Letting Go Takes Center Stage in Heavenly Delusion Episode 8
Heavenly Delusion's eighth episode weaves a captivating tale of love and loss with its methodical setup and patient character development Though the tone and visuals are at times inconsistent, the narrative hits hard with its beautiful storytelling and poignant moments
Despite some impressive writing choices, episode 8 of Heavenly Delusion, titled "Their Choices," left me feeling conflicted due to an inconsistent tone and visuals. However, the main narrative is undeniably one of the most beautiful of the series, blending methodical setup and patient character drama to convey a complex relationship in a short amount of time.
In the previous episode, Kiruko and Maru encountered a group of protestors opposing "The Immortal Order," a mysterious organization that has been amputating people's limbs. They accepted a job to clear out man-eaters beneath the Order's building, but were unexpectedly approached by Dr. Usami, who asked for their assistance.
The subplot involving "Liviuman," the human rights group protesting against the Immortal Order, was peculiar and lacked depth. It failed to leave a lasting impression and lacked the necessary humor or wit to be memorable. At its worst, it came across as a crude caricature of human rights activism, but it served a simple purpose.
As the episode unfolds, the group is depicted as mindless followers who are quick to resort to violence. The sudden shift from being portrayed for laughs to becoming a dangerous group willing to kill for a lie is not entirely convincing or impactful.
The main plot of the episode seems to clash with the other story, which could be a deliberate move. Despite all the horror stories surrounding the building, the reality is much less sinister than expected. This actually works well for the overall plot, and had the rioters directly interrupted the other story, the episode could have been much worse.
To Die As A Human
The central plot of the episode revolves around Dr. Usami's request for Maru to kill a woman, but the story is much more complex than that. It unveils a significant revelation, but it's overshadowed by a more immediate and captivating storyline. The Man-eaters were once humans who fell victim to a disease - presumably the same one featured in the nursery plotline.
Usami's amputations were an attempt to prevent these humans from turning into Man-eaters, and Hoshio, the woman described in the previous episode, had undergone several such surgeries due to her severe condition. Although she's in constant pain due to the loss of so many body parts, Usami sees an opportunity to offer her a peaceful death with Maru's power.
The character development in this particular sequence is remarkable. Despite Hoshio's inability to physically communicate, her personality shines through her words spoken via a tablet wired to her brain. The subtle interactions between her and Usami reveal a great deal about their relationship and the experiences they've shared. The episode's strength lies in its quiet moments, allowing the animation and performances to convey the story without excessive dialogue. It's impressive how much depth the story provides for a character who is physically immobile, voiceless, and whose defining feature is her eye - a gift from the man who cares for her.
The emotional highs of this episode were somewhat dampened by the score, which seemed to dictate the audience's response rather than allowing for a more organic reaction. This was particularly unexpected given Kensuke Ushio's usual penchant for ambient, understated music in moments like these.
The ending, which could have been bittersweet, ultimately became a tragedy, leaving the protagonists to grapple not only with new information, but also with a new understanding of Maru's power. For all this time, his power has been responsible for killing people, even if they had transformed into monsters. Now, he must come to terms with what his power means and decide how he will wield it in light of this revelation.
All in all, the latest episode of Heavenly Delusion delivers a captivating storyline, although it is somewhat hindered by a forgettable subplot lingering in the background. The future of the Liviuman group remains uncertain - whether they will return or not - but their appearance in this episode might have been better left out. However, for viewers who can overlook this minor flaw, there is still much to enjoy and appreciate in this episode.
