Natsume Yuujinchou 13 ~The Long Autumn Night~ (END)

There’s not much of a summary to make since there’s not much of a story to this episode. It’s generally showing all the characters throughout the series who didn’t disappear or “die”.

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If this was a yaoi anime, Sasada doesn’t stand a chance. And since that it isn’t, she still doesn’t stand a chance.

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Basically, it’s generally about Natsume and Tanuma talking about their abilities and how Natsume’s powers are much greater than Tanuma’s . They were hanging out when Sasada interrupts them wanting to know if Natsume can see any youkai in the festival since youkai are supposed to love places with plenty of people. They were able to dodge her when the shota-kitsuna (who looks more like a boy now arrived) to look for Natsume, but got into trouble and was saved by Natori. He asked Hiiragi to look after the kitsune while he attended a meeting with what looked like a meeting of many sages of the sort. When Sasada found Nyanko asleep in their booth in the festival, she decided to tie them up. Natsume and Tanuma went to a shop where Tanuma showed him a reflection of the pond in the ceiling, which they both found pretty, but there was no pond outside. Of course, Natsume saw the pond.

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;A; the poor kitty!!!

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At home his adoptive parents were talking about with Mrs. Tohou worrying about where Natsume could be because he never said that he would like to go to the festival. But Mr. Tohou just tells her to let him be. They talk about the three of them being family but their reservations towards each other won’t make them one.

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;A; Why is there a pedobear mask here???

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Then the kitsune boy lost a pouch filled with medicine that can turn him into a human for one night. He wanted to find it because he wanted to see Natsume. The pouch was picked up by Kokoro and was brought to Sasada. Kokoro found Nyanko and released him and they ran off to the sunset. The pouch was taken back by Hiiragi and gave it back to the kitsune who was already saved by Natsume. They all hung out until the fireworks. They went to the woods to see it, but Natsume couldn’t because there was a big youkai that stood in the way, also mesmerized by the fireworks. As he looked at the fireworks, Natsume started thinking that where he lived now was a warm place he has found.

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I love fireworks.

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Thoughts:

I actually have mixed feelings about this episode. I think the reason why I seem to take the events of this episode in stride is because I already know that there’s going to be a second season. Otherwise, I would have thought that the last episode is nothing but fluff, especially there is a not-so gaping hole about Reiko’s past. It is pretty cute though… even if it reeked of yaoi-ish things. I am watching too much yaoi. -_-‘

I think the episode is a nice way of wrapping up the show, presenting Natsume from being a total loner to not-quite out of his shell but at least he’s making friends.

Actually, the thing I’m really annoyed with is Sasada – sorry, Omisyth, I know you like her character. But she’s lot like that wannabe person who keeps on trying to fit in a group and trying to be privy to everything that’s going on. Alright fine, you know Natsume can see youkai. Shut up and fine some friends so you’re not seen alone all the time. Seriously, she has an attitude problem. With the way that she is being portrayed this season, I think about how she will be presented in the next season.

Another think I found interesting in the following season would be who Natori met up with in that festival. They seemed to be an ominous bunch.

I’m thinking about it too much.

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Overall Impressions and Thoughts:

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This is clearly my favorite and (Well.. I consider to be) the best show this season. This series can really strike a chord, despite its earlier reputation as a demon-of-the-week anime. Actually it is a demon-of-the-week anime, but its strength is that it is able to tap into raw emotions on themes like loneliness, friendship, love and all that. The reason why I love this anime is because it has the ability to make me cry, laugh, and be scared shitless in a span of 24 minutes.

But as I mentioned in my episode thoughts, if I didn’t know that there’s going to be another season coming this January, I would have found the lack of revelations about Reiko and the under-utilization of Nyanko-chan and other regular characters disappointing. Although now that I think about it… apart from Nyanko, I can’t think of any other character who could have had a bigger role.

I’ve already raised my concerns on certain characters on episodic thoughts. At least, I’ll have something to look forward to for the Winter Season already… and not totally watch it blind the next time I see it. Although, there are not always what they seem in this show so…