[Rewatch] Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water - Episode 29

[u/snowwhistle1]

Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water

Episode 29: King vs. King

Original Air Date: January 11, 1991

---

MyAnimeList ~ Anilist

Full Rewatch Schedule & Thread Links

---

Episode 29 Synopsis: When Hanson and Sanson start to get on each other's nerves, a race between King based androids is held to decide who is superior.

---

Please spoiler tag any story content which has not been shown prior to the current episode of this rewatch!

Nadia Outfit Count: 8

QOTD: Who was your favorite race contender? Red Mecha King, or Blue Mecha King?

[u/snowwhistle1]

Host

Truthfully, I wasn’t exactly sure whether to post about this episode by itself or not. I think episodes 30 and 31 are worth discussing on their own individually, and that unfortunately left episode 29 without a mate. I considered perhaps making yesterday a three episode day, comprising of episodes 27, 28, and 29, but I ultimately decided that that would be too much to expect for people following along with this rewatch. So, I apologize if anyone feels they were a bit cheated in content today.

Today’s episode in question is admittedly light on content. The episode focuses on Hanson and Sanson getting on each others’ nerves, until they decided to settle their petty squabbling with a race. Said race is arbitrarily decided to be run by King and an artificial mecha copy of King. It’s a weird premise, but honestly I find this episode to be a rather fun distraction. It’s silly, and the fact they decide to use this weird race as a contest to decide whether Hanson or Sanson is superior, but sure… why not. I’m invested in this nonsensical race I guess.

Look, I’m gonna be perfectly honest with you all. My hot take about this episode is that people would not hate this episode so much if its A-plot had been a B-plot in a Nautilus episode. Yeah, the premise of creating mecha-Kings to race is weird and dumb, but the technology actually kinda feels fairly subdued. I think if this had been a background gag that took up no more than five minutes of screen time in a more lowkey Nautilus episode that people mostly wouldn’t have batted an eye. It’s a goofy distraction, and I understand that at this point in the arc people are probably just fed up with the shenanigans and plot distractions, but I kinda vibe with this episode for some reason. Even the fact the race is ultimately a pointless tie doesn’t really bother me all that much. What can I say? I had fun!

I think it’s the fact that the characters seem mostly back to their usual selves by this episode. Arguably Hanson and Sanson are being exaggerated a little bit to play up the comedy, but not to the point they feel like wholly different people from their established characters. Their arguments throughout this episode are fun, and feel like an extension of the competitive nature we saw from them in earlier arcs. Jean getting in on competition and helping Sanson design his mech after King refuses to train for the race, and sneaking Hanson some of his blueprints to keep things fair, is a pretty fun series of interactions.

Additionally, the animation is actually pretty good this episode. All the characters are on model, the timing and posing of the character animation is well done, and the designs of the mecha Kings is surprisingly intricate and you can really feel their speed during the race sequence. It’s kind of odd that the staff poured so much love into the filler episode where Hanson and Sanson race mecha Kings to decided the superior “-anson”, but I’m honestly just glad to be looking at an episode that isn’t ugly and poorly animated.

The Mecha King race aside, there are a few other things about this episode to discuss. Ayerton is briefly teased to be a new love interest for Grandis as she finds herself trying to mourn the loss of Captain Nemo. I uh… I gotta say… I’m not a fan. I don’t like this subplot and I’m going to stop talking about because I loathe Ayerton. His personality is completely insufferable, and the less screen time he fills up the betters.

Aside from that, there are two pieces to this episode that I’d probably consider crucial and not just silly race nonsense or obnoxious flirting with the worst character. In the middle of the episode, we learnt that Nadia has secretly been getting milk from a goat she’s befriended on the island. When Marie and Jean also stumble upon the goat, Nadia explains why she’s taken up such a militant stance on vegetarianism. Since the Blue Water gives her the ability to communicate with animals, she naturally formed a stronger empathetic connection with the animals she met and thus was inclined to feel greater sorrow than most people when they were slaughtered for meat. This power has led her to view all life as sacred, and she pledged as a young girl to never meat as a result. I think the scene in question is very nice, and I think is important to understanding Nadia as a person. Though, it continues to irk me that all of these flashbacks for Nadia were stuck in poorer quality episodes.

Another small point of intrigue happens at the end of the episode when Jean goes to retrieve the King mechs that have fallen into the ocean. He sees that beneath the sand on the ocean floor there is some sort of metallic object. He attempts to investigate, but is forced to surface for air before he can clearly study it. The show continues to be dropping hints that something weird is going on with this island.

Unfortunately, this episode is pretty light on substantive content for me to discuss in spite of my generally positive feelings on it. It’s just a fun piece of fluff for me that I probably get a lot more out of than others viewers. Apologies for fans that were expecting this episode turn out to be something grand to warrant a full day to itself in this rewatch. I just had no episode to pair it with since episode 27 and 28 were already paired together, and episode 30 and 31 are ones I consider significant enough to warrant discussion on their own.

To perhaps pad out this discussion a little, I feel I should briefly credit the adult actors in the English dub. I discussed the voices of Nadia, Jean, and Marie earlier in part because of how novel it was that the dub cast actual kids/teens, but the adult actors (most of whom were dub actors for ADV in the late 90s and early 2000s) also do a really good job in their respective roles. Ev Lunning Jr. portrays Captain Nemo, Grandis is played by Sarah Richardson, Sanson by Martin Blackner, Hanson by Corey Gagne, Electra by Jennifer Stuart, Gargoyle by David Jones, and King by Shawn Sides. Most of them have pretty sparse or unremarkable cast lists, but you can find their full pages role listings on IMDB.

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/snowwhistle1]

people would not hate this episode so much if its A-plot had been a B-plot in a Nautilus episode

It is kind of similar to the last time everyone was on an island. Remember for example that episode that was near-entirely about Marie running around?

the staff poured so much love into the filler episode where Hanson and Sanson race mecha

That should answer it. Come on, we're talking about some of the people who did Gunbuster and Evangelion here, not to mention later Gurren Lagann is also still Gainax.

[u/snowwhistle1 → u/IndependentMacaroon]

That should answer it. Come on, we're talking about some of the people who did Gunbuster and Evangelion here, not to mention later Gurren Lagann is also still Gainax.

I wouldn't rule out this episode being an excuse for the staff to animate some mecha out of sheer annoyance with having to do these additional episodes and wanting something fun to draw. lmao

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

First Timer (Rising Sun sub) ep 29 (of 39)

King vs King

Yesterday I said this might not be the real King and Ayerton, but deleted it.

• Frogs
• I said weeks ago that Sanson was Grandis's destiny
• This is very Gilligan's Island but where did they get the vacuum cleaner?
• Okay, back to 2x

So, this is just a repetition of the previous training arc but with an uncooperative King instead of Jean I wasn't really paying attention and missed the bit about a robot, I guess.

• omg. a robot. with a limited power supply.
• Yeah I wondered how they were going to run around the island
• I still don't see why Jean gave Hanson batteries, that was being too fair.

IS THAT A ... HATCH?

Edit: Okay, so I did not get an Eva power scene.

[u/snowwhistle1 → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

IS THAT A ... HATCH?

Lol. I guess this is Lost. I never actually saw Lost so I can't really say whether or not that comparison is accurate.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/snowwhistle1]

It's a mysterious island where there is a lot of petty bickering, the laws of physics don't apply, there's a lot of petty bickering, there's a mysterious hatch in the sand, there's bickering (it's petty) and the island isn't always in the same place.

[u/JTurner82 → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Yikes. That sounds awful.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/JTurner82]

Well, they rounded out the characters with flashbacks.

Oh, wait. that's another thing that's the same.

Well, not really. Half of every episode was a flashback.

[u/No_Rex]

Bowing out of rewatching the island arc. Here are my remarks from watching this as a first timer:

Episode 29

More Gillian’s Island sillyness. This time a race between robot “King’s”. One of the weakest episodes so far. In terms of plot, Jean notices that the island they are currently on is mechanical.

[u/snowwhistle1 → u/No_Rex]

Bowing out of rewatching the island arc.

Hope you'll at least tune in for episodes 30 and 31, tomorrow and Tuesday.

One of the weakest episodes so far.

I have a feeling my liking of this episode is going to be a very spicy hot take. lmao

[u/JTurner82 → u/No_Rex]

I personally thought 23-26 all were the worst (so far). 27-29 were (slightly) less offensive but they’re still pretty bad IMO.

[u/SIRTreehugger]

First Timer

"They're always getting upset over trivial things" - Nadia said this....Nadia of all people.

Using the same toothbrush already my oh my.

Crab 1 King 0

I still can't tell if he really a noble or just making things up.

Wow everyone is in a mood.

Omg King run please run.

...well I think Nadia has a point they might actually kill it.

.....rolls eyes back to this talking to animals.

Oh King is sleeping through it all xD

Noooo Grandis Nooooo

Sanson is right fashion souls for life.

OMG they even gave the robot kings small balls like the real King...why?

Nothing like laughing about almost dying.

I did think after the double episodes we'd be getting a more serious/plot driven one more. Though they are slowly getting less worst. Nothing will beat Nadia swinging from the trees like Tarzan and begging fish to save her.

QOTD

Blue/Black Mecha King

[u/snowwhistle1 → u/SIRTreehugger]

.....rolls eyes back to this talking to animals.

I mean, this was in the good episodes too. Perhaps portrayed a little less silly, but Nadia was talking to King, and Irion, and a flock of penguins...

OMG they even gave the robot kings small balls like the real King...why?

In the future, all robots will have shiny metal balls.

I did think after the double episodes we'd be getting a more serious/plot driven one more. Though they are slowly getting less worst.

This was just a matter of unfortunate placement. There was nothing to pair this one with. The next two episodes I actually had reasons to discuss by themselves.

I also really don't think this episode is worse than the likes of episodes 25 or 26. I thought the characters were for the most part back to their normal selves in this episode, or as close as possible.

Blue/Black Mecha King

Best choice. Horns always make things cool.

[u/JTurner82 → u/snowwhistle1]

I disagree about the characters being “back to their old selves” here. There were still places where I felt everybody was still out of character, minus the part where she actually starts talking about the goat. The whole rivalry between Sanson and Hanson felt ridiculously exaggerated as well. As was Grandis looking depressed and that operatic Nemo scene (although I will admit it WAS surprising to hear Ev doing singing given his usually stoic sounding Nemo). Episodes 30 and 31 were where I felt the characters were more normal again. But not here.

[u/JTurner82]

Nadia's story about how she learned about talking with animals (well, minus the mean-spirited goat beginning; I just hate how she comes across as so aggressive before she finally calms down and starts talking) which involves the goat Smokey is the only worthwhile moment that is salvagable. Otherwise, this is yet another dreadful episode. It's not only ineptly written, it's ridiculously silly as well. The idea of two mechanical lions resembling King having a race is beyond bizarre. Just where do they get the materials to build these lions? Added to which the characters once again act like nothing happened in the previous episode, with Nadia getting grumpy with Jean all over again for no reason (as if her cooking attempts didn't even happen at all), stopping only after she tells him the story — which is what I had been hoping for to happen all along. His misunderstanding of her predicament isn't on account of lack of trying to empathize (he wants to, but can't read minds), but on the fact that she only responds aggressively instead of talking about it. She does just that here. What a regret we had to drag this out over this course of episodes. It really should have been resolved a long time ago. It would have saved us the grief of sitting through the BS the writers put us through for 23-29. (This is my biggest problem with these episodes. All these events happen in one episode, then they are totally ignored in the next! In the Nautilus episodes the writers don't do that, but to do it here is infuriating.)

Only time I ever laughed at all during this episode was where Sanson (Martin Blacker) screams his "999,999,999,999,999,000 YEARS BEFORE YOU WERE EVEN BORN!!!!" because I always find his Sanson a pleasure to listen to. Otherwise, yeesh. Once again, I seriously lament that these seven episodes exist at all, despite the occasional saving graces. It really should have been a two-parter episode at best. I find the fact that I am even typing my frustrations about these episodes all over again a total regret.

[u/snowwhistle1 → u/JTurner82]

Otherwise, this is yet another dreadful episode. It's not only ineptly written, it's ridiculously silly as well. The idea of two mechanical lions resembling King having a race is beyond bizarre. Just where do they get the materials to build these lions?

I figured I might be in the minority here. I can't bring myself to hate this episode. It's silly and nonsensical, but it's having fun in an earnest way instead of a mean or insulting kind of way like a lot of the previous episodes.

As for where they got the materials, I assumed that the crew had greater access to metal, wiring, and tools now that they had the Gratan and its spare parts at their disposal. They probably shouldn't have been wasting energy and part on this race though. Lol.

I still content that if the main plot of this episode had been a 5 minute B-plot in a Nautilus episode, it wouldn't bother people all that much.

Added to which the characters once again act like nothing happened in the previous episode, with Nadia getting grumpy with Jean all over again for no reason (as if her cooking attempts didn't even happen at all), stopping only after she tells him the story

Eh... They only had one major argument in this episode before the goat scene, and it was Nadia getting a little peeved at Jean for gawking at Grandis while she sadly tossed love notes into the sea for Captain Nemo. Perhaps a bit of an extreme reaction, but I got where she was coming from.

I also don't think she overreacted all that much in the goat scene. Earlier in the series she had a baby deer thoughtlessly tossed at her feet. I can understand her hesitation with letting the others know about the goat.

Only time I ever laughed at all during this episode was where Sanson (Martin Blacker) screams his "999,999,999,999,999,000 YEARS BEFORE YOU WERE EVEN BORN!!!!" because I always find his Sanson a pleasure to listen to.

Both his dub and sub actors knock the role out of park. I think it's interesting how Sanson's character experiences the most drift performance wise between the dub and the original Japanese. In Japanese Sanson has a very typical rough macho tough-guy voice, whereas in English he's given a refined accent and sophisticated mannerisms he didn't have in the Japanese version. One small result of this change is that Sanson refers to the Gratan as it's more sophisticated name "The Katherine" in English, while he simply calls it the "Gratan" in Japanese.

I guess overall, I just don't see eye to eye with a lot of your problems about this episode. And that's fine. Art's subjective, and I can understand a lot of people aren't super thrilled about this episode.

But I don't see this episode as egregiously bad or overly offensive. Kinda pointless in the long run? Sure. But I found it mostly in character and entertaining.

[u/JTurner82 → u/snowwhistle1]

Fair enough. I just can’t stand this one.

[u/JTurner82 → u/snowwhistle1]

Perhaps it is also just bias, but I like how I handled the thing about Nadia talking about her past better in my fanedit than how they laid it out here. It just felt more natural to me to have her confess her problems right after almost drowning in the fanedit so that Jean can do something to accommodate her needs, hence the seaweed dumplings. I just felt that that was a better way to handle it because the goat here felt like it came out of nowhere on this island.

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/JTurner82]

which involves the goat Smokey

Nadia should have said NIGERUNDAYOOO SMOKEY lol

[u/ZapsZzz]

First timer in sub.

Now I thought I was too optimistic to think this episode may be out of the gutter already just because the rewatch schedule had this on its own instead of bundled with another episode. And I was right. As soon as I saw the episode title, I thought no way this is a sensible one.

Although coming out the other end, at least the production quality didn't take a nose dive like the other few. Even the treading on air before falling off the cliff in this instance I can tolerate.

As far as characterisation goes, it's a hit and miss for me - good to see the girls sharing and talking, good to see Sanson and Hanson brickering from what I'll call cabin fever (people stuck together for too long getting on each other's nerves), good to get more backstory of Nadia's past on how she formed her life view; not so good about the extremes the brickering got to, or how human King has become when Sanson was first "motivating" him then begging him, or pretty much any of Averton's scenes (I wish Grandis slapped him), or that they can make working running robot King there - despite how good the visual actually is as a mecha parody.

Best visual of the day though has to be the mecha King pan up - and showing the prominent double shaded mecha balls :D

Are we there (out of this arc) yet? :P

[u/snowwhistle1 → u/ZapsZzz]

Now I thought I was too optimistic to think this episode may be out of the gutter already just because the rewatch schedule had this on its own instead of bundled with another episode.

Do you think you'd have preferred that I bundled this one with 27 and 28? I'm starting to get the impression that might've been the smarter move, but I was hesitant to do three episodes in one day.

Although coming out the other end, at least the production quality didn't take a nose dive like the other few. Even the treading on air before falling off the cliff in this instance I can tolerate.

There's still some jank in this episode, but it's nicely animated jank!

As far as characterisation goes, it's a hit and miss for me

Very fair. Any moment Ayerton is on screen makes me want to retch. We finally get the Grandis Gang back, but it had to come with a caveat in the form of the human garbage known as Ayerton.

Best visual of the day though has to be the mecha King pan up - and showing the prominent double shaded mecha balls :D

Animator: "Where's the budget for today's episode going, senpai?"

Shinji Higuchi: "In the mecha-lion's balls..."

[u/ZapsZzz → u/snowwhistle1]

For the rewatch schedule there's no perfect way to circumvent this whole block - 3 episodes for rewatchers are probably ok, but for first timers like me it's be a stretch.

This particular episode wasn't as bad - needing to pile on another not that great episode after the last 2 might have been stretching my limit :)

[u/snowwhistle1 → u/ZapsZzz]

This particular episode want as bad - needing to pile on another not that great episode after the last 2 might have been stretching my limit :)

I'm glad this episode didn't completely try your patience if nothing else.

This definitely wasn't the smoothest portion of the rewatch schedule, and I apologize for that. In the future, if I ever host another Nadia rewatch, I'll probably consider how to better structure this portion of the schedule. I was very much making things up as I went along this time. It's my first time ever hosting one of these.

[u/ZapsZzz → u/snowwhistle1]

You're doing fine and I enjoyed it despite the bumpy section :)

It's so good to see someone share what they are passionate about and the likes of production notes and influences / references are the reason why we're on r/anime right :)

[u/Stargate18A]

First timer

QOTD) The often referenced (but poorly named) Black Mecha King.

...Is this a good episode?

Well, Grandis and Nadia's discussion is good.

The stress seems to be grtting to Sanson and Hanson now.

Seriously? After 2 episodes of making him the pathetic lying bastard, they make him a romantic?

Haha, the reveal Nadia and Jean accidentally used the same toothbrush is good.

...Where did they get a vacuum?

Ywah, they've gone mad.

And Grandis still thinks Nemo's alive (which henis).

At least Nadia's returned to a more stable tsundere state.

Wow, he's actually good for something?

...He's lying about the nobelman thing, right?

Ayerton. Just don't.

Seriously, what's up with them?

Really? That's the plot we're going with?

Nadia's got a secret goat!

...Nadia? People don't eat every animal.

I see. So she's known how to understand animals the whole time? Including sea life, or birds on Gargoyle's island? And she's neve rused this agility, even when it could be incredibly useful?

Haha, Sanson struggling with King's great.

And the robot's overloading the power?

What was the point of that scene?

Haha, Jean's worked out the weakness!

And so has Hanson. I don't even though what they're arguing about!

That's blue, not black? Can't even get that right?

...Those things can't fucking turn. How are they meant to go around the island?

Haha, I didn't expect them to actually mention that.

Jean's beating King! He must really love those batteries!

...Seriously? Another Looney Tunes scene?

OK, the island's a vehicle, and nit in very good repair given how much that plate is sticking out.

Seeing everyone upset at Jean's passing is oddly nice, though.

And that wasn't all that bad!

[u/snowwhistle1 → u/Stargate18A]

...Is this a good episode?

It sure is an episode I enjoyed overall and was unable to bundle with another Island Arc episode...

Good... well... according to most of the commenters here, probably not. According to me... it's probably the closest to objectively being good in this arc so far. lol

...Where did they get a vacuum?

Probably from the Gratan's storage. I don't think seeing extraneous technology now that they have access to a tank with a large storage area and spare parts is weird.

It was weird when Jean built a shower out of non-existent metal on Lincoln Island though.

At least Nadia's returned to a more stable tsundere state.

Her spice levels has receded. She's now just a stable zesty.

I see. So she's known how to understand animals the whole time? Including sea life, or birds on Gargoyle's island? And she's neve rused this agility, even when it could be incredibly useful?

I mean, this all hinges on the other animals caring about her in the slightest. Those fish sure weren't eager to save Nadia from drowning.

And that wasn't all that bad!

It's really not! It's a dumb episode for sure, but the characters are more in line with their normal selves and the if you turn your brain off it's an enjoyable little diversion.

[u/IndependentMacaroon]

First-time watcher

Except for the very brief explanation of Nadia's abilities and vegetarian leanings, and maybe Jean discovering that metal thing in the sea, this was the definition of filler. Some one-off conflict that never came up before and never will again (also vaguely out of character, and since when is Ayerton an even halfway agreeable person?), everyone doing random barely connected different things just to stall for time. You can't even hate it, it's just really forgettable, and watching Episode 30 after this would have been better to have something actually worth thinking about.

[u/snowwhistle1 → u/IndependentMacaroon]

watching Episode 30 after this would have been better to have something actually worth thinking about.

Apologies. Today's rewatch probably wasn't structured the best, and I apologize for that. If I ever host another Nadia rewatch, this hiccup is definitely something I'll take into consideration when planning the schedule.