The Totally Epic HikaGo Reread - Vol. 12

[effex]

~Volume 12 of Hikaru no Go~

Chapters 97 - 104

Oh man, I haven't read the volume yet and won't be able to until tonight. But here, have the only a little late post!

Comments

Grabs!

[onkoona]

In that case I'm definately first.
Here they are (effex look away, here be spoilers!!):

47-1
http://onkoona.livejournal.com/32240.html

47-2
http://onkoona.livejournal.com/32423.html

47-3
http://onkoona.livejournal.com/32638.html

S2 closing #2
http://onkoona.livejournal.com/32899.html

48-1
http://onkoona.livejournal.com/33529.html

48-2
http://onkoona.livejournal.com/33673.html

48-3
http://onkoona.livejournal.com/33990.html

49-1
http://onkoona.livejournal.com/34241.html

49-2
http://onkoona.livejournal.com/34456.html

49-3
http://onkoona.livejournal.com/34631.html

50-1*
http://onkoona.livejournal.com/35033.html

50-2*
http://onkoona.livejournal.com/35326.html

50-3*
http://onkoona.livejournal.com/35549.html

51-1
http://onkoona.livejournal.com/35686.html

51-2
http://onkoona.livejournal.com/36070.html

*) ep 50 is not in the manga

to play or not to play

[onkoona]

from chapter 97 onwards:
This is pretty much the beginning of the end, isn't it.
Now that Hikaru's a pro he can't possibly let Sai play through his hands ever again. Sai is starting to suspect this truth, has been slowly feeling it coming for a while now.
First he finds that it's Hikaru that will get all the chances to play the great players, even if those matches will be years away from now.
This is made worse by the fact that Sai NEEDS Hikaru's co-operation and goodwill for absolutely everything. Even something as simple as reading issues of Weekly Go.
And then the call comes; Hikaru is to play Touya sr. for his Shinshodan game. That's really Sai's one and only chance to play his rival. Of course he wants this chance!

And than he tries to force the issue, like he's never forced it before. I don't know if Sai's ghostly excistence ever afforded him any sort of poltergeist powers, but he used to beable to force Hikaru by making him ill. It graces him that he never actually used that on Hikaru and he doesn't use it here. No, instead grasping what he wants pretty much more than life itself, he backs down and relinquishes he rightful place as Touya's true rival to Hikaru. Giving up his only chance.
It says a lot about Sai as a person of integrity.
Damn, I feel bad for him.

the game from hell

[onkoona]

I liked the idea of having Sai play with a 15 moku handicap. Unfortunately I don't know enough about Go to understand that that might work. What I do know tells me it could not make Sai loose per se, it could just horribly warped the game...

at the festival

[onkoona]

I liked this bit, a breaking of tension was a good idea.
And Sai got to play.
That was good.

episode 50

[onkoona]

is not represented in the manga.
I'd recommend watching it, even if you're just reading the manga, it gives a nice recap.
And the pictures are nice too.
And Sai gets to speak his mind. And do some reflecting on his situation. Even coming to a conclusion of sorts.
Yes, worth watching, I think.



part1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Xr4lh8THpo
part2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rIFEIKSA4U
part3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXXk9qG109M

Night -night

[onkoona]

sorry far making so many replies. I do hope someone else is going to reply here...

I'm having a early night (meaning I can't stay up till way after midnight) so I'm looking forward to reading the other replies in the (very early) morning.

NN

[effex]

Not a lot of specifics to talk about with this volume (aside from Hikaru remembering it was snowing the day of Akira's game. And the bit where he *still* doesn't know anything about the Go world.) but I'm enjoying (in a sad sort of way) the gradual ramping up of... not tension, maybe a coming change? between Hikaru and Sai.