Urusei Yatsura – Season 2 Episode 9 Recap & Review

Open the Door – Part 2 / The Home Visit Blues: Prohibitive Miyake Edition

Episode 9 of Urusei Yatsura Season 2 begins where we left off in episode 8 with Ataru, Lum, Shinobu, and Inaba exploring hyperspace. Lum and Ataru hop inside a magical door because they’re eager to find a future that’ll satisfy them. Then, we cut to a post-apocalyptic future. In this future, Lum’s running away from Ataru, who seems to be a ruler in this realm. 

After Ataru tells his goons to swipe Lum’s goods, the Mendo in this universe slays him. Meanwhile, the real Ataru and his friends watch the events unfold before their eyes and depart from this world via a magic door. The four take a break from exploring futures. Lum and Ataru bicker over not finding their ideal futures. 

Inaba takes Shinobu, Ataru, and Lum to the Factory of Fate. He shows them a device that’ll craft them a special doorknob. When they attach this doorknob to specific hyperspace doors, it’ll allow them to explore the future of their desires. Once they finish, Inaba’s friends arrive and try to stop them. Inaba helps Shinobu, Lum, and Ataru escape, to Inaba’s friends’ dismay. 

Before Inaba tests his doorknob out, one of his friends opens the door and hurts him. This causes Inaba to plummet toward this hyperspace’s abyss. His friends show little care for him, angering Shinobu. Shinobu departs to save Inaba. Meanwhile, Lum charges up and threatens to electrocute Inaba’s friends if they don’t back off. 

Inaba’s friends leave them be, allowing Lum to try one of her doorknobs. However, one of Inaba’s friends pulls one over on Lum, causing her to drop her doorknob. Lum’s doorknob disintegrates, upsetting her. Meanwhile, Ataru hides from Lum and places his doorknob on one of the magic doors. Ataru enters the door and arrives at his “ideal future.”

Ataru notices several women crowded toward him. However, he notices Lum isn’t present, making him mildly curious. Ataru follows this future version of himself. Future Ataru reveals Future Lum isn’t around because Future Ataru wanted a harem. Future Ataru states several vile things he did to Future Lum, causing Ataru to hit him with a mallet. 

Ataru leaves this future realm, returns to hyperspace, and reflects on it. Lum chases after Ataru while he continues to brood on his ideal future. Meanwhile, Shinobu saves Inaba and spots his friends nearby. This entices Shinobu to place her doorknob on a door. She enters the door’s realm with Inaba. Meanwhile, Inaba’s friends spot Lum and Ataru causing a ruckus in hyperspace, and plan to stop them. 

Inaba awakens and sits next to Shinobu. The two gaze upon the future iterations of Ataru, Shinobu, Sakura, and others. Inaba asks Shinobu if this is the future she wants. Shinobu’s unsure. However, she tells Inaba that she wants a future where everyone can remain the same. Back in hyperspace, Lum asks Ataru why he refuses to marry her. 

Ataru argues it’s because he doesn’t adore Lum’s attitude. Before the two discuss things further, Inaba’s friends confront them. One of them presents a large door in front of the pair and uses a key to open the door. This companion claims this door holds the pair’s true future. This causes the other doors to plummet toward the hyperspace’s depths. 

Inaba’s friends state new doors containing new futures will be arriving soon. One of the doors hits Ataru and Ataru enters it. Ataru arrives in a future where he and Lum become a married couple. Lum peaks in the door, too. Realizing how happy Lum is in this ideal future, Ataru leaves and tries to safeguard it. He and the door plummet on a door pile. 

Lum’s happy Ataru tried to save this future. Meanwhile, Shinobu notices one of the doors still has her ideal future doorknob on it. Inaba removes Shinobu’s doorknob from the door. Inaba’s friends spot the four and chase them toward another magic door. Inaba states this door will send Lum, Shinobu, and Ataru back home. 

Inaba tells Shinobu he’ll be staying behind, causing Shinobu to cry. Although they may never see each other again, Inaba hopes he and Shinobu can have tea together down the pipeline. The next day, Inaba joins the three for tea at a cafe. Inaba reveals he’s in charge of crafting new future realms by himself. 

Although Shinobu’s a bit irritated, this set piece closes with her happy that she’ll get to interact with Inaba more. The next segment follows Onsen-Mark, who is still beaten up over his experience with Mendo’s family. However, he’s certain Shinobu’s family won’t bring him much trouble as he knows she’s a great student. 

Onsen arrives at Shinobu’s home’s entrance and asks her to let him inside. However, Shinobu is taken aback by Onsen’s strange attitude. Onsen tells Shinobu he’s been through a lot and would love for her to let him inside. Shinobu tells Onsen that her parents aren’t home. Onsen starts getting fussy with Shinobu, causing her to slam the door in his face, causing Onsen to soar through the sky. 

The episode closes with the showrunners informing the audience that Onsen will be visiting Ataru’s home in a future episode. 

The Episode Review

While Ataru isn’t the most favorable male lead, many will appreciate seeing him react as he did toward his harem iteration. Although Lum can be an over-the-top female, no one should be subjected to the actions Ataru’s harem iteration displayed toward her. While that future might be long gone, it’s always a pleasure seeing Ataru stick his neck out for Lum. 

Moreover, this chapter delved into Shinobu’s character a lot. While she’s had her amusing moments in the series, it’s nice getting to see a more serious and dramatic side to her character. Although Inaba’s positive outcome ruins the emotional segment shared between him and Shinobu, it’s nice knowing that Inaba won’t be a one-and-done character. 

However, we’re going to hold our breaths on that one, considering this anime’s known for introducing characters and not doing anything too meaningful with them after they’re presented. Hopefully, Inaba will get some time to shine down the line. On top of some funny shenanigans with Onsen-Mark, this was an enjoyable chapter of Urusei Yatsura. I’m interested to see what type of misconduct our protagonists will get into next.