Natsume Yuujinchou 3: Even Youkai Have Needs

You know you love it, Natsume.

Short Summary:

Natsume hears from his friends that a boy from another class, Tanuma, wants wants to contact him. Natsume keeps feeling as if someone is watching him, but is not approached by Tanuma. Meanwhile, two Youkai from the forest request his help to deal with a human who is attempting to exterminate them. Though he at first refuses, as they wish for him to kill the human, he decides to accept after they bother him constantly. It turns out that the human is a buddhist monk who, though he has no spiritual powers and can therefore not see the Youkai, has Buddhist powers which he gained through training with which he can purify the area. He is doing so for the sake of his son who he feels is being affected by Youkai in the area and who also happens to be Tanuma, the boy from school. Natsume decides to talk to the boy who, though he has spiritual power, can only see the shadows of Youkai. We are also shown through flashback that Natsume meets a young woman who he thought could see Youkai too, but in fact turned out to be one herself.

Next Time:

Exploring the old school.

Thoughts:

This was really a great episode in my opinion. Though the show retained the same style and feel, it introduced both a new case/Youkai of the week and further developed Natsume’s character. The theme of being lonely didn’t feel forced at all; when he was young, Natsume was surrounded by foster homes who thought he was odd, constantly hearing from within the shadows that they no longer wanted him. The prospect of finally meeting someone like him who he can share his feelings with must have felt fantastic. But then to have it be a trick must have been devastating. The time period of the show demonstrates how far he’s come in such a short time. His experiences since aquiring the book have led him to think that even if it was Youkai he talked to, he was glad to have met them; as redundant as the statement may seem, being alone is lonely, and to have anyone to share your thoughts with, be it Youkai or a human, must be reassuring. He himself extends a hand of comfort to Tanuma, who also feels lonely, knowing that to just have someone to talk with must make things all the better. It helps to further show the Youkai in a different, more pitiable light as well.

That’s not to say the show was devoid of it’s natural comedy. The nature of Natsume’s entourage was really funny; In my opinion, the show wouldn’t be half as good without the shifting of moods. And who doesn’t like a drunk cat every now and again? The show continues to impress and at this rate it’ll fast become one of my favourites, as long it can make each case interesting. I don’t have many worries about that, though, as this week we didn’t even look at Reiko Banchou.

No matter how I look at it, this seems GAY.

Just look at Natsume’s face of pure bliss.

That guy looks like he’s smelling Natsume as well.

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