Summary:
Nagi is excitedly watching Lolikko Cutie power up from Magical Strange Stone to Magical Handsome Stone when Jin rains on her parade by asking plot and motivation questions. Jin partially makes up for it by repairing the paper parts of Nagi’s magic stick, but the next day he gets badly injured while chasing impurities. This is the final straw for Jin, and he starts asking Nagi some tough questions about why they have to fight impurities and why insect-shaped impurities seem to be a local phenomenon. Oddly, Nagi cannot answer any of Jin’s questions and becomes very upset to the point of running away.
A perplexed Jin encounters Reiri (who thinks Jin is three-timing Hakua), and Reiri theorizes that perhaps Nagi is not a god like she claims. It could be a lie or an honest misconception, but it is strange that Nagi has no proof or super powers. Jin researches the local enshrined deity only to find its identity is unknown, but the book was recently checked out by Nagi. Nagi herself starts thinking about how all her followers are her children before beginning to question her own identity. The last thing we see is a shot of Nagi’s magic stick abandoned and soaked in the rain.
Reaction:
In spite of all the downers, there were a few funny moments. Takako wishing she could live Jin’s visual novel life and Daitetsu’s stalkers angrily calling Jin were great. Shino’s (surprisingly decent) comic was also amusing in detailing Jin’s 15 minutes of inexplicable fame. Although this episode was oddly heavy after the previous lighthearted episodes, I can see now how they are planning to wrap this season up.
I’m pretty sure Nagi really is a god, and this explains her “other” personality. There will be some despair, but in the end Jin will confirm for Nagi she is a god and they will be drawn closer together. Maybe Jin will just make a leap of faith and believe in her (which will power her up and restore some memories). Things will end on a happy note, and future seasons will deal with Nagi’s past and her mission. We can’t be scared to question plot holes, no matter how silly the series!
This post was written by...
Kabitzin – who has written 1970 posts on Sea Slugs! Anime Blog.
One of the founders of Sea Slugs, I handle most of the blog admin tasks while wearing my I AM BOSS shirt. I like my action series well choreographed, and my romance series extra trashy. I also have a soft spot for puns.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
It’s all too much fuss about nothing, if you ask me (all the manga-related drama about Nagi being ‘used goods’). I gather that these foolish otaku haven’t brushed up on their mythology; wakeup call, Gods of ANY pantheon, barring a few rare examples, have never been known for their chastity.
As for the episode itself, some folks found the sudden descent of Kannagi into drama a little jarring, especially when one considers the fact that most of the season was devoted to comedy. I didn’t have that much of a problem myself, but the execution and direction was a little too reminiscent of EVA/RahXephon for comfort.
Haha, the drama about Nagi’s BF was so absurd, as was the drama about the mangaka going into the hospital supposedly because she was so hurt by the rants of otaku. Who knew the internet held such power?!
I didn’t mind the drama, personally. The static and shadows were a little over the top, but didn’t bother me too much. Nagi should really be focusing more on her fanclub website and PR materials if she wants to power up and eliminate impurities.
Well, one can’t underestimate Nerd Rage (or in this case Otaku rage), after all.
Hopefully the drama doesn’t come off as too forced before the end of the season. I mean, Kannagi doesn’t really turn dramatic, really, until the gang heads to the beach (which should be around Volume 5 or so).
2 episodes to go and the whole going around being an idol thing never materialized.
My own take is that the ‘pregnant’ thing is a metaphor for her stewardship of the land and all its inhabitants. I’m guessing that ‘Serious Business Nagi’ (Jin’s childhood, I Can Haz Kitten, Daitetsu I Forgive U) is her full-powered form and her current lack of power causes her to pass out each time she assumes SBN.
Jin’s definitely special. He could catch impurities even when he was a small boy. And I think his carving of Nagi’s statue that allowed her to manifest in human form (rather than taking over the body of a Jin fangirl) is also an indication of that special ability. Where it comes from and how it’s related to Nagi I hope will be explained.
Plus Zange also probably realizes it too since her oneesama didn’t use her route to manifest and so that’s the main reason why she (as opposed to Hakua) is interested in Jin, that shrew!!
nagi is the virgin mary