(L+CR) Nagi no Asukara (Nagi-Asu: A Lull in the Sea)

[Blue-kun]

Maybe I'm just wearing my rose-tinted glasses here, but I thought the stuff between Tsumugu and Chisaki this episode didn't sink the ship at all, quite the contrary. No matter what people have been telling Chisaki about how she's not changed, she's still Chii-chan and what not, her actions more than anything else are showing someone who's been living the life of a grown-up. She's leaving her friends in order to take care of granpa, she's telling herself she "has to take care of Manaka", along with a bunch of other small details in this episode where she basically dettached herself from the other group, as if she didn't really "belong" there.

Even though she may act like she's fine, I do think Tsumugu hit the jackpot there when he said she was "lonely". She might try to convince herself otherwise, but it does seem like she's not quite on the same wavelength as everyone else, and coincidentally or not, Tsumugu is the only one who's gone through the "same" things she did. So, all in all, while he's being good old stubborn Tsumugu, whenever things click I do see this pairing taking off as a real chance.

Or so I hope, of course. They're by far my favourite couple right now and there is just a certain chemistry between those two that I cannot find in any other couple in the show so far. So I'm really rooting for things to work out between them...

[Raine721]

Originally Posted by Blue-kun

Maybe I'm just wearing my rose-tinted glasses here, but I thought the stuff between Tsumugu and Chisaki this episode didn't sink the ship at all, quite the contrary. No matter what people have been telling Chisaki about how she's not changed, she's still Chii-chan and what not, her actions more than anything else are showing someone who's been living the life of a grown-up. She's leaving her friends in order to take care of granpa, she's telling herself she "has to take care of Manaka" and all other things.

Even though she may act like she's fine, I do think Tsumugu hit the jackpot there when he said she was "lonely". She might try to convince herself otherwise, but it does seem like she's not quite on the same wavelength as everyone else, and coincidentally or not, Tsumugu is the only one who's gone through the "same" things she did. So, all in all, while he's being good old stubborn Tsumugu, whenever things click I do see this pairing taking off as a real chance.

Or so I hope, of course. They're by far my favourite couple right now and there is just a certain chemistry between those two that I cannot find in any other couple in the show so far. So I'm really rooting for things to work out between them...

Depends on how the culture view silence as a form of interaction. Western cultures might view it as awkward and uncomfortability but to many asian cultures, they value silence and speaks volume. There are the kind of silence of having met someone new and you think it's awkward while there are the kind that knowing someone for so long is a form of comfort and peace.

[kresslia]

I don't see how Chisaki/Tsumugu was sunk this week either. Chisaki seemed a bit upset when he told her he was going away, but she quickly tried to cover it up. Maybe you guys interpret that as "indifference", I interpreted it as her pretending to be okay with it for his sake.

Enjoyed the focus on the main 5 this episode.

[FlareKnight]

Yeah, I wouldn't really say the ship was sunk at all. Just seemed like a very 'them' series of scenes. Chisaki definitely seemed thrown off when Tsumugu said he had to head back, but did seem to cover that up pretty quick. Seems very much like her to still not really express openly how she's feeling about something. The sense of isolation having her friends back, but not really feeling part of that circle because of the now existing age gap. Here's hoping things get more fully explored with these two before the series runs out of episodes.

The curse business was somewhat funny. You'd think it's about the porn comment, but at the same time it's not like Chisaski disagreed and she was fine. Regardless interesting development. Did Uroko come up there because of Manaka or because of Miuna?

I'm more curious about what happened near the end there. The spoon kind of getting stuck and then after some tugging the whole thing just fell over on the kid. Another sign that things are most definitely getting worse? But also the dead eyes on Manaka. Suppose it's not surprising that taking her out of there has caused a lot of problems.

Kind of made me wonder is this really Manaka? Did they really get her out of there? We're talking about gods and stuff so a clone is certainly possible. Or they got most of Manaka but they took something more than just her Ena and she isn't all there.

Would make Manaka's kind of creepy ease of recovery to the world changing make some sense. Even if it's Manaka how she's responded to this situation is kind of unsettling.

[ices]

Someone compiled the difference between the previous OP and the new OP

Images

New OP

Sorry; dynamic content not loaded. Reload?

Oh, and finally, Tsumugu meet his first love again.

[Triple_R]

I'm not going to get my hopes too far up, but I'm glad that it so far seems like Manaka is over whatever crush she may have had on Tsumugu. She certainly didn't seem all that eager to meet up with him again, and I didn't get a "shy" or "tsundere denying" vibe there, just a sincere lack of immediate interest.


This latest episode was nice. The pacing continues to be considerably slow, but I've grown used to that. Nagi no Asukara has sort of made that pacing, along with cheesy cliffhangers (Tsumugu being fish-head cursed the episode after Manaka's anti-climatic awakening), it's "thing". The show just has this certain ambiance and serene easy-going flow to it that makes these two elements work well, in my opinion.

As for Tsumugu/Chisaki... I'm honestly of two minds there. What stands out to me the most with them is how very comfortable and relaxed they are in each other's company. They make me think "family", but in this very generic way that could just as easily be "old married couple" as "brother and sister". So I'm not sure if this is a positive or a negative for this ship's chances. It could mean that Chisaki just doesn't feel any passion for him, or it could mean that she's extremely comfortable with him and his close proximity in her life and that this will ultimately aid Tsumugu in his longings for her.

I think there is legit basis for hoping for the latter, because of the in-series example set by Akari/Itaru. While there is some passion between the two, I'd say their marriage is best captured by a generally relaxed and comfortable household atmosphere.


Finally, it was good to have Manaka put a little bit of genki girl brightness and enthusiasm into a second half that has often had a morose and melancholic vibe to it. I wasn't particularly fond of Manaka in the first half, but I guess it's a classic case of recognizing the value of something after it's been gone for a long time. Manaka's personality does round out the full cast nicely, I think.

[General Endline]

As far as Chisaki and Tsumugu go, I'd say this episode reinforced the boat more than anything, in the beginning Sayama gives Chisaki 5 cream puffs, in which she says she has one extra. When she leaves to go take care of Tsumugu's grandfather she gives them all away which can be seen as a show that she is moving on and can't remain the person she was then. In the lunch room with Tsumugu she states that she may like coffee jelly (one of Tsumugu's favourite foods) more than cream puffs.

I believe Kaname's confession next week will move things forward again like it did pre time skip, poor guy his only role seems to be to push couples together.

[Arya]

Nice episode. Happy to see Manaka again, but obviously her behavior is off. It seems that her ability to love has been taken away. So her feelings will be a big question mark for a while. Her dead's eyes were ominous. Hard to make any assumption.

Surely I don't think that Tsumugu's arm-fish has any connection with Manaka, the episode seemed to imply that the curse is due to the porn comment, since just after having said it an ena petal fled away.

On the other side I really liked Chisaki part, she clearly felt as the outsider there, despite she still thinks otherwise. She now is basically in-between her childhood friends and Tsumugu. She didn't realized for whom the fifth sweet was for, Tsumugu, but in the end the number was fitting, just with Miuna and Sayu instead of her and Tsumugu.
Eh, we can say that this episode used food as symbolic mean to give us some hints. Later, at the hospital, Chisaki said something about liking the jelly coffee more than dont-remember-what and when asked she said, just because. I think that the other thing was something she was used to eat and like a lot back in Shioshio, but now not anymore. And the tangerines explained why Tsumugu likes the tangerine juice (as seen in the previous episode).
And I think that she did reacted to Tsumugu's revelation, she suddenly finished her jelly, something that was supposed to be savored, not swallowed.
By the way they did lie about Tsumugu's grampa to not going to Akari's house, it was just an excuse. Kaname instead slept there.
And Tsumugu will actually leave her alone, finally. Now, if it has to happen I just hope it won't be Akari Itaru's like. I want something more from them.

EDIT: wrong assumption about the dont-remember-what cream puffs, General Endline explained what I wanted to say.

[Key Board]

From a storytelling perspective, it's obvious that Tsumugu was cursed to draw parallels to Manaka,
and put the past (and thus drama) into the spotlight once again.

My guess it that they're going to joke about Manaka's fish knee, but she will strangely not remember/avoid talking about it.

But as to why, Tsumugu was cursed.
I'm not sure if he was cursed for calling Uroko a pervert
As with Manaka's curse, I get the feeling the Uroko is not entirely whimsical, and actually does things to further a certain plan

Originally Posted by General Endline

I believe Kaname's confession next week will move things forward again like it did pre time skip, poor guy his only role seems to be to push couples together.

Yes, but it's better than sweeping it under a rug.
A cheap way would be to have Kaname suddenly "forget" Chisaki and "move on" with Sayu, without addressing the issue.

as said a few weeks ago. I believe this will in turn, cause Chisaki address her feeling towards Hikari
(note: she knows she will be rejected)

//

[Kirarakim]

I have mixed feelings about Tsumugu and Chisaki too. Personal I do think the story is pairing them up but I just can't see it. That's not to say I don't enjoy their scenes together, but it comes off more as brother & sister or close friends than romantic chemistry.

Although honestly the only pairing that fully works for me is Manaka/Hikari. I am not 100% certain of anything in this series except those two have chemistry in abundance.

[Key Board]

Originally Posted by Kirarakim

I have mixed feelings about Tsumugu and Chisaki too. Personal I do think the story is pairing them up but I just can't see it. That's not to say I don't enjoy their scenes together, but it comes off more as brother & sister or close friends than romantic chemistry.

Although honestly the only pairing that fully works for me is Manaka/Hikari. I am not 100% certain of anything in this series except those two have chemistry in abundance.

That's the vibe I'm getting too
I can sense compassion
but I can't sense passion from Chisaki to Tsumugu, like say.. Akari to her husband, Hikari to Manaka. (though Tsumugu clearly wants her)
and you can not force yourself to be passionate about someone.. so hmm..
and I also feel they're keeping certain private sentiments to themselves. Secrets that, if came out, could probably destroy their relationship.

I think Chisaki/Tsumugu can work.. if they work on it for another 5 years.
And actually I can see him doing that. He's patient.

I also agree about Manaka/Hikari

[deadite]

Manaka's lost feelings is stored in the sea slug?

[Kazu-kun]

Originally Posted by Kirarakim

I have mixed feelings about Tsumugu and Chisaki too. Personal I do think the story is pairing them up but I just can't see it. That's not to say I don't enjoy their scenes together, but it comes off more as brother & sister or close friends than romantic chemistry.

True. Right now their relationship looks passionless. But it wasn't always like that. We have seen that they had plenty of spark. They just lost it along the way (grandpa's condition contributed to that) but that means they just have to get it back. We'll have to wait and see.

Originally Posted by Kirarakim

Although honestly the only pairing that fully works for me is Manaka/Hikari. I am not 100% certain of anything in this series except those two have chemistry in abundance.

I disagree. These two also had good chemistry in the first half. Right now there's nothing. In fact, Manaka doesn't even feel like Manaka anymore. Before talking about romance between these two, they have deal with whatever is happening with Manaka.

[Birdway]

*looks at some posts above...*

The denial is strong in this one .

I can't say there is something that says Manaka isn't into Tsumugu anymore.

Why?

Because she clearly can't show her feelings anymoer, maybe that explains why she looks empty. She might have been cursed by Shioshio for messing around with his feelings.

[Key Board]

Originally Posted by Birdway

Because she clearly can't show her feelings anymoer, maybe that explains why she looks empty. She might have been cursed by Shioshio for messing around with his feelings.

This is probably why the story gave Tsumugu a fish in his arm
if Manaka looks at that and it seems that she doesn't remember that, clearly something is wrong

[Triple_R]

Originally Posted by Key Board

Yes, but it's better than sweeping it under a rug.
A cheap way would be to have Kaname suddenly "forget" Chisaki and "move on" with Sayu, without addressing the issue.

Why would that be "cheap"? Real life people make choices like this all the time. There's nothing "cheap" about it - It's quite practical and sensible, in fact.

What I find a bit cheap, and even a bit artificial, is people having to make a confession (again!) before being able to move on. That seems pretty silly to me.

Originally Posted by Birdway

Because she clearly can't show her feelings anymoer,

Why is this clear? She seems more emotional to me than what most of the cast is.

[Birdway]

Originally Posted by Triple_R

Why would that be "cheap"? Real life people make choices like this all the time. There's nothing "cheap" about it - It's quite practical and sensible, in fact.

I guess cheap because there is no development between Kaname and Sayu to begin with, I wouldn't be surprised if Kaname tells Sayu about him confessing to Chisaki to give her a message "I'm not interested on you, sorry", he has experience on that field, he is Kaname afterall.

What I find a bit cheap, and even a bit artificial, is people having to make a confession (again!) before being able to move on. That seems pretty silly to me.

Hahaha, no, in Kaname's case just trying hard after previous episodes showed him with renewed resolve.

Why is this clear? She seems more emotional to me than what most of the cast is.

Because there is an important loop on her head regarding that "something" from the festival.



EDIT:

To me so far, looks like Chisaki and Tsumugu actual relationship is that of family like siblings, is makes sense because under the same circunstances both were "isolated" by 5 years, there is trust and chemistry that develops with time but at the same time it show that here close to zero passion unlike Akari and his husband.

If 5 years didn't do the work maybe another 5 years might do(haha, just kidding), but so far after this episode and even taking in consideration Chisaki seemingly a little angry about Tsumugu leaving it wasn't that strong of indicative of her having a deep feeling like love for him but one of a close friend who leaves, something that somehow reminded of Anohana where friends don't like the idea of saying goodbye.

Originally Posted by ices

[/IMAGES]

Oh, and finally, Tsumugu meet his first love again.

The true OTP of the series, just look how he smiled at knee fish return!!!

Btw who's that on the bottom left corner?

[DragoonKain3]

OH GOD! This episode made it so clear to me that I missed Manaka in the series. Sure Miuna was interesting in her own right, especially with all the conflict she had in store, but Manaka is the only one who lights up the mood. Kind of like how Benio is in Engaged to the Unidentified, she might seem out of place because of her hyper attitude, but I do think the show is better off with her than without her.

Kinda worried about the 'dead eyes' look Manaka had during dinner though, as she might relapse in hibernation due to the ofuneki. Hopefully its something she fights WITH Miuna though, as they are both dressed in that robe in the OP now.

And speaking of the OP, I wonder what does the red umbrella signify? Miuna was holding it, then it flew high in the air, only to be caught by Manaka? I am thoroughly dumb-founded what it's supposed to symbolize now. Why? Because (I'm not going to lie) I have always thought the catcher of the umbrella would be Hikari (and that they'll only reveal it in the final episode), so it was a symbol of Miuna's love reaching Hikari after getting over Manaka. Now THAT theory is thoroughly crushed... it now signifies that the final ending would be ManakaXMiuna?

[Triple_R]

Originally Posted by Birdway

I guess cheap because there is no development between Kaname and Sayu to begin with,

He doesn't seem to dislike her. He has been friendly to her at times. I don't think there's a whole lot there, but I wouldn't consider it out of left field, either.

Hahaha, no, in Kaname's case just trying hard after previous episodes showed him with renewed resolve.

And is this "trying hard" getting him anywhere? What good is it doing him? Is there any reason to think that Chisaki will give a different response to a 2nd confession?

I can certainly understand wanting to make your feelings known "the first time". Just to put it out there, make the other person aware of it, and give yourself whatever chance there may be. But making a second confession honestly just reeks of desperation to me. I'm not hugely into alpha vs. beta, but if anything strikes me as "beta", this certainly does. And it's a bit disappointing coming from a character that could easily be an alpha.

Because there is an important loop on her head regarding that "something" from the festival.

Her memory does seem to be altered or corrupted, yes. But she hardly strikes me as someone lacking emotions or feelings.

[Key Board]

Originally Posted by DragoonKain3

And speaking of the OP, I wonder what does the red umbrella signify? Miuna was holding it, then it flew high in the air, only to be caught by Manaka? I am thoroughly dumb-founded what it's supposed to symbolize now. Why? Because (I'm not going to lie) I have always thought the catcher of the umbrella would be Hikari (and that they'll only reveal it in the final episode), so it was a symbol of Miuna's love reaching Hikari after getting over Manaka. Now THAT theory is thoroughly crushed... it now signifies that the final ending would be ManakaXMiuna?

interpretations.. well
I think it means that Manaka will inherit Miuna's feelings if you look at it literally
but I think what it means is Miuna will (unintentionally?) bring Manaka together with Hikari
and she will be hurt by it

on another note: google "red umbrella" for its significance. Err. interesting results.

Originally Posted by Triple_R

And is this "trying hard" getting him anywhere? What good is it doing him? Is there any reason to think that Chisaki will give a different response to a 2nd confession?

Catharsis. Which btw, none of the characters had so far, except maybe Akari.
And the time gap has only made the need for this worse.
Let's just some people need it, before they can take the next step in life.