Higurashi Episode 20 Discussion / Poll

[Gains]

Magnificent episode, and it's funny to see Shion's actual situation when she called K1 (annoyed and mocking him)

Spoiler for the substance:

Why is it that the "recipient" of the injection has to attack their throats? Tomitake clawed his throat (in the TIPS it's been said that there is a suspicion of substance use), K1 did that too (I actually thought that the syringe in the penalty game was a marker, but this episode shocked me by giving the actual injection), and finally Rika stabbed herself in the neck.

Can't wait to see Satoko in fun-fun underground torture chamber (maybe)...this might be one of the things that will break Mion....

[Deathkillz]

HOLY HELL...this eps blew me off my chair >.<
at last the truth about rika's death and why she stabbed herself...but in this case she did bring in onto herself trying to assasinate shion...but why didnt she charge at shion with the knife instead of killing herself? O.o

that onibaba got wht she deserved...a face lift at the hands of a psyco shion with a whip...
hmm so its was shion who initially tortured K1...looking forward to the next ep

Spoiler for scare me silly:

[Nork22]

Originally Posted by Sushi-Y

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.

A revelation came to me while I was sleeping.

Spoiler:

The extra "food" Shion made was actually Rika's body she hacked up and used.

[v1cious]

Originally Posted by Nork22

A revelation came to me while I was sleeping.

Spoiler:

The extra "food" Shion made was actually Rika's body she hacked up and used.

actually

Spoiler:

didn't she dump her body at the shrine?

[Nork22]

Originally Posted by v1cious

actually

Spoiler:

didn't she dump her body at the shrine?

This is Meakashi-hen. We all know she dumps both Rika and Satoko's bodies in the old "well" by the end of it.

[BakaOnna]

About Rena:

Even though I do believe most of what Keiichi saw in Onikakushi-hen are hallucinations, I still believe Rena is definitely not as innocent as she is. Let's see... we've been told by Oishi that Rena has moved away from Hinamizawa, hurt people in her school, mentioned the name Oyashiro-sama, and went back to Hinamizawa. She tells Keiichi in Onikakushi-hen that she understands what its like to be watched by Oyashiro-sama at night, and stuff about being "demoned away."

In Watanagashi-hen we find out she has super detective skills. I can't remember if she mentions anything about Oyashiro-sama. From what we've seen, I think Rena was the only one out of the group that survived in Watanagashi-hen. Oh, and Rena also seemed to have either known or found about Keiichi entering the shrine.

Then in the beginning of this arc, Rena once again tells us about Oyashiro-sama possessing her. Shion even says she would not want to cross pass with her (or something of that sort). So far, Shion, even in her crazed disillusions, still won't do anything to her, except when she mentions joking about striking a nail into her back in ep. 19. Coincidence? I think not.

Therefore, Rena. Is. One. Freaky. Girl!

That's why I think once we get into the next arc, we'll be able to compare Rena's Oyashiro-sama with Rika's Oyashiro-sama.

Something else I just remembered. Back in episode 2 or 3, Rika mentions how poison is her preference of murder weapon, slow and painful. This could mean that the syringe was filled with a poison. Plus, after Rika got injected with the syringe, she didn't look so well.

[LuckyCat]

[BakaOnna]

^ Yep, that's the one. I'm sure the animators didn't add that in just for kicks. I've noticed that whatever a character says, even if it was meant to be a joke, should always be takened seriously.

[Arimfe]

Originally Posted by Shiosai

^.....Nanodesu.....*nipa* <3

Rika is such a good girl ^^;

Originally Posted by BakaOnna

So far, Shion, even in her crazed disillusions, still won't do anything to her, except when she mentions joking about striking a nail into her back in ep. 19. Coincidence? I think not.

Rena is just awesome that way
Hopefully nothing too bad will happen to Rena, but then on the other hand I also want Rena to have more screentime....>_<

Therefore, Rena. Is. One. Freaky. Girl!

That's why I think once we get into the next arc, we'll be able to compare Rena's Oyashiro-sama with Rika's Oyashiro-sama.

ebil rena ;_;
*gets more hyped about the next arc*

[Deathkillz]

i wanna see more of rena with her machete XD yep a stand off between rena's and rika's Oyashiro-sama sounds cool

[Fishbait]

Yeah it was pretty neat they put it in there back in Episode 2. Hehe, also the fansub noticed it and put it up as a hint.

[White Manju Bun]

Wow nice catch about Rika and the poison I missed that. Also something else I found on another forum (sorry if this was posted in epi 19 thread I didnt read it) but has to do with 20 as well

Spoiler:

Ok remember when back when "Mion" kills Kei even though she's already dead...did Shion use the underground cave where she "saw" Satoshi in to get to Kei? I guess we'll find out soon enough. Also I want to know at the end of the first arc, when Kei's kills Rena and Mion, I should assume now it was Shion

dang I love this anime...

[Sinestra]

Originally Posted by Arimfe

~_~ I know, I even surprise myself sometimes...
(I also surprised all the prison guards when I escaped mental prison)
>_>
<_<
(the thing with mental prison is a joke btw...no really! I swear^^;; )
Now that I think more about it, if I woke up to something like this, Shion could probably tempt me to kiss her with that laughing face....*fears*
But then I was wondering, how the heck and where would I be kissing her.... Her mouth alone looks like it could bite off my head in 1 go....*feeeeaaaars*

AAhem....anyway, even with scaryness like that, I still can't forgive Shion for what she did to poor Rika...
Bullying Rika and making her cry at school like that is unforgiveable after all.....

Then there is only Rena left for me with high enough scary level after all
Rena....I miss ebil Rena ;_;

I wouldnt worry about where to kiss her i think you might want to check to see if your missing your spleen or a kidney when you woke up. I agree with you as much as i feel Shions pain and i do think she has been really mistreated what she did Rika really sucked. Its hard to wish death on anyone in this series plus having to watch the people die in diffrent ways in each ark is a mind Fu*k

[hcl4]

There's one little detail that Shion forgets that I'm sure is resolved in the next episode. Shion's clothes is covered in blood and you can't exactly greet someone coming over for dinner like that. I guess Shion will have enough time for a quick change in clothes before Satoko arrives. There's that and Shion didn't exactly cover Rika's body completely with newspaper and the blood stained walls doesn't help either.

[I<3killerloli's]

^ I think once Satako finds that out, it will already be too late

[Alu]

Another definite great episode, altough I assumed at first that I knew what was mostely going to take place in it.., its amazing on how some small details can realy stirr up a speculation

Spoiler for just in case:

What I belived was going to happen on this episode in fact did.., which was mostely related to Shion killing Rika.., however as I mencioned before.., alot of what lead to this realy caught me by surprise.

I thought at first it was Mion who actualy was to lure Rika to her house.., just for the purpose of later then, calling Satoko to lure her in the end; so.. needless to say that I was a bit off here

Up until now only on Himatsubushi-hen had we a clear view that there was moreto Rika then meets the eye, so what I was expecting regarding this aspect on this episode was that when the time came.., Rika herself decided to take her own life.., since she already knew she was going to die.

However this episode emphasized alot more aspects, which in fact ended up making the entire process more "compleat".

All the hints so far have lead me to belive that there definitly is something supernatural about Rika.., the possibility that she herself is the re-incarnation of Oyashiro-same seems more and more a reality to me.

On Himatsubushi-hen we saw that Rika already knew on how the curse was going to unfold.., and given certain hints on the previous arcs, I belive it is a possibility (and specialy after what happened on this episode), that she had an important part in giving the Curse its continuation.
Hence.. it is definitly even possible for the death of her Father to have been cause by her, all in favour of Oyashiro-sama's Curse.

From what we saw in this episode when Shion confronted her.., she said it herself that she as a Miko is able to speak with Oyashiro-sama.., and despite this aspect beeing mostely folklore.., this time when applied to Rika, and giving all of what she knew and said..

The only explination is that she in fact Can.., or even as I previously said IS connected in reality to Oyashiro-sama.
Something that again.., would explain on why she then attacked Shion.

On Rika's words.., the ones who would truly repent would not be influenced by the curse.., but Shion payed no attention to that.., and after acting as she did towards Rika, definitly showed us where she stod.
Hence.., why Rika then did what she did...; if she ever knew if it was realy Mion or Shion I cannot say.., however what I belive it matters, "that" person was the target.

Unfortunatly Rika was not sucessful this time(?).., however during the process a syringe contaning some sort of drug was revealed.

It seems now and judging by the way that Rika acted after beeing injected with the drug.., that it was the same or mostely the same that Jirou was infected with.., and also later on on Onikakushi-hen.. Keiichi aswell ?

So.. was Rika truly behind Jirou's death and Keiichi's final moments on the telephone cabinet ?(the events on Onikakushi-hen toke a diferent path.., and Rika would probably have a diferent opinion of Keiichi as she did on Meakashi-hen / Watanagashi-hen)

And let us not forget about her father.., which was also poisoned aswell; altough with a diferent type of drug none the less.., it realy realy seems possible that Rika was behind of what happened on these particular events.

It was a great episode in giving high-light to these possibilities.

But it didn't stay there.., it also provided another good moment on Shion's thought process regarding Satoko.

From what we can conclude now.., Shion's revenge started simply based on the people whom she belives where "behind" Oyashiro-sama's Curse legacy.., the Three houses of Hinamizawa.., but all and all she never letted go the grudge she had on Satoko.

As she herself was saying.., if a Hojou required to be sacrificed.., why not Satoshi's sister instead.., if only she who was always crying and leaning on her brother had been taken away instead..

Thus.., even after having "taken care of" the three Heads of Hinamizawa.., she toke the chance to "take care" of Satoko aswell..
And.. something that surprised me here was.. it turned out to be Satoko making the phone call..., indeed making things even more easier for Shion.

On a last note now regarding Satoshi.., is he realy indeed at the bottom of the well or is his body in the marsh ?
I was begining to think and looking back at Rena's words on Onikakushi-hen towards Keiichi.., that she was definitly also involved in the continuation of Oyashiro-sama's Curse.., as acting as a catalyst and probably even excutioner of some of the events.., hence.., I was begining to think that she was the one who was behind Satoshi's death.

However.. if Shion realy did find Satoshi at the bottom of the Sonozaki well, this theory is compleatly nulifed.
But thing is.., Shion belives she found him.., we never actualy where able to tell if it was true or not.., for as far as what we saw goes.., it could have only been Shion's "wanting to belive" that ended up giving her that notion.., and even image of Satoshi.

So currently.., I am not sure what to think.., however.., something still puzzles me.., if Satoshi wasn't taken out by Rena.., then by who..

Definitly a great episode.., definitly alot more grounds to base speculations, and definitly.. I'm starting to become as crazy as Shion trying to unveil all of this

Thanks for reading

[Bloodseeker]

Just watched episodes 13-20. I'm kinda glad that Shion turned out to be the culprit of all of the demented stuff instead of Mion. Mion's my favorite Higurashi character by far... I thought for sure that this 'chapter' was going to make me hate her enough to put her on my "good characters turned failure" list.

On that note, I know that Shion is a demented bitch and Rika is adorable ("ni pah!") and all, but I'm still kinda tempted to make that scene where Shion slapped Rika around my avatar... that just screamed avatar material. Actually, I think I will.

Edit: Meh, didn't look anywhere near as good as I thought it would...

[FatPianoBoy]

I'm thinking that "Oyashiro-sama's" voice is actually a trick by the Sonozakis. Rika never specified how or when she heard it. If she recieves it in dreams, someone whispering in her ear while she sleeps could definitely influence her dreams.

[imac2much]

Originally Posted by kj1980

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.

I remember reading this hint as I was watching ep 20, and didn't know what to make of it. But now that I know that Rika was actually tortured in Watanagashihen (and not suicide like the beginning of ep 5), it makes sense. Why did they show a scene from 5th arc at the beginning of the 2nd arc??? It just makes everything even MORE confusing than intended right? With knowledge solely from the anime, we wouldn't have been able to piece these hints together.... Now I understand DEEN leaving things out due to time, but why make entire changes like that?

[chrno_the_sinner]

Originally Posted by imac2much

I remember reading this hint as I was watching ep 20, and didn't know what to make of it. But now that I know that Rika was actually tortured in Watanagashihen (and not suicide like the beginning of ep 5), it makes sense. Why did they show a scene from 5th arc at the beginning of the 2nd arc??? It just makes everything even MORE confusing than intended right? With knowledge solely from the anime, we wouldn't have been able to piece these hints together.... Now I understand DEEN leaving things out due to time, but why make entire changes like that?

You don't find out the difference until Minagoroshi-hen, and by the time that came out, the animation for that specific section might've been finished already.