This weekend's updates are finally here! Please try not to read unless you've watched it, because I'm not going to include spoiler tags for this post. Oh, and I hope you haven't missed out on Kalafina's Magia album.
Yumekui Merry 08
Previously, it was the obligatory beach episode.
Yumeji sprained his ankle and Isana attempts to go with him to the hospital, but he is instead accompanied by Merry, though Merry stops short at a restaurant to enjoy some cakes. Yumeji overhears some teenager mentioning about what he dreamt last night. The teenager and his friend then enters the Donut Shop. On Yui's side, the dream demon Engi Threepiece mentioned that she wanted to avenge her sister Patti, who was killed shortly after entering Reality. Yui agrees to help her.
Isana goes through a life counselling with her sensei, and expresses interest in being a painter. On Yumeji's side, the doctor noted that several people had stone-cold stares in their eyes as though a result of the Dream Loss, but mentions that Yumeji doesn't seem to be affected yet. The doctor asks Yumeji to chat with him, and then calls for.. Yui to serve tea to Yumeji..?! Oh, she is the doctor's granddaughter. There's a comical scene to this, so just enjoy it ^^
Yui offers the tea to Yumeji (the ingredients resemble the black stuff that melted the utensils in Kore wa Zombie)... then Engi takes over Yui's body to apologise to Yumeji. She says she's after Pharos Elcres.
Recall the guy who went into the Donut Shop. Merry, Yumeji and Yui/Engi enters a Daydream where a dream demon attempts to take over the teenager as a vessel. Merry's pissed-off expression here is quite priceless (and picture-perfect). The dream demon mentions he has a master, and Engi guesses that it is Pharos Elcres himself, who has the power to take over other Dream Demons and expand his dominion, misleading others to overtake Reality.
The battle between Merry+Engi and that misled dream demon begins next episode: Dreams Disturbed. Are they trying too hopelessly to get to their goals?
Being less plot-dense than the previous few episodes, this one provided a short break before the main fight goes underway, and the pacing in revealing the truth itself is quite alright. However apart from Merry and Yumeji, the other characters seem to fall short of being memorable enough for me to recall instantly, possibly due to the common character design carried out in the series. Not J.C. Staff's fault though, they did well for the scenes and angles over the recent few episodes.
Madoka 08 - warning: ALOT of spoilers
Previously, Sayaka rejects Kyoko's offer of an apple, and regrets making that wish because Hitomi is going to confess to Kyousuke.
Sayaka finishes off that witch, and gives Kyoko the Grief Seed, telling her that she won't owe her any favours. Sayaka is exhausted from the fighting, and Madoka carries her to rest. The shadowed faces, thunderstorm rain and sombre cello music playing in the background (like the previous episode) gives this scene a truly sad atmosphere. Wait, shadowed bodies as well. And Sayaka seems to have that grim phantom anger face... if you get what I mean. Sayaka blames Madoka for doing nothing even though she could do something. >_< But while running away from Madoka, Sayaka regrets her choice of words...
Since Sayaka didn't refresh her Soul Gem with the Grief Seed (she gave it to Kyoko in exchange for peace)... her Soul Gem seems to have faded quite a bit.
Kyoko and Homura meet up and Homura predicts the Walpurgist-something witch will appear at the clocktower, but Kyoko doubts her. Kyuubey appears, and Kyoko points her spear at him/her. Kyuubey warns that Sayaka is exhausting faster than expected and asks them to do something.
[1] Kyuubey says Homura knows what will happen if Sayaka's Soul Gem is not cleansed. Something that cannot be undone. But Kyoko doesn't know.
[2] Kyuubey is curious how Homura knew about that fact. And then he/she walks into the shadow and disappears. Maybe Homura is the "boss" actually?
Hitomi and Kyousuke walking together >_<" meanwhile, Madoka worries for Sayaka and discovers she hasn't been home the previous day.
Sayaka hunts another witch (?) and then Homura finds her and tries to talk some sense into her. About Sayaka herself dying if she doesn't cleanse the Soul Gem. Sayaka stubbornly believes she doesn't want to use magic for her own benefit, saying "if I die, that means I won't have to hunt any more witches". Homura comments that Sayaka is "hurting Madoka" and that "everything revolves around HER". Homura doesn't want to help actually, but she cannot let Madoka watch Sayaka fall. Homura says if she doesn't want help, she might as well be killed. Kyoko appears, and stops Homura from doing so.
[Morning Rescue] Haha! Just an inside joke.
Sayaka overhears some conversation on the train (about guys dumping girls) and then transforms... darkly.
Madoka chances upon Kyuubey (surely, no?) and the same kind of conversation takes place. Exactly like what Nanoha thought, being of no help to anyone. Just as when Madoka was about to use her wish to save Sayaka from being a soul-less body, Homura shoots Kyuubey dead. Or holes through his/her body. Homura doesn't want Madoka to sacrifice herself...
Madoka comments that maybe they have met before.. hmm some kind of deja vu? Then she runs off and tries to find Sayaka, but not before Homura says that "Sayaka is already..." something happened. ANOTHER Kyuubey appears (wtf?!) and says there's many replacements. Then the new Kyuubey eats the remainders of the old Kyuubey (more wtf?!).
Kyuubey says it's the 2nd time he/she was killed so he/she learnt Homura's magic, and realised she uses time-control magic (and is not from this timeline)... Homura says she knows Kyuubey's true form and what Kyuubey is plotting. Homura calls Kyuubey an INCUBATOR.
Kyoko manages to find Sayaka, and Sayaka comments that Kyoko's words were true: That hope and despair will balance out to be zero. In saving others, Sayaka has brought curse upon herself and hurt her dearest friend Madoka.
[Oh my gawd is the Kyuubey theory going to be true?!]
YES IT IS TRUE. Sayaka's Soul Gem breaks upon her tears, and for a moment we see a Grief Seed being constructed. She is going to become a witch?!?!
Next episode 09: I'll never forgive that! (Homura's point of view)
Another possible theory:
Homura = Madoka. Or an alternate timeline of Madoka.
It doesn't seem so clear now, but it was heavily implied in this episode that I don’t see any other way around it. This episode, Homura only acts to benefit herself but protects Madoka, she’s a class of mahou shoujo far above the rest (something Kyubey keeps saying Madoka will be). And remember the mysterious longer-haired and bigger-boobed version of Madoka in the opening:
Yumekui Merry 08
Previously, it was the obligatory beach episode.
Yumeji sprained his ankle and Isana attempts to go with him to the hospital, but he is instead accompanied by Merry, though Merry stops short at a restaurant to enjoy some cakes. Yumeji overhears some teenager mentioning about what he dreamt last night. The teenager and his friend then enters the Donut Shop. On Yui's side, the dream demon Engi Threepiece mentioned that she wanted to avenge her sister Patti, who was killed shortly after entering Reality. Yui agrees to help her.
Isana goes through a life counselling with her sensei, and expresses interest in being a painter. On Yumeji's side, the doctor noted that several people had stone-cold stares in their eyes as though a result of the Dream Loss, but mentions that Yumeji doesn't seem to be affected yet. The doctor asks Yumeji to chat with him, and then calls for.. Yui to serve tea to Yumeji..?! Oh, she is the doctor's granddaughter. There's a comical scene to this, so just enjoy it ^^
Yui offers the tea to Yumeji (the ingredients resemble the black stuff that melted the utensils in Kore wa Zombie)... then Engi takes over Yui's body to apologise to Yumeji. She says she's after Pharos Elcres.
Recall the guy who went into the Donut Shop. Merry, Yumeji and Yui/Engi enters a Daydream where a dream demon attempts to take over the teenager as a vessel. Merry's pissed-off expression here is quite priceless (and picture-perfect). The dream demon mentions he has a master, and Engi guesses that it is Pharos Elcres himself, who has the power to take over other Dream Demons and expand his dominion, misleading others to overtake Reality.
The battle between Merry+Engi and that misled dream demon begins next episode: Dreams Disturbed. Are they trying too hopelessly to get to their goals?
Being less plot-dense than the previous few episodes, this one provided a short break before the main fight goes underway, and the pacing in revealing the truth itself is quite alright. However apart from Merry and Yumeji, the other characters seem to fall short of being memorable enough for me to recall instantly, possibly due to the common character design carried out in the series. Not J.C. Staff's fault though, they did well for the scenes and angles over the recent few episodes.
Madoka 08 - warning: ALOT of spoilers
Previously, Sayaka rejects Kyoko's offer of an apple, and regrets making that wish because Hitomi is going to confess to Kyousuke.
Sayaka finishes off that witch, and gives Kyoko the Grief Seed, telling her that she won't owe her any favours. Sayaka is exhausted from the fighting, and Madoka carries her to rest. The shadowed faces, thunderstorm rain and sombre cello music playing in the background (like the previous episode) gives this scene a truly sad atmosphere. Wait, shadowed bodies as well. And Sayaka seems to have that grim phantom anger face... if you get what I mean. Sayaka blames Madoka for doing nothing even though she could do something. >_< But while running away from Madoka, Sayaka regrets her choice of words...
Since Sayaka didn't refresh her Soul Gem with the Grief Seed (she gave it to Kyoko in exchange for peace)... her Soul Gem seems to have faded quite a bit.
Kyoko and Homura meet up and Homura predicts the Walpurgist-something witch will appear at the clocktower, but Kyoko doubts her. Kyuubey appears, and Kyoko points her spear at him/her. Kyuubey warns that Sayaka is exhausting faster than expected and asks them to do something.
[1] Kyuubey says Homura knows what will happen if Sayaka's Soul Gem is not cleansed. Something that cannot be undone. But Kyoko doesn't know.
[2] Kyuubey is curious how Homura knew about that fact. And then he/she walks into the shadow and disappears. Maybe Homura is the "boss" actually?
Hitomi and Kyousuke walking together >_<" meanwhile, Madoka worries for Sayaka and discovers she hasn't been home the previous day.
Sayaka hunts another witch (?) and then Homura finds her and tries to talk some sense into her. About Sayaka herself dying if she doesn't cleanse the Soul Gem. Sayaka stubbornly believes she doesn't want to use magic for her own benefit, saying "if I die, that means I won't have to hunt any more witches". Homura comments that Sayaka is "hurting Madoka" and that "everything revolves around HER". Homura doesn't want to help actually, but she cannot let Madoka watch Sayaka fall. Homura says if she doesn't want help, she might as well be killed. Kyoko appears, and stops Homura from doing so.
[Morning Rescue] Haha! Just an inside joke.
Sayaka overhears some conversation on the train (about guys dumping girls) and then transforms... darkly.
Madoka chances upon Kyuubey (surely, no?) and the same kind of conversation takes place. Exactly like what Nanoha thought, being of no help to anyone. Just as when Madoka was about to use her wish to save Sayaka from being a soul-less body, Homura shoots Kyuubey dead. Or holes through his/her body. Homura doesn't want Madoka to sacrifice herself...
Madoka comments that maybe they have met before.. hmm some kind of deja vu? Then she runs off and tries to find Sayaka, but not before Homura says that "Sayaka is already..." something happened. ANOTHER Kyuubey appears (wtf?!) and says there's many replacements. Then the new Kyuubey eats the remainders of the old Kyuubey (more wtf?!).
Kyuubey says it's the 2nd time he/she was killed so he/she learnt Homura's magic, and realised she uses time-control magic (and is not from this timeline)... Homura says she knows Kyuubey's true form and what Kyuubey is plotting. Homura calls Kyuubey an INCUBATOR.
Kyoko manages to find Sayaka, and Sayaka comments that Kyoko's words were true: That hope and despair will balance out to be zero. In saving others, Sayaka has brought curse upon herself and hurt her dearest friend Madoka.
[Oh my gawd is the Kyuubey theory going to be true?!]
YES IT IS TRUE. Sayaka's Soul Gem breaks upon her tears, and for a moment we see a Grief Seed being constructed. She is going to become a witch?!?!
Next episode 09: I'll never forgive that! (Homura's point of view)
Another possible theory:
Homura = Madoka. Or an alternate timeline of Madoka.
It doesn't seem so clear now, but it was heavily implied in this episode that I don’t see any other way around it. This episode, Homura only acts to benefit herself but protects Madoka, she’s a class of mahou shoujo far above the rest (something Kyubey keeps saying Madoka will be). And remember the mysterious longer-haired and bigger-boobed version of Madoka in the opening:
garnet peridotite was shining at
23:00
