Junji Ito Collection Episode 12 (Final) Review: Smashed – Rumours

Junji Ito Collection is finally at an end, and I can’t help but say that I’m not gonna be missing that show, not one bit.

Japanese Original Episode Title: 潰談 / 噂

Plot

Some weird guy gets back home after having encountered a primitive tribe that showed him the secret to a delicious nectar. The nectar tasted so good, the man had to risk his life to acquire it, as he said to his friend. Word about the nectar goes around, and some of the guy’s friends show up in his house and, since he won’t answer the door, they sneak in and secretly try the nectar. To their surprise, they find a massive bloody bloch in the guy’s room, so they steal the nectar and run away. While eating the nectar, they start exploding, one after another, leaving nothing but that huge bloch behind them. They can no longer eat, as nothing tastes good anymore, and the last of them notice a huge object smashing them after they eat it. The very last survivor discovers a map that takes him to a tree with enormous flowers growing out of its trunk, one of which it uses to smash him when he tries to pierce its skin and drink its precious nectar.

Souichi is back and he is now trying to spread cool rumors about himself to earn a girl’s affections. She is not impressed, not just because her boyfriend is hospitalized and being hit on by another girl, but more importantly, because, regardless of the great rumors about him, Souichi remains, without any doubt, pretty damn gross. She one day discovers that he is starting the rumors himself and exposes him, which results in him running home terrified. The next day, a poster of our beloved Fuchi shows up on the school board, and rumors about her roaming the town are being spread. It is said she resides in a swamp to keep herself beautiful, and that the girl that is making a move on the protagonist’s hospitalized boyfriend often baths in the swamp to make him like her. The protagonist decides to take a dive in the swamp when Souichi shows up – it was his plan to bring her here all along and take photos of her to punish her for messing with him. Surprisingly, Fuchi actually shows up from within the swamp, and threatens to eat Souichi for illicitly taking her picture; but Souichi knows what the ladies like, so he starts calling her a beautiful lady.

Themes & Trivia

Intertextuality: Souichi and Fuchi are Junji Ito’s characters that usually appear in separate stories, but are seen together in this one. Also, in Fuchi’s magazine photo, one can notice her absurd curly hair, a reference to yet another Junji Ito classic (and imho, the best of all his works): Uzumaki. It seems like Junji is creating a world where evil exists and communicates within itself in some way.

Souchi all the way: The first and last story of the show were both Souichi ones. An odd choice, if I may say; he is such a terrible character.

Fuchi is a Modigliani painting: Just google his work and you will know what I mean in less than 3 seconds. Creepy, right?

Ah, it’s over

I’m sorry Junji, but this show did not do you or your work any justice. I am more than happy to see it end. Byeeee.

What did you think of the Junji Ito Collection’s twelfth episode? Let us know in the comment section! And don’t forget to check the last of our Winter 2018 anime reviews on MANGA.TOKYO!