Daijoubu

These two episodes are very well done. The building apprehension does not need to rely as much on lots of blood and gory stuff as in the previous arcs. Of course by now we know what’s coming, so they don’t have to show as much blatant violence (or those wild distorted facial expressions, lol). Last season we’d get into the intensity of the plot, and get suspicious of other characters, but now we see things as Rika must have done all those previous times, the sense of inevitability and helplessness. The breakthrough from the end of Tsumihoroboshi-hen seems distant, but I guess this arc was required to add things left out in the first season.

Satoko’s suspicion is also handled in a subtle way, and the interaction between her and Rika is a good addition to this season, even if it means the other characters haven’t had as much to do yet besides the usual goofy batsu game stuff. And this time they were all at the festival together, and even having some fun–I don’t recall that actually happening in a previous arc, so that’s a first.

We’ll see how it ends next week, but I think this arc is a good addition to the series. Does everyone else think so? It’s a good way to get back into it the mood of it, and connect up with Rika’s feelings, rather than jumping right into Minagoroshi-hen.