Holy shit…that’s a huge leap don’t you think? I was finally able to catch up (or rather…forced myself to catch up) after getting some bad vibes on what’s going to happen to a very central figure in the series.. O_o
So we head to Yukine’s arc first since that’s where I left off..
Episodes 7 – 8: Yukine’s Arc
Seriously, I think these episodes revolve around too much for someone who isn’t even living anymore. Aside from the ever constant brawling between two gangs who don’t even have a clear reason to…well…brawl, the only things that were interesting is the fact that members from both sides come to Yukine so that she can treat whatever cuts and bruises they have. I thought that was rather cool, expecially when you consider the fact that Yukine herself isn’t so neutral…her brother was the leader of one of the gangs after all. Of course, her deeds didn’t go unnoticed – it is because of their actions that members of both gangs treat her with great respect, even on the onset beating up the next rival gang member they lay eyes on. So yea…the objective of these episodes was to attain peace between both gangs, which Yukine eventually got after revealing the fact that her brother had long been dead…but not necessarily the most crucial part in my opinion. The essential part of the arc takes place right around its end…when Tomoya starts seeing (or has been seeing…not so sure about this one) light orbs. According to Yukine, (1) these orbs appear when there’s an atmosphere of happiness, (2) obtaining one of these orbs grants a wish to the one who obtained, and (3) only a select few are able to see these orbs…Tomoya is one of them. Heck…he better hope he gets his hands on one if he knows what’s coming up ahead….
On another note, the potency of Sanae’s bread is so strong, it can knock out a whole gang a few seconds after consumption.
Episodes 9-12: Life out of school
The following couple of episodes focuses a lot about Nagisa’s illness, or rather the magnitude of devastation it can bring. It is because if this illness that will once again cause Nagisa to be left back for another year. Of course, this devastates Tomoya since he’ll be graduating without her.
Sure, I can understand the discomfort of not being able to graduate with Nagisa, but it’s not like the end of the world. Somtimes, I hate it when Tomoya complains how things do not seem to his way and how he rants about having a crappy lifestyle. F*ck that…considering his situation, I’d say he’s a goddamn lucky bastard! How often do you see having your girlfriend’s parents inviting you to live with them…under the same roof as your girlfriend’s? Not only that…he has Akio and Sanae to thank for a lot of things – for offering him shelter, for offering him a temporary job, even for offering him the privilege of being treated like a member of the family!
That said, I’m glad he came up to his senses and realized he cannot leech of f the Furukawa’s forever. So I felt good when he found a place in Yoshino’s field of work and actually moved out to his own place. I was yelling out foulplay when Akio had to help him move whatever furniture he had to the new place. Seriously…life’s just too perfect in Clannad even though Tomoya says otherwise. For a slice of life genre, I find Clannad too surrealistic. Seriously…where can you find a guy who can afford to leave Nagisa to the streets to walk back home on her own in the middle of the night?! No way I can rest easy with that! Jeez, WTF is wrong with you, Tomoya?!
About Tomoya’s father…I’d have to say it was rather uncalled for. First, being sent to jail, and then ruining a job opportunity for Tomoya? Tough luck, huh? I can understand Tomoya’s frustration, but going all out to your father like that was….horrible. I felt sorry for the father, who didn’t even say anything.
Finally, the most important item of this part of the series….Tomoya proposing to Nagisa that they get married. Damn…that was totally random, don’t you think?
Episodes 13-15: Goodbye school, hello married life, and prelude to something…unpleasant
Jeezus…asking to get married after taking out your frustrations on your father – that’s something unheard of. Funny how I got a bad vibe about this ‘marriage’ – the method of proposal was rather nontraditional and out of the blue after all.
And so we head over to Akio for a challenge, a rather seemingly simple one actually. The challenge was a mini game of baseball…if Tomoya manages to hit Akio’s throws, Akio will have to not only listen, but also agree to whatever Tomoya has to say. A number of a failed attempts pass by and eventually, Tomoya manages to score a hit. Of course, we all know what he’s going to ask Akio for…
So yes, the school year flew by as expected and Nagisa find herself again on the verge of graduating yet eventually finds herself bedridden with her amazingly punctual chronical illness. Fortunately, she was able to accumulate a sufficient amount of days to actually satisfy the requirements for graduation. There’s only one catch…she’s too sick to attend the graduation ceremony. At the very least, Nagisa’s friend were able to organize a rather special graduation ceremony exclusively for Nagisa, complete with uniformed students (even the ones that graduated already wore uniforms) and Koumura! How very special indeed. Of course, a special occasion such as this requires a special speech…and that’s just what Nagisa delivered. I kind of got the goosebumps when she made the speech – I usually feel awkward to these kinds of sentimental things, but it was nevertheless touching! And thus, the school chapter finally concludes as another new chapter is opened…
A very accelerated timeskip takes place and we find a now married Nagisa and Tomoya. Oh wait, let me rephrase that….we now find a now married a couple who’s expecting a child. When I said accelerated, I really do mean ACCELERATED. That means, no wedding and all that we know as to how the child was conceived is Nagisa doing ecchi things. What?!?! How can you do ecchi things when you sleep with a gap between you?! I can’t believe Nagisa got preganant so fast. She might have grown up and everything, but she still acts childish! I simply cannot put together a child having a child. Oh well…
On another note…MC Akio…pure epic; Akio’s face when he learnt of his daughter’s pregnancy…PRICELESS.
Of course, sooner or later, we’re going to have to consider the marauding role of Nagisa’s illness…and it couldn’t have come at a worse time than Nagisa’s pregnancy. At this point, I began to harbor ominous pretenses which I did not want to believe at first but later realized to be most likely possible…My foreshadowing only got worse as Tomoya started having a frantic discussion with Sanae on the matter of risking Nagisa’s life. Shit…that sure was a heartstopper. To make matters look much worse than they are, we are shown a glimpse of Akio’s past, trying to pray for the young Nagisa to be saved. Talk about snatching life from death…that was a close encounter. I’m actually afraid the upcoming event won’t be as similar as last time.
It has been decided that the unborn child will be named Ushio, after the ever rising and falling of ocean tides, a reference to Tomoya’s promise (or wishes, depending on how you look at it) of being able to go together to the beach with his newfound family the following summer.
Episode 16: Something unpleasant…
A little note…if you are one of those people who is not up to date with the episodes, and the kind of person who does not want to get spoiled, I suggest you catch up first. Otherwise, please press the SHOW button.
Dammit….why did Nagisa have to deliver two weeks earlier than expected, during a snowstorm where medical units are immobilized by the severe weather?!! It’s like being dealt with all the bad cards all at once! You know, I’m very confident she wouldn’t have passed away if she was able to get medical attention…anything to keep her body alive. Poor Nagisa…even at the brink of death, she rests easy with a rather angelic calmness on her face after she made shure Ushio was safely born. That’s something there…my love and respect for Nagisa just went up by a couple of notches. Tomoya on the other hand was acting too selfish, saying he should not have met, dated, and married Nagisa in the first place. If I recall correctly, he was the one who proposed all of a sudden, and now he tells us this?! With this attitude of his, I have enough reasons to speculate that he might end up abandoning Ushio! Ugh…the preview appears to agree with me…
Damn…Clannad is not Clannad anymore without Nagisa around. I’d like to believe that that’s all there is to it but we are forgetting something…it’s only the 16th episode. Also, I’m quite confident that Kotomi’s research on alternate words wasn’t just for exhibition. Now, I haven’t played the Virtual Novel, so I would not know anything….but the fact Kotomi mentioned alternate worlds, I cannot stop thinking about the girl and the robot. They seem to be on another world, right?
On the same note, I always thought the girl was a version Nagisa on another world. Now I’m not sure if this relevant but, the girl does not have the signature bangs the Furakawas have. Ushio on the other hand…..get my point yet?
So with Nagisa dead, does this mean she’ll be on the similar (if not exactly the same) plane as Fuko? And what about those orbs of light this episode kept referring to?
{ 6 comments }
According to the game, the light orbs end up becoming a key plot device. And yeah Tomoya’s being a bit MMMEHHHH at the end of this ep. You should see what happens next, heck I’m a hugeee Tomoya fan and I wanted to punch him in the face. Well I understood what he was going through so it was tolerable. Also it looks like KyoAni picked the wrong options during the path split missed the true end. They also skipped Akio’s, Sanae’s, and the rest of Yoshino’s routes. Well I guess people were tired of all the mini “filler arcs” (Even though you get important lights). Bah but they still have 7 whole eps left. If they drag out Tomoya being a moppy emo for 7 eps I’ll be pissed.
Oh yeah, and when Tomoya was letting Nagisa walk home, they were actually really close to her house. You could see the Furukawa bakery in the background so you can’t fault him for that XD.
I’m trying to gather up the emotional strength to take on episode 16 but right now I just can’t do it. I already know what’s going to happen because I watched the movie and the ominous events in 15 pretty much give it away. I’m kind of debating on whether I should just stop until the series is finished and then attempt to marathon the rest of the series from after 15. I think being married and having a son myself it’s going to be especially hard to bare After Story from here out.
Psh. Don’t feel sorry for Tomoya’s father. It’s because he doesn’t say anything that he deserves to be yelled at. If you don’t talk with your own son, how is he supposed to understand you? I think Tomoya’s dad deserves to be hate right now honestly. Parents who don’t have discussions with their children…suck!
People are making too big a deal out of them sleeping with a gap between the two of them. That was only one night…their first night living together. It probably happened like…right after she said she wanted a baby. After Nagisa said that they cut to another scene awfully quick.
As for everything else all I can say is…Nagisa ;_; (I still can’t talk about it anymore than that)
@FlameStrike: That much about the light orbs I figured. And yes, Tomoya needs some straightening up. Gasp…I really should look into this VN, huh?
About leaving Nagisa to the streets…I will never ever leave her (or any girl in general) on her(their) own, no matter how near or far she (they) has(have) to walk. At least he could’ve walked her until they get to the door or porch of the house or something…especially at night and especially if you know there are jackasses out there (referring to the guys who were hitting on Nagisa at the restaurant).
@Persocom: What?! You know how it’s going to end?! Don’t stop watching…I get the feeling the ending will be quite different from the other sources. Like I said…those orbs have yet to play their role…
@FuyuMaiden: I do feel sorry for his father. I am quite aware of Tomoya’s circumstances ( how he deals with his son and even the unjury he gave Tomoya), but that was a bit too much.
Besides, from the looks of things, Tomoya is heading the same path as his father….
I wasn’t really intending to make a big deal about the sleeping gap…I just wanted to emphasize how accelerated things were. Imagine, graduation to deathbed in what..a couple of episodes?
I meant I knew what was going to happen in 16, not the whole story. I do believe it will be significantly different from the movie though, there was already a noticeable change. I did manage to gather myself and watch it all the way through and I’ll continue watching now. Read the part under the show button now and yeah I do think there’s a lot left to happen, there’s still a fair amount of episodes and the way Kotomi talked did seem like a very important part of what’s yet to come. Also, I think with the way things are going it’s probably safer to watch one episode at a time the first time around. A marathon would probably make me break down XD
@Persocom: I’m eager to find how Kotomi’s research will play a role in all of this mess.
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