[Exilon]

I'm a fan of the series and had been reading the forums alot, and I just couldn't hold myself from registering and posting anymore. ^_^; So, hi, everyone!

This episode ended up to prove better than I was expecting. Poor Satoko!

Spoiler:

I thought that the plot would take a different direction (Satoko going mad and being the "villain"), but by the looks of it, though it seems that she'll still go mad, it doesn't seem like she's going to kill anyone (well, at least not anyone from the "main cast"), but rather get desperate and depressed over Rika's (and probably everyone else's) atitude.
I think this episode revealed some new information (that we hadn't seen before in the other arcs (supposedly these are the "covered holes"?)), like Kumatani's death (I'm guessing he also dies like this in some other arcs, like tatarigoroshi-hen).
Apart from that, I noticed some little things I'd like to clear: when Satoko tells everyone she's being stalked, Shion isn't present. I'm pretty much sure that, having sworn she'd protect Satoko, Shion would believe her, and thus help them. (though I'm not really sure wether that would change anything.)The question is, where's Shion? At the part-time job?
I also noticed that there's no mention to whether if Keichi believed Satoko or not. Looking at the way he is, I doubt he didn't, though he didn't believe it the first time Satoko told them about her worries. (Speaking of which, Shion didn't believe her either then).
And finnaly, I'm curious as to what that padlock was. It was in a door to a building, but just what building is that? Some sort of broadcasting station?... Or maybe, a place to hide some "secret" files or documents?... I'm not really sure...
I'm looking forward to the next episode, which seems to be the conclusion of this arc. Let's see what destiny awaits Satoko, Rika and the gang. (Though I'm certain of what it is...)

Overall, this episode was great. Though the comic moments were still present, one could feel the tension rising and the stress and almost desperation rising at alarming speed. Here's my theory of what'll happen next (I didn't watch the preview so I don't know):

Spoiler for Theory about the upcoming episode:

I think Satoko will go "mad mode" trying to protect Rika. One of the two, she'll run in the middle of the night to ask for help to the other characters, or she'll simply stay put (according to her personality, I'd find it surprising she hasn't put up other traps around the house. Dangerous ones, at that.) and face that man. I still have some questions in my head (does Rika always get watanagashi'ed in the same place?) but everything is pretty much cleared up. I'm betting she probably won't ask anyone for help, because she knows they don't believe her, but, at the same time, I believe she will because they'll have no choice but to believe someone is after her (or Rika?) after all. I'm not sure about anything, but, whatever the plan, I'm with you, Satoko, because you're the only character that has actually been thinking logically and strategically about these tragic events. By the way, I think stalker is after Rika, but why, I can only guess. I'm assuming he has been sent by someone that wants to see Rika dead? But, will we finnaly see her death?

Oh, I just can't wait! ^_^ The dark episodes have arrived!

~Exilon