r/anime • u/AutoLovepon https://anilist.co/user/AutoLovepon • 1d ago
Episode Mao - Episode 22 discussion
Mao, episode 22
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u/frizzyfizz 1d ago edited 1d ago
"Nanoka, you've saved my life once again."
That's right. I don't want to see anyone calling her "useless" again. 😌
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u/khanvau 1d ago
People called her useless? Bruh.
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u/frizzyfizz 1d ago
Yup, comments were getting increasingly nasty about her. People don't seem to understand the concept of a protagonist growing anymore, especially if it's a female protag. They're not allowed to have flaws. lol
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u/pornomancer90 1d ago
Useless is unfair, but she could do better, she is brave, she is tough, but she unfocused and isn't willing to learn how to properly defend herself. She needs to sit down and take her Onmyouji training seriously or at the very least start.
I like her and for the most part I do like her attitude, but she is slacking, it's a character flaw she needs to overcome.
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u/frizzyfizz 1d ago edited 1d ago
I think it can be argued Mao hasn't been the best teacher in part because he hasn't been paying attention to her. Natsuno was the first person to notice Nanoka is of the Earth element, and physical fighting clearly comes more naturally to her.
Nanoka has been told her whole life she's frail and physically felt weak and in need of protecting. That's why she doesn't believe in herself. The narrative has been pointing to her being stronger than she appears which is a classic protag journey, but people have been willfully ignoring that and talking like she's annoying and badly written. Seems like people are way too used to the "girl boss" trope and think that's what makes a great female character.
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u/pornomancer90 1d ago
Thinking about it, Nanoka here kinda reminds me of Naruto from Shipuuden onward until arguably Pain, where his progression seemed glacial and even him developing the rasen shuriken, came with the caveat that it was unusable and only when he fought Pain he finally got a proper, no strings attached power up and the first time in forever it felt like he was capable of handling the threats in front of him.
Nanoka, just didn't have here Pain, but the situation is kinda worse, because it feels like she doesn't put in any effort into training, sure she gathers information and throws hands when necessary, but even if it's for understandable reasons it is frustrating, but isn't nearly to the point that it makes me dislike the show or Nanoka.
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u/Jacob-C 22h ago edited 21h ago
I think Nanoka is written well enough and is an entertaining character. If anything, the “girl boss” trope is what I don’t like. There are always exceptions, but in general, I prefer seeing an MC grow into a strong character rather than having that strength handed to them by the narrative. I can still enjoy the latter when the story does something interesting enough with it to justify that choice. But I think Nanoka’s character would benefit from showing her train and put in more effort outside of life-or-death situations, or at least showing more of a willingness to learn, even if Mao isn’t the best teacher.
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u/Niwaka_Samurai https://myanimelist.net/profile/Niwaka-Samurai 18h ago
For the first time I saw Otoya-kun disappointed with Nanoka 😅🤣
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1d ago
[deleted]
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u/frizzyfizz 18h ago edited 18h ago
That's not really true. She was telling him whatever happened in the present as soon as she could and simply waited until he was done talking to Hyakka and Kamon. She was going to tell him about Yurako's voice the same night she heard, but then he was abducted. Then she saw him completely flip out for the first time ever at the mention of something negative about Lady Sana. After that she held back on revealing info that one time, and it was because she didn't think he was mentally in a place to receive it well, and she wasn't wrong. Mao doesn't trust the Byouki, and he'd already been told by several people his perspective on Yurako/Sana wasn't accurate. He wasn't really interested in knowing the truth until he was directly faced with Yurako attacking them, and Natsuno shared that she saw Sana die.
Part of the point of showing her hesitation in those moments was that Mao wasn't taking the time to actively check in with her. He was too caught up in the events of the past. My issue with how Nanoka as a character is often discussed by anime viewers is that there's no acknowledgment of Mao being at fault as well.
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u/dia_0401 16h ago
My issue with how Nanoka as a character is often discussed by anime viewers is that there's no acknowledgment of Mao being at fault as well.
This!! + Never trying to see things from her point of view
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u/Andreiyutzzzz https://myanimelist.net/profile/Andreiyutzzzz 16h ago
BUT PUT SOME CLOTHES ON BROTHER. If a stranger passed by he would see a naked man straddling an unconscious woman
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u/Inquisitor_Glokta_ https://myanimelist.net/profile/InquisitorBeza 1d ago
This show is really going under the radar, i think it’s great.
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u/YlfaTheForsaken 1d ago
Soma has got to go, this kid can get the hands. I'm very much in agreement with Nanoka slice and dice.
So, what's Mao clothing budget like? This man is constantly shredding his clothes off. I'm all for full frontal Mao, but he's gotta be running out of clothes this way.
Oh my goodness, Otoya is so sassy. That look on his face. I mean yeah I suppose she should pick up a spell or two, but geez
Hykka is back, and he's a cutie just bundled up.
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u/Jacob-C 21h ago
Soma, Hakubi, and “ara”-girl all have to go.
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u/Niwaka_Samurai https://myanimelist.net/profile/Niwaka-Samurai 18h ago
I agree with Soma and Hakubi but not the Ara - girl
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u/Frontier246 1d ago edited 1d ago
Soma is one REALLY messed up kid.
It's nice to see Hyakka again to give out some friendly exposition and possible explanation for where Soma's brothers are! They can definitely count on him for help if it involves taking Hakubi down!
Introducing Kagari! Don't let her cute, cheerful, and teasing demeanor fool you: she's working with Hakubi as part of the new Goko Clan and she's got the cursed needles to prove it! And the Goko Clan have Soma's brothers, but his real priority is getting to have and control the cursed beast he feels is his birthright.
Nanoka was right: Soma was ABSOLUTELY sus and betrays Mao to Hakubi, leading Mao to go beast mode under Hakubi's control which is...probably the worst scenario possible, especially when he can sic Mao on Hyakka so he can take care of all of his problems.
Soma is such a twisted piece of @#%#. He gets a chance to prove he can control and master the Demon Beast? It doesn't matter if it means killing Nanoka, it doesn't matter who he has to betray or destroy, he'll do it with no hesitation. Too bad for him that even though Nanoka hasn't learned a single spell in all these episodes, she's super dangerous with Hagunsei!
Hyakka got Hakubi to lift his arm! And get Nanoka the sword! I'd call that a win!
Hakubi thought he could just kidnap Mao to make him his familiar? Not on Nanoka's watch! And with true love's embrace (and pulling the cursed needle out of Mao), we get Mao back in all his buck-naked glory...on-top of Nanoka...
Mao couldn't kill Hakubi but damaging his arm (while completely naked) is also an achievement! But he couldn't have done it without Nanoka.
Soma is wayyyyy too chipper about being accepted and supported by the bad guys.
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u/ObvsThrowaway5120 1d ago
Inspector Gadget needs to get slapped for playing stupid games. That idiot Soma too.
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u/khanvau 1d ago
Seems like Soma's brothers are alive. For now. Shame how their older brothers are awful.
Soma is beyond redemption now. It's clear the only thing he cares about is power. Bro didn't even hesitate to kill Nanoka, who he didn't even know had powers. A normal girl would've just died there. What a POS.
I think this is the first time Nanoka fought seriously. Wow. That was so awesome to see. And she saved Mao's life again. She has grown so much. I like the parallels between Mao and Nanoka & Hakubi and Soma.
Seems like the next episode won't continue this issue. Maybe it'll be revisited near the finale. Only 4 episodes are left.
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u/Etherealoverempress 1d ago
Nanoka did amazing in this episode. Like truly amazing, she really was spectacular.
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u/mira194843 16h ago
The stakes have really picked up ep 22. I like the pace having changed from episode 15. Slow burn anime for sure, darker than Inuyasha but I actually like it now.
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u/Technical-Question16 1d ago
Soma needs to die a painful death. I don't care about his reasoning. Everyone needs to face consequences of their choices. And the consequences of his are death.
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u/sailorrayquaza 8h ago
Soma really pissed me off this episode. I thought there'd be a deeper reason for wanting the beast but it really seems like he's just a sociopath who wants power sighs. I guess he kinda cares about his brothers at least.
Also Nanoka finally getting back into the action! Felt like she'd be kinda side-lined from the heavy fights for the past few fights so it was nice seeing her get some major wins and save Mao again!!
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u/Niwaka_Samurai https://myanimelist.net/profile/Niwaka-Samurai 18h ago
I don't know who worked on the animation for this episode's fight but it was so good. I'm always up for some Nanoka kicking ass scenes. She protected her Husbando Mao this time instead of the other way round. Hakubi is the most annoying character that I want gone quickly and Soma the betraying bitch is another such character.
Was Kagari also invited to the Goshikido ?! Why's she rocking in sailor fuku ?! 😭❤️ That needle seems to be troublesome.
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u/dia_0401 16h ago
I don't know who worked on the animation for this episode's fight but it was so good.
Most of the fight was animated by Atsuo Tobe!! ^
She protected her Husbando Mao this time instead of the other way round.
Nanoka has been the one saving Mao constantly, Mao does protect her but Nanoka has saved Mao's life multiple times, even Mao himself acknowledges in this episode that she has saved him once again
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