Blue Exorcist: The Blue Night Saga has arrived, marking the second half of season 4. The finale of Beyond The Snow was absolutely amazing! This season feels less like a direct continuation and more like a series of flashbacks.
The season kicks off with an exciting episode that features a younger version of Yuri, Rin, and Yukio’s mother. This episode primarily focuses on Yuri’s childhood and her first encounter with Shiro. Meanwhile, we follow Rin Okamura as he journeys back in time, where he meets Mephisto, who serves as his guide.
Back Where It All Started
Meeting Yuri And Shiro
The episode kicks off with Rin Okumura traveling back 40 years in time, where he encounters a younger version of his father, Shiro Fujimoto, along with a different iteration of Mephisto. It’s worth mentioning that the animation remains stunning, and the character designs are simply fantastic. The studio’s dedication to character detail, particularly for Mephisto, is genuinely impressive.
When Rin meets Mephisto, the latter shares that he’s there to guide him, but he also cautions Rin that this story is destined for tragedy, and he should keep that in mind. Moments later, Rin comes across a younger Yuri, who is struggling in dire poverty. At this point, Mephisto advises Rin against interfering with people from the past, noting that while it won’t create a time paradox, it could lead to a lot of confusion.
It’s not entirely clear what he means by that; it could suggest that Rin wanted to alter something from the past. Despite Yuri’s situation of living on the streets, she appeared content because she had discovered her family, which included other homeless individuals and an Obaba with one eye.
Introduction Of Satan
While the homeless individuals chat, we discover that Yuri is toying with a blue fireball. Obaba chimes in, explaining that it’s actually a Rinka, referred to as the Souls of the Dead or even Hellfire. Then, Mephisto fast-forwards time, revealing Yuri playing with Rinka, who turns out to be Satan.
It’s truly tragic that Satan ultimately sets fire to the place where Yuri was living, leading to the loss of her founding family as well.
This scene effectively captures the daily struggles faced by homeless individuals. Even in death, they continue to be disrespected. The lovable Yuri, after enduring much hardship, discovers Shiro’s tiny refuge, which is their first encounter.
Getting Sent To The Asylum
Out of nowhere, a group of exorcists bursts into the small hideout and begins interrogating Shiro. They soon discover Yuri as well and make the decision to take both of them to the asylum, which turns out to be the Exorcist Academy. This is due to Yuri’s ability to see the Demonic Black Dog that the exorcists have brought along.
At the end of the episode, there’s a touching flashback where Rin reflects on his past as a troublesome child, revealing that he only had Yukio and Shiro by his side. This realization brings him deep sadness, especially knowing that his mother had no one to support her. Meanwhile, Yuri is preparing to join the exorcist cram school to pursue her dream of becoming an exorcist.
Final Thoughts
If the first episode is this impressive, just think about how amazing the rest of the season will be! The animation is stunning, and the character designs, particularly for Mephisto, Yuri, and Shiro, are beautifully crafted.
The opening track “Tsukaku” by Amazarashi is truly a masterpiece, while the ending song and visuals are stunningly beautiful, evoking a sense of calm mixed with heartbreak. As Mephisto mentioned, it may lead to a tragic conclusion, but we’re eagerly anticipating what Blue Exorcist: The Blue Night Saga will bring our way.