Episode six of Isuca, titled “Promise,” is currently streaming on Crunchyroll for paid subscribers. Free members can watch the same episode six days from now on March 6th. The atmosphere is awkward because of the circumstances in the last episode, which involved Shinichiro kissing Sakuya because it would be the only way to survive against and kill the spider monster.
Sakuya was able to kill the monster with the boost of power from Shinichiro, but can never disobey is commands again. It is obvious that Sakuya is angry at Shinichiro because her “freedom” is effectively gone. I kind of thought that Sakuya is total b-tch because of her attitude towards everybody including Shinichiro and Tamako, but I can understand her predicament.
She wants to remain the head of the Shimazu Family because it is the only way that the group will validate her existence and her father’s existence. It is noble on one hand, but superficial on the other hand when you think about it.
But there is more to the story when Sakuya tells Shinichiro that her parents went missing eight years ago when they went to fight a specter. It is obvious that Sakuya’s b-tchy attitude is a defense mechanism because of the ridicule she had received.
Sakuya also reveals to Shinichiro two reasons she is condescended upon, which I understand.
Sakuya’s father is a Western mage like the one in the previous episodes. It has obviously caused a stir within the Shimazu household. This also means that Sakuya is half-Caucasian, which explains the blonde hair and green eyes.
I ache for a crossover between Isuca and Fate/Stay Night after listening to Sakuya’s explanation on how genetics play a role in magic purity. I think that Sakuya and Waver Velvet should compare notes with each other because the latter proved that a person can be efficient with potent magic without the genetics.
This also mirrors J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series because Hermoime Granger is a “mudblood,” which means she has one parent who’s a magic user and another who’s not.
I found it interesting that Sakuya inevitably has to face her mirror image in a specter fight, which feels incredibly poetic for her situation. I am reminded of Kakyoin’s fight aganst Mannish Boy’s Death 13 in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders.
Sakuya ultimately learns that she is her biggest opponent and critic, which is not necessarily a bad thing because it will motivate you to keep getting better and better. It reminds me of Persona 4, where the heroes must accept their Shadow versions in order to unlock their Persona.
It was an emotional episode where Sakuya admits her true feelings and finally understands what she truly wants in life.
She is perhaps the most vulnerable character, emotionally, of all the characters. I suspect that her father is from Ireland because she keeps demanding that Shinichiro makes her Irish Stew.
