Last week on Sora no Woto, we saw how the girls have turned to the black market to survive, due to lack of help from the army.  We also saw how the ties of family aren’t necessarily bound in blood.  This week, the time for another festival has come, but this somber occasion is far from the joyous affair that characterized the series’ first episode.  There’s a lot to cover, so let’s get started.

From fear through the eyes of madness…

First, you can see how the cultures have mixed in the aftermath of the war.  The town is celebrating Obon, a Buddhist festival that honors the souls of the deceased.  However, the townsfolk refer to it as Fiesta de Lumieres, a Spanish rendition of a festival from France.  All three cultures have come together to form an entirely new one.  Even the church has accepted the tradition, contrary to what the central diocese would wish.  Sometimes, it’s more important to come together as a people than to preserve your own ideology.

Thank you Encyclopedia Noël!

This festival for the dead sets a framework for a flashback episode that focuses on Filicia.  Her cheerful exterior masks a world of tremendous inner pain.  She fought in the last war as part of an armored tank division.  She provided covering fire as their bugler called for help, but an enemy tank blindsided them.  The blast knocked Filicia free, who watched in horror as her comrades crawled out of the tank, on fire, before it exploded and killed them.  The bugler fell a few meters away, crushed by wreckage.  This alone would destroy most people, but Filicia still suffered more.

Madness... madness...

She fell to the ground within a tank’s sights.  The blast dropped her into an underground passage, where she stumbled upon a long dead soldier.  Whether a trick of Filicia’s damaged mind or a true supernatural occurrence, the soldier talked about the past.  We see a rather large city, perhaps No Man’s Land, devastated by a massive explosion.  They lost the war.  A horn suddenly starts playing the ever-familiar Amazing Grace, and the same woman from Kanata and Rio’s pasts appears.  It can’t be a coincidence that she appeared before all three of them.  You must wonder if and how this woman influenced Kureha and Noël as well, especially since Filicia refers to her as a princess.

Why fight to defend a world sinking into madness?

This all calls into question why Filicia has stayed in the army.  In fact, her former comrade, the dead soldier, and even Rio all question her.  If the world is going to hell, why fight?  Look at Filicia.  She passes out when she accidentally cuts herself, so it’s likely she developed hemophobia from the experience.  She could have easily buried herself in a mountain of guilt, fear, and despair.  Her answer is eloquent and powerful:

There can’t possibly be any meaning in this world.  But isn’t that wonderful in its own right?  Because if there isn’t any, we can find our own.  And I found mine.  My meaning in being alive.  I don’t want them to suffer the way I did.

Filicia pulled herself out of the darkness and used it to bring light to her little part of the world.  She looks after the girls under her command as if they were her own children, not only guiding them through life but also trying to protect them from the horrors of war.  As they embrace her, you can tell that Filicia has a profound influence on their lives.

Filicia plays mother yet again.

Yet, in this episode, we also get a glimpse of the other side of the coin.  In between flashbacks, the girls talk about trying to comfort Filicia.  Noël leaves the room, simply stating that she was there at the battle.  She offers no real explanation here, but it colors her comments in episode 4, where she talked about her fear of humans using machines to hurt others.  It’s clear now that this isn’t just a concept to her.  Noël has first hand experience in the devastation machines can cause.  In the same episode, she also said that she trusts machines because they can’t betray you.  I’m curious not only of her experience in the battle, but also of which side she fought.  I hope that the show will explore that soon.

Really, what happened to you?

Last week on Katanagatari, the show acquainted us with our main characters, Shichika and Togame.  They didn’t have long to talk though, as Koumori from the Maniwa Corps attacked.  Shichika defeated him and retrieved the first sword, Zettou Kanna.  This week, they pursue Zantou Namakuma and the ronin that wields it.

It's good you have a strong grip, Togame.

The episode begins with the couple making landfall in Kyoto.  We already knew Shichika had problems telling people apart, and with so many people around, it’s a bit disorienting for him.  This leads to an “identification exercise” that seems more to bring the two physically close than to serve any real use.  He also questions the necessity of buying new clothes to replace his practical peasant garb.  The two encounter some bandits on the way out-of-town, and the martial artist handily disarms them.  Togame stops him from finishing them.  Unfortunately, it’s rude to kill everyone with a sword that crosses your path, even if they are a nuisance.

Where were you when they tried to KILL you!?

As Togame describes the sword’s owner, Uneri Ginkaku, the perspective shifts to his castle.  Shirasagi Maniwa has come to claim the sword, and his peculiar quirk is talking backwards.  You can imagine how difficult this might be to understand.  Fortunately, Ginkaku cuts him down in all of 90 seconds.  Togame continues to narrate the desert condition of the ronin’s domain.  Neither really understands why an accomplished swordsman like himself would be the sole resident in such an arid place.

Ninjas are a nuisance, even in death.

Their conversation turns to the bizarre with Togame lodging complaints about Shichika’s lack of personality and catch phrase.  She isn’t breaking the fourth wall, simply leaning on it quite hard.  Since she’s recording everything that happens on their journey, the discussion is based on the premise of exciting writing.  Of course, the guy really has no interest in all this extraneous stuff, and decides to just accept whatever phrase she spits out next.  You wouldn’t think this country bumpkin would have already mastered believable sarcasm, but there you have it.

...that you believe a single word I just said.

The pair reach the castle and literally trip over the body of Shirasagi.  They decide the event is lucky, because that means the sword is still here and reveals the ronin’s skill level.  In addition, a dead person can’t speak, so Togame won’t have to write dialogue for him.  They explore the castle and find Ginkaku’s room.  The strategian attempts to negotiate, and almost gets herself killed.  Shichika saves her at the last-minute as the two show their respective skills.  Today’s battle will come down to the no-sword style against the quick draw style.  The protagonists make a temporary retreat to strategize.

You might also "chill out," "max," or "relax all cool."

Shichika remarks that his style of attack and that he allowed them to leave means that Ginkaku must stay in the room to reach his optimal skill level.  Despite a rather clever plot to force the swordsman to leave, the pair decide to face him head to head.  Shichika asks that Togame stay behind him this time, so he can protect her.

Personally, I approve of this plan.

On the other side, Ginkaku reminisces about his current lot in life.  He’s thought about abandoning the territory, but could never commit to it.  All that he has left to protect is his castle and the sword by his side, which he resolved to defend until his last breath.

But what happens when there's nothing left..?

I will not spoil the final battle for you.  Suffice to say it has action, insight, and surprisingly, humor.  That’s kind of the series’ defining mark at this time.  The characters talk a lot, but the banter is witty and gives us a good look into the characters and the world around them.  Togame has loud, big ideas, while Shichika prefers a more subdued, practical approach.  Their polar opposite dynamic means that you’ll probably find yourself more interested as the dialogue progresses.  Additionally, the series immediately introduces the concept of the tragic villain.  Ginkaku really isn’t a bad guy, his motivations just ran counter to theirs and weren’t entirely clear.  However, in a way, the pair finally granted his wish by liberating him from his burden, and his brief last words are powerful.  You have to wonder why the antagonists to come made the choices they did to reach this point.  Next month they will target Sentou Tsurugi, and the preview animation promises much more action.  If you haven’t already done so, pick this series up now, I really think it will be one of the best by the end of the year.

And woe to humanity if they should ever succeed...