More vital information helped explained some things in this week’s Made in Abyss episode! Going by the title alone, it’s about the core reason why the Abyss is so dangerous: its curse! That’s certainly quite interesting to hear about!

Japanese Original Episode Title: 呪いの正体

Plot

We discover just how valuable a character Nanachi. She explained how the curse works and revealed that she can see it! If she was to join Riko and Reg on their journey, she’ll surely be helpful! However, it also seemed like the effects of the Abyss aren’t just affecting those inside the Netherworld’s clutches, but… is it starting to creep onto the surface? Or has it already been there from the start?  

Episode Highlights

Birthday-Death Disease: Looks like the story Nat told Reg in Episode 3 wasn’t just an urban legend! Kids have really been dying on their birthdays! But for some reason, when Leader and the pretty lady brought Kiyui outside Orth, he was immediately okay. Could it be a new curse from the Abyss that already reached the surface? Or are the people of Orth really unconsciously longing to go back to the Abyss that children are literally dying to go there? Maybe it’s both? I mean, Nanachi mentioned that cave raiders really can’t help but go down to the Abyss despite its dangers. If that’s the case, then probably the Abyss is just one big cursed place! But, what does this mean for the people living there, especially the cave raiders?

Mitty and Riko: I thought Mitty was going to eat Riko! But turns out, she just really liked her so much that she seemed attached and never left her side since! Sorry for doubting you, Mitty! It also looked like they had some sort of connection. Was Mitty communicating something to the unconscious Riko? Or was it just a symbolism? I also wonder if the fact that Nanachi used Mitty to make some kind of an antivenom to counter the Orbed-Pincer’s poison had some something to do with it. I actually don’t know what to make of these scenes, so I’m just spewing out my guesses!

The Abyss and the curse: Normally, people would think that the curse of the Abyss was just something supernatural, making the place even more mysterious. Who’d ever think that it had a logical explanation, kinda like how you get altitude sickness from being way up, or your ears popping when you enter a tunnel? There was actually something to study about it! It’s such a powerful force that it enables the creatures of the Abyss to live in it and be powerful, while being dangerous to humans that attempted to ascend it. Who also knew there were places where the curse hits that were stronger or weaker, and that it was possible to avoid it? Though, you’d have to have the same ability that Nanachi has to see that fog-like thing, but still, it’s possible! It could change cave raiding forever if they found all the possible places where they can ascend easily! However, Nanachi said that it took her great pains to find a place like her hideout where the force field was close to nothing, so I’m guessing there aren’t a lot like it. 

Experiencing Nanachi’s ability: With Nanachi’s amazing ability to see the blankets of the force field, it might be much easier and safer for Reg and Riko to go deeper! I mean, though I honestly still don’t understand much about how she manages to see it and how she was able to know what the Orbed Pincer would do next, such a handy skill would make Reg a better fighter and protector! She’d also be able to find safe places for them to go up from! She’s truly amazing, being able to treat Riko, being knowledgeable about many things, and being able to see the curse! On another note, Reg used his Incinerator, didn’t he? Will we see him faint from that? I hope they manage to get back to the hideout first. However, Nanachi requested something pretty outrageous that he might forget about it!

Nanachi and Mitty: I know I asked why she was still keeping Mitty around, but I didn’t think she’d actually ask Reg to kill her! And what was up with that flashback? Looks like they escaped Bondrewd, and guessing from what she said, maybe he was mistreating them. Or was he exploiting Nanachi’s skill? I also saw some patches of blood on the snow back there. Whose could it have been? Was their past so bad that she felt like Reg would help them out once he heard about it?

Themes & Trivia

Mysterious Disease: It’s highly likely that the illness affecting children like Kiyui is closely connected to the Abyss. In our world, there have also been cases of mysterious diseases! There’s the Alice in Wonderland syndrome, Laughing Death, Porphyria, and some more you’ve probably never heard of! Unfortunately, some of these have yet to have a cure. 

Antivenin: Antivenins, or antivenoms, are used as antidotes for certain types of animal poisons. They’re made just like how Nanachi made the medicine for the Orbed-Pincer poison using Mitty. You take poison from the specific animal you want to make an antivenin for, inject it on an animal that can withstand the poison and make antibodies to fight it, then take some of its blood and filter out the antivenin! However, it usually takes lots of time, resources, and machines to make it, so it’s astonishing that Nanachi was able to make it with the limited things she had!

Comments

This was quite a simple episode, but it didn’t fail to bring in the juicy details and interesting developments! I thought it was great that they finally disclosed what causes the curse, but also that they only disclosed it now, as it kept the mystery going. Plus, we needed to see first just how bad it would be to break through the force field, so we can get why it’s important to avoid it and why cave raiding is so dangerous. I think the writer also did a great job illustrating how the curse works! They made it easier to understand!

Is it time to let go?

Good grief. Made in Abyss is really good at leaving us hanging at the end of every episode! It doesn’t help that next week’s episode is also the last! I don’t know what to expect! While we wait for that finale surprise, though, leave a comment on what you thought on this episode! Most of the Summer 2017 series are ending as well, so check out our reviews on them!

You can also check official anime screenshots from the episode at our Made in Abyss Episode 12 Stills and Summary.

NEXT TIME: The Challengers (挑む者たち)

Anime Made in Abyss