Ep 2. The Sohma Curse

Tohru Honda has recently lost her mother and is struggling to make ends meet while living in a tent. After discovering that her tent is located on the property of her classmate Yuki Sohma, she is invited to stay with the Sohma family in exchange for housekeeping duties. In the second episode of Fruits Basket season 1, titled "The Sohma Curse," Tohru learns about the peculiar curse that plagues the Sohma family.

Yuki and his cousin Shigure Sohma explain to Tohru that the members of their family are cursed to transform into animals of the Chinese Zodiac whenever they are hugged by a member of the opposite sex or feel immense stress. Each member of the Sohma family has a designated zodiac animal, with Yuki being the rat and Shigure being the dog. The Sohma family has kept this curse a closely guarded secret, but Tohru is determined to learn more about it and help the family if she can.

Throughout the episode, we see glimpses into the relationships between the various members of the Sohma family. Yuki has a strained relationship with his older brother Ayame, who is the snake of the zodiac. Ayame is flamboyant and eccentric, creating tension between himself and Yuki, who is reserved and quiet. Meanwhile, Shigure is shown to be a bit of a mischief maker, teasing Yuki and Ayame alike.

Tohru also meets two other members of the Sohma family - Kyo Sohma, the cat of the zodiac, and the enigmatic Hatsuharu Sohma, the ox. Kyo is ostracized by the rest of the family due to his curse being slightly different than the others. Rather than transforming into an animal whenever he's hugged or stressed, he is compelled to transform once a month regardless of his emotional state. Hatsuharu, on the other hand, seems to have a chip on his shoulder and is not particularly friendly to Tohru or her newfound friends in the Sohma family.

As Tohru learns more about the Sohma curse and the dynamics within the family, she becomes more determined to help in any way she can. She sees how much pain and suffering the curse has caused the Sohma family over the years, and she wants to do whatever she can to ease their suffering. Throughout the episode, we see the beginnings of a strong bond forming between Tohru and the Sohma family. Despite the curse that plagues them, they are all just people who love and care for each other, and Tohru sees that.

Overall, the second episode of Fruits Basket season 1 provides deeper insights into the Sohma family and the curse that has plagued them for generations. We see the beginnings of relationships that will become key players throughout the rest of the series, and we see Tohru's unwavering determination to help those around her, even if it means putting herself in harm's way. "The Sohma Curse" is a captivating episode that keeps the audience engaged and invested in the story.