First half of the episode is about the back story of how Tomoe and Mikage met. The second half; The time for Nanami to pay back her friend after having disappeared while they were at the beach has come. Kei drags along Nanami and Ami with her to a Go-Kon, and Kurama fills in Tomoe about what the gathering is about.
Impression:
So this week we got to see the back story about how Tomoe and Mikage met, a side story featured in the fanbook vol 13.5 that has come out only recently (and I have not come across the English Translation of it yet, so I can’t judge on how accurately they followed the script besides comparing the panels). On the other hand, the second half of the episode did a major jump from where we left off last week (the last chapter of vol 4) to Volume 9 Chapter 50. When I flipped through the volumes to check about what they were skipping, I realized that while they did cut out a chunk of big plot devices that highlights Nanami’s character growth and her relationship development with Tomoe, they at the very least prevented significant spoilers from being revealed.
Tomoe’s backstory killed me with FEELS. I don’t know about you, but it made my heart ache. ;A;
So Tomoe had made a deal with a Fallen God to spend the rest of his life with Yukiji, and as long as he does so- the Fallen God would turn him into a Human. However Yukiji died and as result the Fallen God’s Curse for having broken the deal activates and it causes Tomoe to start dying. Regardless the fact he was on his deathbed Tomoe didn’t care anymore because Yukiji was no longer by his side. After Mikage had met Tomoe and grasped the situation, he helped him get rid of the curse (not permanently though) by removing his memories so that it can’t be activated and makes him his familiar.
I am shocked that they didn’t include the tears, Tomoe had shed when he told Mikage about his loss. I think it would’ve delivered an even bigger impact to the audience. As whole I liked how the back story was delivered, and I found it was a good touch that it was very quiet thank to the lack of background music.
While I don’t know of the literal translation yet for the back story featured in Fanbook 13.5 (because I can’t read Japanese except for the words like かわいい (kawaii) because I know how to spell them and I have at least memorized what あ(a) わ (wa) い (i) Hiragana characters look like), I at least have eyes so I see what panels they decided not to include.
I was also surprised that they decided to cut out the part where Tomoe finally overcomes his anxiety of being around humans, let alone being touched by one after saving the girl who he first rescued on the bridge. It’s not entirely a surprise since we know for a fact that they wanted to follow the material that was being used in the second half properly (which they did very well), but it is a shame to see that cut out. Nevertheless the back story was enjoyable to watch and did its job of piercing me with FEELS like it was supposed to.
So I am going to give them a hand for handling today’s jump considerably well, but mind you I not particularly fond of what they are doing right now. They are using two entirely different chapters that have such a wide gap in between them. What is really bothering me right now is that they didn’t bother using the opportunity to use the final four episodes and continue straight into Volume 5. It annoys me a lot because right now, with all these stupid jumps-
IT IS RUINING, NANAMI’S AND TOMOE’S RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPMENT.
I AM NOT EVEN JOKING.
IT IS DESTROYING IT.
ABSOLUTELY BUTCHERING IT.
Why is that?
Because I am not feeling it! ;A;
During the second half, while they did job tying the back story they covered in the first half about it to Tomoe feeling anxious about Nanami leaving him… it still bothered me because HOLY SHIT, THEY ARE EITHER RE-ARRANGING OR JUST CUTTING OUT ALL THE MATERIAL AVAILABLE THAT FOCUSES ON THEIR RELATIONSHIP GROWTH! THIS IS A ROMANCE, AND YET THEY ARE SKIPPING IT ALL!
/CHOKES A SOB
YOU WANT QUALITY CHEMISTRY AND ROMANCE DEVELOPMENT?
GO AND READ THE MANGA BECAUSE THIS ANIME ADAPTION AT THE MOMENT IS NOT DOING IT JUSTICE.
The second half of the episode was incredibly lacking because of the lack of chemistry and development. So far, within this adaption nothing has progressed on Tomoe’s side of the relationship. Or at least that’s how I feel. We have seen Nanami’s feelings develop. We have seen that she made up her mind not to give up after being rejected. We have seen all of that- but now it’s time for Tomoe’s feelings to develop and taking advantage of the ‘Date’ chapter next week is not the way to go. I know what goodies are in that chapter, and that’s why I am disappointed. Because all of what they’ve been through in Volume 5 and 6 just went down the drain.
You can say that I am too picky, but I can’t help it. I am a such a huge fan of Kamisama Hajimemashita, and I love this series with a burning passion. Seeing it not be given the quality it truly deserves and being handled rather poorly breaks my heart.
To be honest, as I’ve mentioned in one or two of my previous entries: I am actually conflicted whether I should recommend you to go and read the manga right this very second, or just wait till this adaption is finished. It varies really. If you are enjoying the show as it is, then I think it would be better to wait for it to be finished, this way you don’t end up disappointed. If you feel that the developments and plot is lacking and you’re starting to doubt whether this is actually a good series, then I would suggest to you to read the manga to see it’s true quality.
Last week the titles that have been revealed for the final three episodes, and ugh it’s a nightmare really. The moment I saw them, my optimistic hopes for this adaption just shattered in an instant.
(Provided by Shiny @Mangafox Forums: Orignal Post ***Here*** HEADS UP! THERE ARE SPOILERS EVERYWHERE IN THERE REGARDING THE LATEST CHAPTERS SO I ADVISE THOSE WHO HAVEN'T READ THE MANGA YET TO NOT CLICK THE LINK**** #11: The Familiar goes to Town #12: Nanami Stops Being a God #13: I've Started Becoming a God (Kamisama Hajimemashita - the show's title)
*Sniffles* It looks like they are going for an Orignal Anime Ending…
NOW I SWEAR TO GOD, IF THEY MAKE NANAMI DECIDE TO “QUIT” OR MAGICALLY THROW IN MIKAGE SAYING “I’M BACK BITCHES YOU CAN GO NOW!” I AM GOING TO FUCKING EXPLODE.
Lastly, I am sorry: but Kurama singing Kamisama was just horrendous. Sorry dude, it wasn’t good.
. __ . Or maybe it was intentional like my friend pointed out.
LOL OH THE IRONY THAT WOULD BE IF HE WASN’T ACTUALLY MEANT TO BE A GOOD SINGER- AHAHAHA! >__> Maybe it’s pointed out in the fanbook but i just can’t read it yet lol
Next week they are jumping back to Volume 7, featuring Chapter 37 that is about Mizuki going to town (Tokyo) –my guess was off by a week last week hahaha- and Chapter 38 where Namai and Tomoe goes to an Amusement Park./DEAD I never thought I’d say this, but WHYYYYYYYY DAMNIT WHYYYYY?!?! /The Cries of a Kamisama Hajimemashita Fangirl
Oh I realized that I forgot to mention Mizuki LOL.
Poor guy, he had it rough this episode.
I too am upset over the recent jumps in the timeline. I mean, at this point there’s no real reason for Tomoe to be feeling jealous over Nanami hanging out with other guys, which is what that Go-kon chapter was all about really. And seeing Tomoe’s past was nice an all, but the mentioning of his curse doesn’t really link up with anything that’s going on right now, so when the anime’s over the viewers are all going to be sitting there going, so wait what about Tomoe’s curse? what about his memories? :/
In short, WHY COULDN’T THEY JUST FOLLOW THE NATURAL TIMELINE AND DO THE DAMN FESTIVAL ARC IN VOL 5!!?! *kicks a garbage can* With the terribly ominous final episode titles we’ve been given, I think that the only good way they can end this is to have Otohiko put Nanami in a dream for her god test, but instead of having Tomoe be lovey-dovey with her it’ll be a dream where Mikage returns and says she doesn’t need to do his job anymore, she sulks but comes to her senses in the end, and the final episode is everyone getting together to help put together a festival at Mikage shrine, except there won’t be a beautiful kagura dance which I was looking forward to more than anything because YOU SUCK ANIME TEAM!!!
And since that’s the best possible ending I’ve come up with at this point, I already know it’s not going to happen. T.T
Exactly this. I agree with your best possible ending suggestion- it feels like it’s the only way they can somehow make it work. Yet even if that happens, I will be far from satisfied.
Another major disappointment: No signs of Himemiko and Kotarou – MY BABIES ;A;
and the biggest one of all besides-the-lack-of-Tomoe’s-Development-in-their-relationship… *drum roll*
Nanami’s growth as the Land God.
Himemikoooo! Kotarou and his surprisingly manly anime voiiiice!! They have such a great arc later on! It saddens me that they skipped the moon viewing chapter, that was great development for both Hime and Nanami T.T
Ack, you’re right! Until the festival arc when Nanami is working with the shrine’s best interests at heart, she doesn’t do much that’s really worthy of being a land god, so the final episode “I’ve started becoming a god” just sounds like it’ll be really weak because she hasn’t developed much at all in that category. Sure there’s her ofuda, but those aren’t shown to be super effective until she gets her shikigami and really powers up :/
Haaa…I don’t know…I just wish they’d give it an open ending at least, so that they could continue later on…I mean…what was the point of showing Akura-ou in that case? The anime-only folks might not know who he is, but to the manga fans that kind of tease is downright mean! I was so hoping that Kirihito would show up in the last ep as the harbinger of a second season, but without the festival there’s little chance for that happening…(you think he and Akura-ou would have the same VA?)
Yeah an open ending would be better… probably…
Hmm I suppose that Akura-ou and Kirihito would have different voices if we went with how when we typically see ‘body swaps’ where the characters take on the body’s voice rather than their own except for their internal thoughts. But I imagine they would probably keep things simple by making them the same since this isn’t so much of a body swap that can be reverted, but a repossession really.
Hm, well if they do miraculously go with the Shrine Festival for the finale regardless of the ominous titles- then having Kirihito show up as he’s supposed to would be a great tease for a possibility of a second season.