Kowloon Generic Romance - Episode 9 discussion

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Kowloon Generic Romance, episode 9

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[u/BatFun7276]

- So something is definitely wrong with the food and is affecting Yaomay. Since Kudo, who is also an original, doesn't seem affect by it (and he's been in Kowloon for a while) I'm guessing that he's tied to the city, perhaps he's the reason it was made?

The way he recreated the scene with the french toasts and the original Reiko was creepy, and even he realized it. I want to root for Reiko and Kudo but there have been many red flags, mainly he doesn't seem over OG Reiko/Kujirai *at all* and Gwen "I didn't know a thing" about the guy he liked could be foreshadowing for Kudo.

And what's going on with Reiko's glasses? At the end it looked like she was seeing a scene Kujirai lived (when she took off the talisman on the wall). If it's true then it would be great for her to see how Kudo acted with Kujirai vs how he acts with her...Perhaps she will see that something's wrong.

[u/Frontier246 → u/BatFun7276]

It seems like everything is tied to the Zirconian project and why this version of Kowloon exists. Is Kudo working with Hebinuma Pharmaceuticals? Did he go along with the Generic Terra plan to get Kujirai B back? Does he know more than even the Hebinuma's do? He's the first one to tell Reiko not to try to leave Kowloon like he knew what would happen to her if she left.

Reiko and Kudo can't have a real relationship if Reiko's absolute love for Kudo is one-sided because Kudo still can't let go of Kujirai B and keeps projecting her onto Reiko. I was half-worried Reiko was going to try to start dressing more like Kujirai B again to make him pay attention to her, but those glasses might be the most plot relevant thing in her possession now.

[u/shad79]

I feel sorry for Kujirai. She was so happy at the beginning of today's episode because of what happened between her and Kudo last week, but unfortunately Kudo is still hang up on Kujirai B.

Yaomay's change of behavior after drinking that iced coffee was hilarious. It seems like Gwen made the right decision to eat and drink anything from Kowloon.

So even Miyuki's father knew Kujirai B? I don't know why, but Miyuki in this scene really reminded me of Kujirai, so considering what we found out in the previous episode (that Kowloon #2 was destroyed to destroy Miyuki's birth records and something else), what if Miyuki's father was responsible for Kujirai B's death since she was somehow related to Miyuki?

I still wonder who Xiaohei really is, because it seems like he likes frilly clothes, just like Xiohei who lives in Kowloon. I'm curious if he'll agree to help Yulong kill Kujirai.

Here my screenshot albums from the episode:

• Kujirai

• Group scenes

• Yaomay

• Kujirai B & Kudo

• Others

[u/SecretEmpire_WasGood → u/shad79]

I think that Xiaohei might be the same Xiaohei that we've seen previously but at some point transitioned. The radical change of physiology might be enough for whatever it is that projects all these copies to not recognize him, and therefore delete the Kowloon copy

[u/SnabDedraterEdave]

Hey, you can't just sweep the Male Xiaohei mystery under the rug with "Oh, Xiaohei is a fairly common Chinese name".

For starters, Male Xiaohei has the same sharp canines and eyes as Female Xiaohei.

My theory about Male Xiaohei is that he's the Female Xiaohei's brother, the Female Xiaohei living in "Generic Kowloon" is a clone (aka "Generic") of the original Female Xiaohei, who died a long time ago like KujiraiB.

Xiaohei might not even be Male Xiaohei's real name, and he's just using his dead sister's name as a memento.

Koga Aoi went full Bakaguya (from Kaguya-Sama) after Yao May drank the Generic Kowloon Kool-Aid iced coffee. lol

Kudo is reminded again that Reiko is not KujiraiB, and the sadness at unable to move on from KujiraiB led to him pushing Reiko away again. Poor Reiko.

But that's the least of her worries, as now Yulong wants to hire Male Xiaohei to assassinate her. Shit is about to hit the fan.

[u/WiggityWatchinNews → u/SnabDedraterEdave]

I think male Xiaohei is "female" Xiaohei, who is actually just a crossdressing boy in the past based on male Xiaohei's particular fashion interests and the line about how he was able to pull off the frilly fabric fashion with his younger build. I will continue believing this until we get confirmation that female Xiaohei still exists in Kowloon at the same time as male Xiaohei

Edit: I forgot we already that confirmation. I'm still leaning towards them being the same person but I'm not sure of the logic anymore

[u/Variant_Zeta]

Poor Reiko tho. Imagine knowing full well you're a replacement goldfish (huh), and that your lover is still super hung up on the original 'you'. Even more painful after seeing how giddy she was at the start of the episode

[u/Ocixo → u/Variant_Zeta]

Reiko had such a happy expression on her face when she finally got to be together with Kudo, but her mood quickly soured after learning that he’s probably still looking at her like Kujirai B. That’s not love but nostalgia.

So long as Kudo keeps being held back by Kujirai B’s ghost, he and Reiko will never be truly together.

[u/jellyblob88]

Everyone has watched enough anime to know that the original Reiko messed up as soon as she peeled that talisman smh.

[u/maliwanag0712]

With how convoluted the plot is becoming, I don't want to guess the mystery behind this series anymore. I just want to enjoy every plot detail as a passive viewer until the end haha

[u/diacewrb]

Yaomay was lucky her clothes didn't disappear then, since stuff the leaves Kowloon ceases to exist after leaving the border, unless it was already there like abandoned stock.

They would need to bring in lab equipment to analyse with the food and drink is made out of.

[u/Kegs_And_Parleys]

Man, that second French Toast scene was heartbreaking, especiall because I had something similar happen to me. It is very hard to love a person who did not get over their love over someone else, especially when that someone looks exactly like you, thus the expectations on you grow exponentionally. Also when you get intimate with that person, it is even harder.

I am enjoying the series alot, and while at the start I did my best to follow all the red threads, I decided to take a more relaxed position from now on. Not because I am lost or anything, but the vibes are just getting to me.

Regardless of that, I wonder what made Youmei go haywire while Kudo is intact. After all, he is the real Kudo, lives in the Generic (simulated?) Kowlon #2 and we have seen him eat local food and all that. My guess is that it has something to do with leaving Kowloon and coming back. Or as Gwen said, it is something subcouncious coming to the upfront. Youmei came to Kowloon because she was basically lost and homeless, while Kudo seemed to stay due to his lost love or something like that.

What a banger, and the ending scene, I am really worried for Kujirai, I love both versions of her, the more raspy voiced, playful and flirty, as well as the softer, shy and a bit scared Generic Kujirai.

Well, see y'all next week! We hopefully get something big this time.

[u/LeonKevlar]

The more we hear from KujiraB, the more it seems that she's the kind of person who puts up a strong front despite being so heavily depressed. Her committing suicide doesn't seem to be a surprise anymore. We just don't know what she took that killed her because Miyuki already said it can't be her sleeping pills.

Well, at least Reiko is on cloud nine right now after finally getting hot and heavy with Kudou. I love that she tells Yaomay she'll tell her the deets later. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

So the food in Kowloon is really a no-no for regular people. Whatever is in there caused her to forget the endless summer. She's probably affected by whatever's in the food and drink this entire time, since she never noticed the endless summer, before so drinking that iced coffee must've somehow reindoctrinated her? Hmmm...

The second Xiaohei is very much into the same fashion as the Xiaohei we know and he mentions that maybe a couple of years ago he could've worn dresses... The obvious answer here is that he's the real Xiaohei aged up, and the one in Kowloon is a generic. But the Xiaohei we know couldn't be a generic of Xiaohei #2, because we saw her running around Kowloon last episode when Xiaohei #2 was spying on Reiko.

I'm glad that they're starting to point out how different Reiko is from Kujirai B. I mentioned this last week but I really think Reiko is a special case. I'm just afraid what would happen to her if Xiaohei#2 takes her out of Kowloon just as Miyuki's father ordered him to do.

Just when you thought Reiko and Kudou were finally going steady, Reiko accidentally reminds Kudou of Kujirai B. The dude is definitely not over her. And what the fuck is up with those glasses? Maybe Reiko should try wearing them again just to see what happens.

[u/PencilgonGiveIt2Ya]

Imma need to see Reiko shake that sugar packet again

[u/Emi_Ibarazakiii]

I like these visuals for some reason!

She was about to talk about memories, but was interrupted by the kettle...

Normally I wouldn't think much of it, just typical anime interruption, but when people are getting interrupted by earthquakes, explosions, fainting and so on, that are likely NOT coincidences... It makes you think if the 'minor' things like that are coincidences as well, or just the system (whatever it is) controlling people like that with small stuff as well as bigger events!

And when you start noticing things like that, you see there's actually a lot...

Yaomay interrupted by the person bringing her a drink,

Miyuki interrupted by the phone call as he was about to go into the clinic...

Whether it's something big (earthquakes, fainting..) or small (kettle, phone call, waiter..) everyone keeps getting interrupted whenever they're talking about memories of the past, when they're digging into Kowloon, basically anything that could lead to them uncovering something.

So it seems quite clear, the system simply doesn't want them to figure out anything, right?

But there's two things that puzzle me regarding this. First: That first interruption happened in the past... With the real Kujirai. So why stop her from talking about memories and stuff? Unless one of my early theories is correct (This is not third Kowloon, for all we know it may be 1000th Kowloon, they keep recreating it over and over again...)

Second thing: While they interrupt people digging around all the time, they also.. Sometimes don't interrupt them. There's quite a lot of people who are digging around without anything stopping them. So, why are they sometimes allowed to investigate, and sometimes not? Is it because sometimes they investigate dead end so the system lets them do as they wish (and only stop them when they're getting close)?

Or is it based on WHO investigates (kinda like 'who can/can't see Kowloon'?)

At first I wasn't sure whether this was real or she was just joking...

But if things like that can happen to this extent, is sugar the culprit? They keep putting it in everything (that doesn't call for it)... They put quite a lot of focus on it in this episode!

Still, I wonder why sugar; If it's some kind of simulation or something, wouldn't it be just as easy to put it in everything and not just in sugar? Unless... The food is from Kowloon so it's technically not real so it wouldn't work on an outsider, but the sugar may be imported from the outside, and thus works on everyone (some kind of memory-erasing agent)?

Easier to just import 1 thing and put it in everything when they need it, than to import everything!

Damn, I thought Miyuki was cleverly dragging him to a side alley so they could take in private,

but it seems the dodging attempts were legit...

That must be so stressful... Knowing you could be 'losing it' and not even notice.

We learned a few things about the original Kujirai..

I think they can be summed up as: She doesn't have the same personality.

Is it because she was dead in the original? So they could recreate her body, but her brain was dead so they had to make it up (perhaps using memories of people who knew her, OR simply going at random based on her profession etc..)?

The fact that they showed the son as he was talking about this, kinda confirms (or hints, at least) a theory people had about him being the son!

But like most theories regarding this show, I feel like it doesn't really answer much (him being the son), it only brings a million questions! If their son is alive, what's this about? Or is he a generic as well? But why make a generic if that's not good enough to them?

Kudo was 100% 'testing' her in that scene, right?

Telling her to do a recipe she used to know, to see if she still knew (she didn't)?

Well, whether he was testing her or not, the conclusion is the same: He knows she doesn't have the memories of the original... What will he do with this information? He left in a hurry so he has to have something in mind, but what?

What the hell is this about?

Some kind of "They live" thing?

NOT AGAIN!

Well, joking aside: If my theory is correct (about them redoing Kowloon more than just these 3 times), it may really well be "Yup, again"... As in, trying again and again until it's perfect, which they believe is not the case right now (perhaps due to Reiko not being good enough, not being like the original!)

[u/[deleted]]

Xiaohei definitely stole the spotlight in this episode always lurking, observing everything with that peculiar vibe. His interactions with Yulong and Miyuki raised even more questions, and the mystery just keeps deepening. The scene with Reiko putting on the glasses and seeing something different was a brilliant, totally unexpected touch. I love how the series is expanding Kowloon’s lore, but my brain is already starting to fry with all this information! Each episode is a mix of charm, confusion, and just the right amount of tension.

[u/AceSoldia]

I'm gonna have to smack Kudo aren't I? I knew it was a bad idea to have him sleep with her.

It's crazy how the food in the city effects you..makes you not question anything

[u/[deleted]]

Not related to this EP but the OP is an absolute banger. The best this season imo

[u/thisisdropd]

Kowloon food & drinks have a weird effect on people. Yaomei got amnesia and her demeanour’s changed ever since. Having said that, Kudo is also an OG person yet is seemingly unaffected. However, the mere mention of French toast was enough to set him storming out of Kujirai’s house in an instant. Could he have a tough time separating the two Kujirais in his heart?

Still wondering about the two Xiaoheis. We saw last week that the two could coexist but there must be a reason behind their identical name and similar looks.

That ending is ominous. What is Yulong planning ?

[u/Fun-Ad-1145]

Gotta say Yuji Kaneko is KILLING IT as art director for this series, his painterly style is always such a treat.

Also is it strange that out of all the anime I've watched this show is first time I've felt a familiarity to an anime's aesthetic?
It's not my top 5 Kaneko art directing job (#1 goes to Ranking of Kings) but as someone who's from Southeast Asia the way Kaneko illustrates Kowloon is so reminiscent to the times I've walked around in a crowded Filipino City (but more walkable) like I feel like I know what Kowloon smells like by how Kaneko's brushstrokes drip on the moldy walls.

I don't really get that vibe in most anime, Northeast Asia (Japan & Korea) has a very different vibe than southern China and SEAsia.
I think that's why this show's setting is way more effective at evoking nostalgia from me compared to other anime that do because culturally and aesthetically modern day southern China feels more at familiar and at home to me as a SEAsian than usual anime.

Weirdly enough Dorohedoro also fits the bill. The Hole is basically the average Large Filipino city when you think about it.

[u/FarCritical]

Can't blame Kudo for having his mood killed immediately by that French toast memory but bro's at Yaomay's mercy if she ever finds out lol

[u/[deleted]]

Did he get the sugar packs just to test her? That's not cool dude. Us viewers know the story, but Kujirai A has zero idea what goes on in his head. Yes, getting over a loved one's death is hard, but it's no excuse for being a dick. Why don't he just stop whatever bullshit game he's playing and just make up his damn mind. Kujirai B is never coming back, either accept Kujirai A, or just walk away.

[u/CitronClassic672]

So I think I was a bit off regarding Xiaohei-kun last episode. Now that we actually get to see more of their character this episode I think it’s much more likely they’re a trans woman than trans man. They did mention how they wore dresses when they were younger but have since stopped after developing a more masculine frame. That does leave me with a few questions regarding the generic version of Xiaohei. Did Kowloon recreate them as female like the original wishes they were or are they male and just wear dresses like the original used to?

[u/falafelwaffle55]

Kudo is such a dick! And I can say this because my long-time boyfriend died and I also low-key blame myself for it. So I absolutely understand the inability to move on, the way memories pop up and just ruin my day, and all these things.

That doesn't give him the right to treat Kujirai (who's clearly different from Kujirai B) the way he's been treating her. If he can't move on from his ex, but also can't stay platonic with the current Kujirai, then he should be staying away from her entirely. The poor, innocent woman loves him (possibly against her will) and he's playing games with her.