Are there multiple Menma’s ghosting around? Jinta doesn’t seem to be the only one who can see her now. Poppo starts off the episode seeing her walking through the forest and that sets in motion a gathering that reveals a little more about her and her group of friends. Though it is ever so little since this episode moved fairly slowly. It remains to be seen whether that kind of pacing will ultimately serve the story or have been a wasted opportunity.
A lot of small things or half-measures happened this episode, moments or scenes that are hopefully form the setup that will let things take off in the next episode or two. I’m not coming down on the episode by talking about pacing like this, I just worry a little when a 1-cour show seems to move slowly for an episode. The first of the significant beginnings is at the start when Jinta is trying to honor his promise to Naruko to return to school. Menma is certainly key in motivating him to go but a run-in with Naruko’s friends sours the mood and kills what little resolve Jinta had worked up. Still, he seems like he’s at least getting on the right track and his yelling out at the park showed that he can’t let it go so easily even if it’s difficult for him.
One small step for a hikkikomori, one giant leap for hikkikomori-kind.
As if I wasn’t already onboard the Jinta X Naruko ship, now we have tsundere X tsundere. Ah, brings back memories of my favored tsundere X tsundere ship from the summer before last…
Not buying it. You can’t tsun tsun a tsundere, Jinta. She even has the twin tails, the mark of a high level tsunderess.
Mock it all you want, but like the East their love is BURNING RED! IT TELLS THEM TO KICK YOUR BITCH ASSES TO THE CURB!
THIS LINE. Almost the exact same words that Jinta blurted out ten years ago when she asked him if he liked Menma. Nice catch and realization on her part too.
Jinta can’t quite head back and face Menma after not going to school so he stops by Poppo’s place and find him chanting about space people or…something. But it’s then that Poppo tells him about seeing Menma, in the same form and dress that Jinta sees her in, and from this point Poppo takes the place of Jinta as the one providing the initiative in reuniting everyone. He emails Yukiatsu saying that he’s found Menma and hands out flyers to everyone else telling them to meet at the old clubhouse for a barbeque and reminiscing. While all this is going on Menma wanders around Jinta’s house exploring. At one point she comes to the family shrine where a picture of Jinta’s mother sits. This explains her absence and also gives new meaning to Jinta’s dad saying that he was “going to visit [Jinta's] mother” during the first episode. When Jinta returns home Menma has been baking like Jinta’s mother used to do, which triggers a flashback in him from shortly before his mother died. She seems to have died before Menma did, though this isn’t certain, but either way Jinta doesn’t react well to it and runs out of the hospital room.
It’s nice to see that Jinta doesn’t always have to be the driving force in reuniting everyone. I don’t think he could really handle that sort of responsibility and organization in his current state anyway.
It’s strange to think of a ghost as having character development but it’s really touching to see Menma interact with things in the living world and reflect on what they mean for her in her current form.
Another victim of Anime Parents Syndrome.
Poppo’s “Find Menma Association” gathering goes better than expected. Naruko ditches her loser friends to attend, Jinta gets guilted into going by Menma, and Tsuruko shows up too. Everyone has brought different things, not all of them food, but they end up with a decent meal and candles and fireworks on the side. There’s a nice moment of interaction between Tsuruko and Naruko when the former is lighting candles along the pathway up to the clubhouse. The lighting on the candles seems like the kind of quiet but thoughtful act that seems to fit Tsuruko. But she can be just as sharp and to-the-point as she was earlier when Naruko talks with her. Naruko explains her white dress and how it’s different from what her friends would wear but then admits to Tsuruko that she kind of wants to be scolded by her for being so easily influenced. Yukiatsu hasn’t shown up yet but the food and conversations go well. At one point Tsuruko asked Naruko if she believes this talk about Menma and when it’s shown that everyone in the group does Menma starts breaking out in tears. It’s another example of that sort of reaction and development that we’re getting from a ghost, a kind of entity one doesn’t usually associate with change. But after this we’re getting to see more sides of her than just the energetic messenger. Late to the party, Yukiatsu shows up with plenty of food for everyone, rather than their odd but tasty mix of sausages and kheer. And then he drops another piece of information that should lead up to next episode: he tells Jinta that he sees Menma too. Though who knows which ghost or delusion is more real or what. Yukiatsu is pretty creepy about Menma and earlier in the episode he’s out buying a hair tie with Tsuruko for someone he won’t name…
One of the two elite school characters, one of the two that I find most interesting too. Glad to be seeing more of her.
:brofist:
For as sharp-tongued as Tsuruko can be she seems to both see things crystal clear and have this romantic side to her. Lighting the way, perhaps for Menma’s ghost, was quite the sublime gesture.
She seems so touched and inspired by her old friends, so touching, so cute.
The ‘normal’ kind of ghost or delusion, or the ‘I’m creepy as hell’, dress-sniffing sort?
Final Thoughts: – Poppo taking the lead in things was good to see and hopefully hints at a more proactive role for the other members of the group as well. I’d love to see an episode where Yukiatsu or Naruko or Tsuruko take the lead in things.
- Menma’s interaction with Jinta’s mother’s memorial was an interesting scene, having the ghost contemplate the death of another like that. It reminded me of the scene in Lucky Star, the one serious and even sad scene in the whole comedy series, where Konata’s mother comes back as a ghost and takes a look at her family years later. Menma already commented on her own memorial shrine when she visited her home, but it’s another thing entirely for her to consider the death of others in her current state.
- If these events and Menma’s intervention are bringing Jinta and Naruko closer together, one has to think about the teary ending this may have as Jinta and Menma put their history to rest and move on; Jinta to Naruko and Menma to a final peace. I imagine a similar dynamic is in place with Yukiatsu and Tsuruko as well.
- What the hell was Poppo doing with that whole chant and dance thing?
- I wonder why Jinta, Poppo, and Yukiatsu are the only ones to have seen Menma so far? Though the smirk on Yukiatsu’s face could possibly suggest that he’s trolling, I want to believe him. But why not any of the girls so far?
33 Comments
My out-there prediction? It was Yukiatsu that Poppo saw. In drag. Yes, you read me right.
Kidding aside, Jinta being the only one to see Menma is a plot point, so Yukiatsu is probably fibbing. I have no doubt though that everyone WILL be able to see Menma at the end of this, but now? Doubtful.
I thought that, too! I thought I might have been the only one to think that the creeper was out doing creepy shiz. Going out and doing Menma ghost impersonations is not such a far out thought for someone who erotically sniffs a dead child’s dress. Dude is short a patty in his Big Mac.
dont’ know why but i literally laughed till my stomach hurt when i read that last sentence. it’s was sooo friggen funny xD
Suddenly this show is Hourou Musuko, lol. It’s a good theory though, and the more I hear of it the more it makes sense. Though there’s also the possibility that it’s Tsuruko since she also wears a watch like the ghost of Menma. Though I think it’d be more interesting if it was Yukiatsu.
likes this
mein gott!!!!! W T F !!!!!! wow you deserve a frickin medal for this prediction!!!!! Bonifacio!!!! wow never before have i come across a trap i did not like now it has happened!!! O.o and Yukiatsu wins the most creepy and bruitally insane award of the frickin year!
What Bonifacio said. If you look at “ghost” Menma closely “she” is wearing a watch.
Now it doesn’t necessarily have to be yukiatsu but we do know he owns a one-piece similar to hers AND he’s buying women’s accessories for an as of yet unidentified female significant other.
It’s highly suspect now that you mention it. Something is up with Yukiatsu considering the look he had on his face at the end, but it could be several different things. I’m really looking forward to next episode!
I warm to the concept of Menma in drag. It could be one of Tsruko’s kinks. Mmmmmm ;P
Trap X Girl = WIN
Don’t you mean Yukiatsu in drag?
yup Yukiatsu in drag would be my guess as well. He’s the creepiest of them all.
Even if it’s faux-yuri, I approve of this.
Guess who is back!
I starter watching this show thanks to Mr. Shin’s funny image about it. Never thought it was a ghost girl at all!
I know there will be drama, something that I wanted to avoid (I avoided Iroha) but please, not something to regret later with lingering effects like school days… Myself;Yourself had it’s dark moments but it turned out pretty well, that will do it for me.
There is a lot going out with this Yukiatsu guy, I think that if something bad happens it will be his fault.
Who knows, though there definitely will be serious drama in this one. While Hanasaku Iroha has veered the other way recently and gone into a more episodic pace. Not sure if it’s for you if you say you want to avoid drama, since I think that’s what we’re all here for, but I’d recommend you stick with it. The characters themselves are worth it even if you’re not into the drama itself.
I can only avoid a show if I do not watch any of it in the first place. I am doomed here because I am up-to date and Interested in it! like some sort of quicksands, I need to finish it now that I started it.
While I’m also doubtful that Poppo saw Menma, it doesn’t hurt to go with the flow.
As for how the men can see Menma and the women can’t…well, I can’t draw a line between that. My first thought was that the girls were to skeptical, but then, so was Yukiatsu…until recently. And I can’t erase the possibility that he’s trolling, either.
And yes, Noriko’s couple of other friends have officially proved themselves as bitchy losers.
Go with the flow~
Yukiatsu is either very messed up, up to something, or both, but it’s too hard to pin it down just yet. The running theory about him dressing up as Menma is a pretty good one though. I guess at this point all we can do is wait for the next episode though.
lol…I couldn’t stop laughing at the idea of Yukiatsu in drag. But then reading the other comments I suppose it’s plausible. You think Yukiatsu has a thing for Jinta and not Menma?
I mean that would pose an unexpected twist, and thus Tsuruko’s unrequited love (sadface).
Although it wouldn’t explain the dress sniffing bit, unless Jinta cried all over it.
@Sebz, I also wondered why only the males claimed to see Menma, but none of the females have had these hallucinations yet. They only saw Menma’s ghost which is different from the Menma Jinta sees.
Great, I can’t get rid of the image of Yukiatsu in drag now…
“Great, I can’t get rid of the image of Yukiatsu in drag now…”
I’m sure it’s already on Pixiv…
I don’t know what it is, but I think Poppo and Yukiatsu saw something OTHER than Menma. I think Yukiatsu is happy ‘cuz he thinks Jinto’s Menma is the fake he has discovered (or possibly planted).
I wasn’t bothered by the pacing, because I think getting all the SPBs together is a major development, and certainly allows for conversations, which, I suspect, is going to be essential to the eventual resolution.
This episode definitely laid the foundation for a lot of different things, I just worry (probably too much) about pacing considering how extremely short this series is. This feels much more like it should be a 26 episode series considering how much there is to dig into so I get a little nervous when the pacing goes a little slower. Hopefully nothing to worry about though, it’s handled pacing very well in the first two so hopefully this one will transition seamlessly into the next.
Jinta is getting on my nerves with his pity party poor me thing. I mean his mother was dying and the way he acted to towards her. The “Oh i wish my dad would make me go to school,” where is captain Bright when you need him. That said I don’t like him at all at this point. He needs to start growing up soon or i’m gonna end up hating him. aside from Jinta liked everything else about the episode. Yukiatsu i find amusing and frightening at the same time. I desire not to see him dress in drag as his Dead elementary school crush. I do find it funny though that hes like Ha!! your not the only one going crazy im seeing dead people too!!
The way Jinta acted when his mother was dying definitely irked me too, though I have some more patience for him in the present day. Not that that patience is infinite but I do feel a bit more sympathetic towards him considering how his crush died and his circle of friends pretty much collapsed around him. We’ll see how he goes though.
Yukiatsu, a.k.a Masta Creepa, is trolling. I would love to say it’s the “I’m creepy as hell” dress sniffing sort of delusion, but I think it’s the “Jinta can’t get one up on me” sort of bitchery. You know, the same bs that pushes him to gloat about his acceptance into an elite high school. He just has to be better than Jinta somehow, and he can’t stand the fact that Jinta gets to think he’s special because he can see Menma.
Or, I might be proven wrong and it can very well be the “I’m creepy as hell” dress sniffing sort of delusion. In which case he has one upped Jinta in the nutcase category.
That’s another good theory. This episode left us with a lot to ponder and Yukiatsu has shown himself to be really haughty. Though we’ve also seen the least of him so that’s making it harder to be sure/easier to theorize about what he’s doing and why.
I find Menma crying for Jinta’s mom quite moving too. However, I’m quite surprise though that Menma has an harem vibe. Apparently, Yukiatsu has a thing for her, there’s that scene from episode 2 where he’s sniffing Menma’s clothes (I guess).
Menma being part of the love polygon back when they were kids makes for good drama because she seems the least aware of it. Even in the flashbacks Naruko, Jinta, and Yukiatsu were all aware of what was going on between them and Menma, but Menma was the only one that didn’t seem to pick up on it, or at least acknowledge it. Not so much harem as competition, exactly, but it’s an interesting dynamic. You can probably add Tsuruko to that equation too since she might have liked Yukiatsu even back then but was just too quiet to add anything to the conversation.
To tell the truth I’m a little more concern on how much Menma interacts with objects in the real world and no one seems to notice. Like for example when she bakes a whole batch of muffins on her own making a mess on the kitchen, also she comes in and out of Jinta’s house/room and no one seems to notice the doors opening or closing. She is not really peaceful quiet ghost indeed.
Also the fact that this ghost is a grown up version of Menma, makes me believe that Menma’s ghost is partially only in Jinta’s mind (there is a real Menma’s ghost but only in some parts), because normally ghost would appear the same way they died, so why would Menma grow up her body as a ghost, unless its just how Jinta believes Menma would have look like at that age.
Which leads me to believe the real ghost in drag of Menma is Jinta… which makes Jinta a real sick sick little puppy XD
All this drag Menma talk makes me think it’s more of Hourou Umineko. Instead of proving magic doesn’t exist, it’s proving Menma does exist, going through memories and seeing that Yukiatsu and Menma were never actually there at the same time. In the end Jinta will get the girlboy.
Also, Yukiatsu is such a dick about seeing Menma. Inferiority complex much?
I’m also glad to be seeing more of Tsuruko – she’s certainly the toughest to figure out of all the characters.
In previous episodes she came across as very cold and cutting, but her behaviour in this episode puts a different spin on her character. The fact that she brought candles, ostensibly for the purpose of a ghost summoning, seems to suggest either:
a) she’s somehow in on the Menma sightings, and that she and Yukiatsu have concocted some sort of plot together (if we’re following the “Yukiatsu-plays-dressup” theory)
or as I would hope and prefer,
b) that she honestly cares and remembers more than she lets on.
Honestly she gets it up for me but don’t tell Anaru.
I imagine Tsuruko as a clever girl and has decided to play along to see where it goes. If she sees nothing, then nothing has changed. However I do believe a part of her wants to see the end result but approaching it from a logical standpoint. Although the idea of Menma being visible sounds illogical, she still goes along with it. IF BY SOME CHANCE Menma is indeed a ghost that is lingering around them, at least she comes prepared with candles….and maybe other things inside dat bag.