If anyone out there is following this show, PLEASE respond. PA is definitely one of the must-see cult shows today (anime shows rather, which have a cult following in themselves), so it's not every day that I get the chance to talk about it.

I suppose the best thing to do right now would be to go over the last episode (episode 7) and make some comments. ...Or a detailed analysis.

***EPISODE REVIEW BELOW. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.***
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*ahem*

The last episode took a very unexpected turn: Kozuka, the Lil' Slugger suspect, was KILLED. By Lil' Slugger.

Huh? What? Who? Where? When? Why? How?

Moo?

The secret to this strange occurrence appears to lie within the subconscious of our slowly-emerging protagonist, young detective Manawa (sp?) Or at least, his Lynchian-like dreams.

Remember those Doublemint commercials? You know, the snarkily fun ones with twins? And remember the Teen Titans episode where Mumbo traps the TTs in his hat and he has a magic show where everyone in the audience looks like him? Well, try to think of both of those things, except even more messed up. That's kind of what Manawa's first dream is like. If you haven't seen either of those things, that's okay; you are now officially integrated into "the fantabulous world of double, or how I learned to write scenes of stoner genius nature" (David Lynch used milkshakes for his highs, so go figure.)

Moving on.

So, the Old Man appears in Manawa's dream in a magic show. Appropriately, as the show has already begun to hint, the old kook is seemingly the original architect behind what is happening to the characters of PA. In the video game, he was an ancient master. This time, he's a magician, and he has some tricks up his sleeve (if you can find me another appropriate, yet less clichéd saying, I'd like to hear it. ...Besides the hat one.) Suddenly…

One Old Man.

Two Old Men.

HUNDREDS OF OLD MEN.

TOO. MANY. OLD MEN.

*regains composure*

What is the significance behind "double?" (Besides the parallel at the end of this episode, that is.) Well, here's a theory of mine that might bridge it all together:

The Old Man created the video game that Kozuka was playing and reenacting. Based on the fact that we saw the moon in this episode (also depicted in conjunction with Manawa operating some kind of broadcast system or recorder, it seems that frequency somehow plays an important part in bringing Lil' Slugger to life. Somehow or another, the game that the Old Man created must have had some kind of glitch in it, and whatever that glitch was, it caused things to happen in the real world that would normally happen in a fantasy world. The Old Man was then soon driven into insanity (or senility), trying to figure out the answer to some kind of equation. This equation that he's trying to solve seems to give the answer to how the chain of events involving Lil' Slugger was instigated.

A second theory that I have based on the way the PA commercials have been formatted is that Lil’ Slugger was a mythological tale of some sort that has existed for centuries. Or perhaps it’s a fusion of the two theories. Ultimately though, by all logic, all signs SOMEHOW point to Maromi, the pink plush doll of definite weirdness.

On a symbolic/thematic scale, there is also something at work which hasn't completely been tied together. It can be deduced that somehow or another, Maromi is an incarnation of Goma, or something similar to that. The question being: If Goma really is paranoia, then what does that mean? How did Goma come into existence for that matter? And why did we not receive a direct answer from the old woman about what Goma really is (in episode 6) if she was supposed to know that information? Was it embedded in her words? Could it have something to do with the idea of her family being torn apart? Do all of the victims now share a bond with each other because of their experiences with Lil’ Slugger? Will I stop asking questions? Yes.

There is also the matter of what the significance of the game metaphor really is, as well as the opening credits and ending credits. First, we know that the Holy Warrior attacks people who are glowing red. People glow red when they are paranoid, presumably. Hence, something that is unclear is whether or not Hirukawa was “red” at the time he was attacked. As far as we know, he was not attacked by Lil’ Slugger and was only hit by Kozuka, considering that he was not rendered unconscious; everyone attacked by Lil’ Slugger so far has experienced the same fate. Thus, chances are that Hirukawa probably took the pill that was given to him by the slimy mob guy, and in turn, became "yellow" (perhaps even green, if we’re going with stoplights here.) But even if this is true, then there is still one problem: Hirukawa still felt trapped at the time, just like the other victims (well, mostly. Keep reading.)

This leads me to believe that there is indeed some kind of catalyst that allows Goma to take over its victims, hence bringing a new idea to the table: Hirukawa was not around whatever this catalyst was. OR, simply put, the pill that Hirukawa took somehow NEGATED the effects of the catalyst. Considering how the first four victims had direct contact with each other, it seems to add up. What I don’t understand is how Kozuka and Hirukawa’s daughter got knocked out under this particular theory. Sure, it makes sense in terms of the paranoia idea, but there’s still something else. Conversely, how Ushiyama got attacked by Lil’ Slugger is a mystery to me. Of course, we didn’t really see his side of the story. As of now, the only possible conclusion that I can make is that Maromi was used by all of the victims. ...Or something.

The intro credits: Everyone is laughing. Why? Is it because they are not afraid of anything any more? Or is it a reverse reaction caused by their paranoia?

The end credits: There is significance to the Crane noise in the background. Somehow, it has something to do with Tsusigo Sagi. I just can’t remember exactly. Also, the order in which the victims are shown appears to be significant, as well as the brief flashes of them (now that we’ve learned of the double idea, it appears that the flash has something to do with that.) Also, the way Manawa is positioned in the circle has relevance. And of course, a giant Maromi in the center.

And so, it ends. Oh wait. No it doesn’t! Let’s talk about Detective Manawa. There is a whole crapload of irony coming his way. Why? Well, now he is AWARE of the fact that Lil’ Slugger goes after people who are paranoid. And now that he is having dreams in which he finds himself surrounded by strange things, he too, feels trapped in a corner. He feels paranoid BECAUSE of Lil Slugger's existence. Talk about paradox-o-rama! When will he be knocked out by Lil’ Slugger? My guess is near the final episode. There are still others that have yet to be slugged, including the old woman, the older detective, and another woman.

Now it really ends. Okay, not quite. There is still one final matter at hand. A disturbing one. Why, unlike the rest of the victims, was Kozuka KILLED!? (or committed suicide.) Was it because he tried to mimic something that already existed? Or it something else?

My head is spinning. Is yours?

Thanks for reading! Once again, respond if you can. I look forward to more commentary.