The best news Yuno's heard all day.
It’s rather difficult to write a post on this show right now, if only because I can’t be terribly critical toward it, and I can’t write much when I’m not being terribly critical. But there was something that Mirai Nikki had been lacking over the past several episodes that I just couldn’t for the life of me place my finger on. Yes, it was still gleefully violent overkill encrusted with profuse amounts of flaking dried blood, and yes it was still undeniably and unabashedly camp, but something was noticeably lacking that had been so damn pervasive for the first several arcs of the show’s run.
Not that it was bad, of course. After all, it did develop Yuuki and Yuno’s horribly acidic relationship and give their crew of friends a chance to not be boring horror movie fodder. A failed chance, mind you, but a chance nonetheless. However, an unfortunate side effect of this was it shoved aside the colorful cast of major and minor villains, which was easily one of the show’s highlights. I can’t say the past few episodes had been a waste by any means, but they weren’t the most vibrant that I’ve seen.
So yes, this episode filled that otherwise empty void, introducing to the cast two kooky lover types who together could probably out-crazy Yuno without much effort. And boy do they come close to accomplishing just that. They’re like what Yuno and Yuuki would be if Yuuki were anywhere near as whacked out as Yuno is. And yeah, I kind of want them to win this round, even if they don’t have a chance. Comparable to my favorite eccentric anime duo, Isaac and Miria, they manage to imbue this show with the manic energy that it had been short on for quite some time in favor of developing its “plot” and characters. While it’s always nice to see that, it was also pleasant to see a reintroduction of the battle royale that so intrigued me in the first place and the numerous convoluted schemes for survival that ensue.
What I like in particular, even if it is rather unfortunate to watch, is just how out of control Yuno is getting. It’s rather obvious that she’s gotten more and more unhinged as the series has gone on, culminating in the last arc with her kidnapping Yuuki and holding him hostage in an abandoned hotel. And finally, after this rather major act of psychotic love, Yuuki finally does what we all would have by then and tells her in no uncertain words to fuck off. But she doesn’t take this laying down, or even vow revenge against him for hurting her. No, she just follows him back like an obedient puppy, acts like nothing happened, and makes it so he has no choice but to let her near him again.
I could write several posts on Yuno and how much I love and am terrified by her character, and I probably will at some point, so I’m just going to cut it off there and say that she’s exhibiting new levels of sheer psychopathy that I never thought possible. Plus, her knife play is sublime.
While there are plenty of plot holes, a few inconsistencies, and several leaps of logic that I could criticize, I’m way too entertained by the whole ordeal to let it bother me. About the only thing that I’m disappointed in is the change in opening. The first was probably my favorite of the last season, and now they’ve replaced it with something that doesn’t have nearly the same amount of personality. If you take away anything from this post, let it be that Isaac and Miria are here in spirit and out for blood, and the new opening is a disappointment
Though this screenshot more than makes up for that OP
Regarding Issac & Miria, here’s what I posted over at METANORN:
I don’t think Seventh are rip offs of Issac and Miria any more than they’re archetypes of a classic couple perfect for one another. After all, they both seem more competent at what they do than Issac & Miria, who were more of a running gag in Baccano. Issac was the one with hair-brained ideas and Miria did nothing but praise him.
While Seventh, Mar and Ai are skilled killers who outsmarted First & Second, and eventually overpowered them.
I meant the Isaac and Miria comparison as a compliment, since both Sevenths made me smile about as much as those two. They’re just perfect.
You are right; this is an allusion only anime-watchers would catch. Since Metanorn calls Seventh a ripoff says more about their lack of critical judgment as opposed to yours.
Nobody said Mirai Nikki swam in originality, to be fair. It’s still unbelievably entertaining, so I see no problem with an allusion here and there. And hey, I like them well enough. ;D
I thought it was really clever how the Seventh duo pretended to be Eight apprentices, even making up new future diary abilities to do so. Counterattack and flirting diaries, as ridiculous as they sound, fit in rather well for this show. XP
But in the end, it looks like we’re meant to compare their relationship with Yuki and Yuno’s. What’s fascinating is how Mar and Ai work so well together… but they’re anything but normal. They’re bizarre killers, much like most of the other future diary combatants. The question is–will Yuki end up becoming like them? Is there no other choice, when he’s continually stuck in a murderous survival game, and when he’s repeatedly stuck with Yuno? He keeps struggling to find some sense of stability in his life, but the world around him is so thoroughly unstable, that there’s frankly no hope for him to not be affected by the madness.
I’m curious to see where Yuki will go from here. Yuki and Yuno don’t have their phones anymore, but it seems Minene will be helping them out (perhaps to keep the Seventh duo from having such a massive advantage in the game). The question is, how will Yuki deal with Seventh, as they’re–in a way–representative of the very fate Yuki wants to avoid at all costs… and at the same time, they’re representative of qualities Yuki will likely need to get through this game with Yuno. (And perhaps even some qualities Yuki wishes he had, deep down…)
It depends on if Yuuki can keep himself sane or not. I think it’d be even more entertaining if he couldn’t, but it’s crucial for his survival that he does, lest he give in to Yuno’s craziness and that of the world around him.
I don’t think they’re quite representative of what he’d be like since he does know that she isn’t good for him, and likely wouldn’t give in unless he was under severe mental duress, but they do provide an interesting possibility.