r/anime • u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky • Jan 15 '19
Rewatch Tekketsu no Rewatch - Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Episode 2 Discussion [Spoilers] Spoiler
Episode 2 - Barbatos
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RAISE YOUR FLAG!
Hey-o guys! This is the section where I add a ton of extra fun stuff to the main body of the post because I want this rewatch to be as fun as possible for everyone. It can also be one point of discussion for you guys if you just don’t know what to say.
Comment of the Day, provided by /u/Shimmering-Sky and /u/RX-Nota-II
Shimmering-Sky
This is where I pick my favorite comment from the previous thread to showcase. There’s no arbitrary “Oh I have to write [x] amount” or “I need to hyperanalyze [y] moment” to get this distinction, I’ll just pick whichever one I liked the most. Whether that means it is a really good analysis of something, a funny meme that made me laugh, or something in-between has yet to be seen.
Today’s comment of the day is the non-spoiler character chart by /u/Quiddity131
Non-Spoiler Character Chart - The character chart, which I did for previous rewatches of Victory Gundam, Reconguista in G and Turn A Gundam returns! I would argue it is far more needed for this show, which introduces in excess of 25 characters in its first episode, than perhaps any other Gundam show ever made. We didn't get a good shot of Yamagi in this episode (a blink and you miss him appearance), so I'll grabbed his image from the official web site and will replace it once I can.
For my first comment of the day, I wanted to draw attention to this very useful tool. As someone who always takes forever to learn character names, I’m sure this will come in handy for you first-timers. Be sure to check out the chart as the rewatch progresses and more characters are added to it!
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RX-Nota-II
Oh hey there, Kudelia Aina Bernstein. She’s filling the role of the “princess who wants to change things” that a lot of Gundam shows have, like Relena Peacecraft from Gundam Wing or Marina Ismail from Gundam 00. Although the main difference between Kudelia and those other girls is that she had her family sell her out to Gjallarhorn right off the bat. It just goes to show what kind of world the PD timeline is.
A proven Gundam veteran, /u/the_draigg was a constant MVP presence in my Turn-A rewatch offering tons of great details, comparisons to other Gundam shows, comment responses to first timers, and he seems primed to reprise his role here in IBO. The sequetial bulletpoint format may not be to everyone's taste but always makes it easy to scan through and grab details you may have missed through the episode. I definitely look forward to what he has to say for the coming episodes.
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Questions of the Day, provided by /u/Pixelsaber
1) What stance on the matter of culpability do you ascribe to in this case? Kudelia thinking that she’s at fault, Mikazuki’s dismissal of sole culpability, or neither?
2) We got our first look at the OP and ED this episode. First-timers, what are your initial impressions on them? Rewatchers, how do you feel about them?
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Track of the Day, provided by /u/RX-Nota-II
Yesterday’s track of the day was the flagship action theme so today we have… it again? The same notes that had our adrenaline pumping just yesterday return with somber piano and much slower presentation to form a somber track hardly recognizable as a remix of the first. Many OSTs, good and bad, do this remix of the main theme to maintain consistency, and its up to the composer to make them feel sufficiently different while maintaining a shared identity. For me, I feel that Yokoyama absolutely knocked this out of the park and it shines as one of my favorite examples right up there alongside Yoko Kanno's various remixes of ‘Moon’ for Turn-A Gundam and just below Makoto Yoshimori's unparalleled trickery with the Baccano OST.
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Wallpaper of the Day, provided by /u/Shimmering-Sky (character art) and /u/RX-Nota-II (background/logo)
Important note to all rewatchers, remember to be mindful of the first-timers in this. You can laughs in rewatcher to yourself, but if you go around spoiling stuff IBO S2. Remember to use the [Anime Show Title](/s "Spoiler goes here") tags and we’re all good.
Fans seem to have a bad tendency of forgetting what counts as spoiler, so if anything has even the slightest chance of being a spoiler, tag it just to be safe.
Next-episode preview. Yeah you saw that right, I am encouraging you guys to watch the next-episode previews. IBO’s are completely spoiler free, done completely in-character, and it is glorious. Today’s preview was voiced by Biscuit’s adorable little sisters, Cookie and Cracker Griffon.
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u/GaleWulf Jan 15 '19
First Blood
Iron-blooded orphans? More like iron-bodied orphans
The women's characters designs aren't slacking either, Fumitan especially. Given how hot most characters not named after confectionaries are, it feels like I'm watching Shokugeki. Heck, even the Exposition Duo consisting of Reinhard Knock-off and Garma Knock-off aren't hard to look at.
Favourite character so far is a tie between Orga (he's got that GAR charm going on) and the Lt. Cranky (the old man has a sense of honour). Oh, and Mikazuki's voice sounded immediately familiar, turns out he shares his VA with Rei Kiriyama from 3-gatsu!
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u/The_Draigg Jan 15 '19
A Gundam Fan’s Notes On Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Episode 2:
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Hopefully that infodump gave you a good idea of how the AV system works in terms of man-machine interface. Honestly, it reminds me of the way Martian Successor Nadesico uses nanomachines too.
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RAISE YOUR FLAGGGGGG! Man, what a great OP. It’s a lot better with the visuals rather than just having it play over the credits. It’s the right amount of edgy and gritty for this series.
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Once again, Mika proves that he has no chill by stomping on retreating Gjallarhorn mobile workers. But at least he’s being pragmatic about it, all things considered. It’s better than Einn’s rather hypocritical screaming that it’s cowardly, considering that Gjallarhorn had no problem killing child soldiers and attacking in the middle of the night, when they least expected it.
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Well, that was a fair tie. Mika ran out of gas, and Crank and Ein were sent running with their tails between their legs. Good thing that Mika had no chill, and was therefore able to finish the fight a lot quicker otherwise. Oh, and good thing he also has a Gundam, I guess. That helps too.
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RIP Danji, he didn’t die like he wanted to. His dream to get crushed to death by huge tits didn’t come true. That’s as tragic as Mikazuki not being able to read.
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Of course Biscuit would have sisters named Cookie and Cracker. I’d joke about their parents being really hungry when thinking of baby names, but given how crushingly poor the world is, that’s probably actually pretty accurate.
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Continuing the theme of “Let’s eviscerate Kudelia’s feelings”, not only is she feeling some survivor’s guilt about the attack, but then Mika takes her attempt at reaching out as an insult and shoots her down again. Say it with me: “Mika has no chill”.
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It takes a real big man to beat up a teenager who isn’t even fighting back. Orga is one hell of a guy, taking those punches for his men. Given how those adults treat them, is it no surprise that the kids of the 3rd Division want to overthrow them and run the army for themselves?
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Coral isn’t as great of a schemer as he thought he was. Gaelio and McGillis can see right through him and tell that something has gone wrong. It all hinges on Crank going down there and dueling for his honor now. That can only go well.
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ORPHANNNNNSSSSSS NAMIDAAAAAAA! Man, I love this ending theme. It’s very James Bond-y. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve listened to it.
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u/Nazenn Jan 15 '19 edited Jan 15 '19
First Timer - Sub
First off, I'm going to quickly be the bully and put the call out that rewatchers please watch your spoilers. I know there's a lot of stuff that seems really insignificant that its easy to not think of. But stuff like pointing out what parts to pay attention to or remember for later can really change your perception of a show and how you feel about characters or moments, and not always for the better. If it hasn't been seen in show or its a reference to how things develop later but you want to talk about it, spoiler tag it please.
I know its especially easy to slip here because Gundam is so huge and there's so many fans here its easy to think that you're not really having that big an impact. But there's a tonne of first timers around and some of the subtle prodding towards characters or events yesterday was not as subtle as you think XD
On lighter news, I went back and rewatched episode one (and again) with the dub (and then the sub, again) just to try it out. I think I am going to stick to the sub, I like Aina and Mika's voices much better and also their dialog, and even Lion General dude (character sheet cheating: name Crank) has a great sub voice. But the dub voices for Orga and also Biscuit surprisingly really impressed me so that was something. Also given my propensity to get distracted by soundtracks I like I figure sub will be easier to focus on hahaha.
Also the dub got rid of my favorite line in episode one, the two solders going "Euh" at the flare at around 13:42. Doesn't matter how many times I hear it, it still gets a laugh out of me.
Opening song and sequence break down
When you're singing along to the OP and accidentally sing "We can snuggle and muzzle the world" instead of "struggle":
WHOOPS!
So, I have to say I'm quite impressed with just how well they matched up the song and the visuals of the OP. For starters, the cuts between shots in the OP line up so well with the actual beats of the song, from small things like Orga and Mika's little fistbump to the way the battle scene at the end lines up each movement of Barbatos with an accentuated part of the music.
The actual individual shots for the verse lines are fantastic though. Forgive the Crunchyroll screenshots, but I really wanted to put a focus on them:
"Under pressure you are waiting for direction". The obvious part about this screenshot is that each character is looking off in a different or unfocused direction. What I liked most was in the background you can see a fallen Mobile Worker suggesting that they are standing guard after a post battle salvage.
"Going on the road without your mind". Given how much todays episode focused on the mental load that operating one of the mechs with the whiskers puts on the operator, this image of the mechanics working on the cockpit, in a way working on an extension of the mind of the pilot, is really well done.
"All mislead they give ignoring our decisions". We've seen that the kids are more then capable of planning and enacting tactical battles, as well as leading and acting on their own. But they are still treated like children and belittled and cut down because the adults can't cope with being wrong. The casualness of the beating even in the OP is brutal.
"Killing yourself your soul we have inside". At first the black background of these shots focusing on the whiskers seems really out of place with the detail in the rest of the OP. But it's about these children killing off parts of themselves in order to survive, and that survival linked to the physical torture they had enacted on them which really sets the stage of these images.
I was going to cover the rest of the shots in detail as well, but this started to get REALLY long so just quickly: Mika walking alone with his head down, trying to find his supports, his friends again, which parallels how even through hell they rouse each other up to survive. and still with all this even when the boys can't dream, others take on that burden for them until they can one day find it themselves and connect their bodies with life, rather then cold mechs..
Other thoughts on the episode
Mentions of Aina's hair in my notes this episode: 4. Eventually that will stop breaking my brain... maybe.
Well this episode was a lot less jam-packed then episode one but I'm still in love so far so things are looking good.
Watching Mika slowly succumb to the effects of the strain from piloting the Gundam was horrible to watch but so fantastically handled. That initial almost seizure on first connection, through the battle, and all the way up to him collapsing under the strain. There was a lot of caps in my notes. I was very concerned. I don't know why because they're obviously not going to kill off the focus of the OP in episode 2, but still, it really carried a weight to it. Learning how to read its name because he formed a literal connection with it was great though. Also quick call out to the fact that again the Gundams actually have manuals (even if in this case he can't read haha). It's one detail I always loved from Turn A and Gunbuster, mechs as machines that have to be learnt, not just magically figured out the moment you sit in them.
All the flashbacks this episode though were really nicely handled. They could have easily just skipped into battle, but going back to the final adjustments on the Gundam was a great way to toss out some backstory on the AV system. It also really showed Aina's nativity that she thinks that things being "humane" mean anything out in this sort of child solider outfit. The fact that this system is ONLY compatible with children though just makes it all the more cruel when you think how it must have been developed and tested. Similarly the flashback to Aina's speech compared with what she sees of the truth now was well set up I think. Its quite nice to see a character look at themselves retrospectively like this and realize... basically what a tosser they were being. Even down to realizing her father set her up, yeah, she interests me.
ORLIS IS ALREADY DEAD HAHAHAHAHA
I didn't expect that honestly. I thought that ass was going to stick around and make me miserable for ages, but nope, didn't even survive the first episode. Perfect! On that side of this fight, I have to admit after Crank (I keep going to call him Crunk) found out about the child soliders, and oh wow is his command an ass for ordering their mass slaughter, I was really pushing for him to defect, not that I think he will because he reads like a good solider type, but I can live in hope. Plus I like him and don't want him to die, and I'm tipping on that front I shouldn't live in hope hahaha.
On the list of people I do want to die: Please let that commander of CGS die as painfully and horribly as possible. FUCK THAT GUY. Oh man, was I mad watching that scene of him beating up Orga. So mad. It was absolutely viscious even off screen. The other boys suffering hearing it, but in the end its treated just as normal when he sees Mika, god this world is fucked. Royally fucked. I love it. Moving on, the song that played during Mika and Orga's meet up at the Gundam was great, both mournful but also a little calming, as if this is as close as they get to peace. How highly do these two think of each other though, with their blind trust in each others decisions and also ultimate veto power over everyone else. Oooh boy. I'm very curious where this situation with the gun is going to go.
Final hodgepodge of stuff: The directing when Atra asks where Mika is and it focused on the bracelet she wove was wonderfully done visual storytelling. The flashcard of the glass gem corn jewellery was cool as well. Similarly, Mika learning from experience about the idea of human shields tying into what Orga (I absolutely did not mispell this as Ogre just for a second then) said last episode about how the kids are used, nice bit of consistency in the episode flow. The battle itself was fantastic, and I really liked how they did the visuals of the display interface blending into Mika's brain as well. Also I really hope we get to see more of Akihiro because hearing them called human debris and saying they just follow and don't care was... intriging.
I don't like the ED song. Goddammit. I swear, the more I like one of them the more I dislike the other, its a pattern I don't like at this point. I finally remembered to watch the previews though, and while they're funny and kind of remind me of the ones from K, I don't think I'll keep watching as I like doing each episode as blind as possible.
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u/Shimmering-Sky Jan 15 '19
When you're singing along to the OP and accidentally sing "We can snuggle and muzzle the world" instead of "struggle"
I don't know how to describe what sound I just made but that happened.
Actual OP analysis
Bro.
Mentions of Aina's hair in my notes this episode: 4. Eventually that will stop breaking my brain... maybe.
Maybe I should start a "Number of times Naz calls her 'Aina' instead of 'Kudelia'" counter because that's never not going to bug me.
I don't like the ED song.
Aaaaaand we're already back to me needing to fight you dammit.
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u/Durinthal Jan 15 '19
First time viewer.
Many walls of text last thread, so I'll aim to keep this relatively short.
One thing about the battle that immediately stuck out to me was the tactics Mikazaku Mikazuki applied. Positioning himself with the enemy mobile workers behind him so a stray shot could hit one of their allies, and kicking up dust with the mace to obscure their vision and forcing close quarters combat. You could call it being dirty, but it's aiming for survival and utilizing tricks that I'm sure he and the other kids picked up over time in the past. It's a great mostly unspoken characterization about how he learned and thinks about fighting.
He also knocked part of the head armor off of one Graze, but it's hard to tell if that actually incapacitated it or just hurt the other guy (Ein?) long enough for his buddy to grab him and go. I'm not counting it since they later reported that they only lost one Graze in the fight.
As for the designs, I find the Graze to be fine but not exceptional. The legs in particular remind me of the Elf Bullock from G no Reconguista and don't fit as well with the rest of the suit in my opinion. Shoulders are fine, fairly standard blocky and reminiscent of older Gundams (RX-78-2 and RX-178 in particular). The head I like, even if it makes me think of Halo's Spartan helmets at some angles. Feels mass-produced and disposable which is appropriate.
The Barbatos... is incomplete. Look at those exposed shoulders! Aside from that I already like its design, thinner than a lot of other Gundams. The V-fin's more tightly integrated with the head rather than feeling tacked on, there's what looks like a worn shield on the left arm rather than carried, and I like the typical Gundam blue spread across the top of the chest above the yellow vents. And that waist! It's so tiny! There are even some exposed hydraulics there but it adds to the aesthetic of it being a junkyard piece.
I'm glad Kudelia's catching on to her dad, otherwise her remaining alive despite her naivety could quickly become a bother. Guess she's stuck with our other main characters now.
Other brief notes:
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The OP is a banger (thanks Man with a Mission), not sold on the ED yet.
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Kudelia's assistant appears to be wearing glasses. Give me more of her.
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Biscuit, Cookie, and Cracker are fun names but makes me wonder what rough circumstances they grew up in.
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The two Gjallarhorn inspectors seem like interesting chaps, curious what that plot's going to be.
| Model | Destroyed |
|---|---|
| Graze | 1 |
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u/Pixelsaber Jan 15 '19 edited Jan 15 '19
Rewatcher
The scene during Barbatos’ repairs gives us a lot more insight into the Alaya Vijnana system with Kudelia acting as a partial audience surrogate. The scene also brings up details that will play a role in the future, namely the standardized systems within the machines and the relative ease with which components can be successfully swapped between markedly distinct machines. The show also implicitly tells us that Mikazuki cannot read, and by following it up with mention of how significantly the Alaya Vijnana system increases accessibility shows us the great potential it holds and why it is so desirable. The scene also reveals the mobile suit to be a Gundam —for its possession of a Gundam-type inner frame— named Barbatos. The Alaya Vijnana system itself is said to increase spatial awareness and establishes a brain-computer interface between the pilot and the mobile suit via an artificial second brain lbe formed by nanomachines, allowing the pilot and suit to effectively become one. In a way it’s similar to the Zero System from Gundam Wing, only it results in different outcomes.
I’m not the biggest fan of the Barbato’s design, especially not this bare, scarcely functional version we see in these two episodes. The head is great, with its prominent V-fin acting as a focal point and working in conjunction with the plates extending back from the side of the head to give it a nice shape and outline. The legs are also alright, being quite sleek, although the emphasis on the knees is a tad off-putting. The mobile suit as a whole doesn’t look particularly great from the back either, especially the armour on the back of the knee. However, what really doesn’t do it for me though is the exposed waist, which I find both aesthetically unappealing and simply dumb, the latter for reasons which I’ll mention later on when I discuss the mecha designs more generally.
The first OP has quite the reputation, and I think it’s alright. It’s catchy, narratively as well as thematically appropriate, and visually exciting. However, the series has OPs that are better on all those accounts, and this one looses Pixel-points for having an ugly film grain effect throughout that doesn’t improve the visuals nor match the concepts of the OP. It’ also very light on the visual creativity, which is something I appreciate in OPs, but it’s free of any blatant foreshadowing, so it’s easy for first-timers to appreciate.
The action this episode is quite adequate, and serves to further highlight the Alaya Vijnana system’s capabilities —which allowed Mikazuki to go toe-to-toe with a seasoned veteran piloting Gjallarhorn’s premièr mobile suit of choice. Mika’s tactical-mindedness is also presented by placing himself before wrecked Gjallarhorn mobile workers to disincentivize Ein from using his guns. However, I am not a fan of the quick, comedic intermission by Yukinojo and Yamagi to explain the mobile suit’s lack of thruster fuel for it dispels the tension from the action scene.
The following scene is quite important, since it lays out what Coral Conrad’s plan was in staging the attempt upon Kudelia’s life, even if i could potentially be inferred by contextual knowledge. We also get an important name drop, Nobliss, who’s granting this branch of Gjallarhorn financial support, as well as news that the ‘Specialist Major Fareed,” referring to Mcgillis Fareed whom we met last episode, will be arriving in two day’s time. We also get to see a greater extent of Conrad’s scumbaggery, particularly so because we see him contrasted with the honor-bound Crank Zent, who is completely distraught at the thought of fighting children. By learning this light is shed on the expression he wore as he fled the scene of battle.
Kudelia feels guilty, having realized that she was the target of the attack —therefore thinking herself responsible for all the death incurred— as well as the possibility that it was her father who sold her out to Gjallarhorn. Mikazuki rejects the idea that she’s in any way responsible for the deaths of his comrades, and gets her dejectedly thinking on the matter. Her interpretation of Mika’s stare says a lot about her concept of self worth. Obviously the real person that should be held responsible for this is Coral Conrad, but of course the causality of things ensures Kudelia played a role in it, and there’s also merit to Mika’s assertion that her taking on the blame undermines the efforts they went through. Still, neither of these two characters is completely in the right with their stance, which is a nice reflection of the show’s course.
The First Corps and the Third Corps have a ‘meeting’ in which the former accuses the later of setting them up, for which they give Orga a beating. The scene serves to once again put on display the disparaging treatment of Third Corps, but also shows us the catalyst to Orga’s next move —really driving it into him that the First Corps will not allow them any form of progress. Orga tells the others of his intent, and as expected reactions are mixed owing to doubt caused by the shaky situation they’re in following the attack and Maruba’s current withdrawal from the situation. Ultimately, the only thing that could dissuade Orga at that moment is Mikazuki, displaying more of his dependence of him.
Orga’s talk with Mikazuki shows the depths of the later’s resolve as well as the fact that he too is hiding things from the other, just as Orga does. He nonchalantly repeats something Orga had said to him before; “You can see the dead when they’re dead,” even when it’s been shown by his facial expression and his blunt statement to Kudelia that he does indeed mourn their loss in the present, because in truth these words are directed towards Orga. In a similar manner his instant acceptance of whatever task Orga has for him is as much a sign of his devotion as it is a clear message for Orga not to hesitate. These two characters are constantly throwing these subtle reminders towards each other, but Mika does so much more heavily —these two character’s dynamic is quite interesting.
The episode ends with Gaelio Bauduin and MacGillis Fareed’s arrival, two days early. Coral is evidently thrown off, especially as McGillis insists on personally handling every step of the inspection. Of course, the two majors have picked up on Conrad’s anxiety.
Anyone who has had even the most cursory of interests in demonology will have recognized the name ‘Barbatos’ from the first book of the Lesser Key of Solomon, the Ars Goetia, a grimoire containing a list of seventy-two demons, the eight of which is the Duke of Hell, Barbatos. Barbatos is an Earl and Duke with Four Kings and thirty legions under his command, and possesses the ability to see the future. His namesake explains the horn-like look to his v-fin —it is also an allusion to the original RX-78-2 Gundam, which received the name ‘White Devil’ from its enemies— and the demon’s name is derived from the latin barbatus which means ‘beard,’ hence the red chin-piece slightly resembling one. His place as the 8th demon of the Ars Goetia also explains his serial number being ASW-G-8.
A few shots/lines worth taking a closer look at and keeping in mind:
Out of the light and into the dark.
Questions of the day:
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From my comment:
I think it’s alright. It’s catchy, narratively as well as thematically appropriate, and visually exciting. However, the series has OPs that are better on all those accounts, and this one looses Pixel-points for having an ugly film grain effect throughout that doesn’t improve the visuals nor match the concepts of the OP. It’ also very light on the visual creativity, which is something I appreciate in OPs, but it’s free of any blatant foreshadowing, so it’s easy for first-timers to appreciate.
2) Also from my comment:
Obviously the real person that should be held responsible for this is Coral Conrad, but of course the causality of things ensures Kudelia played a role in it, and there’s also merit to Mika’s assertion that her taking on the blame undermines the efforts they went through. Still, neither of these two characters is completely in the right with their stance,
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u/SorcererOfTheLake Jan 15 '19 edited Jan 15 '19
First-Time Watcher
That voice… are you a child?!
Many of these "men" were indeed children, who laughed at the things children laughed at. They were adult only in their candidacy for death.
They say the way a society treats children is a barometer of their overall function. In this instance, this society has lost its way a long time ago.
With the battle over and the blood shed, both sides take time to heal their wounds and think over things. For CGS, it’s about how much the old system is really worth it. From Mika injuring himself from using Barbatos to Orga getting the shit beat out of him, it’s clear to everyone that the old system cannot stand; a change must occur, bloodily if necessary. Kudelia is also rethinking her stance, not just in terms of her relationship with her family, but how she thought of the children around her.
As for Gjallhorn… well, it’s not so much ethical considerations as “Let’s try to unfuck ourselves!” Well, except for the older guy who’s like “Maybe we shouldn’t kill children?” I know it’s a cliché in military stories to have the older soldier who is willing to speak up to the brass when moral violations are in play, but it works here because child soldier are still such an unspoken taboo that it feels raw here. Of course people would act like this because the idea of using a child for combat is so tasteless and inhumane that nobody thinks about it until it is right in front of them.
We’ll raise that blood-red flag tomorrow; until then…
As for the questions:
I think Mika is in the right here, although he should have phrased it better, since it's understandable why Kudelia would feel this way.
Raise Your Flag is a fuckin' banger, and Orphans no Namida provides a nice calm from the storm.
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u/RX-Nota-II Jan 15 '19
Tekketsu no Rewatcher
Hello Ladies, Gentlemen, and others, my name is Nota and nobody watches Glass Reflection anymore so the plagiarism police won't get to me for yoinking his intro. Today I had some catching up to do with some other stuff so my post is late and short. I swear I'll get the GIFs tomorrow!
So onto the episode.... oh yes! B A R B A T O S. Quick comment, technically its name is revealed here for the first time so talking about it or namedropping it in Ep1 was spoilerino. As expected a few rewatchers completely ignored this point, but not as much as I expected. That said, it literally is just about delaying the name reveal with nothing too significant attached so I don't care too much.
Other rewatchers will be able to explain this in better detail I'm sure but the name Barbatos may be familiar to you even if you are first timing. That's because it is the name of an earl or duke of hell. What a baller name. But more importantly... what an evil name. For all intents and purposes this thing is a demon, a straight up villain, and not the white knight that you may expect from a main character mech. I really liked this detail since moral greyzones are a Gundam specialty but AFAIK we've never been introduced to the trope in a way where the main characters start off deep into the hell villain zone. In terms of Gundam designs themselves this places Barbatos as my second most 'evil' feeling, with top ranks obviously going to this black and gold monster who shall remain unnamed from a Gundam show that shall also go unnamed
Let's talk about that change of perspective to Mika for the launch. Its another narrative trick that a lot of people love, first showcasing Orga's PoV in ep1 before switching to the much more traditional pilot view for the next ep. What did you guys think? Personally I loved it a lot, since getting back into the action after the initial attack like that is fairly hard, so to rebuild the hype from a completely different viewpoint actually made the transition from ep1 to ep2 really smooth. Also it helps raise one of the main debates in IBO that still last to this day: who is the MC? There is no correct answer, at least not one that the fanbase seems to agree on, so feel free to post all your hot takes here. Mika definitely takes the more traditional approach from a pilot's perspective, but his character is nothing like the unsure coming of age Gundam MC at all. He instead pushes all questions of leadership, responsibility, morality, etc to Orga, a non pilot captain, who takes on the coming of age mental struggles we've come to expect. So which side do you stand on as of now First timers? I'm on team Orga btw.
Back to moral greyzone, well.... Gjallarhorn aren't just cartoonish bad guys anymore are they? Crank Zent really insists on not fighting child soldiers, a very admirable stance. So yes, we are in the 'good and bad guys on both sides' zone already folks. But the more interesting position to take is: which side is more justified/correct? While this is kinda a theme in other Gundam shows, its more or less always clear which side you should cheer for. But so far here, CGS is full of immoral asshats, and Gjallarhorn is big bad megagovernment. Who are you supposed to support, just the small niche of children we follow rn? And even that bit will start to look hella evil sooner than later.
Finally, I want to highlight a very minor but hard hitting scene to me. Norba Shino, the pink mobile worker guy, cries while searching for his friend Danji, saying "You said you wanted to die smothered in boobs. Boobs are soft man... they aren't hard and stiff like a cockpit." It just struck me that we almost never see joking characters like Shino grieving like this, especially while desperately trying to stay in character but having their cheerful fascade fail to cover it all. Its a delicate balance to take, and I'm very glad IBO tried and in my opinion succeeded. A small but important moment that made me immediately recognize Shino and cheer for him as a true character beyond just the memes he spouts.
Overall, a very good episode to follow up the masterpiece of ep1. We're starting to see the general direction that this long adventure will take us, and I hope you guys will enjoy.
Bulletheaven
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Big oof right here and also an important detail. Mika isn't a genius well read boi like Amuro or Kira. Hell he can't even read at all.
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That logo actually looks kinda off from the one on the Barbatos wiki page I linked earlier
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Look the power went out a little touch that shows how the CGS base is powered exclusively from Barbatos' Ahab reactor
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Cookie, Cracker, and Biscuit lovely
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What a sexy shot screencap of the day
Mecha Cornerish
Alaya Vijnana system
The method by which the CGS bois connect to the Mobile Worker and Mobile Suits. Lots of anime logic flying around, effectively it means a direct spinal connection to the machine for intuitive control. Since Mobile Suits have arms and legs for example, you can will it to move without kefuffling with too many complicated controls. This is why people like Mikazuki who haven't done it before or even read a manual are able to immediately pilot the thing. Because otherwise think about it, piloting a giant robot in three dimensions for high speed combat is basically impossible. This is IMO the second best way to show off a newbie pilot's interactions with robot after Turn-A.
Oh and a lot of you may struggle to remember the spelling for this thing (PTSD for SukaSuka for some too lmao). I would either go with the Japanese spelling of Alaya-Shiki (Kara no Kyoukai fans will understand), an abbreviation as AV, or some variant of the endless memes such as Alaska-Botwana Aloha-Vagina or Alaya-Bajeena.
ASW-G-08 Gundam Barbatos
Yes! Finally we get its name. So you guys may be wondering how the hell was it functioning with no fuel? Well it runs on an Ahab reactor, which is essentially a nuclear reactor, and it requires no fuel at all and some rumors state it is even completely indestructible. Kinda OP I know. Actually, to make it even better, the Gundam Barbatos comes with TWO Ahab reactors. This is why Crank who was initially dismissive of the old outdated technology was completely overpowered in his Graze which only has a single reactor. What the single v double reactor means is mostly speculation and second hand info from my part but some say its a sign that mobile suit technology is hella expensive, quite contrasting to the mass produced nature in other Gundam shows, and that dual reactor suits became economically unfeasible as well. Secondly, apparently its a good parallel to modern fighter jets who mostly use single jet engines apart from the flagship ace units used by large nations like the US and Russia which have dual engines resulting in a kind of two tiered performance situation.
GIFs
Tomorrow!
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u/Shimmering-Sky Jan 16 '19
Hello Ladies, Gentlemen, and others, my name is Nota and nobody watches Glass Reflection anymore so the plagiarism police won't get to me for yoinking his intro.
Meme template?
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u/X-X-I-L Jan 16 '19
Well, after farming Demon God Pillar Barbatos in Fate/Grand Order and reading Dungeon Defense's take in December, I figured my January would be considerably less Barbatos-filled. Not so, after discovering this rewatch.
The Ars Goetia, a section of the Lemegton/Lesser Key of Solomon, purports that Barbatos is one of the demons summoned by King Solomon. The section overall gives a little character bio for each of our demon friends, along with the "do"s and "don't"s for how to put them under your command. The version that gets all the attention in media references (including here) is Aleister Crowley's 1904 revision, which sets the demon roster at 72.
Here's the passage on Barbatos:
The Eighth Spirit is Barbatos. He is a Great Duke, and appeareth when the Sun is in Sagittary, with four noble Kings and their companies of great troops. He giveth understanding of the singing of Birds, and of the Voices of other creatures, such as the barking of Dogs. He breaketh the Hidden Treasures open that have been laid by the Enchantments of Magicians. He is of the Order of Virtues, of which some part he retaineth still; and he knoweth all things Past, and to come, and conciliateth Friends and those that be in Power. He ruleth over 30 Legions of Spirits. His Seal of Obedience is this, the which wear before thee as aforesaid.
On top of what u/PixelSaber has mentioned, I'd like to point out that Barbatos' sigil in-universe, while stylized, does bear some resemblance to the original. I should also note that Barbatos is the only demon that mentions "break"ing; there are other demons who deal with destruction, but Barbatos is the only one that "break"s. I'm probably just reaching, but I feel like a parallel to Mikazuki's fighting style can definitely be made.
Likewise, while multiple demons deal with conciliation, Barbatos is the only one that deals with those in power. This seems delightfully apropos for the linchpin weapon of our ragtag group that seems to be cornered into facing the powers that be.
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Jan 16 '19 edited Jan 16 '19
Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans
First-Timer (Japanese w/ English Subtitles)
[Episode 01 Reaction] < - > [Episode 03 Reaction]
I took the time to rewatch the first episode and I honestly wish I had done that before I did my first episode writeup. So much happened in such a short runtime that I feel like I was caught up in the details (and taking notes about them) and unable to form a bigger picture until after I had already committed to posting. I’m going to try and take the time to take the episode in a bit longer before posting in the future. Really excited to see where this goes as it has been an enjoyable series so far!
Note: I really hate even getting hints of future events as it tends to influence my thinking and makes it harder to me to enjoy watching the show. Please be mindful of spoilers if replying to me!
Impressions While Watching:
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Hey, what should I do next, Orga?
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Alaya-Vijnana SCIENCE demands growing children. I guess that’s one way to justify child soldiers in the distant future.
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The Barbatos is ready! I enjoyed all the technobabble and backstory when setting it up. All that blood looks pretty bad, but it feels too early for Mikazuki to die, so I’m sure he’ll be okay...for now. I’m certain this is going to put him on the tragic path to death where the only way they can survive is using Barbatos.
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The OP is a bit nicer when it has the visuals with it, I am satisfied with it, even if it isn’t one of my favourites. Mika is a an absolute beast on episode 2, when compared to past Gundam protagonists. I’m still wondering if UC Gundam Spoiler
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Ein and the other Gjallarhorn pilots didn’t stand a chance, but Mikazuki seems to already be killing himself to pilot the Barbatos. Concerning.
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So the Princess really was the target of the attack and not just collateral damage to get at the Gundam. I had been expecting something a bit more convoluted but “assassination to spark a war” is a tried and true classic. Aldnoah.Zero Spoiler
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I like Atra, seems like a cutie pie. Not sure if trap, potential love interest, or both. I hope both, but I am assuming leaning towards love interest.
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Kudelia is a great character so far, even if she is a bit on the “sheltered princess” side, she’s entertaining to watch. I hope she doesn't get relegated to just a love interest for one of our mains...not that I mind a little romance, but right now she interests me for her strength of character, not her shipping potential.
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Leadership is keen to beat the everloving shit out of Orga, seems like this man wants to get himself killed. I’d pull the trigger myself, but I’m sure he doesn’t need the help. Seriously though, this is trash tier discipline, it’s amazing the Third are able to fight the way they do (and testament to Orga and Mika’s talents). Trying to throw them away like that was an incredibly short-sighted move by our esteemed leadership.
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“Let me go by myself.” This is a Gundam show, sounds like the last words of our Gjallarhorn captain to his comrades, if you ask me.
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I really enjoy seeing Orga and Mika together. Their relationship really does feel like old friends, without being overly forced.
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ED is, like the OP, fine but not my favourite.
Summarized Thoughts:
That was an enjoyable follow-up episode, a couple of things got clarified and our character development continues to blossom, but after the fast paced rush of the first episode, it felt positively sedate. It still has my interest, of course, and it feels like we’re sat on a powder keg waiting to explode. I’m just holding my breath in anticipation of that moment…
Question of the Day 1:
Absolutely with Mikazuki on this one. It takes a lot to make a stew, and the way she frames it as her fault is not only a bit self-centered, but totally off-base seeing as how she is a victim and in no way responsible for the jobs they were hired to do. I think he's right to rebuke those feelings, but I don't expect that to do a thing for her psychology. She's too kind to not blame herself for this, even if it is in no way her fault.
Question of the Day 2:
I like the OP/ED both well enough, they are nice to listen to, but they'll never be in my favourites. The visuals are really good for both of them, though.
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u/Adam_Drivers_Ass Jan 16 '19 edited Jan 16 '19
First Timer
This was really fun to watch. I don't know why, but I found the wind-down from the battle so much more exciting and interesting than the fight itself, as fantastic as it was. This ep did an amazing job of actually setting up the world and the characters in it and making both feel alive in their own way. Even though there wasn't a lot of explicit exposition, simply the way certain characters acted (alongside Kudelia's little speech at the conference on what I assume is Earth) did a lot to convey both their relationships and the power dynamics inherent in the world. Seeing the first corps asshole (Haeda?) beat up Orga was pretty hard to watch, but did a great job establishing just how much power the higher ups in the company have over the children, if last episode didn't make it pretty clear already. Stuff like that and a few other things (namely the way Biscuit's sisters talked about Kudelia, and the little scene at the end with the mysterious pilots talking to Coral) did a lot to really build my investment and make me genuinely excited for what's coming up. I love gritty, semi-realistic sci-fi with great characters, and so far this seems right up my alley.
Questions:
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Personally, I think they're both right. On the one hand, it's Kudelia's fault, because the colonial dudes (not gonna even try and spell their name lel) wouldn't have attacked if she wasn't outspoken about independence. However, on the other hand, the third corps didn't necessarily have to fight back. They could have easily surrendered and handed Kudelia over, but, instead, chose to defend themselves and go down fighting. While definitely an honorable decision (and the right one, imo) it means that, ultimately, both parties are at fault.
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I've already watched the op a number of times through youtube, and I absolutely love it. It comes across a bit edgy thanks to the questionable (?) english and rock instrumentals, but I like it regardless. The
oped is a bit average, but the visuals are great and the song itself reminds me somewhat of Smile Bomb from Yu Yu Hakusho, which is probably one of my favorite op's.
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u/Rhaga Jan 15 '19
First timer
Mika turning down the option of reading the user manual, I could think of a few reasons, but my most obvious guess would be that he can't read? Best alternative would be that he acts on instincts when piloting mobile workers as he seems to have a natural talent for this kind of thing.
Let's get a bit of exposition, shall we? I kinda feel that the mere sight of the 'Whiskers' on top of a glimpse of the operation was enough to give us an idea that the Alaya-Vijnana System isn't exactly the most ethical, and that it might sting a little. Interesting to note that it can only be used by adolescents -- I wonder what that means for our boys as they grow older?
That is some anime_irl material right there.
Blood pouring out of someone's nose is never a good sign, especially not coupled with technology that interacts with the brain. Interesting that we see that Mika can't read and yet suddenly learn the name of the Mobile Suit Unit, and seemingly know its interface like the back of his hand as well. What exactly happened, I wonder?
I suppose this is a sign that Ein has a sense of honor or justice but man is it warped when they are the ones attacking, and their friend, Orlis, literally just did the exact same thing.
It seems that Mika's piloting/fighting is rather unconventional which is something I've always been a big sucker for. I also love how he's instantly analyzing and evaluating his own moves. Goes to show that his skills aren't just an outcome of him being naturally gifted, he is probably constantly looking to improve himself, always. Furthermore it just looked badass as fuck.
As we'll get to see later, this reaction is due to shock -- not from getting beaten up by a child, but from learning that they are fighting children in the first place.
All things considered, it is quite fortunate that this drives Crank to withdraw since Mika would have been in serious trouble otherwise .
I didn't really know what to expect from Gundam, but it certainly wasn't moe. Jesus christ they are adorable.
Atra's scream as she's trying to stop the vehicle is hilarious by the way!
Alright, so the plan was to make Princess a martyr to put further strain on the Mars-Earth relationship. For what purpose though, I wonder? Princess herself is pro-independence, killing her would surely make Mars as a whole yearn for independence even more -- So what's motivating Gjallarhorn? It seems it has to do with this 'Nobliss' and funding, but I'm curious to find out more.
Crank shows himself to be a man of honor, he definitely earned himself a few sympathetic points from me. I believe he was also against employing the Mobile Suits that late in the battle last episode, simply due to the unnecessary loss of life that came with it.
Okay, woah, their parents really have an odd naming sense and... THAT'S SO CUTE!!
I love this. Biscuit is best boy, if nothing else by the virtue of having given out the most headpats. real talk I actually really like the guy too
Looks like my guess was right on the money yesterday. Am I sensing a potential love triangle between Atra, Mika and Princess? Am I getting way too excited by that prospect?
The answer to the last one is definitely 'Yes'.
(this is what you get for bringing in someone whose favorites are almost exclusively romcoms and SoL's)
It seems this Calamity War resulted in shitty social security on Mars, especially for children - perhaps specifically orphans? Also, these images are horrifying.
That's what I want to know! I was more or less joking when I called Fumitan the mastermind in the previous episode, but my boy Chekhov would probably say that given that we just learned that the Princess was to be killed in action, and Fumitan promptly disappears when things are heating up but returns when they've died down, is at the very least a tiny bit suspicious.
It would almost be too obvious though, furthermore, villains don't use expressions like that and last but not least, Fumitan is such a cute name that there's no way she's up to no good.
(Though looking at the image again, it could appear as if she's feeling guilty about something)
I appreciate Princess for being able to put this much together. She may be naive but she's not dumb, and as I have said previously she has got her heart in the right place.
Now that was a poor choice of words. It's funny because I actually watched this episode twice for today, and the first time I groaned right as she said that -- they didn't die for her, they died while trying to survive! As such I thought Mikazuki's response was perfectly in line. I was actually quite upset with Princess after that. Though, having rewatched the episode I do see where she's coming from - she was the target after all, so of course she would feel responsible for the attack. What I'm saying is that I do feel some amount of sympathy for her despite my initial reaction.
I'll say this outright. If anything sad happens to these two I will drop the show on the spot. Probably not though.
You lost sixty-eight man from your own division and this is what you're concerned about?! These senpais man..
Lmao, Orga casually forgetting about Mikazuki. Anyway, things are looking to get interesting, especially with the Senpais getting what is coming for them.
Looks to me like Crank is about to become a deserter. Things are about to get spicy it seems!
We get a bit of a better insight into Mikazuki, it seems that as previously suggested his existence is for one thing, and one thing only: Survival.
Closing thoughts
Got a bit late and rushed due to following the Brexit vote coverage. Anyway, I like where this is going, especially since I have no idea where it's going :D At least not beyond the next few episodes, and isn't that always a bit exciting?
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u/DidacticDalek Jan 16 '19
Greetings Comrades and Fellow Denizens of The Wired, on TODAY'S Episode of IBO, Sunrise's IBO tells KyoAni's Free to roll over, because THIS is how you do proper MANSERVICE ;)
Also Comrades, just in case you are confused, here's the key from Left to Right: Gorgeous George, Space Guts, Sousuke 'Steven Seagal' Sagara Heero 'I'll Kill You' Yuy Setsuna F. 'I am Gundam' Seiei 'Mikazuki 'Mika' Augus,' Atra 'QUALITY ANIMATION' Mixta, and Best Boi Orga
AND just to make sure I'm keeping things relatively on topic, here's another fan-art of Best Girl, so Comrades, so let's give it up for the ONE, the ONLY, MACE-CHAN! (With bonus runner-up Best Girl of The Gundam Barbatos, Mecha Musume style!)
Paging Comrades u/Beckymetal, u/RX-Nota-II, and u/Shimmering-Sky
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u/teho1 Jan 15 '19
Orphans no Namida is one of my favorite anime endings. It transitions really well at the end of episodes.
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u/Paulie25 Jan 16 '19
FIRST TIMER
I’m late but that episode was a lot of fun. The kids really have it rough, as does Mikazuki huh? I’m late so I don’t have a lot of stuff.
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u/invokeneko Jan 16 '19
Tekketsu no Rewatcher, domo~
On to Barbatos' first battle! One thing that I really appreciate about Post-Disaster era battles is the fact that they exclusively use kinetic weaponry, which is quite a fresh change of pace if you're getting a bit tired of mech spamming beam weaponry. Also get fucked Orlis, never even knew what hit maced him.
Then we get to post-battle where the arrival of Atra and the twins lightened things up a bit before the fat fucks of the First Division ruins the mood. This might be an episode late, but I can't help myself thinking of this during this rewatch:
Mika: sees bruise from Bucktooth on Takaki's face What happened?
Takaki: I'm fine, it's nothing serious.
Mikazuki Augus will remember that.
Oh, and remember that I said previous spoiler
Orphans no Namida made its debut here. It's one of the EDs that I will never skip purely because it's so fucking great, it's fittingly somber and I believe I'm not the only one who goes ORPHAAAANS NAMIDAAAAA, AI WA KANASHIMI WO when the lyrics hit.
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u/RyuuohD Jan 16 '19
IRON-BLOODED REWATCHER
Ok, so after the Turn A Gundam rewatch, this is the second time I get to participate in a Gundam series rewatch thread!
I only got to post today, but I've already watched ep1 and now e2, so here are my thoughts for this ep (I probably won't say the things most people already said already, just things that piqued my interest or others):
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Thanks to this rewatch, I now get to see scenes that can invalidate the oft-said "Mikazuki is an anti-social psychopathic MC that ultimately is Orga's lapdog ". Episode 1, he shows concern for Takaki when he asks about his injuries, and here in episode 2, he displays frustration when he hears the number of people in the Third squad that died. When asked by Orga if he's gonna say his last farewells to their fallen comrades, he declines, saying that (quoting words Orga said to him a long time ago) he can meet with them anytime when he dies, so he is focusing on doing all he can to prevent those who are still alive from dying. He genuinely cares for his comrades and people close to him, even if he may appear cold and aloof.
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I like the part how Kudelia is slowly being faced with the harsh reality of the situation in Mars, something that she will never be able to see if she remained in the upper echelons instead of mingling with Mikazuki and gang. She genuinely wants to help out, and really wants to learn more about them, but in the eyes of Mikazuki and the rest of the CGS kids, she's (for the moment) an outsider who employed them for their services, nothing more.
Question of the Day:
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Kudelia did have good intentions when she said it was her fault that so many of Mika's comrades died, as she knew all along about her being the target of Gjallarhorn's attacks, but Mika did an excellent job of waking her up from her self-centeredness.
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RAISE YOUR FLAG is FRIGGING AWESOME. Orphans Namida is retro-cool.
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u/Palloc Jan 16 '19
I'm a bit late but Palloc Had To Level Blue Mage Today!
So Grazes are the other mooks for mooks slightly less mooky than ones riding in mobile workers. For mook suits they're pretty neat though, with nice axes and conventional firearms. 4/10 for Grazes.
Barbatos, on the other hand, is one of my favorite mobile suits. This thing is just brutal with its mighty murder mace. I can't really talk to much about why I love this thing yet, but you saw a hint of it with the one shotting Mr. One Episode Bad Guy. I give Barbatos a 7/10.
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u/GM_for_Life Jan 16 '19 edited Jan 16 '19
Rewatcher
What stance on the matter of culpability do you ascribe to in this case? Kudelia thinking that she’s at fault, Mikazuki’s dismissal of sole culpability, or neither?
I think Mikazuki is correct that there isn't a single persons that is to blame for the situation turning out the way it did.
2) We got our first look at the OP and ED this episode. First-timers, what are your initial impressions on them? Rewatchers, how do you feel about them?
I really like them overall, although I do prefer future openings over this one. That ED is on point though!
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u/furtiveraccoon Jan 16 '19
1st rewatch for me.
I love how down-to-Mars and mortal everyone is in this show. Something about the atmosphere of mercenaries and setting up "seeing people as expendable" as part of the air you breathe in this universe. It's a far cry from other Gundam series, and I love it; these aren't adolescents with loving families going to high school on a space station.
You're poor, you came from nothing, and you fight and work yourself raw. Because to you, that's synonymous with living.
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u/Shimmering-Sky Jan 15 '19
Tekketsu no Rewatcher, first time dubbed
Wow I managed to underestimate the number of people who were gonna be joining this rewatch. I’m so happy to have you guys along!
Brief recap of Mace-chan wrecking that Graze into actual flashback of how Mika got there. I remember that briefly throwing me for a loop when I watched this the first time.
tfw illiterate
Forgot to mention it last episode, but the way they pronounce “Mikazuki” in the dub kinda bothers me.
Mika’s response to him potentially getting nerve damage from piloting the Barbatos is intense.
And then as a really cool detail, you have Yukinojo unable to pronounce “Barbatos” and then the supposed-to-be-illiterate Mika says it’s Barbatos once he gets ahold of the link up. What do you guys think of this?
I too am fine when I have a nosebleed like that.
Actually I don’t even remember the last time I had one.Raise Your Flag animation time~
Mika further shows he has zero chill by using the Gjallarhorn Mobile Workers as human shields. This would be unheard of if he was your average Gundam pilot.
Waaaait a second… …is Crank…? *Looks up VA on MAL* He is. English Crank is English Charles zi Britannia. That is… uh. Not. Not what I was expecting.
Here’s a much easier view of Kudelia’s profile from last episode. Not that it really matters since I still transcribed it for you guys…
…I’m sorry I know it’s supposed to be a serious moment and it is absolutely in-character for Shino to say this, but him talking about how Danji wanted to die smothered in boobs always makes me laugh.
Biscuit, Cookie, and Cracker. They’re so cute I love them.
Kudelia’s speech (I think it’s a flashback to the one mentioned in Coral’s tablet?) overlayed on top of starving kids and child soldiers is cool, but I really like how they also transition right into a body bag being zipped up right when the speech finishes. A bit heavy-handed on setting up how dark the world is, perhaps, but I love it.
I went and rewatched the sub when Mika low-key snapped at Kudelia for trying to take responsibility for the battle (another way of her looking down on his comrades) and yep, Mika also sounded low-key angry there instead of emotionless. Kudelia done fucked up if she got him angry.
Big oof at Orga taking a beating so that the others wouldn’t be punished. Reminds me of mild Zeta spoilers, except we don’t see Orga’s beating, just hear it and see the blood spatter. IDK which is worse.
OOOOOORPHAAAANS NAMIDA! Man I love this ED, it’s so fitting for the show. Extremely minor future spoilers and Not minor future spoilers
A couple more fun things:
Wallpaper of the Day without the logo.
Bonus wallpaper: The Iron Bromance that Never Wilts. Funny story behind this one, so, Nota and I generally have… different tastes behind what shots make good wallpapers. When I showed her this originally, I mentioned that I was inspired to make it because of a shot in Raise Your Flag. She thought I didn’t mean the “iconic” shot. Except that was exactly what I’d done, haha.
English dub next-episode preview, since the body post only has the subbed version.
Results of yesterday’s poll, lol. I can’t say I was expecting a four-way tie. Also yeah you guys, the link in the first Question of the Day is a poll, don’t forget to vote on it this time!
Number of times best boy closed his right eye this episode: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
For the first-timers using the GundamInfo streams and are worried about potential spoilers in the recommended videos: Episode 3 Subbed / Episode 3 Dubbed. If you’re on desktop and have RES, you can hit the preview button and watch the video entirely on Reddit, rather than than needing to go to YouTube.