灼眼のシャナS (review) Ep. 04
Shakugan no Shana S episode 04 – Overture Part 2

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis:

Shana uses the bead bracelet that Hamaguchi gave to Junko to learn about how Junko and Hamaguchi met and how their first date at Joushi Park after school led to a kiss, which Junko’s mother saw, leading to the fight which caused the bracelet to become broken.   Shana knows from Hamaguchi that the next time he and Junko were at Joushi Park, a strangely dressed photographer and assistant wanted to take his pictures while he waited for Junko to return from the bathroom.  It was during this time that Junko was consumed but the combination of photography and Tomogara puzzles Shana.  Alastor cites a Tomogara from the past who was a master picture painter.  That said, the whole thing is mysterious, especially with the American Torch appearing ten years later.

Saturday comes and Shana is about to go meet Hamaguchi for a new photo session when Junko’s mother hands her the repaired bracelet for “Junko’s” date with Hamaguchi.  While Hamaguchi has standard worries about his date, Shana ponders the Tomogara but to make Hamaguchi at ease, she takes his hand in hers as they walk.  Arriving at the park, Hamaguchi goes to get them some juice from a vending machine, allowing Shana and Alastor to ponder a bit.  However, Hamaguchi disappears and Shana is furious with herself as she goes on the hunt.  Finding the Tomogara’s trail, Shana finds a truck with the assistant driving and makes a forced entry into the back of it.  However, the truck is soon enveloped in a Fuzetsu as it continues to travel down roads and eventually the highway, all unseen by the naked eye.

Soon, the Tomogara who calls himself “Ugobaku-sama” reveals himself and his Houga called Atlant, which captures humans in picture form surrounded by a bubble and keeps them alive.  Ugobaku wants an attractive, male human form rather than the shifting mass form he currently has.  As such, he’s looking to the future when he can form the perfect body.  Since he took the American, the years passing made the American look less attractive which is why Ugobaku let him go.  However, he still has several other, including Hamaguchi, and mentions having consumed Junko for being in the way.  When Shana calls him weak, Ugobaku threatens to consume all of the humans he’s captured but Shana schools him on why he was weak and slays him, ending the threat.

As Junko’s mother waits and thinks of Junko growing up, the truck carrying Shana is out of control since the driver, a Torch, has flared out.  Shana frees the humans, who are of all nationalities, including Hamaguchi.  As paramedics tend to these people and Hamaguchi, he wonders where Junko is.  Seeing Shana as Junko, he hears her say goodbye and when he comes to his senses, he has no memory of the event or why he is here.  Seeing Junko’s bracelet in his hand, he has no memory of it either though Junko’s feelings in the bracelet reach Hamaguchi and cause him to cry though he does not know why.  With that, Shana heads off to Misaki City, where she meets Yuuji, has adventures with him, and now apparently is parted company with him only to meet again under uncertain circumstances.

Thoughts/Review:

The whole beginning flashback showing a very much alive Junko starting her relationship with Hamaguchi through their first date at Joushi Park was rather depressing for me.  That’s because I already knew the Junko character was not only dead, but the Torch copy of her had been taken over by Shana. It was also sad as Junko’s mother accepted that her daughter was at a dating age and so began to prepare herself for the day when her daughter would get married.  I couldn’t help but remember how a human, once their Torch is extinguished, are completely erased from existence and thus forgotten.

Of course the real tearjerker (if you will) was Shana’s farewell to Hamaguchi as Junko while leaving him the bracelet and Junko’s feelings even though he has no memory. I’ll admit to tearing up a bit there.  After all, I found Junko’s and Hamaguchi’s romance rather sweet.

While I’m thinking of it, the anime leaves Junko’s mother’s memory more in question since she’s seen smiling, having been thinking of her daughter and the future.  Since this story came from a light novel, I wonder if Shana did something for her as well.

While the Tomogara was weak like Shana said, the fight was still enjoyable even if brief.  The writers made sure to tie up all the loose ends so that all of the mysteries surrounding this Tomogara, the American (who I guess is not a Torch after all), and the mysterious cameraman are resolved.  I was only still a bit fuzzy on why Junko was eaten but as I think about it, it has to be because she was a woman.  Ugobaku was only interested in finding a perfect male form to become his own and her being there with Hamaguchi was a hindrance to his plans.  Since Ugobaku can move a rather small Fuzetsu around, I guess he ate Junko then immediately moved to Hamaguchi and caused him to disappear for a time within his Fuzetsu so that Ugobaku could take pictures in peace.

Finally, the final scene was a nice but short recap of Shana’s life after arriving at Misaki City to include a few of the Tomogara she battled as well as the fun times she had with Yuuji and of course Kazumi.  However, this scene seems to be setting up something big and nasty, or at least that’s the impression I’m left with.  Based on Shana’s thoughts, it seems that she and Yuuji have parted ways and that they have reunited on the large bridge that leads in and out of town.  While his face isn’t show, I’ve got the feeling that on the other bridge tower is Yuuji and Shana is facing him, not as a friend and lover, but as someone distant from her, perhaps someone to be wary of.  Not sure what that means but hopefully this will lead to a new TV series and some answers for me.  ^_^;;;

I’ll have some final thoughts in a later post but I have to say that I rather enjoyed the final two episodes.  For now, I’ll leave you with some lovely Engrish crock.  ^_~