Yoimonogatari

Yoimonogatari is the entry that really exemplifies the nature of what Nisioisin is trying to address for coining this Season of stories as Monster Season. Of course, the first entry does this as well with the showcasing of how Gaen-san is an oddity expert not a monster (human) expert. But Araragi in this entry tries to separate the terms more. Through the entire series, oddities were those so called monsters but they behave in very defined ways. While it is the humans that are truly unpredictable which makes them in fact the real monsters.

Mayoi Snake I very much preferred even though it felt like a set up for the next arc (maybe that's what Amarimonogatari is about?) but super excited to see Nadeko cook up as a specalist. Also the reveals of the curses for all of the people who were involved in Ononoki was such drop. I really do wonder what Kaiki's and Oshino's curses are. Maybe Oshino can only be that balancer of sorts and that's actually his curse instead of his way of life or that he is unable to sleep on the floor. I feel the latter is more lackluster; however, if it is attached to the torso or upper body of Ononoki, it would make sense for Oshino and Kaki to be the front or chest and the back. Since sleeping could involve more but I guess the more common route is sleeping on one's back, that could be the curse there. Then Kaiki's couldbe the chest full and front where his lies and actually a part of the curse? Or would the curse by money? I get why Ougi made those two vague because it's more fun that way to speculate. But the fact that Gaen-san's knowledge of everything is a curse is quite interesting. I am not sure if I ever picked up on that during 2nd or Final Season, but I love it. Really contextualized her as a character and her actions a lo especially as it changes the dynamic of the first entry of Monster Season.

For the main bulk of Yoimonogatari is honestly a bore for me. I do like the potential reading of the name translating to Evening Story as Benihibari jumping ahead to the evening part of the day with her wish/desire. But the intro dialogue that usually is very engaging and related to the twist or the meat of the story itself. I am sure sure why as it isn't the first time as anytime I tend to have a lower score it is tied to me not understanding the connection of the two halves of how Isin structures within the arc itself. But I will save the framing of both arcs as the training and then subsequent ascension around Mayoi even though she wasn't the main protagonist of the stories was awesome. Sure it was told from Araragi's point of view and then Sengoku's, Mayoi truly growing into the type of god she wants was wholesome to see. Listening and caring for Banihibari at the end was very catheric. But even so, Araragi's welcome message was really awesome too. Both were my favorite parts as the twists of the victim/kidnapping I couldn't care less about as Sawa mentioned in their own translator's postnote. Super looking forward to the next entry as so far Monster Season hasn't reached those heights as I give a lot of props to Isin for his beginning arcs and ending arcs and so far it's been ok.