©Aka Akasaka x Mengo Yokoyari/Shueisha, partner of “OSHI NO KO”
A life later, Salina is reunited with her beloved teacher Goro, but it’s not like anyone imagined. Name this episode Son of Shinobu Considering what actually happened in the Monkey’s Paw situation, “Reunion” is a cruel irony. What starts off as a holiday episode filled with lighthearted fun quickly turns serious and supernatural as Aqua and Ruby each begin their search for the same answer—and the worst part is that Ruby succeeds. The penultimate episode is packed with big moments and meaningful flashbacks from the first Son of Shinobu Simply amazing.
Before we discuss the episode’s most shocking moment, I want to emphasize how funny it was. I’m impressed by how this animation can swing between two very different tones without feeling jarring. It manages to capture both Kana’s (joking) personal hell (Akane’s journey as a last-minute addition) and Ruby’s (serious) personal hell in the same episode, without a single moment losing the intended delivery. The first half of the episode is filled with funny moments. Memjow’s comedic lamentation about his advancing age will be relatable to any adult trying to say “how are you” to other kids. Hopefully no one noticed that while the girls were taking photos in front of a Miyazaki landmark, Akane’s phone camera zoomed in on Kana’s face. It’s funny when Aqua worries that the girls will only fight for Akane to transform into her ultimate kana fangirl form. Akon is indeed one of us.
It’s fitting that Aqua and Ruby’s birthplace, Miyazaki, is considered a mysterious hotspot, considering the supernatural shenanigans that occurred there 15 years ago. Since Aqua and Ruby are both taking Akane on separate reconnaissance missions, I think it’s only a matter of time before someone as smart as Akane connects the dots and realizes the two brothers are looking for the same person. I thought it was brilliant when the two’s respective flashbacks came together to paint a complete portrait of what Sarina and Goro-sensei have in common, and why they might have been chosen to be reincarnated as Ai’s twins. This is a karmic retribution for two souls who have never experienced maternal love. What do you think this narrative means when it is said that Ai Weiwei has “two soulless children”? I’m partial to the fan theory that Ai Weiwei’s children wouldn’t have survived without the reincarnation shenanigans. Even though you think a good obstetrician would notice if the fetus wasn’t healthy! By the way, I also enjoyed the plot reason for Goro becoming an ob-gyn. While this is a perfectly normal profession for a man, and I’m grateful for the male doctor who cared for my daughter when she was born, the first episode was a horny breakdown of trust in bizarre fetish material, and it’s great to see Akasaka have A plan along the way.
If you skipped the end credits, watch now because there’s a brief but significant change. It’s always been obvious that the crow was holding something, and now we know exactly what it is. In this crucial scene, it’s impossible not to think about the Yatagarasubecause these crows are not just a natural phenomenon. The white-haired girl who knows too much hasn’t been voiced yet, but she must be the supernatural creature controlling the crows. It was perfect to place the body behind the shrine. In the stark, bright light of Ruby’s cell phone flashlight, the truth is finally revealed in a dramatic moment. Aqua lost her starlight after abandoning her mission, and now Ruby’s starlight dimmed in despair. This episode felt like it was five minutes long as it established the highs and lows and I can only imagine what will happen at the end.
grade:
Son of Shinobu Season 2 is currently airing on HIDIVE.
Lauren writes about model kits at Gunpla 101.
Disclosure: Kadokawa World Entertainment (KWE) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kadokawa Corporation and the majority shareholder of Anime News Network, LLC. One or more companies mentioned in this article are part of the Kadokawa Group of Companies.
