Season Two Ep 8 stills

S2E8 visuals are out, and it indicates that Ep 8 will cover Vol 7 Ch 7, Vol 7 Intermezzo 3, and Vol 7 Ch 8. We get the view of Byakuya’s true form here in Ep 8 (so cool!). Also, man, we have a hunk here (not Ranmaru, though he is a hunk too!). Who is that gorgeous black-haired hunk?? 

As per usual, this is just a commentary of the visuals, which are well done. The episode will end with Aoi deciding to go to the Northern Land, hence S2E9 next week will cover Vol 8 of the novel.

Okay, let’s start from the beginning.

We have Takechiyo getting irritated at something, and I think it’s because Zakuro is trying to interfere with his macaroon meal. 

We then have Zakuro who, unexpectedly, wants to taste Aoi’s macaroon (but I think she later disses it). More importantly for me, as per her first appearance in Ep 5, Zakuro is wearing a Heian-era kariginu hunting robe, which is gorgeous and culturally correct! (ahem – remember the three ladies wearing the gorgeous but culturally-different qizhuang in a Japanese Kakuriyo Palace in Ep 7?)

Then we have the black-haired hunk! He must be one of the important shoguns…so… Kurogai Shogun then? His armour does look boar-ish (or boorish? Hahaha!). OMG whoever he is, Ōdanna-sama gets a competitor because this soldier is super hot!

Not that I'm complaining this time. I mean, the prospect of seeing two black-haired gorgeous powerful ayakashi face to face is exciting! We may have to wait until 2027 for that though…

Again, this is me assuming that this gorgeous hunk is Kurogai. I might be wrong, cos I checked Vol 9 Ch 6 just now, and this is the description for Kurogai Shogun from Aoi's perspective:

A man in black armour, his body is so big that I have to look up, appeared in the shrine yard and is now climbing up the stone stairs with heavy footsteps. He was a Yōto soldier wearing a rousing helmet, shaped like a wild boar head, complete with its fangs.

Well, this gorgeous black-haired soldier does wear a black armour, but his body is not big (in the sense of very tall). We also cannot see his helmet in Ep 8, but the scar on his face reminds me somehow of the scar of a wild boar... Kurogai Shogun did say in Vol 9 Ch 6 that he had grown old, but Ōdanna-sama still looked young... so maybe this guy is not Kurogai. Will read Vol 7 Ch 7 again later!

Edit (cos some people already started reading this post):

No, the young black-haired gorgeous soldier is NOT Kurogai Shogun. Kurogai Shogun is the guy in the boar armour in the OP here (to the left of the King):

But it's good to include the scene above, I guess, because the scene above will definitely be in Ep 8 as well! Since Kurogai’s appearance is moved forward earlier than the scheduled Vol 9 Ch 6 (where he should be appearing for the firs ttime), then it’s likely because Kurogai will be important in Tenjin-ya’s efforts to release Ōdanna-sama.

Anyway, so I checked Vol 7 Ch 7 again, and there is a gallant soldier following Zakuro into Takechiyo's room, and this gallant soldier has reddish brown (ginger) 赤茶 hair. So, I guess they take creative licence and make this guy's hair black... but that's okay cos he's hot!

(Edit 20 Nov'25: the soldier is Akaguma Shogun! I should've guessed it because in the novel he is depicted with reddish brown hair, but I didn't read further... so yeah, Akaguma Shogun was one of Shirō's friends - huh! - and he was the one who forcibly brought Takechiyo back to the Palace. No wonder Takechiyo bristled when he saw Akaguma!)

Moving on... Next we have Takechiyo’s eyes glaring, and not in a good way. Is he going to display his power here? He is – after all – the grandson of the King!

Well, that display of power definitely disturbs Aoi, the gorgeous black-haired Akaguma Shogun, and Zakuro.

Next we have Byakuya’s true form. What a gorgeous form! I’ve been wondering who that ayakashi was in the OP without realising that he has the monocle on (another fan would’ve seen it already!). Is Byakuya going to kick Raijū again? Raijū’s chiropractor bill is rocketing sky-high, haha!

Then the Three Musketeers escape the Palace…

And then we have Ranmaru eating soup (dumpling?) at the Nighthawk with Sasuke, Ginji and Byakuya. When I skim-read Vol 7 Ch 8, I understand that Rei and Mei (the Twin Cranes) were also there, so we might see more of the Orio-ya team at the end of Ep 8.

In summary, I’m quite excited about Ep 8, largely to see Byakuya’s true form and the unnamed black-haired Great Hunk soldier (Akaguma Shogun). Haha!

However, this preview also makes me think about the ending of this Season 2 (or S2 Cour 1?). Basically, it takes five episodes of S2 to cover Vol 7...so...  Vol 8 might span across Episodes 9-11... or even straight until early Ep 12. Thus, S2 Cour 1 (or just Season Two) may end in Vol 8 Epilogue or Vol 9 Prologue as I said before... or it ends with Aoi disembarking from the Bunmon airship, with Ōdanna-sama welcoming her (in his university haori). They might then walk together to visit Kasuga's grandmother (the Director of the Bunmon University) with the Bunmon Clock Tower in the background...

Well, we will find out in about a month, I guess... 

Edit 20 Nov'25:

This episode is amazing! I hope I can make a review tonight after work!