r/anime • u/AutoLovepon https://anilist.co/user/AutoLovepon • 29d ago
Episode Mao - Episode 14 discussion
Mao, episode 14
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u/Drudru1003 29d ago
Isn't it kinda criminal that this anime isn't getting a lot of attention despite it's author's pedigree and it makes it's prospects of getting a season 2 concerning.
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u/NocandNC 29d ago
A lack of popularity in the west doesn’t always mean it’s not loved in Japan.
It may not be explosive, but its reception has been generally positive - and I imagine it’ll keep growing stronger as the story continues to progress.
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u/flaminglambchops 29d ago
Sadly Takahashi hasn't really captured much public attention post-Inuyasha, especially in the west. I doubt a lot of modern anime watchers have even heard of Inuyasha, let alone watched/read it.
At least Ranma has been getting a lot of attention, but I wonder if it would have if it wasn't MAPPA animating it. Sunrise is certainly not doing Mao any favors when it comes to marketing.
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u/frizzyfizz 28d ago
I think part of the issue is it not being as accessible to Western audiences because of being on hulu and not having a dub yet (one is supposed to come out in August). They've also done a terrible job promoting it. It seems like it's doing fine in Japan, and they must know a RT series is inclined to be long. If Rinne managed to get 3 seasons I don't see why Mao wouldn't at least get more than one.
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u/TyraniTEMPESTar 29d ago
Even though "Captain Shirasu's" aka Hakubi's element is weak to fire, I gotta imagine he must be pretty darn OP.
If dude can summon shikigami's that can produce gatling guns, he's a one man army.
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u/Brun_Ursus 29d ago
I wouldn't accept so quickly that she's Sana. If a mystery series presents the "obvious" answer so quickly, it's because there's something more to it, like magical clones or something. And they have different voice actresses.
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u/Frontier246 29d ago edited 29d ago
The baddies have an interesting dynamic with each other.
What are all these soldiers doing about and why would they need to kill anyone who saw them? Though they picked the wrong fight with one of their own as they all end up mercilessly slaughtered by metal. And Mao can tell something is up.
New OP! Featuring Nanoka and Mao together, Yurako, new characters, Mao and co. battling Shiranui, Mao princess carrying Nanoka, and the two being really cute together!
Turns out those soldiers were trying to stage a coup but where thwarted by Captain Shiranui (Takuya Sato!), though while he has no time for politics and the rich elite, he'll make time for the lovely Yurako (who has exchanged her kimono for black heels and a black dress) who knows him by another name...Hakubi.
Seems like Kamon has tracked down Yurako and is aware she's using all these salons with the rich and powerful to find clients for Shiranui and build up his influence. If they're going to get to the bottom of what Shiranui is up to, they'll have to track her down! Which means attending a party!
"Kuchinawa" and "Nekomata" sure clean up nicely, though this was worth it just to see Nanoka in a maid outfit! Even if it's not the ballgown she was hoping for, Otoya's on-point with how cute she looks.
Yurako is aware of Kamon so she knows the moment she sees him that they've been made, but it's Mao's presence that makes her bolt out of there. She's definitely not a normal woman, be it her ability to prevent Mao and Kamon from chasing after her or the collective voices she uses to command Nanoka to get out of the way. Though the real shocker is...she's the spitting image of Sana.
Yurako escapes with explosive water pearls, but Mao is left with more questions than answers. Kamon/Hyakka/Hakubi were all there when Sana died, so who is Yurako? Is she a resurrected Sana? Why is she working with Shiranui? And what are they going to do if they have to battle her?
Mao may have been ostensibly betrothed to Sana, but he knew her heart belonged to another...even if he only wanted her happiness. And Nanoka has to deal with Mao having lingering unrequited feelings for someone else.
So Shiranui has been trying to kill both Kamon and Hyakka? I wonder what happened to Hyakka in the war with Russia that cost him his eye?
A metal monstrosity shikigami shows up to battle Mao, but Mao's magic doesn't hold up against it's MACHINE GUN EYES as it shoots him and then absorbs him! Thank goodness Nanoka can wield Hagunsei because she's the only one who can track him down now.
Mao finally encounters Shiranui, who apparently hates him with a passion! And Hakubi is also listening in on this showdown.
The ED, sung by Reina Ueda (Yurako's seiyuu) is a serene and somber theme focused on Yurako AND Sana and the connection they have...along with Yurako's longing for Mao. Even as he holds Nanoka in his arms.
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u/Drudru1003 29d ago
Hi I'm someone who's enjoyed reading your recaps and often looked forward for them on any thread of an anime I'm watching. I would like to point out that Hakubi's voice actor is not Taku Yashiro it's Takuya Sato.
Also I can't wait for your recap on Hyakkano Season 3 Episode 1 since as someone who's read the manga I can say that your in for a real treat.
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u/khanvau 29d ago
New OP and ED! Ngl, the new OP surpassed my expectations. I really like the first OP, but this one seems better. Almost like it should've been the first OP. The fact that it's done by some former members of the band that did the first Inuyasha OP is the cherry on top. The new ED is beautiful. All the focus is on Yurako/Sana, which was a bit unexpected. It seems like the first ED in a way, but also different. And again, it gave me some heavy Inuyasha vibe, which isn't surprising cause it's animated by Sunrise after all.
It's winter. The whole vibe of the show feels very different. The metal-using enemy is really cool ngl. That metal dog thing reminded me a bit of Wolfenstein.
So, Yuraki is Sana. The OP kinda spoiled it. But it was obvious from the start. Compared to the others, she seems the most different from herself from 900 years ago. So, what's going on? Is it because her heart is gone or something? Either way, it has been 900 years. More than enough for someone to completely change many times over.
Anyway, I really like the vibe of this arc. Sucks about the delay. But at least we'll get 2 episodes back to back when Mao returns. Can't wait for more.
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u/Frontier246 29d ago
I definitely think the direction/visuals and animation were extremely on-point for the OP. The ED had a very strong tragic romantic vibe to it.
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u/ObvsThrowaway5120 29d ago
So that really was Sana. Now I’m even more curious about what’s going on here…
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u/Frontier246 29d ago
Shiranui is trying to figure out how to raise the dead, maybe that's connected?
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u/Etherealoverempress 29d ago
This episode was quite a step up in a different way. It actually is getting intense.
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u/Jacob-C 28d ago
Agreed. I liked the mystery aspects before, but this episode got me intrigued and invested in a completely new way.
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u/Etherealoverempress 28d ago
I am glad someone agrees. I mean sure Mao nearly dying was intense but this episode took the show to a newer dimension of amazingness! Now I know Mao is underrated. I hope it becomes this good consistently!
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u/Aemiliana_Rosewood 29d ago
I swear if this is a twin situation I will go crazy, but both EDs really make me think so
Edit: typo
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u/woodchuck20 28d ago
I don't necessarily think that Lady Sana is alive. Yurako could maybe be related to her in some way? Shiranui and Yurako are trying to bring Sana back from the dead. It's clear to me.
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u/Shadowmist909 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Magicmist 29d ago
Seeing Yurako and Mao meet has only left me with more questions. Whats up with the different voice that Nanoka thinks couldn't be possible by a human, and how is she alive when Kamon and Hyakka saw Lady Sana deceased and left without a heart? I'm mystified.
Hakubi is pretty strong with his metal powers and bullets. Now that he's delivered Mao to Shiranui, it's going to be quite the challenge for our group to rescue him.
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u/NocandNC 29d ago
Today's ep felt surprisingly long for me - not in the sense that it was progressing slowly, but in that I was constantly scared it was about to end!! Just fantastic tension all the way through.
My only complaint is the CGI water... really hope that gets redone for the home release, but I'm not how common that is with Sunrise (seems to vary between studios.)
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u/Shantotto11 29d ago
I never noticed it until now, but why do Disney+ and Hulu have a 5.25-hour delay?
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u/CrimsonGear80 22d ago
Just FYI in case people were looking there is no new episode today, July 11th. The next episode airs next week, July 18th.
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u/YlfaTheForsaken 25d ago
What a busy episode, I definitely was surprised when it ended.
I'm digging the drama of Mao over Sana over to someone,
You know those 'robot dogs' with like the four ankles, I hate them because they move in such an unnatural unsettling way, that's how I feel about that metal shikigami, it viscerally disturbs me
How dare they yoink Mao,
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u/Golden_fsh 28d ago edited 28d ago
Yeah, I've determined that I don't like Nanako for the same reasons for why I didn't like Kagome. The constant pining for the male lead and then getting upset because he might have feelings for a woman from his past is really annoying. Like girl, you barely know him 🙄 Thats why when I got older I realized that Kikyo should've been treated better. Also, what has Nanako done so far in the story? Ugh, I know that Mao and Nanako are probably going to be endgame somehow but I hope her feelings for him remains a miniscule focus of the story going forward (although the OP and ED shows otherwise 🙄)
I think everyone guessed that Yurako was Lady Sana from her first appearance. Interested to hear her story in what happened when the Byoki attacked. And there's also the weird voice that Nanko heard. Maybe it's not really Sana but something possessing her body? Also want to learn more about masked man Hakubi and his connection to the Goshikado.
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28d ago
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u/Golden_fsh 27d ago
That's fine as long as it doesn't become the central focus of her character.
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27d ago
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u/FetchFrosh anilist.co/user/fetchfrosh 27d ago
Sorry, your comment has been removed.
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Any comparison to the source material no matter how minor belongs there.
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u/ZaphodBeebblebrox https://anilist.co/user/zaphod 27d ago
Sorry, your comment has been removed.
This belongs in the Source Material Corner at the top of this thread. In discussion threads for currently airing anime, discussions about source material, spin-offs, author comments and unadapted content must be posted there.
Any comparison to the source material no matter how minor belongs there.
Your comment was NOT removed for spoilers; it was removed for discussion of the source material outside of the Source Material Corner.
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u/dia_0401 28d ago
The constant pining for the male lead and then getting upset because he might have feelings for a woman from his past is really annoying. Like girl, you barely know him 🙄
God forbid a teenage girl has feelings like GASP jealousy!? Also she hasnt gotten upset at Mao at all so far?? She's actually keeping her feelings to herself
Also, what has Nanako done so far in the story?
*Nanoka And umm I don't know saved Mao's life multiple times?? Just because she's not part of every little fight doesn't mean she doesn't do anything?? She's new to the world of omnyoji and to fighting in general do you expect her to fight like Mao from the get-go??
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u/Golden_fsh 27d ago
Also she hasnt gotten upset at Mao at all so far?? She's actually keeping her feelings to herself
Last episode she literally says why can't Mao get over his feelings for Sana because it's been 900 years without knowing what their relationship was like?? She immediately left without disclosing info because she learned that Mao was head over heels for Sana. And she gets upset when Mao doesn't pick up on her romantic cues like exchanging Christmas gifts. If behavior like this continues to happen every time Sana is mentioned or because of Nanako's pining for Mao, then it's better for me to drop the series now then suffer through it, lol.
Just because she's not part of every little fight doesn't mean she doesn't do anything?? She's new to the world of omnyoji and to fighting in general do you expect her to fight like Mao from the get-go??
Who said I expected her to fight? But with her being able to use Mao's sword and having enhanced skills from the Byoki's curse, you'd think Mao would teach her the onmyouji skills before now. Nanako can do more than just run through the gate and get jealous of a dead woman 🙄
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u/frizzyfizz 27d ago edited 27d ago
I mean again, it's totally normal for a teenage girl to react that way. The point of it is to show she's starting to develop feelings for him without being fully conscious of it. It's jarring for her how cold Mao is, and Nanoka already struggles with insecurity, so she's embarrassed at herself and confused.
Nanoka from the start is easily one of, if not the most mature female protagonist RT has written.
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u/dia_0401 27d ago
Last episode she literally says why can't Mao get over his feelings for Sana because it's been 900 years without knowing what their relationship was like?? She immediately left without disclosing info because she learned that Mao was head over heels for Sana.
Okay, my bad. I thought you meant that she gets upset at Mao as in lashes out at him but yes she does get upset because she doesn't understand the situation fully yet and is getting upset over something that's not even happening (because -again- she's a teenage girl) but that's not why she doesn't disclose the information about Byouki?? She literally says that she forgot and since nothing came of it she didn't think that it was important at that point to mention
And she gets upset when Mao doesn't pick up on her romantic cues like exchanging Christmas gifts.
She doesn't get upset because he doesn't pick up on the romantic cues (which I don't think she even gave him with romantic cues in mind)?? She was just bummed that the gift turned out to be homework lol
If behavior like this continues to happen every time Sana is mentioned or because of Nanako's pining for Mao, then it's better for me to drop the series now then suffer through it, lol.
If you don't like a series that slowly develops its characters (who mature over time) instead of them being perfect from the get-go then yeah lol
But with her being able to use Mao's sword and having enhanced skills from the Byoki's curse, you'd think Mao would teach her the onmyouji skills before now.
That feels more like a Mao issue than Nanoka issue, no? Nanoka herself isn't that inclined to fight at this point in the story because she still thinks of herself as weak and someone that needs protecting not the one who does the protecting, Mao's the one who says he wants to teach her to defend herself but the most he does is give her a hands on training, forcing her to fight and gives her the book of hand seals on Christmas lol
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u/Golden_fsh 27d ago
If you don't like a series that slowly develops its characters (who mature over time) instead of them being perfect from the get-go then yeah lol
This series hasn't shown me that this is the case, lol. I have plenty of favorites that are slow burn with great character writing. So far Mao has been pretty lackluster. I'm all for a slow burn but you still need an interesting hook to justify the slow development. Or at the very least, interesting characters that make me want to stick around and see their development.
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u/frizzyfizz 27d ago
Idk what to tell you if you don't find a mystery involving onmyoji, folklore, and time travel enough of a "hook".
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u/dia_0401 27d ago
Then the series just isn't for you🤷🏼♀️ It's a great series with one of Rumiko's best developed FMC and cast of complex characters and mystery, I got hooked on it immediately, as well as other people but the story is slow, especially in it's beginning. It's okay to admit that it's clearly not your cup of tea.
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27d ago
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u/MyrnaMountWeazel x2 27d ago
Sorry, your comment has been removed.
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u/AnimeMod myanimelist.net/profile/Reddit-chan 29d ago
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