r/anime • u/Holofan4life • 12d ago
Rewatch [Spoilers] 25 Years of the 13 Sohmas: A Fruits Basket Rewatch -- 2019 Series Season 3 Episode 11 Spoiler
Hello everyone! I am Holofan4life.
Welcome to the Fruits Basket 25th anniversary rewatch discussion thread!
I hope you all have a lot of fun <3
2019 Series Episode 61 (Season 3 Episode 11)
Goodbye
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ANSWER TODAY’S QUESTION(S)
What are your thoughts on Tohru and Kyo officially becoming a couple?
What are your thoughts on Kyo's bond breaking, meaning he's finally free of the cat curse?
What are your thoughts on us finding out the origins of the Chinese Zodiac curse?
What are your thoughts on Kyo breaking his bracelet into pieces?
What are your thoughts on everyone's bonds breaking?
Questions for Those who Have Watched the 2001 Series
How do you compare Tohru and Kyo's relationship here Vs the 2001 anime?
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Series information
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Please do not post any untagged spoilers past the current episode or past the LNs or mangas out of respect to the first time watchers and people who have not read the LNs or mangas. If you are discussing something that is ahead of the current episode please use spoiler tags(found on the sidebar). Thank you!
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Ways to watch
Streams – Crunchyroll
Schedule
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u/Second_Cour 11d ago
I thought this was a pretty good episode overall, and probably one of the stronger episodes of the show. I did enjoy Tohru fainting in the first scene. That felt like classic Tohru, and despite my issues with how she has developed at times, I still find her fundamentally likeable.
It was well directed, well written, and I especially liked the use of the Zodiac fairy tale like story to finally explain why the curse exists in the first place. Fruits Basket has used these kinds of fairy tales quite well throughout the series: e.g. Idiot traveller.
That story made the curse itself make much more sense to me, even if it’s not meant to be completely literal. The Cat being willing to die and eventually leave God's side is treated as a betrayal. The Cat is the one who is willing to let go and accept that life should be finite rather than endlessly reincarnating to be there for God. That also gives a reasonable explanation for the transformation mechanic. The Zodiac are supposed to love God, so pursuing love and physical affection with someone else is betrayal. You can hug God but not others.
The other major thing I have been waiting for is an explanation of what actually causes the bonds to break. I do not think the show gives us a completely explicit rule, but at this point I think the mechanism is fairly obvious. For me, it is much simpler than giving every Zodiac member their own separate condition. The curse starts breaking when Akito begins losing faith in herself as God and in the Zodiac bond itself.
That seems to fit Kureno being the first person whose curse broke, during a period when Akito's belief in herself was first being seriously challenged. The later breaks happen as that faith continues to weaken. The empty box is another major moment because it forces Akito to confront the possibility that maybe she is not God and maybe everything she has built her identity around is not what she believed it was. Eventually she gives up that belief completely, accepts being a normal person, accepts that the Zodiac do not need to remain beside her forever, and the remaining bonds disappear.
Tohru is obviously a major catalyst in all of this, but I do not think the curse breaks because individual Zodiac members become close enough to her or independent enough themselves. Kureno's curse had already broken long before Tohru entered the picture. Tohru's influence is more about what she changes in other people and, ultimately, what she makes Akito see in herself. That explanation works well enough for me, and I am satisfied with both why the curse exists and why it eventually breaks.
While the Tohru x Kyo hug is great, of course, it also makes no sense to me. Every previous bond break was presented as something the person immediately felt. Kureno knew. Momiji knew. Hiro knew. It was a huge internal change because this connection to Akito that had existed their entire lives was suddenly gone.
While objectively (minus the logic) the scene was great, I really don’t feel any emotion for the characters themselves - I think that’s more a ‘me’ problem, but also the issue with such a big cast and the culmination of previous overcooked scenes. With Kyo, the episode instead needs him to hug Tohru without knowing whether he will transform so that we get the dramatic reveal when nothing happens. I completely understand why they did it. It is the obvious and probably correct dramatic choice, and the scene itself is beautifully composed and directed. But to create that moment, the show seems to ignore the logic it had already established around previous curse breaks. Either Kyo is made to simply not feel the bond effects breaking, or the bond which is clearly now tied to Akito (even showing the scene where she gives it up) happens at the exact second the hug occurs, which is…a bit too much. Could have been a perfect scene, but instead I’m left challenging its logic. Again.
I also thought the actual confession and kiss between Tohru and Kyo was very well done. The disappointing part for me is that I still did not feel much emotionally. After spending this long with these characters, I would like to have been completely behind them and felt some enormous payoff, but I simply was not that invested in either the romance or the characters.
That has probably been my biggest issue with Fruits Basket in general. There have been a lot of major reveals and supposedly huge emotional moments, but for whatever reason I often feel like I am observing them rather than experiencing them with the characters. I think I now have a much clearer idea of why that is, but I will save that for my overall series review.
The other thing I am still curious about is Shigure. I still do not really understand what his supposed plan actually was, how he expected it to work, and what specific steps he deliberately took to produce the result he wanted. A lot of explanations I have seen describe the eventual outcome rather than an actual plan. To me, a plan needs some identifiable sequence of actions and logic behind them. Maybe the final two episodes will clarify that, maybe not.
What surprises me most is that there are still two episodes left. This honestly felt like it could have been a very good conclusion to the entire series. Most of the major boxes have been closed, the curse is gone, Akito has let go of being God, and Tohru and Kyo have finally come together.
I am slightly apprehensive about what the final two episodes will do because sometimes a story can keep cooking after it has already reached its natural ending point. I generally like leaving at least a little bit open for the audience to imagine rather than seeing every character and relationship fully explained afterward. Maybe that concern is partly because I am not particularly invested in most of the romances. I assume we will get more Yuki and Machi, although I already felt their relationship reached a fairly reasonable point in the previous episode.
So overall, I liked the episode. I thought the explanation of the curse was satisfying, the Zodiac story was very well handled, and the episode was strongly written and directed. But even at what should be one of the biggest emotional payoffs of the entire series, I still cannot say I felt some enormous sense of excitement or relief. Tohru and Kyo getting together was something we already knew was coming, and the curse breaking once Akito abandoned her belief in the whole system also felt increasingly obvious.
For me, a lot of this episode therefore felt more like confirmation of things the story had already made apparent than a series of huge revelations. Intellectually, I think it works quite well. Emotionally, I am still watching Fruits Basket from a surprising distance.
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u/Holofan4life 11d ago
I kinda see the way we're watching Fruits Basket as actually being similar to the banquets themselves. For me, I'm fully entrenched in them and participating in all the various activities. Meanwhile, you're like the cat looking on from the outside with like a look of borderline indifference. Maybe indifference is too strong a word, but certainly less passionate than I am.
The reality is the show is probably not as spectacular as I talk it up being. But when you're in the bubble and you're all in on something, you start to believe everything you're saying instead of the gospel it most likely is. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. It's a show like the banquets themselves that you can take lessons from but maybe the whole parts aren't to be fully encouraged.
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u/Second_Cour 11d ago
I think that's a great analogy
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u/Holofan4life 11d ago
Nothing like writing multiple paragraphs at 4 in the morning :P
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u/Second_Cour 11d ago
Haha that's literally the time those threads go up for me
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u/Holofan4life 11d ago
I guess me heading to work at that time is all an allusion to what your life is like :P
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u/Second_Cour 11d ago
I think both aren't ideal scenarios (I should go to sleep at midnight like a normal person but often stay up til 6am because of rewatched) though work at that time sounds rougher
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u/Holofan4life 11d ago
I think the reason why I was invested in Tohru and Kyo's relationship is that it was mutually beneficial. Like, if it just served to make Kyo a better person, then whatever. He moves on and becomes his own man and we're off to the races. But the shoe has done a good job showing that the Death of Kyoko has held Tohru back in a lot of ways. This relationship and being with Kyo is just as important to Tohru as it was to Kyo.
If I were to offer any criticism in the way the Tohru and Kyo romance was written, I feel like it was deempathesized for key select moments. Season 2 in particular was more about fleshing out the other Sohmas, the Zodiac curse mythos, and Yuki as a character. From episode 26 until like the school trip episode whichever one that was, it's like the show went out of its way not to build up that part of the show. And I remember episode 24 being one of the most heralded episodes of the series during this rewatch, so the dynamic between Tohru and Kyo was well regarded at some point.
I've been thinking about it and I think a couple factors were at play. The show wanted to flesh out Yuko to ehere his relationship with with Tohru wasn't one of sexual attraction. The show could've done a love triangle between Tohru, Kyo, and Yuki but they really didn't. I also think that the stuff between Kyo and Kyoko was a way to microwave the Kyo and Tohru relationship and make them coming together impactful. Because enough time had past since episode 24 that the show needed to give Kyo more emotional baggage.
I think it would've worked if Tohru and Kyo got together during the beach house arc. Like right after Kyo's conversation with Akito. That way, you can play up people wondering if Kyo is dating Tohru for ulterior motives like sticking it to Akito. Kyo running away is what ultimately set up Tohru being confronted by Akito holding a knife, but you could've had it to where Kyo is trying to change but he thinks he's still stuck in the past. Basically, what they ended up doing but without the Kyoko stuff.
There are details in Tohru and Kyo's relationship I may have done differently. I'm not totally disagreeing with you on its execution. But by and large, I really like Tohru and Kyo and their whole rapport because it kinda plays into their insecurities. And it's kinda hard for me to say what I really would change with the show because so much of it is about the Sohma family and all their various intricacies. And that was arguably the highlight of the show.
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u/Holofan4life 11d ago
I really liked how they executed the Zodiac curse backstory. It really worked for me and just the entire presentation was like a banquet for the eyes, pun fully intended.
I think the cat originally being essentially God's right hand man accomplishes a few things. First, it makes Akito trying to befriend Yuki and the whole Yuki and Kyo rivalry that much harsher in hindsight. But also the cat was forced into the spot they were in while the rest of the family weren't. The cat never asked for this, and so because he spoke up about it he essentially got punished.
I mentioned in another comment the contrast between the cat back then and Kyo now. This cat didn't seem afraid to say something and face things head on, whereas Kyo whenever there was a problem would run away to try and like avoid the issue. I also think there are some similarities where Kyo was being forced to be in this position of being treated unfairly. Even Shigure was matter of fact about it with him saying that's just what the cat's role is.
The cat seemed to be framed as causing the downfall of the family. That without him, the Chinese Zodiac inhabitants would just live properly and hold banquets for eternity. The very nature of the origin story with which the Sohmas try to honor is rendered moot because the cat was the first one at the banquet and Kyo never gets invited to one of them. This is a lesson in poor reading comprehension.
The cat pointed out what a flawed system the whole immortality thing was and so they all died as a result. And yet the Sohmas carry on regardless because they feel basically this is what they have to do. No, the system isn't flawed, the cat is just a hater and don't know what he's talking about. We forced him into it, so let's do the right thing and exclude him altogether.
I think ultimately this is a lesson in madness and how some practices are just best left a thing of the past. You can lead a cat to water, but you can't make it drink so why not hold him against his will as recompense?
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u/Holofan4life 11d ago edited 11d ago
It is interesting how uninvolved Akito really was in the bonds breaking. Like, the events of the previous episodes basically made her a nonfactor. It kinda needed to be this way because the bonds and her attachment to them were like the thing preventing the bonds from breaking. The bonds were to Akito how Kyoko was to Tohru, and it took Akito realizing she could live without them before the bonds became a mere memory.
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u/Second_Cour 11d ago
Confused isn't the bonds completely linked to Akito. When she has faith and need for the bonds they're there. When she loses faith they break. When she lets go of them the rest break so Akito is completely involved?
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u/Holofan4life 11d ago
But Akito stopped putting the bonds on a pedestal and treating it as the end all be all.
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u/Holofan4life 12d ago
Hey, guys. Holofan4life here.
Welcome to the Fruits Basket 25th anniversary rewatch.
For there is an animal in all of us <3
Fruits Basket is a show I’ve heard a lot about. It’s always been something that interests me. It’s a romcom, which is a genre I enjoy, it has a female protagonist, which is kinda a rarity for romcom anime, it has a tsundere, which yes please, and from what I’ve heard it has some supernatural elements which is pretty cool.
Funny enough, I’m hosting this rewatch the same time as I’m hosting the Spice and Wolf rewatch which is another show with supernatural elements.
I have never seen Fruits Basket before, but I have high hopes for it. It seems like the type of show I would enjoy. I would say of the shows on my to watch list, this one is probably in my top 5. And let's just say that list is long and ever expansive. Actually, I love the idea of a male tsundere who turns into an orange cat so much that I named my orange cat after him. That’s without having seen the show.
For the purposes of this rewatch, we will be watching both the original series and the remake. I don’t think both have ever been done like this, and by the end we’ll find out for good reason :P
Regardless, this is my big pet project of 2026 the purpose of which is for me to see what all the hubbub is about. I’m not expecting the show to crack my top 10 favorite anime of all time, but hey, you never know.
With that out of the way, let’s begin.
I’m watching the dub, by the way.
Nothing like watching an episode before work in 90 minutes and worrying about getting it done in time.
Tohru exiting the hospital
This is the end of the last episode but from her perspective.
She doesn't know why she started running.
Kyo is preventing her from leaving.
Poor Kyo lol
Tohru in the hospital with Yuki
This is a flashback
Yuki looks so concerned
Meanwhile, Yuki is a mess of emotions.
"Just hearing his name is a knife to the heart."
Tohru feels she has to move past it.
I really hope we're not setting up a downer ending.
Tohru says she will smile and accept things how they are.
But there's Kyo
The heart wants what it wants
Kyo walking over towards her
He's staring at her
He admits he was being completely selfish.
If he's going to repeat history, how's that different from knowing nothing at all?
It isn't
Kyo is asking Tohru one last chance.
"What I want is to be with you."
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Tohru asks if this means she can hold his hand.
And Kyo points out they already are.
And then they kiss
Their second kiss, which Tohru is surprised by.
Kyo asking if he can hold her
Tohru says she loves him no matter what.
Kyo feels there's nothing to be afraid of.
"Not if you're with me."
And then they hug
Elsewhere Akito says goodbye
Akito in the hospital with Tohru
She tells Tohru she's pretty and she isn't.
Tohru warns to not use words like that to separate people into categories.
She's just as pretty as she is.
Tohru bringing up she's someone trying to destroy the world.
Even still, she would love nothing more than to be friends with her.
Akito calls her persistent if anything.
Oh boy. Backstory time.
A person atop a mountain
Why is Tohru narrating this?
Afraid of people and being judged
You know, like The Grinch
A cat paid a visit to the mountain
And the cat is very talkative
The cat never left the person's side.
From there, borned a possibility
"Those who are also unlike humans would be willing to be my friends."
A banquet, where everyone is invited by God.
12 creatures arrived
God and the 13 animals had one banquet after another.
But one day, the cat collapsed
The animals were saddened by this
Soon, they realized, they too would die as well.
God gave the cat a sip of a liquid and made the bonds between them eternal.
"No matter how many times we die and are reborn, our banquets will continue, just like this."
They all took a sip from the oath cup, sealing their vow.
The cat however seemed to regret drinking from the cup. They didn't want eternity.
They are mortal, and things must end. It's a natural part of life.
It wants to know what God's smile looks like illuminated by the sun. And among humans.
And so, the cat died
Eventually, the other animals died as well.
God was alone, and he too died as well.
But God was unafraid, for he knew another banquet was on the horizon.
Everyone is waiting for him on the other side of that promise.
The original promise
Akito asking if she can let go now.
Kyo in what looks like a trance
Did his bond break?
Akito wonders who will possibly love her now.
Ayame and Mina
Haven't seen them in a while
Oh boy. He's hugging her.
He says he was born to be with her.
And he hugs her
Is... all the bonds broken?
Everyone seems startled by what's happening.
"Cry with me, please."
Aw, man. Hatori.
Even Shigure looks saddened
Akito is begging for people to cry with her.
KYO JUST SNAPPED THE BRACELET
Like tears in a waterfall falling down. Lost in time.
"Goodbye"
Post credits scene
Kyo and Tohru in front of master
He is finally free
Master hugs him
There's Haru
And Rin
They are free as well
Hatori
God saying thank you
The original memory, forgotten by everyone.
Was that Akito hugging Tohru?
Years before the cat's plea, fervent and honest, was finally heard.
Today is that day
Overall, this is a fantastic episode. Tohru and Kyo finally come together, we get the backstory of the Chinese Zodiac and the Sohma curse, and we get the Sohma bond finally breaking which is a moment we've been building to since literally the first episode. It was a very breezy watch to get through as I was able to watch it in 40 minutes, which I think speaks to have gravitated I was to what was going on. I really love how the entire episode was about Kyo finding closure with his lot in life. Initially rejected for wanting something different, the cat has now found warmth.
When I think about it, Tohru knows of the story because it's the same one her mother told her as a child. And if you remember, she felt terrible for the cat and the fate that befell him. To think a story first recalled in the first episode ended up being elaborated on here in the episode before the penultimate one is just a masterclass in storytelling. I've said this before, but it doesn't make it any less true.
This is a borderline top ten episode. I have it off the top of my head only behind episodes 5, 7, 14, 24, 32, 34, 35, 46, 56, 57, 58, and 59. I wanted to include it in my top 10 favorite Fruits Basket episodes but I look through the episodes we've seen and it's just so loaded. Like, even the episodes I have behind this one there's like four or five of them that are 10 out of 10. This episode isn't even a top ten 10 out of 10 episode!
It really feels like we're in the end game of the end game. Tohru and Kyo are together finally, the bonds are all broken, and now we are experiencing the after effects of everything. With only two episodes left, I imagine the next one will be about Yuki and Machi's relationship and the last episode will be about Akito and the various relationships she has with the Sohma family. Those are like our two unresolved plot points remaining. I thought it was interesting all the Sohma family members was focused here except for Yuki. I don't think he was in it at all except for that brief hospital scene. That's why I think the next episode will be about Yuki and have him start dating Machi. It will serve to bring his character closure much in the same way this episode brought Kyo's character closure.
After a kinda soft start to the season, season 3 has quickly become the best of the seasons. I have 5 of the 11 episodes at a 10 out of 10, which is almost a 50% batting average which is the equivalent of hitting a homerun every other time at bat. That is absurdly good to almost to the point of preposterous. I think there's a very good chance the last two episodes end up in my top twenty favorite Fruits Basket episodes. Maybe even top ten, but it's more than likely we end up up with 7 out of 13 season 3 episodes a 10 out of 10.
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u/Holofan4life 12d ago
What are your thoughts on Tohru and Kyo officially becoming a couple?
Finally, some good fucking food
What are your thoughts on Kyo's bond breaking, meaning he's finally free of the cat curse?
My boy is officially a free man. Woo.
What are your thoughts on us finding out the origins of the Chinese Zodiac curse?
I really like the visuals here and how they really went all out showing the curse origins.
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u/JimmyCWL 11d ago
Why is Tohru narrating this?
Is she narrating this as "herself" or is her VA standing in as the omniscient viewpoint?
And if Tohru is being herself, how did she learn of this myth and more importantly, who is she telling it to?
[It could be]her own children, in 10 to 15 years.
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u/Holofan4life 11d ago
It also could be Tohru relaying the exact story Kyoko told her in episode 1. She's remembering her roots.
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u/JimmyCWL 11d ago
That would be quite a stretch considering how different it is from the common Asian zodiac myth. None of them give the cat that much significance.
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u/Holofan4life 11d ago
But Tohru if you remember developed an emotional attachment to the cat based off the story.
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u/JimmyCWL 11d ago
But IIRC, the myth Kyoko told her was a more conventional one with the cat not making it to god.
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u/Holofan4life 11d ago
I thought it was about how the cat was excluded from the family.
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u/JimmyCWL 11d ago
I went back to S1E1 to check. Kyoko's tale was god invited the animals to the banquet. The rat lied to the cat about the date. So the cat missed the banquet. Like I said, conventional.
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u/Holofan4life 11d ago
I just realized something. Tohru's mom told her daughter growing up what she heard. And then Tohru relayed the version that she heard. Tohru just like with Kyoko saying she won't forgive Kyo is disregarding what her mother said. She isn't taking what she said at face value.
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u/Holofan4life 12d ago
Holofan's Fruits Basket Episode Rankings
1/. Episode 59
2/. Episode 24
3/. Episode 57
4/. Episode 14
5/. Episode 58
6/. Episode 46
7/. Episode 56
8/. Episode 35
9/. Episode 34
10/. Episode 32
11/. Episode 5
12/. Episode 17
13/. Episode 16
14/. Episode 61
15/. Episode 7
16/. Episode 37
17/. Episode 54
18/. Episode 48
19/. Episode 43
20/. Episode 47
21/. Episode 50
22/. Episode 36
23/. Episode 60
24/. Episode 10
25/. Episode 40
26/. Episode 41
27/. Episode 12
28/. Episode 22
29/. Episode 4
30/. Episode 55
31/. Episode 31
32/. Episode 20
33/. Episode 25
34/. Episode 27
35/. Episode 52
36/. Episode 49
37/. Episode 53
38/. Episode 45
39/. Episode 44
40/. Episode 33
41/. Episode 51
42/. Episode 42
43/. Episode 8
44/. Episode 6
45/. Episode 1
46/. Episode 18
47/. Episode 30
48/. Episode 23
49/. Episode 13
50/. Episode 38
51/. Episode 2
52/. Episode 29
53/. Episode 11
54/. Episode 39
55/. Episode 26
56/. Episode 15
57/. Episode 28
58/. Episode 19
59/. Episode 9
60/. Episode 21
61/. Episode 3
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u/dontoff 12d ago
First Timer (Dub)
The reunion, finally
Okay, is Tohru supposed to be recovering from an injury, or did we forget that part? What the fuck are we doing?
The things we do for comedy, am I right?
This whole Tohru and Kyo situation has been getting dragged out, man. Can we fucking finish this conversation and move forward?
The “I’m disappointed in you” line is being used and abused. I understand that he pushed her away, but watching the show keep returning to those words to sustain her devastation is exhausting. After everything else that came out in that conversation, this is what we keep circling.
CAN WE MOVE SHIT FORWARD NATURALLY?
The opening felt like this:
“Guys, let’s have Tohru run a marathon.”
“But boss, she just fell off a cliff and got out of the hospital.”
“Fuck that cliff. The audience has moved on. Keep the past in the past. Besides, Kyo’s tear fell on her face. That’s the strongest medicine known to man: the fallen tear of a beloved orange-haired tsundere.”
“Fair enough. Why the marathon, though?”
“So she can narrate all her feelings about Kyo being disappointed in her. We need her absolutely devastated before the reunion so it hits harder.”
“What about her processing the fact that he knew her mother, kept that connection hidden, and was there when she died?”
“We’ve got a confession to get to. Also, she needs to reach somewhere scenic. Think of the panning shots.”
That’s how arranged the whole sequence feels to me. We need another stretch of Tohru running, crying, and explaining how much those words hurt before they can finally have the conversation I’ve been waiting for.
And to be clear, the reunion itself is sweet. It has some funny lines, and I can appreciate finally seeing them be direct with each other. But man did they drag it till we got to this point.
I still don’t get the reputation
It’s honestly mind-boggling to me that people consider this an exceptionally well-written show. Top tens and all that. My God, how far apart are our standards here?
I struggle to imagine this exact anime getting quite this level of praise a decade ago. That’s an impression, but the gap between its reputation and what I’m watching keeps surprising me.
Listen, I don’t think the show is shit. Even the Kyo and Tohru scene has things I enjoy. But so much of the romance feels like familiar shoujo slop, with the likeability of the characters doing a lot of the work.
Kyo and Tohru, Kureno and Uotani, even Haru and Rin. These are situations and relationship dynamics I feel like I’ve seen many times before. Haru and Rin work better for me because I find them more likeable together and think they have more chemistry.
That’s also part of why Akito and Shigure interest me so much. Their situation feels different. There’s something there I want to spend more time with.
At this point, seeing Fruits Basket near the top of someone’s anime list would instantly make me stop taking their list seriously. I’m definitely going to judge them for it. The level of praise still makes no fucking sense to me.
And then the second half reminds me why I haven’t completely written the show off.
The first promise
They nailed this part. I’m going to be honest: if more of the show were like this, it would be on another level.
The idea of the first promise is so fucking good. These bonds began with lonely beings finding companionship and wanting to preserve something that made them happy. I can understand that desire immediately. You find people you love being around, and you don’t want those days to end.
But the cat is willing to accept that they will. It values the time they had together and wants God to be able to find happiness beyond that same circle. God and the others hear rejection where the cat is asking them to accept change.
That makes the cat’s exclusion especially sad. The first one to offer companionship becomes the one they resent for refusing to promise that everything will stay the same forever.
Then the post-credits scene asks:
When did that promise become a “curse”?
When did our fellowship become a “burden”?
That speaks to something much bigger than the literal curse.
The promises we make to loved ones can come from affection, friendship, and camaraderie, then become painful as time passes. People change. Their needs change. A promise that once brought two people comfort can start demanding that they remain versions of themselves they no longer are.
And it can be difficult to recognise that, because admitting something has changed feels like betraying what you had. You keep carrying it because it mattered, even when carrying it is hurting everyone involved.
That’s what I liked about the apology and the gratitude existing together here. The promise has worn thin and lost its original shape, but those years of carrying it still meant something. There was love at the beginning. There were genuinely happy days. Recognising what it became doesn’t erase those things.
For me, nothing in this world is meant to stay unchanged forever. We live a temporary life full of tests and tribulations. Wanting to preserve every relationship exactly as it was is understandable, but time keeps moving whether we accept it or not.
I don’t personally believe in Samsara, or that cycle of death and rebirth. But I don’t need to share that belief to get something from this story. It feels written in a way that can speak to people beyond those who share its spiritual framework.
The difficulty of maintaining relationships, the fear of losing someone, the way affection can turn into obligation, and how slippery it all becomes when people start changing are experiences people can recognise without believing in reincarnation.
And Akito finally letting go brings that idea into the present. She has to face the possibility of relationships that nobody is supernaturally required to maintain. That’s frightening for her, but it gives everyone a chance to decide how they want to live.
This is the part of the episode that worked so well for me. A promise made out of love becoming a source of suffering, and finally being allowed to end with both sorrow and thanks.
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u/Holofan4life 12d ago
The end of the last episode and the beginning of this episode was rather strange. I'm not exactly sure why Tohru and Kyo couldn't have gotten together in episode 9. Still, as someone like myself who's emotionally invested in Tohru and Kyo's relationship, I'm glad to see it happen. I like that it came about through Tohru moving on from her mother.
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u/Quiddity131 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Quiddity131 12d ago
Seems kinda obvious to me why they didn't do it in episode 9?
That was a packed episode already, leaving minimal time to squeeze it in
Kyo's fight with Yuki and his conversation with his father in the previous episode were important parts of the path to get him to where he was in this episode
Timing it to this episode when Akito releases everyone from the curse (at least my interpretation of events) just makes it an even more memorable moment as we also can get the hug and him tearing apart the beads.
2
u/Holofan4life 12d ago
I just feel Tohru running away feels kinda forced. I dunno. She was persistent in the face of being stabbed by Akito. Why would this cause her to have second thoughts?
2
u/MishouMai 11d ago
I mean the whole point of the opening of this episode is that running away was a subconscious action on Tohru's part, one she herself doesn't even understand, and not something she was intending to do. While it's obviously played somewhat for comedy I think it's somewhat in line with her character. She has complicated feelings about her dad and tried ti be like him to keep her mom around and she mostly just doesn't even really think of her dad and subconsciously chooses to focus more on her relationship with her mom. Her subconscious running away despite intentionally planning otherwise is just an extension of that.
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u/Holofan4life 11d ago
I suppose that makes sense. I just feel it's jarring when we're coming off Tohru not backing down from a crazy woman holding a knife.
I'm probably overthinking it...
3
u/Holofan4life 12d ago
I really liked the storytelling with the Chinese Zodiac curse and just the storybook esque visuals. The attention to detail really made the thing work for me. Whwn you break it down, it's a relatively simplistic story that might be boring with the wrong presentation. But I thought they really made the whole thing captivating.
And I liked that it led into the bonds breaking. It was like a chain reaction of sorts where it was one after another after another.
3
u/JimmyCWL 11d ago
Okay, is Tohru supposed to be recovering from an injury, or did we forget that part?
In the source manga, Tohru was actually hospitalized for a significant amount of time. The anime simply cannot show it due to not having enough episodes left. They compromised by not mentioning how long Tohru was actually in the hospital. Just assume she was there long enough for a full recovery. Or enough to run around, at least.
1
u/Holofan4life 12d ago
What are your thoughts on Kyo saying to Tohru all he wants is to be with her?
What are your thoughts on Kyo and Tohru kissing and tenderly embracing each other?
What are your thoughts on Tohru wanting to be friends with Akito?
What are your thoughte on God gave the cat a sip of a liquid and made the bonds between them eternal?
What are your thoughts on God and the 13 animals all dying because the cat didn't want eternity?
2
u/Quiddity131 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Quiddity131 12d ago
Rewatcher, Subbed
After several episodes of frustration over the Kyo - Tohru relationship this season (which I'd say is around 90% Kyo's fault and 10% Tohru's) we finally get this settled once and for all. The two tell each other they love them and kiss. Technically for the second time but Tohru forgot the first (can't blame her after falling off that cliff) so it is the first all over again. We get some silliness with her running away at first (and escaping him after he catches her) and even some "Are you okay with holding my hands?" when they were already holding hands, lol.
Finally, the real story of the origins of the zodiac curse (or at least I assume the real story, where did Tohru hear this from?). God was lonely, their powers made them distant from others. And they were afraid of being hurt (gee, who does that sound like?). Then one day a cat visited, God's first companion, staying with him always. From there God invites others and the other 12 zodiacs arrive. So as it turns out, this stuff about the rat telling the cat the wrong day never actually happened. Rather when the cat was close to death God had them all drink and he created eternal bonds for them. Which the cat didn't want. He was the mature one, recognizing that mortality is a thing you have to accept it. But this made the other animals feel betrayed and that's ultimately what carried over into the cat being the outcast.
HoloFan4Life a few episodes back you put out the theory about how the curse would break which while I didn't comment on at the time I would say aligns with my interpretation. We know that the curse was close to breaking anyway and this was likely the last generation of it from what Shigure said a number of episodes ago. It seems like Akito's feelings and confidence over the bonds is what triggered it. As she lost that confidence in it we saw some of the bonds break earlier. And finally here she says goodbye to all the bonds and everyone left has their curse broken as well.
Amazing sequence here as everyone realizes their curse broke. Tohru and Kyo hugging, totally expecting him to transform and he doesn't was such a great way to do the reveal. Best hug in anime? We also get the reactions of the other zodiacs. Ayame essentially going "Mine, come here! I want to hug you!" I'd say was my favorite, but all good stuff, and we got different types of reactions. Much like with Momiji and Hiro earlier this season, Kisa felt some sadness over it. You know it's really important when they spend the time to feature even Ritsu!
Although there's one zodiac we didn't see the reaction to, Yuki. Possibly more so than any other time in the rewatch I have such an urge to immediately watch the next episode (and as I do these write ups the night before, by the time I post this, I probably will be watching it shortly afterwards!).
Quite happy with the way they handled the curses being broken. Trying to do it via characters getting supernatural powers (ex. Tohru or Rin finds a spellbook) I think would be rather laughable, and while I've often heard from people the theory that Tohru would just become the new God in place of Akito I think that is quite against what the theme is supposed to be here!
Quid's Song of the Day
Okay, I can finally feature my personal favorite song out of the entire soundtrack, Mama Said which plays when everyone realizes the curse has broken. We've heard this song a few times already, just a couple of episodes ago and all the way back in episode 29, but knowing that it's used in one of my top five favorite scenes of the show I've been saving it for now.
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u/Holofan4life 12d ago
I like how the retelling of the story coincides with the cat not wanting to immortal. It does a couple things in that it explains why the other Zodiac members might resent Kyo, and it also puts emphasis on Kyo by having him getting with Tohru be like the domino effect that causes the bonds to break.
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u/Holofan4life 12d ago
I got so hyped when Kyo ripped off the bracelet. It felt like a contrast to episode 24 where there, when the bracelet broke, he was ashamed of it. Now, it's become a point of pride. The bracelet represents him embracing his present and no longer running away from his past.
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u/Holofan4life 12d ago
It does feel kinda satisfying to see the bonds break without Akito being hurt. I don't know if I would've felt that way a handful of episodes ago lol
2
u/Holofan4life 12d ago
Thoughts on us seeing Tohru run from her perspective?
Thoughts on Tohru feeling she has to move past things?
What are your thoughts on Kyo saying to Tohru all he wants is to be with her?
What are your thoughts on Kyo and Tohru kissing and tenderly embracing each other?
Thoughts on Akito telling Tohru she's pretty but she herself isn't?
What are your thoughts on Tohru wanting to be friends with Akito?
Thoughts on a man and a cat bonding with each other?
Thoughts on God and the 13 animals having one banquet after another?
What are your thoughte on God gave the cat a sip of a liquid and made the bonds between them eternal?
What are your thoughts on God and the 13 animals all dying because the cat didn't want eternity?
Thoughts on Ayame hugging Mine and telling her he was born to be with her?
Thoughts on Kazuma embracing and hugging Kyo?
What are your thoughts on the cat's plea finally being heard after all these years?
2
u/AgentOfACROSS 11d ago
First Timer
Oh yay Tohru’s out of the hospital. That’s nice.
The sudden way Tohru runs away is really funny to me.
Wow Kyo caught up pretty quickly.
Oh dang now this feels all serious.
I like seeing Kyo and Tohru together here.
Yay this kissed. That’s cute.
I guess we’re having some Akito focus in this episode too.
I like hearing her talk to Tohru.
I guess we’re hearing the story of the zodiac now? I like Tohru’s narration.
The whole story is very beautiful.
I guess it’s about accepting the inevitability of death.
And in Akito’s case, I think she’s understanding that her family doesn’t want to be around her because of what she did and instead wanting to try and make a new beginning for herself.
Ayame looks so stylish in this outfit on the couch.
I guess Ayame and Mine are getting together romantically now.
It’s a bit sudden but I can get behind it.
Also, I hope this doesn’t sound offensive, but Ayame is one of the gayest straight men I’ve ever seen.
Oh hey, it’s Ritsu. They have still not had a role in this show since their introduction.
Kyo tearing off his bracelet is a really good moment.
It seems like all their curses are broken now. Which really leaves me wondering just what these last two episodes are going to be now.
Questions of the Day:
What are your thoughts on Tohru and Kyo officially becoming a couple?
Glad we finally go there
What are your thoughts on Kyo's bond breaking, meaning he's finally free of the cat curse?
Good. It's been tormenting his life for long enough
What are your thoughts on us finding out the origins of the Chinese Zodiac curse?
I liked that sequence a lot
What are your thoughts on Kyo breaking his bracelet into pieces?
It's a really good visual
What are your thoughts on everyone's bonds breaking?
I really wanna know where the show will go from here.
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u/Holofan4life 11d ago
It seems like all their curses are broken now. Which really leaves me wondering just what these last two episodes are going to be now.
I feel like we definitely have to resolve the Yuki and Machi stuff. Like, I don't feel we have a proper resolution to that just yet.
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u/AgentOfACROSS 11d ago
Oh yeah true, that's the big one
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u/Holofan4life 11d ago
That's the biggest one left, no?
My prediction is that will be the focus of the penultimate episode and then the last episode will be a timeskip of some kind.
2
u/Quiddity131 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Quiddity131 11d ago
Also, I hope this doesn’t sound offensive, but Ayame is one of the gayest straight men I’ve ever seen.
Yeah I'm sure this was a surprising reveal! I can't recall if they left any hints in Mine's prior appearance (season 2 episode 3 I think) about this.
It seems like all their curses are broken now. Which really leaves me wondering just what these last two episodes are going to be now.
Well, we're still missing one of them!
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u/AgentOfACROSS 11d ago
Yeah I'm sure this was a surprising reveal! I can't recall if they left any hints in Mine's prior appearance (season 2 episode 3 I think) about this.
I mean, Mine and Ayame did always seem very close but it could easily be read as platonic too
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u/Holofan4life 11d ago
There was that one scene in season 3 episode 5 where Mine tells Ayame she'll never leave his side and he was grateful for it.
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u/Holofan4life 11d ago
Oh yay Tohru’s out of the hospital. That’s nice.
You see to love it
The sudden way Tohru runs away is really funny to me.
This is basically a continuation of the last episode.
Wow Kyo caught up pretty quickly.
That he did
Oh dang now this feels all serious.
Quite
I like seeing Kyo and Tohru together here.
Me too
Yay this kissed. That’s cute.
I think it's crazy the Yuki fight and his conversation with his dad and this stuff with Tohru all technically happened in the span of one day.
I guess we’re having some Akito focus in this episode too.
Why not?
I like hearing her talk to Tohru.
Me too
I guess we’re hearing the story of the zodiac now? I like Tohru’s narration.
Same here
The whole story is very beautiful.
I really love the visuals
I guess it’s about accepting the inevitability of death.
Poor cat got screwed
And in Akito’s case, I think she’s understanding that her family doesn’t want to be around her because of what she did and instead wanting to try and make a new beginning for herself.
Good for her
Ayame looks so stylish in this outfit on the couch.
He pulls everything off
I guess Ayame and Mine are getting together romantically now.
It’s a bit sudden but I can get behind it.
Also, I hope this doesn’t sound offensive, but Ayame is one of the gayest straight men I’ve ever seen.
He has a David Bowie quality about him.
Oh hey, it’s Ritsu. They have still not had a role in this show since their introduction.
You see to hate it
Kyo tearing off his bracelet is a really good moment.
Probably my favorite part of the episode. It's so explosive in emotion.
Questions of the Day:
What are your thoughts on Tohru and Kyo officially becoming a couple?
Glad we finally go there
I hope we get some couple stuff between the two of them.
What are your thoughts on Kyo's bond breaking, meaning he's finally free of the cat curse?
Good. It's been tormenting his life for long enough
Now he can start healing
What are your thoughts on us finding out the origins of the Chinese Zodiac curse?
I liked that sequence a lot
I have to look up who animated that sequence. I'm really curious.
What are your thoughts on Kyo breaking his bracelet into pieces?
It's a really good visual
Probably the best visual since Uo finding the dead bird.
What are your thoughts on everyone's bonds breaking?
I really wanna know where the show will go from here.
I wonder how the Sohma family will carry on with themselves.
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u/AgentOfACROSS 11d ago
You see to hate it
Ritsu really is the most underused character in this show. It really only feels like they're here because we needed someone to fill in the Monkey Zodiac which is disappointing because I think Ritsu is interesting. I hope we can get a Ritsu episode before the end but by this point I doubt it.
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u/Holofan4life 11d ago
We have two episodes left. I don't know if I'd like spending an episode on them this late into the show.
I think you could've done something with Ritsu once it was revealed Akito had her gender suppressed. But they kinda used Rin in that role instead.
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u/Holofan4life 11d ago
Thoughts on us seeing Tohru run from her perspective?
Thoughts on Tohru feeling she has to move past things?
What are your thoughts on Kyo saying to Tohru all he wants is to be with her?
What are your thoughts on Kyo and Tohru kissing and tenderly embracing each other?
Thoughts on Akito telling Tohru she's pretty but she herself isn't?
What are your thoughts on Tohru wanting to be friends with Akito?
Thoughts on a man and a cat bonding with each other?
Thoughts on God and the 13 animals having one banquet after another?
What are your thoughte on God gave the cat a sip of a liquid and made the bonds between them eternal?
What are your thoughts on God and the 13 animals all dying because the cat didn't want eternity?
Thoughts on Ayame hugging Mine and telling her he was born to be with her?
Thoughts on Kazuma embracing and hugging Kyo?
What are your thoughts on the cat's plea finally being heard after all these years?
2
u/AgentOfACROSS 11d ago
Thoughts on Tohru feeling she has to move past things?
I agrew tih her
What are your thoughts on Kyo saying to Tohru all he wants is to be with her?
I think that's really sweet
What are your thoughts on Kyo and Tohru kissing and tenderly embracing each other?
I've been waiting for this for a while now. Nice to see them get together
Thoughts on Akito telling Tohru she's pretty but she herself isn't?
Akito seems to have low self esteem
What are your thoughts on Tohru wanting to be friends with Akito?
I like this moment. Tohru has this almost Christlike quality to want to love and forgive everyone and try to help everyone improve. So it fits her.
I feel like Akito's whole character arc was a bit messily but I like the conclusion a lot. Akito does seem to realize that she doesn't deserve to be forgiven after everything she's done and she accepts that. But she still wants to try and move forward with her life as well as let her family move forward with their lives without her. But she realizes she doesn't have to be alone and can still try to keep improving and form new bonds.
Thoughts on a man and a cat bonding with each other?
Cute
What are your thoughte on God gave the cat a sip of a liquid and made the bonds between them eternal?
I guess that explains how this all got started
What are your thoughts on God and the 13 animals all dying because the cat didn't want eternity?
I can understand why the cat wouldn't want that. Eternity is a long time
Thoughts on Ayame hugging Mine and telling her he was born to be with her?
It's very sudden but I guess I can work with it
Thoughts on Kazuma embracing and hugging Kyo?
I think that's sweet
What are your thoughts on the cat's plea finally being heard after all these years?
I love it
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u/Holofan4life 11d ago
Thoughts on Tohru feeling she has to move past things?
I agrew tih her
Damn, what happened?
What are your thoughts on Kyo saying to Tohru all he wants is to be with her?
I think that's really sweet
Me too
What are your thoughts on Kyo and Tohru kissing and tenderly embracing each other?
I've been waiting for this for a while now. Nice to see them get together
It feels so good
Thoughts on Akito telling Tohru she's pretty but she herself isn't?
Akito seems to have low self esteem
Seems?
What are your thoughts on Tohru wanting to be friends with Akito?
I like this moment. Tohru has this almost Christlike quality to want to love and forgive everyone and try to help everyone improve. So it fits her.
Tohru is basically Belle from Beauty and the Beast if Belle had mommy issues.
I feel like Akito's whole character arc was a bit messily but I like the conclusion a lot. Akito does seem to realize that she doesn't deserve to be forgiven after everything she's done and she accepts that. But she still wants to try and move forward with her life as well as let her family move forward with their lives without her. But she realizes she doesn't have to be alone and can still try to keep improving and form new bonds.
When you say messily, you don't think that was by design? I definitely think so.
Thoughts on a man and a cat bonding with each other?
Cute
Until it wasn't :c
What are your thoughte on God gave the cat a sip of a liquid and made the bonds between them eternal?
I guess that explains how this all got started
Indeed
What are your thoughts on God and the 13 animals all dying because the cat didn't want eternity?
I can understand why the cat wouldn't want that. Eternity is a long time
Nonstop banquets seem boring
Thoughts on Ayame hugging Mine and telling her he was born to be with her?
It's very sudden but I guess I can work with it
Is it sudden? There was that scene from episode 5.
Thoughts on Kazuma embracing and hugging Kyo?
I think that's sweet
I love their relationship so much
What are your thoughts on the cat's plea finally being heard after all these years?
I love it
This episode is great because it was like one big W after another for Kyo.
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u/the_pint_is_the_bowl 11d ago
Re-watch, blu ray, dubbed
In this episode we revisit the zodiac myth - the reason I first watched the show - but now with a complete telling, and there is the breaking of all remaining bonds. As Akito exhorts the others to cry with her, I cry, too. When Kyo breaks his bracelet and Tohru cries in the background, she looks very cartoon-y, but I don't care - I was absolutely bawling with her in my first watch. (I still cry during re-watches, but it's more manageable - a recurring theme for me throughout Season 3).
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u/MishouMai 11d ago
The Cat was there first. The Cat was there first and was the entire reason "God" wasn't lonely in the first place yet they ignored her death and tossed her aside because she didn't want to be immortal. Man. "God" and the Zodiacs were all kind of awful if we assume the legend behind the curse is true.
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u/Holofan4life 11d ago
And the entire reason the cat was seemingly shunned was because they dared pointed out that living forever isn't an escape of your problems.
If you think about it, Ren is a version of the cat because she too points out that the bonds carry no wait. And what do they do? They shun her.
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u/MishouMai 11d ago
As much as I love Ren I would not compare her to the Cat. Like, yeah, they were both right but Ren is cruel and kind of a bitch (Though being looked down in certainty wouldn't make me willing to be nice to those who're mistreating me.) whereas the Cat seemed pretty loving.
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u/Holofan4life 11d ago
Wasn't Ren confined to the estate? And that was where Kyo was heading once he graduated. I guess the biggest difference is Ren at one point was at a higher standing than Kyo ever was. Ren was at least a servant at one point.
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u/MishouMai 10d ago
I mean Ren has her own room that Akito wanted her to stay in in order to keep her away from the male Zodiac members but she still had servants of her own to attend to her and we see her actually roaming freely with little issue. That's completely different from the Cat's usual fate of being locked in a tiny shed until they die.
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u/Holofan4life 10d ago
But Ren is still being confined to a specific area. Same as Yuki once upon a time and Rin recently. It's just not as callous and demonic.
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u/Holofan4life 11d ago
There's some extreme irony in the cat being the one to say the cycle of life, death and change was nothing to fear when Kyo is seemingly in fear of that on a daily basis. The family is basically designed to punish Kyo for something he is not, and as this is going on his father paints him as something he is not as well.
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u/Holofan4life 11d ago
I thought the entire sequence with the bonds breaking had an almost euphoric quality to it. It kinda reminded me of the movie Bugonia and it's ending where without giving anything away it felt like one after another after another.
And most importantly, I like that Kyo was kinda like the catalyst for this all happening. It felt like this crowning achievement for him.
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u/Holofan4life 11d ago
Thoughts on us seeing Tohru run from her perspective?
Thoughts on Tohru feeling she has to move past things?
What are your thoughts on Kyo saying to Tohru all he wants is to be with her?
What are your thoughts on Kyo and Tohru kissing and tenderly embracing each other?
Thoughts on Akito telling Tohru she's pretty but she herself isn't?
What are your thoughts on Tohru wanting to be friends with Akito?
Thoughts on a man and a cat bonding with each other?
Thoughts on God and the 13 animals having one banquet after another?
What are your thoughte on God gave the cat a sip of a liquid and made the bonds between them eternal?
What are your thoughts on God and the 13 animals all dying because the cat didn't want eternity?
Thoughts on Ayame hugging Mine and telling her he was born to be with her?
Thoughts on Kazuma embracing and hugging Kyo?
What are your thoughts on the cat's plea finally being heard after all these years?
3
u/MishouMai 11d ago
> Thoughts on Tohru feeling she has to move past things?
I have mixed feelings about that. Like growing and changing is good and all but Tohru shouldn't feel like she has to leave her love for her mother in the past. Obviously I don't want her to stay traumatized but I'm not sure I like the message/implication that to be happy with Kyo she has to forget about her past.
> Thoughts on Akito telling Tohru she's pretty but she herself isn't?
Real.I have nothing against short hair, women can pull it off either way but I don't find Akito attractive at all and whilst there are characters in the show I think are prettier than Tohru (Uo, Hanajima, Kagura, Machi, etc.) I definitely think Tohru is quite pretty herself. I cannot say the same about Akito.> What are your thoughts on "God" and the 13 animals all dying because the Cat didn't want eternity?
I thought the plan was always for "God" and the animals to die and reincarnate. It's just that the cat got ostracized because she didn't want that so everyone treated her as traitor instead of accepting that the Cat was grateful for the time they did have.
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u/Holofan4life 11d ago
> Thoughts on Tohru feeling she has to move past things?
I have mixed feelings about that. Like growing and changing is good and all but Tohru shouldn't feel like she has to leave her love for her mother in the past. Obviously I don't want her to stay traumatized but I'm not sure I like the message/implication that to be happy with Kyo she has to forget about her past.
I took it as more Tohru stopping putting her mother on a pedestal.
> Thoughts on Akito telling Tohru she's pretty but she herself isn't?
Real.I have nothing against short hair, women can pull it off either way but I don't find Akito attractive at all and whilst there are characters in the show I think are prettier than Tohru (Uo, Hanajima, Kagura, Machi, etc.) I definitely think Tohru is quite pretty herself. I cannot say the same about Akito.I personally find Akito hot in an "I can fix her" kinda way.
> What are your thoughts on "God" and the 13 animals all dying because the Cat didn't want eternity?
I thought the plan was always for "God" and the animals to die and reincarnate. It's just that the cat got ostracized because she didn't want that so everyone treated her as traitor instead of accepting that the Cat was grateful for the time they did have.
I mean, you definitely could be right
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u/Nickthenuker https://anilist.co/user/Nickthenuker 11d ago
And so, the bonds have been broken.
Questions:
Yay!
Yay!
And so there it is.
So, the curse is broken.
And so it's over.
1
u/Holofan4life 11d ago
And so, the bonds have been broken.
Broken bonds, as opposed to the bats broken by Berry Bonds.
1
u/Holofan4life 11d ago
It feels good to see Tohru and Kyo finally together. I know they were already pretty affectionate with each other, but I like seeing good things happen to Kyo, you know? He's suffered long enough.
1
u/Holofan4life 11d ago
Thoughts on us seeing Tohru run from her perspective?
Thoughts on Tohru feeling she has to move past things?
What are your thoughts on Kyo saying to Tohru all he wants is to be with her?
What are your thoughts on Kyo and Tohru kissing and tenderly embracing each other?
Thoughts on Akito telling Tohru she's pretty but she herself isn't?
What are your thoughts on Tohru wanting to be friends with Akito?
Thoughts on a man and a cat bonding with each other?
Thoughts on God and the 13 animals having one banquet after another?
What are your thoughte on God gave the cat a sip of a liquid and made the bonds between them eternal?
What are your thoughts on God and the 13 animals all dying because the cat didn't want eternity?
Thoughts on Ayame hugging Mine and telling her he was born to be with her?
Thoughts on Kazuma embracing and hugging Kyo?
What are your thoughts on the cat's plea finally being heard after all these years?
2
u/Nickthenuker https://anilist.co/user/Nickthenuker 11d ago
Ok...
Indeed.
That's nice.
Yay!
Ok...
That's nice of her.
Ok...
I suppose that's how to have them not die.
Not so eternal after all.
That's nice.
Ok...
Finally.
1
1
u/Holofan4life 11d ago
- Ok...
Shigure probably thinking "Akito is totally pretty" as he's slanging meat against her mom.
3
u/JimmyCWL 11d ago
I came to a realization several episodes ago. It would have been awkward to talk about it then because the process was still ongoing at the time. I decided to wait until Akito completed the process, until now. What process is that? The process of going through the stages of coping with loss!
The first stage is denial. This is Akito when the first bond with Kureno breaks. She pretends that nothing has changed, that the zodiac bond has not broken, that there’s still a deep bond between them. Yet, every effort to leash him to her, including physical intimacy!, is but another reminder that the bond has indeed broken. Denial becomes impossible to maintain.
That leads to anger, which is directed at all the other zodiac and anyone they might form a bond with. Anger leads to violence, violence leads to suffering. A digression, I believe anger is the longest-lasting of the stages because causing violence makes the person feel like they’re doing something, being in control, to retake what the loss took from them.
For Akito, all that violence was to board up the hole left by a broken bond, and stop more breaks happening. But it isn’t enough to actually do that. Just like inflicting violence on the one who took away your loved one doesn’t bring them back, all the violence Akito inflicted is rendered futile when the next bond breaks anyway.
Being angry at Momiji will not hold him to Akito so she tries to bargain. But, there’s nothing she can offer that will make him stay. Just like there is nothing you can offer that will reverse the loss of a loved one. This stage was quickly over for Akito.
Which puts her into depression. She can no longer avoid acknowledging that the bonds are breaking and that there’s nothing she can do to prevent it. All she can do is be unhappy over it and that changes nothing. Though she still gets violent post-Momiji, it feels more performative than with intent.
But acknowledgement is not yet acceptance, It’s just the stop at the end of a downhill slide. Acceptance only comes with actually moving forward, out of the hole the loss carved from your existence. Akito can see no way out until Tohru shows her that she can still form new bonds with new people, even after the zodiac bonds have broken. Now Akito can accept losing the zodiac bonds and take that last and first step by breaking all the remaining zodiac bonds herself.
For Akito, the loss was an ongoing process, like facing someone dying but not yet dead. And, to end the process, she had to cause that loss herself.