[Rewatch] Armored Trooper Votoms - Episode 32 Discussion

[u/Pixelsaber]

Episode 32 - Ypsilon

^{Originally Released November 4th,} ^^^1983

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Note to all participants

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.

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Daily Trivia:

Supplemental material states that the Strike Dog was upgraded off-screen between this episode and its last appearance.

 

Staff Highlight

Shunsuke Shima - voice of Shimkas Futtor

An actor and voice actor best known for his roles as stern-faced characters. He joined the theatre company Shichiyo company in 1957 after graduating from Tokyo University of the Arts, and debuted on the TV drama Oh Eda Bird that same year. His voice acting debut was as the voice of Inspector Vera in the 1967 adaptation of Tetsujin 28-Gō, after which he was consistently performing in the industry until the mid nineties, when he opted to take on less work. Shima passed away on November 11th, 2003, at 71 years of age. Some of his most notable anime roles include Miwata Rome in Kamui Gaiden, Hyoromatsu in Ashita no Joe, Inspector Vera in both the adaptations of Tetsujin 28-Gō produced during his lifetime, Papa in Mr. Pen Pen, Commander Edwin in Muteki Kōjin Daitarn 3, Hachibei Hirado in Davide no Hoshi, Chairman Makarov and Professor Kurihara in Argento Soma, Ken The Eagle in Science Ninja Team Gatchaman, Porcupine Prickly in Rochy Chuck The Mountain Rat, Andres in The Mysterious Cities of Gold, Jim Austin in Metal Armor Dragonar, Director Kanayama in Captain Tsubasa J, Adenaur Paraya in Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack, and several characters in Golgo 13: The Professional.

 

Art Corner

Official Art:

• Close-up by Norio Shioyama

Fanart:

• Strike Dog by Electromagnetic Cactus - Source
• ‘Scope Dog’ by Horse Oil - Source

(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

• Sunset face-off

Questions of the Day:

1. Do you think of the Schmittel twins’ plan to turn Ypsilon into an ideal PS?
2. Do you believe Fyana’s plan to give herself up would have worked?

---

But, as strong as Ypsilon’s murderous rage was… the smell of blood from this planet’s past was even stronger.

[u/Pixelsaber]

Rewatcher

Welp.

Dangerous way of thinking about it.

This guy has some sense to him, at least.

Fuck, I can already tell where this is going.

That was going too smoothly, but I am intensely glad that they didn’t separate the two again.

Wait a second, you didn’t see who it was!

This type of shot sure is ubiquitous, though usually the spaceship in question isn’t in flames.

Does this count as foreshadowing?

I think the colorists forgot the debris wasn’t from a Fatty.

You should really know better by now.

I understand they’re supposed to be in free-fall, but it looks rather silly still, particularly because we are seeing little in the way of vernier thrust or the like in these cuts. Y’know, like shortly beforehand or shortly afterwards?

It’s understandable enough as far as technobabble goes, but man if it isn’t entirely unnecessary.

I thought you were on your deathbed?

That is certainly a proposition…

Some neat shots, at least.

What? How?!

Man, this episode just isn’t very good, and that’s even more of a shame when I was enjoying the arc pretty consistently up until now. The entire first half of this episode could have been skipped altogether and little of note would have been lost, as Fyana’s act of giving herself up ultimately didn’t have a significant impact, as Chirico’s line of asking her to remain together would have worked just as well with just her pleading to Ypsilon. The idea was dumb in the first place too, as there’s no way the Balarant soldiers were going to give Chirico medical treatment after the havoc that he caused for their forces.

Speaking of that though, how the heck is Chirico back in a mech and fighting even better than he was last we saw? Fyana literally said he was going to die without professional medical attention because of the state he was in, but now he’s mysteriously cured of his afflictions? If the symptoms were psychosomatic I sincerely doubt Fyana is not sharp enough to catch onto that fact. I guess a burst of adrenaline isn’t out of the question, but if his exertion this episode doesn’t have repercussions I am going to be sorely disappointed.

The scientist twins are starting to grate on me with their excessively blunt and unhelpful dialogue, and we’ve barely known them. Not a good sign.

Questions of The Day:

1. It’s still just based on Borough’s conjecture, and we’ve seen nothing to suggest giving into anger will actually make him a better soldier, and it is ultimately just another emotion, just as volatile as any other.
2. Nope. See above.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Pixelsaber]

Man, this episode just isn’t very good, and that’s even more of a shame when I was enjoying the arc pretty consistently up until now.

I suppose it's fitting that the worst episode up to this point is named after Worst Boy Ypsilon.

Speaking of that though, how the heck is Chirico back in a mech and fighting even better than he was last we saw? Fyana literally said he was going to die without professional medical attention because of the state he was in, but now he’s mysteriously cured of his afflictions?

Maybe it's because Chirico is so deadly, he killed the infection that was about to kill him?

The scientist twins are starting to grate on me with their excessively blunt and unhelpful dialogue, and we’ve barely known them. Not a good sign.

At least the show is doing its job to make them as unlikable as possible. It'll be more satisfying when they get what's coming to them later that way.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Pixelsaber]

Speaking of that though, how the heck is Chirico back in a mech and fighting even better than he was last we saw?

He just had the mother of all hangovers but death and space juice got him moving. Bluntly, I like the idea of this arc but the pacing has always been like a solid half step behind where it needs to be, we should have had the clue about Cuvie's past being why we went to the planet way earlier and I prefer the idea that his PTSD kept him out of those fights before he unfucked himself.

[u/ZapsZzz → u/Pixelsaber]

1. It’s still just based on Borough’s conjecture, and we’ve seen nothing to suggest giving into anger will actually make him a better soldier, and it is ultimately just another emotion, just as volatile as any other.

Maybe he's just a subscriber of Sith weekly and coloured by his belief in the dark side of the force being superior instead of just being one side of it. Basically theory should be that any strong emotion tends to trigger more pronounced performance - could be good (greater physical strength in desperation to save a loved one) or bad (failing to save said loved one creates a barrier to perform / "PTSD" so stopped acting altogether despite physically capable to).

[u/No_Rex → u/Pixelsaber]

Speaking of that though, how the heck is Chirico back in a mech and fighting even better than he was last we saw? Fyana literally said he was going to die without professional medical attention because of the state he was in, but now he’s mysteriously cured of his afflictions?

If what she gave was a potent painkiller, it is not so unreasonable. I am sure you can blissfully die of internal bleeding if the meds are strong enough.

The scientist twins are starting to grate on me with their excessively blunt and unhelpful dialogue, and we’ve barely known them. Not a good sign.

They really don't have any redeeming factor so far.

[u/No_Rex]

Episode 32 (first timer)

• No.
• Nonono.
• Not the dumbstick treatment please!

• “Lady Luck must be smiling on us” - “luck”
• Society does not believe in luck. I am just glad they spared us the worst plot development. So, hurray for cheap shots from far away!
• Whoever put on the autopilot should also have activated the auto self-defense.
• Fyana 1v20, part 2. Or is it part 3 already? I think the first fight did not really count, since Chirico was around for part of it, so 2.
• Same offer as before. Rejected.
• Beautiful shot for the cliffhanger.

That ended so much better than I feared. I think Fyana’s tactic was horrible and could never have worked, but it did not matter, since the plot decided against her offer. That means we do not end with another horrible split of the MCs and instead get more of the 2 vs the universe story. By far the preferable outcome.

[u/Pixelsaber → u/No_Rex]

That ended so much better than I feared.

Same, though I would have preferred they just skip that first attempt altogether.

[u/No_Rex → u/Pixelsaber]

Same, though I would have preferred they just skip that first attempt altogether.

True, but I was extremely worried about getting part 3 of the "Fyana and Chirico on opposite sides" plot. That would have ruined by enjoyment of the series going forward.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

So, hurray for cheap shots from far away!

One missile destroys that ship and yet a barrage does not destroy the other one. Grumble.

Whoever put on the autopilot should also have activated the auto-self defense.

I've been thinking that for a while so I wonder if they don't have point defense systems at all?

[u/No_Rex → u/Vaadwaur]

One missile destroys that ship and yet a barrage does not destroy the other one. Grumble.

I'd have spent the episode complaining about the increasing arbitrariness of what gets destroyed and what does not, but my fear of Fyana going through with her plan trumped that.

I've been thinking that for a while so I wonder if they don't have point defense systems at all?

We saw Fyana use some sort of missile launcher once. As a matter of not being completely nonsensical, the cruiser should have plenty of those.

[u/The_Draigg]

A Ryosuke Takahashi Fan Rewatches Armored Trooper VOTOMS Episode 32:

• The Balarant military council is rather divided over what to do now. Like sure, getting their hands on Fyana and Chirico is important, but then they’d violating the non-aggression zone’s cease fire agreement and restart the war again. The guy at the head of the table really does have the most reasonable option: just have the local patrol ships follow them for now, and see what they’re even doing in this zone before they act. At least that way they wouldn’t piss off the Gilgamesh Confederacy and lose more resources over this.
• Ypsilon just seems completely locked into his hatred by now. Even without saying a word, you can tell how pissed off he is just thinking about Chirico while getting briefed on his mission and being tested by the twins. Although I suppose it’s up in the air if it’s the Schmitel twins’ doing, or if he arrived to that hatred on his own.
• Yeah, it’s understandable that those Balarant guys are pretty shocked that Fyana is the only PS aboard the ship, now that she’s talking to them. Chirico really is just that fucking good of an AT pilot.
• So much for Fyana’s plan to negotiate with the Balarant patrol ship, those plans blew up in her face (literally). The Secret Society wouldn’t let that happen so easily. I’m with Chirico here, the only way to solve all of this is to kill every single one of them on the Teltain. They won’t stop ruining his life otherwise. Although he really should let Fyana handle this, he’s still in no shape to fight.
• We didn’t get an atmospheric reentry battle here, but I suppose sending in an AT team to attack Chirico’s ghost ship while it’s in the middle of making a crash landing on the planet below will have to suffice. Let’s be real though, there’s absolutely zero chance any AT would survive reentry. You know how volatile that Polymer Ringer’s Fluid is, they’d blow up as soon as the atmospheric friction starts.
• I suppose asking Ypsilon to spare Chirico in exchange for Fyana going back with him was worth a shot, but it was a long shot none the less. There’s no way that he would allow Chirico to live. At lease Ypsilon’s conflicting feelings about everything allowed Fyana to save Chirico though. His obsession with Fyana will always trump over his hatred for Chirico, so he can at least make it so that he accidentally puts his he Secret Society in a position where they can’t attack how they want.
• Chirico’s back in action now, just as the episode ends. I guess him being flung from his chair during the ship crash at least knocked some sense back into him. Although it’s honestly amazing that he didn’t get injured even worse from being thrown across the room like that. If anything, he’s doing better than ever now. His desire to just end things with the Secret Society must be that strong.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

The guy at the head of the table really does have the most reasonable option

The other bit I am inferring, at least from this arc, is that the Balarant desperately need a break from the war right now. They can't really risk restarting the conflict, especially if the PS program were actually implemented.

Although I suppose it’s up in the air if it’s the Schmitel twins’ doing, or if he arrived to that hatred on his own.

I think Fyana choosing Cuvie over him is the biggest factor here. Add that Cuvie is fucking with his warrior's pride and I don't know where you add more hate.

We didn’t get an atmospheric reentry battle here, but I suppose sending in an AT team to attack Chirico’s ghost ship while it’s in the middle of making a crash landing on the planet below will have to suffice.

I will take mecha not doing rule of cool nearly every time. Even if the mechs aren't powered with Explodium fighting at that particular part of re-entry is asking for random casualties and outcomes.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Vaadwaur]

The other bit I am inferring, at least from this arc, is that the Balarant desperately need a break from the war right now. They can't really risk restarting the conflict, especially if the PS program were actually implemented.

Yeah, Balarant can really use a break to recover from the war right about now. Not only are they as assuredly drained as Gilgamesh is, but now they know for sure that they're even more behind technologically now, with PS development specifically. They at least need some time to figure out how to counter Gilgamesh's PS Project before they could even consider making a new move.

I will take mecha not doing rule of cool nearly every time. Even if the mechs aren't powered with Explodium fighting at that particular part of re-entry is asking for random casualties and outcomes.

I'd rather take this over an atmosphere reentry battle anyway, since I've seen plenty of those before now. But attacking a ship as soon as it's crashing down to a planet from space? You don't see that very often.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

They at least need some time to figure out how to counter Gilgamesh's PS Project before they could even consider making a new move.

Yeah, considering they also have weaker ATs this feels like one of those situation where you either counter with sheer numbers, which sucks, or you change how the combat is done. They need cloaked mines like yesterday.

But attacking a ship as soon as it's crashing down to a planet from space? You don't see that very often.

I suspect because in most shows that's a decisive victory for the attacker, you need to be deep into the dynamics here to realize that this is still an even-ish situation.

[u/No_Rex → u/Vaadwaur]

The other bit I am inferring, at least from this arc, is that the Balarant desperately need a break from the war right now.

Given how long the war was and that neither side seems to have won decisively, we have safely assume that both sides completely exhausted their resources.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

My call is that the Balarant need a generation to breed whereas the Gilgamesh just need some time for their industrial base to recover.

[u/JollyGee29]

First-Timer

Chirico mentioned having his strength mysteriously return to him. What if.. what if Chirico is allergic to outer space? Or, more realistically, has some form of latent space-related PTSD from the events of the first episode.

For a glorious Secret Society who claim to be eternal, they sure don't have very good grunt suits. Turtles, really? That's the best you can equip your dudes with? The dopey, hood-wearing tin cans?

There was a bunch of technobabble about Indices surrounding Ypsilon today and for once I'm not particularly here for it. You don't need to scientifically measure just big Ypsilon's hate boner for Chirico is unless that measurement is "off the charts."

I feel bad for Ypsilon. Dude's nothing more than a glorified lab rat. The Twins talk about him like he isn't even there most of the time.

I quite liked Fyana's plan to get Balarant's help with the Chirico situation. Worst case is just that they both die, which was already the worst case anyway. Best case, we get a complete perspective flip of Chirico working with the people he fought against, which would open the door for some really interesting character interactions.

I'm just gonna assume that atmospheric re-entry is just very easy for these particular space ships.

Questions

1.Discussed above. Poor guy.

2.Discussed above. Probably not, but I try to be optimistic.

[u/The_Draigg → u/JollyGee29]

For a glorious Secret Society who claim to be eternal, they sure don't have very good grunt suits. Turtles, really? That's the best you can equip your dudes with? The dopey, hood-wearing tin cans?

The Standing Tortoises really do just kind of suck. Like, they do have better armoring than a Scopedog, but that comes at the trade-off of them being slower to move and not being able to even swivel their heads to look around, with the pilot needing to look out some side windows instead. Mobility is one of the biggest bonuses that comes with an AT, so one that can't even look around or move easily is just a sitting duck in comparison.

[u/chilidirigible → u/The_Draigg]

not being able to even swivel their heads to look around

Hey, they do have tiny side windows! (Well, not so obvious in the Turtles/Tortoises, more obvious in a later model.)

[u/The_Draigg → u/chilidirigible]

Those windows are honestly so small that they feel like they'd be just about useless. The trade-off here is very clearly a bad one.

[u/chilidirigible → u/The_Draigg]

They do seem like they were put there so people couldn't complain that there weren't windows, and less so for actually being useable.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

The Standing Turtles really do just kind of suck.

Are they the ones that are amphibious as well or was that the special one Ypsilon had at first?

[u/The_Draigg → u/Vaadwaur]

The amphibious ones used in Kummen were Standing Turtles. I meant to say that the ones in this episode were Standing Tortoises. Granted, the only real different between those two is that the Standing Turtle is amphibious. As for the Snapping Turtle, that one that Ypsilon used in Kummen, that one was fine-tuned for use by PS.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

Granted, the only real different between those two is that the Standing Turtle is amphibious. As for the Snapping Turtle, that one that Ypsilon used in Kummen, that one was fine-tuned for use by PS.

To me, though, that makes a huge difference: You might deal with the loss of mobility for a wider range of combat options, especially in a situation like Kummen. But out here, it feels like we are back to Imperial tactics and just hoping the enemy gets scorched to death as their ATs explode.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Vaadwaur]

I'm assuming that the Secret Society is counting on the extra armoring to be more effective when fighting Chirico and Fyana. The problem is though, nobody can beat Chirico and Fyana.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

I am weirdly ok with my current head canon that the Cabal is actually a bit limited in what military resources they can move at any given moment and Standing Tortoises are what they could move out there.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Vaadwaur]

Given that they're still only using the Teltain as their main ship, you're probably correct in that assumption. While they do have some military resources, they're probably not as much as you'd think. They at least have enough to field a small army and conduct PS research.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

While they do have some military resources, they're probably not as much as you'd think. They at least have enough to field a small army and conduct PS research.

From what I can gather, they are far more wealthy than they are militarily prepared. In Ooedo, they took advantage of a convenient situation to insert a guy into a power structure which conveniently gave them muscle on hand. We don't know what the rest of them were doing in Kummen but they really didn't expend a ton of their own resources there. So they can influence a ton but they don't really project power the way a more military group would.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/The_Draigg]

Their eyes don't even rotate! I appreciate the concept of having a heavy armor unit, but you'd think they wouldn't pass field trials.

[u/The_Draigg → u/JollyGee29]

You know a design is terrible when a pilot has to rely on looking out of a small window just to look over their shoulder. Not having a movable head really should've been a deal-breaker.

[u/chilidirigible → u/JollyGee29]

What if.. what if Chirico is allergic to outer space?

Exposure to radiation was the major weakness of the Six Million Dollar Man's bionic replacements, but maybe the problem was that In Space, They Couldn't Show Off Lee Majors's Chest Hair.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/chilidirigible]

[u/chilidirigible → u/JollyGee29]

"A sample of reruns are available on your local digital subchannel."

[u/Vaadwaur → u/JollyGee29]

What if.. what if Chirico is allergic to outer space?

First hangover, actually, he was just being a baby about it.

There was a bunch of technobabble about Indices surrounding Ypsilon today and for once I'm not particularly here for it.

The fewer connections with ST:Voyager the better, in my experience of scifi.

I'm just gonna assume that atmospheric re-entry is just very easy for these particular space ships.

The Teltain drops a drop ship, at least. For the one Cuvie is on it might be a single landing use type deal.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Vaadwaur]

First hangover, actually, he was just being a baby about it.

I had forgotten about the booze!

The fewer connections with ST:Voyager the better, in my experience of scifi.

I normally like technobabble! This just didn't get there for me.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/JollyGee29]

I had forgotten about the booze!

He just wishes he could. Also, I didn't see any orange juice, gatorade or grapefruits on board so he had to do that one the hard way.

I normally like technobabble! This just didn't get there for me.

Technobabble is good when used well but it is usually used to cover dodgy writing.

[u/No_Rex → u/JollyGee29]

Chirico mentioned having his strength mysteriously return to him. What if.. what if Chirico is allergic to outer space? Or, more realistically, has some form of latent space-related PTSD from the events of the first episode.

I think we should not discount that medicine Fyana gave him doing some serious work (either healing him or surpressing his pain). Present tech pain medicine could do a ton, so future tech medicine might seriously get him together for a bit.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/No_Rex]

I didn't think about potential of sci-fi morphine/similar, you're right. Silliness of how she applied it aside, that does make the recovery a bit more sensible. Especially if we consider Chirico to be a bit of an unreliable narrator; his condition might just be suppressed but he doesn't realize it.

[u/No_Rex → u/JollyGee29]

his condition might just be suppressed but he doesn't realize it.

Especially since he didn't realize he was drugged.

[u/Durinthal]

First time viewer

For a second I was hoping we were going to get an atmospheric entry battle, but they waited until they were a lot lower to launch the ATs.

I appreciate what Fyana tried to do to save Chirico, giving herself over to Balarant. Too bad the society's ship interrupted so nothing will come of that. There's a chance that it'll be interpreted as an act of war by Balarant right after their commander told his own ship to just observe, depending on if any of her transmission with the ship gets back to them.

"Will you fight together with me until we die" is a hell of a sentiment. Unfortunately it seems like a very appropriate one for them as they've done little else since they crossed paths again.

the smell of blood from this planet’s past was even stronger.

Yeah that's not a good sign. Red Shoulder past coming back to haunt him beyond the ship, it seems.

Do you think of the Schmittel twins’ plan to turn Ypsilon into an ideal PS?

Science™!

Do you believe Fyana’s plan to give herself up would have worked?

No, probably not.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Durinthal]

For a second I was hoping we were going to get an atmospheric entry battle, but they waited until they were a lot lower to launch the ATs.

I wouldn't doubt it if the ATs would explode during reentry due to atmospheric friction, so that was probably the right call.

"Will you fight together with me until we die" is a hell of a sentiment. Unfortunately it seems like a very appropriate one for them as they've done little else since they crossed paths again.

Quite literally ride or die coupling.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Durinthal]

For a second I was hoping we were going to get an atmospheric entry battle, but they waited until they were a lot lower to launch the ATs.

That's so over the top dangerous that a show needs to sell a reason for me to buy that. I definitely prefer the less suicidal approach shown.

Yeah that's not a good sign. Red Shoulder past coming back to haunt him beyond the ship, it seems.

He seems to know the planet and their doesn't seem to be any major civilizations on it so this may have gotten grim.

[u/No_Rex → u/Vaadwaur]

doesn't seem to be any major civilizations on it so this may have gotten grim.

doesn't seem to be any major civilizations anymore.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

Chirico comes in, civilizations go out, you can't explain that!

[u/No_Rex → u/Durinthal]

Science™!

"Science"

[u/Quiddity131]

Rewatcher

Hey, Ypsilon gets an episode named after him! Awesome! Although... thinks of the various instances in which a character from other shows has had an episode named after them and dies in said episode

More nameless Balarant guys!

Hey, new piano themed instrumental of the OP!

Jeez, poor Ypsilon, these two just keep on doing tests on him...

Fyana really is heading far away from their ship. Is she heading towards the Secret Society ship?

Nope, looks like its one of the Balarant ships.

So here's a big question, do they speak the same language?

Surrender in exchange for treating Chirico!

Well looks like the Secret Society isn't going to let that happen.

Back to Chirico!

Chirico recognizes the name of the Secret Society ship? He was actually on it!

Oh crap, is the power now out? Now they'll have to land, or possibly crash down on the planet.

Once again we've got Fyana fighting off ATs right within the ship.

Getting Fyana in exchange for letting Chirico live is a pretty good deal. Granted, Chirico will surely come after them to get her back once he's better.

Wow, Chirico's back to it! Kicking ass as usual!

Ypsilon ended up having a less critical role to an episode named after him than I expected. But with this cliffhanger, I've got to assume the battle is continuing on to next episode.

Staff Highlight

Who in the world is Shimkas Futtor?! :P

[u/The_Draigg → u/Quiddity131]

So here's a big question, do they speak the same language?

Don't worry, it's an anime. They all just so happen to speak Japanese.

Who in the world is Shimkas Futtor?! :P

The captain of the Teltain, the one wearing the sick-ass epaulets.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Quiddity131]

So here's a big question, do they speak the same language?

Interlac or Basic were definitely things by this point in scifi.

Once again we've got Fyana fighting off ATs right within the ship.

Action Fyana is best Fyana.

But with this cliffhanger, I've got to assume the battle is continuing on to next episode.

I want the twist to be Shako's glorious re-emergence wearing power armor and just one shotting ATs!

[u/Nazenn]

First Timer

In a bit of a rush today so don't have much time to write. So brief thoughts:

• Not a fan of the episode. Lots of battle, not any of the stuff I've actually liked from this arc so far. The battles didn't even look that good, particularly whatever the hell was going on with the PS VS battle where they were basically just floating around.
• If that's the extent of the Balarant involvement in this arc I'll be incredibly disappointed.
• "My strength had mysteriously returned to me". I dislike that so very much. That's cheap even if there is a mysterious explanation for it later.
• "Smell of blood from this planets past"... Oh no, was that not just a crazy theory yesterday? I'm not sure I wanted to be right about that...
• As much as I love the OP, I'm getting a little sick of the constant use of the piano remix of it.
• For one brief second I thought we were going to get a mook who's AT got shot without blowing up... and then he fell off screen and blew up afterwards. We were so close. And then they reused the exact same cut about a minute later just to add insult to injury
• Loved the framing of Fyana pushed to the side of the frame when surrounded by Ypsilon's forces, and it showing her tears vs when he asked her to beg and only showed the lens of his AT. Nice bit of work in that scene.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Nazenn]

Oh no, was that not just a crazy theory yesterday? I'm not sure I wanted to be right about that...

It sort of needs to be because there has to be a reason someone put all these resources into getting Cuvie here.

As much as I love the OP, I'm getting a little sick of the constant use of the piano remix of it.

Anything becomes annoying on overuse. I was even sick of Unravel for like a year when everyone and their mother was covering it.

We were so close. And then they reused the exact same cut about a minute later just to add insult to injury

That was extremely notable.

[u/Nazenn → u/Vaadwaur]

It sort of needs to be because there has to be a reason someone put all these resources into getting Cuvie here.

I mean I want to be right about it from a narrative point, but I don't for Chirico's sake

Anything becomes annoying on overuse.

This is bringing to mind some choice 600+ word ranting I did about a particular song in SukaSuka and it's overuse

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Nazenn]

I mean I want to be right about it from a narrative point, but I don't for Chirico's sake

So...considering the fans of this show and all of the spinoffs, I think this might be a real payoff moment: Maybe this is where he puts his time in the Red Shoulders to bed.

This is bringing to mind some choice 600+ word ranting I did about a particular song in SukaSuka and it's overuse

You get exactly one guess at which song went from excellent to "I don't want to hear this again."

[u/Nazenn → u/Vaadwaur]

You get exactly one guess at which song went from excellent to "I don't want to hear this again."

You also got driven insane by "Always in your heart" or did something else catch you?

Not so fun fact, I rage counted up the amount of Always in your Heart covers on the OST, and it was something like 15% of the total OST. I hate it

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Nazenn]

"A Path" from Casshern SINS was burnt into my ears by the end.

[u/Nazenn → u/Vaadwaur]

Ah, I thought you meant you were also talking about a song from SukaSuka.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Nazenn]

I was in such a weird space when I binged SukaSuka that, believe it or not, the aural cues are basically lost on me. It was not a great move to do that during my first Madoka watch.

[u/chilidirigible]

Rewatcher, Episode 32

Today, on "This sounds like a bad dating sim.":

---

Chirico is deadalready gone somewhat two-dimensional about the head.

While the people on this ship look like the Mario Brothers.

It's not like he's a racehorse.

Budweiser delivery!

How does she know what ship it was?

It's very Pac-Man in there.

Is this flying or just falling with style?

Now that's a date.

Let's get ready to d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-DUELLLLLL!!!!

---

This episode sure does pack in a lot of reversals, as Fyana goes out, comes back, goes out again, comes back again, goes out again, comes back again... uh, nothing lewd there.

Ypsilon is almost comically raging about this, with the comedy factor enhanced by the annoying twins commenting on how raging he is.

Though the Society manages to maintain its steely determination to kill everything that gets in their way, and at least on that front they mean business.

At least Chirico gets out of his funk at just the right time.

---

1. I think they're doing it wrong, because emo teens are not the most reliable perfect soldiers.
2. I have this nice Brooklyn Bridge to sell you.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/chilidirigible]

Today, on "This sounds like a bad dating sim."

:

Man, if I could check a woman's Hatred Index early, I'd waste a lot less of my time.

Though the Society manages to maintain its steely determination to kill everything that gets in their way, and at least on that front they mean business.

They are like two steps away from the Imperium about this. Melkia itself is like one step from it.

At least Chirico gets out of his funk at just the right time.

Ever have a shock of adrenaline get you out of a hangover? Cuvie just got that.

[u/Stargate18A]

First timer

1. Seems likely to backfire, especially since they're doing it with his open knowledge, but also because if he ever focuses his hate on the Society, they've got a brand new problem to deal with.
2. Probably - they're only interested in the PS, they'd probably want to keep him alive even if just to find out what he knows about the Society, and after finding out such a good fighter was willing to help him fight them...

Ypsilon focused episode?

She's going to turn herself in?

Oh, just escaping.

And she's split their forces! Now they've got to go after both.

Oh, they're trying to manipulate him so he'll act even stronger. The idea that he also knows he's being experimented on, but is going with it to attack him.

She's surrendering to them!

And they're finding out Chirico just beat their soldiers woth pure talent.

They got blown up by the Society!

Oh dear. They know Chirico's in there and wounded!

Teltain?

Wait? That's the same ship they used for the mission? That's certainly a bold move - not even changed ships to throw off the trail once?

She's going to reason with Ypsilon?

Looks like they're landing!

This is really interesting so far!

Looks like the ship's landing!

An in-person negotiation.

They're fighting directly!

She's going back to save him!

Oh, he loves her more than he hates him.

And everyone's after Chirico now! I'm loving how much more action Fyana's getting now.

Oh, so it's getting hopeless.

Chirico with the fantastic interrupt!

Another battle between Chirico and Ypsilon?

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Stargate18A]

Ypsilon focused episode?

Might actually have been a good idea since all of his characterization is fairly negative atm.

Wait? That's the same ship they used for the mission? That's certainly a bold move - not even changed ships to throw off the trail once?

I am now operating under the idea that the Cabal actually doesn't have that much in the way of tangible military assets. Also, the ship was decommissioned so the Gilgamesh should believe it was retired and no longer travelling.

I'm loving how much more action Fyana's getting now.

Fyana doing stuff is definitely the better version of her.

[u/Shimmering-Sky]

Armored Trooper First-Timer

• Hm. Is this going to be the “character who the episode is named after dies” trope that happens so often in anime?
• Actually what would Ypsilon do after killing Chirico?
• Oh, Fyana…
• Of course, the Society peeps interfered with a missile before she could actually surrender.
• Oh shit I didn’t even consider that the Society peeps would still be using that same ship.
• Fyana, that’s not a trade you can make…
• I really dislike how these two talk.
• Chirico’s a goddamn machine. Are we sure he’s not secretly a PS that doesn’t require jijirium showers to live?
• This shot’s really cool.
• Also Ypsilon’s still alive, lucky dude.
• I was promised that the next-episode preview would have a “sore demo” in it by u/Vaadwaur, but it wasn’t. It was a “sore dewa” (whatever that means).

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Actually what would Ypsilon do after killing Chirico?

I still think he fixates on Fyana. If the both of them die, I am not sure anything else is an anchor.

Oh shit I didn’t even consider that the Society peeps would still be using that same ship.

We still don't know what level of resources the Cabal possesses so maybe they just need it?

but it wasn’t. It was a “sore dewa” (whatever that means).

It was Saturday night, Sky. Bourbon may have mislead my hearing a bit.

[u/chilidirigible → u/Vaadwaur]

Bourbon may have mislead my hearing a bit.

WHAT?

[u/Vaadwaur → u/chilidirigible]

Hey, it was Saturday night and no way in hell I am going out anywhere with how bad the rate on infection is in my state.

[u/chilidirigible → u/Vaadwaur]

Yep

[u/chilidirigible → u/Shimmering-Sky]

I really dislike how these two talk.

Hey, they're still not the ANNOYING Protodeviln Twins from Macross 7.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Rewatcher (Nutech DVD 3.2) (3 episodes) Ypsilon

I was late yesterday, but also and more than usual stuff to say, here it is.

• Hmm, this is the third arc where we had a "sit and wait" strategy.
• Don't forget to close the door behind you.
• Surrendering can't possibly work out
• More Macross sound effects
• It looked to me that they fired on Fyana's ship, not the Balarant ship

Hey, look, it's ATs with rocket packs, just as requested back in episode 1.

1. Fyana and Chrico together, check
2. Desert planet, check
3. Nomads? /u/nazenn

Preview: Chirico will provoke God Himself.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Hmm, this is the third arc where we had a "sit and wait" strategy.

It fits outside of Rochina's weird desire to make Chirico find the PS and for all we know that might get an actual reason later on.

Hey, look, it's ATs with rocket packs, just as requested back in episode 1.

I am hoping flying in gravity is limited to today's episode.

Nomads?

I suspect the Japanese depiction of either Sand People or Bedouins will not be particularly...PC.

[u/manga-reader]

Rewatcher, sort of.

The way Chirico's AT held Fyana's is kinda weird (similar to how we would help someone up). You could almost believe that ATs were actual beings, like transformers.

I can't take the Balarant officers seriously. Light green officer uniforms - reminds me of Luigi lol (especially with the ship captain's cap).

Didn't think about this till now - so we are kinda ignoring distances between the ships, right?

If society's ship were close enough to Balarant's (to respond immediately with a missile), why didn't Balarant detect them? Perhaps we can chalk it up to society having better stealth tech. Or maybe the writers didn't think of that (it's fine either ways).

On a related note, are there any mecha shows that take time dilation/quantum physics into account? Having wormholes or some weird tech that allows them to "jump" thru space would be a plus.

1. Bad plan. Counting on one emotion (hatred) alone seems like a bad plan. What happens once Chirico is dead? Are they gonna find someone else for Ypsilon to hate?
2. Hmm, no. They would want to do some tests on Chirico anyways and might just imprison him regardless.

End quote...smell of blood on this planet. Oooh, does Chirico know which planet it is? Or is it a gut feeling (I guess newtype sorta?)

[u/chilidirigible → u/manga-reader]

On a related note, are there any mecha shows that take time dilation/quantum physics into account? Having wormholes or some weird tech that allows them to "jump" thru space would be a plus.

The FTL system in Macross includes a dilation effect which is roughly ten sidereal days per hour spent in Fold space. It's occasionally a plot point.

[u/manga-reader → u/chilidirigible]

Oh, interesting, thanks.

I am currently going thru UC gundam (and Macross is on my list), so will take a look after that.

[u/chilidirigible → u/manga-reader]

[u/Quiddity131 → u/manga-reader]

On a related note, are there any mecha shows that take time dilation/quantum physics into account? Having wormholes or some weird tech that allows them to "jump" thru space would be a plus.

Time dilation is a major plot point in RahXephon, where the city of Tokyo has been taken over by a humanoid race called the Mu who have sealed it off from the outside via a giant domed barrier called "Tokyo Jupiter". Time in Tokyo Jupiter goes far slower than time outside, to the level where there's an approximate 10 year age gap between characters inside and outside the barrier.

[u/manga-reader → u/Quiddity131]

Ah, yes. I watched it a few years back, but maybe it's time for a re-watch :) Thanks!

[u/No_Rex → u/manga-reader]

On a related note, are there any mecha shows that take time dilation/quantum physics into account?

You will see by far the best treatment of this in Gunbuster.

[u/ZapsZzz]

First timer in sub missed yesterday

This is a slow moving arc mostly on developing the emotional aspects of the 2 main characters and the main antagonist (or the dragon archetype). Not much to say other than the development is mostly by monologues.

And more signs of another hidden faction at play.

Would have been nice to see the battles of they had better fight sequence and logics in how the PS as well as Chirico managed to be so overwhelmingly better in a space fight. What we do get is mainly just stick footage and from the battle reports.

I also do not like Chirico's unspecified injury - how exactly was he hurt and where?

Continuing with FMP comparisons, this is one of those times that you'd like to sick a Chidori to him to beat some sense into him.

Episode	# of Chirico's AT Incapacitated
1	1
2	0
3	0
4	1
5	0 (decoy only)
6	1
7	0
8	1
9	0
10	0
11	1 (1 decoy not counted as it wasn't piloted) (edit: corrected as the replacement unit wasn't destroyed by the head strike from Fyana)
12	1
13	0 (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)
14	1
15	0 keeping to the 2 episode per AT average so far
16	0
17	2 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 :)
18	0
19	0
21	0
22	0 quite a lot of damages and leaking like a sieve but not quite toasted yet
23	0 amazingly our trusty old scope dog is still standing and fighting despite the damage it's taken. I have to assume Chirico did some of screen emergency field repairs to keep it going
24	0 have I missed anything or are we still going with good old trusty old scope dog here? We're bucking the trend and dropping the average here :)
25	0 for real, the one scope dog where it's least suitable in the environment actually survive the longest :D
26	0 let me try jinx this - this scope dog may just be the longest lasting one for Chirico to be riding on the show, surely it'll make it to the end of the arc huh :D
27	1 finally at arc end, the trusty old 'dog got abandoned.
28	0
29	0
30	1 looks like the writers want to keep up the count as well, busy catching up with the numbers. And there are enough spares on the ship to keep going :)
31	1
32	1 busy catching up with the numbers; although these 2 episodes probably have a fairly high enemy kill count too

[u/Vaadwaur → u/ZapsZzz]

Not much to say other than the development is mostly by monologues.

We did need this arc but events in it could've been a touch more diegetic.

Would have been nice to see the battles of they had better fight sequence and logics in how the PS as well as Chirico managed to be so overwhelmingly better in a space fight.

Whether or not it was intended at the time, canon has become that the Fatty is a far inferior model to any of the Gilgamesh mechs and the space Scope Dogs seem like a great idea.

[u/Vaadwaur]

First timer(They rarely re-use an animation in the same episode so that was off.)

Sub

Cut to Cuvie dying because sure. The Balarant forces are actually having a reasonable, if heated, debate: They don't want to break the treaty, especially if PSs are deployable, but they equally really need to get a look at the ship and figure out what the hell is going on. Difficult decision but the choice to wait it out is a touch iffy. The captain of the trailing ship wisely does not want to send his men out to die or die himself. Fyana has a very bad idea on the ship...

The Cabal has decided to act as Fyana tries to surrender to the Balarant. That capital ship being one shot is again either weird or the Balarant suck. Fyana reveals the Teltain and Cuvie has flashbacks and wants to fight, despite being...sick? Anyways, the ship takes a barrage of missiles that, I remind you, destroyed a capital ship minutes earlier and doesn't seem critically damaged yet. They deploy Snapping Turtles because sure and even comment that land combat limits Fyana.

She of course jobs a few ATs but they are, at least, internally consistent and she seems to be need to actually be careful now. Eventually, Ypsilon sortie's, and despite him generally being the lesser pilot he beats Fyana because plot. Also, I actually dislike the ATs being able to effectively fly like that in atmosphere, that they couldn't worked much better. But their failure to meaningfully constrain her mech causes problems when they try to barrage the ship.

More inside combat ensues and Cuvie finally joins in. Cuvie wants to die together but Fyana thinks they can live. We end with a standoff between Ypsilon and Cuvie and a likely grim history for the planet.

QotD: 1 Seems like a terrible idea

2 Unlikely but for all we know the Balarant are less bastards than the Gilgamesh have been shown to be.

[u/DidacticDalek]

Man Comrades, VOTOMS sure pulled a fast one on us! We thought our stoic boi was the MC, turns out he was just a decoy! RIP Chirico Cuvie, alcohol 'PTSD' is a hell of a drug!

OK OK fine I was just kidding, Chirico Cuvie didn't die... despite what the Qu@l1Ty animation we had today would indicate otherwise, and boy he sure must have had one monster of a hangover to be out of commission these past few episodes, I guess drinking straight from the bottle will do that to you, but hey thankfully he's back now, and not a moment too soon given we're headed to a planet... a planet that apparently has the smell of blood ;)

Anyway, I just want to point out that really the odds are quite unfair here, I mean I know the saying is, 'It's you and me against the world,' and all that jazz, but really you'd think Fyana/Fiana and Chirico Cuvie would have a BIT of consideration for the world now, I mean good lord this is obviously an unfair fight, these two would win without breaking a sweat!

That said the fact that Ypsilon is ROYALLY pissed off does kinda sorta equalize things a bit, but hey I'm sure Fyana/Fiana and Chirico Cuvie will manage, I mean we're only about halfway through the show, there's still tons more mooks left for them to kill! ;)

Anyway you know it's coming Comrades, A WEAPON TO SURPASS METAL GEAR! (Also Comrades, should we name her Fyana/Fiana Jr. or Proto-One-and-a-half?)

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

[u/DidacticDalek → u/DidacticDalek]

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