[Spoilers ahead! Do not read if you have not seen the movie!] Well, I’m finally done with the first (original) season of
Keizoku series and here are my thoughts on the last 30 minutes of the
theatrical feature that was supposed to wrap up loose ends from the previous 12
episodes and provide a closure to the overarching story of Section 2’s fight against their
arch-nemesis Asakura.
1) The Island
In my opinion, the island setting provides an opportunity
for two interpretations of the unfolding events. The first one is grounded in
reality as the magnetic field caused by the volcanic eruption is making
everyone see crazy visions. So basically, if it really is the influence of the magnetic
field, then nothing physically happens to Mayama and Shibata as they board the
boat and escape. In my second interpretation, I reject the magnetic field
factor and assume that Shibata’s tale about the island being a gateway to the
underworld is actually true. Therefore, Mayama and Shibata unknowingly enter
the spiritual realm in order to face Asakura.
2) The (Un)dead Spirits
Extremely weird stuff starts to happen when Miku Kirishima
departs with the ghosts of her parents and her sister, Nanami. It is at that
moment when Shibata sees her father and Mayama encounters Lt. Tsubosaka. We
already know that the father and Tsubosaka are dead, as well as Maiko and
Mayama’s sister who appear later, but they actually serve as baits to lure the
protagonists into Asakura’s trap.
So, what actually is Asakura’s trap. He firstly reveals
himself in his original form (as known from the show) to Shibata and says:
“Come over to my world. Why do you hate me so much? Why?! It is because I’ve
killed? (Shibata slightly nods) It is my mission to make life immortal through
death.” Thus, Asakura finally reveals his modus operandi: he was not afraid of
dying in the show, because he actually transcended death and became a
devil-like entity. He now desires a total victory over Shibata and Mayama by
enslaving their souls for eternity and, in order to achieve this, he tempts
them, just like Satan tempted Jesus on a desert: “And eternal life knows no
hatred. Love is all around here! Here even I am being loved. Could you manage
to respect me?”
3) Showdown with Madarame
The character of Madarame is basically an example of what
happens to you if Asakura takes over your soul. We see Madarame die at the
beginning of the film, but he magically shows up on a boat when Aya is about to
set off to the island. Later, he actually kills her, “pulls her over to this
world by force”, as he states, but her spirit refuses to become devoured by
Asakura’s wickedness. She exclaims that the only way to immortality is living
in the heart of a loved one. That’s why possessed Madarame kills Aya by
shooting her “again”. Then, Mayama intervenes and, through inciting his anger,
Madarame drags him into the underworld where he reveals himself to be Asakura:
“That’s the good thing about being immortal. I’ll be able to live on in each of
you. I can crawl into any body which can help me on. And to this art I owe my
immortality”. However, Asakura cannot forcefully possess somebody. He has to
make them give in their lives.
4) Tsubosaka’s Intervention
All of a sudden, Tsubosaka’s spirit steps into action and
actually confirms that it is Asakura in Madarame’s body. However, he says the
following: “Hatred doesn’t necessarily be something evil. If we would feel
neither love nor hate, what would we be but lifeless puppets!”, then he salutes
Mayama and orders to shoot. Soon after, Saori sacrifices herself by pulling the
trigger. In my view, both Tsubosaka and Saori protected Mayama from Asakura’s
influence by reinforcing in him his emotions, friendship with the lieutenant
and love of his sister, respectively [things which make him human]. That’s why Mayama is able to defeat
Madarame’s possessed spirit.
At the same time, Asakura tries to do the similar thing on
Shibata, but it is her father who stands up for her. He points a revolver at
Asakura and he, in a rather pitiful and desperate attempt asks: “Why do human
beings feel hatred? Why is that so? Why can’t we all be friends? Why not?!”
Shibata’s father replies: “I can do without friends like you” and, at the same
time, Asakura and possessed Madarame are shot together. Shibata and Mayama have
resisted Asakura’s mind game and escaped his grasp. Their souls have become
purified, instead of poisoned, by making peace with the relatives they loved so
much.
After the showdown, Shibata does not want to leave her father to
leave, but he forbids her to accompany him. Maiko reiterates what Aya mentioned
earlier: “You have to remember us, so that we can live on. That’s how it works”
The father further adds that Shibata should think of the future and that soon
somebody will appear [Mayama, of course!] with whom she will have a family. Therefore,
the two spirits tell Shibata that death, even in the moment of greatest
despair, is never an answer.
7) It’s Not Over Yet!
As Mayama sends Shibata off in a boat, Asakura emerges from
the fiery rocks in his “physical manifestation”, a teenage-like demon, as black
as pitch, with a multi-layered voice and a bomb across his shoulders. Angered
at losing his own the game, he desires to physically annihilate Mayama. Yet,
there’s a whole new factor to their fight. Mayama is no longer afraid of
Asakura, which clearly makes Asakura crazy. Satan, who craved on fear, has lost
his source of power.
8) Mayama-san!!!
Shibata realises that Mayama could not have survived as she
is drifting all alone. In the heat of the moment, she wants to commit a
suicide, but, having remembered her father's message, she puts down the gun:
“Mayama-san... I will live on and keep you in my soul... and thereby make you
immortal”. When Shibata learns this value of life, Mayama surfaces all of a
sudden, as if thanks to sheer serendipity.
Shibata hangs on to Mayama, not wanting to let go. The two
will survive and live on together as the sound of a ferry is heard in the
distance. Asakura has been defeated once and for all....
This was my take on the ending of a very interesting, dark
and twisted, detective series. I’m sorry that it’s quite long, but I have to
let it off my mind and give it some order, because I couldn’t stop thinking
about it. I think the reason why some many people found this movie disappointing
is because it did not provide clear answers, but went into a full Twin Peaks
mode. I personally didn’t mind it. Maybe you’ll find my explanation useful. If
you have your own interpretations of the ending, please let me know in the
comments. I’d love to discuss the film with you.
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