Inuyasha Kanketsuhen Episodes 01-02 – Hello Old Friends

Knowing that Inuyasha would finally be finished after so many episodes and filler had really gotten me excited. It was one of the first anime that I watched, during the time of Midnight Run/early Adult Swim back in late middle school and high school. And the nostalgic satisfaction is definitely there. While some annoying fans may sully the reputation of an otherwise great show, even bringing some to think themselves too good to associate with it, I (and in subsequent posts, possibly Crusader as well) will watch, blog, and enjoy the final act of a very fun show. So join us for the nostalgia and the final battles of the War of the Shikon Jewel!

The Young Turks: Hakudoshi and Goryomaru approach Kagura to enlist her support in overthrowing their creator.

Meanwhile the old gang is up to their usual downtime antics.

It can be tough for a part-time student who commutes from the feudal era.

Though her day wasn’t all bad.

Hakudoshi convinces Kagura to aid her and Goryomaru as they attempt to overthrow Naraku with the promise of returning Kagura’s heart to her as her reward. Kagura, as in the past, is playing a dangerous game working against the holder of her heart, and he is indeed observing. As Inuyasha and Kagome return to the feudal era, the Hakudoshi faction begins to move against holders of Shikon Jewel fragments as they gather resources to fight Naraku.

Kagome’s shard is the first to be captured.

As Goryomaru attempts to take Koga’s.

But Kikiyo is ever vigilant against the spawn of her hated enemy and bails Koga out.

Kagura is dispatched to take Kohaku’s shard and corners him while he hunts a youkai. But his determination to destroy Naraku overcomes Kagura’s desire to kill him for the benefit of her unsavory allies and she destroys the crystal he had planned to use against Naraku and tells him to stay away lest he be destroyed. But Hakudoshi apparently suspected that she might not be cold hearted enough for the job and appears. Kagura attacks him and tells Kohaku to run, though her attacks have no effect. Inuyasha and his group appears, protects Kagura, but also has no effect against Hakudoshi. But finally Naraku forsakes Hakudoshi and his guardian insects leave, allowing Miroku to destroy him with his windtunnel.

Temporary allies.

His arrogance has led to a quick death.

Sorry, this show only lets you have a limited party size. Plus Kagura is much more badass as a lone wolf/free agent. I only accept her joining forces with Sesshomaru.

Overall the first episode does a great job refreshing our memories of what happened last and where the characters stand, which is important given the length of time in between Kanketsuhen and the previous seasons. Going into the second episode Kohaku goes to pray with Sango at their family’s graves and the 0060s Federal Fantasy Rearmament Program kicks into high gear. Inuyasha, Kagome, and Miroku investigate the cave of Midoriko, a priestess who fought and absorbed youkai long ago. Koga knows that an escalation of conflict is imminent and goes to his clan’s ancestral burial grounds to seek their sacred weapon, the Goraishi. And Kikiyo takes the soul of Midoriko to heal her reopened wounds from Mt. Hakurei as Inuyasha follows her soul collector back to her hideout.

Everyone finds their strength somewhere.

While others seek out material aid in the fight against Naraku.

Such respect for the sacred weapon of the ancestors.

Kagome felt a disturbance in the force when Inuyasha was so eager to guard the cave himself. It is the return of her rival, the lovely Kikiyo!

Quite the cool shot.

It was as if a million the Kagome fans screamed out in jealousy, and were regrettably not silenced.

Kohaku is also drawn to Kikiyo’s location by the shard of the Shikon Jewel in his neck, and Koga feels the disturbance while fighting against the guardian of the Goraishi. With Kohaku listening, Kikiyo describes her plan for final victory over Naraku. Since he is not quite of this world, their only chance is to let him, or even help him, complete the Shikon Jewel and inhabit it. Then, in that instant he will be vulnerable to purification. But this plan will require Kohaku’s shard and removing it will kill him.

The plan.

Allowing this one battle to be lost may win the war.

Alea iacta est.

“Inuyasha, you must be capable of setting aside your fear, setting aside your hesitation, and even your revulsion. Every natural inhibition that, during battle, can mean the difference between life and death. When you can be this for as long as you have to be, then you’re a razor. Naraku is forcing us all to become razors. Because if we don’t, we don’t survive. And then we don’t have the luxury of becoming simply human or half-youkai again. Do you understand me?”

Preparation for the escalation of conflict begins elsewhere as well. Goryomaru kills and takes the shell of Meioju as armor for himself, making him impervious to attack. And Kouga continues fighting the guardian beast of the Goraishi as it denies him the weapon. After repeatedly destroying the reforming guardian, his companions are threatened by the fire it spews just as he is about to seize the weapon. Jumping in to save them, he earns the respect of his ancestors and the Goraishi fuses with him.

Everyone decided to PUT YA GUNS ON and upgrade to new kit for the coming battle.

Kouga’s wolf clan delinquent followers worship their bancho.

This hand glows with an awesome power!

Elsewhere Kagura is floating around, trying to figure out what to do now when Naraku appears before her. He offers to return her heart to her body even though she betrayed him. Despite her skepticism he does so, but then immediately pierces her body and infects her with miasma, leaving her free but condemned to death in a short amount of time. Sesshomaru is nearby and encounters Goryomaru in his new armor. The two fight, but Sesshomaru’s attacks with Tokijin are ineffective against the heavy armor. Being held in place by Goryomaru, Sesshomaru notices a blood stained petal float by. As Goryomaru sneers at Kagura’s impending death, Sesshomaru gains RAGE STRENGTH and breaks free of his grip, delivering an azure energy attack that breaks the shell, unleashes absorbed energy, and breaks the Tokijin.

Naraku eliminating another coup member.

Yes, my liege is back in his full glory!

But nearby Kagura is gravely wounded.

Don’t you dare underestimate his might, nor taunt Kagura’s pain!

Sesshomaru touches the untouchable, breaks the unbreakable! ROW ROW FIGHT THE POWER!

After Goryomaru escapes Sesshomaru quickly leaves behind his broken sword and searches for Kagura. He finds her in a field of white flowers, dying but still appreciating her new freedom. He approaches, but realizes that not even Tensaiga’s power can save her now. There ther share a brief, bittersweet moment together. She assumed Sesshomaru followed the scent of blood and miasma thinking it was Naraku, but he tells her that he knew it was her. She’s initially surprised, but smiles and tells him that she’s glad to see him one last time before she passes. As she dies Inuyasha, Kagome, Sango, and Miroku arrive, and before he departs Sesshomaru lets them know of her final smile. Her spirit now resides in the winds, finally free.

You can call it melodramatic if you want, but I thought this was a very poetic shot.

At least she was able to face her death free from Naraku.

One last meeting.

:*(

Witnessing the passing of a fine character.

Freedom at last.

Final Thoughts: - It’s been so long since I last watched this, it’s a great feeling of happy nostalgia to see the story and characters back again, and this time moving towards a final resolution.

- I really didn’t expect two characters to die this quickly. Especially Kagura. And she was one of my favorites too! I’ll admit that my eyes got a tiny bit watery during her death scene with Sesshomaru. Watery in a MANLY fashion, mind you.

- The OP by Do As Infinity is very nice, and paired with the opening animation I think it does a great job conveying the feeling of all the characters and past events coming back together for the final showdown. I also just like DaI a lot, heh.

- The Hakudoshi mutiny was crushed pretty quickly by Naraku, leaving only Goryomaru alive. I have to wonder if he just hasn’t been targeted by Naraku yet or it Naraku is just leaving him alive to become armor as was his original purpose.