Quick Summary • Best Moment • Setup • Delivery • Other Posts
xxxHOLiC Episode 22 – Quick Summary
In xxxHOLiC episode 22, “Temptations,” Watanuki was being his usual overworked, spastic self. He thought Yuuko would be home any minute, so he was trying to get everything ready – including nukadoko. Suddenly, he saw someone at the gate. Assuming the woman was there to see Yuuko, he tried to explain her absence – but the woman was actually there to see him! Who is this mysterious woman? What does she want from Watanuki? And what has Yuuko gotten herself into?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Favorite Quote from xxxHOLiC Episode 22
Watanuki knew something was up as soon as Yuuko said those words – in that tone. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Yuuko is one of the only characters I know who can sound chillingly dangerous by by using her cheerful voice. Remember when she called Watanuki early in the episode? Somewhere around the 3:00 mark? Did you notice how much static was on the line?
It made me wonder: what has Yuuko and Mokona gotten themselves into? I know that CLAMP had another series, Tsubasa RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE, and I think Yuuko was a character. I’m not sure; the show was, I’m embarrassed to admit, too sad for me to watch.
But whatever she’d gotten herself into, she maintained an awareness of what happened in and around her house – and/or to Watanuki. When she told him she’d be gone for a while, he told her to take care.
“You take care, too,” she said in a void crystal clear, very warm – and utterly devoid of static (03:51). The line went dead.
In that moment, I knew Watanuki’s life was about to take a less than pleasant turn.
Favorite Moment from xxxHOLiC Episode 22
Would it have killed him to explain even a little? Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Setup: A LIttle Clarity Would Go a Long Way
Okay, I’m giving Watanuki a pass on not listening to Yuuko and Doumeki’s cryptic hints. Would it have killed either of them to say something like, “Say, Watanuki, that nice lady you’re talking to? Yeah, she’ll make you cough up blood. So better beg off.”
“Why, thank you, Doumeki or Yuuko. Thank you for being clear so I don’t have to cough up blood. Because as we all know, coughing up blood is not healthy. Nor is it fun! So I will tell the nice lady that I have other business.”
See? End credits roll. As a bonus, we’d get to see the adorable ED more quickly.
Sigh.
The more Doumeki learned about what was going on, the less he liked it. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
I still have no idea why Doumeki protects Watanuki. I don’t know how he got that assignment, I don’t know how he feels about it, and I don’t know if he coordinates with Himawari or not. But I know this: the guy is quick. He’s perceptive. And he immediately knew there was a problem with Yuuko being out of town.
Delivery: When Doumeki Speaks, Watanuki Should Listen
Did you see how he reacted as soon as Watanuki mentioned her absence? Doumeki got super serious. Okay, he got more intensely super serious. It’s not like he has a jovial bone in his body. But he got super, intensely serious and asked where the pipe fox was. Watanuki responded that it was chilling back at Yuuko’s place.
““Carry that with you,” Doumeki snapped (05:26). No pre-amble, no explanation. No hesitancy in his voice whatsoever.
That made me sit up. Earlier, I know I expressed some frustration with Doumeki and Yuuko for not just coming out and telling Watanuki what was up. But I want to be fair: it’s not like Watanuki is new to this. If one of my buddies in high school or college – hell, even today, at work – adopted that expression and gave me a warning in that tone? I’d take it very, very seriously.
To be fair, Watanuki should have known to listen to Yuuko and Doumeki. Like, maybe ask some questions or something? Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Sure, it might be a prank. Or it might be deadly serious, like a Cthulhu-like creature giving human high school girls angel wings before it chows down on them. Personally, I’d like to avoid Cthulhu and Cthulhu-like creatures. They tend to have terrible tempers and ravenous appetites. And they view humans as tasty morsels.
I don’t know who Mayuko is or why she’s hanging out with Watanuki. But I know based on Doumeki’s reaction, it can’t be anything good. Which means I’m really looking forward to the next episode!
What did you think of Watanuki collapsing at the end? What were your favorite moments? Feel free to let me know in the comments!
xxxHOLiC Episode 22: Other Posts
Other Anime Sites
- My Anime List (must be logged in to view): xxxHOLiC Episode 22 Discussion
- Star Crossed Anime: xxxHolic – 22 – Temptation
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
OMG, Watanuki fainting at the end of the episode was such a nail biting cliff-hanger! This is why I love these episodes. The mysteriously absent Yuuko, the warning from Doumeki, the friendly lady that makes Watanuki feel understood, and appreciated. It all comes together to make a great story.
This episode set up the mystery so well! The character-based drama really worked for me.
I tried to watch Tsubasa immediately after watching Holic, and quickly realized it was pointless without watching every single thing CLAMP had done beforehand.
Eventually I tried again after watching everything else, and it made a lot more sense. But what I really wanted was a lot more Yuuko, and I wasn’t getting it.
Yeah, Yuuko only makes a few cameos in Tsubasa. I think what I would have preferred is a OVA or side anime series from the perspective of Yuuko or Doumeki.
I would watch the heck out of an OVA or side series like that!
Good to know Yuuko doesn’t figure prominently — I feel less guilty about not watching it!