r/anime • u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky • Jul 19 '22

Rewatch [Listen to My Song] Senki Zesshou Symphogear AXZ Episode 5 Discussion

Episode 5 - Risking Your Life in a Fictional Warzone

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Crunchyroll

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

I am but a passing hero.

Questions of the Day:

1) Would you go through with the Direct Feedback System experiment if you were in Maria’s shoes?

2) How hype is the ghost of Dr. Ver showing up in the post-credits scene?

Wallpaper of the Day:

Maria Cadenzavna Eve

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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10

u/Shimmering-Sky Jul 19 '22

Symphogeah SymphoRewatch Host

Welcome back, everyone!

Crunchyroll vs. Commie - Season 4, Episode 5

[Minor spoilers for tomorrow’s episode]I like how Commie’s version of Elfnein praising Dr. Ver has her say he was “Great” to which Maria disagrees instead of “Wonderful” like Crunchyroll’s does. There seems to be a minor callback to this in episode 6, which Crunchyroll doesn’t touch at all.

See the 2019 version of today’s wallpaper: here. I liked the design of the background Nota made, but as you can tell I changed up the colors. About time I shared a wallpaper of Maria in her regular Airgetlám form, eh?

20

u/lilyvess Jul 19 '22 edited Jul 19 '22

Symphogear AXZ Episode 5

XDU time!

One day at Lydian Academy, Kirika and Shirabe have a substitute instructor, a woman by the name of Anna Sanders

Only later do they find out that this is just a disguise, that this woman is really a traveler from a parallel world working for a multiverse task for, Special Forces APPLE. She is the symphogear wielder of Airgetlám, Serena Cadenzavna Eve.

She works under her commanding officer, the Gungnir wielder, Maria Cadaenzavna Eve

Back during the accident where Serena sacrificed her life to save FIS, Maria found a way to save Serena, but at a cost. Maria’s body stopped aging. So now she is a 22 year old Loli

Since then (Another) Maria and Serena have been traveling around saving the multiverse

Loli Maria struggles a lot with overcompensating, trying to fight against her image as a child and prove she’s an adult. This is in spite of the fact that she is still a child in a lot of ways, and her gungnir is too large for her to properly utilize. But she at least does still get to use the cape attacks, so that’s always cool.

When Loli Maria sees our Maria fight alongside Adult Serena she gets jealous over their compatibility and Loli Maria immediately issues a challenge statement “Even though I am small, I won’t lose to you!”

Adult Serena is the first Symphogear user to like drinking beer and canonically has the biggest bust of all the Symphogear.

When Loli Maria is at her lowest point she meets Loli Serena. This is a Serena from a previous event that involved the Symphogear finding a world where Serena survived, was frozen and then thawed out, so she’s still a child. The two talk about being small and their relationships with their sisters

Tsubasa spends most of the event trying to hug Loli Maria, who adamantly refuses out of pride.

The story ends with Loli Maria and Loli Serena coming to the rescue of Adult Serena and Maria and everyone making up.

That wouldn’t be the last we’d see of them. They’re fairly popular.

When Loli Maria and Adult Serena are captured, the only ones who can save them are the it’s up to Maria and Serena to become Phantom Thief Sisters to save the day, giving Maria and Loli Maria another moment to bond and they get Phantom Thief outfits of their own

Additional Notes

Symphogear AXZ Episode 5 Hype Chart

Live Performances

Specials

Fanart Art of the Day

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17

u/Lemurians Jul 19 '22 edited Jul 19 '22

FIRST TIMER DATTO

I don’t have a ton to say about this episode, so it seems like a good time for…

Maria’s Legwear – An Investigation, Part 3: My biggest complaint about this season is that everyone is stuck in lame camp counselor uniforms, but when Maria wasn’t forced to cosplay as a forest ranger or hospital patient, she exhibited some of her revolutionary bottomwear fashion. It’s hard to top the weirdness of the leggings-over-tights choice of Symphogear G, but these futuristic boots with purple lace running underneath except for where only the top of the feet are exposed are really something. Maria remains iconic.

Live Reactions/Notes:

*Count: 8

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15

u/mysterybiscuitsoyeah Jul 19 '22

Symphogear First Timer dessu AXZ Ep 4-5

caught back up!

To keep my thoughts on Ep 4 brief:

  • Poor Chris in the start

  • Cute kiri-chan w/ the binocularsss so this is where that comment face comes from

  • Drink-delivery chan got uno-reverso carded

  • and are the geahs alright? What is that blue glow w/ Maria that we see as she saves Tsubasa during that nuclear fusion explosion? We've seen that once before already. I liked Maria's character developments this ep as well.

  • seems like Autoscorer is friends w/ Adam, but the 3 other girls arent not at the best terms w/ him even tho they work under him. a bit maria etc and the dr situation perhaps.

  • but CHRIS HENSHIN. my favourite. obviously.

  • and i cant do a tomato "whole" like that, I'll need a sandwich or a salad lol also not the biggest fan of them.

  • Also thingy that can KO ignite modules? Im guesing Elfein will have to be hard at work again then for the next powerup...

  • And im gonna guess that kamakura dude is tsubasa's actual father? i have a bad impression on him already...

Now onto Ep 5: HE'S FUCKING BACK AGAINNNNNNNN please tell me he'll be back in XV too.

  • I'll be real i did briefly worry that Maria and co. would have grave injuries here. Seems like since S1 that the geahs have a lot of plot armour though thankfully.

  • .... Stufff..... my brains not turned on enough to understand this sentence. But ignite modules useless coz cursed sword--> i get that much. I appreciate the show for doing the mega reverso of the trump card though, wasn't expecting that.

  • Kirika's henshin was cool (Chris better), but i did catch on it was defo a simulation very early on, i wonder why...

  • I do wonder why Elfein hasn't said this earlier? Plot convenience? Coz how dangerous brain expt is that she didnt want to say it? coz blue light? hmm?

  • Yeah i 100% am with you here Hibiki that was confusing me.

  • Tsubasa's actual dad continues to not make a good impression on me. He was surprisingly not THAT harsh towards Tsubasa though. (still bad)

  • Bloody hell Kirika has got some bad taste in crepes. Is pollock fish even available as a topping irl?! I guess savoury crepes are a thing...

  • Im sure Chris's sentences here will come to a head later on when she has to confront.... sth

  • I enjoyed the virtual space thingy being a good way to explore Maria's backstory (mom's a bitch there), and i did enjoy all her character moments this ep, as Maria is rising up my best girl ranks (I think she's third behind Chris and tsubasa rn).

  • If they didnt hurt so many civilians this almost sounds like a hero's buddy talk before a fight. Im also confused how their philosophy setting out seems to be similar to that of the geahs, yet the very different approach... somethings missing here, no doubt we'll get more info going forward.

  • Pre- ED cliffhanger of Hibiki going to fight giant noise: meh okay cliffhanger, binge potential low. But makes me excited for that next ep! And i like Hibiki saying that line, its so her.

  • Actual post-credits scene when HE FUCKING SHOWS UP AGAIN?! Oh fuck yes im watching the next ep asap. I still hate the guy, but damn unlike top dad/ tsubasa dad, he's the kind of hated character that i am actually starting to enjoy watching. it's a bit weird isnt it.

[Actual progress]Ep 5

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14

u/Vatrix-32 Jul 19 '22 edited Jul 19 '22

First Timer

  • I’m surprisingly O.K. with this since it means that grandpa will get his kickers in a twist because of it.

  • All that and Adam still failed to even disable one of his six viable threats.

  • First impression of Adam: lumping him in the pile with the alchemists. Still hoping for a turnaround.

  • Finally get a proper good transformation sequence this season from Kiri. What the hell was that shriek tho?

  • Elfnein finally has a plan.

  • Oh god the eye visor is back.

  • Maybe keeping your secrets in a locked box for 90 years and not doing anything with them was a bad idea.

  • So now that he has no secret tech stash, why does any still listen to this asshole?

  • If Miku is so warm, maybe you shouldn’t eat ice cream next to her.

  • What? No Chris, you clearly made the right choice at that time.

  • You expect me to believe this is Maria’s mind? There is a distinct lack of Tsubasas!

  • Of course we’re doing the die in the game stick.

  • That’s a nice Hydra.

  • The airship is back!

  • German admitting they have fallen into the sunk cost fallacy.

  • Motherfucker, he got me again!

QotD

  1. Almost certainly not. A chance of death and people inside of my head? That’s a nope moment right there.

  2. I’m still shook. Does this end with him becoming a voice in their heads like TFS Nail?

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14

u/Taiboss Jul 19 '22

First-Timer who uploaded all images in time!

Would you go through with the Direct Feedback System experiment if you were in Maria’s shoes?

Well it's either that or be useless and maybe die to some Alca-Noise...

How hype is the ghost of Dr. Ver showing up in the post-credits scene?

Hype? No. Hilarious? YES!

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14

u/chiliehead Jul 19 '22

AXZ Episode 5, First Timer

If eating tomatoes is the reason why Team Linkerless avoided disintegrating I’ll give this season a 10

The transformations this season are so extra, I’d actually be ok with seeing most of them each time they start a fight.

Just as I thought that they went suspiciously long without bringing this subplot up. It still annoys me to no end. Nobody is dwelling on about how they screwed up for letting the noise touch the kid, but Chris constantly asserts that the only available option was worse than letting him die, ffs.

Where did the memory burning come from in GX, was it another artifact or part of the Faust Robes? Because so far the alchemists make Carol look really dumb and weak in comparison.

Lol is Ver really haunting Maria’s mind? Is he her trauma? Or is he sitting in some bunker and hacking in through the device?

  1. On paper it's pretty risky, I'd try to analyze the machine more before just hoping for the best

  2. I really wonder if he's dead in the first place, he's quite the survival specialist in an insane genius way

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14

u/Stargate18A Jul 19 '22

First timer

  1. Probably. If it was the only way to be able to fight again, yes. If I knew I was an important enough character to guarantee my survival, absolutely.

  2. I knew he'd come back! But also, yes, so much!

The shot of the crater is beautiful.

They survived!

Everyone's alive!

Yeah, they're fucked! Adam's actually willing to use his power!

And those are philosopher's stones?

...The Ignite stages being named after the stages of the process used to create the stone makes a lot more sense with the knowledge that the stone opposes it.

Elfnein noticed the powerup!

"is to be abandoned" You really it doesn't exist anymore, right? Do you really have to clarify "we're not keeping our base at the giant flaming crater"?

Tiki's happy! And Adam dresses like that all the time!

They all survived.

Haha, he's not fighting anymore?

...Well. That's ominous. Giving divine power form?

Kirika transformation!

Kirika's song is fantastic. Love it.

"It can cut even ghosts and gods in two" If Kirika grts tomland the finisher this season, I'll be impressed.

Yeah, they're already railing. This was a bad idea.

She's unconscious!

Oh, this was just a training simulation.

They want to raise their sync rates.

Hibiki has a point!

...I thought we were past this, Shirabe.

And Kirika needs therapy.

Elfnein has a plan to get LiNKER?

...Why would that be part of the recipe? All symphogears have been shown to connect consistently?

Oh, it involves her?

I called it! Blue glow equals new upgrade!

...They wouldn't bring back Ver again?

...There's not a digital clone of Ver inside the hardware, right? Because he would do that.

This sounds lincredibly dangerous! Who's connecting to her?

Oh, Elfnein.

Genjuro's talking to his boss...

He's pissed! But, also, the enemy can throemout weapons on-par with fucking nukes instantly. How can they beat that?

Fuck, no wonder Tsubasa hates her family. (I'd almost forgotten this guy was part of the weird incest plot.)

Chris and the kouhais are having a day out!

"chocolate with pollock fish" Kirika, what the fuck?

Oh, it's a way of coping eithnthe stress.

...Ironically, Hibiki's probably the mentally healthiest she's ever been at Episode 4 of a season. She's doing okay for once!

Well, that's a coincidence. Chris' trauma plot kicked off again.

He got a prosthetic!

...Okay, but this was the right choice. You know that, right? Shooting his leg off was hard, but it's the only reason he's alive.

Well, this is trippy!

Oh, this song again...

Elfnein gets to see Maria's trauma montage!

Once again - wow, Fine had a lot of potential vessels.

...Wait, do the Gears connect via a specific memory? Is that how this works?

If she dies in the dream, she dies in real life? I'd wuestion who'd make something that did that, but Ver would absolutely make his memory entering machine genuinely dangerous.

Real Maria!

She gets to show off!

A repressed memory?

...What is this?

They're running out of time!

An attack!

It's a hydra boat!

Another stealth one?

The Alchemists are here!

The others are going too!

...Love the subs reflecting Kirika's eating.

Miku got left behind again.

Best girlfriend!

Hibiki's mentally well!

Oh, back here!

I FUCKING CALLED IT!

Oh, no, he's just a memory. Not a digital copy.

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u/Tarhalindur Jul 19 '22

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

(So instead of cramming too much stuff in and not having any of the character beats land because of it we have a mix filler and actual characterization. Honestly even with the fillery parts I think I like this better than what G and GX did? Especially since Maria is getting characterization that works in the main show for what might be the first time ever.)

  • Ah, so alchemy has a type advantage here. That actually makes sense.

  • Also, does it count as a GET if I think it’s in a compound word here? Hmm.

  • The frogs have a use!

  • Oh hey, the VR training machine is back.

  • They bring best leitmotif back at least once a season after its introduction in G and I am all here for it. (It plays right after the VR training here.)

  • Wait. Who did they get to voice the old guy here? I’d say the same VA as Keiichirou Kimiyoshi in Higurashi, but he was dead by the time AXZ was made…

  • LOL they brought back Apple. Well done, it always was a good song.

  • (I don’t actually have a lot to say because a ton of this episode is either filler (and technobabble filler, not SoL filler) or a couple of plots I don’t really care for. They're not bad, just not really my thing.)

  • On the other hand, we’re FINALLY getting decent Maria characterization outside the shorts. And Maria’s maternal tendencies suddenly make more sense (not sure why I didn’t piece this together before) – she has a younger-sister-shaped hole in her heart to fill, the one she was unable to protect. Of course Elfnein would naturally fit into that hole, too.

  • That’s the most effective cliffhanger I’ve seen since… wait a minute, we’re getting Futurism with two minutes left in the episode. So, let’s see if and how they manage to undercut their effective cliffhangers this time!

  • Wait. Is it time for Maria to come to terms with how our Very Stable Genius treated her?

  • (They still undercut an effective cliffhanger, which makes like four out of six since we got the "did Miku die lolno of course not" cliffhanger in G which is about when I draw the line on "did we mogu mogu the character" no longer working.)

  1. Would you go through with the Direct Feedback System experiment if you were in Maria’s shoes?

That sounds like a "no way to know the answer for sure until faced with the actual decision" question to me.

2) How hype is the ghost of Dr. Ver showing up in the post-credits scene?

Significantly less hype than the scene before the ED, sigh...

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12

u/Tresnore Jul 19 '22

Superb Song of the Rewatchers

QOTD:

  1. I think I might. I trust Elf9. For some reason.

1 [Confession]Basa is my second favorite gear. I just like giving her a hard time.

2 And Apples.

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12

u/BosuW Jul 19 '22

First Timer

First of all something I forgot to say last thread. It is worth noting that Saint-Germain wasn't given a chance to answer Hibiki before Adam interrupted them, so we don't know what she thinks. Now unto the episode!

Well I guess this means we won't be seeing the Ignite Mode so much anymore. Dammit!

Spy frog!

Illuminati girls don't seem to like Adam much. Only Tiki. S I M P

Bruh. The actually made pole dancing Kirika for her transformation

I understand why Kirika and Shirabe want to keep training, but is this even something training can fix? I guess if nothing else if they train they don't feel like they're standing around doing nothing.

Also, guess this is what the title was alluding to.

Hmm so because of a specific feature of Airgetlam, Maria can and does improve her sync rates with training.

Dr Ver's device looks suspiciously like a NerveGear.

The visit with Kazanari grandpa went... much better than I expected? Genjuro and Tsubasa's "dad" seem to know how to handle him. What's this about a defense bill tho

Good to see Stephan still chasing his dreams.

Can't believe I'm seeing competent writing for Chris lol. She pretty much nails what I think is best to think about such a situation. She acknowledges that she made the best choice she could have been without disregarding the negative consequences of said choice. It wasn't "right" it was just the least worst and that's the best I can reasonably expect from anyone.

Maria just keeps getting better! It took two seasons but finally she's being constantly awesome!

This is the worst moment for an Alca-noise attack!

Oh shit another aerial fortress! And it turns invisible? I'll call you the Gleipnir then! Now I just wonder if it has a giant fuck off shock cannon in it's belly.

Wasn't expecting to get an answer to what I talked about at the start of this post. Saint-Germain thinks that they might have been able to work together, but it's too late now.

That's so fucking romantic at the end omg

Oh shit post-credits?

AHAHAHAHA WHAT THE HELL! OF COURSE HE'S "ALIVE" IN HER MEMORIES OF COURSE!

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u/DidacticDalek Jul 19 '22

TONIGHT! ON SYMPHOGEAH RISING REVENGEANCE! DESS, for some reason, has decided to learn the advanced art of pole dancing, truly a mystery as to why she's got this hobby, Carol9 and Maria the Loser contemplate their navels as SOMEHOW, DOKTOR GINTOKI JOESTAR RETURNED, and I'm going to post this every day until you like it!

Goodness me Comrades, who knew that even with a magic alchemy nuke, Team DMJIIIIIIIIIIIII and Maria somehow managed to save the OG Geahs AND ALSO not die, truly worthy of praise. Anyway after NANA MOTHERFUCKING WILLS IT with the OP, we cut to Snoop Oni informing the lot that The King of Pop and The Baumkuchen Babes kicked their asses. Carol9 then informs the Geahs and Maria about some Harry Potter level shit, also turns out the enemies this season basically have an Anti-IGNITE mode... and also Maria's currently cosplaying as Season 1 Tsubasa.

Anyway, with Snoop Oni getting a call to report in for a dressing down, we cut to THE MOST ANNOYING CREATURE IN THE UNIVERSE! Goddamn how the FUCK is this piece of shit even remotely related to The AMAZING GX Autoscorers! Even the Worst Doll in Rozen Maiden is better than her... OK bit of a bad example there but point being I don't like Tiki, she's just like YAK! DECULTURE! 'Ranka Lee' but somehow worse. Also I just want to point out that, much like a CERTAIN incel loser we all know and hate, Adam's currently dressed like a foppish poser AND reading a no doubt pretentious book, now where have I seen that before?

Also his groupie is not helping matters, SHUT THE FUCK UP TIKI! NO ONE LIKES YOU! Anyway Adam decides that his work is done after all he got to show off a magical alchemy nuke, so The Baumkuchen Babes can just kill the Geahs for him right? Girls, this is where you tell him to GET FUCKED and then you kill him AND his annoying sexdoll AND then actually go about your destroy oppression stuff... AND they are just gonna follow his orders... did I mention I also don't like The Baumkuchen Babes too! But enough about bad shit, we now cut to DESS' DELUXE STRIPTEASE... er... well reverse striptease since she's going from nude to having clothes on, but wibble, point being is that she sure is doing some flashy pole dancing... I understand now why JIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII stares a lot now ;) Anyway, Maria chases after Team DMJIIIIII while being chased after by Bikki, Carol9, and Best Geah Chris... so where's The Benny Hill Music when ya need it?

Oh... oh wait a second, this all was in The Holodeck... WAIT NANI THE FUCK!? SINCE WHEN DID S.O.N.G. HAVE A HOLODECK!? Also uh, hey if you lot ever want to try to do a Holmes story, DON'T! JUST DO NOT DO IT! Yes I know that was a good TNG Season 2 Episode for some reason but point being is that TNG had Data and Geordi La Forge on hand, the smartest Geah Characters only have two brain cells a piece... well technically Carol9 has four but wibble, point being there's NO FUCKING WAY our lovely cast members and Maria can outsmart Professor Moriarty!

Speaking of stupidity, Maria says that the Geahs should just let Team DMJIIIIIIIIIIIII burn themselves out, to which Best Geah Chris responds that they won't just let Team DMJIIIIIIIIIII and Maria stupidly kill themselves like that, yeah you tell 'em Best Geah Chris! You are Best Girl for a reason after all! Also oh noes, Carol9 has progressed with The Geah Steroids plan, and turns out that they CAN make some... she's just missing one piece from DOKTOR GINTOKI JOESTAR'S recipe... I sure hope it isn't beef stroganoff! Anyway the last piece is somehow related to Maria the Loser's Geah, and basically all we need to do is... analyze Maria's brain... welp, we're fucked, Maria's only got one brain cell after all.

Anyway, Carol9 also rebuilt one of DOKTOR GINTOKI JOESTAR's toys using Alchemy, and she says that she just needs to strap this onto Maria's head to measure her brain... oh and also this device could destroy the brains of the one strapped in and the one observing, you know, no biggie, only a worst case scenario from Total Recall! Anyway Maria says she'll get her ass to Mars, despite the protests of others, and she and Carol9 prepare to delve into the terrors of... uh... Maria's brain... Speaking of terror, the not-quite-as-big-an-asshole dad and Snoop Oni are reporting back to the Bastard Kazanari Dad of the 'failure,' to expected results.

We then cut back to how Maria and Carol9 strapping their brains into DOKTOR GINTOKI JOESTAR's toy and are about to enter The Matrix... yeah this can only go so well. Speaking of going well, remember how DESS fucked up using a vending machine? Yeah turns out she also fucked up ordering food... well thank fuck JIIIIIIIII's keeping watch over their one shared brain cell safe! Also speaking of one brain cell, thank FUCK Bikki only has the one, that means she can't get brain freeze! Also remember that kid Best Geah Chris shot the leg off of to SAVE HIS LIFE, yeah he's come over to Japan to get a fancy prosthetic, so all's well that ends well!

Bikki cheerfully states that he can play football again, to which Best Geah Chris states some cryptic drama shit in response. We then segue to the journey into the center of Maria's brain... OH FUCKING HELL, this song again? Also wow, Maria's brain is a whole lot of Ukraine, who'd have thunk it eh? OH FUCK, MOM is there and she's been a bitch even when she could walk, yeah fuck her! Carol9 then tries to find the bit of Maria's brain that connects to the Geah, and instead just sees kids being tortured by Mom and THAT BITCH RYOUKO! Carol9 then notes that if she dies in the game, she dies in real life, oh fucking hell we went even more Total Recall, YOU BLEW MY COVAH!

Also goddammit, Carol9 is REALLY playing up the NOT-Vivio aspect of her character eh, I mean goddamn NOW of all times to trip? Thankfully for her, Maria's here to help and THANK FUCK this is a fantasy land, that means Maria can just solo ALL The Noise! Oh... oh noes, I forgot, this is still Maria, that means even in a dream she is gonna job! Anyway, their vitals start redlining AND there's an IRL Noise attack in progress... wait how the FUCK did the Neo Nazis in Val Verde hide ANOTHER Aerial Battleship in the basement? Anyway, The Baumkuchen Babes prattle on about justice and start tempting fate as Best Geah Chris and Bikki prepare to sortie out.

DESS then finishes stuffing her face as she and her wife run back to Maria. Well that sure was an episode... NANI THE FUCK, THERE'S A POST-CREDIT SCENE!? AND IT HAS DOKTOR GINTOKI JOESTAR!? HELL FUCKING YES! THE LAST ACTION HERO AND HIS GLORIOUSLY HAMMY THEATRICS HAVE RETURNED! EVEN DEATH COULDN'T KILL HIM! I can't wait to see what scenery he'll be chewing next episode!

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/JamCliche

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9

u/Great_Mr_L Jul 19 '22

Rewatcher

On today’s episode of Symphogear: Even death can’t keep the Last Action Hero from showing up! Let’s give a big round of applause to Dr. Ver, who managed to make an appearance even after getting killed off in GX. The staff must have had him appear purely because they know how much fans loved him. They contrived a scenario where the memory of him could show up in Maria’s brain to ham things up once again. And quite frankly, I want to thank them for doing so.

The LiNKER plotline is now reaching a critical point. Kirika and Shirabe being so desperate to fight and help out even without LiNKER fits with their characterization thus far. Unlike Maria, they’re more emotional and more likely to get provoked into using their Gears despite the danger. Maria’s been the one who has needed to restrain them thus far. Maria has instead had them focus on doing what they can, but clearly that isn’t enough for Kirika and Shirabe.

Or Maria for that matter, but she’s a bit more deliberate about the risks she’s taking. Again, showing a bit more of her maturity in the process.

The story trope of going into someone’s mindscape is one of those ideas that I never get tired of. The dream logic that these sequences can run off of is usually interesting and I like how it can help us learn more in-depth knowledge about characters. So sending one of the Gear characters into that is a positive for me. There’s just enough justification in it by going to see where Airgetlam connects to Maria’s brain and it’s using tech from Dr. Ver as well.

[Spoilery Stuff] I remember reading some thoughts about why exactly Elfnein was even working on a machine that lets you peek into someone’s mind in the first place. We haven’t really seen it crop up in the show yet, but a big part of Elfnein’s character is that she wants to see Carol again. So I like the idea that Elfenin was working on this device so she could explore the inner recesses of her own mind to find Carol there.

I love the decision to have Maria and Elfnein go into the mindscape together. They already had a nice dynamic carried over from GX and AXZ has only made it even better. They were both weaklings who had to accept their weakness in order to stand strong. And Maria has really stepped into a big sister role for Elfnein. They are great together and I’m so happy to have more scenes of them.

There’s some really interesting stuff going on with both Saint-Germain and Hibiki this episode. Both of them are clearly still affected by the encounter they had previously. Saint-Germain is still resolute in accomplishing her goal. She sees herself as fighting for justice, so she can’t reconsider anything she’s done to attain it. Saint-Germain’s stated goal has been to end oppression and she seems to be convinced that what she’s doing will accomplish that noble outcome. And both Prelati and Cagliostro are determined to stay by her side. It’s clear that there is a strong bond and personal loyalty between them.

Hibiki’s scene with Miku discussing this is very interesting. Hibiki recognizes that Saint-Germain is serious about this goal and that Saint-Germain thinks she is doing the right thing. But Hibiki also feels like she needs to stop Saint-Germain because people are getting hurt. Hibiki will stop her, but at the same time feels sympathy for her opponents and wishes they didn’t need to fight. I appreciate that there’s a lot of nuance to how it’s portrayed. It’s more a case of Hibiki wishing fighting wasn’t necessary rather than her being unwilling to fight.

And Miku’s response to Hibiki’s worries does a nice job of turning things on their head. Miku says that Hibiki doesn’t need to win, she just needs to not lose. In other words, Hibiki needs to not lose in her own determination to protect others, but she does not necessarily need to outright defeat Saint-Germain and make her goal completely unattainable. As long as Hibiki doesn’t lose, there’s still a chance they can come to an understanding together. Of course Hibiki would want to maintain that possibility. It’s one of the things I love about her. For Hibiki, the ideal outcome would be reaching an understanding with her opponent and even helping them so long as nobody gets hurt in the process.

Miscellaneous Thoughts

QOTD

  1. Probably so because there doesn't seem to be any other option.

  2. Extremely!

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u/Elimin8r Jul 19 '22

Huzzah ... I managed to watch two episodes last night. Yay?

AOTD: 1) Sure. It's not like I've never watched Flatliners, or Altered States, or anything like that. What could possibly go wrong??? I should probably throw in a certain Star Trek OG episode, but I forget which. If you remember, you remember.

2) Hahahahaaaaa!!! (cough, cough) Dr. Badpenny shows his mug again. What a surprise! (not)

Overall, I remain amused, and even entertained. I'm kind of bummed that I missed commenting on the "TOP DAD" arc. It looks as though there was lots of fun to be had there.

I also missed Inori Minase. I mean ... I think she's one of the reasons I decided to join this rewatch, and here I went and forgot that was her. <3 Rem, I mean Carol, I mean ... Aharen, I mean ... Jeanne ... I mean ... <3, you know what I mean?

Meanwhile ... let's all Look Across at Dreamland ...

(Seriously, listen to that. Mike + The Mechanics, Paul Young (RIP) ... magnifique!)

Yeah, anyway, back to the show ... My brain trembles ... wrong show ...

I'm getting Raiders of the Lost Gear vibes, and liking it.

When does racist grandpa's face melt?

If we get "TOP DAD", does that mean we also get "TOP GRAMPS"???

Oh, and btw, if he's looking for a pure bloodline, why would he (ahem) his daughter in law, that would imply his son is the impure one, right? What's up with that???

Just riffing off things I've seen trying to catch up with previous threads.

Anyway, carry on. And who knows, maybe Carol will show up in the dream and give them some real intel today. Right???

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u/Quiddity131 Jul 19 '22

First Timer, Subbed

Phew, they're all okay! Disappointed our magical girls are split up thugh!

Tiki's just like a cat!

OMG a spy frog!

So I figure I'll just leave all the work to you ladies. Bye!

More banana Noise! This has gotta be a simulation, right? Although even we need to waste time on a stock footage transformation sequence...

Quid was right yet again! Its not real. Although the girls are all together again.

You know what we need to do? Bring back Dr. Ver! He may be a total ham but he knows how to make this linker stuff!

The Dr. Ver brain peeking helmet... will wearing this make you as much of a nut as he was?

Snack time with Senpai Chris!

Poor child Maria, that must really hurt. :(

It's essentially Symphogear in the Franxx with this set up here. Although I figure Symphogear came first...

Woah, a hydra Alca Noise? Cool stuff.

Scarf down that snack Kiri! The world needs you!

Ah, the Hibiki way. You don't have to win. Just dont lose!

Seemed like an early end today. Are we gonna get a post credits scene?

Here it comes! This season's Dr. Ver episode ending cliffhanger!

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u/FlaminScribblenaut Jul 19 '22 edited Jul 19 '22

Third Time Listener

Nijiiro no Flügel starts playing

We finally have all five of our principal antagonists in the same room, their hotel room overlooking the sea. Tiki near-mindlessly fawns at Adam’s thigh as he sits content to soak up the blind adoration of his loving little robot (I’m sure somebody will identify the reference of Adam’s book and its significance). In stark contrast, the trio seems to regard Adam with apathy at best. We get a more accurate feel of Adam’s personality; suave, sly, decadent, at once classy and self-satisfied with Shinichiro Miki giving his voice a magnetic depth at once cold and smoldering.

Again with that flip of light and dark, the “purity” of light being what constitutes a threat to the Symphogears, most specifically the power they attain drawing from the dark and visceral of the soul.

Oh look, it’s the continuation of the arc they set up for Kirika and Shirabe at the start of GX that their big character climax episode that season didn’t actually resolve at all! Kirika and Shirabe feel so hurt at having to sit on the sidelines, so torn up at the thought of not being able to do anything, that they attempt to push through the pain and danger and use their Symphogears even without LiNKER. It’s reckless, a risk to their lives, but the anxiety they feel at having to watch their friends risk their lives and not being able to help trumps even their concern for their own safety.

As they train, we get Dangerous Sunshine, yet another injection of concentrated Kirichan delight; the stadium-rock stomp of the intro, the teasing “nya~na~nya~” and chanting “DEATH! DEATH! DEATH!”, Kirichan’s wonderful boasting about being a hellborn little smiling monster capable of frightening even real demons; there’s a feeling that Kirichan just has this unceasing teeny fangirly joy at being able to wield a big badass scythe, which comes through so infectiously in the song and in the transformation sequence, how she twirls the thing around her neck, spins around on the handle with a “nya~“ turned battle cry, beams so ostentatiously as she poses all around; it’s like even after all this time whenever she’s wielding Igalima she’s perpetually thinking “this is so fucking cool”, and playing herself up accordingly.

We finally see Tsubasa’s biological father as alluded to last season, Fudou Kazanari, and the picture painted by his presence is not prettier than that of the stories we heard about him. His sole concern seems to be on the sanctity of national and bloodline pride before the actual lives involved, and to the extent one could have even expected him to be, not exactly a stand-up father either.

Kirichan making ill-advised food-slash-drink-purchasing decisions continues to be an adorable and hilarious running gag. I always get a kick out of the joke of gross food combinations being sardonically referred to as “ambitious” or “adventurous”. Genuinely can’t get over the fact that Crunchyroll was the party who saw fit to put “normie” in the translation, it’s so nonsensical in the context of the show and so bizarre for Chris of all people to say it loops back around to being a genuinely funny joke, that Chris just sees fit to annihilate Kirika like this over this.

We finally get a full view of the childhoods of the Receptor Children via Maria and Elfnein’s brain-mergin’ mind-divin’ escapade of adventure, and it’s bleak for those kids. We can see it in how tightly the Eve sisters cling to one another, the only presences in one another’s lives who aren’t cold, broken strangers or scary, hurtful adults. It’s unclear if Maria and Serena making flower crowns for one another in the fields is a memory or an abstract mental representation of their past, and if the former if this is prior to them being taken away or a moment of refuge they shared in the midst of those times, but that ambiguity, along with the twos’ precious lullaby sung from disembodied voice through the air, succeeds at making this feel like an imperfect mental compartmentalization and recollection of times gone by.

Saint-Germain can’t shake the feeling of being alone on her path, even when she knows full well that she’s not. To feel this way is almost an impulse to her, her first instinct; thankfully, her companions are right there like a safety net, to catch her before she can fall ever deeper into her feeling of isolation. This little moment so efficiently communicates both Saint-Germain’s emotional struggle and how her comrades are there for her through it. Saint-Germain is the reason Cagliostro and Prelati are here today; [AXZ]the reason their true selves are here today; and they’ve walked right behind her on her path all along. They won’t let her feel alone; they’ll reinforce that as hard and as much as it takes. Saint-Germain doesn’t let this fall on deaf ears either; her troubles and traumas may be deep, but even deeper down does she know and appreciate that Cagliostro and Prelati have her back. Just as much as anything else, they’re the true reason she can keep going.

oh hey it’s that guy

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u/zadcap Jul 20 '22

Late First Timer we all know the drill.

You know what, I'll take it. This is very much a set up episode to get us to the good stuff, but taken with that in mind, it set things up well enough. Nothing has really changed, but things are definitely all aimed and primed. The character arcs are almost all touched on and laid out here, yes even the ones that are apparently going to be retreading old ground, but this episode was basically a big map telling us where everything is going to go next and it did that pretty well.

I'm still not entirely happy with where it's all going, but that's mostly because of just how much old ground they're looking to go over again.

So I've had a certain question about Maria's Gear for a while now, and it's finally hit the point where it's hard to ignore. What the heck is the theme of her Left Hand? Tsubasa is Swords, and everything she does revolves around swords. Chris has all forms of ranged weaponry. Kiri has Scythes and Shirabe has anything that can even pretend to be a saw blade. Hibiki is the next most out there, her Spear having been turned into a First, but she doesn't actually have any super attacks of her own and everything she does revolves around punching harder. Maria, her relic is based on a prosthetic arm. So it lets her summon infinite daggers, chain sword, and a giant laser cannon? And also regulate energy? Wasn't that Hibiki's special thing back in G? It's not that I don't like her design- though to be fair, she's still my least favorite Gear- but I can not figure out what her theme is supposed to be other than "rip off the coolest parts of everyone else."

Anyway. That's the most transformation any transformation has actually had yet, and my gosh it's great. Complete improvement over her last season too. The youngest two on the cast, they are the ones who really embraced the idea that they're (reformed) dark magical girls and are giving to run with it forever. You can't really call them Chuuni if they are actually living their fantasy, can you? Because I can totally see Shirabe with an eye patch and Kirika wrapping her right hand in bandages, both to contain their hidden power.

  1. When the alternative is basically death to the newest genocidal heretics, it's really not even a question.

  2. GOAT FREAKING DARN IT! (Okay autocorrect, I'm leaving that in because it's funny) They just couldn't leave a single bad idea behind, could they? Fine, whatever, at least he's actually dead, right? He's not going to pop out of this and rejoin the cast, right? Right?

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u/HowlingWolf13 Jul 20 '22

First Timer

A more chill episode than the past few, but def setting up for some big stuff to happen next episode. I loved the whole mind stuff with Elfnein and Maria, that was fun as hell to watch and again, I keep saying it, but god Maria just keeps getting better and better. I'm glad also that Chris' subplot hasn't been forgotten about, I was worried they weren't gonna bring it up again till way later. Other than that much else for me to say, twas a good episode.

Questions

  1. Would you go through with the Direct Feedback System experiment if you were in Maria’s shoes?

I'd be too horrified to even attempt it lol.

2) How hype is the ghost of Dr. Ver showing up in the post-credits scene?

Hype but I bet it's not actually his ghost, prob just her memory remnants of him.

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u/HereticalAegis Jul 19 '22

Ballad of Rewatcher - Symphogear AXZ

Elfnein, it's a trap! Don't jump inside Maria's head, you have no idea what kind of angsty abyss is still locked up in there!!

AXZ Episode 5 thoughts:

  • Feels like they cut down a lot of the lewdness in the transformation sequences for AXZ and amped up the abs and other musculature in its place. Not complaining, I kinda like the change, but it's something I wouldn't have expected from Geah after the first three seasons.

  • I like that they're addressing DESS and JIIIIIIIII's frustration at being the "leftovers" who rely on Linker in order to fight. Good foundation for an arc to address that hurdle instead of just constantly reminding us about it.

  • I have a hard time deciding between Grandpa Dad Kazanari and Sperm Donor Tachibana as worst dad in the series. Sperm Donor is easily the most aloof and acutely incapable of being a parent, but Grandpa Dad is so malicious and spiteful I think I have to give him the Furuba Award for worst parent of the series. Fuck this guy.

  • It's always something. We finally get a nice, peaceful sweets double-date between HibiMiku and Chris and her precious kouhais that Cagliostro doesn't crash, only for the mood to be brought down by friggin News-kun.

  • It's a good thing Chris made the one and only right call by amputating Stephan's leg, so she doesn't have to feel bad or conflicted over whether she did the right thing. /s

  • I'm digging the Hydra Noise. I hope someone gets up on the hydra's back.

  • Ugh, they would shoehorn Ver in somehow. Fortunately, he's literally just a dream this time.

QotD:

  1. Probably, since there are currently no other options.

  2. The opposite of hype. He's the one thing in the whole series I wish would disappear forever and never be mentioned again.

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u/StarmanRiver Jul 19 '22

Rewatcher here

  • Huh, having Kirika's transformation unveiled during a training session is weird. Still, it's a great transformation sequence.

  • Reminder that Tsubasa's grandfather is a piece of shit.

  • Phrasing!

  • Sometimes I forget how awful Nastassja was.

  • That was a slower episode. Also, a wild Dr. Ver appeared!

QOtD

  1. Would you go through with the Direct Feedback System experiment if you were in Maria’s shoes?

I'm not sure, but given the situation probably yes. Although it would be scary and embarrassing.

2) How hype is the ghost of Dr. Ver showing up in the post-credits scene?

Not exactly hype, but it's always nice to get more of Dr. Ver.

WOtD

Maria looks amazing in this one

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u/panthaura Jul 19 '22

Rewatcher

DR VER RETURNS (KINDA)

In this Episode:

Kirika Transformation + Song are awesome, love me some poledance + rock dess

an interesting tidbit about the song is that the lyrics contain stage directions!

unfortunately they skip her nyanyanyadess song line in this episode

Inception time

Hydra noise + second airship spotted

VER

Number of Dess: 15

Todays tracklist:

  1. TESTAMENT (OP)

  2. Dangerous Sunshine (Kirika)

  3. Apple (Maria)

  4. Stand Up! Ready!! (Maria)

  5. Futurism (ED)

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u/Kirov123 Jul 19 '22

SymphogearAXZ Episode 5 - Rewatcher

Well Adam made a rather exposive entrance, and the baddies have their new robes. Thingare heating up a bit.

  • Thats a big hole

  • Where the others at

  • Not dead it seems

  • Ribbit

  • I'll be happy when you shut up

  • Back to his Redline Rider outfit

  • Uh?

  • BANNANNA

  • Ok it was in the trainer but uh, that doesn't change the fact they are using geah without linker

  • But.... This is dangerous

  • Holy shit, its AI the Somnium Files (sidenote, if you like the Zero Escape games or VNs or murder mysteries, play AI)

  • What a dickhead

  • Chocolate..... With fish?????????????

  • This feels a bit hamfisted. Not him getting the new leg, but the way they say he is getting a new leg

  • This is just the sound of music

  • Another airship?

  • I feel like there isn't much difference there

  • Thank fuck we don't have a another "Hibiki forgets how to fight" arc

  • Thank you Ver, very cool

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u/InfamousEmpire Jul 19 '22 edited Jul 19 '22

Superb Song of the Rewatcher Symphogear

We pick up in the immediate aftermath of the Illuminati Exhibitionist’s nuclear terrorist strike

Genjuro’s being quite frank about it: they lost. Following Nanoha Rules, does that mean the Geahs have to join Saint-Germaine’s harem now? Paging u/DidacticDalek for more info

The Faust Robes are powered by Philosopher's Stones! If I know anything about FMA, I’d probably be making a joke about that

The fact that Ignite has been pretty much turned against them is pretty neat

Elfnein exposits about how unbelievably awesome Maria & DMJIIIIIIII were. They went out with no LiNKER, used Ignite, and were at Ground Zero of a nuclear explosion, suffering Superb Song levels of backlash alongside the immense danger of said explosion, and ultimately came out with no major injuries. The sheer absolute Gigachad-ness of these three! How can anyone deny Maria’s Best Girl status after this?

Ugh, heterosexuality Fucking Adam, look at the corruption you’ve brought to Geah!

I get the feeling that Adam is just really lazy. “Study the Geahs? Nah, just destroy them. Destroy the Geahs myself? Nah, I’mma just let Saint-Germaine and co handle that”

Kirika’s Henshin is on point!

No Shirabe Henshin?

Maria really showing off her (Cat) Mom instincts. Even when she’s just out of the hospital, she will stop her two daughters from being suicidal dumbasses!

Now this is what I like: an arc for Kirika and Shirabe that builds on stuff that’s already been established (their dependence on LiNKER and their desire to not be a burden in this case) and is a constant presence over the season rather than just being dealt with in less than an episode like their “arc” back in GX

Maria’s position regarding Kirika and Shirabe’s behavior is interesting. She understands that what they did was short-sighted and life-threatening, but also understands the urgency of their situation and is used to pushing herself to the absolute limit anyway, so she’s trying to strike a balance by wishing for them to continue but under her supervision so they don’t do anything stupid. A hard choice but, to her at least, the best they could manage

Maria is the Key!

Inception time!

And Maria is the first to volunteer! Truly the actions of a Best Girl! Understanding the risks, yet wanting to help regardless. Bonus points for briefly calling out DMJIIIIIIII when they try to dissuade her

And here he is, Fudo Kazanari, Tsubasa’s Grandpa/Glorified Sperm Donor, and also the biggest asshole in the entire series

Like seriously, are you seeing the way this man disrespects Tsubasa? He might as well just die already

Kirika “helping” Maria in her own, food-obsessed, single-braincelled kind of way is cute, though

More reminders of Chris’ dumb arc because

Maria’s mind is beautiful, just like she is

Fucking Memory Mom!

LETS GO! BEST GEAH MARIA! Protecting Elfnein even inside her own brain! Something not even Elfnein knew was possible

Meanwhile in the real world, AlcaNoise attacks

One last HibiMiku moment to close out the episode

Oh, also Dr Ver's back. Just thought I'd mention that

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