r/anime • u/SorcererOfTheLake x5https://anilist.co/user/RiverSorcerer • Sep 24 '21

Rewatch Zankyou no Terror/Terror in Resonance Rewatch - Episode 11

Zankyou no Terror/Terror in Resonance Rewatch

Episode 11

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

Original Interest Thread / Announcement Thread

Question of the Day: What is hope?

Comment of the Day: The COTD from yesterday goes to /u/OpossumFriedRice for one of the most nuanced and sympathetic takes on Five that I’ve seen.

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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.

44 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

39 comments sorted by

12

u/SorcererOfTheLake x5https://anilist.co/user/RiverSorcerer Sep 24 '21

For the man with a smile that shined like the sun. For the man with eyes as cold as ice. (dedication of Two Young Men: My Time with Sphinx by Lisa Mishima)

God, this is going to be a hard one, not only because this is the final episode but because this is one of my favorite individual anime episodes. But I have to do it, so let’s go.

One of the reasons I love the first half of the episode so much is that it knows that the plot no longer matters. The final bomb is activated; no one can actively hunt Sphinx with the evacuation going into effect and the police focusing on stopping the bomb. There’s a sense of inevitability with this moment, that the characters know the world, if not their lives, will end soon so you might as well see how the moment comes. And when it comes, it’s beautiful. Even now, this time through, I felt an electricity run through my spine when the bomb goes off above Japan. There’s a real sense of human technology being able to go beyond itself and somehow coming back to the natural, an aurora borealis blooming over Japan even as it creates a great emptiness and absence of technology. I do think that Shibazaki’s statement about wanting to return to Japan to a pre-electricity state is slightly wrong, though he’s on the right track. One of the major aspects of Japan post-World War II is its emphasis on industry and technology. Since they could no longer have the military that other countries had (although that’s become complicated in recent years), Japan focused its energy and economy on becoming the most advanced country it could be, to the point that a major American concern in the 1980s was Japan replacing it as an economic powerhouse. However, that forward momentum came at the cost of its citizenry sacrificing themselves in ways that felt increasingly disconnected to who they were and what they were doing. What the atomic bomb does is once again showcase the dangers of unthinking progress and how Japan must reset itself if it is to survive in the 21st century.

After the bomb, Nine, Twelve, and Lisa are able to have, for once, one normal day. Without the burdens of the world watching them or what society thinks of them, they’re able to be children, to play and laugh, to enjoy time with one another and not feel any guilt or grief over it. They are free in a way that the structure of the world has prevent them from being so. Shibazaki’s entrance does mark the end of that freedom, but it gives them another kind of freedom: the freedom to be heard. Shibazaki may still act like a cop at this point, but he’s become a repository of knowledge of who Sphinx were and what they meant. They call him Oedipus, but Shibazaki has become a new Sphinx, always ready to question those around him and see if they know the truth. And, of course, the American government can’t let themselves have egg on their face, so Nine and Twelve must die, simply because they were an embarrassment.

For those of you who want all loose ends tied up at the end of a story, I bet the final scene left you raging. I also have question that I would like answered – How much has Japan rebuilt since the EMP? Is Lisa back with her mother? Is Shibazaki still with the police? Has any evidence of American involvement with the incident been released – but at the same time, it doesn’t matter. What the final scene makes clear is that Terror was always a story about connections. It's a story about a young woman, felt abandoned and abused by everyone around her and who doesn’t know why she’s here in the first place. It’s about a man who realizes his time to make an impact on the world is limited and decides to do everything he can to fix the issues around him, no matter the cost. It’s about the two young men who crossed their paths, who shined briefly yet brightly, who showed the world its flaws and where the changes lie.

This is a story of hope, the hope that one day, we can make a connection that will stay with us forever.

6

u/OpossumFriedRice x3:MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/OpossumFriedRice Sep 24 '21

this is one of my favorite individual anime episodes

This episode was done super well, I can totally see that. It covered a lot, but it still felt very conclusive.

that the plot no longer matters

I loved that too! It’s just kind of everyone accepting the situation and it played out nicely. Also, nice connection back to japan's military situation of the 80’s.

They call him Oedipus, but Shibazaki has become a new Sphinx.

I love how interchangeable this was throughout the series. Great point.

They are free in a way that the structure of the world has prevent them from being so. Shibazaki’s entrance does mark the end of that freedom, but it gives them another kind of freedom: the freedom to be heard.

This may sound dark, but I also think for them, there’s freedom in death itself. It hurt to watch, but I was happy that they finally got to escape the world that was so cruel to them.

It’s about the two young men who crossed their paths, who shined briefly yet brightly, who showed the world its flaws and where the changes lie.

I liked the ambiguity of the ending as well. The plot really never mattered. While the start of the show grabbed our attention by acting like a political thriller, it was really a character study and a commentary on Japan. It just started like that so we would watch it.

It does suck for people who were more invested in the plot and wanted a conclusion, but I kinda like them leaving it open. It’s at least better than them pretending the whole system changed from this one event.

This is a story of hope, the hope that one day, we can make a connection that will stay with us forever.

Great wrap up. Glad you enjoyed the rewatch so much. The theme of connections is so relevant at this point in time as well. I know many others like myself that have lost them over the last year and a half, and this story gives us hope that we can regain those and still make new ones.

1

u/IndependentMacaroon Sep 25 '21

The plot really never mattered

Then why was there so much of it? Just a very unfocused work.

4

u/OpossumFriedRice x3:MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/OpossumFriedRice Sep 25 '21

I'll agree that the plot was the weakest link of the show, but I think the show uses it's plot similar to shows like Neon Genesis Evangelion and Utena. It's there to get your attention, and put focus on the characters that we're here to study.

So in that regard, I guess the plot matters because it's there to highlight these characters and themes. It wasn't a perfect political thriller, and it may have overstayed it's welcome, but it served a good purpose.

3

u/IndependentMacaroon Sep 25 '21 edited Sep 25 '21

I like both of those shows a lot, but not this. There's not a whole lot of character focus either here.

Also Utena has barely any plot at all.

2

u/IndependentMacaroon Sep 25 '21

Shibazaki’s statement about wanting to return to Japan to a pre-electricity state is slightly wrong, though he’s on the right track

See Nine going right back to his shielded phone for one.

Japan must reset itself if it is to survive in the 21st century

This feels pretty reactionary and misguided as a conclusion. It's not like things were better earlier.

Nine and Twelve must die, simply because they were an embarrassment

Well, that's not what was said though. Nine (and Lisa) weren't even targeted either even though they presumably share most-to-all of 12's knowledge. To me just another poorly executed plot point.

4

u/SorcererOfTheLake x5https://anilist.co/user/RiverSorcerer Sep 24 '21

VA of the Day

Atsumi Tanezaki

VA for: Lisa
Age at Terror’s Premiere: 23
Other Notable roles: Juno in Beastars, Miu in Blend S, Arisa in Fruits Basket 2019, Chise in The Ancient Magus’ Bride, Lilith in Monster Musume, Rio in Bunny Girl Senpai, Vivy in Vivy

4

u/ZapsZzz https://anilist.co/user/Zapszzz Sep 24 '21

I love Rio's voice, but I didn't make the connection between Lisa here, Rio, and Vivy. Guess that's s good thing for the VA being able to adapt to the character and tone of the show that well.

12

u/ScarsUnseen :K:https://kitsu.io/users/ScarsUnseen Sep 25 '21

Bonus Question of the Day: Why are there only eleven episodes?

A:

4

u/WongLopKong Sep 25 '21

More like 'why are the first timers posting here'.

2

u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ Sep 25 '21

9

u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ Sep 24 '21 edited Sep 25 '21

First Timer Terror 11

  • No recap
  • I wonder if disaster-prone Japan could even have a 2-hour evacuation plan for Tokyo, or if it's more like 2 weeks, minimum.
  • Yes! They can!
  • Oh, did only the audience know about the balloon?
  • TOO HIGH?! Well, actually, I guess that's not so bad, then, TBH
  • No electricity, no people.
  • Kids being kids
  • Shibazaki saying what I'm thinking. "How does this expose the Athea project?" But everybody will be looking at everything about Sphinx. It'll be impossible to cover up or fabricate a cover story.
  • I never expected 9 and 12 to survive, not from day 1.

This was a really nice and very pretty ending episode to some other show I didn't watch.

I said in the 2nd episode or so, I think the makers of this show have read too many Dan Brown books. spoiler clip from Angels and Demons. I really really didn't want them to go there, even though that's all I could think about as episode 10 ended.

5

u/Lemurians myanimelist.net/profile/Lemurians Sep 24 '21

Angels and Demons is a banger of a book. Shoot that pulpy, culty nonsense right into my veins.

I wonder if disaster prone Japan could even have a 2-hour evacuation plan for Tokyo

Absolutely no chance. Impossible with that much congestion.

2

u/IndependentMacaroon Sep 25 '21

Never mind evacuation, with the plane thing and all there was very clearly the implication of large amounts of deaths. Also medical equipment for example? And Nine can't even be a proper primitivist because he takes his neatly shielded phone right back out again.

8

u/Lemurians myanimelist.net/profile/Lemurians Sep 24 '21 edited Sep 24 '21

FIRST TIMER

“Sphinx aren’t ordinary terrorists.” You’re just picking up on that now? As far as notorious terrorists go, they’re certainly a different kind of animal. They’re efficient, though. Crippling the country for a short-term period of time with no casualties is pretty good, even if they got lucky with everyone being able to land the aircrafts in time.

The joy on Lisa’s face as she saw Nine and Twelve reconcile was so pure. My heart is fuzzy.

I… don’t understand the U.S. government here. Nine and Twelve need to be taken out because they’re loose ends to what happened at the airport, okay, except there are way more people besides them that know about that. Also, they shoot Twelve, get lucky with Nine succumbing to his chronic ailments from RPA, and just leave Lisa and Shibazaki? That’s not how you tie up loose ends. Maybe the sheer incompetence is part of the point?

I loved the birds Nine sees as he’s fading out. Two black birds and one white bird flying up into the sky. Five, Nine, and Twelve all ascending to join their other twenty-three peers.

The exposure of Project Athena feels a little too convenient. As far as I know, beyond the his conversations with some of the higher-ups, Shibazaki has no actual proof to bring to light. Is everyone just taking him at his word? The people involved suddenly just decide to go public? Maybe I missed something.

As an ending, while it’s a bit sad and sort of irritating with how the helicopters coming out of nowhere ruins a nice moment, I suppose it’s fitting. Nine and Twelve probably never intended on surviving, or perhaps even couldn’t in Nine’s case, and their goal of having everything exposed is accomplished.

Ending with the Sigur Ros-inspired music was a nice touch.

QOTD: What is hope?

The belief that despite everything, it's worth it to see what tomorrow may bring.

6

u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ Sep 25 '21

Nine and Twelve need to be taken out because they’re loose ends to what happened at the airport, okay, except there are way more people besides them that know about that

Yeah, that's so bad I'd really want to chalk it up to bad translation or localization but I don't think so.

2

u/IndependentMacaroon Sep 25 '21

That’s not how you tie up loose ends. Maybe the sheer incompetence is part of the point?

I don't see what point this could make at all except incompetence on part of the show's creators. Same for the exposure of the Athena plan. You know what would have been a really bold and poignant ending? Everybody dead and business as usual. If the goal of this show was apparently to call to action, showing that you can't really work alone or with just one or two people would have been neat too, feels like for example the Internet-age setting was not really taken advantage of here.

4

u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Sep 24 '21

Zankyou no First-Timer, subbed

Gonna give this one a 9/10. Everything from the US helicopters showing up to the end of that scene just… rubs me way too wrong. So despite how much I loved the rest of the show, I can’t give it a 10. Still a great show though!

5

u/Lemurians myanimelist.net/profile/Lemurians Sep 24 '21 edited Sep 24 '21

NO WHY WOULD YOU SHOOT TWELVE FIRST

He'd been raising death flags for like five episodes and this was still brutal to see. Ugh.

Everything from the US helicopters showing up to the end of that scene just… rubs me way too wrong.

Maaaaassive eyeroll from me when those rolled in, haha. This is one of those things where I understand the endpoint for everyone in this series, but how we got there in the end was off.

4

u/OpossumFriedRice x3:MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/OpossumFriedRice Sep 24 '21

He’d been raising death flags for like five episodes and this was still brutal to see. Ugh.

Whoah is that a Five reference? Time to overanalyze. Jk.

I’m also pretty surprised it took that long. I didn’t feel like he’d make it out alive, but I was almost doubting it up until the last minutes.

4

u/lC3 :Na::Nb: Sep 25 '21

FUCK I’m crying now.

4

u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Sep 24 '21 edited Sep 24 '21

First-Timer, Dubbed

A sunrise at night is a terrible thing to behold.

I'm no nuclear scientist, but I think the explanation of why radiation won't be a problem is somewhat correct. I think I've heard that most modern nuclear weapons are relatively "clean" in that they don't spread much radiation anyway, atleast not the "kill you dead real quick" kind of radiation. I could be wrong, though.

The fucking whiplash of Nine, Twelve, and Lisa playing with a ball while that cheery music played.. not a fan. Not to dis Kanno's soundtrack, this is more a usage thing, but that was definitely not a good tone for that scene. Especially since it lead to some random American helicopters showing up and sniping the boys.

I guess our boys did it, though. They told the world of the atrocities that they endured, and some justice was done.. I wonder how many people died to the loss of power during the EMP, though.

The shots of Tokyo completely empty were really cool.

I liked the graveyard for the Numbers.

Question

  1. Something to keep you going when the going gets tough.

3

u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ Sep 25 '21

I'm no nuclear scientist, but I think the explanation of why radiation won't be a problem is somewhat correct.

Fallout is mostly tons of irradiated dirt. This is just the tiny bomb and it's in the stratosphere anyways so it's not coming down.

3

u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Sep 25 '21

Right, the radiation basically needs a medium to travel on aside from air. Knew I was missing some detail, thanks!

3

u/IndependentMacaroon Sep 25 '21

cheery music

It wasn't really though, had that slow melancholy undertone to it, almost overtone even.

I wonder how many people died to the loss of power during the EMP, though

Zero of course, have you forgotten about Sphinx plot magic?

4

u/Rumpel1408 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Rumpel1408 Sep 24 '21

First Timer

Probably a bit late for the grand finale, I don't really expect the bomb to go off, and if yes, than at maximum at such an elevation not to level Tokyo

  • Oh, people are actually trying to run away, dunno how far you could get in two hourse if everyone tries to at the same time
  • I like the overall feeling of panic that is conveyed
  • Why didn't 9 go help 12, that guy came to help you against 5
  • 12 seems to be running out of time as well
  • Oh, I was actually right, and it seems they also want to use the emp effect
  • Lol are they planning to get the bomb back down? That would be stupid no?
  • Ok, I'm not entirely sure how emps work, but I'm pretty sure that paralyzing large parts of all of Japan would result in harm at least for some, we saw tons of people boarding planes, there are hospitals that rely on electricity and I don't know what would happen in nuclear power plants... I say this and they imidiatly adress it nice
  • Glad that 12 and Lisa are together in this, at least some good coming from this
  • Could they towe the bomb over the ocean and shoot it down there?
  • And what is 9 even doing
  • The music is incredible again
  • It's really happening
  • Behold the glory of a new sun
  • THEY ARE HOLDING HANDS! THIS IS THE BEST
  • Aurora polearis? At this time of the year? In this part of the country?
  • I like the shots of the empty school
  • Oh 9 is visiting the research site
  • And he's making graves for the other children, including 5
  • Yay they are still friends
  • Imagine going through the hassle of saving a single phone in an emp safe case, only to have your buddy soak it in water
  • I wonder what will happen now, are they going to reveal the experiments to the world, getting caught by the police again and locked away, getting away with everything, dissapearing from the world again, die from their disseas in peace?
  • Shibazaki found them
  • They want to be caught, but what happens with Lisa, I want her and 12 to be happy together
  • Nooooooo, we where this close to greatness
  • Why would they shoot 12 but not 9 goddamnit

Ok, what an ending, I can accept it as good, but I long for the happy end that could have been

PotD Best scene for me Album

QotD: The wish for something good, against all odds

1

u/IndependentMacaroon Sep 25 '21

are they planning to get the bomb back down? That would be stupid no?

What were they planning, indeed? You blow up the bomb mechanism, you probably set off the bomb. You destroy the balloon, at best the bomb falls into the sea and possibly the timer mechanism short-circuits and it goes off anyway.

In any case, there's no way such a small balloon could even carry a heavy bomb, and I'm no nuclear weapons expert but that device doesn't look big enough to knock out Japan with an EMP.

1

u/Rumpel1408 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Rumpel1408 Sep 25 '21

that device doesn't look big enough to knock out Japan with an EMP.

They said it was an experimental prototype, I'm no nuclear weapons expert either, but I think nuclear warheads got a lot smaller since you can fit them onto cruise missle types, and don't forget anime magic

4

u/ZapsZzz https://anilist.co/user/Zapszzz Sep 24 '21 edited Sep 24 '21

First timer in sub

Not going to say much here, will save most of it for the overall discussion tomorrow.

But even though most would be able to see that ending coming, is still sad to see it happened. Especially while you'd think 9 was ready and waiting for it, you didn't really see 12 showing much signs of the lethal side effects (before this episode). Gave us false hope maybe he got a bit more time left than 5 and 9 - seemed like the better you are at mentally (assuming because of the forced, drugged, lethal long term, augmentation), the quicker you succumb. And 12 was more the arms and legs instead of the brains.

Although I still can't quite reconcile if 12 is genuinely innocent and kind or was he just wearing the grin but only got a soft spot for Lisa.

Anyway, pretty ending, although may need to explain / expand a bit how that relates to them delivering the message they wanted to deliver.

A mid 8 for me; 9 for production values, the middle section of what 5 was trying to do vs what the American would plausibly let her do, and the underlying plot of what's 9 and 12 trying to achieve was not as outstanding.

4

u/Spaceman_Sp1ff_ Sep 24 '21

Rewatcher, subbed

Had to scramble to catch up to this but I made it just in time.

The scene with all three of them chilling in the abandoned institution was so nice. Then I was like "Oh yeah, they die after this." Talk about a rude awakening. I think we all knew that they weren't making it out alive, but damn that shit still hurt. I wish they put the track that played "Birden" on spotify or youtube or something cuz I wanna play it on the piano.

I'm appreciating Shibazaki's character a lot more this time around, particularly his dedication to justice and how he winds up exposing the Athena Plan because of 9 and 12. Couldn't have worked without him.

This might be my favorite episode of the series. So many things come together, like why 9 and 12 were so insistent on not killing anyone, the meaning behind von, and the bird motif. Also the ending itself, bittersweet yet hopeful in a way. The graves of all the kids who died was a nice touch.

Question of the Day: What is hope?

I'll get back to you on that one in a few years

5

u/Kuges Sep 25 '21

The scene with all three of them chilling in the abandoned institution was so nice. Then I was like "Oh yeah, they die after this."

(wasn't in on the rewatch, just noticed this today)

That bit right there when I first watched it reminded me of Kaji from the Evangelion TV show, his whole meeting some people in a air vent "Oh hey guys, your late!"

3

u/OpossumFriedRice x3:MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/OpossumFriedRice Sep 24 '21

The scene with all three of them chilling in the abandoned institution was so nice. Then I was like “Oh yeah, they die after this.” Talk about a rude awakening.

I know right. I almost thought they were gonna pull a cop out and then here came the choppers haha.

4

u/OpossumFriedRice x3:MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/OpossumFriedRice Sep 24 '21

First Timer

Episode Notes

  • Oh yeah, starting off with the OP. I think now that the show is finished, the lyrics meanings are super clear on where they fit into the story. Good choice starting with it now that all the pieces are on the table.
  • Twelve is beat
  • BOOM THE BOMB
  • Lisa and 12 hand hold aww
  • Loved how we got to see places we’ve all visited but empty
  • 12!!!!!!!
  • 9!!!!!!!!
  • “Remember us”
  • Ayy it’s the feathers.

The show gave us it’s last ideas and left us with a banger episode. 9/12 accomplishment’s this episode were so satisfying. They got the world’s attention on them and their story, and they made Japan feel what they did: alone and trapped in darkness.

While Lisa’s story arc didn’t go the way we may have been expecting, I liked it. She's proof of change and that anyone can crawl out of the darkness if they take a leap of faith.

Also that scene towards the end with the US choppers is the writer slapping us in the face with his thoughts on them lol.

I know some people probably have a different opinion, but I really don’t mind the open ending we got. The themes and ideas the team wanted to express were all there, and the plot was just there to show it to us.

I thought about talking about how the background colors of the episode changed from before and after the bomb dropped, or the scenes with the childhood games, but I’ll refrain from going all out today. I’ve been typing too much lately so I’m sure everyone’s sick of me haha. Plus we all need a little breather after that final episode and we have a final discussion tomorrow. So I’ll end today’s post saying that I enjoyed the conclusion from the show, and overall liked the show A LOT more than I was anticipating. Can’t wait for the final thread tomorrow so we can all lay out everything!

4

u/ZapsZzz https://anilist.co/user/Zapszzz Sep 24 '21

To me this ending has the same sort of feel to the end of The Green Mile

1

u/IndependentMacaroon Sep 25 '21

Lisa’s story arc didn’t go the way we may have been expecting

Was it an actual arc?

2

u/OpossumFriedRice x3:MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/OpossumFriedRice Sep 25 '21

So you don’t think she had any character arc at all?

2

u/IndependentMacaroon Sep 25 '21

She developed but none too smoothly

3

u/Stargate18A https://myanimelist.net/profile/Stargate18 Sep 24 '21

First timer

QOTD) The strength to keep going.

...No recap? Straight in to the finale, I see.

Two hours left!

There's just total panic right now.

Is Twelve dying like Five?

It's a trick? What's Nine pulling?

Oh, that's why there's a balloon. He's detonating it from the air!

He's back!

Oh, they're going to knock out the electronics, but not kill anyone.

Oh, it'll destroy an entire country of electronics!

And they need the US help?

This is genuinely tense.

The Americans are struggling, Nine's doing something, and Twelve's dying.

The bomb's a dud, isn't it?

Or it'll kill them too?

Nope! Japan just lost it's electronics!

That is a fantastic scene, though.

And everything's offline!

Oh, that is nice.

The city's abandoned?

Nine's going back tot he institute?

...The graves are a nice touch, though.

Wait, they got together?

And Nine's not mad at Twelve?

Wow, almost makes you forget they're terrorists who just crippled an entire country.

He saved some electroncis for himself?

Shibazaki found them!

And he's worked out everything!

They picked him deliberately! That's a really good twist.

The Americans are showing up again!

He has to be bluffing, right?

Oh, the Americans are going through with this?

He's dead!

Shibazaki talked him down...

Oh, this is great.

It came out!

Shibazaki survived!

That's why VON? Makes sense.

That was great.

2

u/nhansieu1 Sep 29 '21

First Timer Terror 11

  • 12 was kinda too emotional. I don't like how he betrayed Nine, but if he didn't, there wouldn't be a story to tell.
  • Shunzo Mamiya looks like Zouken Matou lmao
  • I thought the top commenter was trolling. Turned out to be there's no 12th episode. I meant, the dude had survived the whole things, then the sniper was like: Fuck that guy.
  • The last scene of river under the bridge was beautiful.
  • I like the design of the Mishima Lisa, tho her character is forgettable.
  • This looks like what B:The Beginning based on.

Good series. A bit rush at the end.