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mtdthoughts · 7 months ago

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Migi & Dali Episode 13 Retrospective Reaction

Hello again! As part of commemorating the one-year anniversary of the anime, I'm doing a rewatch and providing my (unorganized) thoughts and reactions.

This time, I'm doing the final episode! I did something similar to this last year, though now I hopefully have more to say given that I've watched the entire series (more than) twice.

As always, I'll be keeping timestamps in case you want to watch along while reading, and be prepared for a very, very long post below, and of course spoilers!

[00:00] First, the opening scene. "Clair de Lune" plays in the background, and is a reminder of the aftermath from Episode 12.

When I first watched this scene, I was surprised that Akiyama had a dog. Actually, if you read Chapter 7 of the manga (i.e. the twins' first visit to Akiyama's house), you can see his dog in the background.

Undoubtedly, all of Origon Village would be filled with sadness after seeing the beloved Eiji and his family fall from grace in such a disastrous manner.

I do feel sorry for Akira, and it's likely that he and Karen had to move away from Origon Village because of the shame of failing as a father and husband. He really does seem to care about Eiji.

It's sweet that Maruta still thinks of Karen…

The imagery of the bird flying while Akiyama thinks about the twins is clever! Since it's one bird (ひとり), this represents how the twins are still pretending to be one boy Hitori-kun.

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[03:07] Next, the Sonoyamas have a big feast.

It's refreshing to see the old couple again, since they did not appear in Episodes 11 and 12. I want to be at that dinner table…

I wonder: when exactly did the twins return to the Sonoyama house? Right after Eiji turned himself in to the police? Or perhaps a few days after? I would have liked to see the Sonoyamas' reactions when they finally see their beloved son again.

Also, why did Fidelite end up with the Sonoyamas? It's very likely that Akira and Karen can't take Fidelite with them, and since Dali gets along with Fidelite, that may have been the rationale. Perhaps Fidelite's appearance foreshadows Dali officially becoming a part of the Sonoyama family… It's possible that Akira may have interacted with the Sonoyamas when giving them Fidelite. Could Akira have mentioned the twins to them? Has he ever found out that the twins were his and Metry's sons? I really want to know…

It's funny how the twins always look pregnant after eating too much. It's amazing how they stay lean after living with the Sonoyamas for more than two years. (I wish I had their metabolism!)

Dali refusing to come out and eat seems to parallel a similar scene in Chapter 25 (or the end of Episode 6). Once again, it's clear that Dali's mind is troubled.

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[03:42] Next, Migi tries to talk to Dali.

The reflection of Dali looks exactly like Migi! (duh…)

The way Migi says Dali's name is so cute… You can tell from Migi's voice and facial expressions how much he has changed since the first episode when he was effectively imitating Dali. Migi has really embraced his softer and gentler personality. He's just like his own mother now!

Dali looks so cool with his scar…

On the surface, it seems Dali won't come out because his scar ensures that the twins couldn't pretend to be one person. Naturally, Migi rebuts by saying that the Sonoyamas would surely accept them both, which I'm sure Dali knows. Thus, there seems to be a deeper reason why Dali refuses to come out, as well as a deeper meaning to his scar. I've written about this before, but I think Dali refuses to come out because he is overwhelmed by guilt for what happened to Eiji, and believes he does not deserve happiness. Personally, I think that Dali might have believed that if he never sought revenge, Eiji's life would have been fine, and that Eiji would still have a mother. Thus, Dali could have seen his own scar as a proof of his sins. Dali sees himself as unforgivable, much unlike the good boy "Hitori-kun" that the Sonoyamas deserve to have. This idea is highlighted by Dali closing the curtains, which could symbolize how he's hiding himself away in the shadows, or how he's putting an end to his life on the surface.

Of course, Dali knows that Migi would be concerned for him, so he claims that Migi's happiness is all that he needs. But Dali's pained smile seems to suggest that he's holding back his true feelings. Once again, Dali is lying to Migi.

As Dali tells Migi that he'll live as Migi's shadow, the soundtrack "Two Humans" (ふたりの人間) begins to play (specifically the first half). This was last played when Dali offered himself to be killed by Reiko in Episode 9, and it's very fitting here. But unlike getting strangled to death by a scarf, Dali would suffer a slower, more excruciating death living as Migi's shadow, effectively killing his own existence. This was Dali's revenge against himself.

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[04:47] Next, Dali becomes Migi's shadow at school.

Unlike the manga, the anime makes it clear that Hitori-kun has advanced to Class 1-1, which makes sense since that was the twins' goal in Episode 4, and because Hitori-kun is supposed to be a top student.

That jump was very cool…

The anime also adds the detail of Hitori-kun getting a perfect score on his midterm exams. I wonder how the twins could have cheated here…

It feels like Hitori-kun has effectively replaced Eiji, who was also a top athlete and student in Class 1-1. Personally, I think Dali was trying to "rebuild Eiji" by making sure Migi's life is as perfect as possible. To Dali, this would be penance for destroying Eiji's life.

It's so cute how Migi rubs his head.

Sakamoto from "Sakamoto desu ga" makes a cameo here!

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[05:43] Next, Akiyama stops Migi and talks to him outside. Note that in the anime, Migi draws a picture of himself and Dali in the dirt.

Before Akiyama stops him, Migi looks troubled. It's clear that he's uncomfortable with the fact that his life as Hitori-kun is a lie. The only difference from before is that Dali is now never in the forefront.

Akiyama really is the twins' best friend… I wonder, did Akiyama already know about Dali's scar? If not, then it's impressive that he can tell the twins apart.

As always, when Migi draws, he reverses the directions that his and Dali's bangs are swept.

It's nice how Akiyama's "Will you be Hitori forever?" (この先ずっと「秘鳥」として生きてくの？) has a double meaning (i.e. being a boy named "Hitori", as well as Migi being the only one living life on the surface)

It's sad to see Migi admitting that he doesn't understand what Dali is thinking. Likewise, Dali's melancholic face is sad to see. Personally, I think Dali really wants the same thing as Migi, but his guilt and self-hatred prevents him from taking it.

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[07:07] Next, Dali stares down at Migi's drawing, which is an anime-original scene.

It's really sad how Dali tries to suppress his own desires and justify his self-imprisonment…

Him obscuring the drawing of himself with his shadow makes me more convinced in my hypothesis. It's symbolic of how Dali is erasing his own existence.

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[07:23] Next, the Sonoyamas have dinner on Christmas Eve.

Youko's singing is lovely. I've learned that it's common for Japanese households to sing songs like this during Christmas, which is really nice…

It's nice how Dali smiles when Youko calls Migi the "best kid in the world" (「世界一いい子」). You can tell how he loves his younger brother's purity and innocence.

Migi's choices of presents are interesting. Considering that the twins have played with hammers and ropes before, was Migi asking for toys that he could play with Dali? If so, it's really sweet how he's always thinking about his older brother… Also, what was the last thing he was going to ask for before getting interrupted by Youko? Was it a wig?? What would he even do with that?

There's more good Japanese wordplay when Osamu says "Santa only gives one gift per person" (「サンタさんはひとりにつきひとつ配るんだよ」). Since "Hitori-kun" is a symbol of a "good child", this statement can also be taken to mean "Santa only gives presents to good children".

I love how Migi swings his feet when he says "good boy", and how Dali smiles during this.

It's not surprising that the twins would react when Youko brings up the word "lover", since Metry was Akira's lover, and since Migi and Dali both have had romantic experiences before (albeit with each other)

Considering that "Santa Claus" is another way of saying "parent" (sorry children!), then it seems that Osamu is basically saying that Migi would have children after finding a lover. Osamu really is a romantic!

Once again, Dali is disheartened after the Sonoyama couple begins mentioning romance and the wonderful life Migi could look forward to. Now, Dali sits in despair, realizing that not only is he forfeiting a life he would have wanted, but that also Migi would possibly move on without him.

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[08:55] Next, the twins prepare to sleep.

Note that in the manga, Migi is also sleeping with a teddy bear. (cute!)

It's cute how Migi believes in Santa. It appears that Osamu's earlier comment about Santa has gone over his head… However, I'm pretty sure that Dali doesn't believe in Santa, considering his conversations with Eiji while dressed up as Sally.

Here, Dali's soundtrack (少年・ダリ) plays, which is fitting as Dali continues to remain in the shadows.

It's pretty clear that Migi is trying to help Dali feel better by saying that he'll share his Christmas presents with Dali. This somewhat validates my assumption about the presents that Migi wanted earlier. In an alternate storyline where Dali never leaves Migi's shadow, it seems that Migi might seriously live his whole life trying to share his joy with Dali…

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[09:19] Next, Dali has a nightmare. (He really has a lot of nightmares!)

It's sad how Dali's regards the space under the dinner table as his "usual spot"…

I would really like to see an adult Migi along with his wife and child.

Dali's words "Don't leave me behind" (「おいてかないで」) are too sad to hear. I'm sure this was one of the thoughts in Reiko's mind before she lost her mind…

Indeed, the Sonoyama couple's words really seemed to dwell in Dali's mind. A life in Migi's shadow means that Dali would forever be stuck in a lonely prison. It reminds me of Akiyama's line in Episode 12: 「鳥カゴで終わる人生なんてクソくらえだろ？」(i.e. "It would be shitty to end your life in a birdcage, right?") Now, Dali was stuck in a metaphorical birdcage, imprisoning himself despite yearning to be free.

His nightmare could be seen as a message from his soul or from his subconscious mind to stop what he's doing…

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[09:53] Next, Dali wakes up from the nightmare and finds a surprise.

It's really sad to wake up with tears…

Honestly, I was surprised when I first saw the two Christmas presents by the tree.

How in the world did the Sonoyamas manage to sneak into the twins' room without waking them up? Perhaps this shows how both twins have let their guard down in this house and have truly regarded it as their home.

Dali's 「え？」 sounded really cute. Migi's yawn is so cute as well…

As soon as there's a knock at the door, Dali's soft expression immediately changes back to his usual hardened expression… It's amazing how he runs and hides in the wardrobe almost instantly.

I like how the Sonoyamas look at each other, as if they're thinking, "He doesn't know that we know!"

I like Migi's sheer enthusiasm with the clay pasta set and his audible confusion at the science set.

It's wonderful how the Sonoyamas recognize the differences between the twins and want to help them realize their full potential.

Note that in the manga, Migi is seen playing with the pasta set and puts his mouth under the fake pasta…

Dali really is an "intelligent, sensitive child" (「理知的で繊細な子」), and it's so heartwarming to see his reaction when he realizes that the Sonoyamas have seen who he really is.

It's so sweet that the Sonoyamas have accepted both of the twins so lovingly, and Migi's face full of joyful tears is a beautiful sight to see.

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[11:17] Next, Migi tries to get Dali to come out.

Migi is understandably overjoyed that the Sonoyamas have already accepted both of them as their sons, and he seemed to be hopeful that this would convince Dali to finally come out of the shadows. But he seems to be unaware of what was truly plaguing Dali's heart.

Ah… the way Migi says Dali's name is so cute. Horie-san is really good at making Migi sound like the little brother.

Once again, it's a bit surreal to see Migi admitting that he and Dali are different in such a soft voice, considering how in the beginning he was doing his best to be exactly like Dali. He's wearing his pajamas here, which shows how he's truly become a part of the Sonoyamas.

Dali seemed to have been moved by the Sonoyamas' love for him that he is crying just like Migi. He might've realized that despite being away from the Sonoyamas for so long, he was still loved as equally as Migi. Furthermore, since Santa only gives presents to good children, the fact there was a present for Dali shows that they thought of him also as a good boy. Yet because of his guilt, Dali can do nothing but cry and remain in his dark, lonely prison.

Personally, I interpret Migi's comment as him admitting that he doesn't really understand what Dali's thinking. Migi seemed to have always been aware of superficial differences between him and his twin brother such as their abilities and roles as a duo, but until recently he's always believed that he and Dali were of the same mind. After Episode 7, Migi couldn't understand Dali and thus rejected him in a similar way that Dali did to Eiji in Episode 11. Even after the twins reconciled, there were still moments where Migi couldn't understand Dali, such as when Dali hid in Akiyama's closet, when Dali ran into the burning Ichijo house to save Eiji, and of course now when Dali is still staying in the shadows despite the Sonoyamas' acceptance of him.

Nonetheless, despite being unable to understand Dali's thoughts, Migi knows that Dali is clearly suffering despite him claiming otherwise. But Migi's words seemed to have changed everything, as he has finally arrived at the answer. Indeed, even if Migi doesn't know the solution to the burdens in Dali's heart, his warmth and love gives Dali strength to overcome these burdens because of their precious bond. To me, Migi's words were basically: "I can't be happy without you, Dali." (Ahh, so precious…!)

Of course, Dali was overwhelmed by Migi's expression of love, which was also a reminder of a truth that he's known all his life. The twins have always lived for each other's sake, which meant that not only was their happiness shared, but also their suffering. Though Dali burdened by guilt, at the same time he couldn't bear to let Migi suffer because of it. Because of Migi's love, Dali was finally able to emerge from his birdcage, symbolized by the two birds outside the window flying together.

In my opinion, this wonderful scene has parallels in previous episodes. For example, in Episode 6, when Dali is suffering from a nightmare, Migi hides in the wardrobe so that Dali can receive the Sonoyamas' affection. In Episode 8, Migi shuts Dali in Akiyama's closet, which is the complete opposite of this scene (i.e. acceptance vs. rejection) In Episode 9, when the twins fought, Migi convinces Dali to go back to the Sonoyamas by fervently expressing his desire to eat cherry pie together with him. In Episode 10, Migi convinces Dali to come out of Akiyama's closet. In Episode 12, Dali (and Migi) tries to save Eiji who was trapped under a chandelier (a representation of Eiji's burdens), and it was due to the combined efforts of the triplets that they escaped the fire (Hell).

Finally, there's a nice duality of light and dark in this scene, observable in the parallels above. On one side, Dali sits in the darkness of the closet, and he views himself as a dark existence that does not deserve to be free. On other side, Migi stands in the light, and it's through this light (love) that Migi is finally able to dispel the darkness around Dali.

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[12:08] Next, the Sonoyamas wait to begin breakfast.

Are the dogs having steak? In the manga, Sardine is wearing a party hat, and Fidelite is wearing a dog tuxedo. I would've loved to see that in the anime…

Similar to how Migi is just as gluttonous as Sardine, Dali is as reserved as Fidelite. This also reflects the difference in the twins in readily accepting warmth and happiness.

It was so satisfying to see and hear two sets of footsteps come into the dining room…

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[12:44] Next, the twins finally appear for breakfast, as the second half of the soundtrack "Two Humans" (ふたりの人間) plays, which gives the image of "life" and "hope".

It's very clear how relaxed Migi looks compared to Dali, who has his thumb in his pocket, tense shoulders, and a nervous expression. It's not surprising, since it would naturally take Dali time to fully accept the new path he has chosen after finally emerging from his prison.

When the twins sit down, Dali looks upset but is able to smile to make sure that he doesn't upset Migi.

The Sonoyamas' drinks look so good… I still don't know what it is though.

Dali is still listless until Youko presents his favorite omelet. His surprised expression is so adorable! It's so heartwarming how he eats it so enthusiastically, just as fast as his gluttonous younger brother. Furthermore, he's also using his left hand, symbolizing how Dali is beginning to accept his own identity after being moved by Youko's endless motherly love for him.

The anime adds some dialogue between Dali and the Sonoyamas. I wonder, when did the Sonoyamas notice the existence of twins? Although the Sonoyamas said that they knew omelets were Dali's favorite food while Migi was gone, that doesn't actually pinpoint an exact moment or timeframe. There are so many possibilities… Personally, I think it's around some time in November.

The way Migi says his own name is so cute!

Dali is so moved with joy that he cries in front of his younger brother! Before, he would've never let Migi catch him in a moment of weakness. It's not surprising, since his new life was now one that was previously taken from him (via Metry's death), one that he didn't want before (during revenge), and one that he thought he didn't deserve (after revenge).

I loved that the anime adds a scene of the twins laughing at each other. Dali's smile is so precious…! I also loved that they make the same faces at the end, which shows that despite there being differences, the twins are still fundamentally the same in the most important ways.

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[16:09] Next, the extra long post-credit scene begins, as Youko calls for her sons to help make a pie crust.

It's so satisfying to hear Youko say her sons' real names.

It's crazy how out of nowhere, Akiyama and Osamu are matching like twins… When did this happen?

Migi's artistic work has evolved, and so has Dali's studies. Undoubtedly, the Sonoyamas helped them realize their true callings.

It's quite shocking how Maruta suddenly got skinnier and more fashionable. Well, I suppose he's doing his best to be Karen's "official boyfriend".

It's so sweet how the twins understand each other…! That being said, I'm not quite sure if Migi is able to understand the stuff that Dali is reading about… Also, what exactly is Dali reading about? In the anime, it's algebraic geometry (very difficult!!), and in the manga, it's a bit unclear. (I think it's related to geophysics)

In the manga, when Youko opened the doors and shouted the twins' names, the twins were startled and tossed up what they were holding. (cute!) I would've loved to see that in the anime.

It's nice how the boys' voices got deeper after two years. Well, except for Akiyama and Dali. For Akiyama, it makes sense since it seems like he had an early growth spurt. Sadly, I wish that Murase-san was able to deepen Dali's voice further… Oh well. I will continue to believe that canonically, the twins always have approximately the same voice.

Also, I love the twins' new looks, with their new haircuts and clothes. I've talked about this before, but their new looks really reflect their different personalities and how they have grown throughout their journey together.

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[17:16] Next, the twins help with making the pie.

The twins put on their aprons together, and even look at Akiyama and Maruta at the same time.

It seems like Akiyama and Maruta have been entertained by Migi and Dali doing stuff as twins for quite a while.

Perhaps flour can be seen as similar to dust, which is why Micchan is able to be here! It's so sweet how Youko can still be with her best friend.

Ah… the twins looks so intimate making the pie crust together. Even though they've become more different from each other, their unity and bond as twins will always remain, and they'll always synchronize and act as one.

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[18:22] Next, everyone nervously awaits for the guests to arrive.

It's not surprising that everyone's nervous considering the disaster that befell the Ichijos.

It's a good thing Youko is chugging tea instead of her usual choice of drink (lol)

I love the way the twins put their hands on each other's shoulders.

Note that Migi refers to Dali in the second person as "you" or 「お前」(informal "you"), which pretty much never happened before in the story. Meanwhile, Dali has frequently used 「お前」 when referring to Migi in the second person. It goes to show how the twins now truly see themselves as equals.

We can guess that Migi is asking Dali to greet Eiji while dressed up as Sally to lighten the tension in the room. What a considerate boy! Usually, one wouldn't ask someone to do something so embarrassing, but Migi is able to ask this of Dali because of the unbreakable trust they have in each other. This request reminds me of the scene in Episode 10 where Migi asks Dali to make a funny face for Eiji.

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[18:48] Next, the Ichijos arrive.

It's nice sweet how Fidelite knows his former owners are here.

Youko opening the front door here in the final episode for Eiji is a nice parallel to when she opened the door in the first episode for Dali. After two years in isolation after losing his mother, Eiji would finally be welcomed by the new family he has discovered.

The Ichijos look good after these two years. Akira looks really good in that suit!

It's heartwarming how everyone warmly welcomes back Eiji… except for Maruta who welcomes back Karen.

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[19:17] Next, Eiji meets his first love again, as the soundtrack "First Baiser" (初めてのベーゼ ) plays.

It's cute how obviously uncomfortable Dali is becoming Sally again. In the anime, his voice is slightly off, and carries not even close to the amount of confidence that Sally has.

It hasn't even been a few seconds until Dali breaks character. But Migi was right, the tension is completely gone! (albeit at the expense of Dali's dignity)

In the manga, Migi was laughing on the floor, much like how Dali laughs.

Eiji is right, Dali does still look good in that wig.

It's funny how Migi jumps in to protect his claim over Sally even though she's not real. (plus, he's dressed up as her before!) Perhaps it's payback for how Eiji supposedly stole her back in Episode 7.

Everyone else's reaction to Sally was… unexpectedly receptive (especially Akiyama's).

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[20:21] Next, everyone eats cherry pie together.

Finally, the scene that Eiji fantasized about (plus Akira) has become a reality, and Eiji gets to eat the cherry pie that Migi was bragging about.

It's so heartwarming how Eiji says he has a sweet tooth. It just shows how despite his terrible circumstances, Eiji was able to grab on to hope, treasuring the new connections he made. It's especially moving when you consider that in the previous episode, Eiji said that the pie was too sweet for him. Also, in Chapter 19 of the manga, Eiji basically insults Karen for having immature taste buds. Now, it's nice seeing Eiji's newfound appreciation for simple pleasures.

I love how the twins smile at Eiji.

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[20:44] Next, the triplets visit Metry's grave.

Finally, Eiji can visit the mother who once tried to reunite him with his brothers.

I wonder, does anyone know the meaning of the flowers that Eiji places besides Metry's grave? I don't know anything about flowers unfortunately.

Unsurprisingly, Eiji says that his real mother (Reiko) isn't here. It's interesting how Dali is the only one who responds to this, which makes sense considering his guilt in the earlier part of the episode.

It's so heartwarming to see Eiji look forward to living life happily while looking up in the sky. It really gives off an image full of hope. It's also nice how he accepts an unsightly and ungraceful life, which references the words that Dali told him in the previous episode ("Live ungracefully" 「不様に生きろ」). Although Eiji has lived perfectly all his life, I'm sure that to Reiko, it would have been enough if Eiji just lived happily.

It's nice to see the twins' gentle smiles. The triplets can finally get closure after everything that's happened because of their mothers. They've overcome their previous attachments and are now ready to face the world head-on. It is often said that boys need to become independent from their mothers in order to grow up. Indeed, as the triplets stand tall over their mother's grave, we can see that they have indeed grown from boys to fine young men.

Once again, I love it whenever the twins smile at each other and talk at the same time. Horie-san and Murase-san have great voice chemistry…

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[21:37] Finally, the final scene of the story, where Dali departs and the twins begin their test of living separately.

They seem to be at a train station in Kobe, but I have no idea which one. (I'm sure the Japanese fans would know…)

I totally empathize with the Sonoyamas…

It's so nice how Dali was able to find his own path in life after such an arduous journey.

It's nice how Youko offers to go to Dali's dorm to bake without any hesitation.

Everyone's sendoffs are touching… Even if Maruta has changed in appearance, he'll always be a beaver!

Migi doesn't give a sendoff likely because Sano-sensei wanted to surprise the viewer with the twins' separation. (I was also surprised by this) On the other hand, perhaps it's because the twins' bond is so strong, they don't words to know what the other is thinking.

The twins' faces are so lovely when they look fondly at each other. Of course, I'm sure that this scene takes place after the twins came to terms with living apart after some emotional struggle. Certainly, this hypothesis would be supported by the brief sequel manga where Migi clearly misses Dali. It's not that they wanted to be apart, but that following their paths and dreams would likely require it. If the twins stayed together, one of the twins would have to make a sacrifice in their life. That being said, I would love to see an alternative storyline where the twins decide to continue living together, whether it's at the Sonoyamas' home or at the town where Dali is attending school.

Speaking of which, where is Dali's school? And what exactly is he studying to become? These are certainly highly open-ended questions, but I'm rather confident that he wants to pursue a career in the sciences. Personally, I think it's possible that he might try to become a geologist, an astronomer, or something similar given the space-themed room and books that were given to him by the Sonoyamas.

I also wonder about Migi's path. He said he's going to become an avant-garde artist, so is he not going to school? If I'm not mistaken, high school in Japan isn't compulsory, so it's likely that Migi might have finished his education after middle school. This would make sense since he seems to hate studying! Also, why does Migi stay at home? Since he wants to be an artist, he can go anywhere, including to where Dali is studying. My theory is that he wants to stay at home because otherwise, the Sonoyamas would be lonely without either of their adopted sons.

I love how Maruta casually pokes fun at Migi's decision.

The final words in the story are so touching: "Our hearts, even if they're far apart…" (「ぼくらのこころはどんなに遠く離れても」) This seems to be an obvious reference to the twins' aquarium date in Episode 4, when Sally (actually Dali) said that she was moving to a faraway town. This time, it's actually real… Of course, the words that come right after should be "are one" (ひとつ), reflecting what Migi said in response to Sally. The fact that the sentence is left incomplete reflects an optimistic uncertainty of what's to come next. I'm reminded of one of the final lines of the full version of the opening, 「阿吽ツーカー終わってもこころはひとつ解るから」, which basically means "Even if we become different, we know that our hearts will always be one". Admittedly, I like to play this line on repeat while thinking of this scene.

And of course, rest in peace Nami Sano, thank you again for your wonderful work!!

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[Conclusion]

In the final episode, Dali suffers from the aftermath of his revenge after Eiji was arrested. Just as Eiji said that cherry pie was "too sweet" for him, Dali believed that living a blissful life with the Sonoyamas was something that he did not deserve, so he imprisoned himself in the shadows.

Meanwhile, Migi struggled to understand Dali's actions, even though it was obvious now that the Sonoyamas would have happily accepted them both. Just like at the end of Episode 6, Dali was suffering and Migi didn't know what to do to help his brother. However, Migi seemed to remember Youko's message, namely that being family was all about sharing emotions, both good and bad. As Dali's other half, Migi would share all of Dali's feelings, including his pain and suffering. Because of Migi's warmth, Dali realized this truth and was able to gather the strength to come out and begin his new life. Thus, just like Eiji, Dali would also atone for his sins by "living ungracefully" (「不様に生きろ」), symbolized by the scar on his perfect face.

With the Sonoyamas' loving care, the twins were able to grow and realize their own paths in life. One of my good friends on X, Ronsu, brings up a very good observation, namely how it's amazing how the twins finally have dreams and aspirations rather than just plans and calculations. Furthermore, it was fortunate that despite spending two years in prison, Eiji's spirit has not been broken, and he was finally able to enjoy the "cherry pie" that he said was too sweet for him. Although the story of Metry and Reiko ended tragically without the two understanding each other, their sons were able to overcome their curse and were able to find closure.

With Migi and Dali having different paths, they made a difficult decision to live separate lives. Although Dali has lots of experience leading the way into the unknown with his younger brother following behind, this time he'll be venturing into the world all by himself. Hopefully, Dali's future will be bright and filled with lots of joy…

To wrap things up, "Migi and Dali" is such a wonderful work. It's an emotional roller coaster that masterfully oscillates between different genres like mystery, comedy, drama, and even horror, and it tells a gripping coming-of-age story of two brothers who have only had each other for most of their lives. It is also a story that covers many themes beautifully, such as loneliness, resentment, obligation to fulfill others' expectations, conformity, sin and redemption, brotherhood, bonds, sacrifice, the true meaning of love, self-identity. To reinforce these themes, the story also often employs parallelism between characters as well as parallelism between scenes.

I also really liked how Christmas is used as an important plot device. The twins lost their mother during Christmas, but eight years later, they officially became a part of a new family during another Christmas. Furthermore, Santa Claus is not only used to highlight the differences between Eiji's and the twins' childhoods, but also to establish the gift of love and how anyone with heart open to love deserves this gift. I was once asked if Migi and Dali can be viewed as a Christmas series. Now, I definitely think so, and I firmly believe that a Christmas movie can be made based on "Migi and Dali"!

In fact, I would love to see further adaptations of "Migi and Dali". Perhaps an OVA for the chapters that were skipped. Perhaps a second season showing the twins' lives between Chapter 43 and 44 (although there isn't existing content). Or perhaps a movie as mentioned earlier.

Finally, though I do have criticisms of certain creative choices the production staff have made, I really must give credit to them for the excellent job they've done in making the anime. The art, the voice acting, and the music are all amazing, and I really love the opening 「ユウマガドキ」 and how it well it captures the mysterious, life-changing experiences that the twins had in Origon Village. It's clear how much love and care they've put into creating this anime! And of course, I am most grateful to Nami Sano for creating such a beautiful story, and I hope that more people can get a chance to see it. I'm sure that if she were still alive, she would be happy knowing that her works were deeply loved and appreciated by many.

Anyway, that's all, Merry Christmas (belated), and have a Happy New Year!!

#migi and dali #migi to dali #retrospective

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mtdthoughts · 8 months ago

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Migi & Dali Episode 12 Retrospective Reaction

Hello again! As part of commemorating the one-year anniversary of the anime, I'm doing a rewatch and providing my (unorganized) thoughts and reactions.

This time, I'm doing Episode 12! As always, I'll be keeping timestamps in case you want to watch along while reading, and be prepared for another long post below, and of course spoilers!

[00:00] First, the opening scene. This is a repeat of the post-credit scene in the previous episode, so I won't talk about it again. Other than that it's very sad…

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[02:23] Next, the group talks in the confinement room.

It's both funny and creepy that the first thing we see is Maruta gnawing at the door.

Notice that the soundtrack "Throne of Death" (死の玉座) is playing here, which is rather fitting since the house is about to become a "Birdcage of Hell" (I just made this up)

Once again, Migi looks to Dali for answers, though Dali is frustrated that he doesn't know. The line "We're just strangers" is very important, since in my view Episode 12 is mainly about settling things between Dali and Eiji.

Migi makes such cute sounds…

I really empathize with Karen. Although I'm sure Akira has good intentions, it seems like he has never really been around his family. While I understand that Reiko hid things from him, it's quite terrifying how oblivious this man is. Hasn't he heard of the phrase "too good to be true"? Anyway, it's truly tragic and ironic. If he had noticed Reiko's mental illness, so much pain and suffering could have been avoided.

When Akira looks away, perhaps he is thinking how much he has failed as a father and husband.

This could have been a funny and awkward time for the twins to tell Akira, "Hey, we're your sons!"

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[03:41] Next, everyone discovers a smoky surprise.

Maruta's teeth are really strong…

I like how Karen is the only one who realizes what's going on. And the way she says it in such a deadpan way is hilarious.

Although Micchan isn't here, her soundtrack plays for dramatic effect. (Or maybe the smoke and fire is drawing her here??)

Even now, Maruta calls for Mama…

Twins, those tiny fists of yours aren't going to do a thing…

Trying to break the door with the wooden horse wasn't a bad idea, but it would have been much more efficient to try to kick it down. But then again, we know Akira isn't the smartest man…

Dali tries to chip away at the damaged part of the door. Good try…

I love the concerned face that Dali makes toward Migi.

This is one of the only times Migi snaps at Dali. This along with Migi's face conveys how much determination he has.

At first, I was confused why Migi would bang his head against the door, and I just attributed it to desperation. But the manga makes it clear that Migi was targeting the pet door which was sealed shut by Reiko. So it seems that Migi's plan was for Karen or Dali sneak through and open the door from outside the room (e.g. lockpicking). Migi isn't stupid at all, and it's moving how he can still act when all hope seems lost. Despite shedding blood and tears, Migi holds on to hope and stubbornly does everything he can to make sure that he and Dali can return home to live happily. Migi's love is apparent through sacrificing his own well-being, and it's no wonder Dali was touched by this.

Yet despite this, Dali can't bear to see Migi hurt himself, and the way he hugs Migi and says his name is so touching… Personally, I think this image gives off the message, "It's alright Migi. Even if we die here, I'm happy that my last moments were with you"

Also, the vision that Dali had of him and Migi eating cherry pie with the Sonoyamas is actually the cover image of Chapter 25.

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[05:50] Next, Akiyama saves the day. What a hero!

I'm not quite sure I understood Akiyama's monologue, but it seems that after escaping the police, Akiyama noticed the fire at the Ichijo house. Sensing that everyone was in trouble, he gathered an axe and prepared to save everyone.

Perhaps Migi's persistence paid off, letting Akiyama know where everyone was.

Notice that the soundtrack "Heaven and Hell" (天国と地獄) plays here, specifically the transition from "Hell" to "Heaven". Very fitting!

I really like Akiyama's concern for his dear friend Migi. Even though his precious bird costume was destroyed, he was able to save the people that mattered most to him.

His line 「鳥カゴで終わる人生なんてクソくらえだろ？」(i.e. "It would be shitty to end your life in a birdcage, right?" was very cool, and it makes sense since Akiyama has talked about freedom and living a life unburdened by others' expectations. These words are especially important since later Dali tries to rescue Eiji from this kind of death.

Also, is it just me, or is Akiyama literally wearing a birdcage on his head?

=============================================

[06:39] Next, everyone escapes from the house. The soundtrack "Fly, Icarus!" (飛べ!イカロス) is playing here, which is rather fitting.

I wonder why they didn't try going through the front door. Was it blocked by flames?

It's funny how Akiyama is leading the way instead of Akira, the head of the house.

I'm not sure how I feel about this scene having almost no voices the entire time. Perhaps some of the dialogue is unnecessary, but I would've loved to hear Akiyama encouraging Maruta, the twins taunting Akiyama while waiting for him, as well as Akiyama being called a phoenix and a "bird among birds" (「鳥の中の鳥」). Also, hearing Akira scream from pain from the barbed wire would have been funny. (Am I a sadist?)

It's cool how the twins jump out together.

Despite being quite fat, Maruta is able to jump unscathed because of the power of love.

It's very cool how despite Akiyama's bird costume being destroyed, he was able to transcend birddom and arise from the flames as a phoenix! It's a mark of a hero.

It's adorable how Karen and Dali care for Fidelite in the anime. In the manga, Dali says 「お前、けものを助けるために…」(i.e. "You went so far as to save a beast…"), which I think is quite important since it highlights Dali's decision later to save Eiji, whom he once called a beast in Episode 7.

Hmm… I really do prefer this scene in the manga after all.

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[09:00] Next, Akiyama tells everyone that Eiji is still inside the burning house.

Completely unrelated, but I love the twins' lean frames here.

Everyone is surprised, which shows that at this moment, no one really understood Eiji…

The twins were especially shocked to hear that Eiji was trying to die. It wasn't too long ago that Dali tried to die on his own…

The moment when "Clair de Lune" plays really stirs my heart… Apparently, the manga never specified what song was playing in the background, but I'm glad the anime clarified that it was "Clair de Lune".

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[09:51] Next, Eiji prepares to burn to death next to his mother.

The fact that Eiji so willingly accepts his own death is so sad…

"Clair de Lune" is a song that ties Metry, Reiko, and the triplets together. For the triplets, it's a song that reminds them of precious childhood memories of their mothers, as well as a simpler time filled with warmth and affection. Undoubtedly, this would help Dali see the similarities between himself and Eiji.

Personally, I feel like this was one of the most important scenes of the story, so (unfortunately) I have to be more critical here. I'll admit I did not like the choice of images they used for the flashback. This scene would have been much more impactful if these used the exact frames from the manga with Eiji saying his lines in the flashbacks, though I can understand that there are budget and time constraints. I've talked about this before, so I'll keep it short. The original flashbacks in the manga properly convey the idea that just like Dali, Eiji was someone who kept up a facade of perfection and pushed others away, but was deep down lonely and wanted to be loved. However, unlike Eiji, Dali was never truly alone and had Migi, someone who truly loved him and could forgive his mistakes and failures. That's why Dali felt compelled to rescue Eiji, so that he could give a chance to finally experience a feeling of unconditional love. Sadly, I don't think the anime conveyed this message effectively, especially since they included a memory of Eiji groping Migi's butt… Furthermore, I really wish the anime had adapted Chapter 10! (bedwetting chapter)

I really love the line 「あいつはぼくだ」("He's me") along with Dali's face. The fact that he's willing to rush into a burning building to save Eiji is so touching.

Also, I honestly do feel bad for Akira. Despite being so oblivious, he really did care about his son and his wife, but can do nothing now as his house burns down. (probably because of the barbed wire earlier)

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[11:25] Next, Eiji says his final goodbyes to Reiko's corpse.

Okay, I will give major credit to the anime for adding this wonderful planetarium scene. It really adds a layer in the mother-son relationship between Reiko and Eiji, and it just shows that despite Reiko's imperfections, Eiji has always loved her. Despite Reiko's mental illness, you could really tell that she actually did love Eiji and did her best for him. I've mentioned this before, but the remark about Reiko's drool reminds me of the scene where Migi sees Dali's attempt at a silly face in Episode 10. Similarly, Migi found it refreshing that his older brother who was always very serious was able to make such a foolish face.

I wonder, how long has Eiji been aware of Reiko's mental illness? In the manga, Karen said that Eiji told her that Reiko had depersonalization. Furthermore, in Chapter 12, he tried to treat Migi whom he believed to have suffered from a similar disorder. Perhaps Eiji has known for a very long time.

This makes me wonder: if the twins had never come to Origon Village, would Eiji eventually have been able to treat her?

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[13:45] Next, Dali interrupts Eiji.

I love how Eiji's monologue is interrupted by Dali bluntly pointing out something so embarrassing. Stuff like this is one reason why I love Dali so much. Indeed, it seems that Eiji forgot to include the negative parts about his experience as Reiko's son.

I wonder, can Eiji tell the difference between the twins?

Now, a big mystery about Dali's heart has unraveled: his hatred and desire for revenge was motivated not just because of the fact that Eiji killed Metry, but because he hated himself. Thus, Dali's attempt to kill Eiji earlier in the story could be seen as a subconscious, misguided attempt to kill the inadequacies and weakness within himself. This reminds me of Episode 9 when Dali's self-loathing was most apparent and when he tried to die a beautiful death. It's no wonder that Dali sees himself and Eiji as similar.

It's so sad to see Eiji gladly telling Dali to stab him with a knife…

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[14:52] Next, Migi leaps into the scene.

It's rare to see Migi scolding Dali for doing something so reckless. It's also kind of adorable how Migi seems to have no clue what Dali is thinking.

I like how this episode takes a break from all the seriousness and gave us a refreshing comedic break. That being said, it does seem a bit odd since considering Reiko's corpse is in the same room…

Dali doesn't seem very surprised that Migi interrupted his conversation with Eiji.

The sound and expression Migi makes when checking his own butt is so cute, and his reaction to being on fire for the second time in the story is so cute as well. Once again, Migi's butt is the subject of humor…

I love how the normally calm Eiji loses his cool and snaps at Migi. Eiji really is like Dali…

I also love how Dali appreciates his precious little brother and is glad that his self-destructive plans have been foiled.

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[15:33] Next, Dali reveals what is revenge is as the soundtrack "Our Revenge" (ぼくらの復讐) begins to play.

Ah, this face that Dali makes when he says "Live ungracefully" (「不様に生きろ」) is one of my top 5 faces in "Migi and Dali"

I really like the message that Dali presents here, (i.e. "Live ungracefully rather than dying a beautiful death"), since I believe that life always has meaning, and that true beauty isn't found in what we are or what we leave behind after death, but in the way that we live and how we interact with those around us. I hate to go off-topic, but this is also one of the most important themes of the series "Gintama", where the main character Gintoki often saves those in despair and that lost sight of themselves. Some of Gintoki's famous quotes are: "If you have time to think of a beautiful death, why not live beautifully until the very end?"(「美しく最後を飾りつける暇があるなら、最後まで美しく生きようじゃねーか」) as well as: "It's much better to live the way you are, even if it's a little dirty, than to abandon yourself and die with beauty and dignity" ( 「自分を捨てて潔く奇麗に死んでくなんてことより、小汚くても自分らしく生きてく事の方が、よっぽど上等だ」)

Dali's revenge is for Eiji to live ungracefully, but what or whom is Dali taking revenge on? Is it on Eiji for killing Metry? Is it on their parents who started this twisted tale? Or is it revenge against himself for how he's chosen to live until recently?

Dali drags Eiji by the arm, as if Eiji was his little brother…

Note that in the manga, Eiji pushes Dali off the banister. (Eiji really loves pushing).

Furthermore, part of Migi's pants were burned off after they were on fire, partially exposing Migi's butt. Well, I suppose I can see why the anime producers didn't want to show that (even though they've shown Migi's butt jiggling after being groped by Eiji!)

Also, seeing Eiji and Migi fall downstairs into the fire after Dali makes me think of the imagery of the triplets descending into the underworld or Hell together.

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[16:11] Next, Migi comes to downstairs and tries to find Dali.

Maybe it's just me, but it's quite poetic how Migi is searching for Dali among the flames. It gives me vibes of Chapter 43.

It's scary that Migi could have met his end by falling rubble.

Ah, the face Migi makes when accepting his death is so sad… Just like his brothers, Migi imagines his own mother when approaching death.

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[16:56] Next, Micchan comes to the rescue again, as her soundtrack plays.

This is the third time Micchan has come to the twins' aid, and this time she's here to bring everyone out of the inferno of the underworld. I suppose ash and smoke can be seen as "dust", so this would definitely be Micchan's domain.

Is it just me, or does the ghost look more youthful than the actual Micchan…?

Dali's first concern when regaining consciousness is where Eiji is…

It's so sweet how Micchan wants the triplets to go home together!

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[17:42] Next, Dali tries to save Eiji. Undoubtedly, this scene is the episode's climax.

It's rare that Migi is the voice of reason. Or rather, it's rare that Dali is completely dominated by emotion. In my opinion, the fact that Migi just stood there puzzled and was willing to leave Eiji here just shows how he hasn't truly accepted Eiji as a brother. (which is understandable) Of course, when he sees Dali risking his own life and putting himself through great pain to save Eiji, he realizes what's going on.

Ah, Dali's pained cry from getting burned is adorable… (Am I a sadist?)

I really love the words "You're a troublesome older brother" (「世話の焼ける兄だな」). I've talked about this before, but it shows how Migi has finally seen and accepted Dali for who he was, an imperfect older brother. You can really see a stark contrast between Migi here and the Migi in the early part of the story who blindly idolized Dali. It's also so sweet to see Dali relieved from getting scolded by his younger brother, as if accepting affirmation. Ah, it's so soothing to see that these twin brothers have grown…

Once again, it's sad to see Eiji wanting to die. Him being "not perfect" is an understatement, since he's stained with the sin of killing both Metry and Reiko. Even if he lived and escaped legal consequences, he'll always be shunned by others because of what he did, and above all, he feels that he would be isolated forever. Dali acknowledges this, yet at the same time embraces Eiji with open arms. Although Dali has never actually killed anyone, he once desired Eiji's death, and has hurt Migi in the process of seeking revenge, so he sympathizes with Eiji. Dali knows the pain of loneliness all too well, yet he has found the warmth that can be found through bonds, which is what cherry pie symbolizes. The way Dali expresses his love here is a great parallel to Migi's desire to go home and have cherry pie together back in Episode 9. It's so sweet how Migi's compassion has rubbed off on Dali, and it's so cute how Migi jumps in to welcome Eiji. Finally, Eiji is a stranger no more…

I love how Eiji's vision of eating cherry pie together in the anime includes the Sonoyamas as well as the dogs, Akiyama, Maruta, and Karen. It's interesting how Eiji sees himself and his brothers eating pie with their hands, which I think gives a sense of unity. Also, it's funny how Eiji's vision doesn't include Akira… (do the anime producers hate him? lol)

The triplets lifting up the chandelier together shows how sometimes, we need help from others to shoulder the burdens we can't carry alone.

It's so heartwarming to see the triplets walking shoulder-to-shoulder out of the smoldering house, as if breaking out of Hell. I'm sure Metry would have been happy alongside Micchan to watch this scene play out.

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[20:26] Next, the aftermath of the fire.

Just as Karen requested, the house was destroyed, but at what cost…?

It's touching how much Akiyama and Maruta care for the twins.

I love the way Migi holds on to Dali's shoulders.

It's so sweet how Migi warmly invites Eiji to their home. Although I'm not sure how the Sonoyamas would feel about hiding fugitives wanted for murder, I think they would be understanding of the situation. (even though Eiji did actually kill Reiko) Honestly, I would like to see a fanfiction where the triplets hide together at the Sonoyama house.

Eiji's face along with the line "That pie is too sweet for me" (「そのパイは俺には甘すぎるな」) is so sad to hear. Although I agree that he needs to take responsibility and spend time in repentance for killing his mother, I can't help but feel very sorry for him. Eiji deserved happiness as well…

Honestly, as much as I ridicule Akira for his idiocy, I feel sorry for him. I can't imagine the pain he must have felt to have his family devastated in such a manner over the course of one night. He was so hopeful that his son was alright, and now he has to learn the horrible news…

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[23:23] Finally, the post-credit scene. I don't have much to say here, since I will talk about Dali's scar more for the final episode.

Again, I feel really bad for Eiji.

Dali's fantasy of bringing Eiji home has been crushed by reality, and you can also tell how much Dali now cares for Eiji and how Eiji's arrest has shaken him by his expression and the way he says his name. With the twins' original mission of avenging their mother coming to a close, Dali realizes the consequences of what he started, which I'll discuss for the final episode.

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[Conclusion]

In Episode 12, we observed the end of Reiko and Metry's story with Reiko's death and the destruction of the Ichijo house. Unable to bear Reiko's sins, Eiji effectively condemned the entire family to perdition, and chose to die because he felt he had no one else.

Meanwhile, Episode 12 also featured Dali's struggle understanding Eiji. Initially, he saw Eiji as nothing more than a stranger, but after hearing the Water Flea Song and remembering his past interactions with Eiji, he saw that he and Eiji were alike and did everything he could to save him. And it seems that Dali (followed by Migi) has finally accepted Eiji as his brother.

This episode also featured heroism and compassion, with Akiyama saving everyone in the confinement room, Dali rushing into a burning house to save Eiji, and Micchan's ghost saving the triplets from being burned or suffocated to death. Though all these are admirable actions, I though Dali's act of saving Eiji was the most admirable. After all, it's easy to want to help your friends, but it's difficult to help your enemy, especially one who you've begrudged for killing your mother.

Thus, in my opinion, this episode provides a beautiful message of hope and redemption, showcased through what Dali rescuing Eiji, who has both Metry's and Reiko's blood in his hands. No matter how stained and ugly one's life is, as long as their heart is open to love, there will always be someone that can connect with them, and its through these precious connections that they can better find hope and salvation. Even if it means living a life others consider unsightly, true beauty is found in staying true to oneself and treasuring the connections that one has made. That's why I feel bad for Reiko because she could have been saved in a similar manner. Nonetheless, her example highlights the triplets' victory in overcoming this curse of loneliness and desperation for perfection, and in a way the tragedy of "Metry and Reiko" has been avenged. (Perhaps this was the true revenge all along)

But just as things were about to end happily, reality sets in, as there was a price to pay for Reiko's death. As a result, Eiji took the fall, and now he will spend time in a lonely prison with the permanent stigma of matricide. Eiji's life would likely become a living hell, and it seems that Dali will not take this well. But that's for the next episode.

As a final note, this episode once again adapts just two chapters of the manga (41 and 42). As a result, the pacing is wonderful!

Anyway, that's all! See you again for the final episode~~

#migi and dali #migi to dali #retrospective

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mtdthoughts · 8 months ago

Note

Do you prefer the dub or sub of Migi and Dali?

Hello! I've never watched the dub, so I can't really say for sure.

That being said, I have a good feeling that I'd much prefer the sub. The Japanese voice actors did an excellent job, including in scenes that are especially difficult to voice (e.g. when the twins pretend to be other people).

Plus, I am not very familiar with the English dub voice actors. Honestly, I was surprised when the dub was first announced (Nov 27, 2023), since I thought it came so soon. I fear that they might have been a bit too hasty, so I'm a bit dubious that the dub would be up to par.

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mtdthoughts · 8 months ago

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Migi & Dali Episode 11 Retrospective Reaction

Hello again! As part of commemorating the one-year anniversary of the anime, I'm doing a rewatch and providing my (unorganized) thoughts and reactions.

This time, I'm doing Episode 11! As always, I'll be keeping timestamps in case you want to watch along while reading, and be prepared for another long post below of unorganized thoughts, and of course spoilers!

[00:00] First, the opening scene. It's clear that we're near the climax of the story, given how suspenseful this scene is with the lightning and thunder, as well as Reiko's soundtrack playing.

Why does Reiko refer to herself in the third person?

It's funny that Migi seems to have forgotten Reiko's name.

It's ironic that Reiko married a doctor who cured mental illnesses, yet she was never able to get herself treated. She never saw herself as mentally ill due to her delusions, which is very sad…

In summary, Reiko basically said that her life was great until Metry showed up. I liked Reiko's face here.

I wonder, even if the Be Bird's plan succeeded without a hitch, would the police accept the video footage as evidence? I'm no law expert, but Reiko could claim that she was making a false confession under duress.

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[02:47] Next is a flashback of Metry and Reiko.

It's very shocking that the first thing the viewer sees is Metry screaming from getting her hair sucked by the vacuum… I would definitely sigh if I was Reiko.

It's so sweet how Reiko ties Metry's hair to match her own hairstyle.

I've mentioned this many times before, but here the direction of Reiko's hair matches Dali's and Metry's matches Migi's. This led me to compare these two women to the twins, especially since Metry called Reiko an older sister that she looks up to.

Metry says she wants to be perfect like Reiko, though unfortunately this will be misinterpreted later…

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[04:00] Next, Reiko teaches Metry how to perform house duties.

Metry is quite the ditzy housemaid and always requires Reiko's help to do her job properly, which baffles me. Why would Reiko hire an incompetent housemaid? Shouldn't she check a prospective housemaid's skills before hiring her? This makes me wonder: did she hire Metry based on looks? After all, Reiko wants to establish a perfect household, and having a beautiful housemaid might have been part of that arrangement. Another possible explanation is that Reiko and Metry met sometime in the past, and had some sort of positive interaction that compelled Metry to work for Reiko.

Ah… you can tell that Reiko adored Metry like a little sister. It's so heartbreaking knowing that in an alternate universe, these two could have maintained a bond as strong as the twins'…

Also, notice that here and in the previous segment, the first part of the soundtrack "Upside Down Woman" (「さかさまの女」) is playing. I've mentioned this in a post, but the first half of the song is warm and pleasant, and it reflects Reiko's closeness to Metry. It also gives off the image of "heaven" and conveys Reiko's perception of Metry as a simple but sweet woman, as if she was an angel.

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[04:53] Next, Reiko receives terrible news.

Honestly, I feel quite bad for her…

Note that the anime is slightly different from the manga. In the anime, Reiko watched a child pass by, while in the manga, Reiko was walking hearing nasty rumors about her being part of a fake couple with Akira. Furthermore, in the manga, Reiko revealed her infertility to Metry, and Metry attempted to reassure Reiko that she was still the woman she admired.

Honestly, I wish the anime kept the original scene. Childless women, especially those with infertility, are often stigmatized in society, and I'm sure it's even more so back in the 1970s. In my opinion, this stigma isn't conveyed that well in the anime.

You can tell that Reiko really trusted Metry since Metry was the only person she told about her infertility.

Despite Metry's kind intentions, Reiko couldn't bear the shame of being shunned by society, especially since she already had a reputation of being perfect. She might have feared that Akira would leave her if he found out about her infertility. Indeed, society can be quite cruel… If only Metry's feelings fully reached Reiko…

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[05:27] Next, Reiko convinces Metry to have a secret affair with Akira. "Upside Down Woman" (さかさまの女) continues to play in the background, highlighting Reiko's desperation and her reliance on Metry.

It must be destiny that these two women were built as similar as twin sisters. Metry pretending to be Reiko is another reason why I compared these two women to Migi and Dali!

It's quite surreal seeing Reiko with her long hair untied. She reminds me a bit of Akiyama's older sister as well as Sally.

You can tell that Reiko's desperation, as well as her love towards Metry are genuine, which is why Metry agreed to carry out this twisted affair. In retrospect, Metry should have refused, since this need to have children was clearly taking a toll on Reiko's mental health. (But then that would mean we don't get to see the cute triplets…!)

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[06:00] Next, Metry carries out Reiko's plans. Notice that the tone in the soundtrack shifts rather drastically, introducing a dark and chaotic atmosphere, reflecting the start of Reiko's descent into insanity.

Once again, Akira is a dunce…

I wonder why Reiko would willingly watch Metry have sex with her husband. You can tell by the lone, hanging strand of hair by Reiko's eye that watching this clearly wasn't good for her mental health. If I was in Reiko's position, I think a part of my soul would die…

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[06:19] Next, Reiko checks to see if Metry is pregnant.

The tone in the soundtrack shifts even further, as discordant notes begin to dominate the soundtrack. This, along with Reiko's contracted pupils, perhaps reflect on how Reiko's desire to conform to society's expectations has completely dominated her. It's quite similar to Dali's obsession with revenge in the first part of the story.

This scene reminds me of how the twins see themselves as the same (「二人で一人」), although Reiko takes this idea too far.

Metry is right about Reiko's plan, though her objections come a bit too late…

The art of Metry as being a part of Reiko is really creepy… I wonder if this art style was inspired by some other work (maybe Edward Gorey's?) In some way, Reiko seems to be the impossible second mother in this pregnancy… (but which child is hers?)

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[06:55] Next, Metry is confirmed to be pregnant, though Akira also finds out.

I understand that Reiko wanted to keep this a secret from Akira, but I have to admit it's a bit farfetched. It seems that Akira is not an idiot only at the wrong time…

Reiko probably wanted to have children fearing that Akira would otherwise leave her, but now it seemed to her that this was about to happen anyway. After all, Akira basically said, "I don't want Reiko, I want Metry." (man, this guy sucks!)

Of course, Reiko is partly to blame for this, since Akira would probably never develop these feelings if Reiko never sent Metry to have sex with him. In Akira's defense, I think that he might have accepted Reiko's infertility if she had opened up.

That being said, I think I can empathize with Reiko. In Reiko's point of view, people seemed to admire her only because of how she was a perfect woman. If she was no longer viewed as perfect, she feared that she would lose this admiration, and the stigma of infertility would only cause her to be isolated and cast out by a cruel and unforgiving society. With Akira pursuing Metry romantically, Reiko felt that she was at the precipice of losing everything and being cast out into a cruel and lonely world. This sense of despair was undoubtedly intensified by a feeling of betrayal by the one she trusted the most.

Reiko's imagining of Metry's demonic smile is very disturbing…

I wonder, what exactly were Metry's feelings in that moment? I highly doubt that she would have actually betrayed Reiko as Reiko suspected, but I still think it's rather strange that she didn't push Akira away after he confessed his love to her. Was she a bit happy to have received his feelings? Was she trying to look towards Reiko for help? Or did she actually look down on Reiko? We will never know… At the very least, the fact that Metry didn't push Akira away probably contributed to Reiko's perception of Metry as a demon.

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[08:06] Next, Reiko wraps up her story of Metry to the twins. A story that Reiko started and resulted in the birth of the triplets.

Although Reiko was technically right that things went wrong after Metry showed up, she was definitely delusional to blame Metry (correlation does not imply causation!)

Based on the context, I think "upside-down woman" can have several meanings. For example, it can refer to Reiko's view of her perfect life being turned upside-down because of Metry. Furthermore, since "upside-down" can sometimes be associated with the underworld, perhaps this reflects an inversion of Reiko's perception of Metry from an angelic little sister figure to a demon woman.

Note that in Japanese, Reiko refers to the twins as 「二匹」, which I think is usually reserved for small animals. (disrespectful!)

Sure, one could say that Reiko was cursed, which led to her descent into insanity. But it definitely wasn't a curse cast by Metry. If anything, it seems that Metry's death has caused a curse to fall onto her three sons…

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[09:11] Next, Reiko climbs to the second floor.

The sight of Reiko climbing up to knock off the camera is terrifying… it really gives off the image of Reiko being a demon rather than Metry.

Poor Maruta, getting scared so many times in one night…

It seems that Reiko had no intention on letting the Be Birds escape. After all, knowing her secret is pointless if they can't tell anyone…

Migi doesn't know how to use a knife… (which is good because he's a good boy!)

Reiko knows that the twins are terrified of her, and she can see through their bluff. If the twins were serious about violence, they would have tried to push Reiko off the banister themselves.

I think this is the fourth time in the story Eiji has pushed someone. (He really loves pushing people!)

It's quite ironic that just as Metry pretended to be Reiko to get into bed with Akira, Eiji saw Reiko as Metry in this moment. I suppose Reiko and Metry really are built like twin sisters, and that Eiji really is Akira's son!

I wonder, how many anime-only viewers were surprised by the realization that Eiji was the twins' brother? In my opinion, I thought that Eiji's blue eyes were unfortunately a big hint.

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[11:07] Next, a flashback of the triplets' birth as well as Metry's time in the confinement room.

Honestly, I was very shocked when I first read this scene in the manga. I had suspected that Eiji was the twins' brother, but I didn't think he was their triplet brother! I initially assumed that Eiji was just older by less than a year…

Given the babies' position, it seems that Eiji is the middle triplet.

Whoa, Reiko's predatory gaze is terrifying…

I wonder, what would have happened if the triplets were all born with blonde hair? Would Reiko have let Metry keep all three? Likewise, what would have happened if the triplets were all born with black hair? Would Reiko have stolen all of them from Metry?

Seeing and hearing Reiko give birth to a towel will always be funny to me.

Poor Metry… despite her good intentions and her love towards Reiko, she was locked up in the confinement room. She was completely unaware of Reiko's intentions until it was too late, and she probably had no idea why Reiko treated her the way she did. If only they could talk through their problems together just like the twins did…

Baby Migi and Dali are so cute…!

The anime added a scene where Metry asked about Eiji. It's so sad knowing that she has always thought about her abducted son all this time. Of course Reiko wouldn't entertain this request. Since she believed that Metry betrayed her, she wouldn't want her to see Eiji who resembles Akira. In her (warped) view, she doesn't want Metry to steal her son just like how she almost stole her husband.

Yet despite this, I find it curious that Reiko allowed Metry and the twins to live in her house for so long instead of just killing them. Sure, Reiko basically acts as their prison warden and gives the only the basic necessities (food, water, clothes, bed, pencils), but perhaps deep down Reiko still had some affection for Metry. I wonder what would have happened if Metry and the twins continued staying in that room. Would they be integrated into the Ichijo family at some point? Also, how did they all use the bathroom and keep themselves clean while in the room?

I've written about this before, but it seems that even when the twins were young, Dali was always the smart and dominant twin.

Note that in the manga, the twins were opening the door from the outside. This makes more sense since if the lock could be picked from inside the room, Metry could have just done it herself.

Even after more than five years, Metry was thinking about Eiji so much that she often looked towards him at night. A mother's love is truly special…

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[13:53] Next, the twins react to learning that Eiji is their triplet brother.

It's still pretty strange seeing Eiji wearing nothing but a bib and diaper.

It's funny how Dali pulls Migi in to point out the difference in hair color. He could have just pointed at his own hair! It seems that Dali doesn't know about dizygotic triplets…

But actually, hair color is significant! Just as I mentioned earlier, if the twins were born with black hair, they most likely would have been taken by Reiko to live in the Ichijo family. No one would have shunned the twins for "strange" hair, and they wouldn't have suffered as they did after being orphaned. They would been able to live a blessed childhood, enjoying many things such as looking forward to Santa Claus. Thus, the difference in hair color can symbolize the vast differences in their life experiences and circumstances, which explains why Dali couldn't accept that Eiji was his brother.

Now, the twins know the entire truth behind their mother's death, and of course were shocked to learn the real reason why Metry left them on Christmas night.

Nonetheless, despite Eiji's regret in pushing Metry and desire to see her, Dali rejects him, calling him a stranger. Although it wasn't the right thing to do, I can certainly empathize. After all, Eiji never knew her, and he was the reason why she left the twins behind and died. Above all, Eiji was someone who already had a loving (albeit insane) mother, and had a wonderful and blessed childhood much unlike the twins, so there was no way Dali could relate with him.

The imagery of Eiji walking down the stairs into the darkness is a reference to the cover of Chapter 40 of the manga, and is quite heartbreaking. He can't go back to just being Reiko's son, but at the same time he can't be Metry's son either. Now, he wanders the darkness (both literally and metaphorically), uncertain about the meaning of his life.

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[15:16] Next, Karen continues pretending to be in pain. Akira is dumb, that is all.

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[15:42] Next, the twins and Maruta talk after Eiji walked downstairs.

It's nice how Maruta is concerned for them.

Dali emphatically rejects Eiji, once again asserting that he and Eiji are nothing alike. How sad…

It's quite amazing that Reiko survived that fall…

It seems that Eiji and Reiko aren't on the same page when it comes to "finishing this"

Once again, Migi's attachment to Metry is displayed when he reminds Dali that it was Metry who wished for Eiji to be together with them. Nonetheless, Dali remains adamant in rejecting Eiji, which makes me believe that Dali's desire for revenge wasn't truly for Metry's sake.

I think Dali could have been less rough with Migi, but I can understand why Dali is so angry. Now that the bitter truth has been revealed, their revenge was pointless all along. The situation was far more complicated than Dali thought, since Reiko, Akira, and even Metry all share responsibility for the twins' miserable and lonely childhood. I'm sure it was painful for Dali to acknowledge this.

Overwhelmed with anger, Dali demands an answer from Migi why he should accept Eiji. Even if they are biological brothers, that does not quell Dali's anger nor his hatred towards Eiji. No matter what, Eiji did in fact push Metry to her death. Unfortunately, it seems that Migi doesn't know the answer either…

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[16:52] Next, Akira finds the Be Birds.

It appears that Karen's energy has run out, so her acting was now able to be seen through.

It's crazy that Akira still doesn't realize that Migi and Dali are his sons. Or at the very least, he doesn't realize that they are Metry's sons, since they look so much like her! Especially since he was chasing after Metry in Episode 6! This man is hopeless…

It's funny how Maruta suddenly refers to Akira as "father-in-law" and to himself as Karen's "official boyfriend". It's also funny how Karen uses her real voice and emotionlessly answers Akira's question.

I wonder, if Reiko hadn't interrupted in this scene, would the twins have told Akira the truth about themselves? As hopeless as he is, Akira perhaps might have become their ally.

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[17:38] Next, everyone runs to the confinement room.

Reiko was likely using her own blood rather than ketchup when playing dead, otherwise the twins and Karen might have noticed. But Akira might have been fooled by ketchup.

Despite Akira's flaws, it seems that he really did care about Reiko. It's just tragic that he never knew about her mental condition.

It's funny how Maruta throws up and Karen just stares at him. In the manga, Maruta also pees in his pants. (Man, there are a lot of boys who pee their pants in this story…)

Reiko's act of playing dead was so believable that even the twins, who are masters of deception and disguise, were fooled. But to be fair, I'm sure the twins were overwhelmed by emotion and shock to notice. I suppose Karen really is the best at acting…

It's funny how Karen just casually tells Akira to move and pushes him aside. Everyone's shocked face to seeing Reiko suddenly get up and bolt out of the room was funny as well.

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[18:44] Next, Reiko locks everyone inside the confinement room.

When I first read the manga, I didn't expect that Reiko would actually betray her husband. But then again, he did cheat on her… (albeit via instigation by Reiko!)

Now that Reiko wants nothing to do with Akira and Karen, she decides to roast them (before attempting to do this literally).

I wonder what Reiko's remark towards Karen meant. Did this mean that Karen was neither Karen nor Akira's child? Or perhaps more metaphorically, did Reiko consider Karen an imperfect child unworthy of love? I also think it's likely that Karen really was Akira's daughter, but to Reiko's dismay Karen ended up resembling her biological mother instead.

It's cute how Migi is so concerned about the Sonoyamas, and how Dali looks toward Migi with concern.

It's funny how Maruta was expecting to get roasted by Reiko, but was upset to hear nothing.

Once again, Reiko's black tears show up, which only occurs in the anime. I can understand that the anime producers wanted to portray Reiko's wickedness, but at the same time it also makes it seem that Reiko can tie her hair and apply her usual makeup almost instantly, which is a bit odd. Hmm… maybe she stores her makeup inside the pockets of her pajamas?

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[21:42] Finally, the post-credit scene. In the manga, Eiji burns Reiko's hat to start the fire, while in the anime he burns a diorama of his own family.

Was Reiko singing "Clair de Lune"?

It's amazing how Reiko has seemed to have completely recovered from such a big fall, even though Metry died from a similar fall.

It's crazy to think that Eiji and Reiko were perfectly fine with burning down the house and killing everyone in it…

When I was first reading the manga, I already had a bad feeling when I saw that Eiji was hiding something behind his back…

No matter how many times I watch it, it's heartbreaking to watch Eiji stab Reiko and to hear Reiko's last words. Sure, Reiko has done many terrible things, and one could see her getting stabbed as karmic justice. But I don't think she deserved to die like this. I think she should have been sent to a mental institution and/or prison, and should have had the opportunity to atone for her sins after being treated for her mental illness. Now, she could never atone, and her blood is on Eiji's hands.

Overwhelmed by guilt and self-hatred, Eiji felt that Reiko could not be forgiven, and that this facade of a perfect family that was built by Reiko was one that could only exist through cruel sacrifices, and could not be allowed to exist. Feeling that he now has nothing left to lose, Eiji decided to end the story that Reiko started, killing the entire family as well as himself. It's really sad to see Eiji's soul in such a darkened state after committing such a grave sin.

Also, I thought that the blue flames were a nice detail that the anime added. Although a blue house fire is very unrealistic, it goes well with Eiji's blue eyes. Perhaps the fire can be viewed as the workings of the vengeful spirit of Metry seeking to destroy Reiko and the family once and for all…

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[Conclusion] In Episode 11, the final details of the mystery of Metry's death have finally been uncovered. Yet, the truth was far more twisted than the twins' realized. Metry really did love them, but because of her mistake of leaving the twins without telling the twins why, the twins lived miserably for more than seven years. The twins' revenge was now empty and meaningless, but the grudges and anger still remain, particularly in Dali's heart. Unable to bear the weight of Reiko's sins, Eiji unfortunately crossed a point of no return, and decided to end it all and attempt to condemn the whole family to fiery damnation.

The story of Metry and Reiko really reminds me of the story of Migi and Dali, and the way that Metry and Reiko met tragic ends reminds me of how the twins could have similarly met their ends after their separation in Episode 8. Indeed, Reiko and Metry once saw themselves as sisters, and I think it's very likely that their relationship was meant to parallel the relationship between Migi and Dali. That's why I can't help but feel very sad for Metry and Reiko, when a happy ending for both of them could have been achieved with just a little more effort in the right direction.

To end things on a lighter note, notice that Episode 11 was the first episode to adapt just two chapters from the manga, whereas the previous episodes adapted three or more chapters. As a result, I felt that the pacing was a lot better in Episode 11, and I really wish that the previous episodes could have been paced in this manner…

Anyway, that's all for now. I hope to do this again for Episode 12!

#migi and dali #migi to dali #retrospective

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mtdthoughts · 8 months ago

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Migi & Dali Episode 10 Retrospective Reaction

Hello again! As part of commemorating the one-year anniversary of the anime, I'm doing a rewatch and providing my (unorganized) thoughts and reactions.

This time, I'm doing Episode 10! As always, I'll be keeping timestamps in case you want to watch along while reading, and be prepared for another long post below of unorganized thoughts, and of course spoilers!

[00:00] First is the opening scene.

Unfortunately, since the twins seemed to not have gone to the police as Micchan urged, Reiko exploited the situation and framed the twins for murder. I'm sure Youko is utterly devastated that her best friend was found dead in her son's room, and her son is now missing and suspected of murder.

I wonder, would Youko have suspected that Reiko was the culprit? After all, Micchan started going missing some time after Reiko effectively abducted Hitori-kun. Plus, Reiko was the last person at the Sonoyama house before Micchan's murder happened. Of course, even with these facts, Youko probably wouldn't have gotten anywhere without any evidence.

Notice that the twins' dynamic is different from before. Now, Migi walks in the front and says what the plan is. I guess this is what it means for Migi to "take the handles"

I wonder why the twins didn't just directly ask the Sonoyamas for help. My guess is that the twins didn't want to trouble them, especially since the Sonoyamas are too old.

Also, what would have happened if the twins showed themselves to the police and told them everything that happened? Would the twins be arrested, and would they have to go to court? I'm not sure how Japan's justice system works, though I imagine that Reiko would find some way to ensure that the twins are found guilty (or dead). It would be fun to imagine a spin-off anime where the twins try to escape from prison.

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[02:25] Next, the twins hide from the police in Akiyama's room. The anime added a scene with Akiyama outside wondering where Hitori-kun is. Unfortunately, it also removed an animation with Dali sneaking into Akiyama's room while Akiyama is hugging Migi.

Even though Hitori-kun is currently wanted for murder, Akiyama's first reaction is to hug Migi. It's sweet how much Akiyama trusts his best friend, and I loved Migi's reaction to Akiyama's concern for him.

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[03:33] Next, Migi tries to convince Dali to reveal himself to Akiyama.

I really liked this scene, and it provided a good parallel to the scene in Episode 8 where Migi shut Dali in Akiyama's closet.

It's clear that Dali was hiding himself away for emotional reasons. Could it be that he doesn't trust Akiyama? Perhaps, but I think it's more plausible that Dali doesn't trust himself. Events in previous episodes have really caused Dali to lose confidence in himself, and I think he might have feared that Akiyama wouldn't accept him. What made me think this was Migi's assurance that Akiyama would accept them (「ぼくらのことだってすぐ受け入れてくれる」). To me, this statement meant that Akiyama would accept not only the existence of the twins, but he would also Dali for who he is. And Dali seems to know this to be true. After all, Dali has also spent a fair amount of time with Akiyama (he's been hugged a few times too!), so he knows that Migi is right.

I really like Migi's reassuring face, and it perfectly matches the light behind Migi that reaches Dali in the shadows. Also, if you compare Migi's voice to his voice in the first episodes, you can tell that Migi's tone of voice has definitely changed. You can really tell Migi has grown to embrace his gentler side and be a supportive younger brother to Dali. Was this intentional on Horie-san's part?

It seems that Akiyama never told Maruta that he would be meeting with Hitori-kun.

Maruta really is a Mama's boy… but to be fair, Hitori-kun is suspected of murder. Plus, Maruta was surely traumatized by Dali hitting him.

Come to think of it, where is Maruta's father? Unlike Akiyama's parents who seem to be busy with work, nothing at all is mentioned about Maruta's father. Could he be dead or divorced from Maruta's mother? At the very least, it might be likely that Maruta didn't grow up with his father. (pure speculation)

This is the first time Migi slams a trash can on Maruta's head.

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[04:12] Next, Migi and Akiyama convince Maruta to help them. This is the first time that Maruta's theme (少年探偵団ビーバーズ) plays.

I wonder, why does Akiyama consider Maruta's toy helicopter a "powerful weapon"? Is it just because it flies? To be fair, it is quite useful, though I'm not sure if it's a "powerful weapon". After all, at the time, there wasn't yet a concrete plan on how to defeat Reiko.

Once again, Migi is lorded over by Maruta. Migi is doing his best to remain calm…

I like how Maruta makes a little throne for himself out of Akiyama's blankets. You can tell that Maruta cares about this project by going out of his way to make a poster.

Did Maruta tell Migi and Akiyama to talk like beavers?

Akiyama's remark suggests that Reiko has locked Karen in her room, which wouldn't surprise me since Reiko knows that Karen defied her. I wonder what would have happened to Karen if the twins never came back to Origon Village. Would she have been hypnotized just like Eiji? That's a bit scary to think about…

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[05:23] Next, Maruta attempts to send a message to Karen.

It's nice that Akiyama kept the hat that Migi gave him.

Once again, Migi sticks his tongue out when surprised…

Is Maruta afraid of animals? It's quite surprising since he's such a great Boy Scout.

Migi sounds so proud and excited to introduce his older brother. I wish the anime had shown the animation of Migi sliding down the roof…

Maruta using Morse code was really clever, but his resolve was even more impressive. Despite coming across as domineering, Maruta actually just wants others to acknowledge and like him, and won't give up. It reminds me of the scene in Episode 3 where the twins desperately tried to cross the rope bridge in order to make friends. Thus, Maruta's intentions would naturally be noticed by the twins.

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[06:47] Next, Maruta reveals that Karen is willing to cooperate with them.

I don't have much to say here, but it's nice how Akiyama is always happy for his friends.

The twins nod in sync with each other… they agree that the next thing to do is to surprise their friends! (maybe)

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[07:36] Next, the twins reveal themselves to Akiyama and Maruta.

It's a bit crazy that the first thing that happens in this scene is that a child proposes to take a girl hostage…

I wonder why the twins would reveal themselves in this way. They even act as if everything is normal! Any rational person in this situation would most definitely have a heart attack suddenly seeing two identical boys!

I wonder what kind of sound the "Mama alarm" would make…

This is the second time Migi slams a trash can on Maruta's head.

Akiyama is really committed to being a bird that he acts like a chicken. Dali even seems to handle Akiyama like a chicken by putting his hands over Akiyama's eyes. In the manga, Dali also gets Akiyama to lay down on the floor before telling Migi that the coast was clear.

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[08:33] Next, the twins tell Akiyama and Maruta the truth about themselves.

I wonder how much the twins revealed about their past. For example, did they tell them about living in the Ichijo house when they were toddlers?

"The dam is leaking" is a pretty cool way of explaining why you're crying…

I bet that Maruta and Akiyama are happy that they're the only ones who have been trusted with this secret and now know the twins' true personalities. Plus, I'm sure they're happy to have two friends rather than one.

I love the way the twins smile at each other and talk in sync.

When the boys put their hands together and officially form their team, the anime shows Maruta and Akiyama using their left hands while the manga shows them using their right hands. In other words, in the manga, Dali is the only one to extend his left hand, while in the anime, Migi is the only one to extend his right hand. I wonder why the anime changed this. Accidental?

"Be Birds" seems to be a combination of "Beaver" and "Birds", which explains the subtitle "Beaver and 3 Birds" (「ビーバーと三匹の鳥たち」). The twins are represented by two cute little birds with a hair sticking out. (canaries?)

Anyway, I liked this heartwarming scene. It reminds me of TV shows and movies that were around in my childhood, where a group of young underdogs and outcasts team up to defeat the big bad villain. They were all once lonely, but now they've come together as loyal friends!

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[09:23] Next, Akiyama distracts the police. I don't have anything to add here.

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[09:56] Next, Maruta and the twins attempt to sneak into Karen's room.

Unfortunately, I'm not good enough at Japanese to understand the bird-related puns..

The pad on Maruta's slingshot is shaped like his buckteeth!

Karen is not only knows Morse code, but she also knows how to tie a perfect knot. Just as how Maruta is an excellent Boy Scout, Karen must be an excellent Girl Scout. It's no wonder they fell in love with each other!

I wouldn't want to be called a chicken by Maruta…

The twins' hair look good when they're hanging upside down. Also, it's now impossible to tell the difference between the twins like this!

It's crazy that Reiko put something as dangerous as barbed wire in her yard. In real life, something like this would most likely be illegal! Since the title of Chapter 37 is "Rose Fortress", the barbed wire must be the roses' thorns.

It's funny how Maruta is the first one to panic considering how he was calling Dali a chicken earlier! The sight of Migi repeatedly attacking Maruta's butt was hilarious.

Once again, Dali has a close encounter with death. Well, if I were in his position, I would definitely be paralyzed with fear.

I really love how Migi came to Dali's rescue! I've already written about this scene before, so I'll just summarize my thoughts. Migi's strength is his instinct, and his act of recreating the twins' zero-weight pulley while risking his own safety is proof of how much he has grown throughout the story. Dali was undoubtedly touched by Migi's love, though he still has a sense of pride as the older brother so he distracts Migi with the fat comment. (and it worked!) Ah, I really love this adorable pair of twins…

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[12:48] Next, the twins climb into Karen's room.

Not much to say here, but what is a "romantic morse code"?

It's also funny how the twins have the same reaction when seeing Maruta flirt with Karen. This is the third time that Migi slams a trash can on Maruta, but this time Migi has his twin brother to help him!

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[13:05] Next, Reiko mutters ominously in bed about Eiji.

As always, this woman is seriously terrifying, with her creepy face and her words showing obvious mental derangement. I can't quite explain it, but Reiko is even more terrifying in her sleepwear than when she is wearing her usual clothes and makeup.

I wonder if Akira ever heard what Reiko was saying. I'm guessing not, since he didn't even know that Eiji had bedwetting issues. Plus, if he did know, he would be complicit in Reiko's crimes…

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[13:28] Next, the Be Birds review their plan with Karen.

Was Karen not surprised that Hitori-kun was actually a pair of twins? Or maybe this was skipped over in the story.

It's funny how Migi sits on a trash can to keep Maruta down the whole time.

It's quite sad how Karen admits that she wouldn't serve as a good hostage against Reiko, and how she was glad to find out Reiko wasn't her mother. She says that Eiji would be a better hostage since he resembles Akira, but a more accurate reason is that Reiko doesn't love Karen…

I wonder why Reiko is such a perfectionist. I'm no expert in psychology, but I sense that Reiko is trying to cope with a deeply rooted sense of insecurity and inadequacy. We'll see more in the next episode…

Karen's tone of voice is different from the previous episode. In Episode 9, she emotionlessly tells Migi to run away from Origon Village, while in Episode 10 she begs the Be Birds to destroy the Ichijo family. I think Maruta's romantic Morse code helped lift Karen out of complete despair, and so of course Maruta would become her "Prince Charming".

It's adorable how the twins cover each other's eyes when Maruta and Karen kiss. It's pretty crazy to think that Migi is the only person in this room to have never kissed anyone… (as far as we know)

It's interesting that Karen is proud of her own acting ability. In a way, she's similar to the twins who put on a similar act as Hitori-kun. (I wonder if she could see through their act) It's also sad, since her acting ability combined with her rope-tying and her Morse signaling skills all show how she has long yearned to escape from the Ichijo house.

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[14:56] Next, Karen distracts Akira while the Be Birds search for Eiji.

Man, Akira is a dunce…

It's interesting that Karen chose such a specific body part (duodenum) to complain about. I'm sure it was to ensure that she distracts Akira as long as possible.

In the manga, Karen doesn't tell the Be Birds where Eiji is, so they search Eiji's room before heading to the confinement room. Interestingly, both of the twins were nervous to open Eiji's door and were criticized by Maruta as a result. Well, considering the twins' complicated history with Eiji, I'm not surprised why they hesitated. Also, I wonder what kind of awards Eiji has won…

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[15:37] Next, the Be Birds find Eiji who has been educated from scratch.

Even though the twins knew what they might have found, they were still taken aback by the sight of Eiji hypnotized into being a baby. I'm sure it was also very shocking to the viewer as well…

It's not surprising that Maruta was so astonished, since he's never encountered anything as creepy as this before.

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[16:13] Next, the Be Birds discuss their plan to take Eiji hostage.

It's pretty wild that Dali casually proposes kidnapping Eiji in his hypnotized state.

It's funny how Migi is playing on the rocking horse while discussing the plan.

I love how everyone is being represented with dolls.

Migi is right. Not only does Reiko have impressive speed and dexterity, but she would most likely be aggressive enough to jump at them from the second floor. So the plan is for the Be Birds to have the high ground…

Interestingly, none of these plans involve subduing Reiko herself, which would have been a much more direct approach. Of course, we know that the twins are absolutely terrified of her.

For some reason, the art at 17:07 (i.e. where Dali puts his hand on Migi's shoulder) looks slightly inconsistent. Or maybe it's just me…

It's heartwarming to see the twins reassure Maruta and remind him of his promise to Karen. Especially since Migi is a bit of a scaredy-cat himself. (personal opinion)

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[17:44] Next, the twins carry Eiji out of the confinement room.

Once again, Maruta proves his skills as a Boy Scout by making a makeshift cot.

I love the way Migi says "Hey, Dali".

Clearly, Migi doesn't want to kill Eiji. Just as Migi mentioned, Eiji did save his life twice. But more importantly, I think Migi realizes that Eiji wasn't the evil, snobby rich kid that he initially saw him as, and that it was unfair to blame Eiji for all of his misfortune. I think Dali understands Migi's logic, though he still can't get over his resentment of Eiji. Since Dali was the one who was basically burdened with the role of raising himself and Migi after Metry's death, it would make sense that his hatred for Eiji would be greater than Migi's. Nonetheless, I don't think Dali is interested in killing Eiji anymore, and instead just wants for Migi to be happy.

It's funny that Migi asks for Dali to make a funny face considering that they literally have the same face…

In my opinion, Dali's funny face in the manga looked better. You could really tell that Dali was making a stupid face rather than a funny face. It's also the first (and only) time that Dali sticks out his tongue. (I think)

It was a bit refreshing to see Migi's reaction to Dali's face. After all, Migi has always looked up to Dali, so it's quite shocking for him to see Dali make such a stupid face. To me, it symbolizes how Dali isn't perfect, and despite Dali's failings, Migi was still able to love and accept him. It's a similar idea to Eiji's reaction to Reiko drooling at the planetarium.

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[19:06] Next, the twins attempt to carry Eiji upstairs.

Maruta is really scared of animals. It's funny how Fidelite just walks away after simply sniffing Maruta a couple times.

Once again, Reiko is terrifying. Without a single word, she bolts downstairs with a constant unhinged look on her face. The way her head bobs back and forth on the screen is absolutely unsettling… Reiko's soundtrack is played here, though I personally think that a different one might be a bit more fitting for this sudden dip into the horror genre.

It's impressive that the twins can hide themselves and Eiji behind a cot on a single step of the stairs…

Reiko's scream as well as the face she makes when lunging at the video recording are creepy as well.

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[21:06] Next, the twins successfully take Eiji hostage after Maruta tricks Reiko. The Beavers theme plays again…

Reiko's bewildered face is quite a sight to see.

I couldn't help but laugh when Maruta winks and says "We made a vow" (「契りは交わしたんだ」). It's too cool…!

It's crazy seeing Migi take Eiji hostage with a knife. Interestingly, the shape of the blade seems different from the manga.

I like how the twins talk back and forth and look down on Reiko when confronting her. The lightning really brings out the twins' eyes too, and you can get a sense of impeding divine judgment for Reiko.

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[23:08] Finally, the post-credit scene. The tension is high…

For the first time in the anime, the soundtrack "Upside Down Woman" (さかさまの女) plays, which is not only a reference to the painting in Reiko's room, but also the title of Chapter 39 of the manga. To be more specific, it's the creepy and disturbing second half of the soundtrack that plays.

I wonder what Reiko means when she says "You really are Metry's children". Considering that she thinks of Metry as a demon, did she also think of this way about the twins? It makes sense, since in her point of view, the twins have come to destroy her life. (but she does deserved to be punished!)

Once again, Migi reacts when Reiko brings up Metry in a negative way. It's interesting how Dali doesn't react in any visible way.

There were a couple lines from the manga that were omitted in the anime. Namely, Reiko tells the twins that they would be better off not knowing the truth. This likely reflects what Reiko wanted from the start of the story, and explains why she tried to reeducate Hitori-kun from scratch, and why she left him alone in the early parts of the story. Honestly, I have to agree with the statement. Although I feel bad for Metry and her children, I think everyone would have been happier if the twins had given up their pursuit for revenge and instead chose to live happily in Origon Village from the very start. And I think the twins understand this too. But it's too late for that now. The twins are now at a point of no return, and the only thing they can do now is to carry on and set things right.

And of course, it's very ironic that Reiko calls Metry a demon woman, considering that she herself fits the bill!

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[Conclusion] In Episode 10, the twins return to Origon Village and begin their counterattack against Reiko. Now, the twins are united not by revenge, but by a goal of reclaiming their lives in the Sonoyama family and living for each other's sake. Despite the fact that the twins were initially at a massive disadvantage against Reiko, they were able to overcome this gap with the help of the true friends that they made.

The first part of this episode seemed to be a good parallel to Episode 3, where Dali was pretending to befriend Akiyama and Migi was being bullied by Maruta. In this episode, the twins revealed themselves and were able to befriend the two for real, which finally provided an answer to Migi's question, "How do you make friends?"

The second part of the episode shows how much the twins have grown, such as with Migi jumping out Karen's window to save Dali, as well as the twins' discussing their feelings toward Eiji. Of course, Dali still has lingering resentment towards Eiji.

Although there were a few unexpected hiccups in the plan, the Be Birds were nonetheless able to force Reiko into checkmate, and so now the entire truth behind Metry's background will be revealed, which will unravel the mystery once and for all…

That's all for now, and I hope to do this again for Episode 11!

#migi and dali #migi to dali #retrospective

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mtdthoughts · 8 months ago

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Migi & Dali Episode 9 Retrospective Reaction

Hello again! As part of commemorating the one-year anniversary of the anime, I'm doing a rewatch and providing my (unorganized) thoughts and reactions.

This time, I'm doing Episode 9! As always, I'll be keeping timestamps in case you want to watch along while reading, and be prepared for another long post below of unorganized thoughts, and of course spoilers!

Be warned, Episode 9 is quite heavy and is my favorite, so this post will be even longer than before...

[00:00] First is the opening scene.

After the incident on Halloween, it seems that Migi is continuing to live with Akiyama. It's very likely that Migi still doesn't trust Dali, and I think that once Migi saw Dali at the costume contest, he ran away again.

It's clear that the incident is still fresh in Migi's mind, as he is drawing it. Given his history with Eiji, it's clear that the two don't like each other, so of course Migi is wondering why Eiji would decide to sacrifice himself for him.

I just noticed that Migi goes back home at night to retrieve the dress and wig. Since he goes to Eiji's house during the day, where did Migi spend the rest of the night? At Akiyama's? Or did he stay home?

Ah, poor Dali… In the manga, his state seemed a bit worse as his hair was a mess, and he was even dripping snot as he was crying. Plus, his pillow was also stained from his tears.

Migi must be surprised that his older brother is in such a weak and desperate state, since Dali has always been strong in front of him. Not only that, Dali is saying Migi's name aloud in front of Youko, which could risk exposing the twins' secret. I wonder if Youko already knows…

It's clear that Dali was broken by the fact that he could have killed or seriously injured Migi, and perhaps he realized that his insistence on taking revenge has taken away what was most important to him. Dali no longer cares about revenge, he just wants Migi back.

Despite seeing Dali like this, Migi continues to do what he came to do. He might still be angry at Dali. Plus, Youko's already taking care of Dali.

Migi looks uncomfortable taking the wig that caused his heartbreak. Also, in the manga, he picks up the wig dramatically with a resolute expression on his face.

Indeed, Migi is very uncomfortable dressing up as the girl he fell in love with. He stutters, looks nervous, almost uses "boku" instead of "watashi", and his hair is a mess! (even though it's not his actual hair) To be fair, Reiko is terrifying. Horie-san really is a talented voice actor!

Also, Reiko seems to be completely unaware of Eiji's relationship with Sally.

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[02:55] Next, Migi (dressed as Sally) talks with Eiji.

This scene was really tense, which is intensified by the image of Reiko staring into the room and the lack of music in the scene.

It's clear that Horie-san can't quite make the same Sally voice as Murase-san. Perhaps this was intentional since it's Migi rather than Dali?

You can really tell that Eiji's demeanor has changed from the beginning of the story. Now that he remembers everything that happened, he can't help but feel guilt for the way he lived. Not just for pushing Metry, but perhaps also for his role in enabling Reiko's control over Origon Village.

Reiko really is scary…

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[04:04] Next, Eiji shows Migi the attic.

Migi seems so surprised when he hears the truth from Eiji, even though Dali already told him that it was Eiji who killed Metry. Perhaps he thought that Dali might have been lying? I have no idea…

It's terrifying that Reiko was surveilling Origon Village for more than seven years…

Micchan along with Nezu appears in Karen's dollhouse. I wonder, did Reiko give Karen the Micchan doll, or did Karen take it herself? Also, I really do wonder why these former residents left Origon Village. Did they leave on their own, or was Reiko involved in some way? We know that Reiko wants to shape Origon Village in her vision of a perfect town, so it is possible that these people either left or were forced out in various ways thanks to Reiko.

Eiji thinks that Metry or someone else attempted to kill him because of the incident seven years ago. While this is technically true, Eiji is clearly missing information that only Reiko knows. Namely, the connection between Reiko and Metry.

Eiji knows that his mother is targeting Hitori-kun, but does he really know why she's doing that? Given that both Hitori-kun and Metry are blonde, perhaps he thought that they might be related.

Thinking about it, it appears that Dali's actions in Episode 8 really set off Reiko. If Dali hadn't attempted to kill Eiji, I think that none of the events in this episode would have been set into motion.

Migi is clearly concerned that Dali's life is in danger, though he doesn't seem to want to see him. Once again, he almost uses "boku" instead of "watashi"

I really love the moment where Eiji tells Migi that Sally has always liked him (Hitori-kun). In the manga, Eiji says it slightly differently, namely that he could easily tell because Sally was always looking at Hitori-kun. Of course, the line was changed in the anime since the referenced scene from Chapter 26 was skipped.

Anyway, it was a powerful line since another way of interpreting it is: "Dali always loved you." Sure, Dali doesn't always do things perfectly, and has once betrayed Migi's trust with the Sally disguise. But Dali has always done everything he could for Migi's sake, because Migi was all that mattered to him. This love for Migi was so strong that even a stranger like Eiji could sense it.

In my opinion, Migi realized this, which was why he looked so sad (in the manga, he looked like he was about to cry!). I think Migi saw his own actions as foolish, and deeply regretted abandoning his older brother who depended on him, leaving him to cry in such a pitiful state. Sure, Dali's actions were wrong, but Migi felt he made a terrible mistake by casting away their precious brotherhood, when Dali never stopped loving him.

I think Migi might have actually cried if Reiko hadn't interrupted this scene.

The music changes after Reiko's sudden appearance, signaling a shift to the horror genre. Reiko must be incredibly stealthy if neither Migi nor Eiji sensed her. I also have a feeling that Reiko didn't actually go to the bakery…

It is pretty funny that food is once again being used as a weapon.

Eiji's feelings for Sally must be pretty strong if he's willing to physically defy his mother. Sadly, Eiji seems to have been incapacitated rather quickly, as Reiko quickly catches up to Migi by grabbing his wig. Given a lack of loud noises, I think that Reiko might have used chloroform or some other sleep-inducing substance to knock Eiji out. She might have used this later on Dali. It wouldn't surprise me since she later drugs the Sonoyamas.

Reiko's murderous eyes are terrifying, and so is her angry yell. Unlike anyone else the twins encountered in Origon Village, Reiko is actually a dangerous person. It's almost as if Reiko's true face was being shown here.

Reiko's murderous face accompanied by the sound of the dragging baguette is scary…

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[07:05] Next, Migi hides from Reiko in Karen's room.

The tension is really high here…

Horie-san's voice acting is really good, and you can really tell that Migi is the "King of Imitations" by how good his impression of Karen is. Migi was pretty clever trying to act like Karen, though unfortunately he is up against a madwoman…

I wonder what Karen was thinking throughout this encounter.

I wasn't really a fan of how the anime showed Migi biting off the baguette. It seemed a bit softer and fluffier than a "rock-hard" baguette. In the manga, Migi seemed to have really struggled to crack the baguette and eventually break it off , and he seemed to have been bleeding a bit after he spit out the baguette.

Also, it's interesting how Migi once again displays his animalistic behavior by biting things. But to be fair, Migi didn't have many choices.

When I first read this scene in the manga, I was surprised that Karen actually covered for Migi and told him that Reiko wasn't her mother. It seems that out of all the characters in the Ichijo house, it was Karen who was best at hiding her real feelings. But I suppose that's what it took to survive in Reiko's house. It's actually pretty sad…

I wonder, did Micchan visit Karen recently? Otherwise, how would Karen know for certain that Reiko isn't her actual mother?

It seem s that the brunette woman with glasses is Karen's biological mother. The question is: who is Karen's father? Is it Akira? I imagine that it might be possible that Reiko abducted a child that wasn't hers nor Akira's. (but why?)

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[08:52] Next, Reiko begins her psychotic and murderous run towards the Sonoyama house, which seems to be adapted from the cover of Chapter 34.

Once again, Reiko's irises shrink, as her normally beautiful and composed face turns completely unhinged. It's almost as if she's inhuman.

I thought it was an interesting choice to title the episode "Kill kill kill kill kill" (コロスコロスコロスコロスコロス), which was exactly what Reiko was saying while running. Personally, I don't agree with it, but I thought it was interesting. I think that something like "Life or Death" would have been a better title.

Imagine how terrified a neighbor would feel if they saw this woman running.

Also, note that this is the first time in the anime that Reiko's full soundtrack plays. We heard a piano version back in Episode 5, which I think represents Reiko's elegant but intimidating presence. Here, the full theme reflects Reiko's true, twisted face as well as the depths of her depravity and insanity. Honestly, this is one of my favorite soundtracks in the anime! (Am I a weird person?)

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[09:20] Next, Reiko visits the Sonoyamas.

Sardine looks so peaceful… but now's not the time to be sleeping!

It's quite amazing how quickly Reiko can compose herself before talking to the Sonoyamas. They certainly couldn't tell that she was running with murderous intent earlier.

It really does seem that the Halloween incident has taken a heavy toll on Dali, but not for the reason the Sonoyamas seem to claim.

Reiko really is terrible for drugging this innocent old couple…

It seems that Reiko's plan was to corner or ambush Hitori-kun in his own home. Little did she know that there would be two of them. Or wait… did she know? I have no idea. She would certainly put the pieces together in her mind once she sees Dali.

Reiko's chuckling is very creepy…

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[10:08] Next, Migi ruminates over what Karen told him.

Considering how late Migi arrives at the Sonoyama house, it seems that he was hiding in Karen's room for a while.

Karen seems to know that Reiko is after Migi's life. Her warning comes off as a bit creepy, but I think it also reflects Karen's hopelessness as she accepts that Origon Village will always be Reiko's town.

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[10:27] Next, Migi returns to his quiet home.

Despite the fact that it's daytime, the Sonoyama house seems to have a rather dark atmosphere. It doesn't feel safe and welcoming as it usually does. Well, we all know why…

I'm quite surprised that Migi didn't seem to suspect that the Sonoyamas sleeping was due to being drugged. Especially since Youko doesn't have a bottle of wine with her! I'm pretty sure Dali would have definitely figured it out…

Migi has a rather interesting idiom for his nervousness,「胸の虫ケラがそぞろ歩いている」, which basically means that he feels a bug squirming in his chest.

Clearly, Migi is scared, but he must press on to save Dali.

This scene could have been made even scarier if Reiko was shown hiding around in the dark.

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[10:56] Next, Migi opens the door to his room.

The imagery of Dali tied up with a bag over his head is absolutely terrifying…

Migi seemed to have been too focused on Dali to have realized that this was clearly a trap. Or I suppose it's because Migi's not as sharp as his older brother

Ah… I really like the terror and despair in Dali's voice as he asked Migi why he came back.

I think that Dali might have found temporary relief in believing that Migi would never come back to him, and that he could be able to escape from Reiko's clutches. But to his horror, Migi did come back, and he fell easily into Reiko's trap. Now, Migi was just as doomed as him.

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[11:16] Next, Reiko begins interrogating the twins after she captured Migi.

Reiko's soundtrack plays again, showing her true face to the twins after finding out their secret.

Reiko is quite impressive for capturing a healthy teenage boy rather easily. But to be fair, Migi was caught by surprise.

Indeed, it seems that Reiko's plan was to capture the twins as hostages so that she could flush out Metry and eliminate her. That's one reason why I believe Reiko knew who Hitori-kun really was for a long time.

Once again, Metry is a very sensitive topic for Migi. Once Reiko asks where Metry is, Migi immediately tells her the truth. It's no wonder Dali felt that he needed to handle the investigation by himself.

I think the smart thing to do would be to lie to Reiko and say that Metry is alive, all while stalling for time. That way, no one would have to get choked by a scarf…

Seriously, this woman is absolutely evil for gleefully laughing at Metry's death and expressing her desire to kill two children in cold blood. The maniacal laughter and the imagery of a black tear going down her pale skin really makes Reiko seems inhuman, almost like a demon.

The manga conveys the twins' looks of horror very well. They weren't looking at a normal human being… they were looking at a demon who has lost her humanity.

Dali must've felt very bad watching Migi struggle in futility. I bet he's thinking, "Migi doesn't deserve to be in this situation"

It's quite amazing how Dali can compose himself and try to reason with Reiko. Sadly, Reiko is not easily outsmarted.

I really enjoy the wordplay here where "hitori" can either refer to "one person" or the name of the twins' persona. I also love the dissonance in the music as Reiko presents the twins with a gut-wrenching choice of picking who has to die.

It seems that Migi always sticks his tongue out whenever he's surprised, just like his mother.

Even when I first read the manga, I already knew what Dali was going to do when he started talking…

More wordplay with "Migi" and "the one on the right"…

Ah, the way Migi says Dali's name is so cute…

Dali lists all his complaints about Migi, most of which I think are true. In my opinion, I think Migi believed that Dali was about to sell him out to Reiko.

Ah, I love the face Dali makes when he declares that he would sacrifice himself. It's so beautiful, yet so sad at the same time.

This is the first time the soundtrack "Two Humans" (ふたりの人間) plays. The track is aptly named, since it seems to be divided into two parts. The first part (sad) is played here as Dali sacrifices himself for Migi.

No matter how many times I watch this scene, I always tear up… Dali's sacrificial love is so beautiful, yet it's so tragic how he's willing to throw his own life away. I think Dali deeply resented himself, and blamed himself for Migi's unhappiness. The twins could have moved on from revenge a long time ago, yet they have followed a dark, empty path for more than seven years. Dali believes he failed at being Migi's older brother, and that Migi would be better off without him. What is especially heartbreaking is Dali's gentle smile as he accepts his own death…

Migi of course was devastated by this, and I think Migi blamed himself for making Dali feel this away since he abandoned Dali. If Dali had actually died, I don't think Migi would have forgiven himself for letting Dali feel unloved. I'd like to write a fanfiction novel on this one day (but it's too sad!!)

Ah… Dali's last words are too sad… wishing for Migi to live a happy life without him…

In what could have been his final moments, Dali remembers his dusty home, which represents a simpler time filled with bliss. Of course, he remembers this since the air is currently being filled with dust…

Migi cried so much that his nose was dripping with snot…

Micchan has arrived. Hooray!

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[14:31] Next, Micchan confronts Reiko.

This is the second time that Micchan has come to the rescue. What a true heroine!

Micchan's line is pretty cool. I think "dust" here is equivalent to "dark secrets", and Micchan is declaring that she'll clear it all up. Basically what the "Be Birds" group will try to do in Episode 10.

Note that Chapter 34 of the manga is titled 埃高き女, which means "Dusty Woman", and has the same pronunciation in Japanese as 誇り高き女, which means "Proud Woman". Once again, Sano-sensei is quite fond of wordplay, as both of these phrases can refer to Reiko.

In the manga, the twins cried out Micchan's name. It's quite endearing how both of the twins were so glad to see that she was okay.

I like the sound of "double Hitori". I also thought that Micchan didn't seem too surprised about the twins.

Despite being saved by Karen, Micchan chose to risk her own life to uncover Reiko's secrets and save the twins… Micchan definitely has a strong sense of duty and honor.

Eiji is definitely a sensitive subject for Reiko. Not only does she lash at violently at Micchan, but she even insults her eyes! But Micchan is just as good at roasting back.

I wonder, did Reiko do kendo a similar sport when she was younger?

Micchan's fight with Reiko was amazing to watch, and I enjoyed hearing Micchan's soundtrack. I also really liked the line 「秘境デスツアー御一行オ」(i.e. group tour to death)

It's funny that Micchan would confront a dangerous woman with a mop…

Indeed, Sardine is a very very good boy! The usually playful dog doesn't hesitate to protect his loved ones.

I wonder what the twins were thinking or saying while this fight was taking place…

If Reiko is wiling to kill anyone who knows her secret, then why is Karen's biological mother still alive…?

Poor Micchan…! She didn't deserve to die like this…

Imagine being a young boy and seeing a woman getting killed before your eyes by an evil madwoman… I can certainly see why Dali would want to get away from Origon Village forever.

Also, in the manga, Migi clings to Dali's arm, which I thought was a nice detail that shows Migi's insecurity and anxiety after almost losing Dali forever.

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[17:11] Next, the twins ride away from Origon Village.

You can really tell how terrified Dali is of Reiko. Not only is he pedaling very far away from Origon Village, but I don't think he even went to the police as Micchan instructed.

Why is Migi sticking his tongue out here? Is he trying to catch rain with his mouth?

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[17:26] Next, the twins stay at the shrine.

As always, Migi looks to Dali for answers. To be fair, Dali's usually correct in his deductions.

Dali predicted correctly that the Sonoyamas were okay, and he predicted that Migi would suggest going back.

I definitely liked this scene better in the manga. Migi was supposed to be more excited about going back to the Sonoyamas, and Dali was supposed to reject this loudly enough to startle Migi. Nonetheless, the voice actors did a great job despite the changes in the anime.

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[18:02] Next, the twins wake up after hearing someone approach.

The twins looks so cute while they're sleeping. The way Migi rests his head on Dali is adorable, and it's interesting how the twins' expressions are slightly different. Migi look a bit more at ease than Dali.

Ah… the way Migi leaps into Dali's arms is so adorable. You can tell that he doesn't want to lose his brother again.

As the older brother, Dali is a bit braver, and so he opens the door to check the situation, and checks if the shrine offerings are edible. He seemed so happy to realize that the inari sushi were edible!

Why is Migi eating like a dog again…?

It seems like Dali has no idea who Inari is…

Dali seems thrilled to stay at the shrine with Migi. It's clear that Dali doesn't care about revenge anymore, and that it's all about living as happily as possible with his precious younger brother.

Unfortunately, much of Chapter 35 was skipped, so we don't see the bed of leaves scene as well as the scene where the twins trick the old lady. I understand that the decision to cut these scenes was due to time/budget constraints, but personally I think that the pacing suffered as a result, and Dali could be seen here as suddenly losing his temper for no good reason.

Anyway, with the deleted scenes in mind, it's clear that Migi still treasures the connections he made with the Sonoyamas and Origon Village, despite Dali's insistence to forget about them. The cherry pie, something that only Youko can make and that Dali cannot, seems to represent these connections. Dali is angered to hear this, since he thinks that Migi doesn't need him anymore. This feeling began to develop in Episode 2, and has grown to become belief after Episode 8. As a result, Dali lashes out in anger, and he throws out the bicycle as a final order to forget about the Sonoyamas.

Ah, the way Migi calls Dali's name is so adorable…

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[19:28] Next, Migi jumps into the canal, as the soundtrack "Critical Situation! Cherry Pie" (一発即発!チェリーパイ) plays. Note that the song title is the same as the title of Chapter 35. This was also one of my favorite scenes in the entire story. There are also so many wonderful faces in this chapter!

Before I discuss this scene, I wanted to say that I think this fight should have lasted longer to make the pacing better. Of course, I know that there are budget/time constraints…

Frustrated by Migi's disobedience, Dali tries again to order Migi to obey him, calling him an idiot, but to no avail. Just as Dali suspected, Migi was attached to the Sonoyamas. Feeling like he had no choice, Dali resorted to violence and punched Migi in the face and let all of his feelings out.

Now, Dali directly expresses his complaint that Migi has replaced him with the Sonoyamas, and calls him a traitor.

Dali's accusation angers Migi as he punches Dali back to refute his claim. But I think Migi now understands why Dali would feel this way. Although he rightfully feels angry at Dali for almost throwing his own life away, I think Migi feels responsible for making Dali suffer through the pain that led him to do this. But now, it seems Migi wants to set things right here.

Next, Dali launches his second accusation that Migi has replaced him with Akiyama.

Of course, we the viewers know the reason why Migi needed to rely on Akiyama, and Migi states it as he headbutts Dali. Migi trusted Dali, yet Dali betrayed this trust with the Sally ruse. That being said, I think Migi understands on some level that Dali went to such lengths for his sake.

It's interesting that Dali points out the Sonoyamas and Akiyama, who now have the roles of "parent/provider" and "friend/partner" respectively towards Migi. Before the twins moved to Origon Village, Dali fulfilled both of these roles. With these roles being taken by other people, Dali felt that their bond was threatened.

With their true feelings, their sins, and their guilt in the open, the twins could finally communicate properly, and break down the invisible barrier between them that kept them apart.

Migi is willing to risk his own life to go back to Origon Village because the life he had there is something precious that he can't give up. But Dali, wanting to protect Migi from all danger, desperately tries to crush his will.

When Migi cries and tells Dali that he wants to have cherry pie together with him and the Sonoyamas, I think Dali finally realized Migi's feelings. Namely, that Migi still loved him after all and wanted him to be happy. The golden tear that Migi sheds can be contrasted with Reiko's black tear from earlier, showing Migi's pure-hearted intentions.

Despite living in a lonely world for so long, Dali probably fully understands the love and warmth that could be experienced in the Sonoyama family. I remember the scene at the end of Episode 6 where the Sonoyamas feed cherry pie to an exhausted Dali, and I'm sure that Dali was thinking of this too. This sweet, happy life that they could spend together in the Sonoyama house was something that Migi was willing to die for.

Dali also remembered that Migi's happiness was what he treasured the most, and he couldn't bear crushing it once more. Touched by Migi's overwhelming love, Dali finally gave in and agreed to follow Migi's plan.

Although Dali insulted Migi, I think that he was lying. I'm sure that truthfully, Dali considered himself the idiot for not moving on from revenge, and for not realizing what truly mattered. Thus, he is willing to let Migi take the handles of the metaphorical bicycle that represents their fate, and I thought this was really beautiful.

Ah… the imagery of Dali holding the bicycle up while facing the sun is so moving. And the way Migi's big blue eyes glisten with hope is so beautiful as well.

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[21:30] Next, the twins back towards Origon Village. Note that the second half of "Two Humans" (ふたりの人間) is playing, representing a reversal of despair into hope.

Ah, it's so heartwarming seeing the twins ride with their hair fluttering in the wind and with such lovely expressions on their faces. Dali looks as cool as usual, while Migi's blissful face is so adorable. And the way they repeat their classic catchphrase is so moving, and it really establishes the idea that their hearts are one again.

That being said, there's also a lot of uncertainty in the twins' fate as they ride their bicycle in the twilight. I'm reminded of the OP lyrics, specifically 「別々に刻んだ秒針の行く先は」, which roughly means "Where is the destination of the seconds hand?", and I think this line characterizes the uncertainty. Will the twins succeed in their new mission to take back their lives in Origon Village? Or will they ultimately die at the hands of Reiko? Now, it doesn't matter, since the twins are confident that they'll remain together forever, and that's the only thing that matters!

============================================= [23:20] Finally, the post-credits scene.

I don't have much to say here, but it seems that framing Hitori-kun was Reiko's way of "peacefully" dealing with the situation after killing Micchan. She probably thinks that the twins would never come back after she threatened them, and even if they did, they would likely be caught by the police. What she didn't know is that the twins would not face her alone…

If only Sardine could talk to the police…

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[Conclusion] I've already written way too much for my favorite episode, so I'll try to be short and concise here.

In Episode 9, Dali's attempt at revenge has finally activated Reiko and turned her sight on the twins, and if it weren't for Micchan's intervention, the twins would have been killed.

Meanwhile, Migi's investigation to why Eiji saved him led him to realize Dali's love for him, and that his decision to abandon Dali when he needed him was a serious mistake, causing Dali to fall into a pit of despair and self-loathing.

After the twins escaped from Reiko, Dali did his best to keep Migi safe, though he was frustrated that Migi couldn't let go of his connections to Origon Village. Fearing that he might lose Migi again, Dali tried to crush Migi's will through violence, though Migi was able to convey his love for Dali and give him hope that they could live happily together with the Sonoyamas. The communication barrier between the twins that was there since the beginning of the story has finally been broken, and now the twins' bond is stronger than before through their reconciliation, once again sharing a common purpose and a devotion towards one another.

That's all I have, and I look forward to doing this again for Episode 10!

#migi and dali #migi to dali #retrospective

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mtdthoughts · 8 months ago

Note

Have you seen the anime Black Butler?? It shares some surprising similarities with Migi and Dali! Firstly, Alois Trancy looks almost exactly like the twins. Also, Madam Red and Reiko share the same Japanese VA and both have similar backstories! I won’t go into detail so I don’t spoil anything though.

On another note, I really love your analyses. I’m so glad you’re still as passionate as ever about this series. I search everywhere for a Migi and Dali fandom and you’re the one person who’s carrying it. To everyone else it’s just a bizarre silly show but I’m glad you’re out here making cool analyses like the parent-child parallels between Reiko, Akira, and Metry and the triplets :) I thought I was the only one who had thought about how weirdly Sali bore a strong resemblance to Reiko! I love all your posts! They make this fandom feel a lot less lonely

Hi! Thank you for all your support! Although I mainly write these posts for myself, I'm very happy that others like yourself have enjoyed them. I too wish that this fandom was less lonely, and that they see it more than just a bizarre silly show…

And sadly, no I have not seen Black Butler. I've been meaning to, but there's already so much on my plate ; ; And wow, Alois really does look like the twins…!

Thanks again for your kind message!! <3

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mtdthoughts · 9 months ago

Text

Migi & Dali Episode 8 Retrospective Reaction

Hello again! As part of commemorating the one-year anniversary of the anime, I'm doing a rewatch and providing my (unorganized) thoughts and reactions.

This time, I'm doing Episode 8! As always, I'll be keeping timestamps in case you want to watch along while reading, and be prepared for another long post below of unorganized thoughts, and of course spoilers...

[00:00] First is the opening scene.

Akiyama's food looks tasty, and he seemed so happy to return to his room to see Migi.

Rina seems to have a habit of sleeping through the day, so perhaps she works at night.

It's strange how Migi doesn't say anything when Akiyama offers him food, and then slithers down to the floor and eats it with his mouth like a dog. The sounds of Migi slithering and eating are very disturbing…

Discovering that Dali deceived him has clearly broken Migi, and now he's reverted to animalistic behavior. Before, his purpose seemed to have been centered around Dali, but now he has no purpose, and he doesn't know what to believe or who to believe. In his anger and depression, Migi doesn't have the spirit to eat properly.

It's interesting that Migi chose to run away from Dali instead of confronting him. This is just like how Metry chose to run away from Reiko after escaping the Ichijo house. At the very least, we know that Migi isn't the confrontational type. Perhaps it's an internalized subservience to Dali, or maybe he fears he might regret making a mistake if he confronted Dali.

=============================================

[02:40] Next, Akiyama asks Migi about what happened.

Migi is still eating like an animal. Without a new sense of purpose, Migi would most likely be stuck like this forever.

It's been three days… I wonder what Dali was doing all this time. Surely he couldn't have been looking for Migi for three days, since he definitely would have visited Akiyama first. I think it's likely that he waited at home for three days hoping for Migi's anger to subside. Migi can be a bit irrational, but I think Dali should have gone to him sooner!

It's funny how Akiyama assumes the Sonoyamas did something bad. Also, the way Migi licks the food is quite disturbing…

Akiyama's comment about Origon Village suggests something insidious about the town, namely how everyone falls in line and tries to live a "correct way of life", including his lazy sister. Perhaps this is a commentary on our society…

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[03:50] Next, Akiyama finds Dali at his door.

Note that in the manga, Akiyama mentions the two bullies that appeared in Episode 3. It's a bit sad to think about what Akiyama's life was back then before the twins came to Origon Village…

Ah, it's been too long since I saw Dali's Hitori-kun face. It's so cute, yet so creepy at the same time…

I'm not surprised that Akiyama didn't realize that there were twins, since that isn't really a natural conclusion. Dali's argument seemed to have been convincing enough.

If I were in Akiyama's shoes and wasn't aware of the twins' existence, I would definitely be a bit terrified. Imagine if your friend who was just silently sulking in your room was now suddenly in a friendly mood and outside your front door.

I like Akiyama's reaction to Dali asking for tea. Although he sounds a bit reluctant, I'm sure that Akiyama is happy thinking that his friend's mood is improving.

=============================================

[04:30] Next, Dali tries to take Migi back, as his soundtrack (少年・ダリ) begins to play.

I forgot to mention this before in the previous episode, but the emergence of 「少年・ダリ」instead of the twins' usual theme 「ひとりの少年」 seems to represent how Dali is beginning to act on his own, and highlights Dali's own personality.

It's quite amazing how Dali was able to track down Migi almost immediately after entering the room. They really are twins…

It seems that when Migi is upset, he tends to give the silent treatment. Dali seems to think that this is one of Migi's usual tantrums, though he is mistaken, as Migi's trust in Dali has collapsed.

Just like how the twins' equal weight allows them to create a "zero-weight" pulley with their own bodies, their equal strength will result in "zero force" on the closet door.

It's amazing how quickly Dali moves…

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[05:17] Next, Dali talks to Akiyama.

It's funny how Dali wants Akiyama to get out of his own room…

Thank goodness that Akiyama asked the book-smart Dali to help him with math. If it was Migi, I don't think he'd be able to understand a thing about hyperbolas. Then Akiyama would definitely be suspicious of him…

It's interesting that Dali wants to convince Migi to come back with him, which seems to show that Dali doesn't think that he's in the wrong.

It's interesting that Dali calls him "Akiyama-kun", even though Migi already calls him "Akiyama". But I don't think Akiyama really noticed, considering that he was slapped out of nowhere…

Ah, poor Akiyama, he looks like he is about to cry…

I thought Dali was really clever in using his words to Akiyama as a way to talk to Migi.

I think Dali does feel guilty for deceiving Migi, but he does not want to directly apologize.

I wonder if Migi believes Dali's words. Given Migi's reactions in Episode 9, I think it's possible that Migi may have thought that Dali may have been lying about avenging their mother.

Akiyama's delusion about Youko was hilarious. But not quite unfounded, since in the manga we've seen Youko wielding a rolling pin as a weapon.

Akiyama's words about and setting oneself free from expectations are powerful. Dali should have taken these words to heart, though he is too set in his ways to listen. On the other hand, Migi realized a new sense of purpose. Instead of living to satisfy Dali's expectations, Migi would start living for his own sake.

What is the "hour of the rooster"?

When Migi throws Dali into the closet, Migi's soundtrack (少年・ミギ) plays for the first time in the anime, which shows how Migi's own personality is developing as he makes himself independent.

Migi says he longer cares about revenge, which makes sense since Migi has gained almost nothing from this whole mission. He only gets hurt, whether physically or emotionally, and he probably realized that it was meaningless since Metry is already dead. That being said, he doesn't seem to be aware of Dali's pain…

I thought it was interesting that when Migi says he won't take orders from anyone, he uses "dare" (だれ), which almost sounds like "Dali" (だり). To Dali, this basically means that he is dead to Migi, perfectly illustrated with the closet door closing, leaving Dali in the dark. Furthermore, the cold face Migi makes here reminds me of the cold face Dali makes towards Eiji in Episode 11 when he rejects Eiji and calls him a stranger. It's as if Migi is doing the same to Dali here.

The music sounds strangely hopeful despite Dali's despair, and it seems to reflect Migi's optimism as he is ready to begin a new life. A new life that does not require him to satsify Dali's expectations or get hurt by Dali. A new life where he doesn't need Dali anymore. To Migi, it feels like a weight was lifted off his back as he loudly proclaims his freedom. What's even more fitting is that Chapter 30 of the manga is called "Hatching" (孵化), which likely represents the start of Migi's new life.

Now, without Migi, Dali is truly alone. Unlike Migi, Dali didn't form connections with anyone else. He's likely angry at Migi and thought that his actions were childish. Sure, Migi is justifiably angry because of Sally, but Dali believes this isn't a reason to throw away their precious brotherhood, especially since he has always worked so hard for Migi's sake. With nothing left, Dali becomes consumed by revenge, belieivng his only purpose now is to kill the one he blames for his suffering, Eiji. The only thing driving Dali is now is resentment.

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[08:50] Next, Dali returns home and notices the mosquito costume.

Dali is really upset, he's in no mood to feign enthusiasm as Hitori-kun.

Dali clearly does not like being dressed as a bug, probably because he thinks other people will laugh at him. (he's right)

In the anime, Dali sulks as he says that Migi should wear it, while in the manga, he says the same thing while throwing the costume before he remembers that Migi isn't here.

This scene reminds me of a similar scene in the extra manga where the twins argue over a Christmas sweater. Although neither of them wanted to wear it, the argument seemed like a fun game, and was undoubtedly a hallmark of the twins' lively interactions. Now, there's no one to argue with Dali, which makes this scene even sadder and lonelier than before…

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[09:29] Next, Dali has dinner with the Sonoyamas, as Dali's soundtrack (少年・ダリ) plays.

Note that in the manga, they seemed to have been eating steak, while in the anime they're eating omelets. It makes sense considering they use this detail in Episode 13, but I still think it's a bit strange to have an omelet for dinner…

Dali is a bit too excited to hear about Eiji competing. It seems that Dali's revenge isn't really driven by love for Metry, but rather resentment towards his supposed victimizer, Eiji.

Youko asking about Dali's appetite is similar to when Reiko asked about Eiji's appetite, which makes sense since both Eiji and Dali are hiding something from their mothers. But unlike Reiko, Youko would have been a lot more understanding if Dali told her the truth…

The situation is so bad that Dali is scolding himself! Without Migi, there's no one to say Dali's name…

And now, Dali is making "stinky stew" in the toilet, which parallels Eiji's vomiting in Episodes 6 and 7. Clearly, they can't handle their emotional distress by themselves, yet they still insist that they can endure it alone. Dali and Eiji really are brothers…

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[10:40] Next, Dali attempts to braid a pie crust.

Honestly, I would really like to eat Dali's swirly-crust pie.

This scene shows that Migi still remains in Dali's subconscious mind, and how skillful they were when they worked as a team.

=============================================

[11:13] Next, Dali scolds himself again.

The music just makes this scene even more painful…

I wonder why Dali is so insistent on doing the things that Hitori-kun usually does. For example, why would he go out of his way to massage Osamu? Now that I think about it, no rational person in his position would push himself to this extent. Even if the Sonoyamas found their son's behavior to be unusual, I'm sure that Dali could have given a convincing excuse. This leads me to two possible explanations: he doesn't want the Sonoyamas to worry about him, or that he's insistent on proving that he can carry on without Migi. Both can be true, and Dali's words give heavy credence to the latter.

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[12:18] Next, Dali takes a bath with Osamu.

In Japan, is it normal for 13-year-olds to take baths with their parents? It would be a bit odd in other cultures…

This is probably one of the only scenes where I prefer the anime over the manga. The imagery of a rubber duck crying is just too funny! It certainly represents what Dali is feeling inside right now.

I love Dali's reaction to getting splashed. I'm sure that he was getting annoyed by this old man lol

Once again, Osamu teaches a good lesson, though it leads to bad consequences. While Migi got a lesson in love, Dali got a physics lesson: decreasing volume leads to increased pressure! Unfortunately, this made Dali think that he would be fine if he killed his affection for Migi…

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[13:22] Next, Dali wears the mosquito costume.

The Sonoyamas were right… I'd totally get my blood sucked dry by this mosquito.

Also, the Sonoyamas dressing up as bugs to match their son is very wholesome. It's clear that Youko put the most effort into the mosquito costume!

If only Sardine was also wearing a costume too…

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[13:36] Next, the Halloween contest begins.

It's funny how Dali is being needlessly mean to Maruta and Akiyama.

Once again, he can't forget about Migi…

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[14:43] Next, Dali shows off his mosquito costume.

Honestly, I think that Dali's costume was pretty good.

I wonder if he was spraying the crowd with ketchup out of spite. Dali was confident that Eiji would win, so I don't think there he was trying to sabotage himself.

I love the phrase "big booing" (大ブーイング), as well as Youko's "bad boy" (バッドボーイ).

Note that the anime adds a bit of ketchup on Dali's cheek. Is this supposed to represent blood…? It's cute how Dali has his own pride.

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[15:32] Next, Dali reveals his plan to the viewers.

It's sweet how Youko seems to forgive Dali for spraying the crowd with ketchup. If it were my mom, I'd have definitely gotten in trouble!

Murase-san's performance as Dali was really good, and I really like how Dali sounds like a villain here. Well, I do think Dali has the makings of an evil genius after all!

This is irrelevant, but "Ragna Crimson" was airing in the same season as "Migi and Dali". I bring this up because Dali here reminds me of Crimson!

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[16:12] Next, Eiji arrives at the Halloween contest.

It's clear that Eiji is completely broken after remembering that he pushed Metry to her possible (but also actual) death. After all, how could a murderer live a normal life?

Dali's plan to manipulate the audience into supporting Eiji's costume was brilliant. Using a mosquito to spread gossip rather than diseases… Sano-sensei's creativity is admirable!

There are actually a lot of awesome costumes in the contest. A rocket, a tiger… there's even a group dressed as a roller coaster! I would totally vote for the roller coaster!

The audience gaslighting themselves into admiring Eiji's costume is hilarious.

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[18:47] Next, Dali watches the "Throne of Death" from a tree.

Despite the plan going well, Dali still can't forget about Migi. He's desperate to prove that he doesn't need Migi.

It's pretty funny how Dali thinks a pumpkin will kill Eiji.

Dali's expression sure is scary…

Once again, it's funny how everyone thinks Eiji is just acting. I couldn't help but laugh when they said "artistry"

Migi must have been pretty uncomfortable in that shoebill costume to have knocked down Akiyama.

No matter what Dali says to himself, he still cares about Migi. He jumps down the tree and runs to Migi, despite the enormous risk of everyone discovering the twins' identities.

In the manga, Migi actually looked very happy to sit on the "Throne of Glory", which makes sense since he prides himself as the "King of Imitations", and wearing a costume can be thought of as a form of imitation. Winning the costume contest is an honor that's relevant to him, and I'm sure he's happy to have gotten applause from so many people. I suppose it shows how Migi has always sought validation, especially from Dali.

When I first read this scene in the manga, I was nervous about what happened once the pumpkin was smashed. The anime does a great job in highlighting the suspense with the music as well as Murase-san's delivery of Dali's panicked voice.

Dali's memories of Migi are slightly different in the manga. I think the animators were trying to save time by reusing previous frames. In any case, it's clear that with Migi's life flashing before Dali's eyes, Dali remembers what was most important to him. It was never about revenge, it was always about Migi as well as Migi's happiness. No matter how much Dali tries to forget Migi, he just can't, and the experiences and emotions they shared can never be erased. At this moment, Dali believed that he had truly lost everything, and that it was all his own fault. I'll talk more about this in the next episode…

Of course, we know that Eiji pushed Migi in time to save him (Eiji really likes to push). I wonder, what would have happened if the pumpkin had hit Migi? Even worse, what would have happened if Migi was fatally wounded? I'd like to see someone write a fanfic about this, but I can't write this myself since it's so sad. Dali would be devastated for sure.

I wonder, did the Sonoyamas notice the twins?

Also, what were the twins thinking when they stared at each other? This is a rare instance where Migi is harder to understand. Dali is likely relieved that Migi isn't hurt and desperately wants to be with Migi again. Of course, we know that Migi goes back to Akiyama's house afterwards. At this point, Migi's probably still thinking that Dali doesn't actually care about him, so I'm guessing that he ran away right after this scene. I'm very interested in what others think about this…

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[23:06] Finally, the post-credit scene where Eiji is recovering in the hospital, which wasn't in the manga. Reiko sure is terrifying…

We can probably guess what she's thinking. She believes that someone is out to kill her son, and since she thinks Metry is still out there, she believes that Metry was trying to kill him as an act of revenge against Reiko. To Reiko, this is a threat that cannot be ignored any longer, and so her first priority is to eliminate Metry once and for all. But since Reiko doesn't know where Metry is, her targets are now Metry's sons…

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[Conclusion] In Episode 8, we don't get any new information about the mystery of Metry's death. Instead, we observe the aftermath of the twins' relationship collapsing and how their characters develop, as was described earlier.

Paying closer attention, these problems were foreshadowed earlier in the story. Even though the twins love each other, they've gotten so used to a hard life deceiving others that they began hiding things from each other as well, especially Dali. Although his intentions were good, his deception ended up hurting Migi, causing Migi to believe that Dali didn't really love him. As a result, Migi coldly separates from Dali, causing Dali to believe that Migi didn't love him. And so the twins are left with a wrong image of each other: Migi believes Dali was always just exploiting him, while Dali believes Migi is an ungrateful brat.

I'm reminded of the lyric "Love through masks is a lie" (「仮面越しの愛も偽物に」) from the opening. Truly, if you don't properly communicate your feelings with those you love, you could create misunderstandings and jeopardize the relationship, as was seen in this episode.

I'll stop here before it gets too long, and I will be discussing this more in Episode 9~

#migi and dali #migi to dali #retrospective

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mtdthoughts · 9 months ago

Text

Migi & Dali Episode 7 Retrospective Reaction

Hello again! As part of commemorating the one-year anniversary of the anime, I'm doing a rewatch and providing my (unorganized) thoughts and reactions.

This time, I'm doing Episode 7! As always, I'll be keeping timestamps in case you want to watch along while reading, and be prepared for another long post below of unorganized thoughts, and of course spoilers...

[00:00] First, the twins sit in the tent and discuss their plans some time after their stay in the Ichijo house. This scene was not in the manga, but I think it's helpful for the viewers.

To me, one of the biggest questions of the story is: Why did Dali decide to remove Migi from the investigation of Eiji? Obviously, the twins work better as a team, so there must be a reason Dali decided to work alone. My theory is that Dali now saw the mission as too dangerous for Migi. Because Migi is not as smart and is very sensitive when it comes to Metry, Dali likely thinks that involving Migi carries a significant risk. This fear is warranted, as Migi has gotten hurt several times physically and emotionally throughout the story. As a result, Dali takes on the mission by himself, believing that it's for Migi's sake. To me, this idea is especially clear when Dali says, "Wait for me, Migi" (「ミギ、待っていろ」) as he clutches the dolphin pendant.

Meanwhile, Migi is clearly unhappy about being sidelined, though he's unaware of Dali's intentions. Although much of the work has been difficult, Migi always puts in 120% effort because he has always viewed himself and Dali as one. Thus, he's uncomfortable with Dali apparently pushing him away.

This is also the first time that Dali's theme (少年・ダリ) plays, signaling that the show is about to head in a darker direction as the twins nearly arrive at the truth of their mother's death. It plays several times throughout this episode, which makes sense since Migi has basically been sidelined from the story in this episode.

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[02:36] Next, Eiji has lunch at school. Note that in the manga, the students have different uniforms to reflect the change in seasons.

It's funny how the girls pretend to be uninterested in hearing about Eiji's type only after Eiji chastises the boys.

I feel sorry for Eiji, vomiting in the toilet without knowing why. The way he tries to compose himself is similar to Dali in Episode 8. I'll talk about it again next time.

I really like how Murase-san delivers the line "Stinky stew". Also, it's amazing how great Dali is at acting like a bad girl.

It's funny how Eiji goes back to the toilet to flush before running after Dali.

Imagine what would happen if Eiji had actually pulled off Dali's wig. Ironically, I think that the story would have ended less violently.

You can tell how panicked Eiji is as he immediately offers hush money. Sure, Eiji can deny any allegation about vomiting in the toilet and most people would probably side with him, but there's definitely a risk of tarnishing Eiji and his family's reputation. Eiji cannot is happen, so he's willing to do anything to buy Sally's silence.

Seriously, where did Dali learn these moves? Books?

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[04:54] Next, Eiji shows Sally his childhood photos. Note that in Chapter 26 of the manga, this scene takes place in the library (Migi and Sally's "paradise"), where there was a close encounter with Migi and Akiyama.

It's quite amusing seeing the smart boy Eiji getting manipulated easily by Dali. When Eiji says "I'm not an animal", it reminds me of Migi's sassiness. Dali has so much experience being a big brother that this kind of teasing is as natural as breathing to him. (But Eiji is actually his brother…)

Eiji must be wondering why this mysterious girl is so interested in his past…

Dali's line about Santa is so sad. You can tell how disturbed Dali was by that question as his real voice partially slips out. After all, Eiji, the prime murder suspect, lived a perfect life in Origon Village without any apparent hardships, unlike the twins. It's no wonder that Eiji's question would anger Dali!

It's interesting how Eiji was being fussy and thought "It's not fair" as he couldn't get any information about Sally. Did he think that he was behaving a bit too childishly? Perhaps he finds it strange that he's so curious about this mysterious girl.

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[06:54] Next, Eiji looks for Sally.

It's interesting that he never mentioned the color of Sally's eyes…

It's funny seeing all the girls fight for Eiji's attention.

Unfortunately, much of Chapter 26 was skipped, so we don't really get to see WHY Eiji fell in love with Sally, which I think is pretty important. Of course, Sally has good looks, but more importantly, the way that Sally approached Eiji was crucial. To Eiji, Sally is a formidable girl who could ruin his reputation, but also for some reason took an interest in him and his childhood. Unlike all the other girls at school, Sally is not in love with him, but rather seems to have contempt for him. Furthermore, Sally is independent, possesses a strong will, and seems to have suffered a tough past. Sally seems to be the only "real" person to Eiji, which might explain why he's drawn to her. Also, the fact that Sally knows his secret might bring him closer to her. In the manga, Eiji sees Sally's genuine smile, a stark contrast to Sally's usual cold image, seemed to be the moment that Eiji knew he was in love.

I think that in some ways, Sally reminds Eiji of Reiko. Since he wanted to become a psychologist to help Reiko, I think that perhaps he wanted to help Sally, who seems to be distressed deep down. And of course, with Sally's good looks and smile, that ensured that Eiji fell in love.

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[07:09] Next, Migi is sulking in the classroom.

Migi is no longer in the mood to commit to the act of being Hitori-kun.

In the anime, this is the first and only time we get to see the twins' teacher!

I like how Akiyama gives Migi a piggyback ride with no hesitation, even with other students staring at them!

Migi's sulking is reminiscent of Episode 3, which shows that he does not like being pushed away aby Dali. He firmly believes that he and Dali are supposed to do everything together. Of course, he's unaware of Dali's intentions.

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[07:41] Next, Migi tells Dali that Sally has returned.

I wish the anime adapted the full scene from the manga, where Dali is frantically looking for the pendant he dropped, and Migi leaps at Dali for a hug. I wish someone could draw that in the anime style…

It's so sweet how the first thing Migi does when he gets home is to hug his precious older brother.

It's interesting how Migi isn't suspicious of Dali's obvious lie, which shows how Migi has absolute faith in Dali's word.

Now that I think about it, the twins' hug is pretty symbolic of the events in this episode. Migi just wants to be together with Dali, though Dali pushes him away and lies to him (albeit with good intentions).

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[08:16] Next, Detective Migi searches for Sally.

Once again, Migi is using his real voice in front of Akiyama. Perhaps this shows how Migi already trusts him!

Still, it's pretty cold to just tell Akiyama to go away.

Don't laugh at your brother's drawing skills, Dali!

What is that string telephone for?

It's cute seeing Migi getting pouty at Akiyama.

I will never understand how Migi draws things… I'm indeed a "commoner"

It's pretty interesting that Migi's drawing of himself looks like Dali. It's probably because he looks into a mirror while drawing himself. Maybe this shows how he tries to see himself and Dali as the same.

Akiyama is very talented at drawing! He's probably better suited to being an artist than Migi

Migi, don't kiss the picture! That's your brother!

It's wholesome how Akiyama is happy to be given such a lukewarm compliment.

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[10:12] Next, Migi confronts Eiji and Sally in the classroom.

It's nice how Migi is considerate towards Akiyama.

By this point, Eiji has already fallen for Sally. He blushes, and doesn't hesitate to answer Sally's question about his past.

Given what Eiji is going through, it seems understandable that he considers his infatuation with Sally (i.e. "sweetness") to be "unnecessary feelings". Nonetheless, it is this warmth and sweetness that provides him relief from all the stress in his life.

Dali almost called out Migi's name with his real voice… I suppose that's what he gets for laughing at Migi's art!

Migi probably has the idea that Eiji will kidnap her and force her to do "education from scratch", so it makes sense that he calls Eiji "dangerous".

Just like in Episode 5, Migi now uses his real voice to talk to Eiji, which is so much different from his sweet voice when talking to Sally.

Once again, Dali is faced with a tough decision, and you can really see the panic on his face. In the end, he picks the choice that he thinks will hurt Migi in the short term but will benefit him in the long run. Of course, it brings Dali no pleasure to break poor Migi's heart…

Also, Eiji's surprised reaction is adorable.

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[11:46] Next, Dali goes to Eiji's house while dressed as Sally.

In the manga, the Ichijos are shown leaving for a concert which includes Eiji's favorite symphony. In my opinion, it's not a very important scene, but it shows how much Eiji likes Sally given how he's willing to lie to Reiko.

It's funny how Eiji wants to make sure his room is perfect for when his crush arrives.

I bet Dali was thrilled to hear that Reiko wasn't home.

Once again, Dali says "Wait for me, Migi" (「ミギ、待っていろ」) as Dali's theme plays.

Dali's voice sounds so soothing while he's doing hypnosis.

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[12:53] Next, poor Migi cries at home.

I wonder if Migi knows where Dali is. He might know that Dali is busy investigating Eiji. Otherwise, he might be worried why Dali isn't comforting him in his time of need.

But then again, wouldn't Migi find the timing (Sally's date with Eiji) a bit suspicious? Well, he's probably in no mood to think.

Anyway, the Sonoyamas comfort Migi in Dali's place.

It's funny how both Osamu and Migi recoil when Youko has a bottle of alcohol.

I'm not sure if I agree with Youko's advice. Anyway, cheers!

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[13:32] Next, Dali attempts to get Eiji onto the bed, which is undoubtedly the funniest scene in the episode and perhaps the whole story.

It's funny how Eiji seems to be oblivious of Sally's rather obvious advances.

What is a "guardian of time"?

Dali's right, how can anyone sleep with a bunch of creepy dolls? The analogy to cults is rather interesting. Also, what happened to Nezu?

Seriously, where did Dali learn these moves?? I have a good feeling that he's been reading too many books, including those that are meant for adults. He also seems to have also practiced those techniques a lot! It's possible that Dali might have a bit of a perverse side to him…

I will never forget the image of Dali caressing Youko's huge bra! This seemingly dirty act definitely tainted Eiji's image of Sally.

Where did Eiji learn about romance and the word "baiser"? I think that Eiji might have read certain books as well… Dali and Eiji really are brothers!

Dali's reaction to learning what "baiser" means is hilarious, as well as his resistance to kiss Eiji.

Eiji's moaning while leaning in makes this scene even funnier and weirder.

And finally, the kiss between brothers! It's clear that for Migi's sake, Dali will do anything, even it means kissing the enemy he wants to kill. I suppose this can be considered a "kiss of death"…

Poor Eiji, if only he knew who he gave his first baiser to…

And once again, Dali says "Wait for me, Migi" (「ミギ、待っていろ」)

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[16:28] Next, Migi is still crying while Youko is passed out and snoring.

It's clear that Youko's advice didn't cure Migi's heartbreak.

Poor Migi, he's crying really hard… he really needs Dali's comfort.

Osamu offers great advice, but perhaps at the wrong time.

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[16:56] Next, Dali successfully hypnotizes Eiji before getting a surprise visit from Migi.

It's funny how easily Dali can lie about a fake lullaby. It would be terrifying if hypnosis worked like this in real life…

I'm impressed that Eiji knows about "molars" at the age of five.

It's interesting how Migi doesn't try to go inside the house but chooses to climb to Eiji's window. I wonder what he's thinking when he sees Sally next to a sleeping Eiji. Probably not much.

Migi's such a sweet, innocent boy. Through the precious dolphin pendant, Migi's feelings have clearly gotten through to Dali, which can be seen with Dali's face and his breathing.

It's funny how Migi's tone immediately changes when talking to Eiji.

Once again, the twins were very close to a "game over" if Dali hadn't caught Migi after Eiji pushed him. If something happened to Migi, Dali would lose his mind, and the story would end very unhappily…

Overcome with panic over Migi's safety, Dali's protective instincts take over as his real voice comes out.

Ah, I feel so bad for Migi. His world must have collapsed after finding out that Sally was Dali. Not knowing what to do, his instinct is to bite Dali and run away. It's kind of like what a dog might do…

Also, Migi's teeth seem to be crooked.

Although Dali's plan ended up causing a rift between him and Migi, you have to admit that it was very successful in awakening Eiji's memories.

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[19:36] Next is Eiji's flashback.

It seems that Reiko did not tell Eiji what Santa is supposed to look like.

Poor Metry. I'm sure she had good intentions, but her judgment was terrible…

Reiko sure is a terrible woman for lying to Eiji about Metry. Because she told him that Metry was a ghost, Eiji thinks that he had a close encounter with an otherworldly being, which I'm sure gave him much trauma as well as his bedwetting problems.

Since Eiji has only just remembered this memory, it's very likely that Reiko might have suppressed his memories, perhaps using "education from scratch". After all, Akira was never aware of Eiji's bedwetting. This family really is scary…

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[21:07] Next, Dali runs home after learning Eiji's memories.

It's interesting that Dali is eager to tell Migi his discoveries, and doesn't seem to realize that Migi finally saw through his ruse. I suppose Dali is too focused on his mission. He even changes his clothes in lightning speed!

I wonder, did Dali ever think about WHY Metry was at Eiji's window? Without any other information, it would seem strange to anyone that this woman would leave her children unattended to climb onto the second floor window of the Ichijos' house. Of course, we the viewers know the exact reason, but Dali doesn't. He would have no other choice but to speculate, and considering that he likely assumes that Metry was Akira' mistress, he might not have a positive image of her.

But this doesn't matter now, as Dali is gradually being consumed by thoughts of revenge against Eiji.

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[23:04] Finally, in the post-credit scene Migi coldly exposes Dali's lie.

It's interesting that this scene takes place during twilight. I wonder if this is a reference to the opening song…

I'm impressed that Migi seemed to have outsmarted Dali with the bite on his hand. For some reason, I'd like to see more of Migi's cold gaze and hear more of his resentful voice…

It must have taken a while for Eiji to reveal his memory to Dali, which means that Migi must have been sitting by the window and stewing in negative emotions for a long time.

Unlike being heartbroken by Sally, being deceived by Dali hurt Migi much more. After all, for a long time Migi admired Dali, trusted him, and relied on him for emotional support. To be deceived by someone you perceived as your "other half" feels like a complete betrayal, as if taking a knife to the heart! (← interesting choice of metaphor)

Migi has always obeyed Dali since he truly believed that Dali was acting in his best interest, but now that faith has been broken. In this moment, Migi might be thinking that Dali never really cared about him and was instead using him like a tool. It wouldn't be surprised if Migi thought this way since the twins lived their lives in Origon Village by deceiving others. This can be seen by how Migi addresses Dali using "omae" for the first time in the story.

Now, the twins' special bond is broken, as symbolized by the dolphin pendant…

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[Conclusion] In Episode 7, Dali confirmed that Eiji really did kill Metry, though at this point, there is still a lot of missing information, especially the reason why Metry returned to the Ichijo house.

Furthermore, the deep-rooted problems in the twins' relationship that were foreshadowed in earlier parts of the story finally rose to the surface, culminating in the collapse of the twins' bond.

Despite the fact that Migi and Dali were together their whole lives, there was ironically a communication barrier between them. Dali wants to protect Migi at all costs, even if it means deceiving Migi, while Migi wants to do his best to make Dali happy, even it means complying with Dali's seemingly unreasonable orders. The twins love each other, but they don't truly know what the other is thinking deep down. As a result of Dali's decisions, Migi felt hurt and betrayed, causing him to lose faith in his older brother whom he once relied on.

Indeed, the twins believed they understood each other, but they were sadly mistaken.

This episode also explored the triplets' personalities as described earlier, especially Dali's. You can really tell that Episode 7 is Dali's episode, since his soundtrack (少年・ダリ) plays multiple times throughout the episode, and the words "Wait for me, Migi" (「ミギ、待っていろ」) resonate in my mind. Although Dali is willing to resort to any means to obtain revenge, you can really tell that Migi is at the center of Dali's mind. After all, he's willing to kiss his enemy if it's for Migi's sake!

Finally, Migi and Eiji's interactions with Sally reveal some similarities between them (they're brothers after all!). For example, Sally served as a distraction from their problems, with Migi pouting after being sidelined in the investigation, and with Eiji suffering from his repressed trauma. Furthermore, I think that Sally also reminds them of their mothers, as Sally has Metry's blue eyes, and also carries a hidden suffering like Reiko. This makes sense since it is commonly said that boys fall in love with girls that remind them of their mother.

That's all I had for now, and I hope to do this again soon for Episode 8~

#migi and dali #migi to dali #retrospective

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