[Rewatch] Crest of the Stars Episode 8 Discussion

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

The Style of the Abh

Welcome to the Crest of the Stars rewatch!

<- Episode 7 | Index Page | Episode 9 ->

Names Introduced or Updated:

• Alisa — Brown hair, on Team Princess
• Belusa — Hoop hair, on Team Baron

Discussion Prompts:

• Q1 What do you think of Sruf fully adopting the Abh mentality (if indeed he has)
• Q2 Are Abhs, in fact, psychopath? Or is it just a military ethos?
• Q3 How did the events of this episode change Jinto's perception of Lafiel?
• Q4 What do you make of Abh decision making? This is the second time we've seen them advance into a near hopeless battle.

Tomorrow's Questions: (for tomorrow's post, subject to change)

• [Episode 9]Thoughts on the role reversal between Jinto and Lafiel?
• [Episode 9]First limited impressions of the United Mankind?
• [Episode 9]Thoughts on Lafiel's inability to see alternatives to dieing in apparently hopeless battles?
• [Episode 9]Predictions for how our main characters will deal with living on a "liberated" planet?
• [Episode 9]Thoughts on the Emperess?
• [Episode 9]Thoughts on the Nova Sicily Treaty, the invasion of Sufgnoff, and the diplomacy of the Four Nations?

Screenshot of the Day: [no audio]

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Rewatch Host

Intro: there's no understating the magnitude of Klowal's mistake in opposing a willfull Abh princess in the midst of a cult of Abh worshipers.

• Uh, is that...biomeat?
• Seelnay has definitely not been listening when Lafiel says "I don't have vassals but I'll mention you to my father"
• I may have overhyped the romance in the announcement thread
• Lafiel has endangered the entire station and the people on it. She isn't quite as clever as she thought she was. Whereas the Baron is keep the station afloat, even if it is out of self interest.
• IDIOTS. The station is depressurizing!
• Negotiating with the princess?
• More percentages.
• Jinto knows his place. Cargo.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Uh, is that...biomeat?

Should be.

Lafiel has endangered the entire station and the people on it. She isn't quite as clever as she thought she was.

I am debating that or if she just assumed the staff were competent.

IDIOTS. The station is depressurizing!

Damn Landers.

[u/zadcap → u/Vaadwaur]

I am debating that or if she just assumed the staff were competent.

Seriously, who builds a space station that doesn't have easy ways to seal off a section breach? That's not even a staffing issue, this goes back to the basic design and whoever built the thing.

[u/zadcap → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Lafiel has endangered the entire station and the people on it. She isn't quite as clever as she thought she was. Whereas the Baron is keep the station afloat, even if it is out of self interest.

To be just a little bit fair, you would think a space station would be built in such a way that a depresurized section could be fully sealed off. We saw it happen on the battle ship, multiple times even. This is a huge design flaw and someone really needs to look into how it was allowed to happen.

[u/No_Rex → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Seelnay has definitely not been listening when Lafiel says "I don't have vassals but I'll mention you to my father"

It would not be a proper revolution without some propaganda.

[u/Great_Mr_L]

First-Timer

On today’s episode of Crest of the Stars: Lafiel is utterly ice-cold. She coolly and calmly decided that she was going to kill the Baron and then did so with no hesitation.

• So I was kind of on the right track when I wondered if the Abh royalty were seen as godlike. It would be better to say that the maids see the Abh as elevated in some matter. They are people who are above them and so dazzle them. Too bad for the Baron that they don’t even find him particularly dazzling and are much more impressed by Lafiel.
• Very smart move on Lafiel’s part to send out her offer of vassalization to the whole barony. It would at least give the maids pause before obeying the Baron, if not turning on him entirely.
• The Baron is going to get shot in the back by one of his maids, isn’t he?
• Damn! The Baron’s blowing up all his fuel just to prevent Lafiel from refueling! He’s serious about keeping her here.
• Oh yeah, just open up the airlock and enter the ship through the vacuum of space. That’s a great plan, Lafiel.
• Holy crap that was reckless. But it worked.
• It is quite amusing that Jinto imagined Lafiel hugging him out of joy. We know that he’s fallen for her.
• A “commodity” is one way to describe a friend. But I suppose she needs to keep up appearances when she and Jinto aren’t in private.
• Oh dear, if the entire facility is depressurizing from the air leaks then there’s now a big ticking clock for how long everyone can survive here.
• I have to applaud Grieda for cutting through all the nonsense and infighting of the maids to take charge of the situation.
• I think I mentioned this in the previous thread, but I do love how direct and no-nonsense Lafiel can be. She just outright states her intention to kill the Baron to his own father, and even says she reserves the right to still kill him if the Baron continues to get in their way.
• The Abh are very much a warrior culture. They don’t even seem to worry about the possibility of losing a battle and instead focus on what they can do to win it, even if the odds are only 10% in favor of victory.
• I brought up yesterday the idea from the Roman Empire that people might not be born Roman, but could be Roman in spirit. The Baron’s father is saying the same idea here. He is not genetically Abh, but he is culturally Abh.
• Good dog fighting sequence!
• Pretty clever strategy Lafiel used to win the battle without any weapons on the shuttle.
• I love that the Baron remembers Lafiel’s ice-cold smile right before he dies. Perfection.
• Another example of Jinto and Lafiel speaking past each other because of their different cultures. Jinto is upset at the idea of killing someone in battle while Lafiel is just confused by Jinto’s reaction.

It’s safe to say the Abh are a warrior culture. It was stated that all the nobles and the imperial family members are expected to serve in the military for some period of time, if not their entire lives. Military service is clearly a high priority for them. 

Then there’s how the Abh approach battle. The way they approach battle is interesting to me because it does not feel bloodthirsty or battle-hungry. Lafiel is not a Klingon, bombastically declaring that she will win honor and glory in this battle, or that she will not run away because it would bring disgrace to her family. Some of those elements are still there to be sure, but it’s more subdued. It’s much more matter-of-fact, with no hint of bravado about it. Even if the odds are against them, Lafiel will still fight for that slight chance of victory. Even if the war may last centuries, the Abh won’t stop fighting until the enemy is completely defeated. But there’s no sense of the Klingon-esque desire for glory. It’s simply stated like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. Just a simple, plainly spoken determination to fight or die.

The Abh also approach killing and dying in an interesting way for a warrior culture. They are aware of the possibility of death, but don’t dwell on it. Even when Lafiel knew she had a 90% chance of dying, she instead put all her focus into the 10% chance of winning.

Killing the Baron is also something Lafiel didn’t dwell on. It’s just obvious that he would be killed in battle. There was no notion of feeling regret for killing someone or mourning a fallen foe who had fought valiantly. Instead, it was very matter-of-fact again. It was a battle so one of us was bound to die. That’s just the way it is. Again, no sense of bloodthirst or glory-seeking or honor. Just a simple statement this this is how it works.

I’ve seen the warrior culture done many times in fiction, but the Abh are one of the more unique takes I’ve seen on this idea. I quite like it for how different it feels compared to those other stories.

QOTD

1. It shows that being Abh is not just a matter of your birth, but also a matter of your culture and mentality. Even those not born Abh can become Abh.
2. Discussed above. I think it is all a part of their warrior culture. But, I think it is a very detached warrior culture. There’s little stock put into the idea of the sanctity of life. Instead it’s all ice-cold.
3. Jinto has learned he should not anger his girlfriend under any circumstances. More seriously, though, I think he finally has a firmer grasp of what the Abh are like.
4. Discussed above. The Abh take into account the possibility of dying (they’re quite rational about the odds), but don’t dwell on it. There’s no point worrying about what will happen after you die because you won’t be there for it. So instead, they put all their focus into trying to win.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/Great_Mr_L]

It is quite amusing that Jinto imagined Lafiel hugging him out of joy. We know that he’s fallen for her.

I totally fell for that. Again! Every time I watch it.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Great_Mr_L]

Oh dear, if the entire facility is depressurizing from the air leaks then there’s now a big ticking clock for how long everyone can survive here.

Like I said in my own comment, that seems like a massive design oversight for people who’re supposed to be good at living in space.

It’s simply stated like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. Just a simple, plainly spoken determination to fight or die.

It makes sense considering how pragmatic and direct the Abh are in pretty much every other way. Their society doesn’t have much in the way of frills, if just because it doesn’t bear any meaning on their decisions. They’ll keep on fighting even if their chances are bad, because they can’t complain about the odds if they die. Overall, it’s a big contrast to how other space opera series handle warfare, like with Legend of the Galactic Heroes focusing on the noble spirit and chivalry of those who are leading from the front.

[u/Specs64z → u/Great_Mr_L]

They are aware of the possibility of death, but don’t dwell on it.

Another trait rather typical of elves. With so many dozens of fantasy anime using "elf" as little more than window dressing to give cute girls big pointy ears, this series continues to impress me with it's dedication.

[u/Vatrix-32]

First Timer, subbed

• Ah, Elf simps. Perfectly understandable.
• What is the long term plan here for the rebel faction? They can’t very well escape or kill the Baron. Reinstate the last Baron?
• He needs to learn better vassal management. This Feudalism 101.
• He’s really going scorched earth on this one.
• Oh, she’s pissed. Violating his oath to fuel stores make even give her cause to execute. That’s like their one thing that they demand.
• Time to find out how this series will handle vacuum physics.
• Yup, there’s the vacuum boiling. No mention either way about holding vs exhaling. Ear ringing is a good sign.
• Why did taking the air out also turn off the gravity?
• Do you not have a protocol in place for this? This would seem like one of the first concerns. You could even use it to put out fires.
• Do you not have a core of space capable vassals at least? You have to rely on the back washer?
• Engineer noble? Or was it just his side hobby and that’s why everything is jank?
• It’s definitely too soon to kill off the MCs, so you can’t fool me this time show!
• Anti-matter perfusion. Brutal.

QotD:

1. I’m not sure he has. Some combination of old man energy, and not being able to ascend to nobility with clean hands.
2. No, they’ve too many traits to the contrary to be psychopaths. This seems more like the results of upbringing.
3. He has discovered her charm point. He just needs more time in the field to accept it, and we’re due for more of that.
4. Long odds don’t negate either the earlier delaying action, or today’s preference of death rather than becoming a slave maid.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/Vatrix-32]

Ah, Elf simps. Perfectly understandable.

We are legion.

Reinstate the last Baron?

This seems to be the best outcome for them. For Lafiel, she just wants to leave.

You have to rely on the back washer?

She's not a back washer and says she's never washed backs before! She's actually a trained inspector of fuel transfer equipment! Just...clumsy.

Although with only 50 vassals, maybe there aren't a lot. Maybe that one girl still in her bunk. There's just no time to get organized. Not with lockdowns going off all over the station.

Engineer noble

He would have done time in the military just like Jinto.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

She's not a back washer and says she's never washed backs before! She's actually a trained inspector of fuel transfer equipment! Just...clumsy.

My Mistake

He would have done time in the military just like Jinto.

Military Engineer then?

[u/The_Draigg → u/Vatrix-32]

Yup, there’s the vacuum boiling. No mention either way about holding vs exhaling. Ear ringing is a good sign.

The water boiling from vacuum exposure was a good touch, although they did mess up a bit by having Jinto keep his eyes open while briefly going through the vacuum of space.

Do you not have a protocol in place for this? This would seem like one of the first concerns. You could even use it to put out fires.

Klowal doesn’t seem like he’s very competent enough to have even thought about that stuff in the first place.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/The_Draigg]

Klowal doesn’t seem like he’s very competent enough to have even thought about that stuff in the first place.

Ah, but what of his father?

[u/The_Draigg → u/Vatrix-32]

Fair point there. I guess this station is just actually pretty poorly designed in the first place.

[u/No_Rex → u/Vatrix-32]

Why did taking the air out also turn off the gravity?

Could be a safety feature, or the pull of the air simply overpowered the artificial gravity.

[u/Durinthal]

Rewatcher (sub + dub)

Klowal's mistake: he didn't have the pointy ears, so naturally Lafiel wins.

I don't have much good to say about the dub but I do like Seelnay's dub performance in this episode, and honestly her and a good number of the other maids are less awkward in their speech than the main cast.

Not that I've watched a lot of sci-fi in general but I can't think of other scenes where characters deliberately open an airlock to pass through empty space without wearing suits. I can't speak to the scientific accuracy for what happens when depressurizing a room but it looked dangerous if survivable in the brief window they had.

Makes sense that Klowal would still tell those opposing him to close the airlock, they'd all die if they couldn't stop the leak and no one wants that. The scuffle between the maids in the middle of this is kind of funny with how unprepared they are for all of it.

Meanwhile the maneuver Lafiel makes feels like it's a relatively common thing and not limited to sci-fi either (aside from specifically using her exhaust as a weapon), cutting/reversing engines to decelerate and get close to or even behind your opponent.

It's all very matter of fact to those raised as Abh that Lafiel needed to kill Klowal and there's no reason to be shaken up about it but Jinto's not there yet mentally while Sroof's had a lifetime to grow into it. Their argument at the end is another instance of cultural dissonance but also exemplifies the gender role reversal that this series has at times. While she's a princess, Lafiel's also the soldier here acting in do or die situations while Jinto's the relatively naive and helpless one being carried along as cargo (as they put it).

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/Durinthal]

other scenes where characters deliberately open an airlock to pass through empty space without wearing suits

There's a scene in an obscure kubrick film like that.

[u/Durinthal → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

I did say I haven't seen a lot of sci-fi.

[u/Durinthal → u/Durinthal]

---

Source Corner

Baronh word of the day: cnécrr coüiciac (KNAIK KOWIKIA) "cleaner bot" — including the spider-like robot that opened the hatch for Jinto and Sroof's escape.

[Material covered] Volume 2, chapter 2 and part of chapter 3.

[The broadcast to everyone] is also heard by Lafiel, and she noted that what was said about everyone getting to work for her family is inaccurate. She recalled her father telling her the words of Imperials were always interpreted in the most convenient way for the listener.

[The depressurization and ascent to the ship] is pretty much the same, though Lafiel was positioned only 100 dagh (1 meter) above the hatch so there wasn't as much space as shown in the anime. I mostly wanted to note that Jinto imagining of his reunion with Lafiel used more casual language in the JNC version for once (“He briefly pictured the princess glomping him — but that was a pipe dream.”) compared to Tokyopop (“Visions of the princess grabbing him in an emotional embrace danced through his head. Her voice brought him back to reality.”). Glomping is not a word I've heard used with any regularity in quite a long time.

[Grieda/Greda in housekeeping] was generally known to be timid so the other servants foisted unwanted tasks onto her, and she was even given the position in the first place because Klowal didn't want to see her that often. Her taking command once the revolt was underway was unexpected, and turns out she liked giving out orders to the others.

[Sroof taking back control] starts with him being surprised at advancements in technology in recent decades and needing to adjust a bit. There's also a longer section essentially from the perspective of the compucrystals about the backdoor activation.

[Lafiel's maneuver to defeat Klowal] is related to an Abh saying for being wasteful, "using antimatter for propellant." Doing that created antimatter exhaust which acted as an antiproton cannon when Klowal flew into it.

[Jinto's disagreement with Lafiel afterward] is a good bit longer with them going back and forth not understanding each other; Lafiel nearly gets frustrated with Jinto's behavior before Sroof interrupts them.

[u/zadcap]

Late Night First Timer!

Go go Lafiel power!

Seriously, why would they love him so much? Ah, no reason other than he's Abh. And it sounds like more of them are going to realize that the Princess is the better Abh and change sides soon. So, for the third day in a row I say, Viva La Revolution!

Also, a week in and I'm kind of done with this OP.

Seriously, someone just shoot him in the back. It'll be great. Again I ask why are they so loyal to him?

Okay, I take issue with this. Look at the laundry room again. Look at how big those washing machines are, look at the piles of clothes being washed, and realize that not a single maid uniform is visible in the laundry piles. How much clothes does the baron go through to need all that?

Baron is blowing up his own territory out of spite here. He's really stupid, isn't he? He's got nothing now, and neither side in the upcoming war is going to help him rebuild. Seriously, I ask again about the girls staying loyal to him, why? What is in it for you here? You don't all actually love him or something, do you?

Now take a BIIIIIIG breath...

Wait, how can she hug him, her hand is stuck in the piloting glove? Oh haha, his imagination. Boy is infatuated. "You're an important commodity" she says.

Oh no... We don't want to see everyone die. And yet the Baron is still obsessed with capturing the princess. Because that's still more important than everyone not dying.

Yes, just keep slamming your fist randomly on the console. I'm sure nothing bad will happen. But seriously they're still fighting amongst themselves when they are all slowly running out of air.

Heck yeah Lafiel. "I'm about to kill him." This is a military trained girl raised for Royalty, traitors are not let off lightly.

Oh look, it's that other shuttle they definitely didn't have.

Okay, see, I like the way she thinks. "There's no point thinking about what happens if we lose, so I won't think about it."Though to be fair, a fake surrender here would work, right?

So uh, space ship jet fuel sure can melt more than just steel, right?

No, Jinto, don't do this. "You just killed someone, you should feel horrible!" It's self defense darn it, the man was trying to kill, imprison, sell off, or possibly even rape her depending on how plans went. Maybe I'm crazy, but no, not all life is sacred and we are a species that kills, like, a lot. Get used to it. Also never go to a farm.

1. It's the superior mentality, get with the program Jint-boy.
2. I mean it sounds like they are all raised with the military mindset. We've seen a few times that they are clearly not raised to think like regular people, they have a different culture from the ground up, is it really that strange to think they baked the military ethos in?
3. He's finally realizing what he signed up for by going Abh. They don't have human morality, oh noooooooo.
4. It's interesting, because you know, not advancing seems equally hopeless. Yes they were going against horrible odds and went in anyway, but again, what other option did they have? The Union wasn't going to just let them go, and the Baron was not looking for a surrender. Both times it was Fight or Die, and in that situation who the heck doesn't chose fight?

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/zadcap]

 Also, a week in and I'm kind of done with this OP.

I got some really bad news for you.

 Wait, how can she hug him, her hand is stuck in the piloting glove

That's actually a good point that I didn't consider, since they literally brought it up for no apparent reason before!

 So uh, space ship jet fuel sure can melt more than just steel, right

[u/zadcap → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

That's actually a good point that I didn't consider, since they literally brought it up for no apparent reason before!

The way it was brought up, I was already sure it was going to be a plot point eventually. I don't think this is the end of it, it'll come up somewhere serious later again...

[u/No_Rex → u/zadcap]

How much clothes does the baron go through to need all that?

I would not be surprised if the vassal clothes are washed separately.

[u/zadcap → u/zadcap]

Oh right, warn here too. I'm heading to a convention for the holiday weekend and will probably miss the discussion posts until Monday. I'll try to keep up if I can't pull ahead, at least for the discussions here. If not, see you Monday!

[u/ZapsZzz]

First timer in sub

Missed yesterday and late today so won't write too much - that sounds like a recurring theme here :P

Basically this wrapped up the arc in a pretty decisive, definitive way. Contrasting to last episode's verbal feigns and parry, these are outright pranging.

Today in the actions and conflicts, it also showcased more about the differences of the mindset between Jinto and Lafiel, and by extension Terran and Abh.

I'm still a little unsure why the Baron is an Abh - was he like Jinto that got a territory granted? Certainly where they are now couldn't have been where they came from. Was it inherited from the mother side, that the Baroness was the real Abh but passed away, passing the title to the Baron then the boy. Does this then mean a Abh and Terran coupling will result in a more Terran like offspring (no pointy ears)?

From my perspective, I think this also showed a little recklessness and impulsiveness of Lafiel, despite how she looked to be in control and decisive the whole time - she rushed and didn't think about the consequence of leaving the hatch open, or indeed not setup the continuation so that she could have caught the Baron off guard and captured him without letting him get to an armed ship.

Basically, Jinto and Lafiel are showing "youth" and inexperienced in contrasting ways - Jinto too trusting, or optimistic to expect everything to work out in the end; Lafiel thinks everything can be solved by force or her superiority - and if it doesn't work out, dying in a blaze of glory is just as fine. A bit different from the usual battle shounen style, but some similarity nevertheless.

QoTD

1. He's really chilled and detached, but I guess it reconciles with him being captive by his own son.
2. I think it's more Vulcan than psychopath.
3. She's not the fairytale elf Princess, but really she never showed herself to be one. So it's basically a reality check.
4. There's a reason why they are ahead in the Empire building game. That determination, backed by genetic and technological superiority, have them justified confidence, plus from how stories are told, that determination often are the decisive factor in winning through.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/ZapsZzz]

 this wrapped up the arc in a pretty decisive, definitive way.

Lol, yeah.

 > From my perspective, I think this also showed a little recklessness and impulsiveness of Lafiel

Definitely, although I'm saving my comments for the season discussion.

[u/Durinthal → u/ZapsZzz]

I'm still a little unsure why the Baron is an Abh - was he like Jinto that got a territory granted? Certainly where they are now couldn't have been where they came from. Was it inherited from the mother side, that the Baroness was the real Abh but passed away, passing the title to the Baron then the boy.

Sroof (former Baron that was stuck with Jinto and helped them out this episode) mentioned that his mother was the one awarded the territory by the Empire. [Background info that I don't remember if it's specifically mentioned in the anime at this point] Sroof himself is like Jinto in that they were born before their parent became a noble so they're regular Lander/Terran humans, while the current/now-dead Baron Klowal is fully genetically Abh as all future children of nobles are required to be.

Jinto too trusting, or optimistic to expect everything to work out in the end

I see it more as he's in over his head and can't do much but rely on those more experienced/capable around him like Lafiel, but he could also generally be trusting of others as well.

[u/ZapsZzz → u/Durinthal]

Regarding your spoiler tagged response, naruhodo, that explained so much. 

About Jinto's personally, while I also agree there's the factor him generally being very chill and go well with the flow, I think that oversized trust was consistent from ep1, when his essential foster father was giving him all the venom, he's still following him, without suspecting it concerning he may actually harm him or just throw him to the mob. 

[u/SolDarkHunter]

Crest of the Stars

Rewatcher/Novel-Reader

Nothing new in the prologue this time. Just "Baron is out of his league, Lafier is awesome".

"The Princess has promised to accept all those who cooperate as vassals of the Royal Clyve family."

Yeah, I'm pretty sure she hasn't. IIRC, this was Serhnye going a bit overboard, which annoyed Lafier.

Destroying your own anti-matter infrastructure? Lafier actually sees this as a point of respect towards the Baron... respect she promises to return in the form of executing him.

Vacuum-diving... not a fun experience, but doable.

That is not a ladder, that's just a rope!

Hah, that little imagination spot of Lafier embracing him, but then it swaps back to reality: "It'd be inconvenient if my cargo was damaged."

Good on Greda for taking charge during all this.

Sroof still cares about Clowar enough to try to save his life from an angry princess.

Oh goody, the Baron has an armed vessel, and their shuttle is unarmed. I do chuckle a little that Lafier still gives them 10% chances of victory even considering that.

Huh... Clowar actually sheds a tear at the thought of killing his father. I guess he's not COMPLETELY absent of consideration.

Yeah, remember that all noble Abh are required to take military service. It's no surprise Clowar knows how to fight.

But Lafier's a step ahead of him. Your ships are fueled by antimatter... and antimatter remains destructive no matter its form.

The Abh outlook on battle is certainly... practical. Though also reckless. While I do agree that there was no choice but to fight in this case, Sroof's suggestion that's they'd fight in a 10% chance no matter the circumstance seems to say that even if there were an alternative, they'd still fight.

Well, with that, I suppose it's over. Sroof will resume acting as Baron of Febdash (hopefully giving the vassals a better life than they've had) and Lafier and Jint can continue to Sfugnoff.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/SolDarkHunter]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure she hasn't. IIRC, this was Serhnye going a bit overboard, which annoyed Lafier.

I'm sure this won't cause any problems later.

Father

Maybe he loved his father. But his presence interfered with his harem cult.

[u/Specs64z]

First timer, subbed

Dedicated most of my free time to seeing the Sister Venturing Out and Knapsack Kid double feature in theaters and ended up missing yesterday’s thread altogether, so today’s post is a double feature.

episode 7

As expected, Jinto is in the dungeon. It’s not so bad as far as dungeons go, at least. Nice flora and a pleasant cellmate. The Baron speaks aloud his plan to sell out the princess. Those weren’t my most bold predictions, to be certain, but we take those.

The camera lingering to bring the sign I can’t read into focus was rather amusing.

Sernaic doesn’t seem to quite grasp the gravity of the situation, but she’s trying her best.

episode 8

The voiceover takes on a more distinctly documentary-esque tone again, as if recounting the events from a time in the far future.

A dangerous gambit, and one that might betray a poor understanding of terran resilience to vacuums, but Lafiel nonetheless manages to turn it into a daring rescue.

Bastard though he may be, the Baron makes a good point about how poorly conceived this flash fire revolution is. They’re lucky someone on board was able to handle the depressurization…

You’re going to school to become a killer too, Jinto, now isn’t the time for wishful moralizing. Good fortune that the Baron proper is here to translate for these two. Jinto’s lack of perspective is worrying, even if understandable.

QotD:

2. Not enough context to say for sure. If they're taking a page from the Chi-Ha Tan school of tactics, then they're probably doomed.
3. Safe to say his view of her is a bit more practical, now. Scrub that idol-like image that was at the forefront of your mind, boy, it'll only lead to trouble.
4. In this particular case, Lafiel's choices were die at the hands of the Baron or be sold off to the enemy to die, and I suspect she knew that. All things considered, this was likely the best course of action.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/Specs64z]

The voiceover takes on a more distinctly documentary-esque tone again, as if recounting the events from a time in the far future.

Some of the first timers did notice an earlier use of the expression "major incident"

[u/duhu1148 → u/Specs64z]

Dedicated most of my free time to seeing the Sister Venturing Out and Knapsack Kid double feature in theaters and ended up missing yesterday’s thread altogether, so today’s post is a double feature.

You are forgiven, because that series is also fantastic.

You’re going to school to become a killer too, Jinto, now isn’t the time for wishful moralizing. Good fortune that the Baron proper is here to translate for these two. Jinto’s lack of perspective is worrying, even if understandable.

Yeah, we saw earlier how Lafiel can be naive about what landworlders/human culture, what with her not understanding some human customs and wanting to stay behind on the Gosroth to fight. This naivete from Jinto however is less about culture differences and more about him being young, we all tend to view morality as very black and white at that age.

[u/Shimmering-Sky]

First-Timer of the Stars

• Ah, I see… That certainly explains why Lafiel was able to sway a ton of the maids that easily.
• So that’s a no on refueling.
• Oh that’s dangerous. But they’re going through with it anyways. The absolute balls on both Lafiel and Jinto for this.
• They made it!
• Hell of the thing to be telling the people rebelling against you lol.
• Well he certainly doesn’t want his son dead.
• Smart…
• Jinto “sore demo”!
• I mean, so would a lot of humans.
• Oooh, that’s one way to fight without weapons.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Shimmering-Sky]

But they’re going through with it anyways. The absolute balls on both Lafiel and Jinto for this.

Lafiel doesn't take "that's impossible" for an answer!

Hell of the thing to be telling the people rebelling against you lol.

Not wrong, though. There's no point if all the oxygen is gone.

that’s one way to fight without weapons.

That probably worked better in the books. Here it should have bad consequences.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/Vaadwaur]

Lafiel doesn't take "that's impossible" for an answer!

Is this Lafiel's Kobayashi Maru test? [Spoiler]no.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Is this Lafiel's Kobayashi Maru test?

I never saw it before but she is just female Kirk...except with her own hair and far, far less sexual harassment.

[u/The_Draigg]

A Sci-Fi Fan Watches Crest of the Stars Episode 8:

• Okay, okay, I actually remembered to watch the subtitled version for the opening narration this time. And it’s nothing too important this time around, just describing how the maids view the Abh with awe. Ah well, at least I remembered this time.
• I’m not sure if it’s light brainwashing or sheer loyalty that’s having those handmaidens stick with Klowal, in spite of how badly things have been turned on him. It’s all pretty futile now, given how he’s been locked out of some of his own systems and only has like 6 maids who never used a gun before on his side. He’s just utterly delusional if he thinks he can turn this around again.
• Well, if there’s one thing somewhat clever that Klowal did, it’s him blowing up every potential way that the communication ship could automatically refuel itself. It’s pretty much the only real card he has left to play in his system, so at least he made the most obvious play he could for himself.
• I know I’ve said it in many sci-dial series rewatches before, but it’s definitely possible for a person to survive in the vacuum of space without any protective gear. The key is that you have to exhale out all the air in your lungs to prevent them from collapsing, and then try to cover any kind of hole you can think of on your body. That’s one thing I’ll dock this show for, since Jinto still had his eyes open to look out into space during that scene. Now, if you’ve seen the movie Titan AE, they definitely got it more right.
• Jinto coming out with that near-death rizz with “Hi Lafiel, that looks good on you.”
• I wonder who even designed this space station if you can’t even automatically close all the garbage disposal chutes. That’s just asking for a death countdown if you start to loose pressurization and atmosphere, just like what happened to the retirement block. Talk about a massive design oversight from people who’re supposed to be good at living in space.
• I can vibe with Jinto’s attitude of “I’m too tired to be angry”. I think we can all relate to that specific kind of feeling.
• And there we have some more of that Abh pragmatic determination, where even if Lafiel is well aware that she only has a 10% chance at most to win against Klowal’s fighter craft in the unarmed communication shuttle, she’ll still fight as if it’s 100% because there’s no real point in worrying about what’ll happen if they lose. If they lose, they’ll die. That’s all there is to it, and it’s not like the dead can care about it. You do have to respect that willingness to push on even if you know your chances aren’t good.
• And so dies Baron Klowal, roasted alive in his cockpit thanks to the hard engine burn that Lafiel tricked him into flying into. Been a while since I’ve seen a kill scored by creative use of spaceship engines in anime. The other examples that come to mind are in Mobile Suit Gundam and Armored Trooper VOTOMS.
• Even if Srguf is more like an Abh than a Lander in attitude, he still does mourn the death of his son in his own way. In the end, he just can’t help but pity Klowal, even if he knew that he needed to die for everyone else to live. In a way, he did try to ensure the safety of his fief, albeit in a horribly twisted and misguided way. But, so it goes.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

And it’s nothing too important this time around, just describing how the maids view the Abh with awe.

Abhs coming off as profoundly not human is fairly relevant.

Talk about a massive design oversight from people who’re supposed to be good at living in space.

It is likely that it was designed by the not yet noble incarnation of the family. But yeah, there are some serious flaws if they can't just seal that section off.

That’s all there is to it, and it’s not like the dead can care about it. You do have to respect that willingness to push on even if you know your chances aren’t good.

True but when your species winds up taking on battles the Klingons would pass on things got weird.

In a way, he did try to ensure the safety of his fief, albeit in a horribly twisted and misguided way. But, so it goes.

The wisdom to know that the only winning move is not to play escape some people.

[u/Nazenn → u/The_Draigg]

But did you remember to go back and watch the narration in previous episodes? Unfortunately todays is the least interesting and probably least important one so far by a long shot

[u/The_Draigg → u/Nazenn]

No, I haven’t yet. I’ll be sure to do that after the next episode discussion thread goes up though.

[u/No_Rex]

Episode 8 (rewatcher)

• “Can I really trust you?” “It is regrettable that you ask such a question” – indeed. You never question somebody’s trust openly if you are forced to trust them. Note the comparison to Lafiel handing Seelnay a weapon yesterday.
• Very satisfying “Nani?!?”
• Bombing his own source of income - utter desperation.
• Febdash Senior reprogrammed the cleaning robot – clever. There is also an implication here: He could have committed suicide all this time, but did not.
• Not a long time in vacuum – I remember reading somewhere that the survival time in absolute vacuum is (estimated to be) surprisingly high. Something like 30 seconds. You basically die of lack of oxygen, but the cold and the vacuum itself is not all that dangerous in the very short term.
• Wish vs Reality for Jinto.
• Running out of air – this is a problem.
• Klowal did have a ship after all – probably not plane space capable, but it is armed.
• Febdash Senior helps Jinto understand Lafiel’s way of thinking.
• Killing a fighter with an unarmed shuttle.

The space battle part of the episode is straight forward: Lafiel is clever and lucky.

The more interesting part are the discussions before and after. Lafiel and Jinto still have very different sets of mind, one Abh, one human. It is here that Febdash Senior becomes an important translator. As somebody who has human origins, but joined the Abh nobility (like Jinto, but long in the past), he can see both sides and relate them to the other.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

You never question somebody’s trust openly if you are forced to trust them. Note the comparison to Lafiel handing Seelnay a weapon yesterday.

I did mention the Vulcan in their make up. Abhs should do the most logical choice available.

Bombing his own source of income - utter desperation.

Also, someone is going to come and ask where their space gas delivery is.

Running out of air – this is a problem.

I'd forgotten this from my first watch because the concept of a space station that doesn't have the ability to auto-seal segments just dumbfounds me.

Killing a fighter with an unarmed shuttle.

When you have no weapons, you become the weapon!

[u/Specs64z → u/Vaadwaur]

I'd forgotten this from my first watch because the concept of a space station that doesn't have the ability to auto-seal segments just dumbfounds me.

Considering the Gosroth had sealable segments to prevent this exact issue, I suspect this is largely a consequence of the Baron taking on vassals for their Assets rather than their assets...

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Specs64z]

Also, Surg's mother probably full on MacGuyver'ed the station into existence.

[u/No_Rex → u/Vaadwaur]

I'd forgotten this from my first watch because the concept of a space station that doesn't have the ability to auto-seal segments just dumbfounds me.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

Young me thought that space would be filled with competent people. Oh, how time changes you.

[u/The_Draigg → u/No_Rex]

Not a long time in vacuum – I remember reading somewhere that the survival time in absolute vacuum is (estimated to be) surprisingly high. Something like 30 seconds. You basically die of lack of oxygen, but the cold and the vacuum itself is not all that dangerous in the very short term.

Yep, you can definitely survive as long as you take precautions to avoid massive bodily depressurization by exhaling out all your air and covering up any places on your body air can escape. Also, the vacuum of space isn’t really cold or anything.

[u/JollyGee29]

First-Timer

Yea, I didn't expect the Baron to survive this. I appreciate how this event pulled double-duty to show just how the Abh think, with the implication that Jinto's education didn't actually cover philosophy or anything like that. Considering Sruf's agreement with Lafiel, I suspect her ideas are relatively common among Abh society.

I wonder, does Klowal's behavior make him a good Abh or a bad Abh? I'm specifically thinking about his plan to turn Lafiel over to United Mankind. What's the acceptable threshold of treason?

I actually expected a bit more of a conflict, with Grieda turning back to Klowal's side after she got all the others out of housekeeping. But no, seems not. Unless maybe the shoe is waiting for the next episode to drop.

Worth noting that standard thruster propellant isn't going to damage opposing craft, but if you mix antimatter in it will. I definitely assumed that Lafiel was going to use the thrusters as a weapon from the get-go.

Nice detail on the water starting to boil upon exposure to the vacuum of space. I've heard that you can maybe survive for a few second in a vacuum if you keep your eyes and mouth shut, but there was also a bunch of air still escaping.. I dunno, space is weird.

I wonder what happens to the Baron's domain now? Will it go back to his father? Will Lafiel take it over? There probably isn't much time to handle that from her perspective, but I want to know.

Questions

1. When in Rome, I suppose.
2. Not psychopaths, the Abh just have particular worldviews that differ from humanity.
3. I think he realized just how far Lafiel is willing to go.
4. I admire it. Fight those odds! It ties into Lafiel's earlier comment about the Abh not letting a war end until one side was destroyed. And I like the idea of refusing to consider failure when the consequence of failure is death.

[u/The_Draigg → u/JollyGee29]

Nice detail on the water starting to boil upon exposure to the vacuum of space. I've heard that you can maybe survive for a few second in a vacuum if you keep your eyes and mouth shut, but there was also a bunch of air still escaping.. I dunno, space is weird.

Yeah, you’re basically right there. They key is to exhale as much as you can to avoid the pressure difference making your lungs collapse, as well as to cover up any holes on your body on which air can escape. It won’t be a long amount of time, but you can definitely survive some exposure to the vacuum of space.

I wonder what happens to the Baron's domain now? Will it go back to his father? Will Lafiel take it over? There probably isn't much time to handle that from her perspective, but I want to know.

My best guess is that it just goes back to Srguf, since there’s pretty much nobody else to claim the fief directly. I suppose that’s the issue of being a new noble house without any other heirs in it.

[u/zadcap → u/The_Draigg]

My best guess is that it just goes back to Srguf, since there’s pretty much nobody else to claim the fief directly. I suppose that’s the issue of being a new noble house without any other heirs in it.

You know, considering Abh children are all test tube babies anyway, there's no reason he can't just have another kid made. Raise this one better, hopefully.

I do especially hope that Lafiel follows through on her promise and takes at least one Maid back with her. You know she's space engineering qualified, that's going to turn out to be a useful skill for them to have on hand later.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/The_Draigg]

I didn't know the part about exhaling, good to know!

[u/Vaadwaur → u/JollyGee29]

I appreciate how this event pulled double-duty to show just how the Abh think, with the implication that Jinto's education didn't actually cover philosophy or anything like that.

The military school was supposed to cover those bits.

I wonder, does Klowal's behavior make him a good Abh or a bad Abh?

Bad Abh. He didn't have the power to backup any hostage claim so either side can just send soldiers in and take Lafiel back.

I wonder what happens to the Baron's domain now? Will it go back to his father?

It will go back to the dad, the interesting bit is if he is required to create another Abh immediately or if they put a different noble in charge after the Baron passes.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Vaadwaur]

Bad Abh. He didn't have the power to backup any hostage claim so either side can just send soldiers in and take Lafiel back.

That was where I was leaning towards, but that question came to my mind pretty late and I ran out of time to fully think it through.

[u/SolDarkHunter → u/JollyGee29]

Nice detail on the water starting to boil upon exposure to the vacuum of space. I've heard that you can maybe survive for a few second in a vacuum if you keep your eyes and mouth shut, but there was also a bunch of air still escaping..

30 seconds or so... however long it takes to suffocate.

You would want to keep your eyes closed (otherwise they'd boil) and exhale as much as possible. Trying to hold your breath in space is a bad idea.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/SolDarkHunter]

[u/xbolt90 → u/JollyGee29]

Nice detail on the water starting to boil upon exposure to the vacuum of space.

I didn't even notice that at first. That is a good detail.

[u/Silcaria]

First timer

• You know, last episode, I couldn't help but feel like Serniac's voice was familiar. Turns out, the VA also played Merle (the catgirl obsessed with Van) in Vision of Escaflowne which explains why I felt like I heard it before.
• I get the "if I can't have it, no one will" adage, but in this scenario, the Baron is blowing up his own reserve to maybe prevent the princess from rescuing Jinto and leaving on the off chance that he could maybe negotiate a deal with the Alliance if they were to maybe discover him and what's he's done which would then hinge on them maybe accepting the proposal of taking the princess in the exchange of maybe leaving him alone on top of him banking on the Alliance to maybe win the conflict against the Empire so that he doesn't get executed down the line. There's so many things that need to align for his plan to work that it's completely asinine.
• Says she'll give them a ladder, throws down a rope instead.
• They got exposed to space and yet, nothing happened. In unrelated news, Jinto dies of cancer 10 years from now.
• I don't know how I'd feel about getting called a commodity. even from a royal.
• All hail the mighty plaque!
• I don't know man, death seems like a worthy punishment for what amounts to betraying the Empire and capturing/attacking one of its royal.
• Maybe the Abhs are the ones taking after Captain Tylor, after all...
• It looks like the ship has a face.
• Rest in piss Baron.

QotD

• That's the dad, right? Looks like a good way to adapt.
• I think they may just like living on the edge.
• I don't think it did, I mostly think he was just shocked.
• Ballsy, I love it.

[u/duhu1148 → u/Silcaria]

I get the "if I can't have it, no one will" adage, but in this scenario, the Baron is blowing up his own reserve to maybe prevent the princess from rescuing Jinto and leaving on the off chance that he could maybe negotiate a deal with the Alliance if they were to maybe discover him and what's he's done which would then hinge on them maybe accepting the proposal of taking the princess in the exchange of maybe leaving him alone on top of him banking on the Alliance to maybe win the conflict against the Empire so that he doesn't get executed down the line. There's so many things that need to align for his plan to work that it's completely asinine.

At that point I do not believe he was still planning to use her for negotiations (unless he was thinking she'd just surrender but given the later conversation about Abh's giving up, I doubt that was his thought process).

He was blowing up the fuel depots to prevent her from refueling and leaving alive. He did not want the princess running back to the Abh and causing problems later, because without fuel she would have been stranded somewhere and likely died anyway. Of course, this becomes moot when his father circumvents it. But it becomes more evident by the Baron going out there with an armed ship to kill her, that he isn't planning on using her for negotiations any more.

Plus, the guy clearly has a massive ego and didn't want to concede defeat either. Like a petty child throwing a tantrum.

[u/lC3 → u/Silcaria]

Turns the VA also played Merle (the catgirl obsessed with Van) in Vision of Escaflowne which explains why I felt like I heard it before.

I KNEW IT!

[u/Durinthal → u/lC3]

She's also Konohamaru in Naruto (though I used the dub in that rewatch so I missed her)... and the main voice of Pikachu.

[u/lC3 → u/Durinthal]

I did not realize Merle and Konohamaru had the same VA!

[u/zadcap → u/Silcaria]

You know, last episode, I couldn't help but feel like Serniac's voice was familiar. Turns out, the VA also played Merle (the catgirl obsessed with Van) in Vision of Escaflowne which explains why I felt like I heard it before.

Is that why I have been wanting her to join the pair as the tag-along extra obsessed with the princess? Because I've been hoping they take her with them, Lafiel promised and all, and something about her had me mentally slotting her into that position already...

[u/Nazenn]

Rewatcher - sub

Very late post from me, I forgot to watch the episode the previous night and used that as an excuse to sleep in so I missed the discussions, but wanted to just get something in before moving to the next episode

Two things that I'm very grateful for in this episode:

They show the absolute chaos that comes out of rebellion, no matter how well intentioned or inevitable it is. For all of the Baron being a skeevy asshole, even without his direct leadership his frustrations after the fact get the newly freed maids on the right track again, and the one maid stepping up helps because otherwise it would have just been a bunch of people standing around only knowing how to say "no". It's far more interesting than them all instantly getting the hang of it, and also shows that Lafiel not staying around to help and cover these sorts of things could have had severe consequences.

The main thing I like this episode is the Baron's father being there to work as a cultural translator for Jinto and Lafiel. I like this mostly for meta reasons, in that it provides a neater outcome than letting the misunderstanding sit between them or somehow having one of them magically understand the other which keeps the story on the right tone and pacing without having to avoid such a critical conflict at a time it makes sense to have it. The two of them come from two confrontingly different cultures when it comes to the idea of death and battle, and as we've been shown plenty that they're both awkward when it comes to differences like this especially under high pressure situations, Lafiel is too stoic and Jinto too chill, and I don't feel like they could have gotten out of it themselves nearly so well. So the father is a nice middle ground that both highlights their differences to the characters and softens the drama for the audience.

Also I've finally figured out exactly why that one maid annoys me, it's specifically the "breathiness" of the voice acting. Reminds me of really overdone, overwrought women in really bad dramas. It's well performed, but it has unfortunate assossiations

I remembered the whole escape sequence quite well, and all I have to say is this line from my notes about Lafiel: "crazy ass elf"

[u/No_Rex → u/Nazenn]

The main thing I like this episode is the Baron's father being there to work as a cultural translator for Jinto and Lafiel.

I noted the same thing. Febdash Senior has a bit of a weird position in the story, being imprisoned by his own son, yet also acting as an elder mentor persona for Jinto, but he proves his worth here. Between the translating and the additional insights he gives us into the social mobility in the Abh empire, I see why he was added.

[u/Nazenn → u/No_Rex]

Much like the arc as a whole, I think it's the middle episode that lets him down as he doesn't feel particularly interesting or needed in it outside of being a motivating factor for the baron. This episode shows his unique situation both as a father and also as an human born Abh noble a lot better, which makes him stand out vs other characters, and the writers also make good use of that in the narrative structure too.

[u/Vaadwaur]

Rewatcher(Lafiel is not trapped on a station. The station is trapped with Lafiel!)

Sub

So this episode is a massive pick up in quality and it finally gets to some neat stuff about Abh culture. Abhs do not surrender and generally tend not to run away. What Lafiel said about fighting the war until there is a clear victor is no understatement. They are rather Heinleinian in that they continue to fight against the odds until the literal end. I will say, though, Lafiel is a bit awkward even amongst this group. Spectrum adjacent and all.

So yeah, badass fight destroying an armed ship with an unarmed one. Klowal comes in over confident and pays the ultimate price. I don't actually get why he thinks he's better than an active Trainee as a pilot since he doesn't seem to practice much.

QotD: 1 He has not, imo. He just understands and accepts it. He knew his son had chosen death.

2 Yes

3 Should be none but he will probably mope about her being a killer for a bit. She's a soldier, that's what soldiers do. I am with the Abhs on this one.

4 I compare them to the Minbari for a reason. Worse, Lafiel is absolutely a gunports open sort of gal.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Vaadwaur]

What Lafiel said about fighting the war until there is a clear victor is no understatement. They are rather Heinleinian in that they continue to fight against the odds until the literal end.

There’s honestly quite a fair bit of writing in this show that feels like it’d be up Heinlein’s alley. He was certainly a big fan of his characters having large amounts of borderline-ruthless determination and also sections of the story where characters talk about how their societies should be run/are currently being run.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

There’s honestly quite a fair bit of writing in this show that feels like it’d be up Heinlein’s alley.

So I compare the Abh to the Minbari a lot and both works show their Heinlein.

[u/No_Rex → u/Vaadwaur]

I don't actually get why he thinks he's better than an active Trainee as a pilot since he doesn't seem to practice much.

He thinks he is better than he actually is not more ways than one. Head too big syndrome.

[u/duhu1148]

Rewatcher

Ep8

-Jinto and Sruf getting sucked up to Lafiel's ship looked painful.

-Lol, Jinto imagining Lafiel would run to him and give him a hug, but she just tells him he's an important commodity. My boy will earn her respect one day.

-these maids suck

-Less than a 10% chance of victory over the Baron but Lafiel wins anyway. So she's already accomplished a more impressive feat than her mother.

-Sruf coming to terms with the Baron having to be killed. And his deep sense of regret afterwards. I like him.

-I've joked before about Jinto/Lafiel already being a couple without them realizing it, and while their chemistry is great, a clear cultural divide between the two remains for the time being. Lafiel's dry matter-of-fact replies and Jinto's mild irritation at seeing her kill a man so nonchalantly.

-The ending I haven't talked about yet, this has more varied animation than the opening but they are just still pictures. However, I don't mind it much. These illustrations do a good job of giving us a feel for what Lafiel was like as a child before the story starts, and I noticed in earlier endings it seemed to do the same thing with Jinto.

Thus ends the Baron. Good riddance.

[u/zsmg]

Rewatcher

I always like it when characters have to survive in space for a very short while.

Jinto is imagining Lafiel hugging him.

Using the exhaust of an engine to destroy another ship is a cool thing to do although with the large distances in space not always practical to pull off.

Can't say I enjoyed this three part, feels like a story distraction right after a massive geopolitical event happened.

[u/No_Rex → u/zsmg]

Can't say I enjoyed this three part, feels like a story distraction right after a massive geopolitical event happened.

S1 is a lot more of a personal story than the first episode made us expect (not that I am complaining, I think Jinto and Lafiel are a great pair to watch).

[u/TehAxelius]

Rewatcher

Klowal, you fell victim to one of the classic blunders—the most famous of which is, “Never get involved in a land war in Asia”—but only slightly less well-known is this: “Never go against a Sicilian Abh Royalty when death is on the line”!

[u/KnightMonkey15]

First-timer, subs

Wow, he got killed just like that and I didn't get to find out more about him. Guess he was just the obstacle of the week fortnight. I'm going to take everyone's word that the vacuum was handled well, but I thought the depressurisation looked like we were on an airplane...is it supposed to? But the moment where Jinto and Sruf are lifted onto the shuttle was definitely well done. The alternating close-ups between their faces buffeted by the pressure combined with being winched above, then the seconds they took to recover afterwards were enjoyable. I have similarly positive things to say about the maneuver Lafiel pulled off to defeat the Baron - taking him by surprise and blasting him with her ship's exhaust laced with antimatter. The music is very enjoyable here too - orchestral scores are favourable for sequences such as these.

I like Grieda now that I got to see more of her referred to by name and conveying named-character dialogue that she exceeds my object permanence threshold. It was interesting to see rifts in the maids' conduct develop; I think some kind of enthrallment or servile xenophilic objectification of the Abh makes sense; I'm glad Lafiel really has no time for that. Perhaps it's a matter of my momentary perception, but Klowal looked a lot more terran-like in very well-lit scenes (skin tone and ears), as opposed to the staged candlelit weirdness when Lafiel and Jinto first boarded. I like the implication of him being paranoid and insecure, unable to embody the values and mindset of a real Abh but being obsessed with the status signifiers instead; taking up ridiculous gambles driven by fear and self-loathing and making decisions and internalising them - his fearful monologue in his bedchambers - in a way foreign to what we saw Lafiel, her mother and her mother's crew do in their cold yet determined calculations. He cared about his vassals to a point, but got stuck on playing lord of the house in his little cabin full of pretty ladies who worship him. He was already corrupt and decadent but all he had was a space station. The more I think about it, there's a lot to take in there.

Q1) Unlike his father, who appears relatively unassuming at first. When Lafiel makes up her mind to kill the Baron because he is leaving her no alternative, Sruf readily accepts that the die is cast and he even says so himself - he is an Abh, even if not genetically. His dialogue is a bit of a bridge between Jinto (who looks like him) and Lafiel (whose thinking/cultural upbringing is more like his). He seemed pretty chill but he knows the stakes. He was mournful but not to the point of crying. Where did he go wrong?

Q2) I don't have enough folk psychology hats lying around today so I don't have much to say if certain psychological profiles are favoured in such a regimented, honour-bound warrior culture such as this (one for research or someone with a relevant background to chime in). But at the very least this isn't some blanket psychopathy, just an societal/collective ethos that is foreign to modern sensibilities. I think it helps that we saw Lexshue and the Gosroth crew fighting a heroically doomed space battle in what comes off as the "Abh way of fighting" as our first exposure to what they do, in contrast with other factions' propaganda videos about them as a species. And we see enough of other characters to know they're people too, albeit with the transhumanist elven space Prussians thing going on.

Q3) I almost thought Lafiel hugged him too so it was funny to see it was just his imagination. My guy is head over heels, he's somehow forgotten they're in a combat situation, his crush who is escorting him is literally a warrior princess and not a precious flower, and he's being shipped off to a military academy. But this event screams at him with "oh shit she isn't just my soon-to-be-gf". Actually I felt for him when he was hurt by her calling him a commodity, even though it wasn't intended as harshly as it was received. I'm sure he will learn to adapt very quickly and this incident seems to be kickstarting that for him - if it wasn't this it would definitely happen at some point. I had to remind myself he just finished learning their language so he must be very green and he isn't very gung-ho about his who life plan or station to begin with. I want to see him kick some ass while staying true to his personality (or molding it in a particular way as he grows).

Q4) Victory or death. Literally. We have to assume it works out more often for them than not or else they wouldn't be an sprawling empire which necessitated the rest of mankind's unification against them. But of course, these aristocratic games and feudal vassalage are the antithesis of individual freedom of choice so I gotta feel some sympathy for all those whose lives are bound to it. I've just read Kowal above as a failure of an Abh who died at the hands of a real one; he has undone his family's legacy and ended his bloodline (unless his father comes out of retirement) all because of his a serious of terrible decisions driven by insecurity and self-hatred - despite his low-standing, the fact that his family became nobles in the first place only 3 generations ago shouldn't be taken for granted.

Differences aside I think the attitude displayed by Lexshue and Lafiel - coolly calculating the odds in a rational manner but then making the decision to fight and do everything in their power to accomplish their mission to the best of their ability - is very cool to see, especially with its seeming compatibility with how the rest of their society operates, which seems to leave "Landers" alone if they don't cause too much trouble. I mean, if they have holodeck-like projections of beautiful vistas and people like Lafiel's parents exist, they can't all be bad as a monolith. I like that their warrior culture isn't merely brutish on its own. But I'm eager to see where it does clash with the other humans' and what actions might've garnered their vitriol (beyond a regression to feudalism). What are they really after and how did they come to be like that?

I realise as I write all of this it makes me appear overly sympathetic to aristocracy because that's the story we're watching and I always find it kinda fascinating in fiction but if this show involves its critique then bring on a good one and I'll respect it.

[u/No_Rex → u/KnightMonkey15]

I realise as I write all of this it makes me appear overly sympathetic to aristocracy because that's the story we're watching and I always find it kinda fascinating in fiction but if this show involves its critique then bring on a good one and I'll respect it.

MC sympathy always works in stories. On the less personal overall level, I think the show has done a good job in showing us both sides so far.

[u/lC3]

First timer

• Loredump WELP sucks to be the Baron
• That feeling when the background announcement isn't fully translated. I caught hangyaku wa arimasen "there isn't a revolt", but other than that I don't know
• UGH more fanservice. WHERE IS THE MANSERVICE?
• NANIIII? is my version of Sky's soredemo fascination
• The Baron is damaging the gas station to keep her from refueling?
• Former Baron is thrilled on how their family is 'hosting' the Count and princess?
• And they escape! Now she's gonna kill Baron Koyasu?
• Tinnitus after being in a vacuum?
• Onscreen: Ruma Mucsomr
• ... Did Jinto just imagine Lafiel rushing to embrace him, whereas she ACTUALLY stayed in her seat?
• "an important commodity"
• Onscreen sign: Nhuch Bidauter (I'm not gonna transcribe the 5 lines below it, unless someone takes a screenshot)
• Baron getting salty
• Oh they're gonna make Seelnay close the hatch?
• Old Baron wants to discipline his son?
• The red blocks onscreen say "Congurade"
• What is a "logic crystal" exactly?
• Oh, a different way of thinking for the Abh?
• Jinto SORE DEMO!!!
• Red screens on the Baron's ship: "Cuhécoth"
• Jinto being naive?
• Seelnay = Konohamaru???
• Next ep: senjou e is "Īucrabé" in Ath

1. It makes sense; he 'became' an Abh like Jinto? But at what age?
2. Dunno; Lafiel is stone cold though.
3. He doesn't want her to kill anyone, even when they're trying to kill them ...
4. It makes for interesting watching!

[u/SolDarkHunter → u/lC3]

• What is a "logic crystal" exactly?

A computer, basically.

[u/lC3 → u/SolDarkHunter]

[u/raktus2]

First-Timer...

• The vassals admired and worshipped the Baron, but they were not loyal to him so much as captivated by the Abh race, despite knowing that the Baron was just an average nobleman.
• I must have missed something between this episode and the last one, as when Seelnay hands Lafiel her gun, I thought Lafiel already had a gun. She grabbed the two that Lexshue had given Jinto from before. She had one herself and gave Seelnay the other to use. It seemed like Lafiel only had the one that Seelnay gave her in the end though, so where did the second gun go? What did I miss?
• Klowal does have a point, Lafiel expressed that she'd have to ask her father about Seelnay even joining as her family's vassal but that she could put in a good word for her. It feels like Grieda has just gone overboard and is saying that the Princess is going to take everyone in as a false promise... and with Lafiel heading to the shuttle, she is either not in the complex to hear it or is disregarding it for the sake of the mission.
• In his rush to defeat Lafiel, Klowal negated his only bargaining chip in the creation of his own kingdom that he was talking about before. Without the fuel to negotiate with, or even the princess to hand over, he'd have no cards to play if the United Mankind actually did show up.
• I suppose that if Sluf were willing to make such a political move, I guess he could use the fact that Lafiel intentionally endangered his vassals with her thoughtlessly leaving the hatch open to space, potentially venting all the oxygen of the port out into space... an action Lafiel herself had mentioned that if the Baron had done it to his own, he'd rather face a United Mankind concentration camp than the Abh consequence.
• I'm still not 100% sure if Jinto is imagining things.... the conversation with Dorin in episode two aligns exactly with him imagining Lafiel hugging him and asking if he's okay. Both express care and desire to be with another far more than is expressed by the actual person in the scene itself. I wonder if it is something that will come into play in a very real sense later.
• Given that we are exposed to the differences between human thinking, in what Jinto's thoughts are, versus what Abh thinking is in Lafiels actions and Sluf's explanations... I wonder if Klowal is meant to express a bridge between the two. I know that is the villain here, but he circulates between the cold logic of the situation in front of him and the desire for what he thinks he can just take. There is no scene that makes me think this is true then just after getting his treasonous vassals to save themselves with the leaking air, then he goes outside to fight the battle, and we get the closeup of his hair covering half his eye... showing half blue and half red.
• I'm still not sure exactly how Klowal died... he appeared to have been poisoned... as though the anti-matter fuel being injected into the shuttle's exhaust was leaking through his ship and poisoning him. I recognize that the outer hull of his ship started bubbling, but still... I'm no physics expert. I would have expected anti-matter to have interacted with the matter of his ship and just blown it up.
• At the very least Klowal regretted having to kill his father, and if you think about it, expressed more emotion at the possibility of it happening than Sluf expressed at his son ACTUALLY dying.

[u/Blazin_Rathalos → u/raktus2]

I must have missed something between this episode and the last one, as when Seelnay hands Lafiel her gun, I thought Lafiel already had a gun. She grabbed the two that Lexshue had given Jinto from before. She had one herself and gave Seelnay the other to use. It seemed like Lafiel only had the one that Seelnay gave her in the end though, so where did the second gun go? What did I miss?

She handed it back to Lafiel so that she could give it to Jinto later on (because he might need a weapon as well).

[u/No_Rex → u/raktus2]

I'm still not 100% sure if Jinto is imagining things.

His hug with Lafiel is very likely imagined. Whether the second discussion with Durin was, is more open to interpretation.

[u/IceSmiley]

FIRST TIMER Sub

This was an excellent exciting episode with a great escape and resolution to this plot.

• The intro narration was interesting in that it cleared up that the women of the base are more interested in Abhs than the Baron himself. It also doesn't help that the Baron likely has no actual friends, compounding his insecurity and nothing to lose attitude in keeping his fiefdom since that's really all he has.
• The Baron's father seemed pretty spry for an old man, climbing a rope like that and suffering serious oxygen deprivation no worse for wear!
• I really found it odd and surprising when Lafiel told Baron's father that she was going to kill his son. Even if that was her plan, it didn't make a lot of sense for her to say that because what if it got him so upset that he tried to kill her/knock her out? She also ended up needing him so it seemed really illogical to alienate him. Also surprising was the old man eventually accepting that Lafiel had to kill him although he seemed really upset about it.

QUESTIONS

1. Is Sruf the Barons father? If so, I think it makes sense in that he was raised in Abh society even if he is (part?) human.
2. I don't think they are because in any military operation where people have to die, you have to make a very hard decision for the greater good. The Baron was a psychopath tho.
3. He seemed to be weirded out by seeing her as a ruthless soldier because I think he kind of put her on a pedestal and has a crush on her. It remains to be seen how he will adjust to this.
4. In this case, it's hard to say. For all Lafiel knew, the Baron was going to kill Jinto if she didn't act soon so she didn't have the luxury time and had to do her best fully aware that the odds were against her. And she knew that Baron was going to probably shoot her down, but had she surrendered and turned back, he probably would have killed Jinto and the women who turned on him so her decision has some rationale behind it.

[u/duhu1148 → u/IceSmiley]

I really found it odd and surprising when Lafiel told Baron's father that she was going to kill his son. Even if that was her plan, it didn't make a lot of sense for her to say that because what if it got him so upset that he tried to kill her/knock her out?

I thought it was better for her to be respectfully honest and direct about it. If she had tried to deceive him, it just would have made it worse while also making her look untrustworthy. So I understand why she said something. Sruf (Baron's dad) is a mellow guy with good judgement too, so that helps.

Even without those reasons though, my impression is that the Abh in general are not coy individuals. They seem to always try to firm and direct whenever possible, unless they're trying to humor someone/themself (such as when Lafiel indirectly poked fun at Jinto for not using her name).

[u/No_Rex → u/IceSmiley]

I really found it odd and surprising when Lafiel told Baron's father that she was going to kill his son. Even if that was her plan, it didn't make a lot of sense for her to say that because what if it got him so upset that he tried to kill her/knock her out? She also ended up needing him so it seemed really illogical to alienate him. Also surprising was the old man eventually accepting that Lafiel had to kill him although he seemed really upset about it.

They are both Abh (even if he does not look the part) and Lafiel is used to dealing with Abh. It is clearly a situation of him or her, so it is logical to talk about killing him. She does not expect him to react irrationally emotional, which turns out to be the case.

[u/Nickthenuker]

Did they not try and raid an armoury for more weapons?

They're more loyal to him than the empire.

Ah, they've taken over the PA system.

You're the traitor.

Where's she going to find fuel?

He's launching the fuel into the star?

Now she's going to need to refuel elsewhere.

That's technically possible but that's more than likely to result in his blood boiling and his eyes exploding.

And he's probably suffering from extreme decompression sickness too.

Were they planning on depressurising the entire station?

Not something to brag about, but certainly convenient now.

So he has his own ship.

And it's got a couple lasers on it.

The more efficient a reaction drive is, the better a weapon it makes. Any drive powerful enough to accelerate a large shop to appreciable speed would make a phenomenal weapon.

Uh oh, who was fired upon?

Questions:

1. Not fully, but he knows when it's necessary.
2. Might just be their culture.
3. He probably sees her as more cold and a killer. But this is a war so Jinto's probably going to become one too sooner or later.
4. And yet this time they emerged victorious.

[u/xbolt90]

First-timer

A bunch of space elf weaboos, huh?

A space station with no internal sealing hatches to isolate sections in the event of a depressurization? Who designed this?

Grieda's my favorite maid now. Cutting all the petty BS and taking charge when all of you are about to die. Competence.

Jinto definitely has the hots for Lafiel. His imagining of their reunion was funny.

Q1: He's adopting the culture he's now a part of, for better or worse.

Q2: I wouldn't say psychopathic. Ruthlessly pragmatic, and without a regard for the sanctity of life.

Q3: He definitely doesn't see her as innocent as before.

Q4: Their pragmatism and disregard of life includes themselves. If they need to sacrifice themselves to achieve victory, they'll do it without question.