kiznaiver ep 08 thoughts
So much to talk about holy crap! I had to try and summarize everything because it took me ages to gather all the caps lol
General thoughts, Symbolism, Tenga + Tendori, Hisomu, Honoka + Yuta and Katsuhira, Noriko, and Katsuriko below the cut!
Warning. More image-heavy than ever!!
General Thoughts:
- Tenga is #2 ; Chidori is #5 ; Hisomu is #7.
- And this ep showed Honoka and Yuta are 3 and 4, though I don’t know who is which.
- That leaves us with 6 and 1 for Nico and Katsuhira.
- I LOVE that they included this just in case anyone had doubts about what Honoka meant when she said “Me, too.” MY HEART. Though talk about invasive technology! lol
- As expected, Yaamada and Urushii were the ones to call the shots in this mission.
- THE SPARKLY EYES IN THE PICTURE BOOTH. I laughed so hard!
- Though the funniest part of the episode has got to be Yuta’s, Hisomu’s, and Tenga’s reactions when the Ice Cream Gomorin shows up.
Either that or Katsuhira going deaf from flashbacks lol Like, SERIOUSLY? - Yuta and his sweet tooth got a moment!
- Sobs so Nico wasn’t actually trying to hold back tears, just overwhelmed! She is so cute oh god I’m already dreading her heartbreak.
- Also, while hilarious, I feel Katsuhira going deaf at Chidori’s confession may actually raise the chances of Tenga getting angry at him next episode. Though I’m still hoping it won’t happen lol
- So Urushii didn’t know about Katsuhira’s and Noriko’s past? I’ve been waiting for Urushii to react to Katsuhira in some fashion, given how protective she is over Noriko. So she not knowing explains so much!
- I like the switch back and forth from Chidori to Noriko in those last scenes. Just like the ending, these two girls are connected by their own feelings for Katsuhira.
- They really do love to expend money on those Gomorin costumes! HAHA
- So that’s how it was! I’m still on the fence about the possibility, but it really made me think back to the picture Noriko had on her desk and the researchers that looked like they could be Nico’s parents. In which case, Katsuhira would most likely be sponsors. It fits how much money they seem to have!
- Where does that leave Noriko though?? I feel like she’s been part of it since she was born and that completely messed her up. But I’ll get back to that when I talk about her!
- OKAY. But in what state?? I mean we have already seen the consequences in Katsuhira and Noriko and perhaps even in Hisomu. So how are the others? And where?
That attention to detail though:
- 7 pigeons for 7 Kiznaiver Children.
- That body language game on the left! Yuta’s body points to Honoka (sign of attraction #1), while Nico is unconsciously mirroring Tenga’s (which is known to make yourself more appealing to the person you’re mirroring.) SO NICE.
- The light symbolism! It caught my eye back in episode 1 that the green light is similar to the stained glass window, which basically symbolizes connection and understanding (or in this case, “Kizuna”). While the red light is the opposite. We saw the green light back in episode 1, which was called “A bond can form from the first moment eyes meet” (loose quote), along with the stained glass window all lit up.
- And we see the red light in episode 7 where the Kiznaivers were struggling to reach Honoka. We see it in this episode again, and after we happen to see the very same stained glass looking lonely and opaque.
- Such nice symbolism of the fact that our kids aren’t understanding each other right now! Plus also of the fact that they literally have to stop and sort this out asap before they can “advance” again.
Tenga + Tendori
- !!! Tenga blows a fuse precisely at children being “picked on”. We didn’t get A THING about his past this episode (I feel very cheated, tbh), but this really does tie in well with the possibility of Tenga having had a hard time at home. It’d also explain why he is such a big protector.
- LOOK at the way they are making a big deal out of Tenga not calling the girls by their first names!! I LOVE THIS. Because if they hadn’t, Tenga going from “Takashiro” to “Chidori” would have been basically normal. But by stressing that no, he was still calling them by their surnames, they highlight that it’s special when he automatically defaults to Chidori. BLESS. Plus, who happens to be making a big deal out of it? Nico, of course!
- Sobs as expected, Tenga leaves Chidori to Katsuhira AGAIN because that is what Chidori would want and her feelings/safety come first.
- Another thing that caught my eye is this:
- Two out of two times, Tenga has been unable to identify the ache of romantic longing. More than that, he actually mistakes it as plain ol’ pain (which either says a lot or shows his fundamental lack of awareness about the matter lol). I’m getting the feeling Tenga isn’t aware of his feelings for Chidori; or at least, he hasn’t fully acknowledged them.
Yuta and Honoka:
- Thank you for keeping Honoka’s feelings realistic! Of course, she would need time, she has only just come to terms with the fact that no, backing out at the last moment didn’t stop her from actually having feelings for Ruru. It’s way too soon for Yuta and Honoka to head down that road; Honoka is far from ready.
- Yuta’s being an angel and Honoka appreciates it so much. Like he was literally disappointed one moment because he got his hopes up (LOL), but the next just seeing Honoka’s smile alone was enough to make him happy. Here is to hoping they won’t force them into drama next episode, because so far Yuta’s been absolutely fantastic when it comes to giving Honoka space and emotionally approaching her in the ways that actually work. ;_____;
- Yuta blushing because of Honoka in the pictures though!! So cute!
Hisomu:
Surprisingly, I’ve got A LOT of stuff to say about him this episode!!
- This really caught my eye. HOW did Hisomu even know about this? I feel this kind of knowledge, plus the foreshadowing during the scene with Honoka (“What happened to you to make you like this?”) are more hints towards Hisomu having participated in a previous Kiznaiver Experiment.
- Plus, when Yaamada was telling them that “The original goal was to connect emotions”, Hisomu automatically follows with “But that didn’t go so well…”. That was no guess, IMO.
- The only thing that makes me scratch my head is that Hisomu has his “o” face when Katsuhira’s questions about the previous children get answered, , when he should know that stuff already.
- Still, given that Urushii didn’t know that Katsuhira was part of the experiment with Noriko before, it wouldn’t be that much of a stretch for them to not be aware Hisomu was, too.
- Another thing that caught my eye is this.
- Yaamada (and Urushii) are actually trying to evoke positive emotions in the Kiznaivers. Yaamada’s elated face from the trailer actually happens right as he sees that things are going well with Yuta and Honoka! So, what reason would they have to let Chidori see what Katsuhira and Noriko tell each other?
- Unless it’s not them, but Hisomu, who “loves to do what he isn’t supposed to”, as his seiyuu put it in episode 00. I’ve been waiting to see that side of him show up because he has been pretty tame since episode 3. But this right here:
- Makes me think Hisomu just might if he thinks it may cause Chidori to feel that same kind of pain.
- All in all, I’m definitely expecting him to play a catalyst role in the clusterfuck, now.
Noriko, Katsuhira & Katsuriko
WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN. Let me just… try to go at this chronologically.
- Katsuhira literally sent her a message asking her if she wanted to meet. And he kept STARING at the thing and wasn’t even HEARING what Hisomu was telling him!
I see a pattern cough. I was so surprised Katsuhira actually reached out to her again! I think this confirms he did indeed have his own situation with Noriko in mind the last episode when he went all “If we don’t ask [Honoka], it’s obvious we won’t understand anything.”
- And Noriko kept staring at it too!! But she didn’t open it! I feel she was scared of what the message would say. But of course, Noriko apparently doesn’t understand her own emotions. And who does this remind us of?
- Except there is a fundamental difference. Noriko is plenty aware that she cares for Katsuhira (“You exist within me”.). Plus, Katsuhira and Noriko are also approaching the problem from opposite sides. Noriko approaches other’s emotions from logical analysis rather than empathy, while Katsuhira approaches them from empathy. That makes it so that Noriko can name other people’s emotions but she cannot actually sympathize, while Katsuhira can sympathize yet has trouble naming them. This is SO interesting!
- MY SIDES. Again, I feel this ties into what I was saying above. Noriko is capable of realizing that Katsuhira harbors strong feelings for her, and takes other’s input into account to conclude they may be romantic in nature. However, she does not relate Katsuhira’s feelings to her own.
- Another thing I find extremely interesting is this:
- This threw me for a loop. Until I thought: What if Noriko can’t find herself within herself?
- Yaamada said so: the Kiznaiver experiments have to take place before the development of the Ego. So what if Noriko’s always been part of a Kiznaiver experiment in one way or another, and it completely messed up the development of her Ego? That would explain a lot of things, because Noriko would basically lack the part of the psyche in which resides conscious awareness, out of all things. Aka, “the sense of self.”
- This would mean that Noriko’s got no sense of self outside of the Kiznaiver Program. And it would also mean that she’s seeking to find who she is and give meaning to her existence through Katsuhira’s perception of her and his feelings towards her.
- Of course, that also explains a lot about Katsuhira’s issues. His ego got messed up as well, though not to the extent of Noriko’s.
- Which means these two instances:
- Were all about Noriko trying to spark Katsuhira’s memory!
Plus, it also shows she’s got a desire to be close to Katsuhira. She just hasn’t put two and two together. Again, because her impulses and needs did develop but not what should actually mediate them.
- Okay, those flashbacks were creepy as fuck. But in a way it sort of makes sense. It’d only be natural for kids to play with their lack of pain, wouldn’t it? But still. Kimochi warui! lol
- Seriously though. HOW did Katsuhira feel that? It’s the same damn thing that happened back in Episode 6. Katsuhira and Noriko have got to have some sort of emotional connection of sorts, where Noriko is capable to transmit some of her feelings to him. It literally makes no sense otherwise.
- Interestingly enough, Episode 6 was the first time we saw Noriko get injected. We have only seen it happen twice, Episode 6 and Episode 8. And both times Katsuhira has been shown to be able to sense Noriko. So the injection may have something to do with Noriko’s emotions or her connection to the Kizuna system in general.
- MY HEART.
- I’VE BEEN WAITING SINCE EPISODE 1!!
- IT WAS GLORIOUS!
- And interestingly enough, Katsuhira’s “NORI-CHAN!!” from the trailer didn’t happen this episode. Ohh boy, what in the world is going to make him get that worried over her in ep 9?
- Also!! Another thing that made me remember Episode 1:
- Remember the cicada analog? When Katsuhira asks why the Cicada came to the surface, and Chidori replies that because it wanted friends?
- What Katsuhira says is actually that they went to find a “lover” (Koibito).
- And both in episode 1 and here, Katsuhira and Noriko go up to the surface expecting to find each other.
- No wonder Japanese fans were like, “Nori-chan’s sexy!” lol
- Why exactly is Noriko’s mark glowing, though? Emotional pain? Looks white rather than yellow though. This is going to be another explanation to look forward to.
- Now we have to wait and see what happened to Katsuhira’s own mark.
- Speaking about that!! FINALLY!
Stuff I feel may play a role later:
- This tag right here. If Nico chose the “Best Friends” tag specifically for Chidori and Katsuhira’s selca, I feel that could help Chidori remember the good times and the value of their friendship. And if Nico chose it for everyone’s, then it’s the same thing but applied to the entire group lol
