xxxHolic
Ep.7 "Hydrangea"
This episode is really clicking with me as I write this guide as Tokyo is now in the midst of it's yearly "Rainy Season" which is something this episode focuses on greatly.
While I usually enjoy the "Rainy Season" (any thing's better than the humidity!), Watanuki seems to have had enough of it as the episode starts with him mumbling about the volume of rainfall recently. His mumbling is interrupted however by a sudden whack to the back of his head and the arrival of a red haired girl who yells at him to respect the rain as numerous beings need it and then asks him for help.
Later on, Maru, Moro and Mokona have decided to keep the mysterious woman entertained at Yuko's while Watanuki explains to Yuko why he brought her here. Yuko explains that the woman in a rain spirit which are held in hight regard.
Yuko then decides to talk to the rain spirit and finds out that she wants Watanuki to help her do something only he can do. Yuko agrees to let her use him... but for a price. Watanuki is furious that Yuko sees him as something to be outsourced.
As Watanuki's quest starts, he and the rain spirit go over to ask Domeki to join them. Only the rain spirit knows why. Domeki is a bit suspicious at first but agrees to come along.
Next up, strangely enough, is Himawari with whom they need to ask for an item of clothing she's wearing. Watanuki tries the Japanese-indirect approach, but Domeki just asks her and she gave him a ribbon from her hair, no problem. Of course Watanuki spazzes out over the Domeki and Himawari interaction.
While the boys had been talking to Himawari, the rain spirit had been hiding. When asked why she was hiding from her, she explains that Himawari's name means "lightning". Why wouldn't a rain spirit be afraid if someone with that name?
Anyway, she tells the boys to "save her". With the "her" being a mystery, Watanuki and Domeki set off to their location... a park with a giant, you guessed it, hydrangea.
Despite the plant's size, something else is off. Some of the flowers are a bright red, a very unnatural colour for this species of flower. Suddenly, Watanuki notices that part of the plant has wrapped itself around his leg. He bends down to untangle himself, but a swift black shadow sucks him away... somewhere.
Meanwhile, Yuko ponders of Domeki and Watanuki have realised something yet.
Watanuki wakes up in a dark place that appears to go on for eternity. Almost immediately he sees a girl crying. She explains to him that she wants to leave this place but can't do it alone. But perhaps, if he came with her she could do it.
Watanuki's a little hesitant but follows her in the direction she wants. Suddenly, bursts of light appear from above, each one with a word of warning (and a different octave - nice touch!). The voice warns them not to go in that direction, but the girl doesn't care, she's been here too long and wants to leave. Watanuki decides to stop, having begun to sense something not right coming from the direction they're going and suggests they go in a different direction.
As if on cue, water drops begin to fall from above and a long white ribbon descends in their direction. Watanuki holds up his end of the ribbon and they both join together. He suggests that they both go "up", but the girl is scared. She screams that she's dirty now and not the same person she used to be (most likely a victim of rape and murder). Watanuki assures her that he will always like her, and with that they both float up and out from under the plant, outside again.
Watanuki wakes up, lying on the ground holding the skeletal hand of the girl, who had obviously died. Domeki is standing nearby, covered in mud and looking very tired. Yuko appears and explains that over ten hours had passed.
They all retreat to Domeki's temple and dry off. While Domeki is out of the room, Yuko explains that when she found Domeki, he had been digging in the ground with his bare hands for several hours and that she told him how to save Watanuki, but at a cost (as always), in this case his grandfather's antique. She also goes on to explain that Domeki's wound he had received in the Angel case has now worsened because of this and that he should thank Domeki for everything he's done tonight. Watanuki tries, but is interrupted by the arrival of the rain spirit who drops a bombshell; she had never cared about the girl. She had wanted the girl's body removed as it was contaminating the hydrangeas.
Watanuki is shocked at this but before he can ask the spirit about this she begins to teleport away though she does express frustration over someone liking him. This statement drives Watanuki up the wall which is something Yuko and Mokona always like to see.
Today's Crossovers
None today!
My Original Impression
Saturday, May 20, 2006
While I found this episode to be rather well animated and very similar to it's manga counterpart I actually got a bit bored watching it which is funny since quite a lot happens storywise.
It was nice and good. Just seemed to be missing a bit of energy that the last few eps have had.
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