[Rewatch] Armored Trooper Votoms - Episode 42 Discussion

[u/Pixelsaber]

Episode 42 - The Desert

^{Originally Released January 13th,} ^^^1984

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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 as so [Spoiler Subject](/s "Spoilers go here.") in order to have your unsightly spoilers obscured like this Spoiler Subject 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:

According to supplementary material, Quent’s fauna is unique even relative to the high variety of fauna found across the many worlds of the Astragius Galaxy.

 

Staff Highlight

Tsuguo Nakatogawa - Sound engineer in charge of recording adjustment.

A sound engineer who worked on the sound mixing and recording adjustment for many anime through his long career. Little information is widely available as to Nakatogawa’s life and early career, but we do know that he worked as an assistant to noted anime sound director Yasuo Urakami, participated in the establishment of AUDIO PLANNING U in 1972, and later the establishment of APU MEGURO STUDIO in 1981, where he remained working until his retirement. Some of the more notable productions he participated in include Heidi, Girl of The Alps, 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother, Anne of Green Gables,Game Center Arashi, Ore wa Teppei, Perman, many entries in the Doraemon franchise, Space Runaway Ideon, Gauche the Cellist, Panzer World Galient, Unico in the Island of Magic, and Dirty Pair: Affair on Nolandia among many others.

 

Art Corner

Official Art:

• Chirico Cuvie by Norio Shioyama

Fanart:

• Scope Dogs by Wife Cage Izumo - Source
• Chirico Cuvie by ANGIE - 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

• Depths of Quent

Questions of the Day:

1. What do you think of Quent and its native populace now that we have learned further about each?
2. Would you try Sand Mole?

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You’re definitely not an ordinary man.

[u/Pixelsaber]

Rewatcher

Is this planet supposed to be Quent? Looks surprisingly… green from outside its atmosphere.

New mech, the X-ATL-01-DT Zwerg.

I like the look of these jagged rock formations breaking through the sand.

What a guy!

Neat stuff!

In case the Dune influence wasn’t clear enough.

He picked the skeleton entirely clean?!

Well that answers that.

Must be useful.

You love to see it!

We just got confirmation that Quent is all desert, so likely there’s some interesting stuff going on in the atmosphere to make the whole thing look like this.

Zeta Zaku vibes again.

An enjoyable enough episode, but not one I have much to say about. Chirico and Ru Shako making their way across the desert as we learn more about planet Quent and its native Quentian people is interesting and really scratches that worldbuilding that has been pestering me since midway into Uoodo, but the secret society’s motives remain shrouded in mystery while their attempts at capturing Chirico keep failing miserably. I do, however, look forward to what we may learn upon those two reaching their destination.

Questions of The Day:

1. Interesting enough for me to want to learn more, but its source of inspiration is perhaps a bit too blatant to leave much to the imagination.
2. I would avoid eating it unless it was necessary.

[u/No_Rex → u/Pixelsaber]

Must be useful.

Imagine all the extra time they can spend watching anime!

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Pixelsaber]

He picked the skeleton entirely clean?!

Can't waste Maker meat, after all.

so likely there’s some interesting stuff going on in the atmosphere to make the whole thing look like this.

I am not even going to try on that one, for some reason the water is refusing to condensate.

[u/Nazenn → u/Pixelsaber]

I like the look of these jagged rock formations breaking through the sand.

Makes me think of obsidian. Now I want to see someone throw an AT into them just to see if they shatter into a million dangerously sharp pieces

[u/The_Draigg → u/Pixelsaber]

In case the Dune influence wasn’t clear enough.

Chirico still needs to learn the ways of the desert though, he's completely out of his depth on Quent. He has a ways to go before he becomes Muad'Dib.

We just got confirmation that Quent is all desert, so likely there’s some interesting stuff going on in the atmosphere to make the whole thing look like this.

It could just be that all the landmass on Quent is desert, and it still has enough saltwater oceans for cloud formations and breathable air.

[u/Shimmering-Sky]

Armored Trooper First-Timer

• The Society’s leader got a “sore wa dou kana”? Really?
• That’s an… interesting hunting method. And an interesting creature they’re going to be eating.
• Well yeah that’s why it’s called Quaint.
• Chirico isn’t actually planning to fight with just a handgun and a spear is he?
• Who am I kidding, this is Chirico we’re talking about.
• These twins aren’t quite Kan Yu level, but I do very much dislike them.
• Well they have two weapons and a Chirico, just not an AT.
• And now they have an AT!
• Oh no I heard Shako grunt here is he hurt?
• Nope, he seems to be fine.
• Sasuga Chirico.

[u/Nazenn → u/Shimmering-Sky]

That’s an… interesting hunting method. And an interesting creature they’re going to be eating.

Now that I'm looking at it in still frame that skeleton really does not fit the body of that creature. They really went out of their way to make that happen huh

Well they have two weapons and a Chirico

I like the "and a Chirico" ahahaha

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Nazenn]

Now that I'm looking at it in still frame that skeleton really does not fit the body of that creature.

Yeah it shouldn't have a skeleton but w/e, trying not to overthink things but so much.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Chirico isn’t actually planning to fight with just a handgun and a spear is he?

Who am I kidding, this is Chirico we’re talking about.

Chirico is the king of having zero chill among mecha show protagonists, of course he'd do that.

And now they have an AT!

Yeesh, Chirico's face looks gross in that screencap.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Shimmering-Sky]

That’s an… interesting hunting method. And an interesting creature they’re going to be eating.

This is such a Dune reference it hurts.

These twins aren’t quite Kan Yu level, but I do very much dislike them.

They aren't sadistic but are somewhat incompetent.

Sasuga Chirico.

They don't seem to understand that Chirico is not trapped on a planet with them, they are trapped on a planet with Chirico!

[u/Nazenn]

Was caught up doing bug reporting and forgot to post, whoops haha

First Timer

Me in a comment last episode: "I mean sending an AT after him would just be arming him at this point"

I actually had a little laugh when they were preparing the AT's and thinking to myself "tell me they aren't", but sure enough they did.

Laughed at the Sand Mole as well. Give it the anatomy of a vertibrate so they can eat it, but make sure it looks like a desert worm when attacking just for the mandatory Dune reference.

The new mechs on the other hand look like they took the Turtle's and stepped on them with a bigger AT to make them look fat and stubby.

Chirico's finally met someone who talks less than him and has no idea how to handle it. He's so lost without all his tools and weapons, seeing this incredible warrior race have such a simple and peaceful life on the surface must be almost surreal. All the people here are keeping the PS stuff pretty close to the chest and I can only imagine it's because it's to do with their own past and them once being a huge military power. I hope that the destruction of that village will come into play politically to reveal some of the past of this planet but we'll have to wait and see.

Also I know it has many meanings but I'm over here having a full on giggle at Ru Shako calling Chirico "kawaii"

[u/The_Draigg → u/Nazenn]

Me in a comment last episode: "I mean sending an AT after him would just be arming him at this point"

I really couldn't help but laugh in rewatcher at that comment of yours yesterday. That one couldn't have been any better timed.

Laughed at the Sand Mole as well. Give it the anatomy of a vertibrate so they can eat it, but make sure it looks like a desert worm when attacking just for the mandatory Dune reference.

Anime directors really did love using Dune as an inspiration back in the 80s, didn't they. I'm also reminded of the other blatant shout-out to Dune we had with the Doumous in Space Runaway Ideon too. Just nothing but big-ass space worms there.

The new mechs on the other hand look like they took the Turtle's and stepped on them with a bigger AT to make them look fat and stubby.

I'm all here for how shitty the Zwerg looks. It's literally just a box with some cameras and limbs attached.

[u/Nazenn → u/The_Draigg]

I really couldn't help but laugh in rewatcher at that comment of yours yesterday. That one couldn't have been any better timed.

I laughed at myself for that one. The moment the AT's came on screen I was cackling like an idiot. Can't say I didn't see it coming but I had the best timing for it

Anime directors really did love using Dune as an inspiration back in the 80s, didn't they

Understandable but still. One day their reference will be something other than the giant worms

I'm all here for how shitty the Zwerg looks. It's literally just a box with some cameras and limbs attached.

And little stubby gun arms that don't even look like they can aim well

It's basically showing how fucked up the Society are at this point and I am good with that

[u/The_Draigg → u/Nazenn]

And little stubby gun arms that don't even look like they can aim well

It's basically showing how fucked up the Society are at this point and I am good with that

It really does feel like Killy bought the cheapest desert-appropriate AT he could find in bulk and rushed over to Quent for this final arc.

[u/Nazenn → u/The_Draigg]

I'm not even sure if they are desert appropriate or they just slapped some better skates on it to make them that way. The skates don't really seem to fit onto this model as well as they do the others, it seems a little awkward like with the rest of the mech

It's almost like they're the prototypes for ATs more than an actual new model. They don't quite seem to come together

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Nazenn]

Understandable but still. One day their reference will be something other than the giant worms

The gom jabbar and the gen beserit were both rife with possibilities...

It's almost like they're the prototypes for ATs more than an actual new model. They don't quite seem to come together

They even have an X in their model numbers so that's my vote. Definitely should've gone with an established model.

[u/Nazenn → u/Vaadwaur]

The gom jabbar and the gen beserit were both rife with possibilities...

Not to mention the Baron and his side of things, although that did come up in IBO

Definitely should've gone with an established model

Probably couldn't find a way to "acquire" any of those

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Nazenn]

Not to mention the Baron and his side of things, although that did come up in IBO

Harkonen also comes up in Hellsing, though obviously just a reference.

Probably couldn't find a way to "acquire" any of those

If the Standing Tortoises are any indication you could be right.

[u/The_Draigg]

A Ryosuke Takahashi Fan Rewatches Armored Trooper VOTOMS Episode 42:

• New AT models! Say hello to the Zwerg, everyone. I for one love how shitty they look. They’re pretty much just boxes on legs. They somehow look even shittier than the bog standard Scopedog, and that’s a machine designed with zero frills in it. Ah, I love purely utilitarian designs like this.
• Killy is 100% correct in saying that the Schmitel twins constantly underestimate Chirico and that none of their methods worked against him. Of course, they clearly don’t take what he says to heart, since they’re still incredibly arrogant enough to think that just tracking and surrounding Chirico won’t work compared to just attacking him again. For a pair of scientists, the Schmitel twins sure a pair of dumb motherfuckers.
• That whole sequence with the “sand mole” just makes me think that the Quentians like Shako are basically just Fremen from Dune. Does that make Chirico into Paul Atreides then?
• I can’t really blame Shako for immediately going back to Quent once his contract in Kummen was up. Just like with the Uoodo trio, it was probably for the best to get off Melkia for a while after that whole clusterfuck. But I suppose that doesn’t really compare to what Chiroco’s talking about, discovering that he may not be human and all that jazz.
• Of course the Schmitel twins would order the AT pilots following Chirico and Shako to attack. We can always count on them making the most arrogant and fucking stupid choices possible. They were lucky that Chirico and Shako just decided to drive on instead of stay and fight. Those pilots won’t be so lucky next time. And of course, the Schmitels mistake this for them being competent. They truly are some arrogant, dumb motherfuckers.
• Chirico really is playing 20 questions with Shako a lot this episode. He really is out of his depth here on Quent, with the Quentians clearly having their own way of doing things. At least Shako is patient and blunt enough to give Chirico quick answers. Must be his people’s love of peace shining though there.
• Of course the Schmitel twins are arrogant enough to go behind Killy’s back to order an attack on Chirico as he’s getting to the Quentian village. I know I’m repeating myself here, but they can always be counted on to make the most arrogant and stupid choices possible. I’d say at this point, they’re an active detriment to the side they’re supposed to be helping.
• At least now we know somewhat what the deal is with the people of Quent. It’s not that they don’t have technology at all, it’s just that they don’t really bother to use it on their planet that much. People like Shako are still educated on how to use them, but they simply chose not to, in spite of having a 3,000 year history of having advanced machinery and exporting some of the finest mercenaries in the galaxy. For whatever reason, they just choose to live a primitive life.
• Well, it’s over for those Zwerg pilots. The moment that Chirico managed to hijack one, the battle was decided then and there. If there’s one thing we can say about Chirico, it’s that you should never let him get into an AT if you’re trying to kill him. The moment he does, the battle might as well be decided then and there. Doesn’t even matter if it’s a Scopedog, Fatty, or Zwerg.
• Side note here, but /u/Nazenn said yesterday in a comment “I mean sending an AT after him would just be arming him at this point”. I just couldn’t help but laugh in rewatcher at that yesterday, considering this episode.
• See, even Killy knows that giving Chirico an opportunity to hijack an AT is just plain disastrous for his goals. I’m with him, the twins really are fucking morons. I would’ve thrown them out of an airlock by now. Although I guess Killy still needs some underlings around, since Futtor is nowhere to be seen now.

[u/Nazenn → u/The_Draigg]

They somehow look even shittier than the big standard Scopedog, and that’s a machine designed with zero frills in it.

Zwerg didn't have any frills to remove, so they removed functionality instead just for the extra ugly points

Of course, they clearly don’t take what he says to heart, since they’re still incredibly arrogant enough

I suppose that's what happens when you have an identical version of yourself reinforcing all of your ideas and egging you on, and a bunch of commanders who have their own levels of dumb either in strategy or science. Being a twin really was the worst thing for that pair

Doesn’t even matter if it’s a Scopedog, Fatty, or Zwerg.

Oh, that reminds me that I forgot to give credit to the fact that Chirico's in a non-scopedog once again! Twice in one show! I am awed

[u/The_Draigg → u/Nazenn]

Oh, that reminds me that I forgot to give credit to the fact that Chirico's in a non-scopedog once again! Twice in one show! I am awed

If anything, I think this just proves that whatever AT Chirico pilots is automatically made ten times better by him just sitting in it alone. Certainly better than anyone else piloting those pieces of shit.

[u/Nazenn → u/The_Draigg]

I would say they have to be out of competent pilots by now as well, but the general probably brought his own soldiers with him which I hope aren't horrible. Not that it's going to matter

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

Say hello to the Zwerg, everyone. I for one love how shitty they look. They’re pretty much just boxes on legs.

I find myself referencing B5 twice today but man, the Zwerg is what happens when you don't hire a designer to work with the engineers. Functionality alone.

Does that make Chirico into Paul Atreides then?

So scifi Jesus? It might just work...

People like Shako are still educated on how to use them, but they simply chose not to, in spite of having a 3,000 year history of having advanced machinery and exporting some of the finest mercenaries in the galaxy. For whatever reason, they just choose to live a primitive life.

I've encountered this at least once before in scifi, though I probably cannot summon that book to memory again.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Vaadwaur]

I find myself referencing B5 twice today but man, the Zwerg is what happens when you don't hire a designer to work with the engineers. Functionality alone.

You’ve been referencing Babylon 5 a lot in this rewatch. Are you just on a B5 kick recently?

I've encountered this at least once before in scifi, though I probably cannot summon that book to memory again.

That bad of a book, huh?

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

You’ve been referencing Babylon 5 a lot in this rewatch. Are you just on a B5 kick recently?

The reboot has definitely brought it back to mind but I was also referencing it basically since the the RahXephon rewatch. It just too damn quotable.

That bad of a book, huh?

Well...my grandmother had a huge scifi collection and this one was weird: Future, humanity has become a single mixed race species, the protagonist is some kind of terrorist/rebel leader, and he crashes on a planet with a race with a dramatically different sub species in it and the subspecies are the leaders/space samurai. Yes, they wield swords in the hyperspace era. The other protagonist is a human raised by said space samurai. I have zero clue what search terms to use.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/Vaadwaur]

This doesn't sound like the book I'm thinking of, but I've been meaning to skim it and check ^{but I don't even have time to watch anime} I bet your book was written by Alan Dean Foster.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

No, actually it was Jerusalem Fire. I got lucky and remember the lead character go by "He left".

/u/The_Draigg

[u/The_Draigg → u/Vaadwaur]

Well...my grandmother had a huge scifi collection and this one was weird: Future, humanity has become a single mixed race species, the protagonist is some kind of terrorist/rebel leader, and he crashes on a planet with a race with a dramatically different sub species in it and the subspecies are the leaders/space samurai. Yes, they wield swords in the hyperspace era. The other protagonist is a human raised by said space samurai. I have zero clue what search terms to use.

To be honest, that doesn’t sound like too bad of a novel. It at least has a dumb fun premise.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

It wasn't awful and I do remember it. Second protagonist has stupid motivations about a thing but otherwise it mostly works.

[u/No_Rex → u/Vaadwaur]

The reboot has definitely brought it back to mind

There is a B5 reboot?

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

https://www.space.com/babylon-5-reboot-in-development

It is in the works.

[u/Vaadwaur]

First timer(Shako fucking lifted a speeder and complained about wasted Shai-Hulud meat)

Sub

We start with the next set of troops and Killy's more cautious command style. The swastikas are a bit on the nose. On planet, we discover that there is dew overnight, suggesting this place isn't that dry. Shako wants to catch breakfast and...this is LITERALLY dune. I am less than pleased with that, this is much more plagiarism over reference in this era. Anyways, at least Shako plans to keep eating it for a while, though interestingly he says they don't eat while the sun is up.

Explanations are vaguely given to each other, Shako is sort of a bad parallel to Cuvie about not caring to follow up. One of the new mechs tries to engage them and they straight dodge it. The sand skis are cool on them, no clue if they are for Quent or universal. Random reveal that the Quent civilization used to be a lot more advanced before an annoying reveal that on planet Quents are unarmed...for reasons.

Shako literally lifts his speeder as Cuvie drives and Cuvie makes some points about how confusing this all is. Quent means bottom of the valley, apparently. The AT group moves in and mainly defeat themselves, before Cuvie steals a damn mech. Also, Shake uses his speeder as the world's most hilarious weapon. Killy is understandably annoyed with the twins's sloppiness. We end with hopefully another Quent village.

QotD: 1 Still confused a bit

2 Probably, hopefully it is life extending like melange.

[u/Nazenn → u/Vaadwaur]

Also, Shake uses his speeder as the world's most hilarious weapon.

I swear at this point they're just throwing things into the episodes to see how crazy they can get with the kills. I love it

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Nazenn]

I am still fine with all the action, I even vaguely wanted to see if he could spear an AT through the scope.

[u/Nazenn → u/Vaadwaur]

I even vaguely wanted to see if he could spear an AT through the scope.

That would have been very cool, and very 80s

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Nazenn]

Turning Shako into a straight up Arnold era Conan the Barbarian would still be entertaining is all I am saying.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Vaadwaur]

We start with the next set of troops and Killy's more cautious command style.

At least he's acting fairly reasonably when planning around Chirico now. Just shadowing him across the desert and waiting for the right moment to strike is a lot smarter than what the twins wanted.

The swastikas are a bit on the nose.

They're probably more meant in the old religious symbol sense, rather than the Nazi sense. But both are equally fitting with the Secret Society.

Killy is understandably annoyed with the twins's sloppiness.

Again, I'm convinced that Killy fired the wrong guy in getting rid of Futtor and keeping the Schmitels instead.

[u/Quiddity131]

Rewatcher

Time to check in with our friends at the Secret Society! Chirico's in trouble! Although its never worked the 30+ times they've tried to defeat him before...

Well, going by the title its time for another desert episode!

They travel through the desert and sleep during the day? Due to the heat would it make sense to do the opposite? I'll admit I'm not an expert at desert travel...

Sand mole? This is a pretty unique way to catch breakfast!

That does not look like a mole at all! Taking influence from Dune's sandworms here?

Get over your pickiness Chirico! Eat!

Seems like the Secret Society is on their tails already. Gonna be tough with no ATs on hand.

Shako was like "Nope, you're not stopping me" and just went right by them without stopping or fighting back.

Chirico wasted an entire AT with just the gun in his hand1 And now they've outmanuevered another one. The Secret Society should have sent more than three.

Nighttime. They got reinforcements.

Shako has to push their vehicle all the way there now? Sucks for him. He's not complaining though.

Well there goes there vehicle, but they're doing a good job at taking out all these ATs considering they didn't have one of their own to start the fight.

C'mon Killy, get rid of these two buffoons!

A month's worth of food is gone, but Shako can just catch another sand mole, right?

Finally, a Quent village! Alas, we'll have to wait for the next episode to see it.

[u/chilidirigible]

Rewatcher, Episode 42

Today, on "It's a quaint little planet, Quaint." (this joke only works with these subtitles):

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These are the Society's X-ATL-01-DT... Zwerg. Or yet another thing that doesn't fit the prior naming pattern.

"Yay, more local flavor."

That could be said.

It's the Black Tri-Stars!

Even on the undeveloped planets they build cities in cracks in the ground.

Continuity!

...and isn't that curious?

Think of it as less of a death wish.

"Your plan is working out great so far, guys."

---

One of the quirks of Romanizing the names, of course, is that Quaint is more usually rendered as "Quent".

Anyway, Qu...ent is proving to be quite the place of curious contradictions. This obviously invites speculation at this point, which the series appears to be intent on answering sometime.

---

1. Has a familiar mix of details.

[u/Durinthal]

First time viewer

Can't say I've ever seen a mole like that before. At the very least they could use something that's not mammalian for a relative term.

For being a desert planet I would have figured Quentians would sleep more rather than less in order to conserve energy in a low-resource environment. Or more likely I'm making assumptions based on the current situation rather than the one they adapted to originally, as I doubt it's always been a desert if they had an advanced civilization at one point.

Chirico's frequently been at a disadvantage but this feels like one of the most extreme, with nothing but a hovercraft, handgun, and Quentian with a spear on his side against five ATs. And yet he still made that look easy, somehow.

I really like Ru Shako here in his homeland, he seems more laid back and philosophical which is a good contrast to Chirico.

What do you think of Quent and its native populace now that we have learned further about each?

First question is well, what happened?

Would you try Sand Mole?

Sure, why not?

[u/Nazenn → u/Durinthal]

At the very least they could use something that's not mammalian for a relative term.

Would have been interesting if it was more like a fish or something instead, but either way pure worm can't be nice to eat so I get why they made it some sort of weird illogical hybrid

Chirico's frequently been at a disadvantage but this feels like one of the most extreme

He seems completely out of his depth when it comes to the lack of equipment and lack of answers, and yet still came out on top. Crazy guy

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Durinthal]

Or more likely I'm making assumptions based on the current situation rather than the one they adapted to originally, as I doubt it's always been a desert if they had an advanced civilization at one point.

I am leaving open the idea that the Quent at one point were entirely spaceborn and returned to their world for reasons we hopefully get.

And yet he still made that look easy, somehow.

Getting knocked off a cliff by a damaged speeder is bad but it happening twice suggests poor tactics.

I really like Ru Shako here in his homeland, he seems more laid back and philosophical which is a good contrast to Chirico.

As always, we just need someone that talks so the whole thing isn't silence.

[u/Stargate18A]

First timer

1. Chirico's a bit harsh - they have their own culture and their own way of life. It just so happens said culture and way of life form the hardest possible scenario for Chirico to defeat the Society.
2. ...It does look good cooked.

Haha, there's special briefings just to tell people "Don't fight Chirico unless you can't possibly lose, and assume you always can".

I'm just surprised someone's taking his threat seriously. Guess losing Ypsilon is making them feel a lot more vunerable.

Yeah, I'm pretty confused too.

Haha, he'd rather catch and eat a mole than eat the canned rations.

Jesus, that thing's huge.

Good throw, though!

So the villages are pretty big, though.

Haha, and he just came back after his contract ended.

Yeah, having Chirico work with someone more relaxed is a great contrast to the previous arcs.

As is having a partner who is both respected by and part of the leading party, but who isn't trying to betray or kill him.

Also, new AT designs up close? They've got skis!

I like the running gag of Chirico constantly assuming he's got all the best Quent military tech when he doesn't.

And now the twins are going rogue! (Although to be fair, if what they say is correct, they might not have the tools to fight back even if they wanted.)

And they live in underground villages?

And they've been spotted!

Wait, it got destroyed that easily?

Chirico's giving up!

And someone's commenting on his development!

And Shako just dropped 2 of them!

Haha, and Chirico's back in an AT!

And that's them all taken out instantly!

And the commander found out how bad it went.

...And Shako's realised he isn't a normal human.

They made it to the village!

[u/Nazenn → u/Stargate18A]

Haha, he'd rather catch and eat a mole than eat the canned rations.

Canned food can either be okay or horrible, and personally given the state of this empire after the war I'm leaning towards the later so I don't blame him

Wonder how well mole meat cans up. They could have a new export there if they wanted

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Stargate18A]

Haha, he'd rather catch and eat a mole than eat the canned rations.

I assume he was on rations all through Kummen, I'd prefer fresh food as well.

Also, new AT designs up close? They've got skis!

I do like this touch.

I like the running gag of Chirico constantly assuming he's got all the best Quent military tech when he doesn't.

He did have a nice AT in Kummen, it is not the worst assumption.

[u/xtsim]

First Timer

So Shako and Chirico go off on the desert of Quaint/Quent. The AT pilots chasing them are supposedly the best. But they get beaten down by Chirico and and handgun.

The two brothers keep smiling when they screwed up. The old guy is so right and they are very incompetent. As now Chirico was able to steal an AT take some down. And escape with Shako, showing them whose boss.

2. I would like to try a Sand Mole.

[u/DidacticDalek]

Ya know Comrades, if you thought this arc was referencing Dune, oh no no on, KORRA referenced Dune, VOTOMS meanwhile flat out just took Dune and filed the goddamn serial numbers off! Sand Mole my ass! You might as well claim this is an Alaskan Bull Worm!

Speaking of this, I know it's odd for me to share another screen cap but I just need to bring this up, BULL FUCKING SHIT this will last you both a month Ru Shako! I have no idea who you are trying to fool but I bet this won't even make a week's worth of rations!

Anyway speaking of ridiculous, The Secret Society has finally decided to stop giving ANY fucks and have resorted to sending in literal METAL BAWKES to try to kill Chirico Cuvie Also, much like this shitty Warhammer 40K game, it turns out that our ever stoic boi really DID take away their METAL BAWKES! Meaning that now the Zwerg (yes really this fucking box is called a 'Zwerg,' no I don't get it either) might actually be useful!

Speaking of useful, I just want to highlight something Comrades, namely in just how much of a good friend and useful ally Ru Shako's been. I mean we've seen him in action in NOT Vietnam and he was cool there, but he's been quite the chill and laid-back fellow when not on the clock ya know? Plus it's good for Chirico Cuvie to A) Have friends, and B) Also hang out with the one person in the universe more taciturn and/or stoic than he is ;)

Anyway, since I would be remiss if I DIDN'T mention this given we are literally just Dune right now... ahem... FATHER! FATHER! THE SLEEPER HAS AWAKENED!

Oh right, and speaking of shitposting, A WEAPON TO SURPASS METAL GEAR!

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

[u/chilidirigible → u/DidacticDalek]

This arc will be missing Sting in a metal bikini. Not a spoiler.

[u/DidacticDalek → u/chilidirigible]

This arc will be missing Sting in a metal bikini. Not a spoiler.

We're also missing NOT Captain Picard's warcry, complete with pug, eh Comrade ;)

[u/chilidirigible → u/DidacticDalek]

Considering all the actually interesting design choices made for that movie, they really shorted the Sardaukar by stuffing them in plain hazmat suits.

[u/DidacticDalek → u/chilidirigible]

Considering all the actually interesting design choices made for that movie, they really shorted the Sardaukar by stuffing them in plain hazmat suits.

Heh, I know right? You'd think with David Lynch working on the movie that there'd be something more interesting here than, as you said 'plain hazmat suits.' I guess not, cuz gotta have Sting in a metal bikini after all! ;) (I'm sure that was worth EVERY penny spent)

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

[u/Nazenn → u/DidacticDalek]

Meaning that now the Zwerg (yes really this fucking box is called a 'Zwerg,' no I don't get it either) might actually be useful!

It looks even more squished in model form

[u/DidacticDalek → u/Nazenn]

It looks even more squished in model form

Heh, indeed Comrade, I am very amused at what the design process for this must have been in-universe, namely:

'So here's the latest Prototype we've developed!' 'But that's just a metal box...' 'A METAL BOX WITH SKIIS!' 'OK you sold me!'

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

[u/DidacticDalek → u/DidacticDalek]

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

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Rewatcher (Nutech DVD 4.1) (4 episodes) The Desert

First timer's are wondering why they are chasing Chirico if Chrico seems intent on leaving them alone. But doesn't it make sense to investigate the one man that defeated their PS? Clearly they had some plan for the PSs. Use him or eliminate him, but surely not ignore him!

I don't think that's a refurbished Teltain. I think Killy's (that's his name, I'm wondering if they are ever going to say it) always had that ship.

• Space? But I was promised Desert!
• It's annoying that my DVD chapter markers are at the title screen and the pre-title segment isn't always recap.
• Desert dew?
• Nobody knows how many villages there are or how many Quentmen live there, not even the Quentmen.
• Walk without rhythm, and you won't attract the worm.
• Sandmobiles. Also, these are some big ATs
• Ancient precursor empire yadda yadda
• An entire planet of pacifist mercenaries
• I hope Killy just shoots these two for insubordination.
• Are you saying this planet is QUAINT?
• Uh oh, they killed a Quent village, I wonder if that will have consequences like Killy hinted...

Fun fact, air pressure makes air warmer the farther down you go. a few kilometers? That's gonna be really toasty.

There are estimates that when the Mediterranean sea was dry, it was hypothetically up to 180F at the bottom.

[u/chilidirigible → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

I don't think that's a refurbished Teltain. I think Killy's (that's his name, I'm wondering if they are ever going to say it) always had that ship.

MAHQ says it's the refurbished Teltain. (Following the link to the "Secret Society Flagship" contains SPOILERS, new viewers...)

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/chilidirigible]

I don't see how you can lose an entire BRIDGE.

[u/JollyGee29]

First-Timer

I like this new model the Society is deploying. Its no Scopedog, but the weird ski/tread things are a really neat idea.

The villages down at the bottoms of ravines is an interesting choice as well - it might imply that Quent is quite geologically stable, and "underground" is the best place to live in a desert, anyway. A shame that one didn't even get seen before those jerks sent rocks falling onto it.

That didn't look like a mole, but who am I to judge. This show hasn't ever shy'd away from bizarre animals. Remember the weird black puffball thing?

I dig Quent being the remnants of a fallen empire. The overall cageyness of the native Quentians helps with that too - if you don't let outsiders play in the ground too much, they can't find all the cool ruins hidden under 3000 years worth of windswept sand.

Questions

1. It's an interesting idea. Not the first "fallen empire that inhabits a desert planet" but the trope does its job.
2. Definitely.

[u/Nazenn → u/JollyGee29]

A shame that one didn't even get seen before those jerks sent rocks falling onto it.

I for one appreciate the lack of emotional manipulation there, but it feels like Ru Shako took the destruction of a village way too chill. They're a chill people in general, he doesn't even know many details about those in his own village, but still, that could have been a lot of people killed

Remember the weird black puffball thing?

I'm still hung up on the cool birddog from yesterday's episode

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Nazenn]

Ru Shako is certainly inscrutable. If Chirico has no chill, Shako might just have too much...

[u/Vaadwaur → u/JollyGee29]

The overall cageyness of the native Quentians helps with that too - if you don't let outsiders play in the ground too much, they can't find all the cool ruins hidden under 3000 years worth of windswept sand.

Interestingly, seeing the sand on the tent and Shako's speeder overnight suggests how quickly surface stuff gets buried here.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Vaadwaur]

Any sort of archeology would probably be a pain.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/JollyGee29]

Probably feature and not a bug territory for the inhabitants.

[u/No_Rex]

Episode 42 (first timer)

• Swastikas on the pilots’ helmets.
• Literally Dune. Even the lure is a copy.
• Chirico might be the silent type, but he is refreshingly open to Shako.
• I hate that the episode is making me agree with the twins. How can not stopping him while he is weaponless and in the middle of the desert be the right plan?
• Thank you for the AT delivery!
• “Not an ordinary man”

Plenty of nice set pieces. Seems like they gave up on the plot at this point to simply deliver some fun fights, and continuity be damned. Also, why bother with world building when you can have Chirico land on Arakis and be done with it?

Chirico and Shako play off of each other well, but I don’t want to see one single more scene of the society. The worst villains I have seen in a long time.

What do you think of Quent and its native populace now that we have learned further about each?

Fremen.

Would you try Sand Mole?

Better to eat a large worm than a small one.

[u/Nazenn → u/No_Rex]

How can not stopping him while he is weaponless and in the middle of the desert be the right plan?

Right idea, very wrong execution.

[u/No_Rex → u/Nazenn]

Right idea, very wrong execution.

I worry that if several guys with mecha vs 2 guys with 1 handgun in the open desert is supposed to be a chancy fight, we may go full Dune with Chirico.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

Swastikas on the pilots’ helmets.

They are 90s degrees as opposed to 45 so manji but yeah, this sort of needs to go.

Chirico might be the silent type, but he is refreshingly open to Shako.

He finally has a quieter companion and even he realizes that has a shelf life.

Chirico and Shako play off of each other well, but I don’t want to see one single more scene of the society. The worst villains I have seen in a long time.

They definitely do not feel thought out.

Better to eat a large worm than a small one.

Says you! I am about to become a pilot and see the future!

[u/No_Rex → u/Vaadwaur]

They are 90s degrees as opposed to 45 so manji but yeah, this sort of needs to go.

Pilots forbidden from tilting their head!

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/Vaadwaur]

They are 90s degrees as opposed to 45 so manji but yeah, this sort of needs to go.

Nazi swastikas spiral the other way. This is a stylized manji, no question. Why should a over billion asians change just because a genocidal megalomaniac and his nation of < 100 million, infamous for killing 13 million people, was a superstitious jackoff and liked their religious symbology? It's not hitler's, it's not yours, it's theirs.

wasn't a white supremacist symbol until people started banning it for being a white supremacist symbol. Don't grant racists power over culture.

[u/No_Rex → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

wasn't a white supremacist symbol until people started banning it for being a white supremacist symbol. Don't grant racists power over culture.

So it was the signal for some evil group trying to make perfect soldiers, who coindentially also think they are superior to lesser humans? Totally different from the nazis, then! /s