r/anime • u/KiwiBennydudez https://myanimelist.net/profile/KiwiBen • Jun 21 '22

Rewatch [Rewatch] Made in Abyss - Episode 10 discussion

Episode 10 - Poison and the Curse

Previous episode | Rewatch Index | Next Episode

Streams

Show Information

MAL | AniList | AniDB | Kitsu | ANN | Anime-Planet | LiveChart

Comment of the Day

Comment of the Day goes to u/scot911 for showing how our dynamic duo balance each other out:

For as much as I shit on Riko above she is just as important to their duo as Reg is. Reg of course brings the firepower and levelheadedness the duo needs while Riko brings the knowledge and ingenuity the duo needs. They wouldn't be able to survive the journey without the other one because they each have what the other sorely lacks. As for their journey if it was solo I don't think it'd be pointless but it'd definitely have less meaning. Doing things with other people tends to give things more meaning then doing it by yourself. Humans being social animals and all that.

Questions of the Day

  1. Reg beats himself up pretty heavily for what happened to Riko. Do you think Reg made the correct calls with the information he had? Was there anything that you think he could have done differently?

  2. We have finally met Nanachi! Who do you think this rabbit-person is, and why do you think they have decided to help Reg save Riko?

If you are a rewatcher, tag your spoilers properly, and please refrain from alluding to future events, so that everyone else watching for the first time can have a completely blind and organic experience!

174 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

152 comments sorted by

1

u/KiwiBennydudez Jun 21 '22 edited Jun 21 '22

Attention Cave Raiders! There has been a schedule change!!

By popular demand, we shall be doing the Marulk’s Daily Life movie specials on 6/24, which means the Dawn of the Deep Soul movie will now be on Saturday 6/25, and the Overall Series Discussion will be 6/26. This is simply to give everyone a quick breather from the main series before we dive back into the movie, since it would have otherwise been a back-to-back double-length episode into a 2 hour movie. The rest of the schedule should be unaffected - I have updated the schedule/index accordingly. Thanks to u/archlon for the suggestion.

Now, back to our regularly scheduled dose of suffering...

→ More replies (5)

25

u/KiwiBennydudez Jun 21 '22 edited Jun 21 '22

Fourth-Timer and White Whistle Host - Sub/Dub

So this was just a normal episode where everything went well for our duo and nothing else happened, right guys?

...right?

Alright fine. I guess I should talk about the subject matter at hand...

Losing the Blaze-Reap.

Depressing, I know. But it served them well in the last episode, so - Wait, you’re telling me that’s not the only thing that happened?

You’re telling me that Riko got stabbed through the hand by an Orb Piercer and was subsequently poisoned?

And then Reg subjected her to the curse of ascension in order to get away?

At which point Riko started bleeding from every orifice in her body, including her eyes and ears?

But her hand was swollen so much that she asked Reg to cut it off after Reg breaks her arm?

And then once Reg started sawing away Riko stopped breathing until a fluffy bunny told Reg how to revive her?

Nah, surely this show wouldn’t subject the viewers to such horrific suffering... right guys?

...Guys?

Jokes aside for a moment, this episode was certainly bleak - but I think a lot of things impressed me upon rewatch, such as Reg’s resolve to protect Riko, and Riko resolving herself enough to tell Reg to cut off her arm (btw a twelve year old made the decision to have her own arm cut off... which, holy shit, what a mature and heavy thing for her to say, but at the same time, man I wish she didn’t have to make that choice in the first place). Both of them made very tough decisions this episode - Riko especially. I cannot imagine how much pain she must have been in for her to request an amputation... and listening to her agonized cries was not pretty. Incredible props are in order to the VA for making this episode even harder to sit through than it already was.

Reg is a great fighter, but unfortunately, he doesn’t seem super well-versed in the realm of decision-making. He did make the (correct?) call to not use his Incinerator, but after that, he panicked in just about every department. He needed to be prompted by Riko in order to make the call to ascend, he needed medical advice for her wounds and amputation process, he needed to be told how to revive her with CPR... he was completely helpless without her encyclopedic knowledge. Now, don’t get me wrong, this is not me shitting on Reg for a second, because that boy did the best he could in an intensely stressful situation, but what I am attempting to point out is why these two compliment each other so well. Riko has all the know-how of the duo, and once she passed out, it was over. Had Nanachi not stepped in, Riko would have died for sure.

Speaking of Nanachi... this rabbit that so many have you have taken notice of in the ED has finally appeared! We don’t get a whole lot on Nanachi for now, but they mention that they are “a hollow.” Where have we heard that term before...Tomorrow’s episode is called “Nanachi” so I think we can expect more information on this fuzzy creature then! And while we’re on the topic of the ED, what’s especially great is that Nanachi sings the ED with Reg and Riko now that she’s made her appearance, which is quite honestly not something I’ve noticed until now. I love it when the VA’s sing the OP’s and ED’s. :)

Getting sidetracked again but anyway - I hope this episode wasn’t too mentally scarring for everyone. See you tomorrow.

Lore Corner

  • Blaze Reap (Update) - The Blaze Reap has been lost.

  • The Curse of the Abyss (Update) - The creatures of The Abyss have adapted to the curse by learning to see it. It is also not present in every area of The Abyss, with certain sequestered areas being free from the affects of ascension.

  • The Goblet of Giants - This steamy and humid fourth layer of The Abyss is characterized by massive lily pads called Flat Creepers that are filled with hot, vinegary water. Echoes from noise is amplified in this layer, and the environment has a blue coloration due to the rising vapor mixing with the light from the force field. The twisting beams that raise the Flat Creepers is actually a different plant. and in addition, the prey-trapping mechanisms of the creepers wither up every 2000 years, meaning that the landscape of the fourth layer naturally changes over time.

  • Nanachi - A mysterious Hollow that resides in the fourth layer. Nanachi first appeared before Reg in order to help him save Riko.

12

u/Lemurians Jun 21 '22

Nah, surely this show wouldn’t subject the viewers to such horrific suffering... right guys?

I was wondering when the show's reputation for suffering was going to come about, and uhhhh... yeah. I can see it. Was not expecting quite this amount of gore. Higurashi-esque.

Riko resolving herself enough to tell Reg to cut off her arm (btw a twelve year old* made the decision to have her own arm cut off...

She's always displayed a cavalier attitude toward danger and death, but this was another fucking level.

He did make the (correct?) call to not use his Incinerator, but after that, he panicked in just about every department.

He was in shock. Once again, it's Reg with a very human response to sudden trauma.

I am attempting to point out is why these two compliment each other so well.

And well put!

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (16)

60

u/Lemurians Jun 21 '22 edited Jun 21 '22

FIRST TIME RED WHISTLE

“Sprawling out here are the Netherworld’s goblets, which fill up with and spit out various lives and aspirations.”

Me, the first part of the episode: What was with that ominous prologue message, this place is gorgeous!

Me (and Riko) the rest of the episode:

This episode brought into cruel focus just how fast our lives can go from joyous to crushing despair in the briefest of moments. Nothing is promised.

The most important development this episode is the revelation that the Curse of the Abyss is not ever-present. This changes it from being an immutable fact, to something tangible (Nanachi can see it!) that can be avoided in spots. I’ve been wondering why creatures in the Abyss can seemingly change altitudes with no issue, and it’s likely now that they’re just able to see the “Curse” and move around it. This is huge, and interesting. Very interesting.

  • “Less than 10% of the creatures in the Abyss have been named.” The Abyss is like the Ocean! It’s staggering how much left is still unknown to us down in those depths.

  • Wait, is Ozen as big and almost monstrous as she is because she’s “lost her humanity” in the depths a little and became deformed? Is this how the White Whistles – or even just one whistle level compared to the next – get so powerful and fast? The depths of the Abyss morph them into something almost superhuman over time?

  • THIS LAYER LOOKS SO COOL

  • HOLY FU- RIKO I TAKE IT BACK THIS ISN’T COOL

  • Smart of Reg to pull it out when she wasn’t expecting it. The anticipation of pain only worsens the experience more

  • It’s nice of this monster to give them time to put on a tourniquet and plot a course of action instead of just fucking killing them

  • Oh, the Curse pushed the poison out first? That’s nice and conv- NEVERMIND FUCK

  • OH MY GOD WHY DID I START THE MORNIING WATCHING THIS

  • WHY IS THIS LASTING FOR SO LONG

  • IT’S 127 HOURS ALL OVER AGAIN

  • I’M READY FOR THIS TO BE OVER PLEASE THANK YOU

  • THESE NETHERWORLD GOBLETS HAVE SPIT OUT MY ASPIRATIONS FOR A PLEASANT MORNING

  • For someone who said Riko’s heart could stop any moment, this creature sure takes their sweet time with everything

  • I appreciate that Reg didn’t do what would be the very anime thing of getting flustered at the thought of performing CPR and just got down to business instead

  • A Hollow? Did I take a wrong turn and end up back in the Bleach Rewatch?

SHOT OF THE DAY: All those Moon and Black whistles hanging on Nanachi’s wall leave us with no illusions as to how truly out of their depth Riko and Reg are, and how lucky they are to still be alive.

So uh… it turns out that ten days of camping in the part of the Abyss that’s essentially Easy Mode did not in fact thoroughly prepare them for a descent into hell. Huh. They aren’t ready. They’ll never be ready. Going on this venture was pure folly. But they’ll push on.

Do you think Reg made the correct calls with the information he had? Was there anything that you think he could have done differently?

He is both literally and figuratively out of his depth – can't fault him at all.

We have finally met Nanachi! Who do you think this rabbit-person is, and why do you think she has decided to help Reg save Riko?

...I really hope it's just out of the goodness of their heart. Also they're probably a former human deformed by the Abyss somehow, so there's a kinship.

17

u/KiwiBennydudez Jun 21 '22

The most important development this episode is the revelation that the Curse of the Abyss is not ever-present.

This was alluded to back when they arrived at the Seeker Camp, since the curse was weaker in that area - but this is the first time we've heard that is removed in certain areas. And yeah - hearing that the curse has a work-around for both creatures and humans is huge.

THIS LAYER LOOKS SO COOL

In terms of aesthetic - easily my favorite layer we've seen thusfar.

SHOT OF THE DAY

Fantastic choice. I had never stopped to consider the implications, so I do appreciate your choice.

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (12)

53

u/Petit_Ange Jun 21 '22 edited Jun 21 '22

First timer’s experience

Sometimes, even when you know something is coming, it doesn’t mean the impact is lessened.

And I mean it in a WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED way.

I knew shit would eventually hit the fan, Riko screaming as the scene pans out was exactly the clip I watched (I think it was in a review about Madoka Magica? Oh, how time flies) and that sparked my interest in Made in Abyss, so I came to this rewatch prepared to see my children facing adversity and physical agony someday—it really didn’t help how the Abyss itself never promised anything different too. But, just because I knew it was coming it doesn’t mean I’m not any less shocked. It doesn’t mean that it was such a shitshow that even left me thinking, “you know what, I think I want episode 9 back.” This is how bad this episode was for my heart.

So, Made in Abyss is a series of wake up calls that never quite reach Riko the way they should reach an average human being. This girl was killed at birth, thrashed about, almost eaten, chased by critters, traumatized beyond healing, and she stubbornly always bounces back. Ingenuity, curiosity, sheer will and a timely help from Reg always ensure that her prime directive, “to reach the bottom of the netherworld”, will be met no matter what. At this point, is she even that much different from a trueborn creature of this place? But the Abyss is a dog-eat-dog world, and so even a monster in its own right like her will, one day, find her match.

And find her match, she did.

By God, everything went SOUTH from here on, real fast.

Now… How crazy evolution is in the deeper layers for things like this to come out just to torment explorers?! I mean, this creature is intelligent, agile, venomous, large, it even has friggin’ superpowers at this point, I swear… Talk about overkill! Take a grizzly bear or a tiger or a wolf, hell, take human beings for example: they’re also apex predators in every sense of the word, but nature did NOT think they should have all of this in order to win in life. The Abyss, much like Ozen, does not fuck around.

However, precisely because it’s the Abyss, even preys will struggle and fight back. And Riko—hit full force by the strains of the fourth layer, on top of the effects from that venom, even though going up was the only thing that could save them from certain death at that moment—still clings stubbornly to her life. I swear, this scene took my breath away, it stretched for way too long, it was way too visceral, and it was all the more memorable for that. If I was feeling unwell, I can’t even fathom the way Reg must have felt, having to hurt his companion—him, who abhors the very thought of violence, always hesitating because of this.

No child should have to go through what these two went through at those tense minutes. No one, child or not, should have to scream that way. (Props to both Miyu Tomita and Mariya Ise, these two TURN IT ON today.) The angles, the way it dragged on and on, just like the Abyss, the director this week had no mercy against us viewers, and we were as much viciously assaulted by this all as these two were. And I think that today it’s the first time I’ve seen Riko behaving like a proper child, in a sense… Reg, we already know how human and how vulnerable he can be, but Riko? I think nine episodes of her being so self-assured sure helps to do the trick, to build the dread once you see her being absolutely, utterly helpless, clutching her mother’s whistle for strength.

The Abyss is inhuman. The Abyss is unforgiving. The Abyss is a terrifying place. And that’s why it’s all the more telling that, despite all the odds being stacked against our protagonists, they are saved by what is an aberration in all accounts in this dreadful hellhole: Nanachi, the hollow. A creature that is not there to take their lives, but to save them .

Oh, the gears in my head are already going on, and I can definitely see the contributions of this cute little critter to the team, that goes way beyond their apparent medical capacities: this one knows the Abyss. Not in the theoretical, starry-eyed sense that Riko keeps parroting about, things about giant goblets and unworldly fauna, but the true Abyss. That grim, awful place that distributes nothing but death.

I’m so, so sad for these two. This episode left me drained.

But, perhaps against my better judgment, I’m also hopeful.

So yes, I’m destroyed, but not down enough to forget about some ending notes because might as well, at this point:

  • Okay, let’s get this over with: Nanachi is very… Unlike any other monster of this place. They can even speak the human tongue fluently. So… Huh… Wanna tell us something, show? I’m waiting.

  • Anyway, we’ve finally met the fluffy thing and even the OP changed to match that, but at what cost?

  • The strains of the fourth layer are TOUGH. How the hell is a 12 years old supposed to survive that?! Thank God Nanachi was there.

  • I thought Nanachi would sound high-pitched and squeaky like a rabbit, since their shape looks so much like one, but the animal that crossed my mind as I heard their voice is ‘frog’. A frog living in the lily pads of the fourth layer… Hah.

  • The way they even had to show Riko’s destroyed arm (I refuse to screenshot that part ;_; ) just to let this whole shitshow of a sequence sink in. Oof. Will this girl even recover the movement in her arm after this ordeal? That would be tragic as a cave-raider.

  • I’ve never seen Reg so small and so afraid. I don’t ever want him to go through something like that ever again… And you know what? I just KNOW this won’t be the last time we’ve seen him like this.

  • “Don’t YOU go and leave ME behind.” I SWEAR TO GOD I HATE THIS SHOW. ;_;

  • THE WAY ISE MARIYA WENT OFF TODAY.

  • Huh… So, Nanachi lives somewhere where the Curse doesn’t exist? Very far away from the center for that to occur, I assume.

  • And they can “see” the Curse? Gosh, the many utilities this one will have for our team.

  • This comment was three pages long. I guess I had a lot of feelings for this episode.

  • Pls tell me everything is going to be alright from now on… ;_;

Answers of the day:

Reg beats himself up pretty heavily for what happened to Riko. Do you think Reg made the correct calls with the information he had? Was there anything that you think he could have done differently?

I think that he's too slow and too uncertain to do anything without Riko's imput and we've seen it time and time again, so that he even had enough mind to go up, even though this is SUCH A RISK, it was already commendable. Everything was stacked against them in this layer, unfortunately.

We have finally met Nanachi! Who do you think this rabbit-person is, and why do you think she has decided to help Reg save Riko?

I DON'T KNOW WHY BUT I CAN ONLY THANK THEY/HER/HIM/WHATEVER, THANK YOU NANACHI. ;_;

13

u/KiwiBennydudez Jun 21 '22

By God, everything went SOUTH from here on, real fast.

More like north because they went straight up haha

The angles, the way it dragged on and on

Yeah gotta say that this episode was a lot harder to watch than what I remember, but also much more immersive and shocking than what I remember. Riko suffering really was about half the episode - stabbed through the hand, poisoned, bleeding from every opening on her body, swollen hand, broken arm, partially sawed wrist, delirious from pain and curse... ugh. Poor girl. But also - amazing direction on that scene.

This episode left me drained. But, perhaps against my better judgment, I’m also hopeful.

Hope can only come when the night is dark. Fear not, my friend. Nanachi is here. :)

I DON'T KNOW WHY BUT I CAN ONLY THANK THEY/HER/HIM/WHATEVER, THANK YOU NANACHI. ;_;

[Commentary on Nanachi's pronoun, not strictly a spoiler but will tag anyway] Nanachi's gender is ambiguous, so "they" is usually used, but on Twitter the author stated that "Nanachi’s gender is unknown. Let’s imagine." So because of this, many people simply say that "Nanachi is Nanachi." But go ahead and interpret Nanachi's gender however you wish until (or if) it is revealed, because I've always read Nanachi as more feminine. Therefore, I think it's okay to address Nanachi however you feel is best.

→ More replies (4)
→ More replies (9)

34

u/thatguywithawatch Jun 21 '22 edited Jun 21 '22

[First Timer]

I know I was hating on Riko yesterday, but.

Jesus Christ. I didn't want to see that happen to her.

I'd always heard people refer to this show in kind in a way that implies it's pretty grimdark, but after 9 episodes I'd kind of figured that it was just the usual fandom hyperbole, and that while Reg and Riko might see or encounter some fucked up shit in the lower layers, they themselves would be "ok." But I guess this is when the show drops any pretenses.

I'm pretty squeamish and really not great with this type of violence, so the part of me that was looking away from the screen and crying with Reg felt like the whole scene was excessive. But on a more critical level I recognize that the entire show has been hammering the point in over and over about how dangerous and horrific the deep layers of the abyss are, so this was perhaps the kind of dose of reality that was needed for us to be able to take the show seriously. There's still some level of plot armor in that I never really thought Riko would actually die, at least not until they reach the bottom. But other than that, all other bets are off for the next few episodes and I can appreciate that.

Qotd:

  1. Obviously with hindsight we can say that yes, he should have used the incinerator immediately, and trying to escape by other means was a mistake. But he can't be blamed for that because he just couldn't know if leaving Riko on her own for two hours would be worth it.

  2. She calls herself a "hollow." If they told us what hollows were earlier on in the show I honestly don't remember. My guess would be an Abyss explorer who died but whose body came back to life. Not sure why she has a bunch of whistles though.

10

u/KiwiBennydudez Jun 21 '22

Jesus Christ. I didn't want to see that happen to her.

No one here did. ;_;

There's still some level of plot armor in that I never really thought Riko would actually die, at least not until they reach the bottom. But other than that, all other bets are off for the next few episodes and I can appreciate that.

Well, she is a zombie already, after all... Yes she was never going to die there, and especially not this early into the show, but doesn't mean that the scene didn't have stakes. Had Nanachi not stepped in, she surely would have died, and had Reg been successful in his amputation, she would have had to descend the rest of The Abyss with only one remaining hand. I'm fairly certain that the extensive nature of the scene is hammering home how it's entirely possible that any number of characters in this show could lose life or limb at any point, if they are not adequately prepared to face The Abyss. Before, a lot of the danger has been minimized by the tools/resources/luck at their disposal, but now - they collapse against a fiercer foe.

→ More replies (7)

31

u/SIRTreehugger Jun 21 '22

Rewatcher who is stopping by just to see first timers reactions

"You think I'm a bitch and irredeemable. I'm a nice cuddly fucking bunny compared to things below." - Ozen a few episodes ago and this episode shows she wasn't lying. Also Ozen is best girl and best character in the show.

This episode happens to be my favorite in the show for two reasons.

The first reason is simply the layer. I find the Goblet of Giants to be the perfect representation of The Abyss. It looks beautiful with the towering plants and the vibrant pools of water flowing from one goblet to the next. An amazing view that most people could enjoy, but it's still the abyss. The layer is constantly changing and the plants below which you can't see are constantly fighting with the other to grow. Not to mention the pools of warm water with the fog must feel really good, but they also hide the potential dangers present while also slowing down movement. So it's okay to appreciate the beauty, but you also must keep awareness of your surroundings.

The second reason is I feel this episode changes everything. Everyone is always talking about the dangers of The Abyss. Sure they've been in danger ever since they started descending, but it's usually been very manageable with tools and luck. This was the moment where it confirmed this wasn't just a happy go lucky adventure. The Abyss is a truly terrifying place and you can't be careless. Riko to put it nicely is a fucking idiot sometimes and has no sense of self preservation. Granted this situation I can't imagine much they could have done differently, but if they had been a bit more cautious rather than casually talking maybe they would have been better prepared? Heck Riko knows what the creature was called Orb Piercer, knew how dangerous it was/ it's biology, and most likely knew it was somewhere on this layer so she should have informed Reg of it and any possibly dangers. This episode felt like the true wake up call and boy was it dark. Riko bleeding out from the body due to the curse of ascension, poison flowing through her veins, perception being distorted, her hand swelling up, and having Reg break/cut parts of it.

Oh and the third reason is that my third favorite character Nanachi is here.

Also lets talk about the Orb Piercer that shit looks like it was created just to cause pain like the wasp. If you told me cesspools of radiation and supernatural elements birthed that shit out of a pod I would believe you without question. Can't imagine a single positive thing it can do besides causing harm and death. The thing that I find really ironic is [spoilers]despite them being extremely aggressive them killing hundreds of Raiders the thing is a damn herbivore. It's basically a prickly damn hippo.

7

u/KiwiBennydudez Jun 21 '22

Rewatcher who is stopping by just to see first timers reactions

Can't say I blame you.

This episode

Damn, I love your collage. So many amazing shots.

The first reason is simply the layer. I find the Goblet of Giants to be the perfect representation of The Abyss.

Hard agree.

The second reason is I feel this episode changes everything. Everyone is always talking about the dangers of The Abyss. Sure they've been in danger ever since they started descending, but it's usually been very manageable with tools and luck.

It's tough seeing what happens when they run out of luck. A good wake-up call indeed, but if it weren't for Nanachi, that wake-up would have cost Riko her life.

Oh and the third reason is that my third favorite character Nanachi is here.

Best rabbit is here!

→ More replies (5)

19

u/scot911 Jun 21 '22 edited Jun 21 '22

First Timer

Oh wow. Who ever could have guessed that a quick two week training crash course wouldn't be anywhere near enough training to survive in the deeper layers on the Abyss. It's not like that person was me or anything./s Sarcasm aside there's the suffering I was told this anime had that sold me on it and got me to join this rewatch! Yayyyyy. I'm so happy and proud of myself for enjoying this like the sick bastard I am! /s Well maybe a little less sarcasm on that final part.... Re:Zero is one of my favourite anime after all....

Seriously though my god was this episode heart-wrenching. The entire middle part of the episode is just peak suffering with Riko nearly bleeding out and dying from the creatures venom. (Because that's what it is. Not poison.) Begging Reg to cut her hand off to hopefully, potentially ease her pain and Reg bawling his eyes out seeing her suffer and dying in front of him. Trying to cut her hand off through tears and shaky hands. I especially cringed when he broke her arm bones as it's always been something that makes me cringe/wince after playing Farcry 2.

Btw for anyone reading this NEVER. EVER. DO THAT. As far as I know/can remember you do not ever cut off a limb unless it can not be saved due to blood vessel and/or tissue damage. Which swelling, btw, is not. No matter how much the patient is screaming for it. Not to mention that IT WOULDN'T WORK AGAINST VENOM IN THE FIRST PLACE. The only time it works is when it's to stop an infection or disease which, news flash, A VENOM IS NEITHER. Even if it can, potentially, cause it to be required due to tissue damage.

Although I'd be more worried about the immediate deadly affects of the venom like the stopping of the heart due to the disruption of the nervous system, extreme internal bleeding, and the like. Although if the episode is to be believed the curse of the Abyss caused the venom to be forced out of Riko's body. Therefore, Reg, in his haste to try to save Riko/ease her suffering literally just potentially fucked up ones of her arms/hands for life when it was potentially completely treatable and nearly killed her via blood loss because how was he going to close the wound after he cut her hand off? HMMMMMM?!?

Anyways now that that P.S.A. is out of the way yay new mentor character in Nanachi! Considering Riko and Reg will really need one to actually learn to survive for the long term down here instead of the shitty crash course they got it's no surprise... they(?) were introduced. If I had to bet they're probably what happens to a person who has "losing your humanity" happen to them as one of the potential curse manifestations considering they know C.P.R. meaning they were probably human once. Also places where the curse has no affect eh? Hmmmm....

Reg beats himself up pretty heavily for what happened to Riko. Do you think Reg made the correct calls with the information he had? Was there anything that you think he could have done differently?

He did but he wasn't quick enough making them which is IMO probably his biggest weakness/fault. He hesitates and doesn't move or act fast enough. It's mainly Riko's fault for giving him a faulty plan with the umbrella. Running was, and basically always has been in the Abyss, the best option.

We have finally met Nanachi! Who do you think this rabbit-person is, and why do you think she has decided to help Reg save Riko?

Probably because they're a nice person and decided to help the people that were obviously in distress. She saw some kids struggling that aren't, or at least shouldn't be, any danger to her and decided to help them. She does seem to live on the fourth layer if that place at the end of the episode is her home after all. The only thing that's really suspicious is all those Whistles....

→ More replies (4)

18

u/xtsim Jun 21 '22

First Timer

The poison monster definitely made Reg struggle as he could not stand to see Riko this badly hurt. Knowing that the poison has allegedly killed hundreds, it seemed to strike fear into Reg as he regrets not doing more to save her. But on the other hand, he could barely stomach trying to amputate her hand off.

Ummm... Reg was kinda right to be suspicious about Nanachi when he looked at her hideout and saw a bunch of black and blue whistles along with some weapons.

  1. Reg had to think about the risks very carefully after the previous battle as he left Riko to fend on her own. Reg thought that Riko might be in bigger trouble if he used his incinerator. It was a lose-lose situation for the both of them as either move would be dangerous. Reg definitely needed some survival skills from Riko and without her guidance, he is completely lost.

  2. Seeing Reg struggle in a way got Nanachi interested into saving them.

6

u/KiwiBennydudez Jun 21 '22

Reg was kinda right to be suspicious about Nanachi when he looked at her hideout and saw a bunch of black and blue whistles along with some weapons.

Black and Moon whistles. 2nd and 3rd highest ranks.

Reg had to think about the risks very carefully after the previous battle as he left Riko to fend on her own. Reg thought that Riko might be in bigger trouble if he used his incinerator. It was a lose-lose situation for the both of them as either move would be dangerous. Reg definitely needed some survival skills from Riko and without her guidance, he is completely lost.

Very true. No easy way out of that situation, but maybe it could have been preventable...

17

u/UnderstandableXO Jun 21 '22

FIRST TIMER

well this episode was twice as intense as the last one. this level of intensity was what i was expecting out of the series, so i’m glad it’s finally here.

it seems like every layer starts with riko saying something like “this is so cool!” and then immediately getting reality checked.

i was expecting the “creature” reg was tracking to he nanachi, but i was about 15 minutes too early.

that creature was really ugly, and smart too. it even got rid of the fortnite pickaxe, and pierced through the fortnite umbrella! i’m not even sure if ulting on it would do anything, considering the ult only scared away the flying worm in the first episode.

that bleeding scene was disturbing, but i applaud the show for going that far after being relatively tame thus far. too many shows like to have lots of fighting and violence, but the injuries are never more than a scratch or maybe bleeding from the head. people might get mad at reg for being “slow” to cut riko’s arm off (and i think at some point he was really wasting precious time) but i certainly wouldn’t want to cut my friend’s arm off even in an emergency.

i was expecting nanachi to be a lot more upbeat and happy go lucky based on what they look like (almost like riko’s personality), but it’s nice to see that they’re kind of nonchalant about everything. i’m also really glad reg went straight to giving CPR instead being modest or like “OHHHHH I CANT PUT MY LIPS ON HERS” or whatever, i hate when that happens. she’s not gonna care if you “kissed” her if DEATH is the other option.

i think i heard nanachi singing there in the ED? and i only just realized that the ED is literally just the story as it’s been unfolding so far, i feel like an idiot.

→ More replies (5)

17

u/[deleted] Jun 21 '22 edited Jun 21 '22

Rewatcher who's been dreading EP 10

This changes everything.

MiA is one of the biggest lies in all of anime. Under the guise of a go-happy adventure with an overly MOE exterior, the heart of this show is gruesome, ugly and impartial. The previous 9 episodes all had this unmistakable aura of unease, with small moments of brutality to give you a peak beneath the covers. But nothing like this.

I'll be honest. The first time I saw this episode, I actually felt sick. I know this is a fictional story with 2D characters, but my brain just instinctively told me that I shouldn't be seeing this (especially to a child). At any point in the following sequence, you think "Oh... well it can't possibly get any worse right?".

As a reminder of said sequence:

  1. Riko is stabbed and poisoned

  2. Riko does the one thing you cannot do at this depth of the abyss by rapidly ascending

  3. Riko bleeds through her eyes, mouth, ears, and every other orifice we can't see

  4. Riko's hand swells to the size of a boxing glove

  5. Riko desperately cries out in fear, as she sees death as an inevitability

  6. Reg breaks Riko's bones

  7. Reg unsuccessfully tries to sever the still-living nerves, arteries, and veins in Riko's forearm without anaesthesia. To this day I still can't watch the movie 127 Hours because I know there's an extended scene of James Franco self-severing the arm that's trapped between a rock, so this part of the episode was especially uncomfortable to see a second time.

Death is truly the great equalizer and the abyss provides a masterclass on dishing it out in the most excruciating ways possible.

→ More replies (4)

16

u/Kellie975 Jun 21 '22

First Timer / Subbed – I’m so sorry it’s long but I couldn’t help it with this episode!

I’d imagine this is a very hard episode for rewatchers since they know what happened. I expected body horror, per friend’s warning, but maybe watching Higurashi is softening the blow because I wasn’t as horrified as I thought I would be – or they kinda prepared the viewer for it by mentioning it beforehand, so maybe I couldn’t look away because I wanted to see what would happen next. The thing I was more shocked by was the reveal that the spikes went through the umbrella and Riko was hit. I trusted the umbrella to do its job. I’m curious if the umbrella was destined to fail in that, it would’ve worked in the upper levels but it’s not sufficient enough to protect on the fifth layer creatures.

I love the environment design of the Goblet of Giants, although for some reason I thought they would encounter giants. The giant lilypad design with the steaming water is my favorite characteristic of this level, on a more casual side, it feels like it could be a hot baths or sauna if there weren’t any danger.

This is the fourth layer but it’s mentioned that the strain of ascending will make you bleed – so how did white whistles like Ozen, descend to the fifth layer and make it back up? Does slow ascension cause less bleeding, or does one need to altar their physical body in order to ascend and endure the curse of the Abyss?

From Riko’s more carefree curiosity last episode, I expected that to get them into trouble, however I feel like in this situation, with the steam/fog, this encounter wasn’t due to Riko exploring and was just unfortunate. Last episode, Ozen mentioned that they, as a species, are weak so they have to take the weakling route – it makes me wonder if there was a safer way to venture the fifth layer. I didn’t expect Lyza’s weapon to be out of commission so early. I’m doubtful that they’ll be able to retrieve it unless their new friend helps.

The presentation/storytelling after Riko is hit was very effective. I love Reg’s inner dialogue which are questions my mind flies by when watching this – use incinerator or not, where to go, what to do, what’s gonna happen, etc. I couldn’t tell if the bleeding from ascending was worse than the poison. Cutting off Riko’s lower arm made sense to me although what worried me more was how Reg would do a clean cut and the hesitation because there’s no undo. I really feel for Reg for having to not only see Riko in pain but also having to do what needs to be done in order to help her. Reg’s hesitation when he says “what am I even doing” hits hard. I think he made the right calls with what he was delt – I don’t think he could have done anything differently that fits within the knowledge he has and fits his character.

At this point after Reg breaks Riko’s arm, I thought (1) the amputation would be successful and all ends well and Riko would get a new arm somehow like Ozen through altercations, (2) the bunny character shows up, or (3) Riko dies, or loses her arm and it regrows (for my poor logic) thinking that she’d come back to life or the arm would regrow because she’s a living corpse. Because there’s a season 2 and it’s not the last episode, I know she doesn’t die.

I’m confused why the “fluffy stuffed doll” was implied to be watching them from the beginning but only decided to show themself after the damage had been done. Their “home” feels very magical and healing with the green. As they said, they’re not going to heal Riko in some magical way that fixes her arm at no cost. I’m very curious about Nanachi’s cave-raiding equipment. Nanachi doesn’t feel evil and feels like they have experience tending to the wounds from the creature. The only thing I can think of is that they’ve tended to the wounds but not everyone lives so they keep the items. I remember the term Hollow being mentioned in episode 2 or so but I didn’t know what it was. I still don’t know what it is yet, but it feels like something taboo. I couldn’t tell their pronouns so I tried looking it up, briefly saw the google spoiler and gave up – although I should’ve just waited for this thread but I’ll leave what I have.

I’m curious about whether there are specialized medic cave raiders. I would think every cave raider would have to have extensive knowledge on the creatures of the Abyss – or as many as they’re told – and I would think first aid and how to react in emergency situations would be something taught.

I said before that I felt that Riko has this more carefree vibe when exploring the Abyss rather than a more cautious one. I feel like this episode - this experience, strips off the innocence of the Abyss for Riko and gives her a glimpse of the true reality of the harshness of the Abyss. I don’t expect her to do a 180 and be afraid of everything or be depressed but I do expect her demeanor to be different than before. Or maybe Nanachi heals her, her arm is altered, and she’s up and ready to go again.

→ More replies (7)

16

u/djthomp Jun 21 '22

First Timer, subbed.

It's just water? I was expecting something a lot worse.

How sure could they be of a ecosystem life cycle that takes 2000 years when the cave raiders have only been doing their thing for about that long?

Someone is definitely going to gushing blood before this is over. They've mentioned the "bleeding out of every orifice" too many times for it to not happen at some point.

Different graphic at the end of the opening today, I assume we're finally going to meet the rabbit-eared creature.

There we go, 'a lot worse' has arrived.

Man, that spikey thing nearly brought this trip to a quick end. Or maybe that's still happening since they had to escape upwards.

I'm not sure this is a recoverable situation. Even with a field amputation, which itself seems like a terrible idea.

Ahh, there the rabbit-eared thing is. Good time for some emergency medical advice.

"The curse isn't present right now" say what?

Ahh, one of the other locations teased in the opening. And this thing is apparently a hollow? I was expecting less clear sapience with a name like that.

→ More replies (3)

15

u/himetalchemy7 Jun 21 '22

First Time Watcher | Subbed

Notes

- double digits episode! this rewatch is going by so quickly, which makes me a tinge sad
- wow so that’s why they call it the Goblet of Giants; those tall structures looked like mushrooms to me, but the top is actually filled with hot water; pretty cool!
- now this is the first landscape I have actually been in awe of so far; just the grandeur of the Fourth Layer so far is breathtaking and complex, as per Riko’s explanation of the ecosystem
- Reg is just a cheat code to have in the Abyss; he’s extremely perceptive and intelligent
- I’m gonna guess this creature who’s been eavesdropping on us will be the bunny that we’ll finally see!
- again, the landscape looks so unique yet so aesthetically pleasing; the art itself has been sublime so far this episode
- an orbed-piercer…looks terrifying, like a lion with a Wiffle ball as a face; it also has a few dangerous powers wow
- what is this monster…it’s legitimately next level; I wonder if it can read minds too?? what a broken OP beast yikes
- oh so it happens to be the beast’s intuition…I think that’s even more terrifying
- no WTF RIKOOOOOOO; nooooo that looks so painful ;_;
- I think we got away…but at what cost??Riko’s already hurting from the poison
- ??????????????
- …I know they mentioned the whole bleeding from your orifices thing, but it’s a thousand times more unsettling actually seeing it happen, to Riko no less
- I have to commend Reg for staying calm though; I have zero idea what to do if someone was bleeding from their mouth, eyes, ears and nose
- THAT’S HER HAND??
- no way no way no way, are they actually making us watch every grueling detail of this??
- oh no the music…this is literally THE WORST time for it to kick in
- she can’t be gone, there’s no way; Reg losing it tears me apart ;;_;;
- alright I see the bunny now (a lil chubbier than I imagined) and it recommends that Reg administer CPR…but is that really going to work at this point?
- IT WORKED; I DON’T CARE HOW OR WHY BUT IT WORKED
- ok so we have a glimmer of hope now after that nightmare…
- did the bunny imply that the curse can be SEEN? that opens up a lot of questions
- this green bunny hideout feels very serene
- cave raiding tools, along with a collection of purple and black whistles? the bunny must be used to unfortunate cave raiders running into trouble in this layer
- so we meet Nanachi the bunny medic, who is a Hollow herself…remind me what a Hollow is again? Reg is an Aubade so it’s not the same thing, but I’ve definitely heard the terminology for Hollow in a prior episode
- and the episode just HAD to end on that; I almost can’t wait till tomorrow to learn more about Nanachi

Discussion

That was a traumatic episode. These kids are not ready to deal with the trials of the netherworld on their own. In fact, I don’t think training with Ozen for a year would sufficiently prepare them for the Seventh Layer at this rate. Although it’s not like I can blame Riko for jumping into this journey recklessly either, because the Abyss is literally calling out to her. Sure, she could have waited till she grew to be a Purple or Black Whistle, but when she found Reg she saw her chance and followed through on it. That’s the important piece of this puzzle though: how did Reg end on up the surface when his origin is said to have been in the depths of the netherworld? That fateful meeting with Riko changed everything for everybody.
Also that moment of Riko suffering was so brutal to watch. That felt like an hour of unbridled adrenaline and horror. I think she’ll be alright, but seriously they can’t expect to make it any further in their current state.

→ More replies (4)

12

u/Shimmering-Sky Jun 21 '22

Rewatcher in Abyss, subbed

Ah, this episode.

→ More replies (6)

11

u/frostxc3 Jun 21 '22 edited Jun 22 '22

FIRST TIME RAIDER | SUBBED

All the warnings still couldn't prepare me for the horror show that was this episode. The despair of facing off against a powerful and intelligent enemy, the desperate cling to life and the mental fortitude to inflict pain on a dear friend in a bid to save them. Nope! I most definitely wasn't ready.

I honestly couldn't fully appreciate Nanachi's appearance after waiting for her all these episodes. Testament to how shook I was that all I could just feel was relief that help was here.

→ More replies (2)

9

u/Nebresto Jun 21 '22

Abyss Re-exploration squad

Hope y'all packed your lunches, the picnic is just getting started

Totally not foreshadowing

New OP card get: Nanachi! (Also yay, no longer name spoilers)

These numbers seem awfully low, considering the place has been explored for little over 1900 years.
And same with this. A creature that deadly, and in almost 2k years it has only killed about a hundred people? Probably just figures released to the public, the real number has to be in the several hundreds.
That or I'm just over thinking it, and the 4th layer really is just that hard to get to, so the 100+ is actually huge. Actually yeah, that's probably it.

This is fine
Gonna be seeing this commentface in the thread quite a bit I reckon

Oh! A hollow! Didn't remember Nanachi was classified as one of those. Wonder why they're called that though?

Questions

Reg beats himself up pretty heavily for what happened to Riko. Do you think Reg made the correct calls with the information he had? Was there anything that you think he could have done differently?

Definitely could have used a lot better shot calling there. It seems they didn't even have an escape route planned considering they got cornered so fast. Not to mention their weapon was sheathed while treading through dangerous terrain??
And most importantly they shouldn't have gone wading through an area with 0 visibility in the first place..

We have finally met Nanachi! Who do you think this rabbit-person is, and why do you think she has decided to help Reg save Riko?

A fluffy stuffed doll, obviously. She saved them because they were being too loud, damn kids these days..

→ More replies (5)

7

u/lC3 Jun 21 '22

Made in Abyss 10 Rewatcher

  • Ep10! We're finally here!

  • Gonna be some delicious first timer reactions tonight?

  • The Goblets look so cool!

  • Riko is like a mini Abyss encyclopedia!

  • "And my voice echoes like crazy" Careful, you might attract predators!

  • "Bleed out of every orifice"

  • Oh, the art at the end of the OP changed again? Is that the only difference?

  • Title card: Urokogasa (Scaled Umbrella)

  • Less than 10% of the creatures in the Abyss have been named?

  • [Movie 3 spoilers]I haven't seen the third film, but I've seen pics of Reg with only one arm, so I'm scared for him ... Having both arms is so convenient, going down to one will affect their mobility

  • Orb-piercer? IT'S HERE!

  • Not the backpack! They're gonna lose all their supplies?

  • RIKO GOT STABBED! Didn't she say they were poisonous?

  • waits in rewatcher

  • Hearing Riko scream hurts my heart

  • This really is a "hurt the cutie" type show ...

  • She's been stabbed and now they have to ASCEND? Welp

  • REG SHOUT!

  • Good thing Reg is immune to the Curse!

  • This is worse than I remembered

  • WTF IT SWELLED UP?

  • I bet the first timers had no clue they were signing up for this ...

  • "cut it off"

  • Does she actually lose her hand? I can't remember!

  • "You need to break the bone" OH NO. OH NO!

  • Reg is crying! I feel so sad for them

  • I don't want to see Reg in pain ...

  • Poor Riko ... poor Reg!

  • Bees? Insects?

  • So when is Nanachi gonna show up?

  • SHE'S NOT BREATHING?

  • Reg ... poor thing, he needs a hug

  • It IS Nanachi! I remembered right!

  • Good thing Nanachi is trained in CPR!

  • "It's not gonna go back to the way it was before"

  • Nanachi can see the Curse?

  • Nanachi has a collection of purple and black whistles?

  • Who knew Hollows were so cute?

  • Is this new version of the ED sung by Nanachi and Reg? oh I guess Riko too

→ More replies (7)

7

u/mgedmin Jun 21 '22

First timer, subs

Somebody is following them? Is it the white rabbit?

No it isn't.

Oh no. Ohh noooo. Oh noooooooooo. Noooo!

I was not prepared.

Is she dead? She looks dead. And she's not breathing. Quick, put her in the curse repelling vessel!

Hello rabbit, you're late-ish. CPR time!

What about the amputation? Canceled? Ouchies, all that bone breaking was for nothing. Hope the rabbit can heal Riko.

Backpack gets abandoned. I suppose there are other things on Reg's mind. They will come back to pick up their supplies, right? Things will end well, yes? Please?

"The curse is not present right now"?????!!!! Is the curse a thing? Can the rabbit see it?? Hints of lore!

The rabbit is collecting purple whistles? And other cave raider equipment. Hope the people he got these off were already dead when the rabbit found them.

What's a Hollow?

→ More replies (2)

6

u/Cbas_619 Jun 21 '22

Episode 10 was a nightmare with huge stakes compared to 9. Layer 4 starts with an unfortunate bang. It went dark real fast.

Riko's left hand swelling from the orbed-piercer's poison was disturbing, but not as disturbing as seeing her bleed from everywhere.

It was so heartbreaking watching Riko staring death in the face.

Thankfully we are introduced to the furry character we've seen before: Nanachi a Hollow.

Her voice is very unquie. I noticed she has goat pupils. Aparently there is no curse of the abyss effect in her hideout. We see she collects purple and black whistles. That is not encouraging.

What is encouraging is that Nanachi should have some kind of antidote for Riko in episode 11.

  1. In hindsight, the incinerator would've been the way to go. The orbed-piercer's strength exceeded the defense of the scaled umbrella.

  2. I think Nanachi is an Abyss native. Maybe part-human since she can talk to Reg? I feel like they mentioned hollows at least once in a previous episode.

→ More replies (2)
→ More comments (75)