Thanks for stopping by my blog. I know this post is quite late, but I’m doing the best I can to catch up. Blue Exorcist: Blue Night Saga has truly impressed me this season. Though the early and middle parts of the season were my favorites, the last three episodes were great as well. I don’t have time to recap every event, so instead, these are just some thoughts on each episode that came to mind. Let’s review.
- Episode 10: Light
- Episode 11: Promise
- Episode 12: Thank You
Episode 10: Light
Episode Rating: 9/10
Most of this episode was about Lucifer, but before that, we saw Shiro making the decision to save himself and the babies. He recalled the memory of Yuri telling him he was like a Yukiotoko and yet warm. In his wounded and tired state, it was like Yuri was there with him again, clinging to him happily. The recollection of that sweet moment brought back Shiro’s courage. I thought it was fitting that Yuri’s nickname for Shiro – Yukiotoko – would play into the story so many years later.
All the scenes with Lucifer were fascinating, as I’m keenly interested in the demons and their world. The child who was drawn to Lucifer was also an intriguing character despite being so quickly thrust into the story. We don’t even know his name – only that he is irresistibly drawn to Lucifer and his light. It’s sad that being raised in Section 13 resulted in him having no regard for his own life.
I think this boy becomes becomes the Lucifer we saw in the Illuminati arc. He probably became possessed at some point and lost his remaining humanity. All we know for sure from this episode is that he was the only one who survived Lucifer’s light attack unscathed. Unfortunately, Rick was killed trying to protect him and all the other children from Section 13. One of the men of the Grigori also survived, but everyone else in Lucifer’s way was reduced to ashes.
The exorcism of Lucifer was impressive, even though I don’t know the name of the older woman who managed to do it. If I understand correctly, she is the grandmother of Shiemi and the head of the Grigori. She might also be the last one who actually has the power wielded by the original Shemihaza, who was a Nephilim. She resigned after this event, passing the job to her daughter, who had recently given birth to Shiemi. That’s what I can gather so far, but there’s a lot we still don’t know about the Grigori.
This episode also showed us quick glimpses into the lives of Professor Dragulesc and Saburouta Tohdo, who both joined the Illuminati as it was being formed by followers of Lucifer. Dragulesc made a “perfect, immortal” clone to use as Satan’s next vessel. As for Tohdo, he had a psychotic break from pressure and slaughtered his family except for Homare. Honestly, Tohdo’s story needed more development, but I’m sure the manga author was doing their best to include everyone’s story in a limited amount of time.
The last point to mention is the ending scene, where Yuri’s spirit found Satan in Gehenna. She tried to tell him she loved him, only to be blown apart by his angry fire. Rinka might have been salvageable and sympathetic at one point in the story, but Satan is clearly completely irredeemable. Even when he recovered his “sanity,” he blamed Yuri for everything and hated her. Satan probably never felt actual love for Yuri. He was only obsessed with a plaything.
This tragic ending for Yuri was sad and frustrating, but it was necessary to make sure the audience has a good reason to hate Satan. While I never liked the king of Gehenna, I can’t say I had powerful animosity against him before his mistreatment of Yuri. Also, now I can appreciate how much it sucks that Shiro will end up dying because of Satan. Anyway, let’s get on to the next episode.
Episode 11: Promise
Episode Rating: 9/10
I had forgotten Shiro’s promise to Mephisto back in the second or third episode. If he ever succumbed to a demon, he would need to do whatever Mephisto said. “Succumbing to a demon” in this case meant refusing to exorcise the sons of Satan. The favor Mephisto demanded was to become the permanent dog of the True Cross Order. That also meant becoming the next Paladin and raising the babies. Shiro agreed, unable to go back on his word and ignore everything Mephisto had done for him.
I thought it was a little strange at first that the world accepted Shiro as the Paladin after his betrayal during the Blue Night. Then I realized that only a limited number of people within the True Cross Order knew of Shiro’s treason, and before that, he had a long track record of being an amazing exorcist. It makes sense that the public would accept him given those considerations.
Possibly the most interesting moment in this episode was the meeting in Gehenna. Mephisto proposed his plan of giving Rin to Satan as his next vessel once he had matured. The other powerful demons also wanted to serve Satan and get him a body as quickly as possible. Lucifer and his people promised to grant a perfect vessel, and Satan trusted them far more than Mephisto, who he felt was on the side of the exorcists. That whole scene – the devil’s council – was cool as fuck.
In other notes, Okumura was chosen as the surname for Rin and Yukio. Shiro didn’t want to give them his own name (Fujimoto) since they would be hounded by exorcists who knew they were related to the Paladin. So he named them after their grandfather – the man who died sacrificing himself to save Yuri, who was his adopted daughter. That was back when they lived together in the slums, before the fire. Yuri only knew him as “Oku,” but his name was Okumura, and he was a good man.
This episode also revealed that Jeremiah Uzai, one of the men who was always with the Grigori, was largely responsible for starting the Illuminati. He also helped Dragulesc salvage the “perfect replica” out of the mostly destroyed Section 13. Clearly, the deep corruption within the True Cross Order didn’t go away just because they cut ties with Lucifer. In addition, Jeremiah stole the remains of Lucifer, probably to give them to the clone child who survived the light attack and have him become a vessel.
The last section of the episode shows Shiro trying to raise the babies and getting help from all kinds of people. Yuri told him he could rely on others, but he never believed her until he really tried to ask for help. When he did, he was rewarded in various ways. It was a very wholesome ending, which was needed after so much tragedy.
Episode 12: Thank You
Episode Rating: 10/10
Most of this installment was a review of the first episode of Blue Exorcist season one. We saw the twins growing up under Shiro’s care. Yukio became an exorcist and started teaching younger exorcists at the cram school. Rin developed problems with controlling his emotions, including his strength when he was angry. Cooking helped him as a hobby, but he still had significant behavior issues as he became a rebellious teenager.
It sucked that Rin had to watch Shiro die a second time – this time, from a distance, and perfectly able to help. But Rin knew he shouldn’t interfere with time, so he stood back and watched as Shiro became possessed and then killed himself to save Rin. After this intense experience, Rin went back to Mephisto, who asked him if he had found his answer. Rin said he still didn’t completely know.
Rin decided to use the magic key again to return to the past once more and see Shiro for the last time. He forgot to put his hood up, but Shiro didn’t look at him closely and assumed he was a messenger from the Vatican. Rin was served warm, homemade snacks and listened to Shiro talk about his sons, who were less than ten years old at the time. Rin managed to say what was most important before leaving. He nearly cried, but he said, “Dad, thank you.”
It was heartbreaking to see Rin cry after saying goodbye to his father. But it was also emotionally empowering, in a way, to see Rin decide once and for all that he needed to live. His parents did so much for him, literally dying for him in the end. What kind of person would he be if he threw that away? Rin might still have identity issues with his demon heart, but his drive to live and protect others is fully back.
Using the key again, Rin appeared right in front of Yukio. That is where the arc and the season ends. Now that he knows the truth about his origins, Rin is determined to repair his relationship with Yukio – not only because he loves his little brother, but also to prove that humans and demons can get along. Yuri may have failed, but Rin was the hope for the future. This episode made me feel a lot of things and even cry a little. I’m so glad I watched this season.
~Thanks for reading~
Written by 7Mononoke at Anime Rants
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