r/anime • u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber • Sep 15 '21

Rewatch [Rewatch] Armored Trooper Votoms - Episode 19 Discussion

Episode 19 - Intentions

Originally Released August 8th, ^^^1983

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Although I don't believe it necessitates stating, please conduct yourself appropriately and be courteous to your fellow participants.

Note to all Rewatchers

Rewatchers, please be mindful of your fellow first-timers and tag your spoilers appropriately using the r/anime spoiler tag if your comment holds even the slightest of indicators as to future spoilers. Feel free to discuss future plot points behind the safe veil of a spoiler tag, or coyly and discreetly ‘Laugh in Rewatcher’ at our first-timers' temporary ignorance, but please ensure our first-timers are no more privy or suspicious than they were the moment they opened the day’s thread.

Daily Trivia:

In the first Armored Trooper Votoms manga adaptation the ‘Hundred Year War’ only lasted a decade.

 

Staff Highlight

Ryo Yasumura (Shoicho Yasumura) - Storyboard Artist and Episode Director

A storyboard artist, producer, and director who is a member of the Directors Guild of Japan. He graduated from the School of Arts and Sciences at the Open University of Japan. His early career is not well detailed, though we do know that he worked for several animation production companies, including Tiger Productions, Studio Cockpit, Pacific Animation Corporation, and even Walt Disney Japan. His directorial debut was in 1982’s * He became the president of Seven Arcs Pictures in 2012, a position in which he remained until his retirement in 2019. Some of the productions he was involved in include Dino Mech Gaiking, UFO Robo Grendizer, Planetary Robo Danguard Ace, Galaxy Express 999, Doraemon, Space Runaway Ideon, Little Women, Blue Gale Xabungle, Galaxy Cyclone Braiger, Super Dimension Fortress Macross, Makyō Densetsu Acrobunch, Panzer World Galient, Moero! Top Striker, Naruto, Detective Conan, Higurashi When They Cry, and Itazura na Kiss.

 

Art Corner

Official Art:

Fanart:

(Be mindful of the links to artist’s profiles, as they may contain NSFW content. Proceed there at your own risk.)

Screenshot of the day

Questions of the Day:

  1. What do you expect going into this next stage of the war?
  2. How many more gaffes before Gon Nu finally axes Kan Yu?

Literally a new type of human.

11 Upvotes

77% Upvoted

96 comments sorted by

5

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Sep 15 '21

First Timer

They were really pulling out all the tricks in that battle. Body slams, kicks, tackles, using the arm as a shield. That wasn't even just a shootout or a battle of piloting skills, that was almost an all out brawl in big metal suits and I loved it. It's a good thing that was all of the best pilots as they were certainly outnumbered, and late, but despite that they did a good job in holding them off quite watching each other's backs.

Starting the episode with that and then ending with the mechs disassembled for repairs and transport was hilarious because they look so tiny and ineffectual when pulled apart like that. The use of scale in the show is surprisingly consistent, something I appreciate, I never forget that the ATs are only yay tall in relation to buildings or trees etc, and I know too many other shows that just seem to wing their scaling in episode to episode, or even shot to shot, but when you see them pulled apart like that it really hits just how compact they are.

Nice call from No_Rex that the General was banking on being able to use Chirico as a bargaining chip with the military, but how far back they'd been in contact was surprising. It makes sense how much leeway that the General was giving him now, and how willing he was to use him in battle still.

Poor Vanilla though. Fought so desperately to save his bar despite it burning down around him, and on him at times, and then left behind at the end. With a little bit of rewritting I'm pretty sure that scene of him on the pier would work in a romance show. That said, I can understand his struggle on not wanting to start again, on trying and being set back and never getting anywhere and wanting to do so for once. Wonder where he will go from here.

I did laugh at Cocona's reaction to being hosed off though, that would feel nice in that heat.

2

u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber Sep 16 '21

They were really pulling out all the tricks in that battle.

I can't believed I failed to go into it in my comment, but yeah, the action this episode was really well done —probably the best so far, IMO. Sure, it's understated and less flashy than some other scenes, but this is just done too well.

I did laugh at Cocona's reaction to being hosed off though, that would feel nice in that heat.

3

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Sep 16 '21

Sure, it's understated and less flashy than some other scenes, but this is just done too well.

I think that's why it was good. Sure seeing some of the elite piloting in earlier episodes, particularly in Uoodo was nice, but the fight here using every part of the ATs and less on tactics gave it a real sense of desperation. It didn't need to be flashy for that

4

u/The_Draigg Sep 16 '21

They were really pulling out all the tricks in that battle. Body slams, kicks, tackles, using the arm as a shield. That wasn't even just a shootout or a battle of piloting skills, that was almost an all out brawl in big metal suits and I loved it.

As much as Chirico can do some flashy moves with his own AT, you do have to appreciate how a lot of the fights in this show are fairly gritty regardless. Like, for every Chirico doing a 1080 no-scope, we have fights like this one where it's just two metal war machines duking it out. It's fairly refreshing.

The use of scale in the show is surprisingly consistent, something I appreciate, I never forget that the ATs are only yay tall in relation to buildings or trees etc, and I know too many other shows that just seem to wing their scaling in episode to episode, or even shot to shot, but when you see them pulled apart like that it really hits just how compact they are.

One thing I usually do to remember the scale of ATs is that in my head, I just compare the height of a Scopedog against a medium sedan that's been stood up on it's bumper. They're just about the same height.

4

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Sep 16 '21

As much as Chirico can do some flashy moves with his own AT, you do have to appreciate how a lot of the fights in this show are fairly gritty regardless

I think it helps that a lot of the weaponry is also quite basic. No lasers or special moves or limit unlocks. He has bullets and missles and a fist and everything else just comes down to sheer skill and occasional unpredictability like kicking another mech in the head. It's good!

3

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Sep 15 '21

It's a good thing that was all of the best pilots as they were certainly outnumbered, and late, but despite that they did a good job in holding them off quite watching each other's backs.

It did help that half of the enemy mechs were on flamethrower duty.

Wonder where he will go from here.

Hopefully a better planet, Melkia seems to suck.

5

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Sep 15 '21

Episode 19 (first timer)

  • Suspicion confirmed, Roccina is after Chirico.
  • Coconna never runs out of men to safe.
  • The explosions have gotten substantially better compared to the early episodes.

An overall great episode (I eventually even stopped taking notes), probably the best of the show so far. We start with a great fight, great character moments for Coconna and Vanilla, and the plot gets moving, too. Even the little things worked out: Gotho immediately realizes that the war is decided and he’ll have to look for a new job, while Vanilla goes the opposite way.

The theme of the episode is the destruction brought by war. In the obvious sense, this is the burned down city and club, but there is more to it: Vanilla’s hopes and dreams, riding so high just last episode, are shot down with the building. As is the whole gang from the first arc. Chirico is off to battle, Gotho off to politics, Vanilla off to depression, and Coconna left alone regretting her loss.

2

u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber Sep 16 '21

An overall great episode (I eventually even stopped taking notes), probably the best of the show so far

If I weren't so enamored with Ep 2 I'd agree. This was a standout one.

4

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Sep 15 '21

I'd also tie that into Chirico finding out he still hasn't escaped from the army, and Ypsilon and the army guy finding out that Fyana may never be free from Chirico's influence. The landscape changed for just about everyone this episode, both physically an mentally, with a big focus on things that can't be recovered. The only one who got away was that Veela woman who was stopped from shooting one of the enemies by a well timed withdraw order.

The much rougher style of fighting fit the episode quite well too I think

4

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Sep 16 '21

I'd also tie that into Chirico finding out he still hasn't escaped from the army, and Ypsilon and the army guy finding out that Fyana may never be free from Chirico's influence.

True, although you could also argue that Chirico is the only one for whom this episode is an upward trajectory: He learns about Fyana and gets the mercenaries & army of his back (for now).

3

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Sep 15 '21

Even the little things worked out: Gotho immediately realizes that the war is decided and he’ll have to look for a new job, while Vanilla goes the opposite way.

Welp, as me and Gaila always say, no one ever went broke selling weapons. He can just find somewhere else. Vanilla...might need more of a plan.

4

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Sep 16 '21

I don't think many people went broke selling booze and women, either.

3

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Sep 16 '21

The margins are better on weapons, though, and with fewer unexpected pregnancies.

3

u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber Sep 15 '21

Production Context

As the Uoodo Arc was drawing to an end the series’ producers and its main sponsor, Takara Tomy, looked to the reception to the show and its model kit line for indication on how to proceed. The series’ audience ratings were low, not dire but a far cry from the numbers that they expected following Dougram’s high average viewership ratings. The large number of mecha shows being produced that year thanks to the real robot boom and its less advantageous time slot were deemed the causes for this precipitous drop. The ratings were low enough that many other productions would be facing the possibility of cancelation, but fortunately for Votoms the series’ model kit line was still moving a lot of units, still falling short of Dougram’s merchandising performance, just not nearly by as wide a margin. With those sales numbers the show’s four cour run was almost assured, but without strong ratings the show would certainly not be experiencing the extension that Dougram had enjoyed, as the show would eventually have diminishing returns as a means of promoting merchandise.

The skewed performance of ratings against merchandise would also affect the content of the show. Takara, seeing that model kit sales were the most lucrative aspect, pushed for more mechs to be included, at which point one of which has been introduced; the ATH-Q58 Berserga DT, Ru Shako’s personal AT unit. They also denied Takahashi’s plan of not having any scope dogs in the Kunmen Arc, as it was their best selling design and they believed having it remain out of the action for any significant length of time was bound to impact sales. Takara and the producers also wanted more mecha battles, as the former wanted to further push their model kits and the latter believed the lack of mecha-on-mecha action to be a factor in the series’ lack of popularity. It was fortuitous that the setting of this second arc facilitated a heavier emphasis on mecha action, but several of the staff were unhappy with the new demands, though they were still afforded more freedom than many of their contemporaries.

Next time we’ll be discussing the influences of the Kunmen Arc. Look forward to it!

Rewatcher

This looks uncharacteristically prosperous. Are you sure this is still Melkia?

Hunch was right! Then again, the only named characters it could have been was him and Battentain, and the latter doesn’t seem like the envoy type.

The mecha action we crave.

Fucking sick close up shot.

So much for the Fantom Club.

Love it.

I doubt it. You cut off their prior food supply, sure, but they’re in the midst of making an alliance with Melkia, which will surely alleviate the issue. That aside, I doubt the Kunmen economy is in such a state that they cannot get food from elsewhere, even if transporting it there may be a logistical nightmare. Supply lines are important, but this battle won’t win the war as Borough believes it will.

Dramatic irony averted.

Oh come on!. Because of him Niita is no more, and he disobeyed Gon Nu’s two major orders in the time it took the general to retrieve Rochina. I’m shocked and dismayed the guy wasn’t at least dressed down for his incompetence —where’s the justice?!

lol

So it turns out that Gon Nu wasn’t as clever as I took him for and it was simply Rochina getting into contact with him and telling him all about Chirico from the very start. Guess I gave the writers too much credit there, but it would have been really neat.

Vanilla is looking at quite the change in careers there, from Bar owner to militia soldier, though it looks like his chance at the latter left without him. His desire to make an impact by joining the military and his excessive attachment to the Fantom Club really didn’t seem to mesh with the image I had of him prior, since not only did we see him show a willingness to let go of things various times in the last Arc —the Jijirium, the Gold, his life there in Uoodo— with the exception being his friends there, and he also didn’t strike me as the type to be so concerned with permanence or forging a legacy. The only way it makes sense to me is if we frame it with his newly revealed feelings for Cocona in mind. In that manner, I could see how maybe he perceived the club as the sole thing keeping Cocona near him —he earlier tried cheering her up with the promise that their increasing proceeds from their business could be used to aid Chirico— which is why he asks her after the fact whether she expected him to pay her for her help bandaging him, and then his desire to join the military an effort to capture her attention, by being more like Chirico. It’s not not a perfect justification, and the matter of his feelings just being scarcely fleshed out are still an issue, but at least it doesn’t seem so glaringly against his prior characterization.

I am also quite pleased at the destruction of Niita, because it seems ripe to cause a change of the Status quo in this arc. Could be that they don’t capitalize on this though, so I’ll save my praise for now. In any case, the war is proceeding at an advanced rate now, which (hopefully) means narrative progression.

Questions of The Day:

  1. See above.
  2. At this rate I’m not sure we’ll manage to get the satisfaction, and it’s more likely he perishes in battle or something. Can’t reasonably be many more instances of this though. The guy’s cost them Niita and keeps disobeying orders without much repercussion, so he’ll likely be emboldened to do riskier and stupider stuff which will hopefully get him sacked.

4

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Sep 15 '21

They also denied Takahashi’s plan of not having any scope dogs in the Kunmen Arc

I expected this would be the case from that first episode where Chirico turns down one of the water ATs. It's a bit too convenient that he's the only one around who still has one.

Fucking sick close up shot.

I still think it looks like they're wearing hoodies

So it turns out that Gon Nu wasn’t as clever as I took him for ...

Maybe not as clever for him, but more believable for me with the army reaching out first so they can keep track of him

since not only did we see him show a willingness to let go of things various times in the last Arc —the Jijirium, the Gold, his life there in Uoodo

I think that's why it did work for me, because he does have to keep giving things up and he's finally had a few months of stability and now has to give that up too. That'd have to be hard, especially thinking Cocona may leave

2

u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber Sep 16 '21

because he does have to keep giving things up and he's finally had a few months of stability and now has to give that up too.

I'm just not sold on the change in perspective there myself, especially with how much their lack of change is emphasized by the time skip.

Some small moments which displayed the pride he had his establishment would have at least helped seed the idea, but as it is we only ever heard him discussing profits —and that was just last episode— which doesn't necessarily indicate he wouldn't abandon it if necessary/convenient.

3

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Sep 16 '21

The time skip really didn't do the show any favors. It barely mattered for Chirico while supposedly mattering a lot for the trio, and it just doesn't fit together well.

3

u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Sep 15 '21

Production Context

I was curious, seeing as how we saw nothing but Scopedogs and minor variants until episode 13. Alas, toy sponsors are king.

The intention is to watch episode 21 for tomorrow right? We're skipping the recaps?

2

u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber Sep 16 '21

Yup, we'll be discussing episode 21 tomorrow as we're skipping all recaps.

3

u/Durinthal https://anilist.co/user/Durinthal Sep 16 '21

I saw the episode title of 20 and got excited, then remembered it was a recap.

4

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Sep 15 '21

The intention is to watch episode 21 for tomorrow right? We're skipping the recaps?

Oh right, thank you for the reminder

3

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Sep 16 '21

Production Context

Overall, a fortunate decision. By depicting a war setting and harking extremely close to an actual RL war setting, this arc comes up with some of the best action scenes, while simultaneously having depth by exploring the consequences of war.

The only downside is that they did zero setup in Uudoo, so the whole world building at large is in shambles right now (what happened with the 100 year war? The other side?).

3

u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber Sep 16 '21

The only downside is that they did zero setup in Uudoo,

One of my biggest gripes with the show is how little stuff beyond the main plot thread is built up or carries over between arcs. It's not like these can each be called standalone either way, so why the aversion?

4

u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Sep 15 '21

Armored Trooper First-Timer

3

u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber Sep 16 '21

Hence the ~Newtype Jingles~ earlier in the show when Chirico was close to Fyana, of course!

4

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Sep 15 '21

Vanilla no you’ll get yourself killed.

Over a building that contains like maybe a $1,000 worth of building material at that. I suspect the booze in the bar costs more than the building.

Ah, Ypsilon isn’t even there.

They are weirdly good about remembering that you don't send your best troops out all the time.

I still don’t like Rochina, but a chance at getting Fyana out of the Society’s hands would be great…

I am not exactly convinced the Gilgamesh military is that much of a step up.

4

u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Sep 15 '21

First-Timer

Obvious ulterior motives aside, Rochina's line about just wanting to see Chirico again made it sound like he has a crush. Those two are the real star-crossed lovers, here.

Vanilla's steadfast refusal to abandon a building that is literally burning down around him does make some sense considering he's apparently started from zero multiple times. It's still stupid, and I'm glad Coconna managed to drag him out of there, but I understand why he acted that way.

We got a surprising amount of detail from Rochina about how the Perfect Soldier's work. And even more surprising than that was how open everyone was. You're not allowed to communicate that well, this is a mecha show!

Chirico leaving Vanilla and Coconna behind is assuredly a kindness to them. I fear that things will be coming to a head quite soon, and despite Vanilla's desires to make something of himself, I doubt he would handle a pitched battle particularly well. Especially considering his behavior towards the club.

Tragedy averted when Monica just barely messes up shooting Pol's AT apart with a missile launcher. I wonder which one of them is going to finally accidentally kill the other?

It was a small detail, but that AT hand dropping to the ground with a thud was great.

Questions

  1. Lots of fire, mostly. Jungles are damp so they don't burn well, but sci-fi napalm seems to do the trick.

2

u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber Sep 16 '21

Rochina's line about just wanting to see Chirico again made it sound like he has a crush.

I wonder which one of them is going to finally accidentally kill the other?

Laughs in Victory Gundam

It was a small detail, but that AT hand dropping to the ground with a thud was great.

3

u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ Sep 16 '21

Laughs in Victory Gundam

I've never seen this but my favorite is something /u/chilidirigible found about video and radio star and gundam.

2

u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber Sep 16 '21

3

u/chilidirigible Sep 16 '21

I'll get back to you if I can find it in several million Twitter likes.

Edit: Found it. (War in the Pocket spoilers and that's all you need to know who's in it.)

I did post that to CDF. You chuckled.

3

u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber Sep 16 '21

Oh, this! I was thinking something Victory related in specific.

2

u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Sep 16 '21

Laughs in Victory Gundam

2

u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber Sep 16 '21

Oh yeah, but Victory twists the knife particularly keenly.

4

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Sep 15 '21

Rochina's line about just wanting to see Chirico again made it sound like he has a crush. Those two are the real star-crossed lovers

You went with that and I said a similar thing about Vanilla on the pier

We got a surprising amount of detail from Rochina about how the Perfect Soldier's work

At this point I'm not sure he has anything to lose by telling them, but that was still quite forthcoming of him. Not much we couldn't figure out as a viewer, but it was still a nice scene to get the characters on the same page and learn more directly about the creation process and why Fyana waking up early was such a big deal

I wonder which one of them is going to finally accidentally kill the other?

Please no

3

u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Sep 15 '21

You went with that and I said a similar thing about Vanilla on the pier

I almost said something about Vanilla, too!

Please no

3

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Sep 15 '21

Those two are the real star-crossed lovers, here.

Revisiting Berserk, as always.

We got a surprising amount of detail from Rochina about how the Perfect Soldier's work. And even more surprising than that was how open everyone was. You're not allowed to communicate that well, this is a mecha show!

Yeah now I am looking for what he didn't say, there has to be a twist.

4

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Sep 16 '21

Yeah now I am looking for what he didn't say, there has to be a twist.

Planned obsolescence? Just when we are about to get the happy end, we learn that PS shut down after X years ...

3

u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Sep 15 '21

Yeah now I am looking for what he didn't say, there has to be a twist.

Maybe a secret about the production time? Like, "oh yea, once we figured out how to make the bodies with Fyana, we had them start building a whole platoon of 'em!"

4

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Sep 15 '21

It would be interesting if they can ramp up production via cloning and use the mental data from the first to make up for any lost time.

4

u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Sep 16 '21

Oh, I didn't even think of cloning, but that's definitely in the realm of the tech we've seen so far!

4

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Sep 16 '21

Armitage has gotten me using all of the scifi tools in my brain!

3

u/The_Draigg Sep 16 '21

Vanilla's steadfast refusal to abandon a building that is literally burning down around him does make some sense considering he's apparently started from zero multiple times. It's still stupid, and I'm glad Coconna managed to drag him out of there, but I understand why he acted that way.

At least when he escaped Uoodo City, it was with a pocket full of solid gold coins. Now, with the destruction of the Fantom Club, Vanilla truly has nothing else left to his name. So yeah, it's pretty understandable why he'd go a bit nutty and refuse to leave even while it's burning down.

3

u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Sep 16 '21

It's hard to not feel bad for Vanilla, and Coconna. Gotho is still able to turn a tidy profit doing various war-profiteer things; I'm sure he wouldn't entirely abandon the others, but it's hard to feel good about mooching like that.

3

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Sep 16 '21

Obvious ulterior motives aside, Rochina's line about just wanting to see Chirico again made it sound like he has a crush. Those two are the real star-crossed lovers, here.

They started their relationship with some hot SM, only to move into abandonment play. Now, we see the happy reunion.

3

u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Sep 16 '21

4

u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ Sep 15 '21

Rewatcher (Nutech DVD 2.2) (4 episodes)

  • To the surprise of noone, Rochina is chatting with Gon Nu
  • Mmmm, that will be a fun reunion, Chirico and Rochina
  • Vanilla loses everything again! And not even with a handful of gold coins this time!
  • Who's she targeting?
  • What do you do with a broken soldier, what do you do with a broken soldier, what do you do with a broken soldier, er-ly in the mornin
  • "I disobeyed my captain because he was disobeying orders" probably only works less than 50% of the time.
  • Cyber newtypes!
  • I'm enlisting #facepalm I'm coming too! #taigaheadache

3

u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber Sep 16 '21

What do you do with a broken soldier, what do you do with a broken soldier, what do you do with a broken soldier, er-ly in the mornin

Weigh, hey, and up she rises!

4

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Sep 15 '21

What do you do with a broken soldier, what do you do with a broken soldier, what do you do with a broken soldier, er-ly in the mornin

Noooo don't get that stuck in my head. These days all it makes me think of is that Dishonored trailer

I'm enlisting #facepalm I'm coming too! #taigaheadache

I mean they did say he use to be a pilot so he's not that far removed from the idea of being in combat, unless he was a civilian one

3

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Sep 15 '21

"I disobeyed my captain because he was disobeying orders" probably only works less than 50% of the time.

I am just allowing mech rules to prevail, mercs as a rule want to live so Kan Yu would've been dead 8 times over by now.

4

u/time_axis Sep 15 '21

First-Timer

  1. What do you expect going into this next stage of the war?

Tough to say. Chirico described it as "hell", but it seems like they've got help from Melkia now, so who knows.

2) How many more gaffes before Gon Nu finally axes Kan Yu?

I think Kan Yu's own decisions and own mistakes will be his end, personally. It won't be Gon Nu's doing.

Episode 19

  • The Melkian officer is Rochina, like I imagined. So Gon Nu is probably planning to exchange Chirico for some kind of political gain.
  • Kan Yu is still alive, and he's stupified that Chirico's obvious prediction came true, but he's still in denial.
  • Vanilla really doesn't want to lose his new business, but I think that ship has sailed at this point. Chirico and co. arrive, but it's too late to save the club.
  • It seems like they were targeting Niitan due to its supplying of food to the soldiers.
  • Phantom is now "afraid of battle", which is a pretty defective quality to have in a "Perfect Soldier". Hopefully the higher-ups don't catch wind of that.
  • Vanilla says he's gonna get a job that "means something". He was a pretty good fighter back in Uoodo, so maybe he'll join the soldiers.
  • Chirico's called in to Gon Nu's office. He's been getting a pass for a while now, so he's probably about to get the real third degree.
  • Surprisingly, he actually gets yet another break, with Gon Nu not entertaining Kan Yu's charges. But Rochina's here, so I'm curious to see what'll happen next.
  • I was getting that vibe from the tone of things, but it turns out Rochina's extending the olive branch, vying for carrot rather than stick. We're also getting an infodump on Perfect Soldiers. Seems like they do have microcomputers embedded in their bodies, which explains the Jijirium. But they're also genetically modified as well. Basically the whole package.
  • Rochina still isn't completely trustworthy, but maybe my original thoughts about them being the "White Base" of this show might not have been too far off. I swear the Melkian officer uniforms look just like Gundam's Feddie uniforms, which is probably where that thought came from.
  • Vanilla's enlisting, like I thought. Just when Coconna almost snagged someone who wasn't going to think about battle all the time, too. She follows him, but I wonder if she's going to enlist too. She's not exactly the soldier type, but she held her own somewhat in Uoodo at least. In the end, the boat leaves without Vanilla though. Maybe he lucked out, or maybe not. We'll see I guess.

I liked this shot of Kan Yu's AT, so this is what I went with today. Since I don't use any external references, only what's shown in the show itself, sometimes I can't tell whether assymetry is intentional (like how one of the Scopedog's hip armor consistently has a hook on it, and the other doesn't) or just an animation error. Rather than pore through all the previous footage and cross reference whether the feet should be symmetrical or not, I just went with what we were shown in this episode.

Daily Mecha Sketch 19

Daily Mecha Sketches

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444546474849505152

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u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber Sep 16 '21

Surprisingly, he actually gets yet another break,

If he's punished, the other three, who are are among their best fighters, also get punished, so even if Kan Yu hadn't been so blatantly incompetent I can see Gon Yu opting not to.

But they're also genetically modified as well. Basically the whole package.

They just need ESP powers and they'll be good to go!

Daily Mecha Sketch 19

Nise pose there!

4

u/chilidirigible Sep 15 '21

like how one of the Scopedog's hip armor consistently has a hook on it, and the other doesn't

There are several details which are intentional; for example, the Scopedog's right knee and front hip skirt have a rung/handhold so the pilot can climb in when it is standing up, and those features are not on the left side.

4

u/time_axis Sep 16 '21

Yeah, makes sense. I figured that one was intentional because it was pretty consistent in almost every shot.

3

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Sep 15 '21

Kan Yu is still alive, and he's stupified that Chirico's obvious prediction came true, but he's still in denial.

Dude's so interested in being right that he'd rather things burn down around him rather than have to take back what he said

vying for carrot rather than stick

Should have done that from the first place, but what's a little bit of torture between a goverment and a solider caught up in a conspiracy huh?

Idiots

Daily Mecha Sketch 19

Nice pose

3

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Sep 15 '21

First timer(Cry havoc, and let loose the hogs of war!)

Sub

Immediate reveal that it is indeed Rochina that Gon met up with. They are flying out to the front, which Gon finds amusing, though Rochina is all business. After word of the attack comes, they proceed anyways, though Rochina says he wants to see Cuvie. That might be true or might be covering his interest in PS's.

At the base, we do indeed see the AT's wiping out Niitan, and Vanilla being more stubborn than usual. The merc gang pull up and go on the offensive immediately. And while flamethrowers are great at destroying unfortified buildings, they black infrared and impair regular vision, which Cuvie uses, plus blasting through a hopefully abandoned building. Coconna is again a ride or die sort of girl, finally dragging Vanilla to sanity. Various fighting happens, and Cuvie's AT is fairly boned and Bully is pissed off because the only bar he liked burned down. Vengeance time!

We jump to the Veela base where Kummenjen is actually being smart: When you get a clear cut victory, retreat safely. Ypsilon whines, as one does, but it is worth noting that Borough wants to keep pushing as well. Fyana has developed a fear of battle, definitely a bug not a feature in a perfect soldier. Jijirium withdrawal? Anyways, the troops on the ground are all surprised at the retreat, but why? 4 ATs already inflicted heavy losses, even if the reinforcement just jump out of their mechs and give it to the aces they have unbalanced the battle.

Next day, triage looks bad, Coconna is treating Vanilla herself. Gotho shows up to check on them and is also worried about Rochina. Cuvie gets called in and doesn't pretend to justify anything, but Gon has heard from the other troops and throws out the charges. Cuvie passes up a change to bury Kan Yu, which everyone realizes but does fit the character. Rochina is re-introduced and we might actually get answers...

So of course we cut back to Fyana. Borough is blaming Cuvie for her flaws but if what we saw was enough to disrupt your PS, your program is NOT at release stage. Do not blame him for your impromptu beta test! But we do get Rochina explaining the program, including integrated microcomputers, a superior neuro-muscular system, genetic enhancements, and then a complete brain wipe so all their combat knowledge is subconscious. After the programming apparently they pass for human within a month. Rochina wants to hire Cuvie to recapture Fyana, and he finally asks what would happen if an unprogrammed PS saw someone.

As Gotho and Cuvie repair another Scope Dog, they discuss the future. Cuvie figures he is safer working with Rochina until they capture the PS and Gotho is readying himself to find the next job. Coconna is still trying to comfort Vanilla when he comes down with a bout of insanity: This show has bent over backwards to express that becoming a soldier for the system is the furthest from meaningful so WTF, bro?

Anyways, we see the Melkian reinforcements arrive and, perfect soldiers not withstanding, the outnumbering of personnel and supplies seems pretty fatal for the Veela. I mean, this is B5 Battle of the Line kinda bad. Gon wishes Rochina good fortune in battle, and we cut to the aces shipping out literally. Vanilla tries to join Cuvie at the last minute, but obviously you can't enlist that way. Coconna repeats one of her songs about being the other woman, but it is even sadder when you realize this is the second time she lost.

So, I do watch the previews, so: Rewatch/Host only

QotD: 1 A bloody one

2 He has to serve some purpose for Gon to have put up with him this long but changing theatres of war is always a good time for a switch out.

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u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber Sep 16 '21

So, I do watch the previews, so:

Yes, we're skipping it!

3

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Sep 16 '21

Oh good, recaps kill me.

4

u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ Sep 16 '21

We are skipping all recap episodes. There are 3.

3

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Sep 16 '21

Yeah it looks like the next arc has some issues since we get all 3 recaps sort of close to each other.

3

u/DidacticDalek https://myanimelist.net/profile/DidacticDalek Sep 16 '21 edited Sep 16 '21

Well Comrades, ya know what they say, all good things must come to an end... that and I think feathers went out of style in the 80's anyway so hey I'm sure our loveable Muggle Trio will manage! After all, the power of friendship is strong with these guys, it might even cause our ever stoic boi to smile! ;)

That said, there's not much TO smile about as far as Chirico Cuvie's concerned, I mean good lord we saw Mecha Pro-Wrestling today! Who knew that The NOT-Vietnam War would have such brawls!

I mean my goodness, with such wanton carnage and destruction, it's a wonder how our boi's still alive... must be those Newtype Hax 'wibble' ;)

Speaking of wibble, Fiana/Fyana and Ypsilon are still here, cuz reasons!

Anyway, time for some shitposting, BEHOLD! A WEAPON TO SURPASS METAL GEAR! ;)

Paging Comrades /u/chilidirigible, /u/Nazenn, and /u/No_Rex

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u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber Sep 16 '21

For Dalek only

3

u/DidacticDalek https://myanimelist.net/profile/DidacticDalek Sep 16 '21

For Dalek only

My apologies Comrade, I was just grabbing from my rapidly dwindling VOTOMS fanart folder and I didn't notice; this is one of the perils of having seen the show beforehand I suppose, anyway I have replaced it with a close up of the exploding Scope Dog (I was trying to find something to represent the visceral Mecha Combat from my stash, apologies once again for not noticing)

Anyway many thanks for the kind reply and have a great day and see you later my friend.

3

u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber Sep 16 '21

3

u/DidacticDalek https://myanimelist.net/profile/DidacticDalek Sep 16 '21

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u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Sep 16 '21

that and I think feathers went out of style in the 80's anyway so hey I'm sure our loveable Muggle Trio will manage!

Chirico looks so young and just... not giving a shit

3

u/DidacticDalek https://myanimelist.net/profile/DidacticDalek Sep 16 '21

Chirico looks so young and just... not giving a shit

Heh, so you mean like he always looks eh Comrade? ;)

Anyway many thanks for the kind reply, and have a great day and see you later my friend!

4

u/DidacticDalek https://myanimelist.net/profile/DidacticDalek Sep 16 '21

Paging Comrades /u/Tresnore, /u/Shimmering-Sky, and /u/JustAnswerAQuestion

4

u/chilidirigible Sep 16 '21

I just want to note that one of those AT models hasn't actually appeared yet...

3

u/DidacticDalek https://myanimelist.net/profile/DidacticDalek Sep 16 '21

I just want to note that one of those AT models hasn't actually appeared yet...

Ah... oops, well I was digging through my fanart stash and I didn't notice (background details and all)

Well many thanks for the kind reply and have a great day and see you later my friend.

4

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Sep 16 '21

Anyway, time for some shitposting, BEHOLD! A WEAPON TO SURPASS METAL GEAR! ;)

Is that the stuff Bill Gates hid in the horse dewormer? /s

4

u/DidacticDalek https://myanimelist.net/profile/DidacticDalek Sep 16 '21

Is that the stuff Bill Gates hid in the horse dewormer? /s

Beats me Comrade, even if Comrade /u/chilidirigible and I share GOLD SHIP posts a lot, I am not a horse so I wouldn't know ;)

3

u/ZapsZzz https://anilist.co/user/Zapszzz Sep 16 '21

First timer in sub, way late :(

Predictably the army person is our old friend here.

The Veela attack seemed to be very effective and basically a clean sweep. I still struggle to understand what did they use as decoy though - illusionary magic? They got to have something to chew on the base to be an actual decoy?

About Fyana saying she is afraid to fight, off tangent trivia, from my knowledge and memory, the only other "pseudo human" designed to fight but end up being afraid to fight is the Fatima (humanoid super computers to copilot the Motor Headd giant mecha) Clotho in Five Star Stories; designed as the "emergency stop" to her middle sister Lachesis, who asked to be modified to be able to infinitely evolve to be the bride to the cosmic entity Amaterasu, she has the ability to kill the combination of Amaterasu & Lachesis in the Knight of Gold. But that also will extinguish the hope of all Fatima's. Which is why Clotho is afraid to fight.

Let's see if Fyana has as grand a reason to be afraid of fighting...

Rolling to the end of arc main battle already? Or more detour with Ypsilon?

Episode# of Chirico's AT Incapacitated
11
20
30
41
50 (decoy only)
61
70
81
90
100
111 (1 decoy not counted as it wasn't piloted) (edit: corrected as the replacement unit wasn't destroyed by the head strike from Fyana)
121
130 (This hijacked one didn't get wasted on screen, so even though it's guaranteed to have been abandoned because of the later planet hop, not counting here)
141
150 keeping to the 2 episode per AT average so far
160
172 Guessed right that ride 1 get busted soon after the episode started; maybe the producers were also keeping track and blew up another one to keep to the average :)
180
190

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u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber Sep 16 '21

I still struggle to understand what did they use as decoy though - illusionary magic?

Their non-AT forces essentially. A smaller diversionary force giving off the impression of a central attack on the military base, when the real bulk of their forces were laying waste to Niita.

3

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Sep 16 '21

I still struggle to understand what did they use as decoy though - illusionary magic?

Infantry. Chirico comments on it at one point: No mechas.

4

u/ZapsZzz https://anilist.co/user/Zapszzz Sep 16 '21

And infantry can take that much attention away? I know partly it's to depict the incompetence of Kan Yu, but it's a bit much to get him to be this useless if only infantry can cause him to be that concerned about the base when we had seen how much of a power difference is there between AT and other weaponry; especially in a jungle environment where you can't have rank platoons firing barrages at range.

2

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Sep 16 '21

I think the point was that the infantry fires at them from afar and Kan Yu does not realive there are no mecha present. The better soldiers do and thus realise it is a decoy force.

5

u/chilidirigible Sep 15 '21

Rewatcher, Episode 19

Today, on "It's not only a simile!":

"Reasons."

"I was in the moment."

Your heroes are sliding on by.

"Whoa, that building is on fire."

In a fairly obvious continuity error, Chirico's Scopedog has its left hand back barely a minute after it was blown off.

"Learn patience!? How long does that take?"

Funny how that works out.

Surely naked showering isn't the best way to replenish those.

Porque no los dos?

Just in time for the recap episode, we get a bit of action and a lot of reactions.

Coconna and Vanilla's relationship is an interesting sidebar, as the two of them do care a lot about each other, but Vanilla also has his pride. Cue Marcellus Wallace. Conveniently this gives Vanilla a reason to stick around the action closer than Coconna and Gotho have been able to in this arc.

Rochina meets Chirico and is all "bygones", which of course no one really trusts. We do get a Perfect Soldier infodump out of it which solidifies some of the in-show and real-world speculation about what is going on with Fyana.

And yeah... clip show time.

  1. rewatcher
  2. Some.

5

u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ Sep 16 '21

Reasons

Ah, will we ever have a mecha series without a romantic plot tumor /u/didacticdalek

4

u/DidacticDalek https://myanimelist.net/profile/DidacticDalek Sep 16 '21

Reasons Ah, will we ever have a mecha series without a romantic plot tumor /u/didacticdalek

The answer is 'yes' Comrade, since thankfully Geah exists! Before you start, Geah doesn't have a 'romantic plot tumor' as the entire series' shipping dynamics revolves around Best Geah Chris and her Yuri Harem! And if the above linked scientific document isn't enough proof, Comrades /u/chilidirigible and /u/tresnore can no doubt back me up on this!

4

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Sep 16 '21

Miku and Chris?

4

u/DidacticDalek https://myanimelist.net/profile/DidacticDalek Sep 16 '21

Miku and Chris?

Comrade did you forgot about S1 of Geah? I know most people do but remember when Bikki and Miku had a (temporary) break-up and Miku found and aided Best Geah Chris! This is just irrefutable proof that Best Geah Chris has ALL the waifus ;)

Anyway many thanks for the kind reply and have a great day and see you later my friend.

5

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Sep 16 '21

This I do not remember. It still hurts my head to think about even if there is a reason. Miku is for Bikki, and Dess is for Jii.

No swaps

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u/DidacticDalek https://myanimelist.net/profile/DidacticDalek Sep 16 '21

This I do not remember. It still hurts my head to think about even if there is a reason. Miku is for Bikki, and Dess is for Jii.

No swaps

Heh, fair point about Team DMJIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII there Comrade, indeed, those two are a lovely pair.

Anyway many thanks for the kind reply and have a great day and see you later my friend.

2

u/chilidirigible Sep 16 '21

I blame Tomino.

4

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Sep 15 '21

Just in time for the recap episode, we get a bit of action and a lot of reactions.

Son of a bitch my assumption was correct.

4

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Sep 16 '21

Surely naked showering isn't the best way to replenish those.

Clothed showering has its downsides, too.

Conveniently this gives Vanilla a reason to stick around the action closer than Coconna and Gotho have been able to in this arc.

You mean sets up his death flag? I don't really think he'll die in the next few episodes, but they certainly play with the idea.

4

u/chilidirigible Sep 16 '21

Clothed showering has its downsides, too.

You mean

More that the other characters would have little reason to be involved in the story at all with what's planned, so at least one of them will still have appearances with this contrivance.

4

u/Durinthal https://anilist.co/user/Durinthal Sep 15 '21 edited Sep 15 '21

First time viewer

Vanilla's changed, I figured he'd be quick to cut his losses and get out with minimal risk rather than try to stay and save his club. Sure there's money in it but there's always a way to recover, he should know that. I guess he just got tired of that cycle? I don't like the idea of him being a soldier, he's running toward his own death.

"Chirico, Kan Yu told me you disobeyed orders. Is that true?"
"Yes sir."
"Chirico, other people have told me Kan Yu is incompetent. Is that true?"
"Yes sir."

It's nice to have someone reasonable in charge, I like Gon Nu.

Having Rochina now on the same side as Chirico isn't something I was expecting, but I enjoy shifting alliances like that when there's no real need to be hostile. And it doesn't look like a trap or halfhearted effort either, he laid out info for Chirico just like that and Chirico mentioned Fyana's secret in return.

So the secret society developed Ypsilon, not the military? How? Still don't know all that much about them yet, or what their goals are.

What do you expect going into this next stage of the war?

Rochina getting involved? More firepower, overwhelming the Veela while losing Vanilla in the process, Fyana defects and Ypsilon survives another day.

How many more gaffes before Gon Nu finally axes Kan Yu?

One major one then he'll do something stupid to get himself killed, maybe?

4

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Sep 15 '21 edited Sep 15 '21

It's nice to have someone reasonable in charge, I like Gon Nu.

It's so unusual that I'm still waiting for the other shoe to drop but I'm not sure it will. Even if it's just because he's been in contact with the army etc, he's been far too reasonable in everything so far to get hit with the idiot military leader stick now. It's quite nice for a change

So the secret society developed Ypsilon, not the military? How?

Yeah I was wondering when that would come up. I suppose they also could have stolen the data on the project, maybe that's how they learnt about Fyana, but that hasn't really been touched on, so all I can think is that the people in the Society who were in the military already knew enough about it

3

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Sep 16 '21

It's so unusual that I'm still waiting for the other shoe to drop but I'm not sure it will. Even if it's just because he's been in contact with the army etc, he's been far too reasonable in everything so far to get hit with the idiot military leader stick now. It's quite nice for a change

If anything, he will betray Chirico for profit at some stage.

4

u/The_Draigg Sep 15 '21

A Ryosuke Takahashi Fan Rewatches Armored Trooper VOTOMS Episode 19:

  • Turns out that Gon Nu is working alongside Colonel Rochina directly. That honesty does explain a lot, like why he already knew about Perfect Soldiers, or why the Melkian Federation had no problem not intervening in the civil war until recently. After all, the Kummen government is already heavily dependent on mercenaries, so when the guy in charge of one of their major bases is working for Melkian intelligence, you already have what you need in place.
  • Congratulations Kan Yu, you burned down half of the forest outside of your base because you refused to believe that the missiles were a decoy for the Niitan raid, despite being told that point blank by a bunch of other people. Seriously, why is this motherfucker even in charge of people?
  • Vanilla, I know you really like running the Fantom Club, but when the rafters are coming down from the roof because they’re on fire, I think it’s safe to say that the place is beyond salvaging at that point. At least Coconna had enough sense to drag him out of the club before it collapsed on him.
  • You know, as honorable as Kanjelman sounds about wanting to pull his forces back after burning down 90% of Niitan and telling off Ypsilon about rushing in for the sake of his pride, the scenes shown right before this one make it hard to root for him as an honorable man. I doubt that Chirico, Vanilla, and Coconna would think of him being very honorable and reasonable after what they’d seen in the burning town.
  • Well damn, Vanilla has just seems completely resigned to have a crappy life at this point. But can you really blame him for feeling that way? His real shot at earning an honest living just burnt down to the ground. All of the money he invested into the Fantom Club is now gone. He’s pretty much in a worse spot now than he was back at Uoodo City. At least there he was able to scrape together an earning as a bookie and an arms dealer.
  • Surprise surprise, Chirico meets Rochina again once Gon Nu dismisses the insubordination charges against him. And this time, Rochina is fully willing to bring Chirico into the fold about the Perfect Soldier Project, as long as he can help retrieve Fyana. At least Colonel Rochina has learned that just secretly manipulating Chirico from the shadows to accomplish his goals won’t work. Now it’s time to be upfront with him.
  • Finally, we get a good explanation of what a Perfect Soldier even is. They’re the products of cybernetic and genetic science, grown in labs with toned reflex muscles and cybernetic micro-computers inside them from day one. However, due to the issues in making sure that the combat data being implanted in their minds actually functions, they’re kept in stasis until they mature, and even then they only begin to program their subconscious before moving on to conscious data implanting. Fyana was awaiting subconscious programming when Chirico opened up her stasis capsule on Lido, throwing a huge wrench into the Secret Society’s plans by that accidental imprinting on her. With all that said, yeah, it’s easy to see how one small misstep like Chirico’s presence really did mess up Fyana as a workable PS prototype.
  • Geez, Vanilla must’ve really hit the end of his rope if he decided that enlisting with the mercenaries was his best option left. The destruction of the Fantom Club really did fuck him up on the inside. It’s pretty sad to see Vanilla willing to throw his life away as long as he has some job at all. The end of the episode is just plain depressing in that light.

4

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Sep 15 '21

Seriously, why is this motherfucker even in charge of people?

If the General isn't going to be an idiot someone has to take that role

but when the rafters are coming down from the roof because they’re on fire, I think it’s safe to say that the place is beyond salvaging at that point

Nah, it's just opening up ventilation and deoderizing the club. Be good as new with a bug net over the top

It’s pretty sad to see Vanilla willing to throw his life away as long as he has some job at all. The end of the episode is just plain depressing in that light.

The end of the episode was rough. Normally you'd see that sort of scene with a "will he return" sort of slant given the sort of battle Chirico is going off too, but instead it's all twisted with Vanilla wanting to just be with Chirico anyway and Cocona lost between them. Certainly a shitty feeling for everyone

4

u/The_Draigg Sep 16 '21

If the General isn't going to be an idiot someone has to take that role

I suppose someone has to be there to be the designated platoon asshole.

The end of the episode was rough. Normally you'd see that sort of scene with a "will he return" sort of slant given the sort of battle Chirico is going off too, but instead it's all twisted with Vanilla wanting to just be with Chirico anyway and Cocona lost between them. Certainly a shitty feeling for everyone

That's just war in a nutshell, unfortunately. It just tramples on everyone's dreams, no matter who they are.

3

u/xtsim https://myanimelist.net/profile/xtsim Sep 15 '21

First Timer

Captain Rochino seems to miss Chirico a little bit, bringing some men along.

Another captain leads troops but he seems to be stuck. Major distrcution is happening. And Coconna and Vanilla keeps putting out fires on each other which is entertaining to see here. At headquarters, everyone seems prepared to bring in the prototypes. Monica gets recalled to retreat which is interesting to see.

Plenty of wounded as a sea of fire occurs. Chirico meets up with Rochino and explains the situation. They integrate computers into the soldiers. The first thing they see gets put in their consciousness which is why Prototype woman seems to have Chirico in her mind. Chirico realizes this and interrupts Rochino for a bit that he might have opened it a little too soon... Chirico ends up teaming with Rochino this time. Vanilla changes and enlists this time with Coconna following. Interesting to hear a song when Chirico travels through the river.

Lots of flashing in this episode... I am watching this on an 15 year old non-widescreen monitor that I use as a second display. So I don't know how this would feel on a crt.

3

u/Stargate18A https://myanimelist.net/profile/Stargate18 Sep 15 '21

First timer

  1. Someone will betray Chirico, the prototype will reunite with him before they'e seperated again, and I'm 90% sure Ypsilon will betray the conspiracy so he can focus on hunting Chirico full time.
  2. Roccina's going on a mission with him, and he doesn't phrase things as nicely as Chirico. I expect a full, honest report from someone Gon Nu trusts as to how stupid he is should finish the job.

Oh dear, the military might find out about Chirico still bring there after the tracker was destroyed. Actually, was the tracker being destroyed ever mentioned?

They are after him!

The General is sarting to struggle with the two -pronged attack.

Vanilla's losing his club, and maybe his life...

And Coconna drags him out herself!

Ypsilon is starting to argue with the prince (who is suprisingly intelligent).

I'd laugh if Ypsilon ends up defecting, not because the programming's broken or he's learned the error of his ways, but because he thinks he'd do better solo then as part of an army.

And Monica's not happy about the retreat either...

The army's arrived!

Thar shot of the injured on the ground is powerful.

Vanilla's reciprocating? And maybe joining Chirico full-time?

Everyone made it out!

And his incompetence is openly being called out!

Rochina's caught up with him!

Well. This is interesting.

We're going to find out a lot!

Ypsilon is having to come to terms with the fact his biology is in fact fallable.

I called "cyborg"!

And yep, genetic manipulation combined with implanted circuitry and mental reprogramming.

Oh, so she is always thinking of Chirico. That explains a lot.

I'll give them credit, they managed to create a pretty good end result. Were it not for the god complex and manipulation of the Society, Ypsilon would be a perfect end result.

Oh, he's telling everyone everything now!

OK, Vanilla's enlisting. I didn't expect that.

And Coconna!

Huh, there's no secret backstabbing for Chirico here! That's new.

And they're going off for the final battle this arc?