I think the two words that best encapsulate this show are “Fun action”. It seems that every week I get to see something fun with this show, and even when it starts to mire itself in Shonen plot, it still manages to be fun. What deep plot are we dealing with this week? Well let’s find out as we jump into episode 7.
So the episode starts up with Ushio demanding his father tell him about his mother and if she really is still alive. Interestingly enough, he actually dodges these questions and runs out the door telling him that he has an urgent matter to attend to.
It turns out that the father is actually a pretty powerful monk whose job it is to travel around japan and defeat Yokai that are attacking people. However, due to recent developments he calls a meeting with his superiors.
He informs them that the beast spear is now being wielded by his son and Tora is loose. They say that the beast spear needs to be reclaimed and Tora destroyed, but the father tells the leader that he will ascertain if Ushio can be trusted with the spear and if Tora really is a threat. The higher upper agrees and the father returns home.
When he gets home he tells Ushio that if he wants to learn about the truth about his mother he’s going to have to go on a journey. But the father feels that he has to fight Tora to tell what his true nature is, and so the two of them start to fight.
Ushio then jumps in and tells him that they shouldn’t fight. Tora backs down and the father is satisfied with both of them and says that he has their approval.
Unfortunately, a few of the monks from the meeting show up to reclaim the spear even though the boss told the father that she would trust him. Soon Ushio, the father, and Tora all get in a three way fight to beat these people. Unfortunately Ushio gets knocked out so both the father and Tora defeat the monks and they retreat.
The next morning his father wishes him luck on his journey and he heads off with Tora, and that’s where the episode ends.
For the plot really revving up in this episode, there isn’t really a whole lot to talk about in this episode. We found out that last episode his mom was alive, and this episode was more us learning that there is an organization that is very powerful that deals with the paranormal stuff in Japan. We really didn’t learn, well, anything about Ushio’s mom, but I assume that’s because this is the beginning of an arc that I’m sure will save that revelation until the end of it.
Still, I have to say, I don’t know what they’re going to do with Ushio’s mom and i’m actually very interested to see where they go with this. The episode in itself isn’t the greatest episode ever, but I’m more interested about where this episode is leading us.
I will say though that it was interesting that we learned a little more about the father and exactly what he’s capable of. We now know that’s he’s a strong warrior which lends a little more sense to the whole “letting him protect the spear” thing.
A lot of the shows i’m reviewing this season seem to be in the “revving up”phase, and this is very exciting all around. I’m interested in seeing where Gate, Ushio and Tora, and even Monster Musume are heading. As of right now, I’d say there really are no shows i’m disappointed with yet. And that’s a first for me. So come on Ushio and Tora, keep up your bonding with the two main characters, let’s find out about Ushio’s mom, and maybe..just maybe leave Bitch Mcgee out of the equation? Please?
Episode 6.5/10
-Hideki