r/anime • u/mischievous_shota • 4d ago
Rewatch Shiki Rewatch [Halloween 2026] - Episode 8 Discussion
Perhaps he, too, feels like he has been forsaken by God.
Episode 8: Night: Eighth Night
← Previous Episode | Index | Next Episode →
Information:
MAL | AniList | ANN | Kitsu | AniDB
Legal Streams:
Unfortunately, there are currently no places to stream Shiki legally. As such, you'll have to look into alternate methods.
He looks like a regular person... no different from us.
Questions of the Day:
1) How would you have handled the vampire that attacked Kaori if you were in the group's place?
2) What do you think is up with Shizuka's doll? Do you think there's any symbolism there?
Screenshot of the Day:
Fanart of the Day:
Rewatchers, please remember to be mindful of all the first-timers in this. No talking about or hinting at future events, no matter how much you want to, unless you're doing it underneath spoiler tags. This especially includes any teases or hints such as "You aren't ready for X episode" or "I'm super excited for X character"; you got that? Don't spoil anything for the first-timers; that's rude!
My brother will be stopping by later, too... if that's okay.
4
u/Second_Cour 4d ago
This was a strange episode to do a write-up for. I actually felt like now that we are facing the prototypical vampire story, the je ne sais quoi has been lost. Initially there was a lot of uncertainty which added to the atmosphere but this episode felt quite definite.
Then along comes with the fantastic ventriloquist character and I have some hope again.
The ball’s in the court…will we go into the mundane protagonist thwarts the vampires storyline, or will there be a lot of twists and turns like the show has delivered on thus far (prior to today)?
3
u/GallowDude 4d ago
character and
will we go into the mundane protagonist thwarts the vampires storyline, or will there be a lot of twists and turns like the show has delivered on thus far
3
u/mischievous_shota 4d ago
Right now, the part that fascinates me most is the Seishin and Sunako's conversations. I have faith they won't drop the ball just because we've already gotten confirmation of what's been happening around town.
3
3
u/Vaadwaur 4d ago
The ball’s in the court…will we go into the mundane protagonist thwarts the vampires storyline, or will there be a lot of twists and turns like the show has delivered on thus far (prior to today)?
We have 16 more episodes so...
2
u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ 3d ago
It really feels like a 1 cour show right now.
It's weird how Hikaru no Go seemed to fly by. Shiki is starting to look like a road in Kansas.
1
u/GallowDude 3d ago
It's weird how Hikaru no Go seemed to fly by
It's easy when you have Light Yagami and Double D as the main characters
2
u/Vaadwaur 3d ago
It really feels like a 1 cour show right now.
Like Higurashi and Mirai Nikki both did, yes.
2
u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ 3d ago
So it's not Salem's Lot, it's The Stand.
2
u/Vaadwaur 3d ago
I have a sense that King does have a better metaphorical match to this show but I haven't gone through enough of his books to know it.
3
u/moichispa https://myanimelist.net/profile/moichispa 4d ago
Rewatcher
On today episode let's do the unthinkable to the dead, what are they going to do? Defend themselves? Oh wait...
That kid seems to come from far away? Was she even mentioned on any point of the plot?
We are getting more vampires live, nice nice.
- How would you have handled the vampire that attacked Kaori if you were in the group's place?
Trying to murder the guy with a shove would not be my first reaction at least.
- What do you think is up with Shizuka's doll? Do you think there's any symbolism there?
CREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPY mmm it seems like an Oiran doll so it feels like old stuff whay if thsi kid has been with the bad guys for longer that other characters?
3
u/Vaadwaur 4d ago
That kid seems to come from far away? Was she even mentioned on any point of the plot?
The kids uniform, especially the hat, suggests she is from a city.
2
u/GallowDude 4d ago
kids uniform
3
u/Vaadwaur 4d ago
I dunno. How many souls do you think are trapped in that creepy doll?
2
u/GallowDude 4d ago
3
u/Vaadwaur 4d ago
Hrmm...I grew up during the puppet horror boom so I prefer them unpowered.
2
u/GallowDude 4d ago
When's the next Chucky installment? The TV series got cancelled on a massive cliffhanger.
3
2
u/GallowDude 4d ago
what are they going to do? Defend themselves? Oh wait...
"What are you gonna do, bite me?"
That kid seems to come from far away? Was she even mentioned on any point of the plot?
vampires live
No, it's pre-recorded. I don't think live anime has been invented yet.
murder the guy with a shove
whay
Whey*
thsi
Thai*
kid has been with the bad guys for longer that other characters?
5
u/Sporadia_ 4d ago
I would like to shiki but tired
Maybe a complete blood transfusion will help.
3
u/FD4cry1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Big_Yibba 3d ago
3
4
u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ 3d ago
First Timer
Shiki Ep 8
Digging up graves on a lucky day?
- uh oh, they ran out of time!
- that hole is like 5x bigger than it needed to be
- vampires are repelled by good luck charm?
- going to suck for that dude when the sun comes up. But Tasumi will probably find him first.
Well. I really thought Tatsumi was going to surprise them at the grave.
And we're back to Clive Barker.
3
u/GallowDude 3d ago
Digging up graves on a lucky day?
that hole is like 5x bigger than it needed to be
by good luck charm?
3
u/mischievous_shota 4d ago
First Timer
Absolute solitude, those unfairly discriminated against, pain of being forsaken by god, these are common motifs of Seishin's book. These seem to be topics that are quite personal to him. We know he's tried self-harm/suicide in the past. I wonder how it affects his faith as a priest.
The idea of being abandoned by god seems to resonate with Sunako. It doesn't seem difficult to see why. She seems a lot more introspective than her parents. I'm curious if it's just a difference in personality or if she's older than them. She might only be pretending to be their daughter to fit in.
September 30, Tomobiki - Kaori's good luck charm is outside Megumi's grave. It by itself is enough proof that someone dug up the grave. But that itself isn't the same as seeing the dead body so down they dig. Kaori's gift had to have been left out intentionally. They seem too careful for it to be a mistake.
The person dragging Kaori is Hirosawa Takatoshi, the one who collapsed in a pachinko parlour. He died on August 11th, just three days before Megumi. The good luck charm seemed to have an effect on him. Seems religious items are also a weakness they have.
If you have proof of an undead person, maybe don't just leave them barely covered by any dirt to deal with the next day. I know we already have the benefit of knowing their weaknesses but I think beheading is a good start. Though they didn't know if he would regenerate and if they called others to see a dead undead, they would probably just assume the three of them dug him out. I think I would have cut off his head anyway. If the adults find it, it will still lead to them investigating what went down and seeing Megumi's grave open. If the okiagari found the site and covered it up, they'd still be down one person and not know who did it.
Akira is being a tad too ambitious wanting to take down Kanemasa with just the three of them. Natsuno is thankfully able to talk some sense into him. He also remembered about Tatsumi being active in the day, so they know there might be okiagari awake during the day. They also don't know what exactly the okiagari are, so making assumptions could get them killed.
Natsuno wants to dig up Motohashi-obaachan and kill her before she can awaken. Not a bad play since he doesn't know not all victims rise up.
3
u/Vaadwaur 4d ago
I wonder how it affects his faith as a priest.
What if he doesn't have any? Family 'businesses' are a thing.
She seems a lot more introspective than her parents.
We've had like one and a half scenes with the adult Kirishikis.
Natsuno wants to dig up Motohashi-obaachan and kill her before she can awaken. Not a bad play since he doesn't know not all victims rise up.
Funnily enough this reflects how it works out in history.
3
u/mischievous_shota 4d ago
We've had like one and a half scenes with the adult Kirishikis.
That's true. Though the impression they left was not the same.
Funnily enough this reflects how it works out in history.
What's this about?
4
u/Vaadwaur 4d ago
That's true. Though the impression they left was not the same.
Yeah, they did come off more like Baccano characters.
What's this about?
So the American vampire tradition is linked to tuberculosis so what would happen towards the end of a panic was digging up corpses and either impaling them or burning them. And sometimes burning the heart and drinking the ashes.
Yeah, America is weird.
2
u/BosuW 4d ago
What do bloodsuckers have to do with tuberculosis tho?
3
u/Vaadwaur 4d ago
Consumption tended to spread through families due to how slowly it killed and, for whatever reason, it was not uncommon for people to have nightmares about departed family members choking them in their sleep as said TB limited their breathing. Also, the corpses would tend to have blood on their lips.
2
u/BosuW 4d ago
Huh. Things really aligned there.
3
u/Vaadwaur 4d ago
So in the early days of the American colonies, and up until the 20th century, people died a lot and weird fucking superstitions came up. Also, TB bled into syphilis as Bram Stoker's vampires seem to be more related to that.
2
u/GallowDude 4d ago
Yeah, they did come off more like Baccano characters.
One of them is literally Isaac
3
3
u/GallowDude 4d ago
She might only be pretending to be their daughter to fit in
Seems religious items are also a weakness they have
weaknesses but
regenerate and
3
u/BosuW 4d ago
We know he's tried self-harm/suicide in the past. I wonder how it affects his faith as a priest.
We know suicide is a massive sin in Christianity, but I dunno about how Buddhism sees it.
The good luck charm seemed to have an effect on him. Seems religious items are also a weakness they have.
If true then it's curious Sunako can enter Seishin's secret hideout, which is a Church, with seemingly no trouble.
3
u/mischievous_shota 4d ago
Yahweh noob confirmed?
3
u/GallowDude 4d ago
It's possible that since the church is abandoned, it's lost whatever religious protection it would have.
3
3
u/BosuW 4d ago
Rewatcher
I think one of my favorite stylistic choices in this show has to be the use of chiaroscuro. Clearly inspired by tenebrism.
[Shiki]It's interesting that the ending of that intro scene seems to suggest this is the first time Sunako consciously recognizes that she feels relatability to the characters in Seishin's books. You'd think that'd be something she's already thought of.
Sunako's observation that Seishin doesn't often look like someone abandoned by God is perhaps referring to the lack of an obvious material reality that would cause him to feel such loneliness? In contrast to herself, who can't endure the Sun and knows only the dark of night.
Holy shit, the plot relevant posthumous birthday present! Now even Kaori is curious to find out just what happened at Megumi's grave.
For something we already know the answer too, the reveal of the empty coffin still feels nail biting. Well of course it's because we also know they're being stalked.
I love this visual flair to depict the surprising reciprocal shock of hitting someone with full force and aggression for the first time in his life. And because the objective in question is a corpse, with this act, Natsuno symbolically touches death.
Not Akira immediately jumping in to justify a murder 😭
"Someone has to do it, or this town will disappear." Natsuno already sees himself as the front lines. I gotta say I admire his quick commitment. I know I'd still be shut in my room with insomnia and night terrors had I been in his place.
Lol it's true that the mansion is always foggy. Pretty neat visual showing the mansion, the clinic, and the temple btw.
We all love Sunako's gothic style, but I have to say this creepy kid's ventriloquist bit is just as much an elite use of your vampire status, but in a new and original way! Also a pretty good writing trick is her silly act is legitimately unsettling because we know there are very serious stakes at hand if they let her in.
The vampires being able to ask for invitation of a different vampire is a crazy exploit honestly, devs gotta patch this bullshit
Ah yeah... Natsuno won't even be safe inside his own walls now...
[Shiki]I am actually finding this viewing a lot more tense and unsettling than my previous ones. It's kind of insane to think that for Shiki standards, this is still keeping it low-key compared to the emotional intensity we'll reach in the final Arc.
Eau de Vie endings are 7/8 now and in a streak of four in a row!
Fanart of the Day
Damn even Shizuka got fanarts? You found some gems here!
Questions of the Day
1- I think I'd have buried that fucker completely ngl
4
u/Vaadwaur 4d ago
[Shiki 1]
[Shiki]The difference between what Sunako says and what she actually believes is again highlighted. I still don't quite know where to parse this
Sunako's observation that Seishin doesn't often look like someone abandoned by God is perhaps referring to the lack of an obvious material reality that would cause him to feel such loneliness?
True Detective airing two year later feels meaningful here.
The vampires being able to ask for invitation of a different vampire is a crazy exploit honestly, devs gotta patch this bullshit
This does confuse the lore pretty hard.
2
u/BosuW 4d ago
[Shiki]I do have the headcanon that Sunako's brain being forever stuck in puberty fucks with her decision making and self perception.
3
u/Vaadwaur 4d ago
[Shiki]Until I checked the wiki last night, I had legitimately forgot that she was 13. She always strikes me just pre-pubsecent
2
u/GallowDude 4d ago
[Shiki] It doesn't help that both her actresses are putting on way too young a voice. Her English VA is actually kind of grating with how much of a warbly falsetto she puts on.
3
u/Vaadwaur 4d ago
Merciful Cthulhu...I try to be open minded but how could you watch the dub for this? The voice direction also seems off.
2
u/GallowDude 4d ago
[Shiki] It's really only Sunako whose voice is annoying, and considering Cherami has given fantastic performances in the past, such as Suzuha in Steins;Gate or Female V in Cyberpunk, I can only assume this was done intentionally to make the character even more of a hypocritical, obnoxious bitch.
3
u/Vaadwaur 4d ago
[Shiki]This problem comes up quite a bit, for whatever reason. If you want hardcore pain, try watching The Gunslinger Girl dub. But anyways, I do believe the direction is specifically bad here because I didn't exactly like Seishin's delivery either. Also, I've been pondering preserved butterflies for whatever reason. I do wonder if the mangaka read Silence of the Lambs
2
3
u/GallowDude 4d ago
I think one of my favorite stylistic choices in this show has to be the use of chiaroscuro. Clearly inspired by tenebrism.
We Barry Lyndon now
Not Akira immediately jumping in to justify a murder
Reminder that he has the same English voice as Wrath from FMA03
insomnia
Wrong Stephen King book
there are very serious stakes at hand if they let her in.
stakes
honestly, devs
Damn even Shizuka got fanarts?
3
u/mischievous_shota 4d ago
For something we already know the answer too, the reveal of the empty coffin still feels nail biting. Well of course it's because we also know they're being stalked.
If it hadn't been for the present being left out, I would have assumed they put her back in to make it seem like everything was alright. Thinking about it now, her body perfectly preserved would still point to her being undead probably.
The vampires being able to ask for invitation of a different vampire is a crazy exploit honestly, devs gotta patch this bullshit
I wonder how far the exploit can go? If she just asked for her "friends" to also be allowed in instead of a single person, could any vampire she's affiliated with also enter?
2
u/BosuW 4d ago
If it hadn't been for the present being left out, I would have assumed they put her back in to make it seem like everything was alright.
In classic vampire myths they often sleep in there coffins during the day right? But I suppose that's hard to do when it has a ton of dirt on top and you need to feed presumably nightly.
Thinking about it now, her body perfectly preserved would still point to her being undead probably.
Not conclusive unless she moves. But it'd definitely indicate something is amiss.
I wonder how far the exploit can go? If she just asked for her "friends" to also be allowed in instead of a single person, could any vampire she's affiliated with also enter?
I think catboy pulled that one with Tohru, but I don't remember exactly
3
u/mischievous_shota 4d ago
He asked if it was alright to bring a friend. Same as today's episode. Both times, they asked to only bring one other person.
As an aside, I feel like I'm taking crazy pills since I seem to be the only one who thinks those are dog ears, not cat ears.
2
u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ 3d ago
The kid's got hair like that one dinosaur with cones. Or am I thinking of a pokemon? They stick out all over.
2
3
u/Sporadia_ 4d ago
Chiaroscuro, gothic style, Eau de Vie. As I peered upon critique so foreign, written like an artist's column, the revelation it inspired spoke to me. I heard. I sneer upon exotic comments, written by a:
3
u/FD4cry1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Big_Yibba 3d ago
I think one of my favorite stylistic choices in this show has to be the use of chiaroscuro.
For something we already know the answer too, the reveal of the empty coffin still feels nail biting. Well of course it's because we also know they're being stalked.
Yeah, even though it's obviously not actually much of a reveal by itself, I also really liked how the show managed to draw out tension from that whole part through both character emotion and especially the specter of the vampires showing up, and I don't really think that's a given. So far this show just has good scene construction in how it understands mood, y'know?
Pretty neat visual showing the mansion, the clinic, and the temple btw.
I know I'd still be shut in my room with insomnia and night terrors had I been in his place.
For what it's worth, he did also already go through that phase haha.
The vampires being able to ask for invitation of a different vampire is a crazy exploit honestly, devs gotta patch this bullshit
3
u/Vaadwaur 4d ago
Rewatcher
Sub
In ep note: The cringe...
So then...this episode is pretty difficult to actually say much about. Sunako and Seishin's conversation is big but, with hindsight, is a bit hard to parse since neither of them are monotheists and "God" is sort of a complex concept in Buddhism. And that is ignoring all the Shinto-ism you'd expect to be present. Regardless, both ponder if they are forsaken.
The middle section is pretty direct. Megumi is not in her grave and Kaori's gift is on the ground, suggesting that someone dug her up first. The random vampire both attacked the wrong group and suggests that they are not that physically imposing. We spend a lot of time somewhat tying loose ends.
And then the final segment comes and...I'd completely forgotten this. Which is odd since you think it would stand out except that I think this is a straight copy of the Vampire Princess Miyu OVA, just blending two episodes. This might be a Japanese comedy trope but those are a bit hard to grasp.
QotD:1 I would have beheaded it with the shovel
2 No, it is likely a reference but I don't know the source.
5
u/mischievous_shota 4d ago
I think there might be some sort of symbolism there about presenting a front to humans to gain an invitation to their homes, but I was hoping that someone else might be able to better put it into words.
4
u/Vaadwaur 4d ago
Ehh...knowing the older tropes, this is horror or comedy, with the concerning possibility that it is both. The live action Spiral movie is unintentionally hilarious.
3
u/mischievous_shota 4d ago
I'll have to check it out. The anime attempt was disappointing too.
5
3
u/Vaadwaur 4d ago
I...cannot advise that, exactly. It is a late 90's/early 00s Japanese horror movie with a budget of roughly 2200 yen. Watch it with friends while drinking is what I can advise.
3
u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ 3d ago
The last thing drunk people need are spirals in their immediate environment.
2
2
u/GallowDude 4d ago
The live action Spiral movie is unintentionally hilarious.
Unlike the Chris Rock Spiral movie, which unintentionally failed to be hilarious despite Rock's attempts at comedy.
3
3
u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ 3d ago
kami
Western vampirism and shinto/buddism just don't mix. Oil and water. This sort of text she's spinning only makes sense with a Christian god (just as with Natsuno's improvised cross).
Natsuno lampshaded it by explicitly listing all the Western vampire tropes because
- viewers might not know them all
- see above about western vampires being out of place
and then the show immediately leans into one of the tropes. It's telling us that, yep, it's western vampires (or a rug pull is coming up).
2
u/BosuW 4d ago
What kind of God Sunako and Seishin are talking about is an interesting question. Their place of meeting I think already suggests it's a more universal idea than any single religion. After all, it is an attempted Christian/Catholic Church that however depicts scenes of prosecution in Japan among it's stained glass windows.
3
u/Vaadwaur 4d ago
This also leads into some of the more...eccentric aspects of Japanese mythology. Jigoku is the native Hell and the Narakas are the ones that came with Buddhism. Near as I can analyze, they've had some concept of generic 'God' for a very long time and I don't think it quite squares with either Buddhism nor Hinduism.
That said, I think the conversation is about humanity rejecting them.
6
u/FD4cry1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Big_Yibba 4d ago
First Timer
Oh hell no, I'm closing that door
Sunako and Seishin's conversations continue to take up a rather short amount of time in the episode, but nevertheless are very interesting within it. Seishin did take Ozaki's claim to heart, and is also surprisingly quick about connecting the dots with Sunako. A suspicion that understandably quite bothers him! And their friendly relationship so far is given this extra poignant angle here via those themes of loneliness and being forsaken that Sunako views in Seishin's story, and how he generally doesn't seem to give them off too much. Now, while an author's themes really don't necessarily reflect on them personally, given that we know Seishin had a suicide attempt in his past, I wouldn't be surprised if they did at one point or if he uses his novels as a way to unload and manage that now.
Regardless, what's more interesting about it is that implication Seishin pick at, that Sunako approached him with those feelings in mind. Like, to sort of find a kindred spirit. That she herself is lonely and feels forsaken. And by extension, that she also maybe doesn't find that much actual companionship with the other vampires, something that would also play into that enigmatic nature of hers we'd seen before. So once again, the question of her feelings on being a vampire, this situation, and really, her full background, is a really interesting question hanging over all these interactions. For her part, Sunako isn't too unaware of Seishin's growing suspicions (Love the lighting on that), and given both seem to have a certain fondness (And definitely genuine care in Seishin's case) for each other, it'll be really interesting to see how their dynamic plays out now that things are looking like they're starting to heat up. The framing here with the divide between them, that's the same stained glass we frame with her talking about unfair discrimination earlier, is really fun too.
Most of the episode focuses on our grave digger trio and their run-in with a vampire, though. Which, first of all, incredibly ambitious stealth kill attempt on his part lol. Maybe Catboy should go himself next time... I do love the visuals on the attack though, very eerie. And I also think the show builds up the tension of a potential confrontation, with them starting to dig late into the day, rather well! Kaori imagining Megumi's corpse is also a great visual to get across her emotions around this as well.
Anyway, I think the most interesting thing here is actually Natsuno's reflection on how it played out afterwards, though. In a similar sense to seeing last episode how being turned into a vampire doesn't mean one is instantly ready to accept vampiric nature and killing humans, Natsuno also isn't going to be immediately comfortable with the idea of having to fight and kill people even if he knows they're vampires. He's actually rather shook over it and unsure of himself in that regard! It's definitely an interesting thing to explore emotionally, and it'll probably be even more so when the vampires won't just be Random Dude™, but also people who knew each other personally or, as the end of the episode would have it, literal children.
And it does also, yet again, help highlight the difficulty and emotions around how the only ones who are truly fully aware of this crazy situation right now are still just teenagers who are acting alone and are not at all equipped to deal with it! So, hopefully Ozaki starts making some moves soon and confirms it himself.
The one guy's fuck-up in attacking Natsuno's group does highlight the fact that while they might only die under specific circumstances, in terms of physical ability, the vampires don't seem to be that different from normal people? At the very least, they can still be incapacitated by regular means, like a well-placed bonk to the head. So it seems like it's definitely in their best interest to not be discovered, because without the stealth and suggestion element, they probably don't have much of an advantage against someone who's ready for it (Even more so considering they've got actual children in their ranks), let alone a more organized group.
(Also, is the implication that Kaori's charm actually managed to stop him, or that it just distracted for a second until Natsuno came? Because if it's the former, they're even more vulnerable!)
Which, considering that after their confrontation the vampires know that Natsuno and co are fully aware of them, probably means they're also going to target them pretty hard right now? Well, by the end of the episode, they already are in Natsuno's case, but it's a little more worrying for Kaori and Akira, especially the latter, because while he's just as scared as his sister at the end of the day, he also does come off as concerningly cavalier about it all sometimes. Like Natsuno already has, he does need to fully internalize we're playing Resident Evil here, not Castlevania (I couldn't think of a survival horror vampire game ).
On that note, I do just love that whole scene with Shizuka trying to get the invitation to Natsuno's house. It's like the perfect combination of amusing and unnerving, especially with Natsuno's dad being completely bewildered, and the cutaways to Natsuno being on his way back while Shizuka is, uh, negotiating for and eventually does manage to get that invitation, do a great job on the suspense. Plus, not only do you have the great creepy child effect, but also, like shit like this and the innate strangeness of her ventriloquism trait, which I mean... again, fuck that shit lol.