Higurashi Rei Discussion Thread

[HitokiriShadow]

This is the discussion thread for the Higurashi Rei OVA series. You probably shouldn't be watching this if you haven't seen both of the TV series.

ANN (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=9199)
Official Site (http://www.oyashirosama.com/web/rei/index.htm)


Thread Notes:
1) If you are the first person to post about a new episode, please reply to the root post (this one) and change the post title to the relevant episode number.
2) If someone has already posted about an episode, please respond to that post or a post in the relevant subthread.
3) Please do not use the blue "Post Reply" button. This will cause the post to inherit the thread title instead of the sub-post title.

[HitokiriShadow]

Well, that was mostly pretty dumb though it had a few good moments.

My favorite parts were the ones with Evil Rika and Hanyuu (and Hanyuu's one alone moment).

Sensei's T-board assault reminded me of Ciel from Tsukihime. I'm pretty sure that was the intention. Edit: Scratch that, that was definitely intentional.

I'm really not sure how to react to the stuff near the end with the Four Kings of the Abyss/Soul Brothers stuff. It was incredibly stupid and slightly amusing... but only slightly. I really could have done with a lot less of that and a lot more Shmion and Rika fanservice. And just general comedy like the Rika/Hanyuu moments.

This one was all fuff, but it looks like we should get some interesting serious stuff starting with the next episode. The OP/ED seems to imply it will cover some Rika backstory. At least if I'm right and that woman with Rika is her mother.

[Nork22]

It's all fluff, and it was extremely ridiculous that I just laugh at it all. And god Hanyuu was so adorable... Nipaa~~ :neko:

As for the next episode, well this is the epilogue of the series, so there won't be any real backstory for Rika. However what's about to befall on Rika is - what kind of world would it be if the dam project never went ahead and everyone is alive to this day. How would you adjust to this?

[pluvia33]

I loved this episode. It was just pure fanservice fluff, but it was awesome fluff. I actually just watched the two TV seasons for my third time about a month ago so all of the characters were still fresh in my mind making it even better.

Kasai and Akasaka are two of my favorite male characters from the series. It was a little disappointing that Akasaka wasn't in this episode (although it was probably the right move), but Kasai randomly shooting a stun grenade and Tomitake blocking it with his chest was just priceless, as was Shion's reaction to it.

And of course another priceless reaction moment was when the girls got to see Keiichi's "lil bro". Definitely not the typical anime girl reaction. XD

Personally my only negative to the series was the opening theme. It wasn't really bad and it might grow on me a little after a while, but right now Super scription of data doesn't even come close to comparing to Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, Naraku no Hana, or Wheel of Fortune.

[HitokiriShadow]

but Kasai randomly shooting a stun grenade and Tomitake blocking it with his chest was just priceless, as was Shion's reaction to it.

That part was actually pretty funny and by far the best part of the Soul Brothers stuff by a wide margin.

Personally my only negative to the series was the opening theme. It wasn't really bad and it might grow on me a little after a while, but right now Super scription of data doesn't even come close to comparing to Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, Naraku no Hana, or Wheel of Fortune.

I thought it was a decent opening but it definitely doesn't compare to the TV series OPs.

[Fencedude]

It's all fluff, and it was extremely ridiculous that I just laugh at it all. And god Hanyuu was so adorable... Nipaa~~ :neko:

As for the next episode, well this is the epilogue of the series, so there won't be any real backstory for Rika. However what's about to befall on Rika is - what kind of world would it be if the dam project never went ahead and everyone is alive to this day. How would you adjust to this?

This should be absolutely fascinating, from what I've heard of how this goes.

[Fencedude]

I'd forgotten that they were changing the character designer, the only person who really looks different is Rena, oddly.

Otherwise, episode was fucking hilarious, but needed more service from the girls.

[Fencedude]

Personally my only negative to the series was the opening theme. It wasn't really bad and it might grow on me a little after a while, but right now Super scription of data doesn't even come close to comparing to Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, Naraku no Hana, or Wheel of Fortune.

I thought it was a decent opening but it definitely doesn't compare to the TV series OPs.

I rather like the song, but Super Scription of Data just doesn't have the same...weight to it as a title as say...Flower of Hell does.

[magicalgirlj]

this episode was hillarious, Keichi in a speedo lol. Higurashi sure is good at tickling your funny bone and scaring you

[Suwako Moriya]

So in this episode we get swimsuits and what seems to be a lot of in jokes. Over all, a pretty nice episode to watch. Just being able to see the lovely four in swimsuits is a good enough reason to watch the OVA.

Satoko, Rika, Rena, and Mion. All attractive in their own way. Also Hanyuu does a good job of reminding us that she's love. Her actions in the episode were just perfect. From her dedication to her using her powers for the greater good and I use the term loosely.:P

[Fencedude]

The Dice Killing Chapter, Part 1

Wow, that was FANTASTIC.

Watching Rika having to deal with an entirely new reality, where none of her previous experience helped at all was fantastic. Her inner monologues were fantastically acted. We don't hear Tamura Yukari like that often, and its delicious.

In a world where everyone is happy, Rika...

[mk2000]

The Dice Killing Chapter, Part 1

Wow, that was FANTASTIC.

Watching Rika having to deal with an entirely new reality, where none of her previous experience helped at all was fantastic. Her inner monologues were fantastically acted. We don't hear Tamura Yukari like that often, and its delicious.

In a world where everyone is happy, Rika...

I liked the first episode but wondered if the rest of the series would be that campy.

Thankfully, Episode 2 delivered probably one of the best episodes of the entire Higurashi franchise. Rika "dark voice" was in top form and the fact that she was now on her toes due to the radical change of events made the episode thrilling. Also, the character designs and production quality of this episode were amazing...no image fail here.

[HitokiriShadow]

Oh wow. This is absolutely fascinating. When I heard the basic premise of the story (Rika freaking out in a world where everything was right) I assumed it was in the "present" with Keiichi and everything else supposedly still having happened prior to 1983. I didn't expect something like this.

I figure this whole thing is just Rika's dream while she's passed out after the truck incident but it's still fascinating to watch and I can't wait to see how it turns out.

[Fencedude]

The Dice Killing Chapter. Part Two

Oh man, another half hour of pure Rika awesomeness. We find out what happened to send her to this world (she got hit by the truck and was killed) and Hanyuu used her power to send her to this world, but now Hanyuu cannot enter the world, and can only communicate with Rika via a sphere Rika found in Oyashiro-sama's shrine.

We see Rika completely snap on Satoko, and start beating her with a chair.

And then Rika learns what she must do to return to her world, but is it something she is even capable of doing?

[Draneor]

I have to confess that my favorite moment so far was seeing Rika beat the crap out of Satoko with a chair. I like Satoko, but her style of speech really grates on my nerves (too many was, watakushis, and gozaimasus). Especially this world's Satoko, who is rather annoying.

My impression of Rika's mother is completely different from Matsuribayashi-hen. Both of Rika's parents came across as being rather nice this time.

Lastly, it seems a Rika with her parents alive is rather spoiled and self-centered. Quite the contrast from the Rika we know.

[Draneor]

And so ends Saikoroshi-hen. In some ways, this raised more questions than it answered (like the witch of time part). It seems Hanyuu wanted Rika to realize that, by not choosing to try to save her parents in order to seek a better world, she had been choosing to kill them all along. Rena also uses a candy game to help Rika understand that she shouldn't worry about what could have been, as long as she's happy now.

I think, in many ways, Hanyuu's fate is even more tragic than Rika's. She took on the sins of the land and spent over a thousand years alone. One can understand why she might be a bit of a misanthropist and also why she felt she should go against the will of fate. Also, since Matsuribayashi-hen, it seems like it returned to where only Rika can see her (although there is at least one audio drama that indicates others can). I wonder if the reason Hanyuu was half-hearted before was partly out of fear that, if the loop ended, she would one day lose her only friend forever...

Nevertheless, I think there was an important lesson that remained unsaid: don't race down the wrong side of a narrow mountain road on a bicycle.

[The Violinist]

I watched the 4 Rei eps now. Good epilogue. Some things I can't seem to get right though... For this is supposed to be the world which the series ended with in Kai right? Where everyone is saved.

But

Why isn't Hanyuu among them? And (yeah, I know its fan service fluff, but still) Why is Takano not imprisoned?

One more thing, are the series completely finished? Like, have the manga writer stopped making new mangas? Have all mangas been animated?

Hauauuu!!!
Cheers

[Fencedude]

One more thing, are the series completely finished? Like, have the manga writer stopped making new mangas? Have all mangas been animated?

Its not a manga (well, it is, but not originally) its a...uhh..."sound novel", and yes, they are complete.

The creator is now making a new series, Umineko no Naku Koro ni (Where the Seagulls Cry), the first four installments of which are now being animated.

Its not directly related to Higurashi, though it is thematically similar, and...some other stuff.

[Fencedude]

For an episode that was 100% dialog, it was absolutely fascinating. It filled in some details about Hanyuu and Rika, it was great to finally learn how Hanyuu became Oyashiro-sama.

They seemed to really like closeups of Rena, for some reason.

Also (and I don't want an answer to this), there seemed to be a shoutout/reference to Umineko in there.

[Draneor]

Why isn't Hanyuu among them? And (yeah, I know its fan service fluff, but still) Why is Takano not imprisoned?

I'm pretty sure Hanyuu went back to her normal state of being the ethereal local deity. The fact that she was able to be seen at all for even a short time was a special miracle. Takano was not present in Saikoroshi-hen, but I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't remain in jail, given it was clear she was infected.


One more thing, are the series completely finished?

Yes and no. There are no more Higurashi chapters*, but Umineko's subtitle is When They Cry 3. The characters are different, but take that for what you will.

*In the original PC game. The PS2 version has Taraimawashi-hen, Tsukiotoshi-hen, and Miotsukushi-hen. The DS version has or will have Someutsushi-hen, Kageboushi-hen, and Tokihogushi-hen. The manga has Onisarashi-hen, Yoigoshi-hen, Utsutsukowashi-hen, Kataribanashi-hen, and Kokoroiyashi-hen. Then there are the audio dramas...

[Ty]

They just had to end the episode worded in such a way that makes you wonder which world was the dream and which continued to be reality. I expect nothing less from Higurashi, but it is still torture for me.

[The Violinist]

Why isn't Hanyuu among them? And (yeah, I know its fan service fluff, but still) Why is Takano not imprisoned?

I'm pretty sure Hanyuu went back to her normal state of being the ethereal local deity. The fact that she was able to be seen at all for even a short time was a special miracle. Takano was not present in Saikoroshi-hen, but I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't remain in jail, given it was clear she was infected.


One more thing, are the series completely finished?

Yes and no. There are no more Higurashi chapters*, but Umineko's subtitle is When They Cry 3. The characters are different, but take that for what you will.

*In the original PC game. The PS2 version has Taraimawashi-hen, Tsukiotoshi-hen, and Miotsukushi-hen. The DS version has or will have Someutsushi-hen, Kageboushi-hen, and Tokihogushi-hen. The manga has Onisarashi-hen, Yoigoshi-hen, Utsutsukowashi-hen, Kataribanashi-hen, and Kokoroiyashi-hen. Then there are the audio dramas...

But Takano does appear, she even has a squad hiding in the pool:P Yeah I know that it's fan service fluff...

[pluvia33]

I recently re-watched the first episode for the fifth time and finally watched all three episodes of The Dice Killing Chapter in one shot with a friend. I was very pleased. One of my favorite things about Higurashi is that there is so much that can be done with it. You have hundreds of realities you can work with.

The first thing I was surprised about was that The Shame Exposing Chapter actually took place after Kai. Every time I watched that episode before I was assuming that it was just a random day taken out of one of the other realities. It was nice to find out that all of that stuff "actually" happened.

When Rika first got sent to this other reality in Dice Killing, my first thought was actually that maybe it was the reality that resulted of Bernkastel saving Miyo's parents at the end of Kai. But there were other major things changed like Hinamizawa Syndrome seemingly not existing (maybe Takano-sensei cured it?), the dam project going through, and Rika's mom being the reincarnation of Oyashiro-sama. It's really interesting to think about how real that reality might have been, if maybe Hanyuu just said it was a dream to comfort Rika. I love that kind of stuff.

Rika beating the crap out of that world's Satoko and telling her off was pretty awesome. It was also interesting that she actually acknowledged herself as being the witch Frederica Bernkastel (I really need to go ahead and watch beyond the first episode of Umineko).

And then there was the next episode pre-view. From the looks of it the next episode might be even more retarded awesome than Shame Exposing. I can't wait! XD

[Ty]

Hanyuu just said it was a dream to comfort Rika. I love that kind of stuff.

See, by the way it was worded I took that statement from her to mean where they were right THEN (in the hospital bed recovering from her accident) was the dream and that she was going to wake up in the world where her mother was still alive. Like I said before, that stuff kills me being able to interpret it either way but it is classic Higurashi and I love them for it anyway.

[Draneor]

But Takano does appear, she even has a squad hiding in the pool:P Yeah I know that it's fan service fluff...

That's not really a plot episode or part of Saikoroshi-hen. ^^U

[Suwako Moriya]

Ah, a bike race and Rika gets defeated by a truck. All right then, this world is screwed up.

[Suwako Moriya]

We see Rika completely snap on Satoko, and start beating her with a chair.

Does the fact that I think Satoko at least somewhat deserved that make me a bad person?

And then Rika learns what she must do to return to her world, but is it something she is even capable of doing?

Ending the episode with that was quite evil of them.

[Suwako Moriya]

Ah, so we get some information concerning hanyuu herself.

Rena's view of choosing between two worlds was certainly interesting.

Still the highlight of the episode was the mention of the Witch. It does kind of make me wonder.

[HitokiriShadow]

Oh wow, Rika went ballistic and beat the shit out of Satoko. That was surprisingly entertaining to see.

And it seems the Rika of this world was kind of a bitch and probably deserved the treatment Satoko was giving her.

I have a feeling that Rika's Oyashiro comment to Yamamoto will have consequences that make her decision to return to her world much easier.

(I fell way behind on this, but not completely unintentionally. The waits between plot intensive OVAs really sucks and I preferred waiting a longer time after episode 2 to reduce the wait for episodes 4 and 5. I did the same thing with Kara no Kyoukai, though I still haven't gone and watched movies 3+ yet.)

[HitokiriShadow]

So, apparently its not 5 episodes after all. ..... (credits finish rolling)... Wait, no, there are 5 OVAs, but the last one is separate from the Dice Killing Chapter. I was expecting the Dice Killing Chapter to last another episode, so I was quite surprised when Rika suddenly woke up in the hospital bed and was back. Though I kept waiting for some reveal that all was not right since Hanyuu was back in her incorporeal form.

The conversations between Rika and Hanyuu and then Rika and Rena were fascination. Those two conversations also made up about 2/3 of the episode and it was still one of the best episodes of the entire franchise. The Bernkastle comment was interesting, but it was only a very small part what was so great about those conversations.

They were nice and vague on what the nature of Rika's experiences for these past two episodes were. You can't necessarily take Hanyuu's comment at the end to be the truth. Not that she's necessarily lying (though she could be) but it might only be true after Rika made her choice. I was assuming the whole thing was a dream to begin with and the previous episode didn't change that, but I'm actually less convinced of that now than I was when I started the episode. Uh, I may revisit this question in a few years, but I don't think it really matters and I'm not going to think too hard about it.

Oh, and I don't remember the stuff about Keichi shooting a child with a toy gun at all.

[Buster Blader 126]

Oh, and I don't remember the stuff about Keichi shooting a child with a toy gun at all.

That would be because the anime didn't really cover/explain that part of Keichi's past. It should've been covered in the 2nd Answer arc, if I remember correctly.

One would've had to play that particular part of the game, or have read that segment of the story that was posted alongside all the other TIPs in one of those other forums. (Quite sure it wasn't a TIP, but it's been a while since I read it and I'm currently too tired to hunt for it right now, so I could be wrong.)

[Ty]

That would be because the anime didn't really cover/explain that part of Keichi's past. It should've been covered in the 2nd Answer arc, if I remember correctly.

It got touched on in the final arc of the first season. Rena reveals it after Keiichi gives her his big speech about friends helping each other out. He has a big scene where he apologizes to the other girls about keeping it secret too and reveals it was the reason they moved to Hinamizawa in the first place.

[pianocello]

Episode 1:
I do find it slightly disturbing and hilarious at the same time how the girls are so obssessed with seeing Keichi's wang. At least, that's better than some characters freaking out easily over the slightest nudity. Rena's nosebleed was funny and her obsession with getting hold of his 'lil bro' is hilarious. I'm slightly disappointed at the fanservice though - I was hoping for a ton of gratuitous nudity. :devil:

Is this episode set after the end of the 2nd season? I'm confused about the time line.

[Fencedude]

Episode 1:
I do find it slightly disturbing and hilarious at the same time how the girls are so obssessed with seeing Keichi's wang. At least, that's better than some characters freaking out easily over the slightest nudity. Rena's nosebleed was funny and her obsession with getting hold of his 'lil bro' is hilarious. I'm slightly disappointed at the fanservice though - I was hoping for a ton of gratuitous nudity. :devil:

Is this episode set after the end of the 2nd season? I'm confused about the time line.

At some time, in some fragment.

[pianocello]

Having finished this while I will say that overall I loved this, it was more of because I had grown attached to the characters and really wanted to see more of them and what had happened to them after the trials and tribulations of the 2nd season.

Still, this short series was somewhat flawed compared to the previous 2 seasons. Eps 2-4 felt like they were building up to something climatic only to end up anti-climatic with a deus ex machina resolution. And there's something seriously wrong when the whole highlight of those 3 episodes was watching Satoko get the crap beaten out of her.

Ep 1 had its hilarious moments. Not enough fanservice though - instead of giving us K-1's @$$, I'd have prefered a shower/onsen scene of everyone with gratuitous detail :nosebleed::devil: in Girls Bravo style.

Ep 5 is the whole highlight of the entire series and is arguably the best episode of the entire Higurashi series tying with 1st season's ep 4, end of the Massacre Arc and 2nd season's last episode. We had a really heartfelt romantic confession (personally, I'd have prefered to hear Mion being the one to confess). And this episode clearly proves that Higurashi really needs to have yuri. :bowsmiley::catgirl:

This episode is set after 2nd season, right?

[Fencedude]

This episode is set after 2nd season, right?

No idea, I'll get back to you when I see it.

As for the end of Dice Killing Chapter, I'm pretty sure that that is exactly how it ended in the original. Its supposed to be like that. I think its pretty effective, honestly.

[Kusaja]

Having finished this while I will say that overall I loved this, it was more of because I had grown attached to the characters and really wanted to see more of them and what had happened to them after the trials and tribulations of the 2nd season.
I think this is something most of us can agree with easily enough. Whatever one might say about certain aspects of the plot, past and present, I really did get to like the Higurashi cast and seeing more of them is always a good thing.


Still, this short series was somewhat flawed compared to the previous 2 seasons. Eps 2-4 felt like they were building up to something climatic only to end up anti-climatic with a deus ex machina resolution. And there's something seriously wrong when the whole highlight of those 3 episodes was watching Satoko get the crap beaten out of her.

I'd have to disagree, to the extent that this mini-arc actually did work for me as a nice epilogue and I didn't find it anti-climatic at all. I think the concept itself, the dilemma born out of Rika having to kill her mother in order to get back to the world she was able to find after so many efforts, and the lesson learned carry a strong enough message regardless of what Hanyuu did or didn't do in the first place. You could also be a bit skeptical and argue against it all being just a dream if you want, but I think it works both ways.

Haven't seen episode 5 yet, although I've already found out what happens in it anyway. Sounds fun.

[Fencedude]

I'd have to disagree, to the extent that this mini-arc actually did work for me as a nice epilogue and I didn't find it anti-climatic at all. I think the concept itself, the dilemma born out of Rika having to kill her mother in order to get back to the world she was able to find after so many efforts, and the lesson learned carry a strong enough message regardless of what Hanyuu did or didn't do in the first place. You could also be a bit skeptical and argue against it all being just a dream if you want, but I think it works both ways.


Exactly. The point was the lesson Rika needed to learn, whether or not it "really" happened is somewhat beside the point. She had never really internalized the "value" of her life before, since for the longest time...it had no value.

[Draneor]

I couldn't seem to find a sub-thread for this episode.

So I finally got around to watching the last episode of Rei last night, thus closing the door to my fourth favorite franchise.

Rena was an absolute riot. I especially loved the scene where she knocks everyone--even Rika--out. I wasn't entirely surprised that she was able to get in-between Jiro and Takano, all things considered. But I am amazed she swings that way. Oishii is, well, Oishi. While his aptitude for Mahjong was mentioned in the various audio dramas, I believe this is the first time it was a plot point in the anime. Towards the end, we did get confirmation that Rika likes Keiichi, even if she's not quite aware of it yet.

Pretty much, I'm glad the franchise ended on a lighter note.

[Suwako Moriya]

That was an amusing episode. I think the part that stood out most for me was Rena going "LIES!"

[HitokiriShadow]

I finally got around to watching the last episode of this. It was hilarious, especially the Takano portion and Rena KO'ing everyone.

That was an excellent way to end the series. I can only hope Umineko gets an equivalent to this at some point.