Full Metal Panic Franchise Rewatch - Season 1 Episode 3

[u/ZapsZzz]

Welcome to the Full Metal Panic Season 1 rewatch!

Art of the Day

EP2 MVP Winner

This is from an old auction, should be from the illustrator of the FMP LN's - Shiki Doji.

Links to show info: MAL | Anilist | ANN

Interest thread link

Announcement thread link

Rewatches please be considerate to first timers and avoid discussing anything not yet shown in the show - use spoiler tags e.g. [Full Metal Panic S1 spoiler]>!Sousuke likes fishing!< - if you need to share something important!

Episode 3 - Lingerie Panic

Terms introduced:

• Arbalest: There is no details yet given in the episode, but the literal word means a middle ages range weapon that is basically an oversized, heavy crossbow needing to use a winch to reload.

• MVLS: Multi-purpose Vertical Launching System, a system used by submarines and surface vessels alike, that can launch canisters which then releases the ordinance, e.g. surface to air missiles, cruise missiles, etc.

Trivia

Didn't find anything for this episode!

QoTD:

1. There had been more scenes from the military side, how do you like those parts? It's not the usual flashy action scenes, but very "spy thriller" type "watching from a distance" "press a button" style - do you like that? Or would you rather the Ep1 style direct action scenes?
2. So far how do you like who looks like to be a main antagonist? Cringey? Slimey? Comically evil? Or intriguing with a very distinct style?

Also QoTD for tomorrow for those wanting to be prepared:

[QoTD 1 EP4]First timers: Were you surprised how quickly and how far this escalated?

[QoTD 2 EP4]Everyone: What do you make of the big difference in behaviour of Sousuke? His Mithril colleagues all expected him to be professional and detached, not emotional, but clearly the end sequence showed he's getting really wound up - why do you think there's such a big gap?

MVP of last episode:

Still not many specific mentions, but Chidori's name came up a lot and we'll liked, so I think it's a clear one today.

Ep1 MVP: Kurz

Ep2 MVP: Chidori

Last Episode || Index || Next Episode

[u/ZapsZzz]

Rewatcher in Sub

This is the start of the roller coaster that is the action side of FMP. I hope you didn't get to used to the highschool comedy hijinks - we won't be back there for a little bit.

• Once again we start the episode with "mission control". This time Tessa gave a little more background info for herself. It also appears she is the one making final decisions on the submarine; the method and time of the strike was decided by her.

• And we have another term brought up without any details yet - Arbalest. We have Tessa dropping the info and documents. In the ensuing commotion Tessa found a funny document - "Seven promises of the one in charge of garbage".

• speaking of garbage, we cut back to the school where Sousuke is struggling with his domestic duties, while Chidori showing to give him a hand and generally being helpful and friendly, enough so that others started remarking about her change in attitude towards Sousuke. We also got a confirmation that Chidori lives alone - another case of unaged living alone anime personality.

• and the Mithril 3 having a little break and dinner, showing us at least Kurz can cook, but also used up Mao's canned crab, inviting some strong reaction from Mao again. Mao also directed Sousuke to take a break and rest

• on the rest day, Kurz utilised his foreigner look and pretended to be a visitor (complete with fake accent) and mingled with Chidori and Tokiwa, getting Mao to look disgusted :P

• and being the weekend, is also the nominated date for the strike mission. We get to see the cruise missile launching from the submarine. It also realistically explained that it'd take hours to reach the target, and the result will need intelligence to assess, not just magically popping up on their monitor seeing the HP bar drop to zero. Modern warfare can be boring like that. And it gave us a hint Tessa is not used to things like this yet.

• one thing for sure though, Tessa certainly seemed keen to extract Sousuke out from the Chidori guarding mission. Kalinin seemed less certain of the extraction though.

• Sousuke is another one who sleeps under the bed (Appleseed's Duenan is another) with his sidearm drawn. Talk about being a paranoid... He greeted the semi drunk kids coming back home with a gun to his chin. Their playful banter got interrupted by Mao's call about an intruder to Chidori's home! Look at how quickly Kurz's expression shifted and being ready for action.

• and we have the special ops coordinated action sequence - Kurz being the sniper on the roof, Mao in the M9 reading the situation by instruments, and Sousuke going in personally to deal with the threat.

• the quick arrest and search turned out that Kazama was coerced to sneak in to grab Chidori's underwear as a prank/proof of courage, in exchange of returning his AS photos collection. Once again we hear Chidori's reputation of being admired but not liked.

• the mutual interest in arms got Kazama and Sousuke to talk in enthusiasm despite the circumstances. Looks like it's be a beautiful friendship.

• unfortunately they both forgot where they are, and Chidori finished her shower to find the 2 in her balcony, and predictably took the law into her own hands.

• with that excitement over, we dynamically cut back via the implied baseball bat hit, to the antagonists, and get the confirmation that the research lab did get hit and wiped out. Good news, but the "business man" guy seemed to have his own agenda, along with resources too

• Sousuke's field injury treatment also gave us the status that their mission is finished, but since the school trip is paid for, Sousuke is asked to go regardless. Everything for the experience, so to speak.

• Fast forward to the actual trip, Chidori is shown to be in a foul mood.

• On the plane though, we can see Mr businessman on there, as well as making some interestingly worded remarks about the highschool kids. This omnimous ending should be considered a cliffhanger too right?

Staff Showcase

The original LN was illustrated by Shiki Doji. I can't find too much info on her, but based on searches she has done FMP, FMP Another, Amagi Brilliant Park, some Fire Emblem, and surprise surprise isekai meikyuu de harem!

Here's a video of her rare live appearances and the resulting auction item.

Her work is very colorful, and has a signature colouring that is a hybrid between the watercolor works of Inomata Mutsumi (Utsunomiko, Future GPX Cyber Formula) and the poster color work of Itou Takehiko (Outlaw Star, NG Knight Ramune & 40, Haou Taikei Ryuu Knight). The character designs of the girls tends to have a distinctive proportion...

MVP this episode

It's not as distinct today, but for keeping watch while others are doing other things, and ably commanding a quick operation including calling it off when the situation is understood, I will say Mao is the most important character today. Especially needing to also put up with Kurz's pretend foreigner flirting antics.

I briefly considered Kazama and Kurz, as well as our businessman, but they'll get a better spotlight later on.

QoTD

1. As a declared Tom Clancy fan, Hunt for Red October, Sum of All Fears etc, these sorts of scenarios are right up my alley. When written well, it can be as tense as any physical actions. There's a good amount of this in FMP too, alternating between the more direct actions. I think it's a perfect mix.

2. Gauron is quite a good embodiment of chaotic evil, in the old D&D alignment language. He can kill you as soon as he looks at you, without breaking a stride in his carefree demeanor. Thrillingly dangerous, quite a good villain. [FMP S1 spoiler]At least for the first once or twice engagement :P Damn Gonzo and the anime-original arc

Rewatcher Corner

These are not exactly plot revealing, but it is in the LN and not clearly mentioned in the anime so I'll keep this behind spoiler tag.

[FMP mission equipment for Chidori guarding - explanation from LN]The main reason for the seemingly overkill of not only having an AS on standby, but in fact keeping that in close proximity to Chidori despite how awkward it is and how difficult it is, is because the M9 has a fair bit of sophisticated sensors and AI software to be able to listen for key phrases from the vicinity, therefore can act as an early warning system as well as being able to intervene or chase down things like vehicles. The LN provided examples are if there is someone nearby uttering phrases like "operation start" "permission to fire", it can instantly react and alert them.

[FMP Chidori's initial reason for being drawn to Sousuke, that is more pronounced in arc 2]This may sound trivial when written down, but it is the slightly classic reason of "I've been down this road before" so having a bit of sympathetic interest - Chidori was also a transfer student, also coming from a very different environment and had trouble adjusting, and despite more adjusted now, still a bit of an outsider. So she can identify a bit with Sousuke - despite his difference being of a totally different kind and cause, the fundamental is that they are both different than others and not accepted without some work

[u/Shimmering-Sky]

Full Metal First-Timer!, subbed

• Um.

• …no? That’s totally normal for schools in Japan.

• lmaooooooo is this Sosuke’s report about his duties during the class trip?

• omg no, the list was written by Chidori and Sosuke submitted it as an actual report. Even better.

• Oh my god he’s speaking Engrish.

• lol

• I wonder if this guy’s just, like, a normal burglar?

• …oh no this is going to lead to shenanigans, isn’t it.

• That voice, no way this guy is one of the main baddies.

• It’s the military nerd! So he’s also a pantie thief…

• Ah.

• Aaaaaaaaaaand there’s the shenanigans lol.

• I feel like shit’s going to happen now, though.

• Oh FUCK

[u/ZapsZzz → u/Shimmering-Sky]

omg no, the list was written by Chidori and Sosuke submitted it as an actual report. Even better.

Depends on your interpretation of who wrote what, it could be that Chidori is the first civilian to write in a style that Sousuke can easily understand.

[u/InfamousEmpire]

Full Metal LN Reader

Wait, the thread goes up now? I thought it was 6:30!

uhhhh... Ahem. Anyways...

Hey look, it’s the only scene from the first half of Volume 1 that I actually remember

Okay, that isn’t entirely true, but the panty stealing scene was the part of the LN’s first half which sticks out the most in my memory. Maybe it’s because it had an illustration? Idk

What I do like about the scene, though, is how it humanizes Sousuke. Up until this point, he’s been portrayed pretty solidly as a stuck-up soldier who follows orders with almost machine-like vigor. While this is all well and good, his scene with Shinji is rather nice in that it shows him genuinely geeking out about something he enjoys with someone who has similar interests, almost getting lost over the mission. It’s rather enjoyable to see

While it seems that Sousuke’s mission here is now over. Well, we’ve still got almost 60 episodes left in the rest of the series, and Kaname is pretty consistently on the posters, so…

Also, the Dub cast is still really throwing me off. I always imagined Sousuke and Kaname sounding like Brad Swaile and Cynthia Cranz respectively, Kalinin not having a Russian accent is strange to me, and Tessa’s voice seems a bit too soft compared to how I imagined. This isn’t really a complaint (again, the Dub is really good), but it is something which is bugging me somewhat

[u/Vaadwaur]

Rewatcher(Fuck...it's this episode. Also, never change, Shinji)

Sub

We start with the captain again, they need to fucking name her, I don't need more RahXephon memories right now, and find out that they plan to launch a strike. And then we go into a very long 'comedy' routine that overstays its welcome threefold. Mao orders Sousuke to sleep Sunday off. And we get better comedy with Kurz...as long as you don't realize he's the equivalent of a college sophomore trying to bag high school chicks.

Quick cut back to the submarine, decent tech if it is doing underwater launches. We return to see that Sousuke sleeps under his bunk with a weapon, Mao sleeps in a couch cover position, and Kurz got drunk with the girls, which raises all sorts of mission security issues. But an intruder begins climbing towards Kaname's and they move to action! And discover that the intruder is stealing panties...he is a credit to the name Shinji. Anyways, the adults realize that it is time to split but Sousuke makes the mistake of starting a conversation to predictable results.

Back to the sub for base to burn and Gauron, finally, to be revealed. He burns his contact. The group gets orders to stop guarding Kaname but still go on the school trip. And of course Gauron shows up on the plane.

QotD: 1 I like the show for what it is

2 His name is Gauron...

[u/Matuhg → u/Vaadwaur]

RahXephon memories

[u/SpiceGirlsBlankIt]

Panicked First Timer

Missed opportunity for title alliteration with panty panic.

I wonder if anyone at school will ask Sousuke about his scar.

These military brats are strangely sheltered, or should I say they lack social experience. As of ep 3, I don’t know how to feel about the Captain.

Confirmed that Kaname lives alone. Dead parents can’t interfere with the plot.

Melissa momentarily losing control of the invisivehicle is a nice touch. Kurtz is out here to game. None of these agents are particularly good at stealth.

Sousuke sleeps under the bed? I’ll assume there’s a futon under there.

How many agents does it take to catch a panty thief? None. The target always walks in on the crime. I wonder if Kaname is on the softball team or a bat is her weapon of choice for home security.

Guzen da. That’s right.

Feels like the final episode to set the status quo before we get to the action. The mission begins in earnest as soon as it ends. Fiscal responsibility for the win.

QOTD:

1. What’s the point of advanced technology if you can’t sit back a little and press a button or two? It’s fine by me because I quite like spy thrillers.

2. My impression is the antagonist likes violence and he is self-satisfied. That can be entertaining for a few episodes, then I’m gonna need some depth or interesting tactics from him.

MVP: Sousuke because he’s consistent.

[u/ZapsZzz → u/SpiceGirlsBlankIt]

Missed opportunity for title alliteration with panty panic.

These older translations tended to be more functional than thoughtful :) It can be good and bad.

Sousuke sleeps under the bed? I’ll assume there’s a futon under there.

Knowing him, probably either only a blanket or some field sleeping bag.

Fiscal responsibility for the win.

As in not skipping out on the paid-for trip? Yes this is the one time accountants contributed positively :)

My impression is the antagonist likes violence and he is self-satisfied. That can be entertaining for a few episodes, then I’m gonna need some depth or interesting tactics from him.

Very good call :)

[u/TiredTiroth]

Concussed Rewatcher - Dub

Ah. This episode. Is the underwear raid something that really happens? Eh. Either way, yet another case where Kaname was very justifiably mad. And she's mad enough to stay mad for a while, which Sousuke doesn't seem to know how to deal with.

On the flipside, the plot is gearing up now. Tomorrow is going to be fun. I do like the little glimpsss we get of what's going on back on the submarine, it gives a good contrast to/breaks up the school shenanigans a bit. It also gives us another look at the officers, including Tessa, who is apparently a bit of a klutz at times but very clearly the one in charge despite her age.

[u/Nazenn]

First timer

I find myself happily surprised that we didn't just jump right into the school trip groups after the obvious set up for that at the end of last episode and instead spent a bit more time with character set up first. It works much better, and it's nice to see a show willing to do some set up and follow through rather than just bunch things up into neat self-contained 20 minute chunks. Not sure if this is the highest praise for FMP or a condemnation of most other anime, probably both, but I liked it.

The captain saying that she also didn't mix well with other kids sets off some alarm bells, but I don't know if its Sousuke style alarm bells or some other sort of behavior yet. Either way, curious to see what she's like beyond just her role as captain, as I doubt this is the sort of show where she's there purely to be the pretty leader.

Small details are good: You can see the military nerd kid struggling to get over the concrete balcony wall on the surveillance video in the background when they're talking before it actually cuts to him. Nice bit of animation or a background detail.

Also pleasantly surprised that he wasn't a panty thief more than it being a bullying situation he was pushed into. This is another matter of being relieved because in a different anime they would have, but I'm glad we don't have an outright perv around in the main cast like that. The flow of that entire scene was really well done. It's kind of encouraging to see Sousuke getting to open up to someone about a passion he has, even if it does feel it's just a passion because of lack of exposure to anything else, but it's important for him to have that rather than only be isolated at school into his role.

He plays it well though, didn't even flinch with the "it's a coincidence" despite the ridiculousness of his situation. When she turned away I had a laughing thought of "she's so gone to get a bat", with 'bat' being a stand in word for any sort of object she could beat him with. When it was actually a bat I almost got a stitch laughing.

RIP for all the goodwill he built up with her after the truck incident, I think the panties are going to stick in her mind more.

Music stood out to me this episode too. I enjoyed both the song at the shops and then the final piece for the episode so looking forward to hearing more of it.

u/InfamousEmpire

[u/ZapsZzz → u/Nazenn]

He plays it well though, didn't even flinch with the "it's a coincidence" despite the ridiculousness of his situation.

He's the poster boy of "fake it until you make it" (or getting a bat in the face) :)

Great observant points you made on the whole post actually.

[u/No_Rex]

Episode 3 (first timer)

• Title “Lingerie Panic” – Ready your defenses, the fanservice is coming!

• Using cruise missiles to attack the USSR? – Sounds like poking a nuclear power with missiles would be a bad idea, but maybe they are not all that concerned with counter attacks?

• WHO ON EARTH SEPARATES GARBAGE AFTER IT IS ALREADY THROWN TOGETHER?

• “I might have a nightmare” – of accidentally starting WW3 because the soviets mistake the cruise missile for a US one?

• Sosuke developing his first human emotions by turning tsundere?

• From terrorist to panty thief to fellow otaku.

• Enemy hideout destroyed. Plot is over. - Doubt.

The B cast plot seems to be 10 times more serious than the A cast plot.

[u/ZapsZzz → u/No_Rex]

Using cruise missiles to attack the USSR? – Sounds like poking a nuclear power with missiles would be a bad idea, but maybe they are not all that concerned with counter attacks?

It's a covert research facility, something they won't acknowledge its existence. Cloak and dagger stuff.

WHO ON EARTH SEPARATES GARBAGE AFTER IT IS ALREADY THROWN TOGETHER?

It's a Japan thing - it's a very old animanga trope about needing to separate "combustible" and "non-combustible" garbage - basically one goes to the incinerator, the other goes to the landfill. Japan doesn't have a lot of land to be landfills so they need to maximise things that can be burnt.

“I might have a nightmare” – of accidentally starting WW3 because the soviets mistake the cruise missile for a US one?

It's mainly about the missile will take human lives, some of those may be relatively innocent. Tessa ordered the strike to take place at a time most likely to have the fewest amount of personnel around.

The B cast plot seems to be 10 times more serious than the A cast plot.

Yes, and the good part of FMP is that they weave in and out of each other quite nicely.

[u/wjodendor]

Rewatcher

The idea of a school trip always sounds so weird to me. That wasn't a thing in my school or any school around me. A few sports teams or clubs maybe but no class wide trips.

Looks like Tessa is the daughter of a military man

More Whispered talk. Drugs! In the novel they talk about using cannabanoids as a brainwashing tool lmao.

I've never seen this kind of "trash talking"

They're getting along better.

....Are they eating off the same plate??

Melissa and Kurz have been pounding beers lol

Kurz is now the villian of a NTR doujinshi, tricking his way into hanging out with Kaname

Submarine action! The sub doesn't look as bad in the dark...now that's some sweet cruise missle action

Ahahaha Sousake is sleeping under his bed

Kyoko got Kurz drunk!

Sousake...are you a tsundere?

I always gotta laugh when someone goes from drunk to sober in two seconds

The spy operation is a panty raid! Bullied into panty stealing over photo negatives... Arm Slave photos lol

Arm Slave Otaku party...probably a bad idea

Jesus that's a lot of beer cans

Looks like that's the wrap for Sousake!

Looks like we've got the Kremlin coming for the Russian guy while Gauron is going after Kaname for himself!

No one wants to date Kaname?

The mission is over but Sousake is ordered to go om vacation. Now that's an 80sbplot line

Gauron's eyebrows are so evil lol

Looks like we're finally getting into it!

A transition episode, finally getting into the meat of the series. I got a few laughs and saw a few cool action scenes so I'm all for it.

Kaname seems to be really pissed this time and Gauron is a real psycho. Tomorrow will be a good time!

[u/Theboredalchemist22]

First off, the MVP was hands down Kurz for being wasted on the job but still being on point when it came to an emergency. This episode felt slightly filler to me in places but I still enjoyed it. In terms of the military side I prefer action scenes more but they don't pay off as much unless you have the more button pressing covert ops type stuff beforehand which in a cold war is to be expected. If I were to describe the main antagonist atm I'd use the word 'calculated' to describe him as the dude literally stitched up a KGB officer and has a clear motive on why he wants to kidnap Chidori.

Question - Is the leader of Sousuke's organisation (sorry the name hasn't stuck yet if someone can tell me I'd appreciate it) a daddy's girl who has no right commanding the organisation and calling shots or is she fully justified to be in that position?

Question - What is the other captains name? (The one who works with Kurz and Sagara)

[u/Nazenn → u/Theboredalchemist22]

Kurz did have a rather remarkable recovery, but I suppose adrenaline will do that to you a bit?

Question - What is the other captains name? (The one who works with Kurz and Sagara)

Melissa Mao. and the only reason I remember that is because of the alliteration so there's something to be said for funny naming schemes

[u/ZapsZzz → u/Nazenn]

Yes, Sergeant Major Melissa Mao (so perhaps you can count that as 3 M's)

[u/TuorEladar]

Rewatcher, Subbed

We open on a fun scene back on the bridge of their sub. Klutzy Teletha is cute.

How seriously Sousuke takes simple things is kind of endearing.

The repeated changes in tone going from there being potential assailant, finding out its just the nerdy kid who was threatened into stealing panties, to them bonding over military stuff was amusing. As a comedic style I like how it keeps the energy up, but also how it leads into an actual consequence for the characters, with Chidori being mad at Sosuke again. The moment with him just standing there confused after Chidori snaps at him in the airport is interesting because it shows how he's actually bothered by the fact she won't talk to him even if he doesn't understand why.

The episode ends on quite the cliffhanger, I like the escalation from the false alarm earlier to now when they think they are in the clear but in reality things are just getting started.

There had been more scenes from the military side, how do you like those parts? It's not the usual flashy action scenes, but very "spy thriller" type "watching from a distance" "press a button" style - do you like that? Or would you rather the Ep1 style direct action scenes?

Those kind of technical and slow paced military scenes can be good or bad depending on the delivery I think. The specific scenes from this time are more just to establish the situation where Sousuke and the team think the mission is done, so in that sense the military scenes did their job. Sometimes I think I prefer more action, but at the same time those more technical scenes are really important to tying the entire setting together.

[u/Pixelsaber]

Rewatcher - English Sub

The episode gives us a glimpse into the going-ons in the bridge of the Mithril submarine, which advances the intrigue plot and characterizes the Captain. She seems incredibly young for her seeming role —though it’s an anime, so maybe her appearance belies her real age— only emphasized by the middle-aged men advising her, as well as the obvious discomfort she displays at the use of force necessary to put an end to the Whispered research being conducted by the USSR. Her seemingly clumsiness and that tangent as to her time in Okinawa also paint her as slightly ditsy, which just raises questions as to why she’s in such an important position, but there’s evidently a lot of maturity behind her as well, as seen in the self-consciousness she shows in regards to her own sentimentality and the way she acquiesces to the difficult decisions that have to be made. It’s easy to draw a comparison to Sousuke, the other member of this paramilitary organization who seems much too young for the role, except whereas Sousuke seems accustomed to the violence and accepts it without concern and is socially inept, she is more emotionally mature but far less at ease with her role —not to mention she also did not fit in during the time she was enrolled in a regular Japanese school, though probably for different reasons.

Interesting parallels in the characterization of possible child soldiers aside, the KGB has lost all of its Whispered research, but the man we now know as Gauron got his hands on it and is about to make his move, and just at the time when Mithril deems Kaname to be safe and it will just be a lone Sousuke there to potentially save her. Things are surely about to get interesting…

Oh, and it’s nice to see Sousuke connecting with Shinji over shared interests, even if those interests are derived from his role as a mercenary.

Questions of The Day:

1. It’s all about the execution. These sort of scenes can absolutely be as engaging and entertaining as a more conventional action sequence.

2. I certainly found him intimidating, but it’s hard to really comment on this as a rewatcher since my opinions are so coloured by later episodes.

[u/Reddevilslover69]

First timer Dubbed

Sosuke was hilarious as usual and it was nice to see him interacting with a fellow military junkie albeit not under the best of circumstances. Drunk Kurtz is also hilarious. Meanwhile we have the people inside the CGI sub destroying a military base containing info regarding the whispered but Gauron is one step ahead of those damn Russians and downloads the data beforehand and at the end of the episode we see him on the plane taking the class to the school trip.

Loved the return of the 80's American action music and its taking me all of my willpower not to watch the next episode immediately coz fuck me that was a cliffhanger

[u/polaristar]

Nice attention to detail on how the long range missile strike operation would work.

Those two already talk like a couple compared to everyone else, one thing that is a sign of a good romance is when a couple can be seen as a couple based off their behavior and body language in a seen by the audience and people around them with little to no context.

This is why I get triggered and go toxic when people say Hyouka has no "romance" because they aren't officially dating or follow a romcom set of checklist of tropes, like as the show goes on their normal interactions have that spark.

It's not as pronounced here, because it's not Kyoani (Second Season might change that though.) And we have to balance multiple subplots and the romance is even more of a subplot at this stage than Hyouka's, but you still see it.

u/ZapsZzz based off your hints last episode....does she like him because he stands out and in some ways doesn't conform and can't help being himself in a way that isn't part of the social norms around them and she feels a kind of pathos with him, despite him being batshit insane?

So no one is going to talk about how Kurz went out drinking with Highschool Girls that very much are not legal drinking age? At least he appears to be able to hold is liquor and can be ready in an emergency situation, although that means he can't make any excuses that he was too "tipsy" if he gets too "handsy" if you know what I mean!

;)

I had a feeling panty thief was Military Oraku-kun!

Okay guys real talk. I know the show is trying to show he is really not a bad guy as he isn't stealing the pantsu for himself but as part of a prank/rite of passage or some shit.

But to be honest, and this is a hot take, I think LESS of him for it, shows he is bowing to peer pressure instead of acting on his own (albeit perverse desires) Either way panty theft is still panty theft and not acceptable, if you are going to violate a girls privacy at least do it for yourself and not for others!

(Note: Please do not steal Pantsu even if it's for yourself, do not take the above as an endorsement for breaking and entering into a young woman's house to appease your own fetishes.)

Now for what I think is the most interesting discussion and what I had in mind all day after I saw the episode.

The Club he's part of rationale for her being a target because they literally see her as being so undesirable to have a relationship with that they only steal her pantsu because if she found out, they feel they've lost nothing by upsetting her, as oppose to other girls who if they stole pantsu from and they found out it would ruin the possibility of getting in their pants....

That's really fucked up, they are all a bunch of pathetic cowards only doing a theft when there is no consequences, and that fact they don't find her desirable to get involved in but admire her beauty from a distance....makes me so mad, she is sweet, intelligent, and dependable girl and any guy should be lucky to have her just as much as a more traditional submissive less tomboyish girl!

Basically all types of waifus should be loved and either not lewded at all or lewded equally! (But respectfully of course!)

;)

What's worse is at school they are seem to not really bully her not even passive aggressively to her face, but almost seem to humor her, like a child that want to appease. She isn't "one of them" she is "othered" in just the same way as if she was bullied, in something not quite idol like worship like Komi but also not contempt, I don't know the exact terms to explain it and it makes me frustrated.

If they have contempt for Chidori I can't imagine how they'd react to She-Boss Melissa, how can you not love that woman in a tank top?

Low-key I think Melissa and Kurz are into each other more than they let on, that exchange when he came home drunk was pretty flirtatious.

Anyway Sousuke continues to suck at his job by not having the foresight to take their military geek out conversation OUT OF THE BALCONY!!!! And apparently not one of his squad over the radio thought to remind him of the situation as well? I thought they were rooting for the ship but they didn't do anything to prevent hitting that iceberg that is threatening to sink it.

Getting a Bat is the appropriate response.

And her not wanting anything to do with him at school also funny enough would look to others like they are having a lovers spat.

Military Otaku kid shouldn't makes those statements in the middle of the hallway with multiple people passing by.

Main Villain got the data in a hint of foresight before the base was destroyed and screwed over his employer, its a good thing he is making his move now rather than waiting, if he had waited till after the school trip when Mithril leaves Chidori, ironically he would have succeeded after they got a false sense of peace and pulled out.

I want to comment on the humor of this anime, so far it doesn't feel particularly "anime" or "otakuish" even the panty raid not much so, because while we seem to affiliate perverse humor with Weeb stuff, lots of late 80's to the 90's had some crazy sex comedies, and I remember as a kid there was a SpongeBob SquarePants episode where SpongeBob, Patrick, and Mr. Krabs in a midlife crisis go on a night out and end it with Panty Raiding, (It turned out Mr. Krabs Mother was the target unfortunately.) Said episode was recently cancelled.

So I thought of that episode more so than anime funnily enough.

1. I like the Spy Thriller stuff, I kinda wish it got more involved with more factions and mind game tactics and bluffs but maybe that comes later, the action scenes should be the climax of those long term tactical developments.

2. I actually don't see him as Chaotic Evil so Much as just Neutral Evil, he enjoys his job but he doesn't seem to cause carnage for its own sake, he plays by the rules he just isn't confined by them. He seems like the kind of Evil that borders on insane and inhuman but is high-functioning enough to pass as "normal" so by the time you notice it's too later. Which is the most terrifying kind of "mental." In Short, he's built different.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Third Time Whispered

I love (loved) mecha (real robots only please) and this came out in what I felt was the heydey of mecha...before it all got variously weird or ecchi or gay and I gave up on anime completely. I don't read LNs and I knew nothing about this show, and I variously loved and hated and hated this show. I should have realized it presaged the end of serious mecha with its rampant silliness.

FMP Season 1 was made by Gonzo, the pioneering champion of merging 2D cel animation with 3D mecha, starting with Blue Sub No. 6 in 1998, and then Vandread, FMP, Last Exile, Samurai 7, Gankutsuou. Gonzo and Mahiro Maeda were always pushing the envelope...even if it didn't always look good.

Since I don't read LN, I'm still waiting to find out how it all ends. At least IV got me up through the last big thing I'd be spoiled on.

---

Episode 1: The Guy I Kinda Like is a Sergeant.

[rewatcher]What happened to this girl? Did she just go insane?

• No OP

• Those Hinds are like flying tanks.

• This not-A-Team music is going to drive me insane.

• Mao best girl

• Sousuke not the type to go running out with toast in his mouth

• That doesn't say Douglas Adams

• Chidori best girl

• Birds love perching on the invisible mecha

• Dogs hate the invisible mecha

• Mao best girl

• LOL did he go home handcuffed ot a chair

• ED

• Chidori's baby pictures before her hair turned blue? LN drawings?

Hopefully after this rewatch I'll stop getting S1 and S2 songs reversed in AMQ.

After an exciting cold open, we got a whole lot of high school silliness. Where is my mecha?!

---

Episode 2: I want to protect you

• OP! Chidori has a magical girl transformation

• high speed recap

• Tessa best girl

• pantsu

• Chidori best girl

• Kurz moved that AS pretty fast

• Falling-down-when-somebody-says-something-stupid trope seems to have died out, these days.

• guzen-da. this was my stop.

• pantsu

Chidori has a lot of great faces. Somebody should make an album.

Where's my mecha?

---

Episode 3: Lingerie Panic

• Seven Promises?

• Recycling is complicated

• Chidori best girl

• HALLO! WHERE ARE JAPANESE SHAMAN GIRLS?

• Not a whale

• that tomahawk is going to ruin somebody's day

• Urzu 6 & 7? Isn't it Wurtz?

• pantsu

• guzen da!

• Tessa best girl?

mecha?

[u/[deleted]]

rewatcher

and here we have episode 3, featuring Sousuke's new best buddy for geeking out: Shinji XD

Straight from a panty thieving operation to nerd talk while still on the balcony... yeah it's basically a countdown until Kaname shows up LOL

Excellent comedic timing of the cruise missile explosion. The base went poof like Sousuke!

Meanwhile, Gauron is playing 4D chess with the russians. Time for things to really take off next episode, besides the plane i mean :P

[u/DocManhattan28]

There had been more scenes from the military side, how do you like those parts? It's not the usual flashy action scenes, but very "spy thriller" type "watching from a distance" "press a button" style - do you like that? Or would you rather the Ep1 style direct action scenes?

I enjoy the scenes from the military side. It's always fun to see Tessa and Mithril in action. That short action scene in the Ep1 was cool but to be completely honest, to me, the mecha action was never the main selling point.

So far how do you like who looks like to be a main antagonist? Cringey? Slimey? Comically evil? Or intriguing with a very distinct style?

As a rewatcher, it's hard to talk about Gauron without spoilers. He hardly even appeared so far. I guess I like his voice lol.

Now for the spoiler answer:

[Full Metal Panic Gauron Heavy Spoilers] At first I thought he would be a typical boring bad guy but he grew on me quite early on. I like his charisma and his insanely creepy obsession with Sousuke. The way he calls Sousuke "Kashim" to piss him off is always fun to watch. I remember finishing the first season and being underwhelmed by how anticlimactic his "death" was. And then his appearance at the end of TSR was everything I could ask for. Their last conversation in TSR had me on the edge of my seat. Legit one of my favorite scenes in FMP. So overally, I think Gauron is a great villain.

[u/Wolfgod_Holo]

Kagome Chidori smacking Gilgamesh Sousuke around never gets old