Talk about cramming too much material into a single episode. I'd have felt sorry for Akane had the show given me enough time. Oh well. Them's the breaks, kid.

And now that the story has taken on a darker, more sinister tone, it's time for the requisite beach episode (of course!). I dig the fanservice as much as anyone else, but talk about poor timing. Why not earlier? You know, before characters started dying?

Bah, Kazu wasn't a character, he was a plot device.

Its amusing though, if you go back and watch earlier episodes you'll see all sorts of evidence that Miyu's a robot.

Fencedude, want to name them since I'm too lazy to look through eight episodes? ;)

Anyway, definitely enjoyed Mai-HiME #8. Pretty cool to see Akane's CHILD (even if it was for only one episode) and her elemental weapons. Plus we got to see Mai bust out her CHILD again!

Mikoto's rampage through the festival was icing on the cake behind the seriously of learning more about HiMEs and their cruel fate.

Perhaps they just want to really underline how unimportant Akane is. Loses BF, loses CHILD, loses neato tatoo, and just to add insult to injury, the beach episode doesn't even get delayed for her misfortune. At least while it lasted she got tonfas.

You're seriously complaining? ^_^

I actually like to be surprised, and boy, did THIS episode come out of the left field. Getting slapped like this after 7,5 episodes when I was sure to have figured the series out is something I definitely prefer over the usual slow climax arc. Especially when it's done as impressively as in this episode.

The story is told _slowly_, bit by bit. The basic situation is emerging, with a new faction. This is why the anime succeeds to make us gradually feel at home, even with this gargantuan cast. And the message of the last half was clear: It's not all just play and fun, kids. It also gives Mai's former reluctance to fight another perspective.

This anime is awesome ;) ... and I wouldn't count Akane out yet. She may not be a HiME anymore, but I feel that she will still play a role in this.

Next ep it seems Akane totally disappeared from the scene though. Heh.

I can't stand Akane's voice and I didn't feel much from her death really, but perhaps it's a sign of thigns to come. I don't care if they all die (but Natsuki and Shizuru and Kanzaki should hang around cos they're cool.)

"Fencedude, want to name them since I'm too lazy to look through eight episodes? ;)"

Easiest ones are near the beginning of episode 5, when Miyu and Mai are walking together to the chapel.

Episode 5 also contains a number of hints about what happened earlier between Akane and Miyu, along with a completely random shot of Nao with some random guy.

Episode 6 also has some interesting stuff involving Miyu and Akane, now that you know what to look for.

I really liked this episode very much. Nice action and nice comedy moments. For some reason I liked hearing Akane scream when her CHILD got destroyed. And for some reason I have a feeling Akane will go Miriallia on the whole cast.