Thinking about it, EoE and this episode have a lot in common, with the imagery of isolated humans trying and failing to reach out to one another. Damn, I wish my friends (who adore Eva and Death Note and have much more insight into each than I) would watch this series.

If Tonegawa’s speech about those who delude themselves that their lives aren’t real doesn’t hit home for you, you are certainly much too well adjusted to be watching anime on a Sunday morning.

double: “And Kaiji’s getting rather emo. I won’t be surprised if some people start slitting wrists after watching it lol.”

I prefer to think of it as being “cerebral”. Definitely the manly tears were flying in this episode, but ultimately it wasn’t about being emo, it was about what makes people tick, why people make the choices they do, and why people succeed or fail in the things they do.

To call it emo is to underestimate the depth of the storytelling, really.

DTZ: “Also, there was a female before; Kaiji and Sahara’s coworker at the convenience store.”

I know, I know, but it was a lot funnier this way.

Karura: “…I’d like to say something intelligent as well, but that will have to do.”

It’s ok. I think that communicates your feelings quite well enough. Your connection has reached me Karura, here on this lonely beam of a path I walk in life!

IKnight“Kaiji is Akagi with a moral framework; Kaiji is human while Akagi is inhuman. I intend to post on this in the future.”

I’ll definitely be very interested to see what you have to say on that subject. Comparing and contrasting the two series is always interesting because the protagonists are similar, but in completely opposite ways and for opposite reasons, if that makes any sense.

Jayme: “Some of the interpretations were absolutely bizarre in these episodes”

Definitely, but I think that’s one of Fukumoto’s strengths, taking something simple or mundane and portraying it with these graphic, dramatic terms. It really adds to the fun and intensity of the show.

CCY: “I’m not supposed to be so drawn in to a show where it’s pretty obvious who’s going to live and die.”

Haha, I agree… but then, I’ve always felt the story itself isn’t so important as the underlying thematic elements it portrays. That’s why I say Fukumoto could make anything interesting. He has a way of looking under the hood of what makes the characters tick, and exploring that in interesting and unique ways.

Zeke: “Well . . . Ya, it was GGAAAARRRRReat!!!”

Tony the Tiger would not be best pleased if he heard you say that, but… dang I laughed in spite of myself. Well played, man.

I’m not supposed to be so drawn in to a show where it’s pretty obvious who’s going to live and die. It’s not supposed to be intriguing when the characters defy the laws of physics. I’m not supposed to be touched by an obvious I’m-going-to-die scene. It’s not supposed to be thought-provoking when Kaiji and Sahara are busy being gay for each other.

This is a manly show. Why is it so existentially and emotionally provoking?

(I have no capability left for any more fanboying over this show. I’m now down to being tsundere for it. I hope you don’t mind the cursing.)

I realise how unstructured this comment was.. I’m sure you don’t care.

…I’d like to say something intelligent as well, but that will have to do.