02/2015 Another

[Selena]

Megha wrote: "I just finished watching the anime. As I read your comments, I sense the novel is interesting too. I have a few questions but I am afraid it will be a spoiler. Will wait..."

Ask away. We finished the novel a while ago. If you're worried about spoiling it for others, you could use the spoiler tag. :)

[Megha]

My questions - contains ending discussion
(view spoiler)[
The tape is tampered and the name of the person is deleted from it. But who does it? Since the 'Another' is Reiko, assuming she did it, why did she place it back?

How about 1 missing desk, there were correct number of desk after Kouchi's transfer.

I didnt quite figure out about Reiko, my understanding is everyone could see her but doesn't remember that she is dead. Then why does only grandpa remembers about Reiko's funeral?

What reason is shown about Mei's unwillingness to find out the 'Another', she has the ability, why didn't she make everyone's life easy instead of allowing the blood bath?

And what's with the dolls? It's not much explored in the anime, just like a side story. How about in the novel?

Also what's the parrot's role? Is there more of it in the novel?

I have read that manga has a different ending than the novel (on which the anime is based)

Finally, doesn't this anime remind you of final destination?
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[[deleted user]]

Megha wrote: "My questions - contains ending discussion

The tape is tampered and the name of the person is deleted from it. But who does it? Since the 'Another' is Reiko, assuming she did it, why did she place ..."

I'll have a shot at answering you questions, although I don't remember all the details about the book because I'd read it back in early January:
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If I remember correctly, the tape deals with another cycle of the supernatural events that happened years ago, meaning a similar event where the "extra person" was not Reiko but someone else.

I can't really remember the deal with the desks, but the current supernatural event has a teacher rather than a student as the extra person. And since Koichi transferred in and is a special addition to the class, maybe that explains it.

My assumption was that the grandfather is special because he's senile, so maybe being a bit messed up in the head makes your mind capable of bypassing some effects of the supernatural event.

About Mei, I'd have to look it up because I think she actually answered that question at some point in the book when Koichi asked her. I can't remember the answer, but maybe it had to do with some kind of limitations on her ability (the special eye).

The dolls are just there to creep you out; all you learn about them is how Mei's mother likes making them. Or rather, to creep you out and to mislead you into thinking that they have something to do with the supernatural event.

At the end they show you that the parrot actually provides subtle clues that Reiko is the extra person. I think it had to do with the name of the parrot (Ray, derived from Reiko) and some of the things it says.

I don't know about the manga.

You mean the Final Destination movies? Yeah, I guess I can see the relationship because they both deal with people dying in weird ways due to a supernatural force making them die.
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Btw, the novel is worth reading if you want all the details, although the one down side is that it's really slow-paced.

[Megha]

Thank you Chris!

(view spoiler)[
If I remember correctly, the tape deals with another cycle of the supernatural events that happened years ago, meaning a similar event where the "extra person" was not Reiko but someone else -->[Megha] you are right, it can't be Reiko. I assume the tape doctoring was added for suspense.

I can't really remember the deal with the desks, but the current supernatural event has a teacher rather than a student as the extra person. And since Koichi transferred in and is a special addition to the class, maybe that explains it. -->[Megha] right, however this should have raised questions in the countermeasures team

My assumption was that the grandfather is special because he's senile, so maybe being a bit messed up in the head makes your mind capable of bypassing some effects of the supernatural event. -->[Megha] hmm, okay, or maybe it was a hint to the viewers

About Mei, I'd have to look it up because I think she actually answered that question at some point in the book when Koichi asked her. I can't remember the answer, but maybe it had to do with some kind of limitations on her ability (the special eye). -->[Megha] In anime she said, what good could have come through even if she had revealed. But allowing the bloodbath is also wrong. In the end, for all the deaths, Mei is responsible, she allowed it only to save the dead.

The dolls are just there to creep you out; all you learn about them is how Mei's mother likes making them. Or rather, to creep you out and to mislead you into thinking that they have something to do with the supernatural event. -->[Megha] yea, it was interesting though, reminded me of Annabelle.

At the end they show you that the parrot actually provides subtle clues that Reiko is the extra person. I think it had to do with the name of the parrot (Ray, derived from Reiko) and some of the things it says. -->[Megha] his name was Rei. He keeps saying stuff which I ignored or forgot... re-watching the series would be interesting.
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You mean the Final Destination movies? Yeah, I guess I can see the relationship because they both deal with people dying in weird ways due to a supernatural force making them die. -->[Megha] In FD, we the suspense is about how the death will target, here it's who's doing it. I liked both. Never once I was bored watching Another. However I wanted a solid reason for Mei's silence, that is the only point I am not happy with.

Also, have you seen Darker than black? Mei & Kouchi reminds me Yin & Hei.

[Selena]

In Mei's defense, they didn't know that killing the extra would stop the catastrophe until near the end of the book, after the final round of dying had already begun. Knowing didn't make a difference until they found that out. And she was the one going to kill Reiko in the end before Koichi butts in, if my memory is right.

[[deleted user]]

(view spoiler)[
About the desks: yeah, but the class was just incredibly incompetent at dealing with stuff.

About Mei: Right, it's like Selena says, they didn't know that killing the extra person would solve the problem until they heard from the tape - which was very late in the story. And in fact, she was the first person to go for killing Reiko was she found out it was her.

Also, Mei is an extremely reticent character. She always holds back on explaining things until she really has to or Koichi strongly insists. From what I remember, she was always a weird person who never had any friends, so she has a habit of keeping things to herself.

I'll have to check out Darker than Black someday.
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[Megha]

@Selena & Chris, Hmm, after reading your comments, considering Mei's taciturn character, I am convinced a little... Would rewatch it some time after a break.

Anyone joining Manga group read - Prophecy ?

Book read - Prophecy

It has rave reviews!