Kumo Desu ga, Nani ka? – 22

「 私よ、永と遠わに？」 (Watashi yo, Towa ni?)
“Be Forever, Me?”

This week’s, Kumo Desu ga, Nani ka? doesn’t quite move the needle on Shun’s end, but for Kumoko, this episode reveals many details that will definitely come into play as time moves on. With Ariel racing against the clock to not become fully possessed by Kumoko, she has to find a way to kill her all the while the Ohts kingdom war is breaking out.

There were many funny moments with Kumoko this time around as she kept yukking it up for the camera while the fight was going on. She spent the first chunk of the episode narrating the events of the battle as commentators examine it as if it’s a televised event. It was funny how her personalities ended up taking on different news anchor roles as she alternated between the side stationed on the field and the one stationed in the cave where Ariel has her match-up. As someone who lives in the stormier side of the States, it was also funny seeing her pretend to be a weatherman braving a windy storm before the camera cuts off.

But the biggest reveal in this episode is how Ariel is starting to feel the brain-rot from Kumoko trying to integrate with her mind. It was crazy to see Ariel feeling Kumoko becoming a part of her as her thoughts steer towards the ravenous, impulsive mentality that Kumoko carries. It was honestly a little chilling how she’d switch between wanting to devour the Earth Dragon and trying to catch herself as she felt her mind slipping away from her consciousness.

Young Julius’ presence also adds nuance to what’s happened lately considering how both Kumoko and Ariel are now aware of the Hero’s existence as he jumps in during their fight to the death. It was funny to see Kumoko cheering on Julius a little for survival, accidentally calling him a shota as she recollects herself and hopes that she can be saved from being disintegrated by Ariel’s magic. The present-day stuff helped to set the scene for Hugo and Shun’s standoff, but much of it is padding compared to the Ariel/Kumoko matchup in this episode.