Akatsuki no Yona (Yona of the Dawn): Season 1/ Episode 13 “Echoing Fear” – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)

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Overview

As Yona comes face to face with the Blue Dragon, we begin to learn more about the village which feels cursed by him.

Topic 1: The Search For The Blue Dragon – Yona & Hak

Topic 2: Face To Face/ Warm Hands – Yona & The Blue Dragon

Topic 3: The Curse of the Blue Dragon – Yona

Review (with Spoilers) – Below

Topic 1: The Search For The Blue Dragon – Yona & Hak

With Yona having brief contact with The Blue Dragon, and wanting to speak with him personally, she wishes to venture back into the cave’s maze to find him. This is despite almost being kidnapped. However, with Gija and Yun she’ll be fine. As for Hak? Well, we begin to understand her side to their relationship a bit more.

For example, part of her reasoning to be stronger isn’t solely because she wants to be capable of protecting Hak, but to also free him of his duty one day. For with her being oblivious to Hak’s affections toward her, she is under the impression he is still fulfilling the duty her father assigned him. So by having Hak stay behind, and her rely on Yun’s intellect and Gija’s connecting to the Blue Dragon, arguably she planned to rely on her own strength for once.

Commentary

Recognizing the summary contains commentary, I feel what is important here is that as much as Hak sees beyond their former lives, it seems Yona may still be stuck in princess mode despite all that has happened. For while she is a bit tougher than the stereotypical princess, arguably she hasn’t dropped her airs and graces. Much less, as kind as she is, I would argue she doesn’t have an “I’m one of the people” type of persona. She is cordial and friendly to Yun, Hak, and Gija, but never on their level. Something which neither Hak nor Gija help by them being smitten with her, but you can tell even Yun puts her on this pedestal which keeps Yona from ever seeming like she may fully recognize anything outside her final goal. Which, as of now, I’m still unable to say is clear.

Topic 2: Face To Face/ Warm Hands – Yona & The Blue Dragon

In a short period of time, Yona, with Yun by her side, as Gija guards the entrance, find themselves in the presence of The Blue Dragon. Someone who, because he seemingly didn’t have the same education as Gija, is frightened by The Blue Dragon speaking to him, as well as his feelings for Yona. Thus leading him to a confused state, one in which he is drawn to Yona, yet also wants to push her away. Something he ultimately does.

Commentary

I find in anime, it is always the rejected characters which are the most interesting and the ones which draw you in. For despite The Blue Dragon’s story now becoming 3 episodes, when you count the next one, I still have this desire to know more. Even if it is about how he came upon this squirrel he named after his parental figure.

That thought aside, with The Blue Dragon not having a name, I do wonder whether he, or Yona, will give him one.

Topic 3: The Curse of the Blue Dragon – Yona

After being pushed out of The Blue Dragon’s sanctuary, Yona finds Gija facing off against a mass of villagers who are ready to kill them. Not because of some creepy desires mind you, but because they fear the trouble they may bring if they return to the outside world. For with the Blue Dragon being their village’s curse to bear, they are coerced to protect him. After all, when he dies, it means another of their children will become The Blue Dragon. Hence why they hide in the mountains since, after he wiped out all those soldiers, they feared the safety for the safety of the village.

Though, as can be seen, while they protect The Blue Dragon, they are also fiercely scared of him, and despise him. Making it where when an earthquake seemingly traps them in the cave’s maze, they are all but ready to blame him. Then, when he appears, and approaches one of them, they strike his face and knock his mask off. Leading to the end of the episode.

Commentary

It was nice to get an explanation as to why the village moved to the mountains, much less took The Blue Dragon with them. Though, I must admit, it does increase the amount of empathy you have to feel for the poor guy. For while, to a certain degree, it did seem they were trying to defend him when it came to them wanting to kill our heroes, truth is they were more trying to protect their children from inheriting the curse. Making The Blue Dragon’s back story, if we can still call it that, as saddening as Yun’s to a point.