Quick Summary • Best Moment • Setup • Delivery • Other Posts
xxxHOLiC Episode 18 – Quick Summary
In xxxHOLiC episode 18, “Ground Cherry,” Watanuki had to clean Yuuko’s treasure warehouse – again – when he came across a picture of a human-form cat carrying a huge ground cherry. Before he could puzzle out its meaning, the cat sprang through the picture and landed on Watanuki! Why had the cat come to visit? Why was the ground cherry so huge? And how many times will Watanuki freak out in this episode?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Favorite Quote from xxxHOLiC Episode 18
Doumeki decided to be a little more acerbic than usual! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Not surprisingly, Watanuki wanted to take Himawari with him to wherever the ground cherry was going to take him. Also not surprisingly, she had other plans. That seems to be a theme, doesn’t it? And poor Watanuki just isn’t picking up the clues!
However, Doumeki was available, and Yuuko even encouraged him to go with Watanuki. This, of course, displeased Watanuki. But not nearly as much as Watanuki learning he’d have to practically hold hands with Doumeki – they both had to hold onto the ground cherry at all times.
Watanuki felt so angry that he said he would not help Doumeki if he got into trouble.
Doumeki said (05:49), “Have you ever helped me? Hmm?”
I winced on Watanuki’s behalf.
Favorite Moment from xxxHOLiC Episode 18
Yuuko sees something in Watanuki’s future. It doesn’t seem pleasant! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Setup: Seeing Old Faces
I enjoyed seeing the Zashiki-warashi again. I’m glad Watanuki got to see her – he’s much more calm when she’s near him. Well, except for when he’s plunging to his death. I can forgive Watanuki for being a bit tense about that.
It was also cool to see Chibi Kitsune again. He reinforced the theme that what you do comes back to you. In this case, Watanuki’s kindness came back to him in the form of salvation from becoming a monster meal. We should all take that lesson to heart: if you ever meet a pleasant kitsune, be kind to them!
Always be kind to a Kitsune. You’ll be glad you did! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Neither of those were my favorite moments, though they came close. My favorite moment is an example of the kind of mystery that attracts me to this series. It happened just after Watanuki and Doumeki got back with the nectar. Yuuko convinced Watanuki to drink up with the promise that the nectar was alcohol-free. It might have been; but it affected Watanuki’s system just like straight vodka would mine. The good stuff – not the stuff you buy in supermarkets. That’s way too watered down.
Anyway.
Delivery: The Mystery Deepens
While Watanuki lay passed out between them, Doumeki showed that there’s a lot going on behind his quiet demeanor. He came out and asked (21:01), “Why are you here? If you hadn’t come, he would have brought the nectar to your shop. But you were waiting. Is that because I was with him? Do you not want me in your shop?”
Yuuko smiled her most enigmatic of smiles and said (21:30), “There’s no reason for you to come in.”
Very cool, right? But this is my favorite part. Doumeki asked if Watanuki needed to be there. Yuuko answered (21:46), “Yes. That shop, you see, has prepared him for what lies ahead. That’s why he came.”
Watanuki wasn’t in any condition to hear their conversation. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
It’s not exactly new information, right? Various characters like Ame-warashi have hinted that there’s something going on. But this is the first time I can remember Yuuko coming out and saying it so plainly. What’s going on with Watanuki? What’s coming? Does it have anything to do with Himawari keeping an emotional distance?
I enjoy how the story unveils aspects of the mystery a little at a time. It keeps the story fun, and it makes me look forward to finding out more as the story unfolds!
What did you think of the monster procession? What were your favorite moments? Feel free to let me know in the comments!
xxxHOLiC Episode 18: Other Posts
Other Anime Sites
- My Anime List (must be logged in to view): xxxHOLiC Episode 18 Discussion
- Star Crossed Anime: xxxHolic – 18 – Spirits Have Interesting Rituals
This Site (Crow’s World of Anime!)
- xxxHOLiC Episode 01: The Inevitable
- xxxHOLiC Episode 02: Falsehood
- xxxHOLiC Episode 03: Angel
- xxxHOLiC Episode 04: Fortune-Telling
- xxxHOLiC Episode 05: Game of Letters
- xxxHOLiC Episode 06: Indulgence
- xxxHOLiC Episode 07: Hydrangea
- xxxHOLiC Episode 08: Contract
- xxxHOLiC Episode 09: Pinky Promise
- xxxHOLiC Episode 10: Lamplight
- xxxHOLiC Episode 11: Confession
- xxxHOLiC Episode 12: Summer Shade
- xxxHOLiC Episode 13: Transfiguration
- xxxHOLiC Episode 14: Seal
- xxxHOLiC Episode 15: Release
- xxxHOLiC Episode 16: Reunion
- xxxHOLiC Episode 17: Self-Mutilation
- xxxHOLiC Episode 18: Ground Cherry
- xxxHOLiC Episode 19: Unreasonable
- xxxHOLiC Episode 20: Atonement
- xxxHOLiC Episode 21: Nail Clipper
- xxxHOLiC Episode 22: Tempations
- xxxHOLiC Episode 23: Choices
- xxxHOLiC Episode 24: Side Story: Reminiscence
Yeah, I love it when we get little hints about what’s going on in the background of this series! Doumeki knew that something was off about Yuuko’s shop, but I wonder how much he knows about Watanuki’s part time job? He’s tagged along and helped out with a variety of Watanuki’s tasks, so he has to know a bit, though Doumeki doesn’t tend to show it much.
I’ve often wondered how all of this seems to Doumeki. His temple background explains why he’s not freaked out in the least.
But what about Himawari? As far as I know (at this point in the series), she has no supernatural background. Why doesn’t more of this seem strange to her?