Great analysis, bittersweet as it may be considering this episode is the last one we'll see for a while. Be that as it may, I think it encapsulates a lot of what this season was about. It was always "from the past to the future". That was the tagline to promote it and, in a way, the thesis statement that unites all this disparate arcs together. How the past, those who came before, affect those come after. I remember thinking that Deathtopia came to Japan to ask Shinobu to eat her, to willingly let herself be eaten before she ends up, but after seeing Shinobu enjoying herself having found a way to coexist with people without having to kill them, those thoughts probably changed. Here's where I think the name Shinobu Mustard comes in. Recounting our talk about spices and the way condiments are used as a metaphor to the spice you give to your life; what you like, what you put in your life to enjoy it more, your reason for existing. So in that sense, Shinobu's "mustard" is her relationship with Araragi and how that makes her feel whole. Its undoubtedly a bit bittersweet for Deathtopia, whose life's only Spice, only mustard(even honey mustard) seems to be Shinobu; seeing her happy, seeing her fulfilled. And when she confirms that, its enough for yer like a parent to their child. I love how a lot of these relationships in Monogatari cant be pinned down to one term or another. Shinobu and Araragi are Master and Servant, but they also act like siblings, star crossed lovers, close friends, alter egos. Deathtopia also seems to go through many radical phases in her relationship with Shinobu, from a clear Captor and prey, to lovers, to friends, to even an almost motherly bond by the end. Its all very rich to think about. Also, brunette Senjougahara. ❤ Pd: Do you think her sandwich had mustard? Or is her mustard Araragi? Ok, im done with the food metaphors.
@alexanderhenriquez9354 Shaft did a great job selecting and sewing together some of the best arcs to represent that theme! ^^ It primed me for all of these talking points. Deathtopia basically acting as a mom or demonstrating motherly affection definitely didn't go unmissed and ngl I felt bad for Kie basically being compared to her "older sister" the whole time. XD No wonder she lashes out at Araragi by the end of their conversation. Agreed on how the relationships in this show are so rich that they can't be reduced to one or two labels, the way real relationships can be complex sometimes. But isn't that what gives life its spice? And back to last week's point - that's why we have to approach each with sincerity, lest we poison ourselves. The mustard on Senjougahara's food would have been a nice touch! XD I think Araragi ended up being the mustard to everyone's life but perhaps he inherited that from the original mustard - Shinobu. I feel like Nisioisin really emphasized the point that Deathtopia's thralls were all blond in the novel - perhaps it was also meant to remind us that Shinobu is blonde, is yellow, is mustard. Kekeke.
Great analysis, bittersweet as it may be considering this episode is the last one we'll see for a while. Be that as it may, I think it encapsulates a lot of what this season was about. It was always "from the past to the future". That was the tagline to promote it and, in a way, the thesis statement that unites all this disparate arcs together. How the past, those who came before, affect those come after.
I remember thinking that Deathtopia came to Japan to ask Shinobu to eat her, to willingly let herself be eaten before she ends up, but after seeing Shinobu enjoying herself having found a way to coexist with people without having to kill them, those thoughts probably changed. Here's where I think the name Shinobu Mustard comes in. Recounting our talk about spices and the way condiments are used as a metaphor to the spice you give to your life; what you like, what you put in your life to enjoy it more, your reason for existing. So in that sense, Shinobu's "mustard" is her relationship with Araragi and how that makes her feel whole. Its undoubtedly a bit bittersweet for Deathtopia, whose life's only Spice, only mustard(even honey mustard) seems to be Shinobu; seeing her happy, seeing her fulfilled. And when she confirms that, its enough for yer like a parent to their child.
I love how a lot of these relationships in Monogatari cant be pinned down to one term or another. Shinobu and Araragi are Master and Servant, but they also act like siblings, star crossed lovers, close friends, alter egos. Deathtopia also seems to go through many radical phases in her relationship with Shinobu, from a clear Captor and prey, to lovers, to friends, to even an almost motherly bond by the end.
Its all very rich to think about. Also, brunette Senjougahara. ❤
Pd: Do you think her sandwich had mustard? Or is her mustard Araragi? Ok, im done with the food metaphors.
@alexanderhenriquez9354 Shaft did a great job selecting and sewing together some of the best arcs to represent that theme! ^^ It primed me for all of these talking points.
Deathtopia basically acting as a mom or demonstrating motherly affection definitely didn't go unmissed and ngl I felt bad for Kie basically being compared to her "older sister" the whole time. XD No wonder she lashes out at Araragi by the end of their conversation.
Agreed on how the relationships in this show are so rich that they can't be reduced to one or two labels, the way real relationships can be complex sometimes. But isn't that what gives life its spice? And back to last week's point - that's why we have to approach each with sincerity, lest we poison ourselves.
The mustard on Senjougahara's food would have been a nice touch! XD I think Araragi ended up being the mustard to everyone's life but perhaps he inherited that from the original mustard - Shinobu. I feel like Nisioisin really emphasized the point that Deathtopia's thralls were all blond in the novel - perhaps it was also meant to remind us that Shinobu is blonde, is yellow, is mustard. Kekeke.