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Hello everyone!

I hope you're all well and enjoying the autumn weather (or whatever season it is in your part of the world) -- though here in England it's been surprisingly mild. A lot has happened since we last spoke: I moved (twice, to be precise, which I don't recommend), turned 24 and submitted my Master's dissertation. I was also ill for a little while recently (just a sinus infection, but my family seem to be passing things back and forth right now so I'm not sure I'm in the clear just yet). It's been incredibly hectic -- there's still a lot of moving admin going on, and I have one last bit of uni work before I'm free, but I'm here to say that the new video is coming along swimmingly. In a shocking turn of events it is going to be longer than originally planned -- around twenty minutes, rather than the estimated ten. With that being said, I really am extremely happy with how this video is coming together. It's very personal and a little different to anything I've done before, which is both nerve-wracking and exciting, but that's always a good position to be in as a creator. It's obvious to me that the full twenty minutes is necessary to weave the story I'm trying to tell here, and I think you'll all see what I mean when you see the final product. Along with everything else I mentioned, this does mean getting the video out by the end of this month might be a stretch, but I don't expect to overshoot that by more than a few days max. I want to share this one as soon as possible.

Other little updates: something else that happened since we last spoke is that the journey that was Higurashi Sotsu concluded. As per usual, you might have already seen if you follow me on Twitter, but for the time being I've shared some of my thoughts on the show here, mostly to do with the final episode (be forewarned that this is a lengthy and pretty negative, if, in my opinion, fair-minded critique). I'm going to have a proper think about whether to make my own Gou/Sotsu video next month as it would undoubtedly be my longest yet -- I certainly have a lot more to say on it. Lastly, I'll be recording my commentary podcast on Why Higurashi is My Favourite Series soon, so do let me know if you have any questions you'd like me to answer. I'm considering blasting through a few of these podcasts when I have more time so that I can eventually start making them following each video's release, but as always, it all depends on what you guys would prefer or most benefit from.

Finally, you'll see I've attached the probable final thumbnail for the upcoming video, which I have to say I'm very pleased with.

Stay well and speak very soon!

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Comments

Gareth Green

I sympathize with a lot of your complaints about Sotsu. The first two -Akashi arcs I found rather dull, neither close enough to the original to be a faithful adaptation nor different enough to be new stories. (And Mion acts way too much like Shion in Wataakashi, only more hesitant and guilt ridden, a waste of a good opportunity.) I actually liked Tatariakashi, mostly because of redemption arc Teppei, but I actually enjoyed Witchoko’s manipulations, and the inner conflict her relationship with Teppei created. And the way the two personalities broke out, even if it was apparently resolved too quickly and easily. Like many people, I was deeply frustrated that Sotsu spent so much time explaining every little detail of the -damashi arcs from Gou and the resolution was crammed into the last two episodes. Refreshing though the fast pace was, it was bewildering that Rika and Satoko seemed to act as though the -akashi/-damashi arcs NEVER ACTUALLY HAPPENED; they ONLY talk about their dispute over St. Lucia. I also agree with your frustration with how much the rest of the cast was sidelined, then the ending acted as if it was about all of them the whole time. The moment in Satokowashi when Satoko told Keiich and Rena it was none of their business and when Satoko said she didn’t know where she went wrong but she knows she went wrong somewhere COULD HAVE been paid off and weren’t. I got the feeling from Sotsu that they ran out of time or space to deal with things properly. I have hope that Meguri will fix much of these problems; the last chapter of the Gou manga pretty much stated that the rest of the cast would have a much larger role in its resolution. (Also, the Gou manga’s Tataridamashi arc emphasized Satoko’s relationship with Keiichi a LOT more than the anime.) I was really hoping/expecting that Rena would remember seeing Satoko kill Ooishi, Rika, and herself, and it would come into play. I would love to see a NEW final arc that’s a riff on Matsuribayashi, only with the gang united against Satoko instead of Takano. It would be deliciously ironic if Rika actually got help from Takano against Satoko. Maybe Takano has a conversation with Satoko in which she remarks how alike they are, and tries to explain from her own experience that her plans can never succeed.

Gareth Green

I would also like to say that I don’t think I ever HEARD of Higurashi or When They Cry until Gou came out; it is because of Gou that I am now a fan.

Gareth Green

One more thing: It was suggested at one point that Satoko could end up in a Saikoroshi style world, and I was disappointed that that didn’t happen.