Umineko no Naku Koro ni - 18 October 30
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「episode III-VII - swindles」
Okay, totally random out of the blue post here, meant entirely for those watching this series. After watching this episode, I felt compelled to talk about a promising turn of events.
First off, let me start by saying that Umineko’s bothered me up until now with their continual use of locked room mysteries, paradoxical roundabout arguments, and acknowledgement/denial of the existence of witches. However, I didn’t mind those nearly as much as the inclusion of demons and blatant use of magic, which were really getting out of hand as of late. My main complaint about the whole Golden Witch bit is that it comes off nothing like the horror seen in Higurashi, where there was a real sense of suspense given the plausible nature of things. Aside from slaughtering all the characters and having them revived to “play again”, these two 07th Expansion series didn’t seem to have a whole lot in common. In short, Umineko felt like an anime about Clue, except with witches and magic. Pretty blah if you ask me.
Even with the end of this third arc, the witches and magic still seem to be getting out of hand, but they put a really good twist on things this time around. For that, we have to thank the introduction of Battler’s half-sister Ange Ushiromiya (Satou Rina!). Fast forward to twelve years later, where Eva (Itou Miki, a.k.a. Takano Miyo) is looking all sickly on her deathbed and Ange is demanding to know how everyone was killed on Rokkenjima. Add in the purple-haired Furude Rika lookalike witch Bernkastel (who’s also voiced by Tamura Yukari) trying to free the Ushiromiyas from reliving their final days for the past twelve years and we have the makings of Higurashi all over again, including the cast!
The whole, being locked in a hellish game for the past twelve years really put things into a similar perspective. It enlarges the scope of the problem by breaking out of the Rokkenjima/Purgatory worlds we’ve grown accustomed to. I would say it’s akin to when Higurashi revealed that they aren’t actually dealing with an Oyashiro curse, but a huge conspiracy behind the Hinamizawa disease. The lens is zoomed out so we can see the bigger picture now. We’re no longer following Battler alone in his battle against Beatrice, but Ange as well. She’s the Hanyuu of Umineko! Now this is an interesting turn of events. I’ve been quietly following this series in hopes of being pleasantly surprised and they’ve finally done that.
Speaking of twists, I was totally suckered by Virgilia (Inoue Kikuko) and Beatrice’s (Oohara Sayaka) “good witch” act to trick Battler into acknowledging the existence of witches. Despite being fooled, I still hated seeing Beatrice join the good side, especially when she started crying like I was supposed to feel sorry for her. After a few episodes of this, I just reconciled that this was the ending they were going for and went with it. Much to my shocking relief though, it turns out both Virgilia and Beatrice are still total bitches and now we can see them get beat down in their own twisted game. I take it all back, it’s way better for me to hate Beatrice! Die stupid witch, die!
The next episode marks the beginning of the fourth (and likely final) arc where the Rokkenjima cursed cycle should be broken. It looks like it’s finally time for Umineko no Naku Koro ni Kai (solution). (I’m just playing with title names if you don’t get it.)
Veldril at 6:26 am on October 30th, 2009
Next episode is the last episode of the question arc, Alliance of the Gold Witch. Umineko will have the second season like Higurashi, featuring core arc called Umineko no Naku Koro Ni Chiru (not Kai, since Ryuukishi07 doesn’t want to directly tell the solution of the mystery.)
Anonymous at 6:30 am on October 30th, 2009
You know, it’s a real utter shame none of you are blogging this since the beginning.
Rei at 6:33 am on October 30th, 2009
YES ANGE! Been waiting 18 episodes for her arrival. RINA SATOU!! Gonna bawl so much. Been looking forward for her since Umineko Motion Graphics.
Ryuukishi07 personally worked on this episode didn’t he?
divine at 6:33 am on October 30th, 2009
Veldril:
The “Kai” was just a joke on my part. Has an anime adaptation of Chiru even been confirmed?
Anonymous:
Omni had the opportunity to, but chose not to follow this series. You can bug him about it. =P
Fabio at 6:34 am on October 30th, 2009
Epic trollage was epic. :p
Alec at 6:45 am on October 30th, 2009
loved the TWIST!!!!!!! i was losing faith in this anime until i saw the 2nd half of this anime….
HJK at 7:14 am on October 30th, 2009
WTF? Ethier blog the damn anime or don’t.
divine at 7:21 am on October 30th, 2009
Hmm, I wasn’t aware there were set guidelines on what I’m allowed to write about on a blog.
So what you’re saying is that if I don’t write about a series from the very beginning, I’m never allowed to talk about it…?
Exia at 7:23 am on October 30th, 2009
I agree, I feel their is no suspense at all.
anon at 7:35 am on October 30th, 2009
I don’t know why you feel overwhelmed with all the witches, magic and stuff.
All the damn magic scenes are not real, It’s just a way to interpret things..
There’s a human solution to every case.. Witches can exist in another kakera but that doesn’t mean they’re behind the Rokkenjima serial muder case..
Anyway, this episode was fantastic.. I can’t wait for next week
Megas at 7:55 am on October 30th, 2009
I was able to take a wild guess about who did it when I-II ended. In other words, they made it simply impossible for thoughtful people to not figure it out quite easily. Bah, they even try & throw everyone off by saying Eva did it right before the truth comes out. Typical BS from a series that couldn’t hold water from the start. I’ll enjoy my hamburgers while I’m at it. The only things that was great about this series was the OP, ED, & the wicked killings - But it FAILs as any kind of suspenseful murder case.
Westlo at 8:01 am on October 30th, 2009
“My main complaint about the whole Golden Witch bit is that it comes off nothing like the horror seen in Higurashi, where there was a real sense of suspense given the plausible nature of things.”
See this is the problem.. it’s not suppose to feel anything like Higurashi.
divine at 8:02 am on October 30th, 2009
I wouldn’t say I’m overwhelmed, so much as underwhelmed by the lack of suspense from seeing everything done with magic. If I had a choice, I’d rather they hint that it may have been magic, instead of showing us demons appearing out of nowhere and talking down to the victims before killing them.
I guess I enjoy mysterious deaths over the “showing you a murder, but it may not have happened like this” approach. I’ll admit that Umineko is unique though. However, I just find myself distrusting what I’m shown instead of getting into any sort of suspenseful mood.
ewok at 8:03 am on October 30th, 2009
Suffer not the witch to live!
“Drops a detachment of Sisters of Battle on Rokkenjima”
skurai at 8:19 am on October 30th, 2009
I freaking love this series there is a lot here and from someone who has gone through the first 4 episodes and the first of the answer arc I can tell you that there is a lot to be seen, and the next one is of course the best of the first four,one
more thing
Splash at 8:34 am on October 30th, 2009
I watch the series each week but get confused with all the bullshit going on with people being murdered over and over under different circumstances each time. Just trying to make some sort of sense with this series is NOT easy.
Ushee at 8:43 am on October 30th, 2009
Diveine, have you read the visual novels for Umineko? If you liked the end to this arc I highly suggest you do read them because like any book to film or television adaptation you have to sacrifice a lot of source material so I’d love to see your thoughts on what DEEN cut out.
KT at 9:07 am on October 30th, 2009
I never saw Hirugashi (or read either’s VNs), and I think that might be one of the reasons I’m loving this show. It’s not suspenseful about the deaths really, but the suspense for me is if Battler can figure out a way to refute the story we’re being told and maintain his convictions against the narrative the witches are weaving for him. We know everone is going to die (because it’s pretty much a metaphysical murder-fuelled groundhog day) in-game because that’s the set up of the game and it’s just the order and method that changes there. Even so, every scene that doesn’t have in-game Battler in, we can assume to be completely unreliable and that’s what’s really interesting to me.
I think it’s refreshing to see a show that messes with the storytelling so overtly (I’m a big fan of Baccano! too for its structure) and so the utter curveballs it throws in your face are really enjoyable for me. This latest episode was great though, and Beato’s heelturn was brilliantly done. I can’t wait to see where this goes.
Rockmanshii at 9:12 am on October 30th, 2009
I loled hard when the Siestas sisters found out Battler’s magice resistance:It’s over 9000!!!
garfield15 at 9:14 am on October 30th, 2009
Loved your linked picture for the “total bitches” line.
“Speaking of twists, I was totally suckered by Virgilia (Inoue Kikuko) and Beatrice’s (Oohara Sayaka) “good witch” act to trick Battler into acknowledging the existence of witches.”
And you certainly weren’t the only one.