Well then, wow. That was a really good episode. Again makes me wish they had directed it like this since the first series. So we have Watanagashi set-up, Ooishi's appearance, Hanyuu's first appearance to!, and a re-do of the basketball match with Kameda and KOOL Keiichi. Along with lots of Rika and Satoko.

I've never had much to say about Rika and Satoko either... This episode was the first to really make me feel bad for them. I think it's just that this series is being done much better, as now it took only one episode to get me attached to the two. They never showed just how much Satoko was looked down on by the towns people, and how her treatment is contrasted with Rika, who's treated like everyone's precious child.

Rika doesn't like that treatment, and it obviously makes Satoko feel a bit uneasy. I'm glad they both have lots of friends who treat them both normally, and it seems like only most of the adults go by this way of treating the two of them.

I'm pretty shocked at how things went with Rika telling Satoko that she's going to be killed. I didn't think she'd even go that far, but then I got so annoyed when she acted like she said nothing in front of the whole gang. But then at the end of the episode she just decided to tell Satoko it's too late and she can't do anything anyways? Guess that's where the title of the episode came from. 本当にもう無力ですか? 何も出来ないのですか? 遅すぎですの?

Rika just really hit me in the heart, this is just so depressing. But I guess there's nothing to be hopeful for until Minagoroshi and Matsuribayashi, but that still doesn't change how sad this chapter will probably turn out...

Hanyuu makes her first appearance and Satoko finds out Rika is going to be killed shortly after the Watanagashi festival. She consults the others about Rika's impending doom and they initially don't believe her. Satoko catches Rika talking to Hanyuu again and Rika tells Satoko that there's nothing that can be done to stop her death.

The episode starts with keiichi and friends (without satoko and rika), checking the preparations of the festival. Everyone ask keiichi for help, since he is a grown up MAN, but he is quite embarassed.

Ooishi pops up, but in this chapter, the major "hate" of the villagers is much more visible, and Ooishi really sounds much more sarcastic and suspicious towards others.

he then leaves, and the mood is back to normal. cute scene between rika and rena ^^
but rika is still really gloomy at some times.

later on, Satoko and Rika buy some food... unfortunately, people stares coldly at satoko, and the butcher also ignore her. Rika then gets a bit angry, raises her voice, repeating what satoko asked : some meat. The butcher change his tone, but doesn't really look like apologizing to satoko.

Rika has a flashback how the Houjou were treated during the Dam War. basically, every villagers treated the Houjou as Traitors and they should die.
Rika is helpless and powerless, she can't stop the mob. Rika also tried to ask to Mion to stop this, but Mion is unable to fix the problem.

Back to the present, Satoko drops her purse, but no one flinch a movement. The women around start to pickup the coins when rika begins to do so.

At night, satoko is sleeping, while rika is once again under her "black rika mode", staring at the moon.

Next day, the group (minus keiichi) is encountering a Baseball match. But the oppenent are quite strong, especially Kameda, a Pincher of the national championship, Koushien.
Everything seem desperate, Mion get strike out.

Satoko has a plan, and ask help for keiichi, but tricked him.
Irie has hard time to delay the match pause. Satoko is able to interest the reporters with her great speech.
Keiichi is rushing like a madman, but he is wielding a iron club, which create a rather awkward situation :heh:

Keiichi finally take the batter slot, but he is unable to strike back kameda's balls.
Things are ugly, but satoko still think they have their chances, especially with her plan


Keiichi talks with Kameda, and ask him to let them win. of course, he doesn't want to, but keiichi found his weakness about his fetish of desserts.
Things get completely crazy, and Keiichi compare the desserts (cream, fruits etc) with gorgeous and pretty girls, and nail completely the point, Kameda is in wreck, being bursted with his sinful and hentai fetish and wants to die.
Keiichi punches him, telling to not proceed of course. Kameda then laments that he is a pervert... Keiichi confirm he is a pervert. but he makes his big speech and smile, assuring him that MEN ARE PERVERT and there is NOTHING wrong with this, he should be proud and enjoy what he likes.

Then keiichi finishes him off, by showing to kameda 2 desserts fest for the angel mort. Kameda finally accept his condition, completely touched.
Keiichi is delighted, and everything are set. he is counting on Kameda. The later then asks his name. Keiichi answers with his KOOL answer : K
Kameda is completely reverring keiichi :heh:

Everyone cheer keiichi up, except rika who is again depressed and gloomy. Satoko asks her to do so as well. Rika then thinks it is okay and she should enjoy the "fun time" when she still can do...



At night, Satoko and Rika are home, and satoko begins to boats about her plan. Rika cuts herself, and satoko worries a lot about her.
Then satoko believes it is because of her that rika is depressed (because of the afternoon). Rika assures it isn't the case, she shouldn't worry about her and that she just screwed up a bit.

Later on the night, "black rika" says that in the end, nothing change and that fate cannot be undone.
A voice then argue with her, a bit embarassed and sad. Hanyuu on the way with "auauauau" ^^
Rika says that she will die again, like usual. It doesn't please hanyuu, but rika then says that argues what she can do.

Hanyuu is sad about what rika said, and believes that if she can withstand again, there will be a world when things will be right. but rika asks when. Hanyuu answers that she shouldn't give up, but rika then raises her voice, asking what will happen then?
Satoko wakes up, and sees rika alone, saying "i must wait and being killed again?"

Satoko asks who she was talking to. Rika replies they are only both alone, but under her Black Rika mode.
Satoko heard that someone will be killed, but ask who. Rika answers that it will be her, soon after the watanagashi festival. and that there is nothing they can do to prevent this fate.


Satoko suddenly wakes up, it is morning.
Rika is preparing the breakfast. Satoko then asks rika to confirm their discussion at night about her being killed around the festival. Rika assures her that it was only a dream.

Back at school, another game, where Satoko has obviously lay some traps. Keiichi and Rena are judging the situation, but Keiichi believes that the obvious "traps" are in fact decoy, and they should be sure. Keiichi yells that he discovered her pattern and rush at her. However, as soon as keiichi steps on a pile of hay, it is revealed that it is INDEED a trap, a pit trap to be accurate, filled with mud. Everyone laugh at keiichi, but suddenly, rika rush at satoko and fell also in an obvious pit trapp. Everyone are surprised that rika could fell for this kind of trap that only keiichi would.

Later then, satoko talks with everyone except Rika, and talks about what last night and her discussion of rika being killed. Everyone are surprised and wonder how it can be possible, especially that Rika would be protected by anyone, since she is the reincarnation of Oyashiro-sama. Then rika enters in the room and asks what they are doing. Satoko then directly asks her again to confirm what she has heard last night. Again, rika assures her that she didn't say this and this is problably satoko's dream.
Everyone are then relieved, and think that it was satoko's imagination, but she doesn't buy it at all.

Rika is then alone, outside where "old rena was in reunion", once again talking with nanyuu with her black rika mode.
Hanyuu wonders why she doesn't say the truth to satoko, but Rika doesn't want her to be involved, especially she is the target of various horrible things. Rika then says that she is alone and will die, because it is her fate.

At night, satoko wakes up again, and see "black rika" at the window, and think it was definitely not a dream.
Rika tells her that she can't do anything, and that they don't have the time to do anything...

There were many episodic scenes included which were not shown in the previous season, which I believe are a drastic improvement on the part of the anime staff to "undo the misunderstandings" which they thought were unnecessary from the original story.

Yes at first these subtle things such as the ostracization of Satoko from the Hinamizawa community and Kameda's appearance look to be redundant and insignificant. But these portray a vital role in the background of the characters - i.e. without Kameda's scene, one cannot portray K's elegant speeches.

And we finally see a glimpse of Hanyuu (a shadow - but at least we can now hear "au au au" voiced by Hoccha!!). Hopefully she'll make an astral physical appearance by the next episode.

I wonder how many fans of Satoko will arise out of this episode? She was definitely moe in this spectacular episode.

I guess it would actually be pretty weird if they went along that line...since there's still Minagoroshi/Matsuribayashi-hen to come

haha...the "au au au" did me in XD how very cute :3
so this is where the events begin...satoko finding out more than she should but this is all due to rika's fault if you think about it...its really ilogical to tell someone you love that you are going to die and then the next day to pretend that nothing has happened...its cruel to satoko when everyone thinks she is lying when in actual fact she isnt ~ and being a higurashi noob i can only look forwards to more surprises :)
kenichi and that guy was really weird...cakes...yea :uhoh:

Its like playing where is Wald...err..."Au Au Au"

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/7...3774708ux2.jpg

That was so very sneaky and so very awesome how they did that, I didn't even notice it on my first time through the subs. It while I was surfing on /a/ that I saw this and nearly fell out of my chair because of how cool it was, and combined how stupid I felt for not paying more attention. This opens up some many new theories for me to think about now that I know for sure that Hanyuu is invisible to everyone (except Rika I'm guessing, right?). I sort of figured this from the tips but I'm glad that I got it confirmed.

A breakthrough has been made in this episode when Rika revealed part of her secrets to Satoko, who then told the others. Although it seems that at current point no one else other than Satoko believes her, it will be interesting to see what Satoko would do about it. Would this be a chance to highlight the bond between Satoko and Rika?

Hanyuu makes her first (audio) appearance! :D She sounded too hopeful for me though. In the original game she sees things in a more negative way. It was Rika who was desperately grasping on what small hope she had and fought on.

Even though the focus of the episode was supposed to be the baseball match, strangely I found my favourite scene to be the one when they showed Satoko's treatment by the rest of the Hinamizawa community. That scene really stepped behind the curtains and gave us some insight to the other side of Hinamizawa