[Fish Sandwich]

While the really great subtle lead-in of the first 20 seconds goes unused in this particular episode, where it's the score for Taiga and Shima's fateful showdown, Wataru's Truth is another one of my endless favorites from the soundtrack. It's definitely a piece of music that could sell you on the idea of whatever it accompanies being something grand and important.

And, while this is maybe a little Cheesy AMV of me, it's also time for some more TETRA-FANG, because I really want to talk about Mind Garden at some point, and Wataru's current state of immense sorrow and suffering makes this a pretty natural place to fit it in.

...Because that's basically what the song is all about! Just a really angsty jam about Wataru being totally lost in life, incapable of finding so much as a general direction to head in. Based on the rest of the lyrics, I assume the "garden" part of the title comes from the image of a hedge maze? There's not that much I can really say about this one beyond that I like it, and its whole mournful and mysterious (yet still rocking) vibe.

I also don't have a whole lot to say about this episode, either, which is a huge bummer for me, because you just know I'd be eager to jump to its defense given the chance. After all, I still think the complicated emotions of Tendou's shocking decision to cover Tsurugi's travel expenses made for a compelling and open-ended narrative back in Kabuto!

Here though, I mean, I already mentioned the 2008 love triangle was a little on the draining side for me back when I first watched Kiva, so I can't tell you I was on the edge of my seat the whole time here. I can be a sucker for tragic deaths, though, so this is certainly a turn in the plot I remembered very well, for what it's worth. If anything, it might've pulled me back into the story after I started to lose some interest in it? Looking back, there are certainly some nice touches to maximize how heart-rending it is, from putting a spotlight on that ring Wataru picked out for Mio WAY the heck back when she was introduced (that I'm pretty sure she's been wearing ever since?), a reminder of just how much Wataru's affection and support meant to her; to the completely silent black version of the usual chains at the end, which close out the episode in a disconcerting stillness.

It's tough, because, again, "kinda tacky and shoddily constructed" has been such a fundamental part of how I've always perceived Kiva that I can't give this one the full-on proper apologist reading, but at any rate, it's definitely a bummer to see the show hit such a huge low for you this late in the game.

Nago refusing to punch Shima was just fantastic, though, obviously. Look at him, finally seeing the world in shades of gray after all this time! He's got a whole character arc and everything! That's our 753!

(I know it's probably hard to tell from that last bit, but I genuinely do think that's a great moment for Nago's character. The funnier and/or more heroic Nago is being, the more I love him.)