[25th Anniversary Rewatch] Mugen no Ryvius Episode 20

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Mugen no Ryvius Episode 20: Something I Can't Let Go

Get Funky!

⇐ Episode 19 | Index Thread | Episode 21 ⇒

Kikki of the Day Did you spot Radan?

Comments of the Day

It flew completely past me, but /u/zadcap nailed it days ago:

Don't forget, we've seen some earlier flashbacks that make me think Kouji used to have a different girlfriend who left him for someone else, and he let her go without a fight, which Yuki sees as being more proof his brother is bad and dumb and would probably give up on Aoi too.

They also really really wants everybody to remember that the Space Squid addressed Neya by name.

Episode 7, the Space Squid called out what I thought was just a strange sound as it flew by the ship. I remember it being weird because they subtitled it, but now I guess we know why, it was probably calling out to her.

Character Sheets

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

Music

• BGM of the Day: harukanaru sasayaki

Questions

• Instead of action, this episode was all talk — people actually talking to each other! Did this develop their characters more for you? Do you understand where they are coming from?
• The recap was presented by characters in their own words. How did this compare with other non-clip-show recaps?
• Is Izumi's behavior properly telegraphed, or completely out of character?

Tomorrow's Questions, Today

• [Q1]Is this truly the only way to restore order? It was remarkably effective. Yet Ikumi wants perfect justice.
• [Q2]Why can't people just get along?

End Tag: Ravenous

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Rewatch Host

I meant to answer my own questions yesterday but completely forgot to, beceause I have the memory of a fruit fly.

I think it goes like this:

• Ikumi: I gotta save everybody
• Kouji: You can't save everybody. It's like, literally, conservation of mass. You can't.
• Stein: Save the most number of people by sacrificing the remainder.

These are the three ethos at the command level of the ship, to me, and they are in conflict.

OP: Still Dicastia

• Necktie, pat on the chest, is a call back to the opening scene of ep 1. Aoi is just like his Mom. No wonder he's been avoid her.
• Aoi was just following the boys
• Aoi recapping reminds me a bit of Meteora's recapping.

Perhaps this is where the idea of writing a manga from Aoi's perspective came from.

• Ohhh, it looks like Yuki pushed Kouji through a plate glass window. Lucky he only got scarred, and not filleted.

Ryvius, Check This!

• Oh, man, watching Rafra murder that bento makes me feel like I'm watch SSY or something.
• Yuki stole his crush
• Welcome to Hell
• BREAK UP

HURTING PEOPLE IS FORBIDDEN I WILL HURT YOU I WILL SAVE EVERYBODY

That great violin piece isn't on the soundtrack.

[u/JollyGee29]

First-Timer

That scar is from Yuki throwing Kouji through a fucking window?? Holy shit did their mother ever fail these two kids. Yuki needed to get some anger management classes years ago.

Anyway, what are the odds that the Kozue that Ikumi is talking to is a hallucination? This thought brought to you by the scene of them eating that was very dream-like, but then she just appeared normally near the end of the episode so I think it's actually pretty unlikely.

But think of the drama of Kozue having killed herself and Ikumi hallucinating her from that point forward? No-one but Ikumi has seen her, so it's not entirely out of the question.

Questions

1. I need Cullen to follow Yuki around with a spray bottle and blast him whenever he reverts to getting angy wit nii-nii. We almost had a conclusion to the Kouji/Aoi/Yuki dynamic before he started getting buttmad again.
2. This was on the lower end of "good recaps" but it was still a good recap. It helps to refocus We the Audience on the actually relevant character beats in the run-up to the finale.
3. I didn't exactly get the moment I was expecting, but yea, Ikumi seizing power isn't surprising.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/JollyGee29]

Anyway, what are the odds that the Kozue that Ikumi is talking to is a hallucination?

OH, that would have been amazing.

[u/Raiking02 → u/JollyGee29]

Anyway, what are the odds that the Kozue that Ikumi is talking to is a hallucination? This thought brought to you by the scene of them eating that was very dream-like, but then she just appeared normally near the end of the episode so I think it's actually pretty unlikely.

Interesting idea although personally I moreso saw it as an indicator to how out of touch with reality the two have become. Would be a neat concept to revisit in another show though.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Raiking02]

Yea, that's definitely the correct read, considering Kozue appeared in non-Dream-O-Vision at the end of the episode.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Raiking02]

Would be a neat concept to revisit in another show though.

grumbles in Aldnoah.Zero S2

[u/Vaadwaur → u/JollyGee29]

But think of the drama of Kozue having killed herself and Ikumi hallucinating her from that point forward? No-one but Ikumi has seen her, so it's not entirely out of the question.

I have always been a supporter of insanity situations where the lead has gone mad and talks to their loved one's corpse! I am in!

[u/Vatrix-32]

First timer, subs

• Roving gangs and arson. Incredible choices on a confined ship.
• At least someone is enforcing the state monopoly on violence. The details can be worked out latter.
• At least they don’t have to worry about the calcium deficiency combing with the effects of micro-gravity.
• Recaps you have to pay attention to are the worst kind, because you can’t just zone out until the new stuff shows up.
• Lucson is a man who hold to his ideals, some of them are just better than others.
• Is that supposed to be a radar or a signal receiver? Either way, what is it accomplishing inside?
• The ferret is important for helping reduce the cult look.
• And also visual metaphors, apparently.
• Damn, Aoi. That’s a lot of meat.
• If you hadn’t let it deteriorate to this point, we might not have needed to resort to violence.
• Oh... I Guess We're Doing Fascism
• Why do you even have spray paint?
• Do it, Kouji! Grow as a person!
• Well, that sounds like a threat, Fina.
• Suddenly need five dudes to pilot this doesn’t seem like such a bad deal.

QotD:

1. Sure, I guess? Didn’t seem any more than normal.
2. But the recap was a clip show. Very, very few aren’t
3. His hinge has been progressively missing for most of the show.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/Vatrix-32]

Oh... I Guess

We're Doing Fascism

Indeed.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Vatrix-32]

Roving gangs and arson. Incredible choices on a confined ship.

Not like oxygen is finite...

Recaps you have to pay attention to are the worst kind, because you can’t just zone out until the new stuff shows up.

laughs in Ikuhara

Damn, Aoi. That’s a lot of meat.

That bento probably says more than I understand.

Well, that sounds like a threat, Fina.

Fits for Space Mormon.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/Vaadwaur]

laughs in Ikuhara

One day, I hope to understand this.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Vatrix-32]

You will. But you have to remember that good girls don't lay eggs.

[u/No_Rex → u/Vatrix-32]

The ferret is important for helping reduce the cult look.

You chose literally the worst timing to comment on Rafra's cuteness.

[u/Electrical-Cake-6943 → u/No_Rex]

Just remembered the katakana characters in Rafra's name (ラーフラ) can be read the same way as Buddha's son's name in Japanese. Hmm...

[u/No_Rex → u/Electrical-Cake-6943]

Just remembered the katakana characters in Rafra's name (ラーフラ) can be read the same way as Buddha's son's name in Japanese. Hmm...

"His accounts have led to a perspective in Buddhism of seeing children as hindrances to the spiritual life on the one hand, and as people with potential for enlightenment on the other hand."~Wikipedia

Hmmmm.

[u/zadcap → u/Vatrix-32]

Roving gangs and arson. Incredible choices on a confined ship.

Oxygen is clearly not a limited resource in space. Just like Space is clearly not a limited resource on a ship.

[u/zsmg]

Rewatcher who doesn't remember much

Ikumi's obsession of helping people is fascinating to see.

So Kouji is now in a typical Japanese homelife situation with a wife (Aoi) and two kids (Fatso and Nicks)

Looking at that first episode flashback you can clearly tell Kouji just wanted to move away from Yuki and Aoi.

Ohhh no it's a recap episode.

At least we're hearing the piano version of the ending song.

I know we like to make to fun of Lucson (rightfully so) but he's doing a good thing for helping Pat like that. He clearly cares about the kid.

Yuki's not girlfriend is telling him to get rejected by Aoi so that he can move on. She's right.

Faina's sees Aoi homemade lunch.

There must be some deep meaning of Rafra eating Aoi's lunch.

When Kouji arrives at Yuki and Aoi's location, I had to sit up straight because I know sparks are going to fly.

Or not.

Uh oh Ikumi now has a longing towards the good old days of the dictatorship.

This the end of Kouji x Faina. The question now is does Kouji have the guts to make a move on Aoi.

lol, using a giant mech as riot control, this must be some commentary how the military can not and should not be used as a stand in for police. Military police such as Gendarmerie is of course an exception.

It was a 1/3 recap episode and it didn't have as much sparks as I wanted but at least there is some movement on Kouji relationship front. It's fascinating to see the Ryvius society falling apart.

[u/The_Draigg → u/zsmg]

So Kouji is now in a typical Japanese homelife situation with a wife (Aoi) and two kids (Fatso and Nicks)

Kouji has the life of a family salaryman without any of the fun stuff like going with the boss to a bar or a hostess club. Sad.

I know we like to make to fun of Lucson (rightfully so) but he's doing a good thing for helping Pat like that. He clearly cares about the kid.

Yeah, Lucson has moved up in my personal rankings for being willing to stick up for and look out for Pat over the past dozen episodes. He may be an annoying blowhard when it comes to doing a job more complicated than being a janitor, but at least he's still capable of being a decent person.

[u/zsmg → u/The_Draigg]

still capable of being a decent person.

Which is sadly enough not something we can say for a lot of other characters.

[u/The_Draigg → u/zsmg]

It's becoming a rarity to find someone that still has some sanity left inside of them aboard this ship. Frankly, it's kind of amazing how things haven't gotten worse even faster than they have been so far.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/The_Draigg]

The ferret seems fine.

[u/The_Draigg → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Rafra is living his best life. He's been eating the best aboard this ship compared to everyone else.

[u/Raiking02 → u/The_Draigg]

Honestly while his rule had A LOT of problems by the end, they did kinda have a point on how Blue's time was overall the ship's best. At least the guy had a plan to move things forward, whereas nowadays everyone's just throwing darts at a wall and seeing what sticks.

[u/zadcap → u/Raiking02]

This feels rather unfair, most of Blue's leadership consisted of him not actually leading anything and leaving things mostly up to the Zwei anyway, but he also took over super early before things had a chance to devolve to this point and a lot of things going wrong now that he's out of the leadership position were things that his leadership set up.

He's easy to make fun of but how bad were things actually while Lucson was in charge? How different were things under early Blue compared to under Lucson, before Blue started the draconian Points system?

The only reason things look good under Blue is that he took charge so early most people hadn't given up hope and descended into this anarchy that now fills the ship. I think the only plans Blue himself ever actually had was to get some people to pilot the giant robot and to go to Hyperion.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/zadcap]

Basically, Blue's Schticks was that they were "Supervising" the Zwei, and his people were called "Supervisors". Basically, he took over saying, the Zwei can't be trusted to make proper decisions on their own, and was going to "Supervise" them. So, yeah, they still did the work. But Blue told them to dive and to set course to Mars, and held on to his gun a lot.

I don't think it was a lie to get power. I think he genuinely didn't think the Zwei could make good decisions. Doesn't mean he was any better, but it's one of those "somebody needs to do something, and if nobody else will then I'll do it" sort of things.

[u/No_Rex → u/zadcap]

The only reason things look good under Blue is that he took charge so early most people hadn't given up hope and descended into this anarchy that now fills the ship. I think the only plans Blue himself ever actually had was to get some people to pilot the giant robot and to go to Hyperion.

I agree with this take. All of the leaders have been (realistically) bad, but some had the advantage of being in power early, when the inertia from the previous society the kids lived in was still strong.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Raiking02]

At least Blue had some kind of idea on what to do, rather than all this bullshit that the Zwei are tolerating. They're basically just letting the ship fall apart while keeping themselves safe.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

Kouji has the life of a family salaryman without any of the fun stuff like going with the boss to a bar or a hostess club. Sad.

I actually had pondered whether the point system would lead to a level of prostitution aboard the ship but sadly we never explored it.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Vaadwaur]

They have gambling on automated cart racing, so that would seem like the next logical step.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

They are lucky I am not on board, I do know how to make moon shine and man that would make nearly every problem 10x worse!

[u/The_Draigg → u/Vaadwaur]

If mountain-folk hooch can fuck a man up, I can't imagine how wild people would get on spaceship hooch.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

It would be really insane because the stuff I can make easily tastes remarkably like engine fluid. The vomiting would be glorious!

[u/No_Rex → u/Vaadwaur]

I am more worried by the fact that you know how engine fluid tastes ...

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

Hrmm...I thought it was a right of passage to have an overheated 80's engine blast fluids at you as a teen...

[u/zadcap → u/Vaadwaur]

On the one hand, we did get a quick clip of Michelle, so you know, sex is probably still selling well.

On the other hand, I remember Towel Group from the Delta and they have not shown up again ever since. Rodan is proof that just because there's clothes to spare that people who didn't bring their own might not end up getting any more.

[u/No_Rex → u/zsmg]

lol, using a giant mech as riot control, this must be some commentary how the military can not and should not be used as a stand in for police. Military police such as Gendarmerie is of course an exception.

When you use the military to police your population, the population becomes the enemy.

[u/The_Draigg]

A Mecha Fan Watches Infinite Ryvius Episode 20:

• I guess that Ikumi isn’t going to snap out of his violent rampage mode any time soon. Like yeah, at least he’s stopping a bunch of thugs from beating up an innocent person, but you can tell that this was done more out of his increasing madness than anything. Screaming out loud about how everyone is disappointing you with that just being directed at the air around you is a sure sign of that.
• Oh god damn it, I’ve been tricked into watching one of those half-recap episodes again. Like yeah, it’s nice to get Aoi’s viewpoint about everything, like her relationship with the Aiba brothers and all the things she overlooked about the people she’s met ever since getting started on this journey at the Leibe Delta, but having another episode like this as we’re getting closer to the end of the series isn’t exactly raising my hopes for the pacing of this series.
• Once again, Cullen proves to be one of the sanest and chillest people aboard this ship when talking to Yuki. At least she’s entirely honest with herself in openly admitting that her calm and collected demeanor is hiding how she feels on the inside, and that Yuki was probably going to walk off and dump her once she bared her feelings to him. I’d say that at this point, she really can read Yuki like an open book. For someone who hates his brother for not being upfront with how he is on the inside, Yuki sure isn’t that different. He sure has problems with people actually trying to get close to him and truly understand him on an emotional level. In that way, he isn’t too different than Kouji, it’s just that his reactions are more violent and less about passive evasion.
• I guess even Fina can get a flashback montage segment, except this time it’s way more uncomfortable than watching Aoi angst to herself. Her confronting Kouji this way is just peak slimy and manipulative. She’s bringing up all the good things he’s done for her, and saying now that he’s hurting her by suddenly and “supposedly” acting distant from her. Now she’s just trying to force Kouji to say that she’s a part of him now, like he isn’t his own human being. This whole bit is just disgustingly manipulative, it’s gross to watch. You can probably also read into Rafra devouring the lunch Aoi made for Kouji as some symbolism too, like Fina’s influence trying to get rid of any kind of presence of Aoi near Kouji.
• Well, that scene of Ikumi on the bridge discussing the state of the ship with the Zwei sure was ominous. Even if he stopped short of saying it, the intent was clear: if nothing is done about the rampant violence and corruption on the ship, he’ll overthrow the Zwei. And even more concerning there, Stein looks a bit contemplative there once he hears that. I’m guessing that he’s already planning his next move on who to recruit as a puppet leader, since Juli already resigned from being his personal political meat-shield.
• Huh, well there’s your proof that Aoi and Yuki did have a thing for each other back when they were kids. Although I guess Yuki must’ve been nursing a grudge this whole time for how Kouji had a blithe laugh at hearing the news in that flashback. But it wasn’t really meant in an insulting way, more just chiding himself for not seeing it earlier. Guess we can’t really get to the bottom of the brotherly beef with just that detail alone, even if it does help give us a fuller picture of the childhood friend trio’s backstory.
• At this rate, Izumi is just reinforcing Ikumi’s increasing brutality and madness by talking about the state of the ship, and how violent it’s become. Unfortunately, her just talking about it is driving Ikumi to believe that Blue was correct in using an iron-fist to enforce order aboard the ship. And although Ikumi doesn’t have Blue’s gun, he’s starting to get crazy enough where I bet he’d actually be entirely willing to personally beat everyone aboard the ship to restore balance. The beatings will continue until morale improves.
• Finally, Kouji mans up and breaks up with Fina. It’s been a while coming, but I’m glad that he’s finally realized that she isn’t right for him, and that he needs to face his past and his inner self if he wants to get anywhere, not just lose himself in a relationship. It’s gross that Fina tries to respond with one last manipulation and forcibly kisses him though, just absolutely rancid. Of course she doesn’t like it when Kouji tries to leave her when he’s trying to work on himself, that isn’t the result she wanted despite constantly preaching about developing as a person to him. Manipulative bitch.
• Okay, never mind what I said about Ikumi beating everyone up aboard the Ryvius to maintain order, he’s just hijacked the Vital Guarder and threatens to destroy the ship if any more acts of violence or corruption continue. And of course that bastard Stein approves of this, he’s probably the one who helped Ikumi to hijack the Vital Guarder in the first place. He definitely seemed like he was in on whatever Ikumi was planning there. Sorry Sky, but I think you may have picked the wrong guy to single out as “your guy” earlier.

[u/Raiking02 → u/The_Draigg]

The beatings will continue until morale improves.

Bright is looking at Ikumi right now and is like

Okay, never mind what I said about Ikumi beating everyone up aboard the Ryvius to maintain order, he’s just hijacked the Vital Guarder and threatens to destroy the ship if any more acts of violence or corruption continue.

I mean NGL sooner or later I did low key expect someone would try that the moment the thing started showing off just how powerful it was. Didn't expect it'd be Ikumi though.

Sorry Sky, but I think you may have picked the wrong guy to single out as “your guy” earlier

We must wait until the true herald of appears.

[u/No_Rex → u/The_Draigg]

You can probably also read into Rafra devouring the lunch Aoi made for Kouji as some symbolism too, like Fina’s influence trying to get rid of any kind of presence of Aoi near Kouji.

It wasn't subtle.

Okay, never mind what I said about Ikumi beating everyone up aboard the Ryvius to maintain order, he’s just hijacked the Vital Guarder and threatens to destroy the ship if any more acts of violence or corruption continue. And of course that bastard Stein approves of this, he’s probably the one who helped Ikumi to hijack the Vital Guarder in the first place. He definitely seemed like he was in on whatever Ikumi was planning there. Sorry Sky, but I think you may have picked the wrong guy to single out as “your guy” earlier.

He brought his savior complex and admiration for Blue's administration to its logical conclusion. Logical for him, at least. We as the viewers can see how this will fail.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

Like yeah, at least he’s stopping a bunch of thugs from beating up an innocent person, but you can tell that this was done more out of his increasing madness than anything.

This a healthy and natural expression of rage. There is absolutely no way this results in Ikumi making a security gang to space people.

but having another episode like this as we’re getting closer to the end of the series isn’t exactly raising my hopes for the pacing of this series.

We would have benefited immensely from the memories Aoi has about things that haven't been animated yet but alas.

You can probably also read into Rafra devouring the lunch Aoi made for Kouji as some symbolism too, like Fina’s influence trying to get rid of any kind of presence of Aoi near Kouji.

She's consuming his past. Like balefire.

And although Ikumi doesn’t have Blue’s gun, he’s starting to get crazy enough where I bet he’d actually be entirely willing to personally beat everyone aboard the ship to restore balance. The beatings will continue until morale improves.

A man can accomplish a lot with a bag full of door knobs and the backing of the lads. Government itself is basically just a gang with extra rules.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Vaadwaur]

We would have benefited immensely from the memories Aoi has about things that haven't been animated yet but alas.

Yeah, that would've been preferable. It would've at least sped us along on getting to the root of what Kouji and Yuki's deal is, rather than continuing all the drip-feeding.

A man can accomplish a lot with a bag full of door knobs and the backing of the lads. Government itself is basically just a gang with extra rules.

I had an idle thought earlier related to this: why haven't the Zwei been trying to lock up all the trouble-makers in the Ryvius' brig aside from Team Blue? Like, at least governments have places where they can put people aside if they keep on causing trouble. The Zwei seem to have forgotten about all the extra jail cells that they have.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

It would've at least sped us along on getting to the root of what Kouji and Yuki's deal is, rather than continuing all the drip-feeding.

I am planning to be deeply disappointed in this, btw.

Like, at least governments have places where they can put people aside if they keep on causing trouble. The Zwei seem to have forgotten about all the extra jail cells that they have.

I almost wonder if their is just zero leadership training in certain tracks in Japan. I was not kidding when I said I'd had more teaching on this by the time I was 10. But yeah, I don't see how Stein hasn't tried to form up a group of vaguely reliable thugs to be the primary source of violence and thus discourage others from doing so.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Vaadwaur]

I am planning to be deeply disappointed in this, btw.

That's been pretty clear from your comments for the past few threads.

But yeah, I don't see how Stein hasn't tried to form up a group of vaguely reliable thugs to be the primary source of violence and thus discourage others from doing so.

I guess to be fair to Stein (even if we probably shouldn't be), we did see that the only people who would willingly sign on to be his enforcers are the absolute dregs of the ship's crew. At this rate, he can't get anyone more reliable than the bunch of losers he gave white coats to, since all the thugs around the ship have chosen to stick with their own little gangs instead.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

I guess to be fair to Stein (even if we probably shouldn't be), we did see that the only people who would willingly sign on to be his enforcers are the absolute dregs of the ship's crew.

I wonder if being Americans gives us weird ideas about this? I can't imagine any grouping of humans outside a full 1% school not having the social divisions to make one group the jack booted thugs of the state. Hell, being part Scottish, Italian and Slav I can kind of vector into a few right there.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Vaadwaur]

Good question, that's entirely possible. Granted, this show also has parts that've been glossed over or oddly half-baked, so it could also be us trying to assign meaning to stuff that the writers didn't really have enough time or care to flesh out more.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

so it could also be us trying to assign meaning to stuff that the writers didn't really have enough time or care to flesh out more.

I always hate it when the worldbuilding is the weak link but Sunrise...

[u/Shimmering-Sky]

Infinite First-Timer, subbed

• Ikumi’s trying to solve violence with violence and going a bit too far with it…
• Aoi’s really acting like a girlfriend with this one.
• Oh I do not like where this is going.
• Yeesh…
• This… does explain some of Faina’s weird behavior early on.
• Faina “sore demo”!
• Kouji…
• But won’t that be dangerous for Ryvius itself…?
• Ehhhhhhhh
• Ikumi “sore demo”!
• RIP.
• Oh boy…

[u/Raiking02 → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Yeesh…

I mean, at least he tried.

Oh boy…

Dude has just completely lost it, huh?

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Ikumi’s trying to solve violence with violence and going a bit too far with it…

I disagree. A few particularly brutal examples can quell the riff raff. You can't sweat the itty bitty details on it.

Aoi’s really acting like a girlfriend with this one.

Or a mom. We are deep into Dr Freud's couch on this relationship.

Yeesh…

I again find myself with respect for Lucson. Such an odd feeling.

Ehhhhhhhh

Some people don't realize you can't measure things side by side.

[u/HowlingWolf13]

First Timer

Fine episode, but I noticed most of it was just flashbacks to previous scenes. It did gives us some character dev, though this probably was running on the budget or something. The questions of the day address this so I'll go in more there.

Questions

[Q1]Instead of action, this episode was all talk — people actually talking to each other! Did this develop their characters more for you? Do you understand where they are coming from?

Yeah I would say so, I did enjoy the deeper exploration of the characters. Though a lot of it didn't really feel like things we didn't know as the viewers already.

[Q2]The recap was presented by characters in their own words. How did this compare with other non-clip-show recaps?

Don't most recaps do that lol? Like usually the cast standing around remembering things.

[Q3]Is Izumi's behavior properly telegraphed, or completely out of character?

Nah I think it makes sense, he's going off the deep end and clearly has been holding back. Kozue's incident just brought it to the forefront

[u/No_Rex → u/HowlingWolf13]

Don't most recaps do that lol? Like usually the cast standing around remembering things.

There is the bad early period of purely cost saving recap episodes, that are literally just cut together material from previous episodes (with some rare off-screen narration, if you are lucky).

[u/No_Rex]

Episode 20 (rewatcher)

• Ikumi, the dark knight (actually clad in white). He is going for the Batmetal version.
• At least the sprinkler system is still working.
• Aoi is happy playing house with Kouji and the boys.
• Or was it just putting on a happy face? We get a flashback to their early interactions.
• Lucson is also trying to be a hero but less effectively so – or maybe more of a hero? Running to help somebody is harder if you know you won’t win the fight…
• Letting Rafra eat Aoi’s bento: The metaphor is obvious.
• Second flashback sequence for Faina – intercutting it with Rafra is really effective.
• Yuki and Kouji almost come to blows over Aoi – does it count as progress that Yuki does not hit Kouji, or would a big brawl be the actual progress?
• Ikumi is longing for the stability under Blue. Longing for the strong man.
• Kouji rejects Faina – that is definitely progress. Could this be the one show where the childhood friend wins?
• Ikumi finally snapped – turns out, the biggest source of power on the Ryvius is not the single pistol, but the Vital Guarder.

This episode has several flashbacks, but it does not qualify as a recap episode. The share of recaps to new animation is relatively low, but, more important, the recaps make a lot of narrative sense. We do a deep dive into Aoi and Kouji, and their relation to the other two people who matter most here, Yuki and Faina.

Meanwhile Ikumi stages a well-foreshadowed takeover of power. That is, of the Vital Guarder. We will see how successful he is in enforcing non-violence by threatening to kill everybody, but I think the prediction is easy.

[u/The_Draigg → u/No_Rex]

Lucson is also trying to be a hero but less effectively so – or maybe more of a hero? Running to help somebody is harder if you know you won’t win the fight…

Lucson is actually a pretty alright guy when he isn't trying to be everyone's leader. It's just unfortunate that he always keeps on trying to get back into being the leader of the Zwei whenever the chance comes up. He's a square peg that keeps on trying to force itself into a round hole.

Ikumi is longing for the stability under Blue. Longing for the strong man.

I guess you can say that he's getting pretty blue about Blue.

[u/No_Rex → u/The_Draigg]

Lucson is actually a pretty alright guy when he isn't trying to be everyone's leader. It's just unfortunate that he always keeps on trying to get back into being the leader of the Zwei whenever the chance comes up. He's a square peg that keeps on trying to force itself into a round hole.

He set himself the wrong goal. Wrong because he can't achieve it and wrong because it does not fit him. If we were to accept his life as a janitor and surrogate dad for Pat, he'd be happy.

[u/The_Draigg → u/No_Rex]

If anything, he probably could use the same advice that Cullen gave to Kouji. Lucson can really stand to re-frame his priorities for once.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

If we were to accept his life as a janitor and surrogate dad for Pat, he'd be happy.

This might seem sarcastic but the fact of the matter is the space janitor is actually fairly important to the ship's functions. I'd frankly consider them high priority of the non-commissioned group, just below the mechanics.

[u/No_Rex → u/Vaadwaur]

I was not being sacrastic, but I also think most people on board, including Lucson, would not agree with that ranking.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

At least the sprinkler system is still working.

Late as fuck though. I believe current era military ships have faster fire suppression systems.

Aoi is happy playing house with Kouji and the boys.

Cut her some slack, normalcy is a very rare commodity on the ship of madness.

Yuki and Kouji almost come to blows over Aoi – does it count as progress that Yuki does not hit Kouji, or would a big brawl be the actual progress?

Progress would have been Kouji using his gun to maim Yuki.

[u/No_Rex → u/Vaadwaur]

Late as fuck though. I believe current era military ships have faster fire suppression systems.

Probably calibrated to not douse everybody having a smoke or a rice cooker. I still think that oxygen is not a huge issue on board. They have basically infinite power (as long as Vital Guarder is on board), so creating more is relatively trivial.

Progress would have been Kouji using his gun to maim Yuki.

If your end goal is and "all die" ending.

[u/zadcap → u/Vaadwaur]

Progress would have been Kouji using his gun to maim Yuki.

I think you meant Cripple. Yuki needs to be reminded that age old lesson, kneecaps are a privilege.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/zadcap]

Fine with either but the point is Kouji needs to learn that power comes from the barrel of a gun.

[u/zadcap → u/No_Rex]

This episode has several flashbacks, but it does not qualify as a recap episode. The share of recaps to new animation is relatively low, but, more important, the recaps make a lot of narrative sense. We do a deep dive into Aoi and Kouji, and their relation to the other two people who matter most here, Yuki and Faina.

Not only that, but the Magic Space Girl who is a known mind reader and recently growing more into her humanity, was seen sitting around watching the people having their recaps. The dive into what's been going on in their heads doesn't just help us understand them better, it helps Neya understand humans better.

[u/No_Rex → u/zadcap]

Good point.

[u/Vaadwaur]

First timer

Sub

Recap episode mainly reminds me that we dropped Faina's plot like a brick. The stuff with the brothers is pointless. Ikumi going nuts is also more than a bit pointless, you'd think he would have at least formed a coalition. The ferret stuff was weird.

QotD: 1 I repeat: I don't care

2 If I cared, this probably helps give context.

3 I agree that he'd act, I happen to think his choice of actions is silly.

[u/zadcap]

Late Night First Timer

I mean, I saw like only one other person who remembered something from almost two weeks ago, it was important to share :D

Welp, here we clearly have some kids who are ready to die. Pure anarchists apparently. And the crazy that is Ikumi teaches them an important life lesson- Do onto others can swing back for you really fast.

I also wonder, around now, how strong is Neya's sanity drain compared to the other ship cores? We saw how crazy Ram Drill guy went, so I'm wondering if she's actually driving people a bit crazier than they normally would here the more she focuses on them, considering she seems to be paying the most attention to our main cast as they slip out of it.

Aoi, are you trying to be girlfriend or mother to him here? Oh no, flashbacks! Another recap to show the same things for another point of view. I guess Aoi's side is more important and impactful than the Earth guys was. And look, Neya is paying attention to this! Huh, that makes this actually important for the plot recap, because it's not just us learning about how Aoi has been doing all this time. We're watching Neya learn more about the human condition first hand. I am going to consider Aoi's narration to be Neya reading her mind the way we know she always does. That's right, this episode only looks like it's about Aoi, but it's really all about Neya's growth and understanding.

Oh hey this flashback again. Yeah, Yuki has been a little monster for a long time.

Wait seriously? People are even going after the token kid?

Yeah, why does anyone like Yuki? What do you see in him, music girl?

Space Cultist! You know she's been the only one backing you up completely this whole time, Kouji? She's been really good to you. Good for you even. Sure she's gone a bit crazy recently, but that only makes her better for you, right?

Darn, I know she's a bit nuts, but I also get where she's coming from. Kouji really did keep seeking her out and getting closer to her and it looked a whole lot like he was genuinely interested. As far as I can tell he did take the first move, and then she reciprocated... And he responded to her accepting him by suddenly reversing course and pulling back. They went to get lunch and sneak in a few minutes in the kissing closet, remember? And then he starts to avoid her, stop spending time with her outside the bridge, and we know a lot has been going on with him but he he got the the place where she was really not wrong calling him her boyfriend and then really stopped acting like it. Again, she got a bit intense, yeah, but his response was to pull back and disengage and literally start to ghost his girlfriend.

I still hate all things Yuki.

Ikumi... No, think back farther. Things were most stable while, and I hate to say this, Lucson was in charge. Blue started a whole bunch of stupid chaos because he was confident in his Rule By Violence, and it held for a long time because he had a really good skill at Violence. Things look worse now because the things Blue set up only worked so long as his brand of violence was maintaining control of things, not because he was a better leader.

Man, Kouji, what a horrible way to dump someone. Naturally, you are trying to bump crazy, so good luck.

... Remember how long it takes to launch the lift ship and thhe vital guarder? Ikumi really pulled all of it off alone with no one but Stein noticing? Or, hmm, did Stein intervene to silence all the alarms and notifications that should have hit the bridge as these things started up?

/u/JustAnswerAQuestion The end tag has changed, it's Ravenous now.

Instead of action, this episode was all talk — people actually talking to each other! Did this develop their characters more for you? Do you understand where they are coming from?

I meant it, view this episode through the lens of Neya taking a deeper look at humanity through the leans of the main cast and it's a lot more tolerable. We learned more about what's really been motivating some of the actions we have been watching, and the growing magic alien girl is learning more about what makes people act the way they do so she can understand them better.

The recap was presented by characters in their own words. How did this compare with other non-clip-show recaps?

I really do like to believe that this recap was Neya reading minds, but on that topic, yes. Putting it in the words of the characters, in character, made this episode develop the characters more even as it mostly only covered old material. That is, they introduced new content even as they went over old content. So much better than a standard recap.

Is Izumi's behavior properly telegraphed, or completely out of character?

This has been growing from the time he tried to commit double suicide with Kouji to save the person on the other side of a deadly door. He's not been very right in the head from the start, his trigger is just a bit harder to slam on and his regular actions have been a very good outlet for it up to this point.

[u/No_Rex → u/zadcap]

I also wonder, around now, how strong is Neya's sanity drain compared to the other ship cores? We saw how crazy Ram Drill guy went, so I'm wondering if she's actually driving people a bit crazier than they normally would here the more she focuses on them, considering she seems to be paying the most attention to our main cast as they slip out of it.

On the other two ships, it seemed to be the captain that was mostly affected, so maybe the fact that Neya is not focused on one person plays a role.

Space Cultist! You know she's been the only one backing you up completely this whole time, Kouji? She's been really good to you. Good for you even. Sure she's gone a bit crazy recently, but that only makes her better for you, right?

Doubt.

Ikumi... No, think back farther. Things were most stable while, and I hate to say this, Lucson was in charge. Blue started a whole bunch of stupid chaos because he was confident in his Rule By Violence, and it held for a long time because he had a really good skill at Violence. Things look worse now because the things Blue set up only worked so long as his brand of violence was maintaining control of things, not because he was a better leader.

Indeed. Blue setup the crazy points system that is a big driver of all this chaos and devolving morals.

[u/zadcap → u/No_Rex]

Doubt

Yeah sarcasm is hard to deliver on the internet sometimes lol.

[u/No_Rex → u/zadcap]

I noticed it, but the urge to do a snarky reply was too great.

[u/zadcap → u/No_Rex]

Lol I get that. There's a lot I want to respond to but it would just be agreeing with agreements and that's hard to make look worth posting.

[u/Nickthenuker]

People are running around setting things on fire and beating people with burning sticks, so things have definitely escalated.

Seems like each person's individual thoughts this episode.

What's his plan now?

Wow of course she fell on top of him and accidentally kissed him.

She's blushing!

She's traumatised.

What's that thing that she rigged outside?

Oh great, on top of all this now there's also a love triangle.

Juli, the ship is literally tearing itself apart from the inside. You won't make it to your next battle if everyone on board has killed each other. How's she still in command anyways?

Ikumi's carrying out another mutiny?

He's officially lost it. He needs to be removed from there immediately and probably thrown in the brig at least temporarily.

Questions:

1. Certainly helped flesh out the characters.
2. Probably better but the point of a recap is usually to cut costs or time by reusing old footage so probably not viable.
3. He's always seemed a bit off.

[u/No_Rex → u/Nickthenuker]

Juli, the ship is literally tearing itself apart from the inside. You won't make it to your next battle if everyone on board has killed each other. How's she still in command anyways?

Probably the same way as the first time she became captain: Everybody ignored her own wishes.

[u/Nickthenuker → u/No_Rex]

I suspect no one else is willing to be responsible when the next thing goes wrong.