Episode 1 fast-forwards 40 years. Most of the characters from Season 1 are not in Season 2, except the Beholder, Tonari, Fushi, and the Nokkers. The Nokkers continue to roam around villages and turn people into one of them. The Beholder is still present to guide Fushi, whose character is still developing, either in understanding his purpose or finding true friends.
In Episode 1, a new character is introduced now that Hayase is dead. Her granddaughter, Hisame, joins the Guardian’s mission to protect Fushi and inherits Hayase’s Nokker that entered Hayase’s body in the Season 1 finale. How the creature in Hisame’s arm comes to understand human language or how she is not controlled by the creature is not known. It just shows they protect each other.
Hisame and her bodyguards find Fushi living on an island alone. Fushi does not know who she is until she mentions the name Hayase, whom he despises. He still cannot forget what Hayase did to his friends, and he does not want anything to do with Hayase’s granddaughter, as shown in his dialogue and expression. Later, he changes his attitude toward her since she is not Hayase.
At the end of Episode 1, Tonari returns, which brings back a familiar character from Season 1. Her role as a supporting character adds depth to Fushi’s life. In Season 1, her background story and the incident involving her friends and the village tell a bit about her collaboration with Fushi to fight the Nokkers. In Season 2, the dialogue between her and Fushi reveals his needs, even though he is not sure about her advice. The tension and conflict between her and Hisame in the village suggest that she may appear more in this season and the next, but no. In Episode 2 of Season 1, Hisame’s Nokker kills her. However, the discovery of her diary and her identity move the plot forward. Fushi continues to move on to find qualities of true friendship that will keep him from giving up his purpose in life.
In Episode 3, we learn that society changes as time passes. Different beliefs about Fushi create conflict between him and his surroundings, which puts him in danger. Some villagers support him and know that he is here to help. Others are against him, as if he is an infidel, as shown in their dialogues, expressions, and actions. The symbol in the flag shows that different religious organizations are formed. The costumes of the Uralis Kingdom and the guards of the Yanome show that social change and standardization have taken place.
The first three episodes focus on figuring out his meaning of life. and who his true friends are. Is it the prince of the Uralis Kingdom or Kahaku, a male successor of Hayase descendant? He is still learning about his surroundings and the people he meets, just like humans do as they go through life. The battle between the Nokkers and Fushi is not the focus, even though the creatures attack the village and he kills them from time to time.
Rating: 7.5/10
