I realize I’m falling rather behind in Higurashi posts, as episode 21 has just been released, marking the end of Meakashi-hen. I shall post on that soon enough, hopefully before the start of the much awaited last answer arc, Tsumihoroboshi-hen. I’ll be making this post a bit smaller than usual to catch up since the start of a new arc’s pretty important, and I don’t want to miss that.

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni 19
Meakashi-hen Part 4

Summary
         Picking up right where the previous episode left us, Shion is caught by Mion listening in on a private conversation. Mion answers the ringing phone, and tells the person on the other line to “handle the situation” over there, and “silence anyone involved”. Hanging up, Mion tells Shion of Takano and Tomitake’s deaths by Oyashiro’s curse. Shion whips out her trusty taser and zaps Mion and Oryou, promising to avenge Satoshi.
         Shion carries the other two Sonozakis to the underground prison a la episode 16. Mion is tossed into a cell, while Oryou is kept for further questioning. Before Shion gets to Oryou, however, she grills Mion for answers regarding Oyashiro’s curse. Mion reveals that although she is the next head of the Sonozakis, she holds no real power because she is only the spokeswoman for Oryou. When Shion asks if Tomitake and Takano were killed because they went to the festival shrine, Mion acts surprised when she hears this, previously not knowing. Apparently, it’s a rather large sin to look into the shrine (unless of course, you’re a little loli that likes saying “ni paa~”), and that their deaths were to be expected for breaking that taboo. Done with her interrogation, Shion goes back to Oryou, but finds that she’s not simply knocked out, rather she’s already dead. Disappointed, she does what any other sane person would do: bust out the whip and start beating a dead horse corpse.
         Having gotten nowhere with Oryou, Shion goes back to her twin and questions her of a fabled well in the prison. In the past, this well was used to toss the bodies of those who were onikakushi’d. Today, it’s being used again to dispose of Oryou. Reflecting on losing Satoshi, Shion goes into a rage when she can’t understand why Satoshi was still erased, not wanting to put up with the lies of the rest of the Sonozakis anymore.
         Done with her dealings down at the torture chamber, Shion goes back up to the house, when the phone rings. It’s Kimiyoshi, inviting Oryou to an emergency board meeting tomorrow. Right after hanging up, the phone rings again. It’s Kasai this time. Shion tests Kasai by telling him that she went into the festival shrine. When Kasai is unsupportive of her, Shion quickly hangs up, disappointed that her only ally has turned against her.
         The next day, Shion dresses as Mion, pretending to be her. We see Shion question Keiichi much like earlier in the Watanagashi arc but now we know of her true identity. Soon after that, Shion attends the emergency meeting that Kimiyoshi informed her about earlier. During the meeting, Shion speaks out and tells the board that the reason for this year’s Watanagashi curse is because the festival shrine was broken into. To her surprise, this creates a large negative reaction from the board, cursing those who dirtied the holy shrine. From this reaction, Shion comes to the conclusion that the true heir of Oryou is one of the members of the board. The meeting ends and Shion calls Kimiyoshi to her house privately. Once alone, they talk of Shion and of the break-in (while still pretending to be Mion). Kimiyoshi gives his full support to Shion, telling her that Shion deserves to be saved if she repents for the break-in. However, Kimiyoshi continues on the topic, and adds that Shion deserves to be saved, unlike the cursed Houjou family. When Shion inquires about the three nail distinction and how Satoshi was supposed to have been forgiven, Kimiyoshi reveals that the three nails were for Kasai, Yoshiro, and Shion. Shion then goes psycho and tasers the daylights out of Kimiyoshi, ending the episode.
 
Summary of Summary
- Sonozakis revealed to be directly related to Oyashiro’s curse
- Oryou killed, Mion thrown in a cell
- Kimiyoshi’s zapped, much like Mion. And Oryou.
- Shion’s freaking psycho. ‘Nuff said.
 
Screencaps

The truth of who’s sitting on which side of the fence

Just a little psycho there, Shion…

And you’re telling me NONE of them can tell the difference between twins?

Hey, this tea tastes pretty goo— ZAP!!

 
Mini-Thoughts
         This episode really advanced a lot in the story. A whole lot of questions from Watanagashi-hen were answered, and other things revealed, like the Sonozaki twin switch regarding exactly who is in the jail cell and who’s out walking about.
         The board meeting was rather interesting, a lot was talked about. Why is the festival shrine so sacred that it demands the DEATHS of those who are impure and enter it? The villagers were completely uncaring about the deaths, actively cursing those who entered the shrine. And that only brings me to question their innocence. Exactly HOW far does the so called curse of Oyashiro run? If it is completely controlled by humans ordered by Oryou, then wouldn’t the members of the board meeting be unsurprised at the previous deaths at Hinamizawa? What reason would they consider the previous deaths tragic then, if they were the ones who brought about that death? And if they were involved, why do they not know of the newest developments of the current year? They give off the impression of innocence and guilt at the same time, and I can’t exactly tell how to judge this.
         And I don’t think I need to say this, but Shion’s absolutely crazy psycho. She’s willing to go as far as to kill her aunt, jail her twin, and zap an old man, effectively taking out three prominent members of the three head families. Throw in the fact that this is all essentially for Satoshi, a boy that she liked, and it gets a little crazier. Can she dig a deeper grave? Something tells me yes, and she’s about to.