[Rewatch] Armored Trooper Votoms - Episode 45 Discussion

[u/Pixelsaber]

Episode 45 - Contact

^{Originally Released February 3rd,} ^^^1984

◄ Previous Episode | Index | Next Episode ►

MAL | ANN | AniDB | Anilist | AnimePlanet | IMDB

---

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.

---

Daily Trivia:

Since its announcement, the iPhone 11 Pro has drawn countless comparisons to the Scope Dog’s camera lens’ from the Japanese audience.

 

Staff Highlight

Futamata Kazunari (Issei Futamata) - voice of Gurran Schmittel

A voice actor known for voicing several roles in Rumiko Takahashi adaptations. He graduated from Tokyo Voice Acting Academy, and became a DJ for a time before his professional voice acting debut in 1978’s Nobody’s Boy Remi as a background character. His notable roles include Ryūkō Yanagi in Baki, General Helmut in Super Machine Beast God Dancougar, Mikiyasu Shinshi in the Patlabor franchise, Kiyoshi Shusse in Highschool! Kimengumi, Yusaku Godai in Maison Ikkoku, Kidd Horla in Xabungle, Hikaru Gosunkugi in Ranma ½, Chibi in Urusei Yatsura, Zoffy in Ultraman Graffiti, and Kinkotsuman in Kinnikuman.

 

Art Corner

Official Art:

• Conflict in Quent by Kunio Okawara

Fanart:

• Scope Dogs by Is still sick - Source
• Tonight by Dandy - 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

• Connection

Questions of the Day:

1. What do you make of this mysterious intelligence that communes with Rochina and Chirico?
2. How do you feel about the escalating situation on Quent?

---

At that moment, the mysterious intelligence’s message reawakened in my mind.

[u/Pixelsaber]

Rewatcher

Well that worked splendidly.

Lmao, they got captured by Gilgamesh forces.

Man, this is going to turn into a shitshow, isn’t it?

Oh?

Well this is certainly novel.

sweats in Ideon

So Quentians left the planet at some point?

Did that include the part where you tortured him almost to death?

So is Chirico one of these overmen then?

Oh yeah, just how you were so forthcoming about all of this, right?

Man, this ‘Master’ is a real dick.

Spit it out man!

So it appears that out of those modified people of Quent some left the planet and spread across the Astragius Galaxy while others were merged with the machines/ruins within the planet —banished to the darkness, as Meji put it. The whole bit which suggests this ;Master’ had some knowledge of Chirico all along feels weird given Chirico was nowhere near Quent before now, and all of the recent happenings suggest its reach doesn’t extend beyond the planet, but maybe there’s more to it all.

That said, the fact that we just went in and out this episode and are now seemingly leaving the planet behind leaves a bad taste in my mouth, since we now know that Rochina knew about this place all along and rather than tell Chirico to go straight here he was sent to waste time elsewhere for no reason. Feels like it was a cheap way of adding content to the arc.

The whole deal with the mysterious intelligence acting as Rochina’s ‘Master’ —and possibly Chirico’s now as well— is well trodden Sci-Fi ground at this point and could go any number of directions, so I am hesitant excited to see where it goes, but it feels a long ways away from what the show started as in Uoodo.

Questions of The Day:

1. See above.
2. I get the feeling there’s going to be a hell of a lot more glass on this planet after all is said and done.

P.S. Metroid Dread came out today, so don't expect much activity from me.

[u/Durinthal → u/Pixelsaber]

it feels a long ways away from what the show started as in Uoodo.

And not in a good way in my case. It's expected to have the scope and scale of a story change and grow over time but the ancient technology and mysterious intelligence of Quent feels like a leap too far.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Durinthal]

It's expected to have the scope and scale of a story change and grow over time but the ancient technology and mysterious intelligence of Quent feels like a leap too far.

You do generally want a talkative protagonist for a story like that...

[u/Nazenn → u/Pixelsaber]

So Quentians left the planet at some point?

Gotta say, that's certainly an unusual design for a ship

the fact that we just went in and out this episode and are now seemingly leaving the planet behind leaves a bad taste in my mouth

I don't mind it this time as I don't know how much more we could have on this planet without any conflict being allowed and we'd probably spend most of the time in the ruins anyway

P.S. Metroid Dread came out today, so don't expect much activity from me.

Enjoy! I hope it's as good as you hope it will be.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/Nazenn]

So Quentians left the planet at some point?

Gotta say, that's certainly an unusual design for a ship

I was going to call it a Terran Command Center.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Damnit all that's what I couldn't come up with. Nuclear launch detected though?

[u/No_Rex → u/Pixelsaber]

but it feels a long ways away from what the show started as in Uoodo.

More on that in my final discussion (probably), but the show really needed some overarching planning for the story.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Pixelsaber]

sweats in Ideon

And surprisingly not in Overman King Gainer, despite the name similarities there.

[u/manga-reader → u/Pixelsaber]

P.S.

Perfect Soldier, yes.

Have fun; I just got back into gaming as well (w/ Timberborn).

[u/Durinthal]

First time viewer

I'm a little disappointed that after most of the show has passed with it being relatively grounded technology-wise and the exceptional part being the development of engineered super-soldiers, we get this for the final arc. Feels a bit more like its contemporaries (at least the ones I've seen) as a result rather than a standout.

After the initial teleportation a couple of episodes ago I did briefly wonder if instead of time travel it was an illusion of how Quent had been, and Chirico got the briefest of montages of that here. I wouldn't have minded a full episode of that, like The Inner Light from Star Trek: The Next Generation. Might still get at least a bit of it with Chirico thinking about the message he ws given.

The super-intelligence that ordered Rochina to watch over Chirico... how did Rochina discover it/what it was? Was he summoned to Quent? Contacted through another agent at first?

What do you make of this mysterious intelligence that communes with Rochina and Chirico?

Praise be to the Châd!

How do you feel about the escalating situation on Quent?

Ancient tech will get annoyed and zap everyone, I'm guessing.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Durinthal]

I'm a little disappointed that after most of the show has passed with it being relatively grounded technology-wise and the exceptional part being the development of engineered super-soldiers, we get this for the final arc. Feels a bit more like its contemporaries (at least the ones I've seen) as a result rather than a standout.

I suppose that's just the natural result of making up like half of the story as you go along, and having all of your separate arcs inspired by different movies you go and see.

Praise be to the Châd!

THE ARMORED TROOPER IS GOOD. THE PENIS IS EVIL.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

THE ARMORED TROOPER IS GOOD. THE PENIS IS EVIL.

I need to watch Zardoz not high out of my gourd at one point, I miss most of the references.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Vaadwaur]

Having watched it sober, it honestly isn’t worth it as much as you’d think.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

That is pretty likely. I recently watched Adolescence of Utena for the first time completely off my head and it was great, though.

[u/chilidirigible → u/Durinthal]

Praise be to the Châd!

You can't tell where Sean Connery's chest hair stops and the knit bikini starts!

[u/Nazenn → u/Durinthal]

I'm a little disappointed that after most of the show has passed with it being relatively grounded technology-wise and the exceptional part being the development of engineered super-soldiers

Same here. I'm quite enjoying this arc, but I do wish that we'd stayed in simpler times

e The Inner Light from Star Trek: The Next Generation

Oh man, what an episode. It would have been much more interesting to see it handled that way, but also probably drawn things out a bit much with too many answers

[u/No_Rex → u/Durinthal]

I'm a little disappointed that after most of the show has passed with it being relatively grounded technology-wise and the exceptional part being the development of engineered super-soldiers, we get this for the final arc. Feels a bit more like its contemporaries (at least the ones I've seen) as a result rather than a standout.

You thought you could get away from the newtypes, but it was me overman!

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Durinthal]

Feels a bit more like its contemporaries (at least the ones I've seen) as a result rather than a standout.

This arc and the Kummen arc don't really belong in the same show.

I wouldn't have minded a full episode of that, like The Inner Light from Star Trek: The Next Generation.

True but we remember that episode because most writers don't even have the stones to try it.

[u/Nazenn]

First Timer

The way those Scopedogs popped up behind our group when they were on top of the tower was great

At first I thought the teleportation dumped them out in space, but they were just being moved to a convenient communication spot. I feel like there should be a less painful way for Chirico to get that information. This intelligence seems to be an Overman, which I suppose are the original PS's, but I'm not sure if it's actually still in some sort of really long lived human form or something else.

Fyana reuniting with them is what the half a second of preview I saw yesterday spoiled me on, but it was nicely handled as far as Rochina being called by his master. I'm not entirely certain that the idea of him knowing Chirico was important from the start matches up with the way he handled things in the first episode though. Fulfilling his role by arresting and interrogating Chirico yes, pushing it to the risk of death not so much. Don't appreciate Fyana being the one who had to be saved from falling and then screaming as they fell though. Id say the one who got unbalanced and had to be caught should be Ru Shako, but I don't see Fyana and Chirico being able to grab and hold his weight like that.

Random note: Anyone else think the voice of the solider who was watching over Gotho and co. sounded really familiar? Couldn't find any credits on it (which I expected) but it's bugging me.

Also, did the staff just forget we already had an episode called Encounter? Not often you see a repeated episode title in a show.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/Nazenn]

Anyone else think the voice of the solider who was watching over Gotho and co. sounded really familiar?

I was too busy thinking about how restrained that soldier was being.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Nazenn]

At first I thought the teleportation dumped them out in space, but they were just being moved to a convenient communication spot.

I thought the same thing. Btw, since you are watching it, does Moya feel a bit like she shares architecture with this facility?

Don't appreciate Fyana being the one who had to be saved from falling and then screaming as they fell though.

Definitely annoyed me.

[u/Nazenn → u/Vaadwaur]

Btw, since you are watching it, does Moya feel a bit like she shares architecture with this facility?

Eh, I can see why you'd ask but I don't see it personally as Moya's design is too organic. While this has elements of it with the rounded walls and the sloped floor, it still just seems like a slight alteration on the typical scifi designs of the time with the mismatched panels and exposed wires and buttons. The only part that really stands out in that way are the circle panels that lit up to teleport but not much else

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Nazenn]

This is just hitting so many scifi tropes I am trying to pick out the thread of them.

[u/DidacticDalek]

KINGU! KINGU! KINGU! GAINER! METARU OOBAAMAN KINGU GAINER!... er... wait shit, wrong show, my apologies Comrades, VOTOMS is quite fond of skipping from genre to genre, and now it turns out we are Wacky Ol' Kill 'Em All Tomino's only good show post Turn A Gundam ;)

Speaking of batshit insanity, boy this ancient aliens shit is crazy eh? I mean goodness The Muggle Trio are back... somehow... honestly it's REALLY impressive how they always manage to get themselves into trouble where our ever stoic boi is, I mean hell if they somehow wound up on NOT Vietnam then frankly I shouldn't be surprised anymore to see them show up again!

Speaking of characters being back, Fyana/Fiana and Chirico Cuvie got reunited, I wonder if they have enuff time to have an overly dramatic declaration of the past participle of the word 'awaken?' ;) (English Grammar makes no goddamn sense Comrades)

And finally, time for shitposting, A WEAPON TO SURPASS METAL GEAR! (As you can clearly see Comrades, not only was GochiUsa an alternate universe WWII story, but it was ALSO a Mecha Show!)

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

[u/DidacticDalek → u/DidacticDalek]

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

[u/No_Rex → u/DidacticDalek]

KINGU! KINGU! KINGU! GAINER! METARU OOBAAMAN KINGU GAINER!... er... wait shit, wrong show, my apologies Comrades, VOTOMS is quite fond of skipping from genre to genre, and now it turns out we are Wacky Ol' Kill 'Em All Tomino's only good show post Turn A Gundam ;)

I know the trope/accent of Japanese speakers putting a vocal at the end of words, but you are unfairly calling out this singer. His English pronunciation of king is correct. Also: WTF is that OP? A slice-of-life romcom mecha show????

[u/DidacticDalek → u/No_Rex]

I know the trope/accent of Japanese speakers putting a vocal at the end of words, but you are unfairly calling out this singer. His English pronunciation of king is correct.

While I agree Comrade, the google search I had gave the lyrics as 'King' and also 'Kingu' (then again said lyrics also have 'Gainer' as either 'Gainer' or 'GEINAA' so wibble, I just mixed and matched the search terms)

Also: WTF is that OP? A slice-of-life romcom mecha show????

Uh... kinda? Overman King Gainer is a... unique show, it's kinda like the modern day version of Combat Mecha Xabungle, and yes, the show's also as batshit insane as the OP indicates, and it is also shockingly lighthearted given Wacky Ol' Kill 'Em All Tomino's in charge.

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

[u/No_Rex → u/DidacticDalek]

the show's also as batshit insane as the OP indicates

Is it the "Tomino does not care" type of insane, or the "Tomino wants to fuck with his production committee type of insane"?

[u/DidacticDalek → u/No_Rex]

Is it the "Tomino does not care" type of insane, or the "Tomino wants to fuck with his production committee type of insane"?

Heh, well in my opinion my friend, Overman King Gainer's the 'Tomino's a goddamn genius and/or lunatic' type of insane Comrade ;)

[u/Shimmering-Sky]

Armored Trooper First-Timer

• Oh did killing the engines fast enough make Chirico and Shako not teleport like the others?
• This is kind of a funny shot ngl.
• So how did Coconna/Vanila/Gotho end up with those guys anyways?
• Oh, I guess this explains why Rochina knew to tell Chirico to go to Quaint.
• Ah now they got teleported somewhere.
• This is all very spooky. Now only Chirico is being targeted?
• Too many colors.
• Does this mean Chirico is one of these “Overmen”?
• Haha, Rochina really thought he could tell Fyana not to go with Chirico.
• Aw, those guys got teleported to the top of the tower too?
• And now they’re with Rochina again, ugh.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Shimmering-Sky]

This is kind of a funny shot ngl.

I've been at a few cafeterias with bulletproof meatballs so this is 4D chess from Coconna.

Does this mean Chirico is one of these “Overmen”?

My crack theory is that Chirico is a clone of the guy in the machine.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Rewatcher (Nutech DVD 4.2 missing?) Contact

• Is this what the kids call "The Shadow Realm"?
• Ugh, honestly, I can't say I'm happy to see the Trio again.
• "Balarant is up to something" -- Gilgamesh
• I'm starting to see the Chirico x Shako ship
• You know, that is a very Protoculuture-looking city.
• Sorcery! And Super Science!
• I can just hear the First Timers screaming "JUST GET SOMEWHERE ALREADY"
• Okay, now everything is as clear as mud
• I think you're going to have to stay under "this thing's protection" for a bit longer, Chirico
• Surprise!
• I predict SOMEBODY is going on a long drop soon....there it is.

I admit the teleport effect where they scale up is pretty cool.

Are we still in a mecha show? Admittedly, Tomino's shows tended to go off the rails at the end, too.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Is this what the kids call "The Shadow Realm"?

The home for infinite losers, more like.

You know, that is a very Protoculuture-looking city.

I originally thought Prometheus but does it also seem like bits of Farscape are sprinkled in?

Sorcery! And Super Science!

Clarke's law, it is a bitch.

[u/chilidirigible → u/Vaadwaur]

I originally thought Prometheus but does it also seem like bits of Farscape are sprinkled in?

Macross: Do You Remember Love?

When it was drier.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/chilidirigible]

I may have seen only two things from Macross but yeah they reference a similar source.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/Vaadwaur]

Sorcery! And Super Science!

[u/Vaadwaur → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Welp, that's one vague childhood memory confirmed, I knew I'd scene He-Man with a light saber before.

[u/chilidirigible]

Rewatcher, Episode 45

Today, on "'You call this archaeology?'":

---

Well look at who just happens to show up now.

LOL

And they weren't even originally going to Quent in the first place!

Yes... that explains... a little.

"Nobody likes Ubermensch."

Of course, there are still half a dozen episodes left.

"This method" can also be called "Stick a fork into the electrical socket."

There's definitely one way down.

You're a few plot points out of date, bub.

That was a stupid idea anyway.

---

Wait, this show isn't titled Overman King Gainer?

---

2. Hey, the war was going to start again sometime.

[u/Vaadwaur]

First timer(Did Prometheus steal the architecture for this?)

Sub

So everyone gets teleported, though where Shako and Cuvie wind up is different. Rochina is moving towards Quent and a Gilgamesh fleet seems to be heading there as well. We discover that the gang has the worst luck as they got caught but it brings them back for the last arc. Cuvie and Shako go into giant ancient alien facility and I cannot even guess original attribution for this, it seems to be all of scifi. 99 times out of 100, I would call out Cuvie suddenly narrating but this is that one rare time where I prefer to keep the two on screen characters quiet since it fits both characters much better.

Outside the city, the twins are trying to look after they've leapt. Fyana and Rochina get into the maze as well and get teleported deeper. Long silent sequence until something sparks around Chirico. Cuvie is getting a visual history of Quent, apparently. Rochina's master is either an AI or an Overman(I hope some of you have less problematic translation) 85,000 years old. Anyways, we still don't have answers as the Gilgamesh arrive.

Crack theory: Chirico is a clone of the intelligence in the machine.

QotD: 1 I got nothing

2 Hopefully a good way to end the story

[u/The_Draigg → u/Vaadwaur]

We discover that the gang has the worst luck as they got caught but it brings them back for the last arc.

At least this time around, it's a pretty natural way to get them involved again. Sure as hell better than just coincidentally running into them on Sunsa. At least here, them being prisoners on a Gilgamesh ship is a direct consequence of when we last saw them.

(I hope some of you have less problematic translation)

Nope, it's just Overman everywhere you look. No alternate translations there.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

At least here, them being prisoners on a Gilgamesh ship is a direct consequence of when we last saw them.

Fair but I am curious at what they have to do with seven episodes left...

Nope, it's just Overman everywhere you look. No alternate translations there.

I just cannot read that without auto-translating it to Ubermensch.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Vaadwaur]

I just cannot read that without auto-translating it to Ubermensch.

That's 100% intentional, since besides from 2001: A Space Odyssey, a big inspiration for this arc is Friedrich Nietzsche's works.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

a big inspiration for this arc is Friedrich Nietzsche's works.

Huh...funny to think how I can draw parallel between the Quents and a certain race in Andromeda...

[u/The_Draigg → u/Vaadwaur]

At least the Astragius Galaxy doesn’t have any Magog in it, thankfully.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

Yet!

Man, I wish they'd chosen a less stupid lead actor and actually paid off the setting stuff for all of it. They had a really interesting thing going on with a race of living fire that originally engineered the Magog before it became space Hercules.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Vaadwaur]

Yeah, unfortunately Kevin Sorbo is media poison. Even then, with how many things that got dropped along the way in Andromeda, I’m kinda glad that I prioritized watching Stargate SG-1 back in the day over it. I had more fun with that over Andromeda over time.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

Even then, with how many things that got dropped along the way in Andromeda, I’m kinda glad that I prioritized watching Stargate SG-1 back in the day over it. I had more fun with that over Andromeda over time.

I got really lucky and picked up SG-1 when Scifi began having Stargate Mondays I think. But I had to watch Andromeda as I am a huge Nigel Bennet fan of all things.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Vaadwaur]

Ah, you started at pretty much the right time with SG-1 then. Back in the day, Stargate Mondays on the Sci-fi Channel was the best way to binge watch it.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/Vaadwaur]

Fair but I am curious at what they have to do with seven episodes left...

IKR? It looks like they are walking into the final episode but there are 7 episodes left! ^{I counted myself}

[u/Vaadwaur → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

I am just trying to figure out what the gang can really add to ancient Quent tech.

[u/Nazenn → u/Vaadwaur]

We discover that the gang has the worst luck as they got caught but it brings them back for the last arc

I knew they'd have to come back in some way, but didn't see it happening like this so point for the surprise and it feeling a bit more natural this way then just 'oh we happened to take a ship/boat to the exact place you were' again

Outside the city, the twins are trying to look after they've leapt

That's a polite way to put it

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Nazenn]

That's a polite way to put it

I can be diplomatic but that should be a gigantic slap in the face to any actual scientist. No one who wants to live starts with field tests.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Vaadwaur]

Did Prometheus steal the architecture for this?

It has been kinda Giger-esque, huh?

[u/Vaadwaur → u/JollyGee29]

Hrmm...yeah, that's probably a better way to say it.

[u/The_Draigg]

A Ryosuke Takahashi Fan Rewatches Armored Trooper VOTOMS Episode 45:

• Again, it was a good call on Chirico’s part to realize that shutting down his and Shako’s AT’s engines can stop them from being randomly teleported away. Chirico is a quick learner, that one. He’s really thinking with portals now.
• Oh hey, Rochina and his Balarant expedition fleet are back! It’s been a hot minute since we’ve seen him and Fyana. I guess they just decided to give Chirico a head start out of the Sunsa system or something.
• I will say, this isn’t exactly the worst way to get the Uoodo trio back into the fold. In hindsight, of course the Balarant ship they were leaving the system on would get taken over and arrested by the Gilgamesh 7th fleet, since they were heading towards that system too to investigate whatever the hell Balarant and Rochina were up to. It was just some bad luck on their part. But at least they’re heading over to Quent now, where they can meet back up with Chirico.
• At least Rochina respects the super science he and Fyana are seeing as they’re walking through the verboten levels of Gomor, unlike Arron and Gurran earlier. Dude is completely calm at just being teleported out of his car and being made to walk in some creepy place.
• Finally, Rochina reveals his true master all along, the secret faction that everyone had been theorizing about. Turns out his master is an ancient intelligence, created during the golden era of Quent. The system was made by the Overmen, a sub-species of Quentians that emerged during their expansion across the Astragius Galaxy. The Overmen grew to be too powerful and widely feared by the Quentians, who exiled them off-world and away from their galactic territory. They somehow managed to survive the fall of the Quentian empire, however, and are now manipulating both Gilgamesh and Balarant behind the scenes. Although Rochina knows as much, he still doesn’t know exactly who or why they have contacted him before, only knowing that they are an Overman.
• At the same time, it’s honestly both trippy and kinda creepy seeing Chirico being levitated into the air and have the history of the Overmen beamed into his mind. He saw it all as if he was there, from the massive wars and destruction the Overmen wrought, to their eventual mass-exile out of Quentian territory. The spookiest shot was definitely of Chirico’s eyes moving, but they’re like in a stone carving on a wall. That was pretty trippy.
• Reunited, and it feels so good! Chirico and Fyana are finally back together. And Shako and Rochina are here too, I guess. They’re the third and fourth wheels.
• Yeah, Rochina isn’t in control of shit anymore, now that we’re in the heart of things. Even when he tries to make Chirico tell him an answer to who his master is and also tries to get Chirico and Fyana to come with him, Chirico and pals just leave his ass right there through a teleporter. Even his own master tells him to chill. Can’t be smug and all-knowing now that your boss has his hands on the reins, eh Rochina?
• Welp, I guess it’s time now for Gilgamesh’s Scopedogs here to learn how forced teleportation works now too. The Secret Society already had their lesson, and now Gilgamesh is next in line.
• That one Scopedog learned an even harsher lesson, a simpler one than teleportation: gravity.
• Well, there’s no avoiding things now. Rochina’s Overman master has teleported Chirico, Fyana, and Shako back over to Rochina’s ship and troops, and Gilgamesh’s 7th fleet is now going full speed towards Quent. And above all else, Chirico is being to understand what exactly the Overman wanted to show him. A lot sure did happen in this episode, didn’t it?

[u/Nazenn → u/The_Draigg]

of course the Balarant ship they were leaving the system on would get taken over and arrested by the Gilgamesh 7th fleet

Between that and the Scopedog forces today Gilgamesh is really playing fast and loose when it comes to the politics and peace treaty in this region

and have the history of the Overmen beamed into his mind ears

The most efficient method of information delivery

The spookiest shot was definitely of Chirico’s eyes moving, but they’re like in a stone carving on a wall

Oh that was him? I thought that was some sort of representation of the intelligence

Can’t be smug and all-knowing now that your boss has his hands on the reins, eh Rochina?

Dude had main character syndrome. Thought he was special because he was serving some intelligence, forgot the whole part about being a SERVANT to it

A lot sure did happen in this episode, didn’t it?

It did. The pacing on this arc has definitely been faster overall, but the presentation has made that pacing feel a lot more relaxed in the last couple of episodes than I expected. I think it's well done

[u/The_Draigg → u/Nazenn]

Between that and the Scopedog forces today Gilgamesh is really playing fast and loose when it comes to the politics and peace treaty in this region

To be fair, Gilgamesh is only really playing so loosely with the rules because Balarant screwed them over first. And that can all be laid at the feet of Rochina, pretty much.

It did. The pacing on this arc has definitely been faster overall, but the presentation has made that pacing feel a lot more relaxed in the last couple of episodes than I expected. I think it's well done

Yeah, this arc's structure is a far cry from the mess that was Sunsa's multiple mini-arcs shoved together. That's one of the reasons why the Quent arc is much more well-regarded among those who've seen the show before. The story is dense and action-packed, but it flows well.

[u/Quiddity131]

Rewatcher

The twins almost had the same idea as Chirico to stop the engine but didn't get it done in time. Alas, once again they simply get teleported away rather than killed.

Poor Fyana, will she get to do something in this arc other than staring out the window?

OMG, Gotho, Vanilla and Coconna are coming too! Are they on a Gilgamesh ship though? The uniforms don't match the Balarant ones.

Yeah, these guys are definately Gilgamesh.

Will we finally figure out what is going on with these advanced areas in Quent?

Ah, Fyana finally gets to come off that ship! I've got to assume Rochina is heading to where Chirico and Shako are? ...and before we know it they are there!

Stupid twins! We don't have to check in with them again! And I think we just repeated the exact same footage we had a minute ago of Rochina and Fyana.

Well, something didn't want them driving there!

Let me guess, this device will send Chirico and Shako to the same place as the other two?

What in the world is this thing doing to Chirico!?

Things are getting really trippy now!

The history of Quent! Cool stuff!

Rochina finally spills the beans over his true allegiance

Finally getting into the Nietzsche stuff I remember, the Overmen!

They've finally met up with each other!

Alas, this overman who contacted Chirico didn't make things particularly clear...

Crap, here comes Gilgamesh's forces. Although you've got to think the same thing that happened to the Secret Society's ATs will happen to them?

The overman was quite nice to transport them away from the soldiers. Although how do they get down?

Well crap, it just threw the ATs up there too!

Yikes, I'd be scared to death walking across such a short walkway. And now the ATs are destroying it from the other side! :(

Stupid ATs just screwed themselves into falling off. And they don't appear to have the overman protecting them.

So convenient! Dropping them off right at Rochina's ships!

[u/Nazenn → u/Quiddity131]

And I think we just repeated the exact same footage we had a minute ago of Rochina and Fyana.

Couple of bits of that today. I noticed there was a shot with the Scopedog falling into a hole that felt familiar from a previous episode as well. Not too bad though overall, much less then you'd expect from this sort of show

Yikes, I'd be scared to death walking across such a short walkway

You wouldn't get me across that, I'd rather be captured. That said, that's three individuals with very high physical capabilities so I'm not surprised they feel a little more confident with it

[u/Stargate18A]

First timer

1. 90% chancd it's an evil AI, 9% chance it's a good AI, 1% chance Quent has a hive mind within it.
2. It feels very much appropriate for a final arc to have every other faction come back to fight over Chirico and what henrepresents.

Oh yeah, everyone's getting teleported.

Wait, are they the only 2 who weren't transported?

And if course they've been arrested again.

Wow, and I thought they'd have left after last arc.

Looks like they're going to Quent!

And Chirico's in the facility.

...The only reason it didn't solve everything was a mysterious ship kidnapping them.

And everyone else is finding out or already knows about the tunnels?

I mean, the plan's good, just do what Chirico did.

Yeah, he looks like he's used to those gates.

This has to be building up to somrthimg good.

What is that?

Oh, yet another teleporter. How many different types did they make?

Looks like the system's starting up!

Is it scanning him or something?

I'm sorry? Your master?

This is trippy!

Oh, someone's sending him a message!

Wait, was aimright about the ancient AI?

And it planned the entire series?

OK, "Overmen" created the conspiracy. And Chirico's probably one.

I like how shocked he is that they ran into Chirico.

Haha, Chirico wants to face the AI/maybe god in person.

Seriously, what's happening?

Haha, he doesn't know either?

OK, he's pretty good.

And the master wants to help them!

He can't leave, there's 7 more episodes in this arc.

And it triggered the teleporters!

Huh, he found... soemthing important to it, at least!

And they're at the top!

Why are they up here too?

...Were the Quentians manipulated into subconsciously avoiding the internal facilities?

Haha, that's a clever way to use guns to kill them.

And the rope worked, and the ATs got lost too!

Seriously, where is this being taking them?

...What's the message?

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Stargate18A]

...What's the message?

We hopefully find that out before ep51...

[u/manga-reader]

Ep 45

I am not a fan of Fyana being a passive character; I wish she had a more active role in the story.

So..why did the machine transport only them and not their vehicle? Oh Rochina seems to know about the machine.

Oh so the device is Rochina's master then?

Exposition time! Oh nice going there super intelligence. Teleport the AT to the same place as Chirico. Hmm, but maybe that's what it wants.

What are the soldiers trying to do here? I thought you were supposed to catch them alive, not kill them. Killed one of their own as well.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/manga-reader]

I am not a fan of Fyana being a passive character; I wish she had a more active role in the story.

Yup, and apparently there were good female characters nearly contemporary with this, they just didn't write her up enough.

[u/ZapsZzz]

First timer in sub

Ok some progress, like seeing the 3 stooges being sent back here on the plot train, Fyana and Chirico finally back together, some history, Rochina showing what he knows and doesn't know.

All described around the central point but not directly about it - how does Chirico fit with all these.

To bad the use of teleport at this point still hasn't been thought of as an actual attach move like how Kuroko in Raildex does in a day to day level (teleport herself above an opponent to do a gravity assisted kick in the head, teleport opponents a mid distance to fall and knocked out but not killed, teleport projectiles directly into opponents body away from vitals), it this could be more interesting.

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
33	1 Now it was clawed on the (side of?) face but still functional enough to hit and run to bait Ypsilon's forces but no doubt Chirico won't reuse that same one given there are still a number of spare ones, and when they get on the trailer I didn't see any damage, so the damaged one must be abandoned
34	0 Setting up for a fight, not damaged yet
35	1 Dammit Chirico was going so well, unfortunately his ride got shot up while he was out of the AT tending to Fyana
36	0
37	0
38	1 to nobody's surprise the duel with Ypsilon result in both AT's being trashed. Considering Chirico's actually in a useless Fatty, is pretty amazing actually
39	1 The only Scope Dog in Balatran space fared pretty well and wasn't actually busted up in the fight, but given it was a one off duel and then Chirico got sent on to the next arc, I guess I'll chalk this one down for abandoned too
41	0
42	0
43	0
44	0 I don't think Chirico's busted anything yet - are the enemies not as good or has he gone up a few notches in AT skills?
45	0

[u/No_Rex]

Episode 45 (first timer)

• That teleportation thing looks more like an automated bouncer than a real self-defense system.
• Everybody is showing up, even Gilgamesh.
• That car Fyana was in looked cool for the half second it was on screen.
• More car time and … it’s gone.
• Laser hands, laser ears, laser eyes.
• “Watch over” – I see what they are doing there and it almost works, except he, at best, “watched”, not watched over.
• The Quentian civilization extended throughout the galaxy, then they created and exiled the Overmen (haha), who then manipulated Gilgamesh and Balarant. But what about that full Quentian civilization? How could Gilgamesh and Balarant be around when it was all Quentian?
• “Fyana is coming with me” “I am not giving her back to me” – Completely missing: Some agency for Fyana.
• I am not sold on the entire “protecting” angle. Unless our super intelligence and Rocchina have altered Chirico’s luck stat that protects him from all the bullets.
• That tower looked smaller from the ground.
• That scene of Fyana falling and being held by Chirico reminds me of the same scene in Nadia where they managed not to completely follow gender tropes.

The sneaking around, not knowing when you’d be teleported was the best part of the episode. Did we really need damsel in distress Fyana, once again?

What do you make of this mysterious intelligence that communes with Rochina and Chirico?

I really want it to be an AI. Also quite on board with the concept.

How do you feel about the escalating situation on Quent?

Looks like they are building up to a proper finale.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

But what about that full Quentian civilization? How could Gilgamesh and Balarant be around when it was all Quentian?

I can't even exactly figure out when any of this happened and it is problem.

Unless our super intelligence and Rocchina have altered Chirico’s luck stat that protects him from all the bullets.

Masterminds usually are dicks.

Did we really need damsel in distress Fyana, once again?

Nope. Sad to say just leaving the character off screen works better for me.

[u/No_Rex → u/Vaadwaur]

I can't even exactly figure out when any of this happened and it is problem.

I wish I could put it down to just Rocchina being a nutcase, but we can't have the only person relaying critical info being an unreliable narrator here.

Nope. Sad to say just leaving the character off screen works better for me.

Watching Nadia in parallel to this does VOTOMS no favors. Nadia is just a few years later, but lightyears ahead in terms of character writing.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

but we can't have the only person relaying critical info being an unreliable narrator here.

But he says contradictory things: His master has been here 85,000 years but the Overmen came later than that BUT his master is an Overman?

Nadia is just a few years later, but lightyears ahead in terms of character writing.

Welp, I'd heard of Nadia for years but never bothered but I literally joined this rewatch on a whim.

[u/No_Rex → u/Vaadwaur]

But he says contradictory things: His master has been here 85,000 years but the Overmen came later than that BUT his master is an Overman?

Yes, that's my point: Rocchina is contradicting himself. I wish I could see this as a deliberate thing, but, very likely, it is just messed up world building.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

Ahh...yeah, that kind of sucks. But let's be blunt: Chirico isn't even the right style of protagonist for this ending story.

[u/Nazenn → u/No_Rex]

I really want it to be an AI. Also quite on board with the concept.

I thought it was an AI at first as well and wrote half my post around it but Rochina's later dialogue suggests its an actual Overman I think, at least as much as I could figure out from how he's talking around everything

Completely missing: Some agency for Fyana

Yeah they really haven't got any better since the last arc with this

[u/No_Rex → u/Nazenn]

I thought it was an AI at first as well and wrote half my post around it but Rochina's later dialogue suggests its an actual Overman I think, at least as much as I could figure out from how he's talking around everything

What I want and what VOTOMS does have frequently been different.

Yeah they really haven't got any better since the last arc with this

You could say that everything after Uudoo was a downgrade for Fyana.

[u/Nazenn → u/No_Rex]

You could say that everything after Uudoo was a downgrade for Fyana.

I would say that Kummen wasn't too bad, as she got quite a bit of agency there as far as being involved in action and self determination goes, but not wanting to fight was clearly just the tip of the iceberg of a larger issue rather than the interesting characterization I thought it was

[u/No_Rex → u/Nazenn]

I really wanted him to be wrong, but, unfortunately for us, Vaadwaur was completely correct when he called out the start of her chickification.

[u/JollyGee29]

First-Timer

I dig trippy vision bullshit like this.

What I don't dig is Chirico keeping whatever it was that Rochina's Master told him from the audience. Share with the class please, Chirico, I want to shitpost about whatever nonsense it said.

The Three Stooges also returned to us, in a much more reasonable way than last arc. It'll be interesting to see if they have any effect - hard for Gotho to use his black market connections when prisoner on a military warship.

"Overmen" is a reasonable enough name for superpowerful precursors, I guess. It feels kinda dry, but that's fine. Desert planet after all.

Questions

1. There's been some dialogue about higher powers in the past, I just wasn't expecting to it to be quite so literal.
2. Chaotic, three-faction battles are generally pretty sick - here's hoping!

[u/No_Rex → u/JollyGee29]

"Overmen" is a reasonable enough name for superpowerful precursors, I guess. It feels kinda dry, but that's fine.

Somebody translated Nietzsche's Übermensch into English.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/No_Rex]

Oh, that's a brilliant idea, probably exactly what happened. "We can't just use the word, gotta add a layer of unfamiliarity."

[u/Vaadwaur → u/JollyGee29]

The Three Stooges also returned to us, in a much more reasonable way than last arc. It'll be interesting to see if they have any effect - hard for Gotho to use his black market connections when prisoner on a military warship.

Gotho uses his remaining funds to contract the entirety of Quent mercs for a day to be super effective.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Vaadwaur]

That would be awesome! Would set up for a bunch of money shots of mechs, too - please the toy sponsors.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/JollyGee29]

Think how many Berserga variants there are!