Episode 7: Suspicious Tropical Paradise
“Welcome to the Velvet Room.” In what is probably the goofiest goof up of this dub, the Priestess arcana is called the Empress. Igor warns that there is a even more dangerous disaster coming towards Yu's way. And they tell Yu that they will be ready to provide new assistance. Hmm...
Opening.
And evidently, there's more to Kanji's Shadow proclamation. “I am so hot, I'm completely on fire! You know I've got a smokin' hot body. What should I do with it? My blood is boiling. It makes me wanna croon! And shake my thing! Here I go!”
Yosuke calls up Yu, obviously unnerved by what he saw. Yu jokes if he wants a copy. Yosuke refuses.
Wednesday the 18th. Sunny. Yukiko is amazed that they went completely inside a TV. And Teddie can't tell where Kanji's at, despite smelling him. He presumes it's because he's pondering things a lot. Yosuke's up for quitting and Yu ponders this...but Teddie says if he got a clue about Kanji it might help him. Yep, now you must waste two days getting info from Kanji's mother and...
Well, they did visit Kanji's mother. She says that she did report to the police about this, remarking that while he does leave without telling her, he always come home. Chie finds this odd, thinking Kanji would fight until dawn. Her mother understands this thought, even remarking about that biker gang fight. She admits that it was partially her fault as she couldn't sleep for days because of this. Yu notices a kid outside and talks to him. The kid asks if Kanji's around, since Kanji helped him with a rabbit charm. It turns out he made that charm when he Kanji found him crying because he lost it. Hey! Kanji's doing his social link on his own. What does that say about him? The team is amazed at this. Yukiko even admires the quality, seeing that you wouldn't know the difference if it was handmade or not. Both Chie and Yosuke admit that can't see Kanji making something so cute. Yukiko then asks if they could borrow the charm.
And...yello Adachi seeing the Investigation Team in the distance. Hinting at something much?
Wait, wait, the Team is circumventing the two day rule! FOUL ANIME! FO- oh, they met Naoto on their way back to Teddie, at Junes. -grumble- They acknowledge it -grumble grumble- Yosuke asks what Naoto and Kanji were talking about the other day and Naoto agrees to tell. They were just making small talk but Naoto notes he was acting real odd the entire time and when it kept getting worse, he asked him about it and Kanji just got stunned. Naoto wonders if he's struggling with something people won't know about.
Anyway, Teddie sniffs the charm and figures out where Kanji is at. Well, I guess it makes more sense than just going by that he's struggling with issues. The group gathers in front of a Men's Only Bathhouse. The team notes that the fog is different and clouding up their glasses and...we overhear a scene that would make Yaoi fangirls squee. Much, much, MUCH to the discomfort of Yu and Yosuke. Yosuke's nervous about seeing things he can't unsee and lose something he doesn't want to lose. Chie drags him by the ear in. Even Yu is a bit nervous about this but follow in. This continues inside when Yosuke suggests Yukiko and Chie go in full force and Yu and Yosuke guard the enterence. Yu agrees and Chie yells at them to man up and help Kanji.
Followed by them running into Kanji's shadow who's flexing for them. Both Yu and Yosuke jump the trigger and summon their Personas, with Chie telling them to calm down. And after a bit more of Shadow Kanji, even Chie feels the need to summon her Persona. Shadow Kanji announces they are moving on with their next segment. Yu remarks this will get awkward fast and Chie says that this was just like Yukiko's, much to Yukiko's denials. Anyway, the Shadow announces he's moving on to find that “bump and grind” and tells the group to follow if they dare~
Shadows appear and we see Yukiko release her scary side as she realizes her Shadow was just like this angering her and getting her to finally summon her Persona for the first time, Konohana Sakuya! Burn Shadows burn! And Chie uses her ice skills. And Yosuke's persona was in close enough range to get affected by both. Anyway, when Chie's the voice of reason, you know something's up as she has to remind everyone that they are here to save Kanji first of all.
Speaking of which Kanji is faced with his own thoughts. Comments from others about him being just another tough face him with everyone blaming him for everything just because he's “just that kind of guy.” Another voice admits that it's just a facade and so his Shadow comes out to face him to Kanji's shock.
Commerical break! Yu's courage is fearless! Why is he trying to run away then? Oh right. Gags that aren't that funny. His Diligence is also bumped up to strong and his Expression is eloquent. Understanding and Knowledge is the same with Knowledge being a major fail stat now.
The Team is nervous as they stand before the boss chamber. Chie reminds that they have to save Kanji and rescue him. And yet, they still can't enter yet. Yosuke mentions that they could see certain things and they would be seared forever in your brain. Yu even suggests going for dinner first. Anyway, the boys open the door at Chie's insistance...to find Kanji wrestling with his Shadow. The Shadow sends out slippery water at the team and it slimes up on the fallen girls. Yosuke asks Yu if he has a camera and Yu says he doesn't.
Anyway, with Shadow butt in our face, he taunts Kanji by saying he's everything Kanji wishes he could be. Yosuke tries to summon Jiraya to stop him but slips and falls with Yu falling with him. And Teddie slides ahead trying to help them all up. The Shadow continues to taunt Kanji with the fact that he hates girls because they find his hobbies odd. The Shadow declares that he prefers guys because they never say those things. (-nervously laughs-) And Kanji fully denies his Shadow.
Hello, muscle bound man with male symbols and roses and two macho flunkies. This reeks of Bara. And I don't even know that much about bara! The Shadow attacks Kanji with...Fanatical Spark, I believe. GROUP PERSONA SUMMON! Chie attacks the Nice Guy but fails as it abosrbs Physical attacks. Same with Yukiko blasting the Tough Guy with fire. When one of the guy's captures Izanagi and declares him a stud, Yu brings out Rakshasa, a very appropriate Persona for this fight. But when Rakshasa and Jiraya try to attack Shadow Kanji, they just get embraced by one of the Guy's. The other stands behind Yu and Yosuke, grabbing their butts and declaring them to be quite delicious. “That's monster's toxic!” OH YES HE IS! Forbidden Mumured Yu and Yosuke are and they are poisoned. The other Guy remarks that Yukiko doesn't look good in red and Yukiko has it and blasts fire at the fire resistant Guy. The other Guy just goes to Chie and nods approvingly, (just thinking her as a trans-boy or something) Tomoe Bufu's him to the Guy's resistance. I believe those were taken out of Golden or at least one of the Guy's were weak to either fire or ice. And...the girls have just been under Roar Of Wrath. Nice move anime.
The Shadow remarks at how easy that was to take them out and Frantical Sparks them. He's pleased with the screams of the team, but then turns his attention to Kanji...but Yu and Izanagi Take The Bullet. And Yu drops the charm. Yu is nearly finished...but, a visit to the Velvet Room and he awakens his true power. FUSION! Which anyone in-game would be using the heck out of by now but FUSION! Priestess and Magician fuse to make Yamata no Orochi, another appropriate Persona. (Though, what was the Priestess he fused Pyro Jack with?) It actually blocks Ice and Electricity. Yamata no Orochi wraps up the two Guy's and begins crushing them and puts Shadow Kanji on ice. Kanji notes the charm, and Yu tells Kanji that he think it's cute. Encouraged, Kanji readies his fist to strike the staticy Shadow. “I can't help it! I LOVE STUPID CUTE SHIT!” (Ah Troy Baker, never stop being awesome) And manages to be the only person to take out his own Shadow. Kanji tells Yu that he's just happy that Yu called it cute. The Shadow however, still rears up, wanting anyone to accept him. Kanji tells him to cut that out.
“It ain't about men or women, I'm just scared shitless of being made fun of.” WHY CAN'T THE FANDOM TAKE NOTE OF THIS!? That Kanji's true problem was his fear of rejection. A very ambiguous sexuality is only a part of it. Kanji fully admits that the Shadow self is a part of him and gains his Persona of the Emperor Arcana.
Monday the 6th of June. SO MUCH TIME NOT SEEN! Anyway, Kanji meets up with the group, and formally joins the group. “Well kickass and if push comes to shove, I'll give my life up for you guys.”
Closing. Yu gains the Emperor Arcana! Cool.
Bonds of people is the true power.
Night at the Dojimas. Dojima asks why Yu was outside of Tatsumi Textiles, being informed by Adachi. Yu says he was with some friends there. Dojima then asks if he's not getting involved in something he shouldn't be. Yu looks despondent as Nanako saves him from saying anything.
Two days ago, Saturday the 4th. Rainy. Someone was in the shopping district waiting for something...
Thoughts on the episode: Kanji is great and good. His desire to be accepted with his loud and bosterious personality makes him a fun character. It's...just...
...ugh. They played the Cringe Comedy too much and we lost a lot about Kanji's struggles because of it. Or well, his stuggles were nicely brought up in the beginning but...it was kinda lost when all of the jokes were made at the flamboyant Shadow. And it's not that funny. At least in game, you're just worried about getting past the Shadows.
Anyway ON THE NEXT...the painful jokes aren't going to end anytime soon. The field trip is coming up. -groan-
