This Ugly and Beautiful World ep.8

May 25, 2004 | 2 Comments

Now, this is more like it! The show finally moves to a more interesting direction, abandons its so-called 'character development', and focuses more on the mystery that surrounds the two main characters. To be honest though, the revelation is not as shocking as it could have been. Probably because most people already discussed the possibility to death before the series itself moves in towards this direction. At any rate, it's better to be late than to never explore the theme at all. This episode also did a better job in trying to show how life or the world can be 'beautiful' and 'ugly' at the same time. There's simplicity in the 'slice of life' scenes that they show in this episode that makes it work better than the previous episodes. Plus there's a possibility that Mari's creepy obsession for her own cousin may eventually brings Dark Hikari's wrath. I will definitely be on the lookout for that one.

The episode begins with the kids watching news on the television informing them about the whirlwind tornado that happened around the coastal area from the previous episode. It looks like someone managed to tape the whole incident the other day. Upon hearing the news, Takeru is reminded how he let his guard down the other day and almost failed to protect Hikari. Anyway, while the group enjoys some watermelon, they start hearing a cricket sound and Hikari thinks it sounds really good so Takeru decides to capture it and put it in a small cage for Hikari. The next morning, they find out that Jennifer is away on 'vacation' but none of them seem to know where she actually went. And because Takeru has to do some delivery work that day, he tells Ioneous to call him on his cell phone if something bad happens to Hikari. Ioneous, however, is annoyed with the order since he feels that he can take care Hikari on his own.

After Takeru and Ryo left to do their job, Hikari, Akari, Ioneous, and Mari decide to go shopping together. In the middle of the journey, however, Mari the twat decides to let Hikari knows that she likes Takeru as well and won't lose out to her. Much to her chagrin, however, Hikari is actually glad to know that Mari likes Takeru as well. Hmm, maybe Hikari does like threesome after all. Their conversation, however, is interrupted by Akari who asks them to hurry up so they can go shopping soon. It's funny how a simple shopping trip in this episode works better to show life can be simple and 'beautiful' than previous episodes' outlandish attempts. Anyway, later on when Hikari and Mari have a chance to resume their conversation, Hikari tells Mari that she basically loves everything about this Earth from people like Takeru, Akari, Mari to places such as the school, the mountain, and the beach. Mari simply laughs after hearing Hikari's simple words.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ritsuko Aka...I mean, Jennifer is now seen inside a museum at an undisclosed location, having a discussion with her colleague about a fossil that is presumably came from the second half of the Cretaceous period. The fossil shows a creature similar to the monster from the first episode as well as a Tyrannosaurus Rex, laying dead next to one another. Jennifer's colleague tells her that the T-Rex fossil is not a surprise but he wonders what is the creature that is depicted next to it. He said that the creature had actually existed in other time periods and therefore he wonders how that said creature managed to exist in two separate time periods. Upon hearing the questions, Jennifer simply smiles and tells the guy that the creature is 'ED'. At the same time, Mari, Sakurako and Amika decide to take Hikari to see preparations for the Obon festival. The girls explain that the festival is to remember people from one's past, especially those who have passed away.

After hearing the purpose of the festival, Hikari tells them that she doesn't know much about what it means to be dead but she believes that those who already depart from this world probably want to be remembered by those who are still alive. Therefore, she wonders if people actually feel some kind of attachment to their lives. Sakurako tells her that when the time comes, the future, wishes, and fear of a person will disappear and therefore it's quite scary to think about it. Upon hearing this, Hikari sadly asks if one day everyone and everything in this world will come to an end. In reply, Sakurako says that they should just live a normal life and not think what will happen after death because thinking like that is a waste of life. Back at the museum, Jennifer is doing a slideshow comparison of the creature that was in the fossil and the corpse of the monster that they recovered from the Akatsuki area a few months ago.

Jennifer has also managed to secure part of the creature that appeared in the sea a week ago and tells her colleague that neither of these creatures can be categorised under the current living species. She, however, believes that they have similarity to certain organism from the other time periods. The colleagues then tells her that if Jennifer's hypothesis is correct, then it means the ED that is in Japan is the sign of the seventh large extinction. Jennifer confirms the man's guess, prompting him to conclude that it means human species is closer to extinction. Jennifer then tells him that ED is a monster that specialises in high offence but she never expected that it could emerge from a human as well, referring to Takeru's ability to transform into Devilman Takeru. To complicate matters, Takeru still maintains his awareness and actually protects his enemy, an Extinction Catalyst, instead of fighting it. The man thinks that it's dangerous that Takeru is not aware of his own power but Jennifer doesn't seem to be too concerned about it.

She said that she used to worry that the world will end before she becomes an adult but when she became adult, she's actually afraid for a whole different reason. She realises that the rotten ugliness of this world will probably continue for all eternity. Jennifer's answer doesn't seem to surprise the old man and he wonders what sort of ending does she actually have in mind. Jennifer tells him that it seems that they'll be witnesses to a very interesting era, presuming they still stay alive, that is. Back to the kids, they finally go to the Obon festival and Takeru tries his hard not to be horny so he can protect Hikari better this time around. Ryo, however, tells him not to be too hard on himself because human emotions move on its own and nothing good will happen from trying to stop that emotion. Mari is also seen at the festival, trying to confess her feeling to Takeru. She, however, becomes embarrassed at the last minute and decides to cancel her plan. Later on that night, Hikari finds out that her cricket is not making any sound. So Takeru ends up having to tell her that the cricket is dead, causing Hikari to experience her first death-related sorrow.

While she's sobbing herself in her room, Hikari hears a snide voice telling her there's no point in crying especially since she'll end more life very soon. Hikari is startled upon hearing the voice and inquires the identity of the person. The voice informs Hikari that she is actually Hikari herself. Upon saying this, an apparition of Dark Hikari appears slowly in front of the now horrified Hikari. Dark Hikari tells Hikari that she's there to help Hikari remember her purpose in this world and proceeds to crush the cage of the cricket while smiles eerily. Heh, I love this character. Hikari suddenly finds the cage in her own hands, destroyed in pieces. Dark Hikari tells Hikari that soon, they'll put an end to this dull and filthy world. And all Hikari has to do is to simply wish for this to happen. Upon hearing these words, Hikari then finds herself in the middle of desolate red Earth. She then wakes up and thinks that it was just a dream. However, at the corner of her room, she notices Ioneous sitting. Ioneous tells her that he notices that she's finally 'awakened', ending the episode.

It's obvious now that Hikari is on Earth to destroy it and that Takeru and the other monsters are actually her enemies. 'Extended Definition' is a funny term but I supposed it's the reverse of extinction catalyst, which is what Hikari (and probably Akari) is about. Having said that, I wonder why Hikari herself does not realise this mission of hers. Is it because she is a human now or is it because of the separation of the two elements in the first episode? Without Akari around her, her dark personality seems to be in a dormant state after the incident with the monster in the first episode. Does this mean that the presence of Akari forces Hikari to be her real self, that of the 'dark'? Is this why the monster in episode 7 tried to kill Akari? If I remember correctly, nothing seems to happen after the first episode until Hikari starts acting weird again around episode 4.

Interestingly enough, episode 4 is where she was first introduced to Akari. Hikari seems to know back then that something bad is going to happen when Ryo tells Akari that she can stay with him and his sister. Not long after that, in episode 5, Hikari's dark side is awaken due to the disappointment of her first day in school and has shown up from time to time ever since then. And with each appearances, her presence seems to be stronger and stronger. Episode 7 seems to suggest that she can appear and disappear every time Hikari's emotion and heart are in a negative mood or in a state of fluctuation like the time where she and Takeru kiss each other. I think there is a possibility that Hikari will experience something bad that will cause Dark Hikari to surface as her main personality.

Mari also may turned out to be quite useful in the story after all. Her obsession for Takeru will probably become one of the triggers that caused Hikari to revert to her darker personality. Having said that, I hope there will be other triggers involved as well because jealousy on its own is a rather silly reason to end the world. I also want to know what Jennifer and her colleague are going to do about Hikari and Takeru. At the moment they look like a low-rent version of SEELE from Evangelion. They don't seem to worry that much about what will happen if Hikari does decide to start the extinction process. Jennifer seems to be hoping for a refresh of the Earth but she is clearly gambling her chances to stay alive. At any rate, I wish they had started this main plot earlier because with only four episodes to finish off the season, there may not be much time left for confrontation or resolution.

© memento 2003