Ep 4. Here Comes Kagura!

In Fruits Basket season 1 episode 4, titled "Here Comes Kagura!", the series introduces us to a new character named Kagura. Kagura is a member of the Zodiac as well as a cousin to Yuki and Ayame, the snake and the dragon. Despite how kind and sweet she looks, Kagura is a bit of a wild card. She is a boar and possesses superhuman strength that she sometimes uses a little too freely.

The episode opens with Tohru, Yuki, and Shigure enjoying a peaceful morning until Kagura arrives unannounced. She barges into the house and immediately throws her arms around Kyo, overjoyed to see him. Kyo, on the other hand, is horrified at the sight of her and runs away in fear. This leads to some hilarious hijinks as Kagura chases him down, much to the chagrin of the others in the household.

As Tohru and Yuki begin to learn more about Kagura, they realize that she has some serious emotional issues. Despite her friendly and outgoing personality, she is deeply insecure and often resorts to violence when she feels threatened or vulnerable. She is also still deeply in love with Kyo, despite the fact that he wants nothing to do with her.

Over the course of the episode, we see Kagura struggle to come to terms with her own emotional turmoil. She lashes out at Kyo repeatedly, sometimes to the point where he is genuinely afraid for his life. At the same time, she is also incredibly lonely and desperate for the love and affection that he refuses to give her.

Through it all, Tohru remains a steadfast friend to Kagura. She offers her a shoulder to cry on and helps her work through some of her emotional baggage. At one point, she even steps in to defend Kyo when Kagura goes off the rails. It's clear that Tohru is determined to help Kagura heal, regardless of how difficult that might be.

The episode comes to a climax when Kagura finally confronts Kyo and pleads with him to love her back. Kyo, being Kyo, responds in typical fashion by blowing up at her and calling her crazy. This sends Kagura off the deep end, and she unleashes her full boar strength on the house, wrecking everything in her path.

As the dust settles, Kagura is left alone and broken-hearted once again. She realizes that she has a lot of work to do on herself if she ever wants to find happiness, and she thanks Tohru for being such a good friend to her. The episode ends on a sad note, but with a glimmer of hope for Kagura's future.

Overall, "Here Comes Kagura!" is a standout episode of Fruits Basket. It introduces us to a fascinating and complex new character while also exploring some important themes around emotional vulnerability and the need for love and belonging. With its well-written dialogue and endearing characters, this episode is a must-see for fans of the series.