zxWar :) wrote:
I'm on episode 9 now ;o
Sorry about being gone for the last two days.. Just wanted to be alone. =/
Episode 9.. so starting on the third arc eh? That's going to be pretty insane too. :P
So here comes my review of the 3rd Arc..
Name - The Curse Killing Chapter
Episodes - Ep. 9 ~ Ep. 13
Summary/Thoughts
This arc is significantly different from the rest, for the fact that Keiichi is actually the cause of the murders. The arc emphasizes that Keiichi has an "ability" that causes death to whomever he "curses".. or so he believes. When he realizes that Satoko had been abused by her uncle, he makes a decision to kill Satoko's uncle on the night of the Watanagashi Festival. Keiichi probably felt some anathema towards Satoshi, who supposedly ran away from Hinamizawa, abandoning Satoko. Using Satoshi's baseball bat, Keiichi ambushes, kills, and successfully "buries" all evidence. All is "well", until after the murder takes place. Keiichi realizes that Takano might have seen him commit the murder, as she overtly asks if: "the body had been buried well". He curses Takano to die in his thoughts as he arrives home. The day after, weird events begin to occur around Keiichi, involving the festival. While Keiichi wasn't present at the night of the festival, his friends and everyone else claim that he was there. Pretending to be sick, Keiichi visits Dr. Erie, a good friend of Satoko, to discuss the matter. When Keiichi admits that he had murdered Satoko's uncle, Erie is somewhat happy. Little does Keiichi know--Erie figures that he is mentally troubled. In panic, Keiichi attempts to find the body as evidence, to prove his sanity. However, he is discovered by the detective, Ooishi, while digging up the hole. Ooishi commands Keiichi to continue digging, but nothing is found in the hole, which the body was supposed to be in. He passes out until the next day, after Ooishi releases him. Confused and frustrated, Keiichi is determined to kill Satoko's uncle once again, this time with an axe. Keiichi arrives at Satoko's home, and finds Satoko in the hot tub, being forced to count to ten-thousand. After rescuing her, the enraged Keiichi goes on a rampage, then realizes his concern for Satoko's safety. He covers her with a towel, and tries to return to Satoko's home. An investigation is taking place at the home at this time, so Keiichi cannot approach the perimeter. But he does discover that Ooishi, whom he had cursed as well, had disappeared and that Takano was murdered as well. Satoko suggests that they should go to Rika's home for spare clothing. While Keiichi is looking around the Shrine building (which is Rika's home), he finds Rika's hidden corpse, dropping his axe into the pool of blood in shock. Satoko returns in time to witness the "murder" and runs away, causing Keiichi to pursue her with the bloody axe in hand. Eventually, the two of them stop at the bridge and Keiichi offers no threat by throwing his axe away, then turning around with his hands behind his back. Keiichi admits to Satoko about the murder, but also explains that he had not killed Rika. However, Satoko does not seem to believe in him, constantly labeling Keiichi as a murderer. Trying to get a hold of Satoko's unstable mind, Keiichi approaches her. In a flash, Keiichi is sent hurtling off the bridge, from Satoko's push. As he holds onto the rope of the bridge, Keiichi tries to convince Satoko, who is shaking the bridge to send him to the depths below. Eventually, Keiichi is sent falling into the waters below. The twist occurs towards the end of the arc, in which Hinamizawa is swept by a noxious gas from the swamps. All residents of Hinamizawa die, but Keiichi is rescued from the waters.
I'd like to focus on Keiichi's capabilities of murder, in a mental/superstitious way. Rather than just a curse, it's a curse that is out of control, if Keiichi had such powers. Then again, we do not know how sadistic Keiichi might be--enough to curse the entire village to its eventual death? Keiichi might have not been involved in any of the other murders--a coincidence, but we won't know until I watch the later arcs perhaps? Again, this arc is unique for the fact that Keiichi is "alive" at the end of it all. Also, the Houjou family and their members are explained in further detail, providing some background, which will become essential knowledge at the later arcs.
*Spoiler*
[spoil]Satoshi is actually the one who will connect many unnoticed details together, forming more solid motives, and characteristics of each individual involved in his story, either directly or indirectly.[/spoil]
Although this one might be quite exhilarating for the violence-lovers, I viewed it more as a arc that provided the most knowledge--the most "push" on the main plot.
Portal
