Zetsuen no Tempest already ignited the senses long ago, and now it merely indulges in the raging sensations it has created itself – this episode reveals nearly nothing, despite showing our protagonist realizing so much.
The fight continues – delinquent Mahiro is still battling against a “real mage”, and it unsurprisingly looks that the situation isn’t particularly ideal. Mahiro may embrace the idea of needless combat against hostile parties – however, his magic stems from talismans as seen last episode, and the lifespan of these talismans is a facet questionable. It seems only logical that with a limited supply of power, there’s a severe disadvantage for our leading characters in comparison to the antagonist forces of the Kusaribe clan who have no currently known restrictions.
Regardless however, Mahiro is the sort who sets contemplation second, and action foremost – thus of course, he still intends to fight in spire of whatever risk or imbalance against his favor there may be.
On a lesser concern, hunger is starting to encroach upon him – although this problem is met with an immediate solution. A hand manifests from nowhere and hands Mahiro a “Znickers” candy bar – and this friendly problem solving appendage happens to be Yoshino’s. It’s uncertain what occurred in respect to Yoshino’s deal with the unemployed bishoujo – yet it seems Yoshino is now taking whatever action he has in mind.
Now the problem we face as viewers is that we have no idea what Yoshino is doing – and for that matter, no one does. Neither does his friend Mahiro understand, nor the world’s greatest mage, nor the unemployed bishoujo – the only one who understands is Yoshino himself, yet his mode of thought is not explicitly, or even indirectly, unveiled to us this episode. The only aspect which is clear as sky during this spectacle is that Yoshino intends to somehow save Mahiro from the magical nuisance assaulting him.
Interestingly, whilst Mahiro is off fighting against against the mage – Yoshino manages to receive a conversation with Kusaribe, the stranded bishoujo, and she herself admits to be intrigued by Yoshino. Everyone who encounters this fellow seemingly takes fascination with the exception of Mahiro who knows him best – minus the fact of his girlfriend.
There’s a few minor details mentioned in the midst of all the activity of the episode, such as how Kusaribe magic works only to heal, sustain, or do something or another in relation to “the logic of the world” – yet we’re not shown any immediate results, and no substantial developments come of any of this information in this episode. It of course is sure to have more meaning later on – as for now however, the episode is predominantly Yoshino literally running around, listening to Kusaribe explain some repetitious details to him whilst he makes unspecified revelations.
This ultimately works out for Yoshino as he uses his wit to secure escape from the “real mage” for both him and his friend – and the two then are seen riding a train, a scene where we learn something fairly foreseen in advance. The one who massacred the imouto has ties to the Kusaribe clan – and whilst the individual in question remains unidentified beyond that criteria, it’d be no shock if the perpetrator proves to be the one who cast away our cute mage bishoujo, Samon.
That’s a matter for another time however seeing as the episode ends there – yet there’s one more detail worth mentioning, the mid portion of this installment features Yoshino seemingly chasing the concept of resurrecting the long-gone Aika-chan for a moment. The idea fails to go anywhere for better or worse – and on a somewhat relevant note, there was no flashback of Aika-chan this episode save for a short portion in which Mahiro recollects a time when he was sick.
Now all of that being said, there remains a single consistent detail – Mahiro keeps making expressions, both verbally and otherwise, which imply he’s baffled by the events ongoing around him as if he were anticipating something else to occur, or they’re going against a set of rules he had in mind. Accounting for that, this episode doesn’t tell us anything as much as it tantalizes us with what we already know – Yoshino is the one who holds the most knowledge.
Oct 18, 2012 @ 20:42 CDT
If not enough smart the dialogues and dramatic tension, this anime also has action scenes to climb the adrenaline in the blood.
Aika makes an extreme missing in the lives of this dual. However thanks to her memory, they will face anything.
And this dear audience, is what happens when romance is used correctly in an anime.
Oct 18, 2012 @ 21:30 CDT
“And this dear audience, is what happens when romance is used correctly in an anime.”
So true…so very true.
Romance should be able to move the plot–enhance the experience of watching the story unfold before its audience. Not detract from it or distract you from it. Zetsuen does this quite well and I hope it will continue like this.
Oct 19, 2012 @ 9:58 CDT
Most series now consist of Story A with romance on the side as a basis to exploit X, Y, Z.
Oct 19, 2012 @ 9:59 CDT
I want to see what Yoshino knows that no one else apparently knows.
Oct 19, 2012 @ 10:47 CDT
I think that he’s simply keeping his true intentions from everybody here rather than knowing more than everybody else. Like you said, he appears to be just as coolly baffled by what’s happening around him as the rest of the cast but after learning that magic actually exists you can see that he readily accepts this new paradigm and starts thinking how he’s going to live in a such a world and how best to use it for his purposes. (What with all the evidence around him its kinda easy to see where he’s coming from regardless of his nature) My guess is that he’s simply not sold on the idea that you can’t resurrect the dead with magic and is still hell bent on defying “the logic of this world” in the name of his deceased lover. I think its pretty consistent with the characterization the Fuwa siblings gave him—that he’s a liar who knows how to put on the appropriate mask for the scene that calls it, and right now arguing isn’t going to do him any good as the info he has to work with isn’t enough.
Oct 19, 2012 @ 11:45 CDT
He wouldn’t be keeping his true intentions from everyone unless he knew something that they didn’t – therefore, he seeks something alternative from the rest.
There already are some details confirmed that he only knows – for instance, until he let the unemployed bishoujo in on the secret, none knew of his relation with Aika-chan, and it becomes important to consider what exactly this love affair means.
Oct 19, 2012 @ 0:40 CDT
This anime just sucks in my attention from the beginning to the end of an episode…the intense fights…the driven emotion…and the drama…all splendidly portrayed. Aside from that, we have quite an interesting pair: Mahiro,who is arrogant , rash and rushes without thinking and Yoshino, the careful, thinking counterpart. How they both miss Aika and how she seems to be the inspiration for them to carry on cannot be missed here. Even Hakaze is not wasted as is evident from her interactions with Yoshino and the fact that she finds him interesting..hmm some room for attraction here. The dialogue is aptly used and it is safe to say that these characters themselves can be paralleled with Shakespear’s. Mahiro is willing to abandon all morals for the sake of enacting his vengence…an allude to Hamlet i believe. Yoshino would be none other than Romeo, the secret lover with a tragic fate. Hakaze alludes to Prospero, the mage betrayed by her servants and left on a desert for dead. And the title for the next episode i.e. Cursed Pair perks your interest teasing you with regard to Mahiro’s and Yoshino’s early relationship. The pair who always avoided each other but were intertwined with the threads of fate….
Oct 19, 2012 @ 9:53 CDT
There is one basis of storytelling that seems abandoned in most series today, although Zetsuen no Tempest employs it masterfully – every action should be meaningful. Include only an action if there is a greater reason to the action – and this is quite noticeable with even the more delicate developments in this series.
Oct 20, 2012 @ 7:23 CDT
Everything in this anime is so well though and planed out. The use of the dead sister/girlfriend makes for an amazing story.