[Categories: Anime Reviews]
Mushishi episode 21: The cotton spore
After the fairly uplifting and inspirational episode #20 it’s quite a shock to see Mushishi take a sharp darker turn as it resumes its broadcast run. The Cotton Spore is possibly the most depressing episode to date - chilling and heartbreaking in equal measure.
Imagine the pain and anguish when you find out that your child is a mushi, and what’s worse, he is doomed to die. This is the cold truth that Ginko must explain to a distraught couple whose eldest son has taken ill with a mysterious disease. The recurring theme of mushi and human life interfering is something that fellow fans of this show will be familiar with, but rarely is it so heart-rending and tragic as it is here.
In order to prevent the fate of the couple in this episode happening to others, Ginko adds that they must kill the creatures who they have raised as their own children. It is, not surprisingly, a little too much to take in for the mother, especially with her unfortunate past and slim chance of ever having children again. What is also quite telling (in a more general way) is the exchange between Ginko and the mushi, as our hero very pragmatically explains the harsh reality of two separate species trying to survive.
What he says is harsh but the most painful thing is that what he says is the truth: I was torn between the pain of the choice the parents felt while being very much aware of the fact that there was not much of an alternative. No doubt it is painful for Ginko too, as the mushishi who, in the previous episode, tried to find balance and give both humans and mushis the chance to survive. Despite this he chooses reason over emotion this time around with a detached and matter-of-fact approach.
Mushishi delivers some real tragedy when the situation requires it, and in addition the oppressive, moody atmosphere and occasionally shocking visuals of The Cotton Spore would do any horror film proud. The human and mushi relationship, with all its complications and upsets, is still the focus, and right up to the closing scenes its complexity is shown to great effect. This is one of the most downbeat yet thought-provoking episodes to date.
Posted on January 12th, 2008 @ 11:00 am
[...] I’ve come away from an episode feeling this unsettled since Nanoha StrikerS that episode with the mushi babies in Mushishi. At the end of episode 14 I think my hands were actually shaking a bit. You really have [...]