If I'm interpreting that correctly OH MY GOD

OH MY GOD what a masterful twist

OH MY GOD

So, we'll get into this, buuuuut I'm pretty sure they're saying that

Araragi bonded with the first Apparition Killer somehow as a baby? Since the timeline's off for it to be reincarnation

hence the thematics of him speaking with Araragi's voice

Also why Shinobu herself and all the other apparitions were drawn to the town

Because he/Araragi's presence as a reincarnated vampire was drawing them there

Awesome animation from SHAFT, as always. They are soooo good at conveying all the meaning of what a character represents in the narrative through symbolism and perspective, Gaen's cutout cardboard narrative and kaleidoscope cloudswirl are just awesome. I really love her delivery too, it's so full of impressive competence/"I know everything" coupled with a sly coyness about saying what she means.

I was a little confused about what exactly they meant, but it should come up next week

Also I love the closed circle/everything goes around/comes around that Araragi's town is the same place where Shinobu established her godhood ritual 400 years ago. It's very tightly woven, with the details all interrelated (and that's one of the things I like the most about it).

Also I realized there was a hole in my thinking that the samurai, consumed by the darkness, is the same one reborn. Since he wasn't a vampire at this point, and Gaen's explanation seems to contradict that reasoning. So I'm curious to see how that turns out?

I love Mumen Rider

Holy shit, I'm legit surprised Mumen Rider can even cycle as well as he does with those gigantic steel balls of his.

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssssssssssssssssss finally people will understand the Mumen Rider hype.

Mumen Rider is a god

What does Mumen Rider smell like

>Kaiki on the BL cover
>Gaen on the 'older sister' porn mag cover
>the first one is a trap

Monogatari is out of control

Tatsumaki is my spirit animal

seriously what an amazing unit

Also re: ep 9, Mumen Rider was also pretty amazing
and I enjoy the manga-style cut-ins they use

S-class is full of such colourful/great figures, definitely best arc

That was probably one of my favourite episodes ever. Both Araragi's conversation with the first one and his perspective on things, the indirect way he tried to kill Araragi, and then that [radio edit]ing amazing conversation between Kanbaru and Shinobu.

I was literally on the edge of my seat, going "OH SHIT OH SHIT" at all the truth bombs Kanbaru was dropping. I love Nisio's ability to really pack a ton of like, deep stuff about human nature into a conversation, and just make a conversation soooo intense.

Shaft's animation really echoes and heightens the mood, between turbulent wind/turbulent emotions, bright yellow light/things being revealed, calm blue light/accepted revelation, and so on. And of course, everything taking place in front of the Northern Snake Shrine, which is such a key locale in the series.
Shaft might be accused of using pathetic fallacy/manipulating environment to suit the action, but I think pathetic fallacy as a term is a bit misleading in our current diction. If it's used appropriately, there's nothing either pathetic or fallacious about pathetic fallacy. Rather, and in Monogatari especially, it's reflecting the subjective/emotional world of the characters in a way that allows the viewer to see as well, and in that sense shows a more "true" window into what it is to be human/human experience.

It's definitely something I want to use judiciously in my own fiction, as well, and I don't hesitate to admit that I use Shaft's Monogatari as a model.

I'll be thrilled to never see Pig God again in my life

I was seriously expecting Saitama and Boros to bro out for a moment about similar backstor- oh never mind

HE DIDNT DIE THO