Forum - View topicThe Eccentric Family (Uchōten Kazoku) (TV) (w/ index).
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DuskyPredator
 Posts: 15595 Location: Brisbane, Australia |
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Episode 9
spoiler[Kaisei] is cute, the episode actually took me by surprise with spoiler[her reveal as I had been waiting for her to be shown, the whole time, but then they suddenly did it in the bath], which was not done in a sexual way at all. She knows that her brothers spoiler[are not exactly great, and that her father is especially a problem, but they are still her family] and she won't let even spoiler[Yasaburo, who she obviously has a thing for, badmouth them]. You get play fights in this series, which pretty much what happens to Yasaburo with the professor and spoiler[Kaisei]. I hope the spoiler[apology] does not mean that forces are pushing spoiler[Yasaburo to be hotpot food]. |
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Blood-
 Bargain Hunter Posts: 24528 |
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I had fallen behind on this show and just watched the last four episodes in the last two days. Oh man, what a great series. Episode 8 had me tearing up like a little bitch. So many interesting revelations, like the fact that Benten spoiler[was kidnapped by the Professor.] Sort of explains her attitude towards him. It's clear that So spoiler[deliberately let himself get captured for the Friday Fellows hotpot - I guess because doing so would keep his family intact?] The tanuki logic on that one is a bit fuzzy for me. Also great to finally meet Kaisei. I will definitely miss this one when it's done.
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Surrender Artist
 Posts: 3264 Location: Pennsylvania, USA |
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I watched what's been released thus far of this series over the weekend. I had overlooked it, but I noticed a few people with respectable opinions (and Blood-) watching it, so I got curious.
This seems like a tricky series to sell, I can't really express just why I like it so well, but I'm really happy that I chose to watch it. I am sure that its focus on a compact cast and the way it gives each a chance to breathe, so to speak, appeals to me. This series has a very low-key, appropriately quirky feel that I've really enjoyed. There's something about the mythology and sense of history that this show weaves through its character and story that really grabs me, but it's really quite subtle about it. It's succeeded in inculcating a certain affection for or interest in all of the characters in me. Yasaburō's carefree oddball manner had me hooked form the get-go and even high-strung Yaichirō has a deeper appeal. A great deal has happened to and affected everybody, but it's not melodramatic or sensationalist in presenting that. Tremendous melancholy seems to undergird every character, but it sneaks up on me and rather than send me to sobbing, just takes a strong, silent hold. It feels like the cast all have enough depth that its patient approach to exploring them is warranted, not just lazily stringing the viewer along. I can't but confess that I've found Benten to be one of the most interesting and alluring characters whom I've encountered in recent memory. That fits her portrayal and part in the story and I'm impressed that it's so well made my reaction to her follow that of the rest of the cast. The series has a unique attitude about life and death that I'm not sure how to unpack. There's a calm, dignified fatalism to how the cast seem to regard the nature of their existence and how it will end. Nobody seems to be obviously lying to or deluding themselves. It all feels strangely real for a series about shapeshifters, flying spirits and generally weird stuff. I don't entirely know what to make of it, but I've loved what I've seen. I suspect that this series will remain relatively obscure and underappreciated, but be a real treat for whoever happens upon it. |
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Gina Szanboti
 Posts: 11703 |
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::sigh:: Am I missing/forgetting major stuff as usual, or are you guys reading between the lines in ways I'm not?
danilo thinks spoiler[Souichiro was in love with Benten], while Blood thinks the spoiler[professor kidnapped Benten]. If either of these is the case, it flew right over my head. :/ I guess I took Souichiro at his word, indirectly, since he apparently shared with his wife that spoiler[he couldn't transform around Benten. Was he deceiving her to explain why he was avoiding Sensei?] I just thought spoiler[So was afraid of Benten's power and lost his transformation, since it happened instantly. He barely had a chance to look at her for a love at first sight thing. But maybe I don't want to think that's the case, since it would be the first complaint I have with the series (falling back on the old "women make men powerless" crap). In any case, it made him an easy target for the Friday Fellows since Benten was the one who brought him in. In fact, it seems to me too that he might have let himself be captured to solve Yajiro's problem (after his death the engagement was cancelled, so Yajiro had a second chance) and keep his sons from dispersing. He probably did not expect Yajiro to take it quite that hard, but at least he didn't flee into the mountains. I just don't see how Yajiro could have left him behind, since he was riding in his train. Souichiro had to have gone off on his own. Also, there's a piece of dialog we're missing from that ride, which might clear things up if Yajiro can remember what his father said, if it was important, that is.] As for Benten, spoiler[they just said Sensei brought her to the forest, but I don't recall anything about it being against her will.] Where did they say that? |
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danilo07
 Posts: 1580 |
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Oh the thing that I said about spoiler[Souichiro being in love with Benten was merely an interpretation,however it is a fact that Benten was kidnapped.In Japanese mythology Karasu-Tengu creatures kidnap human children and later on release them.I have seen some go step further and think that since Junichiro Tanizaki was mentioned,that Benten is essentially Naomi(I saw Brian Ruh mention this if you are interested).Both were young,and they succumbed to old men,both end up growing up and gaining a lot of power and they also manipulate old men when they become adults.Though it is never really made clear whether manipulation was a form of revenge or not. ]The entire show is steeped in mythology and urban legends,and I am sure a lot moments flew over my head.But if you ask me that makes me like the show even more,it feels more magical that it doesnt stop every second to explain itself.
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Gina Szanboti
Posts: 11703 |
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I know that mythology about tengu exists, but is it an established fact in this series in regards to Benten? Who mentioned Tanizaki, and in what context? (I didn't know who that was until your post, so I would have immediately forgotten it, if the name registered at all) If Benten represents Naomi, that makes me feel even less that spoiler[she was kidnapped], unless the series has stated that to be the case. Which it might have, since there's something scritching at the back of my brain trying to dig its way to the surface. |
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Merida
 Posts: 1946 |
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I didn't interpret Souichiro spoiler[not being able to transform in Benten's presence as him having fallen in love with her either. If that was the case, half of the brothers shouldn't be able to transform anymore... As for the kidnapping, i think it was mentioned (though not in a what terrible crime way but more like it happens, very much like tanuki ending up in a hotpot happens...) but i don't remember the details anymore.] |
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danilo07
Posts: 1580 |
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spoiler[ It wasnt previously established,that tengu kidnap people,but it doesnt need to since that is a well known fact in Japan.Similar thing happened at the end of episode 8 when Akadama was talking to dead Souichiro.Many people felt this was ass pull since it wasn't previously established that he could keep in touch with the "other side",but why the hell would it have to previously establish that if it is already a well known fact...in Japan at least.] Besides look at the imagery ,spoiler[she is just walking on beach until Akadama sees her and swiftly takes her with him,making her shoes fall of.It doesnt really scream liberty,not to mention that there is only one group of tengus that kidnap people and it is exactly the same group to which Akadama belongs.]
He was mentioned by Friday Fellows as a person that created a tradition of boiling tanuki in hot pot.Which doesnt not tie in with the whole Naomi theory well,but at least it tells that original writer was familiar with his works.
spoiler[I live Eastern European shit hole ,so I have to rely on fansubs rather than official translations,and according to those fansubs it was stated that Akadama "took" her,it didn't say that he brought her but that he took her.To me that with a rest of stuff put there just really feels like a confirmation for a kidnapping.]
Well I would say that Yasaburo can keep spoiler[his transformation because he doesnt have the innocence that Souichiro had.Also do keep in mind that Benten eats the things she loves,so the love might have been mutual. ]But we will see,I am sure the entire thing will get explained sooner or later. |
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Blood-
Bargain Hunter Posts: 24528 |
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Yes, it was specifically shown that the Professor spoiler[kidnapped] Benten. I can't remember which eppie it was now, but it showed Benten walking along a shoreline in schoolgirl uniform when the spoiler[Professor noticed her, swooped down and carried her off.]
Whether So was in love with Benten, too, is an interpretation as danilo07 says, but it does seem to make sense. His inability to transform around her might have been a sign of that. The timeline is unclear, but it is possible that So arranged for Kaisei to be Yasaburo's "fiancee" as a way of preventing Yasaburo from getting involved with Benten. |
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Blood-
Bargain Hunter Posts: 24528 |
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accidental double post.
Last edited by Blood- on Wed Sep 04, 2013 5:50 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Gina Szanboti
Posts: 11703 |
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Thank you. That was what was trying to surface (from Ep 6). I was under the impression that you were saying it was revealed in episode 8, which I think was what threw me off. 
Glad to hear it's just an impression. I refuse to believe Souichiro spoiler[lost his transformation because he was in love with Benten] unless they say so explicitly. It's just too damn close to Kramer/Sprenger territory for my tastes.
What do you mean by "involved"? He sent Yasaburo in his place to tend to Sensei, which guaranteed involvement with her. spoiler[If marriage didn't stop Daddy, engagement would be even less of a restraint against falling for her.]
That's stupid. Every culture has stories of people talking to ghosts, so it's hardly a stretch that a supernatural entity could contact other supernatural entities.
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Blood-
Bargain Hunter Posts: 24528 |
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I mean love involvement. I can't stress enough that that is just a wild ass guess on my part. For all I know Yasaburo and Kaisei were "engaged" long before Benten showed up.
The other possibility, of course, for So's inability to transform around Benten is simple fear. It seems that despite having manifestations of idiot blood, he was a fairly sharp guy and he might have sensed that Benten was not going to be a good thing for his family. |
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danilo07
Posts: 1580 |
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I have realized that I haven't written my pseudo intellectual analysis in over two weeks.That is inexcusable and I will repent immediately.
I have already mentioned how this show basically tells us that family restricts our freedom,but that we should accept it since the love it provides us with is, is so grand that it makes all restrictions seem less important.Now Kaisei comes in to play,and makes these themes much more complicated.Show told us how familial obligation is sort of price for the love we receive from family,but what if that same familial obligation included hurting the other love that we had(which is Yasaburo,in this case)?It will be interesting to see this theme play out,and where they go with it. OK now the idea of calm fatalism in this show is much more developed then I have previously taken it to be.It presents in-determinism as its intellectual enemy,and it sees it as cause to sadness.We see this through of Akadama who unlike Souichiro didn't accept his old age,in fact he is constantly rebelling against it.So now every time that he sees how he is losing his influence and power,he gets taken over by fear and sadness. This show is awesome on multiple levels. |
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Merida
Posts: 1946 |
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Oh my, so their plan actuallyspoiler[ did involve Yaichirou and a hotpot...
 I bet he's tastier than his old man, but i hope it won't come down to that...]funny though, spoiler[that a love traingle/unrequited love seems to be the root of it all] which may not be very orignial but somehow fits the theme of the series.
Also, after Souichirou told his brother that spoiler[not seeing Akadama-sensei anymore was his own fault, i'm starting to suspect that he might really have been attracted to Benten. This would also explain him calmly accepting his fate since it was for Benten's sake. And as we all know, he passed on his idiocy to Yasaburou who's fallen for her, too...] |
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Stark700
 Posts: 11762 Location: Earth |
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Benten is such a mysterious character in this show....I can never read her tbh. I still find Yasaburou and Benten's relationship to be one of the most peculiar and interesting one's this season. (even from the first episode)
Regarding the plan, I just have to say "Oh snap". I'm not entirely surprised though. I can't wait to see what happens next with that cliffhangerish ending. |
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