Hello,
Let's go talk about the great 12th episode of the action/mystery anime series of this fall season 2011 named Shin Megami Tensei Persona 4 completing the first cour of the planned 25 episodes.
While everything seems to indicate the "killer arc" of the storyline as completed, I don't really think that sorry NEET guy was even related to the killings in the first place.
He was just a mere "plot device" used to consolidate the relationship of the main heroes and showcase the various Persona (really a lot of them) obtained by our protagonist.
This episode is divided into two main logical block. The first focuses on our protagonist facing his own fears, while the second focuses on our heroes "capturing the killer ending the string of murders in the city".
Why quotes? Because after watching his shadow disappear without leaving any persona (I suppose the reason is linked to the fact he rejected his other self) I can only see him as a victim of the killer.
I can only smile if I think at the face the police (Nanako's father) will do as soon as the murders will start again leaving him completely powerless.
Thanks to this episode, we also finally manage to get some additional detail over our protagonist personality that looks a lot weaker than I first thought...
His morale was easily destroyed by being left alone without friends and he looks less and less "killer-like" the more I try to think about it.
I still think he has some connection to the killings (especially for his persona obtained without any shadow-arc), but I'm not really sure what exactly this connection is. Hopefully they'll explain in detail during the second cour!
Obviously Persona 4 don't forget to put some comedy scene here and there like this one in order to keep the story as light as possible.
As you can see female competition is scary and really dangerous stuff. My poor Risecchi is down for some bad time if she tries to challenge the fierce Yukiko/Chie pair!
By the way, it was really unexpected to see Risecchi as unable to cook just like Chie and Yukiko. I really thought she was a nice cook...:P
Judging from the preview, next episode will start a two episode long "social-links" chapter that will eventually give even more powers/persona to our protagonist and improve his relationship with the rest of the main cast.
Concluding, Persona 4 is proving to be a really entertaining series capable of showcasing emotions as well as action and comedy.
I'll continue to watch and blog about this series in the future as well.
See you soon,
feal87