Descending Stories
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| Lol that ending was so cheesy it made me cringe a little. Is that really how Miyokichi and Sukeroku died? Kiku must have been working out since he can lift two person with one hand. |
"I have been wielding a blade since before your were swimming around your father's scrotum." - Kurou |
ooo333 said: We're only seeing half of the story because there's a second arc in the manga which is after Kiku's flashback arc. The manga's ending this year and it seems like this series will adapt exactly half of it. There should be a second season.GoldenDevilGamer said: I feel like begging to Deen to give this a second season, just like Konosuba and Reikenzan. Even though we knew what was gonna happen, it was so f*cking intense. Brilliant writing. 6/5 This doesn't need a second season. Unless it ends on a huge cliffhanger on the last episode. |
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| Anime of the season so far! |
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HybridMBL said: It takes an expert writer to show something you expect and still surprise you. No other show this season portrays human relationships as authentically as this one. BRAVO Agreed. I'm impressed at how true, how authentic this series has been in portraying its characters throughout the whole show. Those ranting about how unrealistic the characters were lack life experience; this is in truth how people behave. Just read any newspaper and you will find tons of articles of people behaving in ways inexplicable or illogical at first sight, but if you understand their motivations and more importantly, their emotions it becomes clear. For example, Kiku had the strongest of reasons for wanting to stay with Bon and Miyokichi, together; he loves them both. The show gives us plenty of clues, I suggest a rewatch to pick them up. This episode was painful to watch because its perhaps, too real especially at the climax. At the same time, I was relieved that Kiku, whose character I quite liked was not cheaply cast as a murderer for the sake of moving the plot. |
| When Miyo refer Sukeroku as "Darling", it takes for granted that Miyo is actually serious about her relationship with Sukeroku. But the problem is that Sukeroku always have this hang-up feeling about doing a proper job or to continue his rakugo, and as a result he never get either done. Fed up with her useless husband, Miyo left the house. And finally when Kiku came, he is like a saviour to both of them. But alas, just when they finally got their resolve, that accident happen. Man Rakugo, so far so good. I love the scene where Kiku licked Miyo's tears. It really shows Kiku's buried down desire for sexual relationship after all this time only thinking about his career. |
| "Whenever you fail at something, always remember that you won't fail as much as Usagi Drop did." |
| I'll state the obvious, Sukeroku's performance parallels how he told Miyokichi he'd give up rakugo. |
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| Man, that did not turn out how I was expecting it to. From how Konatsu seemed to act towards Kiku at the start and the translation of the title, it seemed like there would be a voluntary and mutual agreement of both Sukeroku and Miyokichi dying. But going out in an accident? That caught me by surprise. Just as Sukeroku was starting to make improvements. His Kuma story was very mature for him, given that we've always seen him doing pure comedy stories. Having one with a moral message - especially one which parallels his own situation - was a step in maturity for him. I do wonder how next week's finale will work out. |
 It's an entirely different kind of flying, altogether! It's an entirely different kind of flying. |
| HOLY SHIT THAT WAS TOO GOOD. |
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| TT_______________________TT oh god |
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| I was gawking like an idiot for the last 5 minutes. I actually teared up at Sukeroku's performance, even though I don't particularly like him. Kiku's apology to Miyokuchi made me really sad then he went and punched me in the face right after that when he licked her cheek. Wow there Bon. Then that huge confession from Sukeroku. THEN THAT FALL. WHAT. The relationship between Yurie and Sukeroku really developed offscreen. Kiku admitted that he never knew her real name despite her infatuation.. I honestly don't believe that Yurie still felt strongly attached to Kiku though. Rather, when things were at a low point with Sukeroku (she was broken) she ran back to her ex and, caught up in her emotions, suggest a lover's suicide. Kiku's effect on both her and Sukeroku are crazy. That fall looking more symbolic than realistic was really great as well. Bloody hell. This series. |
| Very good episode.The ending was pretty impactful, although as soon as the last scene appeared, it was obvious what to be expected. It surely need a second season for me as there some things that feels incomplete for Sukeroku's daughter. |
| I'm too weird to live but much too rare to die. |
Gersen said: Fai said: Okay so, the ending felt weird and it kind of contradicts what we see in the first episode where it looks like the he got stabbed. Since this is kind of flashback, could we have a case of unreliable narrator? Because that whole end scene felt like a freaking actual play instead of real life. Will we get like 3 different versions of how it transpired or something? Oh okay that kind of makes me relieved. |
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| Finally only one episode left. I hope it finishes whole story including what's happening in adult Konatsu and new descipline. |
| ~♥~ Otaku + Otaku - Otaku = Otaku ~♥~ |
Inugirlz said: I don't know how to reply to this. I absolutely agree with you on everything but I can't entirely accept that Kiku isn't somewhat to blame. He did like her but decided work was more important so he threw her to the wind and then he didn't completely go apeshit on his friend when he went after her. Yeah, but well, to some people their job is simply more important, and that doesn't make them "bad", that just makes them who they are. We can observe this difference between Sukeroku and Kiku as well: while Kiku loves rakugo as a form of art, Sukeroku finds it the most important to connect with others ("you can't do rakugo alone"). And as we know, even if he wanted to have a wife, he'd have to choose a woman of a higher status. All that he could suggest to Miyo was an eternal continuation of that secret affair. Besides, how would his marriage with Miyokichi turn out? Would she also drag him into that tiny town and then eat him regularly on how he doesn't have a PROPER job? I lost my shit during Konatsu's story when she went like "Mom didn't find dad's job normal enough so she became a slut". THAT's one PROPER job for a mother or for any person, eh? ^^' And as for Sukeroku, he practically begged their master to accept him back, so I believe he had always cared. I think he should have come to check on him sooner, though. *** I'll accept that my judgement might be clouded by my opinion on Yurie. She basically confessed that she didn't have a personality of her own and was just some material in every new lover's hands to be molded however he would wish. So I'm not sure that the way she's with Kiku and her "love" for him were real. Neither am I sure that she had ever cared for Sukeroku. That's why I'm not even sure that all that "dramatic suffering" of hers can be trusted. |
| We have to keep our dreams alive. Something to look forward to. |
| Beautiful episode,best show with erased for sure |
| Lead me out of the dark,bishounen space Jesus. |
D4rkn3s5 said: Beautiful episode,best show with erased for sure ahahaha, sorry nope. Erased can't even compare to this. This is actually art. Erased is just trash. |
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| Shin's still got it~ Rakugo is like riding a bicycle. Once you learn it you'll never forget it. Truly a treat to see Shin doing a sentimental Rakugo. Yurei/Miyokichi and Konatsu really did change him for keeps. I'm not sure why Kiku embraced Yurei. It seemed like he didn't have any feelings for her but in fact he actually did? I kinda felt like he was betraying Shin for a moment there and that broke my heart. I can't believe it's all over next episode! I'm excited to finally see Yotarou again! When I saw episode 1 over a month ago I didn't know nearly as much about Kiku and Shin as I do now. It'll be interesting to revisit the opening episode and try and see the young Kiku within the old one. |
I'm not sure why Kiku embraced Yurei. It seemed like he didn't have any feelings for her but in fact he actually did? I kinda felt like he was betraying Shin for a moment there and that broke my heart. My personal interpretation is that he felt responsible for the suffering he had caused her and was giving her what he felt she wanted to make her feel better. So not that he really had feelings for her, but he "owed" it to her to go along with it. |
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| Jesus Christ my heart, it fucking hurts. I don't remember the last time I actually cried like this... The Anime is easily one of the best I've seen in the past two years. I really don't have much to say. I just really like this Anime. And I will sorely miss it after it finishes. |
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YayPepsi said: I'm not sure why Kiku embraced Yurei. It seemed like he didn't have any feelings for her but in fact he actually did? I kinda felt like he was betraying Shin for a moment there and that broke my heart. My personal interpretation is that he felt responsible for the suffering he had caused her and was giving her what he felt she wanted to make her feel better. So not that he really had feelings for her, but he "owed" it to her to go along with it. My interpretation is that Kiku loved them both. Shin loved them both, and Yurei only loved Kiku, but when she was rejected by Kiku, she started a relationship with Shin. So thats the point when Kiku "ruined" them both. I belive Shin always knew that Yurei only loved Kiku . I feel kind of sad for the suicide, Shin really care about his family, even if his wife didn't trully loved him. The only thing that pissed me of is leaving Konatsu behind. I think this anime shows us a really complex love triangle. So I think Kiku embraced Yurei not only because he loved her (human desire he said), but because he felt guilty for everyhing. |
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lonelytree said: Noo that ending :( I wonder why in the present time Kiku never explained to Konatsu about how her parents actually died. Actually even now he changed some things about how they died, cause he don't want to hurt her with some details. But we won't see the real version unless they make more anime. |
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| Kiku has been very selfish and naive to think that they could all live together. Man ;-; Sukeroku and Miyokichi died together. People might think that Miyokichi played with both of them, but she got played herself. |
| Sukeruko.... never seizes to amaze me...I actually heard that story before...Maybe in "folktales of Japan.. By why did he have to... I don't want to blame her but Whyy she had to ruin everything |
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| I don't know if it's accurate, but Yotaro probably reminded Kiku of Sukeroku and therefore he took him in. Also Konatsu seemed to grew fond of Yotaro. |
| Goddamnit, best episode and best anime this year so far, Boku Machi is a joke against this gem. I really digging the rakugo of Kiku and Sukeroku props for the animators and the voice actors for such an amazing performance. Konatsu really is adorable where can I buy my own Konatsu ? And of course the bitch of the year Yurie needs to ruin everything, her affection to Kiku is yandere level even trying to commit suicide with him. The worst part was her talking about her not loving Sukeroku and her own daughter Konatsu damnit bitch, neither is to blame for your miserable existence. So next week last episode plus OVA I assume, i already gonna miss this and we need more of this instead of stupid LN adaptions. |
| we were already expecting sukeroku's death but still made me so sad when i finally saw it =/ I still think miyokichi is that kind of person that only bring negative things to others. All of them (sukeroku, kiku and miyokichi) were selfish in some point, but see miyokichi using sukeroku just for her pleasure and leaving her daughter alone was very disgusting. |
| Miyu really loved Kiku, it was so sad when she goes to see him, they kissed, what made me think that Kiku really regret letting her go, and then she decided to kill herself with him, it was so sad, this anime is so beautiful, I had to hold the tears. |
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Smudy said: True that! When I heard that line, I was like "so pretentious and naive if he thinks that can actually happen with all that history." Kiku must be high or on something to think that would ever become a reality.Kiku has been very selfish and naive to think that they could all live together. Man ;-; Such a tragic ending! I was on the edge of my seat even though I knew it was coming! |
You can just be yourself. Do things your own way, one step at a time. You'll get there. Just be yourself, you'll be fine." ~Fruit Basket |
| I'm speechless right now... |
AimeeKite said: "It's your fault that our lives went off track!" Kikuhiko just rejected Miyokichi because he simply had the right to, he didn't force her to get laid with Sukeroku. And nobody forced Sukeroku to play a knight in shining armor and follow her, trying desperately to fit the role of a perfect husband for which he most likely wasn't meant. Geez, how I hate those characters (and those people) who blame others for their own decisions. Kikuhiko was at fault for getting them out of his life. He was too selfish. I really liked the fact he recognized it. |
| Now we know why Konatsu thinks Kiku murdered her parents. Maybe Sukeroku got posthumous fame since he became really famous along with Kiku according to the first episode. Hyped for the final episode, that was a really long flashback (11 episodes) |
| Yep that whole scene felt entirely fishy, but that didn't make it any less excruciating...Either way, I won't rest till we get to the bottom of this. As brutal as that was, hearing/seeing Yota in the pv slapped a smile right back on my face. |
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| It was too much for me. I didn't cry so hard from "Byousoku 5 centimeter" ending. |
| でぶ |
Albi-kun said: Kikuhiko was at fault for getting them out of his life. He was too selfish. I really liked the fact he recognized it. Well, sorry, but in real life we don't tend to stay with the same people for the rest of our days. Sometimes we separate. Nobody owes you to stay in any touch with you just because you want it. |
| We have to keep our dreams alive. Something to look forward to. |
damn Shin still got it i missed his rakugo damn the bitch is back and i hope she dies but not him |
AxelucardMar 27, 2016 2:16 AM
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| man I kept screaming at the screen for Sukeroku to let Miyobitchchi fall to her death alone alas it was not so! |
CtrlZEDMar 27, 2016 2:54 AM
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| ... that whore... |
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| BRILLIANT! MASTERPIECE! A WORK OF ART! It was obvious it was going to end somehow like this and it was still phenomenal! Sukeroku's performance was like a clever antithesis of his life and his death. It was amazing. THIS EPISODE WAS AMAZING. 10/10 |
 ☩ Discord: the.path.to.pathos ☩ RateYourMusic ☩ last.fm |
AimeeKite said: Albi-kun said: Kikuhiko was at fault for getting them out of his life. He was too selfish. I really liked the fact he recognized it. Well, sorry, but in real life we don't tend to stay with the same people for the rest of our days. Sometimes we separate. Nobody owes you to stay in any touch with you just because you want it. But it was against himself too. He sacrificed everything and everyone for his Rakugo. It's not like it just so happened they went separate ways. You can't generalize real life situations. |
Albi-kunMar 27, 2016 11:14 AM
| WHAT. It's been a few hours since I watched this episode, immediately after which all I could do for a good half chunk of an hour was to stare at a blank wall and try to register what I witnessed some minutes ago. Not exaggerating here. And I still don't know how to react to everything that went down towards the end of this episode. The knowledge of Sukeroku and Miyokichi's deaths kept breathing down my neck through the entirety of the show, and I had some vague ideas of where it seemed to be heading. But I totally didn't expect things to take THIS turn. Totally caught me off guard there. All I could do was grasp at the utter inconceivability of everything that transpired. I'm not sure if I'm sad, frustrated or plain indifferent to the whole thing. I don't know if I like it or dislike it. In retrospect, all I can say is that it felt… how do I put it… a little too over-the-top compared to the hitherto mellow tone of this show. It felt almost as if it's something sliced out of theatre... OH WAIT. Speaking of… What's this I'm hearing about there being something more to Sukeroku and Miyokichi's deaths than what Kikuhiko narrated? Kikuhiko distorted the 'facts' and there's another version of the incident? Damn, that's a revelation now! In view of that, Konatsu's accusation and this particular shot in the first episode seem to be telling a different story now: Back then I had presumed that the purpose of that shot is only metaphoric--an exaggerated projection of Konatsu's belief that Kikuhiko killed her father--and that what Konatsu perhaps meant was that Kikuhiko could've somehow prevented Sukeroku's death but he didn't, as a consequence of which he's 'indirectly' her father's killer in her eyes. But seems like my presumption was wrong. Could there actually be some literal truth behind that shot after all? It's saddening to know that they won't get to the bottom of this in this season itself. Never have I wished more strongly for a second season of any anime. Also, upon rewatching the first episode, it struck me how Konatsu only stressed her father's death while accusing Kikuhiko of being his killer as if the death of her mother is a separate incident altogether, while going by this episode both her parents died together at the same time in the same circumstances. Her emphasis on Sukeroku's death could perhaps be accounted for by the fact that she was and is still attached to her father while she lacks any such sentiment towards her mother so she might be less affected by her mother's death as compared to that of her father, but it still came off as a bit odd to me. S2, please happen! On a different note, I came across this hilarious image on the discussion thread for this episode on/ r/anime and I thought I'll share it here for some laughs. The caption to the image goes 'Meanwhile in the present'... |
_RikaMar 27, 2016 11:55 AM
| I really expect the last episode to be 50 minutes long as the first. Masterpiece. |
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| This show is a Shakespearean tragedy. |
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