I drink and watch anime

The Eccentric Family 2 – A Home to Come Back to

Irina

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The Shimogamo boys are back. Having fun and causing as much trouble as they can. But things simply cannot stay the same forever. No matter how tightly we grip at it, time just slips through our fingers taking us all along with it. The boys are growing up, starting their own lives, perhaps even thinking about families of their own. It can be painful to shake yourself free of your past but the future holds endless possibilities. One thing’s for sure, as long as they are still alive, the idiot blood flowing through the son’s of Sou, will keep them enjoying every moment. After all, they are tanuki and tanuki should always be smiling.

What can I say about the Eccentric Family 2? I finished it last night. I ve been watching a single episode a day because I simply couldn’t handle more. I needed each one to softly settle in my mind and wrap itself around my heart before moving on. There aren’t any more episodes to watch tonight. It’s a little lonely but also alright. It ended as it should. Like a good friend moving away. I’ll miss it but I’m also happy for it. You did good kid….

eventually we all need to climb out

If I sound even less coherent than usual, it’s cause I am. This show has left me a touch odd I think. I’ve been trying to figure out how to go about explaining it but I’m starting to feel it may be a fool’s errand. If you like, you can read my review for the first season. Everything I say there still holds except s2 is both more and less.

If possible season 2 may be even more beautiful. I found myself gawking at the screen on several occasions, openly wondering if it had always been so pretty. The voice acting and sound direction is refined but I preferred the season 1 OP. (season 2 OP is still wonderful though – here it is!)

This time around the story is more surreal but also more scattered. The narrative focus can get a little wide and you lose a certain sense of direction. If season 1 was about trying to escape the shadows of the past, season 2 is about looking to the future and that mix of hope and melancholy it brings. This welth of possibilities can be overwhelming.

…Forget this guys. The Eccentric Family isn’t about analysis and dissection. It’s about love. It’s about the sneaky varied forms love can take and all the grief and wonder it brings us. It’s about grabbing on to those good times and holding them so tightly your arms hurt a little. It’s about the deep inherent beauty of pointlessness. So it’s in that spirit that I now invite you, dearest friends, to share with me a show that I love:

I’m not crying, you’re crying

Episode 1

I finished the first season months ago and I have that odd *you can never go home again* feeling.

Oh wow, the scene between Tousen and Sou… You guys remember when I randomly told you about the first minutes of UP. It’s like that!!! OK we’re like 8 seconds in and I’m tearing up – this rivals Natsume’s heartstring tugging powers.

I’m home….

I love that Yashiro, the youngest, is the only reliable source of income.

Episode 2

It’s warm here in Montreal. Perfect excuse to wear a tiny light summer dress. I’m comfy.

Casually conversing with some type demon in a noodle shop is also how I want to kill an afternoon. * Yasaburo instinctively protecting his younger brother is such a natural yet sweet scene.

“The Tengu peer down at the world from the pinnacle of Pride” – great line!

best scene!

Episode 3

Still stifling here. I’ve cranked up the air conditioning cause Buddy was giving me dirty looks. I’m actually a little cold now.

OMG: DRAMATIC IRONING! This is the best thing I’ve ever seen! Yachiro and Yasaburo are wonderful together. It really feels like a sibling relationship among brothers that care about each other a lot.

OK now a passive aggressive veiled argument about a chaise is the best thing I’ve ever seen. The show is just everything!

No one ever says it but I think Yajiro may have been their dad’s favorite…

Episode 4

It’s Friday! I have a lot of chores to do over the weekend… But still IT’S FRIDAY!!!

I’ve always wanted to have someone to play Shogi with. I know how to play chess but I’ve only played twice and won both times. Once was against my dad and the other time was the president of my college chess club. Both were complete accidents, in fact I had to be told it was check mate on that second game but as it stands I am undefeated and would like to keep it that way. As sch I am never playing chess again. So Shogi is all I have.

Those fireflies fluttering up around the players are breathtaking. This is f***ing magical.

you got taste Yaichiro

Episode 5

Ahhh lazy Saturday afternoon.  I’m a grown up with responsibilities….Let’s watch cartoons!

I listen to the OP every time. Love this lyric: “My intentions are high but my goals are low”. Same!

Yasaburo turning into Gyokuran so his older brother can practice confessing his crush is hilariously adorable!

There’s something haunting about a quiet and defeated Benten simply sitting in the river. Could this be a character building moment or is Benten’s powerful pride immune to growth. Both would be great really.

Episode 6

As much as I love weekends I take comfort in going back to the structure of my weekdays. It’s all in my head. I regularly work on weekends and evenings so I could structure my time however I want regardless of the day but I like rituals. Sunday evenings watching a show with my puppy is one of my favorites.

Does Kaisei always transform into red objects? I kinda like that.

The entire sequence of Yasaburo in hell is breathtaking. It’s perfect in every way.

am I odd for thinking this is beautiful?

Episode 7

Just spent a few hours working out. I am maybe 50% sweat. I felt it was important to share that…

I did not expect it to go this tragic. Soun’s pitiful end paired with Yasaburo and his daughter’s measured reactions was devastating. There’s something brutal about these slow silences than couldn’t have been conveyed through sobs or yells. I’m a little shaken.

Episode 8

That last episode ended on quite the emotional gut punch… I wonder how they’ll handle the aftermath.

As they should of course. You morn, you grieve, you move on. I wish I could hug Tousen. We could go have a glass of wine and complain about how foolish the boys in our lives are and how much we love them.

All the kids immediately run to find their mom when there’s a thunderstorm. It’s a throwback to season 1 that’s otherwise unexplained. A little gift of sweetness for us fans that have been around since then!

Oh they are finally ending the feud. That’s good. The older Ebisugawa brother seems too good to be true…

it’s a good look

Episode 9

It’s been a loooong day. I put about 14 hours in and I’m probably going to have to put in a  few more before bed. Can’t be helped. At least we can have a little break.

Yajiro may be turning out to be my favorite too. Whenever he’s around there’s this calm absurdity that takes over. I love seeing him climb out of his well.

“I hope to return a bigger man than I am now” is a great parting line. I’m going to say that instead of goodbye from now on.

Now this is a flashback. Benten and the Nidaime in the rain. No explanation, no context, no closure. Delightful!!!

Episode 10

It’s raining. No it’s pouring! Torential.. I love it

The home of the 808 tanuki is fantastic. I know a lot of these places are real (Anime Journeys anyone), I wonder if this one is as well.

Oh that guy is the REAL Ebisugawa. I knew there was something fishy about the other one. We’ve not seen his face yet why am I convinced that he’s really hot?

sigh

Episode 11

It’s still raining yet somehow the humidity has not broken at all. Om the up side I’m loosing weight without noticing since I’m basically living my life in a sauna. I’m not sure if it’s an actual up side…

Benten casually brushing hellfire off her shoulder perfectly embodies the character. I want to be a little more like her when I grow up.

OK, being a train and riding on rails looks like fun. It’s not likely to be something I ever get to try out. I think I should just go ride the rails for a bit. Wanna come? Also I was right – hot guy…

For all the dire situation, Yasaburo’s dream sequence is extremely comforting. I feel like I’ve just been hugged. I am now convinced that everything is going to be ok. This is priceless wisdom:

“You can’t just do whatever you want, this is a dream after all!”

I love knowing that Benten dies her hair

Episode 12

Wait it’s the last episode. Already – but I’m not done. I had more to learn. I’m always going to have more to learn. It’s a good thing you’re here. I can use the support.

The Nidaime crying to his daddy is the emotional release I needed.

There you uhave it.

I love this show. I love that I can share it with you. I hope these random slivers of story gave you just large enough a glimpse to want to know more. If you’ve seen the show already, I hope you enjoyed meandering down the lane with me. I hope there’s another season and I hope I can share it with you!

But wait…there’s more!!!

the backgrounds in this show are just…muwah

Favorite character: still EVERYONE!

What this anime taught me: Just because it’s a little sad doesn’t mean it can’t also be really fun

“In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is Freedom, in water there is bacteria.”

Suggested drink: Suffering Fools

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