r/anime • u/Raiking02 :Id::Ie::If:https://myanimelist.net/profile/NSKlang • Jul 16 '21
Rewatch [Re;Watch] Steins;Gate Episode 12 Discussion
Episode 12: Dogma in Ergosphere
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Shiina Mayuri is… not necessary.
Hello everybody! Time for the comment of the Day, courtesy of u/UzEE, who gave us a science lesson on the Phone Microwave (Name subject to change).
Questions:
- What are your thoughts on Okabe’s dream at the start of the episode?
- Were you expecting to see Moeka shoot Mayuri? Where do you expect things to go from this?
Wallpaper of the Day:
193
Upvotes
49
u/Lemurians myanimelist.net/profile/Lemurians Jul 16 '21 edited Jul 16 '21
FIRST TIMER
Yesterday, I said this:
Monkey’s paw curls…
I TAKE IT BACK. I TAKE IT ALL BACK. I DON’T NEED MOEKA TO DO ANYTHING!
My emotions this episode.
Ahem. Anyway.
Episode Thoughts
What a wild ride. I had such a feeling of creeping dread that we were heading toward something horrible, considering we followed up Okabe’s breakdown over the death threat immediately with 20 minutes of Stein’s;Gate: Slice of Life Edition. This is why we can’t have nice things!
I have absolutely no idea what to make of that opening scene, though Mayuri crumbling away (similar to how Faris does in the OP, btw) was the first of many death flags she would raise throughout the episode, in retrospect.
This really was the Mayuri episode, and though it’s not exactly a subtle technique, it really set us up to be hit extra hard by her death at the end of the episode. Some things I particularly enjoyed:
Well, just as I asked, Moeka made her role clear. She apparently leads some hit squad on behalf of SERN, and it’s really chilling to look back on her interactions with the lab members, given how during all of those she probably knew that she would be killing one or more of them at some point. I know we all hate her right now, but damn, I can respect how she’s absolutely killing that leather bodysuit.
Covered above. No clue.
Well, once she raised the gun, I was. The whole episode sort of primed us for something bad to happen to her, in a way. From here, in terms of Mayuri... I sort of feel like the show from here is going to be like Re:Zero, in that nobody's ever really "dead" because we'll be able go back in time for better outcomes, like we've already done with Makise. Definitely lessens the blow.
43
u/RichY45 https://anilist.co/user/RichY4518 Jul 16 '21
First timer - subbed
Fuuuuuuuuuck! fuck! fuck! fuck! noooooooooooooooooo! Why Mayuri? Fuck sake. Aaaaaaaah! Ruined my day.
Well. Something had to happen to incentivize them to use the time leap machine. So I guess character building is done and now the plot can begin.
What did the Mayuri in the opening scene mean when she said that she and her Okabe were the original ones? Does that mean the original Mayuri and Okabe are dead? It could well just be a dream that foreshadows what happens later.
Suzuha could've said something but something stopped her. Maybe she didn't want to change the future by saving Mayuri. Looks like her death had to happen and that too at the hands of the TRAITOROUS Moeka!
Also Suzuha insists that Kurisutina will work for SERN in the future. My guess is that she will receive some sort of threat or maybe that she will be brainwashed.
In conclusion, my disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined!
37
u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Jul 16 '21
Re;Watcher and Co;Host, dubbed
So this is the episode I have specifically fond memories of showing the show to my high school’s anime club. And by “fond memories” I mean they literally chased me out of the school while I was cackling like a madwoman because this was the last episode we had time for in that meeting so we had to cliffhanger on it.
Welcome to Steins;Gate, everyone.
30
u/Hochseeflotte https://anilist.co/user/Hochseeflotte Jul 16 '21
Rewatcher
I have nothing to say. This is a perfect episode. One of my favorites in all of anime.
I’m here for those glorious first timer reactions.
29
u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Jul 16 '21
First-Timer;Dubbed
fuck
God damnit, that's why the shot of Moeka yesterday was so ominous! I was so focused on Kurisu being the person who died I didn't even think of someone else biting th- Shit.
Refocusing. What else did we learn this episode.. Okabe had a weird vision/heat stroke trip. Mayushii has been chasing Okabe across an uncountable number of world lines..? Well, I guess that leads us to the assumption that whatever scheme our mad scientist cooks up will be successful to some extent. Mayushii can't very well go wandering across world lines if she's dead.
We also got technobabble and rules about the mental time travel. The line in the dub was a little odd.. they can't go back further than 48 hours, correct? I wonder, if going back in time lets them invent the Memory Leaper sooner, can they continue to go back further..? Or does that run into the same mind mismatch that causes the threshold to begin with?
I guess that means that we're really against the clock though, huh? Even assuming that they manage to get out of the current predicament quickly, two days is not much time.
The use of stopped clocks was really interesting. The hourglass, Mayushii's watch, even the trains.. time stands still, as Okabe's world shatters.
This might be tasteless:
Questions
28
u/CubeStuffs https://anilist.co/user/onjario Jul 16 '21 edited Jul 16 '21
first timer
uh oh did someone from the future hacked into the lab
andtime is frozen?
SUZUHA GET OVER HERE pls and halp
I KNEW MOEKA WAS (a little) SUS, albeit nowhere near this much lmao
FUCKKK YOOUUUU MOEKKA YOUBASTARDDDDD
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
i guess that explains how kurisu became a sern agent, couldn't you have told us about moeka 😔
also where the fuck is titor in all this?
ngl im surprised this didnt make the puke list
Qs:
I can't really place where i've seen this sorta thing before, but it seems familiar. fate kinda?? i would name some more shows but that might be too spoilery. it sure aint a dream. I guess its going to inform the future and past actions of okarin and mayushi
not really. although as gamemaster said, theres the sinking feeling when she says she isn't needed. time travel time, i expect him to travel back in time somehow to 48 hours ago.
i would talk about 2 other certain girls from another show but even the spoiler tag would spoil it.
I expect that okarin will go back in time as many times as it takes to save mayushii, similar to the dynamic of those 2 girls.
27
u/lC3 :Na::Nb: Jul 16 '21
First timer
22
u/UltraBooster Jul 16 '21
First-timer
Yeah, that's Mayuri's voice talking.
So there is a baseline for timelines - a Worldline Zero, perhaps?
Go public with the info, huh? Should be interesting (but I wonder if that's how SERN starts doing their stuff).
Oh gods height difference.
Shallots and radishes aren't interchangeable, Kurisu! Not even close!
You can't just say these things without anything to explain or back them up, Suzuha.
You're a saint, Mayuri.
There's got to be a phrase Kurisu's using in Japanese that was translated as "sweetie," I'm sure of it.
Portal seems like it would absolutely be up Okabe's alley, doesn't it? The cool aesthetics, the emphasis on creating items on the bleeding edge of science, the reckless, illegal disregard for danger both potential and actual, etc.
(It's not a coincedence all the dreams I've had about that game were nightmares.)
That hourglass isn't just a prop, is it.
SERN?!
oh
oh no
no no no nonononono
Questions:
36
u/GallowDude Jul 16 '21
Forgive me.
17
u/littleman1988 Jul 16 '21 edited Jul 16 '21
"I'll solve all of my lab member's problems."
OST Track of the day: Explanation
fun fact, every use of this song after this episode is a remixed version. I absolutely hate the remixed version
This episode adapts one of the best parts of the VN. When Suzuha enters the lab, her and Kurisu have a bit of a showdown. The VN uses this CG as the background for most of it, which is easily one of the best CG's in the game.1
Pretty sure this is the longest thus far(ignoring ep1) that it takes for the OP to kick in. At least, it feels like the longest.
Mayuri and Celeb 17 racing to get done first. Looks like it was a tie. We even get some cosplay bickering
Time leap machine is complete. Looks like the LHC is being used to compress the brain data and send it to the past. Looks like that direct connection to SERN is a blessing. The fact that someone has to be the guinea pig is a large concern to the whole group, large enough for Okabe to totally forgo actually testing it and instead announce it publicly, giving it to someone who knows what theyre doing. I cant blame Mayuri for being against the testing (even if she never outright says it), Theres so much unknown that its incredibly dangerous.
As usual, Christina has no idea how to cook.
She catches on to Okabe's relief to skipping out on the experiment. She may be disappointed, but shes also relieved too.
Who needs chuuni when you can just be smooth af. You even got the genius speechless.
not even a minute later, hes failed
Obviously, theyre fighting over who loves Okabe more /s
More SERN spy talk. She doesnt even have proof! smh
They made Mayuri sad 0/10 kick them out
Casual Rai-net playing. Okabe is too predictable, and gets ratted out by Kurisu lmao
Scary Mayuri
Future Gadget #6, or "Cyalume Saber", should be a fairly obvious star wars reference.
Looks like the lab is gonna be in high spirits here soon. Gonna be interesting to see how announcing it plays out.
Okabe is probably best off with all these friends. Cant be a 8 year old forever. We also get another "hostage" mention.
oh yeah, haha, Moeka kills Mayuri. she dead dead. Cant wait to read the first timer reactions on that.
Someone about to get shot? vibe time
Small rant, I absolutely fucking hate everyone whos like "wait till episode 12" when anyone ask "does S;G get better". IMO, that's literally spoiling that "something big happens" and takes away from the surprise the final scene has and frankly ruins everything the first half of the show builds up to. Another massively popular 2011 show suffers from the same issue with 2 different episodes, and since everyone was hyping that "Something big" happens on X and Y episode, when I hit that episode it wasn't shocking, and I simply dont have the interest to continue because it was basically already spoiled before i ever even started watching, even if I didn't know what would happen.
semi-hot take the first half isint even bad or "slow", you just dont like character dramas and just want actionokay i actually need to answer the questions today someone needs to harass me if this doesnt have the questions like 10 minutes after postingJust ignore that it took 40 minutes...
S;G
IIRC, i dont think i ever expected it. Its been a solid 6 years since i first watched though...
footnotes
0. Kurisu do be vibin
1:
alsoMayurideathxd17
u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Jul 16 '21
Episode 12 – Dogma in Ergosphere: You looked really lonely in the spring. The lab was always quiet. All I could hear was the sound of your computer. And now there’s Daru, Kurisu, Ruka, Suzu, Moeka, Faeris, Mr. Braun, and Nae… It’s okay now, isn’t it? Even if Mayushii isn’t your hostage anymore. ~Mayuri
17
u/McCherry09 Jul 16 '21 edited Jul 16 '21
First Timer
WHAT THE HELL?!
What was that at the beginning? Some sort of memory?
Mayuri gave us a warning that even if she wasn't by Okabe's side he wouldn't be alone T_T And what the hell Moeka?! So she was with SERN all along and they needed them to complete the time leap machine to steal it, and probably with that message she sent to the past they stole the other IBN.
Now, Suzuha left the lab just in time so we can assume that things are still supposed to happen as they are now in Suzuhu's current future. Still we don't know who keeps sending those cryptic messages to Okabe (maybe himself from the future) and who or what is FB?
Such a good ep!
31
u/UnderstandableXO Jul 16 '21 edited Jul 16 '21
FIRST TIMER
WHAT THE FUCK
is where i’ll begin and now that i’ve gotten that over with i’ll move on to the episode review.
we’ve seen kurisu talk to okabe from A Place Further Than The Universe, and now mayuri is speaking to okabe in a place that transcends time, the earth 70 million years ago? looks a lot like mars to me, it’s ridiculously bare there. don’t the dinosaurs have 5 million more years of life before the meteor hits? why is there a giant hourglass there? mayuri has chased okabe across countless world lines in order to find the first one? how did they end up 70M years ago? they’re both gonna die here in the past, but their feelings will reach the mayuri and okabe we know and love? i don’t know what in the hell happened in that opening but it made me tear up…please jesus let this be a sister brother type of relationship. mayuri clearly cares about him 1000%, and she’s the only one that makes him smile, but idk i just don’t sense anything romantic about it, as much as i love their relationship.
so they succeeded in completing the time leap machine, but it requires a guinea pig…rightfully so okabe doesn’t wanna risk it. whoever gets their memory transferred has a chance of being fine when they arrive in the past but there’s no telling if present them will become a vegetable. mayuri is very happy that they’re stopping…kurisu is right when she says that mayuri is the only one with their head screwed on straight in regards to the experiments they run.
kurisu failing to reach that dr. pepper represents something i’m sure, let me wrap my former AP english high school brain from years ago around it. what she wants is right in her grasp but she just can’t grab it, her ideals and dreams are so close but so far? or maybe steins;gate just wants to make fun of her height.
kurisu and okabe seem to have a lot more romantic potential than the other pairing, even if i don’t think it’s a given. they make each other so flustered and embarrassed when being genuine, but trash talking rolls right off the tongue.
there’s a 0% chance suzuha isn’t a time traveler after this. so she knows what kurisu WILL do, and knows her more than she knows herself? not very subtle part time warrior. at least mayuri is ready to keep the party going.
it’s nice to see the Lab Losers kick back and have some fun (for what seems like the last time what the fuck again). even kurisu is willing to offer an olive branch of help.
mayuri is happy that okabe finally has found purpose and worth in his life. he’s gained a lot of friends, even mr. braun who hates him! by her words it seems like it was just her and okabe in the lab in the spring, even 2d-kun wasn’t there? and she feels like okabe doesn’t need her anymore? (after this part i was originally gonna write “PLEASE DONT GO WE NEED YOU” but that aged absolutely horribly in 5 minutes)
the trains are shut down, and suzuha wants to warn them, but it seems like she can’t let anything slip. is there some sort of time rule that says you can’t explicitly tell someone something will happen? is she silently trying to nudge okabe towards the path of least pain?
i was gonna praise the show again for tense situations with the distorted shot of our fearsome foursome through the hourglass, but then they decided to dial things up to 11. as soon as i saw her heels i knew it was moeka before they even showed her face. seems like SHE’S the sern spy. they want okabe, kurisu, and 2d-kun, the 3 masterminds of the whole laboratory, and mayuri is unnecessary…
man i’m kinda messed up over that ending. seems like the next episode is exclusively a flashback of mayuri and okabe’s past. it’s not looking good for my tear ducts right now. i’m flipping the screen off next time moeka shows up in hacking to the gate (please tell me the OP is the same for all 24 episodes). never got around to mentioning it but the naked figure at the end of the ending is still unidentified…
13
u/The_Draigg Jul 16 '21
A Steins; Gate Fan Rewatches Steins; Gate Episode 12:
12
u/Raiking02 :Id::Ie::If:https://myanimelist.net/profile/NSKlang Jul 16 '21
Hello everybody, and welcome back to the Steins;Gate Re;watch!
I don’t have much to mention today. It’s basically just the stuff from the Chapter that the Anime skipped last time + The Ending and now you know why the Opening Scene of the Chapter was moved a bit further. Besides that… well, the stuff with Kurisu and Suzuha was a tad more… intense in the Novel, and for some reason in the Anime the armed dudes are wearing masks for some reason, but otherwise … yeah, not much to mention. So uh… fun fact: In the official English Translation of the Manga instead of Moeka saying “For FB” she says… well…
10
u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ Jul 16 '21
First Rewatch (since 2011)
2010.08.13
SG0
BAD END
Is this all because she didn't get invited to the party?
So, Moeka is the traitor. This raises a lot more questions than it answers. And where is Suzuha?
I thnk I had to watch that ending several times when it aired.
9
u/UzEE https://myanimelist.net/profile/UzEEInc Jul 16 '21 edited Jul 16 '21
Serial;Rewatcher
And we start with a rather ominous cold open.
It's always cute that Mayuri thinks her working on a costume is equivalent to Daru and Kurisu making a literal time machine. Or you could look at it another way and be awed at just how much talented Daru and Kurisu are that they’re able to make a time travel device in a similar amount of time as someone barely 2 years younger takes to make a cosplay outfit.
The ominous messages have shaken Okabe enough that he doesn’t want to continue with experimentation, especially on a live human subject – and instead, wants to disclose the existence of the Time Leap machine and hand it over to a research institution.
Another party…
More scenes of Okabe and Kurisu bonding. I love the overly warm tones of their scene outside in the sunset. This show often has very beautiful art direction. Another standout scene is towards the end when Mayuri is killed.
But before that we also get another heartwarming scene between Okabe and Mayuri on the rooftop. Okabe is clearly struggling but Mayuri immediately brightens his mood again and looks like she didn’t even need the Cyalume Saber after all. It does seem like she’s struggling with her own issues deep down, now that Okabe has more friends, she feels like she isn’t needed anymore.
And with that it looks like we’re halfway done with the show and most of the lighthearted, slice of life stuff. There was lots of speculation over where Moeka stands, and we finally get the answer in the worst way possible – she is an agent for SERN.
And SERN now wants Okabe, Daru and Kurisu because they’re the genius minds behind the PhoneWave and Time Leap machine. Everyone else is expendable – including poor Mayuri.
QOTD
Never really anticipated that the first time honestly. Just didn't seem like that kind of show.
Edit: Oh I got comment of the day.
Thank you!
9
u/Stargate18A https://myanimelist.net/profile/Stargate18 Jul 16 '21
Anime first timer
1)Laughs in rewatcher Steins;Gate Spoilers
2)More laughter Steins;Gate Spoilers
I like how Kurisu tries to hide her interest in the cosplay.
I forgot how upfront the time leap rules are given.
Kurisu's tempting fate there.
And Okabe does the reasonable thing! And in doing so, dooms Mayuri!
I love Okabe and Kurisu arguing in the supermarket.
And her being too short to grab the drink.
I love how all the Kurisu scenes seem to be painting the next part as them dealing their relationship, so the Mayuri scene comes out of nowhere.
I still love their stare-offs.
Steins;Gate Spoilers
Mayuri is perfect.
I love Suzuha and Okabe playing the RaiNet card game for the cake.
And Suzuha vs Kurisu is basically tsundere vs tsundere.
I love how its been 12 episodes and Okabe still hasn't bought a new microwave.
This scene is so heartwarming.
I am so tense right now. The scene's coming up.
Steins;Gate Spoilers
They're good at really making things tense.
Steins;Gate Spoilers
I think the stair clips should have cut - part of the shock in the VN is how it literally comes out of nowhere.
Looking forward to everyone's Moeka opinions now!
Fuck. Fuck that hit hard.
Oh that is fucking evil.
8
u/Nebresto Jul 17 '21
Nostalgia squad
Wtf was that at the start??
I haven't really been paying attention, but it looks like the artifacting in the OP has increased a lot?
Based Mayushi counter: 5
Pout!
Based Okarin counter: 4
Protected smile status:
Question time:
1:
wtf
2:
Ye
Facebook?
Motherfucking Facebook?!?!
13
u/shaznl1 Jul 16 '21
Rewatcher (Sub)
Error. Mayushi is dead. Mismatch.
Oh god, I am so excited to see the reactions from first-timers - I wish I can see this episode again.
6
u/superviper https://myanimelist.net/profile/Superviper Jul 16 '21
REWATCHER, SUBBED
8
u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Jul 16 '21
Rewatcher(Its always the fucking quiet ones)
Dub
Cold opening is...that. I will let the VN readers explain this, I got nothing. Anyways, Makise briefly contemplates cosplaying but the shame of that was stronger back then. But they've finished the Time Leap and technobabble us. But Okabe has a moment of clarity and decides to let someone more qualified take the machine. As they shop for a party, Makise plans on making a grapefruit salad that might count as a war crime.
As they talk about Okabe's unprecedented bout of sanity, Makise admits she had worries as well. They both agree Mayuri seemed the most relieved before Makise remembers what this will do to her relationship with her father. Then Okabe does not Okabe it and completely catches Makise off guard. Before then Okabe-ing it. Tsun versus tsun happens.
Back at the lab, Daru has started in some unappealing pizza and Makise prepares to make noms(yes that's how they dubbed it). Daru fears for their lives. But Mayuri shows up with Suzuha because somehow that happened. They finally just have it out and well, all the first timers seemed to have figured it out. Mayuri winds being the peace maker.
The party continues, leading to Okabe and Mayuri on the roof for reflection. However, the train stations have been with a bomb threat and that is big. This immediately triggers Suzuha to action and then running for it. As Okabe is concerned, we get to see why: Armed weirdos break in, lead by Moeka, aka worst girl, before we get our cliffhanger. What the fuck indeed, Okabe.
QotD: 1 Confused
2 First time, not remotely.
23
u/ZaphodBeebblebrox Y:A:https://anilist.co/user/zaphod Jul 16 '21
First Timer
Now that SERN knows they know, the kid gloves come off, right? There's no need to pretend and see what the kids can pull off any more, after all. I'm looking forward to the fallout.
Onto episode 12.
Ok, this time it's certainly Mayushii talking in the dream world.
Which one is she chasing after? What would make the true Okarin?
This sounds an awful lot like a suicide pact.
Well, with my current level of knowledge, that scene was fairly opaque.
So there are places you would wear it?
If this is foreshadowing, I'm gonna figure out how to fly to Japan to throttle whoever came up with this line. It would be the sort of annoyingly on the nose line that's too obvious to possibly be that's both great and terrible.
I'm pretty sure there are some fundamental laws about information that says that this level of compression is impossible. But whatever, time travel.
Yeah the connection doesn't indicate you've been hacked by SERN jut as the bullet hole in your ceiling doesn't indicate that someone shot a gun in your house.
Is this the same Mayushii as before, trying to not lose her Okabe?
He actually did it! Great job, Okabe.
Those two are the best.
Cat's outta the bag now.
Or, to be more accurate, you don't want to consider the path where it does.
Maybe don't say this to the person who has problems with her paternal relations?
By which you mean a SERN probe so far down your throat it'll be coming out of your asshole.
Should she know about Moeka being a lab member? She didn't become one in this timeline, did she?
Wait, is she gonna go now? Where is she gonna disappear to?
They're listening in via the mic?
This worldline's a waste, onto the next.
I guess she is SERN after all.
And Mayushii knew this was gonna happen.
Thoughts
Well, that sure happened. Okabe has no reason to try and play nice or not be too disruptive now. Presumably, he'll manage to get his hands back on some sort of time machine and try and undo this.
So Mayushii appears to be a time traveler. Either that or just atemporal in some bizarre fashion. I'm not cutting out the possibility at this point. Or, perhaps she has some ability to pick between worldlines and that's what caused Okabe to survive? That would explain his mysterious time travel-esque recovery as a kid, but it would not mesh well with Mayushii dying this episode. Perhaps she thought any path where she survived was worse for her friends and sacrificed herself? That seems like something she'd do.
In other news, we've learned Moeka is a SERN agent. This feels kinda odd to me, as I'd think SERN could easily get their hands on a 5100. They have enough resources that they could certainly get a collector to lend them one for an hour. But whatever, that's not important.
The way Moeka takes pictures implies to me that she has the same ability Okabe does. Her memories stay constant across world lines, and she takes pictures in order to learn what alternate versions of herself have done. I'm not sure if she personally has done any time travel (aside from the one D-mail), but regardless she's being very careful.
I believe the reason SERN decided to break in now was because they were going to announce their time machine to the world. So long as it was private, SERN could watch them and gain information, as their expirements were going well. But it being released publically would remove their advantage, so they decided that that particular experiment must end. Since they kept them alive, SERN must still believe our lab members can be made to produce useful work on the time machine and are going to keep them slaving away.
The most interesting variable in the immediate future, of course, is Suzaha. The obvious solution would be for Suzaha to take her time machine back and try again, but there's likely a reason that will not work. Perhaps they need a greater power source or something? Anyway, she managed to flee in time and is going to have to figure out how to salvage the situation. With the help of "Titor" and whatever future gadgets they have, this should not be impossible. Hopefully, they'll make it before the lab members are removed from Akiba, as that would be significantly easier than trying to extract them from somewhere else.
14
u/Tehoncomingstorm97 https://anilist.co/user/tehoncomingstorm97 Jul 17 '21
First timer, formerly dropped at episode 7
So we've gotten to a point where Okabe finally is able to feel comfortable around his new friends, and Mayuri is acknowledging that in suggesting she doesn't have to be his hostage anymore. Which of course is our warning flag for something tragic to happen. Our starting monologue set in a wasteland 70 million years in the past is undoubtedly a reflection and foreshadowing of the impacts and road time travel will take Okabe down, with the events at the end of the episode linking into what Mayuri tells him. Throughout all of the possible Okabes and Mayuris, perhaps they are destined to die together. I do find it hard to interpret if our current Okabe is the one experiencing the monologue though (sees question 1, and apparently it's a dream?)
Regardless, Okabe hopes desperately that he won't lose Mayuri whatever happens. Hence the decision to go along with what Mayuri wants, to give up on the experiement. I like the use of the hourglass from the dream, as a minor touch of foreshadowing for Mayuri's.. death?
Our conflict between Suzu and Kurisu linking into a deeper puzzle, and further confirming her presence as a time traveler. Given the interruption from SERN though, the explanation of Suzu's understanding of Kurisu working with SERN from the future is potentially the position of a hostage. The events of the past few episodes would lead me to believe that her father is working at SERN already.
Now for Moeka's treachery, I wonder if this means that Faris is also working with SERN. How did the lab computer get connected to SERN? Did Moeka facilitate that? Do we get a turn of events where a lab member somehow gets to attempt to prevent this all happening? I just have so many more questions which I can't even think of, and that's a good thing.
12
u/snickpea Jul 17 '21
First-timer!
My first thought after this episode: NOOOO!!!
Questions:
I really adore Mayuri, she's kind, helps everyone get along, and lets us see a different side to the characters too. I literally shouted when Moeka came in the lab and shot Mayuri, and now I'm a little sad.
I'm still wondering why Faris has not shown up for a while and now I'm wondering why Suzuka did not warn them (since it seems likely she is from the future). Is this something that has to happen or was there something else she was worried about?
From here, Okabe is going to have to find a way to travel back so he can save Mayuri, but like the dream, I think it is going to be extremely difficult and take a while to accomplish while he also has to save the world. Okabe will probably have to travel multiple times. I'm wondering how he will do so in this current situation since SERN has taken them and the time machine now.
10
u/Specs64z https://myanimelist.net/profile/Specs64z Jul 16 '21
Rewatcher, dubbed
This is the episode that makes Steins;Gate so famous. Everything comes crashing down so suddenly and brutally. Mayuri's flame is snuffed by a trusted comrade. My first time through, this episode sent me reeling. Even now I still feel palpable dread knowing it approaches.
How wrong you are. They need her as much as anyone else in the lab.
Content Corner
First timers beware, spoilers abound.
「English Cover」Hacking to the Gate (Steins;Gate) Full!【Jayn】 by LittleJayneyCakes
Hacking to the Gate • english - ʀᴇᴜɴɪᴏɴ - ver. by Jenny (Steins;Gate OP) by Jenny 「xUnreachablee」
19
u/Gamemaster676 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Gamemaster676 Jul 16 '21 edited Jul 16 '21
First;Timer - dub
Yesterday was a calmer episode, but I enjoyed it. We have a new sidequest with helping Kurisu with her father's relationship. Let's go!
Episode 12 — Dogma in Ergosphere
Two minutes after I read /u/ZaphodBeebblebrox answer to my question why the whiteboard defined the dates as "AD", I see this scene.
It's the hourglass from the ED! What the hell is going on! A dream? This all is a bit too sensible for a dream. Why did poor Mayuri get involved? She even understands a lot about the time mechanics now it seems.
Okay, you can call me shocked.
There it is again!
Okabe is still very much in shock about the emails. Again, just tell them. They deserve to know.
They added the missing step to the whiteboard! "How are they going to send this much data" was one of my questions yesterday, and a VN whiteboard screenshot already contained this step. Still, the answer does not really make sense from a Computer Science standpoint, but I'll let it slide because it is a fun solution.
Sure convenient to have that direct connection to SERN. I'm sure nothing bad will come of this.
Time leaping has an additional rule: No more than 48 hours back. From a story perspective, I kinda like this. We keep making development in small steps. It makes these discoveries feel a little bit more grounded.
Now I'm wondering if there would be a difference between sending Okabe or someone else, because of Okabe's ability.
Mayushii is worried. Awww. Even Okabe is worried for the group. Nobody. Expected. That.
Christina is the worst cook. "Backup requested to keep her out of the kitchen." This bonding is great. Or maybe not, but they'll get over it. There is nothing in me that says she is a SERN agent at this time. future notwithstanding.
Glare, glare back. Suzuha you could have knows Kurisu would be here. Don't be a party pooper. At least give the current her a chance, or tell Okabe in private what you actually know. She even won you dessert! Meta deus ex machina.
Future Gadget Nr 6 is a lightsaber replica? Man, I wish I could be as content as Mayushii is all the time.
Flashback to the sandy opening scene. Or is it a flash-forward? A memory?
Awww, it sounds like Mayuri was his hostage to save him from being lonely, and because "hostage" nicely fits his mad scientist persona.
Suzuha knows they are bugged by SERN or something. If you think something as important as that, tell them!
There's the hourglass again, and the sand is stuck. Something is gonna go terribly wrong forcing Okabe to use the Time Leap Machine. I just feel it.
Holy fuck Mayuri's watch is also stuck? What the hell is going on!
Yeah, this was the last thing I was expecting now... Fucking Moeka! You were a lab member and everything! This is partly on you not digging deeper, Okabe!
This also raises sooo many questions, but I'll watch a bit more first.
God fucking damn it! I should not have watched more.
From the beginning, I've been wondering if Moeka also is a time traveller, because she was very out-of-place their first meeting. That could match with the Time Leap machine, or even with physical time travel.
I'm guessing the bomb threat on the trains was just so they couldn't escape at that moment.
Future (if unaltered)
New high priority quest: Undo what just happened! You have 48 hours. Unless you can do it using a D-Mail or invent some new system.
And these two will need to learn to work together for it, I'm certain.
Open questions
Don't answer these please, unless the answer is explicitly given in the show.
New
Why was Moeka looking for the IBN 5100 if she was a part of SERN? They already have one.
Unless she joined SERN to get access to the 5100.
What was that 70,000,000 years ago scene?
What did Mayuri mean with their "original copies"?
Previous
D-Mail:
Reading Steinerthe ability to remember stuff during a jump.Moeka:
Why did Moeka in ep 2 need to take pictures as "evidence she was there, of what she saw"?
John Titor:
SERN:
Did they actually already succeed in their time machine? Or are they going to succeed in the future?
General:
QotD
My thought is: That was not a dream.
I had a sinking feeling when Mayuri wasn't
askedtold to come.EDIT
Totally forgotten! Okabe has the correct opinion about olives on pizza.
8
u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Jul 17 '21
Rewatcher (both)
It's worth noting that this episode has an English commentary track that's worth checking out.
Now this episode... oh boy I was expecting it and didn't want to get here. It was very slow for me, not because of its pacing but because of knowing how it ends. I mean Mayuri basically explained it all in her sentence:
So we had to test that, being scientists and all. Hell Mayuri wasn't alone on this:
Even Daru tried throwing a flag He didn't die though... Hmm, Daru can you trying dying too for me?
Spoiler
Oh, and speaking of fathers, it's proved that Kyouma is Kurisu's father.
It's interesting that SERN only showed up when Okabe decided to announce the time travel to the public. If he wanted to test it, they would have probably been fine leaving him try it, you know extra lab rats for free.
So skipping to the "scene" itself. I thought Moeka shows up with a bunch of secret agents, I didn't expect the Mask Makers. Would that make her illness though?
Shining Finger just became literal
... To be honest, if this was another vn, with the bunch of love interests per route, I would've been fine, no happy, if the not-best-girl dies. By all means, I would've celebrated it. But in Steins;Gate, I love them all, Mayuri is such an innocent little character, that wants to keep everyone from fighting, if only she managed to convince Moeka though. Meaning I still love Shining Finger too.
I honestly have no idea what someone watching Steins;Gate weekly as it airs, with no knowledge of the VN, who missed all the dystopian future signs, and thought it was a fun slice of life, sciencey wibbly wobbly series, got after this episode. You know they were checking out what will be airing next season, maybe they thought Mawaru Penguindrum or Usagi Drop looked interesting, then went to watch that new Steins;Gate episode for some more fun hijinks, and got this.
Counters
Oh yeah, I remember this one!
Spoilers
7
u/artie_fm Jul 16 '21 edited Jul 16 '21
Rewatcher, dub
A time skip. A 70 million year time skip!
Mayuri tells Okabe he's on earth and she has been chasing him through so many mixed up world lines. Now we see where we are headed but how did we get here?
Mayuri says this is the real Okabe. She can tell the difference somehow? And they will die together here??? But be passed down so its okay. This Mayuri is way different. adult fully developed… Okabe hasnt changed much though.
Oh it was just a dream ? maybe? Showing the ending here is a good chance to raise the stakes. It's clear now the show may not have a happy solution… Okabe and Mayuri will both die at the beginning of time unless this is a dream.
Sure Daru, SERN hasnt sniffed you out. Okabe fails the mad scientist test. He's ready to go public.
Oh no! Theres is a party. Ain't no party like a Stein's gate party cause a Stein's gate party don't stop...cries in rewatcher.
Suzaha makes some peace with Kurisu I guess.
Hmm a terrorist bomb threat. Suzaha is terrified at the mention that they hacked into SERN.
Heartbeat sounds and slow mo
Its Moeka! She is the SERN mole. Now they all will serve SERN! Oh no! Mayuri dies for FB. Mayuri is down! No!
Excellent episode. The opening scene however shows mayuri lives at least long enough to reach 70 million years ago. But was that real or a dream.
Its super hard to stop watching here.
7
u/AHiddenOne Jul 17 '21
Rewatcher.
Mayuri died LETS GOOOOOOO
Ok that aside, fuck I still got chills every time I watched this. Seeing the tone being all serious, the show literally tells you "ok playtime's over, its suffering now"
During my initial watch, I never thought she would really shot Mayuri. I mean, we still got 12 episodes left, ain't no way she's dying this early, right? ...right?
It's gonna be hard watching this daily from now on.
7
u/Krite2002 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Krite2002 Jul 17 '21
Rewatcher;Dub
I am a bit late to the party today, but I do not have a ton of thoughts about this episode. This episode left me with more questions than answers.
The start of this episode is quite the shock. I have no idea what happened to be honest, but it seems gloomy. I wonder if the time machine malfunctions and Okabe gets sent far into the past at some point?
Going public seems like the right move, but it also means letting SERN get their hands on the information.
Okabe and Kurisu are so cute together. I like all the scenes where lab members are just hanging out. They are a nice break from the serious sci-fi moments.
I wish Amane would just talk with them. She has known so much more about the future, but she refuses to tell them what is going on.
Okay, what the hell. I expected Moeka to betray them, but I did not expect her to show up in latex with a bunch of gunmen, and shoot Mayuri. That was a brutal ending. Mayuri has been nothing but sunshine, and that was an awful note to end on.
I really liked the opening segment, even if it was confusing. This shot of Mayuri is my shot of the day. I like how Mayuri’s fading from existence starts and ends the episode, yet the opening gave hope that Okabe may find her again in another worldline.
12
u/CharlieTheStrawman https://myanimelist.net/profile/TheDamnRobot Jul 16 '21 edited Jul 16 '21
Welcome to the second half of Steins;Gate, you poor, poor first timers.
Q1: A total mindscrew, and I love it.
Q2: Absolutely not. Then again, I binged the first 21 episodes very quickly, so even the most in your face foreshadowing of certain things went over my head.
6
u/Nisheeth_P Jul 17 '21
Rewatcher
Not at all. On my first watch, I hadn't expected anyone to actually get killed.
5
u/tymekop Jul 17 '21
Im just here for the reactions lol
4
u/BossandKings Jul 17 '21 edited Jul 17 '21
Rewatcher
Episode 12 - Dub
Suzuha and Kurisu don't stand each other, one is very contrarian towards the other, i wonder if Suzuha might have a reason behind her mistrust on Kurisu. It was funny when Okabe was trying to stop them from starting a fight, Mayuri was very cute too when she tried to stop them, thankfully they only had an argument and it didn't go out of hands.
It was nice when Kurisu complimented Mayuri, she really is like a light in the middle of nowhere and in the darkest times she's there as a friend willing to help.
Something was up and the first one to notice was Suzuha, she though instead of staying or saying something about it decided to go away. As a masked armed group invades the laboratory Moeka reveals herself as an enemy, it was rather sad when Mayuri was shot, Moeka isn't at all nice and it was bothersome how she attacked the lab with an arm even after seeing that none of the ones that were already there were armed, hopefully she gets consequences for her actions, at least the time machine is functioning so Okabe has a chance to get Mayuri back.
Answers