Forum - View topicDark Gathering (TV).
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Harleyquin
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#7
Surprisingly, this week's episode reverted back to the template set in episode one. There is a twist midway, but ultimately I thought the episode wasn't as strong as last week even though this week's wraith is much more cunning than the ones caught by Yayoi to date. Tunnels are yet another rich vein for Japanese horror stories to mine, even more so for this week as it appears to be one of the more infamous examples with a history dating back half a century. For whatever reason, this week's wraith makes multiple appearances depending on how victims approach the tunnel. Unfortunately for the target, it has picked the wrong victim to kill and gets caught instead after Yayoi figures out the ruse. The episode does try to close the obvious hole by granting this week's wraith the power of illusions, which has precedent back in the Bodhisattva shrine episode. Even then, I thought Yayoi would have realised it quicker as she's previously carried sacrificial dolls which take hits for Keitarou when he's in peril, like the self-immolation episode. I'm assuming Keitarou lives with both his parents, and that the one who answered the door was his mother who was still awake. There's no indication to suggest Keitarou is part of a one-parent household, but it shouldn't matter much as his parents do not appear to be too bothered about his predicament the same way his grandmother is. Keitarou might die from embarrassment if others found out about his relationship with Eiko and what she's done with his declaration. But the alternative of him founding out what she's really like or breaking off the relationship would be far worse for him given what she's capable of. Now throw in the added complication of the final major cast member featured prominently in the OP and ED, and one starts to wonder if Keitarou will be able to withstand hostile wraiths and a deranged girlfriend with his sanity and health intact before the adaptation finishes. |
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Blood-
 Bargain Hunter Posts: 23834 |
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Given that there are currently 13 Japanese manga volumes and given that a major character is being intro'd two-thirds into the cours, I think we can safely assume that Yayoi's mother will not be saved nor the curse on Eiko and Keitaro lifted by the end of this instalment. I am looking forward to meeting Blondie. No doubt poor Keitaro is about to be saddled with yet another spirit-obsessed female who will be dragging him into more horrifying encounters.
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Harleyquin
Posts: 2877 |
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#8
Kamiyo Ai is formally introduced at last, and the creator has taken great pains to describe what situation she's in as even her name 神代愛依 has significance (particularly the surname given what she's described about her lineage). At first glance, she seems to be a typical happy-go-lucky high school student trying to enjoy life to the full. But when her background is revealed it's tragic how she's literally on a timer before she disappears for good (quite literally 神隠し, as the god who's engaged to her against her will is intent on carrying her off from the mortal realm when she's reached adulthood). I didn't watch Oshi no Ko, but I've noticed the similarities between this Ai and the one in that franchise (the stars in the eyes, the personality, the character design etc.). I haven't bothered checking, but it wouldn't surprise me if this series came after Oshi no Ko in print. Beyond the superficial similarities, their backgrounds could not be more different so no potential litigation issues regarding plagiarism. This is also the first multi-episode arc of this adaptation, as Yayoi is up against something quite different from her usual prey. It's strong enough to break through the spirit-fuelled prison she normally employs against her targets, and because it's not her usual fare some of the tactics she would successfully employ against wraiths don't work at all (Keitarou's grandmother would have the specialist knowledge, but she wouldn't take Ai's matter on either because Shinto personnel do not usually take on cases which pit themselves against the Shinto Gods). One question which remains unanswered: why did the God attached to Ai not rid itself of the meddlesome older brother if it knew what was going to happen? It certainly has no issues as far as spiritual restraints are concerned, so it could easily have devoured or annihilated the brother's spirit quite easily. Perhaps it's because they were the same bloodline and the unwritten rule was to not interfere with the family's passing into the afterlife (49 days is the standard Buddhist length of time before lingering spirits like Ai's brother pass on naturally, also exposited by Yayoi in previous episodes). I'm not sure this will be answered, as the spotlight is on other more pressing matters at hand. While the main cast remains in Ai's apartment, Yayoi's knowledge and skills WILL apply as it seems "big fish" have already arrived drawn to Ai's presence. Yayoi will happily take them on if it means the powerful wraith can be bound to her service, but it's going to be tough as she has to keep Keitarou and the others safe while she goes to work. This should be interesting, as the short-term goal of getting Ai and the others out safely could be achieved but the medium and long-term goal of breaking Ai's engagement might remain out of reach despite Yayoi's best efforts. How she goes about this is going to make for good viewing for the remaining weeks. |
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Blood-
Bargain Hunter Posts: 23834 |
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Not according to the ANN Encyclopedia. The first volume of the Dark Gathering manga was released on 19-06-04 whereas the first chapter of Oshi no Ko was released on 20-04-23. I was pleasantly surprised to see my assumption that Keitaro was going to be afflicted with another spirit-loving female was wrong. It was almost touching to see Keitaro's relief that Ai was having a "normal" reaction to spirits. However, it certainly doesn't look like getting married to a God will be much fun... unless you're the type of person who thinks having your intestines chewed on is fun. Which you're probably not. |
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Harleyquin
Posts: 2877 |
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#9
This is comfortably the longest story arc to date, and it is increasingly unlikely that this arc is the reason why the animators agreed to do two straight quarters instead of just one or splitting the adaptations up. Although not directly related to the main story (Yayoi and her main target), if Yayoi and company succeed in taking down Ai's god they'll have a powerful weapon in their arsenal for the showdown to come. I thought the bridge episode was a good watch, this one is even better both in its execution and the sheer viciousness of Yayoi's reaction. This week's serial killer wraith is very much like the bridge group and the suicide group possessor; it's been around for so long it has a modus operandi and a group of willing victims it exploits to get its way. Keitarou is very fortunate he has Yayoi around with her sacrificial dolls; he would have died straight away had the wraith succeeded in the bathroom. The series has already established wraiths in this franchise are perfectly capable of interacting with the physical world, but this is the first case where the wraith actually prefers to kill its victims directly instead of relying on passive methods. Yayoi's reaction to its scheme is typical of what we've seen of her this season, but it's interesting to note Keitarou had to fill her in on what really happened to the victims. His Sight is more attuned to victims than hers is so he can fill her in quickly when targets don't respond to her queries. Although the silliness of her movements jars with the general atmosphere, they got the job done and Yayoi's powerful "graduate" allows the Wraith Eats Wraith rule to run its natural course. I remember reading an urban legend about Japan's "Spirit Corridors", and Yayoi's solution to Ai's apartment is very different from the standard story template. Instead of finding ways to divert wandering spirits from apartments which happen to be Corridors, Yayoi's solution is to quite literally use this week's victim as an undying "Stop" sign to deter curious onlookers. It's not a permanent solution as the four victims will eventually satisfy their pent-up hatred and misery on their one-time oppressor, but it's more likely Ai will no longer be the resident for that apartment when that happens and it'll be the landlord's headache to deal with. It might not even come to that, since Yayoi might have convinced the four victims to concentrate on satisfying their grudges instead of wasting energy on haunting living tenants. If this is a 13-episode quarter, then the remaining airtime before the quarter ends might well be devoted to finishing Ai's story arc. If there's a spillover to next quarter, I wouldn't mind either as this current storyline looks to be extremely entertaining as Yayoi's bold challenge means she's putting herself up as collateral in the Great Gamble for Ai's life and freedom. Keitarou might be scared witless, but he's definitely all in on Yayoi's side and whether it's bait or as a support partner he will do what he has to for Yayoi's success. |
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Blood-
Bargain Hunter Posts: 23834 |
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This show is certainly inventive when it comes to imagery. I had to chuckle at the sight of brains floating like balloons with the brainstems acting as tethering strings. A question I have is: the god said he is switching targets and plans to take Yayoi in place of Ai. Does that mean Ai is off the hook? I guess will find out next week... if she still is branded by star pupils, I guess that means she's still in danger. If we go by the HiDive website, this will be a 12-episode cours.
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Harleyquin
Posts: 2877 |
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PSA: animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-08-21/kana-hanazawa-performs-dark-gathering-anime-2nd-ending-theme-song/.201469 I'm not bothered checking the exact episode count for the first quarter when I already know it's two consecutive quarters. 12 or 13 doesn't matter to me when S2 #1 is basically 13/14 when counted together with the first season. Last edited by Harleyquin on Mon Sep 04, 2023 10:11 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Blood-
Bargain Hunter Posts: 23834 |
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What I meant is that the first cours seems to be 12 episodes not the 13 episodes you speculated it might be.
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Harleyquin
Posts: 2877 |
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#10
The aftermath of last week's episode is quite low-key, since the animators have concentrated on the background exposition for once instead of highlighting the ghost battles which have bookmarked this series to date. For once, there's some in-series details I actually recognise as it appears the creator has done his homework on urban legends and has reused a lot of the tropes. Yayoi has never officially explained what she does with her room full of spirits; this episode formally clarifies it. This week also marks the first time when 蟲毒 actually works the way it should: we don't know the circumstances behind Yayoi's previous graduates but Ai's god being the catalyst for the fourth one means her room needs repopulating. She had three figures prior to the god's escape through force, now she needs to restock and at the same time capture graduate-level spirits through the country (except the Ryuukyuu islands since they can't drive there) for immediate reinforcements against Ai's god. He has not set a time limit on their duel, so they effectively have up to Ai reaching 20 years of age to finish the job. Coincidentally, the severed head of Yayoi's latest graduate is the one that shows up at the start of the ED animation. Yayoi must have done a ton of research on her own, as her "fix" for Ai's apartment actually sounds familiar, albeit with the series own twist of having the signs lead to the eternally tortured severed head and then leading the spirits out. Other ways are simply using non-violent methods to bar spirits from using a recognised passage, and after enough time has passed the message is understood and the path is abandoned. Since the franchise is moving on to the next haunt with no series summary, it's anyone's guess where the adaptation will stop as the original franchise is still ongoing. I suppose they could finish part one of Yayoi's plan and succeed with a few of the marked spots, assuming they stay alive and retain their sanity in the face of this hostile occult onslaught. This time round there's no Eiko, although she's perfectly capable of rushing to Keitarou's aid if she spots something amiss. I even recognise the next haunt chosen by Yayoi: anyone interested can go onto Youtube and look up the most haunted spots in the Greater Tokyo area and one castle ruins in particular always features in the lists. That's probably where the two of them are right now, and they've certainly picked another big fight. In real life, no one goes to that area after sundown (it's closed to visitors, it's illegal trespassing and the history of the area means no one in their right minds would do so). Looking at the trailer, I'm interested to see how much of the urban legends told outside of this show are going to feature in next week's episode. Website's reviewer must watch this as a multitask, since there's two very glaring factual errors in the review which everyone reading is just accepting willy-nilly because of mental laziness. The phone calls are the work of Yayoi's newest Graduate, not Ai's god (should be obvious from the voice, and that the calls stopped after Yayoi secured the Graduate and the door unlocked). As for Ai's brother, the big circle on the calendar in her room last episode told us the circled day was 49 days after the brother's accidental death. We know it isn't a random date, because the spirit passed on before it could finish strangling Ai as the clock struck midnight and this was specifically flagged up by Yayoi. Anyone who isn't familiar with Buddhist funeral rites can look them up in Wikipedia; 49 is a significant number for the Japanese as virtually everyone chooses a Buddhist funeral (for the possibility of reincarnation, Shinto would be one-way conversion to a spirit or God like Ai's). |
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Harleyquin
Posts: 2877 |
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#11
Well, this should be interesting. This is the biggest trial the pair have been set to date, and it looks like they'll need to do something special if they wish to survive and leave unscathed. This location has multiple wraiths, but only one of these appears to have the power they seek. Everyone else in the vicinity is bound to the location and doomed to relive the moment of their demise. The background for this episode's haunt is lifted directly from the real-life history of the location which inspired this current arc. Interested viewers can look it up for themselves; Yayoi is right when she says people visit the ruins in the daytime. Like the Bodhisattva statue from episode three, this location and its inhabitants are adept at using illusions. Protection is also breached if insufficiently strong against the myriad threats. To top it off, possession like the suicide club and bridge ghosts is also a part of the arsenal. The trailer indicates Yayoi has somehow survived, but she's also equipped with seriously powerful gear. Not only is she using her "Graduates", the finger doll she's wearing is turning her right index finger black with its curse. If they somehow find a way to face off against the powerful leader of this location, they'll have to defeat it and bend the rest of the bound wraiths to their will if they hope to escape the barrier which prevents them from leaving. Eiko can't help them, as she can't find Keitarou once her spy equipment stops working while inside the barrier. Best she can do is drive as close as possible so that she can get them back by car if they somehow complete their mission. |
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Harleyquin
Posts: 2877 |
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#12
That's quite the end to this arc, and it's the starting gun for the countrywide ghost tour the trio are about to embark on. In addition, the cursed hand means Yayoi and company are dealing with other humans with knowledge of the occult and a motive to twist wraiths for their own benefit. This episode confirms what was hinted at a few episodes ago: Yayoi's graduate was the one responsible for the mysterious phone calls, and it's so powerful it won't respond to anything except overwhelming force or resealing. Never trust online reviewers who are multi-tasking when they watch episodes. If all of Yayoi's Graduates are like this, then it's just as likely they'll lose their lives or sanity because they fail to keep their double-edged weapons in check. I had thought Yayoi's thumb puppet was turning her finger black, turns out it's wrapped onto her actual finger and the puppet's design shows it with a pouch containing an artificial black appendage. Yayoi's choice of puppets borders on the macabre at times, but there's no denying the puppet she took with her during the expedition to Ai's flat has proved its worth. I wasn't sure how the split with this week's wraith worked, but it seems grounded in conventional Shinto customs with regards to their multiple Shrines venerating the same deity. Unlike similar theories (like the Harry Potter franchise), souls in this franchise are like amoeba and can reform given enough time. This week's wraith is not secured together with the rest of Yayoi's Graduates, but she's agreed to a partnership with Yayoi (however unequal it is) in gratitude for being freed from the arm's torment. Unusually Yayoi confirms this week's wraith is no longer a Bound Spirit, which in other stories is normally bad news as they'll haunt the person or object which broke the bond with the place. This is not a problem for this franchise though. That brings Yayoi's Graduates to five by my count, so she needs two to three more before she feels ready to take on Ai's god. The old woman spirit was let go, but will it seek revenge against Yayoi for having its eye poked out? We know wraiths in this franchise aren't like humans so I doubt that eye is going to stay like that forever, but Yayoi has already made it clear she won't exorcise spirits unless she absolutely has to. If she wanted there was nothing stopping her from finishing off the old woman. Next week starts the next quarter, so new OP and EDs all round. This quarter was all right, but I'm looking forward to the new ones. |
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Harleyquin
Posts: 2877 |
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#13
The OP song remains unchanged, but the visuals have been updated for the second half of the adaptation. The ED song has been changed with another Hanazawa Kana number, and I recognise a few of the wraiths featured in it. If that's the entirety of Yayoi's arsenal for this arc, I'm looking forward to seeing what they're capable of. For a starter into the second half, this is not bad. We don't actually see what the new target is, since the whole episode revolves around Yayoi's other Graduates. The franchise borrows from urban legends as well as Onmyoudou, since Ryuumaku shows up in other works of fiction and using them as a direct current for sustaining angry wraiths is something unique to this franchise. I did not expect to meet the series equivalent of Sugimoto Saichi in this episode, but (temporarily) "releasing" him for active duty shows how determined Yayoi is at securing wraiths nationwide. Soldier wraiths being desperate for water is a common theme for ghost stories featuring modern-day Iwo Jima, and it appears wraiths from the Guadalcanal and other Pacific Theatre campaigns are just as dehydrated. Besides Ai's deity, it appears Yayoi and company are up against a nationwide network of corrupted Buddhist priests who were directly responsible for Gyouwan no Hai aka Yayoi's nemesis Kuubou. Yayoi's release and contract with the H-castle wraith has unintentionally fired the starting gun for conflict with that network, and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens when the two sides formally clash. Next week is the showdown with the Tunnel wraith proper, and I wonder what the gimmick for this arc is going to be. The show is up against fiercer competition this quarter for attention, so keeping casual viewers interested is going to be a tall order. |
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Blood-
Bargain Hunter Posts: 23834 |
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I was interested in the WW II component of the episode because the Pacific War is itself a topic of interest to me. I had to smile at the ghost's characterization of himself as the "Breakwater of the Pacific" because it reminds me that the Japanese had hoped the Allies (okay, Americans) would dash themselves against various island breakwaters but the Americans adopted an island hopping strategy that mitigated that hope. There were, to be sure, gruelling land battles but not to the extent the Japanese hoped for. As the name suggests, the Pacific War was always going to be about navy and air power and the massive industrial capability of the US was always going to ensure that that battle of attrition would be won by the Allies (okay, Americans).
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Harleyquin
Posts: 2877 |
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#14
The opening action for the next Ghost Hunt begins. I vaguely remember this story arc being based on one of the popular urban legends that has lasted the test of time in Japan for that region, so some of the characteristics appear oddly familiar. Regardless, this is another test for the main trio to overcome if they hope to stand against Ai's god. This episode confirms the powerful Graduate-level ghosts have a preference for directly harming their targets without the use of intermediaries. The brain stem ghost in Ai's flat was like this, although not as powerful as this week's target. So was the Castle Ghost. Unwitting targets who visit the site are immediately targeted once they look at the curved mirror, which changes state based on who's looking at it. It's not a twist I saw coming, but there were a few clues in the episode like the changed colour palette after Eiko was switched and the Youtuber's choice of clothing compared to the main trio (she was dressed for high summer, the main trio dress like it's a cold Spring night). Like the brain stem Wraith before it, all of the victims at the hand of this week's target appear to be cooperating with their murderer. Motivation is slightly different, since brain stem used direct coercion whereas the Youtuber appears motivated by the need to share the pain of suffering to other victims to somewhat ease their own eternal torment. Yayoi has the Youtuber temporarily restrained, so if they do overcome axe murderer how she deals with the Youtuber and other victims will serve to close out the arc. This is also the first week where Yayoi's ghosts lose to the target. The S-tunnel ghost wasn't particular strong in terms of combat ability; it was dangerous because it was devious and slippery. Unfortunately it's a bad matchup since this week's target specifically goes after young females, dead or alive. It DID buy Eiko time as it's taken the hit meant to kill Eiko first time round, so Yayoi and Keitarou can actually make it to the scene. Fortunately the target has underestimated them (like virtually all targets to date) and is anticipating extra victims to enjoy. Ghosts don't seem to be very clever, since this one hasn't realised the significance of Eiko having a wraith of her own which struck back. So long as the Axe Murderer Ghost thinks it has the upper hand, Yayoi can take advantage of its hubris and turn the tables provided they get Eiko out of the old tunnel alive and well. I wonder which of the Graduates will eventually be pitted against axe murderer. If it's last week's Graduate then it's going to be an interesting showdown. |
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Harleyquin
Posts: 2877 |
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#15
However packed this season is with shows to watch, this one has probably locked in its position as the supernatural horror showcase par excellence. There is a reason why its airtime is so late in Japan, and this is another episode that delivers in gruesome terror. I have honestly lost count of the number of times Keitarou and the others have been bailed out by their dolls; this episode had at least two counts (eyeballs, the slash attack) and it would have been worse had they failed to evade the strike aimed at their legs just after retrieving Eiko. Again it is the Graduate which bails them out, and now we see just how dangerous the Sergeant is when he's deployed for active duty. Just like the previous arc, it is Keitarou who bears the brunt of the Graduate's powers and he is lucky to escape with weight loss and dehydration. I have to question how Yayoi figures out all of their powers without having to experience them first hand the way Keitarou does; might be something to do with her sacrificial dolls playing a part if she opts for first-hand experimentation when questioning isn't enough. Yayoi made a good decision deploying the Sergeant outside of the Axe Murderer's home turf. If it was inside the tunnel, the Sergeant would have lost (and had his wish granted) as the Axe Murderer could have used his multiple victims to overwhelm the Sergeant's powers. Still a gruesome showdown, and one of the highlights of the season to date. Too bad the efforts of Yayoi and company won't be recognised as a public service, but at least she obtains a new sacrificial doll who can take hits away from her more obedient servants better suited for offence. Translation gripe: 下手したら、百年単位で苦しみ、悶え続けることになる。Second part translated as "endure burtal (sic) agony for a century or more". Strictly speaking, she means they'll bear approximately a century's worth of suffering and agony. The Sergeant proved he can deactivate his abilities at will unlike the demon priest, so if the three of them were caught in stage 3 they wouldn't be writhing around for a century at the same spot. They WOULD endure 100 years of agony in a much shorter frame of time, which would probably kill them slowly but surely after he went back to his doll. Viewers who actually bother watching the ED animation will notice there aren't many Graduate or graduate-level spirits remaining who are unidentified as of this episode. I count two, and I'm eager to see how and when they are deployed for active duty. One of the interesting questions posed by this episode is how Yayoi disposes of those paper talismans inhabiting spirits. She already says she's divided them with some going to her room, but for those bound for her temple she would have to ask Eiko to drive her somewhere. Not only that, if she's a "repeat customer" it would raise questions with the priests why a pre-school child would have so many bound wraiths to donate. I'm guessing she uses the country's temple network extensively and doesn't use a single temple or shrine more than once, and there are more than enough in Japan to accommodate her "requests". Yet another haunt to visit next week. I wonder what Eiko is thinking now that she's experienced first hand a supernatural backlash of her own (Keitarou has had so many in this series by comparison). |
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