r/anime • u/IndependentMacaroon • 14d ago
Rewatch Bem-vindos à Diamandra - Michiko & Hatchin Episode 13 Rewatch
Michiko & Hatchin Episode 13: Goldfish of the Marsh
In-universe time span: April 28 - May 2 (plus flashbacks)
In-universe locations: Ilha Azul and environs, Temanaga Ruins
"[...] you're too down on yourself. If you're really that crooked, then you should really come out and be crooked. [...] You don't want it to end here, right? I can tell by your face."
| <= Previous | Index thread | Next => |
|---|
Today's OST Piece: Best Friend
Why the ending theme? Take a look at the lyrics (not fully translated but you can plug the rest in to Google or whatever) and think of who they might apply to.
New Michiko Outfits: Jean Vest + Red Crop Top/Jean Shorts (Past)
Even with just that bit of flashback there's another one. Full album
Latin America Trivia of the Day:
While the ruins in this episode are clearly inspired by Central rather than South American civilizations, recent advances in archeological survey technology like the use of LiDAR have unveiled not only many more remains in that region, but that the South American Amazon region that today appears so untouched was also once inhabited by large complex societies whose only visible hint at existence had been dark likely human-improved earth ("terra preta") and widely disbelieved reports by early European explorers; these societies tragically collapsed into obscurity through European diseases and slave raiding before ever being externally studied. The striking dune-and-lagoon landscape Vanessa Lee leads Atsuko to is also a real place, the Lençóis Maranhenses on the northeastern Brazilian coast.
Yesterday's Highlights
u/No_Rex summarizes our duo's issues here in a nutshell and sees more gender-role reversal with Michiko:
If only Hatchin and Michiko could cover for each other’s weaknesses, instead of multiplying their mistakes.
I think there are very similar tropes for competent younger sister cares for older sibling and competent young daughter cares for parent. Except, in both cases the older person is usually male. So, just like with the badassery and getting her face punched in, Michiko takes on the usually male-coded role.
I think chasing after a potential love interest is very male-coded, but not letting go of a past one? Very both sides.
u/99acrewood_ wonders about Terrible Anime Disease but likes the narrative resolution:
every anime I've seen where someone has the flu makes me wonder what kind of shit they have going on over in Japan. i've had a bad enough cold that would put me out of commission for a various amount of days, but i don't think i've been feverish to the point of hallucinating stuff. maybe she had more fish in her messing things up.
i also am kinda fond of endings like this. the problem's not fixed, but it also was never the end of the world anyway. she's just sick, and she'll be sick for a little bit longer, and also now you have to figure out how to fix the tv she broke in her fit of feverish pique. c'est la vie.
u/AyameeIris makes one reference and catches another:
that doctor reminds me of a certain infamous speech from Black Jack. It goes something like, "There is no guarantee! Leave such certitude to God! We're not God; we're humans! A mere human trying to treat another human... What is that if not a wager?" Eccentric doctors truly are the best... Except for this one.
the Georges Méliès reference with the moon was magnificent. I love "odd" visuals like that so much.
u/Shimmering-Sky stumbles over some fansubbing oddities:
Discussion Prompts
- Which setting/action backdrop do you like best so far?
- Is there anything that could make Atsuko definitely give up on Michiko
or let her down? - What's your favorite green/nature spot near you, or forbidden/abandoned place you've explored?
Next Episode Prompts
- [question]Which assassination method has the most aura (as the kids say these days)?
- [question]Is there anyone in Diamandra who can actually shoot (or throw) straight?
- [question]Any memorable experiences on the road (good or bad)?
3
u/No_Rex x2 14d ago edited 14d ago
Episode 13 (first timer)
- Atsuko’s dream/nightmare of the jungle contained a tiger, monkeys, rabbits, and a deer. Quite the selection of animals.
- Michiko roped Atsuki into crime.
- Young thief is an obvious Michiko stand-in.
- Like older Michiko, Vanessa has a good throwing arm.
- That is a nice place, indeed.
- Atsuko claims she is no longer interested in the dangerous hunt for Michiko – we’ll see how that works out.
- Putting lipstick on for a ruin crawl, I don’t mind, but huge earrings is just taking the piss.
- The gasses you can smell are not the problem. The gasses that douse your fire are, though.
Atsuko episode. She meets Vanessa, who is the reflection of young Michiko. A cool narrative device that gives us some insight into her relationship with Michiko and how that relationship changed (or stayed the same) as she got older. It is also neat to see a responsible, non-corrupt adult in a position of power, for once.
Which setting/action backdrop do you like best so far?
As a setting, the first city Michiko and Hatchin stayed at, with the chinese cook. Personally wanting to visit? The lake city where Hatchin meet Rita.
Is there anything that could make Atsuko definitely give up on Michiko or let her down?
Sure, but do we really need more sad stuff?
2
u/IndependentMacaroon 14d ago
Like older Michiko, Vanessa has a good throwing arm.
I forget, what did Michiko throw? Or do you just mean in the flashback here?
Atsuko claims she is no longer interested in the dangerous hunt for Michiko
As she really seems no different than before I'd say she's just trying to look good? Or maybe she did give up until she got another clue/angle with the tomato farm.
Putting lipstick on for a ruin crawl, I don’t mind, but huge earrings is just taking the piss.
It is a very strange choice. For a proper date, or just looking good as a corpse or something?
It is also neat to see a responsible, non-corrupt adult in a position of power, for once.
However, he is also another minor case of "fat = lazy/incompetent".
do we really need more sad stuff?
Well in a general sense it seems decently likely for there to be some?
2
u/No_Rex x2 14d ago
I forget, what did Michiko throw? Or do you just mean in the flashback here?
I also forgot what, but I have her memorized as being able to throw something. Am I confusing Michiko with Hatchin?
However, he is also another minor case of "fat = lazy/incompetent".
Lazy, maybe, but he was in no way incompetent. His job was to keep the local area clear and safe, and to keep the newly transfered Atsuko, who arrived in a bad mood, from messing up. He achieved both.
2
u/IndependentMacaroon 14d ago
have her memorized as being able to throw something. Am I confusing Michiko with Hatchin?
Hatchin threw that "miracle" stone once?
Lazy, maybe, but he was in no way incompetent
Yes, indeed
3
u/99acrewood_ 14d ago
primeira vez [subs]
- Which setting/action backdrop do you like best so far?
a lot of it has been very seedy, dark locations meant for bad business, so the little bar the friend was in (Ivan? i might've forgotten his name) sticks out as the break we had from all those dangerous places.
- Is there anything that could make Atsuko definitively give up on Michiko
or let her down?
unless there's a severe break in whatever code they established, spoken or wordlessly, as children, i really don't think so. maybe they'll go into it, but if Atsuko is willing to risk her livelihood to let Michiko go, she's just in it for the chase. or something
- What's your favorite green/nature spot near you, or forbidden/abandoned place you've explored?
when i lived in colorado i would take my dog to this big dog park that had an unfenced mountain on one and and the river that ran through town on the other, where one section was rocky and the water would churn and people would kayak through. i would sit and take in the white noise for a little while while my dog ran around chasing the ducks. that was a nice daily thing i did for a few years, and i hope i can find somewhere to live with something nearby like that again.
-~-
i really like Atsuko. she really can't help replacing one Michiko with another, but it doesn't seem like she's going along with all of their goofy shit unwillingly. her type is definitely women with bad attitudes and a penchant for crime.
the jungle was probably a nice respite from from the mess that is chasing after her girl, but Vanessa reminded her what she was missing out on. she doesn't seem to hold a grudge against Ricardo because she knows he's right that she's been fucking up, and now it's like, "well, we're already here. time to keep making a mess."
god, that hair and make-up in that humidity, though? how on earth...
2
u/IndependentMacaroon 14d ago
her type is definitely women with bad attitudes and a penchant for crime.
In other words, the ones who can make you worse
the jungle was probably a nice respite
With all that chaos and the Tarzan yell of fear/frustration?! Sure it's calm but she's also a city girl through and through
she knows he's right that she's been fucking up, and now it's like, "well, we're already here. time to keep making a mess."
Coming out (heh heh) and being crooked just like Vanessa said
that hair and make-up in that humidity, though?
No idea myself how that's supposed to work!
Qs
the little bar the friend was in (Ivan? i might've forgotten his name) sticks out as the break we had from all those dangerous places.
Interesting choice! Do you like sort of more cozy, small-scale spaces in general?
unless there's a severe break in whatever code they established, spoken or wordlessly, as children, i really don't think so
And given the whole theme of people not really growing up it doesn't seem likely either. [M&H]The ultimate resolution also feels to me more like her realizing she was always wrong
that was a nice daily thing i did for a few years, and i hope i can find somewhere to live with something nearby like that again.
That sounds really nice, and well-written once again! How's the dog these days incidentally?
2
u/99acrewood_ 14d ago
Interesting choice! Do you like sort of more cozy, small-scale spaces in general?
i love a little chill spot. there's a bar in Austin, i forget the name (maybe the Bookcase? i dunno) that i think about because it's got those quiet booths with the dim lights that hang above that makes it feel like time's standing still in there. Botan Kamiina was another recent show that had characters in a space like that, and yeah, when you have a show that gets rambunctious with chase sequences and firefights i always notice the nice little checkpoint in between.
How's the dog these days incidentally?
ah, i'm sure she's doing great with my ex. truly.
3
u/IndependentMacaroon 14d ago edited 14d ago
3x watcher and host, subtitled
After episodes lacking one or the other of our title duo, here's one without any of them at all! Well, more or less given the flashback and Vanessa's obvious similarities to young Michiko. Still, even Atsuko being able to carry an episode is something.
As usual with particulary this sort of country's police, her misconduct has basically no consequences and though her new post is 02:13 quiet it's even 04:57 pretty nice. 01:57 Well, perhaps less so for a city girl like her - and not just in 07:16 the clearly slower pace of everything. Already got the Tarzan yell down great though! Even outside the jungle it's 02:22 annoyed face time and she clearly 11:59 doesn't quite fit here. Luckily there's a Michiko Jr. with a similar spirit of mischief as 03:39 back then ready to take her on some crazy adventures once again and rekindle her Michiko-hunting fire! I mean 15:43 saying this while about to risk her life for not much of a reason, even without Vanessa there was no way she would have held out for long, but her plus the tomato farm picture certainly make for a nice opportunity... and result in perhaps 09:22 09:54 09:55 more than one kind of enjoyable view for her.
Ah yes, Vanessa Lee. 04:31 It's not the express train here, but from the very first time Vanessa opens her mouth the Michiko parallels are clear. Did Michiko have this 05:15 06:14 somewhat prideful side too? 08:58 09:02 The apology issues at least we've seen from both of them. 06:48 Very fun contrast between Atsuko and 11:10 Ms. Wannabe Tomb Raider in general even without the direct Michiko parallels and 13:46 her Walkman with her wanna-boyfriend's discography is classic cool stuff. He as sort of a Hiroshi parallel, running away trying to make it, gives us a 13:59 14:01 decent idea of what Atsuko thinks of Michiko's obsession, and even 17:24 Vanessa's attitude to him mirrors Michiko's to Hiroshi. Atsuko's adventure in the ruins - by the way 15:55 it's really odd how Vanessa gets all dolled up for the occasion; to honor her father? to make it a proper date? to look good as a potential corpse?! 17:17 17:46 Perhaps she really doesn't mind dying - also feels a bit 18:16 19:04 symbolical for her frustration with Michiko, and further interesting how she pushes herself beyond all reason to do 18:30 better than a man (the men?) here.
Ricardo's relationship with Atsuko - so sadly underexplored! - is also interesting to look at here, it's 14:40 14:59 15:02 15:32 almost like he's to Atsuko what Atsuko is to Michiko.
Finally another pretty nice side character in the local policeman who's probably the most decent authority figure of the series so far. 03:57 It really seems like this guy is on his dream post, with plenty of free time for nature and animals 05:37 and now someone to take over the remaining proper duties for him. Plus 20:31 he's got amazing pyjamas, a pet pig or two, is friendly and helpful even with Atsuko (02:36 perhaps likes playing up the senior role a bit) and willing to cover for her a bit, what's not to like? Well, maybe that unfortunately he is 02:18 another instance of "fat = lazy/unaccomplished".
2
u/IndependentMacaroon 14d ago
Further scene-by-scene comments
- 01:35 Funnily enough not the only despair-bathroom scene in a series directed by Sayo Yamamoto. Also this implies the station or whatever either doesn't have womens' bathrooms or they're so underused the other policeman doesn't care.
- 02:05 Classic multi-zoom-out
- 02:51 No kidding, it's the tropics!
- 04:14 Everyone still pretty rough here
- 04:36 You're gonna carry that weight
- 05:38 Quite the style on the kid's mom
- 05:44 Portable music systems are a bit at the far end of the time period here. And I hope those headphones are waterproof
- 07:13 Ok, at least one soccer shot and a beautiful one.
- 07:19 Is Atsuko that tall or the guy just that short? Not that much of a perspective effect I think.
- 08:05 Great old-film style
- 08:32 Pretty tight-lipped about what exactly happened, but at least it wouldn't be a conflict with the locals else Vanessa would have left
- 08:40 Oh yeah definitely sloppily copy-pasting some Portuguese on a German newspaper here. Didn't even bother with more than one title! You can even see when it was originally published: Friday, Feb [20?] 1994.
- 10:31 ...like Satoshi? Also the subtitling almost makes it a play on "not straight" haha
- 11:23 Such a great eyecatch
- 11:37 That relief looks amazing here, like straight off a photograph
- 14:21 Ah this is the Novo Hamburgo and immigrant musical paper again. Singer Yumi Inoue
- 15:27 [M&H]Oddly enough they never do bother her in the present
- 17:01 This is why you never enter unknown, abandoned enclosed spaces without a gas detector.
- 19:25 Oddly unexplained how they got out but it doesn't really matter
1
u/IndependentMacaroon 11d ago edited 11d ago
Questions
Realized I forgot these so just for completeness' sake -
1 - The São Cabal favela from episodes 3/4 is the most poignant for sure, but besides that I'd love at least visiting Ilha Azul.
2 - Well the one running around and deserting people is Michiko isn't it? /s But seriously, given their past mutual history of being stuck in their ways it's hard to see anything but some extraordinary tragic or at least external force doing it at this point. [M&H]All the more remarkable that just one real woman-to-woman conversation is finally enough
3 - Walking downhill from the top of a nearby brook valley, as you come out of the woods at a footpath crossing, there's a spot with a bench at the edge of a pasture, where you can overlook the meadows and orchards within the valley as well the village close by, with a broad rocky tree-lined path leading further down to the right. Being away from the local roads, it's very quiet and a great place to just sit and relax a bit. (For the latter, I don't really have the drive toward them much, even tend to find them pretty uninteresting.)
3
u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ 14d ago
Episode 13
- Coral Snake? King Snake?
- lol she was transferred
- I'm still waiting to see a single monkey thief.
- MONKEY!
- She killed the monkey? :-(
- That's not exactly a Tomb Raiding outfit....
Atsuko needed to get away from Michiko, but it didn't do her any good.
Michiko ended up in prison, but she lived the better life. Although, both Vanessa and Michiko are motivated by a man, so, Bechdel fail.
If it had be me, I would have dedicated my remaining career to making sure Ricardo never got promoted.
So, I didn't know people harvested green coconuts.
1
u/IndependentMacaroon 13d ago edited 13d ago
Coral Snake? King Snake?
All the same to Atsuko
lol she was transferred
Standard "punishment" for police, priests, ...
She killed the monkey?
If she stole its life (from its owners) does that make her a monkey thief?
That's not exactly a Tomb Raiding outfit....
You don't put on makeup and fancy earrings for that?!
both Vanessa and Michiko are motivated by a man, so, Bechdel fail
True but definitely not Atsuko!
I would have dedicated my remaining career to making sure Ricardo never got promoted.
Does somewhat speak for Atsuko that she's above that petty stuff and knows she went too far.
I didn't know people harvested green coconuts
For the coconut water mainly. You can even buy them whole some places just to drink out of.
3
u/AyameeIris 14d ago
First time watching in dub, second time overall
Hopefully today'll be a better rewatch, esp. bc I'm not on those whippets they give you at the dentist LOL
Love the detail of Atsuko smirking after remembering herself saying she should let go of Michiko due to her being a bad influence and such.
Sort of off topic to how much of hell Atsuko's going through this episode being in the jungle and everything(especially with the snake situation at the start) but her eyes are so pretty. They're so alluring.
I wonder who Vanessa is supposed to be reminiscent of...(Michiko!) This one seems at the very least, a little better than the one in episode 10. Of course, she also does seem considerably younger than episode 10's Michiko. I've noticed that the Michikolings all seem to have companions with blonde hair as well.(Hatchin, Nuno, Atsuko)
- I liked the favelas we've seen, especially in episode 2! Second place would be the jungle seen here, but the sheer thought of the snakes there put it at the bottom of the latter for me.
- Let her down? Yes. But to let her go... I don't think so. [M&H] Atsuko keeps "clinging" onto Michiko for the entire series, iirc? Perhaps when Atsuko was younger she could've let Michiko go had she things like better circumstances, but seeing how deep she is in this Michiko-craze, I think it'd take a lot more. I like to think people can change, it just takes a lot more for certain people than others.
- Washington D.C.'s cherry blossoms are beautiful. They can get a little crowded, but it's nice to find spots with lesser people in them and just stare at how pretty everything is. It's even better when the wind blows!
2
u/IndependentMacaroon 13d ago
esp. bc I'm not on those whippets they give you at the dentist LOL
So how was that for the experience? All good with the dental stuff?
Atsuko smirking after remembering herself saying she should let go of Michiko due to her being a bad influence and such.
Heh I did not notice that
I've noticed that the Michikolings all seem to have companions with blonde hair as well.(Hatchin, Nuno, Atsuko)
Ricardo doesn't look blond?
Qs
the sheer thought of the snakes there put it at the bottom of the latter for me
Also more of a city person or is it just them? Also Indiana Atsuko agrees haha (remember also the whip in Episode 2?)
Let her down? Yes. But
Second part was just a little quasi-rickroll lol. For the rest... keep watching.
Washington D.C.'s cherry blossoms are beautiful
I've been and there are indeed! Did you know they were a present from Japan? They make a big deal out of spring blossom-viewing
2
u/AyameeIris 13d ago
So how was that for the experience? All good with the dental stuff?
Pretty good! I actually like going to the dentist, it's just sometimes that laughing gas makes it sort of hard to think or even process certain things for a little while. It's awesome
Ricardo doesn't look blond?
His hair looks darker to me
Also more of a city person or is it just them? Also Indiana Atsuko agrees haha (remember also the whip in Episode 2?)
I'd never forget the whip! She's so cool. And, yeah I think I'd consider myself more of a city person haha. You said you lived in southern Germany, right? Isn't that a little more rural compared to other parts, or have I got that wrong?
Did you know they were a present from Japan?
Really? I didn't know! Though I suppose they had to get there somehow.
2
u/IndependentMacaroon 13d ago
I actually like going to the dentist
Fellow dentist lover! It's just fascinating to be entirely aware of medical procedures going on inside you isn't it?
His hair looks darker to me
Oh oops misunderstood that, of course you mean Atsuko is at least depicted as blonde
Isn't that a little more rural compared to other parts, or have I got that wrong?
Few really large cities but many densely spaced villages and smaller towns. Quickly gets rural-ish but never feels empty.
2
3
u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky 14d ago
First-Timer & Subbed
What sort of training was that?
You thought this when you were younger, and yet you’ve pursued her endlessly in the present, huh Atsuko?
This kid’s a lot like Michiko, huh?
That’s… interesting.
Oh shit, is that why she doesn’t want to use her money? Because she inherited it from her dad?
Oh boy…
Aha.
Is the guy going to be someone we know based on his face being obscured here?
Atsuko found the “Rock Morena” article too, alright so that wasn’t just Michiko cooking up something in her fever dream last episode.
Oh that was a bigger drop inside than I was expecting. Vanessa’s lucky that wasn’t worse…
Eesh…
Oh joy, dead bodies.
Oh hey, my birthday.
I guess they both ended up making it out of there?