Everything about this episode was perfect. The cinematography of it was stunning. It was very emotional when it needed to be. I love that they poured a lot of their budget into a more dialogue based episode rather than a fight or something like that.
4 Reviews
A work of art
akga-351929 November 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I've watched this episode several times, and it always hits hard. The emotion it is able to invoke is something I wish I could experience for the first time again. The design and artwork along with the tone set throughout makes this a masterpiece and is honestly my favorite episode of the series despite not having a battle scene.
There is a lot of great symbolism, along with the shift to a much more dull appearance of the background of the village as we follow Shikamaru. The outburst of emotion you get from the Shogi scene after the build up is enough to make a grown man cry (guilty as charged).
There is a lot of great symbolism, along with the shift to a much more dull appearance of the background of the village as we follow Shikamaru. The outburst of emotion you get from the Shogi scene after the build up is enough to make a grown man cry (guilty as charged).
Shikamaru's Mourn
tomasmmc-7719815 December 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This episode was different than the rest. Cinematography, color, dialogues, there's a dark background surrounding everything. The drawing for each expression, the soundtrack as special and emotive as the situation demands. And the plotline. Begins showing Kurenai's reaction to the news given by Shikamaru. Only a cry that breaks the silence, and flowers on the floor. The quiet funeral on a cloud dark day, with almost everyone present. Kakashi saddened and still stunned, Gai crying, Kurenai bringing flowers. Sakura next to Naruto, who tries to comfort a heartbroken Konohamaru. Choji and Ino, who is the only one who knows why Shikamaru is absent. He is shown to be alone on a roof, with Asuma's lighter, watching kids play on the streets. He walks quietly and when a woman sees him, asks about Choji and Asuma, they were regular clients in her restaurant. She's shocked to learn about Asuma's demise. Then, Shikamaru returns home, and tells his mother that he's not hungry. All this time he passes by absent minded, like just hanging in there, trying to avoid the reality of what happened. Until his father invites him to play shogi. This excellent scene simply shows how much a father knows a son. Shikaku does most of the talk, wonders about the Akatsuki, how Asuma couldn't defeat them, and so what Shikamaru is goig to do. Does he have a plan? What is he doing? Shikaku wants to be sure his son won't make something stupid, nobody would want to assist his own son's funeral. When he mentions Asuma again, Shikamaru finally reacts. All the shogi board, pieces are blown away. So Shikaku simply tells his son to "let it out", all the anger, sadness, what's inside. He leaves him alone and says he will always be there for him, while his son finally breaks in tears. Surely one of the best moments in Naruto. Not everyone mourns the same way. And for Shikamaru was hardest because he was there and watched Asuma being stabbed and die with his own eyes. And now only thanks to his father, he reacts, just like when the mission to retrieve Sasuke left his teammates in the hospital. Shikamaru is one of the best characters, but his father too. With a few moments, his appearances are crucial. As the night passes, Shikamaru finally recovers and starts thinking a strategy using the shogi pieces. It's not fast, but as images of Hidan and Kakuzu run on his mind, he finally develops a plan. At the morning, Shikaku enters the room and finds it empty, but smiles when he sees the shogi board with the pieces set for a strategy. He knows his son better than anyone. Then, Shikamaru visits Choji (after being redirected by his parents), and Ino, both of them already know he has a plan. And then, comes another exceptional scene: he finally goes to the cemetery, to Asuma's grave. He thanks some kids for the flowers, and then places a cigar over Konoha's mark. He says he's sorry for being late, he was lost but now he's back. Choji and Ino appear, with a bouquet, Shikamaru asks Asuma to watch over them, they are going to do something a little crazy. This was my favourite moment of the episode, tearful, touching (played with a great score), always holding the memory of Asuma, that kind, good smoker man, who always taught and treated his students the best possible way. No matter if Choji ate too much, if Ino was impatient, or if Shikamaru was lazy, he loved them the most. He was their second father.
To finish, the three pupils prepare to leave the gates of Konoha. But the adults won't let take off so easily. Seemingly Tsunade was aware, and meets them before they leave. Shikamaru says that the mission to capture or eliminate the Akatsuki is still on, but the Hokage tells that she will decide the teams and plan to follow. She thinks they're only three young chunin going for revenge and looking forward to death. She knows how hard is to lose someone close (are shown memories of Nawaki and Dan), but they must let it go. Shikamaru explains that this is the only way to end this chapter, they feel that with Asuma's lighter, he's with them. Until they finish this mission, he will keep the lighter. Considering they won't give in, Kakashi suddenly appears and says he will join them. He tells Tsunade that he will watch them in order to convince her. She finally agrees, and when Shikamaru asks what's going to happen with Naruto's training, Kakashi says that he'll be ok with Yamato, he doesn't need him now (and his right arm is shown to be in bandages, implying the jutsu progressed). And so, Asuma's team leaves, now with Kakashi on board. It was an appropiate ending. For Shikamaru is much more than a revenge, is like doing what Asuma would want him to do. To finish the mission, they don't do it for a selfish reason, they do it to protect the people they love, for the sake of Konoha and the world. Like Asuma said before, someone has to do it. And the better way is with Shikamaru, who knows the enemy better than anyone and his mission has become personal. Shikaku knew this, and he trusts his son to do what he has to do.
To finish, the three pupils prepare to leave the gates of Konoha. But the adults won't let take off so easily. Seemingly Tsunade was aware, and meets them before they leave. Shikamaru says that the mission to capture or eliminate the Akatsuki is still on, but the Hokage tells that she will decide the teams and plan to follow. She thinks they're only three young chunin going for revenge and looking forward to death. She knows how hard is to lose someone close (are shown memories of Nawaki and Dan), but they must let it go. Shikamaru explains that this is the only way to end this chapter, they feel that with Asuma's lighter, he's with them. Until they finish this mission, he will keep the lighter. Considering they won't give in, Kakashi suddenly appears and says he will join them. He tells Tsunade that he will watch them in order to convince her. She finally agrees, and when Shikamaru asks what's going to happen with Naruto's training, Kakashi says that he'll be ok with Yamato, he doesn't need him now (and his right arm is shown to be in bandages, implying the jutsu progressed). And so, Asuma's team leaves, now with Kakashi on board. It was an appropiate ending. For Shikamaru is much more than a revenge, is like doing what Asuma would want him to do. To finish the mission, they don't do it for a selfish reason, they do it to protect the people they love, for the sake of Konoha and the world. Like Asuma said before, someone has to do it. And the better way is with Shikamaru, who knows the enemy better than anyone and his mission has become personal. Shikaku knew this, and he trusts his son to do what he has to do.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
