r/anime • u/AutoLovepon https://anilist.co/user/AutoLovepon • Dec 04 '25

Episode Watashi wo Tabetai, Hitodenashi • This Monster Wants to Eat Me - Episode 10 discussion

Watashi wo Tabetai, Hitodenashi, episode 10

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u/ModieOfTheEast Dec 04 '25

I don't really agree with the reading of the ocean in this case. Not that you are wrong, but I think that only scratches the surface. Because the way the show has been using the ocean is a bit more complicated. Yes, it is used to represent Hinako's depression, but it has also been used several times in the exact opposite way. For example, this episode, little Hinako described it as beautiful in the same way she thought Shiori was beautiful. Furthermore, even for depressed Hinako, the ocean also had a double function of being a form of relief, mostly because her family found her death in the ocean as well. After all, she wants to die through the ocean which is why "her ocean" was dried up after she learned that Shiori wouldn't eat her. And that obviously didn't mean that she is out of her depression.

This is why I think the ocean in Shiori's case is also more than just about depression. The ocean in her story has another function in the fact that it is a different world from the human world. The creatures in the ocean are nothing like on land and more importantly, despite humans living in the whole world, we don't live in the ocean. It's a representation of how Shiori isn't feeling connected to the actual human world and only the fish world (which can get pretty grotesque if you go into the deepest sea).

Which brings us back to Hinako who never saw the ocean as some other world. Even Miko is often making a difference between the two "realms" if you want to call them that. But Hinako was never afraid by the ocean and doesn't think that the things look hideous or out of this world, but even beautiful. She is literally the bridge to that isolated world for Shiori.

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u/ClemFire Dec 04 '25

Well said, and I'm sure others have noticed as well but it was only when I watched the anime where I slowly came to the conclusion that Shiori's experiences with feeling like she's part of another world that still longs for connections feels quite autistic coded when you peel away the supernatural elements.

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u/CitronClassic672 Dec 05 '25

Same, as someone with autism I was surprised how relatable Shiori’s disconnect from the rest of the world was for me personally. Her recurring mention of how “no one had ever invited her in” is most likely a reach on my part but it feels very similar to my experiences in life with none of the people around me ever taking the time to try to understand my odd behaviors and reactions to things. With that parallel I can see why Shiori would latch onto Hinako, the first person she met who wasn’t scared off or repulsed by her uniqueness, and instead was kind to her when she was vulnerable and even told Shiori how she saw her as something beautiful not scary.

Though in a similar vein, depression can also make you feel cut off and isolated from the world. Like no one understands you or what you’re going through.

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u/ClemFire Dec 05 '25

I wonder how initial of a connection the author was trying to make with Shiori. It feels subtle enough it might just be consequence, but I like to believe it’s intentional. Even moreso but keeping her true feelings hidden for so long how some viewers treated Shiroi, not giving her the benifet of the doubt echos how some people treat neurodivergents in real life.

The two other recent characters who I feel are also great representation are Frieren and Tomori from MyGo. Shiori though I might put even above them because of how misunderstood she is both in and out of universe until this episode. It was a risky decision by the author, but I feel she put just enough hints at Shiori’s true nature leading up to the big reveal

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u/CitronClassic672 Dec 05 '25

I don’t know Tomori but Frieren and Shiori are both good examples of autistic coded characters in that I doubt they’re actually neurodivergent but their unique circumstances end up resembling it. But likewise I would put Shiori above Frieren because from what I’ve seen these two episodes and from what it recontextualizes from past episodes Shiori definitely feels more like a neurodivergent character in all aspects of her life and interactions with others, whereas Frieren is primarily just inexpressive and has a hard time relating to humans because of differences in lifespan. Shiori likely has the latter issue on top of everything else.

I’d also like to add Lakan from Apothecary Diaries as a character I firmly believe is just straight up autistic, nothing coded about it.

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u/rainbowrobin Dec 07 '25

I’d also like to add Lakan from Apothecary Diaries as a character I firmly believe is just straight up autistic, nothing coded about it.

the whole La family

As for Frieren, hard to tell what's "because elf" vs. "because early loss of family" vs. "because Frieren".

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u/DaRootbear Dec 05 '25

And then there is Delicious in Dungeon where every member of the cast, both main and side, are the most AuDHD characters to evrr exist.

Except Chilchuck who is depressed from dealing with all the neurodivergent idiots