For an exorcist episode – and this was surely an exorcist episode if ever one existed – that worked pretty well for me. The extremely rare dynamic of Natori and Matoba together made them more interesting than either of them is individually. There was also a definite sense that hints were being dropped about Natsume’s connection to the Matoba clan, though that might be me reading too much into things. I still don’t like this side of the series as much as the other, but it’s a part of the fabric of the story. And necessary to move the plot along towards an eventual finale, assuming Midorikawa-sensei ever decides to actually end the series.
The one-eyed youkai trying to bollocks up the welcoming ceremony is the plot driver for much of the episode. But the real focus here is the three-way dynamic between Matoba, Natori, and Natsume. As they’re stuck in the Miharu trap room as Natori (and only Natori) finds it increasingly hard to breathe, Matoba makes a crack about how one should use the tools at their disposal. This is obviously an old thing between the pair of them, but Matoba was directing that at Natsume, too. Objectively Natori is the more sympathetic of the two, even if he tries to have it both ways with his vocation. But I find Matoba to be the more interesting character.
Once more – and we see this a lot – the source of conflict and/or heartbreak is the gap in lifespan between youkai and humans. One-eye is trying to destroy the Miharu clan, but the reason is rather surprising. When Masakiyo was the head of the clan he came to the mansion outside which she lived (this really is exorcist valley) and destroyed the powerful youkai attached to it. But he spared One-eye, who was weak and helpless. She followed him (yeah, stalking basically covers it) trying to get Masakiyo to tell her his wish so she could grant it. He refused for years (maybe decades) but she finally overheard him say he wished the clan would disappear after he was forced to part ways with the woman he loved.
Masakiyo’s wish is already fulfilled of course – the Miharu clan is long gone. But so is he, and One-eye doesn’t grasp any of that. Her efforts to destroy the family failed, perhaps because of the Three Pillars – so she reasons that if she wrecks the ceremony and angers them, maybe that will destroy the clan. But they’ve already destroyed themselves – with the help of time. Natsume and Natori stop her from wrecking the ceremony, and even though it’s the testy Bobozukin who shows up this time, Matoba manages to get through the ceremony. I found Bobozukin’s comment about the debt the Three Pillars owed the Miharu for “taking them in when they were starving” to be very intriguing, but if we’re ever to hear more about that it’s to be on another day.
What are we to make of Natsume making the same comment to Natori that Matoba made to him – “Do I look like I need cheering up?”. Maybe nothing, but there was a vibe happening over those final several minutes. It certainly wasn’t coincidental that Masakiyo and Matoba were shown in the same pose on the same bench – each of them bear a heavy burden they never asked for. The implication here is that Natsume bears a burden too because of the rare power he possesses, and that sooner or later he’s going to be forced to exorcise it (no pun intended). Who knows, maybe that will be at the heart of that mystical final arc, should it ever come…
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