hontou ni Stripey Insists Sisters Cry Oniichan Now

Bakemonogatari 08

Summary:

Suruga tells of how she received the mummified monkey's paw from her mother not long before both her parents passed away and first used it, with an upcoming athletics meet as an opportunity to get along better with the rest of her class, on a wish to be able to run faster. But the four kids she was supposed to run against were beaten up mysteriously instead. Meme explains that the Rainy Devil can be easily dealt with - either by letting it kill Koyomi or having that left arm lopped off, a cheap price to pay for attempted murder. Meme is curious to know why Koyomi wants to help someone who tried to kill him; Koyomi feels that if it's because Suruga loves Hitagi, it's forgivable. Koyomi goes with his Plan A, that is, to level up with Shinobu vampire power and defeat the Rainy Devil. If the devil can't kill Koyomi, the wish cannot be granted and the contract is thus dissolved.

But Plan A goes to the dogs when it becomes clear that, as Meme explained, while Suruga's wish was to be with Hitagi, it was also her true intent, much like Asakura Ryoko, to kill Koyomi. Instead of just having to deal with the devilish left arm, Koyomi faces all of Suruga's considerable agility, power and frustrated yuri malice. All seems lost until Meme activates Plan B - the Hitagi cavalry arrives and tells Suruga and the Rainy Devil that she will kill Suruga if Koyomi is killed thus destroying the logic of the wish. Suruga tearfully confesses to Hitagi and is kicked in the head, ever so gently yet firmly, for trying to jump ladders; she's inducted into Hitagi's close circle as a good friend/pet instead. The next morning Suruga turns up to walk Koyomi to school; the devil has left her but her left arm is still furry.

Reaction:

Enjoyed everything about this episode tremendously. The fight scene, Oshino's methodically revelation of the horrible truth about Suruga's heart of darkness as he peeled away the civil veneer provided by the Jacobs' story, the use of colours and grayscale (though the last time I had a head wound like that, my right eye was totally gummed shut by the blood), the music (especially the tubular bells), the joint narration towards the end of the opening reminiscence, Devil Suruga's wails of hatred and choking grunts of despair at Hitagi's resolving words, cutting down yet soothing of the savage beast. Everything was just wonderful. *does pirouette* I was sooo looking forward to this episode that I tried to watch it raw, only to be utterly defeated by Oshino and Hitagi's crucial dialogue but thankfully gg subbed it real quick, chopping another line like a Koda with a cuss. I'm still unclear whether Suruga's wish to kill Koyomi was her second or third though - if not the former, then what was her second?

Verily there was a bit of everything in this episode for everyone. Like basketball action for Kabitzin, siscon wrestling for Stripey, blonde loli straddling and necking for Shin (as well as bonus Mayoi art - only right at the end of the raw though).

Related posts:

1. Bakemonogatari 07
2. Bakemonogatari 10
3. Bakemonogatari 12