Episode 2: The Contractor's Key
“Welcome to the Velvet Room.”
Did I mention we'll be starting every episode here? Oh yeah, we're starting every episode here. Margaret congratulates Yu for awakening his powers and Igor gives him the key to the Room. She explains that his power is the Fool Arcana and the Wild Card, empty but with infinite capabilities. Igor says he's curious about his powers and that they will be traveling this road together.
Oh and Igor has a reduced role here because his Japanese voice actor passed away. This continued onto Arena and Golden where he got no new major lines. Necessary but...sad.
Opening. It's breathtaking moments in life~
Another foggy, yellow day. Another body on the telephone pole. Wait, what?
Oh back to yesterday. Chie awakens up and Yosuke geeks out about Yu fighting off those Shadows. Chie doesn't care. She just wants to get out. They manage to find the bear and ask for an exit. After angering him a bit more, this bear shoves them out by some tv portal.
Back to Junes. “I hate that bear!” Oh Yosuke. That love hate relationship is your defining group relationship. Outside of Yu.
Anyway, Yosuke and Chie are relieved and hug each other in happiness. Before Chie knees him to keep him for taking advantage of the situation. Uh, you hugged him as well Chie.
Anyway, Yu spots the poster that was in the Tv. Turns out it was Mizuzu Hiragi. Enka singer, and husband who's mistress died recently. Yu thinks that her murder and the TV World are connected, freaking Yosuke out. They head home.
Next day, Chie is talking Yukiko and trying to tell her what happened but would explain later and as they enter the gates, a creepy guy (accompanied by creepy music) tells Yukiko that he's been waiting for all morning for her and asks her to hang out. Chie defends Yukiko and we hear comments from some passerby’s about the creep and how Yukiko is off limits. He is noticably angered. And when Yukiko refuses, he storms off.
Oh my god, they really amped of the creepiness of this guy here.
Anyway, Yosuke and Yu meet up and Yukiko is noticeably dense about what the guy wanted. Yosuke even admits he was turned down on a date with her. But, Yosuke's alright, he's got his date with Saki. Though she hasn't responded to any texts. An alarm rings...
An assembly is called. Yu notes Yukiko isn't around. Chie explains that Yukiko's family runs the nicest inn in town and that she will own and run it. Yosuke, however is still nervous about Saki. The meeting is called by Mooroka in his usual fashion. The principal says that one of their own students passed away this morning. Saki Konishi. You can see the moment Yosuke's heart breaks.
After the assembly, (and the rain that was pouring before seems much different now) Yosuke mentions to the group that he saw Saki on the screen last night. He notes that someone said Yamado was on the channel as well and two died under similar circumstances. Yu says it straight out that the TV World is the cause of the murders. When he questions it a bit more, Yosuke gets a bit angered and says that they saw the TV World with their own eyes and the danger it is. The trio head to Junes, much to Chie's nervousness, with Yosuke ready to enter the TV again. Yu joins him in. They wrap a rope around themselves and give it to Chie for them to hold on. They enter the TV with Chie pleading with them to stay. This worry is not helped with the ropes being cut off.
The two land in the TV and find the bear again, who's suspicious of the duo as someone has been throwing people in. And those people get attacked by the Shadows when the fog lifts here, making this world messed up. The bear accuses them of being the culprits as Yu figures that out. The bear is still suspicious of them but is scared when Yosuke accuses him right back. He then moves to take off the guy's head...which is competently empty.
“Huh. It's empty inside.”
Oh Yu. Master of the calm and snark. I should take notes.
The bear takes their word that they are not the culprit but pleads with them to find the real one. And...it's not Sam Regiel I find annoying here, it's Teddie. He was not this whiny in the game. Anyway, Yu quickly promises despite, Yosuke's skepticism, saying he feels sorry for the bear. “You're one insanely nice guy,” Yosuke remarks.
The three head off into what appears to be the shopping district. Yosuke asks Teddie if Saki was the girl he saw, showing a picture. The bear confirms, saying she went into what Yosuke says is her house and family store.
Instantly the group overhears remarks about Saki, from gossiping neighbors who made horrible remarks about Saki working at Junes. Yosuke, rushes in, angered at whoever was making those remarks about Saki. When he enters, he hears Saki's father angerly ask her why she is working at Junes. Yosuke find a torn-up movie ticket, the one he gave her. He then hears Saki voice...say that he's a pain in the ass and that she was only nice to him because he was the store manger's son. She is angered and raged and wishes everyone would just die. Yosuke is distressed at Saki saying these things. But then...another Yosuke tells him that HE'S the one that finds everything a pain in the ass.
“Beacuse, you're me.”
Commercial break! The only stat that seems to have changed is the courage, though that is still at Coward.
The other Yosuke still insists he's him. Knowing everything about him, he says that Yosuke was only coming here because he's just bored and even the chance to become a hero, and that Saki's death was an excuse. When Yosuke says he's wrong, the other Yosuke says that he is a Shadow, of his true inner self. Yosuke says to shut up and that he isn't but the Shadow only gets stronger and becomes a monster. A frog based Shadow appears...quite stupid looking boss.
Cue, the boss music. Cue, the summoning of Izanagi. Cue the fight. Cue, the bear calling Yu Sensei. Cue, Yosuke still denying his shadow, despite the bear telling him he is a part of him. Cue, the Shadow remarking that Yosuke is terrified of being alone. Cue, Yosuke denying even more. Cue, more Shadows starting to come. Cue, Izangi fighting the Shadow of Yosuke.
“I know everything. I know just how pathetic you really are.” The Shadow then shows some scenes of some girls (OH GOD IT'S THEM AGGGGGH!) remarking on how much of a loser Yosuke is and that people only care for him because of his position. The Shadow continues to taunt Yosuke as he attacks Izanagi. However, he lands a punch...along with Yu on Yosuke.
“DUDE!”
“Whoops. Wrong guy.”
Yu then asks Yosuke if he liked Saki. Yosuke confirms he actually loved her. “Then isn't that proof enough?” Yu extends his hand out to Yosuke. Yosuke confirms that he probably did know this deep down but wouldn't admit it to himself. He wanted so much to fit in, even though he thought he was a pain in the ass.
“But you know what? My feelings for Saki were real.”
The Shadow is weakened when Yosuke admits that all of this is a part of him and cue Izanagi FINALLY using Zio on this guy. Yosuke heads over to the staticy shadow, admiting that they are a part of each other. And he gains a Persona of the Magician Arcana.
They finally exit the TV, to a tearful and angered Chie. She says they owe her 10 beefstakes. Yosuke nervously agrees. And Chie says Yu has to get him...mikoudan? Did I spell that right?
Yosuke and Yu begin to head home, thinking back on the info the bear gave them, that they people who were in there were attacked by their own Shadows. Yosuke resolves himself to find the murder of Saki and Yamano. Yu remarked that they promised anyway. Yosuke says to Yu that with him around, he feels like they can catch the guy. Handshake. The rain that was throughout the episode ends.
Closing Credits. New Social Link gained. Magician.
Bond of People are the True Power
Yu and Nanako are watching TV, watching a interview involving Yukiko. Nanako remarks says they have to do the dishes and Yu says he can help.
Midnight Channel...a girl in a kimono is running up a horse statue lined road...
Thoughts on the episode: Now THAT'S how it's done! All of the mysterious are beginning to get intriguing. And we get what the Persona series is best at, character.
So this character focus is on Yosuke. This guy is really much the Vice guy of the game and while he has a notable fanbase, there are plenty of people who dislike him for several jerk moments of which, we'll be seeing in the anime. A lot. Primarily because now he isn't the logical thinker of the group, Yu is. But we'll get to that in time. However, even with his Mr. Vice moments, I always liked Yosuke. Because he is so determined to find this killer and even if part of the reason is because he wants to be a hero, he knows that there's more to it than that. Yosuke is loyal and will defend someone to the end. He is a true friend that Yu can have. (And that Yaoi fangirls can ship easily. Seriously. I get annoyed with all of the Yu/Yosuke art there is out there)
Next episode, we get teases into the next Shadow and...something's up with Chie. What will it be? We shall see, NEXT TIME!
