So, thankfully, we start off right where the last episode left off…for once. With a cliffhanger like that, there’d be murder if they made people wait around. Anyways, recap: Araragi was last seen on a railroad track, beat to all hell and back by a hooded figure with one nasty-ass left hook.
So! As said before, the hooded figure turns out to be Kambaru. To put it simply, she has a “monkey’s arm” for an arm, and it acts up at night. She’s also a lesbian. As if you didn’t see that coming. Still lesbian that isn’t totally oversexed or super butch? Totally awesome in my book. Anyways, turns out Kambaru had a mad girl-crush on Hot Dish (Senjougahara) since way back when, and she was shunned during Hot Dish’s “weightless and angsty” period. To help Hot Dish out in her time of need, she wanted the monkey’s paw. But of course, as anyone who’s ever read xxxHolic or any other eastern story with a monkey’s paw in it knows, that shit doesn’t turn out the way you expect.
So what does Araragi do? He takes Lesbo to Mr. Sketchy (Ooshino), of course. Guess Araragi just likes playing knight for girls with weird shit going on.
So Ooshino takes a look at Lesbo’s arm, and, seems it’s not a monkey’s paw after all. It’s a Rainey Devil, a low-level demon’s hand, which grants a person three wishes….in exchange for their soul. Now THIS is what I’m talking about.
Pros of the episodes: finally some somewhat-creepy stuff and a lesbian who’s way too into boy porn and insists the main male lead is gay too. I love this girl already.
Cons: I’m noticing a pattern of- episode 1-set up the plot, episode 2- solve the plot. Cliffhangers are nice and all, but….yeah.
Overall though, I’m more excited for the next episode than I’ve been in a while.

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