Nothing too special really happened in this episode. At least we finally learn why Rika’s been a target this whole time. I certainly didn’t see that coming. I’m guessing that the trigger that’s killed everyone in Hinamizawa thus far has to be slightly different from what the original syndrome induces. As we saw in episode 5, all the dead people that was in the school didn’t seem to have died from clawing at their own necks.

Ooishi’s always been a likable character and it’s a shame to see him get taken out. I have to admit that it was a pretty cool scene. Certainly a lot cooler than seeing Keiichi and the others try to brew up some pathetic plan. I found their conversation, particularly Shion’s comment about Irie, way too lighthearted for the situation at hand. It seemed really out of place.

The arc seems like it’s going to come to an end soon. So that leaves us with a lot of episodes for “祭囃し編”, which is alright with me. I don’t know how they’re going to fight against Takano’s minions when they show up, but I’m certainly getting pretty riled up about it. Will Satoko’s traps play a role in the next episode at all? Do they even have any weapons?

To be completely honest, the bit with Satoko regaining her freedom was rather anticlimactic. I guess I shouldn’t have been expecting too much since even I personally can’t think of a cooler way that could’ve been employed for Satoko to get out of her uncle’s grip. I have to say that it’s pretty pathetic on Rika’s part to have not convinced Satoko this whole time. I mean, they just made it seem so easy.

Well, Takano was probably one of the most unlikely person that people would’ve guessed to be the mastermind behind all the crap that’s been happening in Hinamizawa. I knew she was the villain some time after the first season as I had willingly spoiled myself (although I have deep regret over this in hindsight) over a couple of plot points. Still, it was a little hard to swallow until this episode.

Now, with the gears in motion and the story not resembling any of the past arcs, I can’t even begin to imagine as to how things are going to unfold for the rest of this arc. I may have spoiled myself a little but there’s still a lot that I don’t know (such as the ending). How will the main characters react to Tomitake and Takano’s death given what Rika had said the night before? How will they defend themselves against the coming horror?

Well, this episode was rather interesting. I personally hadn’t expected them to get this far. I guess they’re really going for some kind of a “good ending” build up here. Of course, the name of the arc, “皆殺し編”, doesn’t really offer much reassurance to any sort of a “good” ending.

I don’t really know what to expect from the rest of this arc as it seems like the Satoko business will be wrapped up in the next episode. It should be about time for the festival soon, so does that mean we’re going to get back to people dropping left and right soon? How will Keiichi’s “powers” come into play here? Will he able to do anything useful once the plot has shifted gears?

I do hope that things will pick up immediately after the resolution of the Satoko case. I know we still have a lot of episodes left but I’d much rather have them slowly elaborate on the plot over some filler episodes. I guess that the current scenario probably doesn’t really give much leeway for fillers, but hey, you never know.