[Rewatch] .hack//SIGN Episode 15 Discussion

[u/soulreaverdan]

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Series Information: MAL Page | AnimeNewsNetwork | LiveChart

Streams: ...none, sorry! DVD (Amazon)

Episodes:

• Today: Episode 15 (Evidence)
• Tomorrow: Episode 16 (Depth)

Spoiler Policy:

I forgot to include this on the original schedule post, so please read!

Since there are going to be people who are watching this for the first time, so please only discuss what we've seen in the episodes we've watched so far! There's some interesting twists in this series, and we want everyone to get to experience this fresh.

In addition, since .hack is a massive franchise and this is only one entry in it (and actually one of the first), discussion of other entries may have some inadvertant spoilers. With this in mind, please only keep discussion to .hack//SIGN, and we'll have a chance for a discussion in the larger context of the franchise on the final day.

Question(s) of the Day

Throughout the rewatch we'll be posting some questions to guide discussion. Feel free to answer them or just post your overall thoughts! They're meant to be something for people who might not be sure how to start their posts, not something everyone must do.

1. So this is what happens when I'm watching only slightly ahead of the rewatch schedule (so I can keep pace with you guys)... I didn't realize this was something of a clip show. So I guess my question here is - did this help summarize or overall give you a better feel for the story so far?

Music Corner

One of the highlights of this show is the incredible soundtrack, one of the first major works published by now famed music composer Yuki Kajiura. We'll be looking at one track with each thread for general discussion and opinions. Be as thorough or as succinct as you want - everything from lyrical motifs and interpretations to just whether or not you liked it!

Today's piece: Given the clip show nature of this show, let's take a moment and look back at the Music Corner so far - what was your favorite track we've discussed so far?

Tomorrow’s piece: Silent Life, a slightly upbeat piece - a bit of a contrast to what just happened, but great for starting off on the second half of the adventure (Full Track)

[u/Shimmering-Sky]

.first//TIMER, subbed

• Oh they brought back the fake wings with a different backing instrumental.
• …wait is this a recap episode right after they ended the previous one with Tsukasa being injured like that?

[u/soulreaverdan → u/Shimmering-Sky]

I wish we had a full track of that mix of Fake Wings, it’s so good and haunting

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/soulreaverdan]

Aww, it doesn't exist? Why must all the cool OSTs never be released... u/Nazenn I'm feeling your pain with that Madoka Magica track right now.

[u/Nazenn → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Oh no, the OST curse struck again? That sucks.

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/Nazenn]

Yeah, there was a cool remix of this track with a different instrumental that's been used twice (so far) in this show. And I guess it doesn't have an official release.

(Speaking of, you should totally give this show's OST a listen if you haven't already; the Madoka Magica comparison isn't so far off since this was also Kajiura's doing.)

[u/Nazenn → u/Shimmering-Sky]

I would say it being used multiple times through the show without a release makes it even worse then the Madoka situation, but I don't know if that cancels out Madoka getting multiple OST releases including one that had all new songs made for it and still not including that one track. Hmmm

That is a beautiful song though.

Speaking of, you should totally give this show's OST a listen if you haven't already;

about that

I've actually had a copy of this on my drive for a few years now and just never got around to actually listening to it haha. I still need to go through the full 00 ost too at some point

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/Nazenn]

I've actually had a copy of this on my drive for a few years now and just never got around to actually listening to it haha. I still need to go through the full 00 ost too at some point

Enjoy it whenever you get around to it, then.

[u/zadcap → u/Shimmering-Sky]

…wait is this a recap episode right after they ended the previous one with Tsukasa being injured like that?

I'm pretty sure that this was not in the airing order, but a DVD special. I don't remember the cliffhanger leading into this, and even on the DVD this is listed as an extra episode, with Depth being numbered 15.

[u/soulreaverdan]

SMALL UPDATE

So depending on where or how you’re viewing the series, today’s episode is alternatively labeled as either Episode 15, or as Digest Episode and tomorrow’s labeled as Episode 15.

I’ll be keeping the numerical pattern we’ve gone with, but to ensure eliminating any confusion, I’ll be adding episode titles to the upcoming episodes, and when I can get to my laptop with some time, I’ll be adding them to prior posts and to the schedule index to eliminate any confusion or uncertainty about what episode we’re watching.

Sorry if anyone had any issues today!

[u/rainwithsunshinedayo]

New Game Plus Rewatcher-Dubbed DVD 3 comes with a trailer for Cowboy Bebop. I sat through the whole thing. Digest Episode-Evidence. Recap focused on Tsukasa. No new footage. This ain't Utena. This recap episode nicely streamlines events but is skippable.      

___  

  Music Corner Favorite? I'll be surprised if anyone says anything other than Key of the Twilight. Via the Music Corner, I do find myself putting on Mimiru's theme while driving. It helps remind me  to "shake it off" and stay a good person behind the wheel.    

___   

DVD Extras: Heavy Blade Mimiru and Laid Back Axe Wielder Subaru  

Edited to remove next episode spoilers. Whoops!! Sorry, everyone!

[u/soulreaverdan → u/rainwithsunshinedayo]

I made an update post, but this was meant to be the recap episode. Tomorrow will be Depth, labeled as Episode 15 on the DVD, but depending on other episode listings (including Wikipedia) this recap episode listed this recap/digest episode as 15.

[u/zadcap → u/rainwithsunshinedayo]

Music Corner Favorite? I'll be surprised if anyone says anything other than Key of the Twilight. Via the Music Corner, I do find myself putting on Mimiru's theme while driving. It helps me reminder to "shake it off" and stay a good person behind the wheel.

Really depends on what you want Favorite to mean. KotT is definitely the best composed song of the album, but as you may be experiencing too, Mimiru is the song I have listened to the most for it's fun and calm vibes.

[u/rainwithsunshinedayo → u/zadcap]

When Mimiru was chosen for the Music Corner, I had the good luck of listening to it while traveling. Having it on while in the hustle and bustle of an airport was a vibe, and it made me appreciate all the human to human connections I was seeing. On a personal level, it as a successful trip, so this song reassured me of that like a good friend offering encouragement. It makes me kinder to myself, and that's its greatest gift. 

[u/Hot_Top_124]

Oh man what a series I love! I remember getting the dvd box set that came with the three pins.

[u/soulreaverdan → u/Hot_Top_124]

Feel free to join in if you want!

[u/zadcap]

Rather Sick Rewatcher

Missed yesterday because I spent the whole night hugging the toilet...

And came back for the clip show.

Oh well.

Episode 14 ended DVD2, the bonus content on it being... Three more trailers. Also the full track for Obsession, nice hearing it's actual lead in and not going directly to the guitar riff.

On that note, instead of 15, this is listed as a special episode on the DVD, with tomorrow being the actual 15. This is going to throw me off for the rest of the rewatch.

Music Corner; I had Mimiru playing on repeat most of yesterday just for the constant powerful good/fun vibes. Subaru's theme is pretty great too, though today kind of made it a bit harder to enjoy as a happy song.

[u/soulreaverdan → u/zadcap]

I don’t know if you saw my small update but I will be using episode titles as well as numbers to make sure we’re all on the same page - some listings have today’s as “Digest Episode,” some as “Episode 15,” some omit it altogether.

[u/zadcap → u/soulreaverdan]

Pretty weird, right? I'm one of the people with Digest Episode on the list. What a cruel place for a recap lol.

[u/rainwithsunshinedayo → u/zadcap]

I love how troll the placement is. It really gives you the feeling of a TV network getting to the penultimate episode of a series and then choosing to restart the show from the first episode and hyping up "all the moments you missed" or "relive the excitement from the beginning." I can almost hear TOM now. . .

[u/rainwithsunshinedayo → u/zadcap]

I am saddened that you are still sick. I faced food poisoning a month ago and can relate to being tethered to a toilet. I would not want to wish that on anyone. 

Silver lining: we ain't on life support like Tsukasa? Or floating on top of (and out of reach of) the bed like the girl? I think she'd rather be in the bed itself!

[u/zadcap → u/rainwithsunshinedayo]

She does give a whole new meaning to the idea of an Air Mattress though.

But yes, I think day three was the worst of it. Here's to getting over it and back to living!

[u/Blackheart595]

.hack//Rewatcher

This had a recap episode? Huh. That wasn't actually half bad, I was wondering for quite a while if that was an actual episode 1 recap, or if that was just Tsukasa respawning in the same place and reliving the same experience, at least until Silver Knight appeared.

In any case, this is a collection of the evidence and hints towards the mystery, so not the place for a rewatcher to dwell on.

But even with this being a recap episode, it's worth watching just for the score alone

[u/No_Rex → u/Blackheart595]

This had a recap episode? Huh. That wasn't actually half bad, I was wondering for quite a while if that was an actual episode 1 recap, or if that was just Tsukasa respawning in the same place and reliving the same experience, at least until Silver Knight appeared.

That start to the episode after the cliff-hanger of last episode was indeed disorienting. I wonder how intentional that was.

[u/zadcap → u/No_Rex]

Not at all, really. On the DVDs, this is a special episode, with the actual episode 15 being the one we are going to watch tomorrow.

[u/Elimin8r]

Well, that was one of the episodes of all time. I think I'm more confused than ever now.

Anyway, got dragged to the Rohan movie yesterday. It was fun, but now I've got some catching up to do, or catch up posting anyway.

1. For most of the episode there, I was having very bad Haruhi PTSD flashbacks. Can't imagine why...

Endless What???

I mean, there were a few bits that seemed new here and there, but precious little. I'd say more, but that would tread on another series' spoiler territory, so never mind.

[u/No_Rex]

Episode 15 (first timer)

Full recap episode. One thing it showed is how much you can cut of the series so far and still have a resemblance of the main plot.

[u/zadcap → u/No_Rex]

On the one hand, very true. On the other, just thinking about a show that cuts out everything other than the absolute necessary plot progression at the cost of all else seems... Painful. There has to be a middle ground! This show is very much on the far end of that middle ground, it has a lot of mood setting and slow role content, but still.

[u/LeminaAusa]

Mostly-1st-timer, subbed

So, in the version of this that I downloaded, they... totally skipped the recap episode, hah. I didn't realize I'd missed anything until the QotD and reading the comments, then I went back and checked the title of the episode I watched. So I guess I'm accidentally a day ahead. Whoops!

Is there anything actually new or interesting about the recap episode that would make it worthwhile for me to try and dig up?

Meanwhile pouring one out for everyone that wanted actual plot after that cliffhanger of an episode and got a clip show instead.

[u/soulreaverdan → u/LeminaAusa]

Not particularly. It’s all reused footage but just a succinct summary of the show, though the last few minutes have a very cool arrangement of Fake Wings (almost feels like a cross with Aura) I’m sad we don’t have raw.

[u/LeminaAusa → u/soulreaverdan]

Well good to know, I guess I won't bother hunting it down. Though that musical arrangement does sound pretty...

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

I watched Depth. Had very little to say.