Shakugan no Shana - Spoilers & Speculation (for experienced Shanites only)

[Dark Wing]

Originally Posted by Terminator98

BTW... I never understood... why did Yuji decide to merge with the snake?

This really belong in Q&A but I guess I'll make an exception...

Spoiler for Novels:

You see there had been a few times when Yuji would have dreams where he is talking to a mirror version of himself (which was the snake) and they would have all these deep philosophical conversations about life etc. and grow to become kinda like friends.

Well after the battle with Sabrac. Yuji started to worry about how he was still unable to really protect Shana that was when the snake appeared before Yuji and told him the only way to save Shana is to stop all the fighting and the best way to do that was to "Change The Truth of The World" i.e. Rewrite Reality.

By doing this Humans would no longer be needed for food so the flame haze would no longer be needed which meant that Shana could go back to being a normal girl and wouldn't have to fight anymore. So Yuji fuses with the snake to become a new being capable of caring out this plan.

Originally Posted by Terminator98

-Yuji becoming an evil guy and he abducting Shana.

Okay I'll have to stop you right there...

Spoiler for Novels:

Yuji never really did anything "EVIL" after combining with the snake as a matter of fact it was Shana, Margery, and Wilhelmina who attacked him first he was just defending himself. Also The snake wasn't really evil to begin with he just had his own vision on how this war could be brought to an end and Yuji shared that vision.

I'll explain. Original the snake was just like Alestor part of a group of wise old flame haze guys thinking of a quick way to end the war however snake's idea about rewriting reality didn't go over very well with the rest of the team because if he messed up he could have ended up destroying the entire universe. Of course that wouldn't stop him from trying it anyway so Alestor and the others had no chose but to trap snake and seal him away.

So if anything the snake is more of a tragic character who fell from grace but ended up finding a worthy partner that shared his vision Yuji.Which in it's self is kinda sad too because when Shana asked Yuji why he merged with the snake. He replied by saying he did it so she wouldn't have to fight anymore and they could be together. Shana with tears in her eyes tells him that his confession meant everything in the world to her but he had sided with her enemy which made Yuji her enemy also and it is her duty as a Flame Haze to take him down...truly tragic indeed.

[Terminator98]

AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRHHHHHHHHHHHHHGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG G


Should've never asked.

Ok understood the things now...

The thing is, as I said, future novels will be enough? As it doesn't seem that novels are coming out quick enough...

[justavisitor]

Hi all, just finished shana 1 & 2...this series is excellent!!! (using the professor's tone XD)

Now I don't know whether I want to read the novel.....maybe it will ruin the joy of watching the possible season 3 in the future..anyway, I have 2 questions, and I hope ppl who have watched the anime and read the novel can help me out here

Spoiler for spoiler for anime and novel:

Q1) In season 1, Yuji's mom talked about the important meaning of a kiss..Does the same thing happen in the novel?

Q2) Shana and Yuji never kiss in the anime..Have they had the kiss yet in the novel?? (The newest novel is volume 18 right??)

If this first answer is a yes and the second answer is a no..then I can probably guess how Shana is going to save "Snake Yuji" (yeah, I know some plots from the novel already, but I am not sure whether I should read the novel before watching the possible season 3)

Thx in advance

[Terminator98]

If this first answer is a yes and the second answer is a no..then I can probably guess how Shana is going to save "Snake Yuji" (yeah, I know some plots from the novel already, but I am not sure whether I should read the novel before watching the possible season 3)

I am not knowledge full about the novel too, as I skipped a few chapters, but... let me tell you one thing. Shana will more likely try to kill Yuji as she is forced to being a Flame Haze, unless Yuji convinces her with some kind of... I don't know, even bigger confession or just reason with Alastor so that they stop chasing him and Snake.

And about the kiss. I don't remember it happeing. But I might see it happening soon.

[alvinkhorfire]

Look what I have obtained with my time machine: summary of the first few episodes of Season 3. Just joking, they are my speculation, so they are not real. I do realize that it is way too early to mention about the first few episodes of Season 3 as it is expected to begin in Fall 2010. Anyhow, it is just my speculation. If anyone wants to post suggestion or correct my mistakes, please feel free to do so.

I assume that Season 3 will move straight on to the content of Volume 16 without any filler. Besides that, I have referred to digger314's summary while making this speculation.

Spoiler for Speculated Summary of Episode 1:

OP: It may contain scene in which Yuji turns into a black figure.

Summary of first part: Continuing from the event during Christmas Eve, Yuji is walking, heading to either Shana or Kazumi. Suddenly, there is a voice saying: "It is the time." (The viewers have no idea of whose voice is it, later on they will know that it is the voice of Snake of The Festival") As such, Yuji is slowly disappearing. Well, both Shana and Kazumi are seen waiting for Yuji the whole night.

Summary of second part: This part shows the happening after a couple of weeks since Yuji disappeared. Everyone, except those who involve in the struggle, seems to have forgotten Yuji, just like when a torch disappears. In the last scene, Sydonay and Bel Peol are shocked to see a black figure approaching them. (At this point, the viewers still do not know who that black figure is.)

Spoiler for Speculated Summary of Episode 2:

Summary of first part: This part serves as a flashback. It is shown that Yuji starts dreaming of talking to a black mirror image of himself. (All of the necessary events that lead Yuji into merging with SotF from the Volumes 8 and 14) is shown here.) The scene moves to the present time as SotF/Yuji accepts the throne on the Seirei-den.

Summary of second part: Shana shows Margery a letter from Yuji to prove he still exists. Shana and Wilhelmina had convinced Margery to train Shana with unrestricted spells.

Spoiler for Speculated Summary of Episode 3:

OP: The black figure into which Yuji turns is revealed as Snake of The Festival Sakai Yuji.

Summary of first part: Bal Masque eliminates almost all of the most powerful Flame Haze located in east Asia. A few Bal Masque members challenge SotF. They are defeated easily but SotF praises them.

Summary of second part: Yuji returns back to Misaki City. Shana senses presence of a tomogara and goes out to follow that presence. In the last scene, Yuji meets with Shana.

Spoiler for Speculated Summary of Episode 4:

Summary: The highlight is definitely the epic fight between Sotf and Shana, Wilhelmina, Margery. This episode ends when Sotf Yuji retrieves Haridan and leaves the department store holding along Shana.

By integrating the flashback events seamlessly into the episode lineup, then the events in Volume 16 will make sense.

[Terminator98]

Too much rushed...

The ending will be there before we even know it...

[gengar]

...thankz for e spoilers
help alot... >.<

[Terminator98]

This is SPECULATION

[Triple_R]

Originally Posted by alvinkhorfire

Look what I have obtained with my time machine: summary of the first few episodes of Season 3. Just joking, they are my speculation, so they are not real. I do realize that it is way too early to mention about the first few episodes of Season 3 as it is expected to begin in Fall 2010. Anyhow, it is just my speculation. If anyone wants to post suggestion or correct my mistakes, please feel free to do so.

I assume that Season 3 will move straight on to the content of Volume 16 without any filler. Besides that, I have referred to digger314's summary while making this speculation.

Spoiler for Speculated Summary of Episode 1:

OP: It may contain scene in which Yuji turns into a black figure.

Summary of first part: Continuing from the event during Christmas Eve, Yuji is walking, heading to either Shana or Kazumi. Suddenly, there is a voice saying: "It is the time." (The viewers have no idea of whose voice is it, later on they will know that it is the voice of Snake of The Festival") As such, Yuji is slowly disappearing. Well, both Shana and Kazumi are seen waiting for Yuji the whole night.

Summary of second part: This part shows the happening after a couple of weeks since Yuji disappeared. Everyone, except those who involve in the struggle, seems to have forgotten Yuji, just like when a torch disappears. In the last scene, Sydonay and Bel Peol are shocked to see a black figure approaching them. (At this point, the viewers still do not know who that black figure is.)

Spoiler for Speculated Summary of Episode 2:

Summary of first part: This part serves as a flashback. It is shown that Yuji starts dreaming of talking to a black mirror image of himself. (All of the necessary events that lead Yuji into merging with SotF from the Volumes 8 and 14) is shown here.) The scene moves to the present time as SotF/Yuji accepts the throne on the Seirei-den.

Summary of second part: Shana shows Margery a letter from Yuji to prove he still exists. Shana and Wilhelmina had convinced Margery to train Shana with unrestricted spells.

Spoiler for Speculated Summary of Episode 3:

OP: The black figure into which Yuji turns is revealed as Snake of The Festival Sakai Yuji.

Summary of first part: Bal Masque eliminates almost all of the most powerful Flame Haze located in east Asia. A few Bal Masque members challenge SotF. They are defeated easily but SotF praises them.

Summary of second part: Yuji returns back to Misaki City. Shana senses presence of a tomogara and goes out to follow that presence. In the last scene, Yuji meets with Shana.

Spoiler for Speculated Summary of Episode 4:

Summary: The highlight is definitely the epic fight between Sotf and Shana, Wilhelmina, Margery. This episode ends when Sotf Yuji retrieves Haridan and leaves the department store holding along Shana.

By integrating the flashback events seamlessly into the episode lineup, then the events in Volume 16 will make sense.

Interesting ideas, but I think that the first two episodes will be more action-packed than this - I can't see your summaries for those two taking up a full episode with out massively decompressed storyline.

Chances are that there will be some significant anime original content, and more Hecate involvement in particular.

Also... your episode summaries fail to take your own avatar into account, if you catch my drift...

[alvinkhorfire]

Originally Posted by gengar

...thankz for e spoilers
help alot... >.<

This is just my opinion, really, so it is not real and it is not definitely spoiler.

Originally Posted by Terminator98

Too much rushed...

The ending will be there before we even know it...

Do you mind elaborate a bit more on your thought? I do not quite understand it. Are you saying that it is better to split the content of Volume 16 into six or eight episodes?

Originally Posted by Triple_R

Interesting ideas, but I think that the first two episodes will be more action-packed than this - I can't see your summaries for those two taking up a full episode with out massively decompressed storyline.

Chances are that there will be some significant anime original content, and more Hecate involvement in particular.

Also... your episode summaries fail to take your own avatar into account, if you catch my drift...

Action-packed? In my opinion, the main events are that Yuji has disappeared and the else of the gang are trying to adopt to his absence. I could not see how these events can be action-packed. It is a bit like mysterious tone in Episode 1 of Season 2. Why has Yuji disappeared?

Besides that, I did not actually post the full summary here. As a matter of fact, my "mini" summary identifies which portion of Volume 16 that goes into which episode.

Thanks for reminding me about Shana smiling in the end. Well, some people at this forum had previously discounted the importance of this scene. This scene could have no meaning at all. That is why I did not take this scene into account.

Anyhow, Triple_R, if you can somehow write your own speculation, that would be great!

[gengar]

oops sorry ...
i actually would like the anime to go aong yr speculation..
lets hope for the best then ..:X

[Terminator98]

Do you mind elaborate a bit more on your thought? I do not quite understand it. Are you saying that it is better to split the content of Volume 16 into six or eight episodes?

What I meant is, that although your speculations seem very plausible, I kinda feel it better for the "final episodes".

I kinda feel that they should add a few more things before that. (Thus, maybe GOOD fillers)

As Triple R also said, Shana smiled at the end of season 2, something that we cannot ignore, as J.C staff might keep this in account.

But maybe that they'll resume this, and Shana will see yuji coming towards her, but he'll disseapear in the process. (So we se the 2nd part, her smile turns into a face of consternation and sadness)

[Triple_R]

Originally Posted by alvinkhorfire

Anyhow, Triple_R, if you can somehow write your own speculation, that would be great!

Don't take my comments too harshly. You could be very close.

This is how I'd seriously consider doing it, if I had full creative control...

Spoiler for Fan Speculation for Episode 1:

Episode 1 - We take off exactly where the anime left off. We hear the Christmas music and see the Christmas tree. There's a distinct Christmas shopping commotion as we hear the crowds at first, but that is cut dramatically into silence, as we see Yuji's foot stepping forward into the snow. Then we get silent tension in the air - we pan from Kazumi to Shana to Yuji, back to Kazumi getting nervous to Shana starting to lose patience to Yuji deeply sighing, quick panning through their three faces over and over again until these mesmerizing blur of images is brought to a close by Shana yelling out "Hurry up and choose, Yuji!". For added comedic effect, we see the crowds start to go "Huh?" and look at a blushing embarrassed Shana, who nonetheless still has a pouty look on her face. For a brief moment, we hear the Christmas shopping commotion again, but then that fades off as we focus back on Yuji.

We see Yuji trembling a bit, and trying to firm himself. Then with one final sigh, he begins walking towards Shana. Kazumi then starts crying assuming that this means Yuji is choosing Shana. Shana starts smiling (like your avatar) as she assumes that this means that Yuji is choosing her. Then, during Yuji's walk towards Shana... we and Yuji hear a voice calling out to him (but nobody else hears it) and we get a cool video effect like the ones you see when they want to display a character in the midst of a heart attack/severe emotional stress. SotF is calling out to Yuji, and after a tense pause, Yuji says (or thinks) "I accept", and fades away. Shana goes from smiling to her eyes and mouth widening in horror. She screams out Yuji's name very loudly, while Kazumi runs towards where Yuji was just standing and dark suspenseful music reaches its crescendo. Cue the opening credits...

1st half of episode - Shana and Kazumi are in frenzied alarm, and begin searching all over for Yuji. Failing that, they decide to head after Wilhelmina and Margery for help. We go through a bunch of talking scenes, and Wilhelmina and Margery both agree to investigate the disappearance of Yuji further. We then do a slight one week or so time skip.

Cut to scenes of war between Bel Masque and Outlaw/East Asian flame hazes. Sabrac has been hired to take out Outlaw, and is back in action. Satou is trying to co-ordinate Outlaw, but his allies are outmatched by Sabrac. It looks like Satou himself might get killed by Sabrac, when... Pheles shows up.

Pheles has a bone to pick with Bel Masque, and knows that Sabrac is working for them. We see the first few minutes of a Pheles vs. Sabrac fight - anime original combat.

Commercial break

2nd half of the episode goes pretty much how you think it will. It ends on two cliff-hangers - Going back to the Pheles vs. Sabrac fight just for a minute or so to show that Pheles is on the brink of getting killed by Sabrac. Then, we get Snake of the Festival Yuji introducing himself to Bel Peol, Sydonay, Hecate, and Dantalion. At first, Yuji's identity is shrouded - but the final few moments of the scene plays very dark ominous music with a close-up of his face, right after he says something that sounds sinister. Dantalion starts laughing loudly and we cue to fade out of the episode, and the closing credits.

Spoiler for Fan Speculation for Episode 2:

Episode 2 - Pretty much what you said, except we'd also have Shana, Wilhelmina, and Margery Daw arriving to Pheles' rescue, engaging in a few minutes of explosive combat with Sabrac and other tomogara, before the antagonists all decide to make a retreat. Satou breathes a sigh of relief, while Margery Daw chastises him for getting involved in such a dangerous profession. Some nice Margery and Satou back-and-forth.

Maybe show some scenes of Hecate trying to forge a romantic relationship with Yuji due to...

1) Her Konoe memories.

2) The fact Yuji is on her side now.

3) How pleased and satisfied she was over Season 1's synchronization with Yuji.

Hecate is spurned once more, though, as Yuji reveals that his heart now belongs strictly to Shana.

If we decide to slow down the novel-based plot progression a bit, as Terminator98 would like, we could use this as a jumping off point for a deeply hurt and oddly raging Hecate going after Shana with the intent to kill her.

Spoiler for Fan speculation for episodes 3 and 4:

Hecate vs. Shana could be spread out over episodes 3 and 4 - maybe eventually dragging in secondary fights through out the city pitting the rest of Bel Masque against Wilhelmina, Pheles, and Margery Daw in order to get all the key characters taking part.

I could easily imagine Sydonay chasing after his dear Hecate to ensure that Hecate doesn't recklessly kill herself while going after Shana while in a state of romantic rage. I could also see Dantalion wanting to 'observe', for scientific purposes of course, how this fight plays out. And maybe for once, Bel Peol doesn't want to be left out of the ation.

Yuji calmly watches all of this, Aizen-style (Aizen from Bleach) from afar, trying to size up how good his new allies are.

We see Hecate about to kill a downed Shana near the end of episode 4, but Yuji finally intercedes, Evil OverLord style, and says "No, Shana is not to be killed. I'm impressed with your display of fighting prowess and power, Hecate, but Shana is the whole reason why I'm doing what I'm doing. Let us leave for now, as there's much more to plan before we take full action."

As Yuji and Hecate head off, a tearful Shana screams "Why, Yuji?! Why are you doing this?!" (or something to that extent, but maybe more Shana-esque).

Yuji turns his head around while Hecate looks sad and sour, and we catch a tense moment of a confused and hence slightly angry Shana looking into the eyes of a strangely stoic and self-assured Yuji.

"You're not ready to know that, Shana" answers Yuji, "But one day soon, you will be. With a strong heart, I look forward to that day".

And then Hecate and Yuji head off, along with the rest of a retreating Bel Masque, leaving a sad and confused Shana behind. The protagonists recompose themselves, and Shana is left wondering what this all could possibly mean. Alastor may or may not make the big, dramatic reveal based on what Shana tells him. We see Kazumi ironically trying to console Shana at the end, as the episode tries to end on a somewhat conclusive note, but obviously with some cliffhanger feel.

We could do episodes 3 and 4 like the above, or we could do it your way, alvinkhorfire. It all depends on how fast we want to get through the novel-based material.

I don't have much problem with your episodes 3 and 4 speculative summary, expect perhaps what Terminator98 is saying - it eats up the material pretty fast. But then, it would make for 4 truly outstanding episodes, if the anime original fight (for episodes 1 and 2) I'm suggesting is thrown in, imo.

What do my fellow Shanatics think?

[Terminator98]

RRR, your speculation seems less "fast" than alvin's, and you added some possible that would make the anime seems serious enough to watch. But I have a problem. Yuji... isn't as bad as that... where's the scene when Yuji says that "I'm doing all this so we can be together for ever"

Although it would be more fit for the end... I agree.

Ah, if only they had put all this in season 2 instead of having put those damn fillers.

But... Pheles showing herself to defend outlaws doesn't seem.... plausible.

[Triple_R]

Originally Posted by Terminator98

RRR, your speculation seems less "fast" than alvin's, and you added some possible that would make the anime seems serious enough to watch. But I have a problem. Yuji... isn't as bad as that... where's the scene when Yuji says that "I'm doing all this so we can be together for ever"

Well, my thinking there, is that we stave off those words (and the ensuing novel-based fight) for later. Of course, we could have Yuji say that, and still have him retreat for now, I suppose. Otherwise, there really is no other option but to go straight to the novel fight.

Although it would be more fit for the end... I agree.

Yeah, I kind of hope the 4th episode has at least a bit of a conclusive feel to it.

Ah, if only they had put all this in season 2 instead of having put those damn fillers.

But... Pheles showing herself to defend outlaws doesn't seem.... plausible.

I have to admit that Pheles vs. Sabrac is simply a fight I'd love to see. And the first two episodes of this four episode OAV is as good a time as any to have the fight, imo. Maybe we could instead have Sabrac hired to kill Pheles for some reason?

[Terminator98]

wait wait wait...


are we speaking about OVA or Season???

Because the OVAs will not cover the new novels I think, it'll just be side stories, etc, which happens when Yuji is still but a Torch.

Season will (should) be comming around fall 2010, hopefuly.

[Triple_R]

Originally Posted by Terminator98

wait wait wait...


are we speaking about OVA or Season???

Because the OVAs will not cover the new novels I think, it'll just be side stories, etc, which happens when Yuji is still but a Torch.

Season will (should) be comming around fall 2010, hopefuly.

Sorry, my mistake. I got confused there for a second.

[alvinkhorfire]

To clear any more confusion, the speculation here is for Season 3, not for 4-episode OVA. piku has made a feasible speculation for OVA, as some of you are aware of.

Terminator98

Originally Posted by Terminator98

I kinda feel that they should add a few more things before that. (Thus, maybe GOOD fillers)

Thanks for your clarification. I see your point. However, I do remember that a lot of people complain a lot during Konoe arc for Season 2 and keep on hoping that the storyline would return to the original novel material, although it may be different this time around. I do not mind fillers, as long as they do not derivate too far from the novel material. The more Shakugan no Shana episodes they can squeeze out, the better.

Originally Posted by Terminator98

Ah, if only they had put all this in season 2 instead of having put those damn fillers.

If that is so, we may not have Season 3. I do not suppose that you do not want more episodes of Shakugan no Shana?


Triple_R
Great work! I love it, especially the first half of the very first episode before the opening credits. Your speculation really does take account into the original anime content of Season 2, especially the scene when Shana is smiling. However, to do that, few key events have to be ditched. There is nothing wrong with that, just that I would like to highlight these events.

1. Shana and Kazumi are waiting for Yuji the whole night after Yuji has disappeared.
If Yuji has disappeared in front of their eyes, Shana and Kazumi will not be waiting the whole night, right?

2. As in Chapter 3 of Volume 16, SotF Yuji slowly reveals his identity to Shana and Alastor.
In the novel, when Yuji makes a return to Misaki City, Shana meets with Yuji who is wearing school uniform. In subsequent conversation between Yuji and Alastor, Alastor is completely stunned and almost speechless as Yuji slowly reveals his SotF form. This scene is very important as good guys have clearly no idea that Yuji has merged with SotF.
If we follow your speculation for episode 4, Yuji would appears in SotF form as he retreats his allies. As such, we will not obtain that slow yet suspenseful revelation of SotF Yuji as in the novel.

To summarize, it is better to use your speculation. That way, we can squeeze out more Shakugan no Shana episodes.

[Terminator98]

The thing is. if they had put all this in season 2, things would've been clearer, and a followup might've been more easy.

(The thing is. will the novels end soon? That we don't know)

So yeah, there maybe wouldn't have been any season 3, but season 2 would've been godly awesome.

It's a bit like I'm fearful they mess SnS like they did with ZnT. So too long might be unhealthy for the name of the series.

BUT DO NOT SAY YUJI HAS JOINED THE DARK SIDE!!

[Triple_R]

Originally Posted by alvinkhorfire

Triple_R
Great work! I love it, especially the first half of the very first episode before the opening credits.

Thanks a lot!

Your speculation really does take account into the original anime content of Season 2, especially the scene when Shana is smiling. However, to do that, few key events have to be ditched. There is nothing wrong with that, just that I would like to highlight these events.

1. Shana and Kazumi are waiting for Yuji the whole night after Yuji has disappeared.
If Yuji has disappeared in front of their eyes, Shana and Kazumi will not be waiting the whole night, right?

Yeah, this scene, for me, is one of those that's fine to read in a book, but may come across as a bit boring in animated format (i.e. just watching Shana and Kazumi stand there the whole night).

2. As in Chapter 3 of Volume 16, SotF Yuji slowly reveals his identity to Shana and Alastor.
In the novel, when Yuji makes a return to Misaki City, Shana meets with Yuji who is wearing school uniform. In subsequent conversation between Yuji and Alastor, Alastor is completely stunned and almost speechless as Yuji slowly reveals his SotF form. This scene is very important as good guys have clearly no idea that Yuji has merged with SotF.
If we follow your speculation for episode 4, Yuji would appears in SotF form as he retreats his allies. As such, we will not obtain that slow yet suspenseful revelation of SotF Yuji as in the novel.

However, ditching this truly does hurt.

Like yourself, though, I think it's worth it to squeeze out more Shakugan no Shana episodes. JC Staff has shown me that they do action-based filler pretty good... just keep them away from slice of life filler.