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Now that I know that at least like 5 mutuals will read this, I figured that I'll start my thorough analysis of The Tatami Galaxy. I will go through each episode and try my best dissecting every bit of the story and what makes them great.
Starting with EP1: Tennis Circle "Cupid"
Starting with EP1: Tennis Circle "Cupid"
Now just a quick warning before I begin, although I will be tackling the first ep, I will mention spoilers for future episodes. This thread isn't for people who are only watching the show for the first time, but for people who have finished it to have something to look back on.
The Tatami Galaxy is filled with foreshadowing and subtle episode-to-episode references which make the narrative so rich. I don't want to spoil that experience to any firstimers, so if you are, finish the show first, then go back to reading this thread.
And so, lets begin!
And so, lets begin!
We start this episode off with our protagonist having his bowl of ramen in an undisclosed location in the middle of the woods. One thing for certain though is that this Neko Ramen cart serves noodles of unmatched taste. Wait, no, that's not what I was supposed to say...
One detail we learn of here is that this cart is somewhere within the vicinity of the Shimogamo Shrine, a place of receiving matchmaking blessings from the gods. This is an important detail as we go through the next scene. Sitting next to our protagonist we find... an odd figure.
From the way he's dressed, to his abnormally large chin, this mysterious individual introduces himself as a god. The god of the Shimogamo Shrine, specifically. Although his statement of being a fellow resident of Shimogamo Yuusuisou, the boarding house our protagonist resides in,
doesn't quite fit in as a description for a god, our protagonist doesn't question this (or perhaps, he chooses not to). In fact, even after introducing himself with the wrong name twice (the correct name of the Shimogamo Shrine god is in the second panel, kamotaketsunuminomikoto)
our protagonist still remains convinced that this fellow is truly a god. The pace of the conversation is perhaps what's hindering any sense of reconsideration. I mean, I think it's only natural to act fazed when a mysterious man
just suddenly reveals the amount of personal info-
just suddenly reveals the amount of personal info-
he actually knows from you. I guess that is a considerably noteworthy proof of this supposed god's omnipotence. Viewing this episode for the first time, most people would probably just as equally take that information as truth. But we of the future surely know better.
After a couple of episodes, we do eventually figure out that this man is no god. Higuchi Seitarou is but your average university senpai, one whose level of wisdom is only but an exaggeration of our protagonist's perception. In fact, much of what we perceive from the story is-
either an exaggeration or a misinterpration of reality. When a story is presented through a single point of view, it is only natural for us to intake misinformation. And this is how the show essentially presents itself. Everything we're seeing, is in one way or another, WRONG.
Right from the get go, The Tatami Galaxy affirmatively sets itself up through the eyes of our protagonist, who by nature is actually a terrible narrator of his own story. But through this way the show immerses the viewer inside Watashi's mind. By integrating his own biases and-
views to the story, the viewer experiences firsthand what it feels like to be in his shoes, and gives us more insight as to how his thought processes work. The show crams as many monologues into the story not only for retaining the literary qualities of the original novel,
but to emulate actual thoughts that are going through Watashi's head in realtime. The aesthetic decisions made by the show is also not just for style. They also reflect how Watashi views the world. Hyperbolic representations like Higuchi's chin or Ozu's face are examples of this.
This is how The Tatami Galaxy takes the "first-person-view" to the absolute next level. Its ability to masterfully play by the strengths of its introspective nature through its narration and visual direction is part of what makes this show so incredible.
Going back to the episode, after a glimpse of Watashi's mental breakdown, Higuchi spouts some more Shinto references ever so nonchalantly. And for once, he actually gets it right. And it's hilarious that it's the only correct detail that Watashi decides to question later on,
which is what ultimately convinces him of the authenticity of this "god". Now presented with the matrimonial authority of this figure, this is the first time Watashi is given a choice. Or a much better word, an opportunity. This is Higuchi's primary intent with their exchange.
To give Watashi a way out of the current situation he's in is Higuchi's actual goal. And we know that this won't be the first time he'll be helping him. Supporting Watashi has always been a recurring trait of his. But despite the chances for redemption he has given him,
Watashi always fails somewhere along the way. This episode is the first instance of us seeing him, well, fail. Within this cycle, the thing that held him back from taking the opportunity is his inability to forgive himself from the past. He feels underserving of attaining-
happiness because of the misfortune he has inflicted onto other people before. Even after seeing his partner in crime, Ozu, attempting to change his way of life and living happily, he still can't seem to understand what's the right thing to do.
And with all the overthinking, he arrives at a deadlock. As he regrets his decisions on one hand while also blaming Ozu for everything on the other, the chain of repetition has commenced. The clock tower reverses, and we set off for another attempt at redemption.
You might have noticed how I wrapped that up pretty quickly. I pretty much skimmed through the episode. My train of thought just led me there I guess. I'm planning on going more into the details of this episode when I finally get to ep 11's thread, which this episode plays-
a very vital part of. Maybe I'll actually add some bullet points later on this thread with some of the other observations I still have in my head, but I wanted to get the essentials out for now. Thanks for reading!
