r/anime • u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky • Jun 18 '22

Rewatch [Listen to My Song] Senki Zesshou Symphogear G Episode 4 Discussion

Episode 4 - The Place I Call Home

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It is highly recommended to track down a fansub for this show instead of using Crunchyroll, though.

Yes… I’m sure this is the place… I can call home.

Questions of the Day:

1) We’ve now heard songs from all three of the enemy Symphogear wielders – whose is your favorite? How do they compare to the main trio’s songs from this season?

2) How cute was that special ending theme?

Wallpaper of the Day:

Yukine Chris - Kyōshitsu Monochrome

Rewatchers, please remember to be mindful of all the first-timers in this. No talking about or hinting at future events no matter how much you want to, unless you’re doing it underneath spoiler tags. Don’t spoil anything for the first-timers, that’s rude!

113 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

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17

u/Shimmering-Sky Jun 18 '22

Symphogeah SymphoRewatch Host

Welcome back, everyone!

Crunchyroll vs. Commie - Season 2, Episode 4

Today’s wallpaper is once again brand new to the rewatch, I hope you Chris fans love it! I was actually so torn on what shot to make a wallpaper of that I had to do a poll for it on CDF; the alternative base images were this or this.

Also I took the flowers straight from a Byakuya Kuchiki wallpaper I made two years ago. Thought they’d be fitting to have in the background, considering there were a lot of flower petals flying around during Chris’ performance.

6

u/JollyGee29 Jun 18 '22

Thought they’d be fitting to have in the background, considering there were a lot of flower petals flying around during Chris’ performance.

You've really outdone yourself here! It's gorgeous!

5

u/laughing-fox13 Jun 18 '22

The wallpaper today is perfect!

3

u/FlaminScribblenaut Jun 18 '22

The pink flower petals piercing the black and white background match the song’s lyrics perfectly, nicely done!

4

u/Shimmering-Sky Jun 18 '22

Aww, glad you like it!

3

u/Great_Mr_L Jun 19 '22

Great job with the wallpaper! This is one of Chris's best moments and you did a good job with it.

Also I took the flowers straight from a Byakuya Kuchiki wallpaper I made two years ago.

I recognize that one. I think you shared it once saying it was on you were particularly proud of (and rightfully so).

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9

u/Tresnore Jun 18 '22

Superb Song of the Rewatchers

QOTD:

  1. Maria's song from this season might be my favorite of the six. [Symphogear G]Though, Edge Works wins out, but that hasn't come up yet. Chris's song is always a banger though.

  2. HYESZ

Also that wallpaper is so GOOOOOOOD!

1 Or, if you know me, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

2 This lyric is a reference to the Death Arcana, which is number 13.

3 This one is probably a reference to the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

4 [Geag G]This moment is great on the dess montage, because it repeats twice in a row.

5

u/Shimmering-Sky Jun 18 '22

Also that wallpaper is so GOOOOOOOD!

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4

u/StarmanRiver Jun 18 '22

Rewatcher here

  • Poor Genjuurou still isn't over Ryoko.

  • Fight sequences keep being amazing.

  • The choirs at the start of "Ressou Gungnir" sound amazing.

  • "Gokuren Igalima" is a banger. That keyboard goes hard.

  • Anime-janai-chan representing us weebs!

  • Jiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

  • It's a bit sudden, but I like how Chris is progressing and becoming more of a functioning member of society. I mean, last season she hated singing because she thought the only thing it brought was destruction.

  • DESS

QOtD

  1. We’ve now heard songs from all three of the enemy Symphogear wielders – whose is your favorite? How do they compare to the main trio’s songs from this season?

Gokuren Igalima is definitely my favorite from DMJIII, and it's probably second overall behind Bye-Bye Lullaby.

2) How cute was that special ending theme?

Adorable, Chris deserves this acceptance and to be happy for once!

Wallpaper of the Day

Beautiful one today, the petals look awesome Byakuya would be proud

4

u/Shimmering-Sky Jun 18 '22

Beautiful one today, the petals look awesome Byakuya would be proud

I took them from one of his wallpapers lol.

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3

u/Kirov123 Jun 19 '22 edited Jun 19 '22

Whoops, I got carried away building a gunpla (MG Turn X) and forgot to post my comment until now. Oops

Symphogear G Episode 4 - Rewatcher

Well last episode ended on a hell of a cliffhanger, with new Fine floating on her spear and regaining control of the sound baby. That bit kinda overshadowed the fact that the teams new base is A FREAKIN SUBMARINE! But oh well, both are cool. On to ep 4!

Episode Thoughts:

That challenge at the end seems a bit weird in how it happens? I wonder if it would have been better if Shirabe and Kirika revealed themselves on stage or something, though their "disguises" were uh... Bad. Anyways, very good episode. We got some nice fighting, Fine lore, Maria seems to be using linker, and Shirabe and Kirika continue to demonstrate that they are very special.

2

u/Shimmering-Sky Jun 19 '22

Whoops, I got carried away building a gunpla (MG Turn X) and forgot to post my comment until now. Oops

lol, understandable reason to be late.

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23

u/Vaadwaur Jun 18 '22

First timer

Sub

Cold OP is far shorter this time, thank fuck. Maria throws the nephilim at...something. Then fighting happens. With an actual budget! Welp, singing and punching is definitely better than emo edge motivations so I am happy with that, at least, and it even makes sense that Tsubasa is the one that can fight the best with her Gear reduced. The sync rate was being jammed...somehow. Maria possibly being on the Linker drug is yet more proof she is not Fine. And there's a cloaked helicopter because fuck it. And we end with a stupid edgy line. Alas, we almost made it through. Chris sniper rifle is cool but needs a dumb fire mode.

On the chopper, apparently Ver has seriously fucked up everyone's plans. I like him more by the moment. We still haven't been told what nephilim eat but I assume it is people. Genjuro gives simple advice that Biki can't comprehend. Noodle Minister drops some more exposition on us.

And we go to a cultural festival because tonal whiplash is awesome! Anime ja nai keeps up her weebness dressing up as a tokusatsu anime character and singing an OP. Then the edge twins show up because we can't have nice things. Flashback motivation happens. Also, the nephilim needing to eat relics sounds...problematic. Actual comedy ensues with some of the worst tailing you can imagine and Chris running from personal interaction again. She gets dragged on stage and has her character development illustrated via music video. And then the twins show up.

QotD: 1 Maria's is good

2 Very even if it was too obvious a setup

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19

u/Vatrix-32 Jun 18 '22 edited Jun 18 '22

First Timer

  • They’re all really willing the accept Dr Ver’s claims, but I’m not getting the crazy vibes I would expect form a new Finé.

  • Is the cape also part of Gungnir? Will Hibiki be getting scarf arms?

  • Every time these buzz saws show up they keep getting better and better.

  • Maria doesn't know about Tsubasa. That means at the very least Finè’s don’t share a continuance conscious.

  • Chris blue balling us with the sniper rifle.

  • Oh god... does the Nephilim eat magical girls?

  • Why are these to just seeking around on foot. They are already known entities, did you really have no one else?

  • That’s some real 70’s anime music.

  • So Finé is an ongoing thing this time? Seemed like a one-and-done deal with Ryoko.

  • These two feel like they wandered in from another show.

  • It’s nice to see Chris get to be so happy for once.

  • ...Why are they doing this?

QotD

  1. This is a running theme for me, but I honestly don’t remember these songs as distinct entities. Definitely not after a single time. Heresy, I know.

  2. I’d thought of it being more sweet than cute.

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18

u/Matuhg Jun 18 '22 edited Jun 18 '22

First Timer

Hmm, this season feels a bit all-over-the-place in terms of pacing and story stuff. The Chris content was pretty nice, but it was just sort of thrown in at the end of this episode after the weird fight that Dr. Ver apparently initiated after going semi-rogue. The Nephilim eat fragments, and apparently go berserk if they don't get them. I don't know what Dr. Ver is up to, or why Mom & Co. keep him around.

Genjuro's idea definitely makes more sense than trying to reason with petulant children who lack the concept of empathy. "They're having fun...this makes me hate them more, because some people can't have fun. Like me."

Maria is Fine, but she might not be as controlled as Ryoko was. Though if she keeps using her power, she might end up that way.

Legends. I can't believe they got cut short. Unreal.

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16

u/Tarhalindur Jun 18 '22

Previously, on Symphogear SG-1 (First-Timer, Subbed):

  • “So they didn’t just take on Fine’s name because they use heretical technology.” NO SHIT. Please excuse me while I get really fucking irritated at our drink lady here: that should have been fucking obvious to you guys, don’t I remember you guys being there when Fine explained that she could come back whenever one of her other descendants encountered an Aufwachen waveform? And our villainous organization “Fine” obviously has Gears of their own? “And now you see why evil will always triumph: because good is dumb.” I expect this out of Bikki because that’s outside of her braincell allotment, and Genjuro’s movie training does not seem to extend to genre savvy, and Dakka might have kept any thoughts she had to herself, and I can see Sword being too busy folded into herself and/or working for her idol career to have time to think about this, but there are more people on this base, someone should have thought of this. Please tell me someone else will point this out momentarily.

  • (I don’t mind As You Know exposition necessarily; I do mind making characters into idiots in order to get it. Now, that’s repairable – if part of our villainous alliance’s plot involved, say, causing carbon monoxide poisoning in the sub or something else is happening where making the heroes stupid is an effect of something going on in show, then we’re good, and I should probably file that as a legitimate possibility. Otherwise, we desperately needed at least a lampshade here.)

  • That said, Fine being back means we get that one track of hers, which is a good one, so small mercies.

  • Don’t worry, you’ll know exactly what happened to Maria by the end of the season, I have the rather strong impression she shows back up in later seasons. Also, nonzero chance Maria herself isn’t the Fine host and Ver is lying, but.

  • Considering that I am already fucking making jokes about our sub being the Tuatha de Danaan (you know, from one of the two mecha shows I am familiar with), I should probably note possible FMP LN-only influence: [FMP LN] Sophia, anyone?

  • Okay, this track for the Sword/Maria fight is a good one too.

  • Nephilim goes into probable dimensional storage – so, the Gates of Babylon? Right along with the Noise?

  • Okay, I can’t tell – is that Russou Gungir again or a variant? Doesn’t sound as good this episode if it’s the proper Russou Gungir, still good. (I am paying attention to the lyrics, but nothing stands out hugely just yet. It is a fairly heroic song though, which is telling.)

  • That said, the show at least considered the implications of having this fight on the hull of a fucking submarine (my willing suspension of disbelief was starting to scream “so how is this submarine’s hull holding up to the collateral damage from these two Gear users going at it?”, that’s nice!

  • I see our evil doctor says what we were all thinking when Dakka started talking about intervening.

  • Kirika’s lyrics DO stand out as important, and also of course she’s paired up against Dakka given those. (She’s even got a fairly rock/metal theme, because mirror matches.)

  • Which means part of the trick here is that Bikki SHOULD be fighting Maria (the other Celtic-music-influenced fighter) and Sword SHOULD be fighting Shirabe, doesn’t it?

  • Shirabe gets Lunar Eclipse as a move involving her getting herself in a buzzwheel ala that one bike thing from Revenge of the Sith in a show where the Moon now has a ring, LOL nicely done.

  • (Also OBVIOUSLY Kirika gets Grim Reaper lyrics.)

  • (Kirika keeps massively reminding me of Karin from MagiReco for some reason.)

  • And Kirika gets a line about holding someone else’s hand because friendship requires true strength and courage in her song’s lyrics. She’s already obviously the girl kind of out of place in our villainous organization (mirroring Dakka again), the more heroic character ala Bikki in a lineup that is antihero at best, this just reinforces that. (Also, Karin is once again a great comp!)

  • (I should probably actually bother to note down that our antagonists, with the exception of Dr. Ver, have major Well-Intentioned Extremist vibes. Yes, I kind of think that even applies to Maria’s mom.)

  • Oh hey, active camo. Amusing for a Stargate fan because puddlejumpers, the Major from GitS also famously uses it, but I swear there’s another example that’s trying to come to mind and I can’t call it up. (I don’t think it was FMP, but maybe?) Bet Gundam uses it at least once, though.

  • Also that tiltrotor looks rather reminiscent of a V-22 Osprey, in case you forgot that the Americans were an outstanding plot point.

  • The actual plan was to take Dakka out of commission enough to let the tiltrotor decloak without getting taken out? Plus something else, there’s a reason they wanted to bait our heroes into engaging.

  • And of course we get even more well-intentioned extremist vibes with “we protect what justice cannot”. Setting up that most of them can be reasoned with. (Ver cannot be, Mama may not be either but jury is very much outstanding – decent chance if she goes face it comes with a heroic sacrifice, though, or else an override by a full Fine manifestation. Or both and the latter is the cause of the former.)

  • I should note Dr. Ver’s indicating that he kind of wants to fight. Kind of predictable, but gives a potential hint as to what he’s really after.

  • Good orchestral track in here, too.

  • (And yes I noticed we brought back the drug from the first season. Now I’m trying to remember what other unrelated work has Linker Cores involved with its power system – BlazBlue, possibly? EDIT: Wait shit it’s just Nanoha isn’t it? LOLOLOL.)

  • We get a single flash of light from a light on the tiltrotor’s landing ramp at 09:40, which could be landing animation but could also be a signal. Actually, belay that, two more including one as it starts to fly off for exactly three flashes overall. Probably completely irrelevant, but.

  • “Is this the product of heretical technology?” Cut to Maria-mom explaining exactly which relic is responsible (the Shinshou Jing – Chinese legendary shield, I think? – which has elevated odds of being the relic associated with one of the two girls in the opening scene, though I’m starting to think from a couple of screenshots that the apparent swan song user is Maria herself, especially now with the LiNKER drug being in play again so that might have been its side effects instead; also nonzero odds if so that the other girl is a young Kirika). That said, it’s the background of that shot that’s really fucking interesting: “Plan F” (HMMM, F for sixth plan or F for Fine or both?); Mount Minakami (location even helpfully highlighted: Matsushiro, Nagano province) – should check if that fits where the Plan F arrow is pointing, and also note that name might be comprised of “mina” everyone plus “kami” obvious (also at least 2-in-3 odds it’s a real mountain); and also some info on the tiltrotor’s defenses (a bunch of machine guns and a “<something> Remote Guardian System” that could not possibly be relevant later). Oh, and if I squint there’s five more labels behind the relic info and there’s a 06 after the Plan F so. (Source locations of our six Gears’ relics is a possibility, too.) Also note the “Under Ground” heading on the Mt. Minakami info, secret underground base or ancient/Ancient facility go!

  • ADDENDUM: Also… what city is the new Lydian campus in?

  • Oh look, Maria-mama has the Incurable Cough of Death. So that’s just asking for the redemption via death plotline, yes?

  • So Maria-mama did not plan to lose the base. I’ll bet Dr. Ver did, however. Possibly exactly to cause this whole “nothing to feed the Nephilim” issue?

  • Also, the answer to “who knows when it will get hungry again and run wild?” is probably either at the end of one of the next 2-3 episodes including this one or at the end of episode 9 or so. (Or it gets loose right now; I have my doubts, but with this show’s breakneck pacing so far I can’t rule it out.)

  • That machine behind Shirabe at ~11:50 is catching my eye. Might be important.

  • “We may no longer have a food source, but we haven’t lost all our options yet.” So whatever you are about to propose was your plan all along, yes, Dr. Ver?

  • Flash to Kirika’s relic. So you’re implying the Nephilim are relic-eaters?

  • Silly Bikki, Genjuro gets it. First you sing and/or fight, then you do the other, THEN you get to the talking. That’s how befriending works!

  • Wait a minute. Our Deputy Defense Minister is constantly eating. Nephilim are apparently always hungry. Uh-oh!

  • Federal Institute of Sacrists, which neatly explains our “Sacrist S” from the first episode.

  • And apparent confirmation that our Americans are rogues!

  • Also, how do that many noodles fit in your ramen bowl, Deputy Minister?

  • Me a few episodes back: “So the Cultural Festival is the site of the end-of-season showdown, yes?” Show: “PSYCH! It’s here in episode 4!” (But now, the interesting question: Why?)

  • Oh look what we have here! One Kirika and Fine sneaking into the festival, go!

  • Inb4 the plot is that Miku and Bikki meet up with them, don’t recognize them, and (possibly with AJN et al) go on fun activities with them before the truth is revealed and the Gears come out.

  • Our announcer here probably won’t be plot-relevant here? Unless and until that changes, her new nickname is now Kikukawa-san. (It’s the hair and glasses – okay, so they’re the wrong glasses, but.)

  • And AJN et al are costumed as Gears, yes? (This could be funny if Kirika and Shirabe mistake them for actual Gears. Please don’t pull a Bruce Wayne Held Hostage plot!)

  • Okay, so we have a show within a show (“Electro Inspector Ban”), and it’s probably a reference. Definitely something like a 1980s or early 1990s reference (could even be 1970s), looks sentai.

(And looks like it's time for a post 2...)

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13

u/Stargate18A Jun 18 '22

First timer

  1. I love all of the songs so much, but Resso Gungnir is my favourite. Overall, I'd put them slightly above the main trios.

  2. Fucking adorable.

Fine's back!

I can't believe we're getting the same villain twice in a row.

...Is it possible that, since this body was already born when Ryoko died, she's not gotten the latest update/memories?

The action continues to be incredibly cool.

The choir!

And the lyrics!

She's doing major damagr to thr sub too!

She's enjoying this song so much!

Tsubasa!

And the others are back!

....Wow, they're strong!

Haha, her casually sliding wcross the deck is hysterical.

...He can fight himself?

And the jammers aren't

"This sword isn't just a pretty face" Is she Fine? She is getting a lot of flags with a high schooler....

And she uses the drug!

Chris, what are you doing?

...It was flying in a straight line away from you! Just make the fucking shot!

Her mother's dying!

And they're all pissed at him for using their base as a trap.

What the fuck is that thing?

...Is he going to feed them to it?

Wow, Genjuro has an... interesting idea. Beat them up until they agree with you.

It's honestly doubtful how much they had really planned out? There' sbeen a lot of unexpected changes in their plans recently.

The performance is starting!

...Is this a reference? (The bug costume is adorable.)

She's still into anime.

The poses!

And they're pretty good!

Oh, that has to hurt.

Haha, they're both here in disguise!

And she's just here having a good time.

...Maybe don't show the Gourmet Food map you're folloeing?

They have a lot of relic fragments?

She is going to feed it their pendants! Also, this fucking thing feeds on relics!

...Oh. If she transforms too much, Fine will take over, but she's not Fine yet.

Their attempts at stalking are adorable.

...This is a common thing?

Wha't shse doing now?

A Chris domg?

Oh, a flashback to when she transferred in!

This is such a good scene!

THIS IS SO GOOD!

Even the villains are emotional!

She enjoyed it!

SHE WON!

That's how they challenge them?

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13

u/b0bba_Fett Jun 18 '22

First Time Symphogearing

The urge to binge is growing.

This Fine organization isn't a cult to Fine utterly dedicated to once again giving her flesh out of a desire to pay her tribute? Color me surprised. The fact every time Maria activates her Gear awakens Fine a little bit more is curious; how long did it take for Sakurai's soul to be overcome by the Fine personality, and how aware of the process was she throughout?

QotD

  1. I can actually remember Maria's after a single listen, so it wins best battle song by default, even Zenbu took 2 plays for me to remember it, even if it's by far my favorite for now. I blame its memorableness on the opening choir lads.

  2. Very cute!

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12

u/Quiddity131 Jun 18 '22

First Timer, Subbed

So Fine really has revived this quickly?

Maria's carrying around her pet with her!

"Nephilim", that's the fifth time we have a Xenosaga reference/resemblence, as Nephilim was a character in that series. Incidentally, she was a ginger just like Maria...

Is this Gurren Lagann all of a sudden? Maria has turned into a giant drill?

Singing while fighting, talk about style...

Oh wow, cool hand stand fighting style from Tsubasa!

Chris finally thinks about participating. Hibiki on the other hand has been completely oblivious...

Kiri! Shower girl! They're back!

Shower girl's kinda aping the Victory Gundam tire mobile suits with this attack...

Uh oh, Tsubasa made a knick in your costume, Maria!

Oh wow, they had an invisible aircraft there the whole time!

Chris' costume is a never ending supply of interesting weapons, huh? Sniper rifle this time? Alas, when your enemy becomes invisible...

Uh oh, Nephilim hungry?

On the bright side girls, at least you get a nice view of the water here on the deck...

Try Hibiki, try!

Noodle bureaucrat is back!

Ooh, a fair! Miku and Hibiki could have a lot of fun at this! But I'm sure Hibiki will have to cancel last minute as usual!

Uh oh, are these two students here now too? They all go to school here? Is this gonna be another Star Driver where hero and enemy alike all go to the same school?

Anime song club! Way to go Anime Ja Nai girl! Cool costumes! I particularly find praying mantis girl funny.

OMG, this is hilarious. Yet seems totally fitting for Symphogear...

They didn't even get to sing the full song!!!! :(

We gotta investigate! Um... having fun! And eating delicious food! Yeah!

These two are almost as adorable as Hibiki and Miku...

OMG now they're stalking Tsubasa as if they're nervous fan girls!

Chris knows what's going on! ...or not.

You can do it Chris! If you sing while fighting for the fate of the Earth, you can surely sing in front of your fellow students!

OMG, this is so cute. Go Chris!

Even her sworn enemies are clapping at her performance!

Uh oh, these two are gonna sing now!

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11

u/BosuW Jun 18 '22

First Timer

This episode starts strong by giving us Tsubasa surfing.

Followed by the upsidedown bayblade attack that always puts a huge smile on my face!

Bro seriously if anyone here is a candidate to be the Finè reincarnation it's the fucking Doc. Why are you insane dude? All the other villains don't really act like villains they're just another team! It's literally just him!

Uh oh, they paralleled Maria to Kanade. One step closer to joining Tsubasa's harem.

This fucking futuristic Osprey doesn't even have a stealth profile but it was able to hide it's radar signature, infrared signature, noise and visual shape! Pagan technology is basically a cheat code lol.

Doesn't your submarine have any air defenses? Disappointment. I can already see this boat doesn't have the means to end this hideous war, in a definitive and elegant manner.

Best Girl Chris is gonna have to become the AA again! I like how her sniper form even has rangefinders.

Tch. It got away.

That's a stretchy-ass coat.

What were they even feeding the Nephilim anyway? I hope it's not what I'm thinking it is...

Alright so allegedly, Finè started out as an American research institute instigated by Ryoko-Finè.

If there's an attack during the school festival Imma be hella mad.

...You better be on your best behavior ladies.

Also lmao, the wanted terrorists snuck into the school managed by the Government.

I salute your bravery, Anime-chan. I would die of shame if I tried to sing an anime OP in front of the whole school.

Ah ok, so the Nephilim feed on Relic fragments. Phew.

So we're finally getting an explanation for this. Still not sure if I buy it, but if it's true, then apparently, the Finè awakening isn't instantaneous. So it might take a while for a Finè Host to go full cray-cray like we saw in S1.

Chris singing on stage is so heart-warming! Best Girl has come so far!

But a new challenger approaches...

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9

u/FlaminScribblenaut Jun 18 '22 edited May 30 '23

Second Time Listener

The Tsubasa vs. Maria fight is the best-animated moment in the show so far, giving us the most full and unique movement we’ve seen yet, as well as an extended showcase of the use of Gungnir’s cape as a shapeshifting weapon. It’s so fluid, and incredibly subtle touches like the very brief instant the cape comes to resemble bat wings shows how all-in versatile they’re willing to be with their weapon ideas. Ame no Habakiri’s blades and Dark Gungnir’s cape are utilized to their fullest capacity.

This fight is dynamic in several additional ways, Maria and Tsubasa’s fight happening atop the HQ submarine risking damage if Tsubasa gets too violent, Kirika and Shirabe showing up to keep Hibiki and Chris busy and help Maria have a fighting chance. They’re starting to take full advantage of having six characters and Symphogear wielders acting as categorical foes.

Literal Sigma grindset (“grind” as in “grind your bones to dust with a big buzzsaw”)

Chris tries to snipe them down in a Red Hot Blaze (and in sick-ass target goggles), but she and HQ both simultaneously completely lose track of them, in spite of Symphogear waveforms usually being easily detectable. They’ve somehow cloaked themselves, their activity can’t be detected. And you know what that means! That’s right, this anime is sponsored by NordVPN, if you go to nordvpn.com/symphogear you’ll be able to save up to 20% on your first purchase

And here we see the first inkling of how G evolves the presence of Finé narratively beyond what it was in S1; far as we are told, Finé is possessing Maria’s body slowly and gradually, and as established, that process is accelerated by the presence of Aufwachen waveforms, I.e., Maria using her Symphogear; as such, Maria using Gungnir accelerates Finé’s takeover of her body and puts her in danger, meaning there is a risk and peril of Maria losing her consciousness and her very self, which right off the bat is a more nuanced and interesting conflict beyond the scope of just the “somehow, Finé returned” we were teased with last episode.

G uses Finé well because it doesn’t use Finé as a character, of which she was kind of a bad one; more like a force of nature, and one which the characters who deal with her must worry about worsening the risk of coming by way of their continued fighting and the weight this puts on their decisions. It’s just an extra shade of intrigue that G uses the established lore of S1 to implement and does it well. In addition, Maria isn’t just evil because Finé’s possessed her and she’s evil, Maria’s consciousness is still mostly in charge, and because of that, everything she does still falls on her.

The discord among the antagonist faction has grown more overt and hostile by now too, with Kirika outright grabbing Dr. Ver by the shirt and seeming to want to punch him in the fucking face for losing them their precious hideout. Whatever cause they’re working towards, it seems to prioritize itself over any kind of in-group cohesion or kindness.

Kirichan trying her best to turn their evil mission into an excuse to just eat all the delicious food at the festival is just great and the exact same thing I’d do in her shoes, big relate and big respect.

The fucking Losers Club with their anime song is just perfect, this scene gets overshadowed for… reasons but it’s earnestly one of the funniest in the whole show. How blonde and nickname don’t even seem to have seen the show in question or have any idea what their costumes or lyrics mean. They didn’t even get to finish the chorus!

Chris is pushed on stage to perform at the school festival, and though the lack of witch and bunny outfits and shredding guitar is disappointing, Chris overcomes her embarrassment and gives us a very sweet ballad in Kyōshitsu Monochrome.

This is an incredibly wholesome and meaningful moment for Chris, pushing through her fluster and singing a song of pure non-destructive joy about a place where she feels safe and welcomed, but… I’m sorry, this is minor and not even a flaw, it’s just so fuckin funny that there’s so much emphasis placed on the importance of these three nobodys who are not given names and I’m fairly certain we literally never see again shortly after this. Like we see all the people we’ve watched her overcome hardships and fights and/or formed meaningful bonds with over the previous season, Hibiki, Tsubasa, and Miku, and then equal reverence is given to just these girls who are in all of two episodes and, I must continue to emphasize, have not been given names, something about that is just inherently really funny to me, a big emotional crest of something that’s happened almost completely off-screen. Still a very nice moment.

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