Episode 21 – Shy Season 2

She might not have studied the sword in her spare time, however Teru nonetheless wields a imply fireplace katana. That is simply one of many many power-ups featured on this week’s episode Shywhich accelerates bombastically to the climax on the high of the tower.

Just like the earlier episode, this one is heavy on the superhero theatrics—and people fireworks actually do hit the mark. Largely. It’s slightly foolish that the story pretends Teru is useless, solely to resurrect her two minutes later with a cool fireplace sword as if nothing occurred. That’s a twist I’ve undoubtedly seen higher executed as a manga cliffhanger. However the combat, as soon as it will get going, has some good choreography and results animation. It seems to be good and it’s watchable. That’s greater than you’ll be able to say for lots of motion scenes as of late. The samurai duel setting additionally helps set this other than earlier fights, and I couldn’t assist however grin when Teru was so into the second that she began reciting her strategies out loud. That’s all the time cool.

The philosophical musings on this episode are additionally enjoyable. Prompted by Purity’s voice, Teru questions the true function of her Coronary heart-shift bracelets—and there’s an nearly Buddhist slant to it. These bracelets don’t simply give her appropriately themed superpowers. They facilitate enlightenment by means of the denial of self. In different phrases, by totally opening her coronary heart to individuals, Teru can join with them spiritually and blur the strains that divide. We’ve seen her do that a number of instances earlier than, however this expanded rationalization makes it much less jarring when she enters Mai’s reminiscences. I hope Shy continues to develop this angle, exploring each the facility and hazard related to Teru’s use of this state of selflessness.

I do not suppose so Shy needed to clarify in so many phrases what Mai screwed up; final week it bought the purpose throughout simply nice. I am glad the story did although, as a result of it made my mind join the dots Yu Yu Hakushowhich I am at present looking ahead to the primary time. I am particularly in the course of Yusuke’s large combat with Chapter Black villain Shinobu Sensui—and Sensui and Mai’s backstories have so much in frequent. Each have been little one prodigies whose strict idealism clashed disastrously with the grey morality of the actual world, each wield mild and darkish energies, and each shield their psyches with an over-the-top dissociative identification difficulty. Oh, and each Shinobu and Shinobi use the identical “coronary heart underneath blade” kanji (忍). I do not know how their storylines play out, however I believe the present (to me) similarities between the 2 are attention-grabbing sufficient to level out. Perhaps Bukimi Miki took some notes from Togashi after I was placing this arc collectively.

Thematically, Shy is definitely fascinated with what drives somebody to take a darkish path. It’s extra difficult than a “good” individual turning “evil.” Each Letana/Tzveta and Mai/Utsuro fell sufferer to bigger societal and systemic flaws that left them open to the affect of Stigma. Amarariruku is itself a system that feeds on these flaws, and its villain class is populated with misfits and outcasts who, once we dig deeper, appear to have reliable causes for his or her heel-turning. Teru solely succeeds in dealing a blow to Mai when she penetrates her coronary heart and understands what has occurred to her. Compassion and empathy are the sharpest blades she wields.

Mai’s final enemy is Mai. Utsuro’s existence could be seen as an act of metaphysical self-mortification, forcing herself to grow to be the villain she sees herself to be. Mai’s true self appears chained to Teru on the deepest recesses of her coronary heart, and it is clear that Mai cast that chain herself. Even Ai wished to forgive her, and it was solely at Utsuro’s violent prodding that she resorted to the knife. Teru needs to avoid wasting Mai as nicely, and after that ultimate speech she makes, Teru is undoubtedly extra motivated than ever to avoid wasting this woman from herself.

Judgement:

Shy Season 2 is at present streaming on Crunchyroll.

Steve is on Twitter whereas it lasts. If he misspelled “Amarariruku” anyplace within the above evaluation, you’ll be able to rub it in his face. You may also catch him blabbering about trash and treasure on This Week in Anime.

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