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Mar 19, 2021 7:57 AM
#1
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Jun 2017
5
Wall of text incoming!
Also I apologize beforehand for any grammar mistakes. English is not my native language.

Higurashi is one of my favourite series. I discovered it through anime 6 years ago and some years later I read visual novel. What originally made me interested in series was mystery and suspense. But then it turned out to be something more. It became story about group of people, that had to deal with their personal issues. That made me really like Higurashi, a story about group of friends trapped in repeating spiral of tragedies, some caused by themselves. This resulted in lots of emotional moments. It was good to see these characters growth wich later arcs and realizing their mistakes. I was rooting for Rika and her friends to finally win and it happened after lots of hardships and suffering. It was well deserved miracle.

With Higurashi Gou, Rika was thrown again into the loop. I was very interested what the story has to show and in what direction it will go. I took liking in art style. Voice actors were gladly the same. Opening and ending were very good and they set the atmosphere and expectations.

First disappointment hit with episode 4. After 3 episodes with very much the same content as original, it finally showed something new and interesting, only to end it quickly and move to the next arc. The same happened with next two arcs.

This is clearly a sequel. Then why first 13 episodes looked like reused versions of older arcs? It just looks like creator did not have any idea how to write new arcs around new mystery, so he copied from original, add minor differences and too little new scenes, which for most parts looked liked last minute plot twists to shock the audience. From my perspective, there was barely new content to keep me interested.

And it's not even the only problem. Rika already know the culprit and she said, that she's gonna get back her happy ending. Then why very little was done by her in first 3 loops? Patting Tomitake's head and giving Keiichi some advice can't be called an attempts to fight with looming tragedy. In matsuribayashi arc from Higurashi Kai, she asked Irie, Tomitake and Akasaka for help. Then she talked with her friends and Ooishi to prepare a plan to fight with Takano and mountain dogs. Only with this she finally defeat the fate. And somehow in Higurashi Gou she forgot how to fight and ask for help.

Mystery aspect was lacking. It became very obvious who was working behind the scenes since ep 8. Even another looper theory was formed during that time. Problem is the plot, which followed original for the most part and gave too few new scenes. Thus it was easy to work out a theories that were later confirmed in second half.

Horror aspects were hit or miss. I liked scenes with Rena coming upstairs or banging on the door in Keiichi's house, but disliked USODA and Mion ladder scene. Some of them had great atmosphere and looked creepy and others clearly lacked execution or build up.

Soundtrack was unfortunately disappointing. Nothing really stands out. There were few new tracks, but most of them were lazily copied from the old anime. And for most scenes I had a feeling that music was too quiet. Too bad ost from visual novel weren't included, because it's great.

That's my rating for first 3 arcs:
Onidamashi 6/10
Watadamashi 5/10
Tataridamashi 4/10

Let's move to Nekodamashi arc. Episode 14 showed something new and interesting. Finally Rika's perspective has been shown and her despair after earlier tragedies. It gave me high hopes, that second cour will redeem this show.
And how I was wrong by episode 15. It was pointless episode with unnecessary gore. These scenes were supposed to make me feel bad for Rika, but instead it made me angry at creators for wasting what could be very good 4 or 5 loops, especially the Akasaka one. They just decided to speed run Rika's deaths. I would rather watch full versions of these arcs instead of previous three. And even though the rest of the arc was good, I was still bitter about what was wasted in single episode.

But on the good note, it was also the arc, where most of my theories find confirmation and some clarifications have been made to what was actually going on. Satoko reveal as a looper was cool. Takano apologizing to Rika was something, I always wanted to see. Some more club activity was a welcome.

My score for Nekodamashi is 6/10. Could be better if not for ep 15

Moving to the next one.

I really liked Satokowashi chapter when it started. It felt like a propel sequel. It was nice to see older characters and their life outside of June 1983. Ep 19 insert song sounded sweet and at the same time melancholic. And life of two close friends in Saint Lucia was what I expected, Rika quickly adapted to environment, but Satoko on the other hand felt like she didn't belong.

It really was Satoko's time to shine. Getting her perspective was nice change. I actually understood her pain of feeling left behind. I only wished that a little more of her life in school was shown. Her becoming a looper was a good twist. I also liked slower pace, except for ep 22. Teppei having change of heart was very suprising and in a good way. Also good to finally known what's up with Takano.

It could be 8/10 arc, BUT

Why making Satoko go full psychopath after she learned of all Rika's suffering?

Satoko looper is really interesting concept. Obviously it painted her in a bad way, but I though 'It's Ryoukishi story, so there's something more going on, than just Satoko messing with timeloops'. And the twist was... there was no twist.
Satoko became crazy and obsessed about keeping Rika forever in Hinamizawa. And transition was unbelievable. In the same episode, she went from 'trying to convience Rika' to 'I will make Rika surrender'. Where was even the though process, which resulted in that decision? It just felt unnatural and forced. Considering her actions in damashi arcs, she just became irredeemable. I absolutely hate the direction with Satoko's character.

Satoko in full 'Lambdadelta mode' looked like somebody wanted to write Umineko fan fiction about lesbian witches in the world of Higurashi and it's not a good sign. I don't care about origin story of witches, if it means destroying characters and themes of the original.

Therefore I will lower my score by 2 and give Satokowashi 6/10

Higurashi Gou is anime, which obviously tried to please both newcomers and old watchers, but it failed on both fronts. Newbies got confused by revelations in later half and old fans were bored with first half of anime. But at least for the second group it was a bit more enjoyable, because they could easily spot the differences and make theories. Show has multiple good concepts, but some of them were badly executed due to poor writing or direction. There were lots of things I liked, but also a lot of things I disliked.

Overall 5/10

As of now, Higurashi Gou does not live up the original visual novel and anime. It destroyed the theme of friendship and shallowed Rika's 100 years suffering for the sake of...? What is even the point of this sequel? It adds nothing to the original story and completely ruins the ending of Higurashi Kai, which Rika with help from her friends worked so hard for.

Well, this is my opinion. You may agree or disagree. I just wanted to express my thoughts.

I hope Higurashi Sotsu will change things for the better, but... I don't even know if I want to watch it. Direction is what really worries me. If it just going to be Lambdadelta and Bernkastel backstory with no good resolution, I will just pretend it doesn't exist.
Mar 19, 2021 8:15 AM
#2

Offline
Nov 2013
5488
"Why making Satoko go full psychopath after she learned of all Rika's suffering?"

Because she is
1) stupid
2) a victim of abuse, so also mentally broken, especially fatal at such young age
3) likely still to some extent vulnerable to Hinamizawa syndrome.

If any of the cast were to go bonkers in such way, it makes most sense for it to be Satoko. Remember, she killed her parents.
You all need to watch Nami.

Mar 19, 2021 9:09 AM
#3

Offline
May 2020
610
abystoma2 said:
"Why making Satoko go full psychopath after she learned of all Rika's suffering?"

Because she is
1) stupid
2) a victim of abuse, so also mentally broken, especially fatal at such young age
3) likely still to some extent vulnerable to Hinamizawa syndrome.

If any of the cast were to go bonkers in such way, it makes most sense for it to be Satoko. Remember, she killed her parents.


1. Is not a justification. She's not retarded. She should know whats right and wrong. Lets not treat Satoko like a kindergardner.

2. Victims of abuse often often try to inflict on others what they went through. Surely you agree that what shes doing is excessive? Some people say that she in insane, but I can confidently say that the proper diagnosis is psycopathy.

3.False. I talked in depth about this in the ep 24 thread. Satoko shows none of the HS symptoms. Zero. Absolutely none at all.

Even then HS should not affect her in the sea of fragments. Which is not a physical world but instead part of the Meta world.

-----

Satoko killed her parents under the effect of terminal HS. She didnt intentionally kill her parents.
ChargecoulombMar 19, 2021 9:15 AM
Mar 19, 2021 9:41 AM
#4
Offline
Jan 2021
15
The show was good liked the arc it was the mcs switch I didn’t like it was keilchi to rika to satoko things it only Focus on those three then it focus on satoko and rika crazy thing is eps 23 keilchi was watching satoko playing the game snapping the fingers he was than keilchi was just looking I think keilchi is looping to
Mar 19, 2021 11:25 AM
#5

Offline
Nov 2013
5488
Chargecoulomb said:
abystoma2 said:
"Why making Satoko go full psychopath after she learned of all Rika's suffering?"

Because she is
1) stupid
2) a victim of abuse, so also mentally broken, especially fatal at such young age
3) likely still to some extent vulnerable to Hinamizawa syndrome.

If any of the cast were to go bonkers in such way, it makes most sense for it to be Satoko. Remember, she killed her parents.


1. Is not a justification. She's not retarded. She should know whats right and wrong. Lets not treat Satoko like a kindergardner.

2. Victims of abuse often often try to inflict on others what they went through. Surely you agree that what shes doing is excessive? Some people say that she in insane, but I can confidently say that the proper diagnosis is psycopathy.

3.False. I talked in depth about this in the ep 24 thread. Satoko shows none of the HS symptoms. Zero. Absolutely none at all.

Even then HS should not affect her in the sea of fragments. Which is not a physical world but instead part of the Meta world.

-----

Satoko killed her parents under the effect of terminal HS. She didnt intentionally kill her parents.


1. She kinda is honestly. Keyword: should. And yes, it is not a justification. But an explanation. Actions of the character don't have to be justified as long as they are explainable.

2. Excessive, yes. But see point above.

3. Keyword: vulnerable to. I wouldn't be surprised if it would still come into play later

4. Repressed memories of that event could have sped up the descend into madness though.

You all need to watch Nami.

Mar 19, 2021 12:59 PM
#6

Offline
Oct 2014
623
@Barthamos
Have you considered writing this as review? I'd find it helpful.

abystoma2 said:

1) stupid
2) a victim of abuse, so also mentally broken, especially fatal at such young age
3) likely still to some extent vulnerable to Hinamizawa syndrome.

1) I don't think being stupid has anything to do with this.
Seeing others suffer and then cause suffering yourself isn't stupidness.
2) This is kinda double edged blade.
I guess it's true that Abuse Victims (especially boys) tends to get more violent. But the other half says that those who get hurt are usually more kind.
3) Satoko shows no signs of symptoms of HS, also all things considering, it's highly unlikely HS has anything to do with Satoko's behaviour.
That is if we consider HS as we know it.

I think it's more likely that either the classical "Power corrupts" is happening, or eua is feeding her something we don't know details about

Intelligent gets through situations which wise avoids.
Mar 19, 2021 1:16 PM
#7
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Jun 2017
5
@Hulio
I just wanted to share some thoughts, but I guess I can write this as review.
Mar 19, 2021 1:36 PM
#8

Offline
Aug 2012
1982
@Hulio

You are correct Satoko wasn't suffering from HS. In fact throughout entire series she never had if I recall.
Mar 19, 2021 2:01 PM
#9

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Jun 2019
6636
MsNewWonder said:
@Hulio

You are correct Satoko wasn't suffering from HS. In fact throughout entire series she never had if I recall.


She did when she pushed her parents off the viewing platform atop the cliffside. The only one who didn't fall victim to becoming symptomatic of the disease, besides Rika herself obviously, was Mion.
Mar 19, 2021 3:29 PM

Offline
Nov 2013
5488
Hulio said:

1) I don't think being stupid has anything to do with this.
Seeing others suffer and then cause suffering yourself isn't stupidness.

I mean stupid as in "my friend isn't talking with me that much anymore and when she offered me help with studying she didn't do it as "equals" enough, so guess I'll go onto a multi-reality killing spree".
You all need to watch Nami.

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It’s time to ditch the text file.
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