(L) RDG : Red Data Girl (Viewers waiting for HDTV broadcast)

[Mubyoshi]

It's weird, I like this show, but at the same time, don't really have any idea as to what the eff is going on.

[Triple_R]

Originally Posted by Reckoner

I think the problem is more fundamental than simply being "it hasn't been revealed yet." My problem is that I am not sure what I am supposed to be confused about. The plot keeps rushing along very rapidly at this point, and I am unsure about the questions I should even be asking. If I really slow down and take in the details, I can make sense of it, but I think the confusion for me is caused more by the rapid pacing than the story itself.

If somebody was to ask me "What's the main conflict of RDG?", I would find that extremely hard to answer with any confidence. We know that there's a conflict between the Souda triplets and Takayanagi. We know that there's a looming issue of Izumiko being possessed by some really powerful spirit/goddess that has made some rather ominous statements. We know that our main protagonists are pretty chummy with the Souda triplets, and that Takayanagi is one shady guy. It's clear who we are supposed to root for.

However, these are open questions:

1. Aside from sheer pride, what is the main motivation pushing each side of these conflicts forwards?

2. What are the actual stakes at play here? If Takayanagi succeeds, and Mayura fails, what's the consequences of that?


I agree with Haak, in that I think much of the problem is that these conflicts get filtered through the eyes of Izumiko, and Izumiko herself doesn't care much about these conflicts, so it's hard for the viewers to care. I mean, Izumiko just casually goes along, pretty laidback (bordering on passive, really), and she just ends up siding with Mayura because her and Mayura happen to be roommates and Mayura happened to be nice/friendly to her. But Izumiko doesn't strike me as all that emotionally engaged in what matters most to the Souda siblings, as Izumiko is just kind of tangentally involved. It's kind of a weird position for a lead character to be in, really. This latest episode really did feel to me like watching an ongoing conflict from the perspective of a supporting cast character.

[Endless Soul]

Originally Posted by Mubyoshi

It's weird, I like this show, but at the same time, don't really have any idea as to what the eff is going on.

My sentiments exactly. Also, I really wish the MC would wear her red glasses again.

Endless "Meganekko fetish" Soul

[kuromitsu]

Originally Posted by Triple_R

If somebody was to ask me "What's the main conflict of RDG?", I would find that extremely hard to answer with any confidence.

I'm not sure that's a bad thing, though...

Originally Posted by Triple_R

However, these are open questions:

1. Aside from sheer pride, what is the main motivation pushing each side of these conflicts forwards?

2. What are the actual stakes at play here? If Takayanagi succeeds, and Mayura fails, what's the consequences of that?

But... we already know the answers to these. They talked about them quite openly.

Mayura and Takayanagi are fighting for the world heritage candidate position, which comes with enormous benefits and power that both the winner and his/her supporting faction could find good uses for. Mayura's main motivation is Manatsu and Masumi. Takayanagi is the golden boy of the onmyouji faction.

As for the himegami - well, by her own admission she's already destroyed humanity once and she may end up doing it again, I suppose something needs to be done about that?

And as for the two story lines (Mayura vs Takayanagi, Izumiko and the himegami) running parallel, I expect the two will converge at one point. Well, they're already converging every now and then, as Takayanagi has already expressed interest in Izumiko, who was the first one to foil his trick, etc.

[Guardian Enzo]

For me, I thought the main conflict of the story has been made pretty clear since about the third of fourth episode, when Miyuki's Dad laid it out. It's true there are a lot of side stories going on simultaneously that aren't exhaustively explained early in their development, but I was OK with that.

[Arya]

Mystery is not my thing usually, so I'm not that invested in what the main conflict is (or will be, given that so far it has been put in stand-by).
In any case, on paper, I like the idea of unveiling the story through the supporting cast who supposedly are aware of the major part of the context, but less inclined to explain it to the main characters. And that happens even between Sagara toward Izumiko. So I can't blame Izumiko to be passive about her resolve finding out what's going on. She has been leaving in the dark by everyone since ever. So giving her character and her past I'm fine with that. If anything the one I'm expecting more resolve from is Sagara, but that's has not been shown yet. willingly I suppose/hope.

Anyways, it seems that the show is focusing more on characters than the story. To say, in this episode with the poor Tabi's departure they focused mostly on the twin's relationship as humans relegating the paranormal aspects in a corner (Namely what was Tabi to Manatsu? His protector? And why Mayura should have to choose Masumi instead of Manatsu? And in all of this why Masumi seemed so uncaring?
mmm, I just remembered that, about Mayura's decision, if I got it right it's because Mayura and Manatsu need to share the same feelings toward Masumi to keep him visible, sort of.
So it's understandable that people feel confused about some aspects of the show. Because these aspect has been downplayed a bit.
It's like they are trying to disguise a fantasy show within a Sol/drama show, or vice versa.

[MogMoogle1]

Spoiler for Episode 8:

So, after rewatching this episode, I guess that previous fight against Takayanagi ended with him looking like a push over is probably due to Masumi being a powerful dragon entity.

[Kanon]

Very good episode this week. It cleared up quite a few things. Manatsu has the same heart disease Masumi had and therefore might die at any time. This is the reason he thinks he won't be able to stay with Mayura forever. He believed it might be better for him to die right now to spare her even more grief later.

Masumi's true identity was revealed as well. It seems like he's a being similar to Wamiya: a god that was given human shape by the wish of the Souda siblings. He's not really the real Masumi. He even attempted to trick Izumiko into releasing him. Speaking of Wamiya, he's apparently not out of the picture. He came to Tokyo in the form of a crow and combined his powers with Miyuki's in order to protect Izumiko. His resemblance with Takayanagi was brought up, but I don't think Miyuki's "theory" is the correct one lol. I wonder if there's a deeper reason for it.

We finally met Izumiko's mom, and she is indeed pretty damn cool. Izumiko will have to work very hard if she wants to become like her.

[Random Wanderer]

Originally Posted by MogMoogle1

Spoiler for Episode 8:

So, after rewatching this episode, I guess that previous fight against Takayanagi ended with him looking like a push over is probably due to Masumi being a powerful dragon entity.

Very likely. Kuzuryuu is a creature on an entirely different level.

Masumi's true identity was revealed as well. It seems like he's a being similar to Wamiya: a god that was given human shape by the wish of the Souda siblings.

Well... technically yes... but unless there's something significant yet to be revealed about Wamiya, we're talking about creatures of an entirely different order of magnitude. Kuzuryuu is a nine-headed dragon-god from actual myths. It is an immense power. It is very unlikely that anything much weaker than the goddess could have managed to stop it. Certainly not as easily. Wamiya, as far as I can tell, was simply a local nature spirit. Certainly powerful, as such beings go, but nothing at all close to that level.

He's not really the real Masumi.

Now that's certainly true, although it's possible that even he may have thought that he was, before he met Izumiko. Since it seems that their powers shaped Kuzuryuu's dreams into that form, the being those dreams became may well have thought it was Masumi, because that's who those two wanted it to be.

We finally met Izumiko's mom, and she is indeed pretty damn cool. Izumiko will have to work very hard if she wants to become like her.

But if Izumiko becomes like her and inherits the goddess, won't humanity be destroyed? We need some clarification on this prophecy.

[zztop]

Just watched ep 8.

So did ghost Masumi ever exist, or was it all a lie perpetrated by Kuzuryuu just so he could go for a romp in the mortal realm?

[Random Wanderer]

Originally Posted by zztop

Just watched ep 8.

So did ghost Masumi ever exist, or was it all a lie perpetrated by Kuzuryuu just so he could go for a romp in the mortal realm?

Ghost Masumi never existed, but it may not exactly have been a lie, either. Just like Wamiya was shaped by Izumiko's desires, Kuzuryuu's dreaming form was shaped by the twins' desires into the being of their lost brother. It's entirely possible it even believed it was their dead brother for a long time, up until it met Izumiko and realized that she could free its true self.

In order for it to be a lie, the deception would have to be intentional, and I'm pretty certain it was not. Kuzuryuu was not trying to take on the form of Masumi. It just happened because the twins' desires and their unique power reshaped the bit of him that could reach outside the barrier into what they wanted. In essence they deceived themselves, because of how much they wanted their brother back. One can hardly blame them.

[LKK]

What I'd like to know is this. Because the goddess (i.e. Izumiko's mother) returned the dragon god to its dreaming state, does that mean that the twins can no longer see "Masumi"?

[Kakkou]

Originally Posted by LKK

What I'd like to know is this. Because the goddess (i.e. Izumiko's mother) returned the dragon god to its dreaming state, does that mean that the twins can no longer see "Masumi"?

The Goddess said that the Dragon left one of it's heads before going back in the cave, the one that they know as Masumi. Whether they'll ever see him again depends on whether the twins can summon him again (or anyone capable of summoning Masumi really).

[Random Wanderer]

From what she said they probably still could if they wanted to, but since they now know that he isn't Masumi, they may no longer be willing to call him, or be able to maintain the image of him as Masumi.

[Kanon]

Originally Posted by Random Wanderer

Well... technically yes... but unless there's something significant yet to be revealed about Wamiya, we're talking about creatures of an entirely different order of magnitude. Kuzuryuu is a nine-headed dragon-god from actual myths. It is an immense power. It is very unlikely that anything much weaker than the goddess could have managed to stop it. Certainly not as easily. Wamiya, as far as I can tell, was simply a local nature spirit. Certainly powerful, as such beings go, but nothing at all close to that level.

That's why I said similar, not the same. Kuzuryu is definitely on a whole different level.

But if Izumiko becomes like her and inherits the goddess, won't humanity be destroyed? We need some clarification on this prophecy.

I was only talking about her personality. She needs to become more aggressive and self-confident. She can do that without following in her footsteps.

[Triple_R]

I agree with Kanon. This was a very good episode. It cleared up some things, and it was probably the least confusing RDG episode since Episode 4 or so.

I also felt that this episode had some excellent dialogue, and truly gorgeous visuals (RDG is strong in general here, but this episode really went all-out in looking awesome and fantastic).

[ookamigirl]

It would be nice if the plot got a move on.
Masumi was being rational, but also a bit stubborn.
Suzuhara was pretty persistent, which was nice for a change.
Sagara was a nice surprise with the whole wings thing.
Himegami part were interesting.
I noticed that if you don't watch the episodes closely, you'll miss out in a flash.

[Kaoru Chujo]

Izumiko is the main character. Her feelings, and what happens to her, are really the only things I care about here. Destroying the human race is secondary, lol.

[Haak]

Well that finally cleared up some things between the Souda twins though now i really wish it wasn't done in such a obfuscating way. I had to watch a lot of scenes twice in order to put all the pieces together.

I still don't know what to think of Masumi being a fake all along. I don't know whether to feel sorry for the fakeMasumi since he seemed like a genuine nice guy or surprised that the twins aren't shocked by the revelation that they had been horrifically duped the entire time. They seemed to brush it off amazingly well.

But overall, I'd say the mystery worked in the show's favour this time round.

[Repelsteeltju]

Originally Posted by Repelsteeltju

So far, what's bothering me is the similarity between Manatsu and Masumi. In his first appearance Masumi looked like he looks in the OP but lately he's been appearing as Manatsu all the time and I can't help but find this ill-ominous.

I still only have a vague idea where Manatsu ends and where Masumi begins but I was right in that they were becoming one. I think. It's just that probably everyone else watching was on to that too.

[...] Or [Masumi] might be a mountain God, like Wamiya, that can take form due to [the remaining two of the triplets'] shared images of their lost brother.

Also staggeringly right in this hypotheses. Except that Masumi was a mythological being and of a higher order than Wamiya. But such details are easily overlooked by one with as limited knowledge of Japan's pantheon of gods as myself.

--

It sad that I have little else to contribute here but to pat myself on the back for predicting some of the direction but episode eight, really, nicely warped up a lot of the plot punts that it had going. And now which treads it's going to take up again are... mine's as good as anyone's guess. 'xcept That Wamiya will be making a comeback but that was basically a given seeing as he's named and prominently featured in the opening animation.