Leap Day 1×10 Review: Episode 10

There may be another solution to Leap Day, but it’s just as dangerous as the other one. And all six of them need to be on board, which is easier said than done.

Trigger Warning: This review discusses suicide/attempted suicide.

Anime fans know that if there’s no opening credit sequence, stuff is about to get real. Episode 10 starts with yet another one of Ozone’s dreams. In this one, he sees Night flatlining on a gurney as Wiwat and Kit try to resuscitate him. This is some not-so-subtle foreshadowing as to what will happen at the end of the episode. But I’m still curious as to why it’s always Night in danger in Ozone’s dreams. Night is obviously very important to whatever is going to happen.

Thankfully, Night very quickly comes to his senses. He was doggedly committed to Wiwat’s transference theory in last week’s episode, to the point where it caused a break with Day and Dream. But when faced with the real-world possibility of what he was doing, he ultimately could not go through with it. And this wasn’t even the actual transfer; this was just a practice run.

I really appreciate that his attack of conscience came from remembering conversations with both Day and Dream. Both are equally important. Day because he’s experienced the same thing that Night has, and he doesn’t want anyone to go through what they did. Dream because she’s the person he’s trying to save, and she didn’t want to be saved that way. I think ultimately he realizes that his motivations were selfish, and he doesn’t want to be that person. He doesn’t want to be helped by the man responsible for the death of everyone in his family.

Night’s first stop is to reconcile with Dream. And they are so adorable I can’t even. When he does the half heart thing on his face, and she just instantly recognizes what’s happening, so she returns it. They’re too cute. But most importantly, Dream finally points out what I’ve been saying for weeks, which is that everyone survived Leap Day 2020, which means that there obviously must be another way to stop the curse.

When Night points out that she still ended up in the hospital, I couldn’t help but think that I would rather be injured in the hospital than dead. I’m sure Dream was thinking the same thing, but she didn’t say it. And regardless, the point is that they all still survived, which is what they’re trying to do. I think it’s clear that they all need to be together for the curse to be negated.

Next on his redemption tour, Night goes with Dream to Kit’s apartment, where Day and Ozone are having dinner. I really loved the “family” dinner scene, with everyone feeding each other. I did feel bad for Kit, who is alone, and he certainly did look very wistful as he was witnessing what was going on. But then Ozone pushed a plate towards him and told him to eat, and just like that I think Kit felt like he finally had a family after so long.

Night and Day apologize to each other for their fight, though Day does sass Night a little bit when he asks to take a second look at Ozone’s drawing. I appreciate that Day apologized as well, even though Night himself didn’t think it was necessary. But I think Day realizes that Night was acting out of desperation and isn’t willing to hold that against him.

Now that Night is on board, Kit tries to convince the two of them that they need to bring Wiwat down. He has already tried to do so, but Wiwat ruined his career and cost him his medical license because everyone thought he was crazy. (Which, fair. It does sound crazy.) Night, however, doesn’t think that they should burn that bridge yet. After all, Ozone’s drawing indicates that they need Wiwat’s help, so they shouldn’t do anything that’s going to make him unlikely to assist them.

Night mentions something I was musing about last week, which is that Wiwat doesn’t seem very happy. He was willing to basically kill 10+ people to save his wife’s life, but he doesn’t seem to be spending any time with her or his daughter. He was so adamant that Night do the transfer; I wonder if that’s because convincing Night to follow in his footsteps would alleviate some of the guilt he must carry.

Truthfully, I don’t know that Wiwat does feel any guilt. He’s certainly come across as very cold and calculating prior to this. But if he feels any remorse for what he’s done, it makes sense that he would want to help Night in this manner. Because then it’s worth it.

Upon reexamining Ozone’s newest drawing, Dream has an epiphany. As she holds up the drawing, she notices the clock behind her, which reads 12:15. And the drawing is folded, but only partially, and the folds match the hands of the clock. She and Night both think that it must be significant – that the folds of the paper mean that the Leap Day event will happen at 12:15pm. (Remember, the shade of the blue means that whatever happens is going to be in the daytime.)

They confirm with everyone else that it was Ozone who folded the paper in that particular way, and that he did so because the stars told him to. I noticed the folds last week, but my brain automatically filled in other creases, and I assumed it had just been folded normally. I think that was a pretty clever detail to sneak in; it’s a clue, but you don’t catch it right away.

After this, Kit reveals there may be another way to stop the curse. That he’s conveniently never mentioned before. And honestly, I think for good reason. The solution he presents doesn’t seem like it could be sustained. His suggestion is that they trick Leap Day – a supernatural entity – by stopping Ozone and Dream’s hearts for a few minutes so that they do actually die and then reviving them.

Never mind the possibility of brain damage (which at least Night acknowledges, so there’s that), or the fact that there’s a chance they wouldn’t be able to revive them. I just don’t see how this could be a permanent solution. Wouldn’t they just be in danger again on the next Leap Day? Do they have to do this every time? Do you think this supernatural curse wouldn’t be able to tell the difference?

Ozone is clearly scared about this plan, and Day doesn’t want to put him in any danger. He’s still hoping that there’s an alternate solution where no one will get hurt. I’d like to agree, but we’ve only got two episodes left and I’m starting to think that someone is going to die. At this point, I don’t think there’s any way out of it. And given that Ozone keeps dreaming about Night dying, one would presume that it’s going to be him. Especially given that Night wants to test their plan on himself first. (This makes sense; he knows it’s a risk and he doesn’t want to just trust that it will work without trying it first.)

By the way, when are people going to start listening to Ozone? He’s literally predicted multiple events because of his visions. Kit’s whole plan was kidnapping Ozone for a reason, and it seems like no one ever wants to let him talk. Just let the man talk. (Side note: I loved Ozone being offended when Night said that they couldn’t trust what the stars were saying.)

No matter what, though, the drawing says that they need Wiwat. Night tries to convince him to help with this new plan, but Wiwat refuses. I have no idea why he would refuse this plan, which will only risk two people’s lives, but he was so insistent about the transfer theory, which would definitely cost people their lives. I’m so confused by Wiwat as a person. I don’t understand his motivation at all.

They need to persuade him to help, though. Aside from the drawing, they need Wiwat’s medical knowledge and the extra set of hands. So when he refuses Night’s polite request, they resort to blackmail. They all go to Wiwat’s house to confront him, and during the confrontation, Kit accidentally reveals the truth to Wiwat’s wife. Night tries to stop them, but Day can’t take it anymore and tells Wiwat’s wife that he’s the reason why Day (and Night… and Ozone) are orphans.

Wiwat sits down with his wife and daughter and admits the truth, and as Dream predicted last week, they are not OK with it. He tries to tell them that it was for their sakes, but they are rightfully disgusted by his confession. He tries to talk to his wife once more before bed, but she tells him that she just needs some time and that they’ll talk in the morning. But when he wakes up, both she and their daughter are gone, and she’s left a Post-It note behind. (This is a very solemn moment, but I legitimately cackled that she broke up with him in a Post-It.) You can clearly see there is writing on both sides, but he only focuses on his wife’s message, which reads, “Don’t contact us again.”

He cannot handle that the life he “sacrificed” so much for is gone, so he tries to take his own life. He’s almost successful, except that Day has come by – to apologize, maybe, or to beg for his help – and is able to save him. He tells him to read the other side of the Post-It, where his daughter has said, “I know you can help them.” And I loved that Day was just like, “You’re a doctor, learn to read.”

I don’t feel bad for Wiwat. He made a horrible, selfish decision, and he lied to his wife for two decades. Plus, he was so hypocritical last week, telling Dream that she had to support Night, all the while not being honest with his own family. I’m glad that it seems like no one else feels bad for him. He doesn’t deserve their sympathy, when this is literally all his fault.

Let me say, the sound design in Leap Day is phenomenal. That’s often not the case with a lot of Thai dramas, so please give whoever is responsible for this show a raise or something. It really has been amazing in every episode, but the scene where Wiwat goes to hang himself was so well done. The sound of the chair dragging across the room, the soft footsteps on the floor… It really helps set the mood of the scene.

The episode ends with Wiwat deciding to help and them testing out their plan on Night. Ozone tries to get Day to tell Night to stop, but the plan goes forward. Because no one ever listens to Ozone. And we end on a cliffhanger, with Night having flatlined, and Wiwat seemingly giving up trying to resuscitate him. (Seems a little premature in giving up, too. It looks like he only tries a few times and then goes, “Oh no, can’t save him, I tried.”)

Ending on this cliffhanger is a bit much, considering that the preview for next week’s episode, which directly follows that scene, shows that they can revive Night. It immediately removes any of the tension you would have had from watching Night potentially die. However, I believe that this scene – which mirrors the opening scene – isn’t really meant as a cliffhanger, but as more foreshadowing.

I honestly do think that the curse will end with Night dying, and I’m on the fence as to whether or not I think they’ll be able to revive him. Ozone has had something like four dreams about Night dying, and that has to mean something. A curse like this seems like the kind that will only end when the cursed person dies. I don’t see it ending any other way.

Author: Jamie Sugah

Jamie has a BA in English with a focus in creative writing from The Ohio State University. She self-published her first novel, The Perils of Long Hair on a Windy Day, which is available through Amazon. She is currently an archivist and lives in New York City with her demon ninja vampire cat. She covers television, books, movies, anime, and conventions in the NYC area.

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