Dude, don’t you dare. Don’t you dare!

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This is getting pretty damn crazy. For some reason, I am totally digging all of these subplots coming together to form a mega arc. I don’t know if my memory is all fogged up or if I just have low awareness but this is one of the more intricate mysteries I’ve seen in a while. (Somebody should recommend me a mystery anime to challenge the previous statement. I even started to watch the Sherlock TV series on the plane because I got curious.) There is just a lot to consider and re-consider, and with every object and proper nouns being a hint for the Juumoji incident, my head isn’t efficient enough to figure things out. Good thing Houtarou’s there to tap into his extremely perceptive talents. 

I’m sure I mentioned this before but school festivals are usually predictable and somewhat of a bore. Unless if there’s some awesome music (K-ON!, Suzumiya Haruhi), it’s something to “waste” an episode or two on and just move on to other important matters, like love and friendship and supernatural action sequences. If there is one anime that can dedicate almost half a season to just the school festival, that is Hyouka. At this point, I wouldn’t mind if the rest of the season is about the Juumoji case and have some twisted resolution — something adult-ish. But judging from a lot of kininarimasu statements, and a bit of head banging, this is going to stay sincere, innocent and cute. (Dammit Eru…!) 

Regarding the case, it’s still a work in progress but it’s progressing much faster now. Possibly the biggest clue is given in the doujin manga Mayaka has been searching for and naturally Houtarou ends up getting caught in some energy-consuming shenanigan. (Thanks, sis.) For this development, I am very pleased because it now brings every member together, even if it’s up to Houtarou to do most of the work. I think this will help wrap up the arc well even before any conclusion is reached, because if I can anticipate right, all that really is left is the solution, followed up by explanations of the usual kind. 

I’m not sure how much longer the Juumoji incident will hold out but each episode has gotten better in terms of both pacing and hints. Like I mentioned earlier, I wouldn’t mind if the rest of the season goes along this route but seeing that the last day wouldn’t last the next five episodes, some definitive end will most likely be reached very soon. I am going to guess next week as the finale, but I’ve been thinking along those lines for a few weeks now, and I honestly don’t think anything after this will get better in terms of the quality of the mystery. 

For as long as Eru remains a darling and the Hyouka sells slowly but surely, I’m very eager, and curious, for the next episode. 

GO Rating: 4/5

Eru’s adult-like eyes.