Blue Reflection Ray Episode 22 Discussion

Doomsday770 said:
Hmm,really questioned by this episode,at least all of this damned churches and bell sounds with Shino get a point now. Really her stupid psychotic mother created a sect similar to christianity and make her daughters martyr/savior and she is Lilith or devil in this story. So evil lies in religion,lets burn all churches,crush people faith and let all adults suffer, i think this is what twisted mind of Shino thinking now. So Shino killed herself in first world? After Mio resetting world or it wasn't Mio,anyway i am thinking in present world Shino killed her mother and sect crumbled. I don't like how they postponed final battle for so many episodes, really who cares about Uta and her masochistic urges just let her sleep forever in her dream world of endless pain,she is just a tool to postpone time.
I don't like the theme of this anime with serious problems like sects,religious cults and other stupid adult stuff. Game was about teenage problems (bad grades,one sided love,losing a dream.loneliness,public opinion and etc), i want anime to be about the same problems without religious crap.

Marinate1016 said:


Well luckily all that matters is what Japan wants and likes, not you. So we’ll continue to enjoy the religious themes :)

Fail_Man_X said:
Another backstory, another awful mother.

This episode sure was...something, but...does it show why Shino is trying to get rid of feelings? It feels like there is a disconnect between the flashback and the present (and this is not the first time I've felt this way watching this series). I take it Shino kills her mother then herself, but she's not dead, and now she is invading the Common the get rid of all feelings. Seems like there is a scene or two missing.

Signwritsu said:


I have the same feeling, but we may have enough the connections to come up with a hypothesis or two.

First, while Shino directly points to her mother as a manifestation of what Shino calls 'evil', Shino is probably seeking to address a more societal issue then bearing a grudge against her mother specifically. When Shino says 'evil', she means the feeling of people to despise those whom people deem as unworthy and the advocacy of policies to eliminate those being labeled as unworthy. That is, basically the cultural tendencies of fascism.

Second, recalling what Shino said to Mio, it is possible that Shino does not simply want to eliminate evil - she likely also despises what she calls 'sin'. This 'sin' seems to be a combination of people's self centered motives in sympathizing with those victimized and the unwillingness to act on the situation and help the victimized person. In short, a particular variant of bystander behavior - where people who experience sympathy yet choose inaction.

While there are a few more logical steps required to establish the precise causation between what Shino calls 'evil', 'sin' and feelings, it is not that hard to see that they are somewhat casually related. Clearly both the 'evil' and the 'sin' involve a certain element of feeling - the reinforcement of one's ego, the self confirmation bias about saving society or someone. If all feelings are removed, then the feeling elements are absent and 'evil' and 'sin' thereby technically cannot be committed. If so, then the link between Shino's motivations and actions should be reasonably clear.

(P.S. This is, of course, leaving aside several important questions like whether Shino only sought to end a world where people passionately engaged in what she calls 'evil' and 'sin' or whether Shino really wants a world where people no longer engage in the actions that constitute what she saw as manifestations of 'evil' or 'sin'. However, one has to admit the fact that if no feelings exist, then people shall feel neither happy nor sad, neither love nor hatred, neither hope nor despair, and as a result suffering as a subjective feeling really does disappear.)

KANLen09 said:
The Reflectors encountering young Shino (that is Kano) in the Common, and that's a valued Fragment embodiment to see her egregious past.

A family of twin sisters paraded by a parental figure that disregards moral values, the savior (Shino) and the martyr (Kano). Shino being mind manipulated to do her mom's bidding is just sad, and this religion that which continues this wishful thinking basically kickstarted the corrupt evil within Shino, and Mio did nothing to cure his cold-blooded girl's heart on foresight.

Bad news, Uta has resurfaced to eliminate Kano. Better get rid of her quick before facing Shino.

If this was a 12-episode series, I would have given more attention. Sadly as depressing as this episode was, it took way too long to reach this point to boredom.

DarttheLegend said:
This episode was tonally inconsistent with the rest of the series to date. Incredibly messed up, I am the kind of person who intentionally stays away from super messed up stuff because my heart can't take it and the 21 episodes before this didn't even come close to this level.

I'm actually mad.

Stark700 said:
THIS IS AN ANIME ONLY DISCUSSION POST. DO NOT DISCUSS THE MANGA BEYOND THIS EPISODE.
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Man, this episode was depressing. The falling into the water scene represents a sense of despair flowing down .

At least we did get a deeper look into Shino and her past. She seems like the type of character that really had her life fucked up and needed help.

DarttheLegend said:
This episode was tonally inconsistent with the rest of the series to date. Incredibly messed up, I am the kind of person who intentionally stays away from super messed up stuff because my heart can't take it and the 21 episodes before this didn't even come close to this level.

I'm actually mad.

28012001 said:
A depressing episode with a terrible ending.

28012001 said:

Terrible I mean within the episode, not out universe.

TkWolf01 said:


That does not make it any less enjoyable to watch. The Anime is very interesting from start to finish. If this is what made you mad, that is very pathetic.

TkWolf01 said:


That last quote you made is a reference to Madoka Magiaca/Magia Record that the Anime references.

DarttheLegend said:


It seems like English may not be your first language, so I'm trying to be understanding here. It seems as though you've misunderstood what I'm "mad" about. I'm upset that there were no hints or tone-setting events that told me earlier than episode 22, "this series isn't for you." there are, of course, many people who can handle this level of incredibly dark content, but not me, the rest of the series doesn't resemble this episode and I wish there would've been some sort of warning for people like me who are too empathetic to handle that kind of thing. I am psychologically effected by scenes like that on a level you can't possibly understand.

HOOfan_1 said:

Not that this show is grounded much in reality, but I don't think the Japanese authorities would be ignoring a little girl touring the country, claiming to be from the future, and advocating genocide. Not one who is obviously touring around the country with her mother and twin sister, who the mother is trying to claim doesn't exist, despite the fact that she is standing in the same room as her twin.

So was that bloody sock before Shino jumped supposed to indicate she killed her mother? Also, was Shino supposed to be a ghost? It clearly seemed like she jumped.

ArtemisMeiko said:
Damn, this episode was pretty good but so messed up I think it almost made me vomit.
When it comes to it some of the characters are what makes this show interesting..... especially their background
but honestly the overall presentation of this series isn't the best and that's why its rated so low.

KANLen09 said:
The Reflectors encountering young Shino (that is Kano) in the Common, and that's a valued Fragment embodiment to see her egregious past.

A family of twin sisters paraded by a parental figure that disregards moral values, the savior (Shino) and the martyr (Kano). Shino being mind manipulated to do her mom's bidding is just sad, and this religion that which continues this wishful thinking basically kickstarted the corrupt evil within Shino, and Mio did nothing to cure his cold-blooded girl's heart on foresight.

Bad news, Uta has resurfaced to eliminate Kano. Better get rid of her quick before facing Shino.

If this was a 12-episode series, I would have given more attention. Sadly as depressing as this episode was, it took way too long to reach this point to boredom.

lucio54 said:
This ep was truly disturbing....dude.

TkWolf01 said:


The Anime the way it presented itself is fine. I have no issues at all with it. So no complaints from me. People rated it low. And reading some reviews came from.people who never played the game. They don't know the storyline. And didn't bother to figure it out. Or they just don't like new that isn't 90's based Anime. Reading reviews like that make you think that people are stupid.and attacked the Anime unfairly. Which is sad. It's a beautiful Anime. With a good storyline. People who attacked the Anime said they got confused and didn't even know what the storyline is even about. It's crap like that, that makes people's reviews and opinions invalid.
I'm all like continue watching the Anime. Go play the video games. And figure out what the dang story is even about. And if you like.only 90's based Animes, than leave. Don't attack a new Anime just cause you prefer 90's based Anime i told some people in there reviews. It just makes than look like a dumb@$$.

There are some returning characters appearing in the 2nd game like Hirahara Hiori. And some other characters. I highly recommend checking out the Anime from start to finish without dropping it at all. Like later on in the Anime you get to see Shino's past. And what made her turn evil like she did. It's honestly worth watching until the end. I hope the evil Reflectors have a chance to return for the 2nd game. They would make for great fights and boss fights in the 2nd game. Not just monsters and creatures. But actual humans you can fight like they did in the Anime. Please do watch the Anime. And please do finish it. And not drop it. The Anime picks up. And gets very interesting. I like the character designs, story and art style. It is very unique.

TkWolf01 said:


I have seen by far worst Episodes. This isn't the worst.

KANLen09 said:
@TkWolf01 not gonna quote the whole thing, but I've tried to give many chances with the anime. Don't ever intend to touch the game as IMO it's quite mediocre from what I've heard, and there's no hype supporting it either.

The anime itsef is a sad, sad joke of a promotional material.

KANLen09 said:
@TkWolf01 seems like this argument is going nowhere, and I shall not comment any further. If anything, this anime sure doesn't give me the conception to play the actual game, and is a rather bland one. Take it as you will, I have definitely played other games that have bad anime adaptations (take the Persona 5 the Animation as an example), and those games are as you say, good.

But Blue Reflection? Go and see the Metacritic scores for yourself, and judge them as you will.