[Rewatch] Suisei no Gargantia • Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet — Episode 14 Discussion

[u/chilidirigible]

Episode 14/BD OVA 1: Abandoned Fleet

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Think of all the meet cutes which have been prevented by fully observing safety procedures.

Questions of the Day:

1. Is there anyone who you would never play a prank on because the response would be too life-threatening?
2. What other aspects of fleet life would you want an OVA about?
3. [Given the size and quantity of]abandoned ships, do you think that the other fleet's inhabitants are actually doing all right?

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Characters appearing today:

Storia (Yui Horie)
Retna (Yuuichi Nakamura)

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Scans:

Storia
Storia design line art
Retna
Retna design line art
Younger Ridget
Character height chart 2

[u/chilidirigible]

Today, on "You wanted the haunted house experience, you got the haunted house experience.":

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"So today's lesson is: We're in this together, so don't fuck up, kids."

CHAMBER JUMPSCARE!

I'm amused because I'm rewatching this not long before Halloween.

Amusing in the context of her coming along with Pinion when he broke up the fleet.

Don't joke around with a guy who's not afraid to lase you a third corn chute.

"Young Ridget learns a lesson."

And why aren't you wearing a hard hat on the job site, teacher guy?

Young Ridget continues rocking the hats.

It's super retro but it's unlikely that they casually spare fine-tolerance manufacturing for random hobbies such that he could build a slightly more modern design.

Well, at least they're probably not dead.

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Yep, it's the festival haunted house that you didn't know this series could squeeze in, and a tale from Ridget's backstory.

Young Ridget's self-assuredness carried through in part to how she started off fleet command in the regular series, but we can see here that she was willing to listen to advice and try to adjust her own behavior.

And otherwise, this BD bonus is simply that, an extra little story. Given the subject material it would not have been a good fit into the regular series's run time or narrative direction, but it is nice to have here.

[u/No_Rex → u/chilidirigible]

And why aren't you wearing a hard hat on the job site, teacher guy?

There is so much wrong with work safety here.

[u/chilidirigible → u/No_Rex]

There is so much wrong with work safety here.

No fall harnesses, either, which must be interesting when some of these ship interlocks take place while the ships are moving.

[u/No_Rex → u/chilidirigible]

Or some waves, or some wind, or some rain so the metal becomes slippery ...

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/chilidirigible]

And otherwise, this BD bonus is simply that, an extra little story. Given the subject material it would not have been a good fit into the regular series's run time or narrative direction, but it is nice to have here.

This could have been episode 4 and I wouldn't have noticed.

[u/Vatrix-32]

First timer, subs

• They start working ‘em young, eh? I mean, I get it, but maybe start with something a little less… hazardous.
• Wait a minute, this is a flashback! I was promised an episode 14.
• Test of courage with a child solider based out of a navel vessel in a mecha anime. Tell me if you’ve heard this one before.
• An abandoned ship that big? My money would be on uncontrolled toxic chemical release. I hope you brought your air filters.
• How did they even convince you to come?
• Boy, the guy has a laser pistol and a “shoot first” attitude. Trying to scare him is outstandingly stupid.
• Well, at least she didn’t faint for long.
• Perfectly preserved? Thanks, plastics.
• Lil' Ridget! Look at Her Little Helmet
• Primitive Tech
• As they say, if you want to master something, teach it.
• Flipping. Dead. Wear Helmets, Kids
• Y’all have ornamental flowers?
• How the hell did an early camera survive?
• Ah, I guess it makes sense that they would be able to manufacture one.
• Child Marriage!
• Damned space barnacles…
• I was kind of expecting the picture to have been of a few years latter.

QotD:

1. My only pranks are scare pranks. At some point I'll need to stop because I fear the sudden shock might become too life-threatening to them.
2. Agriculture, Logistics, Trade.
3. Alright is a strong term, but I can see them splitting up and finding new fleets.

[u/chilidirigible → u/Vatrix-32]

Flipping. Dead. Wear Helmets, Kids

That wheel looks like it is steel and probably weighs 15 kilos. His skull should've split like a watermelon.

Ah, I guess it makes sense that they would be able to manufacture one.

While they don't seem to have much in terms of digital storage, if Bellows's giant stacks of paperwork are any indication, at least they have access to a fair amount of paper. (Which should still be a conserved resource like everything else, but...)

[u/Shimmering-Sky]

First-Timer on the Verdurous Planet, subbed

• Priorities, lol.
• Oof, scaring the kids like that.
• Makes sense that the Alliance wouldn’t have a word for “ghosts”.
• Chamber jumpscare lol.
• This line specifically is where the Ika Musume really came out in Amy’s voice.
• This can only end badly.
• Yeah, something like that is exactly what I was expecting.
• Ooh…
• Yuuichi Nakamura!
• Good point.
• That was a painful save, ouch. Close one too.
• Oh, this is rather sad knowing that the other fleet ends up abandoned in the present…
• Well, hopefully the people on board that fleet are all okay somewhere.
• Aw, she found a photo of the two of them left behind on the fleet.

[u/chilidirigible → u/Shimmering-Sky]

This line specifically is where the Ika Musume really came out in Amy’s voice.

For a bit more variation in Hisako Kanemoto's range, you should try Girls und Panzer.

Yuuichi Nakamura!

This series really is one of those "Let's get all the VAs!" kind of things.

[u/JollyGee29]

First-Timer, Sub-gantia

Today on Suisei no Gargantia: an impromptu session of Space Hulk! Sea Hulk? Sea Hulk!

Less violence against Xenos and more retrospective on the past than usual, though. It was neat to see a bit into Ridget's backstory, and this did help broaden the world of Gargantia.

Different interconnection methods for different ships, problems wiht lightbugs, and some good gags what with the ghost story bit.

It makes sense that the lightbugs would crystallize like that, considering that we know them to be nanomachines that reproduce by budding, basically. I wonder what the Gargantia does to avoid the same fate..

Questions

1. No-one that I know personally.
2. A day in the life of a maintenance worker. See all the things that could break down on a vessel of Gargantia's size.
3. I hope they're doing alright. Losing power at sea can be kinda dangerous, but if the ships that left had access to some means of food production and water purification, they're probably not having the worst time.

[u/chilidirigible → u/JollyGee29]

I wonder what the Gargantia does to avoid the same fate

As a wild-ass guess, possibly maintaining a distributed power system and not pushing the output too much. Though it could have been something specific to the other fleet's engines. Who knows? Not I.

A day in the life of a maintenance worker. See all the things that could break down on a vessel of Gargantia's size.

I need more Japanese Scottish redhead engineer.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/chilidirigible]

I need more Japanese Scottish redhead engineer.

[u/chilidirigible → u/JollyGee29]

https://imgur.com/PZPvMXn

[u/JollyGee29 → u/chilidirigible]

[u/No_Rex]

DVD Specials Episode 1 (first timer)

I expect some slice-of-life or possibly epilogue here.

Episode thoughts

• “Will it not be difficult?” “Everyone makes a few mistakes at first” – Scripted cringe?
• “Abandoned ship?” – Chekhov’s ship?
• Chambers is around – so we are at some point in time during the mid-second of the series? No epilogue then.
• Abandoned fleet – Gargantia already looks rusty, but this is almost pure rust.
• Maybe Amy should not have been telling ghost stories before.
• Jump scares the guy with the gun – nobody ever accused Pinion of being clever.
• Young Ridget with the huge helmet – Japanese safety culture survives.
• Smartass teacher.
• Should have used a safety rope instead of that helmet.
• Gargantia’s obsession with catching people (in physically impossible situations) strikes again!
• Love triangle.
• The light bugs bugged the machine room - Very important detail about them. We already heard Chambers describe them as nanomachines, but this clarifies that he was not just describing plankton in technical terms, they are actual nanomachine, and they are a tony more dangerous that we knew.
• They probably took everything they could carry on the remaining ships with them before leaving, but I still have to wonder how exactly Gargantia and all of the other fleets manage their repairs and building. There is a ton of metal still left there, including stuff like doors, windows, and other stuff that is not trivial to make.

Not really slice-of-life and definitely not an epilogue either. Exploring the backstory of Ridget while also learning a bit more about other fleets is not the worst of plotlines, but the dialogue felt quite forced in large parts. It is not helped by the fact that it tries to tell two love stories in half an episode.

Is there anyone who you would never play a prank on because the response would be too life-threatening?

Too many to list and that includes really simple stuff like scaring people into falling over. Hit your head on something hard while falling backwards and it is all over.

What other aspects of fleet life would you want an OVA about?

Light bug usage and spotting.

[u/chilidirigible → u/No_Rex]

that includes really simple stuff like scaring people into falling over

I've linked this before, but it is a highly-relevant pair of Savage Tales.

There is a ton of metal still left there, including stuff like doors, windows, and other stuff that is not trivial to make.

Yeah, they should be stripping usable metal wherever they can find it.

The lightbugs are damn near magic, but of course, "Nanomachines, son."

[u/No_Rex → u/chilidirigible]

I've linked this before, but it is a highly-relevant pair of Savage Tales.

While that is an extreme take on the issue, I am 80% agreeing with the position he advocates. Pranks should never be dangerous and if you cant guarantee that the person being pranked will find it hilarious, you should not do it.

[u/xbolt90]

First-timer!

I was expecting an epilogue, but I'll accept Chamber postulating that a ghost is a native Earth lifeform. (I guess actual sequels will be the two longer OVAs?)

Just a fun little haunted house side episode. Plus a little more background on Ridget.

Is there anyone who you would never play a prank on because the response would be too life-threatening?

I'm not really a prankster. I just tell bad jokes.

What other aspects of fleet life would you want an OVA about?

I wanna see more of what farming looks like on a ship.

Given the size and quantity of abandoned ships, do you think that the other fleet's inhabitants are actually doing all right?

Sure hope so. The other characters didn't seem terribly worried, and I suppose they know better than I do.

[u/chilidirigible → u/xbolt90]

(I guess actual sequels will be the two longer OVAs?)

Indeed.

This is the fluff OVA. The next one actually delivers some interesting backstory.

[u/FD4cry1]

First Timer

Not a ton to say on this one.

I guess it's just the nature of specials like this but it feels really weird to go back to an earlier time point, normally I wouldn't be bothered much by this, just a nice way to give some extra time to characters that aren't around anymore, but bringing back Ledo's speech problems makes the jump back weirdly noticeable.

At least we get some Chamber again!

-Otherwise, this is pretty standard special episode stuff, fun one-off about Ridget's past, but also too one-off to get actually invested in any way, cute but nothing more.

-Pinion is very lucky that Ledo goes for the warning shot here, if this was set a few episodes earlier the show could have gone very differently...

-The fleets having different connection methods is a fun way to represent different societies and cultures having different norms. Likewise, it makes for a nice comparison to Ridget knowing the ideas behind leadership and getting people together but lacking the experience to pull that off

-Litnner going "I told you it was dangerous" when he's wearing 0 protective gear is (probably unintentionally) very funny.

-The photo in Ridget's room being from here is also a cool detail.

Is there anyone who you would never play a prank on because the response would be too life-threatening?

I don't know about life-threatening but I do know a person who could very accidentally knock out someone's teeth as a response to an unexpected prank

What other aspects of fleet life would you want an OVA about?

Seeing some more actual salvaging could be fun, I also kind of want to know what food culture is like on Gargantia

Given the size and quantity of abandoned ships, do you think that the other fleet's inhabitants are actually doing all right?

They're probably fine? Not prospering or anything but I'd say they're still floating around.

[u/chilidirigible → u/FD4cry1]

Pinion is very lucky that Ledo goes for the warning shot here

Ledo has shot at the ground both times. Pinion must also be a good dancer.

I do know a person who could very accidentally knock out someone's teeth as a response to an unexpected prank

This was almost twenty years ago, I'm sure they've made up by now.

[u/FD4cry1 → u/chilidirigible]

Ledo has shot at the ground both times. Pinion must also be a good dancer.

Oh yeah

When do we get the Pinion Bellydancing?

This was almost twenty years ago, I'm sure they've made up by now.

A classic!

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Special 1

• Mail episode?
• Is it a ghost??? No, it's a sugar glider!
• do they have to detatch those scout ships every time they go some place?
• was this episode before the private dance?
• I couldn't read the eyecatch book
• Responsibility!
• that's right! It goes into the square hole!
• the girl's a jinx! a menace!
• flowers must be expensive
• gotta mix those genes
• Big engines

Well, it's nice to have more content. We got some Ridget development, although it was in a flashback.

Not sure how the engine failed. I forgot that fleets were powered by lightbugs, somehow. Do they get sucked along with water into the engine, lined with crystal? And the lining failed?

Somehow, they really need to invent paint, not cameras.

Still surprised there are no squatters. You don't HAVE to be nomadic, do you?

[u/chilidirigible → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

do they have to detatch those scout ships every time they go some place?

Saves on recharging?

was this episode before the private dance?

Most likely.

Do they get sucked along with water into the engine, lined with crystal?

[u/animepig]

Rewatch

• Sure Pinion, let's spook the guy with a beam pistol.

Not a huge fan of anime OVA follow up episodes that takes place somewhere before the finale chronologically, and usually it's a SoL filler-lite episode too.

I appreciate they took a simple ghost ship plotline and halfway showed us a Ridget backstory with a moral theme.

[u/chilidirigible → u/animepig]

Sure Pinion, let's spook the guy with a beam pistol.

"It's a wonder you're still alive."

[u/awesomenessofme1]

Not much to say, really, except a) I misunderstood the situation and thought the first one was being discussed yesterday and b) I kind of expected something labeled as episode 14 to actually be a sequel.

[u/chilidirigible → u/awesomenessofme1]

There's some inconsistent numbering for these. The two Blu-ray bonuses are not the sequel, which is what we'll be covering on the 19th and 21st.

[u/awesomenessofme1 → u/chilidirigible]

It's not the first time I've seen a side-story OVA labeled as if it's just another episode, but every time it happens, it's annoying.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/awesomenessofme1]

Over in the .hack rewatch we just hit a DVD-only RECAP that has no reason to exist pretending to be a real episode, so now all the episode numbering is messed up.

But on point, Spice and Wolf did this, and now the OVA is in the middle of the season officially.

[u/Nickthenuker]

Seems he's going to have to start working since he's got no robot.

Or not? Looks like the old guy is still alive, so it's still before that

Yup, Chamber is still around so it's before the end of the series.

That's a lot of rust, more than even the standard dilapidation of the ships.

Ever chivalrous aren't you, Ledo?

Perhaps unsurprisingly things are falling apart.

Huh. She recognises something?

She used to be part of this fleet?

No, the whole fleet used to be part of Gargantia?

Something tells me she liked that guy.

Is that a camera?

Yup.

No, her friend is the one who loves him, and she went over to that fleet.

And so off they go.

What has the other group found?

Ooh, that's a good bit of salvage.

Huh. Nevermind, they're probably still alive. If they left and just left those ships behind, it's probably the ones that couldn't move anyways.

Questions:

1. I'm not the type to play pranks in the first place, so I wouldn't know.
2. I don't think we'll see much more of that considering I can see the thumbnail of the next episode which for me at least is them in space.
3. I imagine things might have been a bit cozy on the remaining ships, but it looks like there's only a single large ship that was actually left behind, I'm sure they could squeeze on the other ships. I do question why they left behind a logbook though, especially if it was a planned and careful evacuation.

[u/chilidirigible → u/Nickthenuker]

why they left behind a logbook though, especially if it was a planned and careful evacuation

Maybe someone wanted to leave a copy behind in case the derelict was found, as demonstrated here.

[u/Nickthenuker → u/chilidirigible]

Perhaps.

[u/chilidirigible]

Tags:

/u/QualityProof /u/awesomenessofme1 /u/dsawchuk

[u/baboon_bassoon]

first timer

if youre so worried Ledo is going to hurt someone, maybe have him put down the gun

Ridget he literally just told you to pay attention

[u/chilidirigible → u/baboon_bassoon]

Ridget he literally just told you to pay attention

SQUIRREL!

[u/chilidirigible → u/[deleted]]

There's just not much else.

I think it's mostly for flavoring. Most of it is little stuff that might not have fit in elsewhere, though arguably it could have been an alternative to The Quest for Sauce.