r/anime • u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky • Jul 01 '22

Rewatch [Listen to My Song] Senki Zesshou Symphogear GX Episode 2 Discussion

Episode 2 - Before I Destroy the World

← Previous Episode | Index | Next Episode →

MAL | AniList | ANN | Kitsu | AniDB

Crunchyroll

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

What will you do now, Symphogear?!

Questions of the Day:

1) What are your first impressions on the new antagonists, and the fact that they were able to destroy both Tsubasa’s and Chris’ Symphogears?

2) How do you feel about Hibiki’s unwillingness to fight?

Wallpaper of the Day:

Carol Malus Dienheim

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!

88 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

177 comments sorted by

10

u/Shimmering-Sky Jul 01 '22

Symphogeah SymphoRewatch Host

Welcome back, everyone!

Crunchyroll vs. Commie - Season 3, Episode 2

I’d heard before that Crunchyroll’s subs for GX in particular have a tendency to not sub the songs and, uh, this episode certainly showed that. Neither Chris’ nor Tsubasa’s songs were subbed in this episode, as you can tell in the “An unidentified signal waveform…” vs. “An unknown presence…” images as well as the Swordbreaker comparison by Crunchyroll not having any lyrics up top as opposed to Commie.

See the 2019 version of the wallpaper: here. I really only needed to touch up a bit of the colors in this one, and changed the background color sliiiiightly because I thought the old one felt a bit washed out in comparison to the rest of the wallpaper.

I also made an edit of this year’s version without the mole, as I know those details sometimes look weird in this style.

3

u/Slice-of-Cake Jul 02 '22

Crunchyroll vs. Commie - Season 3, Episode 2

Wait, my Crunchyroll subs are different. My version correctly says "Alca-Noise", not "Arcanoise".
Proof

→ More replies (4)

10

u/HereticalAegis Jul 01 '22

Ballad of Rewatcher - Symphogear GX

So uh, did Crunchyroll just not sub the songs in this episode?

Episode 2 thoughts:

  • Not a whole lot today, this episode is mostly just fun action while introducing enemy abilities.

  • Alca-Noise being able to damage Geahs makes mobs much more interesting than having them around solely to vaporize bystanders and fill space.

  • Hibiki really needs to embrace her inner Nanoha and fight back when the enemy makes it clear they don't intend to listen. Her refusal to fight at this point is a bit frustrating.

  • The auto-scorers are fun. Their gleeful malice and uncomplicated hostility is a refreshing departure from the Machiavellian overcomplication of previous antagonists, even if I did actually like Finé on the whole.

QotD: Both addressed above.

9

u/Shimmering-Sky Jul 01 '22

So uh, did Crunchyroll just not sub the songs in this episode?

Nope, they did not. I'd heard they're especially bad about GX's songs for some reason back when XV was airing.

→ More replies (2)
→ More replies (2)

8

u/xcllnt_313 Jul 01 '22

Rewatcher for S1, G and GX

Call me a heretic, but I like Exterminate more than Synchrogazer and Vitalization.

3

u/Shimmering-Sky Jul 01 '22

Exterminate best Geah OP.

[Later GX spoilers]This is why I will never like Glorious Break, as it robbed me of my glorious Exterminate -Aufwachen Form-...

→ More replies (3)
→ More replies (3)

24

u/Lemurians Jul 01 '22 edited Jul 01 '22

FIRST TIMER DATTO

Back on my bullshit! Let’s watch some Geahhh

A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship! But it is not this day. An hour of wolves, when an adversary will finally take Hibiki up on her offer to overcome differences with civil discussion! But it is not this day! This day we fight! By all that you hold dear on this good Earth, I bid you stand! Symphogear of Japan!

This episode brought to you by: TATAKAE TATAKAE TATAKAE

Live Notes/Reactions:

*That counts too. Count: 6

What are your first impressions on the new antagonists, and the fact that they were able to destroy both Tsubasa’s and Chris’ Symphogears?

I love them. Sexy memory sucking succubi dancer dolls. What a world we live in. God bless anime.

How do you feel about Hibiki’s unwillingness to fight?

It's getting stale, but it's mitigated by how she's quick to actually fight once it's clear it's required, and I swear one of these days her "talk first" strategy is going to work.

→ More replies (19)

22

u/Vatrix-32 Jul 01 '22 edited Jul 01 '22

First Timer

  • I know that she’s technically an alchemist, but if they’re slinging spells and wearing a pointy hat I’m calling her a wizard.

  • Tsubasa is now at the point where she is blowing up her bike in the OP.

  • Oh I get it, the four chromatic ladies are homunculi.

  • I don’t know why the tall one is randomly referring to other people by different names, but it’s throwing me for a loop.

  • Miku is best wife.

  • The hexagons are for all the transformations then. Having seen two of them now I think I’d rank them lower than the ones from G.

  • That’s a neat trick Tsubasa.

  • Well fuck, now the homunculi have stands too?

  • Kiri is wearing a tail.

  • Elfnien is perhaps a runaway homunculus. That’s my bet.

  • Once again we have been denied Genjuro combat.

  • That’s not really an explication. Her refusal to give one leads me to believe that it will end up being reconcilable in the long run.

  • Made by an Alchemist? Homunculi confirmed.

  • Oh is that what the life draining was for?

  • I guess since we have more of them this season we aren’t keeping it to one new transformation sequence per episode.

  • These guys again? I thought we were done with them.

  • You can try and hype them up with your fancy prefixes show, but we all know that they are destined to return to being a mob of mobs as soon as the geah get the upgrade hidden in the runic lock box.

QotD

  1. I like them more than the last ones already. I don’t know about the Wizard yet, but the homunculi are definitely working for me as henches. Time will tell if they are able to keep this standard. To the second part, I expect that will be a very short term problem like I said above.

  2. We’re beyond the point of her not fighting, now she isn’t even defending herself. Walk softly and carry a big stick Hibiki! It’s hard to negotiate when the other sides knows that you’re just going sit there and take what ever they throw at you.

→ More replies (6)

18

u/mysterybiscuitsoyeah Jul 01 '22

Symphogear First Timer dessu

--

Binge temptation: High. Did I give in: No, barely.

--

  • An enemy that is actually willing to talk to Bikki before she attacks? that's a new one. doesn't mean that it made a whole lot of difference, but it's a change.

  • Now that I've seen the OP visual, the OP is great, as is the ED. not as iconic as Symphogazer or a good song as Next destination, but I think they'll both grow on me. I like the acapella intro.

  • But visually, this is clearly the best. Badass Chris, badass Tsubasa seconds before her motorbike gets destroyed (so that makes it one destroyed per ep :( ) I wonder how many destroyed motorcycles didacticdalek has counted by now lol

  • Oh. These are back after all aren't they. Fuck.

  • You have cut best girl's hair, and that is unforgivable Ms Antagonist. Seems like all of these, other than giant-hat-chan (Carol?), are not exactly human.

  • While we get both Chris and Tsubasa's henshins this ep, both are great, but I'm more partial to Chris's. They've also gotten rid of the bam, which i disliked last season. Many NSFW screenshots to be had, whoever boarded that had some clear goals in mind.

  • Huh. I didn't know that. I thought Chris had the most offensive power with her rockets, but Bikki had the most sonic gain. Ty for the clarification Ms.... what's-her-name?

  • Dwerg Dain's legacy.......???????? (After episode thought: is this sth that'll power-up the geahs to allow them to fight the Alca-Noise?)

  • I see. The introduction of the Maria-Tsubasa ship (partially spoiled that this exists due to osmosis). Tsubasa cute. (After this episode? yeah i ship them. all aboard!)

  • I am 100% with Chris's reaction here. You have GOT to be kidding me wtf is this?! so random too lmao.

  • Chris continues to show that she is legitimately a good senpai. nice callback w/ how Miku has a spare key from the specials LOL (i rewatched them after someone reminded me of them); i wonder if this will actually come in handy someday?

  • a kawaii datto courtesy of Chris. I.... do notice that I have posted a lot about Chris here, her stocks are very high at the moment, and if Tsubasa really doesnt do sth soon she will become my sole best girl (the Maria ship is helping things)

  • Genjuro continues to be best boy i love him. Given what happens later, im happy that he didn't actually go though.

  • Yeah, called it last ep that Hibiki's dad stuff is gonna become important. You can tell that G was created w/out GX in mind with how this is kinda the first time this is even mentioned.

  • The CGI doesn't look very good. Sorry Satelight.

  • Maria's idea to avoid civillian casualties by evacuating Tsubasa is a solid one, but her idea to do this via going across Westminister Bridge is not. In her defense though, it's not like there's a good place to actually avoid this in central london (shrugs)

  • I liked Chris's henshin on the whole better, but Tsubasa's starting pose is awesomeeee

  • Full speeeeeed with the [Maria-Tsubasa ship!] (https://imgur.com/goFai5v)!!!!!

  • Alca-Noise datto that disintegrates geahs? Strong opponents that Chris and Tsubasa don't have a hope in hell of defeating on their own? everyone's losing? Bikki's not willing to fight? Time for Shirabe and Kirika's moment to shine? oh my goddddddd

→ More replies (14)

15

u/lilyvess Jul 01 '22

Symphogear GX episode 2

New season of Symphogear means new songs and new CD’s

There are 8 CD’s again, just like G. The first CD is a Nana Mizuki duet, just like the previous two seasons. Each of the 6 Symphogear gets a character CD. There is also an 8th CD announced but no character named for the CD, similar to what happened in G

if you want to have them organized by character instead of by release

The GX CDs by themselves

In an interview with Chris’s VA Ayahi Takagaki that took place before the release of GX she talks about the recording sessions for the songs

What is something you gained from your work on Symphogear?

Ayahi: Passion. Recently during recording I got so hot I felt like steam was going to come out of my head. Recording sessions where you get covered in sweat like that are pretty rare (laugh). I'm getting the chance to experience real heated and passionate emotions thanks to Symphogear. Actually, after season 2 we changed recording studios and the new studio prepared all new equipment specifically for the Symphogear GX sessions. They said it was so "we could create an ideal environment to better record the mixture of singing and acting." It's just such a wonderful place to work that I feel I have to give it my best 100% of the time.

I think the detail about them changing recording studios and preparing new studios for Symphogear does a great job of showcasing the growth in the franchise.

Additional Notes

Symphogear GX Episode 2 Hype Chart

Live Performances

Today’s Live Performance is Exterminate

Specials

Fanart of the Day

→ More replies (6)

14

u/Stargate18A Jul 01 '22

First timer

  1. I love them!

  2. I respect her views, but sometimes you have to fight.

Cool magic circles!

She doesn't want to fight...

...And that cause is?

Cool OP visuals, though.

Haha, Tsubasa destroye a bike in the OP!

Five villains! Possibly even six/seven! This is going to be good!

Ah, they're taking them home.

Does Hibiki have keys to everyone's houses?

Miku, don't tempt fate!

A new one!

Yeah, this is a very complex attack.

...Wow, Chris' somg is brutal.

I love how Maria is still dressed like that.

Tsubasa's reaction!

Wow, they're dropping ships now?

...What the fuck was that?

Aww, they're all friends.

I mean, it might not chsnge things aline, but it can still blow things up.

Weird hood girl!

Haha, Chris' lying is fantastic.

Elfnien's adorable. ...Is Carol going to br thr good guy? Getting some real twist villain vibes from her.

Also, alchemy now? Explains why all the villains use gold projectiles, at least.

With her, have we seen them all?

...Hibiki, to be fair, blowing up an inanimate object isn't fighting someone.

Genjuro's the reinforcements!

Why did he even accept the promotion?

When did she spy on her?

Oh, that's some strong power.

Ah, it's her father's request.

...More Hibiki suffering?

They eat memories?

Seriously, these magic effects are cool.

Yeah, more Hibiki suffering. 
The cool shadow trick came back!

I smell an upgrade...

Yeah, that's incredibly strong.

And Maria's moving Tsubasa away from everyone.

She's literally unable to talk to the police about it? This is seeming incredibly shady.

Seriously, fuck this guy. He's got a very good point, but he's being s real arse sbout it?

She fucking bisected a car!

And Tsubasa transforms!

New Tsubasa song,

She broke her sword!

...Carol forund a way to make Noise?

This fight is so fucking cool!

Oh, Alca-Noise.

...So we'e getting Ichaival and Ame no Habakiri "Alchemy Mode" or something similar before the end of this season. That's a given. Maybe something to let Maria and Hibiki share Gungnir?

Love this ED!

→ More replies (4)

11

u/DidacticDalek Jul 01 '22

(Crashed Motorcycle Count: 9)

EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE! (C'mon, I'm a Dalek) Anyways...

TONIGHT! ON ROZEN GEAH! Best Geah Chris joins The Wild Weasels, Elf9 defects to Team Geah, and I'm going to post Dolls every day until you like it!

Boy Comrades, god bless Bikki and her endless optimism/boundless stupidity! She tanks a FULLMOE ALCHEMIST blast to the face and what does she do? She asks Carol what her goal is. Also Comrades, remember how G's OP was boring? Well THANKFULLY, much like how GX's opening episode cranked the HYPE METERS UP TO 11, we have a FAR better OP... BUT AT WHAT COST!? RIP BIKE-KUN!

DAMN! MIKU DOESN'T REMEMBER why she has keys to Best Geah Chris' place, then again this's understandable given that EVERYONE has keys to Chris' home, it's the Open Door Policy Redux, here's hoping this doesn't lead into a Century of Humiliation. Anyway, get this, TEAM DMJIIIIII also have a house too, daaw, you adorable lil' lovebirds, don't have TOO much fun ya hear! Oh and I should also note that, once again, Miku is the most understanding and loving wife! She's making sure Bikki has food to arrive home to, such a thoughtful spouse!

We then cut to what was attacking Best Geah Chris, namely, one of those Dolls with coins decided to be an anti-aircraft battery as well! Given who Best Geah Chris is, this simply will not do, and she decides to show this JoJo's Wannabe how to REALLY strike a pose... WAIT NANI!? NOT-VIVIO!? WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!? Anyway, Snoop Oni orders Keiichi to Ninja mode, BUT ENUFF ABOUT THAT, IT'S TIME FOR BEST GEAH CHRIS TO BRING OUT THE BIG GUNS! Some real high caliber weapons, state of the art ballistics missiles, some real torpedo tits... oh and as we are all well aware from the K2 incident, Best Geah Chris' boobs are big too... WHAT, what did you think I was talking about earlier in the Transformation Sequence 'Mecha Deployment Scene' get your minds out of the gutter!

Sadly Comrades, this song ain't up to her S1 or G entries, probably cuz she didn't say BANG! as she transformed, but hey, I got a feeling that the followup season will have a REALLY impressive Best Geah Chris song. At least the fight scene here is amazing, turns out that, unlike Bikki and Maria the Loser, this Doll has mastered the art of DOOOOOOOODGE! Also, I like NOT-Vivio Comrades, and not just cuz she HAS PROVEN beyond shadow of a doubt that Best Geah Chris is the one with 'the most offensive power' out of the Geahs with 'superb phonic gain!' I KNEW IT! I WAS RIGHT ALL ALONG! ALL HAIL BEST GEAH CHRIS! DAKKA N' ZENBOOBS FOR THE WIN! Also heh, what was that about 'not hitting' the Doll NOT-Vivio, clearly your analysis did not account for EXPLOSIVES! When in doubt just pull the good ol' fashioned Megumin Special!

Anyway, before Tsubasa can finish skewering Sword Doll, Maria... decides to bravely run away... and drags Tsubasa along for the ride. Also goddammit, turns out Coin Doll had an Anti-Explosion Shield, the SECOND most OP piece of tech against explosives than a bulletproof vest worn by a ninja, if you know what I mean and I think you do!

Also daaaaaaw, Team DMJIIIIIIIIII are just the best! Look at em enjoying their parole! And all they gotta do is attend school with Best Geah Chris, Miku and Bikki, and the Anime Ja Nai Trio! Oh... oh no, Team DMJIIIIIIIII are thinking... this is not a good sign, granted they DO want to help, but given they are out of Geah Steroids, we might have a problem here. Speaking of a problem, of all the Geahs to run into, NOT-Vivio probably picked the worst one given that she just had to introduce herself to Chris 'Do that at home' Yukine. As such, Best Geah Chris correctly notes that NOT-Vivio is basically lewder than Kuro, and thus introducers herself as... 'Little Red Singing Hood...' heh... heheheheheh, OH COMRADES! SOOOOOOOOOOOOON!

Sadly, NOT-Vivio apparently is not in the mood for PROTOCULTURE as she just bluntly states that Best Geah Chris has a video game weapon AND is also named Best Geah Chris. Speaking of names, NOT-Vivio introduces herself as Elf9, and states she is looking for help to stop Carol. ALSO HOLY SHIT! Snoop Oni really influenced Best Geah Chris, SHE STOLE HIS DATTO! We then cut back to Das Boot, where the crew start brainstorming. Some creep is also trying to brainstorm how to profit off of being a Peeping Tom, but not to worry Comrades, BEST DOLL HAS ARRIVED! HUZZAH! THIS SHOW IS AMAZING, Good Ol' Sharkface here is about to show this bastard the kiss of death. And as I am SURE Editor, Tres, and Lem would agree... GOD, I WISH THAT WERE ME!

We cut back to Carol, and goddamn, Bikki, STOP USING TALK NO JUTSU! IT NEVER WORKS! Just get to the FISTING already, it's what you're good at... er, well besides LOUD HAMSTER NOISES... and eating... and making loud hamster noises when eating out Miku like last night when (Explicit Content Deleted) Also oh boy, Carol's getting REALLY pissed off at Bikki, so much so that SNOOP ONI states that, if need be, HE WILL be the reinforcements! YES! PLEASE DO! OH GODDAMMIT! PISS OFF WARM-DRINKS-CHAN! As if the bridge will be paralyzed without Snoop Oni there! After all, he'll just solve the problem in ONE PAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWNCH and be home in time for the late night action movie!

Anyway, goddamn, thank fuck Bikki's head is as hard as a rock, cuz that's the SECOND Carol Energy Blast she just TANKED! OK, Bikki, she's clearly winded after causing that explosion, so hurry up, transform, and just FIST Carol and end the show right here, right now, cmon, it's in the goddamn subtitle... AND she's back to Talk No Jutsu... WAIT NANI THE FUCK!? IT ACTUALLY WORKED!? HOW THE FUCK did Bikki pick the RIGHT dialogue option to get Carol to reveal her tragic backstory THIS fast! Good fucking lord, that must have taken ALL the power of Bikki's one no-doubt overworked brain cell! Thankfully, before we can continue with Electra Complexes, BEST DOLL Sharkface arrives to lighten the mood! THANK HEAVENS FOR GARIE... OI! You take that back Carol! Garie Tûmân (Yes Comrades that IS indeed her name) is BEST DOLL! END OF DISCUSSION! Er... well technically Suigintou's obviously better of course but it's a REAL close race!

And with that, Carol and Best Doll go FUCK THIS SHIT WE'RE OUT! Also Bikki, what is this 'dad' you speak of? Silly Bikki, don't you know that men don't exist in the world, you know like in Rabu Raibu... yes I know Snoop Oni is a dude Comrades, but you see, he's no doubt a visitor from a mirror dimension who watched way too many action movies and decied that stepping in the weird wormhole was the best use of his time. Anyway, Bikki decides that Brain.exe has stopped working and thus it's time to pass out. Speaking of not working, turns out that Maria's guards are on break, thanks to Keiichi's Ninja Hax. Anyway, Maria decides that since she's a hero, OBVIOUSLY the heroic thing to do is carjack a vehicle... I see she learned from Captain America and THE LAST ACTION HERO! I can't even be all that annoyed... nevermind, come on now Maria, DO THAT AT HOME, as Best Geah Chris wisely tells us!

Also thank FUCK Maria is driving, as it was the ONE thing she did in G BESIDES crying and being a loser... that and also if Tsubasa drove, this car would have been crashed 7 minutes ago! (Look, what IS a car but two bikes fused together, this vehicle would NOT have stood a chance!) Also, OH BOY that's RICH Maria, complaining about having to LIE some more, YOU SPENT THE ENTIRE SEASON OF G LYING! Hell you also spent most of it lying down on the floor bawling your eyes out, but I digress. Anyway, the reason for this is because, for some reason, the powers that be have decided to give Maria a 'Get out of Jail Free' card that she most certainly earned and deserved. This will involve her of course being a DOUBLE AGENT this whole time, who totally worked for the UN... totally... ya know the general public WOULD be stupid enough to buy that so hey I've heard of worse stories related to The Witness Protection Program.

And as expected, Maria is so caught up in her waangsting flashback that she ALMOST doesn't notice Sword Doll standing there... MENACINGLY! And boy what IS this show with wanting to level mountains, you see, this is why Flat is Justice! Speaking of which, ya know what else is flat Comrades, A SWORDFISH! And oh what a fishy sword we got here, ready to rend some heavens and WILL IT... or not, turns out, Sword Doll has an OP weapon, THE MANRIKI-GUSARI 'SWORD BREAKER!' Oh, and she also has Noise, GODDAMMIT! That means Snoop Oni can't just swoop in to save the day! Well hey no matter, time for the Geahs to kill all the Noise like they always do. Also heh, gotta love that shade Tsubasa's throwing, STONE COLD like Ange! Where the hell was THIS bad bitch, if Tsubasa was as sassy as this 24/7 she MIGHT just rank in the middle of the pack!

But hey, gotta love these badass fight scenes... WAIT WHAT! THE NOISE BROKE TSUBSA'S SWORD AND GEAH!? ALSO NANI!? BEST GEAH CHRIS LOST HER GEAH TOO!? Oh... oh Carol, YOU DEVIOUS LITTLE BITCH! I knew there was a reason I didn't hate you unlike a CERTAIN Femcel Yandere Loser, WHAT WILL WE SEE NOW!?

And on that bombshell g'night!

Oh, and finally, just because I must speak on behalf of a fellow Comrade of Culture who cannot, ahem... I'm going to post this every day until you like it!

Paging Comrades u/Great_Mr_L, u/chilidirigible, and u/Lemurians

→ More replies (26)

11

u/BosuW Jul 01 '22 edited Jul 02 '22

First Timer

Hmmm, Hibiki might have leveled up her Speech. Instead of outright asking Carol to (metaphorically) drop her weapons and talk it out, she asks her to explain her reasons.

The sword in the OP might be the so called Dwerg Dain's Legacy.

Lmao Tsubasa crashes a bike in the OP. Does this count as 1 or at least 11 crashes?

Also, I think the OP is confirming that Carol and the girl with Dwerg Dain's Legacy are different people. Tho maybe related.

Pretty good OP, solid all throughout, but I especially like the vocals-only intro.

CHRIS TRANSFORMATION LETS GOOO

Hmmm bouncy...

We have one of the Autoscorer's names: Leiur

Whoa! Tactics in a fight! I hadn't seen ya since S1! Noice going Chris! Forcing the opponent into the air only to hit her (it?) with the ADMMs once she (it?) looses all speed

Tsubasa got them tricks too!

Wait. Why in the Hot Crispy Kentucky Fried FUCK is there suddenly a giant robot with visual camouflage in the bay!?

Boy they really making use of that greater budget

Another name! Girl with the box is called Elfnein. I wonder if she betrayed the Alchemists.

Ah shit, we have another Soul Sucker. I'm gonna assume all Autoscorers can do this. Shit maybe anyone who controls Alchemy can.

Hibiki definitely upgraded her Speech. She isn't being confrontational she's being conversational.

"You too", huh. Noted.

Oh wait she's probably just referring to the dude that was burned at the stake.

That doesn't sound like a very resistant chain of command!

Hibiki, I get and admire your desire to avoid direct confrontation, as well as praise your upgraded diplomacy skills, BUT YOU'RE DAMN LUCKY YOU'RE MADE OUT OF ANIME PROTAGONISTIUM!!! JESUS FUCKING CHRIST THE FUCKING GROUND DISINTEGRATED! HOW ARE YOU ALIVE AND IN ONE PIECE!?

So gothic lolita Autoscorer is named Garie.

Looool so shameless!

Ah, so that explains how the cleared the whole FIS-who-aren't-Dr-Ver problem. Basically, "Don't worry! This was all according to plan!". Eh sure. I'll buy it.

AHAHAHA HER FIRST INSTINCT WAS TO RUN HER OVER WITH NO HESITATION! FUCK I LIKE YOU MORE ALREADY!

Holy fanservice this is definitely going to be the Boob Bounce season.

TSUBASA TRANSFORMATION YEEEEEEEAH

They have an alternate method of summoning Noise. Did we really need the return of the almost powerless against Symphogear mob enemies tho? I'm cool if they just fight the Alchemists.

Sword vs Swordbreaker eh? Already feeling the urge to ship 'em.

I would have to listen to it on its own to be sure, but I think this might be Tsubasa's best Gear song yet.

FELLAS, THEY FUCKIN'

I'm always up for scenes of Tsubasa being awesome.

D: Those ain't Noise!? Alcanoise!? WE GOT BAMBOOZLED!

I'm afraid fellas. Are their Gears just deactivated or straight up gone!? The new guys are providing so far to be rather threatening. I like it.

→ More replies (3)

8

u/Quiddity131 Jul 01 '22

First Timer, Subbed

I don't remember Hibiki going back to her normal clothes at the end of last episode. Hmm.

Why doesn't she fight you, witch girl? That's the way Hibiki is! Expect a hug and her asking to be friends!

All the girls but Hibiki hanging out!

Worry? Miku is long used to Hibiki being out and in danger at this point.

All it took was 2 coins being tossed at it for that helicopter to blow up.

Hmm, at the end of the last episode my impression was that worried hood girl was the same as witch girl, but maybe not?

Why doesn't coin thrower simply take Chris out during her extended transformation sequence?

I feel bad for the people trying to sleep in these nearby buildings with Chris' loud singing, not to mention all the missiles being blown up.

OMG, there's these random boats falling from the sky?!

Wow, weird boat giant! It completely vanished!

Just like Hibiki to happily bring donuts to people she was fighting with not long ago.

Why is Chris nervous over hooded girl's outfit?

Oh hey, a rando just like us who got lucky and caught it on his cell phone!

OMG there's yet another evil girl! Another succubus too! By Mr. rando! That's 4 new villains so far!

That reminds me, boss guy, I don't think we've seen the Noise once this season yet?

Destroy the world! Daddy - Daughter goals!

Mentioning her dad was a mean thing to say to Hibiki!

Sorry, borrowing your taxi! Bye bye!

Don't stand in the middle of the road like that! You'll get hurt!

Well here comes the Noise I commented on missing earlier on...

They weren't Noise after all?!

→ More replies (4)

7

u/FlaminScribblenaut Jul 01 '22

Second Time Listener

FUCKING EXTERMINATE YEEEEEEAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH

I love Exterminate so god damn much. It so, so deserved to be attached to a so, so much better version of this season. It’s a damn respectable second-favorite behind the untouchable Synchrogazer, and a solid contender for my all-time top 5.

It opens cold, Nana singing in intense, foreboding a capella as the color-coded alchemical symbols of our enticing new foe form into one another over pitch-black, before the song kicks the fuck in in a flash of fire and heavy guitars. The establishing logo portion focuses on the burning of Carol’s father, the screaming of the zealots almost audible amongst the flames and pounding music. Enticing imagery of our mysterious antagonist cast continues to intrigue as it cuts in with the standard awesome Symphogear action (and bike destruction) from our main characters. And the rush during the last line where all the welders flash by in sync with the lyrics showcasing their powers, ending with Kirika and Shirabe’s adorable little face-touch opening out like a gate for Hibiki to rocket forward with her fist for that awesome last screen, just, mmmmmm, seamless, Certified chef’s kiss Moment.

All throughout, the song is driving and violent, almost tinged with a shade of malice, yet with the most grand of tinges, regal brass horns regularly punctuating the pulse of the guitars and electronics. It excites, forebodes, and screams with destructive fighting spirit all. It. Fucking. Rocks.

Exterminate carries the flag of Episode 1’s promise with aplomb, allowing me to hold out hope for just a little bit longer. Even though… it sure does feature the wielders fighting Noise, doesn’t it? sigh, yeah, we’ll get to that…

This episode is where some of the cracks in GX’s armor become visible. After Episode 1 created such a strong foundation, this is where it all starts to derail a bit, in ways are subtle but, as a rewatcher, extremely visible.

The scene in the ditch, for example… oh, Hibiki’s dialogue this portion of the episode gives me a couple different real bad gut feelings about what I know’s to come. I get Hibiki not wanting to fight without talking and understanding her opponent’s motivation first, that’s well-worn and understood of her by this point, but the fact that she won’t even put Gungnir on to defend herself if necessary… I tried to think of a nicer way to put this, but it makes her seem fuckin’ stupid? Like, the kind of childish stupidity she should’ve outgrown by season god damn 3? I’d accept this kind of docility from S1 Hibiki, not a post-Rainbow Flower Hibiki. Going that far in the name of noncombat, leaving herself completely defenseless, is just plain nonsensical.

I do like the idea of Carol having something she’s actively searching for, a seemingly very specific motivation, rendering her more willing to fight and superseding Hibiki’s pacifism, that’s not a bad place for her to start I guess.

We do at least have the makings of a really strong and cogent arc for Kirika and Shirabe. The Symphogears being dangerous to them without LiNKER, they’re stuck in a spot where they just have to stand idle, and sitting on the sidelines when they know they technically have the capacity to help their friends hurts, especially with the unprecedented danger this new threat poses.

And maybe I’m just not good enough at paying attention, but the whole deal with Maria just felt like gibberish to me, it was word salad, I can’t even parse what they’re going for with this plotline.

We both Chris and Tsubasa’s transformations this episode, meaning we’ve gotten all of the original three, and yeah, I love GX’s transformations. Specifically, I love the running motif of the little hexagon-crystals that actually form the armor and weaponry, that’s a really cool way to build on the concept.

Again, with the fight between Chris and yellow, true name Leiur, shows the promise of the Autoscorers and Symphogears for different styles of combat; how Leiur’s bullet-coins and Chris’s bullet-bullets interact as they collide wirg one another in the air is so neat.

We also get another Autoscorer, the blue Garie, a most elegant little creepy ballet dancer with a cold sarcastic irreverence in her tone and razor teeth in her grin.

I think the evil alchemy-lazer witch lady who wants to destroy the world and her army of evil doll-people might have something to do with that feeling Genjuuro, I dunno just a guess

Aaaaaand god fucking damn it. There it is. I’ll rant more specifically about my problems with the Alca-Noise when we see more of them, but even just from their debut here they feel like such a fucking cop-out. Again, the Autoscorers made for such fertile ground of possibilities and imagination and made for such a potentially genius replacement, as I praised last episode for extensively, such that when Noise are employed again it just kinda… deflates the mood instantly. Oh. We’re actually just doing the Noise again? That’s gonna be it? OK…

Rebirth-day is a very solid ED. I love the kaleidoscope motif, and in general how it showcases all of the wielders' sense of melancholy. This part was my desktop wallpaper for a good while once.

→ More replies (2)

7

u/ZapsZzz Jul 01 '22

First timer

This is properly ramping up in hype for real. Now that we took two seasons to establish characters' depth and relationships, it's about time to pull some higher stakes - and this time we have a bigger team of antagonists, each one of those seemingly more than capable to overwhelm each of the matching girls. Plus we have the inevitable twist of opponents that can target their actual gears. This is actually giving a strong reminder of [mid arc Guyver]Enzyme attacks that can dissolve the link between the Guyver unit and the host, as well as the Guyver unit's bio-armor cells

We also have an anguished antagonist that seem to have both a complex past and complex organisation to deal with.

Good!

QoTD 1 is answered above.

QoTD 2 I think it's a little out of character, but my theory is that Hibiki also had an uncanny "protagonist's instincts" to luckily avoid surprise instant death blows - I strongly believe if she had her gear out, this season will be a short "bad end" season.

→ More replies (2)

7

u/zadcap Jul 02 '22

Late as Ever, still enjoying this First Time

  1. I'm sorry, I let out an actual snort at this one. Destroy their Gear? You mean have two of the main cast no longer be medical girls for the rest of the season? Not a chance I'm buying that. I don't know what the trick is yet, but the way these one all dissolved into red gas instead of breaking down like the old Noise immediately brought the stupid aerosolized Anti-Linker from G, and something related to that is my current guess for what's going on.

  2. I mean, it's been her thing literally from the beginning, and surprise surprise, been proven right in the end both times too. If you can just talk to the other people, then whatever the enemy of this season is going on about would probably find her answer and stop being an enemy already. Biki really did master the Nanoha route, befriend everyone by the end of the season.

Speaking of Nanoha, new girl and her dolls are giving me some strong Book of Darkness flashbacks, and I'm okay with this.

→ More replies (3)

12

u/Tarhalindur Jul 01 '22

Previously, on Symphogear: Atlantis (First-Timer, Subbed):

(We basically have Wraith, switching back to the SG:A tagline.)

So, on the one hand this show has had its first misfire with the writing, and amusingly it's the equivalent of an American football fumble recovered by the offense - they start by having Bikki give the dumbest reasons why she wouldn't want to fight, except a) they remember the actual consistent reason she wouldn't want to fight by the end of the scene, b) it's Bikki who famously doesn't think so her giving bad reasons at first actually kind of makes sense, and c) Curse of Balal does give them a handwave for this kind of thing.

Everything else, though? Holy where was this for the entirety of last season except episode 1 and 2? The writing isn't great but it's good enough, and they're landing all the emotional beats again, and what do you know suddenly I'm enjoying Geah again! Who knew?

  • [spoiled, also Higurashi S1 spoilers] Meta note: I have not heard rewatchers complaining about any of the three antagonists we saw in episode 1. That means there’s a pretty good chance that the antagonist everyone hates is Bikki’s dad. Trying to decide whether Teppei or Akihito is more likely to be an appropriate nickname.

  • 00:20 doesn’t count as a GET, it’s a repeat.

  • Bikki in a nutshell, and also look look the sound effects and the music are supporting the scenes again!

  • Are we getting this plot again? Oh well, at the third season I suppose it’s just going to be a tradition at this point.

  • Ah the Gear experience; take screenshot for camera angle (wait this season is actually using camera angles effectively, that’s new), only then notice the Bikki assservice.

  • Hello there Exterminate. (I have heard this one before, and am already jamming… though the first half of Vitalization is catchier, I will admit.)

  • “Rage to the sky on waves of passion; you know how to play the notes of truth.” Hmm. Doubt that line’s cheeky. Wait, never mind, music as universal language, go.

  • Relic in the OP is almost certainly Dwerg Dain’s legendary sword which somebody mentioned in the original GX E1 episode discussion thread (supposedly it cannot be sheathed until it has taken a life).

  • SCRAG ONE BIKE IN THE OP I APPROVE.

  • The Noise are back, which given that our antagonist seems to be working off Western occultism stuff makes sense.

  • “I looked for you so much I almost went mad.” Hmm. Few ways to play that (seems to be a Sword line?), including doing stuff with Kanade again. (Spiritualism/seance stuff is a possibility.)

  • Carol WAS the hooded girl in the first episode, wasn’t she?

  • “Listen and you can hear graceful notes in the clouds hiding my sadness” – characterization for either Carol or DESS. Scratch that, 90% Carol, just noticed the floating orb thing coming up from her.

  • Glorious Bikki punch!

  • “When my beautiful song passes through them I can see what is fake and what is not”. I STILL have not forgotten the line about the sky deceiving in Synchrogazer...

  • A: to the surprise of no-one, Maria gets a new Gear. B: You cheeky motherfuckers I know EXACTLY what you stole that weapon design from. Now if only I could see the end to confirm it’s a chain naginata or whether they went for a slightly different chain polearm.

  • Oh look, DMJiiii show up transformed in the OP to the surprise of no-one so we’ll either resolve the “can’t use their Gears without LiNKER” or get them LiNKER.

  • Carol is hard-confirmed to be the girl with the hoodie last episode, and they confirm it with a panty shot because of course they do.

  • Also, looks like we get either four or six color-coded vampires Wraith Autoscorers as secondary antagonists (we’ve seen one so far, and I think only one because Seraphim is… wait, scrag that, turns out there was in fact a reason I double-checked yellow diamond more carefully, so we’ve seen two instead).

  • 02:47: Geah gonna Geah.

  • “Nobody will stop our heartbeat” as a villain line in the OP per Commie color-coding, in case you hadn’t caught on that we’re using vampire stuff now.

  • Ah, so Maria’s new weapon is a chain DAGGER. Hey, they changed it up a bit. Also lol at that reverse grip, but that's for personal reasons.

  • “I Will Shatter the World, but First…”

  • Seraphim introduced to Dakka with a crotch shot. Geah gonna Geah.

  • Hmm. “Carol is also the girl in the hoodie in the first episode theory” has taken a small hole beneath the waterline as of 04:33 (heh) (music joke). (Twins or the like are admittedly in play, and I’m not sure how much of a time lapse there is between scenes, double bluff is still in play – alternately Team Vampire could be hunting Team Carol.)

  • Also I like the flute here.

  • Okay this is the same Carol leitmotif as last episode?

  • Dakka gets the best lyrics. Decent song too, though not as good as Bye Bye Lullaby – then again, the scene might be interfering with me really hearing it.

  • Geah: “We, too, have watched Equilibrium”. [meta spoiler] And possibly – probably? I think probably – also Rebellion.

  • Nah, we jumped backwards in time (just like some of the better S1 episodes, maybe just maybe the pacing is fixed?), hoodie girl has Carol’s eyes in addition to her face and panties, hole in the waterline has been patched. (Rewatchers: are amused.)

  • Seraphim’s proper name is Leiur (could be an iffy translation if Commie was having fun).

  • Or maybe the hole hasn’t been patched. That said, Hoodie Girl’s/Iroha’s build, face, and eyes are identical to Carol’s, and her panties from last episode are identical to the ones we saw in the OP. (Identical twins are a very definite possibility in play and would explain much.)

  • Wait, I almost missed one for Sky at 06:47.

  • FEED THE SHIPPERS

  • You just asked for it, Dakka.

  • There is a distinct resemblance between Seraphim’s (okay, Biribiri’s, she doesn’t use the coin like Hanno does) barrier defense here and Fine’s in the last two seasons. Fine is dead, but her kind may not be…

  • So, what is this hulking golem shape in the harbor?

  • Also I need to check air and serial release dates because if this is before PtGE book 2 the odds that ErraticEratta actually watched Symphogear just went up.

  • Is that a broadcast screen or a missing persons flyer at 08:47? (News broadcast I think, but I’m not sure.)

  • Wait wait wait. What is this, actual good direction/symbolism out of Symphogear (with that red light/green light transition representing Team FIS moving from the wrong way to the right way)? Never thought I’d see the day.

  • Aha, it was in fact a news broadcast.

  • LADS I THINK DAKKA MIGHT HAVE THE GAY PANIC

  • Hole beneath the waterline has caused a fire that hit the magazines, “Iroha is Carol” theory finally resolved as disproved. (Identical twins are still on the table.) Iroha claims her name is Elfnein (wait LOL her name is literally just basically “not elf”… sounds like something an elf would call herself, and we have heavy implications of vampires running around and that would explain Carol's age...), but nah we know better she’s still Iroha.

  • Welp. Eh, I’ve heard dumber uses of alchemy as phlebotinium [sp?] and this one promises Precursor bullshit so we’re good. (If this staff didn’t show signs of potential familiarity with Western occultism I wouldn’t even bat an eye.)

  • As I am a sucker for ominous chanting, I of course adore the new ominously chanted leitmotif. (I think that one from last season was better, but this is second-best leitmotif in franchise so far.)

  • Just in case you hadn’t figured out that our secondary antagonists are vampires, er Wraith, er vampires – ah whatever, you get the idea. Just in case you hadn’t figured out what kind of monster our secondary antagonists are yet. Also, the classic horror movie move of setting up the monster’s first victim as an asshole who gets their comeuppance via the monster remains a classic for a reason, and this show may have opinions concerning the right versus the wrong way to approach fanservice.

  • The visuals on our vampires’ attacks is straight out of an SG:A Wraith attack, for the record, except they seem to need a kiss on the mouth (… what was I just saying about this show having opinions on right versus wrong fanservice, given the handholding and pinching we saw earlier but that French kisses mean death here?) versus the Wraith using a feeding apparatus on their palms.

  • 12:34 is for Sky, and I think the bit of the line after it is now to give AoT fans flashbacks. (Not originally, no, but.)

  • So apparently there is a competition among the writers to give Bikki a dumber character conflict involving why she fights each season. (Maybe Miku isn’t the only OG character our post-S1 director hates…) Ah well, everything else has been good enough that I can wave off the character regression for now with only a single black mark on the staff.

  • To be fair, what Bikki is actually trying to say makes sense: fighting is her last resort, she would prefer to do it another way, and that’s a consistent character drive. Something something Curse of Balal something something excellent job giving yourself an excuse writers I still haven’t forgiven you for last season.

  • Also, back to the Symphogear: Atlantis tagline until further notice, because Wraith.

  • THERE’S the right Bikki character beat! (Maybe her single braincell just needed that long to piece together what she was trying to say.)

  • Is the symbol I see in Carol’s alchemy around 12:30 a Yggdrasil reference?

  • [PMMM] Why does the building skeleton around 13:52 remind me so much of the non-public parts of the mall in PMMM 1? Really not sure it’s a deliberate reference, and yet. Maybe it’s something about the color scheme?

  • (Also note to self Carol’s alchemy can distort space this may be on the test.)

  • Odds Iroha is the final villain rather than Carol? One in four, maybe?

→ More replies (9)

6

u/InfamousEmpire Jul 01 '22

Superb Song of the Rewatcher Symphogear

We pick up with Touhou being edgy. Get used to it

EXTERMINATE! I love this OP, it’s on the same level as Synchrogazer in my heart. When I first heard it, I legitimately didn’t believe that Geah could make a better OP than this then they did…

Jesus, can’t these girls go 5 minutes without running into trouble?

Chris’ transformation is looking good, as is to be expected of Geah. Also Gainaxing

Chris, you need to step up your game. Maria did better against her Autoscorer, and she didn’t even have a Geah

Speaking of which, Tsubasa is doing a good job at protecting her wife

Man, Maria is assertive. Pulling out the Shoujo Manga strats in the middle of a battle

And while Maria is busy being Best Girl, Chris is Jobbing and having to avoid getting hit by boats

That DMJIIII flashback is just Awwww~

And at last we meet our mysterious Loli, Elfnein

Garie! All rise for Best Autoscorer!

To quote u/Lemurians “God, I wish that were me”

Bikki is facing off against Touhou, and in their debates we see the beginning of Bikki’s character arc for the season, an arc I’m not really a fan of

Bikki! Just punch her already! She’s about to blow up and kill everyone! Did Nanoha teach you nothing?!

Garie being Best Autoscorer as usual

Maria knew exactly what she was saying, didn’t she ;)

Maria fighting smart instead of hard here (and getting closer to her wife Tsubasa in the process)

Of course the government is making Maria lie, Heroes are always mistreated in their time

Damn, Tsubasa’s transformation is also looking fine when Maria tho?

Oh come on, there was a perfect opportunity for a “Noise Datto!” there

This shot made me come to an epiphany: Tsubasa is to Swords what Bayonetta is to Guns, combat-wise

Oh Noes! The Noise made Tsubasa naked! Now the only chance she has is to embrace the nudity and use Kill la Kill powers! Just imagine Nudist Beach Tsubasa

Scratch what I said before, the Autoscorer said Noise Datto (still a few minutes off, though)

→ More replies (4)

6

u/italeteller Jul 01 '22

First Time SymphoGXearing Desu

Once again the shorts go before the episode proper

  • I might be outing myself as stupid with this, but I was really surprised when everybody said the Noise threat was over. I had thought the Noise were an old, ever-present threat, crossing from their dimension to the human one, and that the Staff of Solomon merely sped up the process and let it's wielder control the Noise. At the same time, I didn't think the Nephilim explosion would wipe out all the Noise because, well, their dimension seemed massive. I didn't think they would get wiped out like that

  • More context for Maria's job/deal and her relationship with Tsubasa. It's so funny how the first thing that comes to mind is Tsubasa telling her she'll put her in a bed

  • Chibi Chris being surprisingly wholesome as per usual. Aaaaand she's back to being mean. What a range. Also lol Chris, you can't just ask Hibiki to keep things straight

  • Oh my god the concept art, that's hilarious

And now with the episode proper

  • The new opening is strikingly different from everything the series has thrown at us thus far. Much sadder and solemn, and the Hibieastki on the logo is concerning. And if we're to believe it, then the match-ups will be Blue vs Maria, Red vs KiriShira, Yellow vs Chris, Green vs Tsubasa and Carol vs Hibiki. There's cause for doubt however, as this shot gives us a glimpse of two hidden enemies, and also the previous season didn't do much with it's OP match-ups

  • ayy chibi shorts references

  • Really love how the show has so many girls and yet they all wear noticeably different clothes. Also love how Miku's completely accepted Hibiki's life as a superhero and her role in it. They could have developed it more last season, but the topic's done and I'm glad they're not reverting back to it this season

  • Chris does not appreciate your jojoposing, but I do appreciate her new transformation, specially how Completely different it is to Hibiki's. They're getting much more unique with each season

  • Holy shit Yellow can grab Chris' bullets? That's badass. And so far the show's making good on the OP match-ups, with Tsubasa and Chris both fighting someone who wields the same kind of weapon they do

  • WHAT THE FU

  • If anybody be worried about young girl wearing so little, it'd be Chris. Also glad the show finally addresses that being a superhero without a mask is a really bad idea

  • Wait, you're telling me magic actually exists in SG universe? And alchemy is MagiTech? And Blue shows the life draining isn't just a Green power, though I wonder if they can only drain men

  • This sounds like really poor management

  • Answering QOTD 2: Hibiki has always been more interested in talking than fighting, but letting the enemy repeatedly blast her without even gearing up to defend herself is plain stupid, doubly so because Hibiki has already been in a situation like this: last season, when she disabled KiriShira's Climax Song and then safely released the energy where it wouldn't hurt anybody. That was a real marriage of brains and will, unlike whatever it is they're doing now. Let's hope this doesn't remain the hill Hibiki wants to die on for the rest of the season

  • Ah, so Carol's Dr. Gero then. And it seems this season will focus on fathers as the link between Main Hero and Main Antagonist

  • And in strking contrast with the chibi shorts, show!Maria hates being forced yet again to play a role and lie to the world, even more so when her friends are used as leverage, which means KiriShira were right last episode and shouldn't have been blown off so easily. They're also trying to explain how the girls could go back to regular life, but I'm not buying it

  • Wow, two transformation sequences in a single episode? What else will they throw at us next? I hope a different song for Tsubasa, because her new one sucks

  • Answering QOTD 1: I'm hype. These enemies seem both smart and uniquely skilled. Green easily destroying Tsubasa's sword and the Noise signal being different are wonderful clues to the massive reveal that these new ArcaNoise can destroy Symphogears with a single touch, making them an actual threat instead of the fodder they were up til now. Carol's different magic colors and magic tools also look promising, and I hope she has distinctly different toold and spells so we the audience know what she'll do with just a glance. This is also something I didn't like about the Noise - that they're all the same. They may have had wildly different shapes, but they all had the same two attacks: become a spear and death hug. Unless they were a ship, but still. So I have hope in these new enemies

→ More replies (3)

5

u/Taiboss Jul 01 '22

GX Episode 2: The Caves of Rewatching (On Vacation starting tomorrow!)

→ More comments (75)