Quick Summary
In Somali and the Forest Spirit episode 10, “The Infant Child and the Green Fortress,” Golem shared the story of how me met Somali with Shizuno. As we could have guessed, Somali’s force of personality played a big part in Golem not just kicking her out of the forest. After all, his job was keeping the forest safe — the forest as a whole, and not its individual inhabitants, and certainly not visitors! Shizuno, as expected, not only loved the additional insights from the story, but readily agreed to help protect Somali in the event Golem’s aging body failed. The next morning, even as Golem and Shizuno’s companion Yabashira traveled to town to work for the day, a threat approached from an unexpected direction. Will Shizuno and Somali recognize the threat in time? Or is the peace of Somali’s life about to unravel?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Best Moment in the Show
In terms of life goals, there are certainly worse choices. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Let me just put this out there. And this is a spoiler. Auntie Rosa, I will not mourn your passing. Not for the first part of an instant.
That unpleasant business out of the way, let’s move on to my Best in Show moment for this episode. It came just after Golem had told Shizuno the story of how he had first met Somali — in fact, how she even came to be known as Somali. The little girl had more or less demanded that Golem care for her, and she had achieved her goal through sheer force of will. Also, by risking her own life to retrieve some of Golem’s outer skin that had fallen off when he went fishing.
Of course, Golem just being Golem was a big part of him accepting her.
When Golem finished his story, Shizuno asked how much longer Golem had left. Golem showed Shizuno the condition of his body, which was becoming dire. Golem’s no fool. He knows his end is coming. So he asked Shizuno to take care of Somali when his body failed.
I really like Shizuno, and I’ve never liked him more than when he asked if that was what Golem really wanted. He said (12:31), “Did you come this far with a failing body purely out of a sense of duty?”
Shizuno is wise. I like this character; I would like more folks like this in my life. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Back in episode 2, I wondered if the series would showcase Golem’s reason for protecting Somali as an act of will, rather than act of emotion. Well, we got the answer in this episode when Golem answered Shizuno by saying (12:37), “Having travelled with Somali, I now know. My reasoning from the beginning was clear. I simply wished to see more of her smile.”
This is why Golem dedicated his life to helping Somali find other humans. This is the goal for which he’s spending his failing body. This is the purpose to which he’s dedicated his life. As a Dad myself, I have to say: I approve.
What did you think of Shizuno’s promise in this episode? What was your Best in Show moment? Let me know in the comments!
Other Posts about This Series
Other Anime Sites
- Reddit: Somali to Mori no Kamisama – Episode 10 discussion
- I Drink and Watch Anime: Somali and The Forest Spirit Episode 10 – When You Name Something It’s Yours
- The Otaku Author: Somali and the Forest Spirit (Episode 10) – The Infant Child and the Green Fortress
This Site (Crow’s World of Anime!)
- Somali and the Forest Spirit Episode 1: Journeying Parent and Child
- Somali and the Forest Spirit Episode 2: Edible Herbs and the Oni’s Dwelling
- Somali and the Forest Spirit Episode 3: The Sea at the Bottom of the Cave
- Somali and the Forest Spirit Episode 4: The Wishing Flower and the Promise Request
- Somali and the Forest Spirit Episode 5: The Wandering Birds
- Somali and the Forest Spirit Episode 6: Dying Flowers Look Up at the Birds
- Somali and the Forest Spirit Episode 7: The Footsteps that Stalk the Witches
- Somali and the Forest Spirit Episode 8: Meetings and Bonds Paid For
- Somali and the Forest Spirit Episode 9: Memories of Minor Days
- Somali and the Forest Spirit Episode 10: The Infant Child and the Green Fortress
- Somali and the Forest Spirit Episode 11: Those Who Protect and Those Who Threaten
- Somali and the Forest Spirit Episode 12: Bonded Father and Child
