Monday, May 22, 2006

Anime : Jigoku Shoujo 17

Love this episode. Jigoku Shoujo simply gets better as the season approaches the end. It started with Shibata Hajine and Tsuugumi traveling in the car towards an isolated sanatorium when they suddenly heard the sound of a musical box playing. In the fog, they suddenly saw the shadow of Jigoku Shoujo, who possessed Tsuugumi to warn them away from the sanatorium. Of course, Hajime did not comply and they ended roaming in the empty sanatorium and falling into the trap of an unrest soul of a doll. This episode took a twist: because the one who accessed the Jigoku Tsuushin was actually a soul, not a living human, Enma Ai refused to accept the request for revenge. The other twist surprised me: Enma Ai took the trouble to save Hajime and Tsuugumi from the revengeful soul of the doll. It was really creepy when the doll went all out to kill Tsuugumi and Hajime. The sanatorium environment was very well portrayed, setting the quiet and cold mood, rendering the loneliness and helplessness that Nina felt very real. I was especially sad when they revealed the reason to why the doll wanted to seek revenge. Great episode it is.