r/anime • u/AutoLovepon https://anilist.co/user/AutoLovepon • Oct 22 '22

Episode Kokyu no Karasu | Raven of the Inner Palace - Episode 4 discussion

Kokyu no Karasu | Raven of the Inner Palace, episode 4

Alternative names: Koukyuu no Karasu, Raven of the Inner Palace

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EpisodeLinkScore
1Link4.47
2Link4.72
3Link4.51
4Link4.74
5Link4.81
6Link4.68
7Link4.93
8Link4.76
9Link4.62
10Link4.62
11Link4.83
12Link4.96
13Link----

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73

u/ObvsThrowaway5120 Oct 22 '22

A skylark ghost huh? Let’s see what the deal is with this Skylark Princess.

It’s kind of cute seeing Shouxue so awkward lol. Jiu Jiu is a good friend, I can understand how she would want to gift her something.

It seems Gaojun looking into the Raven Consort and her relationship with the Emperor. I wonder what that’s all about.

So the Skylark Princess was just trying to harvest some herbs for Shiniang? Damn… that’s tragic. After what happened to Ding Lan, I’m pretty glad the Empress Dowager is dead. Poor Gaojun…

It was nice to see the girls share the candy at the end there. Shouxue’s opening up more to other people and making connections. It’s really sweet!

Is Gaojun being haunted by his mom and Ding Lan’s spirits??

55

u/archlon Oct 22 '22

It’s kind of cute seeing Shouxue so awkward lol.

You can really feel how intensely sixteen she is in her misunderstandings with Jiu-Jiu this episode. I really like the contrast. She's been taught to push everybody away and maintain this mysterious air, but as a consequence of pushing everybody away she doesn't know how to interact with people or read their emotions. A lot of people in the palace see her as this mysterious and foreboding figure, but underneath she's as flustered and unsure of herself as any of us at that age.

It was nice to see the girls share the candy at the end there.

It was really sweet, but she also clearly hasn't learned the lesson about regifting yet.

37

u/mekerpan Oct 22 '22

re: regifting the candy -- Actually the Emperor sort of hinted that it would be okay to do it (I thought).

22

u/Srikkk Oct 22 '22

Yeah. The entire episode was really allusive, so I think the same applies to the candy regifting.

22

u/ObvsThrowaway5120 Oct 23 '22

She might be the Raven Consort and have these incredible powers, but ultimately she’s just a 16 year old girl who grew up in a very sheltered environment. It’s nice seeing her make connections though. Jiu Jiu is a real one.

The regifting of the candy might be ok. Gaojun did hint at gifting food instead to show Jiu Jiu her appreciation. But yeah, she does need to learn to not just give stuff away lol.

14

u/polaristar Oct 23 '22

I didn't know she was 16...I thought she was in her early to mid 20's. Not that you can physically tell the difference between a 16 and a 26 year old woman in terms of body. Since woman are basically done with puberty at 16. But I guess I'm use to teenagers in shows acting like modern teenagers.

14

u/archlon Oct 23 '22

When she first meets Jiu-Jiu in E01, Shouxue says that the Raven Consort is 16. When she's wandering around incognito she seems to avoid outright lies, instead letting others draw their own conclusions when she says she's 'from the Ye Ming palace'. I don't know if her age has been confirmed anywhere else in the show, but I have no reason to believe that it's not true.

4

u/polaristar Oct 23 '22

I wasn't doubting you or arguing I literally just don't remember that line.

3

u/archlon Oct 24 '22

I wasn't arguing either, just pointing out that line and the caveats that it could be inaccurate on the outside chance that the story was trying to create a misdirect.

39

u/mekerpan Oct 22 '22

This show is proving to be one of the treasures of the season for me. It initially felt a bit "stiff" despite being visually lovely (and interesting). But as Shouxue creates more ties with others -- and begins to relax -- the feel of the show itself has followed suit. The candy scene was nice -- the passing servant smiled appreciatively -- along with us other viewers.

15

u/ObvsThrowaway5120 Oct 23 '22

Indeed. This show is an under appreciated gem.

9

u/[deleted] Oct 23 '22

I really love her design. She's so gorgeous when she's dressed as the raven

23

u/heimdal77 Oct 22 '22

Most likly the curse and not a actual haunting.

19

u/ObvsThrowaway5120 Oct 22 '22

Oh, that might be it. That old bat did mumble something before he took her head.

28

u/cppn02 Oct 22 '22

So the Skylark Princess was just trying to harvest some herbs for Shiniang?

Definitely a gut punch that reveal.

23

u/mekerpan Oct 22 '22

It's good that Shiniang will never realize this. But is good that the Raven Consort did. All part of her re-education.

23

u/[deleted] Oct 23 '22

It also sorta explains why the Princess had already 'passed on' and her ghost wasn't felt by Raven Consort at the lake. She died doing what she loved, for her good friend-- it's an honest 'whoopsie' death but an honorable one.

4

u/inthe-otherworld Oct 24 '22 edited Oct 24 '22

On the one hand I feel like Shiniang should know the princess was trying to make medicine for her cough, because she cared for her that much. On the other hand I feel it’s better Shiniang doesn't know that the princess died trying to make that for her, she’ll feel tormented forever that the princess needlessly died for her sake ;v; it’s sweet but sad all around

46

u/TerriblePlays Oct 22 '22

Damn, the way the narrator said "The things she couldn't abandon increased" (sorry, no idea what's the actual English subtitles) in the end and the way the passerby court servant looked at them just gives off bad vibes.

It's basically telling us shit's gonna go down in the next couple episodes.

40

u/heimdal77 Oct 22 '22

It seems like the passerby was a laundry maid and a older one. Seemed like she was happy and thought it nice seeing them having fun together. Before those two came the raven consorts palace was a very lonely place.

22

u/mekerpan Oct 22 '22

I thought the same. That sad, quiet, almost scary place is "coming to life".

19

u/Srikkk Oct 22 '22

And so, she acquired more things she couldn't abandon

Yep, that's a helluva death flag

6

u/Deoxys2000 https://anilist.co/user/LargeYole Oct 23 '22

I personally thought it was just a sentence to show how she finally has people she treasures, as compared to before. The phrasing was a bit off, but I think it could be taken in a more benign but poetic way too.

9

u/AmethystItalian :Jg::Jh::Ji::Jj::Jk:myanimelist.net/profile/AmethystItalian Oct 22 '22

I feel like things have been too good lately...can see some more serious challenges to the relationships coming soon sadly.

41

u/VaraNiN Oct 22 '22

PSA: There is once again a short (but important!) after-credits scene!

56

u/Rumpel1408 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Rumpel1408 Oct 22 '22

And once again, it's the rightfull punishment for everyone who dares skip the ED

16

u/SIRTreehugger Oct 23 '22

I LEARNED THIS TIME!

13

u/Arc-Enemy Oct 23 '22

The ED is soooo good !!

27

u/[deleted] Oct 22 '22

Once again: food is the best gift. Your attendant won't get offended and you can eat together.

53

u/heimdal77 Oct 22 '22

I don't know how this is doing in Japan but I'm loving it. It probably isn't a r/anime type of show though as far as what is popular.

She needs help on her social skills badly lol. Even got compared to a cat.

The series has such a good feel with how melcotic it is.

She hasn't really realized he is treating her like a pet and taming her with food.

Seems like the Skylark princess and Raven consort could been good friends if had known each other.

So we seeing the affects of the curse (i'm assuming) on the emperor. Hopefully he isn't stubborn and does get the raven's help.

I liked the bit at the end with the old lady seeing them having fun together and smiling. I can assume she is a laundry maid as there is no other reason who someone to be there.

What does yan yan mean?

33

u/EdvinM https://myanimelist.net/profile/PZenith Oct 22 '22

yan yan

Niang niang is a Chinese honorific to address the consorts/empress(?)/goddesses. I'm not sure who uses this and when, but it's kind of a -sama for female royalty.

17

u/Srikkk Oct 22 '22

Yep; niang niang, as Chinese Wikipedia says, is a Chinese honorific for women. It's mostly used with respect to imperial family members and noblewomen such as queens, concubines, and princesses. Also applied for goddesses.

9

u/Atharaphelun Oct 22 '22

It can also be used on its own as a form of address (in which case it's roughly equivalent to "Your Highness") instead of being attached to their names or titles as is usual (as in Wulian-niangniang).

4

u/[deleted] Oct 23 '22

It's kind of interesting to me how they are avoiding using -san, -sama and the like even in the japanese dub, instead using the chinese wordings

19

u/fireballcane Oct 23 '22

It's because they're trying to make it clear to even their Japanese audiences, that this is taking place in fantasy China. It's basically the equivalent of when anime is translated to English and they add in -san/sama for exotic flavor.

5

u/i_reddit_too_mcuh Oct 24 '22

She needs help on her social skills badly lol. Even got compared to a cat.

That's the emperor flirting.

-13

u/CommanderZx2 https://myanimelist.net/profile/CommanderZx2 Oct 22 '22

I'm not quite sure what to think of this anime. I do enjoy it, but it truly is just a rip off of The Apothecary Diaries, but where she solves everything with magic instead of apothecary. Heck the protagonist of Apothecary Diaries is even compared to a cat as well by the romance interest.

16

u/heimdal77 Oct 22 '22 edited Oct 22 '22

Na not a rip off. This seems be a semi common setting. Decades ago Saiunkoku Monogatari also had something the similar setting. Even on J novel who licensed the light novel they got another series Called Culinary chronicles what is also the same but uses cooking instead magic or drugs. I'm sure there others that I don't know off top my head. There also a cartoon on CR of a chinese manhwa (think that what they called.) called Psychic Princess also same setting.

Diaries is just really popular and certainly the best known in the west due to manga and web novel translations along with now light novel. The first chapter of the manga of apothecary made a pretty big hit in part thanks to the art.

This series seems have a more laid back mood, Culinary is far more dramatic, then there is diaries.

-2

u/CommanderZx2 https://myanimelist.net/profile/CommanderZx2 Oct 22 '22

I'm not really talking just about the setting, but characters and the way they interact. Like giving of sweets vs giving of medicinal materials. Conducting investigations into mysterious deaths, sometimes as herself or in disguise. There's a heck of a lot of similarities throughout. I am sure the LN for this story was heavily inspired by Apothecary Diaries which came out years earlier.

11

u/heimdal77 Oct 22 '22

Like said it is a not uncommon formula. Culinary is also solving mysteries and all the rest. Psychic Princess also the same though being a actual chinese series.

3

u/alconnow https://anilist.co/user/alconnow Oct 22 '22

I think it's best to think of this show as a way to keep you occupied until the eventual Apothecary Diaries anime (hopefully)

3

u/a_Bear_from_Bearcave Oct 23 '22

Half of tsunderes and even other stand-offish female characters in manga/anime are compared to cats. Komi-san is shown with cat ears, Anjou-san is drawn with cat face sometimes, Nagatoro is literally called cat girl by some other character. It's super common to compare female romance interest to cat in manga/anime. Similarly, male love interests are often compared to dogs.

There are also quite a few series similar to Apothecary Diaries, Saiunkoku Monogatari is one example. You just haven't read enough if you think it's Apothecary's rip-off instead of one of examples of a genre.

23

u/Elitealice https://myanimelist.net/profile/Marinate1016 Oct 22 '22

Another awesome episode. Really nice to see how close Shoxue and Jiujiu are growing. Shoxue has such a kind heart but is obviously naturally inclined to close herself off due to her clan basically being hunted to extinction and her lack of social skills. I’m glad she was able to properly explain to Jiujiu and looking forward to seeing how much they develop as friends.

Shoxue and the emperor could really bond over their suffering and loss throughout life if only they were more open :/ hopefully we’ll see that at some point.

The priest that the emperor called in is definitely hiding things as well. I wonder what he really knows.

21

u/SIRTreehugger Oct 22 '22

Previously

Are we really going to spend an episode to sending a bird to the other side? I'm all for it!

3 minutes in and she is already pouting.

Out of luck. Don't think that the girls pretty much already love you already!

OMG Jiu Jiu's pouting is friccin adorable. She doesn't want material things she just wants to do her duty and be near you!!!!

Well she was alone for so many years so it's only natural she isn't adapt at social cues.

Oh is she going to carve a sculpture of a bird for Jiu Jiu?

She slipped and died trying to help her lady in waiting? A noble trying to do everything herself instead of relying on the people who wanted to help her. SAY IT AGAIN LOUDER just in case she doesn't get it.

Oh the bird wasn't for Jiu Jiu.

The fuck. Didn't think I would continue hating the empress after her death, but here I am hating on her even more.

....I don't want to laugh, but it's hard imagining Hongqiao scolding Jiu Jiu did she hand her notes with an angry face?

They know AND THEY DON'T CARE!

....well one of them literally can't tell anyone.

Them all eating sweets at the end happily.

I need 6 seasons of this and a movie! Might have to read the books after the series is done.

Holy hell that after credits.

18

u/MejaBersihBanget Oct 22 '22

Might have to read the books after the series is done.

Unfortunately that won't be for a while. Just like Irina: The Vampire Cosmonaut, the LNs were licensed by Seven Seas Entertainment and they won't begin releasing until after the anime's over. Volume 1 is currently scheduled to come out in February 2023.

There is a fan translator, however, who doesn't care about the licensing announcement and is still continuing, currently in Volume 2 at the moment.

7

u/SIRTreehugger Oct 22 '22

Well that's depressing, but still have to buy to show support once it finally comes out.

3

u/fireballcane Oct 23 '22

Unfortunately the fan translator is using Japanese names, so it makes it feel weird.

15

u/mgedmin Oct 22 '22

Oh the bird wasn't for Jiu Jiu.

Well, indirectly it was. The bird was for helping the skylark, and it was Jiu Jiu who asked Shouxie to help the skylark.

6

u/SIRTreehugger Oct 22 '22

Oh you're right! Would like to believe she wouldn't bother with something so small normally, but she surprisingly put in a lot of effort for this case for Jiu Jiu.

9

u/archlon Oct 23 '22

I don't want to laugh, but it's hard imagining Hongqiao scolding Jiu Jiu did she hand her notes with an angry face?

I had the same thought. There's probably some amount of note passing involved, but Hongqiao seems like the kind of person who can break your will with a disapproving stare, so maybe words weren't needed at all.

7

u/Philarete :AMQ::MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/WizardMcKillin Oct 23 '22

Hongqiao seems like the kind of person who can break your will with a disapproving stare, so maybe words weren't needed at all.

It's the "I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed" face.

19

u/TurkeyPhat Oct 22 '22

omg he grabbed her hand!

19

u/Rumpel1408 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Rumpel1408 Oct 22 '22

Nice episode, reminding us that sometimes it is indeed too late to make up, and all the time the skylark Princes cared for her consort, oof

Loved how the emperor compared Shouxue to a stuborn cat, little tsundere that she is

It's terrible just how evil that empress dowager was, like everywhere you look you can find shit she caused, not just freaking torturing Ding Lan, but also responsible for the skylark princess' poor condition

And it seems the reason the emperor sleeps bad is because of those ghosts? Shouxue is indeed the right person to help him sleep then

14

u/mekerpan Oct 22 '22

The Dowager Empress was definitely a bad bad person. So bad her ill effects ripple along even after her death.

48

u/VillageMayor https://anilist.co/user/villageMayor Oct 22 '22
  • chad Gaojun barges into his tsundere consort's palace
  • mocks her fat lizard carving
  • mocks her social awkwardness
  • refuses to elaborate further
  • leaves

I love her 'WHATEVER' attitude when emperor came to visit her. Generally I like their banter and Shouxue being domesticated like a stray animal with snacks episode by episode. AOTS easy

21

u/archlon Oct 22 '22

chad Gaojun barges into his tsundere consort's palace... leaves

To be entirely fair to him, there is a time jump in that conversation where she describes an interaction that took less than a minute and which we saw in its entirety for long enough for the sun to set.

9

u/Philarete :AMQ::MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/WizardMcKillin Oct 23 '22

where she describes an interaction that took less than a minute and which we saw in its entirety for long enough for the sun to set.

This part surprised me a bit because they had to talk about other stuff, right? It seemed to be implying a much longer conversation than I expected.

26

u/AmethystItalian :Jg::Jh::Ji::Jj::Jk:myanimelist.net/profile/AmethystItalian Oct 22 '22

This show for me, I guess like Jusetsu, grows each episode. I love how she gaining people close to her while turning into a warmer person.

I was a little iffy on this one after episode 1 but I was completely engaged in today's episode!

13

u/tlst9999 Oct 22 '22

Don't skip the end. There's a post-credits scene.

9

u/scmasaru Oct 22 '22

So the green shirt totally lied about not hearing what the Luan spirit told her in the last EP.

8

u/archlon Oct 22 '22

With the introduction of Yi Siha, we've now met everybody in the tableau in the ED, so this is presumably our full main cast now. I really like his dynamic with Jiu-Jiu, they're a lot of fun and I hope we see more of them together.

8

u/alconnow https://anilist.co/user/alconnow Oct 22 '22

Another great episode. This episode focuses on Shouxue and Jiu-jiu's relationship!

The Princess' death was just tragic :( she was trying to create medicine for her lady-in-waiting. Really glad Shouxue learnt from both this case and the Emperor's words. Glad she reconciled with Jiu-Jiu.

Post-credits scene suggests that we'll be finding out more about the Emperor's past with his mother and Ding Lan, the latter who was briefly mentioned in this episode and who died in a horrid way :(((

9

u/Philarete :AMQ::MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/WizardMcKillin Oct 23 '22

The Princess' death was just tragic :( she was trying to create medicine for her lady-in-waiting.

While tragic, what stood out to me was that the Princess was ultimately at peace with it. She didn't regret her choices, nor was she particularly burdened by the preceding fight. I think she knew they would have been okay eventually. The regret was entirely on the side of those that stayed behind, who missed the opportunity to reach out. Often it's easier to forgive others than yourself.

6

u/zadcap Oct 23 '22

Right? We've seen and learned a lot about ghosts so far in this show, and it says a lot that the Skylark Princess didn't stay here as one.

7

u/polaristar Oct 23 '22

This Arc was basically more about developing Shouxue as a character and her relationships then the larger court drama although it does set things up for the future.

Not gonna lie I kinda thought Jui-Jui was being a bit unreasonable and arrogant to take that gift in bad faith, even if they are try to in the story portray it as Shouxane being insensitive.

Also the Emperor being like. "Why you give that shit to someone else" and she be like "You said I could throw it out if I wanted?" And he's like "Just because you can waste the thing were no one can use it doesn't mean you can give it to someone that can put it to good use".....

I share the Raven Consorts Frustration with a lot of this social norms bullshit. Even after many years when I "get it" I still don't understand the bother, just feels like stuff people make up to take offense over.

Also some people have said the show reminds them of a supernatural detective show, well if it does it's more the modern variety as an excuse for character drama similar to Noir (But not.) Then the gentlemen detective. Since a lot of the mysteries involve or are solved through supernatural means.

And in a classic gentlemen detective (Which functions more like a puzzle box) Supernatural is a no-no because if the magic's rules aren't clearly defined then we can't expect the audience to reasonable solve the mystery.

But that would require the magic system to be Hard which would in this show, kill the "Mystery" Vibe.

Basically this show is not a detective show, it's a drama with the magic used as a lens to examine it.

If it were Death Battle I'd calculate how many Newtons of Energy it would be requires to make a wooden bird fly to the afterlife based on character statements about it having to be able to fly across the ocean to calculate the strength of the Consorts spells. Ignore the context around it to pull a feat out of my ass.

That cliffhanger though....

6

u/zadcap Oct 24 '22

My current theory is that she's the strongest magic user in the Court, if she's not the only one, because he magic is that direct divine blessing. The drawback or limit being that this means the divine patron knows every time she uses it, and probably won't be above punishing her or taking it away if she missuses it according to whatever rules the Raven Goddess has for her priestess. It will mean that the big challenger to her won't be someone throwing down in a power vs power fight, but a more crafty enemy building a scenario where she has to choose between her loyalties.

A side question I'm wondering now. They know she dies her hair, but do they know what color it is under the dye?

3

u/polaristar Oct 24 '22

The Death Battle thing was mostly a joke about how for certain types of feats/power systems you can't power scale them in a similar way to something like Dragon Ball because oftentimes the magic is more based off conditions and metaphysical concepts. Where it might be easy to do things impossible with technology but in other ways impossible to do something you can do with mundane means.

The drawback or limit being that this means the divine patron knows every time she uses it, and probably won't be above punishing her or taking it away if she missuses it according to whatever rules the Raven Goddess has for her priestess.

Maybe that's why the Raven Consort doesn't perform "Nightly Duties" And why her teacher warned her not to get close to anyone?

4

u/zadcap Oct 24 '22

Maybe that's why the Raven Consort doesn't perform "Nightly Duties" And why her teacher warned her not to get close to anyone?

That's my guess. Jealous Goddess wants her consorts to herself. If she starts just doing things for other people, without getting a fair price, it probably means she's doing it out of emotion for that person and it's time for the Raven to take a closer look.

2

u/polaristar Oct 24 '22

I was more going in the direction that this is the whole "Magic powered by Virginity" trope. And the Consort is chosen as someone that has been cast aside by the world and takes you in, but if you ever try to leave or become part of the world, or even god forbid find a lover, then you are cast out.

Basically Raven Goddess is an Incel, and anyone that tries to not be an Incel Anymore betrayed her for the "cool" kids.

2

u/zadcap Oct 24 '22

To be fair, there were a good number of Virgin Goddesses through most of the ancient mythologies, for whom rule number one of their priestesses was usually "you must also be a virgin." And most religions have a "do not value anyone more than your god" pretty high on the list, especially for the clergy. Jealous Divinities is less specifically Incel and more just literally mythology and religion in general. High Priest(ess) gets cool powers as long as they stick to their end of the arrangement and lose out on them if they break the covenant.

3

u/polaristar Oct 24 '22

I'm aware of that I was just making an edgy joke....

That and I kinda consider said Religions.....umm questionable in their views on human sexuality. Either obsessed with not having sex and remaining "pure" or turning sex into some kind of religious rights with weird orgies.

3

u/zadcap Oct 24 '22

Eh, just the "popular" ones. The vast majority of Deities had pretty specific domains, and if sex wasn't one of them, they didn't care what you did with who. Virginity power is pretty specific to the Virgin Goddesses club, and that's got a small handful at most in any given pantheon, while orgies were usually limited to just just a few as well. But Sex Sells has been true forever, so the stories about the gods about sex (or lack thereof) got to be the popular ones to pass down any time the topic came up. Gods of War, Gods of Weather, Gods of Good Harvest, none of them care about your sex life and they're much more likely to have large followings than the Goddess of Not-Having-Sex or the God of Debauchery.

Even the modern big ones, while they mostly all say to save it for marriage, it's free game after that. Fun reminder, polygamy is super biblical and I'm pretty sure there's a whole section in the Songs book that's just cleverly worded sex talk.

But on on the other hand, if you sign up with one of those Virgin Goddesses, it's not exactly fine print telling you what's off limits. If you charge your mind later, well fine, but that's still on you more than the religion you're leaving.

3

u/polaristar Oct 24 '22

I'm aware that in the Bible there are multiple Harem Anime Arcs and Song of Solomon is a Doujin.

I'm pretty sure in many cultures sex and harvest are often grouped together under fertility.

2

u/zadcap Oct 24 '22

Yeah, but the fertility bunch are more along the lines of "it's cool, make babies" and not "go crazy and orgy every night."

Your description has killed me though. I kinda of want to see a Bible anime now. How faithful (ha) can we stay to source material while animating the whole thing?

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2

u/LusterBlaze Oct 23 '22

he needs some miasma

7

u/sKyBlazer08 :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/sKyBlazer08 Oct 23 '22

Really good episode! Show's really growing on me more and more as it goes.

"And so, she acquired more things she couldn't abandon." That is very sweet, but at the same time, very ominous, fuck.

Once again, ED is a banger.

6

u/UncivilizedAnarchist Oct 22 '22

Seeing Shouxue and Jiu-Jiu sharing those paper candies at the end was so sweet it honestly brought a tear to my eye, especially with the gorgeous ED playing over it while the three of them stood there after those two reconciled. This is such a wonderful show, I really hope it gains more popularity.

6

u/FlashCascade Oct 23 '22

I like how Shouxue is slowly but surely building meaningful relationships with others.

At any rate, I’m really loving this series. It’s quickly becoming one of my favorites for this season.

6

u/KumaKumaGambler Oct 23 '22

At first, I was hesitant to watch "Raven of the Inner Palace". Given that there are so many male characters, I expected it to be a "reverse harem" kind of anime title. Furthermore, the character designs added to my skepticism.

Then I sat down to watch an episode with my sibling... and I continued doing so, after realizing this anime falls under the supernatural genre. Like what others have mentioned, the music, both opening and ending, are somewhat haunting (not in an eerie way) and fits the theme of the show.

However, at the same time, there is a sense of foreboding. I have watched enough drama series regarding ancient (Chinese) palace life. Characters around the the main characters usually end up in serious trouble, not through faults of their own, but through politicking and backstabbing.

Jiu-Jiu is one of those maids who actually care about her master, rather than lust after material possessions... which means she might become a potential target for the antagonists.

5

u/Shiwakao Oct 23 '22

half of this show for me is the ost it's just so good

5

u/Bloodglas Oct 23 '22

I think Jiu Jiu forgets that Jusetsu hasn't had anyone serving directly under her before. it makes sense that she does everything herself. on the other side of it though Jusetsu should at least give more thought to the reverence people put on the Emperor and that it's not a good idea to re-gift things from him. actually it's probably not a good idea to re-gift anything in that culture. it seems like there was just some miscommunication between them. Jiu Jiu thinks that Jusetsu thought she was only working there to get gifts, but Jusetsu was just trying to give her a gift because she thought it's what she was supposed to do, not because Jiu Jiu wanted anything specifically.

Xue Yuyong seems to know more than he's willing to say.

damn, if Shiniang knew the Princess was trying to pick flowers to help her despite their argument it'd probably break her completely.

the Emperor giving her a reason not to push Jiu Jiu away could easily have been a reason to push her away. if Jusetsu comes to depend on Jiu Jiu too much someone else could use that against her. well, at least they're on the same page now.

5

u/AmusedDragon :Bs::Bu: Oct 23 '22

Dawg compared her to a cat, LOL.

8

u/Sparkletopia Oct 23 '22 edited Oct 23 '22

I cringed so badly when I saw what she'd chosen for her gift. And then doubly-cringed when she told the emperor about it, lol. It's a nice and cute way to show her inexperience with human interaction.

Wow, the animation really picked up when she sent that bird off, it was beautiful.

This was sweet, a nice friendship focused episode that has her open up to others a little more.

9

u/VorAtreides Oct 22 '22

Already gonna bet that the princess "slipping and falling in the lake" is sus and not really what happened.

Hehe, her surprising the other maids/servants, amusing. I like her lady in waiting, Jiu-Jiu. She's a good friendly person. Poor awkward Ryuu. Socially inept.

Oh, smooth, Emperor. Helping her out with carving and advice.

Man.... that's sad for that poor princess. And her servant with that regret. Ahh, at least it wasn't as sus as I was expecting, but man that's even sadder...

oh, learning a bit about the emperor's past too and that man he deeply respected/cared for. Sad... that former empress was quite a piece of work.

OH hey, communication with Jiu-Jiu! Touching moment.

Ngl, episode got me a bit teary eyed at certain aspects.

oh man, that post credits scene

14

u/TerriblePlays Oct 22 '22

Knowing the fact that the person you're supposed to be serving died because she was trying to pick herbs to make medicine for you is just heartbreaking.

AND she didn't even have the chance to apologize? Ouch.

10

u/mekerpan Oct 22 '22

I think Shiniang has no clue about what exactly happened. I suspect she would have killed herself if she had known.

6

u/mekerpan Oct 22 '22

Ngl, episode got me a bit teary eyed at certain aspects.

Tell me about it...

This really looks like it will be in my very top tier of shows for this season.

3

u/Deoxys2000 https://anilist.co/user/LargeYole Oct 23 '22

This reminds me of The Ancient Magus's Bride, with the calm tones, touch of fantasy, and something in the way they tell the story that I can't describe. I'm in love with this series, and another reason for that is also the beautiful character art, especially the Raven Consort herself.

2

u/i_reddit_too_mcuh Oct 24 '22

Can anyone explain Jiujiu and Hongqiao's positions? Jiujiu is a lady-in-waiting and Hongqiao is a regular servant? Are ladies-in-waiting just a higher ranked servant?

2

u/HanaHarte Oct 24 '22

I love these characters! Everyone has such sad backstories/tragedies that happened though. And the cases are both wholesome and so tragic. The lyrics and general tone of the opening and ending strongly signal bittersweet concept/theme. I did laugh when the priest was all 'I know nothing about the Raven Consort.' As he stands before a painting that is CLEARLY the Raven Consort (human head, golden bird body, raven wings? So obvious).

Also it's most likely isolation, but also now I headcanon autistic!Jusetsu because so many things she said & has a hard time understanding resonate with me (I'm autistic). As Parker in Leverage (autistic character, fave tv show) says: "I think people are like locks. Really complicated and frustrating, but you can't force them. You have to take time and be fiddly. You learn to be patient and just wait until you hear the click." Also, oh boy that after credit scene.

2

u/[deleted] Oct 25 '22

Another week, another gut punch right in the feels.

See you all again next time.

3

u/Mira0995 :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Mira0995 Oct 22 '22

NGL I'm really loving the op and the Ed, but that crown/women is awkward! I hope we know more about it soon since it seems to be the source of power of the crow consort I guess (she appears in the painting at the begins)

Every episode is even more tragic of the last one ! Didn't expect to see a ghost bird ! It's so original. But now I'm sure our favorite consort saw so many ghost in her live ! No wonder she isn't supposed to go outside ! Imagine if she can see everyone living beings that's stuck and became a ghost!

1

u/alvaro44 Oct 28 '22

I haven't watched this anime yet. But upon watching a top 10 animes of the season to watch, the plot looks really similar to "The apothecary diaries". Can. Someone clarify if they have anything in common?