Despite largely focusing on the relationship between Saki and Maria- something I haven’t really cared much about until now- I thoroughly enjoyed this week’s episode, partly because a lot of what Maria said in her letter felt particularly pertinent, and partly because of all that was done to cultivate viewers’ feelings of dread.
To start with, what I’d hoped to get out of this episode was whether or not Satoru still had any feelings for Saki- seeing as they were both alone together once more. I don’t root for them as a couple; I’m just mildly interested as to where his feelings for her have disappeared to. However, what I got instead was a lot more interesting! It seemed as though this episode was making some sort of comment on democracy through the uneasiness a combination of both characters’ reactions and facial expressions, and the music playing in the background, created.
Anyone who knows me knows that I love discussing the true nature of us humans; it’s a most fascinating topic! According to the Bible we are, at our cores, not particularly nice beings, and any behaviour that seems to contradict that can often be drawn up to psychological processes- forgive me for being so pragmatic!! Episode 12 of Shin Sekai Yori was strangely optimistic, to me it seemed to convey the message that even if we are inherently bad, it is possible to fight back against that badness, we are able to choose. Even if that choice is influenced somewhat by psychological processes, or a desire to adhere to social conventions, that doesn’t take away from the fact a conscious choice has been made. This episode, however, was far more condemning of humans, comparing cantus-users to dangerous weapons with limitless energy. Indeed, if we are inherently bad, how much more likely are we to let our true natures dictate when a powerful weapon is placed in our hands?
Well it appears I may be right (something I always enjoy) about Mamoru! I suggested he was the next most likely character to become a fiend, postulating that his skittish nature, and fear of being eliminated by the Ethics Committee for being the ‘weakest link’, as it were, could cause him to lash out, using his cantus as a weapon. And whilst that has not yet happened, the Ethics Committee certainly seem to be thinking along the same lines as I! It is not disobedience that makes him a threat, he is actually very compliant, but his intense fear of the world around him.
As I pointed out during my last Shin Sekai Yori post, I absolutely love the episodes dedicated to exposition. Not only do they answer some of the many, many questions raised by the show, they do so in a way that raises even more questions, which really encourages you to think. This week we learnt the difference between a fiend and a karma demon, but not why exactly individuals turn into either of these things. Sure, we were offered theories, but nothing conclusive, which has really set the gears of my mind whirring. Why do boys turn into fiends, whereas girls don’t (at least not the large majority of the time)? What triggers individuals’ transformation into fiends? Is it even possible for one’s endorphins to trigger a murderous frenzy? Why do some experience cantus leakages whilst others do not? Why are fiends so hell-bent on self-preservation, whereas karma demons such as Shun and Izumi are able to exhibit self-sacrifice?
Watashi Wa Bucho!! 