Fuuuuck I have to convince all my friends that Qifrey is NOT GOJO and he pulls out the fucking domain expansion
Happy witch hat atelier FIVE to everyone but Gojo, this episode was so freaking sick I'm so happy.
This episode has the most drastic and obvious changes from the manga, and I think it's actually for the better. Similar to the additions of Coco's flashback to her mother in episode 3, the new additions really help to flesh out Coco and this arc in particular, since I think relatively speaking it was a bit forgettable in the manga (please forgive me Tetia fans!!).
In the manga, Chapter 6 ends with the girls discovering the seal, Coco proposing a plan (without giving away the details), and then cuts to the girls moving to execute it. Then the next chapter opens with a briefer explanation than what we get in the episode.
Giving Coco a chance to take the lead in the discussion and talk about her sympathy for the dragon gives her a better chance to establish herself as a strong leader and a truly kind soul. It also reinforces what Coco is learning from this trial, which I think brings it more in line with her character development in future arcs.
ALSO HER LITTLE PITTER PATTER HERE WHEN SHE'S OBSERVING AGOTT IS SO CUTE RAHHHHH I LOVE LITTLE THINGS LIKE THIS
It must have been so much work to make it that smooth for a short couple second bit... plus Anjali's voice acting is so good for the silly scenes in this episode
Few more manga changes:
Making the portal extra dramatic was not something I expected at all. Saving Tartah also gives him a bit extra goodwill right before the little twist at the end.
Which was also something I didn't expect, I did not think it was that intimidating in the manga, but I guess it will foreshadow a few upcoming events...
And the music cutting out was absolutely maniacal that was AMAZING!
And extra shoutouts to all the little extra Riche additions... my Riche #myriche
I'm really excited to see the next episode as always! It'll be a bit slower paced after the excitement of this episode, but I think it'll be fun nevertheless. Feel free to add any thoughts in rbs or comments, I'd love to hear other people's thoughts, whether you've read the manga or are anime only!
Again, manga spoilers under the cut!
Putting Iguin in this sketchy, water like void is an interesting aesthetic choice. Add to that the fact that we got multiple shots of Qifrey's eye in this episode...
Given Qifrey's implied threat at the end, and the upcoming incident where he erases Nolnoa's memory, I think they're leaning towards building up Qifrey as potentially Iguin.
Which manga readers know isn't directly true (i.e. Iguin is Qifrey in disguise, we've never technically seen them in the same place at the same time etc.), though I think Iguin as some future/twin/clone of Qifrey still holds water (pun intended).
However, I think this creative decision might also be alluding to something else:
There's something in Coco's hat for a single frame, and I think that's supposed to be ink vial Iguin gives to Coco. I think the drawn aesthetic and the dark water like void is representative of ink. Iguin even seems to disappear into an ink blot!
Though... I can't really deny that Iguin has a lot of suspicious associations with Qifrey and his motifs still, i.e. in the opening where Iguin's eye is reflected in the water. "What about your Coco = Iguin theory"? I honestly believed that one for about 5 minutes I think the manga definitely leans more towards Qifrey and Iguin associations (typically as foils for each other), even after we see Iguin and Qifrey confront each other.
Anyways, I could run myself in circles speculating, but I'm mostly just excited to see where they take it from here. I'm super excited for Olruggio's introduction, and I hope my anime only friends will spare him from the slander </3
