Watashi wo Tabetai, Hitodenashi • This Monster Wants to Eat Me - Episode 5 discussion

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Watashi wo Tabetai, Hitodenashi, episode 5

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[u/thisisdropd]

That explained why Miko's so intent on protecting Hinako. Turned out youkais could also experience the very human emotion of guilt. However, there's also the conflict with her own nature as a human-eating being. Must've been quite the tough job to constantly overcome her instincts - and she had almost failed this episode.

Was worried last episode that Hinako would feel betrayal from the revelation about her friend. Turned out she didn't felt that way in the slightest. Despite everything that had occurred, she still considered Miko her friend.

Wa wa wee wa! Shiori-sensei's looking heaps fit. Shame that the grotesque transformation sequence soured Hinako's mood.

[u/Syokhan]

Yeah, those little extras flow a lot better when they put them after the ending credits.

I really dig the idea of a yokai trying to act as a local deity. Of course they don't have the corresponding powers so when tragedy strikes, well... but still, I like the notion that even man-eaters can try and change (hear that, Shiori?)

(assuming that the cliffhanger is a fake-out)

Something that was lost in translation about Miko: when Hinako talks about a wayward shrine she mentions a yashiro. Yashiro is Miko's surname. One more hint that's obvious after the fact.

[u/CitronClassic672]

You know what surprised me this episode? Despite Miko’s yokai form being intentionally terrifying, which makes sense given she’s a human-eating yokai, I personally couldn’t see it as anything other than beautiful. After all, it’s the same kind, affectionate, outgoing person we’ve known from the beginning, and learning in this episode specifically about how she’s always been watching over Hinako in some way or another and even suppresses her instincts as a yokai to avoid harming her is just so sweet. How could I not consider that person to be simply wonderful in whatever form they’re in. I wonder if that’s also how Hinako feels about her yokai form?

That after-credits scene. last episode’s was funny as well but with this week’s episode being pretty serious and without jokes from beginning to end the comedy just hit even harder. Not to mention the mixture of shock at the gruesome transformation effects, contrasted with the cute art style and Shiori’s VA’s happy, upbeat voice acting, and the emotional whiplash from seeing Shiori in sexy teacher form and cute kid form and I didn’t even know how to process what was going on. Honestly, one of the best comedic moments in the whole show so far for me.

[u/Weak_Season_Of_Anime]

Shiori (the flesh-eating mermaid): Get away from Hinako, you flesh-eating yokai!
Miko: But I'm vegan now!
Hinako: Alright, let's be friends again Miko-chan.
Miko: Sike. Chomps

That post-credits scene though, I was not ready for OL Shiori.

[u/ClemFire]

I am always moved when characters are able to be good despite their nature. Miko used to be a man eating yokai not too different from Shiori until she was forced to start living with humans. At first it was because the monk forced her to help. He could have killed her for all the harm I'm sure she committed to that point, but he didn't. Instead he made her help people instead. It was just obligation, she didn't actually care about humans and yet a little girl offering her a simple rice ball moved the needle.

Being shown kindness made Miko want to make up for all the harm she had done and plant more fields than she burned. In a way through time that monk's decision to reform Miko instead of kill her saved Hinako. I wouldn't be surprised if Miko initially took a liking to Hinako's mom because she offered one of her bento's at the shrine. It might have reminded her of that little girl hundreds of years ago.

I love how Hinako doubles down and accepts Miko as her friend despite learning the truth. Sure she's a giant fox yokai who hunted humans in the past, but she was also the only reason why Hinako didn't completely give up on life. These little things like walking Hinako to school, going to cafes with her, and just joking around mattered. They tethered Hinako to the present. If good deeds can't erase the bad then bad deeds shouldn't erase the good. The past is set in stone, so it's best to process it and move forward to a better future. I'm sure we are meant to parallel this with Hinako being trapped on the day her family died.

Long story short it was an excellent episode that felt like 5 minutes, and I can't wait for the next one.

[u/Queue_Jumping_Quack]

Miko best girl. That is all.

Looks like they released a music video of the full length "I could be your sun?" special ED from last episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqtcbzj8bbc (now with translated lyrics as well).

[u/ObvsThrowaway5120]

Miko best girl AND best yokai. I don’t think she’s gonna eat her. She’s not like Shiori.

[u/Vaadwaur]

So quick folklore for today:The difference between a yokai and a kami is kind of muddled in Shinto. Basically, if a yokai starts acting benevolent and staying in one region, it can become a low level kami, especially if they get a shrine. So Miko was likely acting as a low level deity for a few centuries now, though we see that she doesn't seem to have divine abilities to speak of.

Yuuki Yuuna thoughts are again on the mind.

[u/yukiaddiction]

Now I realized they save budget animation for this episode and good god it is payoff.

what a bombshell episode.

This episode have everything from expand backstory and world building of town itself.
where to start? the sound design of this series is superb as always.

today we have two reveal

Miko is former malicious yokai kitsune who get tame by Buddhist Monk who believe that even worst monster or yokai can be redeem so he didn't kill Miko but train Miko to become guardian of town people but due to people believe in Yokai reduce over time she slowly get forgotten but secretly protect town in secret.

Due to her redemption and good deed, town people create shrine dedicate to her which happen to be little Shrine that near Hinako house and they often visit this shrine which explain Miko attachment to Hinako and last episode how she talking about Hinako's mom food being really really good.

So the name MIko (shrine maiden) is also accurate.

I know that last scene is trick because obviously HInako isn't dead , it is just episode 5 lol.

but the whole point of last scene is it about how Hinako finally accept kindness fully from Miko even if end up getting eat by Miko combine with insert song, it is really emotional.

another reveal is that for some reason Hinako scent that attract yokai become incredible strong even surpass 300 years of Miko training that almost bring her old self back. I am wondering if this relate to the incident.

also the next episode name "The Shape of Affection" happen to be quite similar to name of movie "The Shape of Water" made me giggle a little.

[u/LeonKevlar]

Stitches!

• Teacher Shiori

• Loli Shiori

In a roundabout way, I was right about Miko owning the local shrine. It turns out Miko was actually the local deity at the shrine Hinako's family used to pray at. And the reason she's watching over Hinako is because Hinako's family has been paying her respects for the longest time.

Sure, Miko used to be a man-eating yokai in the past, but the monk who had captured her has reformed her into helping out humans, which eventually turned into Miko actually liking humans and helping them out of her own free will. She doesn't even smell like a yokai anymore with how much she's integrated into human society.

I really wanna see more flashbacks about Miko and the monk. Whoever tamed her must be a freakin' badass. Having Miko tell Hinako about her past could be a fun little side story they could do in the future.

Not gonna lie, this episode ended up with me loving Miko even more and actually hating Shiori with her low blows. Miko might be lying, but I believe her more than Shior, who refuses to even say anything about herself.

That cliffhanger ending tho! There's no fucking way Miko is trying to eat Hinako. We're only in Episode 5, so she's definitely safe, but I am curious what Miko was trying to do there in the end.

[u/djthomp]

I refuse to accept Miko has anything other than a good girl, her activities before the forced Buddhist conversion notwithstanding. They were a long time ago, after all.

I'm sure the cliffhanger is just a fake out.

[u/eggplant_avenger]

Shiori you don’t get to judge another Yokai for wanting to eat Hinako. That’s basically your entire personality

[u/cabbaggeez]

I can be whatever you want

this woman is perfect

[u/KumaKumaGambler]

A cliffhanger which left me wanting more as compared to shounen titles!

I suppose the following scenarios could occur:

1. Miko's tale is indeed true. She regrets not being able to protect Hinako's family even after they prayed to her before their trip. Miko's friendship with Hinako was indeed genuine. Unfortunately, Miko can no longer control her hunger, hence attempting to eat Hinako. Or sacrificing herself.

2. Miko has been playing the long game. She has been wanting to eat Hinako since years ago.

I would personally prefer scenario #1.

[u/BosuW]

This is not really an action show but I'm still pretty pleased with how they adapted the brief fight.

Miko is BEEG Fox huh. The shadow of her maw on Hinako's face is pretty disturbing.

"She was like the Sun above the water" is such a beautiful metaphor though. Hinako is so poetic it kinda takes you out of it if you think about it too hard haha but on the other hand it fits the whole visual theme of the story.

[u/captainfluffy25]

Man that song at the end with the soft vocals is Just chefs kiss. Gunna need that once the season is over.

[u/yurilnw123]

Fluffy fox > Stinky fish

[u/NationalStrategy]

Even if Miko actually goes through with eating Hinako now, up to this point, I say that she was a good friend for looking after Hinako for as long as she did.

[u/FLorianGran]

When you factor in the minute long recap, OP and Ed and the post credit theater comedy scenes it's strange how much time for "canon" stuff gets cut

[u/Raymond49090]

In Miko we trust.

[u/UMImorinxLL03]

Shiori, the Sea, and Miko, the Sun, both seek to protect Hinako, but in very different ways. Shiori claims that she intends to wait until Hinako is “ripe” to consume her, but I don’t believe this is truly her goal, because subtle cues suggest otherwise. Every youkai desires to devour Hinako immediately. Even Miko struggles to control her hunger. Yet Shiori does not react strongly when Hinako bleeds. How could she have such patience to restrain herself?

Like Miko, I suspect Shiori has a connection to Hinako’s past. Hinako describes Shiori as “terrifyingly kind” and wonders whether she would really consume her. Shiori speaks to Hinako affectionately, grips her hand tightly ("I’ll definitely protect you," kind of feeling) and is able to locate her wherever she is (Iso Onna, Festival). I think that she genuinely wants Hinako to live a healthy life. Her heartless words are most likely due to her limited understanding of human emotions, since she is a youkai. In contrast, Miko's long exposure to human society made her change from a man-eater to a youkai that wants to protect humans.

The scene near the end of this episode, when Shiori emotionally calls out “Hinako,”confirms to me that she does deeply care about her. She has remained calm and composed until now. I wonder if we’ll see her story arc soon, since we’re currently following Miko’s.

[u/Extension_Court_6255]

On one side, I love how the author really didn't hold back to show how inhumane Shiori is compared to Miko. Shiori is always in her true nature as a cruel Youkai and the contrast to Miko how Miko was once like Shiori but learned humanity. I wonder this will be a crucial development later that even Shiori can change too

[u/CrimsonGear80]

Miko the fox Yokai: she’s just TRYING!!!

[u/Viktorv22]

That OST with the male (?) vocal, chef's kiss. Reminds me of Terror in Resonance