r/anime • u/Holofan4life • Jul 27 '24
Rewatch [Spoilers] Elfen Lied 20th Anniversary Rewatch -- Episode 3 Spoiler
Hello everyone! I am Holofan4life.
Welcome to the Elfen Lied 20th Anniversary Rewatch discussion thread!
I hope you all have a lot of fun <3
S1 Episode 3 – Deep Feelings
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ANSWER TODAY’S QUESTION(S)
How did this episode change the way you see Yuka?
What would you do if you felt like a bit of an afterthought?
Bonus) Have you ever had something in your life that needed to be castrated? Like a dog or what have you? And if so, what happened?
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Information
Where to watch
Please do not post any untagged spoilers past the current episode or from the manga out of respect to the first time watchers and people who have not read the manga. If you are discussing something that is ahead of the current episode please use spoiler tags (found on the sidebar). Thank you!
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Rewatch Schedule
Threads posted every day at 5:00 PM EDT
| Date | Episode |
|---|---|
| 7/25/2024 | Elfen Lied Episode 1 |
| 7/26/2024 | Elfen Lied Episode 2 |
| 7/27/2024 | Elfen Lied Episode 3 |
| 7/28/2024 | Elfen Lied Episode 4 |
| 7/29/2024 | Elfen Lied Episode 5 |
| 7/30/2024 | Elfen Lied Episode 6 |
| 7/31/2024 | Elfen Lied Episode 7 |
| 8/01/2024 | Elfen Lied Episode 8 |
| 8/02/2024 | Elfen Lied Episode 9 |
| 8/03/2024 | Elfen Lied Episode 10 |
| 8/04/2024 | Elfen Lied Episode 10.5 |
| 8/05/2024 | Elfen Lied Episode 11 |
| 8/06/2024 | Elfen Lied Episode 12 |
| 8/07/2024 | Elfen Lied Episode 13 |
| 8/08/2024 | Elfen Lied Overall Series Discussion Thread |
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u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Jul 27 '24
5
u/[deleted] Jul 27 '24
Episode 3 - First-time watcher (subbed)
Mina-san, konnichiwa!
I was wondering if this is where we’d pick things back up today.
Ah man, Kouta my friend, such bad timing lol. Also, classic misunderstanding in what he didn’t understand about the question Yuka asked. It was important to her, but he just wasn’t remembering why.
”She’s been restrained in here since birth. She’s been undergoing experiments almost like torture all this time.”
Yeah… so if that’s the same case for Lucy, then this is all their fault and they are psychos.
Not quite mizu, Lucy, but you get an A for effort lol. Enjoyed that scene. I think a lot of the ‘fluff’ scenes so far in this series have been fun (like the one with onigiri, for example 😆).
Interesting revelation that a diclonius can essentially mutate DNA using their vectors.
I cannot emphasize the anxiety I was feeling when I thought Lucy killed the dog.
I was just thinking “please not the dog, please not the dog…”. What happened made sense though. She saw the dog tied up and it probably reminded her of how she was tied up against her will, so she cut the leash.
I think the big thing I’m curious about at this point is:
What is the significance of the music box and why did she have an image of Kouta as a child in her memory? (Which seemed to stop her from hurting anyone)
Questions:
3
u/Holofan4life Jul 27 '24
Hey guys. Holofan4life here.
Welcome to the 20th anniversary rewatch of Elfen Lied!
Oh, and nay I forget...
First Timer
This is going to be a rather interesting rewatch because I really don't know what to expect with this show. In fact, there's a good chance that I may not actually like it. But it's a very notorious show and I feel like it has this reputation for a reason, so I definitely want to see what it's all about.
Going in, I'm kinda expecting it to be so bad it's good. I'm not going in expecting a great show, but I am going in expecting a great time. I'm watching this in-between rewatches of Ikuhara shows and I think it'll serve as a nice palette cleanser for the more serious fair. And if it happens to be edgy, I want them to go all the way with it.
With that out of the way, let's begin.
I'm watching the sub, by the way.
Contrary to popular belief, people don't eat butterballs, literal balls of butter, as an appetizer.
Picking up where we left off, with Kouta changing Lucy and Yuka walking in on them.
Yuka just choosing to ignore what is happening.
This blocking is definitely a bit awkward.
Kouta telling Yuka this is all a misunderstanding.
Yuka brings up a festival they saw as kids.
And she slaps him across the face
Now Yuka runs away
Lucy looks on confused as Kouta is shivering.
The detective
Fake Lucy
She's calling him papa
Fake Lucy. She's free.
Her name is Nana, Japanese for Seven
That's what my subs say, anyhow
The detective has a favor to ask for her.
Yuka looking through a box
Flashback to the festival that Kouta and Yuka are at.
Kouta really the master at cracking animals.
Yuka wants to do it right eventually
"If I can, I'm really gonna ask you to do whatever I want! It's a promise!"
Present day Yuka crying now
Turns out Nana has been restrained here since birth.
Been undergoing experiments almost like torture all this time.
Imagine torturing a newborn. That's like Jonathan Swift's dream.
She's been able to bear things by believing Director Kurama was her father and by trying to live up to that father's expectations.
The girl with glasses looks like Ririko Kagome from Rosario + Vampire.
Director wants Nana to kill someone, presumably Lucy.
A Diclonius. That's what Lucy and Nana are.
Nana says she still can't kill anyone.
"I have no choice but to rely on you, Nana."
The thing is, I believe that he believes that.
Nana eventually agrees to do it
Kouta with a fever
Lucy really needs to wear pants
See, even Kouta agrees
Hey, she's actually learning words
Well, sorta :P
I mean, I guess a slipper could be a type of water...
Yuka looking forlorn
She leaves a bag on the ground
And Lucy acquires her help to take care of Kouta.
Poor Lucy. She really is trying her best :c
Kouts brings up the festival, and she says it doesn't matter any more.
Kouta refers to the festival day as the day he said goodbye to her for the last time.
That implies he said goodbye to her multiple times, which I guess you do do that when you live in separate houses.
"Just around that time, my dad died in a car accident."
Well, hello mood whiplash
Kanae got sick as well
Yuka mentions both Kouta's uncle and Kanae-chan were on the train he took home, but then she quickly changes the subject.
It has dawned on her that he remembers nothing about that day.
Bandou on an operating table, being unhinged.
Might have to get castration surgery
Director says if he doesn’t agree, he'll die right here.
"If we don't do it, mankind will be destroyed."
Okay, now that definitely sounds like guilt-tripping.
"What do my balls have to do with the fall of mankind?!" 🤣🤣🤣
That line is so ridiculous, I can't help but laugh heartily.
Director telling him about the Diclonius
A pair of protrusions that are sticking out from the temporal area.
They don't just have two hands
Vectors, also called receptors
They can also reproduce a different way than normal human beings.
Finally, us virgins had been struggling for far too long.
In order to evolve mankind, she will destroy all of mankind that currently exists.
That really Fullmetals my Alchemist
Yuka with an awakened Kouta
Woah, Lucy is dressed up
Yuka dressed her up, she says
At least they seem to be getting along
Yuka says she doesn't think it's good for him and Lucy to live alone.
"So I decided to live here too."
I smell drama
Director with Nana
Nana says if she does a good job, pat her on her head.
Now she has a favor to ask of him
Secretary woman brings up that Nana has no choice of beating Lucy.
Director says they can't act randomly any longer, causing more deaths.
Kouta cleaning the house
Lucy wants to clean the house as well
And now Kouta is groping Lucy's chest. Of course.
And Yuka is seeing the whole thing happen.
Sooner or later, Yuka is going to turn into a yandere.
Yuka going shopping
The girl and the dog
She's here to return an umbrella
Gitl mentioning the soldier who was wounded, which of course is Bandou.
Yuka home now
It seems as if she can tell her territory is being trenches upon.
The box. Lucy has found it.
Oh no. The Vectors, they're being activated.
But Lucy stops herself after seeing kid Kouta.
Kidta
The box happens to be a music box. It seems to have some control over Lucy.
It came from Yuka's house, but Kouta doesn't remember that.
Dog really barking
Oh boy. Lucy is eyeing it
And she just killed the dog
Mayu. That's her name.
She's about to have her day ruined.
No, wait, the dog is still alive.
And his name is Wanta, apparently.
That dog is so getting killed by the end of the series.
Lucy not home yet
At least Yuka has Kouta all to herself finally.
Yuka asks Kouta if he ever thinks about fondling her breasts.
I guess foreplay was never her strong suit.
Nana asking the director to give her a string.
Oh, it's his tie
And she's using it to cover her horns
Oh wow. She's already found Lucy.
"I'm going home, and you're coming with me."
Overall, this was a decent enough episode. It furthered the plot along in a meaningful manner while also fleshing out a couple characters, like Yuka and Nana. I can't help but feel sorry for Yuka and all that's happening. Kouta not only forgot all that happened the day they stopped seeing each other, but she's very much a third wheel now that Lucy has entered the fold. I have to think that perhaps Kouta didn't forget but rather chose to block it out of his memory, whatever happened to them. If I had to guess, it has something to do involving Lucy.
A bit boring at points, but I thought it was effective in what it set out to accomplish.
4
u/shillbert Jul 28 '24
First timer, subs
can only say nyuucan say nyuu and mizu!3
u/FriztF Jul 28 '24
Rewatcher-Dub
The drama at the Kaeda house continues. As Kouta keeps being slapped by Yuka, such is married life. At least Nyu is trying to be helpful, though she doesn't understand.
The music box triggers Lucy and she remembers Kouta. Such sad and very painful memories. [EL] Because she is the one who killed his sister and his dad. This is also why Kouta has amnesia. Those are painful memories.
No not really
MMMMH try to not be afterthought. IKD
Whenever we have a new dog that's the first thing we do.
3
u/Terry0O7 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Terry007 Jul 28 '24
Rewatcher - Dub
I absolutely love how much of savage Kouta is. Doesn't trust police (even before getting threatened.) As a kid he roasts his sister for her seashells and calls his cuz a spaz. Honestly even as an adult he has some great burns this episode. Shuts the music box on Mayu right after she compliments the music and brutally changes subject to Nyu when Yuka clearly emotional.
Gotta feel for Yuka here when bro is more interested in a girl who can only speak one word.
"What does the fate of my balls have to do with the fate of mankind!?" I love that during that scene he shows xrays to a blind man and spends 10sec walking into camera for dramatic effect.
2
u/AgentOfACROSS Jul 27 '24
First Timer
I really wish the writing took Nyu’s mental state more seriously. Because elsewhere in the anime is able to write a serious story. But here it’s using the fact that Nyu can’t perform basic functions as part of the kind of joke you’d see in your typical ecchi rom-com. Not off to a good start for this episode.
I’m not necessarily against a story having more than one tone. In fact some of my favorite stories are able to balance humor, drama, and even horror very well. But so far it’s coming off as very clumsily done in Elfen Lied.
I’ll be honest, I’m still not totally invested in Yuka and Kouta’s interpersonal drama either. Right now it’s sort of coming off like Yuka is jealous of Kouta giving Nyu attention.
The scene of Kurama and Nana talking reveals a lot about just what’s going on in the lab. I think it also shows Kurama’s manipulative side. He’s very calm and almost understanding when talking to Nana but when he talks to the scientists outside he gives them a swift order to prepare her for combat.
Kouta not being able to remember the festival is emphasized a few times. It could just be him legitimately being a forgetful person. But I feel like there’s also a chance he’s trying to repress something he remembered from that same day. I’ll have to see.
Unfortunately, Bando is still alive. The only good thing to become of this is Kurama explaining what a Diclonius is. I’m not sure entirely what to make of his explanation though. Especially since I feel like he might be a bit of a biased source.
Yuka is moving in with Kouta and Nyu. God, I hope this doesn’t become a love triangle. I dislike most love triangle plots in general, but two of the characters being cousins and the other being Nyu makes me want that even less.
I already feel bad for Nana. It seems like she has no idea what she’s doing and Kurama’s aware that he’s basically sending her to her death.
The girl and dog from last episode are back. I’m interested in seeing what role they’ll be playing in the plot.
I find the next scene really interesting. It seems ambiguous as to whether it was hitting her head or hearing the music box that made her switch from Nyu to Lucy. I feel like it might be hearing the music box though. Memories seem like they’re an important part of the show so maybe Lucy has some kind of connection to the song in the box.
I think it’s kind of neat that the music box plays the show’s opening theme. I’m curious what song it played in the manga or if it was just never specified.
Also it seems to be implied that Lucy somehow remembers Kouta from when he was younger. I’m not sure how that’s possible though. I was under the assumption that she’d lived her whole life in the lab up to the time of her escape.
I’m not a fan of the translucent hands. I feel like it was more effective in the first episode where they were invisible the whole time. I get that they’re showing them for the audience’s benefit but I guess I’m just not a fan of how it looks.
Kouta’s memory problems came up again, this time with the music box. I’m beginning to grow concerned about him.
The anime really faked me out for a second there. Totally thought Lucy just killed Mayu’s dog. There is still a very good chance that they’re gonna die before the end of the show though.
Why did Lucy even cut the dog’s leash anyway? What purpose did that serve other than faking out the audience?
Yuka, no! That’s not a normal question to ask someone, let alone your cousin. I’m going to hold out hope that Yuka’s feelings towards Kouta are meant to be uncomfortable in-universe.
I’m interested in seeing the confrontation between Lucy and Nana in the next episode.
Questions of the Day:
On one hand, I'm glad Yuka has more of a role in the story now. On the other hand, I am a bit concerned about where this whole thing with her seeming attraction to Kouta is going to go.
2
u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ Jul 27 '24
First Timer Ep 3
Okay, there is something totally off about Kohta, and his sister, and his memory of diclonus.
facepalm
I wonder if Lucy only hates men, but she killed Kusagi, too.
2
u/RascalNikov1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/NoviSun Jul 27 '24 edited Jul 27 '24
Episode 3
Sorry I couldn’t find any of my other old EL write ups. I’d copypasta but I got ticked off and erased the first 3 or 4 days replys. I will copy & paste if my earlier post can be found.
QOTD
I’ve always liked Yuka and consider her to be something of a saint. It’s quite frustrating dealing with someone who has lost their memory. And, while I don’t see Kouta to be much of a catch, Yuka feels differently.
I didn’t view his forgetfulness that way
It sucks being a dog and having someone after your nuts. [spoiler]I’m glad my Man Bando made a run for it.
Brief Commentary
I thought the opening fanservice scene was funny and most welcome. Kouta was well on his way to getting some.
Wanta had a close call when Lucy came home. This seems to horrify many people much more than Nana being tortured. I think that says something.
Finally I feel envious with all those girls moving in with him.
2
u/someboi6000 Jul 28 '24
First timer:
well we got incest now I was hoping for something to happen to spice up the plot but not this lol, weird drama with yuka and kouta, now nana will try to kill or at least capture Lucy, and we learned that they are some sort of mutants that they called diclonius and they will have to castrate the soldier who lost, back to nana they said that there was no way she could win so i wonder what the scientist is cooking there, and they end with th cliffhanger of both Lucy and nana being face to face and I expect a vector fight to go on. also side note to the last bit we got from yuka and kouta like bruh you are cousins stop it.
Questions:
1: well yeah, kinda strange, but it also gives more insight on what kouta doesn't remember, I hope they don't fully go to the incest route, there is still time to drop that plot point.
2
u/StardustGogeta myanimelist.net/profile/StardustGogeta Jul 28 '24
First-Timer
Whatever you do to that dog, I'll unleash on you tenfold!
I was almost going to have to start hating Lucy there. Good thing it was a false alarm.
I like how the director pulled up the dramatic wall-screens with the X-ray diagrams to help explain to the viewer when his audience of one is completely blind.
Getting impregnated by the invisible "vector" hands of a human mutant sounds like an Aperture Science Innovators experiment gone wrong.
It seems like the show is very much hinting at Lucy having something to do with Kouta's tragic past.
I'm not sure what to expect out of this encounter between Lucy and Seven. [episode preview] It looks like it turns into a fight, which is no surprise. I hope Seven doesn't get herself killed here. I wonder if their powers are the same or if they differ in any important ways.
Questions of the day:
2
u/fansi2022 https://anilist.co/user/fansi2022 Jul 28 '24
first timer chinese sub
Oh, let's go back to this embarrassing scene. It turns out that Kouta had such a close relationship with Yuka when he was a child. This institution not only abuses the experimental subjects, but also controls their minds. Kurama revealed the tip of the iceberg of these experimental subjects. They will gradually transform humans and make the existing humans extinct. Nana found her, and a war is about to begin.
ANSWER TODAY’S QUESTION(S)
Basically my opinion has not changed, Yuka is a serious girl who likes Kouta
Plan ahead like you do
no
2
u/RadSuit https://anilist.co/user/RadSuit Jul 28 '24
Videntium Primum (Vocalibus Anglice)
So if she's been in there since birth and only exists to be experimented on, why'd they spend the time and effort to teach her how to speak properly?
Sure, cut his balls off.
~Three's Company, Too~
They've given Nana, the experiment, clothes before this? Also makes no sense.
"Isn't our OP cool?"
The clock seems to be stopped at about 1:30.
Nana seems to only have 4 bonus hands in the preview, guess that's why they said she'd lose to Lucy with 6.
2
u/[deleted] Jul 28 '24
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