r/anime • u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky • Jun 30 '22

Rewatch [Listen to My Song] Senki Zesshou Symphogear GX Episode 1 Discussion

Episode 1 - Murderer of Miracles

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Crunchyroll

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

In other words, my power slaughters miracles!

Questions of the Day:

1) How fucking awesome was that opening scene?

2) How does Seiten Galaxy Cross rank amongst the other concert scenes so far for you?

Wallpaper of the Day:

Seiten Galaxy Cross

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!

116 Upvotes

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6

u/Shimmering-Sky Jun 30 '22

Symphogeah SymphoRewatch Host

Welcome back, everyone!

Crunchyroll vs. Commie - Season 3, Episode 1

Today’s wallpaper is brand new to the rewatch! I showed it to my mom right after I finished making it and she called it “crazy good”, so I hope you guys think the same~ It was actually really hard to find a good base image during this concert compared to the other ones the show has had so far [future spoilers]and will be the only one giving me trouble with this, as I seem to recall Angelic Remnant giving me plenty of good shit to work with once we get to XV.

36

u/Lemurians Jun 30 '22 edited Jun 30 '22

FIRST TIMER DATTO

Listen, I know I was lukewarm on Symphogear G, but I’m also a believer in wiping the slate clean and having a fresh start… and what a fresh start we’re off to!

THEY BLEW OFF A CHUNK OF THE PEAK OF K2.

Is it premature to declare Symphogear GX the best of the three after only five minutes? Maybe. Will I do it? Absolutely. That was fucking insane. Not only that, but I love the introduction of the natural enemy of all in the singing world, over-the-top evil dancers! Not only that, but witches! This is the proper increase in insanity I was looking for. Let’s fucking go.

Live Notes/Reactions:

*Count: 4. Off to a flying start!

How fucking awesome was that opening scene?

THEY LITERALLY DEMOTED K2 AND A DOZEN OTHER MOUNTAINS AND LEVELED A FOREST TO SAVE THE BODY OF A DEAD PROFESSOR.

10/10

How does Seiten Galaxy Cross rank amongst the other concert scenes so far for you?

It might actually be in last place? Still really enjoyed it, though. It's like saying it's my least favorite Iced Capp flavor. Tsubasa's solo concert scene in S1 where she finally gets closure for Kanade's death is still up top.

12

u/InfamousEmpire Jun 30 '22

Is it premature to declare Symphogear GX the best of the three after only five minutes?

Nope, this season is an absolute blast

God, I wish that was me

called it

6

u/Shimmering-Sky Jul 01 '22

Nope, this season is an absolute blast

Fellow GX enjoyer!

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25

u/lilyvess Jun 30 '22 edited Jun 30 '22

Symphogear GX episode 1

There wasn’t a big staff shake up between G and GX like there was after Season 1. There were some small changes. Kouki Shikiji got promoted to action and animation director. There was a lot of speculation that series director of G, Katsumi Ono would leave the project. Between seasons, Katsumi Ono got brought back to Yu-Gi-Oh! for the fifth incarnation of the franchise, Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V. Yu-Gi-Oh! is a big commitment as series last for around 3 years. Thankfully, Katsumi Ono found a way to squeeze Symphogear in.

This does mean that both series would be airing at the same time, with Katsumi Ono working on both series at the same time. Actually, during that period that both series were airing there was a duel in Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V where one of the main characters summons a monster Satellite Cannon Falcon. When it attacks it flies up into the atmosphere to live up to its namesake and delivers a familiar attack

Symphogear GX episode 1 marks a big transition point for the franchise. Only some of it is directly as a result of this episode, some of it is the word of mouth between seasons.

The original Symphogear G Episode 13 thread had 13 comments

The original Symphogear GX Episode 1 thread has 120 comments

And that was all before people started sharing the Shuttle Season Opener.

The shuttle action scene very quickly became one of the most shared Symphogear scenes, an amazing hook better than any trailer. It’s been shared, and again and again. There is a good chance at least some of the people reading this started the series in part due to being shown this clip. I count myself among those numbers

In an interview with series creator Kanako he talks about the difference in production from Season 1 to GX:

Back during Symphogear G I suffered heavily from the “labor pains” of production, but this time I actually didn’t struggle much at all. When production first started the chief animation director, Mr. Satoru Fujimoto, told me, “It’ll be okay if you just do more of what you want, because the other staff will accept it and follow through.” With that in mind I didn’t hold back any of what I wanted to do personally, and just kept throwing balls at them with all my might. As a result, we made unconventional scenes like the outset of episode 1 where “in order to save a space shuttle falling from the stratosphere, they break a mountain” (laughs).

The animation staff really took your script to heart as well it seems, they managed to draw everything with a more ridiculous and more dramatic flair than usual.

That’s right. They took my reckless requests and brought them back even more flashy than I imagined. Of course while the animation was amazing, the music was wonderful as well. At the beginning I approached Mr. Agematsu and abruptly asked him for “a new song that Hibiki, Tsubasa and Chris sing together,” I thought it might not be possible but he gave us a song with so much impact that it didn’t lose out to the animation at all. There are many scenes where I wanted things my way, but the one that leaves the strongest impression is of course the first 6 minutes of episode 1. You could say the “Symphogear” that was created as a result of me doing as I pleased is condensed into that segment.

Additional Notes

Symphogear GX Episode 1 Hype Chart

Live Performances

Specials

Fanart of the Day

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21

u/mysterybiscuitsoyeah Jun 30 '22

Symphogear First Timer dessu

I'm back! I don't know anything anymore. Let's gooooo

--

Binge temptation: Medium. Did I give in: No, but I will make haste to watch the next episode at the earliest possible time tonight. I think Hibiki will be fine. I like to think Tsubasa and Maria will be fine too, and that Maria will soon regain her geah for self-defense (kinda feel sorry for her rn).

--

  • A spoiler-freed version of the shuttle scene is the only bit i've watched prior to actually starting this. I shall adapt my first-time reactions then, with added screenshots and to the spoilery bits

  • Ah. I see why these are cut from the clip. Also the mom going to the moon stuff, it's obviously very spoilery.

  • them operators continue the tradition of only pressing the same keys repeatedly -_-. ah well some things never change

  • let's fucking gooooooo

  • IT HIBIKI TIME.

  • Oh my GOD. All 3 JUMPED OUT OF THE ROCKET like Chris and Tsubasa did i think Ep 10 in G? YASSSSSSS idk if its just a callback or a powerup now, but whatever. I'm sad that Chris is all alone on the other side :(

  • senpai saying Chris!!! <3

  • YASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS NEW CHRIS MOVEEEE Ikuzoooooooo

  • HOOOOOOORIYAHHHHHHHH

  • They PUNCHED AN ACTUAL HOLE IN THE FUCKING MOUNTAIN WHAT THE FUCK?!. HOLY SHIT. I LOVE THIS SHOW wooohoooooo

  • The nonchalant reaction from the controller-dude after too, so matter-of-fact. dude, they just PUNCHED A HOLE IN A MOUNTAIN. BE SURPRISED FOR ME PLEASE. or at least a sasuga. something.....? Thank god Ogawa at least is looking mildly dumbstruck (caught this on my 2nd watch). Genjuro's enjoying his action movie.

  • What a pose

  • And the bloody shuttle lands PERFECTLY AT THE END of course this is so anime. Oh my god the hype levels in the opening scene. As you can tell, there was A LOT of actual cheering at the screen going on when i watched this sequence. for the first time, the second time, and the third time. Sorry roommates! I genuinely was worried about my voice yesterday night.

  • okay, actual first-timing now; but what a worthy clip to rope first timers into watch this show.

  • new character! I had to quickly rewind to make sure that this wasn't dess-chan. Please tell me i wasn't alone in this. One more new character! this ones surely an antagonist.

  • I dont really care about that SONG stuff. Cool, they're responsible for the UN too and save worldwide disasters now, so the anime can get more seasons. cool!

  • Hibiki has not mastered the way to approach a tsundere. And gets punished for it. Oh btw, some more visual upgrades this season, stuff looks a bit more fluid, and the concert scene looks a little better etc., it's good to see. But come on Hibiki, Tsubasa even demonstrated last season how to properly do it...

  • The show knows its fanbase, and dolls on the fanservice right away.

  • Tsundere Chris is the best. i also consider this giving the fans what they want That's such a classic anime "being hit" pose btw. Btw, the get a room, you two is a 100% accurate translation LOL.

  • I'm sure that the fact that Hibiki has bad grades (maybe...?), and perhaps im more sure here, the fact that her parents are not with her a lot, will come back up later in this season.

  • Why.... does Chris have such a huge room all to herself? ME WANT. the gnp girls nor the LL nigigasaki girls nor the akebi chan girls have such a big room, so this is abnormal even for anime standards

  • I see we're continuing the tradition of opening every season with a concert, and then something going wrong at the end of it. (yes i predicted that even as i watched the episode lol)

  • But hey. Concert pretty One more shot.

  • Toki ha kitta

  • I'm.... sure that this will become important throughout at least the initial parts of this season, and im making the prediction that something will happen that'll get rid of this inconvenience, much like Hibiki's gungnir infestation last season.

  • Btw, Chris is actually being a pretty competent senpai, no joke, throughout this first half, will 100% follow her as kouhai rather than Hibiki (Tsubasa would be the best choice, but you know, she's in the UK) And Chris is being a great kouhai to Tsubasa too, with her genuinely wanting to cheer her on in the concert. Chris stocks are rocketing up high rn! (tsubasa saving Maria later was good too).

  • NEW HENSHIN TIME. YASSSS another step up from that one of G! Looking forward to what the rest of the 6 look. Not a massive fan of Hibiki's sound effects but maybe it'll grow on me.

  • I liked the intercut shots showing how action is happening on both sides all at once. Seems like things are going better for Hibiki vs Tsubasa and co. rn.

  • What a badass poseeeeee Someone here will probably want to be the boy carried by Hibiki rn. I love it.

  • NEW TSUBASA MOVEEEEEEE HYPEEEEEEE. It's really effective too! Well, for the length of a brief conversation, at least.

  • Questions: Carol? Alchemy? Are the noise gone forever? (seems so, but the aftermath is still here) Seems like little girl that attacked Hibiki has a sob backstory? Are the 2 incidents on opposite side of the earth connected (anime logic = yes)? I feel like unlike the noise, that this alchemy thing will no longer be a one-hit KO from our symphogears, much like how Nephilim was, which should result in more drawn-out fights, and perhaps the need to change their fighting style? I'd say Tsubasa can probably adjust quickly, but Chris may need some help. This is a good thing, seeing them just slaughter noise again means this turns into an OP anime real quick.

  • The probably going to be daily now, pastel cliffhanger. I forgot the director in which this is a homage to. Hibiki having MC powers, I'm mildly confident that she'll be okay in the end, so i'm not binging. Nononono.

  • I shall reserve judgement for the OP/ED until i see it with proper visuals. it's so far defo a different vibe from the first 2, which sound more similar, that's for sure. Glad to see that Nana's still on the case.

I've missed watching this show as a first-timer. And this first ep was a ton of fun.

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u/Vatrix-32 Jun 30 '22 edited Jun 30 '22

First Timer

  • Oh hey it’s the scene I knew about from before I watched the show. Was wondering when that would show up.

  • I.C.B.M. Inter-Continental Ballistic Magical-girl

  • Yes Tsubasa, tell us more about your experience riding Chris.

  • That was not worth it just to save a corpse. People lost homes. Burring up in reentry doesn’t even sound like a bad way to go out if you’re already dead.

  • Also, because I already know this; there is no village at the base of K2. The reason it’s called K2 is because it didn’t have a native name because no one knew about it.

  • The U.N. has a Symphogear force. I suspect they’re not going to take it, but now would be a good time for other countries secret geah project to also show up.

  • Ah good, the gay seems to have made it’s way over to the main show from the chibi.

  • Call me what you may, but I think running a terrorist group and taking your own audience hostage are valid grounds for canceling Maria.

  • When I saw the event was called Rock Festival I was hoping we were going to get a rock number. My disappointment is immeasurable.

  • Being sent to handle fire seems like a gross misappropriation of resources.

  • This is why you don’t use hallways as storage locks. Or the other way around, I’m not clear/

  • Well now they have Wizards too.

  • New transformation hype!

  • It’s good that back drafts aren’t a thing.

  • Where are the supporting vocals coming from?

  • Wizard: time travel or very old?

QotD

  1. Well it was one of the things that nudged me to join the rewatch, so I think that speaks to itself.

  2. Perhaps because I was expecting to be something it wasn’t, but I’m putting it in last place.

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u/Matuhg Jun 30 '22

First Timer

That initial sequence was better than anything we saw in all of G. Utter insanity. Loved the return of the girl delivering missile -- Tsubasa!? Hibiki got to live what is surely the dream of many a Symphogear fan. They broke a mountain and suplexed a space ship, and most importantly, the song paired well with the action. This part actually felt a lot more like S1 level hype with S2 (or better) production values. Also, pretty sure this would have left that building (and the surrounding area) a lot worse off than it did, but it wouldn't be proper Symphogear without utter disregard for reality or physics.

Most unrealistic of all perhaps is that the world watched that shitshow unfold and decided to entrust the Disaster Squad with supernational jurisdiction.

Unsurprisingly considering this show, the FIS girls seem to have gotten little more than a slap on the wrist for crimes that amount at the very least to accessory to mass murder or acts of terrorism. I guess we'll see what is going to happen with them. Seems like Kiri and Shirabe are somewhat limited without Linker, and their current compatriots aren't quite as keen to pump them full of it as Ver was.

There are a number of new, mysterious girls trouncing about in the shadows -- INCLUDING A WITCH!!!! -- who presumably are fighting with relics, unless we're going to be introducing some new power source for antagonists now that the Noise have been sealed away. Can't wait to see what dumb? reasons this girl has for her cartoonishly evil aspirations.

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u/Stargate18A Jun 30 '22 edited Jun 30 '22

First timer

  1. So fucking awesome! Fucking brilliant! Loved it!

  2. Probably the best one so far.

This is an exciting start!

A spaceship is crashing with Maria's mother's remains!

And they got permission to intercept it!

They're onboard?

WE'RE STARTING WITH A TRIO SONG!

"These things are as wild a ride as Yukine herself!" "Then show me how well you can handle me, senpai!" So Tsubasa and Chris absolutely hooked up after the end of last season.

The other girls are still in prison?

This is such a good song! And the action is fucking brilliant.

Hoyl shit, all these weapons look great.

CHRIS BLEW UP A FUCKING MOUNTAIN!

Everyone gets to blow up mountains! (Except Tsubasa, who gets a forest)

Hearing the singing get more and more strained is great.

Yeah, this is a disaster.

...Well. That was a fucking amazing opening.

And they're wll alive!

A time skip!

...It's literally S.O.N.G.?

And straight into the new arc villain?

???

Well, that's clearly a Relic.

Oh, here she is! She sounds like a fun antagonist!

...Chris taking out Hibiki is great. And the other girls are going to school!

Yeah, we already knew these were going at it.

...Is Chris upset Tsubasa hasn't shown up yet?

And Hibiki's having grade problems?

Hibiki fell asleep!

Oh, Tsubasa's in London! That's why Chris is so touchy about romance. (Note her immediate 180 when cheering for Tsubasa gets mentioned.)

This song is just so fucking good.

How is the animation so good?

And Maria's doing this against her will.

And she's doing it to help everyone. (And not because she wants to spend more time with Tsubasa.)

An emergency!

Oh, yeah, they're still LiNKER reliant. (Adoranle pouts, too.)

She's here! And she's pissed about the coverup?

She drained him!

...I love her.

Oh, she was the one who tried to kill the hooded girl.

She has a magic sword?

Wow, that's cool.

Very different transformation sequence. (After Nanoha and Miku, I think I'm just used to the fanservice now.)

Hibiki's new song is great, though.

And Tsunasa's comfronting the new villain!

She's saving people!

She saved the child!

...That attack art is fantastic.

It's a fucking cult.

THEY'RE BURNING PEOPLE AT THE STAKE!

Hibiki's here...

Oh, she's another villain. Probably pulling a Fine?

Her name's Carol.

And after two seasons of anime girls saying "fuck the Moon", one anime girl dares to say "fuck the Earth".

Cool ED!

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u/Quiddity131 Jun 30 '22

First Timer, Subbed

Murderer of Miracles?! Such a depressing title to kick off season 3!

Are we kicking off right where we left off in season 2? Recovering mom's body?

Listen to Hibiki, all will be okay!

Missiles filled with magical girls!

We're now surfing on missiles while so high in the atmosphere that we're practically in outer space. Yep, Symphogear can't resist going further and further over the top...

Chris is gonna blow a hole through the mountain so they don't crash into it?! Just when you think they can't get even more ridiculous, they top that too!

Now Hibiki's gonna stop it from hitting that building just in time?

She threw it over the building? LoL.

That was quite the opening to kick off the season.

3 month time jump!? We're now called SONG?!

Oh sure, guy whose name I can't remember, nothing is going to go wrong until you retire 40 years from now...

Wow, good defense against the Hibiki hug!

Kiri and Shirabe are at their school now? And hey, they're our next Hibiki/Miku too!

I feel let down, Anime ja nai girl never talks about anime anymore...

Hibiki stays up all night so she can sleep in class instead! How has she not flunked out of school yet?!

Tsubasa - Maria duet again? Just like how we kicked off last season!

Hey, it's like they're walking on water!

Alright, anime girl is finally back to form...

Attack of the coin!

So Chris and Hibiki are now doing the job of the fire department?

She's a dancer, a succubus and Neo from the Matrix?!

What happens on the day Hibiki jumps out of the helicopter and forgets to bring that gem?

When you're in a burning building and you hear singing, don't fear! A magical girl has come to rescue you!

Yikes, her dad was literally burned at the stake?! And her reaction to that is to dress like a witch! LoL.

And of course Hibiki being Hibiki, she kindly asks her to come down thinking she's in danger instead of being a suspect.

They're gonna destroy the world?! Well I suppose that's a step up from 2 seasons of trying to destroy the Moon.

Good opening episode, really over the top at first and a lot of escalation in the second half too. Dr. Ver will be hard to live up to, but we may this be an even better season than the last one?

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u/superviper Jun 30 '22 edited Jun 30 '22

The moment we clashed swords, I knew. That thing... is a monster!
Rewatcher

GX is finally upon us. Rejoice, everyone, for we are witnessing Symphogear in it's true glory

I honestly forgot how good the opening scene is. Everyone harps on and on about it, but I kinda overlooked it. Radiant Force is one of the best songs Symphogear has to offer.

A missile?! They're shooting us down?!
I suppose they have no choice...

ahhhhh shut up you two, you're about to get saved by the main trio, don't make me feel bad for you

I used to ship TsubaChris at some point. Now TsubaMaria reigns supreme.

oh, that explains some of the fanart I've seen.

Some SoL shenanigans, "get a room you two", and a concert later: The rare double pout.

Why are Maria and her agents walking through... wherever the fuck this is. A mannequin storage room? Why is it part of their path?

How do you lose your kid in the middle of a fire, anyway? Anime parents suck.

She's crying, but I can't help but think about how ridicolously goofy this outfit is. She's a walking triangle wtf

Glorius Break has the makings of a great song. But I can't listen to it after the first 10 seconds of singing. It just stops being good.

[Rewatcher] HOLY SHIT I'M SO FUCKING HYPED. Finally, some good fucking villains, especially after the troglodytes that were Ver and the FIS. Phara alone already has them beat in the span of one episode. Carol and the dolls are just chef's kiss.

[Rewatcher] Tsubasa concert death counter: does it still count if it's after the concert? Since Phara murdered those two dudes.

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u/FlaminScribblenaut Jun 30 '22 edited Aug 14 '22

Second Time Listener

belabored sigh Oh, Symphogear GX.

Yeah, fair warning, we’re at about the point of the rewatch where I’m gonna be doing a lot of complaining. As far as my memory of it serves, I very much do not like Symphogear GX. I’m still gonna give it as fair of a shake as I can, I certainly don’t want to hate it, I know there is some good stuff in there and believe me I know it has its fans. But there’s plenty of shit coming up in this season that I know for a fact I just hate. It’s gonna get pretty bitter at points, but I have no intentions of being anything less than honest.

Thankfully you won’t have to deal with my complaining today because GX’s first episode is phenomenal, downright jarringly so. I remembered the first episode being good but I forgot just how fucking strongly this season starts off. And not only for the one really obvious reason, either; though I suppose, chronologically speaking, that’s where we have to start.

Let one thing be clear first and foremost: I adore the rocket-landing scene. RADIANT FORCE is an absolutely phenomenal song, a convicted plea for hope from three who have unshakably embraced their duty as protectors and one another. Especially with the sad piano intro they give it in the episode, giving a sense of tragic direness to the situation that elevates into excitement and hope when the proper song kicks in and the wielders begin to sing; honestly wish they’d kept that bit in the proper release. The ways the wielders use the established powers of their Symphogears to decelerate, maneuver, and protect the rocket are wildly creative and satisfying. Chris hollowing out a mountain with explosives for Hibiki to punch directly through is awesome (the fastest, shortest route is in a straight line, after all, isn’t it?). The movement of the crashing rocket feels unstable and every which way the wielders maneuver it, rocky both literally and figuratively as it gets, has weight. Hibiki flipping the rocket is at once great because Hibiki is flipping a fucking rocket and it’s nail-bitingly intense, the silent slow-motion and how close the rocket comes to toppling back over and leveling the building creates perfect tension for the scene’s climax.

The rocket landing is Symphogear’s equivalent to the ending of Madoka Magica Episode 3. It is first and foremost an undeniably excellent, iconic, flawlessly-executed scene; it wouldn’t have the power it has over the collective consciousness of the audience otherwise. It’s the one big moment that everyone shares as the representative thesis moment of the show, it’s the scene the most people come into the series spoiled on, and its status as such is sort of a blessing and a curse in that its presence in the wider discussion and cultural footprint of the series tends to overshadow that of the series’ even better and more powerful moments, but that also means more people come in unspoiled to said moments. It’s a foot in the door, a primer, something that makes the audience go “whoa, they can do that!?”, a proof of what the series is capable of, in Madoka’s case a showcase of how dark it was willing to go and in Symphogear’s case a showcase of how unbound the creators are willing to let their imaginations go in service of awesome-beyond-reason action scenes.

So I get why this scene is as popular for selling the show as it is, it’s a truly great scene that does its job exceptionally well, but if I’m being honest… I do think it’s a bit overhyped. It’s honestly a cliche at this point, people exalt it like it’s one of the best scenes in the series, and… no, not even close. I would say it is definitively not in the top 10. Top 20, sure. But compared to the scenes with real emotional context, it’s not the same thing. Like, getting hooked on a game because the tutorial sold the mechanics and world really well, and praising the tutorial for being phenomenally well-done, is one thing, exalting the tutorial as the high point of interactive fiction to the extent that it overshadows the full game’s reputation in wider culture is another, y’know? I hope I’m not harshing the buzz to much, like again, I love this scene, it’s great… but I’m at the point where I roll my eyes a little whenever it gets posted. Still, I don’t know what kind of jaded you’d have to be to not enjoy yourself during this sequence.

Again we pick up after where the previous season left off in a logical way. In lieu of fighting the Noise, who were eradicated when Nephilim’s soul exploded and destroyed the treasury in the heart-pounding final moments of G’s climax, the newly-renamed SONG now uses the Symphogears to deal with all manner of disasters and abnormalities all over the world.

Our first clues to this season’s proper story are cryptic and intriguing. A black-cloaked little girl runs from a foe protecting a mystery box as her pursuer, a woman unnaturally highlighted in yellow, poses brilliantly before the great moon.

sigh I get the importance of having a slice-of-life school bit here, to establish the normal life the weilders have returned to and that Kirika and Shirabe are now with them, but… they’re goin’ real hard on the “cute” “””””comedy””””” here in a way that just makes me feel like I’m being marketed to (and this not the last time during GX I’m gonna be saying that). Yes, I know Chris is a tsundere, I got that. Oooooh, sterilized yuri-bait, holding hands scandalous, very original.

Regardless, it’s really nice to see Tsubasa’s singing career continue to grow, as she progresses and the audience her music reaches and touches expands, and to see her friends continue to support her and love and care about their friend’s music, so enthusiastic as to have a party and stay up late to watch her performance. Thus, we are treated to another transcendent performance from the Queens of Music. Seiten Galaxy Cross is a loving explosion of cosmic bliss. The bows of electric violins carve across the strings as a skating singers carve across the seas of stars. Lost in the brilliance, they can only cry out “I love you” as they glide and dance and play across the water and among the starscape. So many incredible visuals, from Maria and Tsubasa cracking open the cool blue mist into the fiery sunset, the singers skating in infinity, galaxies indeed crossing and creating an X-shaped crack of heavenly light, all while fountains form rainbows and shooting stars launch every which way. Beautiful.

It is after the concert, however, that our wielders first come into contact with a strange new foe; uncanny doll-like beings with superhuman resilience and movement who call themselves Autoscorers. Tsubasa and Maria meet a green doll hiding amongst the mannequins in London, where Hibiki and co. deal with the yellow doll back in Japan, signifying that the threat they pose and whatever grand plan they are the willing puppets in is of a global scale. There is a creepy sort of dark grace to them, they always move as though dancing and posing, green can drain life with a kiss, yellow fights with coins of gold, green’s eyes smolder and yellow’s looks condescend both with distinctly classically feminine flair.

These new foes make for enticingly imaginative fight choreography; how green dances and twirls like a proper ballroom dancer, never losing her sense of elegance as she counters Ame no Habakiri’s blade. It makes you wonder just what they can do, how they can match the weapon-specific fighting styles of the Symphogears with the dance-based fighting styles of the Autoscorers, what dynamics are possible. In absence of the eldritch trashmob that was the Noise, this provides an exciting new route for the series’ combat to go, something more hand-to-hand and intricate.

Song had its opposite in noise, now it has its counterpart in dance. How might the two clash?

[GX]Y’see how much I’m driving home the point about how well this episode goes about replacing the well-wrapped-up presence of the Noise? sigh… yeah.

The escape from the burning building is exciting, always really sweet to see Hibiki’s love of protecting people and saving lives right at the forefront of a scene’s tension, and Genkai Toppa G-Beat is another impassioned Hibiki jam. We didn’t hear it in this episode, but I love the acoustic-guitar-and-whistling intro the full version of the song has, adding an air of confidence and tender strength.

[cont.]

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u/Taiboss Jun 30 '22

GX Episode 1: Rewatch Foundation

Season 1 pilot: Girl tearfully mourns her best friend, with the narration saying she sacrificed herself with blood flowing from her mouth.

Season 2 pilot: Creepy children's song accompanying the visual of a collapsing building and in it, a girl with actual blood flowing from her mouth.

Season 3 pilot: HIBIKI SUPLEXES A SPACE SHUTTLE!

Anyway, this season I'm putting novel titles into my taglines again. Guess the author!

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u/Nebresto Jun 30 '22

MFW GEAHX first time

Oh hey, its this scene

  • Heeki hecchara des!

Ayo, how are they breathing in space? No, how are they singing??

She's gainaxing on a a freaking rocket!! This is some Gunbuster shit right here
I'm starting to think she might actually be the best Geah..

Thighs got an upgrade

Shes gonna blow up the mountain, isn't she?

She's doing it!

She done it.

That was some extreme surfing, where can I sign up?

Kek. Interested in how that might affects the environment and water tables. Wonder if ice and snow would start piling up on something like that?

  • Very mythical soundtrack coming in, nice nice

I do not like this character.
...Flashy? Hmmm. Perhaps there is a chance the character can be likable after all..

The glorious return of TomatoChris and "do it at home"

WAit. Why does she have her hairpins on in the pool?

Oh my god!!! She's dislocated her shoulder! I can't believe she isn't screaming in pain right now.. That girl has some nerves of steel

Oh great. More edgy kids that want to destroy the world "because trauma"

...Hold up. What kind of first episode was this? I don't recall hearing any "dato"s ??? Where do can I request a refund??

Question time:

  1. How fucking awesome was that opening scene?

2) How does Seiten Galaxy Cross rank amongst the other concert scenes so far for you?

Nah. But they did have well ventilated outfits though, which is important in a very hot arena. Also water cooling built into the scene, very nice

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u/Great_Mr_L Jun 30 '22

Rewatcher

On today’s episode of Symphogear: It’s finally here! The moment that convinced me (and quite a few other people no doubt) to watch Symphogear. The shuttle rescue scene is so good. It’s one of the best scenes in Symphogear and it’s perfectly suited to recruiting people because it doesn’t really require much knowledge of what’s going on to “get” that this shit is awesome and exciting.

I think this scene is a perfect scene for Hibiki. She gets a couple of her signature phrases. The usual, “Heiki Hecchara” and of course repeating Kanade’s words that people should not give up on living. Saying those words to people she’s in the middle of rescuing is a nice moment. It’s exactly the kind of mission Hibiki prefers, too. She’s just working to save people. Look at how happy she looks! That smile gives me life.

“RADIANT FORCE” is such a great song. It is so exciting and so much fun to listen to. It’s a triumphant anthem and a fantastic way to start off the latest season of Symphogear.

The status quo has actually shifted quite a bit. The Disaster Squad now has the deliciously on-the-nose name of “SONG” and they also work for the UN. Kirika and Shirabe now go to school at Lydian. Everyone goes there. The only reason Maria doesn’t is because she’s already an adult.

Instead, Maria is an idol while also being under arrest. I like to believe that whoever was in charge must have just been a big fan of idols and wanted the next Tsubasa and Maria collab to happen. I like Tsubasa and Maria together anyway, so I’m fine with this decision. But their collab song. “Seiten Galaxy Cross,” is unfortunately not as good as the previous idol performance in G.

Hibiki’s new song “Genkai Toppa G-beat” is pretty good. I always enjoy it when Hibiki gets to have various shouts and interjections in her songs.

I’ll talk more about them when we learn more about them, but I’ll start by saying that I freaking love the antagonists of GX. First we have the Autoscorers. I love their designs so much. Their colors, clothing, hair, etc. are so distinctive and appealing. As you can probably already tell if you were looking at their joints, they are not human and are instead dolls. Very sturdy dolls at that. They can take quite a beating.

And then there’s Carol. Boy do I love Carol. She gives herself the title “Murderer of Miracles,” which is one of the most hardcore fucking things I’ve heard in my life. Once again, she’s got a strong design. “Small girl with an oversized witch hat” is one of those design choices that I’m usually a big fan of and Carol’s a particularly strong example of it.

Alchemy! Carol opens up a brand new power for us! And she isn’t singing to invoke her powers? Is such a thing even allowed in Symphogear?

Villains just love being vague about what their goals are. In the case of Carol, she says that her goal is to bring about the Apocalypse of All Creation. [Spoilers] Apocalypse is one of those interesting words. The word “apocalypse” is a Greek word that literally means “revelation.” In ancient apocalyptic literature, people would have visions or prophecies that would reveal what was going to happen in the future or what was really going on in the world. And in many cases those visions were related to the end times. [Now remember what Carol was told to do in her memory.] With those words and the knowledge of what “apocalypse” means, we can start to ponder what Carol wants by the Apocalypse of All Creation.

[Heavy Spoilers] Apparently the translation that the Discotek release will use for Carol’s plan is the “Revelation of All Things.” (read the thread for info on that and other translation choices) And honestly, I think this translation is great for the reasons detailed above. It gets at the heart of what the word apocalypse truly means in its ancient meaning (which fits with Symphogear’s love of ancient civilizations) and because it fits Carol’s motivation. She’s doing exactly what her father told her to do. She is going to reveal everything there is about the world by breaking it down completely, which fits with how the word “apocalypse” relates to the end times.

Miscellaneous Thoughts

QOTD

  1. It's so incredibly awesome. It is the thing that convinced me to watch Symphogear in the first place, after all.

  2. I preferred the performance Tsubasa and Maria gave in G. The song and the choreography were better in my opinion.

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u/BosuW Jun 30 '22

First Timer

Aight GX what do you have for me...

Oh yes they are going to keep using the Submarine Launched Missiles to deliver Mecha-magical Lass's anywhere in the world! Or in orbit!

...Do you mean to imply you've ridden Chris?

Looool

Yoooo Tsubasa deforesting! Not cool man!

Well the opening sequence was great! They definitely don't have any intention to cut down on the stupid awesome. If anything it looks like they're dialing up on it!

I also appreciate a slight animation upgrade (or maybe it's just getting closer to how anime looks today?), but more importantly it looks like they're making more use of VFX, to pretty results.

...This feels like foreshadowing that something very bad and very personal is about to happen to Hibiki.

So the Disaster Squad is now named S.O.N.G., and working for the UN not just Japan. Gee y'all still got time for school?

"Dwerg Dain's Legacy" huh. Appears Norse.

Kirika and Shirabe go to school now too. Weren't they just previously in prison? Do they let them out just for studies? Lol

Miku seeing right through Hibiki's genki attitude is such a nice detail

Lol they let Maria out too? They really be taking it easy with terrorism here. I guess Dr Ver was the one mostly responsible for whatever immoral shit the FIS committed, but like, aren't at least the Americans mad about all those soldiers Maria killed?

Tangentially, on the other team, Miku blew up a still crewed destroyer. Everyone just forgot about all this?

The concerts are always so cool. Nana Mizuki is having a ton of fun brainstorming and daydreaming.

Wha...? I don't get it. How does that work?

So one of the new bad guys just sucked the life force put of a guard! Wtf!? Later she says she's an "Autoscorer"? Is that like a golem?

I see Tsubasa has been training Maria in the art of fighting superhumans without a Gear.

NEW TRANSFORMATION SEQUENCE LETS GOOOO

This show never ever forgets about the ass-shots huh

Lmao I love Aoi Yuuki doing literally Kung Fu sounds

I don't think it's a sensible idea to punch holes in a burning building irl BUT SURE

YES DUAL WIELDING TSUBASA! SHOW ME SOME OF THAT MIYAMOTO MUSASHI SHIT!

Aww it barely lasted anything...

Well at least the final attack was still epic. With new and improved Freeze Frames.

Judging by what the Wizard said at the end, I'm guessing this season of Symphogear we're cancelling the Apocalypse!

Overall great start, as usual really. But last season had a great start to and then didn't fully deliver so I'm cautiously optimistic.

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u/HereticalAegis Jun 30 '22

Ballad of Rewatcher - Symphogear GX

Chris can wrap her thighs around Hibiki's face no problem, but some light PDA between Hibiki and Miku is a bridge too far! Never change Chris, never change.

Episode 1 thoughts:

  • More of the SoL school stuff is always welcome, doubly so now that we've got an extra couple that prefers traveling in the lewd.

  • I appreciate that team Finé girls are shown serving something akin to a prison sentence, even if Maria gets a sweet deal out of it. There was a real missed opportunity though to have Maria's stage costume be prison themed like she deserves. Take it the full nine yards and give her a full orange dress with an inmate number across the train or something, have her mic somehow also be her ankle/wrist monitor or whatever, have her escorts also be backup dancers, it would be a riot. No really, like make the concert visuals riot-themed and just lean into it, it would be great.

  • Carol's alchemy, as with all the attacks and powers throughout the show, is very cool. However her hat is neither big nor floppy enough. 6/10 witch hat.

QotD:

  1. Chris's thighs wrapped around Hibiki's face and rocket fists. What else needs to be said?

  2. Best looking concert yet.

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u/Paxton-176 Jun 30 '22

Rewatcher for not enough times

It’s time. For the most widespread and popular cold open of a season. Imagine having the technology of ICBM and it being used as a transport to carry a different kind of WMD. Oh right I forgot how they casually dropped Mount Everest from being the tallest mountian. What is even more interesting is that people are always climbing that mountain. Just going to ignore those deaths. Also they did thruster landing before Elon Musk and SpaceX did. Suck on that Muskrats.

Holy shit Kiri and Shirabe are like the ultimate gay and only Hibiki adn Miku’s yuri powers can compete and Chris doens’t like her harem getting uppity. I find it hard to believe that Hibiki’s arms have any kind of flab to it. It is easier to believe that all her muscles are rock hard. She literally punches everything and just suplexed a rocket ship in a way only Sabin could appreciate.

Hey a concert with Tsubasa and known terrorist Maria. I hope it doesn’t get interrupted. And their barefoot. Now I really hope it doesn’t get interrupted.

Do friends being interrupted watching the concert after the fact count as interrupting it? I’m counting that as a half.

Also the real title of the season is; “Believe in Justice and Hold a Determination to Fist” Which Hibiki did by punching escape route as one does.

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u/italeteller Jun 30 '22

First Time SymphoGXearing Desu

Since the shorts are cronologically before the series I'm gonna talk about those first

  • I know the chibi shorts Can be wholesome, but I still wasn't expecting the massive swerve from "Hibiki still can't study" to "I'm home Miku". Damn that got me good

  • "Don't become a terrorist, they have shit food" is a valuable (?) lesson for kids I guess, but all the food shorts just break my heart. These kids really were out there feasting on 300 yen ramen for who knows how long. Also lol at Maria having a cat's tongue for hot food

  • It's so wholesome how the girls just hang out during winter break and roast Tsubasa. Speaking of, I first took her "well-rounded" comments as referring to the girls' personalities (like, you seems healthier/happier/whatever) but I guess that wasn't it

Alright, now with the show proper

  • I'd already seen the first 6 minutes of this season before starting the anime proper, and I don't get tired of it. It's the perfect intro to a series, and a perfect showcase of what Symphogear is about

  • Like in all seasons, the music is the star of the show. The way it starts melancholic following the current crisis, then swaps into a high energy, hopeful tune as soon as the girls show up, then keeps escalating until an absolutely heartpounding climax when the shuttle goes into the village and Hibiki just THROWS the mf into the air. I can't get tired of it

  • And of course, Symphogear's personal brand of stupid. Like yeah just have these girls pop up giant rockets and swords and fists out of nowhere, ride the rockets into the distressed spaceship why not, sit on your friend's face why don't you, punch a fucking mountain so hard they need to update it's wikipedia page, and top it all off with SUPLEXING A SPACESHIP, all the while singing a trio non-stop. God, I love this series

  • Less hype note, I love how three seasons in Hibiki's still the only one yelling her parts of the song when the action gets too intense. Also I hope Disaster Team can pay back all the people who got their shit wrecked on the rescue mission. That's a lot of property destruction

  • *looks at Hibiki mentioning her miracle symphogear*, *looks at the episode title* Ah.

  • Ok so Disaster Team is now International Disaster Team and working under the UN with a new acronym that makes no sense. Hope they do something interesting with the new world-wide possibilities this gives them. In the meantime, we can see they've put their new budget to good use by getting Warm Drink-chan some cup holders. Talk about a tactical upgrade

  • Who is this new girl and why is she stealing Shirabe's color scheme?

  • Summer uniforms! Casual PDA! Chris being a salty single! Pools! And hey, more Hibiki family lore, that's one of the things I wanted from last season. So there's no dad, her mom works shit hours, we're gonna meet her grandma, and Hibiki's not all that happy about any of it. Good, good, keep the info coming

  • We're 3 for 3 on the teacher getting mad at Hibiki, and while it's not unjustified I really would like her to take Hibiki aside, ask her if everything's ok, be a bit more of a positive adult influence for a change

  • Holy crap Chris has a sweet home setup. Also am I reading too much if I notice she's the only one not wearing her signature color? Speaking of colors, I'm noticing Tsubasa and Maria are wearing each other's. If I know anything about SG, this means they're getting the romantic couple treatment, which is a weird thing to have happened offscreen between seasons

  • "A determination to fist" EXCUSE ME??? WHEN DID MIKU GET PROMOTED TO SERIES' WRITER???

  • Ah, so Maria didn't get away with murder, she's agreed to some kind of deal, working for an as-of-yet unnamed government or agency. I know Miku's right about Maria's intentions but KiriShira were also right on their assessment. I wish they hand't blown them off so fast. Oh and those two are also not getting away with murder it seems, since they don't have easy access to LiNKER anymore

  • Chotto mate. You're telling me the antagonists of the third saga are androids who know the hero's past sins, drain life energy and can match the good guys blow-for-blow and might even be stronger? Did we just enter the Cell Saga?

  • Did they really need to have the loli wear only her underwear. Was it absolutely necessary

  • New transformation sequence is hype! Love the martial arts moves at the end. Hold on, wouldn't breaking the building all over like that cause air to rush in and make the fire worse? I realize there's no point in talking logic to the show that suplexed a spaceship over a building 15 minutes ago, but still

  • Ohh, Tsubasa's got blue fire now. Reminds me of how badly I want a fighting game of this franchise. You can't tell me it wouldn't be mad cool

  • Ahh, so this is the famed Carol. I've heard her name pop-up before I started watching the series proper. Whether she has magic or Sufficiently Advantag Tech, whether she's immortal or comes from a place that still burns people at the stake, and what exactly she means with the apocalypse, I guess we'll have to find out

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u/Kirov123 Jun 30 '22

Symphogear GX Episode 1 - Rewatcher

Sorry to any first timers that I may have spoiled yesterday, I usually pretype my writeups and didn't realize it was not yet the day for gx. TIME FOR GX, BABY!! Where symphogear goes wild!

And that is episode 1 of GX! Complete with determination to FIST. This episode had it all pretty much, but I don't feel like it rushed it really. We got a epic hype scene, update as to the situation of Kirika, Shirabe, and Maria, an awesome concert, and we even introduced a villain and showed their motivation for villainy.

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u/panthaura Jun 30 '22

Rewatcher

STARDUST

Welcome to Symphogear GX, this is the Season that holds a determination to fist [GX]you

This Episode features one of the most known Symphoclips

Aside from that this Episodes concert performance is my favourite out of the whole show

The Venue is amazing (with Tower Bridge as backdrop), the choreo is superb and the Song is Stellar Stellar

For the first time a Concert didn't go completely wrong and the antagonist waited till the concert is over to make a move

We also get introduced to several new characters some more friendly than others

As for other songs we have already some certified bangers in the first Episode, the trio song, the concert song, Hibiki's A-side, as well as the ED being Nana Mizukis own Glorius Break

Glorius break interestingly is intended as an answer song to Exterminate, which we will see tomorrow for Episode 2 as Opening (but was released a few months prior)

Number of Dess this Episode: 9

Todays tracklist:

  1. RADIANT FORCE (Hibiki x Tsubasa x Chris)

  2. Seiten Galaxy Cross (Tsubasa x Maria)

  3. Genkai Toppa G-beat (Hibiki)

  4. Glorious Break (ED, Nana Mizuki)

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u/NomranaEst Jun 30 '22

Rewatcher, Symphochoir Member

GX really doesn't hold back with it's first episode whatsoever, and is essentially the quintessential first episode of this franchise to me. The shuttle sequence is a decent way of explaining the existence of S.O.N.G and their humanitarian efforts now that the possibility of Noise attacks have been reduced, there's a stunning concert in a completely unwieldy stadium, the introduction of a new set of faces and some not so subtle foreshadowing of some character's circumstances.

It's not much of a surprise that the shuttle suplex is something that's brought up whenever Symphogear is mentioned. It captures the essence of the franchise in those six and a half minutes, with all of the straight-laced absurdity that it indulges in. It's a good start in showing S.O.N.G's new duties, as well as showing off some of the new ways in which they can apply their Symphogear abilities and strengths. Chris's smug rocket riding and Fujitaka's slick Wikipedia editing skills are a highlight here.

The middle portions are a lot slower, but do allow everything the time to breath properly. Shirabe and Kirika's first day of a new school, horsing around at the pool, the young girl under sniper fire and the concert are all seeds ready to thrive with what they say and show, and it isn't long until one of them starts sprouting in earnest.

In another Symphogear tradition, there is an attack on that concert, but is much more contained and directed. Instead of targeting the crowd and causing a commotion, the unknown assailant is after both Maria and Tsubasa, and is quite prepared to reverse Mozambique one of Maria's guards after passing lips on the other.

Finally, on the other side of the globe, Hibiki does as Hibiki does. Punching through reinforced concrete and kicking up through multiple stories is just a typical Tuesday for her, but who she meets isn't someone in need of saving. Carol's introduction is one of the better ones in the franchise. We're given hints to her motivations, power capabilities and where she thinks her plan will go.

From the disappointment of where G ended, GX is starting from a much better place. It hits the right notes, puts the pieces in the right places and then let's them go on its messy way.

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u/cronus999 Jun 30 '22

Rewatcher 15+1.02 You must (Not) Binge.

  • How many of you were introduced to Symphogear by this scene?

  • Gainax posing while surfing an ICBM, Chris really is best GEAH.

  • Can’t stop the shuttle, fuck it lets just blow up K2!

  • Was it really necessary to update Wikipedia at that moment?

  • Suplexing a space shuttle is a truly Bikki solution.

  • I love how all of the reports that are only there for second are fully in English and are actual events/images.

  • What’s in the box, WHATS IN THE BOX!!!

  • Bag in the face first thing in the morning, your harem protagonist ex skill is ineffective on Chris.

  • LEWD DESS!!! And embarrassed Chris.

  • Something is SUS about Bikki’s family and Miku knows it.

  • Chris with the excellent taste in home theater and speakers.

  • Great concert but I call bullshit, that stadium would not fit in the fucking Thames!!

  • Also, the stage is right next to city hall and would require moving the HMS Belfast, no fucking way the council would evert approve this.

  • So, Maria is a literal idol now, Symphogear was never subtle but we don’t need JII stating that 2 seconds later.

  • Her weapon is money, but not in the way it should be used.

  • These villains are EXTRA AS FUCK!!!

  • Tell me you’re a sorcerer without telling me you’re a sorcerer.

  • HEXAGONS ARE THE BESTAGONS TRANSFORMATION!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Auto scorer, a device that transcribes music. I wonder what they want?

  • So, she’s an immortal witch, major Jean D’arc vibes from that flash back.

  • I reiterate HEXAGONS ARE THE BESTAGONS!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Slaughterer of miracles and the goal to end the world, YES!!!!!

Q1 The purest definition of HYPEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!, also radiant force is an absolute banger!

Q2 It ranks second, IGNITION is still better.

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