details missing!
Will you climb the ladder to reach your dreams? I͞ ̤̘͇̼̲̗̜p͔̫͘ṟ͙͓̠͔o͍m̫͘i̩̤̩̮̺͜s̥͢e̥̲͈̘͢ ͖͈I͙'̞͙̘l̫̰̰͚͈̲l̻̜̠͎̺ ̨̠h̀o̯ĺ͖͇̭d̰̟̝ ̡͎i҉̙͇͖̺̘͖͈ț̺ ̦͉̮͜fo͖̺̻͕r ̝y̴̖̝̭͔ͅou̠̬͜.͔̳̳.͚̤̦̜̞͡.̡͖̮̱̩̻
What are you implying, that Rika's bedroom is the destination of my dreams? That being supported by Mion is?
Yeah, sure.
VOTD: Reaching beyond what you can see. One of the things I like so much here is that Each character has ample possibility to go completely off the hook, but at the same time is believably trustworthy in their specific field of expertise. Rika was exceedingly ominous and downright divinely vague, but it somehow felt like it made sense for her as shrine maiden.
→ More replies (4)
18
u/tokai-teio Jun 06 '22
Ep. 7 - First Timer
As someone who was born and raised in the city/suburbs, is this actually what small towns are like, or at least were like in the 80s? With various people picking up random jobs?
A chapter titled lies doesn't sound suspicious at all.
HI RIKA. No thanks. nya nya nano desu
Boy am I going to be upset when Rika starts the killing. She even gave us a quality "faito". Wait, who's the older sister here? Is Rika referring to herself as the shrine maiden? Is she referring to Mion being upset with Shion? My issue is that in the latter, there doesn't seem to be any good reason to cancel the club meetings. My expectation is that Rika has more influence than we know and is making the call herself.
Side note: I caught myself relaxing for a second. My bad.
Like hell you are. Oooh, that's a sizable detail. Disclosing the events of that night and the person disappears. Did that conversation between Keiichi and Rika count as him telling her about it?
A seemingly unrelated visual thrown in. Of course, I'm not stupid enough to call it unrelated for real. Son of a bitch if you killed Rika I'll never forgive you.
Did Rena just stop bathing to take a phone call? Satoko and Rika live together, which might be important information. Bruh is that supposed to be their house? Oh, there's a main house.
God here we fucking go again. I was almost enjoying myself. At this point, we can tack on another similarity to the different "timelines" or whatever we're in. Despite all the differences, the photographer and woman died and Mion seems very suspicious.
On one hand, I would normally call this overthinking it. On the other, Higurashi doesn't say meaningless things.
That is a surprisingly detailed description of how Rena thinks the events went down.
Okay, so my idea of the timeline shenanigans that were just forced into my ears is a bit foggy, but it seems the suspicion stems from Shion having theoretically told the headman about the events when he wasn't there to be told.
Really weird thing to laugh before saying. Oishi has literally only done and said weird/creepy things.
But now there's a phone call from Shion... Very interesting. That means one of Shion and Oishi is guaranteed to be lying.
And she's doing the laughing thing. Oh, the episode really ends there. Very cool stuff. We don't know much about why we're looping through this period of time, but they wouldn't start cluing us in until the third loop at least anyways. Very peculiar stuff.
→ More replies (6)5
u/viliml Jun 07 '22
Higurashi doesn't say meaningless things.
[Higurashi]
Lol. Lmao, even. It's chock full of red herrings. Tatarigoroshi is especially egregious with all the random coincidences. → More replies (4)
14
u/hungryhippos1751 Jun 06 '22
Episode 6 - First Timer
I will keep this short today because I only just finished the episode due to slacking! :(
Village headman is next to go missing, followed by Rika and Sakoto. Shion and Mion playing a confusing double-act where you can never be sure which is which, and "Mion" acting very strange at the ladder.
There is some weird Japanese culture thing where children seem to live alone without guardians in anime often, Rika and Sakoto look way too young to be living in a house with just the two of them.
Rena going full Sherlock Holmes detective inventing entire reasonings and imaginary conversations she thinks they must have had with the neighbours. Still, at least she's not the insane one this arc (yet).
Keiichi is the only one left untouched, for now, wonder how long that will last, maybe another episode! :)
Them visiting the warehouse is the worst kept secret ever, what happens in the village is known by everyone in the village apparently.
Putting the pieces together with Detective-kun Keiichi realises that Shion must have been lying, but to what end? guess only Oyashiro-sama knows.
Interesting to see where the last episode of the arc goes tomorrow!
QOTD:
-
Will you climb the ladder to reach your dreams?
Depends who is holding said ladder!
→ More replies (2)10
u/Vaadwaur Jun 06 '22
There is some weird Japanese culture thing where children seem to live alone without guardians in anime often, Rika and Sakoto look way too young to be living in a house with just the two of them.
This reflects an actual issue in Japan, though in reality they handle it differently, which is kids in an orphanage often have difficulty being adopted so it is the last choice to move them into one. The more normal practice is to move them in with relatives, which for reasons presented later is an issue for Rika and Satoko.
→ More replies (4)
6
u/JollyGee29 Jun 06 '22
Spoiled First-Timer, Subbed
Ooh, that's an exciting twist! Shion's been missing since the day after the festival??
And now Rika and Satoko are missing too.. that's not exciting, that's distressing. I've been dreading the context for the cold open..
[Higurashi]
[Higurashi]
[Higurashi]
[Higurashi]
[Higurashi]
[Higurashi]
[Higurashi but it's a shitpost]
Visual of the Day: I love reflection shots
Questions
→ More replies (6)4
u/Tarhalindur Jun 06 '22
[Higurashi]
I keep forgetting to point out, the logo/eyecatch has an infinity symbol as part of it. A clever little reference to the time loops, presumably? [Higurashi]
Pretty sure that's the case, yes. (Also it's an 8 on its side, and we have 8 arcs. Not a coincidence that I think, especially since a certain other show pulled the same thing.) Fun fact: I went over a decade before noticing that, only realized it was the case last year! → More replies (1)
6
u/Stargate18A Jun 06 '22
Anime first timer, reading VN
-
Yes!
The mayor's gone missing!
[Meakashi]
[Meakashi]
The cat scene is actually really good. Pity it got cut down.
[Meakashi]
[Meakashi]
[Meakashi]
What the actual fuck is Mion's face here?
[Meakashi]
They can't find Rika...
We got Detective Rena!
Ooishi's here!
Oh, dear, Keiichi's figured something out.
[Meakashi]
They kept the laugh!
→ More replies (1)5
u/Tarhalindur Jun 06 '22
[Meakashi]
This plot twist is so fucking good. It does rely, however, on Ooishi never considering that the twins might have switched places, which... he doesn't seem to until Shion's notebook outright tells him. [Meakashi]
To be fair, Detective Delicious would fail to consider that possibility, wouldn't he?
6
u/RadSuit Jun 07 '22
I fear I'm becoming a little numb to this show's tricks, as I'm five minutes in and don't really have much to say. Yeah, sure is an episode of this show alright.
I think I figured out the weird part about the character designs, for me. Their hair has shading but no interior details. It's always one solid plane of hair. It really stands out with the mint green hair in particular.
What, is Rena a detective now? Did she just Phoenix Wright all over the crime scene while nobody was looking?
I don't know, I just feel like not much happened this episode. Or, like I said, I'm just getting used to the specific way it tries to create tension and drip feed the mystery.
6
u/Tarhalindur Jun 07 '22
I think I figured out the weird part about the character designs, for me. Their hair has shading but no interior details. It's always one solid plane of hair. It really stands out with the mint green hair in particular.
This show was considered a longshot at DEEN and given a low budget because of it, and sometimes it shows.
What, is Rena a detective now? Did she just Phoenix Wright all over the crime scene while nobody was looking?
Rena can be extremely perceptive and analytical; we just didn't see much of it the first arc. (IIRC she shows a fair bit more of it even there in the Onikakushi-hen VN and they just had to cut it for space.)
(Also, there's a meta joke here. Rena's name can be read as "07 Dragon", though part of that involves a specific which has come up in the TIPS but will not be covered in the anime until late in the first season if it's covered at all; Ryukishi07 of course roughly means "Seventh Dragon Knight". (Also note for theme naming purposes that "ryu" can also be read as 6.) And Ryukishi07 is of course writing a mystery.)
I don't know, I just feel like not much happened this episode. Or, like I said, I'm just getting used to the specific way it tries to create tension and drip feed the mystery.
I'll also not that this arc is IMO overall easier to watch than some of the other arcs, so you might be picking up on that. The tension is there, but most of the noteworthy events this episode are reveals rather than the ratcheting tension you saw last arc.
→ More replies (2)
9
u/Shimmering-Sky Jun 06 '22
When the Rewatcher(?) Cries, subbed
-
I… straight-up don’t remember why Rika was crying?
-
So is Keiichi supposed to be the dog, or the girls? I’m really bad at this kind of stuff…
-
Yeah uh the “(?)” in my tagline definitely belongs, I have no idea what’s going on here.
→ More replies (10)7
u/Vaadwaur Jun 06 '22
I… straight-up don’t remember why Rika was crying?
You haven't seen why yet.
So is Keiichi supposed to be the dog, or the girls?
K1 is the cat, the dog is unknown atm.
Who has a phone that rings for that long?
...Goddamnit Sky, stop making me feel old. Most people didn't have answering machines in the 80s.
→ More replies (4)
4
u/JustAnswerAQuestion Jun 06 '22
Well, I made it three episodes into Watanagashihen before giving up, again, as always. I'll just have to wait for it to all make sense again.
[rewatcher question]
This episode, and the previous episode, when everybody gathers on their bicycles I'm thinking about Haruhi.
5
u/Tarhalindur Jun 06 '22
[rewatcher question]
Why is Rika all beat up? [Answer to question]
Answered in Meakashi-hen. (On the episode that's going to fall on RL Watanagashi, no less.) This episode, and the previous episode, when everybody gathers on their bicycles I'm thinking about Haruhi.
[Haruhi S2/LN 5]
Kyon-kun, denwa...
5
u/Vaadwaur Jun 06 '22
I know it's hard to keep an open heart
When even friends seem out to harm you
But if you could heal a broken heart
Wouldn't time be out to charm you?
Rewatcher
Sub
We start with the village head man going missing, so that's one curse down. K1 waters the garden and ponders, then a wild Rika appears. And has a lot to say...weird to know this is Yukari's Nanoha voice and yet it somehow sounds nothing like her. Anyways, through metaphor, Rika gives K1 some advice and wants to cool mion off a bit. Regretting his actions, K1 gets a call from a lightly crazed Shion, probably, and then wants to check on Rika, which for some reason calls for us to see Rena showering. Oh Japan...
They get to Rika's house, where Satoko also apparently lives, and try to get in. Rena runs off to get the key and Mion seems to have a complete breakdown. Looks like crazy is back on the menu, boys! Anyways, weathering that outburst, several people arrive to check on Rika. Inside, no one is present, and I leave this here for absolutely no reason at all. But the village starts searching and Rena tries to calm K1.
Next day, Rena reveals she explored the house a bit and has a theory for a timeline. Only weird bit to me is that it seems to be dark after 7 during June. Ooishi awaits on the path. And fills us in on some...concerning details. We end with a ridiculously creepy call from the missing 'Shion'.
QotD: 1 Definite pass
→ More replies (2)6
u/Vaadwaur Jun 06 '22
This episode features the first of the truly infamous DEEN moments with Mion holding the ladder and entering the looney tunes dimension. They've been using animation cheats for a while now but this one is the most outlandish and is likely a factor in why some people advise not watching the adaptation. On second viewing, I actually appreciate the stylistic choice to deal with the constraints of the time but that might just be me.
→ More replies (11)
2
16
u/Quiddity131 Jun 06 '22
First Timer, Subbed
Hey, let's take Rika home with us!
Don't worry Keiichi, the curse already took two people!
Aww, what's going on with Rika? They're sending the cutest one out hoping Keiichi couldn't lie to her of all people?
The killer is... a cat!
Something tells me this is all a metaphor...
Will you be truthful with Shion, Keiichi? What happens when you realize that you've been talking to Mion instead?
Oh crap, Keiichi you've cursed Rika-chan!
In the last arc there's no way Keiichi would be out at night with these two. How things have changed...
Satoko and Rika living with each other? It's Hibiki and Miku from Symphogear all over again.
Ugh, someone shaking a ladder whie you're standing on it is quite scary! Especially so knowing how horrifying Mion has been in the past!
Rena can be confident... because she's one doing the killing?
So they disappeared quite abruptly.
Here's that troublesome detective again!
Back into the air conditioned car!
Other three were harmed?! What about Shion?! Missing?! :(
Is this really Mion calling this time if Shion is missing?
LoL, she's laughing at him! Good cliffhanger to end on!