Bakemonogatari 04

Summary:

Hitagi and Koyomi search for Mayoi's destination in an area where Hitagi's old house used to be but end up overshooting twice. Mayoi clings to Koyomi as she senses a deep hostility from Hitagi; it's not just in her mind, Hitagi confirms that she's hated kids since bumping into a seven year old while shopping as she does not know how to deal with them. When even Hitagi's GPS is defeated and Mayoi is defeatist about ever being to reach her mom's house, the former bikes off to see Oshino.

Returning to the playground bench, Mayoi reveals that her surname was Tsunade until the third grade whereupon it was changed to Hachikuji. Mayoi gives Koyomi a vicious bite when he tries to pet her who then clobbers her again. Tsubasa turns up, sets both of them straight and seems to be lying when she denies any knowledge of Tsunade. Oshino calls via Hitagi (aka Tsundere-chan who still has stapler powers despite getting back her weight), explains that the name Hachikuji can read as Yaku (misfortune) and that snail can be read as lost cow. He hangs up after saying he will send Hitagi back with the details. The episode closes with Mayoi saying she is hungry.

Reaction:

Mayoi's curse of getting lost (take that, Ryouga Hibiki! + think of the anti-GPS asymmetric warfare potential of all those Mayoi clones) was also traced to more pun power; this is such a Kabitzin geass series that even the spirit of Kabitzin has descended upon my blogging format (it's also surprisingly addictive). The imitation skill of the Free Ramble Sect can't go all the way though. Given my own beliefs that actions, words and thoughts have their own distinct powers, I've been enjoying the wordplay.

I also shared Koyomi's understanding of the reasoning behind Hitagi's hatred of children but not the emotion. It's a visceral thing I suppose. But loved the nuance nonetheless. Also LOL at the success of Koyomi's bribes (JPY 1,000 and the promise of ice cream) - a how-to-bait guide for the hooked from a mile away. Thus far, it seems that Hitagi, Mayoi and Koyomi all have family problems to a certain degree (well, who doesn't?) and this acts a type of trigger for trouble. Home may be where the heart is but one of the supreme ironies of the snail metaphor is that a snail can't be lost from home since it carries it on its back. Plus it will be hilarious if the exorcism ritual involves salt.

Related posts:

1. Bakemonogatari 05
2. Bakemonogatari 03
3. Bakemonogatari 08

About Zyl

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