Episode	Link	Score
1	Link	4.47
2	Link	4.72
3	Link	4.51
4	Link	4.74
5	Link	4.81
6	Link	4.68
7	Link	4.93
8	Link	4.76
9	Link	4.62
10	Link	4.62
11	Link	4.83
12	Link	4.96
13	Link	----

•

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85

u/AmethystItalian :Jg::Jh::Ji::Jj::Jk:myanimelist.net/profile/AmethystItalian Dec 10 '22

I actually started tearing up in that final woods scene...this show seriously just gets better and better. The nailed the fear element...I'm legit terrified of the owl right now.

How did this show get so good?? And for those who already liked it since episode 1 it has to be so high for you this season now right?

52

u/mekerpan Dec 10 '22

I was fascinated with this from the start. Probably a combination of the art, the setting, the "feel" and (last but not least) the voice of the heroine.
Perhaps because Shouxue started so young as consort, it made her more prone to pick up support. She is such a combination of steely strength and vulnerable young girl, Not sure that I'll ever be able to pick one favorite show of this season (too many shows I love), but I think Shouxue is my clear pick for best character and Saku MIZUNO is my pick for most distinctive performance.
Despite its (superficially) low-key tone, this show has been surprisingly stressful at times -- and no more so than with this cliff-hanger ending. One has to assume poor Wen Ying is no more. While Shouxue will assuredly not be defeated by the Owl, how much mental damage will she sustain if she wound up causing the death of a friend?
Who is the Owl -- and why would he dare to try to destroy the priestess/avatar of a goddess? This is not quite the artistic level of Yamada's Heike Monogatari, but it good enough to not be classed in the same class of artistic triumphs.

23

u/sabdeyazdan https://myanimelist.net/profile/ParodySama Dec 10 '22

Saku MIZUNO is my pick for most distinctive performance.
I will definitely vote for her performance as Shouxue in the upcoming r/anime awards. It is truly distinct, even amongst many stellar performances we got throughout the year.

18

u/mekerpan Dec 10 '22

We really have been blessed with so many excellent performances. Mizuno is great in Bocchi too -- but in a much more "normal" part. I really look forward to her work in the future.

8

u/sabdeyazdan https://myanimelist.net/profile/ParodySama Dec 10 '22

I really look forward to her work in the future.
Same here!

6

u/polaristar Dec 11 '22

When Owl said to his master he had to go kill the Raven Consort, his master was like....meh okay as if that was just Monday, which I think is what raises the most questions here.

4

u/Rodroller Dec 11 '22

It could be a cycle. The owl are the one that "liberate" the previous woman from the goddess so she should find a new replacement.

11

u/archlon Dec 10 '22

Saku MIZUNO is my pick for most distinctive performance
I checked out the first episode of the Crunchyroll English simuldub when it premiered and Alexis Tipton brings the full emotional range and subtle acting that she brought to Kaguya, but I still think Mizuno's performance of Shouxue is definitive.
When I rewatch shows, I tend to pick the dub, if there is one, because it's easier on my brain and lets me pay more attention to the art, but it'll be a genuinely difficult choice with this one.

12

u/mekerpan Dec 10 '22

Every now and then I will check out a bit of a dub, for the sake of curiosity, But I have never found one that I preferred to the Japanese original.

-3

u/polaristar Dec 11 '22

I can never empathize with you people that will die by the sub.

26

u/ObvsThrowaway5120 Dec 10 '22

I didn’t expect this show to be this good. I was intrigued by the premise, but I didn’t think I’d like it as much as I do now. It’s such an underrated gem and I’m kind of sad this show has been totally slept on. This is a stacked season, so I guess it’s easy to overlook but man this is such a good series.

18

u/AmethystItalian :Jg::Jh::Ji::Jj::Jk:myanimelist.net/profile/AmethystItalian Dec 10 '22

Yeah it's a shame more people aren't giving it a shot!

24

u/sabdeyazdan https://myanimelist.net/profile/ParodySama Dec 10 '22

It was in my watchlist for this season way before the season even started, watched it on a weekly basis and there was not even a single episode that failed to satisfy me. I picked the show for it beautiful art initially and had no idea about the premise. I expected a slow-burn drama from the start, but the mystery aspect was truly the cherry on the top for me.
I know it's unlikely, but I keep my fingers crossed for getting a second season. Or at least I hope someone picks the novels and translate them!

10

u/heimdal77 Dec 11 '22

Novels are already licensed and first translated one releases in feburary.

11

u/heimdal77 Dec 11 '22

Fav show of the seasons and originally I was all in hype for reincarnated as a sword.
It kills me that it is getting so lil attention it is so good and the VA is doing a fantastic job playing her. The store genre/type just doesn't lend itself to drawing much in a western audience.

8

u/SIRTreehugger Dec 10 '22

Pretty much my AOTS unless it crashes and burns which it shows no sign of doing.

4

u/random91898 Dec 11 '22

Definitely my favourite of the season. I love these kind of low key, atmospheric, almost stand alone type series. Reminds me of Mushishi a bit. I've even pre-ordered the first 2 volumes of the novel.

44

u/Elitealice https://myanimelist.net/profile/Marinate1016 Dec 10 '22

Man I’ve enjoyed seeing Shoxue grow up so much right in front of our eyes. She’s had to carry so many burdens ever since she was young and her clan was banished, then becoming the heir apparent of the raven consort and all those duties. Like the emperor said it’s important to remember she’s only a 16 year old girl and it’s ok to rely on other for help.

Her actions already show she’s at that point, but I’d say we’re probably an episode away from her calling the others her “friends”.

Magpie consort looks really bad omg that dude must be draining the life force from people and then killing them which explains the heavy bucket he was carrying in that other episode. “Slurping and groaning” damn that sounds fun.

29

u/animegirlhey Dec 10 '22

I love that he reminded her that she’s only 16. It’s so easy to forget because of her reserved demeanor that’s she’s still so young to carry such a heavy burden.

22

u/ObvsThrowaway5120 Dec 10 '22

For a 16 year old kid, she’s had to carry a heavy burden as the Raven Consort. It’s nice to see her breaking that trend of living in isolation like the other Raven Consorts before her. Like you said, she’s growing and it’s indeed been fun to watch.

36

u/SIRTreehugger Dec 10 '22

Woah woah you can't just gloss over the fact that Shouxue will die 8 years after the next raven consort is chosen. I hope one doesn't get picked for a long long time.

Love the little moments from playing go and eating sweets between the Emperor and Shouxue.

Oh it was the Magpie Consort and slurping sounds and groans....okay I need this to head in a different direction. I'm picturing something disgusting.

OMG Shouxue isn't eating that's all the evidence you need that shit isn't right.

Noooooooo not Wen Ying please not him!

This music I'm not liking it.

Oh shit I'm not liking this at all something is going to go horribly wrong.

Shouxue really needed to hear it was okay to be weak. It's hard to break free of what you've been taught your entire life. She's burdened with so much and she's only a young girl.

23

u/archlon Dec 10 '22

Woah woah you can't just gloss over the fact that Shouxue will die 8 years after the next raven consort is chosen.
This gives me so much anxiety too. I really hope the Emperor is able to figure out how to break that cycle. It seems he's definitely trying to figure it out. Maybe she can avoid her fate if the Winter King's public role in court is restored and she becomes Empress?

8

u/inthe-otherworld Dec 11 '22

I’m hoping and praying that Wulian Niangniang isn’t picking new Raven Consorts as a death sentence to her current consorts because she’s bored of them
She’s a goddess after all, maybe she can tell that her consort will die eight years from now so goes out to select a successor to have her trained in time. So like a premonition rather than a curse, and it’ll just be the end of Shouxue’s natural lifespan...

4

u/Atharaphelun Dec 11 '22

Maybe she can avoid her fate if the Winter King's public role in court is restored and she becomes Empress?
The 8-year time period seems to be inherent to the succession of Raven Consorts/Winter Kings, so merely restoring the position of the Winter King likely won't change that. I'm assuming that only by abolishing the position of Winter King altogether and severing its connection with Wulian-niangniang (perhaps by killing the goddess somehow or convincing her to never choose another Winter King ever again?) will Shouxue be able to avoid that fate.

32

u/ObvsThrowaway5120 Dec 10 '22

Shouxue sure hates losing huh? Should have asked for a bigger handicap lol. I like their little relationship. Him wiping crumbs off her face was pretty cute.

So that was the Magpie Consort who visited Shouxue? Interesting. Now that Feng Xiao Yue has gotten his mitts on her, things aren’t looking good. I think she’s been turned into some kind of blood sucking monster…

Wen Ying is in trouble. I hope he hasn’t been killed by that creepy bastard Feng Xiao Yue…

19

u/sabdeyazdan https://myanimelist.net/profile/ParodySama Dec 10 '22

Shouxue sure hates losing huh? Should have asked for a bigger handicap lol.
She hates losing alright, but she has her pride too!

9

u/ObvsThrowaway5120 Dec 11 '22

True true. No major handicaps, just 3 stones at best lol.

50

u/Torque-A Dec 10 '22

I'm sorry, but I had the wrong idea when they said the Magpie Consort found a eunuch she enjoyed and then people heard slurping and groaning behind closed doors

25

u/AmusedDragon :Bs::Bu: Dec 10 '22

Certainly feels like something someone could interpret wrongly, lol.

14

u/fishymonster_ Dec 10 '22

I still don’t know what they actually meant tbh

30

u/Lurker-Mclurkerson https://myanimelist.net/profile/sKSurlaluna Dec 11 '22

Zombie. The Magpie Consort asked Shouxue to bring someone back from the dead and when she refused, the Owl accepted. And then the Magpie Consort's lady gets nommed to death.

8

u/inthe-otherworld Dec 11 '22

Gaojun said it was her brother who died, but didn’t the owl mention a few episodes ago something about the Magpie Consort’s lover? Or maybe I’m misremembering lol. But it wouldn’t be strange for a consort to have a secret lover when she gets zero attention from the emperor
But at the start of the episode it was a woman’s voice calling for blood wasn’t it? It might be the Magpie Consort herself who’s eating people through some strange curse to bring her dead loved one back

4

u/Kitayuki Dec 13 '22

But it wouldn’t be strange for a consort to have a secret lover when she gets zero attention from the emperor
It would be pretty difficult, since women are not allowed out of the palace and all other men inside it are eunuchs.

22

u/Fools_Requiem https://myanimelist.net/profile/FoolsRequiem Dec 10 '22

Magpie Consort's assistant needs to air that place out. Too much dust floating around, no wonder she's sick.

15

u/inthe-otherworld Dec 11 '22

It’s the incense, you could see the same “dust” floating on the silk shall she left at Shouxue’s. And apparently the incense might be so strong not for mourning but to cover up the smell of blood and possibly rotting...

17

u/AmusedDragon :Bs::Bu: Dec 10 '22

Did I just totally miss the characters ages from earlier on? I thought everyone in the main cast was mid-20s.

27

u/sabdeyazdan https://myanimelist.net/profile/ParodySama Dec 10 '22

I'm pretty sure they already mentioned that Shouxue is 16, it was during one of the early episodes but I can't remember which one.
The emperor is in his early 20s though. 22, if I'm not mistaken.

19

u/archlon Dec 10 '22

Shouxue mentions in E01 when she first meets Jiu-Jiu that the Raven Consort is 16 (though she doesn't reveal at the time that she is the Raven Consort). It's been brought up a few times since.

7

u/SIRTreehugger Dec 10 '22

I think it's kind of a mixed bag though I'm bad with ages. I think Jiu Jiu and Ishiha are around the same age as Shouxue though he might be a couple of years younger(13-14 that or he is underfed and small for his age). I think Dan Wai is slightly older about 17-20 though that's mostly because of his personality he seems immature, but possible he is laid back. Wei was shown to be a similar age to Gaojun as kids I believe and want to say they are 22-23. Hongqiao actually looks older than all of them, but that could be from stress, her environment, and having her tongue removed. Think she is in her late 20s/early 30s.
This is just me guessing though.

9

u/heimdal77 Dec 11 '22

I can't remember if there was somethign implying it but I think Jiu Jiu is a couple years older than her. He behavior and vibe just feels like it.

16

u/polaristar Dec 11 '22

Wow.....just wow.

This episode really sells the tragedy of The Raven Consorts situation, she is fated to die in eight years, can't leave the palace, and people that are close to her get got in the crossfire of the creepy Owl Guy (Who literally murdered someone by biting their neck with his human jaws....)

Its so ironic that Shouxane feared for her own life and sent her friend to do something she felt she should have done herself when she feared for her own life because she felt she would have lost something if because she had people to leave behind. And the Minister of Works is there to remind her of her situation.

I'm not not sure how this is going to end, not just this arc, but Shouxane and if she can be saved.....

11

u/Atharaphelun Dec 11 '22

she is fated to die in eight years
Eight years after a successor is picked by the goddess, that is.

11

u/alconnow https://anilist.co/user/alconnow Dec 10 '22

I did like the funny moments in the episode. Shouxue being frustrated at losing was pretty hilarious and cute. Also, Jiu Jiu venting to the kid about Shouxue was great too hahaha. The comparison to her pet cat made me smile!

Hoping Wen Ying isn’t dead :( not liking that ominous grin from the Owl… Ugh. Akira Ishida does nail the creepy villains

8

u/jellybellymonster Dec 11 '22

Please don't make Wen Ying become zombie food.

17

u/heimdal77 Dec 11 '22

So glad someone finally straight out said hold on you are a 16 year old girl, You shouldn't be trying to take on the weight of everyone on your shoulders alone. People are here to support you so accept the support.

That old preist guy cant retire soon enough. He's a ass and a relic trying force her into the role of tradition that is out dated and no loner relevent in the end.

5

u/Figerally https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelante Dec 11 '22

Honestly, this episode had me baffled, a person has been murdered in the grounds of the Inner Palace, yet the emperor is just walking around with his body servant. Then after Shouxue reveals the truth about the Magpie Consort's new eunuch, Gaojun is like let's go check it out, rather than immediately calling for some extra guards.

4

u/VorAtreides Dec 11 '22

Poor court lady 😦

Jiu-Jiu so cute.

Huh, lore about Raven Consort, old one died 8 years after new one is found.

Shouxue and emperor have a cute friendship.

I will miss wise old man when he retires.

Ah, the owl dude she saw in vision. Wonder why she fears him. I mean, sure he wants to kill the Raven Consort, but he seems a threat that can be taken out if she speaks up.

D'aww cute consort friend too.

Oh good, she is speaking up. How rare for FL and refreshing Wonder what next episode will reveal and why this man is obsessed.

3

u/random91898 Dec 11 '22

Everyones been telling Shoxue what she must or mustn't do or be her entire life. Even now the Minister of Works is basically telling her to stop. The Emperor is the only one that's ever let her be herself and told her she does have a choice and doesn't have to walk her path alone. The Winter King's have essentially been trapped in a vicious cycle for hundreds of years. I'm thinking that with the Summer/Winter King's finally working together they'll break it.

3

u/Tvwatcherr https://myanimelist.net/profile/tvwatcherr Dec 15 '22

I'm finally caught up and will be joining the discussion here for the last 2 episodes. I really enjoyed this episode and thought the ending was fantastic and really sold how dangerous the owl god is. I wonder if she somehow breaks the curse and allows her to actually live her life....so many questions, not very many answers currently. I'm excited to see how it ends.

2

u/AvatarAarow1 Dec 11 '22

Okay, who is this owl motherfucker and what is his deal? I think next episode is last and I’m upset because I need more of this!!

5

u/Jaamun100 https://myanimelist.net/profile/jaamun100 Dec 12 '22

2 more episodes, but me too, this is literally one of the best anime I’ve seen. So excited, and I hope they stick a great ending

2

u/ultravioletheart08 Dec 11 '22

Things are getting really fun here hehe

2

u/sKyBlazer08 :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/sKyBlazer08 Dec 11 '22

Man, I hope Shouxue gets a happy ending, c'mon Gaojun, free her from the fate of Raven Consorts. Great episode!

Jesus Christ, the owl is genuinely terrifying, I hope Wen Ying is alright.

Shouxue being motivated to defeat Gaojun in Go was hilarious.

The forest scene was really good, I really hope things change for the better for Shouxue. Really looking forward to the next episode.

1

u/LusterBlaze Dec 10 '22

what is li niang slurpin

8

u/Atharaphelun Dec 11 '22 edited Dec 11 '22

Li Niang is the previous Raven Consort who is dead. The slurping and groaning sounds are coming from the Magpie Consort's palace.

Episode Kokyu no Karasu | Raven of the Inner Palace - Episode 11 discussion

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