The Epic Hikago Rewatch: Episodes 1 and 2
Feb. 11th, 2012 12:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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hikarunogoIt's time!
Note: I am using a fansubbed version of the anime, so some terms or titles may be different than the official translation.
This week’s Character Spotlight is: Fujiwara no Sai!
Sai’s official title is “The Ghost”, which is pretty self-explanatory.
In addition to this week’s episodes, let’s celebrate Sai!
Sai has many facial expressions - more than anyone in the show, as far as I can tell. Do you have any pictures of Sai making silly faces? Post them in the comments!
Brief Recap:
Episode 1 - The Eternal Rival
Hikaru meets Sai. Sai tells the story of his origins, 1000 years ago. Though Hikaru has no interest in Go, he takes Sai to play anyway. Hikaru meets Touya. Sai plays Touya via Hikaru and wins. Touya realizes it was a tutoring game, and when he finds out Hikaru claims to have never played before, he freaks out, wondering who Hikaru is.
Episode 2 - The Weakpoint Revealed!!
Hikaru starts taking Go classes. He learns of Touya-Meijin. Akari goes to a Go class with Hikaru, but Hikaru gets kicked out for dumping stones on Akota's head and pulling off his wig when he finds him bullying other players. Hikaru goes to the Children's Tournament to watch, but gets in trouble for repeating a comment on a game that Sai said to him. After refusing games, Touya finds out Hikaru might be at the Children's Tournament and runs off to find him. Hikaru runs into Touya-Meijin in the hall, and Sai recognizes him. Touya-Meijin is apprised of the situation and though Ogata protests having not gotten Hikaru's name, Touya-Meijin says that if he is truly that strong, he will appear before them eventually. Outside, Touya meets up with Shindou, saying, "I've finally found you, Shindou Hikaru."
Possible Discussion Questions:
Most of us here are watching this for the second, third, fourth, or even tenth time. But at some point, we all watched Hikaru no Go for the first time. What were your impressions of Hikago that first time watching these episodes? What was it that compelled you to keep watching from these two opening episodes? How is it different than watching it now?
In the second episode, we already see the beginnings of Touya’s obsession with Shindou because of Sai’s Go. What do you think of this? Is his obsession purely related to Sai’s strength, or is there something more (IE desire for friendship/intrigue/other interest)? They make it clear that Touya has no equal in his age bracket – does his loneliness factor into how easily he falls into his obsession with a boy his age who appears to be stronger than him?
We’re only given some brief glimpses of Akari in these episodes, though it’s clear that she’s close with Hikaru, as is most easily seen by how she calls him Hikaru instead of Shindou. What kind of relationship do you think they have at the start of the series? Is she a good friend to Hikaru? Is he a good friend to her? If you had only ever seen these two episodes of Hikago and knew nothing else of the series, what direction would you see their friendship going in?
Those of you who have read the manga know that while the anime mirrors the manga almost perfectly, the sequence of the beginning events are different. Why do you think they chose to change just this part? Do the missing events change anything about the series for you?
Let's discuss it! Also, feel free to suggest other discussion questions to add to this list!
Also, check out the fabulous meta post on the first three episodes - Manga vs. Anime byllamabitchyo!
Remember, please use ROT13 for spoilers!
EDIT: For those of you in the US, remember, you can watch Hikago for free at Hulu!
Note: I am using a fansubbed version of the anime, so some terms or titles may be different than the official translation.
This week’s Character Spotlight is: Fujiwara no Sai!
Sai’s official title is “The Ghost”, which is pretty self-explanatory.
In addition to this week’s episodes, let’s celebrate Sai!
Sai has many facial expressions - more than anyone in the show, as far as I can tell. Do you have any pictures of Sai making silly faces? Post them in the comments!
Brief Recap:
Episode 1 - The Eternal Rival
Hikaru meets Sai. Sai tells the story of his origins, 1000 years ago. Though Hikaru has no interest in Go, he takes Sai to play anyway. Hikaru meets Touya. Sai plays Touya via Hikaru and wins. Touya realizes it was a tutoring game, and when he finds out Hikaru claims to have never played before, he freaks out, wondering who Hikaru is.
Episode 2 - The Weakpoint Revealed!!
Hikaru starts taking Go classes. He learns of Touya-Meijin. Akari goes to a Go class with Hikaru, but Hikaru gets kicked out for dumping stones on Akota's head and pulling off his wig when he finds him bullying other players. Hikaru goes to the Children's Tournament to watch, but gets in trouble for repeating a comment on a game that Sai said to him. After refusing games, Touya finds out Hikaru might be at the Children's Tournament and runs off to find him. Hikaru runs into Touya-Meijin in the hall, and Sai recognizes him. Touya-Meijin is apprised of the situation and though Ogata protests having not gotten Hikaru's name, Touya-Meijin says that if he is truly that strong, he will appear before them eventually. Outside, Touya meets up with Shindou, saying, "I've finally found you, Shindou Hikaru."
Possible Discussion Questions:
Most of us here are watching this for the second, third, fourth, or even tenth time. But at some point, we all watched Hikaru no Go for the first time. What were your impressions of Hikago that first time watching these episodes? What was it that compelled you to keep watching from these two opening episodes? How is it different than watching it now?
In the second episode, we already see the beginnings of Touya’s obsession with Shindou because of Sai’s Go. What do you think of this? Is his obsession purely related to Sai’s strength, or is there something more (IE desire for friendship/intrigue/other interest)? They make it clear that Touya has no equal in his age bracket – does his loneliness factor into how easily he falls into his obsession with a boy his age who appears to be stronger than him?
We’re only given some brief glimpses of Akari in these episodes, though it’s clear that she’s close with Hikaru, as is most easily seen by how she calls him Hikaru instead of Shindou. What kind of relationship do you think they have at the start of the series? Is she a good friend to Hikaru? Is he a good friend to her? If you had only ever seen these two episodes of Hikago and knew nothing else of the series, what direction would you see their friendship going in?
Those of you who have read the manga know that while the anime mirrors the manga almost perfectly, the sequence of the beginning events are different. Why do you think they chose to change just this part? Do the missing events change anything about the series for you?
Let's discuss it! Also, feel free to suggest other discussion questions to add to this list!
Also, check out the fabulous meta post on the first three episodes - Manga vs. Anime by
llamabitchyo!Remember, please use ROT13 for spoilers!
EDIT: For those of you in the US, remember, you can watch Hikago for free at Hulu!
Re: Akari
Date: 2012-02-12 01:01 am (UTC)