Ep 8. Taking Care of One'... Self and Cowardice

In Kurenai season 1 episode 8, titled "Taking Care of One's Self and Cowardice," viewers are taken on a journey of self-discovery with the main character, Shinkurou Kurenai. After his involvement in a recent kidnapping case, Shinkurou is feeling down and questioning his own abilities as a mediator and protector.

The episode opens with Shinkurou and his young ward, Murasaki, sitting on a bench in a park. Murasaki, sensing her guardian's sadness, asks him if he is okay. Shinkurou tries to put on a brave face, but Murasaki sees right through him and tells him that it's important to take care of oneself before taking care of others.

Shinkurou takes Murasaki's advice to heart and spends the day doing things that make him happy, like playing video games and eating his favorite foods. As the day goes on, however, he realizes that his feelings of inadequacy go deeper than just one case.

Flashbacks throughout the episode show his past experiences with other clients, each one leaving a mark on him in different ways. One client, a young girl who was being bullied, ended up taking her own life despite Shinkurou's efforts to help her. Another client, an older woman named Benika, taught him valuable lessons but ultimately betrayed him.

Through these flashbacks, viewers see how Shinkurou's past experiences have shaped his current mindset and contributed to his feelings of doubt. But with Murasaki's encouragement and support, he begins to see that he has been too hard on himself and that being a mediator is not an easy job.

The second half of the episode centers around Yoshihiko Kuroda, a former student of Shinkurou's late father who is now a successful businessman. Yoshihiko has hired Shinkurou to investigate a potential stalker and provides him with a photo of the suspect. However, when Shinkurou confronts the suspect, he realizes that it's actually Yoshihiko himself who has been stalking a young woman he's had a crush on for years.

Yoshihiko breaks down, admitting that he's always been a coward and never had the courage to act on his feelings. Shinkurou tells him that it's never too late to change and that being courageous sometimes means admitting one's own faults.

The episode ends with Shinkurou feeling more at peace with himself and his role as a mediator. With Murasaki by his side, he is ready to take on whatever challenges come his way.

Overall, "Taking Care of One's Self and Cowardice" is a poignant and thought-provoking episode that explores themes of self-doubt, courage, and the importance of taking care of oneself. With strong character development and emotional depth, it's a standout episode that will leave viewers thinking long after the credits roll.