Noragami Aragoto

Episode 4

Large parts of this episode were spent spelling out information that I'd already inferred and discussed in the previous recap. If you want to read my clarifications on the ma- versus ha- clans, you'll find that in the previous review. Fortunately, this week was also a parade of heartbreak, so there's still plenty to talk about!

We open on Kazuma and Hiyori locked in a scourge cage together. Last week, two of Bishamon's traitorous shinki, the super-sketchy Kugaha and the jealous Aiha, kidnapped the two. Yato caught wind of this and reasonably assumed that it was on Bishamon's orders. Now, with Hiyori cut off from her comatose body and at risk of death, Yato is pissed.

First things first, Kugaha finally does his evil mastermind duty and exposits on his master plan. His aim is simple: seize Bishamon's power for himself. He wants to do this by exploiting how gods work in the world of Noragami. You see, if Bishamon dies, people won't just stop believing in her – their faith in “Bishamon” will create a new version of the goddess. This subsequent incarnation will inherit the previous version's power but lack her memories. Kugaha wants this to happen so that he can raise the next Bishamon and indoctrinate her into doing whatever he wants. This would give him a ton of power. But who will take out Japan's mightiest war god? Why not her archenemy, the former calamity god Yato! Unfortunately, while Bishamon is desperate to go toe-to-toe with him, Yato always flees their confrontations. So Kugaha draws Yato to Bishamon by framing her for Hiyori's kidnapping. Now they'll both be at each other's throats and hopefully wreck each other before realizing that something is amiss. To ensure that Bishamon loses the encounter, Kugaha has substantially weakened her through his “medical” treatments and Kazuma's expulsion. It's a simple but devious plot. Still, this hasn't turned her into a slouch in battle – her shinki manage to force Yato into a corner so that she can deal a killing blow. However, Yukine throws himself in her way, giving his life to save Yato. This episode ends on the resounding note of Yukine's sacrifice, as well as Kazuma's.

You see, we finally learn why Yato killed Bishamon's shinki all those years back. As it turns out, Kazuma asked him to do it, all in order to save Bishamon's life. She's apparently gotten herself into this situation before, taking on too many vassals who prey on each other when she can't pay them enough individual attention. Last time there wasn't even an evil mastermind – just good old-fashioned human infighting and gatekeeping. Her shinki corrupted each other, eventually forming an enormous tumor-like phantom. Kazuma, as the only uncorrupted shinki, asked Yato to exterminate his brethren in order to save his mistress. Impressed by Kazuma's self-sacrificial loyalty, Yato agreed. Bishamon survived, but learned nothing from the incident, begging Yato to spare her “little ones” until the end. The trauma only led to her picking up more shinki and recreating the disaster many years later. Meanwhile, Kazuma has kept his role in all this secret, allowing Bishamon to stew in her hatred of Yato. That leads us to where we are now.

So yeah, this episode was just a series of emotional gut punches ramping up to Yukine's wrenching sacrifice, because Yukine must always suffer. Kidding aside, this is the culmination of his character development from all the way back in season one. Noragami characterizes families as groups of people who make mutual sacrifices for one another. Yato has already done that by refusing to abandon Yukine while he was corrupted. Now Yukine has finally paid back the favor. We'll see how he's rewarded next week – I doubt they'll be killing off one of the leads at this point. But for now, Yukine has been sliced in two. Like our hearts.

I also appreciate Bishamon's character. I've seen badass warrior women characters like her before – say, Olivier Armstrong from Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood – but they're rarely given this much depth or focus. Unlike many ladies of this stripe, Bishamon is not stripped of positive feminine qualities just because she's been given positive masculine traits as well. She's a powerful woman who's allowed to be both lovingly maternal and a ruthless commander. She alternately wears a girly pink kimono, a murderous dominatrix outfit, and military high command regalia. There's no suggestion that these aspects of her contradict each other. At the same time, she's not put on a pedestal. She has real, deep character flaws that the show addresses, but they have nothing to do with her being too masculine or feminine. This is refreshing because when some shows try to write strong women as nuanced characters, they make their story about somehow correcting their gender presentation more toward one extreme or the other. The solution to Bishamon's problems does not demean her status as a powerful woman. It's a small thing, but as a woman who cares about how her sex is treated in her entertainment, it enhances my enjoyment.

Aiha is more of a manipulated stooge than anything. Kugaha tricked her into getting even more scourge-ified, which both weakens Bishamon further and shames Aiha more solidly into his corner. She does appear to be having a crisis of conscience. She'll probably have a central role in unveiling Kugaha's dark intentions.

The most tantalizing thing we get this episode is the glimpse of Yato during his days as a calamity god. It's strange to see him so dour and intimidating. This was back when he was working with Nora, who apparently had him on a tight leash. Still, he wipes out the –ma clan as an act of benevolence. Maybe he was touched by Kazuma, a shinki in a mutually supportive relationship with his master. I wonder how Yato got away from Nora? I hope that Noragami addresses all of this – this second season has already proven itself a surprisingly powerful continuation of an already impressive show.

Several questions remain. What are Kugaha's motivations besides power? Does he have any? How will Yukine get out of this situation? Also, how did Kazuma's regalia evolve from a simple nail earring to his current form as a flowery pink radar system? Do they still make GIANT EAGLE regalia, and if so, where can I get one? Maybe Yato can get one to replace Yukine, now that he's bisected and all. Sounds like a good trade.

Grade: A

Noragami Aragoto is currently streaming on Funimation.

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