Ep 19. Shinobu Time, Part 3

Shinobu Time, Part 3 is the nineteenth episode of season 1 of the Monogatari Series Second Season. The episode continues the storyline of the previous two episodes in which Koyomi Araragi travels back in time to the Edo period to prevent Shinobu, the vampire, from turning into a full-fledged one and starting a chain reaction that would end in the world's destruction.

The episode begins with Araragi, who is now in the body of his ancestor, Seishirou Shishirui, running for his life from two swordsmen who call him a demon and want to kill him. Just as he thinks he has lost them, he encounters Yotsugi Ononoki, who tells him that Shinobu is in trouble and that he needs to hurry to her aid.

Araragi and Ononoki make their way to the shrine where Shinobu is and find her in her child form, surrounded by the three samurai who were sent to kill her. Araragi tries to reason with them, but they are determined to follow their lord's orders and kill the "monster." Shinobu, on the other hand, begs Araragi to kill her before she turns into a full-fledged vampire and causes the world's destruction.

At this moment, the episode takes a dramatic turn as it delves into Shinobu's past and reveals the events that led to her becoming a vampire. We learn that Shinobu was once a powerful deity who had many followers and was revered by humans. However, due to a misunderstanding, her followers turned against her and killed her.

Shinobu's dying wish was to take revenge on humanity, and in her anger, she turned into a vampire and started indiscriminately attacking humans. It was then that Araragi's ancestor, Shishirui, and two other samurai, appeared and tried to kill her. However, instead of killing her, Shishirui made a pact with Shinobu, where they agreed to live together as partners and not harm each other.

This pact led to Shinobu's current state, where she lives as a child and relies on Araragi for sustenance. However, it also means that she is constantly reminded of her past and the pain she suffered, which is why she wants Araragi to kill her before she becomes a full-fledged vampire and unleashes her wrath on the world.

The episode ends with Araragi and Shinobu making a new pact, where they agree to live together as partners, but this time, without Shishirui's intervention. This pact gives hope for a better future where Shinobu can move on from her past and start living in the present.

Overall, Shinobu Time, Part 3 is a poignant and emotional episode that adds depth to Shinobu's character and sheds light on her past. The episode's art direction and animation are impressive, especially during the flashbacks, which are given a unique and dream-like quality. The episode's music also adds to the emotional impact, with the use of piano and strings creating a melancholic and reflective mood.