Episode 1: When you lose your composure, you cannot reach the truth or reality
Caligula Episode 1: Garbled Lyrics and a Glitch in the Matrix
In Caligula episode 1, “When you lose your composure, you cannot reach the truth or reality“, Ritsu Shikishima is a bright high school student who’s intensely interested in psychology — even though his friends don’t get it. He and his friends do normal high school stuff, like eating at a ramen restaurant their classmate Naruko Morita recommended. He begins seeing signs that his life’s unraveling, though. Things like the odd behavior of the crowd during a fight; unusual garbled lyrics during a new song from the popular virtual idol μ; inexplicable reactions from his friends. Then, at the graduation ceremony, he finds that not even his worst fears could touch what really happened.
Was μ even aware of the chaos beneath her? Is she directing it? Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Episode 2: Anxiety, Irritation, and Other Such Negative Emotions Spread to Others
Caligula Episode 2: Well, He _Seemed_ Smart and Un-Rendered Maps
In Caligula episode 2, “Anxiety, Irritation, and Other Such Negative Emotions Spread to Others,” Ritsu Shikishima can’t believe his eyes or the testimony of Shougo Satake — vague as it is — to explain his friends transforming into creatures — creatures that attacked him! Meanwhile, Kotarou Tomoe and Suzuna Kagura, while being no less incredulous, nevertheless accept that they’re in danger and try to protect themselves. Their results are mixed. Mifue Shinohara recognizes that her mom’s fake and tries to escape to Tokyo. But what can all of them do when they literally hit a wall while μ apologizes profusely?
Seriously, Tomoe — in what world are viruses exploding out of ants and spiders comforting? Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Episode 3: Why do we live? The further we pursue the meaning of life, the more confused we become
Caligula Episode 3: It’s Raining Cake and He Sure Took His Sweet Time!
In Caligula episode 3, “Why do we live? The further we pursue the meaning of life, the more confused we become,” Ritsu Shikishima struggles to come to terms with what his senses are telling him. He wants to examine the problem from all angles — but does he have that kind of time? Meanwhile, Mifue Shinohara, desparate to find her mother, happens to see an ad for SweetP’s tea party, an event where secrets will be revealed. Will Shinohara be able to find out anything about her mother? Or will the true nature of the tea party break her spirit?
I guess her first time seeing static-y heads was a bit of a shock! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Episode 4: People who do not respect themselves will not be respected by others
Caligula Episode 4: A Reference to Sméagol and Psychology as a Weapon
In Caligula episode 4, “People who do not respect themselves will not be respected by others,” Tomoe Kotaro is beside himself with worry when he can’t contact Kagura Suzuna by phone. After all, he had left her — alone! — in the library. Desperate, he seeks out help from Satake Shogo and Ritsu Shikishima, who have by now been joined by Shinohara Mifueand budding blogger/journalist Naruko Morita. Suzuna, meanwhile, is pleasantly chatting about Lord of the Rings motifs with a hooded stranger. At least, it seems pleasant to her — at first. Will her friends be able to find her in time? And if they do, what happens then?
Suzuna didn’t act alone, but fired the most powerful weapon in the episode: sympathy. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Episode 5: Everyone gets hurt. But those who don’t realize they’re hurting can’t be healed
Caligula Episode 5: Always Read the Fine Print and At Least It Didn’t End with the Swimsuit Competition
In Caligula episode 5, “Everyone gets hurt. But those who don’t realize they’re hurting can’t be healed,” Ritsu Shikishima drags Tomoe Kotaro and Marie Mizuguchi to the grand opening of a new sea-themed park. Once there, Aria notices that Kashiwaba Kotono, a young woman popular with the male students, seems to be able to see her. But only some of the time. What does that mean? Why has Mirei, one of the Ostinato Musicians, gathered everyone at this park? And what does Kotaro see in the dark room with sexy music when he peeks through his fingers? Hint: It’s not what you’d expect!
Kotono doesn’t even seem to realize the impact that Shikishima’s had on her — until the meltdown. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Episode 6: Looking forward doesn’t equal progress on its own. Understanding one’s situation is also an important step
Caligula Episode 6: Fighting Hammer and Tongs and Should Have Listened to the Idol
In Caligula episode 6, “Looking forward doesn’t equal progress on its own. Understanding one’s situation is also an important step.” Kashiwaba Kotono escalates her battle against Mirei as the other Ostinato Musicians close in on our other heroes. μ asks the Musicians to go easy on their enemies, and can you guess how well they listen? Our heroes rise to the occasion as all of them except Ritsu Shikishima manifest their Catharsis Effects. In a fit of despair, μ loses control and begins to destroy the world. With the Musicians in retreat and his companions unable to act, is there anything Ritsu can do to save himself — or the world?
Shogo couldn’t believe his eyes: Shikishima manifested his own Catharsis Effect without Aria’s help! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Episode 7: When you’re in a desperate situation, it’s all the more important to keep smiling
Caligula Episode 7: Taking Time for a Hot Pot and Because You’re You
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?
Shikishima asked why she would confide in him. “Because you’re you,” she answered. How does one respond to that? Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
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 8: A Different Perspective and Treating the Symptoms
In 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,” we go over the same timeframe as last episode, but from the perspective of some of the Ostinato Musicians. Ike-P enjoys the attention of many of the women in Mobius as the self-proclaimed most attractive man. He’s aghast when he sees some of his adherents defect to Minezawa Izuru, one of our heroes. Other Musicians are watching bits and pieces of their happiness disappear, like when Mirei’s credit cards are declined or Sweet-P’s favorite foods become scarce. It’s all due to μ still being unconscious. In desperation of losing to Izuru, Ike-P attacks him, but Izuru’s reaction is unexpected — and horrifying to Ike-P.
Ike-P gets credit for putting aside his desire for adoration to help the clerk get to his feet. Multi-layered villains are cool! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Episode 9: Even if something has already happened, you can still choose what you do
Caligula Episode 9 Review: The Fall of Justice and a Pink-Lit Keyboard
In Caligula episode 9, “Even if something has already happened, you can still choose what you do,” Ritsu Shikishima leads the Go-Home club to the tower that they’ve recently discovered holds the door to the real world. As they ascend, they keep hearing cries for help, and starting with Tomoe Kotaro, they begin to peel away to help. Are the cries really a trap laid by the Ostinato Musicians to keep our heroes from the top? How did the Musicians know our heroes were coming? And why is Shikishima acting so cold?
Kotaro delivered my favorite quote of the episode: “There’s no statute of limitations on mental trauma!” Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Episode 10: Caligula
Caligula Episode 10 Review: A Trail of Broken Dreams and Wicked Revealed
In Caligula episode 10, “Caligula“, most of the Go-Home Club is still trapped in their club room. Tomoe Kotaro tries to break through the door, but only ends up annoying everyone around him. Suspicions boil over as they try to guess who betrayed them. Was it Kagi-P? Ritsu Shikishima? Some unknown entity? In an attempt to rebuild some kind of trust, and at Kagi-P’s suggestion, they begin sharing how they came to be inside Mobius. They don’t realize it, but someone’s listening in on their conversation. Who? And just why does Marie Mizuguchi seem so anxious to find Shikishima?
Morita and the others in the Go-Home Club seem to feel like they want to make it in the real world. It’s almost as if they’ve been healed! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Episode 11: People constantly seek out the right answer. Yet, is being right really all that matters?
Caligula Episode 11 Review: An Explosive Confrontation and Mad Keyboard Skills
In Caligula episode 11, “People constantly seek out the right answer. Yet, is being right really all that matters?” Marie Mizuguchi finds that she hasn’t killed the Go-Home Club, who have invoked their catharsis effects to fight back. So she cheerfully continues her assault. She’s more powerful than they are, and she’s more prepared. Which side will Kagi-P fight on? That decision could decide the battle. Meanwhile, we learn more about what Ritsu Shikishima was doing with the pink keyboard. Hint: Unknown to the Go-Home Club, their President was being two-faced.
Even with her legs blown off, Mizuguchi was still intent on inflicting pain. What has she gone through to get to this point? Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Episode 12: Destroy your ideals and self, and return to hell and reality
Caligula Episode 12 Review: A Dying World and the Courage to Act
In Caligula episode 12, “Destroy your ideals and self, and return to hell and reality“, the contradictions of Mobius’ inhabitants is driving μ insane, and she beings to lose control. Ritsu Shikishima returns to Mobius and shares his plan to help μ with Aria. It’s a simple plan, but like all plans, there are too many ways it could go horribly wrong. Meanwhile, Mirei and other Ostinato Musicians think they can stabilize the dying Mobius by destroying the rebels. But none of them expected what Thorn did next! Can Shikishima reach μ in time, or will a dying Mobius take all of them down with it?
μ’s insane form was beautiful — and deadly. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
