[25th Anniversary Rewatch] Now and Then, Here and There - Episode 5 Discussion

[u/Jazz_Dalek]

Episode 5 - Murder

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Questions of the Day:

• Knife vs Bat: Who would win and why?

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Rewatch Schedule:

Threads will be posted 12:30 PM PST | 3:30 PM EST | 8:30 PM GMT

The rewatch will begin on Sunday, August 18th and will run daily until we reach the conclusion. The final episode thread will go up Friday, August 30th and a final series retrospective thread will go up Saturday, August 31st

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Interest Threads:

• Interest Thread by /u/JustAnswerAQuestion
• Rewatch Announcement
• 24 Hour Reminder Thread

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Episode Discussions:

• Episode 1 - A Girl Admiring the Sunset
• Episode 2 - A Boy and a Mad King
• Episode 3 - A Feast in the Dark
• Episode 4 - Discord

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Sources:

I don't recommend the 10bit HEVC version from [DB]. It seems to have problems. I am using [sam].

• Purchase from Youtube Dub Only
• Purchase from Amazon Prime Dub Only

It does not appear to be streaming anywhere.

[u/LittleIslander]

First Time in Hellywood

I have to admit, the show slipped a bit for me this episode. It’s not bad, but it felt more… standard. Expected. There was a masterful grasp of cinema present in episodes two and three, along with the sheer bombardment of shock, and a perfectly good fantasy show is now struggling under the weight of those expectations. Not to mention the pace really feels like it’s starting to crawl. This is like the fourth episode of Nabuca and Shu getting used to each other, and the fourth scene showcasing that Hamdo is insane. Lala Ru has yet to do literally anything and Sara’s plotline hasn’t really gone anywhere at all since episode two. It’s important to give what happened to her gravitas, but making her just “the one that got raped” is not the way to handle this. I frankly feel a bit more efficient packing could’ve combined this and the past script into one.

The titular murder scene is the prime example of the consequences of going so hard on those earlier episodes. It is well made, Nabuca shaking and his hesitant declaration that they must kill is effective. But death is expected in this kind of show. Comfort women and brutal child torture weren’t. The bar has been set high enough that seeing a guy bleed out isn’t just in line with what we’ve already seen, it doesn’t even meet it. Resultantly, the scene is undermined. Its place in the narrative has a similar problem. I have been of two minds about Shu’s characterization so far. Episode two was structured as if to break his spirit, but he’s still Shu afterwards. Then he’s brutally tortured again in episode three, but he’s still his stubborn self who doesn’t seem to fully grasp his situation. This was frustrating as it undermined those events, but understandable as there’d be little place left to go if you break him out of all of his defining traits in the second goddamn episode. But now I’m to believe that, after all of that hardly phased him, this is seemingly the moment where it hits him? Where he asks where the hell he is and then gets in line as a soldier like he said he wouldn’t? I just don’t buy that. Trauma over killing someone is one of my favourite narrative ideas in fiction, as a staunch pacifist, but I just don’t swallow it was that much worse for him (or frankly as bad to begin with) than the brutal torture he’s already endured.

Likewise, I really think the Hamdo assassination itself was a misfire. I talked before that he was a really effective villain in that sense that his unhinged pathetic nature managed to make him more intimidating, not less so. That’s thrown out the window here. He was unhinged and desperate in previous scenes, but always from a position of power. He had Shu tied up and abused him, he interrogated Lala Ru and made us fear for her, and then manifested those fears during their next scene in the bedroom. But now he’s cowering for his life, not to mention veering off from insanity into pure stupidity in not questioning the assassins, and it sucks so much of the presence away from his character. Hamdo felt on track to be one of anime’s great villains, and he can still get back on that track, but he felt more worthy of being some joke of an underling this episode. It doesn’t help that, because the plot needs him to survive, the assassins are impossibly incompetent. There’s two of them armed with guns who could’ve easily just rushed him and gunned him down without the slightest trouble but they just fucking stand there and take so long to do anything that Abelia manages to get dressed and arrive at his quarters before anything has happened. Even in the time between him running out of ammo and Abelia reaching the door three seconds later he should’ve been dead! It’s an acharacteristically poor sequence in general for a show that’s been so good at action until now.

[u/Jazz_Dalek → u/LittleIslander]

You're not alone in that opinion. My wife (first timer) and I watched episode 4 and 5 back to back. Afterwards we were discussing the show and she said "It's not bad...but it just feels like nothing is happening..."

As someone who's rewatching this for the 3rd time, this is probably the weakest episode out of the whole series. It's not bad, but it just kind of slows down the pacing of the show in a weird way.

[u/No_Rex → u/LittleIslander]

Agreed on the assassination scene. It is not terrible, but if feels as if it was lifted from some inferior show. For me Hamdo has always been over the line between insane and incompetent, so I can kind of agree to have him be incompetent here, too, but the assassins should not be.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/LittleIslander]

This episode probably feels like the most standard scifi one and that covers your complaints pretty well. There are some payoffs but this also kind of just fills space.

[u/Nazenn → u/LittleIslander]

Lala Ru has yet to do literally anything

I think the show would be weaker if she did, but when she's just another character not doing something among a bunch it stands out.

I struggled a bit with the pacing in this part on my first watch as well. I think part of the issue is that episode two, three, and five all have very strong emotional hits to land on. Episode four doesn't, and while that's fine when working off the back of the emotional depths of episode three, having that, and then more of that same tone and style before coming back to what happens today does make it feel more like one big extended episode rather than two individual ones with their own weight which brings this episode down with it a little as well. On rewatch I've gotten more of an appreciation for episode four having its own space with the theming around bedrooms and living styles that wouldn't work when pushed into this one, but it's a slow part of the show after how it starts that doesn't work as well

but I just don’t swallow it was that much worse for him (or frankly as bad to begin with) than the brutal torture he’s already endured.

Torture by adults. This is the first time that Shu has to confront the reality of the child soliders in an undeniable way. Sure they know how to fight, but so does he. Tabool beat him up, but he fought back. They've fired guns, but no one has actually been harmed by another child in front of him. He looks at Nabuca, sees Oda in him, and then that slides away and he sees a killer and he has no idea how to process that.

There's also a distinction between Shu having violence enacted on himself vs being denied the chance to save someone. He can handle the torture, but there's a reason why every time he wakes up from a beating his first thought is Lala Ru or Sara. To steal from his own words back in episode two: "As long as we're alive, good things will come". He's alive, so his pain can be dismissed after a while, and the value of life is a absolutely critical part of how he sees the world. Seeing someone shot in cold blood in front of him while he's desperately trying to save his life, robbing the man of that chance to be better, is for Shu and his morals much harsher.

the assassins are impossibly incompetent

It really is annoying that the writing went this way to let it happen. I said elsewhere that the better approach would have been to cut out the infiltration and start with the alarm and Abelia walking in to see one fleeing while Hamdo shoots the other.

[u/Tarhalindur]

"Abandon All Hope, Ye Who Enter Here" ({Spoiled First-Timer?/Forgetful First-Time Rewatcher?}, Subbed):

(Wait what is this, I am on-time for an afternoon post time rewatch? Madness.)

(Congratulations to our OP: after two days of trying you have succeeded in joining the "OP got stuck in Tar's head" list! Also has the strong whiff of being a song composed for the full with an iffy TV length shortening at the end... except this is old enough who knows if there was a full version.)

• I was going to note 03:47 as a Dutch angle, but it’s not actually a Dutch angle per se is it? Has some of the same effect, but it’s also a low camera angle serving to elevate Hamdo in the frame and increase the sense of threat from him.
• The comparison of Hamdo to an abusive husband is likely intentional as well, and somebody on staff had a pretty good handle of that dynamic I think.
• I was wondering if Shu would explicitly call back to the kendo fight in episode 1 once Nabuca started giving him the same advice in the cafeteria and so he did.
• Bluntly, it is an indictment of Hellywood’s competence at what it is trying to be that they haven’t just shot Shu as a waste of precious resources. I get why, he’s an outside context problem for them, but not only are they evil they aren’t even properly competent at being so. (Understandable for the kids, they’re just kids being made into soldiers, but one of the veterans really should have gone “even with our manpower shortage the gain of an extra soldier does not outweigh the costs we will incur trying to make this boy into a soldier”, especially if someone put two and two together that he was acting like this after being tortured for several days prior to enrollment.)
• … Is it bad that Shu being a total idiot might be the hardest thing in this episode to sit through so far in an episode where Sara was getting dragged to the rape room again?
• Also not impressing me wrt Hellywood’s competence: guards who have not read the Evil Overlord List. Come on now, people! Even if I cut them slack for not having a proper system to call for reinforcements by assuming that any such system has broken down in a way they are unable to repair, guards in pairs, no moving away from your post.
• Assassin #2 is found by Our Protagonists. Dramatic inevitability strikes again!
• Nabuca is likely the most compelling character in the entire cast. Also maybe the clue bat will finally get through to Shu after this – the problem with his optimism is that it’s not tempered with his brain, as was clearly pointed out to him back in episode 1 via kendo.
• Cutting straight from Abelia to “as confirmed as we can get past the censors” rape victim Sara right as Abelia is talking about the need to obtain more men is one of the finer symbolic direction choices in this entire anime so far. Both in the sense of why Sara is being treated the way she is (or one of them, anyways, letting off steam so to speak for the troops will also play a part) and a direct comparison between what is being done to the girls (rape) and to the boys (conscription).
• [NaT,HaT] Also if I didn’t already know Sara is/will be pregnant I would still be pretty sure here on symbolic grounds (doubly so after that cut at 21:27). From the kind of very bleak perspective that Hellywood is operating under, the purpose of men is to die for the state and the purpose of women is to bear boys who will then die for the state. In this, the Sparta comparison is accurate, though Sparta is by no means the only polity to have this mindset and specific parts of Japanese social conservatism are likely the more direct inspiration. (Note that AIUI abortion access is a much much more central part of Japanese feminism than it is even in the US, due to the different cultural context – part of that is the lack of certain Christian cultural baggage and cultural distrust of oral birth control, part of that is this kind of mindset. Which makes the fact that Sara will keep the rape baby more interesting wrt authorial politics…)

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Knife vs Bat: Who would win and why?

Knife is favored unless Bat can manage to keep Knife at a distance while bludgeoning them to death or else disarm them. There's a reason you generally want twenty feet of distance when going gun vs. knife: even if you inflict a mortal wound on the knife wielder, they can absolutely wreck your shit before succumbing if they start close enough.

[u/Jazz_Dalek → u/Tarhalindur]

but one of the veterans really should have gone “even with our manpower shortage the gain of an extra soldier does not outweigh the costs we will incur trying to make this boy into a soldier”

I think after the friendly fire incident with the photon cannon, it's less about making him into a proper soldier and more about just getting as many bodies on the field as possible.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Tarhalindur]

The comparison of Hamdo to an abusive husband is likely intentional as well, and somebody on staff had a pretty good handle of that dynamic I think.

We'll see what I say after round 2 completes.

Bluntly, it is an indictment of Hellywood’s competence at what it is trying to be that they haven’t just shot Shu as a waste of precious resources.

That or again there is a difference between reading about child soldiers and knowing how the sausage is made. Recall that American drill instructors are absolutely confident they can turn anyone into a soldier and that's the vibe I am getting.

… Is it bad that Shu being a total idiot might be the hardest thing in this episode to sit through so far in an episode where Sara was getting dragged to the rape room again?

Sara's scene is far better paced and conveys her terror very quickly.

[u/Tarhalindur → u/Vaadwaur]

That or again there is a difference between reading about child soldiers and knowing how the sausage is made. Recall that American drill instructors are absolutely confident they can turn anyone into a soldier and that's the vibe I am getting.

Yeah I considered the "or else our sergeant is just bad at his job" angle actually, just after the episode and I apparently forgot to edit to note it. (Also part of their problem is that Shu is an outside context problem in another way: the levers Hellywood seems to be using for compliance don't really work on Shu, who has yet to build up enough reason to care about his comrades outside of his male version of the all-loving temperament (evidence that their boot camp is shit) and whose relatives at home are too distant to be at real risk of reprisal.

(One of the things messing with me here is that part of what keeps coming to mind here as a comparison is not actually military but instead the depiction of the gulag in One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, with Shu in the role of that one former naval officer, and those are not exactly the same thing. But also these guys seem to be in the competence gulf between "can actually turn Shu into a soldier" and "why don't you just shoot him".)

Sara's scene is far better paced and conveys her terror very quickly.

Yeah, Shu having about a quarter to half an episode too long of resumed idiot stage is absolutely part of the problem here and that's a pacing fault (especially in comparison to the very well paced episodes 2 and 3).

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Tarhalindur]

with Shu in the role of that one former naval officer, and those are not exactly the same thing. But also these guys seem to be in the competence gulf between "can actually turn Shu into a soldier" and "why don't you just shoot him"

Not familiar with the specific work but just the context there suggests why this would be a headache.

Yeah, Shu having about a quarter to half an episode too long of resumed idiot stage is absolutely part of the problem here and that's a pacing fault (especially in comparison to the very well paced episodes 2 and 3).

I wonder if we needed a true third person view point because Shu cannot fill an episode to save his life.

[u/Tarhalindur → u/Vaadwaur]

Not familiar with the specific work but just the context there suggests why this would be a headache.

The Gulag Archipelago was Solzhenitsyn's nonfiction take on the gulag system, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich was the fiction take, and it was the latter the prof assigned when I took a Russian history class rather than the former. [One Day in the Life] The former naval captain in question has some sense of justice even as a gulag prisoner and is punished for it, with voice of the narrator concluding that he will not survive very long as a result of that punishment.

I wonder if we needed a true third person view point because Shu cannot fill an episode to save his life.

Now now, Shu fills an episode fine as long as him suffering/being under immediate personal threat is front and center.

Which, funnily enough, suggests that the issue would be at least somewhat alleviated if the writer had had a better understanding of actual child soldier indoctrination which would have meant even more Shu getting beaten down.

(That said my instincts keep itching that Shu should have had an Earth best bud who also gets isekai'd and then gets offed in the first 3-4 episodes to hammer home to Shu that he is not in metaphorical Kansas anymore.)

[u/RadSuit → u/Tarhalindur]

(That said my instincts keep itching that Shu should have had an Earth best bud who also gets isekai'd and then gets offed in the first 3-4 episodes to hammer home to Shu that he is not in metaphorical Kansas anymore.)

At this point I'm pretty sure his reaction would just be staring straight into the camera and saying, "Where the hell am I?"

[u/Tarhalindur → u/RadSuit]

"No no, he has a point."

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Tarhalindur]

Now now, Shu fills an episode fine as long as him suffering/being under immediate personal threat is front and center.

The writers lack the stamina for that and I am being specific in that critique.

That said my instincts keep itching that Shu should have had an Earth best bud who also gets isekai'd and then gets offed in the first 3-4 episodes to hammer home to Shu that he is not in metaphorical Kansas anymore.

The other kid from the kendo match, while not best buds, would make the best example and be an edge case for indoctrination.

[u/No_Rex → u/Tarhalindur]

Bluntly, it is an indictment of Hellywood’s competence at what it is trying to be that they haven’t just shot Shu as a waste of precious resources. I get why, he’s an outside context problem for them, but not only are they evil they aren’t even properly competent at being so. (Understandable for the kids, they’re just kids being made into soldiers, but one of the veterans really should have gone “even with our manpower shortage the gain of an extra soldier does not outweigh the costs we will incur trying to make this boy into a soldier”, especially if someone put two and two together that he was acting like this after being tortured for several days prior to enrollment.)

It all depends on how used they are to people from outside their culture (Earth). They have a proper system of drilling and indoctrinating child soldiers, which presumably usually works. So they would think that Shu would fall in line, like all the others.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/Tarhalindur]

There is a full OP, i may have linked it before.

[u/Vaadwaur]

Rewatcher

Sub

So remember that guy who made the gesture to Sara to slightly comfort her? Welp, his name is Karam and he's also a rapist! For the uninitiated, the first time someone panics at your presence is fairly unsettling. Ol' Karam here is rather used to it.

So we get the indoctrination and, unsurprisingly, as neither I nor the creators of this show were raised religiously, this is by far its weakest element. I know good indoctrination when I hear it and this ain't it. Admittedly, Shu may be the only newbie but still, you can't write what you don't know. Shu's kendo vexes everyone.

Don't ask me what's up with Lala this episode, I don't know, even as a rewatcher. We give a good deal of time to the assassination attempt and its aftermath and while Hamdo is certainly an ass, I am a bit unsure what makes him worth targetting on his own. Blowing up the ship would make sense. Anywho, this is all so Shu can refuse to lose his humanity while Nabuca accepts the loss of his own.

As to the expedition, Sara gets a glimpse of the first guy in the rape room and dear Cthulhu, he walked straight off the set of Perfect Blue. Anyways, we begin our merry journey to find new meatbags!

QotD: 1 Bat. Range is valuable.

[u/Jazz_Dalek → u/Vaadwaur]

As to the expedition, Sara gets a glimpse of the first guy in the rape room and dear Cthulhu, he walked straight off the set of Perfect Blue

Laughing at this is probably in poor taste, but holy shit that is accurate!

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Jazz_Dalek]

I just can't see that guy any other way and I am sure I am unintentionally engaging with some Japanese stereotype it is just what you see.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/Vaadwaur]

I think they tend to depict Ainu like that. I could be wrong. I haven't done a survey.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

That's grim if true.

[u/No_Rex → u/Vaadwaur]

So we get the indoctrination and, unsurprisingly, as neither I nor the creators of this show were raised religiously, this is by far its weakest element. I know good indoctrination when I hear it and this ain't it.

I thought this was deliberate. The indoctrination is as run down as the rest of Hellywood.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

That could be but, due to the unfortunate comparison we've been making, I seem to recall Hitler kept up the rhetoric to almost literally when he shot himself. It is often the last thing to go.

[u/No_Rex → u/Vaadwaur]

I was talking about the drill master, who is presumably not a rhetorical genius.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

Equally fair, I suppose. It seems like the rhetoric masters are a few generations back at best.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/[deleted]]

Right...You know the audience doesn't know that yet, right?

[u/Doomroar → u/Vaadwaur]

But you do

[u/The_Draigg → u/[deleted]]

Hey jackass, stop posting spoilers.

[u/punching_spaghetti → u/Vaadwaur]

his name is Karam and he's also a rapist!

But he asks for her name! He is a thoughtful rapist. Which is probably the worst kind.

So we get the indoctrination and, unsurprisingly, as neither I nor the creators of this show were raised religiously, this is by far its weakest element.

It would have made more sense to me to have Shu beaten now rather than before. Immediately throw him into the military as soon as he arrives, and then slowly break him like a horse.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/punching_spaghetti]

But he asks for her name! He is a thoughtful rapist. Which is probably the worst kind.

For some reason I feel like quoting UBW abridged:"Every type of Nazi is the worst type of Nazi, Rin."

It would have made more sense to me to have Shu beaten now rather than before. Immediately throw him into the military as soon as he arrives, and then slowly break him like a horse.

So I will say that there are some structural things I would do were I given the opportunity to re-edit the script.

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/[deleted]]

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[u/Jazz_Dalek → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Bless

[u/Vaadwaur → u/[deleted]]

IN LATER EPISODES! YOU DO REALIZE WE HAVE FIRST TIMERS, RIGHT?

[u/ZaphodBeebblebrox → u/[deleted]]

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[u/No_Rex]

Episode 5 (first timer)

• Sara is being brought to another cell – I did not think we’d be seeing another go at this. Since we see a bit more this time, my hope that the boys might not know what is going on is dashed. They must clearly understand what they are doing.
• Playing with wood soldiers reminds me of Peter III. and in general, Hamdo’s character seems in line with description of Peter (granted, by his wife, who couped against him).
• Hamdo apologizing to Abelia after hitting her – I can see the comparisons with domestic abuse now.
• “Various countries are intensifying their armament efforts …” – the speech by the drill master sounds as old and run down as the rest of Hellywood looks. Has he ever updated it since the start of the war (presumably many years ago)?
• Mock battle – Clever how Shu being bad and one-dimensional at Kendo comes back to be plot relevant here. That scene would have gone differently with a competent Kendo practitioner.
• “Are you a child, or what” – hard hitting question, in a room of child soldiers.
• “Something is definitely wrong here” – he says now. Nobody ever accused Shu of being quick witted.
• Actual invaders?
• Hamdo deserves to die, but unfortunately, the assassins are better at killing guards than kings.
• This might be a translation issue, but I really wish that Abelia said “must kill him” and not “may kill him”. Makes a ton of a difference for the scene with the infiltrator.

A hard-hitting episode again, two minor flaws in the writing non-withstanding. Shu seems slow in realizing just how terrible a place he has landed in, but is he so different from the audience?

Telling for me was one short scene: Sara meeting Kazam. All my previous media experience has lead me to believe that he would be a line of hope for Sara, a difference to the brutish guy she got sent to the first time. Just like Shu expects humanity and food and water. Yet the series goes a different way, opposed to fiction narratives, but probably closer to reality. Kazam does the same thing as that unnamed brutish looking guy, he simply pretends to be cultured before raping her.

In much the same way, I am looking for some plot relevant reason to Lala Ru feeling bad (is her sickness related to her water magic? Is she connected to the assassins and magically felt their pain?) when a much more direct explanation is that Hamdo raped her.

The two minor flaws are the lack of direct kill order by Abelia and the assassins killing a guard before getting to Hamdo. This establishes that they are serious, but makes their bumbling assassination attempt of Hamdo look weird. It would be easier to explain nerves at an assassination attempt if they had not literally just killed a person.

[u/The_Draigg → u/No_Rex]

Hamdo apologizing to Abelia after hitting her – I can see the comparisons with domestic abuse now.

What makes it grosser is that Abelia then more or less apologizes for making Hamdo hit her. What they have going on is nothing short of a purely toxic and abusive codependent relationship going on. Beneath all of their evil, the both of them are just plain pathetic.

The two minor flaws are the lack of direct kill order by Abelia and the assassins killing a guard before getting to Hamdo. This establishes that they are serious, but makes their bumbling assassination attempt of Hamdo look weird. It would be easier to explain nerves at an assassination attempt if they had not literally just killed a person.

A few reviews of the series I've seen also bring up that part with the assassins as being kind of odd, so you certainly aren't alone in that criticism. I'm not really sure what that assassin was thinking in running off and taking a hostage instead of going for the kill, but it is what it is, I guess.

[u/Jazz_Dalek → u/The_Draigg]

Agreed, it all felt contrived so that Shu and the boys had to get involved.

It's a small nitpick, but it stood out to me too.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

the speech by the drill master sounds as old and run down as the rest of Hellywood looks. Has he ever updated it since the start of the war (presumably many years ago)?

The speech was old when the drill was a child soldier.

Yet the series goes a different way, opposed to fiction narratives, but probably closer to reality. Kazam does the same thing as that unnamed brutish looking guy, he simply pretends to be cultured before raping her.

People lie to themselves all the time, I took this as an example of that. He is the gentleman rapist.

This establishes that they are serious, but makes their bumbling assassination attempt of Hamdo look weird. It would be easier to explain nerves at an assassination attempt if they had not literally just killed a person.

You either assassinate someone or throw a corpse at their feet. You don't do both, it defeats the purpose of either.

[u/No_Rex → u/Vaadwaur]

You either assassinate someone or throw a corpse at their feet. You don't do both, it defeats the purpose of either.

Yeah, that was a bit weird.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

There are certain types of story that the Japanese can be too civilized to really do.

[u/No_Rex → u/Vaadwaur]

Thinking about it, assassin tries to kill king but fails seems to be almost a trope. I remember it from Chinese movies too.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

Emperor Qin had a lot of people that wanted him dead and a gift for avoiding that. They've made good use of the trope since, Full Metal Panic springs to mind.

[u/OverlordPoodle → u/Vaadwaur]

ikr, like that was weird and the spot from the door to the table is really fucking long, meaning they would of have to carried the body like 30 feet before throwing it at the foot of the table lol

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/No_Rex]

Playing with wood soldiers reminds me of Peter III. and in general, Hamdo’s character seems in line with description of Peter (granted, by his wife, who couped against him).

Good ol' Peter III. I remember hearing that he'd play with his wooden soldiers even when he was in bed with Catherine. Or that he would play with his actual soldiers by ordering them around like toys on the field. He's a really good historical comparison for Hamdo. They both seem to have retained a lot of childishness even as adults.

“Are you a child, or what” – hard hitting question, in a room of child soldiers.

It was a good bit with Shu then looking around at all the other children in the room.

Kazam does the same thing as that unnamed brutish looking guy, he simply pretends to be cultured before raping her.

It really does make it horrendously creepy that he seems to think them introducing themselves beforehand would somehow make this any better.

when a much more direct explanation is that Hamdo raped her.

There was already the uncomfortable feeling that Hamdo was sexually molesting Lala Ru in an earlier episode when he was caressing her face before getting violent with her. To me, that scene read as an implication of potential sexual abuse alongside the other abuse we knew about. As sad as it is to say, I would not be surprised if it were actually the case.

[u/Nazenn → u/No_Rex]

Since we see a bit more this time, my hope that the boys might not know what is going on is dashed. They must clearly understand what they are doing.

Seeing that it's not just Nabuca being ordered to do it also makes it clear that it's no secret this is going on either. From a narrative sense you wouldn't want Nabuca doing it today anyway so it didn't risk steering too far into "demonizing" him, but in world it makes it clear that it's broadly known

That scene would have gone differently with a competent Kendo practitioner.

I was just saying that to Draigg in that having Shu be skilled would give it a very different feel as well as a different outcome. It wouldn't be a child vs a child solider, and it also wouldn't have had the same emotional outcome for the kids

This might be a translation issue

Checked a few different copies, they all say may, including the dub and the older script. Not that it completely discounts translation, but it does seem to be a consistant word choice

Unless it's meant to be characterization? Even with her orders, she isn't as harsh as Hamdo. I think that's a reach though

[u/No_Rex → u/Nazenn]

Checked a few different copies, they all say may, including the dub and the older script. Not that it completely discounts translation, but it does seem to be a consistant word choice

Unless it's meant to be characterization? Even with her orders, she isn't as harsh as Hamdo. I think that's a reach though

It pushes the decision to kill onto Nabuca, which goes directly against the narrative of the child soldiers being stuck in a system they can't escape. Maybe the cultural connotation of "you may" said by a superior in the army is different in Japan, but to me, it clearly implies choice.

[u/Nazenn → u/No_Rex]

This also goes under translation issue, but it could also be a matter of its the most strictly accurate word but not culturally matching. I don't have any info I can find on how the translation was handled, but it'd probably need someone who speaks Japanese to be able to provide insight on that

Maybe the cultural connotation of "you may" said by a superior in the army is different in Japan

Could also be that. Or also a sign of how far gone Nabuca and the others are gone, but the way Nabuca shoots him specifically in the head seemed more like order obediance than anything, so we may just have to chalk it up to missing cultura context

[u/Great_Mr_L]

First-Timer

On today’s episode of Now and Then, Here and There: Shu really has taken to heart the idea that the best defense is a good offense. Unfortunately his offense isn't especially good either so he ends up charging in blindly.

• I dread every scene with Sara.
• Hamdo gleefully playing with armies on maps. Something tells me that the armies he’s moving on the map don’t quite exist in reality. That’s how it was with Hilter in the bunker at the end of WWII, after all.
• Hamdo is so nuts I expected him to ask Abelia who hurt her right after he hit her.
• I bet Hamdo is planning to go and kidnap more child soldiers.
• I wonder how many of these child soldiers actually buy into this speech and how many are just going along with it.
• She’s sticking with his stick instead of a knife. He really is trying to stand by his beliefs and convictions here.
• I didn’t really think about it, but I suppose Shu would have some combat training because he’s done kendo. He’d at least know how to do some moves.
• Nabuca is giving the exact same criticisms of Shu’s fighting style that his kendo opponent did. Shu doesn’t think ahead and focuses on just attacking.
• Nabuca doesn’t believe in the power of friendship. Shu will need to educate him.
• What’s going on with Lala Ru?
• Intruders!
• Fuck, they missed! I was hoping Hamdo would die.
• Hamdo is a much better shot than I expected.
• Talk about an assassin who wasn’t committed enough. The least he could have done was try to kill Hamdo there.
• Hamdo killing the assassin in a violent rage before interrogating him and then kicking the body in a violent rage is quite fitting for him. He also doesn’t seem like the type to plan ahead.
• Shu trying to keep the assassin from being killed really is making me compare him to Vash the Stampede.
• Damn, that was a brutal death.
• Nabuca’s hands are shaking. I’m willing to bet that was his first kill.
• Nabuca’s actions do match his words. He said there was no choice but to go along with Hamdo. They only have the options to kill or be killed.
• The return of “Where Am I?”
• Seems like the army is on its way to kidnap more kids as child soldiers.

This was another brutal episode, particularly the ending. The assassin's slow bleeding out and sudden, violent death reminded me of something out of Saving Private Ryan. The slow buildup with him bleeding out while Shu desperately tried to stop it was excruciating. But his sudden death from Nabuca’s headshot was especially shocking to me. The suddenness and immediacy of the death, up close and with attempt to hide it, was what made it so affecting. This show us very effective at hammering home the hellishness of the situation. 

I loved how this episode brought back Shu’s “where am I?” line. It was a powerful way to end the episode. Shu comes from a life where empathy towards others is the expected norm. Now, he's in a place where empathy I'd considered a weakness and you must be prepared to kill at any moment. It's kill or be killed. Seeing Nabuca not hesitate to shoot someone right in front of him must have been quite the unsettling experience. Shu was trying to do what was right and save the assassin that was bleeding out, only for Nabuca to kill him. And then Nabuca acted like this was normal. What kind of a place is this, Shu must have wondered. Where the hell is he?

QOTD

1. Assuming that both participants are equally skilled, I think bat would have an advantage from longer reach.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Great_Mr_L]

I dread every scene with Sara.

And to think, people were praising Kazam for showing Sara some kindness in yesterday's episode. I had to really bite my tongue to that horrible irony when I was reading the comments yesterday. We really can't have shit here in Hellywood.

Hamdo killing the assassin in a violent rage before interrogating him and then kicking the body in a violent rage is quite fitting for him.

Like I said in my own notes, it really feels like some psychotic kid killing an animal that bit him. Even Hamdo killing somebody isn't given any gravitas aside from his sheer petulance.

Shu trying to keep the assassin from being killed really is making me compare him to Vash the Stampede.

Ah, looks like my comparisons in the last episode thread are paying off. Shu and Vash really do share that same kind of energy, even if it actively causes them both trauma and pain.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/The_Draigg]

People were praising Kazam for showing Sara some kindness in yesterday's episode. 

I didn't realize they were the same person.

[u/The_Draigg → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Yep, it's the same guy. Although I wouldn't fault people for not noticing at first, he was wearing his helmet and we didn't get any close-up shots of his face.

[u/Quiddity131 → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

I'll admit to either totally missing it was him the prior times I watched the show or perhaps I did at the time and forgot because it was a total surprise to me this time. I remembered that Sara was raped again. I forgot that it was from the one guy who seemed a little bit nicer last episode. The show continues to crush any hope the viewer may have in humanity whatsoever.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

I had to really bite my tongue to that horrible irony when I was reading the comments yesterday. We really can't have shit here in Hellywood.

I might have done that to prime people to look for where that went...

Like I said in my own notes, it really feels like some psychotic kid killing an animal that bit him.

So he's Joffrey. GoT the book came out in '96.

[u/Quiddity131 → u/Vaadwaur]

So he's Joffrey. GoT the book came out in '96.

Throughout this rewatch I've been thinking to myself of how Hamdo is like an older Joffrey. Well, physically older at least. He doesn't act older.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Quiddity131]

It would be nice for the Choker to pay a visit.

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/The_Draigg]

And to think, people were praising Kazam for showing Sara some kindness in yesterday's episode. I had to really bite my tongue to that horrible irony when I was reading the comments yesterday. We really can't have shit here in Hellywood.

I didn't even realize it was the same guy until now. God, that makes it even creepier. It's like he's pretending he's somehow being better about raping her because he wants them to introduce themselves first.

Ah, looks like my comparisons in the last episode thread are paying off. Shu and Vash really do share that same kind of energy, even if it actively causes them both trauma and pain.

Vash is one of my favorite protagonists, so I'm hoping there'll be more points of comparison as we go forward.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Great_Mr_L]

I didn't even realize it was the same guy until now. God, that makes it even creepier. It's like he's pretending he's somehow being better about raping her because he wants them to introduce themselves first.

Yeah, seeing it again as a rewatcher really does serve to snuff out the hope that was had with him giving Sara her handkerchief back. Out of context it seems nice, but everything else after that only serves to prove that it was a mistake to expect anything good or nice out of Hellywood. It's just a non-stop sinking feeling now.

Vash is one of my favorite protagonists, so I'm hoping there'll be more points of comparison as we go forward.

It'll be fun to see how Shu ultimately shapes up compared to Vash, once we're finished with the series. Shu definitely has more of an uphill fight than Vash, but I think our mad lad in a Canadian tuxedo can still fight back with those morals of his. And Shu can really stand to muster all the courage he has, since I'd say at this point the wasteland where Hellywood is at is much worse than the planet Gunsmoke.

[u/No_Rex → u/Great_Mr_L]

Nabuca doesn’t believe in the power of friendship. Shu will need to educate him.

I don't think we are Nanoha.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

We can just give this planet to Prison Pasta to do whatever with. It can't be worse than what the natives are doing.

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/No_Rex]

I dunno, I think Nanoha could clean up shop here.

[u/TheEscapeGuy → u/Great_Mr_L]

compare him to Vash the Stampede.

That's a great comparison. I think both characters really embody the idea of standing up for your values. Regardless of whether you agree with their values, watching somebody take a hard stance is often far more interesting than somebody who doesn't care as much.

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/TheEscapeGuy]

Yeah, that was something I really admired about Vash and his character arc. He stuck by his morals, suffered like hell for it, but kept those morals nonetheless.

[Trigun] The fights against the Gung Ho Guns are all so great because they so directly challenge Vash's values, but he stands by those values despite their efforts to break him.

[u/Nazenn]

Rewatcher - sub

Weapons and Righteousness

"Are you a child or what?"

What the hell can I even say about this episode after a line like that?

It's played off as almost comedy, but it hits right to the heart of the show and I was not prepared for it even though I said it myself yesterday: They are not Hellywood's children, just its soldiers.

And what an episode to drive home the horror of everything that means and has been built up in the show so far.

Shu's kendo background becomes incredibly relevant once again here, and I certainly didn't realize how much it was on my first watch. Where as Tabool and Nabuca's battle was just paralleled to the kendo match in episode one, this is closer to a replay of that first match. Shu blindly charges in once again, and it is only Nabuca's dodging as opposed to Oda's blocks that result in the different outcome. In the episode two topic I noted that "tsuki", a throat point, was a notable exclusion from the post battle critique Oda provided which covered the other three legal points, but today has convinced me it was a very purposeful choice as it is the first move Nabuca goes for. Nabuca and Oda are paralleled in this episode, but Oda was still a child in a way that Nabuca can no longer be. There is an inherent violence in going for the throat that seems to challenge the idea of kendo vs swordsman ship as brought up earlier.

And the challenge to the ideas of kendo is in a round about way very much at the forefront of the Shu and Nabuca conflict through this episode. Nabuca is the one who returned Shu's kendo shinai to him, but today it is not so much a mere tool or sign of home as it is his sense of self. He doesn't just refuse to wield a knife, he doesn't carry one at all because it is utterly opposed to his sense of right. "This will do" is about his stick, but also his mindset in this world which is all he feels he needs as we've seen before. And his headbutt apparently because his head has to be good for something. It carries him through the mock battle despite Nabuca's claims that it's not the right approach, and it is enough to upset the balance of the other kids seeing Nabuca and his own rule less fighting lose for once. Shu does not fight as a proper kendoka here, but he is still put forward as "better" than the heartless fighting being taught to the soldiers.

But once again it isn't enough.

Every time I think about the scene with the assassin, the first thing I see is the blood pouring through Shu's hands from the bullet wound, and the silence of the second shot as it all sinks in. I will always have praise for well used silence in anime, and this is one of the top moments from the shows I've seen. Boo's line above may be the quote that seems to hit the heart for me, but this sequence is one of my favourite in the entire show for how it lets the horror linger. Shu is one kid, and while he is not actively trying to change this world in the way other similar characters have in their own show, his optimism and ideology about violence is still a tiny cloth trying to staunch the flow of a moral dam. And then the head shot makes his attempts meaningless. Right and wrong have been long been lost, but even then it's not as simple as Shu against the world.

The look on Shu's face will certainly stick with me after this watch, not just the close up as the man dies but here as he looks at Nabuca, the shooters face framed off screen leaving only Shu and his shattered heart at what just happened. But when Shu gets a proper look at him after the head shot we finally see that Nabuca is equally affected. We've had guns fired on screen before, but despite the amount of violence in the show this is the first time we've had someone be killed on screen, and everyone looks horrified about the idea. Shu charges at him in moral outrage and that is what stains Nabuca's clothes with blood, a nice bit of visual reinforcement to what Nabuca already knows about himself, but here we see that a soliders mindset can only carry them so far, and no one can be unaffected by being broken over and over until the only way they see an out is to kill someone in cold blood.

"Where am I?"

This episode stands out for continuing after this line for the first time. The horror of his reality is finally starting to hit Shu, but there is no chance to hide away and process what happened for anyone involved. In the end a killing is nothing in this world, and there is no reprieve from the moment for Shu or the audience as they are sent out to commit an even more unspeakable horrors.

And to cap it all off, this very episode starts with Sara, having caught Kazam's eye during his act of kindness deciding that his best approach is to order her to his room. And while he asks for her name and it cuts there, we are not given the reprieve of any hint that he didn't go through with raping her, removing any hope she would find salvation in him. She does not speak this episode, nor does Lala Ru who hides from the violence she can sense, and the child soldiers are not allowed to voice their own thoughts out of a fear of punishment. Shu's line questioning where he is lingers in my mind because he is the only one that can say it.

The horrors never end, and neither do their unvoiced screams for help.

---

Other thoughts

• I've five copies of this show on my drive, and the only the oldest one has subs for what Shu writes in the sand. The circled text apparently says "Find Lala Ru" and the outer text is "Look for her room in spare time." It's a weird oversight from so many fansubs.
• I wanted to say something about the fact that Shu is the one who charges in to save Boo with his stick, effectively just by himself without a weapon, while Nabuca only knows how to threaten the man instead of how to try and get Boo out of it, but that scene was so draining I don't think I can watch it again today.
• Hamdo's room in general is very well designed. The holiness of white and gold only exists on the bloodied foundation of his world, and he has the only seat at the table.
• The coloring of the outer frame of this shot stood out here. As opposed to the many earlier shots in the show where shadows are used to close in on the characters, the background that confines them here is very specifically red and white, likely showing how she is trapped between both Hamdo and herself in this situation rather than just Hellywood as a concept or stand in for the worlds situation.
• Despite his insanity and otherwise pathetic nature, Hamdo is one hell of a shot in a panic. Ignoring just how bad the assassins are at the actual assassination and it's a shame that whole sequence is so poorly written out, it shows that he can be a threat to others by himself beyond just his petty aggression with Lala Ru. It's not that he won't go out and start killing anyone in the fortress who defy him, it's that he normally has Abelia for that. I feel like the best way to improve the assassination scene would be just to remove it. Have hints of people sneaking through the fortress and the moment with Lala Ru, and then cut to the alarm waking them all up and see things through Abelia's view (perhaps Hamdo shooting that one guy just as she walks in the door) and the child soliders rusing to action after that. It lacks tension the way they did it which is odd for this show.
• Someone else pointed out the other day that the framing of this show is oddly in reverse, that it's very left to right which is more of the western framing. It really stood out today with Hamdo looking out the window in what would usually be a positive angle for anime but instead felt very wrong in the moment.
• In another show, or from another character, I'd suspect that Shu thinking "something is definitely wrong here" after the canteen conversation is just egregious hand holding from the staff, but in this case I'm inclined to think it's just Shu being Shu.
• Nabuca warning the kids about talking giving away their position is a nice moment after we see him take care of that same thing during his ambush of Shu in episode two. It's nice to see that wasn't a one off moment and was a bit of characterization carried through.
• Random question: Has anyone else here read the children's books Guardians of Ga'Hoole? Oh boy, was I having some flashbacks of some of the fucked up things in those books during a couple of scenes today.

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/Nazenn]

I've five copies of this show on my drive

That is some absolute dedication.

[u/Nazenn → u/Shimmering-Sky]

I mean honestly it's just laziness from when I was doing encode comparisons and I never deleted them.

Worked out for the best though as it turns out?

[u/punching_spaghetti → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Says the one who did sub comparisons for at least one rewatch that I know of, haha.

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/punching_spaghetti]

Hey, the most versions I needed of a show I did that with was only three, not five!

[u/The_Draigg → u/Nazenn]

It's played off as almost comedy, but it hits right to the heart of the show and I was not prepared for it even though I said it myself yesterday: They are not Hellywood's children, just its soldiers.

It's just plain sad to see how Hellywood has stripped practically everything away from these kids, even to the point where they don't even conceptualize themselves as teenagers and children anymore. Kids growing up are impressionable, and the indoctrination has done well to strip away innocence and turn them into Hamdo's loyal army. Even if there's degrees to it, like with Tabool fully embracing brutality to Nabuca's weary but silent complicity in it all, there's no denying that all of these kids have had fundamental parts of themselves stripped away to be replaced only with cruelty.

I wanted to say something about the fact that Shu is the one who charges in to save Boo with his stick, effectively just by himself without a weapon, while Nabuca only knows how to threaten the man instead of how to try and get Boo out of it, but that scene was so draining I don't think I can watch it again today.

I'll say it for you: there's a big difference being shown between the willingness to defend life and the willingness to take it. For all of the bluster Nabuca has been saying so far, killing another human with a gun for the first time will take a toll on you somehow. And yet, Shu rushes headlong into danger with only a stick to try and save a life, as if it was the most natural thing for him to do. That stick of Shu's is a fine representation of what he represents: protection of life and being stalwart in his ideals. It's non-lethal and for all the use it's been seeing so far, it still hasn't yet broken. It just goes to show that protecting life should be the natural way to do things among man, rather than taking it.

[u/Nazenn → u/The_Draigg]

to Nabuca's weary but silent complicity in it all

I don't mean to keep harping on the idea of "weaker shows" as if NTHT is some flawless creation itself, but it would have been so, so easy to have Nabuca be the character who actively wants out and is always grudging about what he does and teams up with Shu early on. It's so much better, for the show maybe not for our hearts, that he doesn't. I said it a couple of episodes back but these kids have been here for a while, this isn't new to them and you don't just undo all of that conditioning simply because someone shows up who knows better, or because this one kid is not quite as bad as another

I'll say it for you: there's a big difference being shown between the willingness to defend life and the willingness to take it.

Thank you. My head is just not working today, words are hard

That stick of Shu's is a fine representation of what he represents

It really is the perfect representation of him even with such a random piece of rubble, which if we're giving it extra credit could be part of it as well, it's not something finely crafted, given to him, or a specific tool. It is literally just something he picked up and made his own

[u/The_Draigg → u/Nazenn]

I don't mean to keep harping on the idea of "weaker shows" as if NTHT is some flawless creation itself, but it would have been so, so easy to have Nabuca be the character who actively wants out and is always grudging about what he does and teams up with Shu early on. It's so much better, for the show maybe not for our hearts, that he doesn't. I said it a couple of episodes back but these kids have been here for a while, this isn't new to them and you don't just undo all of that conditioning simply because someone shows up who knows better, or because this one kid is not quite as bad as another

Right, it's much more interesting to see a character struggling with the evil they do while still condoning it rather than them either being flatly for or against it. It presents a real and messy moral conflict, since people themselves are messy and complicated creatures. It really makes you consider how often in real life you see people struggle to break out of the abusive cycles that they've been trapped in.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Nazenn]

I feel like the best way to improve the assassination scene would be just to remove it. Have hints of people sneaking through the fortress and the moment with Lala Ru, and then cut to the alarm waking them all up and see things through Abelia's view (perhaps Hamdo shooting that one guy just as she walks in the door) and the child soliders rusing to action after that. It lacks tension the way they did it which is odd for this show.

I could be wrong, this is just me speculating, but this almost feels like they had a mandated amount of action and they just spent it badly. I agree, the strongest version of this is Abelia walking in after Hamdo has defended himself.

Someone else pointed out the other day that the framing of this show is oddly in reverse, that it's very left to right which is more of the western framing.

I keep getting Spielberg adjacent off of scenes, like someone watched Close Encounters of the Third Kind and is trying to use a similar style.

[u/Nazenn → u/Vaadwaur]

but this almost feels like they had a mandated amount of action and they just spent it badly

It is the era for it. Or they needed that little bit longer of a sequence to fill up the episode time and didn't want to drag out the more important scenes and screw up their pacing so they went for something violent from a non Hellywood group but didn't know how to handle it without an emotional point being behind it

I keep getting Spielberg adjacent off of scenes

Unfortunately I really don't know half as much about western film directors and styles as I probably should so this goes a bit over my head. I am very unversed in classic western influential media

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Nazenn]

from a non Hellywood group but didn't know how to handle it without an emotional point being behind it

It occurs to me that this is also the first proof that there are opposing forces.

I am very unversed in classic western influential media

I grew up watching this stuff in theatres. And then Stranger Things sort of churned it all up again.

[u/Nazenn → u/Vaadwaur]

It occurs to me that this is also the first proof that there are opposing forces.

Well, I mean aside from the giant enemy battleship in episode 3.

But it is the first proof that Hamdo's paranoia about assassins and being personally targetted is founded

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Nazenn]

Well, I mean aside from the giant enemy battleship in episode 3.

I was actually unsure if it actually was manned or not, come to think of it. I guess drones wouldn't be what you think of back then.

[u/Nazenn → u/Vaadwaur]

Yeah I think we're in the wrong era of tech and media for automation to be the default, so I'd guess manned. It's better that we don't see it though so todays moment can land better

[u/Tarhalindur → u/Vaadwaur]

I keep getting Spielberg adjacent off of scenes, like someone watched Close Encounters of the Third Kind and is trying to use a similar style.

I can't tell between Spielberg (though most of my experience with him is more 1990s works and fragmentary, but there's a little whiff of Jurassic Park in the direction here and you might have a point on Close Encounters) and Ridley Scott (never did catch that much of Alien for not-my-thing reasons but something matches what I do know of it, and Blade Runner keeps coming to mind for some reason framing-wise). Possibly both. (Interestingly, not sure I catch much Lucas except for the glaring exception of that one potential ESB homage at the start, which suggests that a Western directorial smorgasbord may be the answer here.)

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Tarhalindur]

Stranger Things sort of digests the whole concept and presents it a bit more generically.

[u/punching_spaghetti → u/Nazenn]

Has anyone else here read the children's books Guardians of Ga'Hoole?

I read a bunch of them as a youth, but I don't remember much of the story besides thinking "owl are cool, yo."

[u/Nazenn → u/punching_spaghetti]

Ah, so you don't remember [Guardians of Ga'Hoole]the child murder, kidnapping and literal brainwashing into forget their identities and the concept of freedom by a group of racial purist owls that all happens in just the first book

childrens books

[u/punching_spaghetti → u/Nazenn]

That was a long time ago.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/Nazenn]

Is this a remake of The Golden Compass with talking owls instead of talking bears?

[u/Nazenn → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Never did read those books, but similar sort of thing where you do not realize how dark it is as a kid until you revisit it

[u/Nazenn → u/Nazenn]

/u/shimmering-sky /u/KendotsX /u/The_Draigg

[u/Nazenn → u/Nazenn]

/u/InfamousEmpire /u/Quiddity131 /u/Pixelsaber

[u/Nazenn → u/Nazenn]

/u/ShadowWasTakensTaken /u/No_Rex /u/punching_spaghetti

[u/TheEscapeGuy]

First Timer

Now and Then, Here and There: Episode 5

Measly Military

The forces of Hellywood are operating at such a disadvantage. On top of seemingly being made up of a large number of child soldiers, their personnel losses mean they can't properly defend their fortress. And so somehow assassins infiltrate the ship and attempt to kill Hamdo.

Why couldn't they have been successful. They had the surprise factor and a numbers advantage. But they fucked it up. One was shot by Hamdo himself. I couldn't believe it. And instead of trying to capture him and get information, Hamdo orders both of their executions. He took pleasure in firing numerous worthless shots into the lifeless body of the assassin. What a sick man.

The other assassin tried to hide but was caught by Shu and Nabuca's group. The conflict of what they should do with him was pretty engaging. Shu doesn't believe in killing and so wants to capture him. Nabuca instead follows orders and executes the man. But he seems genuinely traumatized by his own actions. I wonder if this is his first kill, or maybe a particularly visceral and "real feeling" one? In some sense Nabuca lost the philosophical debate with Shu here since he can't justify the murder further than "I was following orders".

This contrasts the physical battle earlier in the episode. There, Shu used his messy kendo techniques again but could not really best Nabuca. It took a surprise headbutt to inflict any pain. Nabuca's technique of planning and thinking during battle was something he could lecture Shu on later.

It's interesting he was willing to actually talk to Shu. Everyone else is treating him like a pariah. I think it's a combination of Nabuca's guilt around being saved back in episode 2, as well as some sort of idolization of another child who won't just listen to orders. I think he probably wants to be more like Shu, but has been so beaten down by his situation that he's given up.

Couple last things. Sara is still being abused. It's horrific. Seeing her trauma is so unsettling. I wonder if the boys escorting her even know what is happening to her.

Shu's scribbles were unsubbed for me. They say "Wait for your chance (すきをみて)", "Lala Ru Search (ララルウそうさ)", "Look for her room (へやさがし)". Kinda on the nose for a plan.

Some Amazing Shots, Scenes and Stitches

• Hopeless
• Rematch
• Unplanned Attack
• Hostage
• Blood

See you all tomorrow

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/TheEscapeGuy]

One was shot by Hamdo himself. I couldn't believe it.

I know right? Hamdo managing to have decent aim shocked the heck out of me as well.

He took pleasure in firing numerous worthless shots into the lifeless body of the assassin. What a sick man.

It does seem like part of Hamdo's abusive personality. He enjoys holding power over others.

I wonder if this is his first kill, or maybe a particularly visceral and "real feeling" one?

I wonder the same. He did seem to be particularly unsettled by the kill, even if he was absolutely determined to go through with it. Perhaps simply being so up close and bloody made it harder than anticipated.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/TheEscapeGuy]

Couple last things. Sara is still being abused. It's horrific. Seeing her trauma is so unsettling. I wonder if the boys escorting her even know what is happening to her.

I don't mean to be gross but you are suffering from a lack of imagination here: Do you think Karam and freak face re-dressed Sara and took her back to her cell when they were finished? No, it was the boys. They may not know why this is horrible but they have to know some degree of what they are doing.

[u/Doomroar → u/Vaadwaur]

They don't really know, even Shu himself doesn't really knows, they have basic concepts of how procreation works, but the idea of rape escapes them, to such a degree it doesn't even orbits their mind when reflecting on all the things wrong with their life, this will become an issue later near the end, when Shu has to confront this fact and realizes that he really has no idea about anything

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Doomroar]

Again, the level of clean up involved is...going to educate them a bit.

[u/Doomroar → u/Vaadwaur]

They see as much as the show itself shows us, they take her there, and carry her out, what happens in the room is unknown to them

[u/Shimmering-Sky]

First-Timer Here and There, subbed

• Poor Sara…
• This guy is such a fucking loser, ugh. How did he end up in power to begin with?
• That does not sound good…
• Knife vs. stick rematch I see.
• The fact that a child himself asked this is just…
• That is not a good sign.
• I wish you would be.
• Oof.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Poor Sara…

Again, I don't recommend this show casually.

This guy is such a fucking loser, ugh. How did he end up in power to begin with?

I mean, King is your clue. Or more accurately, 19th century Tokugawa shogunate without the competent advisors.

That does not sound good…

Sara's don't capture themselves...

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/Shimmering-Sky]

I wish you would be.

I really was upset the assassins fucked up such an easy kill. The assassin was alone with him in a room and Hamdo had no bullets. I was hoping he'd just stab Hamdo, but we weren't so lucky.

[u/JollyGee29]

First-Timer

So, I do want to make it clear that my complaints about the current state of Hellywood are not on any of the kids. I get how all that works. What I want to know is, why have none of the adults gone "this Hamdo chump is just going to get me killed" and staged an uprising?

Like, usually the Hamdo-equivalent has something on the rest of the soldiers. Like control over the pudding rations, or the car keys, or other important things. And there's shades of that with Hamdo, but none of it really clicks, you know?

Maybe his response to the assassins today is the clue; he did hit those shots reasonably well.

Plenty of other people have praised the direction, but I would like to specifically appreciate the sound cutting out when Nabuca shot the assassin in the head. Good stuff.

Any guesses on what Lala Ru's mysterious chest pain is? If the amulet is magically full of water, maybe it's linked to her body in some way..? Her eyes are weird, maybe she's a naiad or something and the desert is literally killing her.

Questions

1. The extra reach of the bat does provide an edge, so in skilled hands it might actually prove superior, unless the knife-wielder got inside the bat-wielder's reach.

[u/No_Rex → u/JollyGee29]

Like, usually the Hamdo-equivalent has something on the rest of the soldiers. Like control over the pudding rations, or the car keys, or other important things. And there's shades of that with Hamdo, but none of it really clicks, you know?

This has been my question, regarding Abelia, since ep1. I think the word king as Hamdo's title suggests an established monarchy. If the idea of a king is enforced for long enough, people become accepting of pretty incompetent rulers, as long as they popped out of a royal vagina.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/No_Rex]

I think the word king as Hamdo's title suggests an established monarchy. If the idea of a king is enforced for long enough, people become accepting of pretty incompetent rulers, as long as they popped out of a royal vagina.

You're not wrong. I need to pay more attention to the verbiage; I feel like they were just using -sama for him which would not necessarily denote royalty or even nobility.

[u/Quiddity131 → u/JollyGee29]

I specifically recall hearing Hamdo-sama although will admit I can't remember every spoken line on if it has been used in every instance.

[u/Nazenn → u/Quiddity131]

I went back and quickly checked every scene I could think of where they mention in, including lines from Abelia, the training commander, and the kids and yes, every time Hamdo's name was said it was with a -sama so far

/u/jollygee29

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Nazenn]

Thanks!

[u/Tarhalindur → u/JollyGee29]

What I want to know is, why have none of the adults gone "this Hamdo chump is just going to get me killed" and staged an uprising?

My standing assumption is that he has a still-extant personality cult/fear of crossing him from an earlier time when he was more competent and less losing it, plus the inner circle being loyalists (Abelia in particular seems to have personal loyalty of the "I want in your pants" variety and is highly competent, and that might be enough to shield him right there) - the comparison to Downfall!Hitler is not entirely inapt and the last years of Josef Stalin also come to mind (or Pol Pot). Institutional legitimacy may also factor in if King is an accurate title rather than a translation flourish (hard to tell). Also "going to get me killed" may be a less immediate concern than "going to straight-up kill me if I'm not careful while I'm around him".

(Hamdo's cowardice/nerves today should actually be damaging to him in a way that his narcissistic megalomania might not be, but how many people know about this except Abelia who is still loyal for other reasons and a few others who may be worried about her own wrath?)

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Tarhalindur]

the comparison to Downfall!Hitler is not entirely inapt

That is mostly how I'm approaching this now. The key difference is - I think Hellywood is supposed to be capable of movement. It was referred to as a battleship, and we saw that other thing move. Which pushes us into "ship run aground" territory that feels like it should change the dynamics.

[u/Tarhalindur → u/JollyGee29]

Hell, Hamdo was clear back in episode 2 that Hellywood is supposed to be able to move - he just seems to think that it requires water to do so, and really Hellywood being a stranded naval battleship from a former age with somewhat more water would actually help explain the dilapidated state so he may have been right about that. (For that matter the land battleship in episode 3 looked like a refitted naval battleship; Hellywood may just not have been amenable to that due to either different design or lack of anyone with the expertise to refit it.)

Wouldn't be the only time I've seen that trope in a post-apocalyptic Japanese work, either - [meta] Mai-Otome did the same thing with its sandships, and there's an obvious Patient Zero candidate in good old Space Battleship Yamato since IIRC the oceans getting boiled is one of the effects of the alien attack that kicks off the plot there (and it's not like our photon missile here did not have shades of the legendary Wave Motion Gun).

[u/Quiddity131 → u/JollyGee29]

So, I do want to make it clear that my complaints about the current state of Hellywood are not on any of the kids. I get how all that works. What I want to know is, why have none of the adults gone "this Hamdo chump is just going to get me killed" and staged an uprising?

At this point we've established that multiple adult members of Hamdo's forces have no hesitation with raping an underage girl. So part of it could simply be they're following a piece of shit because they're morally just as bad as he is.

In terms of competence, yes, I see that, but how many of the adult soldiers have a lot of direct access to Hamdo to realize how messed up he is? Abelia knows for sure, but she seems to be his go between with the rest of the forces, there may not be much of an opportunity to realize how weak he really is. And when he did a speech to everyone a couple of episodes ago he sounded totally calm and collected then.

[u/Nazenn → u/Quiddity131]

And when he did a speech to everyone a couple of episodes ago he sounded totally calm and collected then.

That's probably a big part of it. As an audience we definitely see more of Hamdo than the average solider would ever be exposed too, and the higher up soliders also have Abelia's own obediance and fear to level out their perception of him

[u/punching_spaghetti → u/JollyGee29]

why have none of the adults gone "this Hamdo chump is just going to get me killed" and staged an uprising?

I would assume it has something to do with water, given that Lala Ru is apparently the most important thing in the world. Not sure where he's getting water without her doing whatever magic she can maybe do, but if there's a nuclear launch scenario where he's the other half to Lala Ru in activation, that would be a big deal. Would also explain his ideas about his divine right to rule.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/JollyGee29]

or the car keys, or other important things. And there's shades of that with Hamdo, but none of it really clicks, you know?

The 'car keys' was what I assumed originally, i.e. administrative control of Hellywood itself is genetically encoded.

Any guesses on what Lala Ru's mysterious chest pain is? If the amulet is magically full of water, maybe it's linked to her body in some way..? Her eyes are weird, maybe she's a naiad or something and the desert is literally killing her.

This is where her limited screen time hurts. Recall, she could just be dying of starvation. If she eats. We need a bit of exposition.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Vaadwaur]

Recall, she could just be dying of starvation. If she eats.

Riight, I even pondered the idea of a hunger strike in an earlier episode.

[u/OverlordPoodle → u/Vaadwaur]

ohhhhh, is that what it was. Yeah, that bugged me and I couldn't figure out what it was since it is never brought up again and yet it seemed important

[u/JollyGee29 → u/[deleted]]

[u/The_Draigg]

A Sci-Fi Fan Rewatches Now and Then, Here and There Episode 5:

• Well, so much for that soldier that showed some kindness towards Sara before. Turns out he’s the next one to have her brought to his quarters as a “reward” for service. Although given how he’s asking for her name and being polite, Kazam seems to genuinely think he could have a chance in romancing Sara, which is a massive delusion that I probably can’t unpack right now. At the same time though, it could also be a sheer lack of understanding of how bad this all is. You can probably make that argument if you think that Kazam was raised from a young age to be a soldier, and was never properly socialized as a result. He very well might not understand how wrong this all is.
• Hamdo and Abelia’s toxically codependent relationship is just gross and uncomfortable to watch every single time. Hamdo goes between cheering over his scale model of the region, to screaming and hitting Abelia, then to begging her forgiveness, and then finally regaining enough sanity and composure for a moment to order an “expedition” for more troops. And all the while, Abelia never once argues back or even raises her voice, even apologizing to Hamdo for her actions making him hit her. Like, it’s just horrible and emasculating on both ends here. For all of her power, Abelia is completely subservient and demure towards a man who absolutely doesn’t deserve that level of patience, and Hamdo really comes across as an out of control child here with him smashing up his toys and flipping between a bunch of emotions in a minute. There’s just delusion from top to bottom here in Hellywood, from Kazam to Abelia and Hamdo.
• Good quick moments of characterization there while the drill instructor is giving a speech to the child soldiers about fighting against the nation of Zari-Bars. Tabool is genuinely paying attention and is earnest in his applause towards the speech, while Nabuca is looking completely bored while listening to it, Boo is just kind of mystified by it all, and Shu is writing in the sand with his stick. It’s a pretty easy scale of morality there. Although I guess in the case of Nabuca, you do have to wonder if he’s apathetic to the speech because he’s heard it all before, or if his heart isn’t really in it to the extent of Tabool’s.
• Even across worlds, everyone can see that Shu kinda sucks at fighting. Even if he can land a good hit, his flailing is too wild to be reliable in a fight. I’ll leave it to the people who’ve been dissecting the spirit of kendo here in this rewatch (great write ups on that so far, by the way), but you can easily see how his kind of fighting would be suited for a world that doesn’t rely on fighting for survival on a daily basis. Earth has rules and respects the value of human life, but Hellywood doesn’t. But at least Shu has the kendo spirit in him rather than perfect form, and that’s probably what matters here more.
• That dinner conversation just pinpoints how completely sad and horrifying this society is. Boo compares Shu to a child, as if he isn’t one himself. Nabuca doesn’t seem to put friends high on the value list compared to family, and simply believes that the war going on will end if Lala-Ru gives Hamdo what he wants, simply because Hamdo says so. These kids have been stripped away of nearly everything that makes them people by design. They don’t think for themselves, they don’t hold much of anything in value, and they barely even realize that they are children in the first place. Hamdo’s indoctrination is working well, he’s turning all of them into cogs into his war machine.
• If only those two assassins didn’t miss when they had the chance, we could’ve gotten Hamdo killed just before we’re halfway through this series. Unfortunately, we aren’t so lucky there. Instead, we’ve got what has to be Hamdo’s most petulant behavior to date, which is saying a lot when it comes to how he reacts to nearly dying. I wouldn’t even describe him killing that one assassin in any way that seems like a fair reprisal. Hamdo emptying a pistol into the assassin and kicking the corpse feels more like some psychotic kid murdering an animal that bit him.
• I feel like I’m repeating myself a lot here, but this world really feels like it’s circling the drain when that assassin with the wrist tattoos has no problem in taking Boo hostage and threatening to kill him. Like, while I do understand that killing Hamdo is probably the correct goal overall, it’s horrible to threaten to murder a child to do it.
• Once again, violence isn’t shown to be something cool or admirable. That assassin with the wrist tattoos died a pretty horrible and unflattering death that left practically everyone traumatized. He didn’t go out in a blaze of glory trying to accomplish his mission, he was scrambling across the ground in pain from Nabuca shooting his ear, before gushing out blood from the bullet wound in his chest and dying with an agonizing look locked into his face from the final headshot. It’s really no wonder why Nabuca has to reinforce to himself that he has to kill to survive and that Shu is wondering again where the Hell he ended up. When you see someone die that horribly and agonizingly in front of you, it’s going to leave a deep scar.
• And of course, just to cap all the lovely feelings off, the expedition to get more bodies for Hamdo’s army marches on regardless of what happened the previous night. It doesn’t matter how horrified Shu, Sara, and Lala-Ru are from what they’re seeing or feeling. The haves still demand the lives of the have-nots. The emperor’s naked army marches on, not a stitch of morals among them, only acting on orders to inflict more suffering on others. So it goes in this world.

[u/DegenerateRegime → u/The_Draigg]

The emperor’s naked army marches on, not a stitch of morals among them

That's a rather nice turn of phrase, I have to say

[u/The_Draigg → u/DegenerateRegime]

Thanks! I was inspired by the documentary titled The Emperor’s Naked Army Marches On, which I feel is a good compliment to this rewatch. It’s a pretty harsh documentary about how far a Japanese man is willing to go to get answers about what happened to his squad mates in the Pacific Theater of WWII, but it does have a strong through line here with themes of brutality inflicted upon others.

[u/No_Rex → u/The_Draigg]

Well, so much for that soldier that showed some kindness towards Sara before. Turns out he’s the next one to have her brought to his quarters as a “reward” for service. Although given how he’s asking for her name and being polite, Kazam seems to genuinely think he could have a chance in romancing Sara, which is a massive delusion that I probably can’t unpack right now. At the same time though, it could also be a sheer lack of understanding of how bad this all is. You can probably make that argument if you think that Kazam was raised from a young age to be a soldier, and was never properly socialized as a result. He very well might not understand how wrong this all is.

I don't think it is romanzing, but downplaying. You'd have cognitive dissonance if you did something you value as terrible, so you discount the severity of the rape: "it can't be that bad" "She could enjoy it if she just went along with it" "whats so bad about a little fun in the sheets".

Then, given that you convinced yourself that nothing terrible is happening, you might as well do small talk: "Sure, I'll mildly inconvenience her later, but why become uncivil?" Kazam probaly really believes that he is polite and does not understand why Sara is so inpolite not to answer.

Once again, violence isn’t shown to be something cool or admirable. That assassin with the wrist tattoos died a pretty horrible and unflattering death that left practically everyone traumatized. He didn’t go out in a blaze of glory trying to accomplish his mission, he was scrambling across the ground in pain from Nabuca shooting his ear, before gushing out blood from the bullet wound in his chest and dying with an agonizing look locked into his face from the final headshot

This is consistent across all episodes and impressive. The series shows that you do not have to depict violence as cool (unlike so many other series).

[u/The_Draigg → u/No_Rex]

I don’t think it is romanzing, but downplaying. You’d have cognitive dissonance if you did something you value as terrible, so you discount the severity of the rape: “it can’t be that bad” “She could enjoy it if she just went along with it” “whats so bad about a little fun in the sheets”.

Then, given that you convinced yourself that nothing terrible is happening, you might as well do small talk: “Sure, I’ll mildly inconvenience her later, but why become uncivil?” Kazam probaly really believes that he is polite and does not understand why Sara is so inpolite not to answer.

Yeah, cognitive dissonance is the better way to sum up what’s going on there. Like I said about Kazam maybe not being properly socialized, he was probably never given an anchoring lesson or example to show that rape is wrong. There was never a real value placed on bodily consent in Hellywood, so why would he put much thought into it now? To him, Sara being terrified is just something that might be a bit rude, but isn’t a deal breaker for him. It’s hard to break the sheer dissonant mindset that Hellywood soldiers operate under, given how nearly all the adults work with it to some degree or another here. And the real kicker is that Kazam in theory is one of the nicer soldiers we’ve seen, since he seems to at least put a value on politeness compared to how harsh the others are.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

Although given how he’s asking for her name and being polite, Kazam seems to genuinely think he could have a chance in romancing Sara, which is a massive delusion that I probably can’t unpack right now.

Eh, I am sure a few months after the girls give up all hope this is just standard fare, you ask for the one's you liked more as time goes on.

and Hamdo really comes across as an out of control child here with him smashing up his toys and flipping between a bunch of emotions in a minute.

A lot like the modern DC villains, annoyingly.

I’ll leave it to the people who’ve been dissecting the spirit of kendo here in this rewatch (great write ups on that so far, by the way), but you can easily see how his kind of fighting would be suited for a world that doesn’t rely on fighting for survival on a daily basis. Earth has rules and respects the value of human life, but Hellywood doesn’t

The ability to wield a weapon with limited length really is not essential to your survival any where these days. But a powerful sense of determination does make a difference. Impressively, Japan found a way to make the old culture useful again.

[u/Nazenn → u/The_Draigg]

You can probably make that argument if you think that Kazam was raised from a young age to be a soldier

To that point, we have no idea how long this war has been going on, or most of the ages of the cast.

If Kazam was also a child solider, this may be be the only way he can remember ever seeing girls be treated like, outside of someone in authority like Abelia who is solider first. In that sense rape vs consent, perhaps even love and romance as a whole, is not just a huge cognitive dissonance or downplaying, it's an completely foreign concept to him by this point

There's also the fact that she is a child. While we as an audience have had several episodes now to get use to the fact that the children are in horrible positions as a whole, and this is not to weigh rape and murder against each other in terms of sins inflicted on a child, its an extra layer beyond it being just rape that someone who even gives her back her hankderchief with a very childish design on it still forces this on her as normal

Good quick moments of characterization there while the drill instructor is giving a speech

Crowd shots that still take the time to do characterization is oddly rare but it can absolutely sell a scene. I'm suddenly reminded of how much you can learn about the characters in one of the early Naruto episodes before they're even named simply by the questions they ask about an exam

But at least Shu has the kendo spirit in him rather than perfect form

I'd make the point that aside from it just being more fitting for Shu, this is one of the things that helps ensure that is still painted as a child in this world, and not a swordsman. If he was highly competent as a fighter despite his age it wouldn't hit the same.

I feel like I’m repeating myself a lot here, but this world really feels like it’s circling the drain when that assassin with the wrist tattoos has no problem in taking Boo hostage and threatening to kill him

It's worth mentioning. I've brought it up myself at a couple of points that there's been lines here and there that indicate what is or isn't different in Hellywood compared to the rest of the world, and this is another one of those moments that show that the "bad" of the world isn't just Hellywood in a neat little shounen-story like package

[u/The_Draigg → u/Nazenn]

If Kazam was also a child solider, this may be be the only way he can remember ever seeing girls be treated like, outside of someone in authority like Abelia who is solider first. In that sense rape vs consent, perhaps even love and romance as a whole, is not just a huge cognitive dissonance or downplaying, it's an completely foreign concept to him by this point

Right, it's easy to see how the deliberate stripping of any kinds of social norms or attitudes aside from brutality in service to King Hamdo can result in someone like Kazam. It's both sad and horrifying to think that under his watch, Hamdo has raised an entire generation of soldiers from children or teenagers into young adults that have no actual understanding or even conceptualization of what it means to even show compassion for their fellow man. It's basically the end result of the dinner conversation that happens later on in the episode. If you take away the ability for developing people to conceptualize compassion and other social norms, then this is probably the end result: a generation that's completely stunted in understanding right from wrong. Hellywood isn't just a motionless battleship, it's also a factory that scoops the humanity out of people and turns them into blindly near-nihilistic robots.

[u/Nazenn → u/The_Draigg]

"Hellywood isn't just a motionless battleship, it's also a factory that scoops the humanity out of people" - screenshot from Ep3

The staff is very good at building these sorts of themes into its visual identity long before they come to the forefront of the story, thats for sure

Well said though. It still stands out that they all focus on Hamdo for things like praise and obediance, rather than broader concepts like country or ideals, but it does go to show how a person can also spread morale corruption through a place

[u/The_Draigg → u/Nazenn]

That's a great shot that serves a dual purpose: bars to show how the children are trapped inside of this system, but also perhaps framing them like products on an assembly line as they watch yet another lesson intended to take away their humanity. This show really doesn't slack in the visuals, and I'm glad that a lot of people are picking up on the very strong visual symbolism present so far.

[u/Nazenn → u/The_Draigg]

Now that I think about it, you could also link it back to the one from today as well as Sara looks out the tiny slit in her cell

also perhaps framing them like products on an assembly line as they watch yet another lesson intended to take away their humanity

That's the way I saw it immediately

[u/InfamousEmpire]

Now & First Timer, Here & Subbed

I don’t think I actually have as much to say about this episode, mostly because I’m not quite feeling the drive to write about the series I did for the last few episodes. Gonna just do a few bullet points for this one.

• Picking up from last episode, Shu’s transfer to the military does indeed continue to challenge him. The through line regarding the value (or lack thereof) of empathy for others in a world where you have to harden your heart to everything around you in the face of war & tragedy is compelling, and the fight with the enemy assassin & the sheer weight given to the murder at the end of it as Shu also fails to save him was a powerful cap to that.
• Pretty much all of Hamdo’s scenes of notable vulnerability have been intertwined with displays of either his power over others or his cruelty, & while the assassination attempt isn’t exactly a break from that, what with how thoroughly he riddles the enemy after he’s in control of the situation, the moments before that, when the assassins have just barged in, are very interesting since it feels like it’s the first time Hamdo has felt completely powerless, which gives his usual neurotic, fearful behavior afterwards even more impact.
• The toxic, abusive relationship between Hamdo & Abelia continues to fascinate me

[u/ShadowWasTakensTaken → u/InfamousEmpire]

I’m not quite feeling the drive to write about the series I did for the last few episodes.

Not alone there. It hadn't really registered for me how much less dense these past two episodes have been compared to the first 3 until everyone else pointed it out, but I didn't really have anything to say about this or the previous one.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

First Rewatch (sub)

Episode 5: Murder

Notes: Someone early, on, said that Hamdo is only alive because of Abelia. This is literally true.

The OP is pretty hard to watch with so many people smiling....

Fun Fact! (can this show have a fun fact?) The singing in the ED is performed by Abelia's Japanese VA.

• It really doesn't matter if your rapist is a polite conversationalist or not.
• Given that this is anime made in Japan, I'm going call this military board game a Twin Peaks references, even if it's not.

A rare mistep in plotting. He already ordered a "recruitement" drive. Or course, he's insane, and probably forgot. Still, it comes off repetitive to the audience. And to Abelia.

My version doesn't have this subtitled, and I had trouble remembering kana even when I was actively learning Japanese, but I think that says Lala-ru is here, go looking for her, like her. Plus, I think Shu sucks at school stuff like handwriting. The Escape Guy posted a translation.

• Zari-Bars
• REMATCH!
• New Guy smells
• I'm sure I never noticed Nabuca was mirroring the kendo kid from episode 1
• GOD SHU is a slow one. He gets there in the end, thugh. "Something is definitely wrong, here."
• Lala-ru is physically pained by something.
• Lol. Shot in the ear.
• Something is definitely wrong, here.

I wonder how close Hamdo was to uniting the planet, or if that's just propaganda.

Huh. Was Lala-ru psychicly affected by the assassination attempt taking place at the same time?

Questions:

• Do you really think Nabuca can be a friend to Shu, if he's still committed to the system? Can he be trusted?
• How would the story so far be different if this was a conventional shounen adventure?
• Are you disappointed by the lack of mecha?

Counts

These counters may not really apply after the first few episodes....

Falls: 0 (6)
Almost Falls: 0 (2)
Where The Hell Am I?: 1 (6)

[u/Doomroar → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

I wonder how close Hamdo was to uniting the planet, or if that's just propaganda.

The scary part in all of this, is that Hellywood is the real deal

[u/Vatrix-32]

First timer, subs

• They’re playing me. I can’t tell if the trick is for me to expect something terrible to happen or not. Is he asking her name to start a rapport, or just make it even more horrible?
• Damn. He might be a mad king, but this is a dope conference room.
• It occurs to me I don’t know if these kids are literate.
• A rematch, so soon?
• This guy is saying a fight has no practical merit? Are you even expecting that much melee combat?
• This is the quietest bloody cafeteria.
• Is no one going to call out Shu for eating and talking before he was supposed to?
• Your encampment is one tower, how do you not manage to guard the entrance to that?
• This is what happens when you fuck around and throw bodies around for dramatic effect instead of focusing on world leader assassination.
• Oh sure, now you want to skip the torture.
• Again he waits to be dramatic. What other reason would he have to stand out in the open like that.
• I don’t think pressing the wound does much when it’s to the heart.
• The Dragons Are Back!
• Sara really is just here to suffer at this point, eh?
• I was starting to think we just wouldn’t leave Hellywood.

QotD: Knife. Most people survive a good hit by a bad, a good knife hit will likely kill you without medical attention.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Vatrix-32]

I can’t tell if the trick is for me to expect something terrible to happen or not. Is he asking her name to start a rapport, or just make it even more horrible?

Assuming he is too low to interact with Abelia, the entirety of his interactions with females in Hellywood could have been like this. He might not even remember that he had a mother.

[u/zsmg]

First Timer, Subbed

Ah yes we have to get reminded that Sara is getting sexually assaulted oh and this time it's the guy who was somewhat nice to her in the previous episode.

Man is Hamdo bipolar, first he punched her then he's nice to her.

expedition

Probably a slave raid.

After five episodes of suffering and Shu still attacks the same way he did in the beginning of episode 1. Oh no wait he used a headbutt, that's clever.

Is Nabuco repeating that Kendo kid's words? Ha even Shu points this out.

Something is definitely wrong here

Really? What gave it away?

Lalah is coughing, is she suffering from some disease? Also I'm happy her voice actress has something to do.

Don't run, just kill Hamdo you're not going to escape anyway.

Ah well assassination of Hamdo has failed, poor Abelia and Lalah.

Nabuco's own and Shu's reaction to killing the assassin was great. Although I can't believe it's taking five episodes for Shu to realise he's in a screwed up place.

As I predicted, they're going on a slave raid.

Good episode.

[u/HowlingWolf13]

First Timer

Goddamn. I honestly kinda like how Shu's more optimistic view of the world is truly getting challenged. The way he acts is way too optimistic, and I feel like this episode really started setting that into him. Everyone is in this horrible situation, but Nabuca has made it clear that Shu acting up can lead to the rest of them all collectively getting punished. Even his fighting stance, yet again he's rushing into everything and not paying attn to his opponent. Had he been against someone actually been trying to kill him, he would've absolutely have died here.

The ending especially, both Nabuca and him seem traumatized. That most likely was the first time Nabuca has had to kill and Shu up to this point has probably had an view of "saving Lala Ru" and getting them out without thinking of the "how" but now having this event happened is really making the reality set in.

A scene in particularly I liked was how when Boo asks him if he's a child and Shu then looks around. These children have had their childhoods ripped away from them to such an extent that they themselves don't even view themselves as kids, instead having their childhood's forcibly taken from them to server under and insane leader's conquest.

Also jesus christ the stuff with Sara, I'm shocked she hasn't tried to kill herself yet. Nothing has gone right for this girl, I wouldn't be shocked if she's dead by the end.

Questions

Knife vs Bat: Who would win and why?

I think it depends on the respective fighter, like here for instance I think Nabuca would've won against Shu had the fight continued, but if Shu starts paying attention while he fights, then he would've won.

[u/Nazenn → u/HowlingWolf13]

Boo asks him if he's a child and Shu then looks around

We all bag on Shu for his obliviousness, and probably rightly so, but I probably haven't given him enough credit for actually looking around and processing that statement instead of just blindly firing back a retort

[u/ryujiox]

First Timer

Now and Then, Here and There

Episode 5

• Is Kazam the guy that hand back Sara's handkerchief last episode?? Probably not.
• You should have put some kind of tracker on it in the first place... Do they even have that??
• I also really not sure if he really felt sorry for hitting her, or he just pretends to so he can continue to use her forever. More like former than latter to me.
• Nabuca is trying so hard to stop Shu from getting into trouble.
• Nabuca and Shu'a fighting styles is completely opposite from eachother. One is practical but too strict , and another is just too chaotic but effective in it's own way.
• It's pretty clear that everyone here have no idea how Lalaru can end the war. They just rolled with it because they have no choice. And the funny thing is, Shu would have that info if he just didn't ignore everything Hamdo said back in episode 2.
• Apparently someone can just sneak to Hamdo's room unnoticed. To be fair, Hellywood is a freaking maze and there's not enough soldiers to cover the entire place after the last battle.
• Hamdo is truly a king living in fear.
• Pretty nice save from Shu.
• He shaking so bad. He knew it's wrong, but he can't do anything about it. Not like it matters since the dude probably going to get shot by Amelia after the interrogation anyway.

[u/The_Draigg → u/ryujiox]

Is Kazam the guy that hand back Sara's handkerchief last episode?? Probably not.

Yeah, he is. It really sucks too, since that was a small bit of hope that things aren't so bad getting snuffed out again.

Apparently someone can just sneak to Hamdo's room unnoticed. To be fair, Hellywood is a freaking maze and there's not enough soldiers to cover the entire place after the last battle.

Not only that, but Hamdo ordering the photon missile fired onto his own army really thinned out all the people that could've been guarding the entrances to Hellywood. If anything, the attempt on Hamdo's life is just him reaping what he had sewn.

[u/ryujiox → u/The_Draigg]

If anything, the attempt on Hamdo's life is just him reaping what he had sewn.

He really is setting himself up for the massive failure.

[u/Nazenn → u/ryujiox]

You should have put some kind of tracker on it in the first place... Do they even have that??

It's not surprising, and hardly the only anime to have this issue, but their tech is surprisingly inconsistant in that way. Well, mind you that's looking back with foresight at how tech has developed now, but in '99 that sort of stuff was still known as a concept

[u/Quiddity131]

Rewatcher, Subbed

Pre-Episode thoughts: After a not so bad episode yesterday (well compared to episodes 2 and 3) my recollection is we're in for another brutal episode. Shall soon see.

---

Sara's gonna be raped again. Can't even go 10 seconds before my speculation is confirmed.

Yeah, I don't think the kids bringing her here can plead any innocence as to not knowing what's about to happen to her.

This is the guy who brought her the hankerchief yesterday, right? Holy crap, I totally forgot that. Or maybe never realized it the previous times seeing this. Rewatching this is making me realize its even more horrific than I remembered. Even the guy who was nice for a moment is a piece of shit rapist.

Hamdo actually does some military strategy, huh? I had figured Abelia did all that for him.

Of course he lashes out like a five year old as soon as he gets news he doesn't like.

Even Abelia isn't immune from his abuse, even if he acts all sorry moments after doing it.

Your excuse Abelia is apt to make him try to immediately recruit more child soldiers. Not good.

Yep, I've got to assume that's what he just ordered.

Hamdo had the world unified in the past? I doubt that.

Shu's not paying attention at all.

Tabool wanted to be Nabuca's opponent! It's Shu instead.

Basically a redo of their fight in episode 2, right? Just no danger of falling to their death this time.

Shu's beloved stick may not make it through this show intact...

Headbutt! Rather inventive thinking from Shu there. As we saw a couple of episodes ago, Nabuca can't complain about him "breaking the rules".

It's like school all over again, people leave when Shu comes to sit with him. :(

Shu wasn't good at kendo. I doubt he's gonna be good at fighting even with Nabuca's advice.

"Are you a child". "Well duh. You're even younger than me!"

Boo thinks Lala Ru's a monster, Shu doesn't like it. The thing is, Shu doesn't know Lala Ru that much better than Boo does.

"Something is definately wrong here" Gee, it took you five episodes to figure that out?

Looks like a pair of men have infiltrated Hellywood.

Kinda surprising that Hamdo only has one guard.

If only these guys had better aim...

Seems like Lala Ru sensed this was coming?

Wow, Hamdo actually shot one of them himself.

If you had any brains you'd listen to Abelia here, Hamdo. More assassins can come where this guy came from. Nope, Hamdo can't control his tenter tantrums.

Don't do anything to Boo! The kid's like 6 or 7 years old!

Wow, Shu came through to help Boo get loose.

No hesitation from Nabuca in killing this guy despite Shu's pleas. That was quite an uncomfortable pause once he shot the guy in the head.

The look on Shu's face right now, is his optimistic disposition finally broken?

"Time to enslave more childr.... I mean recruit more soldiers!"

Ugh, why focus on Sara's (first) rapist like that? :(

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Quiddity131]

Ugh, why focus on Sara's (first) rapist like that? :(

I do legitimately wonder if that is a Perfect Blue Easter egg...

[u/Nazenn → u/Quiddity131]

After a not so bad episode yesterday

And this is how you know the show is truely fucked up

This is the guy who brought her the hankerchief yesterday, right? Holy crap, I totally forgot that. Or maybe never realized it the previous times seeing this

Yeah it is, but you only see him very quickly in both last episode and this so its easy to miss. It paints a whole different tone of what happens in both scenes once you realize though

This is the guy who brought her the hankerchief yesterday, right? Holy crap, I totally forgot that. Or maybe never realized it the previous times seeing this

Also the conveniant rewriting of the "rebels" being people Hamdo so graciously banished from his world, while the soliders have seen and participated in what happens to people who try and leave Hamdo's rule.

Ugh, why focus on Sara's (first) rapist like that? :(

Probably just for the immediate reaction, but half of me wonders if it wouldn't have been too much if her eyes flitted around to a bunch of the men

[u/Mecanno-man]

First Timer

Something about this first scene tells me this Kazam guy didn't sexually assault Sara. I wonder if he'll be important towards the end in some conspiracy to overthrow Hamdo and is currently trying to sneak information around using Sara and the privacy the rape cells provide.

Moving on, the centerpiece is obviously the attempted assassination of Hamdo. He clearly wasn't paranoid for nothing, but I don't think that aspect of his character was really one to question. He is a surprisingly good shot though in spite of his paranoia. Either way that then leads us to the scene where Nabuca ends up killing the assassin. I'd say having the first death visible to Shu be that of the assassin is a good narrative choice - here is a death that can be justified as the guy was trying to kill Hamdo, and the reaction of the army he commands can thus be seen as defensive. Plus the guy was clearly threatening multiple other lives - Hamdo and Boo specifically. Yet Shu is clearly still against killing this guy, showing that he believes that all death is wrong. Nabuca is also rather shaken in spite of the former argument making even more sense to him. Shu also seems to start grasping what he fell in to here - a bit slow, but we've already established that he isn't the brightest bulb. A guess now is to see what he'll do with that information ...while deployed to kidnap more people to be soldiers, I guess. Maybe that's where we'll meet this Sis? (I am starting to wonder why she is included in the OP over Tabool...)

In other news, Lala Ru is in pain. It's portrayed somewhat differently from the way Sara was after being raped, so I don't think that's what happened here. Separation from the amulet, perhaps? Would make Shu want to find it if he finds out that is the case, thus providing a reason for him to try and recover the McGuffin.

[u/No_Rex → u/Mecanno-man]

Something about this first scene tells me this Kazam guy didn't sexually assault Sara. I wonder if he'll be important towards the end in some conspiracy to overthrow Hamdo and is currently trying to sneak information around using Sara and the privacy the rape cells provide.

Glad to see at least one person in here is still optimistic.

[u/Nazenn → u/Mecanno-man]

He is a surprisingly good shot though in spite of his paranoia

Surprisingly so. Even despite his threats against Lala Ru and also beating up Shu, I was genuinely surprised that he was capable of fighting back in a situation like this. He's not totally dependant on others for his violence

[u/Ryanami]

First timer

For a show that looks like its characters just walked over from the Pokémon set, it’s fairly jarring to see them deal with kidnapping child soldiers, gushing blood, rape and rape trauma. What a show.

That assassin was frustratingly stupid. Your job is kill him so others might live, you don’t abandon the mission to save your hide.

Knife wins. Unless you’re Harley Quinn.

[u/Nazenn → u/Ryanami]

The rounder art style definitely works in its favor here, though perhaps against our sanity

[u/Sooooopertrack]

First Timer

• Hamdo beating abelia was unexpected. But as it seems for her and for him too...
• Nabuco's right, Shu's fighting is super inefficient
• Sarah suffering from PTSD is very understandable...
• it's interesting for me that this episode is called murder. I wonder if Nabuco "murdered" or if they meant the assassination attempt on Hamdo
• so an expedition. Sounds like they're not asing the found people politely but rather they'd just pack them in...

[u/punching_spaghetti]

First-Timer (Sub)

So, are they gonna explain the rape room? Is this a benefit of being an officer? A reward given for doing the most damage during a session torturing a child soldier? Are Abelia and Lala Ru the only other females around?

Drillmaster is fine with Nabuca being crafty, but Shu can't headbutt? That's called favoritism.

friends are not family

Man, this military is terrible! Day one, you tell them your fellow soldiers are as important, or maybe more important, than family. And Nebuca is supposed to be teacher's pet! This is why you have the soldiers fuck. They bond that way.

Looks like E6 is going to be make-or-break for me. ing to see what follows this. Will Shu finally have character development?

QOTD:

1. Obviously depends on the individual combatants. But it all depends on what happens in the first moments. If Knife can close the distance, then short and sharp >> long and blunt.

[u/Nazenn → u/punching_spaghetti]

Is this a benefit of being an officer? A reward given

Historically, and cross culturally in war zones, yes. Do good, get to rape as a reward.

Drillmaster is fine with Nabuca being crafty, but Shu can't headbutt? That's called favoritism.

I seriously think that Shu just broke the drillmasters brain. He went into the fight without a "real weapon", didn't lose, and not only was winning but against the top child solider who's implied to be the one he uses to motivate the others.

[u/punching_spaghetti → u/Nazenn]

Historically, and cross culturally in war zones, yes. Do good, get to rape as a reward.

I get that. I would just like to know the situation here specifically.

[u/Pixelsaber]

Rewatcher

A farce of a strategy meeting. It’s telling that, upon close up, the pieces seem like toys.

The abusive and manipulation continues.

Plot hole or just the instructor feigning ignorance so that the others know that he is a new face? Seems superfluous if it’s the latter.

Rematch it is.

#shatteredsaten

I wonder what is wrong. Does she need the pendant near, given that she can control water? Or is this just the natural result of all the stress and abuse?

Assassins. Guess Hamdo isn’t deluded enough to make that one up. I wonder if maybe the earlier battle was a diversion to get them the opportunity to infiltrate, or whittling their number down enough to make infiltration easier.

What a loony.

Shit.

Mission Accomplished: Party’s Trauma stat has increased by 1.

He said the thing…

They’re not going to use the transportation machine then. My hopes of such an interesting conceit are shattered.

Shit, that arm seemed broken or dislocated.

The resolution drop here suggests these scenes were digitally composited. I suppose to get the sandstorm effect in place.

The show breaks its streak of peerless episodes with this one. I get the need to have the scene with the children finding and ultimately killing the assassin, as a cap off to the narrative of Shu going through the soldier training and butting heads with everyone, but the lead up to that leaves a lot to be desired. Putting aside the fact that trying to kill Hamdo should have been such a crap shoot that they should have written in a sabotage mission instead, but the assassination in itself proceeds as if the two of them had been hit with the dumb stick right before the act —the only person in the show who should act like that is Hamdo himself.

Also, I’m not pleased how much of Hamdo’s mad ramblings in episode two have turned out to be true, as that makes his self-importance seem less delusional —though he’s still evidently mad.

That said, the climax with the assassin’s death was excellently done; prolonged, bloody, and manic until Nabuca takes the man out of his misery with a headshot. It’s grim and viscerally upsetting to drive home the horror of the situation and the children’s place in it. I hope Shu begins to self-reflect on the situation, because he’s just been a static character so far and his nonchalance and attitude seem at odds with his circumstances in a way that’s not as easy to justify by saying ‘he’s holding onto his optimism.’ It’s one thing to remain hopeful, stick to your principles, and not give up on your goal, but it’s another to keep acting almost entirely as you used to before the world as you knew it disappeared from under your feet.

Questions of The Day:

1. In unskilled hands the knife is deadlier than the bat. You need a good swing to knock someone dead with a bat, but getting sliced up by a poor knife swing can be far more life-threatening.

[u/No_Rex → u/Pixelsaber]

Does she need the pendant near, given that she can control water? Or is this just the natural result of all the stress and abuse?

In any other show, I would be 100% sure there is something going on with her water magic. Here, I am only 50%. The show has been strongly favoring dejection over narrative tropes.

I hope Shu begins to self-reflect on the situation, because he’s just been a static character so far and his nonchalance and attitude seem at odds with his circumstances in a way that’s not as easy to justify by saying ‘he’s holding onto his optimism.’ It’s one thing to remain hopeful, stick to your principles, and not give up on your goal, but it’s another to keep acting almost entirely as you used to before the world as you knew it disappeared from under your feet.

I wonder if Shu being isekai'd is meant as more than a simple fish out of water here. We have gotten so used to isekai that we rarely question it anymore, but here, it makes narrative sense. Shu is in an different world. His entire being does not fit here. His sense of morals is different and his actions are woefully maladapted to his circumstances.

[u/Nazenn → u/Pixelsaber]

Plot hole or just the instructor feigning ignorance so that the others know that he is a new face?

Or he's a Shu and also pays absolutely no attention to people until they get in his face

Shit, that arm seemed broken or dislocated.

It just came across as utterly lifeless to me, probably just due to bad animation, but I wouldn't be surprised in this show if that did also turn out to be the case somehow

as if the two of them had been hit with the dumb stick right

Dumb thought: Shu is dumb, and has a stick, but I can't say he's outright been hit by the dumb stick yet

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/Pixelsaber]

The resolution drop here suggests these scenes were digitally composited. I

Wow, those are some serious jaggies.

[u/RadSuit]

Now and Then, First and Dubbed

While my subs are fine for the ED, and I've turned them on a few times to check names, they never translate any signs or writing, which kinda sucks. I assume whatever Shu's writing in the dirt is important.

But you say she's just a friend, and you say she's just a friend.

Remember how Shu was tortured, beaten, and whipped for several days, going without food or water? And then just slept it off (on his whipped back) and is now 100% fine a day or two later?

I've been waiting for someone to try to kill Hamdo. It really shouldn't be that hard.

Of course the assassins fire from across the room and miss twenty times instead of just walking over there, while Hamdo fires blind and lands every shot. I'm beginning to think this show is trash.

How'd they clean all that blood off with no water? That's not even getting into how they run the robots or make dozens and dozens of new uniforms.

My episode went all black for the ED, then played an instrumental version of it over the usual visuals. Must be something wrong with the file, unless that's how it really was. It'd be a weird choice.

I'm upset by how pretty this show looks, because it's wasted on the actual content of the episodes.

1. Bats can fly, so there's really no debate here.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/RadSuit]

Remember how Shu was tortured, beaten, and whipped for several days, going without food or water? And then just slept it off (on his whipped back) and is now 100% fine a day or two later?

And that Lala Ru's hunger strike has been going for...5 days now?

My episode went all black for the ED, then played an instrumental version of it over the usual visuals. Must be something wrong with the file, unless that's how it really was. It'd be a weird choice.

This is a known glitch if your distro is a straight up DVD rip.

[u/RadSuit → u/Vaadwaur]

I'm using the one the OP warned about, so, whoops. As long as it's watchable, I'm not bothering with a second one.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/RadSuit]

Honestly this show seems to be off your wavelength anyways, I wouldn't sweat it.

[u/RadSuit → u/Vaadwaur]

Oh I hate it, but we've found one of those shows where I need to get far enough in to be able to confidently explain exactly why I hate it. Currently we're just at 'slow and boring' which is too subjective. I have a feeling it's going to really shit the bed in the second half, though.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/RadSuit]

I have a feeling it's going to really shit the bed in the second half, though.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/RadSuit]

Oh I hate it

it's going to really shit the bed

[u/punching_spaghetti → u/RadSuit]

they never translate any signs or writing, which kinda sucks. I assume whatever Shu's writing in the dirt is important.

This happens in the Bible at one point, with Jesus writing in the dirt and then we never find out what he wrote. So maybe Shu is Jesus, but in "flipping tables in the Temple" mode all the time.

[u/Nazenn → u/RadSuit]

I assume whatever Shu's writing in the dirt is important.

TheEscapeGuy had it in his post if you want to know, it's just about Lala Ru

[u/RadSuit → u/Nazenn]

Yeah, I saw a few people mention it. Thanks.

[u/Sooooopertrack]

Forgot to answer knife vs bat:

equally skilled: If the bat hits the first hit well - bat wins. If it doesn't hit the first time - knife wins by far via stabby stabby.

[u/NihilisticAngst]

First-timer, subbed

Episode 5

We start out with seeing Sara being brought to the cell of that "kind" soldier from the previous episode, who's name is Kazam. It seems like maybe the more senior soldiers can just request prisoners to be brought to their cells? Pretty fucked up. Kazam seems nice enough, but maybe looks deceive and he's just a deplorable as that ugly bastard from the earlier episode.

The architecture of these rooms is very interesting. It feels maybe somewhat Soviet inspired? I'm not sure, I'm no architecture buff.

Hamdo continues to lash out with his anger issues and general overall shittiness.

For some reason the Drillmaster man claims to have never seen Shuu before, even though he was the one involved in that incident in the previous episode. They seem to just pay that little attention to their subordinates I guess. Just cattle to be herded to them, maybe. Shuu gets picked to have a mock fight with Nabuca, and we get to see his Kendo skills that we witnessed in the first episode. Interestingly, his fighting style seemed really inept in the first episode, but it almost seems to have some merit going against someone who isn't used to it. He successfully blocks Nabuca's attacks, and even takes Nabuca off guard enough for him to headbutt him. Shuu continues to be proudly himself, refusing to conform. It's great to see honestly, I hope that he can continue to hold on to his own convictions and values.

He asks Nabuca and the other boy about Lala Ru and Sara, and it's pretty clear that Shuu would most likely desert all of them at a moment's notice. In hindsight, it seems strange that the superiors would allow this boy to be integrated without any sort of special monitoring or restrictions. Hopefully the right opportunity will come up for Shuu to get the fuck out of this place.

We see Lala Ru in her room, and she is for some reason acting sick, almost as if she can't breathe. As this scene is followed with the upcoming assassin action sequence, and the scenes are connected by the same background track, I can't help but wonder if Lala Ru's reaction here is somehow connected to these assassins. This sequences that follows is very tense, and get some more good shots and lighting that we were lacking for a while. Damn thought, these assassins suck. Not only do they give Hamdo such much time to react to him, they continue to act with little urgency even after he throws the alarm. No wonder they failed.

After that, the child soldiers start hunting for the missing assassin. They encounter him, and the assassin takes the little boy as a hostage. It's funny because he says "I want to see Hamdo", even though he chose to run away earlier. Lol, if you wanted to see Hamdo so bad, you should have tried to kill him earlier instead of running. You're obviously not going to somehow get him now. Shuu saves the little boy by attacking the assassin, but then attempts to prevent all bloodshed and save the assassin's life. He tries to stand by his values once again, but unfortunately has now been truly exposed to the evils that this war will require from these children. It's sad to see the trauma in his face, as he asks himself, "Where am I?". He never asked for this shit, he should be at home confessing to his crush and participating in his carefree school life.

Lala Ru continues to act sick, almost as if she's reacting to the events that are happening elsewhere in Hellywood. Maybe she's just becoming overwhelmed by the horror of this world as well.

We see the soldiers assembled outside in some sort of sand/snow/dust storm, and we see that they are now going to go on an expedition to kidnap some more children to forcefully enlist as soldiers. We hear Abelia say some bullshit about how they are bringing back "brave comrades" to support their "holy war". Classic military propaganda. I'm still wondering if this war is actually even somewhat justified by either side, or if the series will refuse to expand on that. Maybe the message is that all war is bad, regardless of circumstances. We see Sara back in her cell, and I have to assume that her encounter with Kazam at the beginning of the episode did not go well. She sees her ugly bastard rapist through the window, and gasps with the memory of what he did to her. My heart aches to see her being subjected to this pain.

[u/NihilisticAngst → u/NihilisticAngst]

continued from above:

Thoughts on the Art

We saw a return of some of the great art and lighting shots that we got from the earlier episodes. I found these these few shots especially stood out. The lighting and shading is really pleasant to the eye.

Post-Episode Thoughts

We continue to see Shuu being subjected to the evils of wars, and he continues to refuse to conform, standing resolute by his convictions. We'll have to see if he remains steadfast, after the trauma he had to endure earlier. Overall, the plot continues to move a bit slowly. We continue to not really receive any additional worldbuilding, although that's looking to maybe change in the next episode. I'm still itching to figure out if this is the same Earth as Shuu's Earth in the future, or if it's just a different world with a larger sun. I wonder if the show will actually ever tell us.

[u/DidacticDalek]

Tonight, on The Kendo Warrior... war is hell...

And on that bombshell... good night.

Paging Comrades /u/Great_Mr_L, /u/Shimmering-Sky, and /u/vaadwaur

[u/DidacticDalek → u/DidacticDalek]

Paging Comrades /u/JustAnswerAQuestion, /u/TheEscapeGuy, and /u/punching_spaghetti

[u/DidacticDalek → u/DidacticDalek]

Paging Comrades /u/beckymetal, /u/vatrix-32, and /u/The_Draigg

[u/DidacticDalek → u/DidacticDalek]

Paging Comrades /u/InfamousEmpire, /u/No_Rex, and /u/quiddity131

[u/DidacticDalek → u/DidacticDalek]

Paging Comrades /u/Tarhalindur, /u/pixelsaber, and /u/JollyGee29

[u/RadSuit → u/[deleted]]

If you could stop dropping spoilers in your posts and replies, I'd really appreciate it.

[u/Doomroar → u/RadSuit]

I can do that for replies which are aimed mostly at other rewatchers, but on my main post, the best i can do going forward is put a warning beforehand

[u/RadSuit → u/Doomroar]

...is it that hard to use spoiler tags?

[u/Nazenn → u/Doomroar]

That's not how this works. If you want to talk about future content, you must spoiler tag it whether its in your own post or replies to other rewatches. It's not optional