What’s a thousand minus seven?
Impression
What a great episode! The animation was still patchy at times, and the gore was censored in some of the fights, but most importantly, they delivered on Centipede. We have no idea what happened with Shachi in the end, but I don’t think I really care – Kaneki has ascended to a new level of insanity and mental instability at last. His initial kakuja looked far too much like his original rinkaku kagune during his fight with Shinohara, but I guess it’s incomplete after all – his completed form is speculated by many fans to be a full centipede, much like how the protagonist of Kafka’s book The Metamorphosis transformed into a massive insect. And once he started eating Arata Proto, his kakuja became much bigger and started changing anyway. So it’s on its way! I’m not even sure whether you can even cannibalize a quinque, actually… it’s a quinque after all, and it’s supposed to be fatal to ghouls. But holy shit, he ate a bit of Arata Proto! Of all the possible quinques, that’s like winning the lottery! I really like how incorrigibly crazy Kaneki is when he lets his kakuja take over, but I felt a bit bad when Amon confronted him in all his rage and frustration. Imagine that – he’s been spared by a regretful-looking Eyepatch, the ghoul who started changing his belief that all ghouls were plain evil, and the next time they meet Kaneki can’t even understand him any more. It’s actually incredible that Kaneki still managed to sustain some sort of fighting attempt even with the CRC gas everywhere, and that gas was the only reason Amon managed to take him down. What’s even more incredible is that the One-Eyed Owl isn’t even fazed by it, but I’ll talk about her later.
We had even more suffering this week than we did last week, and it’s not confined to Kaneki at all! In fact, Kaneki going berserk isn’t really suffering in the emotional sense, since he had… no idea what was going on. There were multiple other candidates, the first few being Kuro and Shiro. They haven’t really been involved in much, but I grew to like them somewhere along the line, and so them getting rekt was just as painful as I remember it being, except it was censored this time round. I think I’m okay with that. I don’t want to see knives sticking out of Kuro ;_; Juuzou becomes an okay guy later on, but something about his twisted world view is probably why I didn’t like him much at first. He was such a… Juuzou. Granted, it’s not fully his fault either, and they may or may not explain why later. But yeah, it was made even worse by the small flashback we had at the start, where Kuro and Shiro spoke with a very manly-looking Amon. He recognized them when he came across them, and they recognized him. I don’t know whether he would have attacked, but it’s probably for the best that they never spoke. Even now in the manga we don’t know what happens to Shiro, so hopefully they might give them some closure or something in the adaptation.
Anyway, the second resident sufferer is this guy.
I mean, wow. I never thought I’d say this, but Ayato is so precious ;_; What is it with the CCG and making ghouls suffer? The Ayato vs Shinohara fight never happened in the manga, but I didn’t think he’d react to Arata Proto that badly. It’s like that time when Nishiki got destroyed by Tsukiyama all over again. I want to hug him and tell him his father’s most likely still alive, but instead locked up somewhere and getting his kakuja torn out of him on a regular basis… okay, maybe I shouldn’t tell him that. Even Shinohara felt something. It’s here that we first get some explicit proof that Ayato might not be such a bad guy after all, under all that hate and rage – and that like Touka, he would like his father back. I was worried they’d kill him off actually, because I was under the impression that Kaneki was busy fighting Shachi – and he’d have really died if Eto hadn’t come and saved both him and Kaneki. Yes, it’s Eto – I don’t think there’s much point hiding it any longer, and she’s the only other Aogiri executive even present at Cochlea. It was also a significantly bigger kakuja than Yoshimura, if you remember the first episode.
This is an interesting turn, because this is the point where I can honestly say I don’t know what’s going to happen from here on out. The true One-Eyed Owl never appeared until the very end of the manga, so it’s uncharted territory now even for manga readers – maybe she can get away with having to answer either Ayato or Kaneki’s questions if they’re too dead to notice, but I hope that’s not the case. Changes are happening, and we’re moving into something new at last! What’ll happen next?
Tokyo Ghoul:re chapter 15
[SPOILER START]
Hinami’s become such a beautiful young lady.
She grew up awfully quickly. I’m still sad she’s with Aogiri. Who knows what they’re up to, although they seem to be involved in the auction as well – which means that this’ll be quite a significant event, because it’s been a very long time since all the factions last convened. The CCG are sending Juuzou, the Quinx and Haise, Aogiri are sending Ayato and Torso, and Kanae looks like he’s going to go along as well, with the intent to kill Haise. Nutcracker will be there, and so will Pierrot – who also presumably want to do bad things to Haise. All that’s left are Touka and Yomo, but I doubt they’ll be involved with this sort of underground activity as wholesome, peaceful ghouls. There’s also questions everywhere, as per usual. And Urie being a bitch. I’m not sure why Torso is related to Mutsuki – did I miss something at some point? And who’s “Floppy”? Why does Ayato think that Aogiri’s already ‘finished’ it? My first guess would be Haise, because everyone seems to want to kill Haise, but what’s he done to get himself called Floppy?
[SPOILER END]
I knew it. I knew I’d be just as livid about Juzo… well, at least the complete NONSENSE that was his battle with Kuro and Shiro. It’s the same as in the manga. Juzo didn’t even get HURT this time! I mean, come on: Those two gave Kaneki trouble (if only because he was surprised), but suddenly Juzo can catch them off guard? It’s the only explicit problem I have with this series. If Shiro dies- man, part of me wants her to come back with a Kakuja to teach Juzo a lesson. Literally if possible. As much as I want Juzo to suffer a painful experience to this day… There are better ways and there are people who care about him, so for their sake.
Seeing how the Arata armour may have become sluggish due to Ayato being there has me wondering. Do Ghouls “live” or have some of their sentience in their Kagune? Like the Kakuhou is a “second” brain and is meant to control the “liquid muscle” of the Kagune, but also retains other information if it’s of a very strong Ghoul (of course not many are at Arata’s level).
Bwaha, at 12:31 Kaneki is all like “Don’t you DARE kill my future brother-in-law”! It’s probably a good thing that Shinohara didn’t kill Ayato so that Kaneki wouldn’t eat him in that crazed state and become more powerful. That was a VERY interesting theory you came up with about Arata still being alive. I’d like that and it’d make sense given you-know-who’s upgraded version of the Arata armour later on.
My goodness… I’m not sure if it’s more intimidating to see Owl in its humanoid form at that size, or to see its beast form. I’ll have to wait until I see the latter. Speaking of beast forms, it’s entirely possible that Kaneki could eat enough to have a massive insect-like form, perhaps with guidance from Owl. That was a really neat theory for you to bring up.
[spoiler] To be honest, I’m hoping that Kuro, Shiro and Juzo can be real friends in the future. It’d be nice. However, it’s unlikely, but it got me thinking of something else. If Amon is a half-Ghoul now maybe he’ll be reunited with Kuro and Shiro 😀 That would be such an awesome trio!
In regards to Torso, I think he’s just still longing for Mutsuki after she got away previously.
If anyone gets Haise during the auction battle, I hope it’s Ayato. As for Hinami, I wonder just how much leverage she has in Aogiri with her ability to gather information like no other. Plus, she’s got a qicked Kagune and I’d be surprised if she hasn’t been training with Ayato to become stronger. I really hope we see her in action again- actually, maybe that’s too cruel. I wonder if there are other hybrids currently though![/spoiler]
He’s very strong, and has had lots of… experience with killing ghouls, if you know what I mean. But yeah, he really should have gotten hurt in that fight at least. Maybe Kuro and Shiro were subconsciously holding back because it was ‘Rei’, whereas they felt nothing for Kaneki?
Ah yes, the Arata didn’t respond as well to Shinohara as he expected. It’d be really cool if it really was because of Ayato, and I’m guessing it’s something to do with the fact that it’s a kakuja quinque. Incomplete kakuja users like Kaneki or Yamori have certainly let their kakuja ‘take over’, so I wouldn’t be surprised at all if it had some sort of sentience. And yes, Kirishima Arata is implied to have been very very strong. I’m pretty sure he’s still alive – the CCG have more than one Arata, meaning that they’ve harvested it at least more than once. And the benefits would far outweigh the risk of locking him up. Assuming they have to research it while ‘fresh’, then he’s at least alive when you-know-who gets Arata II. Who knows what’s happened by :re.
The humanoid Owl looks a bit too bulky for my liking, at least with how they’ve animated it standing upright. Beast form will be the true terror!
[spoiler] Imagine if they stuck Yoshimura’s kakuhou into Amon. That would be amazing.
There’s actually a popular fandom pairing in Ayato x Hinami, which was crack up until Hinami actually joined Aogiri. Then its popularity skyrocketed. I don’t particularly ship it but… hey, better than the oddly popular Kaneki x Tsukiyama. Kanae should totally drag him to the auction as well and have him smell out Haise in person. [/spoiler]
I like your kind of thinking! They also may not have been thinking as clearly because Juuzou brings this conflict into their minds of their old life with Humanity and CCG vs Ghouls and doctor you-know-who.
Also, I realized a lot of things about the fight upon closer examination… while watching “Poi” compilations >_> Anyway, it just furthers my original point about the fight… but it’s really long. However, there are two things worth mentioning for sure:
1. Kuro and Shiro only used one of two Rinkaku tendrils they each have unlike in the manga. Either that was to save budget for Kaneki’s Kakuja this episode, or we’re going to see them fight using more of their potential eventually.
2. Shiro’s status hasn’t been confirmed, but Juuzou hit the wrong place and too shallowly to disable her Kakuhou. If he’d done it right she should’ve been almost hanging in half. Of course, this also means you-know-who is an even bigger douche for saying she was beyond saving
I’d really love for Arata to be alive ;_; While we’re at it, can Touka and Ayato have Hikari back, too? Can we have ONE mother in the entire series who isn’t dead?
Concerning Owl, the one thing I’m most excited for is to see if they animate Eto coming out of it with those crazy eyes and expression, but at the same time saying Kaneki’s name in place of what she says in the manga. Now that would be a heck of a way to greet one of your biggest fans, huh?
Oh, Shachi apparently went with Eto to see or prepare to see Rize or whatever is left of her.
[spoiler] Hmm, Amon Koutarou as ‘the Raven’? I could dig it. If he meets Akira again and looks like a modified Owl… It would make for a nice beauty and the beast situation in Tokyo Ghoul!
Amon aside, I think I know who Floppy is. To flop on something means to fail or bail, right? Eto might be referring to Nico then as he left once Yamori died. Aside from the possibility of everyone leaving with different prey at the auction, could this be the beginning of Pierrot finally beginning to be cut down, if only inadvertently? I don’t know if anyone knows about them, even Eto.
Hmm, I’ve never come across Hinami and Ayato being paired. Now that I see they’re likely to be only 2-3 years apart I can dig that, too. Time for research!
As for Tsukiyama… the only way he’s getting to the auction now is like this – http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/jakanddaxter/images/7/73/Krew_concept_art.png/revision/latest?cb=20150123224559 [/spoiler]
I’m going to miss Yuudachi.
So that’s how Eto’s getting Shachi to join Aogiri. Okay, makes sense. Kuro and Shiro’s missing tentacle is probably because of the budget, but the damage they took overall and the fact that this is where their involvement ends in the manga suggests that we may not be getting anything regarding you-know-who, although it’s true that Kaneki can’t exactly pursue his own individual goals as an Aogiri executive.
[spoiler] Tsukiyama’s hand did look a bit chubby, but… it’s not THAT bad, is it? He seriously needs to calmato and go to the auction. It would be very tragic if Amon were to meet Akira as Owl, especially given her reaction to the true Owl this episode. It killed her mother, and like Mado it seems like she has no love lost for it. I do ship Amon x Akira, so it would be terrible if she encounters Amon with the knowledge that he now has a bit of Owl inside him. Also, if Eto’s beginning to crack down on Pierrot, I want Uta to be the first to go, then Romo. That betrayal was disgusting. [/spoiler]
Not sure if you’ve seen the :re Chapter 16 spoilers yet, but if you have:
[spoiler] I still can’t get over how beautiful Touka’s become. Haise has a wonderful waifu waiting for him at home, he’d better hurry up and awaken. I have no idea who she’s visiting though, especially after running through the options in my mind. It’s a human or CCG-based hospital, so the only people I can think of are Yoriko… or Hide. Oh god, I hope it’s not Hide. We never saw what Kaneki did to him, but if he recovered enough to fight Arima I don’t think it was just a little bite. [/spoiler]