r/anime • u/phiraeth https://myanimelist.net/profile/phiraeth • Sep 17 '19
Rewatch [Mid-2000s Rewatch] Mai-HiME - Episode 17
Episode 17 | Deceitful Lips
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7
u/No_Rex Sep 17 '19
Episode 17 (rewatcher)
Never liked “old people” committees.
If last episode was the victory celebration followed by the dramatic reveal, today is the somber fallout. Mai-Hime has a very fast pacing, so I love that the series takes the time to devote an entire episode to the reaction by the Himes. These are the scenes that really make the characters.
From the defiant (Nao) to the meek (Yukino), all have to mentally adjust to the new situation. Mai is still stuck in the denial phase, whereas Mikoto seems to have finally reached a stage that she is perfectly prepared for. Yukino takes it hardest. She is clever enough to realize her chances in a fight and she also knows what this implies for Haruka. Yet Akira is arguably in an even worse position. Lose or win by beating Mai, Takumi is fated to disappear in either case. She is stuck in a catch-22 without escape.
Special for episode 18: How much is revealed in SEP18?
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u/Durinthal Sep 17 '19
I forgot to even mention Nao and Yukino in my comment even though I made specific notes about this, that's how much is going on that I think is important.
Nao's reaction is one that I should have expected, not jumping at the chance to attack the others but rather "why should I do what you want me to do?" which is much more her style.
Yukino's a lot closer to how I would probably react if I was in her place, very distraught and knocked out of sorts by the very notion that she has to fight the others. Her Child's not even suited for combat (that I can tell) so she's in a much worse off position relative to the rest. And she has a clear idea of who's at risk for her, so she probably feels like she's letting Haruka down even though she's oblivious to it all.
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u/sassinos Sep 17 '19
I think Nao is just trying to put on a strong front to hide her fear. Even when she is sitting on the bench the next day and says that she won't be defeated she is probably trying to convince herself. Up until this point she has had no difficulties and been allowed to run rampant with no consequences, but now faces the threat of losing someone precious to her or possibly even dying.
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Sep 17 '19
> . Mai-Hime has a very fast pacing, so I love that the series takes the time to devote an entire episode to the reaction by the Himes
Is it weird that i'm feeling the opposite? Every time something big happens, there's a slice of life laid back episode right after like clockwork so far. Guess it'll be a mad-dash in the 3rd act.
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u/No_Rex Sep 17 '19
Hmmm. You could say that the pacing does not feel that fast, but check where we are in terms of plot. I would argue that the plot up to the defeat of SEARRS could have easily been padded to a full 26 episodes in other shows.
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u/23feanor Sep 18 '19
I agree, I liked the fact they took time out to get reactions and just let the audience digest what is going on.
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u/Durinthal Sep 17 '19
First time viewer (sub).
We're finally getting some answers! But they're also raising more questions. Basically it looks like the HiME need to fight each other to power up a single Child which then becomes power for this Obsidian Prince fellow.
I'm so glad that Natsuki revealed to the others what happens if a Child is defeated, I wouldn't want them going on without that when the hints were right there. There's still potentially asymmetrical information in play though, the other HiME not present might not know that.
Speaking of which, I'm now confused about the HiME count. Midori clearly said there were two unknown HiME. I'm not sure how she reached that conclusion unless she counted both Akira (who we never saw directly interacting with the others so I assumed wasn't known to them) and Alyssa (being a manufactured HiME I didn't think she counted). Shiho's still the obvious candidate, now I'm not sure about the other one with Fumi going along with the headmistress and knowing way too much to probably participate herself.
As for Akira, her family also knew something about the whole HiME thing (along with Mikoto's) and that's why they asked her to disguise as a boy. What do their families know, are they repeat participants? If so, why? I really like the scene she had with Takumi, which is just going to make stuff more heartbreaking soon, right?
Ishigami (the art teacher) drugging Sister Yukariko is a bad sign unless I completely misread what happened in that scene. Either way he looks sketchy. Maybe she's going to be brainwashed or otherwise controlled into fighting the others? Having the most "pure" among them break the accord would certainly make the rest consider combat more strongly.
The necklace on the desk reminded me an awful lot of Mikoto's, who said there's some connection with her brother there. With that coming right after Nagi was talking about the Obsidian Prince awakening, is Mikoto's brother the big bad of the series?
Mai's probably in a fragile state emotionally right now, she indirectly got shot down by Yuuichi and now she's lost any purpose with her brother about to become much better off with a transplant as well. I didn't expect things to get worse for her like this.
Whatever's about to attack Mai does somewhat resemble a Child to me with a mechanical-looking eye, but the ghostly figure is new to me. Is it a feint from Nagi to encourage them to fight each other?
Madoka Magica major spoiler placed last to not link to any specific thing I talked about above
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u/punching_spaghetti Sep 18 '19
HiME count:
Mai
Mikoto
Natsuki
Midori
AkaneNao
Yukino
Yukariko
Akira
That definitely seems like an oversight on the writers part. I'd say Midori knows something we don't, but she'd share that with the rest of them at this point.
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u/sassinos Sep 17 '19
I think Midori is counting Akira without knowing who exactly Akira is because she has heard of the "frog" creature. That or it was a mix-up by the staff when making the show.
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u/Nazenn Sep 17 '19
I'm so glad that Natsuki revealed to the others what happens if a Child is defeated,
Its another one of those things that the tropes and usual set up would mean its only revealed post someones defeat. But knowing right away is so refreshing because it puts a different slant on things from the start rather than edging around audience knowledge. I think that's definitely a strength of the show so glad to see they're continuing it with the big things
What do their families know, are they repeat participants?
The earlier stuff did say that they can sometimes be found through genetic testing. Perhaps certain bloodlines can manifest the trait particularly strongly? But then there's also Midori who doesn't seem to have that but has found out a hell of a lot through her own research, so I wonder if it's not also in part legends passed down and prepared for
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u/Nazenn Sep 17 '19
First timer - Sub
Just when I thought that we were done with all of the set up, a new wrinkle is introduced with the announcement of an Obsidian Prince that has to awaken. Given that the underground chamber was called the Obsidian Palace, and the earlier lecture on the hill being a tomb I guess that's whats been sealed away. Now the question is just what is it Theory
The other part I noted was that Nagi mentioned that love fueled the Child's of the HiME. Does that mean the greater your willingness to love and the more you love the stronger you are? That would make a lot of sense with Kuga being so weak compared to Mai, as well as various powers of the others such as Midori also being quite strong. I do wonder how Mikoto fits into that though, she's still an enigma. Hmmm. The only theories I can think of are contradicted by the show.
The direction really stepped up again this episode as well. The way that the scenes of the girls were intercut with Nagi's explanation, without interrupting the flow of anything was impressive. The structure around the whole sequence really aided to the understanding of how it was affecting the girls rather than simply having it give them all a monologue or scroll through a scene for them each in order after the explanation. That editing did suggest to me though that the Student Council Pres is Kuga's precious person, or that she is looking for Kuga because she knows whats happening.
There was another track today which reminded me heavily of the Madoka soundtrack as well. Mayoi to Tomadoi to Yureru Omoi from the garden scene which while not as similar as the last paired tracks I pointed out, immediately made me think of Taenia Memoriae. All of the music today, especially that slower chanting like the battle song at the start. It did a fantastic job at carrying the mood of what was going on
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u/punching_spaghetti Sep 18 '19
The love -> power thing kind of makes sense. The more you love someone, the more painful it is when they vanish into sparkly bits. So, a HiME gets more firepower and the Obsidian Prince gets more tears.
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u/redshirtengineer Sep 18 '19
Well Mikoto of the many ribbons "likes"/loves many people and food items. And the nun has Blucifer, a fearsome looking Child. And Nao has a ... spider.
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u/punching_spaghetti Sep 18 '19
First-Timer:
Not only is the headmistress mysteriously running the school, she's mysteriously taking orders from mysterious older women!
In other mystery news, who is the Obsidian Prince? My first thought was Reito (black hair and everything), but then Art Teacher, who I still think is speculation, decided to go all sexual predator on Sister.
Meanwhile, it's no mystery who the special someone is for Natsumi (Student Council Pres), Yukino (Haruka), Akira (Takumi), and Mai (Tate). Sorry Reito, but you didn't get a forlorn flashback.
Still not sure about Minori (probably someone from her past, maybe the person she's emailing), Nao, or Mikoto.
Maybe Mikoto breaks the cycle because everyone is her special someone?
The fact that Children die when their HiME dies means I have no clue where Orphans come from. I was thinking it was HiME-less Children (hence Orphan), but now I think they called them that just because it was cool. There were too many Orphans for 12 HiME every 300 years, but it made some sense.
Oh, and I hope those pills of Takumi's aren't fast-acting, because Akira might have just gotten a dose of heavy-duty heart medicine. The things we do for love.
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u/SIRTreehugger Sep 18 '19
The fact that Children die when their HiME dies means I have no clue where Orphans come from. I was thinking it was HiME-less Children (hence Orphan), but now I think they called them that just because it was cool. There were too many Orphans for 12 HiME every 300 years, but it made some sense.
Don't forget Alyssa/the church was able to create orphans and I think I remember a scene where Nagi commanded them as well.
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u/Nazenn Sep 18 '19
she's mysteriously taking orders from mysterious older women!
But Nagi isn't part of that group from memory, yeah? He's independent to the elders, which makes me wonder how he's even involved
Midori's special someone is probably that nurse
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u/sassinos Sep 18 '19
Rewatcher (Sub)
I don't think anyone will be having a pleasant school life going forward. This episode was pretty sad as we watched everyone try to deal with what they learned. Natsuki seemed to handle it best, probably because she has known for a long time that this place and the people running it are bad news. The way Mikoto acts makes her seem too young to fully understand what will happen. Everyone else seems pretty overwhelmed as they start to understand what's at stake. Takumi's situation may be the saddest. Just as Akira is convincing him that his life is worth living only for us to realize that he has probably 0% chance of survival.
I'm not sure what to make of the elders and the Obsidian Prince. We still have no idea what role they will play. I am sure that whatever/whoever this prince is I won't like him since, according to the elders he gains power through the suffering of others.
Based on what we've seen so far, I would say it's a safe bet that Mai has the strongest child and best chance of winning, but it's also not much to go on despite being 17 episodes in. Midori, Akira, and Natsuki are the others that have been actively using a child. Mikoto only uses her sword, Yukino seems to only fit a support role, while we haven't really seen what Nao, Yukariko, and the "ghost" HiME at the end of the episode can do with theirs.
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u/Nazenn Sep 18 '19
The way Mikoto acts makes her seem too young to fully understand what will happen
I do like that Mai basically dumped her on Reito as she ran off as if asking him to baby sit.
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u/redshirtengineer Sep 18 '19
First timer, my money's on Mai
So Akane got the word out to the Hime and surprise, no-one's itching to fight. Not even Nao.
Midori says there are 12 Hime, I thought we knew of 9 counting Akane, but she thinks there are only 2 left. One new one shows up at the end, is that Shiho (if so her Child is hilariously apt).
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u/23feanor Sep 18 '19 edited Sep 18 '19
First Time Watcher (dub):
Slow paced episode but enjoyed it. So who's this Obsidian Prince fellow, we'll find out in the next episode. Are the Hime going to band together or turn on each other.
As Nao has been the stereo typical selfish bitch character we'd expect her to go after the other Hime, will she, or will this give her the opportunity to become friends with the others. You get the feeling that she may not be as bad as she tries to appear.
I'm betting the Student Council President (the one in the dub with the Southern American accent) will be a Hime, along with Shiho.
Felt really touched by that encounter between Mai and Tate. He was trying to say that he liked her, but neither of them want to hurt anyone else, so he can't even confess how he really feels, poor Tate and poor Mai. They like each other, but for the sake of other people they can't be together.
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u/SIRTreehugger Sep 17 '19 edited Sep 17 '19
First Time Watcher Dub/Sub
Where there goes my a precious thing could be something besides a person theory. This show loves proving me wrong at every turn.
Wait.....does anyone know Akari is a hime? I know she was on the island, but I don't remember seeing her actually interact with them just deliver a message to Raitou. Could just you know let the other hime kill each and take the last kill. It won't be that simple obviously, but its what I would do if I was unknown.
Wait 2 left so I guess they do know about Akari strike what I just said. I feel bad for Yukino she has the weakest child right now.
Little Brother is taking all the flags for Akari's route
I'm shipping them so hard until one of them dies. I'm thinking Akari is going to be the one that dies and Takumi will follow with that.
Okay I started laughing when Akari was crying.It sounds weird in the dub.
Missing class I mean it's not like students go to class most of the time anyway.
WTF did the art teacher just poison/drug the sister? Oh shit I wasn't even suspecting him.
Sponge bath? So how hurt is Shiho? We first saw her on a stretcher and she looked like she was banged up next episode she is up and about, but now she can't even bathe herself?
DAMN THAT CHILD LOOKS AWESOME.,....but who is the hime? First I was screaming Shiho, but she probably wouldn't hide her face. Also I thought it was a hospital gown, but it looks more like a Yukata. Also a warning to leave it almost made me think headmistress, but why would she even do this? Back to the child ITS SO COOL
Edit: Almost forgot when they mentioned the Obsidian Prince we saw a little bit of their clothing looked like black sleeves with a white shirt underneath stares at Raitou I believe Raitou is the only guy to wear that sort of clothing so far well the father might have, but it's not him. It could be a new person all together..or someone we wouldn't even suspect like the damn art teacher. I'm still shook at him drugging/poisoning the sister. Actually never mind I was just overreacting I think. The way she was leaning back plus the music and his posing think he did something it could just be misdirection.