Hell, it’s not just for demons anymore.
What They Say:
Episode #3: “THE AUSPICIOUS ALLIANCE / QUIRKY OFF-THE-WALL CREATURES”
The Four Benevolent Beasts argue over a meal about who is older and how well they are aging. Meanwhile, Hozuki has some problems of his own down in Hell.
The Review
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
They finally subtitled the lyrics to the new opening for this episode. I like it even more now that I know what they’re singing. The audience follows Momotaro around for this episode, which focuses on some of the other residents of the spiritual realms. Usually, we see Momotaro’s animal friends more than him, probably because he’s busy working in Hakutaku’s pharmacy.
It’s in that pharmacy that we get a crash course on auspicious beasts. Most of these creatures are well known in mythology and folklore, and anime of course. The Hozuki twist is that all of these creatures are quite ancient and while they take human form they can appear to be whatever age they want. The Kirin shows himself as an old man and the Phoenix a child, although they are all ancient. Thus begins a conversation about all the medications they are taking, and more delving into the roots of the grudge between Hozuki and Haku. Yup, that comes up again.
I don’t know why the episode says Hozuki is having problems, because as far as I can tell it’s business as usual. Those two little girls that have been appearing in various scenes this season are finally explained as being Zashiki Warashi, or household spirits. We get a look at what they do up in the world of the living and get an idea of why they’re currently hanging out in hell. I was prepared to dislike these kids immensely but they are hilarious and adorable. Like, oh my god, they are so cute, they remind me of my niece. Momotaro and the audience learn all about what the spirits are and it’s another good folklore lesson. Hozuki realizes the girls should probably have names and after some debate, the girls are called Ichiko and Niko. Hozuki isn’t exactly the creative type.
In Summary:
We finally properly meet the two cutest members of the Hozuki cast! The zashiki warashi are too adorable to be hanging out in hell, but they’re just unhinged enough that they fit right in. Kids are usually the banes of anime, but I can’t help but love them. As for the old men of heaven, well, the less said the better. It looks like it might be a Halloween episode next week! Then again, it’s always spooky in hell.
Episode Grade: B +
Streamed by: HIVDIVE
