Nagi no Asukara - Episode 26 (Completed)

Another Ofunehiki has brought with it yet another potential disaster, with Manaka all set to be swept away once again only to be saved by, and her place seemingly taken as another Ojoshi replacement, by Miuna.

While Manaka is rescued and whisked to the surface, only for Chisaki and Kaname to discover that she's regained her Ena, Tsumugu and Hikari puzzle over how to save Miuna from her place as a hostage of the Sea God - an effort that seems to be impossible.  This prospect is what gives Hikari the clarity to realise how much pain his feelings for Manaka, and the way he's shown them, have wrought upon Miuna, and it's this regret that finally stirs the Sea God into action thanks to this scenario which resembles one from his own past.

Thus, the lull in the sea comes to an end, the people of Shioshishio slowly but surely awaken, and those beneath the surface and reunited with those above to create a happy ending all around - even for Miuna, who manages to move on from her feelings towards Hikari with both a new confidence and a new appreciation for the lifelong friends that she's made.

Although it was somewhat filled with supernatural guff, the character-centric elements of Nagi no Asukara's finale were still provided with enough space to breathe to make for a satisfying climax - its ultimately feel-good ending didn't really feel forced and left things in a good position to bring the show to a close, and as per every other episode of the series it looked sumptuous.  In that sense, Nagi no Asukara as a whole would probably have worked pretty well just as a weekly visual treat, but after an unsure start it also managed to provide some of the best character-driven romantic drama we've seen in a long time - its second half in particular was unceasingly on the nose in making great use of its time skip to good effect, and week by week the series became more and more of an emotional rollercoaster that it became impossible to tear yourself away from.  With enough standout moments to also be worthy of viewing again in the future, and a surprising place in my heart as one of my favourite shows of the last six months (no mean feat given the quality of some of the competition), I guess it's time to start saving up the cash to pick up the show when it hits the US on Blu-Ray...

Nagi no Asukara - Episode 25

The Ofunehiki is drawing ever closer, but in a sense that almost takes a secondary importance in this week's Nagi no Asukara as its cast finally begin to properly sift through their tangled emotions.

It's Miuna who seems to be the week's emotional punching bag once again however, as having to rescue Manaka's pendant containing her feelings from the sea after it was dropped in there by Akira leads to confirmation beyond all doubt of Manaka's feelings for Hikari.  Earnest girl that she is, this only leads to her pushing even harder for Hikari to admit his own feelings, both to himself and others, even at the cost of her own intense emotional pain.

Elsewhere, last week's events regarding Saya seem to have given Kaname a new lease of life, as he sits down with Tsumugu for a heart-to-heart that allows him to finally fully pursue Chisaki while battling through her layers of resistance.  All of this is put on hold for the Ofunehiki, however, with even Uroko tagging along to help - once again, this ceremony produces dangers of Biblical proportions, and it seems that the feelings of both Manaka and Miuna will be its centrepiece this time around.

By a combination of necessity and its currently on-going plot, this week's Nagi no Asukara felt like it had to rush through some of its major romantic shifts where it could perhaps have given them a little more time to breathe - thankfully, these moments were still handled well enough overall, and the over-arching drama of the love triangle between Manaka, Miuna and Hikari is understandably taking centre stage to provide plenty of strong moments in the latter half of this week's episode.  On a personal level, I hate to think that Miuna might be the one to lose out on everything come the end of the series next week, but on the other hand the fact that I care at all is a testament to what the show has done so incredibly well throughout its second half.

Nagi no Asukara - Episode 24

Although it wasn't exactly as Tsumugu might have planned it, his feelings for Chisaki are finally out in the open, leaving him little choice but to follow through and explain them to her in detail.

Unfortunately for him, that isn't enough to make Chisaki fall into his arms - far from it in fact, as she rejects him entirely and runs off.  But is Chisaki simply lying to herself?  It's Kaname (of all people) who tackles her and gives her an outlet for her feelings, which seem to be more predicated upon guilt that she spent all this time awake above the surface while her friends were sleeping, and that as a result she doesn't deserve Tsumugu's love if someone else - i.e. Manaka - should be its true recipient.

In typical Tsumugu style, he doesn't sit and mope in the wake of all this - instead, he focuses his efforts into a plan that might stave off the slow calamity likely to befall the surface while also retrieving Manaka's ability to love.  In short, this plan involves organising and carrying out another Ofunehiki, complete with an Ojoshi that is decked out with the necklace that originated from the Red Sea Slug assumed to have been used by Manaka.  With Uroko agreeing to help in the matter, Tsumugu succeeds in reuniting those involved in the Ofunehiki five years previously, although with all of our major players in close proximity there were always likely to be some emotionally difficult moments ahead, and it's Kaname and Saya who experience the most intense of these in the wake of some more heartbreak for the former regarding Chisaki.

It's that scene between Kaname and Saya that provides another stand-out moment for this increasingly excellent series - not only was it superb within the confines of this series, it was arguably one of the greatest scenes of its kind I've seen in a long time, even to the point of making fantastic use of the now over-used passing train visual motif.  Aside from this, there was still no shortage of strong character moments - Chisaki continues to be a tremendous (if self-destructive) character, this week's episode provided another reminder of Hikari's growth, and Miuna's current path of behaviour is an emotional timebomb waiting to go off.  From modest beginnings, Nagi no Asukara has certainly cemented itself as a must-watch show in recent weeks.

Nagi no Asukara - Episode 23

The revelation that Manaka has lost the ability to love, alongside her memories of who she might once have been in love with, is clearly not good news - what's more, it also opens up a period of open reflection from all of those around her.

For Hikari, his thoughts all remain firmly focused on what he, or anyone else, can do to resolve this issue for Manaka - unfortunately, this coupled with his own emotions leaves him with a massive blind spot as to who Manaka's love might have been directed towards, as he asserts over and over again that it must be Tsumugu who was the object of her interest.  It's a thought process which leaves Miuna unsure of what to do given her own feelings, putting some further pressure on her own conflicting desires to be with Hikari and ensure Manaka's happiness.

In the midst of all of this, the rest of the group find themselves considering whether living without the ability to fall in love is actually a bad thing at all - Chisaki certainly doesn't seem to think so, and neither does Kaname, much to Sayu's chagrin.  It's a prospect that certainly sets things in motion for a number of characters, as Sayu swears she's going to confess to Kaname, Hikari steels himself to tell Tsumugu to get on with it and date Manaka, and Tsumugu himself ends up making an inadvertent confession of his own which has major consequences for both himself and, possibly, Chisaki.

If last week's Nagi no Asukara was a relatively quiet one, this week's instalment was packed with seismic activity to shake up the goings-on amongst its cast - it isn't the kind of episode that will cause sudden outbursts of tears from the viewer, but it does a wonderful job of setting its tone and contemplative, slightly melancholy mood which it then follows through on as its story continues to twist and turn like the emotions of its characters.  The show is going to have to start wrapping things up soon given the tangled web of relationships now at its core though, so I hope that it's left itself sufficient time to do so.

Nagi no Asukara - Episode 22

It seems that Uroko is at large on the surface, and he's put all of his abilities to full use by providing Tsumugu with a rather untimely distraction which he's understandably keen to get rid of.  But where is this scale of the Sea God exactly?

Although simply searching for him seems to be proving entirely fruitless none of the group are keen to give up, and so they decide to play a little smarter and try luring Uroko out with a combination of food and pornography.  The group may be united on this front, but there's a very obvious coldness evident in Hikari's behaviour towards Manaka, while Kaname seems determined to push his agenda with regards to Chisaki, even doing so virtually in front of both Tsumugu and Sayu.

It's Hikari who is really having his emotions toyed with the most however, as his irritation at Manaka's assertion that she doesn't remember what she was going to tell him before the Ofunehiki turns into despair as it turns out that she's actually missing a number of memories... all memories that were precious to him in some shape or form.  It's with this discovery that Hikari, together with Miuna, run into Uroko and have their questions duly answered, as it's revealed exactly why Manaka as found where she was under the sea, why she's lost her Ena, what her re-emergence for the ocean means for the future of the surface-dwellers and, most importantly for Hikari, the awful truth behind her missing memories.

From what seemed like it might be a light-hearted episode of Nagi no Asukara that merely sent us on a wild goose chase looking for Uroko, we ended up with some highly impactful drama that put a fascinating and well-placed spin on Manaka's role that will doubtless reverberate through every aspect of the series in coming episodes.  It says a lot about this show's characterisation that a relatively simple explanation of much of what is going on can feel so affecting, and that's exactly what this series has succeeded at here.  Nagi no Asukara certainly shows no signs of losing what's made it compelling over recent months, that's for sure.

Nagi no Asukara - Episode 21

The last of Shioshishio's group of friends has now awoken from her slumber - so now what for all of those concerned?

Compared to the feelings of confusion, ennui and the like felt by the others who awoke from their five year sleep, Manaka really doesn't seem fazed by how things have changed at all - far from it in fact, she revels in every little difference she encounters, even if most of them are "snow" or "more snow".  Of course, the same can't be said for others who are facing up to Manaka's return - Miuna continues to be torn but copes with the situation gracefully, whereas Chisaki seems to be struggling massively with how to respond to the return of not just a friend, but perhaps more pressingly also a love rival.

Despite those initial impressions, it still seems as if something if bugging Manaka, as we later see her spaced out and in a world of her own.  Besides which, are her memories of the Ofunehiki and the time directly surrounding it really as hazy as she makes out, or is she simply avoiding any difficult issues?  Such questions may need to be put on hold, as Tsumugu's continuing research and his plan to start drawing up his ultimate findings seemingly makes him the target of Uroko's rather unique idea of how to curse someone.

As has been the case quite often with this series of late, there's a lot to be enjoyed from the subtlety of Nagi no Asukara's story-telling - now that we know all of the intricacies of this tangled web of relationships, we can understand a lot simply from body language or what a given character doesn't say, without them needing to verbalise their every thought or feeling.  This turns to intrigue when we take a look at Manaka, whose straightforward nature belies her own worries and issues that she has to get to grips with, and coupled with some further turns into the wider story of what is going on in this world there's once again plenty for us to get our teeth into over the coming weeks.

Nagi no Asukara - Episode 20

Hikari seems utterly confident that Manaka will soon awaken after her return to the surface at his hands - however, one week later there's no sign of this actually happening.

Regardless, Hikari remains upbeat and confident that her spiritual return isn't too far away, while also spending much of his free time in Shioshishio trying to track down Uroko in the hope that he may hold the key to Manaka's comatose state, helped all the way by Kaname and - increasingly - Chisaki.  In fact, Hikari's preoccupation with finding Uroko sees him run himself to the point of collapse from exhaustion, if there were any doubts as to his devotion to Manaka.

With this trio of underwater residents seemingly closer than ever, those outside of that circle find themselves feeling a little left out, particularly in the case of Miuna and Sayu.  It's Miuna in particular who finds herself suffering a crisis of sorts, as she increasingly comes to realise that perhaps deep down she doesn't really want Manaka to wake up after all given the effect she knows this will have upon any chance of Hikari noticing her romantically.  This comes to a head when Sayu suggests that perhaps Manaka could be awoken like some kind of Snow White; it's left to Tsumugu to assure Miuna that she isn't alone in her feelings, as it's a prospect that he's all too familiar with thanks to his own situation with Chisaki.

It's this focus on Miuna that has proved to be one of the strengths of Nagi no Asukara's second half - she, along with Chisaki, makes for a fascinating centre-point for so much of what is going on within the series, and her emotional turmoil has driven a lot of the best moments of the show of late, including in this episode where her discussion of her feelings with Tsumugu are a simple but effective high point.  By the end of the episode, things are about to get shaken up once again thanks to an understated and humorous finale, which should promise more similar moments as Nagi no Asukara continues to play to its strengths.

Nagi no Asukara - Episode 19

Manaka's return to the surface seems to have rekindled an old memory in Chisaki's mind, as she recalls a time when both herself and Manaka were found and rescued by Hikari having become lost on some kind of expedition.  Some things never change, it seems...

Back in the present, Manaka still hasn't regained consciousness after several days on the surface, although as far as the doctor is concerned she's perfectly healthy so it's more a matter of "when" rather than "if" she'll come round, much to the relief of all concerned.  Indeed, the theme of this week's episode as it pertains to Manaka's reappearance is that it's finally time for the proverbial clock to start ticking once more for the cast now that all and sundry have been reunited.

Of course, that ticking of the clock might not necessarily be a welcome one in all quarters - Miuna's hopes of attracting Hikari's attention seem dashed now that Manaka has returned, and for all of her grown-up posturing Chisaki ultimately has to admit that deep down she still has feelings for him too, in a realisation that comes when her own attempt to return to see Shioshishio almost goes awry.  Meanwhile, Chisaki remains at least somewhat oblivious to Tsumugu and Kaname's butting heads over her affections, perhaps at least somewhat distracted by the fact that an untold aspect of the tale of the Sea God and Ojoshi may in some way relate to Manaka, and more specifically the disappearance of her Ena.

Although this episode is another slow burner in terms of building up (or rebuilding, rather) its relationships and tangled web of affections, by this point its cast of characters are so strong that simply bouncing these sometimes tricky inter-relationships off of one another can easily fill an entertaining episode.  Although perhaps a risky decision, allowing Chisaki to grow up while her friends stayed the same age in the wake of Shioshishio's hibernation really pays dividends in an episode such as this, with any focus upon her giving us a unique outlook that adds another dimension to this enjoyable show.

Nagi no Asukara - Episode 18

Thanks to a mixture of Miuna's sharp hearing and Tsumugu and company's research, a route into Shioshishio has been found, allowing Miuna to accompany Hikari and Kaname on their return home.

Of course, with the rest of the populace still in hibernation this is a decidedly eerie homecoming, and although Hikai admonishes Miuna from being creeped out by the statuesque individuals dotted around town in truth he's equally, if not more, discomfited by the whole thing.  Are they really still hibernating?

While Hikari heads back to his home to cool off a little, Miuna finds herself drawn once again towards the strange sound that she can hear - a noise that eventually brings her to her friend's old school, allowing her to shake off the town's eerie nature and gain a glimpse into the world beneath the sea that she'd always imagined.  It's here that she finds herself quizzed by Uroko, before in turn finally rejoining the others to find what they'd been looking for - Manaka's location at the centre of the events that occurred five years previously.  However, with Manaka's Ena seemingly withering away by the moment, it seems that there's nothing for it than to risk awakening her prematurely to take her to the surface and save her life... an escape that leaves Miuna with a final memory of a withering look from Uroko, which seems to suggest she has a bigger part to play in events than she might ever have imagined.

Somewhat removed from the human (and mostly human) drama of recent weeks, this was a slightly more sedate episode of Nagi no Asukara which seems to serve largely to build towards its final series of episodes - Miuna and Manaka have now switched roles in many senses, with hints that the fate of the pair may be tied more tightly than anticipated, and of course Manaka's reappearance completes the awakening of the main quartet of Shioshishio characters complete with everything that this reunion entails.  It certainly feels like we're set up for some fascinating machinations in the coming weeks, so I fully expect this series to continue to deliver.

Nagi no Asukara - Episode 17

And then there were two.... having adjusted to live on the surface after five years of sleep, Hikari finds himself joined by Kaname, who saunters around wearing nothing upon reaching the humanity in his own inimitable style.

Just as Miuna was both excited and terrified by Hikari's reappearance in her life, so Sayu has to face the same emotional rollercoaster now that the boy she has pined after for so long has returned.  After one unexpected attempt to introduce herself to him goes awry, she swears off having anything to do with him and outwardly suggests her determination to be alone or at least simply give up on him - an attitude which puts her into conflict with Sayu, and ultimately with herself once Kaname approaches and speaks to her.

For Kaname's part, his biggest struggle is with Chisaki's current state, both in terms of her physical growth (although he's quick to point out to her that he's not concerned about that) and also her relationship with Tsumugu, which he instantly recognises as being close.  With Miuna's Ena having been revealed, and more importantly as researchers appear to have pinpoint a potential entrance to Shioshishio, relationships above the surface look likely to be parked as attentions turn to exploring the previously inaccessible underwater town to find out what has become of it.

After some stunning episodes of late, this week's Nagi no Asukara was merely "very good", perhaps mostly on account of the fact that the circumstances of Kaname's reappearance were less striking simply because of their broad similarity to those experienced by Hikari's return.  Still, Sayu's behaviour was enjoyable to watch as a twist on Miuna's own previous reactions, and now that we're returning beneath the sea it feels like this series still has some major surprises in store to keep me hooked.

Nagi no Asukara - Episode 16

Now that Hikari has recovered somewhat both physically and mentally from the situation that has confronted him since reawakening, it's time to head back to school, a return which puts him amongst both strange and familiar faces.

Not that Hikari seems to mind not knowing most of his classmates - in fact, he revels in playing up to his role as their senior as they bombard him with questions which he does little more than play the fool in response to.  Hikari's return also means that he's now sharing a class with both Miuna and Sayu, although only one of them seems to be particularly happy to see him back in their midst.

One thing Hikari is missing upon his return to education is a school uniform - something which he seems strangely against owning for reasons that we never quite fully get a handle on.  However, Akari is having none of this, and thus sends Hikari and Miuna into the city to have him fitted out for a new uniform - a trip which ultimately sees Sayu joining them.  Again, Sayu isn't exactly thrilled about this invite, and it soon becomes clear why as she's treated as little more than a third wheel as Hikari and Miuna chatter and goof around - this eventually comes to a head and all spills out into a heated argument, with Sayu feeling bitter that Kaname hasn't returned while Miuna once again seems to have gotten whatever she wants in her life.  The aftermath of this sees Miuna leaving alone while Hikari is left to try and escort Sayu home - having figured out where Miuna may have gone to let off steam however, he catches up with her only for fate to deliver another surprising twist in Miuna's life.

I'll openly admit that I can't quite get my head around the revelation regarding Miuna, which means that either I've forgotten something important or this is foreshadowing of some more widespread future revelations - either way, this is but a drop of confusion in another ocean of great drama, that managed to make the most of some relatively minor drama to reinforce its characters and their feelings in an affecting way that was enjoyable and occasionally touching to watch.  It's another positive for what has been a fantastic second half of the series for Nagi no Asukara thus far, and it still seems to have plenty up its sleeve to continue in a similar vein as the show continues.

Nagi no Asukara - Episode 15

The reemergence of Hikari from the depths of the sea after five years might not, in itself, be a massive surprise - however, the fact that he hasn't aged a day since the Ofunehiki all those years previously is a decidedly larger shock to the system.

As a result, this week's episode is really all about dealing with the psychological fallout from that shock - although Hikari seems to be in high spirits and taking everything in his stride as he meets old friends and finds them desperate to help him catch up on everything that he's missed, in truth he's terrified by all of the change that he sees everywhere around him and wants only to shrink from it.  This is, of course, exacerbated by his final memories of Manaka from that night, and his concerns about what fate may have befallen her.

Meanwhile, we see two very different reactions to Hikari's return from Miuna and Chisaki.  In the former's case, she's quietly thrilled that the boy she fell for has returned, and what's more than she's now the same age as him; on the other hand, Chisaki is so scared by how Hikari might perceive her older self that she daren't even visit her old returning friend.  Ultimately, both characters inadvertently come to realise their own unique brands of selfishness - Miuna comes to understand Hikari's terror at being the only one stood still in a hugely changed world, while Chisaki's worries are assuaged somewhat when she does finally meet Hikari.  For his part, it's meeting Chisaki that finally gives Hikari the confidence to step forth and embrace his new present, perhaps unaware of the feeling of others swirling around him.

Having done a good job of setting up its post-time skip world last week, this latest instalment of Nagi no Asukara absolutely nailed its tone and content - Chisaki and Miuna's contrasting attitudes, coupled with Hikari's false bravado, all made for fascinating character studies in their own right, and once they were all brought together the perfectly delivered emotional fireworks which resulted were truly affecting.  It seems as if this series has plenty going for it to sustain its second half, and from being a series that I've quietly enjoyed throughout it feels like Nagi no Asukara is suddenly reaching into the stratosphere with its ideas and story-telling.

Nagi no Asukara - Episode 14

After the disastrous events that brought us to the end of the previous episode of Nagi no Asukara, we find ourselves moving five years into the future as of episode fourteen, and needless to say plenty has changed.

For starters, and as predicted, temperatures on the surface have dropped rapidly, leaving the world under the sea lost beneath a thick layer of ice, and with tides that prevent anyone from returning or exploring the area.  With these tides emerging in the aftermath of the Ofunehiki, Chisaki was left stranded on the surface where she was taken in by Tsumugu (now a researcher into the current climate phenomena and its cause) and his grandfather, while Hikari and Manaka are assumed to be safe beneath the surface.  Meanwhile, Akari now has a son, and Miuna has now grown markedly both in physicality and personality.

However, the events of five years previously still hang heavily over the cast, and in particular Chisaki and Miuna, who seem unable to shed their feelings for Hikari thanks to the uncertainty over whether he survived the Ofunehiki and his current state - this leaves both characters in limbo, with Chisaki focusing her attentions on looking after Tsumugu's now-ill grandfather while Miuna shuns the romantic advances of boys due to a refusal to give up on her first love.  Maybe, just maybe, her wait may be rewarded however, as a notable event brings about a seemingly miraculous turn of events.

The prospect of a time-skip in any series always brings about a grimace from most, and with good reason - it's usually either clumsily handled or a cop-out of some description.  Although reliant on flashbacks to fill in some of the gaps, this week's Nagi no Asukara was a terrific episode regardless, making great use of Chisaki as the centrepiece of the deep-seated emotional turmoil that still hasn't been quelled in five years, and then mining that unrest to prove some emotionally powerful scenes that conveyed everything that they wanted to without beating you over the head with it.  I'm not sure where we're headed with the reappearance of Hikari, but I now feel like I trust this series to steer itself in the right direction, so I'm decidedly curious to see where things are moving towards.

Nagi no Asukara - Episode 13

Last week's episode of Nagi no Asukara ended in a blitz of confessions and outpouring feelings - not that there's really a lot of time for anyone to consider these revelations given the impending hibernation and Ofunehiki festival.

Although both Hikari and Manaka find at least a little time to ponder their respective feelings, nothing is resolved as attentions turn fully towards those two major events, with many hoping that the Ofunehiki will appease the Sea God and resolve whatever is threatening to befall the surface over the years to come.  Having managed to more or less square their involvement in the event with their parents, all are present and correct as things get underway, complete with Akari as the token sacrifice.

The trouble is, the Sea God himself doesn't seem to be particularly interested in mere tokens of his subject's devotion, and any thoughts that this god doesn't even exist are soon pushed away by the appearance of a number of powerful whirlpools.  Before we know it, Akari has been sucked beneath the water's surface as a more literal sacrifice to the Sea God - although not if Hikari and Manaka have anything to do with it - while Tsumugu also gets caught up in things and also finds himself dragged away, only for Chisaki and Kaname to try and save him.  The resulting fallout of all this could have dire consequences for some of those concerned, as we wait to see what's happened to all of the individuals involved.

Although the Ofunehiki was obviously going to be a pivotal moment for this series, I wasn't expecting it to be quite that pivotal as it threatened to lay waste to part of the cast and leaves us unsure as to exactly what has transpired.  As a follow-on from the events of recent episodes it provides another strong instalment that certainly allowed for actions to speak louder than words, providing drama that will surely reverberate throughout the second half of the show to provide even more compelling twists and turns for the series.

Nagi no Asukara - Episode 12

As progress on setting up the Ofunehiki continues apace, the thoughts of many are becoming ever-more distracted by the forthcoming hibernation of those within Shioshishio and what that might mean for their various relationships.

This soul-searching brings about some surprising results too, in particular as it relates to Akari and Hikari's father who, it seems, has been harsh about the decisions of his children precisely because of his knowledge of the troubles which are now upon the world.  Having finally realised that such harsh words are fruitless against such determined offspring, he has instead decided to reconcile with Akari in particular as her marriage draws closer in what proves to be some touching moments.

Elsewhere however, the friendships between our main quartet of characters are about to be stretched to the limit, as the thought of hibernation for an indeterminate period leads to Kaname in particular wanting to ensure that everything between them is out in the open before its too late.  It's arguably a noble goal, but his forceful way of going about it leaves Hikari with no choice but to confess his feelings for Manaka, leading to chaos ensuing as Manaka runs from the difficult position confronting her, while Chisaki in turn feels compelled to reveal how she feels to Hikari.  With Tsumugu also being caught up in this fallout, can everything be resolved before the hibernation begins in earnest?

Following a slightly clumsy (if lovably so) comedic start, there was further evidence of this show's ability to produce some decent drama in this week's Nagi no Asukara - Akari's reconciliation with her father was heart-warming without being overly saccharine, while events between the main members of our cast have suddenly reached boiling point, which should make for some fascinating conflicts and changes moving forward over the next episode or two.  In other words, it's almost everything that I hoped this series might be, which hopefully bodes well for its second half.

Nagi no Asukara - Episode 11

With the prospect of disaster on the surface and a long sleep for an unspecified amount of time for those within Shioshioshio, it's hardly surprising that some minds have been focused with a view towards the future - especially so in Kaname's case, it seems.

His out of the blue confession to Chisaki aside, folks under the sea have set a date for their sleep to begin, and thus the fasting to thicken their ena commences.  All the while, Akari determinedly continues her new life on the surface, as the realities of the cold spell for those living around her begins to bring a sense of reality to the proclamations brought to them by Hikari.

Facing dwindling catches and rising prices, the fishermen's association finally crack, convening a meeting with Hikari to plead with him to help ensure that the Ofunehiki goes ahead - something that he's more than happy to do, although his hopes that this may avert the crisis are quickly shot down by Uroko who insists it'll make no difference to current events.  As the quartet of kids take it upon themselves to begin eating again in deference to the uncertainties of sleeping through the world's troubles, Akari makes a bid of her own to turn the tide by suggesting that she become the sacrificial Ojoshi that is offered to the Sea God during the Ofunehiki ceremony; an idea that she plans to combine with her wedding, which perhaps isn't the most romantic idea I've ever heard.  With everyone changing and moving forward to become stronger, perhaps it's Chisaki's turn to take a brave step forth...

It probably says a lot about how I've become endeared to the premise and characters within Nagi no Asukara that I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this week's episode above all else - the begrudging realisations that Shioshishio's tale of disaster on the surface might be right after all, and the tension all around at the seismic shift caused by the news on both a personal and community level.  All of this was delivered in a quiet but confident way that suited it down to the ground, building up to what looks likely to be a fraught instalment next week that I'm very much looking forward to.

Nagi no Asukara - Episode 10

The appearance of snowflake sand on the surface has sent Shioshishio into a panic, calling all and sundry back to their homes including the children from their school life on dry land.

Uroko is quick to explain what's going on to Hikari upon his return to the ocean - in short, a tale of years gone by prophesies that the advent of saltflake snow falling is the precursor to an ice age of sorts on the surface, caused by dwindling support for the Sea God on this occasion.  For the people of Shioshishio, the answer to this crisis is simply to hibernate and sleep until the cold spell dissipates, but the same can't be said of those living on the surface, who will surely perish.

Naturally, Hikari initially refuses to believe or accept this, and then switches his focus to instead pondering how those on the surface can be saved.  The obvious answer is to fully reinstate the Ofunehiki celebrations, but can he really persuade everyone to assist with this, especially as the suggestion seems to be that this ice age is still some way away from wiping out life on the surface?  In the midst of all this, feelings are inevitably charged all around, no more so than in Manaka's case as she tries to wrap her head around her feelings for both Hikari and Tsumugu, while things are also moving in an interesting direction for Chisaki and Kaname.

As per last week's episode, Nagi no Asukara is still proving accomplished and balancing its big picture (and some nigh-on apocalyptic conceits) with the small but important matters of the heart amongst the cast.  Perhaps its vague allusions to religion and global warming within its concept of a forthcoming ice age feel a little forced, but they're never pushed too hard into what continues to be an interesting story on both of the levels that it seeks to represent, courtesy of a scenario that melds the two together very well indeed.

Nagi no Asukara - Episode 9

The appearance of saltflake snow on the surface is certainly unusual, but seems like little more than a novelty to most.  Is it, however, portentous in signifying a forthcoming calamity?

Meanwhile on that surface, Hikari finds himself privately worrying about his father while publicly stating that he has no interest in returning home - a thought process pushed to the back of his mind by a decision to once again work at rebuilding the Ojoshi with a view towards performing the Ofunehiki even if neither the people of the surface nor the sea are interested in formally supporting them.  Certainly, Hikari has no problems gaining the support of his teacher and classmates, and thus their efforts are redoubled to put together the necessary items, boat and all.

As work continues towards this end, so the relationships between the cast continue to swirl and change - Chisaki may have decided to be "mature" about her feelings towards Hikari but it hasn't impressed Tsumugu one little bit, Kaname looks likely to be dragged into proceedings and even Hikari can't help but let some of his feelings towards Manaka show as the episode reaches its conclusion.  What an important conclusion it is too, with the children of Shioshishio told not to return to the surface under any circumstances - it seems that the calamity in question is one that endangers the land far more than it does these sea-dwellers...

We certainly seem to be getting into the meat of Nagi no Asukara now, and I'm more than a little happy to see that the series is managing to blend its wider plot elements in well with the more personal side of the series, melding the big picture in with the minutiae of Hikari and Manaka's relationship in particular.  If the series can continue to do this in such a capable fashion, then it certainly seems to have the ability to remain in my mind as one of the autumn's better series as I find myself more and more engaged by it the longer that it continues.

Nagi no Asukara - Episode 8

Having survived the trials and tribulations associated with their difficult decision to leave for the surface, Akari and Hikari are all set to begin their new lives, however awkward those first steps might be.

Indeed, their first evening at the home of Akari's boyfriend and daughter Miura is a classic case of nobody knowing quite how to act and what to say, while any attempt for Hikari to be tactful and take his leave are quickly rejected by his sister.  Although she remains quite, it's really Miura who's having arguably the toughest time - although she's very much over her attempts to push Akari away, she's still struggling to find the right words to say to welcome her into the family.

So, if words won't work, why not something else?  Hikari is once again the generator of a rather good idea, which sees him and his friends take Miura on a shopping trip to the city - a first for all of them aside from Tsumugu, who is also tagging along.  When Miura sets her heart on a pendant that's out of stock, all and sundry work their socks off scouring the city for somewhere else that might have it - but perhaps there's no need to spend inordinate amounts of money for Miura to convey her feelings at all, when the real answer resides much closer to home?

All in all, this was a thoroughly enjoyable feel-good episode of this Nagi no Asukara, which offered us a chance to really see how much all of the main cast have matured and learned important lessons over the course of the series so far (something which really doesn't happen often enough in shows like this), leading into a really satisfying end to the main thrust of the episode which also lay down some very important seeds for future plot developments.  It might not be able to command the hype and excitement of Kill la Kill and its ilk, but there's an increasingly quiet majesty to the way this show is going about its business that makes it a joy to watch, and a visual feast to boot.

Nagi no Asukara - Episode 7

After all of the various trials and tribulations surrounding its creation, the Ojoshi is finally complete - cue celebrations from those responsible for crafting it, be they from the sea and the surface.

In fact, so proud are those involved that a stirring of a more fundamental desire springs forth - these kids want to use the fruit of their labours to resurrect the Ofunehiki festival that has otherwise been cancelled.  It seems like nothing more than a pipe dream, but such is the determination and enthusiasm shown by those behind it that before we know it they're collecting signatures, convincing those in positions of power on both sides of the divide surrounding the festival, and ultimately arranging a meeting to talk things over.

With even Hikari's reticent father in attendance, hopes are high that the negotiations stemming from this meeting will be successful and bring about a reinstatement of the Ofunehiki, and this is only bolstered by the fact that all involved are decidedly impressed with the youngster's hard work and effort on the Ojoshi.  However, when it comes down to the real crux of the matter, things soon take a turn for the worse - those representing the people of the sea expect an apology from those on the surface, and before we know it this group of so-called grown-ups are reduced to name calling and, ultimately, the threat of fisticuffs that eventually boils over into the inadvertent destruction of the Ojoshi.  With Akari and her boyfriend also mired in the midst of this debate turned sour, things reach a seemingly impossible impasse while also destroying any chance of reconciliation between Akari and her father as she decides to leave to live on the surface.  With Hikari also deciding to take his leave in light of his father's actions, things are looking decidedly depressing for Shioshishio.

With so much coming to a head here, this was a top-notch episode of Nagi no Nasukara - the instalment's heart-warming first half was perfectly offset by the harsh realities of the second in a world where the children are the ones acting like reasonable human beings while the grown-ups act like spoiled little kids.  It isn't a particularly original sentiment, but it's one that never fails to resonate, and positioned in the midst of such heart-felt and engaging story beats it works rather well to create an emotional wave for the following episodes to hopefully ride on the crest of.