AnimeSuki Forum - Higurashi Episode 20 Discussion / Poll

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Higurashi Episode 20 Discussion / Poll

Welcome to the discussion thread for Higurashi no Naku Koroni, Episode 20.

Thread Guidelines

No telling or asking for RAWs.
Try to keep spoilers from the Game or Manga out of the anime thread. If you need to in reply to someone with a reference to the Game / Manga, either PM them or use Spoiler tags (see example below).
Discuss your expectations of the episode if not aired.
Be polite to your fellow forum members.
Try to keep the discussion on topic and future episode spoilers out of the thread whenever possible.

Spoiler Tag Usage

Using Spoiler Tags is easy. Using this...

[spoiler=title]Don't forget to use the spoiler title[/spoiler]

....will get you this...

Spoiler for title:

ADDITIONAL RULES FOR Higurashi no Naku Koroni

Make sure you read the English wikipedia article for Higurashi no Naku Koroni before you ask questions!!!
Feel free to utilize the info on the TIPS section as a complement to this series.
Feel free to share your theories and speculations. In fact, I encourage you to do so as this is what makes this series interesting.
I am designating Sushi-Y and Freakman to lead the discussion in the correct path without spoilers as they have played the game in advance. I put confidence in them that they will recognize a member has spilled the beans too far if any other members has begun to play the game.
SPOILERS FAR ADVANCED THAN THE CURRENT AIRED ANIME EPISODE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. THIS INCLUDES THOSE IN SPOILER TAGS!!!. People tend to peek at spoiler tags; especially when they do not know such tag is meant for the episode, only to find it spilling the beans too far advanced in the game storyline.

Wow. Excellent episode...and the production quality wasn't bad, either. Almost like going back to Onikakushi's quality, I thought (though still no creepy slit-eyes...sigh). I forgot this wasn't the last episode in the arc, though, so I was pretty frustrated with where it left off...

Spoiler:

Can't wait for next episode! And to hear what the folks who've experienced the sound novel think of the adaptation this time.

The Rika scene was pretty amazing. ^__^; I can't seem to stop saying "I can't wait to read the sound novel even more now" with all these scenes... gaah.

I'm terribly happy the production value was at least... higher than last episode. I reaaally hope the next episode has some quality from the first arcs... I don't want any lessening of the greatness I know it should be.

And goodness, I just have so much difficulty in choosing the order I like characters now. The only one I can say without any doubt to be on the top of the list is Mion... but really, Rika, Rena, Shion, and Satoko are so lovable. I get the feeling I'll like Satoko more next episode? *tear* I remember the days I hated Rika... *slowly stabs self crazily*

Awesome episode. Less weird contorting faces and more cute Shion-ness.

So uh, that one part with Rika:

Spoiler:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shiosai

Awesome episode. Less weird contorting faces and more cute Shion-ness.

So uh, that one part with Rika:

Spoiler:

Oh, crap, went in knowing what was going to happen, due to the flashback from the second arc, and still got the shivers...

Spoiler:

Ugh, yeah... even though they showed that part in the second arc, it was still pretty painful to actually watch.

...but yeah, next episode with Satoko's fate is going to be even worse...

I don't know if I should post it here, but after seeing Shion and Rika fought, it reminded me of Daybreak. Anyone plays that game here? Will there be translation of the scenerios? Also anyone want to host a game so we in Animesuki can see who can pwn to most, Oyashiro Sama's style!

Another great Higurashi episode, even though my Japanese is only intermediate level and I'll have to wait for the sub to understand it fully.

Rika's metaphors in episode 7 make a lot more sense now.

The Rika/Shion scene was intense. No matter how many times I see it, I just can't get used to Rika and her knife. The syringe was also quite a tantalizing surprise. A clue for Onikakushi-hen?

I'm not sure that I buy into the idea that Rika suicides just to avoid physical pain. I think she's stronger than that. Perhaps she knows that the town will meet disaster if she is Watanagashi'ed. Or maybe she just hates the idea of not having control of her own fate, and would rather die by her own hand than allow the prophecy she made 5 years ago be fulfilled.

Just thinking about the yet unknown, but surely horrible, way Satoko will die next episode... *shudders*

Spoiler:

Shion’s case is very similar to Kecichi’s. Both of them appear to be very mistrusting, they both jump easily to conclusions, act like those conspiracy freaks – “everyone is out there to get me”, they both seem to be easily influenced by suggestions and I think what’s most important they both start to be very aggressive and have murderous intents (when talking about Keichi, I mean his situation in Onikakushi and in Tatarigoroshi). Shion believes she is very “cold and logical”, but at the same time she doesn’t have problems with believing she is followed and watched by Satoshi’s spirit, in this episode she even had a short “conversation” with him. What caused Shion to snap here? At the beginning of last episode she heard Mion ordering people to be silenced (I think it would be interpreted by ordering them to stop spreading rumors), she heard her talking about Takano and Tomitake being killed by Oyashiro-sama’s curse. Except her tone and facial expression Mion's words didn’t seem to be very ominous, but that was enough for Shion to take steps, after which there was no turning back. Other thing – old man said clearly: her Kejime was for her, uncle and Kasai, not for Satoshi. Shion is sure it was because there is no forgiving for him. But, if I remember correctly, Mion clearly said during “ceremony” that if she struggle it is possible for Satoshi to be dragged into this. Satoshi wasn’t supposed to be subjected to Shion’s punishment, because he wasn’t a part of this, he didn’t betray “family”- Kasai and uncle failed as “parts of the family” and that’s why Shion had to pay her price for them. Satoshi at worst was “get rid of” Oishi’s style – “we will protect your sister, but you have to get lost”. I think old man just failed to say clearly what he meant there. Other thing – all we know about Watanagashi’s true meaning comes from Takano, all what Shion know about it also comes from her, Shion know and believes everything, what Takano wanted her to believe, we don’t know how much of it is actually truth, Shion strongly believes that Satoshi was subjected to ritual, but was there such a ritual in the first place? I think Takano's words and notes were the main factor in awakening Shion’s paranoia and that was what Takano hoped for, when she gave her those notes. And last thing – why Rena/Mion (Onikakushi) and Rika (Meakashi) had syringe with them and why they wanted to inject something into two persons who appear to have the same disease (judging by the symptoms), also Rena and Satoshi were earlier in the same state, Rena was subjected to treatment (she attacked three other people and I believe if she wasn’t stopped, she would have killed someone in the end) and after that she had to leave town (was she given a “shot”?), Satoshi left Hinamizawa for good – did he kill himself, was killed by someone, or was forced to leave, did he went through "treatment"?- we don’t know. Keichi in Onikakushi after shot had killed Mion and Rena and after that he killed himself, which would indicate that Rena and Mion wanted to kill him. But one thing – Keichi strongly believed that this shot was the thing which killed Tomitake, what if this “medicine” doesn’t have immediate effects? As I said earlier people subjected to this “disease” seem to be very easily affected by suggestions, for example: people under hypnosis are able to do similar things to themselves if suggestion is strong enough, he might have killed himself before the medicine started to act. Ok. So my biggest question here is: why 11 year old girl went alone into rampaging psychopath’s home to give her a medicine? And why two young girls went with other rampaging psychopath and tried to inject into him medicine before the “medical squad” appeared? If this sickness I’m talking about is a part of some conspiracy, why they were left alone? Keichi was taken care of by some guys (dudes in green), but why was he left alone with girls later? Overall, I can’ty give this episode anything lower than “9”, but seriously, I waited mostly for Meakashi, but it’s one of the heaviest thing I have ever seen (Rika-chama ;_;'), kind of don’t feel like watching last episode (Satoko/Mion/Shion OTL).

Excellent. I gave it a 9/10. Could've hoped for Rika calling out to "XXXX" as she gasps, but since we're not going to Minagoroshi or Matsuribayashi, probably better to leave it out that way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wanderer

I'm not sure that I buy into the idea that Rika suicides just to avoid physical pain.

Getting warmer. But you missed a major point - how on earth would Rika know that Mion's a "torture freak?" There is silent hint there.

Quote:

Perhaps she knows that the town will meet disaster if she is Watanagashi'ed.

(Smile) Let's see what the TIPS will have to say for that after this chapter is over...

I saw the EP... I think my expectations were too high. I liked it, just wished the animation would have been better. The Rika scene freaked me out when I played the game since I forgot about the stabbing - I could imagine the people who didn't see the anime prior to playing the game even moreso, b/c it literally came out of nowhere.

I also miss Rika's screaming during her stabbing... It would have been cool, but probably waaaaaaaay too much for Public TV. I mean the stabbing is graphic enough as is.

BTW Rika stabs herself in the throat not the head ^^

My biggest complaint with the Meakashi Hen in general is, it shouldn't be 6 EPs, IMO. I mean I love the chapter (even more so then the next), but Tsumihoroboshi really needs as many EPs as it can get.

Well next EP is going to be good. The best two parts of Meakashi will be fused together for Shion and Satoko fans ^^

Satoko survives and kills K1!

er no wait

Satoshi returns with a pregnant wife!

It's interesting to watch the anime after clearing Matsuribayashi-hen and the game, it makes you feel bad for all the characters in the previous chapters. :heh:

I liked this episode, the pace was slow enough to portray the important scenes properly, especially the scene with Rika in the end there. The injection felt a little sudden though, they could've showed how Shion noticed the syringe and deducted that Rika was trying to harm her with it, before finally deciding to give Rika a "taste of her own medicine".

Next episode, the decisive scene that catapulted Satoko to the top of my favorite characters list. Also happens to be the scene that got me bawling. :(

Spoiler for this episode:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shiosai

Satoko survives and kills K1!

er no wait

Satoshi returns with a pregnant wife!

Can you IMAGINE Shion's reaction at the latter?

If a human could be an atomic bomb, it would be Shion at that moment.

And what would be even better is if it was the missing third Sonozaki triplet.

(Yes, I know she doesn't exist but I can dream can't I?)

That's more like it. I didn't think Meakashi-hen's plot development could still susprise as much as it did in this episode. Great episode which would probably had been even better had we not been spoiled a bit by the first scene of Watanagashi-hen.

Spoiler:

very good episode, the 24 minutes passed really quickly and i was on the edge of my seat the entire time. i like how the more you see, the more it blends in with earlier episodes so things make more sense. pretty clever to explain the opening clip of episode 5(? cant remember) like 15 episodes later, considering they're the same chapter.

this show's one of the few this season thats still exciting:rolleyes:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matrim

Shion seemed kind of surprised by Rika's visit, did she really invite her for that?

Rika's sudden visit wasn't planned. Shion heard the doorbell tried to use the monitor for the hidden surveillance cameras set up around the house but she couldn't figure them out so she went to the door. Shion was quite surprised to find Rika there especially what happen earlier in the day. Shion didn't want to let Rika in, but she insisted. After thinking it over, Shion thought it'll be better for Rika to come inside with her so she could keep an eye on her, rather than having Rika wander around the house while Shion was away filling the bottle.

So this invitation to drop by to get some soy sauce was not written by Shion then. Interesting. But now that I look at episode 8 it seems it wasn't sent to Rika only as my previous impression, so I guess this is not such an important issue.