Urahara : More Misa Speculation

First let me say that Urahara as a series has already made me double check scenes from past episodes at least thrice. Part of it is that I do have memory issues. Ie scenes from episode 4, I won't remember while watching episode 8. Other times it's wishful thinking that perhaps all I need to do is watch episode 3 again and a problem in episode 9 will suddenly be fixed. Note these are generic examples. In any case, let's get on to Misa.

As mentioned in a previous blog entry, Misa has had moments in the series of showing actual concern and those moments have happeend during times where putting on act isn't really needed because there is no audience around to act in front of. She's also shown moments of having conflict with the Scoopers despite supposedly being one.

One major question about Misa's character is her status as a Human vs her status as a Scooper. In this scene from episode 5, Ebi seems to indicate her as a human and even tries to remind her of the fact. This is also the same episode where she's getting upset over Scoopers messing with creations despite that being their role in the series. I mean whether it's to steal creativity in general or train the girls, one could argue they're just doing their jobs. One would assume, Misa would be realize this and be used to it. Yet,  it becomes clearer and clearer that she's not used to it.

Before I go any further, let's be blunt here. If this bracelet isn't referenced during the eventual "Save Misa" scenes then I'll be kind of shocked. Yes, I think ultimately saving Misa is going to be the end goal for the series and they'll show the bracelet during several select flashback scenes to drive hom the point. I think they're making it a bit too obvious here. Or it could be again wishful thinking.

One thing the show has tried to hammer into us is the idea that Scoopers are incapable of creation. Here we have Misa trying to create something, but being a failure at in part because she seems to have no direction. She's just putting everything together well randomly without any real reason. To be honest, thinking about some of the things I tried to make in the past I can relate to being directionless.

Directly after that scene however, they show that with some actual direction Misa can create something that isn't just well aking to throw a bucket of paint on a wall and hoping you get something out of it. Instead she makes something with a purpose, a plan and a result.  Also this can relate back to the show's theme about creativity becasuse Rito was essentially sharing information and information is learned. Learned either by experience, by studying, etc. It's not just instantly known.

It's hard to decide how to read this scene. If we're to assume that she is indeed a Scooper, Ebi could be saying this as an off hand reminder. Ie being shocked that a Scooper made something. On the other hand, Ebi also tried to remind her that she was human back in episode 5, At least back then.

This was indeed the none shocking reveal that made at least me think of her as simply the cute master mind. At least until later scenes in the show made me rewatch earlier scenes only to realize that for someone who is supposed to be a master mind, she sure seems to way too shocked and concerned by events in the series she should be used to by now.  Also side note, the Shrimp does way too much of the talking for her. That can't be an accident. Probably anothther sign that she's lacking experience.

If we are to actually trust Ebi-Aku (sorry too easy) for even a minute here, if we assume that Misa is a Scooper and a strong Scooper one could assume her "human form" is a result of this too. That she's appearing to others in a form that she's assuming will be acceptable maybe even pleasing to the eye. Because cuteness has a way of lowering people's guards. This might also mean Ebi's reminder that she's human from earlier could have just been him reminding her of the role she had to play.

So after multiple Misa scenes of her being worried and scenes where it becomes clear that either Misa is new to "recruitment" or things are not going the usual way she's used to, we get her reaction to Rito's speech about false power and the way she reacts, you can tell she took it personally giving another sign of her actually being Scooper or at the very least her being convince she is one. Thus we reach possible scenarios for what might be going on with her character and the Scoopers in general.

The far fetched idea is that she's the source of the Scoopers and that they might be a coping mechanism. Ie defeating the Scoopers and even the Shrimp will boil down to what the girls tell Misa.  Come to think of it maybe Ebi is like an imaginary friend out of control. One that you give too much power to because you lack confidence in speaking for yourself or in your own abilities.

There's also the angle that she's a human being used by the Scoopers to capture other humans for their purposes and she's spent her whole life manipulated and that manipulation has to be undone. Sadly it will probably be underdone in an unrealistic fashion, but keep in mind this is a 12 episode series. So expectations for how they will handle things will have to be kept in check.

It's hard to say for sure exactly what Misa's role will be in the final arc of the series other than the series is making it blatant something bad is about to happen to her. (Those scenes are framed too suspiciously for it not to be the case.) Whether that bad thing is because of actions Ebi decides to take or because Misa takes what she hears to heart and starts to feel terrible is another story.  Honestly it might end up being a combination of both since after all this show isn't above manipulation.

Regardless, I'm now  convinced that the final arc is mostly going to be about how the girls "save" Misa and that saving her is likely the real key to defeating the Scoopers. Note by saving her, I mean they keep giving speeches about creativity until she gets better and more confident in herself.. After which, stuff will happen (some of it cheesy) that will result in everything being fine and the end.