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「ものうい」 (Monoui)
“Melancholy”
This week’s episode got down to business- and purely business. With only a brief cameo from the yokai, it lost the whimsy it had last week. In the premiere, I noted that the script relied a bit too much on exposition, and unfortunately, it really doubled down on that this week. Really not much action- all tell and no show. Yeah, I get it, we’re still in the setting up shop phase, but that doesn’t mean it has to be all bark and no bite. Definitely concerning, but I’m holding out some hope that the glimmer of magic I saw last week gets recaptured. I love yokai and history, and the whole mystery aspect mixed in is a pretty good premise, so I want this to work.
As for the setting up shop business- Suzuhikohime (wisely) urges Ichitaro to move along before the killer (or anyone else) returns. As expected, Sasuke and Nikichi are no fools and they’ve already caught on and are on their way to hunt their young charge down when they bump into each other. Which, it was just youthful folly on Ichitaro’s part to even think he could pull the wool over his two yokai bodyguards- it was obvious from the start that wasn’t going to work. Sasuke and Nikichi are absolutely right- bocchan should not be going out alone at night, though not because of his weak constitution, but just pure danger- you had thieves and as we saw, murderers, in Edo- plus no streetlights- you’re taking your life in your hands by going out, especially for someone like Ichitaro who has zero street smarts. What this does do is paint a picture of Ichitaro as one, very naïve (though who could blame him, being as coddled as he is), and two, brave. I say brave, because with how dark and creepy it probably is on those streets, no way in hell would you catch me going out at night, but Ichitaro doesn’t blink an eye at it.
Of course, Bocchan gets chewed out by Sasuke and Nikichi, who sniff out that he’s hiding something. It’s not just them- Mom also figured out that her son was out last night. Whether it’s just a case of strong motherly intuition or if she has some sort of ability, who knows, maybe they’ll touch on that more. Paying a visit to his friend Ekichi, a sweet shop heir, we learn that Ekichi is also in on the secret, passing messages between Ichitaro and someone named Matsunosuke, who Ichitaro attempted to visit last night. As to who this Matsunosuke is- no hint is really given. But, with Bocchan’s inner determination to “find a replacement” for him who will be of more use to the family, I have to wonder if Matsunosuke is going to be that replacement or involved with finding one.
You’ve got your problems, I’ve got mine- no truer statement. Ichitaro’s afflicted by feeling like a dead weight and Ekichi is afflicted by how hamfisted he is in carrying on the family sweet-making trade, producing burnt sugar and poorly constructed mochi and yokan. Ekichi laments how jealous he is of Bocchan, who doesn’t get chewed out for not doing work, whereas Ekichi gets chewed out over constant failure. I get Ekichi’s point, but I also feel like that was a little insensitive to Ichitaro who’s stuck in bed all the time and can only dream of getting to work.
News travels fast in town, and the Chief Headman pays a visit to divulge all the nasty details of the murder. One interesting tidbit we pick up is that the victim was beheaded- quite a shocker for Ichitaro, as the head was still attached when he found it last night… It’s just the victim’s head he has to worry about- it’s his own as well, as the killer knows Ichitaro saw him, and knows where he lives (thanks to the lit lantern), so it’s only a matter of time before he comes after Ichitaro too. However, I don’t think that’s so much a fear as an excitement for the young lad. This episode, talky as it was, hit home just how suffocatingly coddled this young man is, and this could be just the opportunity he’s looking for to spread his wings…
