Quick Summary
In Caligula episode 7, “When you’re in a desperate situation, it’s all the more important to keep smiling,” Aria hosts a hot pot party for the Go-Home club. How else to celebrate a month where the Ostinato Musicians and μ have been out of sight? Don’t they seem almost too comfortable in this world? On his way to the club room, Ritsu Shikishima encounters the consciousness of μ as she’s beginning to awaken. Can he interpret what she says in a way to protect his club? And what about his memories that tried to surface — what do they mean?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
What’s In This Post
Quick Episode Summary
3 Favorite Moments
Thoughts
Related Posts
3 Favorite Moments
Seeing the serious and rebellious Satake Shogo getting so flustered during his day job had me laughing. Remember when he asked the customer if her purchase was a gift (3:03)? He seemed earnest about providing good customer service, but at the same time, he couldn’t even find the gift bags! At first, I was taken aback that our heroes were taking it easy — doing day jobs, having a hot pot party, drinking beers, whatever. Then I asked myself: how long would I last in an artificial world that was designed to make me happy and fulfilled, before I gave in and started to relax? I like to think I would have kept the pressure on the Musicians. I like to think I’d try to find their hideout and launch and attack. But sometimes, I think the most effective weapon is comfort and ease. It’s so hard to maintain a long-term defense against those!
The dream sequence (a dream within a dream?) was a fascinating representation of μ regaining consciousness (or coming back on line?). I began to get a sense that μ trusted Shikishima in a way that was consistent with her calling him an idiot near the end of the last episode — in other words, someone she was emotionally intimate with. She confided him him, after all! But things really got interesting when μ answered his question of why she would ask him to advice with, “Because you’re you” (14:26). Shikishima took on this almost academic air and started lecturing her about the nature of human happiness. He almost treated her like a student; a student he knew really well. As he talked, his memories began to surface — memories of himself, some as a patient being told he should give himself more credit. Others where he seemed to be an adult in a position of authority. Maybe a software developer? Company owner? Consultant? It was an interesting glimpse into his memories, which have been a complete blank before now.
What’s Kagi-P doing with the Go-Home club (20:57)? And when did he start going by Kensuke? He wasn’t there when Shikishima returned (around 20:01). Yet, there he is, plain as day, sitting with the club as if he belongs there. At first, I wondered if he had really defected to our heroes, and maybe he was the one who gave Ike-P his new scars (4:57). Then I remembered both Musicians had been sitting peacefully together just before μ reawakened (13:51). Do you recall the look Kagi-P gave Shikishima near the end of last episode (18:50)? Does that have anything to do with this appearance? I’m not sure what’s up (I haven’t played the game), but if he somehow edited their memories to make them think he belongs — without any of the brainwashing techniques we’ve seen so far — then the show has some explaining to do! I’m going to go out on a limb and say that I don’t think the show would do that to us. Maybe it’s a time skip? They’re eating Aria’s rice gruel now, which wasn’t on the menu earlier. Maybe it’s a different day? In any event, it was a dramatic way to end the episode.
Thoughts
Mifue Shinohara enjoying food; Naruko Morita enjoying attention from her fans; Tomoe Kotaro acting like a local hero; Shogo working at a fashion accessories store. Like I said in my first favorite moment from this week, I was initially taken aback that the Go-Home Club was having a party in what amounted to enemy territory (i.e., Mobius). But even armies have to eat, and it’s impossible to be combat ready at all times. Plus, these details gave us some insight into the impact this world is having on even the rebels.
How long could any of us fight that? Absent a threat, that is. The Ostinato Musicians are making a serious and potentially fatal error. They should stay out of sight and let the rebels do whatever they want. Without an enemy, Mobius might well lull them into complacency, given time.
μ wants to grant everyone’s wishes. Did you get a sense that Shikishima is special to her, though? Someone she not only wanted to make happy, but someone she relies on? She hasn’t even asked Thorn for advice so far. That’s something she’s reserved for our hero.
Given his knowledge of psychology, I wonder if he contributed to μ’s development? She acts like I’d expect a self-determinant, advanced AI to act if it were trying to comprehend human emotions. Her frustration at not being able understand him as he explained the nuances of human happiness was a good example. Her reaction was more than an uninterested human (like Marie Mizuguchi in the first episode). She was trying to understand, but she was simply unable. Maybe she’s at the upper limits of her capabilities?
And are here tears near the end an indication that she’s evolving? Or maybe throwing errors?
All of this begs the question: Is Mobius a prison, or is it a hospital? Everyone we’ve met so far seems to have severe psychological issues. Did our hero design μ as a new form of therapy? Does his deep dive into the system mean he had to leave some of his conscious memories behind? Why would he enter in the first place — is he also a patient?
How would he feel if he realizes that he’s responsible for all this? That’s be an awkward dinner conversation…
This is all conjecture, of course. It’s probably way off! But I am curious about what role, if any, Shikishima played in the creation of μ and Mobius.
What do you think? Do you think Shikishima created μ? What were your favorite moments? Let me know in the comments!
Other Posts of Interest
Other Anime Sites
- Reddit Discussion of Episode 7
- Marth’s Anime Blog: Caligula Episode 7: Break Time
- Anime Q and A: CALIGULA EPISODE 7 – ANIME QANDA REVIEW
This Site (Crow’s World of Anime!)
- Caligula Episode 1
- Caligula Episode 2: Anxiety, Irritation, and Other Such Negative Emotions Spread to Others
- Caligula Episode 3: Why do we live? The further we pursue the meaning of life, the more confused we become
- Caligula Episode 4: People who do not respect themselves will not be respected by others
- Caligula Episode 5: Everyone gets hurt. But those who don’t realize they’re hurting can’t be healed
- Caligula Episode 6: Looking forward doesn’t equal progress on its own. Understanding one’s situation is also an important step
- Caligula Episode 8: Your life shouldn’t be built from someone else’s blueprint. No matter how unskilled you may be, you should draw it yourself
- Caligula Episode 9: Even if something has already happened, you can still choose what you do
- Caligula Episode 10: Caligula
- Caligula Episode 11: People constantly seek out the right answer. Yet, is being right really all that matters?
- Caligula Episode 12: Destroy your ideals and self, and return to hell and reality
