Yatagarasu: Episode 15 Review (Karasu wa Aruji Erabanai)

Yatagarasu: The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master Episode 15 Review

What does that mean? Does that mean that the Prince can’t harm Yatagarasu? But he fought off his attackers during the assassination attempt in episode 10. The statement is not clarified and we move to another scene.

Under the command of Yukiya’s father, the Taruhi clan mobilizes soldiers to scour the countryside and the girl is placed under surveillance.

Nazukihiko swiftly summons the four houses to inform them of the situation at hand. Quite ungraciously, but completely in line with his character, he brings the monkey's severed head to the purple hall, sarcastically calling the head “smelling salts” that will wake the drowsy ministers right up.

What are we to do with our kin’u?

The Prince issues emergency orders. Soldiers are to be mobilized, villages are to be searched and vigilance is the watchword.

The girl wakes up and is questioned by elders in Taruhi, including Yukiya’s big brother. She explains how she got to the village, alleging that she and her father brought sake from the Center. She got drunk and fell asleep.

Yukiya, watching the deposition, is not impressed. He is still deeply suspicious of the girl. They ask her to transform to confirm she is a Yatagarasu. She does and while she is still searching for her father, the Taruhi family decide to take her in.

Yukiya, though, is not taking any chances. He watches her from a distance, studying her as she washes, cleans and does other work around the house.

His mother catches him and asks him why he is so suspicious. I honestly think Yukiya’s demeanour is a result of his time in the Center. Trust no one, question everything.

I understand his suspicion but the way it contrasts with the others around him is a sign that he has changed from the pre-Center Yukiya. 

His father returns with disturbing news. There are no survivors in or around Sugou, the attacked village. Even more disturbing, there is a pattern to the bloodbath. Yukiya’s dad reports that while the women and children were eaten immediately, the men were chopped up and placed into large pots and salted.

As Yukiya soon points out, this is preservation. The monkeys don’t see the Yatagarasu as persons; they see their crow counterparts as food.

They are intelligent and there is a method to their madness. But how? How did no adult escape, run far and fast enough to warn others of this catastrophe?

Yukiya, again, answers. They had been drinking right? What if there was something in the drink that incapacitated them?

Hmmm.

Are you thinking what I’m thinking?

At that, we are taken to another scene. Yukiya approaches the new girl, now working and living in the Taruhi household. He apologizes for his earlier brusqueness and tries to make amends.

She accepts his apology and they part on good terms.

It feels strange though. We know how much Yukiya distrusts her, and we’ve heard the report from his father concerning the drink and how it might have been laced. And now, suddenly, Yukiya wants to make friends.

It feels like he wants to get closer to her, to get more information from observing her closely. But I don’t know. I can’t say for certain.

Another player is introduced into this already convoluted game.

He passes through Taruhi’s checkpoint and brings information to a shadowy group about the drug “sagecap” that is spreading through the back alleys of Yamauchi.

We have no idea if―and how―this drug relates to the monkey invasion but knowing Yatagarasu, I think it does. We just have to stick around to find out how.

My thoughts so far

Well, if you’ve read any of my previous reviews on this anime, you’d know just how much I enjoy it. Episode 15 was no exception.

I liked the way the Prince killed the first monkey. Just one swing and whoosh!...his head went off.

I want to see more of the Prince’s martial ability. Yes, I know that Yatagarasu is more of a political intrigue and suspense anime but I wish we’d get more displays of the Prince’s power. Show us just how powerful he is compared to the rest of the yatagarasu. Show us what makes Nazukihiko the kin’u.

I love the fact that the monkeys are indistinguishable from the yatagarasu in human form. It adds another layer of deception and suspense to the action. I want to see how that plays out.

We saw more of Yukiya’s older brother in this episode. Obviously, as the action is taking place in Taruhi, a domain he will inherit from his father, it makes sense that he is at the forefront of the clan’s response to the threat.

That reduces the focus on Yukiya―in a good way―and hopefully, we begin to see more sibling dynamics.

Okay, now to what I didn’t like. 

Yes, I’m enjoying this arc. Only two episodes in, but it has a lot of promise and I know the show will deliver.

However, it seems a little abrupt.

We went from core court drama, from picking the new Empress of Yamauchi, from opposing the current Empress and countering her machinations to tackling aggressive monkeys?

Yes, I know the problem isn’t as simple as it seems. I know it probably is a more complex issue beneath the surface. I know that the sagecap drug is somehow involved in this.

But…I don’t know, it seems like an abrupt departure from the political scandals we are used to.

While I am enjoying this series of episodes, I hope to see more of the Prince’s ascent to the throne and all the scheming that will surely follow suit.

Have you watched episode 15 of Yatagarasu: Karasu wa Aruji Erabanai? What did you think?

P.S.: Yes, I know I am behind. Life happened but I am catching up. Please bear with me.