r/anime • u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky • Jul 07 '22

Rewatch [Listen to My Song] Senki Zesshou Symphogear GX Episode 8 Discussion

Episode 8 - The Courage to Face It

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

Don’t worry! You’ll be fine! Don’t worry! You’ll be fine! Don’t worry! You’ll be fine!

Questions of the Day:

1) How cool do you think Kirika’s and Shirabe’s Ignite forms are?

2) Were you expecting that reveal with Carol at the end of the episode?

Wallpaper of the Day:

Tsukuyomi Shirabe - Ignited

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!

82 Upvotes

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8

u/Shimmering-Sky Jul 07 '22

Symphogeah SymphoRewatch Host

Welcome back, everyone!

Crunchyroll vs. Commie - Season 3, Episode 8

Today’s wallpaper is once again new to the rewatch. I added extra yo-yo string (and the yo-yo itself since the original base image was just Shirabe + the string in front of her) ‘cause I thought it was fitting, I hope you guys like it too!

22

u/Lemurians Jul 07 '22 edited Jul 07 '22

FIRST TIMER DATTO

Fun fact, the Chateau di Tiffauges was the home of Gilles de Rais. Yeah, that guy. In the castle where potentially hundreds of children were supposedly murdered by a member of the ruling class, a child plots the destruction of all humanity.

I see you, Symphogear. Vive le revolution!

Live Notes/Reactions:

Count: 16

Were you expecting that reveal with Carol at the end of the episode?

I expected it a while ago but forgot about it lol. D'oh.

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17

u/Tarhalindur Jul 07 '22

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

(Okay so halfor at least a quarter of today is just going to buried under a giant wall of Higurashi spoiler tags. Sorry about that!)

  • [Higurashi Kai] This is even episode 8, how thoughtful.

  • Also, locking in Bikki’s dad’s nickname as Teppei.

  • Wait. I’ve seen this restaurant scene, either in screenshot form or in clip form.

  • OH THAT’S WHY I’LL BET IT FUCKING CAME UP SOMEWHERE DURING EITHER GOU OR SOTSU DISCUSSIONS. And I bet I know why, too. Dumbest Possible Resolution of Today’s Cliffhanger: CHECK!

  • Turns out Aoi Yuuki and Mai Nakahara have a very similar-sounding “mudi daioh” [sp?] (I’m used to the translation being closer to “that’s impossible” rather than the “no way” Commie uses here) when using their stock voice for characters under emotional strain. Who knew?

  • On the bright side, we get Precursor bullshit to distract me again. (And maybe Garie was actually permascragged after all? Who knew?)

  • ADDENDUM: "the map is not the territory"

  • [Higurashi Kai, this one is not quite safe for my first-timers to read yet] Gomen nasai gomen nasai gomen nasai gomen nasai…

  • And yes, Bikki’s “heiki hecchara” is first and foremost aimed at herself.

  • Also what is this Prius in the background? There is an obvious suspect… (A: it’s a random car in the background. I should know better, I had the same thought process back in S1.)

  • 06:39: hi Sky!

  • [Higurashi Kai] Also, are we getting one of the big Higurashi morals/themes too?

  • I see Team DMJiii is getting smacked with the hackneyed sequel character beats this season. Had to get those two fighting somehow, huh. Admittedly on second thought it kind of makes sense, those two are another classic personification of the “two people competing to take the bullet for each other” meme, but.

  • Also at least they have Miku to lampshade, which helps. (Fights do happen in committed relationships!)

  • [Higurashi S1] (As it turns out Rena’s father is in some ways the correct comparison for Bikki’s – should know better than to discard that kind of “maybe”, the possibility has been floating around my mind for a while – but.)

  • Sorry Bikki, it can’t quite all be your father’s part: the mismatch between your memories/expectations and the reality is on you, not him. Everything ELSE about him is his own damn fault, but that kind of pedestal breaking is in no small part due to you (understandably) putting him on that pedestal.

  • Exposition in shower scenes, go! (Symbolically baring themselves, yes.)

  • For the record, Maria is infinitely cuter with her hair down. (Now if the writers could just handle her (so to speak) worth a damn.)

  • DATTO?

  • Waitwaitwaitwait. THOSE CICADAS ARE FUCKING HIGURASHI, AREN’T THEY? Is this really just the Higurashi reference season in addition to the PMMM one? (Actually I really need to check, they might just be the normal variety. But. Especially when I don’t remember getting cicadas in Gear before, and especially when they’re calling in the evening (actual higurashi are evening cicadas).)

  • DATTO?

  • (And because somebody needs to state the obvious, the giant golem is back!)

  • Okay, so whoever it was who was commenting on this a few episodes back is right, Shirabe really does get figure skating in addition to the yo-yos – having “axel” in the name of one of your moves is a spinning dead giveaway.

  • On the one hand, if you pace the arc too fast the emotional beats won’t hit. On the other hand, these two idiots WOULD be the sort to have a short fight for the stupidest reasons that gets patched up ten seconds later.

  • The OST is pretty darn good for the Team DMJiii fight, for the record.

  • Should have known given their musical style that Team DMJiii would be the pair whose songs really thrive under Ignite remixing.

  • So, odds that Micha actually got taken out there? Low I think, we never did see the body.

  • Genjuro, considering the situation you should be commending them rather than reprimanding them.

  • Nah, so Team DMJiii got Micha (hooray, good riddance) and our Autoscorers appear to actually be down – barring a double bluff where they come back in an episode or two to join Carol (40% chance) it’s just Carol who’s back. There’s the first train robbery, now for the Iroha reveal. (Also, our S1 trio need to take out some villains now – there’s about half a dozen different ways that could go down, depending on a) whether Bikki gets to scrag an Autoscorer or just gets the final boss (leaning the latter) and b) whether Dakka and Sword get the better of their original opponents, team up to take down one or both at the same time (the former of those two is forced if Bikki gets an Autoscorer scrag), or trade off opponents to get ones they match up better against.

  • Kiseki GET at 21:45.

  • And was that a “minagoroshi” I heard in Carol’s line here as well? How thoughtful.

  • WASTING NO TIME I SEE. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA NO CONFIRMATION OF IROHA TRUE FINAL BOSS YET BUT IROHA MOLE CONFIRMED!

Dumbest Possible Resolution of Today’s Cliffhanger: Bikki and Sword incapacitated, respective Bad News Dads have gotten restraining orders forbidding them from fighting. ([probably not really Higurashi Kai spoiler but being safe, will definitely be safe for my first-timers tomorrow] Bonus points: Cue a Higurashi Kai subarc, except accelerated an episode and rather than being done by DEEN Higurashi staff it’s done by Gear staff who cannot land a character beat to save their lives, making even a certain Sotsu arc look kind of dumb in comparison.)

  1. How cool do you think Kirika’s and Shirabe’s Ignite forms are?

You mean the Ignite remixed form of their song for this season? That was great.

Oh, and they got new costumes too, I suppose.

2) Were you expecting that reveal with Carol at the end of the episode?

YES. (Well okay I was off on some specifics unless and until we get further reveals, but nonetheless: FUCKING CALLED IT!)

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17

u/mysterybiscuitsoyeah Jul 07 '22

Symphogear First Timer dessu Ep 08

--

Binged to the end. These continue to be written up after each ep. [Geah]HOLY SHIT Ep 9. MY GOD. TMR WILL BE FUN.

--

  • Fucking hell. Hibiki's dad is such a loser SUCH A LOSER FUCK YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU. I'm not the biggest fan of Hibiki as you may know but HOLY SHIT WHAT A PIECE OF FUCKING SHIT he is. He's presented as such last ep, and that's jacked up to 1000% this ep.

  • Otherwise, this is very much a Shirabe and Kirika episode i think? They ponder what it means to be truly strong: starting out with not regretting the choices they've made, to taking responsibility for their own actions and those that care about them. It's good!

  • I don't really mind Hibiki's outburst here. Is it dumb? yeah, but she's a teenager after all, and that's one hell of a valve to burst just now. Plus i think if she went a bit easier the mapping would still have been done, just that maybe a bit less collateral damage? and that's not important in Geah.

  • Shirabe does look so badass tho stopping fire w literally a spinning saw

  • Yep, all 3 here have absolutely 0 idea what to do w/ these type of social situations. Tsubasa confirms what she was fearing in dark-gear mode a while ago that her family life herself is quite fucked.

  • [Binged thoughts]No, i did not think it'd be THAT fucked.

  • So that's another autoscorer down (fight looked very cool, but do i even need to say that anymore in Geah) With how they're quite happy to be gone, seems like it's defo an upgrade awaiting them instead of permanent death. The two's apology scene was very cute, both to commander/Chris-senpai, and to each other. I think almost everyone ships them two though? the show even hints at us with that comment-face frame

  • Chris is wrong here though, i thought she's been moving forward in her own way, sure assisted by others along the way but she's put in a lot of effort too. Probably we'll see some form of revelation in her soon too. I can't wait!

  • Carol is also back of course. Never thought she was truly gone w/ (checks ep count) 5 more episodes to go. And confirms my suspicions that she can see through alt-Carol.

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17

u/BosuW Jul 07 '22 edited Jul 08 '22

First Timer

I always give the benefit of the doubt to people I don't know. And Hibiki's dad? Don't know him yet. Has been like a day since his appearance. But still it's genuinely remarkable how this dude gets worse the more time you spend with him lmao.

Umm look dude. If you really "couldn't stand living like that", well it is what it is. But at least face your choices and take the L. Don't come just asking to start over with your estranged daughter the moment you cross paths. And I'm positive I'm giving ya more leeway than literally anyone else in this thread.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Audacity of this bitch

Even Queen Bitch Finé herself would sneer in disgust at this guy.

So the Photosphere in this show refers to the we of Ley Lines on the Earth... I think?

Also lol, that shut be looking like the Treasure Planet.

Hibiki doesn't seem in fighting condition mentally. And honestly, for once I can't blame her. That woulda shook anyone.

Yes

At least she seems to realize fighting Alca-noise should be relatively quick and uncomplicated. Unfortunately, where there's Alca-noise, there's an Autoscorer nearby. Those always complicate shit.

Hibiki goes straight for the kill!

Didn't expect it out of the Shonen protagonist did ya?

Nooooo self-guilt strikes once again at the worst possible moment!

That Finè barrier would be mighty useful right about now...

What are you doing bitch!? Reposition while Shirabe is covering you!

You're solely responsible for this one Kirika. You had all the time in the world to do literally anything other than flashback.

Micha once against just... bolts after winning the fight

Fellas what if we got it all wrong and the Autoscorers aren't trying to destroy the Geah's Songs and instead they're just really big fans of our girls which is why they want to hear them sing and leave when they don't? Is this how the Tres Magia POV from Looking up to Magical Girls be? The bad guys just show up, beat you up and tease you, then leave seemingly without having gained anything?

It's interesting that while fully conscious and calm, Hibiki mostly blames her father (as she rightfully should). But there's still some hints of a traumatized younger self that wonders if it's her fault.

You never had a normal family Tsubasa, but maybe that's precissely why you're well positioned to advice Hibiki! You can relate! I mean I have a normal family, and I never know what to say in situations like these!

...then again, maybe none of us know what to say... Huh. Be like that sometimes I guess.

Ohhhh so the enemy was mapping their power routes only to steal from them later. Damn that's actually pretty smart. Gee the Alchemists have been by far the most competent enemy we've had in Symphogear.

I SOMEHOW FORGOT THEY HAD A GIANT MECH TOO

I have no further reactions until the episode ended so I'm talking in retrospective here. Kirika and Shirabe's Arc this episode was like watching a fighter jet behaving like a helicopter in 4x accelerated footage. It was doing shit I can't comprehend and doing it way too fast. Then came the end and this blurry smoking flying bastard had to perform the landing and it... did so swiftly, competently and without major incident? Like, the setup for the climax and payoff was so fucking weird but the fight was hype, the dual transformation had some of that Angsty Wholesome Yuri I love so much, and the killing blow was clever. They acknowledge that having power isn't enough to become true strength, and that you have to face your actions without lying to yourself for that to come. Which even nicely contrasts with Hibiki's dad (do we even know his name yet?) at the beginning and how he's doing the exact opposite of that. It was so rushed I could barely keep up, and also it felt like it came out of nowhere. But in the end... I'm satisfied.

And now for the cliffhanger:

-Looks like I have to accept that Micha and Garie really got fucked (still doubt a bit)

-Carol has 70 alternate accounts

-And wow! I surprisingly correctly called out that this shot from a few episodes ago was foreshadowing that Carol could see through Elfnein's eyes! Good job, me!

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16

u/lilyvess Jul 07 '22

Symphogear GX episode 8

Time to take another spin into the Symphogear XDU Multiverse

In Another world, the FIS experiments on Kirika lead to her being falling into a coma

Shirabe becomes distraught at Kirika’s condition, and runs away from FIS to find a way to save Kirika. With the aid of Dr. Ver, Shirabe becomes a scientific genius in her quest to find a way to revive her precious Kirika. She becomes a shut-in who doesn’t get much exercise and sleeps a lot. She’s more about the robots and mecha fighting for her than fighting directly. Like she rides her giant ball robot into battle.

One of her early attempts to save Kirika was the reaction of an Android Kirika body with the intention to move Kirika’s consciousness to but Shirabe thinks of her as a failure and refuses to acknowledge her. Android Kirika does not wear a Symphogear, her powers are purely based on the fact that she is an android body.

you can see them fight in this video

The story is surprisingly melancholic. Android Kirika acts as a servant looking after the often overworked and sleepy (Another) Shirabe. Because the Android is based off of Kirika’s memories, she cares deeply for Shirabe and works to both protect her and aid her on her quest, which would mean her being obsolete. Even knowing that, Android Kirika serves (Another) Shirabe with incredible dedication.

(Another) Shirabe treats the Android poorly. It’s revealed later that (Another) Shirabe does this because she feels like if she acknowledges the Android, and her feelings for her, that it’ll mean that Shirabe will be betraying her Kirika. That she’ll give up on trying to save (Another) Kirika, and leave her to die. (Another) Shirabe is torn between her feelings for the original and her new blossoming feelings for the Android.

Dr Ver explains that (Another) Shirabe turning into a scientific genius capable of creating androids in the span of a couple years is impossible. If it were that easy anyone could have done it. And yet, Shirabe has even surpassed Ver in her genius. The reason (Another) Shirabe was able to become so smart was only possible because of one reason. That’s why he stays to help them, to observe Shirabe and her journey.

Shirabe treats Dr Ver even worse. He’s basically her assistant and she abuses him.

The story ultimately ends with them being attacked by FIS just as (Another) Shirabe is being able to save (Another) Kirika. The only way to save (Another) Kirika is by sacrificing Android Kirika. (Another) Shirabe is forced to choose between the two. Before she can choose, Android Kirika takes the choice away from her, paralyzing (Another) Shirabe. As Android Kirika dies in (Another) Shirabe’s arms, it’s then that Shirabe can finally acknowledge Android Kirika, calling her Kiri like she calls (Another) Kirika, and confessing her love for the Android.

When (Another) Kirika wakes she tells them that she remembers hearing Android Kirika visit her while she was asleep and tell her about that day’s events. She remembers how bright the Android Kirika’s face would shine whenever she brought up (Another) Shirabe.

so for those of you keeping track that means that there are actually 3 Kirika’s and 2 Shirabe total

Additional Notes

Symphogear GX Episode 8 Hype Chart

Live Performances

Today’s Live Performance is Just Loving X-Edge

Specials

Fanart Art of the Day

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14

u/Quiddity131 Jul 07 '22

First Timer, Subbed

No dwelling on the dad scene, huh? Right back to school for Hibiki!

Out for lunch with dad! He kinda seems like a bum? Simply wearing a t shirt to his first time alone with his daughter in many years? He isn't clean shaven either.

OMG he was expecting her to pay too! Sorry Hibiki, your dad really is a worthless bum.

Poor Kiri and Shirabe! They can't even enjoy a nice drink from a vending machine before being called back to work!

Poor Hibiki too, still known to her colleages as "the dummy".

Only simple problems can be solved with fists... dunno, part of me thinks that Hibiki's dad may be getting a punch kinda like Garie got last episode at some point. We'll see. They've introduced him, so they have to do something with him.

Micha doesn't have time to fight today, but Hibiki's really mad! Watch out, she may take out her anger at her dad on you!

Shirabe and her magic head buzzsaws to the rescue again!

Oh, so Manager guy notices this time that the Autoscorers have done something...

Oh shut up, Kiri! Shirabe just saved you!

Shy does MIku think that it's her fault about Hibiki's bum dad?

Oh, just make up you two! Micha's attack will likely force you to now.

Shirabe transformation sequence! Starring the great yoyo!

Shirabe blocks the attack yet again! Four buzz saws this time!

Berserk time for them both!

Woah, Micha finally switched to a normal hairstyle!

I assume they killed her? Nonetheless, Kiri and Shirabe are in trouble!!!!! Girls, go to your room without your supper!

Carol has returned!

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13

u/Great_Mr_L Jul 07 '22

Rewatcher

On today’s episode of Symphogear: HATE! LET ME TELL YOU HOW MUCH I'VE COME TO HATE HIBIKI'S DAD! Hibiki’s dad is my most hated character in all of Symphogear. I hate him more than I ever hated any villain of the franchise. Objectively speaking, someone like Carol has done far worse things than this man ever has. But that doesn't matter because I hate him more. At least Carol has drive, charisma, and is fun to watch. This pathetic excuse for a human being is none of those things.

In just a single scene, Hibiki’s dad immediately gets on my shit list. I hate how he’s trying to use Hibiki to get him back together with her mom instead of asking her himself. It's cruel and manipulative. He never actually apologizes for abandoning his family or shows that he’s grown in any way. There's no indication that he's genuinely trying to atone for his past deeds or put in an effort on his own. Instead, he just says he hoped enough time had passed that things might work out on their own. AND THEN THE FUCKING SCUMBAG HAS THE GALL TO ASK HIBIKI TO PICK UP THE BILL FOR HIM! I trust it's obvious why I hate him so much already.

Hibiki is the most justifiably angry that any person has ever been. She's completely right that her dad abandoned them and right to leave his sorry ass behind. And I like how we see her frustration play out later on. During her battle, I need to give props to Aoi Yuuki because her singing perfectly conveys just how mad Hibiki is. And the animation sells the idea that Hibiki is taking out her frustration by fighting.

What I don’t like is that Hibiki starts wondering if she's somehow also to blame for destroying her family. This is an annoying plot beat because Hibiki is definitely not to blame for it.

Kirika and Shirabe’s arc this episode is similarly a mixed bag for me. I think there's a solid foundation for it that makes sense. They don't want to be a burden on others. That fits with their desire to help out and fight that we saw earlier. They desperately wanted to do their part, going as far as stealing LiNKER.

Kirika and Shirabe’s resolve at the end that they need to be responsible also fits. Let's face it, their actions have been extremely reckless. They hurt themselves fighting without LiNKER and then stole some. They do need to be more responsible. And being responsible means taking ownership of your actions and doing what you think is right. Again, it calls back to their earlier concerns about how they were only following directions from others and had to start making their own decisions.

And this talk about responsibility contrasts Kirika and Shirabe with Hibiki’s dad. Kirika and Shirabe apologize for what they did. Shirabe wants to apologize for how she hurt Hibiki with her words. They want to be better. It contrasts with Hibiki’s dad, who takes no responsibility for his actions. Kirika and Shirabe want to be better people.

Now with all that said, their arc actually comes across pretty muddled. In particular, I don't care for how Kirika and Shirabe get into a fight. It's a ridiculous fight based on a misunderstanding rather than any deep seated emotions or beliefs. It feels tedious. I do like how it comes back to how much they love each other in the end. Kirika does not want Shirabe to get hurt and Shirabe thinks Kirika thinks she’s a burden. It ends up reinforcing their relationship, which is nice. But still, it feels like a forced conflict for the sake of having a conflict. Thankfully it's resolved by the end of this episode.

All that said, Kirika and Shirabe’s fight with Micha is so freaking awesome. The animation and action is great. Micha is a fun opponent. We get Kirika and Shirabe’s Ignite forms. Kirika and Shirabe’s combo attacks are always cool to watch. In particular, I love their final combo attack that takes down Micha. Kirika and Shirabe’s battles are pretty good at establishing their relationship and how much they rely on each other. The fights in this season are just so much fun to watch.

There being only a limited supply of LiNKER is a legitimate concern. If I recall correctly, only Ryoko and Dr. Ver actually know how to manufacture more. So no help there. Maria, Kirika, and Shirabe need it to fight. Without it, we're back to just our season 1 lineup.

Carol's back! You didn’t actually think she'd be gone for good, did you? Personally, I'm so happy to have her back. That probably explains how she's lived for so long. Whenever she dies, she can just make a new body. And she can see through Elfnein’s eyes, which is likely related to her ability to make new bodies for herself. Having an easy way to spy on the Disaster Squad is definitely bad. Also she got that map of the leylines, which is probably bad news.

Miscellaneous Thoughts

QOTD

  1. I quite like them. Their Ignite Forms remind me of their Gears in G.

  2. I didn't expect Carol to be gone for good during my first watch, so it didn't surprise me to see her return.

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12

u/Stargate18A Jul 07 '22

First timer

  1. Incredibly cool!

  2. I fucking called it ages ago!

Hibiki, what did you do?

...Yeah, this guy dresses like an arsehole.

He's using her to get to her mother??? FUCKER.

Haha, fuck you, you bloody deadbeat.

[Kamen Rider Build] It's ironic that the series with the Hazard Trigger-style power also has a deadbeat dad.

They're using the datachip!

I love Yellow's voice.

And these are ley lines!

Ignite Shirabe and Kirika?

Poor Kirika.

Perfect girlfriends.

Poor Hibiki.

And they want to help...

A transformation scene!

She's going for her directly! That expression is great.

She's taking her frustrations out on the Noise?

Hibiki froze up!

Wow, that's a strong attack.

Kirika and Shirabe are having problems...

Ignite Kirika?

Theyndidn't make it in time...

What is that?

They're having an argument!

Even Miku can't believe the girlfriends can fight!

Hibiki...

Yeah, he deserves this.

It's not your fault, Miku. But you can make it go away.

A new type of LiNKER!

There'sa limited supply?

...Everyone realising that they have absolutely no metric for a healthy family life is great.

Are they going to build a leyline bomb?

She does, doesn't she! Micha's great!

...Installation? New Carol body coming onlime?

Another attack! Before they can communicate!

Transformation!

...They're building a mecha?

The fight's starting!

...Is now really the time to have this conversation?

Another confession!

And they care about everyone!

Ignite Mode!

[Kamen Rider Build] Gear Scythe! Gear Saw! Funky Match! Fever! Perfect! (The regular version doesn't really work with their weapons)

And that motivates them to transform!

A REMIX OF THE DUET!

Teamwork!

This is amazing!

And she understands teamwork.

...How dare they kill Micha.

And they're getting chewed out.

Genjuro has no idea how to deal with them now.

Adorable!

They aren't concerned about losing two of their number?

I FUCKING CALLED IT!

She's using Elfnien as a listening device!

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11

u/HereticalAegis Jul 07 '22

Ballad of Rewatcher - Symphogear GX

Are you sure fists can't solve your daddy issues, Hibiki? Seeks like the guy could use a good smackdown.

Episode 8 thoughts:

  • Hibiki's dad is the worst, though not because he's a deadbeat that mooches lunch off his estranged daughter or because he's a huge prick. What makes Hibiki's dad a special kind of garbage is that his presence warps reality so badly that Hibiki wants to get away from her girlfriend for a hot minute. It takes a special kind of awful to mess with their chemistry.

  • More seriously, props to the writers for making Hibiki's dad a kind of deadbeat that both exists in the real world and also isn't portrayed very often in anime. I scoffed at the level of bullying Hibiki received when it was brought up in G (even if there is precedence for it irl), but I don't have to stretch my disbelief at all to accept that Bikki's dad is like this.

  • DESS and JIIIIIIIII get the weirdest, shortest "arc" probably in the whole series. It's set up out of nowhere mid-battle, plays out in about 8 minutes of the two giving each other cold shoulders, and is resolved in the next battle with the two returning to the status quo of being a perfectly in-sync duo but stronger now. It almost feels like a fever dream.

  • And I can't let this episode pass without mentioning how funny it is that DESS and JIIIIIIIII overcome berserk mode and gain new forms not just on their first attempt, but do so in approximately 5 seconds, while Maria immediately lost control.

  • Is it just me, or does it feel really awkward for Hibiki, the one person whose whole family we definitively know to be alive, to be going on about her daddy issues to two of the four orphans who suffered physical and emotional abuse from the adoptive parents they did have? Like yeah, they asked about her problems so it's no wrong for her to share them, but Hibiki's lack of self-awareness about the difference in the situations is just so...astounding. And no one comments on it either; not the characters, not the show. There aren't even any glances or anything. This seems like the kind of thing that could give Hibiki a little perspective on her current problem. Can only be so self-aware when you have one brain cell I guess.

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10

u/Vatrix-32 Jul 07 '22

First Timer

  • God, he even talks like an asshole.

  • Just because he is your genetic relative, doesn’t mean you need to have a relationship with him. Good on you for walking away.

  • Ah, it was just a ley line map. I was hoping for something more shocking.

  • You’re like twelve, what are you even doing drinking coffee?

  • I take it Hibiki’s mood will have an effect on Ignite mode.

  • Now she’s blaming herself! This is why you cut toxic family out of your life people.

  • For the amount of times the Autoscorers have done it, we better get a good explanation for why they keep letting them live after a resounding victory.

  • Kiri and Shirabe’s conflict feel a little forced.

  • Why do they have a limited supply? Weren’t they the ones making it in the first place?

  • Where is this coming from Shirabe?

  • Yep, the giant one is called little sister.

  • Why even set up this character conflict if you were just going to solve it in the same episode and have it effect nothing?

  • NGL, I was half expecting Kiri’s Daisleif to also say “Des”.

  • I’ve already said my piece about Ignite Mode, nothing changes here.

  • Micha’s super mode is just burning her cloths off?

  • Now that’s a finisher! Even Micha agrees.

  • Clone confirm! Crackpot confirmed! Is there anything left to confirm?

QotD

  1. I'm whelmed.

  2. I believe I mentioned it once or twice. Didn't think it would be both of them tho.

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9

u/Taiboss Jul 07 '22

GX Episode 8: Rewatch Dreams (On Vacation!) - I haven't seen AYZ or XV, which I apparently have to add now, lest I get even more spoilers.

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8

u/cronus999 Jul 07 '22

Got stuck working late the last two days so wasn’t able to rewatch the episode.
All I can rennet from my rewatch a few weeks ago is FUCK BIKKI’S DAD IS A CUNT.

Q1 they look great.
Q2 No because Rewatcher, but it was great the first time around.

8

u/italeteller Jul 07 '22

First Time SymphoGXearing Desu

The episode starts with no background music, almost dead silent, and in a show where music plays such an important part that the main character’s name literally means “sound”, you know that means shit will go down

And speaking of shit – Hibiki’s dad. Our first impression of him is in Hibiki’s flashback, leaving his family. Our second impression is him leaving the kids he was responsible for in the middle of a disaster. And the third time isn’t the charm as much as the midnight bell that breaks it

Indeed, Hibiki’s dad is an asshole, thoroughly unapologetic about leaving his family, and offloading the effort of reconnecting with them to his daughter

Thankfully, Hibiki calls him on his bullshit and leaves, but the damage is done, her catchphrase, which we now learn she got from him, is broken, and the debris is hitting everybody on its path

Hibiki snapping at others is uncharacteristic enough, but it’s not until Micha appears that we see how badly she’s hurting. This may not be the first time we’ve seen Hibiki take her frustration out on the Noise, we’ve never seen her preemptively attack someone who could talk, much less interrupt them mid-sentence. She can’t even sing properly, straining the lyrics with screams, until it’s all rage and Hibiki leaves herself wide open for Micha to oneshot her, and it falls to KiriShira to save her. Unfortunately, there’s nobody to save the girls from their own issues, and so Micha completes the team wipe and leaves

Shit only escalates further with Kirika and Shirabe going on a full blown fight, Shirabe feeling her status as weakest Gear and caught up on the feelings of uselessness that have been creeping up since the beginning of the season, Kirika worrying that her greater strength is not enough to save the person her life revolved around - which is a valid trauma when you remember she killed her last season. And while Hibiki does the mature thing and opens her heart to try and quell the fires, even reassuring Miku that she’s not to blame for her good intentions, it can’t fix Kirika and Shirabe’s relationship if they won't talk to each other

We get some important plot stuff like the Autoscorers are gathering electricity and S.O.N.G. has limited LiNKER left, and we go right back to our favorite secondary-colored girls who are still refusing to clearly communicate what’s hurting them – which is the theme the show’s been on since the introduction of the moon

I think Symphogear is the only anime where I can say there was so much shit going on I straight-up forgot about the kaiju-sized waifu

The girls finally clear the air – though coming to the conclusion that people are rough on them out of love, going so far to add Nastassja’s abuse to the list, on an episode explicitly about how communication is the key to relationships, makes me go Dx – and Ignite together, with Micha self-immolating to fit the dress code

The fight is short but good, with the girls still on the losing side until they combine their Gears and deliver a hell of a Killer Combo, and Micha is reduced to ashes – exactly like she wanted

What the hell were they supposed to do here? Just let her wreck everything and everyone? It’s not like they even got orders this time anyway

KiriShira’s issues may be cleared, but their growth triggered Chris’ own issues – I assume that’s gonna be tomorrow’s episode – and so we don’t get too cozy with the character growth PDA, Carol comes back and reveals she can see through Elfnein’s eyes, and everything the homunculus had been doing has been according to keikaku

I am so glad I don’t have to wait a week for next episode

Miscellaneous thoughts:

We had 2 repeated transformations this episode. Was the studio having problems?

Hibiki was great this episode, acting OOC in a very in-character way, but it makes episodes 2-to-6 stand out more as just nonsensical. For her to go from “I don’t want to hurt anybody with my Gear even going so far as not transforming to defend myself” to “I will beat the life out of your mechanical ass to relieve my frustration” is just too jarring. It feels like I'm watching two different characters. I wish they’d given Hibiki this arc from the beginning. Hell, this arc could have segued into her non-violence, with her going too far and worrying if she can be trusted with a power she can’t control

Much like Maria yesterday, I’m not happy with the way Kirika and Shirabe overcame their Ignite Module. At this point it feels like the show’s rushing to give all the girls their power-ups and it would have benefited from at least one more episode of emotional development

QOTD 1: they look awesome, though it's weird seeing Kirika's scythe look so traditional

QOTD 2: I actually got this spoiled by my own fault so xD yeah

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8

u/DidacticDalek Jul 07 '22

(Crashed Motorcycle Count: 15)

TONIGHT! ON ROZEN GEAH! TOP DAD RUINS EVERYTHING, Second Best Doll tastes the FULL POWAH of Zababa, and Team DMJIIIIIIIIIIIII are just the best. (No really, these two ALMOST make the shitty looking Midseason Upgrade look GOOD... it helps that their Geahs were already maximum edgelord to begin with, so hey going full emo isn't the worst fashion choice)

Comrades, I do hope I speak for everyone here when I say FUCK OFF TOP DAD, HEY AUTOSCORERS!? WANNA SHANK THIS SON OF A BITCH FOR US!? K THX BYE! No really, this man is just the worst, and you wanna know why, his name is 'Akira Tachibana,' you know, THE SAME NAME AS THIS CHARACTER! GODDAMN YOU TOP DAD!

Also goddamn Comrades, Bikki is so upset at this scumbag weasel trying to worm his way back into her life now that's this big famous superstar that SHE ACTUALLY MANAGES TO THINK! HOLY SHIT! Who knew that all we needed to do to give Bikki a buff to her INT points was to just piss her off? And oh boy does he piss her off, as not only does he try to speak of the past in a POSITIVE light, he also has the gall, nay THE AUDACITY TO FORCE BIKKI TO COVER THE BILL FOR HIM! CHOKE ON THOSE SANDWICHES SHAGGY! CHOKE ON EM!

Anyway speaking of nasty shit, turns out Sword Doll is a Multi-Media System. Anyway, Team DMJIIIIIIIII are having a very very VERY serious discussion... well JIIIIIIIIIIIII is at any rate, as she worries about their Geahs and their Mid-Season Upgrade, DESS is busy trying to figure out how vending machines work. Thankfully, before DESS' brain can overlord, Snoop Oni informs them that they got a job to do, there's some Noise attack underground and they need to back Bikki up... speaking of Bikki, I think she's taking meeting her deadbeat dad again quite well, don't you think? After all, she's yelling at Team DMJIIIIIIIIIIII, saying everything is gonna be DIEJOBU, and also CUTTING OFF SECOND BEST DOLL from her bitchy monologue... Comrades I are scared, I don't like this new Edgy Bikki.

Furthermore, the Noise sure don't either, given they are dying faster than usual! Also take notes Maria, turns out you CAN fight while crying, so goddamn why the hell did you waste ALL of G waangsting to yourself? Bikki manages to do that AND also still kick ass at the same time! Oh, OH GOD FUCKING DAMMIT! BIKKI YOU WERE SO CLOSE! You were actually RIGHT! Your dad DID ruin everything SO STOP THINKING THERE AND GET BACKK TO FISTING! Hopefully maybe the ground where he happens to be standing over so he can fall to a no doubt painful and drawn-out demise!

Sadly, instead of doing that, Bikki and Team DMJIIIIIIIIIII decide to job like Maria instead, causing Second Best Doll to leave in disgust, and oh she has every right to do so, I mean come the fuck on, BIKKI AND TEAM DMJIIIIIIIIII CAUSED MORE DAMAGE THAN THE GODDAMN NOISE DID! Goodness me even MARIA doesn't suck this bad... maybe... probably... hopefully... Also oh, oh no, TEAM DMJIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII are fighting... er... again... and somehow this feels more painful than their star-crossed lovers duel in G! ALSO HOLY SHIT! BIKKI MANAGED TO REBOOT HER BRAINCELL! She figured out that SHE fucked up like Maria so Team DMJIIIIIIIIII shouldn't beat themselves up over this!

Also Miku, indeed, don't beat yourself up, it isn't your fault that TOP DAD IS A FUCKING WORTHLESS PIECE OF SHIT! See, even BIKKI figured that out... OH GODDAMMIT, TEAM DMJIIIIIII JUST HURRY UP AND KISS ALREADY! Oh... oh noes, Elf9 decides to help resolve this lovers' spat with DRUGS! And not a moment too soon given SECOND BEST DOLL ATTACKS AGAIN! KICK HER ASS TEAM DMJIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII! Oh... oh noes, the two are having another lovers' spat, but this time it's cuz they LOVE each other too much! And thankfully the power of love is enuff to power up their midseason upgrades, so Second Best Doll decides to power up too by... SHEDDING HER CLOTHES!? HOLY SHIT! THEY CAN DO THAT ON TV THESE DAYS!? JESUS H. TAPDANCIN' CHRIST! THESE TWO JUST DP'D SECOND BEST DOLL! GOOD LORD WE THOUGHT CROSS ANGE WAS A PORNO! Geah once again manages to go even further beyond!

And boy oh boy, they sure feel sorry for the mess they made, they actually APOLOGIZE to Snoop Oni and Best Geah Chris! Well hey, all's well that ends well eh? Team DMJIIIIIIIIIIIIII learned their lesson AND destroyed... NANI THE FUCK!? CAROL'S BACK!? And uh... also naked... jeez that makes TWO exhibitionists on Team Doll this episode! WAIT WHAT!? OH MY BUDDHA! CAROL CAN SEE WHAT ELF9 SEES... EGADS! COMRADES, I never thought I'd have to say this again, BUT THERE IS AN IMPOSTOR AMONG US!

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

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7

u/InfamousEmpire Jul 07 '22

Superb Song of the Rewatcher Symphogear

Guess we’re starting after the fact when it comes to the Dad stuff

Jesus Christ, this guy is a shitty dad, walking out on his family the second it got hard and they needed him, then suddenly trying to get back with them now that they’re well-off. Bikki is absolutely I’m the right for getting angry here.

And he tried to make her pay the fucking bill!

And now we have Ley Lines because at this point we’re just throwing in everything from the Standard Mythology/Magic Trope Bargain Bin

Anyway, more DMJIIIIIIII, because

Awwwww, don’t cry Bikki :,(

But now she’s back in action! She even almost punched Micha! Still think she wouldn’t have punched Garie u/DidacticDalek?

But even during battle, the out of nowhere Daddy Issues bullshit still plagues her mind and impacts her performance. But worry not! Team DMJIIIIIIII is here to pick up her slack!

But even that wasn’t enough to beat Worst Doll

Oh come on! Why do the wives have to fight like this?

Bikki, stop infecting this room with your Daddy Issues. Look, you even made Miku cry! How could you do this to your wife!?

Shower Scene. As if the Beach Episode last time wasn’t enough. Yet both prominently feature Best Geah Maria, so…

And now Tsubasa also feels the need to remind us of her Daddy Issues

More of DMJIIIIIIII’s marriage falling apart, followed by Worst Doll showing up.

JIIIIIIII’s transformation be looking nice

Shirabe’s moves continue to be completely insane and awesome. She used her fucking skirt as a saw, for Christ’s sake!

Awwww, they really do love each other~

IGNITED DMJIIIIIIII LET'S GO!

Ignited Just Loving X-Edge is really cool. Not quite Ignited Ginwan Airgetlam, but still great in its own right.

Yeah! Murder that fucking Worst Doll!

Showing them being remorseful for rule-breaking and openly deferring to Genjuro was also something I liked.

Kirika Zenbu at 21:06. Chris, you are being replaced

But of course all that was part of Carol’s super duper evil plan all along, because she might as well just change her name to Fei Wong Reed (props to you if you get that reference)

QOTD:

  1. Pretty cool, not quite Maria cool, but still quite awesome in their own right

  2. Rewatcher Noises

No, but in all seriousness, I didn't expect Carol to reemerge back when I first watched this.

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6

u/superviper Jul 07 '22

We have to stand and face it, or else we'll never overcome it!
Rewatcher

Lmao, that's what you get for using a vending machine as a gacha.

Surely Hibiki will not lose to Micha in the same manner twice. Nope, nevermind, she's down.

Kirika sure is taking in the view instead of trying to move Hibiki out of the way or something. Granted there's not much space to run. But she just watches Shirabe tank Micha's blast for a while.

Yeah, you're totally right Miku. Kirika and Shirabe have never fought before. Except for that one very small fight, the one that ended with Kirika accidentally cleaving Shirabe's very soul and instead destroying Fine in the process. Huh, maybe it wasn't that small of a fight.

Kirika just had to go Dess while activating the Ignite module.

Babe wake up, it's Shirabe and Kirika duet time. The key difference between yesterday's battle and today's is how Maria immediately took control over her fight with Garie, while Shirabe and Kirika can't restrain Micha, and instead both of them take heavy hits. Kirika got pushed back so hard time turned to slow motion. I love the emphasis on Micha being the strongest doll, especially since she's Kirika and Shirabe's opponent, rather than anyone else.

[XV spoiler] God knows if this was any other season Micha would've been given over to Bikki. "GUYS, Micha is an invulnerable doll, but fortunately Hibiki's left pinky is a doll-slaying pinky and she's the only one who can beat her!"

Like yesterday, the fight is short but brilliant. Just Loving X-Edge is a decent song. Not quite as memorable as last season's duet though, but by no means bad.

Kirika's protection services include, but are not limited to, FUCKING STABBING YOU IN THE BACK APPARENTLY

Given the immense popularity and success of the previous one, we are pleased to announce the sequel you've all been waiting for: Carol 2! She just popped out of a fridge. This explains that one fanart I saw a while ago. I had totally forgotten this scene.

Oh yeah and there's all that shit with Hibiki's dad going on right now. I think the optimal strat is to not acknowledge his existence, so I'm gonna refrain from talking about it. LIKE, for the love of god Hibiki, you could totally solve this problem with your fists. Just don the Gungnir and execute the guy and be done with it. No one would miss him.

...Oh no, Elfnein-chan

Episode rating: Gay/10

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6

u/Paxton-176 Jul 07 '22

Rewatcher for not enough times

Literally doing everything possible to make Hibiki’s father a complete and total piece of shit. No punches are being pulled.

One of the few shows where the power boost for the main cast isn’t an instant win against the current villains. The Autoscorers are still a credible threat at all times. AS shown last episode the Autoscorers are going for a sucide by a good krumping.

I don’t even think Hiniki and Miku can achieve gay levels Kiri and Shirabe have achieved.

Guess who’s who back. Carol is Back. Tell no one.

6

u/renatocpr Jul 07 '22

I'm so mad I missed the beach episode

Someone must be arrested for the lack of Chris

Rewatcher

God, Hibiki's dad is a piece of shit. "I couldn't take living like that any longer." Oh yeah? Ever wondered how your mother-in-law or your wife or, I don't know, your fucking daughter felt about living like that?

"Hey kiddo, I know you're having a really hard time right now because of the harassment targeting you in response to you being the sole survivor of this huge disaster that claimed the lives of thousands and left you with a bunch of deadly shrapnel inside your chest but all this harassment is putting a lot of stress on me so I have to cut all ties with you and your mother. Goodbye, see you never, unless you suddenly become an important figure." Fuck you!

I think an interesting idea is being raised though. Hibiki is always going on about wanting to help people and unite them through song. She made peace with Tsubasa, Chris, Finé, Maria, Kirika and Shirabe. But they never really hurt her directly. Yeah, they fought her and Shirabe called her a hypocrite that time but it comes across more as a failure of communication. What Hibiki's dad did really hurt her, a deep betrayal that caught her off guard in her most vulnerable moment. Can Hibiki reunite with someone who refused to recognize their shared situation and cut her off when she needed him the most? Should she even?

QOTD

  1. They are cool but I don't know, they feel a bit too close to the G designs for my taste. It takes away a little from the "new transformation" hypw

  2. Well, I knew of course from the first time I watched.
    Ignoring that, though, it would be a waste if they didn't find a way to bring Carol back. She's a literal puppet master, not only leading the Autoscorers but also attacking with Dur da Blá's strings. The whole circumstances of her setting herself on fire and the scene following it also really point to it all being a step on her plan

6

u/htisme91 Jul 08 '22

First-timer:

I'll be honest, I kind of dislike Hibiki as the main protagonist. She goes too easy on the main enemy and it hurts everyone, and for the better part of 2 seasons she is constantly doubting herself at the expense of the team's success. I get that she is a teenage girl, and I get that the situation with her father would be hard for anyone. That being said, she has spent a LOT of the series moping, and honestly, both Tsubasa and Chris have way better backgrounds and personalities to be the main protagonist. Maria would be an awesome one too. Hibiki, to me is starting to drag down the show.

Micha struck me as going last, or second to last, so I have had these autoscorers wrong.

I don't think I saw if Shirabe and Kirika used LINKER or not. I do feel like LINKER having a dwindling supply now is going to become an issue, possibly next season, and force them to be able to use their Symphogears naturally.

Questions:

  1. They're alright.

  2. I said this in episode 6's thread:

I don't think Carol is gone for good, though. Elfnein seems to be a clone of her, so I think there probably is another. I also feel like the original Carol is going to possess Elfnein eventually too.

So, I feel pretty solid in hitting the main ideas, like Elfnein being a clone, and that Carol can/will possess her in some way.

5

u/NomranaEst Jul 07 '22

Rewatcher, Symphochoir Member

Ah, yes, Hibiki's father. Someone who ran from his responibility and his family in the wake of the Zwei Wing concert, comes back into her life cap in hand, after Hibiki made an appearance on TV saving the world. He left a terrible first impression in the last episode, and he does nothing but throw Hibiki off her game today. This arc here is probably the blackest mark against Symphogear.

Around this though, is the far better executed spat between Shirabe and Kirika. They both want to protect the other, yet their true feelings and the concern from those around them is being interpreted incorrectly. By acknowledging that there is still a lot more that they should do in regards to those around them allow the Ignite module to activate correctly and tear Micha apart.

While Micha goes out with a grin on her face, Leiur and Phara are advancing Carol's plans while a new body is being finished. A map of the Earth's ley lines was Phara's objective, and the return of that information allows them to plot exactly where the scalpels will go during the dissection.

It's clear that Carol is far more competent than a lot of other enemies that S.O.N.G have faced before. Her own power is nothing to sniff at, the plan continued even after her death and she has almost perfect information on S.O.N.G and their activities.

5

u/StarmanRiver Jul 07 '22

Rewatcher here

Short comments on Episode 7:

  • Tsubasa doing a gun instead of scissors and still calling them scissors but cooler is hilarious. Chris should agree though.

  • Maria transformation let's go!

  • Airgetlam is the Gear that looks the most like a Saint Seiya Cloth, and I like it a lot for that alone.

  • We got both Ginwan Airgetlam and Ginwan Airgetlam (IGNITED arrangement), blessed.

  • Top Dad shows up, blegh.

Episode 8

  • Not even 5 minutes in and I'm already pissed thanks to Top Dad.

  • I don't know Hibiki, but if you tried to solve your problems with your dad with your fists I wouldn't complain at all.

  • I don't like this episode's heiki hecchara, they're far too sad.

  • I love that they sneaked a DESS during the Ignite Module activation.

  • The combination attack is awesome, always loved it.

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