Let the love triangle intensify, even as calamity is bearing down.
What They Say:
Episode 9: “Unknown Warmth”
The Review
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
There’s this bit of music they often play when switching scenes in Nagi no Asukara that’s starts with a bit of ringing reverb before turning into a melancholic piano piece. It’s unsettling, haunting even, and I while I don’t think the composer intended for it, it reminds me of a less synthesized version of the opening music for Ecco the Dolphin. Heck, we already had one vortex almost suck the leads up! Something terrible is creeping up on the citizens of these sleepy seaside towns, and we don’t know what form it will take.
The kids move ahead with their plan to carry out the Ofunehiki ritual without the help of most of the adults. Their teacher and Tsumugu’s grandfather are willingly to see the kid’s project through to the end. I especially like how the other classmates have been drawn into the project. Hikari has really matured over the last few episodes and Chisaki isn’t moping around anymore…
Okay, Chisaki isn’t moping but she’s still fark from okay with her feelings. She can’t stand Tsumugu for his ability to see right through the mask she’s wearing. Always trying to be the ‘mature’ one is taking it’s toll, and she ends up blowing up at Tsumugu. It was nice to see her angry for once. Kaname sticks by her and accompanies her back home. I wish we’d dig deeper into what makes the pretty boy of the group tick, but we have other more pressing matters right now.
As for Hikari, well, he talked a good game but he’s still an impulsive, hot headed teenager. Manaka is driving him crazy with unrequited love. She clearly sees him as just a friend, not a crush, and as much as Hikari tells himself he just wants to see her happy, his gaze tells us otherwise. (This was actually a vary clever bit of male gaze in a series which has been almost entirely devoid of it, which is amazing considering the number of underwater skirts.)
However, the emotional turmoil will have to wait because the doom we are anticipating is creeping closer than ever. The kids return home from the surface only to be met by the adults awaiting their arrival. We get to see Manaka and Chisaki’s parents! They exist! We also see a whole village going incommunicado with the surface in anticipation for some event. The mood has gone dark very quickly, proving that last week was simply a bright spot before more drama to come.
Hikari is the last one to find out about his village cutting ties, when he returns home to a town where the streets are empty. The other kids have been told they can’t return to the surface, and with no explanation why. When Hikari is found by Manaka they run, but he finally learns the hard way that Manaka won’t return his feelings the way he wishes. Poor kid, it’s like the whole town is working against him.
In Summary:
Relationships cool even as the water does in this show. For every bit of progress the kids make, their own fragile emotions are waiting to drag them back under. A little down time goes a long way toward making the cast more likable, and the show is beautiful, as always. The preview for next week shows that the adults might finally be ready to tell the kids what is going on. The dread that has been looming might finally become clearer, and it’s about time we find out just what the god of the sea has in store for the cast.
Episode Grade: B +
Streamed by: Crunchyroll
Review Equipment: 27” iMac running OS 10.8.4, via Safari 6.0.5, FIOS 15/5 Mbps connection. Your milage may vary.
Even while I know Manaka only likes Hikari as a friend, I was still rooting so hard for the guy~ Feels man.