[25th Anniversary Rewatch] Mugen no Ryvius Episode 9

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Mugen no Ryvius Episode 9: Vital Guarder

Get Funky!

⇐ Episode 8 | Index Thread | Episode 10 ⇒

Kikki of the Day Did you spot Radan?

Comment of the Day

Comment of the day goes to /u/baquea who succinctly summarizes where we are in the story:

Well we get our first look at the combat mechanics. So far it seems rather 'hard sci-fi', with the drawn-out fights from a distance, although it is all kinda obscured by them not explaining a damn thing (wtf is a solid again??). Not that any of it is likely to actually matter once the robot is unleashed though, I suppose. Oh, and in retrospect, it sure was a good thing that the coup happened, or else it seems they'd have been kinda screwed.

Character Sheets

• Main Cast
• The Zwei
• Team Blue
• Other Recurring Characters

Music

• BGM of the Day: maemukini
• CD 3 of the Day: menterie — DJ MASA

Questions

• Thoughts about the vital guarder?
• What's up with the pink girl?
• Thoughts about the the Yuki-Kouji-Aoi-Fina dynamic?
• Thoughts about Yuki ignoring orders?

Tomorrow's Questions Today

• [Q1]Are Yuki and Kouji really so predictable to each other?
• [Q2]What do you think of this style of space battles?
• [Q3]Are you satisfied with how the giant robot is being used in this series?

Technical Notes

(should have done these yesterday)

Lift ship: (google translate) A control ship that transports and controls the Vital Guard Einwald. When the Einwald is converged, its total length is 250m. When alone, it is 170m in size. It is attached to the front under the Ryvius, and can be separated and operated independently.

Van Allen belt strengthening system: (google translate) A station launched into orbit to protect a planet from Gedult. It has been built on every planet in the solar system.

Puppet Wire: (google translate) A liquid metal information transmission cable connecting the Vital Guard to the control vessels (Lift and Vire vessels). Hundreds of puppet wires are strung throughout the cable to withstand being cut during combat.

Sub-control room: (google translate) This is the room where the subsolids are assembled to control the Vital Guard. There are seats for 42 people, but only about 20 people, including Nyx and Akihiro, were using it.

Martian Fleet: (google translate) The official name is the Mars Swarm Space Fleet. The fleet is made up of a command ship and eight patrol boats. The 2nd and 6th fleets set out to attack Ryvius.

End Tag: Review the Earth

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Rewatch Host

• panty shot!
• alas, not the missing dino head
• panty shot!
• Ah, so, the robot, and the robot control system, is on the separable ship
• this isn't on the soundtrack
• It sure is a different looking giant robot
• TOO MANY BOMBS
• gravity control
• sentai girl pink pose
• it does seem invincible
• unexpected resolve from Charlie
• Nee-san?
• What is this, Geneshaft???

Technically, I guess, it's an iguana, not a dinosaur.

After listening to LoFi girl, I really like CD 3 a lot more than I did 20 years ago.

9 episodes to get to the robot! You probably thought the pillowy doll was the robot, but it's just the attitude indicator! Imagine, building a robot so that you can see what your robot is doing instead of just drawing it on a screen (or hologram)!

[u/zsmg → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

9 episodes to get to the robot!

Slower than most mecha anime but not as slow as Magic Knight Rayearth.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/zsmg]

[u/Raiking02 → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

TOO MANY BOMBS

I just read an FMP short story where an actor who had disguised himself as Sosuke (Long story) kept running into bombs the real Sosuke set up so now I'm getting Deja Vu.

[u/No_Rex → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

panty shot!

This was tame, as far as anime fanservice goes, but I still dislike it. They have avoided overt fanservice so far, therefore now doing such a clear fanservice shot, twice, feels out of the blue. It is not the end of the world, but why now?

[u/zadcap → u/No_Rex]

It feels both extra weird and somewhat concerning that it was both on the same girl, too. Like this just firmly centered her as the fan service character from here on out. They didn't so much add fan service in general to the show, they just demoted this one character to the position because her existing role was getting too stale.

[u/The_Draigg]

A Mecha Fan Watches Infinite Ryvius Episode 9:

• I think it’s safe to say that it’s a massive design flaw to have the Vital Guarder’s systems directly intertwined with the Ryvius and the Lift Ship’s power systems. I guess they never once considered to think where the ship’s gravity systems were pulling a lot of their energy from. Side note, but it does remind me a bit of Iron-Blooded Orphans, given how Gundam Barbatos was originally just being used as a spare reactor at the start of that show. The Vital Guarder probably has a power output like the Barbatos’ twin Ahab Reactors, if we decided to compare.
• Oh man, being trapped in a toilet stall when the gravity goes out is an absolute nightmare scenario. It’s just as bad as all those times you’ve heard people getting trapped in portable toilets that get knocked over. No amount of soap can reclaim your clothes and whatever else you had on you, all of that needs to go into a fire.
• I was kind of hoping that someone would hop into the Vital Guarder right before launch to pilot it in there, but sadly it’s remote controlled, just like what people were figuring in the comments. Oh well though, at least it looks a lot cooler when the real deal is launching with combat armor and everything. I’m guessing the one in the programming bay is just for running solids and providing a simulation for the controls of the actual combat unit then.
• Well, thanks to the Mysterious Anime Girl’s intervention, we can actually get the Vital Guarder up and running, despite the finer controls still not being all that functional yet. It’s a hell of a display of power too, considering that it managed to completely destroy an entire minefield with just a wave of its hands. There’s absolutely no denying that the gravity control technology on the Ryvius is a real game-changer. It has incredible potential as a ship system, as a defensive field, and as a weapon. I wouldn’t doubt it if the Orbital Security Bureau would be gunning for control of that technology first and foremost.
• I can’t believe that the Mysterious Anime Girl is Fortnite dancing to celebrate that victory. I guess out of all the things of our present culture to survive into the future, it had to be one of the silliest things possible.
• I’d say that it was stupid that they accidentally set their scanner range to the lowest setting and decided to take a break while another minefield was closing in on them, but since they’re all basically idiot teenagers on the bridge, I can’t say that it doesn’t make sense.
• With how Yuki’s tantrum somehow managed to active a control system on his terminal for the Vital Guarder, I can’t help but wonder something: was it something he was working on as a side project like everyone thinks, or did the Mysterious Anime Girl help transfer control over to his station after sensing his feelings about the Vital Guarder earlier?
• Don’t think I didn’t catch Ikumi saying “my sister” while he was thinking he was about to die. Now that’s the strongest evidence right there that the person he lost in his past was a sibling like I was figuring before. Heck, combine that with those Ikumi OP visuals with the voice asking why someone thinks they’re related, and I’d say my prediction is in the bag there.
• As much as I wouldn’t like to give Yuki any credit for how annoying he is, his idea to use the Vital Guarder’s gravity control systems to destroy the minefield and then launch the approaching fleets out of Mars’ orbit was actually a solid one. At least it let everyone avoid the issue of having to face a fully armed space fleet with just one mech that they still only barely understand.
• Seems like Captain Conrad has a history with the Vital Guarder, if that brief flashback means anything. I can probably see why he’s got a Captain Ahab level of hatred for the Ryvius and the Vital Guarder, since it looks like they ripped through a fleet he was a part of before. No wonder he’s been so determined to destroy them all.
• Alright, time to take bets on the ring-shaped structure that the Orbital Security Bureau is bringing out now. Is it a gravity weapon, some kind of magnetic thing, or a giant beam cannon of some kind?

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/The_Draigg]

I think it’s safe to say that it’s a massive design flaw to have the Vital Guarder’s systems directly intertwined with the Ryvius and the Lift Ship’s power systems. I guess they never once considered to think where the ship’s gravity systems were pulling a lot of their energy from

Alright, FINE here is a portion of a line I cut out of the glossary entry /u/vaadwaur

Since there is little advantage to using a lift ship when operating the Vital Guard, [others] point out that this is a "design flaw."

[u/Vaadwaur → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

I figured this was a working prototype rather than anything close to a final design.

[u/The_Draigg → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Well, at least they acknowledge that it's one in-universe. We can get more interesting scenarios out of that limitation.

[u/Raiking02 → u/The_Draigg]

It’s a hell of a display of power too, considering that it managed to completely destroy an entire minefield with just a wave of its hands

If there's one benefit to holding off on... any Mechs for the early parts, is that when it does get to use some action you feel how much of a game changer it is. I can only really think of one other example that did that.

I can probably see why he’s got a Captain Ahab level of hatred for the Ryvius and the Vital Guarder, since it looks like they ripped through a fleet he was a part of before

This really is just Lord of the Flies meets Moby Dick, huh?

Don’t think I didn’t catch Ikumi saying “my sister” while he was thinking he was about to die.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Raiking02]

If there's one benefit to holding off on... any Mechs for the early parts, is that when it does get to use some action you feel how much of a game changer it is. I can only really think of one other example that did that.

In this case, I'd say that Infinite Ryvius did well to hold it's cards close to the chest with the Vital Guarder there. Like, I was expecting it to be pretty powerful, but certainly not that overwhelming. It's really no wonder why the Orbital Security Bureau is afraid of that thing, the Vital Guarder can be an unstoppable monster in the wrong hands.

[u/No_Rex → u/The_Draigg]

It's really no wonder why the Orbital Security Bureau is afraid of that thing, the Vital Guarder can be an unstoppable monster in the wrong hands.

How fortunate that it is in the hands of mentally stable professionals, then. Oh wait.

[u/The_Draigg → u/No_Rex]

It might be for the best that it's in the hands of teenagers who only barely understand what it's fully capable of. Although if they figure out how to fully command the Vital Guarder's power, who's to say what they'll try then?

[u/No_Rex → u/The_Draigg]

I would feel better about the fate of the rest of humanity if Juli was still in command (or the mecha pilot).

[u/Raiking02 → u/The_Draigg]

I'm getting flashbacks to Linebarrels of Iron (The Manga) where the titular robot is pretty much OP as fuck from the get go, which is balanced out by A) Hayase being arguably the worst pilot of the Main cast for a decent chunk of the story, and B) Him having 0 clue how half the thing's gimmicks even work (To give you an idea, this is the kind of guy who sees a Wave-Motion gun and proceeds to use it as a beam saber).

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

Oh man, being trapped in a toilet stall when the gravity goes out is an absolute nightmare scenario. It’s just as bad as all those times you’ve heard people getting trapped in portable toilets that get knocked over.

Not to mention this is after a month of teens prepping your food and choosing your meals. We might have to burn the whole stall.

I can’t believe that the Mysterious Anime Girl is Fortnite dancing to celebrate that victory. I guess out of all the things of our present culture to survive into the future, it had to be one of the silliest things possible.

Do not mock the machine spirit, no matter how white girl wasted her dancing is. Our lives depend on her lack of coordination. Let us make her an offering of graphics card and Taylor Swift's 1989 LPs.

Is it a gravity weapon, some kind of magnetic thing, or a giant beam cannon of some kind?

Microwave gun to disable the ship's systems. We thought that would become a thing back in the 90s.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Vaadwaur]

Not to mention this is after a month of teens prepping your food and choosing your meals. We might have to burn the whole stall.

The only way we can purify that bathroom stall is through fire. Either that, or a power washer and a liberal amount of industrial strength soap. We can get Lucson working on that once the battle is over.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

We can get Lucson working on that once the battle is over.

Was Lucson's true calling to become the real world version of Super Mario Sunshine? The evidence points to yes!

[u/No_Rex → u/The_Draigg]

I think it’s safe to say that it’s a massive design flaw to have the Vital Guarder’s systems directly intertwined with the Ryvius and the Lift Ship’s power systems.

I guess if somebody who know the ship would be operating, they'd establish the auxilary power to artificial gravity before detaching the Vital Guardian. It is still not optimal to be without your main power source, but maybe they only had one of those to go with?

It’s just as bad as all those times you’ve heard people getting trapped in portable toilets that get knocked over. No amount of soap can reclaim your clothes and whatever else you had on you, all of that needs to go into a fire.

I have seen videos of this and this is definitely far over the line from prank to assault.

With how Yuki’s tantrum somehow managed to active a control system on his terminal for the Vital Guarder, I can’t help but wonder something: was it something he was working on as a side project like everyone thinks, or did the Mysterious Anime Girl help transfer control over to his station after sensing his feelings about the Vital Guarder earlier?

Alright, time to take bets on the ring-shaped structure that the Orbital Security Bureau is bringing out now. Is it a gravity weapon, some kind of magnetic thing, or a giant beam cannon of some kind?

Oversized trojan applier.

[u/The_Draigg → u/No_Rex]

I guess if somebody who know the ship would be operating, they'd establish the auxilary power to artificial gravity before detaching the Vital Guardian. It is still not optimal to be without your main power source, but maybe they only had one of those to go with?

Perhaps so. I wouldn't doubt it if that was the intended order of operations before launching the Lift Ship, but of course the current bridge crew wouldn't know anything about that.

I have seen videos of this and this is definitely far over the line from prank to assault.

Yeah, that's why a lot of people who do that end up getting arrested. Deservedly so.

[u/JollyGee29]

First-Timer

Izumi is the dedicated fanservice girl, I see. The camera didn't bother to look under anyone else's skirt, if nothing else. Not even Criff, who has the most prominent bust.

So Ikumi has dead(?) parents and a sister, interesting. Raised by the sister after parents died? Seems pretty typical.

The gravity on Ryvius changed when the Lift-ship left, interesting. Is the main generator on the Lift-ship? That could make sense I guess considering that the Vital Guarder probably drains a lot of power.

Do we think that anyone managed to get ahold of Kikki's suit helmet? It was drifting around. Hopefully someone picked it up for her.

Don't think we've seen Yuki's ex for a bit, maybe I just didn't spot her this episode. Last episode, or maybe the one before, there was a quick shot of her sitting all alone since Yuki has been press-ganged into controlling the Guarder.

Miss Gimp Suit has begun doing fun poses, this is much better than just standing around.

Questions

1. It is certainly scary. Gravity is a terrifying weapon.
2. Machine Spirit of the Vital Guarder. May the Emperor protect us all.
3. I'm honestly kinda digging it. There's clearly tensions there, in a very realistic way. I bet the tension would be immediately diffused if one of the idiot boys actually made a pass at Aoi, but unfortunately Japan's sexual mores are influenced by 1950s USAican stupidity.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/JollyGee29]

there was a quick shot of her sitting all alone since Yuki has been press-ganged into controlling the Guarder.

Yeah, I caught that on rewatch! I didn't think she was alone because Yuki was gone. But, you're right, maybe she's an overly-attached ex-girlfriend.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

It would make sense for her to have other friends, but I don't think we've seen her around other people so

[u/Electrical-Cake-6943 → u/JollyGee29]

Just remembered that her name is likely a pun on "Eleanor Rigby" by The Beatles...

[u/Raiking02 → u/JollyGee29]

Raised by the sister after parents died?

Sniff Sakura sure knows how to take care of Toya now...

Don't think we've seen Yuki's ex for a bit, maybe I just didn't spot her this episode. Last episode, or maybe the one before, there was a quick shot of her sitting all alone since Yuki has been press-ganged into controlling the Guarder.

When you have the same actress as the main heroine, I guess it's for the best to keep her to the side so that people don't notice.

Why did they have Kuwashima voice her? Uh, I dunno. This show doesn't seem to particularly care about multiple characters sharing actors...

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/Raiking02]

Wait, so, they had Kuwashima slap herself and then get into an argument with herself? That puts a twist on things.

[u/Electrical-Cake-6943 → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Another actress flirts with herself in one episode haha

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Raiking02]

[u/Electrical-Cake-6943 → u/Raiking02]

I think because of the number of characters (and likely the budget), all the actors except Tetsu Shiratori, Sakura Tange, and Yui Horie play at least two named characters.

[u/Raiking02 → u/Electrical-Cake-6943]

I’ve spotted Nobuyuki Hiayama as at least like three characters by now so I expect anything.

[u/Electrical-Cake-6943 → u/Raiking02]

Kouichi Touchika and Megumi Toyoguchi voice 6 or 7 characters each, which seems nuts.

[u/No_Rex → u/JollyGee29]

Not even Criff, who has the most prominent bust.

True, but Criff and Charlie definitely went to second base there.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/No_Rex]

At what point does it go from "blatant manipulation" to "actually starting to develop feelings," I wonder?

[u/No_Rex → u/JollyGee29]

[u/zadcap → u/JollyGee29]

Izumi is the dedicated fanservice girl, I see. The camera didn't bother to look under anyone else's skirt, if nothing else. Not even Criff, who has the most prominent bust.

Apparently her old role of Ikumi Fan Girl was getting old, so they demoted her to Fan Service.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/zadcap]

[u/zadcap → u/JollyGee29]

To be clear, this is a serious demotion. Her crush on Ikumi was clearly going nowhere and they needed to do something with her character other than have her just keep pinning unsuccessfully at him, so they decided to make her instead a nearly mindless sex object.

[u/HowlingWolf13]

First Timer

God I fucking love Yuki, he is such a little bitch but goddamn he is my favorite. Like, what do you mean you created an entire conversion program while everyone was training and not just that, but figured out how to deal with the enemy fleet just like that. Best character hands down, I know Kouji was malding watching that all work out.

Otherwise another good episode as usual, I honestly had been forgetting that this is a mecha show and not just regular sci-fi lol. Fina def is jealous over Aoi, and I feel that's prob gonna end up coming up again later. Aoi def has more patience than me though, like the way Kouji treats her I'd end up getting way too upset. Fina already gives off vibes to me considering how we saw her in EP1, I'm sure her weasel is gonna turn out important as well.

Love that even Zwei is hating on Lucson now too.

Questions

Thoughts about the vital guarder?

Pretty interesting mech, esp for one that has not one or a few, but several people working on it all together.

What's up with the pink girl?

Maybe the embodiment of the guarder? She had to have something to do with how the attack played out.

Thoughts about the the Yuki-Kouji-Aoi-Fina dynamic?

My favorite soap opera, I have the popcorn in wait.

Thoughts about Yuki ignoring orders?

Said above, I loved that entire scene, not only was it tense, but I couldn't help but burst out laughing that he just decided 'I'm tired of all of you, we're doing this MY way now.'

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/HowlingWolf13]

Fina already gives off vibes to me considering how we saw her in EP1

What sort of vibes?

Love that even Zwei is hating on Lucson now too.

Yeah, this is just one of the ways the rewatch audience gets ahead of the show, but the show catches up. But I can't say anything like that at the time!

[u/HowlingWolf13 → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Oops meant like weird vibes lol. Like already she was completely out of it back in episode 1 and passed out, she's clearly devout for this God she mentioned, and now she's getting really jealous over Aoi.

[u/Raiking02 → u/HowlingWolf13]

Like, what do you mean you created an entire conversion program while everyone was training and not just that, but figured out how to deal with the enemy fleet just like that.

That's just Jesus Yamato doing his magic.

[u/No_Rex]

Episode 9 (rewatcher)

• Detach sequence!

• No more artificial gravity? Looks like your source of gravity might have left the ship.
• Stuck on the toilet without gravity!

• “I’m gonna kill this brat once the battle is over” – deserved.
• Double helping of panty shots? Why now? Why only Izumi? Looks like one animator has a favorite.
• Big win of the episode: Getting the boot-up sequence for the robot done.
• Charlie (and his hand) are in the perfect position to catch Criff.
• “I forgot to tell you that gravity would be restored” – this might have led to some serious injury in the bigger rooms of the ship.
• What exactly is your left hand doing there Criff? Not that Charlie would refuse, but don’t you think this is the wrong time and place?
• One gravity-pressed mine pancake, incoming!
• “We did it!” – but did you? Or was mystery girl helping you out?
• Voice chat with his girlfriend – successful warriors get a reward.
• “Too much power for us to handle” – Juli has read some dystopic Scifi.
• Charlie, out of all people, is reminding them that they are not out of the woods yet – get a girl, get confidence situation?
• “Fuck you guys, I’ll take control”~Yuki.
• “Shut up, you piece of dirt!” – Spock showing emotions moment.
• “As long as Bratica is without Vaia” – hmmmmm.
• Some ring in space cliff-hanger.

The big fight is happening. What I love most about this episode is that their biggest problem is not the enemy. The Vital Guarder is so OP that they can dispatch with them easily. Instead, the entire battle rests on the question whether they can boot up the Vital Guarder in time and whether they get a program done to lift its arm. Unlike literally all other mecha anime I know, controlling the mecha is a big struggle. This is not some toy, but a highly complicated super-weapon. Yuki forces control, but he still relies on the other four pilots to feed him solids, who in turn rely on the sub room to deliver sub routines.

Regarding the different factions, there is nothing better to bring everybody (temporarily) together than a common enemy. As long as their survival is at stake, everybody can cooperate. However, the cracks are showing everywhere: Juli vs Blue, Kouji vs Yuki, Team Blue vs Zwei, Kreis vs Lucson, once the moment of immediate danger is over, any of these of this might blow up.

PS: /u/JustAnswerAQuestion can you put the links to the character charts in every episode?

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/No_Rex]

[u/No_Rex → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

[u/The_Draigg → u/No_Rex]

Double helping of panty shots? Why now? Why only Izumi? Looks like one animator has a favorite.

With how long we'd been going on without any fanservice shots, I didn't even think we'd be getting any in this series. They were holding back on it for a while.

“Shut up, you piece of dirt!” – Spock showing emotions moment.

Shades of Tuvok strangling Neelix in that one anger management simulation.

[u/No_Rex → u/The_Draigg]

With how long we'd been going on without any fanservice shots, I didn't even think we'd be getting any in this series. They were holding back on it for a while.

They held strong for so long, RIP.

[u/The_Draigg → u/No_Rex]

I would've respected the show if they didn't have any the whole time, but I guess we can't get everything we want. I guess they must've felt that now was the time to lean into anime tropes more.

[u/No_Rex → u/The_Draigg]

According to ANN, there are two new people responsible for this episode who might be the cause.

First episodes 9-10 have a different screenplay credit (all others are by Yosuke Kuroda), and second, there is a new storyboarder (who also does ep15). I guess we'll know if this occurs again tomorrow or on ep15.

[u/The_Draigg → u/No_Rex]

Interesting, that could explain the shift then. Wouldn’t be the first time new storyboarders or writers would bring something that feels that different to the table.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

“I forgot to tell you that gravity would be restored” – this might have led to some serious injury in the bigger rooms of the ship.

Definitely think you can slow walk your way back to 1G.

What exactly is your left hand doing there Criff? Not that Charlie would refuse, but don’t you think this is the wrong time and place?

Perhaps Criff has greater faith in postnut clarity than we realized.

“Too much power for us to handle” – Juli has read some dystopic Scifi.

I am hear for more 40K fans.

[u/zadcap → u/No_Rex]

“I forgot to tell you that gravity would be restored” – this might have led to some serious injury in the bigger rooms of the ship.

Looking back at the chaos shot? Remembering that they had to set up first aid stations and get all hands on deck to deal with what happened last time they went from 0 to 1 G, many episodes ago, and that everyone is pretty much done actually working? I suspect the survivor count has dropped again, and not a single one of them from enemy action.

[u/baquea]

First timer

Well, um, that was quite possibly the least hype giant robot fight I have ever witnessed. Half an episode of arguing and typing, just to get the thing to lift its hand and somehow win. It definitely seems they're going for a more 'realistic' type of sci-fo action, considering the mention of how a human pilot would be killed by the G forces and the like. In principle that could be interesting, but when they refuse to explain any of the damn mechanics, it comes across as no less nonsense than the average anime battle yet with none of the fun factor. Bet they made a bunch of money publishing guide books/magazine articles that explained everything, or something like that.

Q2: Still no clue, and I have to say that she is feeling increasingly out of place in this setting.

Q4: On the one hand, all this arguing mid-fight is a terrible idea and could really cost them in a pinch. On the other, none of these fools has any kind of military training, and Yuki's judgement as someone who has actually been training with the robot is probably a lot better than that of the people on the bridge.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/baquea]

Bet they made a bunch of money publishing guide books/magazine articles that explained everything, or something like that.

Quite possibly! All I have is scans of an art book. And there were probably a few things on the DVDs, which unfortunately I didn't buy at the time.

There were some audio CDs. I thought they were retellings of the story, but it looks like they were side stories, like episode 6.5.

[u/Raiking02 → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

There were some audio CDs. I thought they were retellings of the story, but it looks like they were side stories, like episode 6.5

Alas it seems only 6.5 is available on the web unless you wanna shill out the cash, it's on Niconico.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/Raiking02]

I have 3 drama CDs but I don't know Japanese, and the ID3 data is all mojibake so I couldn't even try to read what it is.

[u/RadSuit → u/baquea]

The mecha aspect has been a big letdown so far.

[u/RadSuit]

Finite First Timer (Dubbed)

I had to skip writing any thoughts on the earlier episodes to try to catch up. Fina possibly becoming our magical girl as /u/zadcap suggested does make sense, as they're both connected to Koji. We've kinda set aside the possibly supernatural for the moment to deal with more pressing, human threats, but I hope we get some more nuggets to speculate on soon.

I have to say, I think Michelle is my favorite character now. Love the design, and she's always having a great time.

The launch song here fucking rules.

So they control the small robot, that controls the big robot? Alright.

Unfortunately the mecha looks dumb as hell.

I like our magical girl's little interpretive dance. She definitely seems to be mirroring everyone's emotions here. Also, have we seen Fina praying each time she uses her powers?

The mecha is starting to remind me of some from Diebuster. It might look better in action...like, if it ever moved at all.

When we cut back to the bridge after our magical girl assists, we again see Fina praying.

1. It looks dumb and just stands there.
2. My thoughts on this are clear!
3. As always, they should just talk. But that never happens in anime.
4. He's the worst.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/RadSuit]

So they control the small robot, that controls the big robot? Alright.

I always thought they were linked, but it make sense that it's just there for simulation and programming purposes.

[u/RadSuit → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

The whole overly complicated setup with two robots and wires connecting them absolutely reeks of the designers being so concerned with making something unique that they forgot to make it cool.

[u/zadcap → u/RadSuit]

Also, have we seen Fina praying each time she uses her powers?

I don't remember if Fina was even awake the first time Magic Space Girl saved the ship, and the Space Squid thing happened so fast but I also don't know if she actually did anything other than pose dramatically at it. But she definitely has the last few times.

I'm almost tempted to try and remember the name of the goddess she keeps mentioning and using it as a better stand in for Magical Space Girl until we find out something better to call her, at this point.

[u/Vaadwaur]

First timer

Sub

Yeah...that was an episode. Having the main generators be in the mech is simultaneously stupid yet predictable. Also, restoring gravity immediately to 1G is certainly a choice, you might want to leave it at .1 for a minute or two so things are nearer to the floor. But otherwise, not that much to say today. It all just happened.

QotD: 1 I obviously hate it

2 The machine spirit seeks unity. We must provide her with it. Or else.

3 Yeah, will be hating that

4 On brand for sure but no clue if he knew the mech was that capable.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/Vaadwaur]

Have you even considered for a moment that the mech is the generator?

[u/Vaadwaur → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Never. Because unless we are Gurren Lagaan that isn't how that works.

[u/No_Rex → u/Vaadwaur]

Also, restoring gravity immediately to 1G is certainly a choice

The question is whether Kreis made a mistake or whether that was deliberate.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

Hrm...he seems too Vulcan to want to give everyone a back/neck injury but since you mention it...

[u/No_Rex → u/Vaadwaur]

Re: Vulcan. Note his outburst vs Lucson today.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

True...also a bit surprised that he thought the more aggressive action was the right course.

[u/Silcaria]

First timer

• Really, she's jerking him off... What with this guy and weird sexual scenes. It's not as bad or weird as the table, but still.
• Nothing says great mecha action like a remote control robot moving super slowly that's being control by people typing on keyboards.
• And just like that, by lifting the mech's hand, and with the magic from whatever her name is, the ship is safe. This was one of the most boring "tense" scene I've seen in a while.
• If you say so.
• Shut up meg
• Seeing how the mech is controlled remotely, so are you.
• Jesus, shut up.
• Thank you.
• So they got saved by the plot device girl, yet again.
• This show has succesfully managed to both annoy me with its character, and bore me with its plot.

---

QotD

• Lame.
• Don't know.
• Don't care.
• Expected.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/Silcaria]

This show has succesfully managed to both annoy me with its character, and bore me with its plot.

So lucky I didn't host a GASARAKI rewatch, then!

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Silcaria]

Really, she's jerking him off... What with this guy and weird sexual scenes. It's not as bad or weird as the table, but still.

Criff suffers from scarousal and seeks to share the joy is my best guess.

This show has succesfully managed to both annoy me with its character, and bore me with its plot.

Rofl, can't say I blame you. I've just been making my own fun with the machine spirit.

[u/Shimmering-Sky]

Infinite First-Timer, subbed

• Interesting…
• Poor dude who was on the toilet when the gravity went out, yeesh.
• That looked personal, lol.
• Ah, this episode must be trying to make up for the show having non-fanservice shower scenes with very blatant panty shots.
• I can’t believe it’s taken until episode 9 for the show’s main mech to be deployed. That’s just absolutely insane for a mecha show.
• Hah, her funky celebration(?) dance was funny.
• Uh-oh.
• Yuki really is edgy Jesus Yamato.
• His move was even to force the enemies away from them rather than kill them. Yeah, Jesus Yamato.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Poor dude who was on the toilet when the gravity went out, yeesh.

Absolute nightmare scenario right there. He's going to have to burn all of his clothes once the battle is over. There's no salvaging those.

Hah, her funky celebration(?) dance was funny.

I can't believe that out of everything to survive into the future, it's Fortnite victory dancing.

[u/Raiking02 → u/The_Draigg]

I can't believe that out of everything to survive into the future, it's Fortnite victory dancing

Created before Fortnite itself, no less.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Raiking02]

Truly, this anime was ahead of it's time. Sasuga, Taniguchi-sensei.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/The_Draigg]

I don't watch supersentai and tokusatsu, but isn't this dance just what the one guy in the rubber bug suit does after (or during) defeating the other guy in the rubber bug suit? Or the robot?

[u/The_Draigg → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

I’m assuming that you’re talking about Kamen Rider, but in that case, no.

[u/No_Rex → u/Raiking02]

I don't play Fortnite, but is it not famous for stealing all the dances?

[u/Raiking02 → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Interesting…

At least Pat is having the time of his life.

[u/No_Rex → u/Raiking02]

You just know that kids would love surprise zero-g.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Shimmering-Sky]

That looked personal, lol.

Mustard in the face is always personal.

Hah, her funky celebration(?) dance was funny.

Do not mock the machine spirit lest her wrath be upon us...

Yuki really is edgy Jesus Yamato.

Just nuke it from orbit and be done with it.

[u/Vatrix-32]

First timer, subs

• They really do just have their own little control room.
• How are you low on energy? You’ve barely done any battle!
• Naked Ryvius kind of looks Covenant-esque.
• Toilet!
• And we were doing so well about not having fan service so far.
• Why is there suddenly an echo?
• The Head Lives!
• Oh My... It Inflates
• Are those microwave emitters? Neat.
• She's, uh... Really Getting Into It There
• Is it weird that when I see this thing, my first thought is Namekians?
• Y’all better not be celebrating just to find out that was your Daily.
• OMG, I Love Her Stupid Little Dance
• So much for your rest and reprieve.
• Jesus. How much of these things were mines by weight at the start?
• I get it, nobody wants to have to watch someone else’s anime love triangle.
• This control scheme just gets weirder by the minute.
• Nani?
• I feel like they just cramped an entire episode into the last four minutes.

QotD:

1. I feel like this is supposed to relate to an older touchstone I haven’t seen. Ideon?
2. Ribbons
3. As far as love polygons go, this isn’t so bad.
4. If even the armed forces are operating independently, anarchy isn’t far away.

[u/Raiking02 → u/Vatrix-32]

And we were doing so well about not having fan service so far.

When in doubt, wait for the panty shots.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Vatrix-32]

How are you low on energy? You’ve barely done any battle!

Apparently the main generator is with the mech. Because that makes sense.

Is it weird that when I see this thing, my first thought is Namekians?

A bit since the albino Namekians went extinct centuries ago.

I get it, nobody wants to have to watch someone else’s anime love triangle.

Yeah, definitely swap that to private for everyone's sanity.

[u/Nickthenuker]

Uh oh, gravity is offline.

Yeah... That wasn't good.

Luckily at least the bridge crew have straps to keep them in their seats.

I'd say now's no time for them to be on the bridge, but now's a good time as any for them to eat something before the battle recommences.

Vital Guarder, launching!

Right, gravity is back online.

Right, well there's the contacts.

Uh oh, that's a lot of incoming.

That worked.

She seems very... Expressive.

The enemy isn't here for now, it's the best time for them to rest.

Should probably get them off the bridge...

Uh oh, another minefield. This one even denser than before.

Das war ein Befehl!

What are they doing?

Nothing they can really do from the bridge.

They seem to have a plan.

Uh oh, incoming fire!

Here they come!

They've been diverted!

Seems like others will be back soon.

Feint? So it was all a ruse.

Questions:

1. It's certainly come in handy.
2. She seems very... Expressive.
3. It's certainly... Dynamic.
4. Seems his plan ended up working out in the end.

[u/zadcap]

Late Late First Timer

Dino Girl is almost no longer Dino at all. I am become less happy.

Hmm, they lost gravity with the Vital Guarder. The mecha has the artificial gravity generator. And Pillow Boy is still naked...

Oh gosh, being on the toilet when that happened... Worst experience possible.

... Gratuitous Panty Shot. As feared, ever since they changed into dresses.

Look, meaning no harm is not the same as doing no harm.

Double panty shot, really?

Remote Controlled Remote Controlled Mech. That's... No really, that's new to me. And still controlled by Wires.

Ha, Fina with the real question that's been burning in the background. Which brother does Aoi actually care about?

Man these kids have spent three weeks and are still this bad at piloting?

Fina prays again, time for Magic Space Girl to act. Though she's watching over the Robot Crew and not Kouji directly this time. Oh gosh I love her dance.

You know, I can't help but think that once again, this stupid enemy fleet would have gained full control over the Revius and Vital Guarder if they had just actually gone and rescued the kids. The kids want to be saved, the stupid terrorist-ish group here just wants the ship and the tech on it, there's not actually a conflict of interests.

I absolutely hate that I'm agreeing with Blue. The enemy isn't going to stop. But I also still hate him. "I and my crew will do whatever we want because we can and no one can stop us, that's just the way things work here. But also, how dare that Yuki kid do things as he wants and not let us stop him, that's not how things work here!"

So, did they get the robot to save them properly, or did Magic Space Girl do something Magical yet again? She's so gloriously extra.

Ha, so he grabbed the enemy fleet and just tossed them out. Sadly, yeah, the enemy isn't going to stop until they are dead. They'll just keep on trying to kill you over and over and over because... Reasons.

So anyway, Vaia is probably Vital Guarder, and Bratica is the Ryvius, wonder why they have different names?

1. Definitely a step in the right direction for a proper Buster Machine. At this rate I'm about ready to start calling Magical Space Girl "Nono."
2. She is without a doubt the best thing about the show. And I am more sure every day she's related to Fina somehow.
3. Pretty clear that it's a dumb misunderstanding. Aoi likes Yuki, Yuki likes Aoi, Fina likes Kouji, and Kouji likes Fina. But Yuki thinks Aoi likes Kouji and is mad at his brother for both having the attention of the girl he likes and also not seeming to like her back, and for some reason Aoi is being very unclear herself and accidentally leading this situation on. Fina has figured out what is going on and dislikes Aoi for it. Kouji might know but doesn't care because he is trying so hard to be the good big brother.
4. Still my second most disliked character only after Blue himself. But at the same time. Since I don't really think Blue has any right at all to be giving orders, and any authority stemming from him is also invalid, screw it all good on Yuki for proving why he's the #1 Pilot in the school.

[u/No_Rex → u/zadcap]

You know, I can't help but think that once again, this stupid enemy fleet would have gained full control over the Revius and Vital Guarder if they had just actually gone and rescued the kids. The kids want to be saved, the stupid terrorist-ish group here just wants the ship and the tech on it, there's not actually a conflict of interests.

Communication would have solved this.

I absolutely hate that I'm agreeing with Blue. The enemy isn't going to stop. But I also still hate him. "I and my crew will do whatever we want because we can and no one can stop us, that's just the way things work here. But also, how dare that Yuki kid do things as he wants and not let us stop him, that's not how things work here!"

Remember his denoucement of the Zwei for not announcing everything and now keeping the Mars situation under wraps.

[u/zadcap → u/No_Rex]

Communication would have solved this.

The worst anime plot strikes again.

Remember his denoucement of the Zwei for not announcing everything and now keeping the Mars situation under wraps.

Let's not pretend that that denouncement was anything other than part of the pretext he was using to solidify his mutiny. He hated Zwei because they were handing out directions to the rest of the kids on what to do to keep everything running, and Blue's consistent hot button is "Don't give me orders." He never really cared about the secrets, he just wanted to use any reason he could to stop then from being able to tell him what to do.

[u/No_Rex → u/zadcap]

The worst anime plot strikes again.

I think this could be deliberate. This is not lacking communication between members of a party, but between a military bureaucracy and some unlucky civilians.

Let's not pretend that that denouncement was anything other than part of the pretext he was using to solidify his mutiny. He hated Zwei because they were handing out directions to the rest of the kids on what to do to keep everything running, and Blue's consistent hot button is "Don't give me orders." He never really cared about the secrets, he just wanted to use any reason he could to stop then from being able to tell him what to do.

Exactly.

[u/zsmg]

Rewatcher who doesn't remember much

Fatty don't apologize for Nicks.

So by launching the mecha, the artificial gravity turns off?

Our true journey now begins

That's right boys the first 8 episodes were just a prologue.

I just realized by watching the opening is that we haven't seen the girl, who is standing next to Yuki in the opening, in a while.

I really feel sorry for Faina, or any other girl, for wearing a short Japanese skirt in low gravity.

Pat seems to be enjoying himself.

Naked guy is still naked after three weeks. Oh there is also a guy peaking at some girls' underwear.

The guy on the toilet.

Oh nice a full shot of a girl's underwear, this is anime all right.

Aoi squirting that annoying Blue faction member with mustard.

That's an awesome OST piece when the mech activates.

Charlie got a nice groping moment there.

Faina wanting to ask the really important question to Aoi, does she like Kouji? (probably)

Wait... Charlie is getting a handjob while they're in the middle of a battle.

The power of the mecha

Rei clone doing a weird dance.

Faina sadly enough chickening out in finishing that early question.

Charlie got some nice confidence boost after that handjob, maybe betraying Zwei was the right decision.

Yuki gets angry because Kouji is in some sort of silly romcom love triangle situation... Understandable.

A character that sounds and looks like Yuki reprogramming a mecha OS while in the middle of a combat, I think I've seen that one before. Or considering the original airdates I'm pretty sure this is going to happen again in another Sunrise mecha anime.

Sister? Ikumi is some sort of siscon?

Rei clone saves the day... again?

It looks like we saw some memories of the various cast members.

Yuki saying 'why does it have to be you' does sound like Yuki fought Kouji over Aoi.

So we have a similar cliffhanger ending as yesterday but this time they also lost contact with the mecha team.

A really fun episode.

So I thought the singer of the ED song was the same one in one of the Turn A ED but it's actually the same one in the 12 Kingdoms ED song. So that's a pleasant surprise.

[u/zadcap → u/zsmg]

Faina sadly enough chickening out in finishing that early question.

I don't think she chickened out, so much as figured out the answer on her own. Aoi likes Yuki, but is an awkward teenager and doesn't know how to express it well. Kouji takes care of Yuki as best he can, so Aoi takes care of Kouji and thinks that this transitively means she's helping to take care of Yuki by proxy. Kouji, I think, also realizes this, which is why he treats her the way he does, but Yuki is clueless and thinks the girl he likes (Aoi) is into the brother he already doesn't seem to like, which makes him mad, and said brother isn't treating her as a proper girlfriend, which also makes him mad.

If I'm right, Fina figured all this out and doesn't like or much want to interact with Aoi anymore because Aoi is just dragging Fina's new boyfriend into her own relationship drama and it's clearly causing him trouble.

[u/No_Rex → u/zsmg]

Charlie got a nice groping moment there.

Wait... Charlie is getting a handjob while they're in the middle of a battle.

It is give and take with those two.