Blue Exorcist is a work that celebrates life. Its hopeful view of the world has been obvious for quite some time, but it came through more strongly than ever with the story of Shura Kirigakure. Even after being freed from the lethal pact, she volunteered to die by entering the frozen lake with Hachiro. Unable to imagine living for herself, Shura basically attempted suicide. However, as she sank into the icy depths, she remembered Shiro telling her to live. That memory inspired her to keep going. Rest assured – Shura will live on. Now, let’s look at how things played out in this episode.
Episode 5: As If Begging For Tears
Episode Rating: 9/10
Shura’s memories of Shiro made her realize that she wanted to live. When she saw Rin’s fire, the proof that he was fighting for her, she started to swim away from Hachiro. But the powerful serpentine demon grabbed hold of her again. He was furious at her betrayal and likely to kill her in his rage. While Rin kept shooting blue flames into the central body of the hydra, Yukio and Shima rushed to rescue Shura. But Shima was quickly knocked back to the ground and Yukio was coiled by another snakelike appendage.
Hachiro immediately started crushing Yukio, intending to kill him in front of Shura. That was the last straw that prompted Shura to make a decision. She still had her sword, Fang. With surprising power, she sliced the snake grappling her – slicing off much of her own hair in the process. Then she darted over to Yukio and freed him as well. Standing in front of an enraged Hachiro head, Shura declared that she no longer needed him.
This episode really impressed me for several reasons, but mainly because Shura took action by her own choice instead of just being rescued by the boys. In fact, she rescued Yukio from certain death. It was also great how Rin wanted Shura to come back of her own accord, recognizing her agency. This was a very literal battle against an immortal hydra monster, but it was also an emotional battle between depression and hope. Ultimately, Shura chose for herself, picking the path of life.
Thanks to Rin’s continued firepower, the body of Hachiro was almost entirely destroyed. All that remained was a small, silver snake with many glittering blue eyes. It slithered away quickly. Since Hashiro used so much of his power, his mind regressed to the level of a simple reptile. He might eventually recover and develop a bigger body, but it would take many years. So, at Shura’s request, Rin did not try to finish off the little snake.
I appreciated that they let Hachiro go free. Despite his demonic nature, Hachiro did evoke some sympathy from me. As an immortal demon, he has no idea how to care about a mortal person, but he still “fell in love” with Tatsuko. As the ages passed, he suffered but could not die. Tatsuko’s decedents became his only joy in life. The demons in this anime didn’t all choose to be demons and might not be evil by default. They are like part of nature. So, I don’t hate Hachiro. I hope he becomes a better creature.
At several points in this episode, there were flashbacks of Shura’s earlier life when Shiro was still alive. I empathized with Shura’s feelings of abandonment when Shiro refused to adopt her. Shura’s emotional response was valid, but so was Shiro’s choice. It was his right to not become a parent at that time. And even though it felt unfair, Shiro was also justified in taking care of the twin boys, becoming a parent when he was ready. It must have been frustrating for Shura, though.
One flashback showed a scene where Shura removes her top and puts her breasts in Shiro’s face. That was quite awkward, but it wasn’t something I would call fan-service because it was important to the character’s story. Shura put herself out there and hit on Shiro heavily, but he rejected her. As much as it infuriated her, this was the right thing to do. Even if Shura was of legal age, it would have been inappropriate for Shiro to sleep with her since he thought of her as a student. I have no issues with this scene.
The scene where Shura hugs Yukio and Rin was very sweet and emotionally fulfilling. Those boys are important figures in Shura’s life that helped inspire her to keep living. They might as well be her little brothers. Also, on an unrelated note, Shura looks great with short hair. It’s interesting how many stories there are that use hair-cutting as a symbol of great change in a woman’s life. It’s an artistic trope I enjoy.
I wish I could say that this episode ends on a positive note, but the last few minutes are spent setting up Yukio’s next major struggle as a character. Shima antagonized him and told him he should just join the Illuminati already. As if Shima’s ongoing pressure wasn’t enough, Yukio had to undergo major surgery and was told he needed at least two months to recover. He’s not doing well with this news. My suspicion is that Yukio will soon join the Illuminati.
I don’t know what awaits Yukio and Rin in the next seven episodes. It could get quite dark and intense. However, I feel confident that Blue Exorcist will continue to champanion hope as a major theme through its characters. That’s all for today.
~Thanks for reading~
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