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 01:22 am (UTC)Vs ur qvqa'g unir gnyrag, vs ur qvqa'g trahvaryl yrnea gur tnzr naq rnea uvf enaxvat, ur jbhyq erznva n fubqna cynlre sbe gur erfg bs uvf yvsr. Naq nsgre n pregnva cbvag- fnl, npghnyyl uvggvat gur cebf- ur jbhyq abg or noyr gb sevtugra uvf bccbaragf. Vzcerff gurz jvgu uvf sbphf, lrf. Ohg gb npghnyyl qvfnez gurz nf, fnl, Xhjnonen qbrf? Ab jnl. Ur vf, nsgre nyy, whfg n chax grrantre.
Ab, gur snpg vf gung Uvxneh fgnegf gb znxr pbaarpgvbaf ba uvf bja, nf vf vaqvpngrq va gur ArgTb tnzr orgjrra Fnv naq Gbhln Zrvwva. Uvxneh ernq qrrcre guna Gbhln Xbhlb- naq Fnv unq abguvat gb qb jvgu gung. V qba'g guvax gung gurer vf ernyyl nal qbhog va UVxneh'f bja novyvgvrf. Vs ur unq arrqrq gb eryl ba Fnv gb znxr uvf tb fgebat, ur jbhyq arire unir rira znqr ceb. Orpnhfr ab znggre ubj tbbq lbhe grnpure vf, ur'f abg gur bar cynlvat lbhe tnzrf.
V nyfb guvax lbh'er qbjacynlvat gur orarsvgf bs gur fghql frffvbaf jvgu Zbevfuvgn-frafrv. Nal rkcbfher bs tnzr cynl naq qvfphffvba jvgu n uvtuyl enaxrq cynlre vf orarsvpvny, vs bar unf gur jvg gb haqrefgnaq vg. Naq yrg zr gryy lbh, n crefba unf gb unir n cerggl uvtu yriry bs haqrefgnaqvat bs gur tnzr gb or noyr gb sbyybj qna-yriry pbzzragnel ba n tnzr. Ntnva, guvf vf abg fbzrguvat gung n grnpure pna pbasre ragveryl; gur pbaarpgvba unf gb or znqr, sbe vg gb or bs nal hfr. Naq Uvxneh boivbhfyl gnxrf gur vafgehpgvba ur erprvirq sebz Fnv, naq genafsbezf vg vagb uvf bja fgeratgu. Jvgubhg onfvp gnyrag ng gur tnzr naq gur novyvgl gb znxr gur vaghvgvir pbaarpgvbaf gura, rira jvgu Fnv'f vafgehpgvba, ur zvtug znxr vg gb 1-2-xlh, ohg ur jbhyqa'g or noyr gb gnxr vg gb ceb yriry.
That said, the fanfic idea is interesting. I just don't agree (canonically speaking) with its premise. I'd still read the story though. :)
Re: Akari
Date: 2012-02-12 02:04 am (UTC)(Hihi, I never knew I could read and write Turkish so well! That encrypted is mad!)