Nagi no Asukara Episode 10 Discussion

IShipIT_AD said:
OMG, I ended up posting before I got properly done with it by mistake earlier.

Love this series. Watched all 10 episodes in a row, and I'm loving it. Love the premise, plot, characters and relationship progression. And OMG, the relationship drama. Its got me hooked on it like fish on bait! :D

I might be one of the few, but I adore all of the main cast [and the supporting casts as well]. Of course I have a favorite [Chisaki] and I love some a bit more than others [Tsumugu=Kaname=Hikari >Manaka], but that has more to do with personality archetypes, rather than there being anything to actually dislike.

I just really like them and feel they're all plenty likable and relatable, or grow to be, with no exceptions whatsoever. People hating on one or the other for something or the other are not trying to read the character in their most sympathetic light, imo.

And I think this series is so underrated. It’s not generating as much discussion as I would like. And OMG the shipping potential is amazing<3

One of the best things about this series, is that they've developed the relationships between all of the main cast so well, that romantically, development in any direction would make sense, and that makes it really hard to predict where it’s going to eventually go. And that is a very rare thing to see in a romance drama. I love it. I’m thoroughly enjoying all the episodes, especially since I appreciate all the relationship dynamics in the series for the most part.

Excuse me for this Massive inevitably ship-spazzy-character-centric text. [I’m unloading everything all at once] :D So, its gonna be shipping shipping shipping!!! Mostly and a bit of other stuff.

Ep. 9 [pre-Ep 10 thoughts].

I’m seriously anticipating more details about the whys/whats/hows of the calamity everyone’s hyping up and how exactly they’re going to resolve it.

Aside from that, I'm seeing increasingly polarized overreactions to anything the main casts do in every episode. It’s like people expect the feelings and the relationships to be set in stone right from the get go.

In any case, isn’t it good conflicts are being introduced between them right now, so they can get some development from a perspective a fair distance away and outside of the bubble of their current pre-occupations to prompt development? I think it’s great that things aren’t being resolved too quickly.

If they're ever going to get together at all, they're going to have to break apart for a period of time and develop with others while maintaining their friendship, strained or otherwise, before they begin to realize they don’t want to be apart from each other after all [or get together as more than friends only to realize the exact opposite.] It just remains to be seen how it’s all going to go down.

Episode 9 did two crucial things.
1. hyped the impending Calamity.
2. it picked the two most complex relationships from the intricate tangle of relations that is the main cast and subjected them to the initial hurdle of the existing points of conflict between them.

I'd like to point out that the two relationships the series chose to drive a wedge between and escalate tensions, right before things get tense on a larger scale, are HikariManaka and TsumuguChisaki. This is not to say that they will become endgame, but that this episode gave us a glimpse of what angle of angst they're going to play to the hilt before levelling on the endgame pairings.

I want TsumuguChisaki and HikariManaka rather than the more predictable ManakaTsumugu.

Hikari and Manaka

As much as I sympathize with Hikari [man, I’ve really grown to like this kid], I don’t think it’s fair to hate on Manaka at all. She's done nothing wrong other than to understandably overreact to something unexpected and unfamiliar to her. I can't say what exactly prompted her to push him off, but I reckon that while it may be a combination of things like Tsumugu, Chisaki, confusion and overwhelmingness, I'm also banking that an onslaught of unfamiliar emotions springing up when he hugged her, scaring her to death; might be the primary cause. The episode is called Unknown warmth for a reason. Manaka has never thought about seeing Hikari in a romantic light right until then; so of course it was shocking. I don’t see any blatant rejections, only suggestions/ or perceptions of it.

Tsumugu>Chisaki<Kaname

Since Tsumugu’s obvious interest in Chisaki became evident [I notice many are reluctant to consider the romantic implications in it, even though the OP sorta blatantly implies it too, but whatever, I get that this is mostly because, such a development is disappointing and discouraging for the Manaka-Tsumugu and Hikari-Chisaki shippers], I can’t consider Tsumugu-Manaka as a ship [I’d] be interested in anymore.

Not because I don’t see the series going there anymore, [its still possible], but because Chisaki being Tsumugu’s first preoccupation sealed the deal for me in the other direction.

The Tsumugu-Manaka ship can’t get any better than the complexities and tension represented in the Tsumugu-Chisaki ship for me. I think we’re bound to get a star-crossed, transcending-conflicts-between-land/sea dwellers romance ship among the main cast [aside from Akari-Itoru, who are supporting cast] anyway, and among the main cast, Tsumugu-Chisaki best exemplifies to me, the ultimate resolution to the conflict between land and sea, because of what each of them metaphorically represent [ change V. anti-change].

But if it doesn't eventually go there and I really want it to, I'm okay. I’m quite pleased with the angle of angst introduced in Ep 9. I love Tsumugu's preoccupation with Chisaki's romantic aspirations and her emotional state of mind. I also love Kaname’s preoccupation with Chisaki as well. I love how it seems like both Tsumugu and Kaname seem to be somewhat aware of the other’s interest in Chisaki. And I’m willing to bet Kaname is finally going to make a move on Chisaki because he sees the potential of Tsumugu-Chisaki and wants to cockblock it XD [lol, the calamity might have something to do with it as well]

What I got from him, was that as long as it was just Hikari, he was content to wait things out [I’m convinced that either -he was aware that Hikari-Chisaki wouldn’t go anywhere because of Manaka, and eventually Chisaki might potentially fall into his arms when he makes his move at exactly the right time or -he would be willing to step aside if Manaka went for Tsumugu and Hikari-Chisaki happened, because Hikari is his best-friend and Hikari is who Chisaki really wants], but now that Tsumugu’s unpredictably inserted himself into the other side of the love equation, I expect he sees a real potential of losing Chisaki to the surface, [if she allows herself that kind of leeway], and he does nothing to prevent it.

I’m also very curious to see how far Chisaki’s going to avoid thinking rationally about Tsumugu now that she’s decided she despises him. It’s probably going to take a very long time for her to come to terms with him and what he could represent for her. The tension between these three is perfect to me. I love how there’s the beginnings of an actual love triangle at work here unlike the other one. I’m really all on board for it.

Tsumugu and Chisaki is where my heart's really at. I love them individually as much as I love them together. I quite like Hikari X Manaka, Kaname X Chisaki and Hikari X Chisaki too, but I love them more individually than as a pair.

I'm probably one of the very few people that actually sees this excruciatingly wonderful ship, but I've been sold on Tsumugu X Chisaki since Ep. 5, and with Ep. 9 and 10 giving me exactly what I wanted [hoped for & predicted], it’s definitively shaping up to be my OTP of the series.

Heck, it is already The OTP of this series for me as of now, despite how much I really like Kaname X Chisaki and how much I like both, HikariXChisaki and HikariXManaka.

I love Manaka and I really like her interactions with Tsumugu, but while they come off as sweet, endearing and friendly, they don't come off as intimate, romantic or intense, [to me] and if they do at all, it’s always on Manaka's end. In other words, it’s lacking the romantic tension to draw me in. Recent episodes have driven home that she [or others] simply doesn't register on Tsumugu's perceptive radar the way Chisaki does. Period.

Ep. 10

The calamity sounds as intensely eerie and ominous as they amped it up to be in previous episodes. Love how much tension, uncertainty, confusion, and restrained emotion is evident in the interactions between the main cast.

I don’t like the whole sleep thing. Its just way too creepy and menacing for my tastes. However, I kind of see the potential of a time-skip. I didn’t like the time-skip idea at first, but it does pose some interesting possibilities if it does happen, so I’m not entirely opposed to it.

That detail about Uroku-sama being in love with a human girl was delicious. I want to know more.

And OMG Kaname !!! Yes! Go Kiddo!! Fantastic character development right there, though I do think that since it happened so damn fast, it will eventually work against him to the end.

But He confessed! I hadn’t expected that. I totally thought he’d make some kind of a blatantly romantic move on her that will leave Chisaki with no doubt that he likes her, developing both of them a bit, but I didn’t expect him to bluntly come right out with it. I do believe its desperation that got him to do so. I’m thrilled he played his cards straight, but at the same time, I also feel like he played all of his cards way too soon.

And this unfortunately, [or fortunately for me, since I love Tsumugu X Chisaki more], means that whatever development they might get the next couple of episodes now, may ensure that they do not make it to endgame. Especially since for Chisaki this really seems to be coming out of nowhere. Same goes for Tsumugu’s declaration last episode. Lol, poor Chisaki, she now has to deal with confusing emotions with respect to not one or two, but three guys, that she has a very unique range of feelings for; [though as much as I like Hikari and Hikari X Chisaki too, he’s obviously not really in the running here].

Reason I ship Tsumugu over Kaname with her is simply because Tsumugu gets under her skin in a way Kaname doesn’t and it’s something that even Kaname notices about her in Ep 9.

[not to mention, he seems fully aware of Tsumugu being the real proverbial elephant in their relationship- I like how he pokes fun at her or rather teases her about him in Ep 10, while she pretends to not give a fuck about the land boy that she has had very intimate conversations with- She seems to be playing the classic avoidance game and suppressing her feelings the same way she usually does- and Kaname means to take full advantage of it.- I also like her sideways glance when Tsumugu speaks. It’s pretty evident that there’s undercurrents of something between them-whatever it is. And, that it’s not quite over for them yet. Which is why I’m feeling the whole Kaname X Chisake train gradually, but steadily heading into a bit of a wreck.]

Back to Hikari and Manaka, even though I fully believe Manaka likes Tsumugu for all the right reasons, and is romantically attracted to him, I don't think there's any doubt at all that Hi-kun is the most important centre of her universe and no one, not even Tsumugu can beat that.

[Not that he wants to try mind you, I don't get how no one's caught on to the fact that there's no actual love triangle here [yet], Any Manaka-Tsumugu we've seen in the past 9 +10 episodes have been Manaka --> Tsumugu and Hikari's angst regarding them. It’s more like they're playing up the angst of a possible Manaka-Tsumugu for Hikari and others who are affected by it, rather than it being an actual, existing reality. ]

Tsumugu is oblivious and/or simply not curious or interested in the romantic dynamics of Hikari-Manaka despite being witness to plenty of such evident flags. I can only say that it really doesn't matter to him whether Manaka and Hikari are romantically interested in each other or not-which is why he simply hasn't bothered to think along those lines where they are concerned.

In contrast, he is curious about Chisaki's romantic aspirations. He is always the one that initiates their conversations. I can understand a bit why some people have begun to feel like post- Ep. 4 Tsumugu seems a little overbearing or attempting to push forward his opinions where Chisaki is concerned, but I’m feeling like that might be intentional.

Maybe it’s because it’s Chisaki that he is unusually more emotive, involved and confrontational than he normally is. You don't see him being that forward or edgy or demanding with anyone else the way he is with Chisaki. I am sticking to my assumption that this is because he has some kind of vested romantic interest in her [meaning he cares for her way more than he should].
[Back to Ep.9]

This also comes back to people not quite getting why Chisaki was so angry with Tsumugu last episode- It’s not only because he gets right to the heart of her matter, but also because Tsumugu really doesn't get it all- that he is in fact, the catalyst and original source of all the drama in the first place. Its why she says he doesn't understand anything, because even if he understands the crux of her problem, even if he's being kind, he's oblivious to the bigger picture.

Essentially, all he's seeing is her. All he's concerned about is how she feels and how she should make herself feel better, because that's all he is aware of. Other aspects are escaping his notice because, [like it or not] for the last 5 episodes or more, Chisaki has been the object of his preoccupation.

She's infuriated [quite irrationally] with him, because even though she can’t help liking the guy for being kind, she still resents him for being the catalyst to everyone ‘changing’ [[something the series has made it a point to note that Chisaki is very much resistant to]] and he does not even know it. From her POV, she’s feeling like he has no right to confuse her further and tell her he likes her the way she is and to not change, when she’s been trying hard to adapt to events he set in motion in the first place.

Tsumugu is a metaphorical symbol of change for her and also the one that’s pushing her the hardest to change, but in ways unfamiliar to her, and that is what she despises most about him. But this also means he is able to get under her skin like no one else can. He’s confusing her and unsettling her, so it’s easier to hate him and pretend like he hadn’t said anything worth thinking about.

For Tsumugu, the edge to his voice comes when she begins to tell him exactly why she’s giving up on Hikari. He is not liking that she is neglecting her feelings because she can’t forgive herself for liking Hkari. From the incomplete picture he has, he can’t see why she needs to forgive herself for feeling the way she does. It bothers him so much that he directly blurts out to her that he does not dislike the way she is to reassure her, but unfortunately for him, his well-meaning sentence backfires on hm.

All he really wants is to make her feel better, but he keeps putting his foot in his mouth and making her angry instead. I feel really sorry for Tsumugu in all this. He really has the disadvantage because he’s from the land and the outsider that cares more than he should. He can’t chase after her the way Kaname can when she runs away from him too. Something about that got to me.

I love how visibly shaken he is after their departure together, and I especially loved that lost look and fist-clenching, angsty bit of fire-staring he did later on.

I really hope that someday, she puts him out of his misery. [I hope the same for Hikari too, who’s been similarly shown to be more expressively angst-ing because of Manaka. Kaname seemed to be getting a bit antsy as well, but I found it interesting that the focus on him [and Manaka with Tsumugu’s grandfather as well] was mostly one-ended, and involved them gaining some kind of insight into the object of their romantic interest. –[which I believe will eventually [much later in the series] help them let go/accept that Chisaki/Tsumugu is not meant for him/her] Manaka also has Hikari to contend with as well]

Yes. I’m very much in love with this ship. i just like it more because the potential for angst and conflict is maximum in this route and we do atleast get that starcrossed land-sea romance ship between two of the main cast, with the refreshing twist being, that its not the predictable Manaka X Tsumugu that everyone thought it would be.

And for those that feel Tsumugu is bland, or not emotive enough [I don't really think so, for the record:D nor do I think he’s depressing or abnormally philosophical for his age. He hasn’t really come up with anything that complex for his age yet.], this route would effectively rectify that XD.

Becaaause, LOL, there's no doubt at all its going to take a lot of emoting and effort on his part to make a girl like Chisaki, who's so resistant to change and leaving the sea for the surface [not to mention other roadblocks like her feelings for Hikari, Kaname's feelings for her, Manaka's feelings for Tsumugu & the UrokuSama-land/sea dweller-SeaGod-conflict etc. etc. ], to be willing to let herself fall in love with him.

And because of it, out of all of them, she does seem to have the most potential to shake him. [[I really loved that lost look and that still bit of angsty fire-staring he did after Chisaki and Kaname left together<3]].

As it stands now, [and they could keep going back and forth on it] I believe, its evident that each of the main cast, [Tsumugu included] have become potentially entangled, and consciously or subconsciously attached themselves to a potential love that's bound to be the most challenging, painful and difficult route for them.

For the record, I don't think there's been any actual romantic development in any particular direction thus far, but the seeds for it have been definitively sown. Ep. 9 just hit the tip of that iceberg. I'm thoroughly anticipating that moment when they finally take that actual romantic plunge. [Kaname is the boss, because he went there first. A blatantly direct confession without mincing any words and making his romantic intentions perfectly clear.]

Anyways, this is how I see it! And I don’t really care if it doesn’t go my way. I’m just in it for the ride. If you really care about the characters; people need to brace themselves for a number of abrupt breaks and shifts in their pairing dynamics before the true climactic end pulls through.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the last two episodes, as I have every episode before. I thrive on timely conflict angst and tension between my chosen pairs, and I can't really lament on it when that's what makes me root for them anyway.

Gosh, it’s been forever since I’ve been so excited for a series and involved myself in any shipping. [ I’d really hate for it to get ugly though. Shipping’s supposed to be a fun exercise.]

And Gosh, I’m awfully embarrassed at how long and shippy my post is, but I needed to get it out there. I wish there were more Tsumugu X Chisaki shippers out there<3 I’d love to spazz some more about their crazy potential.

xchee said:
Hikari, take note. THAT is how you confess.

xchee said:
Hikari, take note. THAT is how you confess.

mayukachan said:

^

HikariJake said:


I wonder what the hell Manaka asked...

heiqi1hu said:
I want to cheer for Kaname! Regardless of who he likes!!

Red_Keys said:
I wish Kaname wasn't so neglected. He's a main character, but so far, a lot of the side characters have gotten deeper characterizations and more focused screen time than him.

I hope this is indicative of the show focusing on him a bit as well from now on like the rest of the main cast.

Loved the end of this episode though.