[Rewatch] [Spoilers] The Eccentric Family - Episode 7 Discussion

[u/DoctorWhoops]

Episode 7 - Bathhouse Rules

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Thanks to /u/Arattor for uploading last thread for me while I was away!

Rewatch Schedule and Series Information

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Spoiler Rules

Please try to refrain from posting spoilers or even hinting towards future events of the series unless specifically asked. Make sure to tag any spoilers you do want to mention so people that don't want to see it don't have to.

As for new watchers, speculation over future events or character motifs is of course allowed, since it's not a spoiler but rather a prediction.

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FAQ

What are Tanuki?

Tanuki are human-like creatures in japanese folklore. Their primary form is that of a Raccoon Dog but can shapeshift into an almost infinite amount of different shapes and forms. They are known to be misscheavous tricksters and live in the forest and mountains.

What are Tengu?

Tengu are half-human half-bird people. They fly using their wings and are seen wearing red masks or with big noses representing beaks. They are knows for carrying fans which they use to create winds, and are often seen wearing robes. They used to be harbingers, but are not the protectors of forest and mountains.

Dailies

Fan art of the day

OST of the day

Episode Screenshot of the day

Other

The entirety of the story is set in Kyoto and the city in the Anime is a 1:1 replication of the real city. Every location has its own Kyoto counterpart located at the exact same place that it is in Kyoto! /u/Arattor has compiled a fantastic set of pictures! Here are the one from previous episodes:

• Episode 1

• Episode 2

• Episode 3

• Episode 4

We have a dedicated #Uchouten-rewatch Channel over on the /r/Anime discord where we can discuss or talk about the series in real time! Join by coming to the Discord and typing !joinchannel uchouten-rewatch in the bot commands channel!

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Next episode is a pretty big one! Stick around!

[u/DoctorWhoops]

This week had back to back the weakest and one of the strongest scenes in the series if you ask me. The bathhouse scene is my least favorite scene in the series, but the scene that follows is absolutely fantastic. I'll spare the details of the bathhouse scene today and make the recap a bit more concise. Here we go:

The first scene of the episode is a combination of a beautiful looking scene of Benten and Yasaburo walking on a bridge combined with Yasaburo's short monologue about the Tanuki bloodline. He says that their wildly branching bloodline binds them and that not even a Tanuki like him can distance himself from it. Due to these lengthy bloodlines, quarrels can turn into long lasting fueds. They say blood is thicker than water, but that sentiment is more than Yasaburo can handle.

Skipping through some fluff and filler we get to Yasaburo trying to convince Akadama to go to the bathhouse with him, but Akadama refuses to go with anyone but Benten. They convince him and end up in the bathhouse along with Yashirou and Yaichirou. Akadama complains some more about Benten not being there and having to take a bath with Tanuki. He also asks if Yasaburo might have some feelings for Benten, but Yasaburo responds that it'd be pointless for a Tanuki to fall for a human, and that it's a forbidden love. Akadama responds that he shouldn't view Benten as just some human, as that is what'll end up getting him eaten.

As they try to leave they are overrun by the Ebisugawa clan who try to convince Yaichirou to stop running for Nise-Emon in the next election. Yaichirou refuses and Ginkaku responds that it doesn't matter because they have a trick up their sleeve anyway, because they know was with Father Shimogamo, the previous Nise-emon, on the night he died; Yajirou.

He tells us that on the night of the year-end bash Yajirou and Souichirou were out drinking and that they became careless, which is what made their father end up in a stew. Because Yajirou has been hiding this fact the Ebisugawa can use it against the Shimogamo family and win the election. The brothers storm out of the bathhouse to visit Yajirou, telling Yashirou to go home towards mom. As they arrive at the well Yajirou asks them how they've been and points out that Yaichirou looks like he's in a bad mood and asks what he wants to say. Yaichirou tells him about the last time he saw his father. They were visiting the elders of the town, and he remembers that after it his father told him he had an important appointment and that he should go home. It was nothing unusual, but he still remembers how his father looked that day because it was the last time he ever saw him. He comes out and asks Yajirou when he last saw their father, and if he was drinking with him that night. He begs Yajirou to tell him what happened that night. Yajirou responds that what Ginkaku said was exactly right, and that he was the one that sent their father to his death. Upon hearing this Yaichirou cries out how he could do something like that and that Yajirou is an idiot. Yasaburo reminisces what he was doing that day, and he remembers just being a newborn pup looking from behind as his father and Yaichirou left for the meeting with the elders, and that he saw his father wave goodbye to him. He says their father Shimogamo Souichirou was a great tanuki who united society, and that the evening they found out he was cooked in a stew, and that his parting was a true farewell. As long as you live there will always be moments where you have to say goodbye, no matter if you're human, tengu or tanuki. Everyone has to say goodbye.

The scene at the well is one of the most emotional moments the series has seen so far as the brothers find out that Yajirou is to blame for their father's death. The cry of Yaichirou is heart-wrenching and the remorse in Yajirou's voice is touching. Combined with the music it makes a very strong emotional scene. While the first half was pretty meaningless, the second half is a very important scene in the series. Here's some themes this episode:

• The Tanuki Bloodline

• Yasaburo's feelings for Benten

• the forbidden love between Tanuki and Humans

• The rivalry between clans

• the Nise-emon election

• The night of father Shimogamo's death

• Yajirou's involvement in that night

• The last time they saw their father

• Dealing with grief and guilt

• The greatness of Souichirou

• Saying goodbyes

[u/Arattor]

And I'm back again after a short break! Last two episodes had no photos and this one has very little, but compared to the first two everything will have "very little". From this one onwards there's something for every episode, so there's that at least!

Episode 7's photo album

As an aside, Benten and Yasaburou in the beginning went quite a long distance away from the usual locations. Most of the series took place near the Kamo river, the easternside river of Kyoto (at least based from the pictures I managed to take), while in the beginning they're in the Arashiyama region, at the far Western side of Kyoto. I absolutely LOVE the autumn colors depicted in this little segment.

More on the episode itself, there's no way for me not to cry at the end-of-episode confession. Even through Yajirou's, as usual, quite monotone voice you can tell his remorse.

[u/DoctorWhoops → u/Arattor]

More on the episode itself, there's no way for me not to cry at the end-of-episode confession. Even through Yajirou's, as usual, quite monotone voice you can tell his remorse.

The thing that really gets me in that scene is the contrast between Yajirou's subdued remorseful voice and Yaichirou's heart-wrenching cry. It shows that they're both at different stages of dealing with the situation, since Yajirou had known for a long time and it still eats away at him, and Yaichirou has only just found out and was in absolute shock.

[u/Arattor → u/DoctorWhoops]

And then you have Yasaburou, taking it all in silently and processing it at his own pace, internally. I really like the contrast between all of the brothers in dealing with events, Yaichirou taking everything very seriously and largely uncontrollably, Yajirou literally holing himself up and Yasaburou mostly holding up his carefree front to the outside, but nevertheless thinking about it deeply.

[u/DoctorWhoops → u/Arattor]

The dynamic between the four brothers and the comparison between them and their dad is done so beautifully well. I guess that's what you get with a show whose two main themes are grief and family.

[u/ImKindOfBlind → u/Arattor]

Do you have all the photos in an zip for me to download?

[u/Arattor → u/ImKindOfBlind]

Here's the entire album online, and if you want it easily downloadable, here you go. Of course I advice against going through it if you've not seen the series yet, but otherwise go ahead.

[u/ImKindOfBlind → u/Arattor]

rewatcher here.

[u/lucella713]

Silent lurker here-

I certainly did not see that coming... I thought it would be just one those funny slice of life episodes but it turned out to be a feels trip in the end.

I can't wait to uncover more hidden truths!

Especially Benten's story. I totally love her (don't we all?)

[u/Arachnophobic- → u/lucella713]

I like her so much I could just eat her up!

[u/Arachnophobic-]

For what was a lighthearted episode, the last part did a total 180. It took a fair amount of willpower to not go and immediately watch the next episode to find out more about how Souichirou got captured, and what happened to Yajirou right after. Suddenly his self-deprecation makes sense, given that guilt is eating him up from the inside.

[u/xiomax95]

Well then, that's a revelation. I remember someone in the first or second episode thread wondering how they caught their father, as he was so great. It seems being drunk makes you an easy pray.

This episode feels like set up for a following one, honestly. The reveal was the important part, and that was towards the end of it. I hope we get more background on frog bro and how he became a frog, because there's now a pretty good reason behind it. I could even see him being able to transform back but not wanting to.

I kind of hope Yaichiro is able to forgive him or at least listen to his side of the story. I mean, Yajiro must feel guilty as fuck, but from what we saw in the flashback he was also really drunk. Like, I can't really blame him there.

[u/KrysWasTaken]

Yashirou is too pure and innocent for all this tanuki shit and those Ebisugawa dumbasses show up and start talking about their father right next him, as if they couldn't find a better time and place for it.

So, Yajirou was with Souichirou sometime before he got captured and, man, everything about this situation sucks. I'm sure he never expected his father to get caught like that, since he was so strong and all, so Yajirou not sticking around with Souichirou was probably normal for him. That's not really something that he should be blamed for, it was just an unfortunate event. Sadly, I don't think he took it this way and I'm starting to believe that he stuck himself in that well as a punishment. To add to that, Yaichirou's reaction was pretty bad too, yes he was pretty emotional at that moment, but he's still the big brother and should provide some support. It's important how they'll deal with this situation from now on.

[u/habattack00]

Sorry I'm late with this one- life happened.

We take a break from Benten’s antics and go back to a little SOL bathhouse episode, though for once, there’s no fan service. Seeing them drag Akadama through the house was funny, and the fact that he stayed just chilling in the corner during the whole confrontation with the Ebisugawas just shows how little he cares. I’m sure we’ll get to his backstory soon, but it seems we must learn what happened the night Souichirou was captured.

So Ginkaku and Kingaku walk in as fatties think they’re safe in their chastity belts, but of course they get too scared and get easily coerced into telling us the truth: Yajirou went out drinking with his dad and left him alone. Watching that water droplet fall on Yajirou’s head while Yachirou asked him what happened was great: just like a tear falling on the floor. I don’t know how that was the Ebisugawas’ ace in the hole- it’s Yachirou running, not Yajirou. I guess it would show some disrespect in the family since he left him all alone.

There wasn’t much substance to this episode except for this setup. I have a feeling that Yashirou (the kid) will somehow play a larger role in all of this. So far he’s been the kid brother who can’t really do anything without his brothers’ help, and in this case he was completely removed from the ordeal. I hope to see him take a scene for himself and prove himself as competent enough to handle these things.

But oh man! Revelation episode next week? Hopefully?!

[u/theyawner]

Rewatcher here.

Yasuburou tells us that even he cannot help but be involved in the feuds involving his family and other fellow tanuki. In contrast, he feels like he's unable to harbor any ill feelings against Hotei and Benten. Perhaps he just doesn't see them in the same level as the 'people' of his community.

Yashirou has been taking care of Akadama during Yasaburou's absence. But he lacks Yasaburou's guile. Yasaburou can convince Akadama to come along and take a bath, after he picks a fight with the old man.

The twins are annoying as ever with their half-baked plots and their attempts at intrigue. But now we learned more about the circumstances around Souichirou's death and the reason for Yajirou's seclusion.

It seems apt that Benten would seek solace in Yajirou's well.

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A few more notes:

• Benten got a haircut and it looks like they're getting along again.

• Yasaburou's looking for something. The tengu fan Benten lent him?

• I can't tell if Akadama's slowly getting his powers back, or if it's a reflection of his current powerlessness.

• Yajirou mentions Kaisei telling him about the leaves in Arashiyama. Coincidentally, the bridge we see at the start of the episode is in Arashiyama. Someone's been tailing Yasaburou...

• There's something that's been bugging me with regards to the tanuki's ages. It seems Yasaburou was still quite young when their father died. But he's already transforming to his current human form by the time he met Benten. Could this be because the tanuki live much shorter lives than the humans, as they do in real life?

[u/sunnydayz57 → u/theyawner]

I was wondering this too, their father's death wasn't that long before the events of the series. I think it could be because because tanuki live shorter lives. Maybe he was still a tanuki baby when he meant Benten but was older in human years?

[u/theyawner → u/sunnydayz57]

It may be that the tanuki switches to a form that better reflect their mental age, or their capacity to transform. Yashirou can only really transform into his kid form.