A marathon watch from episodes 17 to 26. Goodness...that was some serious mind-raping.

I have to say that the story was satisfying, full of twists (I was deceived into thinking that it was biological terrorism...^o^) and somewhat confusing at best.

The Meakashi-hen (episodes 16 - 21) was total gruesomeness. Best of all who would have thought Shion and Mion could have made such a big difference in the story when we first watched the Question arc of Watanagashi-hen (episodes 5 - 8). This was pure twistedness at its very best.

SPOILER (click to view)

And the explaination of Rika stabbing her head with the knife was like...OUCH!!! Extremely graphic!!!

As for the Tsumihoroboshi-hen (episode 22 - 26), I say this takes the cake for Rena's pivotal role in the story. But what confused me at first the most was how it existed in a somewhat "separate and yet the same" storyline of the Onikakushi-hen (episodes 1 - 4). Especially Keiichi's revelation to his past and Rika's mention of "doing what she couldn't do before". And then there's the deviation of the common storyline that courses throught the initial arc.

SPOILER (click to view)

The part where he recalls bashing Rena and Mion to death threw me into total confusion. Were they brought back to life? Was Higurashi no Naku Koro ni totally being in the realm of the mystical with gods and resurrections? Wasn't Keiichi dead? He was a murderer's accomplice from the start in Onikakushi-hen?

Basically the sequence of events leading to Onikakushi-hen, the events that happened and the events that transpired from it, all depicted in Tsumihoroboshi-hen just don't tie together.

That was until I realized that Tsumihoroboshi-hen was an alternative outcome story of what could have happened (or avoided) in Tsumihoroboshi-hen.

A very nice ending to the whole story though. A bit sad that the other two chapters Minagoroshi-hen and Matsuribayashi-hen weren't included. Releasing those two chapters as an OVA would be a nice bonus but I'm just dreaming here. :P

Now all I need to do is wait for Triad to complete it so that I can burn it off. I liked their term "spirited away" better than "demoned away".

The ending"why,or why not" is superexcellence.

Ummmm......it's interesting

This was a great anime and of the best this year. It was very graphic with blood and guts. Most people wouldn't think by looking at the art style of it that it had volience. I hope they make a follow up to this.

I havta say this was an amazingly disturbing show. Not that I didnt like it, it was just...soo....creepy.

Dias

SPOILER (click to view)

The part where he recalls bashing Rena and Mion to death threw me into total confusion. Were they brought back to life? Was Higurashi no Naku Koro ni totally being in the realm of the mystical with gods and resurrections? Wasn't Keiichi dead? He was a murderer's accomplice from the start in Onikakushi-hen?

SPOILER (click to view)

The arches are only Rika reliving her life over and over again locked on summer 1983 trying to find a way to end it without dying. She always end up dying. That's why on Himatsubushi-hen she could tell everything that was going to happen. When she dies, she reset her life again. This is explained on the games. The objective of the game is to somewhat get her free of this dying cicle, and that also must include that all of her friends live. The fact that Keichii somewhat remembers of his another life is itself a miracle (btw one of the pre-requisites for Rika get free of this cicle)

I thought that became very clear at Himatsubushi-hen, but with Tsumihoroboshi-hen and than what Rika says at the end credits of episode 26 it is stamped on the viewers face ;)

Dias

Now all I need to do is wait for Triad to complete it so that I can burn it off. I liked their term "spirited away" better than "demoned away".

Though the right is demoned away, since it's ONIkakushi and not KAMIkakushi

Oh well in case someone didn't notice who is killing Rika over and over, fell free to spoil the manga/game by opening the spoiler below

SPOILER (click to view)

It's Takano, she is not dead, the police just jumped into conclusion that the burned body was her's ... she is the one pulling the strings on backstage, she is the one who kills Tomikake every arch, and she is the one who kills Rika (when she is not tortured by death by Shion or suicide) because she is basically insane and is trying to get Oyashirosama powers by killing Rika (Oyashirosama priestess) in Watanagushi style and than offering the whole village as a sacrifice (oh yeah, that's right, she is behind the great disaster too)

The anime is not all that explicit giving the above information but one can deduce if watches all the arches closely. Now, as how she manages to kill the whole vilage I don't know, I guess I have to read the manga =/

Heh heh, sure would not like to live in hinamizawa. Well...maybe a little. I liked the ending but they shouldve gone into the last 2 arcs. Oh well, maybe in an OVA

YEAH! HIGURASHI!

Just started watching it, just 'cause someone mentioned that my 'love', Fuyou Kaede, is very similar to another character in Higurashi.

And yeah, right now, I'm in 'loving-psycho-girls' phase. ^_^

What got me hooked into this series is how they managed to hide a second face into the characters. The nice, innocent smiles that can suddenly turn to twisted, corrupted smirks. At first, I'm amazed how well they did it in Shuffle for Kaede, but now, they even took it one step further for Higurashi.

At first, I doubt that they can't pull off the same twisted look as they did with Mion and Rena for Satoko and Rika (Only up to ep 8) but after seeing Rika's twisted look, can't wait what Satoko will look like.

Currently trying to get ahold of the manga and said visual novels. (Plus English patches)

Tristram

Dias

Now all I need to do is wait for Triad to complete it so that I can burn it off. I liked their term "spirited away" better than "demoned away".

Though the right is demoned away, since it's ONIkakushi and not KAMIkakushi

The term "spirited away" is pretty much neutral as to whether it is God's or Demon's doing. It's still being "kidnapped". If someone disappears they might be said to have been spirited away, or taken by the spirits, same thing only in this case demons. Else we'd be saying that the correct term of KAMIkakushi would be Godded away.

If a native Japanese speaker or someone more familiar with Japanese terminologies would be able to clear this up, I'd be very happy. Googling didn't gave me results other than reference to Miyazaki's work (Spirited Away) and anime discussion threads (demoned away).

SweetSmile

The ending"why,or why not" is superexcellence.

But quite engrishy. XD~

My fav wuz Wind's karaoke. Loved the part where they asked for people to help figure out that hard to hear part before the official lyrics wuz released.

I see big forum pimping. =\

Yeah i recently just dl-ed da whole anime & i've watched da 1st 2 chapters & i hav 2 say im impressed...i love anime which brings something new 2 my anime viewing like Melancholy xD cant wait 2 finish watching dis...ive limited myself 2 watching this late @ nite with all da lights off 2 get da full effect so its gonna take me a yl hehehe

~*ChOpY*~

Lol i thought it was a good show overall, just a little creepy, with a lot of blood

Higurashi no naku koro ni is pretty interesting...It made me think alot everyday(like some detective )...i got tired piecing the episodes

Watched the first episode, I liked, very cute

Watched the first episode, I liked, very cute

"Cute"

You are in for a rollercoaster of surprises >.>