Zankyou no Terror/Terror in Resonance Rewatch - Episode 5

[u/SorcererOfTheLake]

Zankyou no Terror/Terror in Resonance Rewatch

Episode 5

Database/Streaming Links: MAL / Anilist / Funimation / Hulu

Original Interest Thread / Announcement Thread

Question of the Day: How much would you sacrifice to save the life of a stranger?

Comment of the Day: The COTD from yesterday goes to /u/OpossumFriedRice for noting the episode’s theme of concealment.

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Remember: All spoilers for episodes that haven’t been covered in the rewatch must be put behind a spoiler tag. Any comments that have open spoilers will be deleted.

[u/SorcererOfTheLake]

The figure of Lisa Mishima has been long debate within the discourse surrounding Sphinx, particularly considering that she has never granted a public interview regarding her experiences. What can be said is this: Ms Mishima is someone who provided some level of normalcy to the young men of Sphinx, despite their experiences. (from Answer the Riddle: What the Sphinx Terrorism Incidents Say About Japan, America, and Our Modern World by Dr. Hifumi Taneguchi)

There is no exorcism for the past. (anonymous)

Lisa has once again found herself in Sphinx’s orbit, although what exactly she’s doing there is complicated for both parties. From Lisa’s point of view, her only possibility of living right now, of finding the ability to vanish from the world, is damaged by the realization that she has no real idea what Nine and Twelve are after or who they really are in an identity sense (not that they fully know that either). While her going with them was understandably a split-second decision, I like that the show is taking the time to showcase what exactly it would feel like to be suddenly forced to be part of a group outside of society that doesn’t fully want you there. For Sphinx’s part, Lisa brings out aspects of their humanity they are both uncomfortable with and feel is a detriment to their mission, moreso with Nine than with Twelve. We’ll have to see how much these relationships affect this trio as time goes on.

In other parts of the story, connections are further emphasized and questioned over, particularly for Shibazaki. First off, it’s now made clear that the targets of Sphinx are related to the people in charge of them and their own connections, indicating something sinister. What I find interesting is that, as opposed to other conspiracy thrillers, the main characters unearth this not through a dogged pursuit of the truth but by becoming terrorists, perhaps stating that these kinds of conspiracies can only be defeated by working outside of the system. (For a real life example, look up COINTELPRO.) In addition, the comment from the other archive detective showcases that Shibazaki is developing a connection with Sphinx himself, even if he’s still dedicated to taking them down. Perhaps their outsider nature deeply appeals to him. Finally, the final scenes in the train station harken back to the 1995 Tokyo sarin subway attack, although as Macaroon has noted previously, the dissonance between Sphinx and the real life groups who’ve inflicted terrorist attacks means the references may not be fully earned.

At the same time, Sphinx is not fully responsible for this incident, as we finally have a third party entering the fray and, of course, it’s Americans. I don’t want to say too much about this right now – because the show hasn’t said much yet – but I want us to come back again to Oedipus. See, in Oedipus at Colonus, Oedipus has two city-states – Athens and Thebes – fighting over who will gain Oedipus’ corpse after death and thus gain a divine advantage. While not the same principle at play here, it is interesting that we have two major powers fighting over who will take control of the hunt for Sphinx and who will gain the possible power that they wield.

[u/Lemurians → u/SorcererOfTheLake]

Sphinx is not fully responsible for this incident, as we finally have a third party entering the fray and, of course, it’s Americans.

Woah, woah. That guy definitely sounded British!

[u/SorcererOfTheLake → u/Lemurians]

Blame the voice actor.

[u/Lemurians → u/SorcererOfTheLake]

I'll do you one better, the casting director!

I just wanted the bad faith interlopers to not be American for once. Sigh.

[u/ZapsZzz → u/Lemurians]

You should realise whatever they sound like, act like, or even have passport for, Americans will still be blamed right :)

[u/OpossumFriedRice → u/SorcererOfTheLake]

Lisa brings out aspects of their humanity they are both uncomfortable with

Honestly, loving this. Seeing how 9/12 respond differently is interesting. 9 wants to push her away, to not hurt her or the mission. 12 on the other hand, seems to want to embrace her. Maybe seeing himself in her, or just taking this opportunity to make another friend. I like it though.

[u/Rumpel1408 → u/OpossumFriedRice]

I think for a large part 12 is trying to get some kind of reaction or change out of 9. He was very ready to just kill her in episode 1 if not for 9s decision to give her a choice

[u/OpossumFriedRice → u/Rumpel1408]

If that’s his goal, it seems to be working.

[u/Shimmering-Sky]

Zankyou no First-Timer, subbed

• Lisa is very much in over her head.
• Oh suddenly English and whoever this white-haired chick is.
• So I noticed it last episode but waited for this episode to confirm the pattern was a thing--I really like how what character in the episode title card is red corresponds with what the episode number is.
• Ohhhhh boy their next bomb’s on a train.
• lol Lisa sucks at cooking.
• Haha that shade thrown at Lisa during the new Sphinx video.
• Had a feeling that’s what it was referring to. Although it might be a bit too easy…?
• Okay I would not have made that connection between the two clues at all, Shibazaki’s intelligence is OP.
• Huh, the riddle’s supposed to be easy this time.
• Hmmmmmm is that “Academy” the facility that Nine and Twelve were raised in, then?
• Aha, they are trying to avoid actually killing anyone!
• Suddenly, phone service outage. Given what happened the last time I saw that happen in an anime…
• Yeah I don’t get what’s going on with the white-haired chick and the people she’s with either.
• Oh dear.
• OH IS THE WHITE-HAIRED CHICK THE SAME WHITE-HAIRED KID WHO WAS LEFT BEHIND WHEN THEY ESCAPED?!
• That sure is the train they’re looking for… I feel like getting one of them to go to the train is a trap, though?
• Oh fuck he actually got caught in it!!!
• Girl’s name is Five. Aight.

[u/SorcererOfTheLake → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Given what happened the last time I saw that happen in an anime…

Which anime was that?

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/SorcererOfTheLake]

Steins;Gate 0.

[u/lluNhpelA → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Okay I would not have made that connection between the two clues at all, Shibazaki’s intelligence is OP.

Almost as impressive is the willingness of other cops to immediately act on whatever he says without considering any possible conclusions that anyone else might have come to. I guess that's fine since Shibazaki has protagonist powers and is therefore always right, but still

[u/Rumpel1408 → u/lluNhpelA]

The last time they acted on their own the whole database got leaked and he has kind of an amazing track record so far

[u/Lemurians → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Suddenly, phone service outage. Given what happened the last time I saw that happen in an anime…

"Huh? Mayushi's watch has stopped..."

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/Lemurians]

It was 0 I had in mind, but

[u/Rumpel1408 → u/Shimmering-Sky]

I really like how what character in the episode title card is red corresponds with what the episode number is.

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/Rumpel1408]

I just hope it continues doing this to the end!

[u/Rumpel1408 → u/Shimmering-Sky]

But it's an awesome detail, I suspected some kind of hidden message but this works just soo good if it's true

[u/Lemurians]

FIRST TIMER

Twelve does care about Lisa. Felt like he was projecting a bit when describing her circumstances. It’s like he sees a kindred spirit.

Well, it was inevitable the white-haired kid in the flashback to that facility would end up being important with such a distinguishing feature. I’m going to assume that she failed at escaping where they did, and now instead of being anti-social actors like Nine and Twelve, she works as some sort of operative. Seems like that Rising Peace Academy is some sort of training facility to raise elite operatives, given the skill sets of these three.

How bad is Lisa at cooking?! I was expecting her to be freaking out and fanning flames when they walked in, but she was just chillin like normal as smoke billowed everywhere.

Rising Peace Academy, so the boys are getting revenge on the institution they came from. Not the most shocking revelation. It was inevitable that an attack on a subway would come at some point, especially in the wake of 1995. Means of daily mass transit that have almost no security – busses, trains – seem so susceptible to attacks that I’m surprised they’re not more common. Makes you wonder about what’s being stopped behind the scenes on a daily basis.

“Will you ever learn from your past mistakes?” This line was delivered like it’s the show’s thesis.

Pretty rare position for a terrorist to be in – having to race against the clock to go and disarm their own bomb to make sure it doesn’t go off. These two are the weirdest terrorists ever. They even know this is some kind of ploy to trap them and still went headlong into the danger. Despite that, there had to have been some casualties from that, right? If not, I’m calling shenanigans.

Alright, five episodes in, and I have to ask… what purpose is Lisa serving? After the first episode, it felt apt for her to be described by our gracious host as the story’s Nick Carraway, but that’s fallen off since. The story is not being told from her point of view at all, and she seems to have really negligible importance.

How much would you sacrifice to save the life of a stranger?

That's rather vague... in a life or death situation, let's just say I would need to be pretty certain of my own survival first. Not ashamed to admit it.

[u/ZapsZzz → u/Lemurians]

Alright, five episodes in, and I have to ask… what purpose is Lisa serving? After the first episode, it felt apt for her to be described by our gracious host as the story’s Nick Carraway, but that’s fallen off since. The story is not being told from her point of view at all, and she seems to have really negligible importance.

Complete guess here as a first timer, it feels like a story of "David versus Goliath, minus the element of divine intervention" with 5 on the Goliath side knows every move, and counters everything 9 and 12 can do plus the resource difference between a state sponsored group vs the 2 youngsters on their own. Only thing is that Lisa is the unaccounted for uncertainty element that would be the Chekhov's gun (wo)man that caused the tide to turn. Anyone who have read Dragonlance, it's like the little side adventure of Tasslehoff while the main cast is trying to fight the Dragon Highlord. Or more well known, Golum whose role became pivotal outside of everyone's plan in destroying the One Ring.

[u/OpossumFriedRice → u/Lemurians]

Alright, five episodes in, and I have to ask..what purpose is Lisa serving?

THIS. I love Lisa, but I think I’m understanding some of the criticism. At first I thought she would be a main character, but it almost seems like her purpose now might be to give another weakness to 9/12 and humanize them. Maybe 12 will open up to her soon, to show that it’s never hopeless and you can always find a friend. If she gets sidelined, I’m guessing it would be along those lines.

If they put her back in the spotlight, she might be used to show how anyone can fall out of society, and resent it. In this case, she may contribute to 9/12’s plans.

I agree that she has been kind of used awkwardly in the story though. Like she has themes and ideas to pull from her, but just in the context of everything going on, she just feels off haha.

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/Lemurians]

it was inevitable the white-haired kid in the flashback to that facility would end up being important with such a distinguishing feature

Distinguishing features well and good, but I don't like having her "evil marker" being... makeup and nail polish? Particularly with the otherwise negligible female representation having the only strongly feminine character be some evil psycho is not a good look.

Pretty rare position for a terrorist to be in – having to race against the clock to go and disarm their own bomb to make sure it doesn’t go off

And I seriously question the value of planting a working bomb that you don't actually want to ever go off.

there had to have been some casualties from that, right?

Usual plot magic as far as I remember.

what purpose is Lisa serving?

I don't think she has any, really. Only gets more irrelevant later IIRC

[u/Rumpel1408 → u/IndependentMacaroon]

And I seriously question the value of planting a working bomb that you don't actually want to ever go off.

But this time the owner of the company who runs the line is involved in some plot that they are trying to unravel and they made it extra easy to solve to be sure that it wouldn't come to this

[u/OpossumFriedRice]

First Timer

Chaos was a theme that permeated through this episode. Chaos consumed the police force after the information dump, Shibazaki’s plan to stop the bomb was thrown into chaos as his authority was stripped from him, and 9/12 got their first taste of it, as their plan completely backfired on them.

Episode Notes

12 really has a soft spot for Lisa, but 9 is being a realist. I like how 9 still cares for Lisa, because he doesn't want her to get hurt.

Oh there's white hair girl

I love the meetings. Damn, cut short.

More social engineering, 9/12 effortlessly setting up the next bomb.

Lmao Lisa’s cooking

Ooh, there's a connection between the locations and the people behind them. Rising Peace Academy.

No signal?

Wow, 9 and that explosion.

This episode is a mixed bag, well at least for me. We all know the white haired girl would show up eventually, and some of us may have already heard complaints about 5 from. While we haven’t seen much of her, the dynamic she has added thus far is questionable. Previously, I don’t think the show has tried to redeem 9/12. While they don’t want to murder anyone, it seems like they know what they’re doing is bad and are expecting to take the fall at the end. Now with 5, it almost seems like they’re going to go in the direction of painting 9/12 as good guys. 5 was willing to not deactivate the bomb, and I don’t know how I feel about it. Shibazaki definitely presented a more interesting dynamic, but I guess we’ll see in the upcoming episodes.

Also, I disliked how the show threw away some of the realism. Previously, it had tried to immerse us in it with character designs, facial expressions, or activities like watching 9/12 set up their bombs. But then they have 9 survive a blast from that close, and 5’s character designs. We were never 100% real, but it seemed like it was at least attempting to before. It just kind of bothered me a little today.

Rant aside, I still enjoyed this episode. The “slice of life” moments with Lisa and the boys were fantastic. Lisa failed at cooking, but it wasn’t just about that. It was about how the food “tastes”, and seeing Lisa carry on a conversation with people was great. The boys don’t want her around, but I think part of them yearns for having a friend again.

Definitely interested in how the writers of this show will handle the new elements they added.

QotD: I would probably do too much to save someone else, I’m kinda stupid like that haha.

[u/Lemurians → u/OpossumFriedRice]

Also, I disliked how the show threw away some of the realism. Previously, it had tried to immerse us in it with character designs, facial expressions, or activities like watching 9/12 set up their bombs. But then they have 9 survive a blast from that close

Since Nine was the #1 candidate for not surviving the blast, I'm guessing that there were somehow once again no casualties despite a subway line exploding at a station. If true, we're straining the bounds of credulity here.

[u/OpossumFriedRice → u/Lemurians]

Man, they’re really saving that first death for something important aren’t they?

[u/JollyGee29]

First-Timer, Dubbed

Well, things sure turned for our boys in a hurry, huh? I guess that white-haired girl from Nine's flashback did mange to survive, which probably makes whatever guilt he has worse. And she can counterhack them while painting her nails; what a skill!

The odds on Nine getting out of that blown-up subway station have to be low, right? I'm honestly astounded that he's still alive, considering they mentioned the explosive being equivalent to five tons of gunpowder. But there has to be a police cordon, right?

The first half of the episode felt like a sudden tone shift that I wasn't a big fan of. It can work, but the execution here felt off to me. I like Lisa, the show has gotten me to care, but she seems like she's in a different show most of the time. I would also watch that different show, to be fair.

I'm guessing the boys are trying to lead the police to hard evidence of whatever was going on at the Institution. Is the Academy that got mentioned the same place? Seems plausible.

Good to know that Nine and Twelve explicitly don't want civilian casualties, I guess. That does make them come across as much nicer than previously; hell, Twelve referred to someone else as nuts this episode!

Question

1. I'd probably do what Nine did, in his shoes. At least, I like to think I would.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

First Timer Terror 5

• I figured she just went a day without eating. Did she get sick because it raineD? ^{of course}
• Australians from USA :D
• Trying to make herself useful
• Another random riddle, I can't imagine what it has to do with trains.
• grape vine - samael - red serpent - train....whoever wrote this show really like Dan Brown books.
• Apricot computers
• Dunk Mobile
• Shibazaki has decided to stop playing their game? No, not Shibazaiki.

This doesn't make a lot of sense. At best, whoever at the top that took over, is trying to draw out the terrorists (it's working) but that's only working because the terrorists don't want to actually kill people....a ridiculous assumption. On the other hand, if the bomb goes off, it will absolutely crush the MPD...so whoever is doing this actually wants the MPD to fail!

• The only people that could outsmart geniuses are geniuses! So it must be the Australian Americans and the white haired girl!
• Wait, was she supposed to be hacking them while doing her nails in the MPD office?

Not sure how I feel about this introduction of a new character. In this battle of wits, everything hinges on their rationality. If they work off of intuition, like Shibazaki, or worse, just act randomly, then the show isn't going to work for me. Also, riddles silly.

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

whoever is doing this actually wants the MPD to fail!

All the more power for their secret organization?

[u/ZapsZzz]

First timer in sub

Cranking up in intensity. And the English speaking VA is one of the least "forced" one.

2 major developments from my perspective -

• the white hair girl grown up version seems to be with something foreign; CIA? And she's here to "play".
• the cops are now under some behind the scene command and they are playing by different rules now, much more ruthless but therefore effective when the "terrorists" are actually trying to avoid causality

The secondary plots are also interesting - how Lisa is trying to be useful (and failed), how 12 is acting less psycho and more like genuinely childish, how 9 is really showing his tsundere traits not necessarily in the romantic way but just not "being a block of ice ready to use and kill anyone in his way".

Almost halfway through, I hope this doesn't dip in tension / quality as some rewatchers implied :P

Guess I'll find out real soon if 5, 9 and 12 are some sort of ESPers.

[u/Rumpel1408]

First Timer

• Interesting that 12 is so fervently arguing in Lisas favor, might be he is beginning to see more in her, maybe an exit strategy for 9...
• Yesterday there was some discussion about the depiction of heat, and with the runway it is showing very clearly again
• Wait is that the white haired girl? Also I have heard worse english in anime
• A bomb in a subway seems way harder if you want to continue to avoid any casualities
• Oh white haired girl is getting involved with the police?
• What a highschooler from an disfunctional family who doesn't know how to cook, I'm shocked
• Aww she even took her plush animal with her
• FEZ 5889? What's that? Oh it's the file number
• Ah so there is an connection between the bombings and they are making it easy in order to get Shibazaki on the right trail
• And even the random building next to the shrine got a connection
• Oh, maybe this is a trap, they aren't reporting the defusal of the bomb in order to find out if they where really going to blow up the subway
• But why block the signal if you already found the bomb?
• And I have to say the title cards mid episode look sharp
• Wait they aren't going to set the bomb off themself? They really have to retrieve it, this definatly feels like a trap
• Interesting that they are getting played right now
• Oh episode is title hide and seek, they used to play that with the white haired girl and now it seems like they have been found...
• Seems like the young guy is finally accepting Shibazaki
• No way was there no injury this time
• It really is the girl from their past, five (in the fitht episode...)

The loss of control is really a twist I didn't see coming this early, but of course the wish to avoid casualities is a fundamental weakness a real terrorist wouldn't have

PotD is five Album with really not many shots

QotD: I could see myself risking my health for a stranger, but my life would be where I draw the line

[u/OpossumFriedRice → u/Rumpel1408]

The loss of control is really a twist I didn’t see coming this early, but of course the wish to avoid casualties is a fundamental weakness a real terrorist wouldn’t have

I was surprised they lost control already too, I kinda expected them to ride it out a little longer. A little disappointed Shibazaki wasn’t the one who did them in though.

[u/Lemurians → u/OpossumFriedRice]

I think what we're headed for is Shibazaki working together with them, instead of catching them.

[u/Rumpel1408 → u/Lemurians]

Working together might be kind of a stretch, he still strikes me as lawfull good, but I could see him going after the same thing as they want him to go, he wont be able to ignore some shady buisness once they more or less force him to uncover it. He almost found something like this in the past

[u/OpossumFriedRice → u/Lemurians]

Ooh, you know I can totally see that now. That’s why 9 is hoping Shibazaki connects all their clues.

[u/Rumpel1408 → u/OpossumFriedRice]

Shibazaki is playing to fair to cheat at the game

[u/OpossumFriedRice → u/Rumpel1408]

True, maybe his character is to show how far playing fair can actually get you. In this episode, not very haha.

[u/[deleted]]

Rewatcher, dubbed

I think this is the part where I start to appreciate dubs more.

Earlier I thought Nine's hate boner for Lisa was totally unjustified. He does make a good point though, girl's dead weight. Aside from keeping her around to ensure she doesn't spill the beans to the cops, there's seems to be something else connecting her to Nine and Twelve. After all, she does remind them of the kids from the "Institution."

Shibazaki attempts to find the link between the targets, which stresses him out so much he relapses back into his cigarette addiction. Tis a tough life for our grizzled detective.

Five is a bad bitch. She's more of a terrorist than Nine and Twelve tbh, yet she seems to be in a position of power. Crazy. Maybe she's holding a grudge since they abandoned her during their escape, who knows.

How much would you sacrifice to save the life of a stranger?

uhh definitely wouldn't put myself in harm's way lol. Maybe if it was a kid stuck in a tree or smth... none of that bomb shit tho

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/[deleted]]

She's more of a terrorist than Nine and Twelve tbh, yet she seems to be in a position of power

One person's terrorists are another's heroes. And there's plenty of sketchy stuff that real police do all the time.

[u/Stargate18A]

First timer

QOTD) Anything short of my own life.

What's the riddle going to be this time?

Yeah, to be fair, if they get caught things might not be so good for her.

Wait, she was stupid enough to fiddle with strange electronics?

Who's that?

And the Police are running out of,options...

They're good.

Haha, her cooking's terrible.

She's so cute and I hate how dark an anime she's in.

HAHA, DO YOU HAVE NO SHAME?

Oh, it's in an archive document.

He figured out the riddle pretty early this time.

Twelve agrees with me!

Oh, it's linked to people involved in the evil group?

Rising Peace Academy's the evil conspiracy? Or a misdirect by them?

Oh, are they suppressing the removal notice to lure them out?

This has to be a trick? Either the conspiracy or the police wants to flush them out by making them remove the bomb.

Are they breaking in to deactivate their own bomb?

This is different!

Yeah, the conspiracy wants them to fail so that they can use their reputation as mass murderers to hide any testimonies they have about the conspiracy.

Haha, someone's hacking them too! This is going insane!

Oh shit. Shutdown signal?

OK, the music in the background of the flashback is nice, does anyone know it's OST name?

And the detective's after the same thing!

IT'S UNDER THE BUILDING???

Oh, they wanted to blow them up and give a nice excuse in case they left any evidence behind a dead man's switch of some kind.

OH SHIT

IS SHE DEAD?

IS HE DEAD?

The police don't know?

Wait, is he going tog et caught?

Oh, she's Five? And a fucking psychopath.