Jigoku Shoujo Futakomori ep.24

March 25, 2007 | 15 Comments

All Hell finally break loose thanks to the residents of Lovely Hills. This is the first time I see people sending others to Hell left and right in this series. If these characters were real, this event would have been one of the lowest point in human history. If one think about it, this is like a miniature version of genocide and world war. The worst thing about these residents is that not only they sent people to Hell without second thought, they also do not hesitate putting the blame on an innocent kid. I suppose from their POV, they're going to get burned by Hell fire so they may as well drag someone else down. Anyway, if this is not exciting enough, the episode also brings back Tsubata Hajime and Tsubata Tsugumi in limited guest roles. With only two episodes left, I think we're up for some interesting revelation in the next two weeks. I'm glad that two series from the last two seasons (this and Code Geass) will end with a bang.

Continuing from the previous episode, one of Naito's henchmen tells the police that Takuma was the one who caused Naito to disappear. He even insisted that even the detective saw it. Speaking of the detective, he's in the middle of being ordered by his superior to claim that Naito's henchman was drunk and if the detective also claims that he saw nothing, then this would just be another missing person case. The detective refuses to do this because Hotaru, his own sister went missing inside Takuma's house. The superior think that the press will sensationalise the whole 'Devil's Child' so they must deal with this quickly before the press hears about it. Meanwhile, Naito's henchman is at home, scolding his daughter for being lazy despite her NEET status. He wonders until when she plans on leeching off her parents, pissing off the daughter in the process. Once she enters the room, she pulls out the string from a straw doll, sending her father to Hell.

The next day, four desperate housewives are seen talking about the disappearance of Naito and Maruyama. One of the women points out how up until know the ones who have disappeared are those who know Takuma well but that doesn't seem to the case now. Another woman asks the others if they've heard about Jigoku Tsuushin. She believe Takuma is using it to make those people disappears. The woman sitting in front of her, however, thinks that Jigoku Tsuushin is just an urban legend, prompting the other woman to tell her that the detective is currently investigating it. Inside the sunset world, Hotaru enters Ai's house and is greeted by the sound of knitting grandma, asking her if she's Ai. Hotaru denies this and tells her that she's lost and wants to ask about this place's location and if she can borrow the phone. When Hotaru opens the paper door to see the grandma, however, she freaks out and runs away from the house.

Meanwhile, one of the desperate housewives is having an argument with her husband because he refuses to sell the house and move elsewhere. He points out that if they were to sell the house now, they'd only get dirt cheap price out of it, making it impossible for them to move out. The wife argues that her husband doesn't understand a thing. During daytime, he is at work while on his day off, he sleeps. She asks him if she knows what has happened to this town. She points out that unhappiness, fear, and hatred exist and the same thing can be said about this house. She then pulls out a straw doll, prompting her husband to wonder about it. The wife explains she got it from Jigoku Shoujo and realises that her husband doesn't know anything so she decides to pull the string, causing the husband to disappear. When the police asks her about his disappearance, she claims that on his way home, her husband locked eyes with the "Devil's child".

The next day, she goes to meet one of the other desperate housewives, who correctly guesses that the one who sent the husband to Hell was the wife herself. She points out that her friend always talks about how she made a mistake in marrying the guy. When the other woman claims that she doesn't know what her friend is talking about, the friend pulls out a straw doll and tells her that Takuma wasn't the only one who's been using Jigoku Tsuushin. She then reveals that she's always hate her friend, pulls out the string, and screams around claiming that it's the work of the "Devil's child". What a b*tch. Inside supermarket, rumours quickly spread amongst high school students that if you locked eyes with Takuma, you'll disappear. While talking about this, one of the student happens to lock eyes with Takuma who's shopping in the same supermarket. She freaks out especially when her friends tell her that she'll disappear for sure.

At the same time, the cashier is having trouble scanning the items that Takuma purchased because she tries not to look at him. When she has difficulty scanning the egg that Takuma wants to purchase, she ends up dropping said egg into the floor. She immediately apologises to him. Later on that night, one of the high school girls are accessing Jigoku Tsuushin. When Ai arrives to give her the doll and the drill, however, she cuts off what Ai tries to say and instead asks her if someone else has used her service. A flashback shows that the girl who locked eyes with Takuma requested Ai's service as well. She believed she's going to Hell so she may as well drag someone along. Even the cashier contacted Ai, telling her that this town is like Hell anyway so it can't be helped if she has to go to Hell after she dies. That night, Ai and her helpers are busy granting request left and right. When the dawn arrives, a total of 9 people have been sent to Hell.

Meanwhile, Hotaru is in the midst of wondering how much time she's lost since she's arrived in Ai's world when she suddenly finds herself in front of Ai's house again. Inside the police station, the Chief Investigator is informing his subordinates that the list he just gave to them are the list of residents who went missing in the past one week. There have been a rumour that this is the devil's child's doing. However, he wants them to do a thorough investigation on the matter. Upon seeing the list the detective remembers how Naito and his sister disappeared in that house and admits it's hard not to think that this doesn't have anything to do with Takuma. However, he then remembers what his sister said about Jigoku Tsuushin and notices the same word mentioned in the report. At the same time, people on the street are afraid when Takuma passes by. Takuma himself is shocked when he saw a man carrying a straw doll in broad daylight.

Soon, a bus driver, a basketball player, and a dancer suddenly disappeared right in front of many people's eyes. Inside the police station, a reporter wants the Chief Investigator to talk about the involvement of the "Devil's child" in the missing people case. He mentions how many of these people disappear right in front of other people's eyes. The Chief dismisses the reporter, claiming that human don't just disappear when he suddenly disappears right in front of the reporter. Inside the boat to Hell, the Chief wonders why this is happening when he'll be the head chief of the Police station. In the riverbank, Hone-Onna comments how Ai has been busy. Ren points out that he is also dead tired and blames it all on that town. Wanyuudou thinks that this is a good thing because the more requests Ai fulfill, the sooner she can end her duty. Hone-Onna is surprised to hear this and wonders if this is true but Wanyuudou tells her not to ask him.

Meanwhile, the detective is in the middle of waiting for a bus with a friend talking about how the bus is being abolished. His friend points out that the train is more comfortable and besides, the bus company has been operating in deficit right from the start. He also mentions how they haven't been able to find a substitute driver for the one that went missing the other day. Later on when the friend goes off the bus, the detective decide to continue the ride since he's going to the library. Unknown to the detective, his friend disappears as soon as he gets off the bus. A total of 14 people have disappeared thus far. Inside the library, the detective looks for books on Jigoku Tsuushin and decides to borrow 4 related books: The secret of Jigoku Tsuushin, Jigoku Tsuushin and urban legend, Jigoku Tsuushin for everyone. The last book, The true Jigoku Shoujo is particularly interesting because its author is Shibata Hajime.

Inside sunset world, Kikuri appears from inside the house, asking Hotaru where she is going. Hotaru tells the brat that is her line and wonders why Kikuri took her here and where is this place. Kikuri tells Hotaru that this is Jigoku Shoujo's house and drags her into the house. At the same time, the detective is in the middle of reading the story about Enma Ai as told by Hajime's voice. Hajime mentions how Enma Ai's house exists in a place which is surrounded in everlasting sunset. There are no other houses nearby and in the yard, a cluster of Spider Lily is in bloom. The house has the appearance of an old country house complete with straw-thatched roof. The house is inappropriately complemented by a single personal computer located within it. Back to Hotaru, she's being dragged by Kikuri to the area where the grandma is knitting. Meanwhile, the detective reads about how Jigoku Shoujo will open at 12 midnight for those who have strong grudge.

While Kikuri and Hotaru spy on Ai checking on her computer, Hajime's narration mentions that when a person writes another person's name using Jigoku Tsuushin, that person's name will appear on Ai's computer. She will then judge whether she will accept the request or not. She may also send three helpers to investigate the target and the case. Inside Ai's house, Ren knows it's from that town so Wanyuudou wonders if they should go. Ai tells them that if there is a request, then they'll accept it. What happens next is for the people from that town to decide. After Ai left, Kikuri drags Hotaru out of their hiding place and tries to show her something else. At the same time, the detective finds out that once Ai accepts the request, she'll pass a straw doll with red string to the client. Pulling the string will send the target to Hell and causes a Hellmark to appear on the chest of the client as a proof that one day the client will also go to Hell.

The detective closes the book and finds the author of the book is Hajime. At the same time, Kikuri shows Hotaru a large jar near the entrance of the house and pushes the girl into it. Inside the jar, Hotaru realises that the candles on top of her represents the name of the grudge requesters. At the same time, her brother finds out that he can't find out information about Hajime because he's published the book with his own money. When the detective wonders why Hajime did it, a girl standing on a hill tells him that because Hajime wants to tell someone about it. Possibly someone like the detective. The girl, who turns out to be Tsugumi, asks the detective to trust Hajime. Tsugumi then runs away before the detective can get to her. On her way back, Tsugumi asks someone if the person was the one who called her. Kikuri appears in a street's rear mirror and asks Tsugumi to play with her. Tsugumi tells her that maybe next time before leaving the area.

Preview

Meanwhile, the detective is now back in front of Takuma's house. At the same time, Hotaru finds out that Takuma's name is not in any of the candles and comes to the conclusion that Takuma is not the devil's child. Back to her brother, the detective comes to the same conclusion after seeing no Hellmark on Takuma's chest. When a man called Tsuyuki comes, the detective tries to tell the guy that Takuma hasn't sent anyone to Hell since the boy has no mark on his chest. Upon hearing this Tsuyuki grabs the detective's arm and tells him that he can't let the detective go with that kind of information. The detective quickly finds out that Tsuyuki has the mark so Tsuyuki beats the with his stick and accuses him of conspiring with the devil's child to kill them. A scared Takuma locks the door and cries inside. At the same time, Hotaru comes out of the jar and meets with Ai. She asks Ai to stop accepting request but Ai tells her it's not her decision to make. The episode ends with Hotaru transported back to the city and Ai sees Takuma crying.

Impression:

First thing first I have to say how impressed I've been with both Takuma and the detective (whose name we don't even know, the poor guy). The true personality of a person can normally be seen in a disaster situation like this. People can choose to remain good or they can join in the mass hysteria and claim that everyone else is doing the same thing anyway. Instead of doing the later, both Takuma and the detective have tried their best to remain quiet and level-headed. I am especially impressed with the detective, who surely have a lot of pressure placed upon him. He could have easily apprehended Takuma to calm the mass but he instead choose to do a well-rounded investigation on Jigoku Tsuushin. This is why it pissed me off when a good character like him end up getting the short end of the stick. I am especially worried due to what Hone-Onna said in the preview but hopefully he's just badly injured.

I do wonder what his sister will do now. She is obviously not going to blame Takuma but I wonder if she'll blame this entire incident on Ai. Personally, there's no one to blame but the people of Lovely Hills themselves but I get the impression that Hotaru thinks this is Ai's fault. I wonder if this is why Kikuri took Hotaru to see how Jigoku Tsuushin works? Maybe she's hoping that someone will send Ai to Hell? Would this even be possible? On that note, what are the role of Hajime and Tsugumi in this? Are they just a way for the detective to confirm the existence of Jigoku Tsuushin? If that's the case why can Tsugumi sees Kikuri? Is it because Kikuri is the next Jigoku Shoujo successor? It's also interesting to know that Ai will be able to leave her role if she can send a certain amount of people to Hell. Last but not least, I wish they had shown us why Hotaru was so afraid of the knitting Grandma. I get the impression that she's one big Spider.

© memento 2003