Noragami Aragoto

Episode 11

This episode begins with both Yato and Ebisu in bad places. In a last ditch effort to escape Izanami, Ebisu opened a vent out of the underworld. While he managed to ride it out, Yato was just thrust deeper into Izanami's realm. Now Ebisu is dying of corruption outside, while Yato is about to be made Izanami's eternal companion. Bishamon, Kofuku, and Hiyori are on their way, but can they do anything against one of Shinto's most hallowed figures? Or the heavenly charges against Ebisu, for that matter?

The villain-formerly-known-as-Kugaha is back and more of a creeper than ever. He confronts Hiyori and Yukine as a Nora while they're making their way through the forest around the underworld. As it turns out, he wants Hiyori's hand, having had his own severed by Yato during their confrontation. At least Yukine intervenes before he can finish the deed. They promptly get into a boundary fight. Formerly-Kugaha manages to unnerve Yukine by targeting his emotional weaknesses – suggesting that Yato took Nora into the underworld because he doesn't trust Yukine – but Hiyori reassures Yukine that he's Yato's pride and joy. Only then can Yukine's boundaries overwhelm the rogue shinki's. The creeper is sent flying, but the question remains unanswered – why did he even show up there in the first place?

Meanwhile, Yato wins an emotional victory against Father by finding his own reasons for saving Ebisu. The two of them formed a connection during their time in the underworld, and it's enough to make Yato want to save him as a friend. This has also renewed Yato's desire to cut ties with Father. I do like how the show doesn't make this easy for him – he did have good times with Nora, and her brief moments of genuine kindness just make it harder for him to leave. All that seems to matter for Nora is being with Yato through any means possible. She's likely also Father's victim, conditioned into acting as the calamity god's ball and chain. Still, there's nothing Yato can do about that. In order to be free from Father, he needs to leave Nora. In the end, Yato resolves to finish the mission so he can reconnect with Hiyori and Yukine once he gets out. If he gets out.

Fortunately, Bishamon arrives with bail. At first she only seeks to rescue Ebisu, but she decides to help Yato in order to even the score between them. This shows that Bishamon has learned her lesson from the previous arc. She's realized that she was responsible for the Ma clan's death and that her hatred of Yato was misplaced. She acknowledges that Yato's influence has made her a better person, eliminating Kugaha and encouraging her to form healthier relationships with her remaining shinki. It's nice to see the emotional fallout of previous arcs continue to be relevant. Our core team of gods (Yato, Kofuku, Bishamon, Tenjin, and now Ebisu) seem more and more like an extended family with each new episode.

By Noragami standards, this episode was light on the pathos. There were still two or three heavy moments, so this says more about how unbelievably loaded with emotion Noragami has been than anything else. This was mostly set up for the finale, where the real poop will most likely meet the metaphorical fan. There was some nice action featuring Bishamon, who consistently provides the series' best showstopper visuals. It was nice to see Aiha's armor form (a suit of armor seems appropriate for the goth loli) and Bishamon repeatedly smashing Izanami's face into the ground. Sure, the mightiest war goddess can't eliminate the queen of the underworld, but she can sure as hell hold her off for a while. In the end, a newly-conscious Ebisu comes up with a plan to rescue them, likely involving the Locution Brush. With the second season drawing to a close, Noragami has grown from a good show to a great one. But can it stick the landing?

Grade: A-

Noragami Aragoto is currently streaming on Funimation.

Gabriella Ekens studies film and literature at a US university. Follow her on twitter.