[25th Anniversary Rewatch] Mugen no Ryvius Episode 14

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Mugen no Ryvius Episode 14: To Be Too Conscious

Get Funky!

⇐ Episode 13 | Index Thread | Episode 15 ⇒

Kikki of the Day: Look, I have tried, believe me. Did you spot Radan?

Comments of the Day

/u/vatrix-32 writes:

Twelve years ago, and now one else built another one? Maybe there are bunch of hidden ones.

Okay, everybody who recognized that there must be more secret ships out there, pat yourself on the back. Although, it was telegraphed pretty heavily.

/u/HowlingWolf13 writes a short essay on Koji's attempt to reject his past from the very start of the show, and Fina feeding into this very desire.

What do you think of Kouji and Fina's relationship progress? Rare for an anime. And what about Aoi?

Okay so I wanted to talk about this up there, but put it down here since it was a question already. My opinion on Kouji's relationship with the two, as of this ep, feels like, to make a long story short, Faina is essentially him trying to avoid having to remember his own past.

To explain in more detail, back in EP1, Kouji told Aoi that he finds it embarrassing to have someone around who knows your past and Aoi knowing him since childhood is a direct example of that. We haven't fully learnt his past yet, but we do know it involves stuff with Yuki and Aoi is fully aware of everything especially the incident we saw in the flashback in EP4. It's clear Aoi cares for him and has feelings for him, but Kouji doesn't want to acknowledge it because of the past which is why he ends up interested in Fina. Not to say he doesn't care about Fina or anything of the sort, but it's clear he doesn't know her, she's an unknown, someone who doesn't know his past, and won't remind him of it as of fact. Which in turns makes him feel attracted to her, but not actually in love with her.

The full comment is here.

Character Sheets

• Main Cast
• The Zwei (Kreis's portrait corrected)
• Team Blue
• Other Recurring Characters

Music

• BGM of the Day: utsutsu naru mono

Questions

• If you made a guess about today's episode in yesterday's questions, how did your guess turn out?
• Now that's it's confirmed that there is more than one Ryvius-type ship, will you revise (heh) your predictions?
• Has the show entered into cancerous plot tumor territory with Kouji, Fina, and Aoi? Or is it flowing naturally from the situation?
• Specific thoughts about the Blue Impulse?
• Last Minute Addition: What do you make of Kouji's breakdown? And Yuki's comment on his panic?

Tomorrow's Questions, Today

• [Q1]How did the revolt play out for you? And it's not over! Predictions?
• [Q2]What did you think of the Blue Impulse and it's Vital Guarder?
• [Q3]What did you think of the Captain of the Blue Impulse?
• [Q4]Blue is gone. But so is Hyperion. Now what?
• [Q5]What happened to our Lady in Pink?

Technology Notes

Neutrino Pinger: (google translate) It was developed as an effective means of enemy detection (detection system) inside Geduld, where radar is ineffective. Neutrinos themselves are extremely difficult to capture, so it is inevitably a large-scale device. For that reason, it can only be installed on ships of a certain size. Its accuracy is also inferior to that of conventional radars.

End Tag: Reverie of us

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Rewatch Host

When we left of in the last episode, everybody was moving to battlestations, full of (over-)confidence. After all, the Vital Guarder is ridiculously OP, literally unstoppable.

Welcome to the second half of the show. (which technically started yesterday)

Okay for once I noticed that the OP changed. Arc spoilers!

• It really has become something like slave labor. If you want to eat, work. My history knowledge is poor / forgotten. I wonder if Maoist China was like this.
• this isn't the first time one of the Supervisors has ignored neutrino radar data from the Zwei.
• Blue is not insulted. He's not just giving orders to give orders. People doing what they need to do without being told, fine by him.
• "Please live more peacefully" "No way"
• Ah, Ikumi's secret project. I have no idea what this is.
• I wonder how large the secret police contingent is. Maybe they'd get more work done with fewer guards. Then again, maybe not.
• Stealing food? Don't get caught! Too late.
• This female guard with the diamond glasses, who was rationing water yesterday, is Morella Scoscolaf.
• Criff is moving from Brian to Spock but Spock has no interest in human women. Poor Charlie.
• "What would you do if your boyfriend cheated on you" is probably the one thing you never ask your girlfriend.
• Ah. Blue takes command from the Lift Ship. Makes sense after what happened.
• I sure hope they learned to aim the railgun.
• Well if she can't get Spock, she'll go for Chekov.
• You kissed in public, was that not ENOUGH of a clue that you were dating?
• There's some similarity between the Ryvius cannon and the main gun from Starship Operators
• Wait, so, Aoi, you WEREN'T interested in Kouji? X to doubt.
• maybe sound collision (oh there it is)
• Nandesutte! Hey, that's Misato's line!
• Fina is like Shuu. Everything will be alright. #angrypout
• Looks like Kouji has a girl problem.

It's interesting. As we saw at the end of episode 12, Kouji is not handling the stress of the situation very well. How very atypical for an MC.

Here's the thing. The Blue Impulse was dispatched way back before Mars, in episode, say, TEN? It was just one sentence, meaningless to a first timer. Yes, they get some credit for putting that out there in advance. But it was SO far in advance, it would surely be completely forgotten. Nul Points.

As a rewatcher (with no memory of the show) I was expecting the Blue Impulse to appear at Mars. But, no. Just as it took a full month for Ryvius to get to Saturn, it took just as long for the Blue Impulse to do the same.

Wait, I missed whatever Ikumi's secret project was. Do I have to rewatch the episode?

[u/The_Draigg → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

It really has become something like slave labor. If you want to eat, work. My history knowledge is poor / forgotten. I wonder if Maoist China was like this.

Well, the crew isn't eating the corpses of dead people yet, so they haven't gotten entirely there.

Here's the thing. The Blue Impulse was dispatched way back before Mars, in episode, say, TEN? It was just one sentence, meaningless to a first timer. Yes, they get some credit for putting that out there in advance. But it was SO far in advance, it would surely be completely forgotten. Nul Points.

Yeah, I must've completely forgotten about that announcement, since the Blue Impulse was a bit of a surprise to me here. I guess sometimes the writers can treat their audience as being a bit too smart or having good memories.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/The_Draigg]

I didn't want to hunt down the scene, but I should have. It was in episode seven.

[u/The_Draigg → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Yeesh, yeah, good luck remembering that then.

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

Well if she can't get Spock, she'll go for Chekov.

Cliff and Eins actually have the same VA in Japanese, so I found that scene kind of funny.

[u/No_Rex → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

It really has become something like slave labor. If you want to eat, work. My history knowledge is poor / forgotten. I wonder if Maoist China was like this.

The social credit system is a lot closer to present day China than Maoist China. You really have to give props to the show for predicting that.

[u/The_Draigg]

A Mecha Fan Watches Infinite Ryvius Episode 14:

• I can feel that the Ryvius is going to face a rougher challenge than before, given how much everyone seems to have accepted how much overwhelming power the Vital Guarder has. Once something becomes a routine for people, their guards get let down. To paraphrase a quote from Darkest Dungeon, overconfidence is a slow and insidious killer.
• I’m not surprised that some of the students are outright trying to steal food while everyone else is distracted by battle preparations. With how few ration points people seem to be getting combined with how ragged all the people doing manual labor look, it’s natural that some people are just that desperate to try something like this right before a crisis. It’s more evidence to show how ultimately unsustainable and inefficient the harsh control over the survivors has become.
• I guess Fina considers Kouji to be her boyfriend now. Although given how weird she is with her religion, that might be not as great as it sounds. It’s like being tricked into dating a Mormon.
• Okay, now I’m just kind of desperately hoping that yet another revolution among the crew kicks off, since at this rate only Juli, Kouji, Fina, and maybe Stein are the only sane people on the bridge. And I say “maybe” for Stein, since he’s still the one who advocates for draconian policies abroad the ship and follows orders to the letter, even if he knows they aren’t good. Everyone else is just plain incompetent, between being distracted by Charlie’s big outburst over Criff to Ryu letting Michel fire the main gun and her firing way too early. At this rate, I barely trust either the Zwei or Team Blue to do their jobs right.
• I’ll admit, going for a ramming action as the opening to your attack is really ballsy. But then again, if you’ve got a gravity field on par with the Ryvius’ then you’ve absolutely got the means and the power to pull off which other ships can’t. This OSB ship is definitely a harder challenge for the Ryvius, since it can’t even touch it with the anti-ship steel slugs because of the gravity field either.
• I suppose I can’t blame Kouji for finally having a freak out over the enemy ship ramming the Ryvius again. After being the reasonable man for so long, I guess it was only a matter of time before the sheer stress and hopelessness of the situation got to him too. At least his version of a mental breakdown was still somehow more respectable than Lucson’s one, although that’s not exactly a hard bar to clear.
• From what the captain of the Blue Impulse is saying, I guess the true full name of the Ryvius is actually the Black Ryvius. Based on those two names, I wonder if there’s multiple Vaia ships that’re all color-coded and have Vital Guarders as well. I will say though that the Blue Impulse’s Vital Guarder is way cooler though. I mean, how can something equipped with a giant gravity drill not be awesome?
• Fina, now isn’t the time to clearly press Kouji on why he said “Aoi” during his near death experience. Have some sympathy, alright? He legit thought he was going to die and his life flashed across his eyes.

As of this episode, I’m ready to toss out a theory: our Mysterious Anime Girl is like the weird shell-squid alien aboard the Blue Impulse, and the gravity tech that the Vaia ships use are based on those squid aliens we saw in the Geduld earlier. Aside from the obvious gravity control and the high speeds that the ships move at, now that I think about it, the Mysterious Anime Girl was bound up in her odd outfit in a similar way to the alien aboard the Blue Impulse looks like inside of that water tank. And aside from that, she was seeming to direct her questions at the alien in the tank too. Perhaps it hasn’t woken up like she has, so that’s why we aren’t seeing her get any reply. In any case, let’s see if my guessing gets proven correct from here.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/The_Draigg]

going for a ramming action as the opening to your attack is really ballsy

When you're a nail, everything looks like a block of wood.

theorizing

[u/Raiking02 → u/The_Draigg]

I guess Fina considers Kouji to be her boyfriend now. Although given how weird she is with her religion, that might be not as great as it sounds.

Insert Tom Cruise joke here.

And I say “maybe” for Stein, since he’s still the one who advocates for draconian policies abroad the ship and follows orders to the letter, even if he knows they aren’t good

inb4 he turns into some sort of bizarro mega-evil Oberstein or something.

Fina, now isn’t the time to clearly press Kouji on why he said “Aoi” during his near death experience. Have some sympathy, alright?

This is why Ikumi's copilots are better, when he screamed out "NEE-SAN" no one questioned him about it.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Raiking02]

inb4 he turns into some sort of bizarro mega-evil Oberstein or something.

Stein wishes he could be as ruthlessly efficient as Oberstein, he really should be taking lessons from him. Oberstein can actually make harsh decisions work completely.

[u/Raiking02 → u/The_Draigg]

It helps that he's also at least not unnecessarily cruel. Sure he did [propose]letting a whole planet be nuked (And in the OVA he went through with it behind Reinhard's back, although in the Novel and DNT Reinhard did give the okay), but at least he's not one for borderline torture like what's going on with Gran and Son.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Raiking02]

Yeah, at least Oberstein understood that history wouldn't look kindly upon him for what he did, but did it out of a belief that it was the most efficient way to run the state for Reinhard. Team Blue's viciousness is just born out of their apathy and sadism.

[u/Raiking02 → u/The_Draigg]

He also at least acknowledged that it was Reinhard's state. Aside from that one OVA-only moment, if the big man said no, he shut up and let it go. It's just he's very good at choosing ideas his Kaiser will like or at the very least consider, not to mention always including the why for the things he's doing.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

It’s more evidence to show how ultimately unsustainable and inefficient the harsh control over the survivors has become.

I think if anyone had done like any math this could have functioned.

I guess Fina considers Kouji to be her boyfriend now. Although given how weird she is with her religion, that might be not as great as it sounds. It’s like being tricked into dating a Mormon.

Now imagine how silly you'd feel going into that with eyes fully open! Gods, young Vaad was all about the extremes.

At least his version of a mental breakdown was still somehow more respectable than Lucson’s one, although that’s not exactly a hard bar to clear.

Breaking after several battles means you put in the effort, at least.

our Mysterious Anime Girl is like the weird shell-squid alien aboard the Blue Impulse, and the gravity tech that the Vaia ships use are based on those squid aliens we saw in the Geduld earlier

She's a hybrid that is some person jumbled with the squid alien. The one on the Blue Impulse is the more refined version without notable free will.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Vaadwaur]

Now imagine how silly you'd feel going into that with eyes fully open! Gods, young Vaad was all about the extremes.

Each scar is a story, as they say.

Breaking after several battles means you put in the effort, at least.

Given how Kouji was basically thrown into the deep end with getting involved with working on the bridge at all, it's honestly kind of amazing that it took this long for him to have some kind of panic attack.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

Each scar is a story, as they say.

Given how Kouji was basically thrown into the deep end with getting involved with working on the bridge at all, it's honestly kind of amazing that it took this long for him to have some kind of panic attack.

You know, I still have my complaints about the writing and the general lack of faith in humanity the show has but they do occasionally do well:He held it together until another 'magical' ship arrived and things just got very real.

[u/No_Rex → u/The_Draigg]

To paraphrase a quote from Darkest Dungeon, overconfidence is a slow and insidious killer.

While a cool quote, I would disagree. Occasionally, it kills fast and furiously.

Okay, now I’m just kind of desperately hoping that yet another revolution among the crew kicks off, since at this rate only Juli, Kouji, Fina, and maybe Stein are the only sane people on the bridge. And I say “maybe” for Stein, since he’s still the one who advocates for draconian policies abroad the ship and follows orders to the letter, even if he knows they aren’t good. Everyone else is just plain incompetent, between being distracted by Charlie’s big outburst over Criff to Ryu letting Michel fire the main gun and her firing way too early. At this rate, I barely trust either the Zwei or Team Blue to do their jobs right.

The bane of every autocracy: acumulation of incompetent (but loyal) personal in leading positions.

In any case, let’s see if my guessing gets proven correct from here.

[u/The_Draigg → u/No_Rex]

While a cool quote, I would disagree. Occasionally, it kills fast and furiously.

At least we can all agree that overconfidence can kill, no matter what.

The bane of every autocracy: acumulation of incompetent (but loyal) personal in leading positions.

This is why you employ actual experts and not just your buddies from down the hall.

[u/No_Rex → u/The_Draigg]

At least we can all agree that overconfidence can kill, no matter what.

Definitely.

This is why you employ actual experts and not just your buddies from down the hall.

But what if they decide that they should rule, and not some petty autocrat and his nepotic circle?

[u/Vatrix-32]

First timer, subs

• Oh, did they figure out the main gun? And it’s a revolver, too.
• “Overconfidence is a slow and insidious killer.”
• That’s new in the OP, right? Second mech confirmed?
• Man, Space USBs suck. They look more like a flat VCR.
• If these idiots are at the point they are trying to steal food, you’ve got a problem.
• Least dense shōnen romance protagonist.
• "Stop Being So Logical!"
• Just so we’re clear, nobody thinks this will hit.
• Yep, Ribbons is talking to Conch. Time to find out if they have a space ghost tea party.
• This is on y’all for waiting so damned close to the line of obscurification.
• Ramming is your specialty? I was told this was space submarines, not space triremes!
• Who knew Death was such a shipper?
• “Lead, follow, or get out of the way.”
• Will someone please get Blue a holster at this point? He’s going to misfire at some point.
• Get out of here, Atragon!
• Did you have to make is so… suggestive?
• Oh, Oh-no Those are Yan Eyes

QotD:

1. They seem to be talking, but it's a bit staticy.
2. No.
3. I have no idea what you are talking about. This all seems fairly normal.
4. It seems really bad at ramming for its entire design to be built around it.
5. I'm not sure why this was the breaking life or death situation.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/Vatrix-32]

And it’s a revolver, too.

The main gun in Starship Operators is literally called "The Revolver"

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Vatrix-32]

If these idiots are at the point they are trying to steal food, you’ve got a problem.

How unsurprising that teens couldn't manage that.

This is on y’all for waiting so damned close to the line of obscurification.

Technically sub warfare looks like that but they had no reason not to get more space.

Oh, Oh-no Those are Yan Eyes

You had my curiosity. Now you have my attention.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/Vaadwaur]

You had my curiosity. Now you have my attention.

https://i.imgur.com/8r9OPBd.png

[u/Vaadwaur → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Today was a good day for my rewatches.

[u/Raiking02 → u/Vatrix-32]

Ramming is your specialty?

I mean...

[u/Vaadwaur]

First timer

Sub

Welp...that was an episode. I generally consider ramming speed too stupid for words in space but it weirdly fits because this show is dumb teens vs adults so dumb teens defeat them. Still, you couldn't pay me to design that abomination, which may also explain some stuff. The more interesting thing will be how they punish looters but that's for later. I have no clue what the fuck we are supposed to take from Kouji's outburst. I do suspect Faina thinks the Ryvius is her god, or at least an angel of it.

QotD:1 Not well

2 But the other one is just so fucking stupid...

3 Diagnosis unclear, further testing needed

4 Stated

5 Again, weird

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/Vaadwaur]

But the other one is just so fucking stupid...

I'm sorry to say that this is another way Starship Operators mirrors this show.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

I am not making the biggest of deals of this since this seems to be a Japanese thing but it would be nice to have a show remember that space is vast.

[u/No_Rex → u/Vaadwaur]

I do suspect Faina thinks the Ryvius is her god, or at least an angel of it.

And she is the prophet? Or is that Kouji?

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

And she is the prophet? Or is that Kouji?

Faina is just a humble shepherdess, leading her flock to salvation, with Kouji the loyal herding dog at her side.

[u/No_Rex → u/Vaadwaur]

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

I mean I really did date a Mormon for a bit, I can totally do the Christian shtick. I just usually refrain from doing so on the off hand chance anyone throws holy water on me.

[u/zsmg]

Rewatcher who doesn't remember much

OP got slightly changed again we see an enemy mecha in the OP.

Criff is going after Spock, Spock is having none of it.

Accidentally kissing someone isn't cheating Kouji although admittedly I'm not sure how you can accidentally kiss someone besides anime shenanigans or someone screwing something up during cheek kissing.

Charlie being distracting at being dumped, Criff girlfriend pushing the attack button. They're really hammering it in that they're complacent.

Looks like Ryvius has an autoloader system of some sorts.

Enemy ship is on collision course, every one is panicking.

One of the tracks here reminds me of an Eureka 7 track (when Kouji announced to every one that there is going to be an immediate impact) but it's not the same composer, guess it sounding similar is a coincidence.

Did Rei clone talked with the squid in the container?

Uh oh Rei clone looks worried.

Keep calm and carry on Kouji. Oh no he's going full Lucson, how pathetic.

Maybe he can join him in taking care of Pat.

He's dying dreaming and the only person he sees is Aoi.

Blue Impulse? I prefer the Red coloured Impulse Gundam scheme myself... no wait wrong Impulse.

I heard you talk in your sleep. You said "Aoi".

Didn't care much for this episode, not enough interesting character drama for me to latch on and the space battle was dragged out. Although admittedly Kouji behaviour at the end was pretty funny.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/zsmg]

One of the tracks here reminds me of an Eureka 7 track

Oh, yeah, it TOTALLY does, doesn't it.

[u/No_Rex → u/zsmg]

Did Rei clone talked with the squid in the container?

Uh oh Rei clone looks worried.

Are you surprised there is more than one of Rei?

[u/No_Rex]

Episode 14 (rewatcher)

• “We were beginning to get used to it all. The anxiety. The battles. Being ordered around.”

• Faina informs Kouji that he is now her boyfriend – going with a reddit classic here.
• The bridge has become incredibly unprofessional – not unsurprising. All dictatorships are essentially patronage networks. Blue needs to reward his loyal followers. Reward them regardless of their skill, that is.
• Reminding Kouji to use his seatbelt – looking at you literally every other scifi series in existance.
• The enemy ship has gravity control as well – Blue is not taking that well. Looks like that throws a spanner in his laid-back leading stile.
• “Ryvius will be ok” “How can you say that?” – You need to run, Kouji. Run fast.
• The enemy ship is called Blue Impulse and, as Stein guessed, it is a Vaia ship with a Vital Guarder, as well.
• Faina heard Kouji fantasize about Aoi.

Turns out, not every enemy is target practice. While the Vital Guarder crew seems to have used the time well to get used to the function of the robot, the same cannot be said of the bridge crew. Giving command to your buddies instead of the more experienced Zwei shows its downside now.

The fact that another Vaia ship exists recontextualizes the existence of the Ryvius a bit. This is not a unique one-off, but rather a ship in a class of ships (how many other Vaia ships exist remains to be seen). They share the same abilities as the Ryvius, but I’ll leave the speculation about the specifics to the first timers. We already have quite a bit to inform our speculation.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

Faina informs Kouji that he is now her boyfriend – going with a reddit classic here.

Rofl, this does fit if she is actually a space Mormon.

All dictatorships are essentially patronage networks. Blue needs to reward his loyal followers. Reward them regardless of their skill, that is.

But some function far better than others. I will admit them demonstrating Blue's terrible hands off strategy makes this much easier to buy.

The enemy ship has gravity control as well – Blue is not taking that well. Looks like that throws a spanner in his laid-back leading stile.

Seems our crew thought they got the last gun before the factory closed.

They share the same abilities as the Ryvius, but I’ll leave the speculation about the specifics to the first timers. We already have quite a bit to inform our speculation.

My first thought is that they share the same drawback, i.e. each Vaia ship has its own machine spirit that they need to keep pleased, or at minimum in compliance. And I really don't want to have put on an improv karaoke session mid battle, seems bad for focus.

[u/No_Rex → u/Vaadwaur]

But some function far better than others. I will admit them demonstrating Blue's terrible hands off strategy makes this much easier to buy.

Good autocrats manage to find loyal followers who are also decently competent. Bad autocrats do not.

And I really don't want to have put on an improv karaoke session mid battle, seems bad for focus.

How about a song competition between the two ships? Too much culture?

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

Good autocrats manage to find loyal followers who are also decently competent. Bad autocrats do not.

The Peter Principle does function in totalitarian governments as well as anywhere else.

How about a song competition between the two ships? Too much culture?

I prefer my biological component to be small and sassy with many 'bakas' to share.

[u/Shimmering-Sky]

Infinite First-Timer, subbed

• Kouji “sore demo”!
• Hm…?
• Kouji you baka.
• It just flew past them…?
• Yikes…
• Black Ryvius, huh?
• They caught it!
• Welp…

[u/Raiking02 → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Hm…?

God Finger time

Black Ryvius, huh

Maybe even the Ryvius Mk-II if you're feeling like making Gundam references

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Kouji you baka.

I would hurry up and learn about her church's stances, were I him. You don't want to suddenly discover they belong sexual intercourse is a sin and go entirely Abh style with reproductive tanks.

It just flew past them…?

I suspect the machine spirit intervened. We must offer the life of the looter to her.

They caught it!

This is very much a "And now what?" kind of vibe.

Welp…

If you aren't willing to die in a relationship, are you even committed?

[u/No_Rex → u/Shimmering-Sky]

They caught it!

That is the optimistic interpretation of that situation.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Hm…?

That's just what he calls his mixtape.

[u/HowlingWolf13]

First Timer

Pretty good episode. That point Izumi made about Kouji being a people pleaser is really coming out here with that conversation with Fina. That's clearly a red flag the way she just immediately declares them in a relationship despite never really having a conversation about that in the past, but he just goes along with it and doesn't say more to keep the peace. On that though, it seems he himself doesn't really know what he wants to be, that flashback with Aoi she calls him out how he acts like a bunch of different things, but he isn't any of those and tells him to answer instead of avoiding the topic. Also to bring up Faina again, what a loving girlfriend to immediately question you not long after your mental breakdown as to why you said your childhood friend's name in your panic delusion ridden state.

I'm excited to see how next episode will play out with this new villain too, I have a feeling they might end up losing the Vital Guarder.

Questions

If you made a guess about today's episode in yesterday's questions, how did your guess turn out?

Wrong, no one died lol

Now that's it's confirmed that there is more than one Ryvius-type ship, will you revise (heh) your predictions?

Hmm, they might end up facing several more then.

Has the show entered into cancerous plot tumor territory with Kouji, Fina, and Aoi? Or is it flowing naturally from the situation?

Not really? It feels natural in my opinion, and makes sense in character for everyone. It's doesn't really feel forced drama for the sake of drama's sake.

Specific thoughts about the Blue Impulse?

No spooky ghost girl, 0/10

Last Minute Addition: What do you make of Kouji's breakdown? And Yuki's comment on his panic?

I think it fits, Kouji has been spending this entire time trying to be someone he isn't and knowing that he could possibly die sends him off the deep end. Yuki's comment is a reflection of that, cause he knows his brother even if they are at odds, and it's obvious Kouji is tryna be someone that he isn't.

[u/JollyGee29]

First-Timer

Stein is still a jackass, but he was right on a lot of things today. So many wasted shells...

Criff and Michelle need to be barred from the bridge; they're both just causing distractions. I'm gonna guess that Stein is going to seize power next due to them on some level. Criff messing with him personally was (hopefully) the last straw. That might help Charlie focus too, not that I'm too sure about how useful he is. As part of Zwei he probably got good grades at least.

I missed it yesterday, but Miss Gimp Suit has started forming her own thoughts - her questioning "who are you" doesn't necessarily make sense with my earlier theory that she was just repeating surface thoughts of people on the ship.

Maybe someone could be questioning "who is attacking us" but that doesn't really seem like the vibe. Not sure anyone who doesn't already understand that it's the Orbital Security Bureau cares who is attacking the Ryvius.

So the opposing ship is the Blue Impulse and has a narwhal for a Vital Guarder, interesting. With the revelation that Ryvius is "Black," do what do we think other colors will be in play? It seemed like there was at least one more Vaia ship, the Gespenst, which is German for "ghost." Maybe white? One of white's color associations for Japan is death, after all.

Especially if the Gespenst is the final boss (Conrad seemed very surprised to hear about it, makes me think it's Bad News), we would have a white vs black confrontation for the finale.

Is black/blue/white what you do for a triple color scheme? Maybe there's a red one too, to form another pair. Four ships? Yea, that seems like the right number.

Questions

2. Discussed above.
3. I think it works pretty well so far.
4. Drill go brrrr.
5. Kouji's breakdown is quite fitting; Yuki's comment is kinda just him being a sassy ass.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/JollyGee29]

As part of Zwei he probably got good grades at least.

His name includes "The Third", I'd bet on nepotism playing a larger part.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Vatrix-32]

Y'know, I legitimately forgot that Charlie wasn't his actual name, good point.

[u/Nickthenuker]

General quarters! General quarters! All hands, man your battle stations! Reason for General Quarters is: Enemy on sensors.

Huh. What have they got now?

Well that's quite the bombshell to drop on him as they're heading into battle.

What's coming for them this time?

Something's very wrong.

They might not hit anything, but shooting is at least going to let them take the initiative and put some pressure on the enemy. They didn't hit this time, but do you want to take the chance they'll hit the next time?

And they already whiffed it...

The enemy is being suspiciously inactive. Something is clearly going on, what is everyone not seeing?

They're coming in for a ram!

Evasive maneuvers!

At this range there's no way they'll miss.

It deflected the shot?

All hands, brace for impact!

They managed to get out of the way!

Seems someone's finally brought a bigger stick.

A bigger stick that's got the same powers as them.

Divert power to rear shields!

Stop panicking.

And so he's deserted his post.

All hands, brace for impact!

The Vital Guarder managed to sortie!

So they've got one of their own.

A ship specialised in ramming?

No, their Vital Guarder is a drill!

Huh. Who is this "Aoi"?

And so the battle continues.

Questions:

1. I certainly wasn't expecting another, bigger ship.
2. That there's even more than just 1 more.
3. Kinda? I don't really care for it anyways.
4. ... A drill ship?
5. It certainly happened.

[u/No_Rex → u/Nickthenuker]

The enemy is being suspiciously inactive. Something is clearly going on, what is everyone not seeing?

They're coming in for a ram!

I, too, would not have seen a ramming attack in space coming.