Maou Episode 10

This episode impressed me more than I thought it would. Something that I never thought of really and was pleasantly surprised of during this episode was the conversation between Naruse and the Serizawa patriarch. I also liked it when Serizawa was able to calm down so quickly -- despite his surprise -- when finding out that Naruse is Mannaka Tomoo. The conversation was well-put and made a good point, it was also touching.

Serizawa admits to Naruse that what happened between his son, Naoto, and Hideo was really an accident; however, even if Naoto had said that he would not have gotten off easily. So in order to protect his son, he had Kumada defend him by saying it was out of self-defense. Naruse demanded to know if Serizawa really believed that and Serizawa asked, "Is there any parent who would not trust their own child?" *touched*

Serizawa calmly states that it's true that what they did ended up hurting the Mannaka family, but as a parent, he chose the decision that would protect his son and in doing so, he was making the right decision for himself. If he had to do it again, he would do the same. He then also said to Naruse that since that day (meaning the night when Tomoo visited the Serizawa household), Naruse had already figured out what decision he needed to make for himself as well and he went on it believing it to be right.

This really snapped something inside Naruse -- who is breaking down more and more with each passing episode as he wavers in his pursuit of revenge -- and he ends up leaving the office.

If there is one real bad guy in this entire series, I would have to say that it's the cowardly Yamano Makoto. Though it's Naruse who initiates the plan, Yamano really disgusts me =_= I guess it's hard for him to be good to those who have bullied him in the past, but that doesn't change the fact that he grates my nerves. The actor's done a good job, the character really pisses me off. (As one can tell, I hate the cowardly, sniveling types of men... they're not real men =_=)

Anyway, I look forward towards the finale of this week. I wonder if Naoto ends up killing Naruse ^_^ or if Naruse ends up killing Naoto. Here's some of my theories -- as I have not seen the original version:

1. Naoto dies, Naruse goes to jail
2. Naruse dies, Naoto goes to jail
3. Naruse dies, Naoto gets off scot-free
4. Both die

Anti-heroes... don't always live =_=; Naruse is an anti-hero so it's very possible that he's going to end up dying. Personally, I don't mind if both end up living, but I have a feeling that it just might not work out that way. Just as I was reading anime titles for Code Geass today and the last episode's title is "Re:." <-- what is up with that?

Makes me see a bleak, bleak, bleak future for the world of anti-heroes =_=; Why can't they just live??