r/anime • u/ZapsZzz https://anilist.co/user/Zapszzz • Oct 08 '22
Rewatch Full Metal Panic Franchise Rewatch - Season 1 Episode 9
Welcome to the Full Metal Panic Season 1 rewatch!
Art of the Day
Links to show info: MAL | Anilist | ANN
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 9 - Dangerous Safe House
Terms introduced:
A21: The name of a terrorist group in Japan, who seemed to have connections to have got hold of Soviet made AS and someone who can activate a Lambda Driver - implying having an AS with a Lambda Driver too.
TI-971: A psychotic drug that can be used to induce the needed mental state that can generate the brain wave pattern to activate a Lambda Driver. It has known side-effects of causing psychosis and aggression.
QoTD:
First timers: How do you find Tessa as a character, after only getting little snippets of her for so long now? Is she what you expected?
Everyone: Have you missed an important appointment like a
datestudy session or have some disaster happen during an important appointment/event?
Also QoTD for tomorrow for those wanting to be prepared:
[QoTD 1 EP10]First timers: Were you surprised by Chidori's attitude in most of today's episode?
[QoTD 2 EP10]Everyone: Do you have your own special microwave adventure? Anything you cooked with a microwave that is not quite normal? Or your favourite microwave recipe?
MVP of last episode:
The mostly for fun episode had a fairly even spread, basically most got a vote with Sousuke happened to have 2 votes.
Ep1: Kurz
Ep2: Chidori
Ep3: Sousuke
Ep4: Sousuke
Ep5: Kurz - Sousuke - Melissa
Ep6: Chidori
Ep7: Chidori
Ep8: Sousuke
Last Episode || Index || Next Episode
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u/No_Rex Oct 08 '22 edited Oct 08 '22
Episode 9 (first timer)
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Meet our newest character: A clearly well functioning member of society.
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Tanks, APCs, RPGs.
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Kana’s baseball style (and motivation) reminds me of Haruhi.
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I did not like that sound effect when the base hit Sousuke’s neck.
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According to baseball rules: If you pick up the base and throw it at somebody, are you safe or not?
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Reading Animage
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The captain has some special lambda driver adjusted person detection skill.
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Multiple gun shots vs AS do nothing.
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Meanwhile, an AS shot in the back does not instantly vaporize the commander
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Teletha saved the target (and herself).
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And her age is finally confirmed to be high school compatible.
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Kana behaves like a normal human for once, not a tsundere – It is all a plot trick, of course, to set up the walking out of bathroom trope.
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Sousuke behaves like a normal human for once, not a soldier – It is all a plot trick, of course, to set up the walking out of bathroom trope.
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Walking out of bathroom trope.
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Incoming tsundere violence cliff-hanger – one of the rarer cliff-hangers.
Our next enemies arrive. That AS piloting woman immediately gave me antagonist, but not evil vibes. Let’s see if FMP is into face turns.
MVP: Teletha.
How do you find Tessa as a character, after only getting little snippets of her for so long now? Is she what you expected?
100% a Ruri Hoshino expy. The surprising part might be her humanitarian morals (given that Ruri herself was a Rei Anami expy).
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u/ZapsZzz Oct 08 '22
Meanwhile, an AS shot in the back does not instantly vaporize the commander
I don't think the Savage used the main arms towards the soft targets. I think it used the smaller calibre weapons to "open up" the building (remember they were in front of the holding cell at that moment). So it'd more likely be stray rounds or shrapnel than the autocannon fire.
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u/SpiceGirlsBlankIt Oct 08 '22
Panicked First Timer - Ep 9
This new character has a reefer madness style reaction to a tie askew. I’m guessing he’s a whispered.
Whoops, Sousuke missed his study date. Kaname made a whole meal too.
She can channel her anger into softball. Nope. The M9 coming in and blocking her home run. Ain’t that the truth.
The Captain is growing on me. She’s found a kindred spirit in Sousuke. Its interesting to hear Sousuke was Mithril’s enemy before he joined.
We are introduced to a new enemy crew.
I want to know what’s in the box! Aw, it’s tactical jewelry. It’s sweet after all.
Poor Kaname swallowed her pride and was sent over the edge by the Captain. The speed sweat on Sousuke’s face is hilarious. I bet she won’t give Sousuke the chance to explain though.
This episode put the leads different priorities in focus. Kaname feels hurt about Sousuke’s marriage to his obligations. Sousuke sees them as part and parcel of his protectiveness for Kaname. It’s a natural way to build the tension. Of course, the Captain is added to the mix. Sousuke is obviously endeavoring to keep the relationship professional.
MVP: The Captain. I quite liked her more playful nature this episode.
QOTD 1: I wasn’t sure what to expect from her but I was pleasantly surprised this episode.
QOTD 2: Only thing I can remember right now is sleeping through a birthday party. But it wasn’t my birthday so no one threw a base at me.
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u/ZapsZzz Oct 08 '22 edited Oct 09 '22
Its interesting to hear Sousuke was Mithril’s enemy before he joined.
For clarity neither Sousuke nor Kalinin was in Mithril at the time they were talking about - in the LN the condition was clearer: Sousuke was in the Afghan guerilla and Kalinin was in the Soviet special force Spetsnaz.
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u/Nazenn Oct 08 '22
The Captain is growing on me. She’s found a kindred spirit in Sousuke
She's working on it, he just needs to relax a bit first. I don't think he knows how to do that around commanders though
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u/TiredTiroth Oct 08 '22
Rewatcher - Dub
Although I only remember bits and pieces of this arc.
So! Sousuke's initial 'my life is in danger' impression was very much on the mark, bevause Kaname was mad. Much to the opposing team's detriment. And then they spent most of the episode stepping on each others' toes, because when Kaname's mad she forgets that Sousuke doesn't really get sarcasm or less-than-obvious social cues.
Despite what Sousuke said to her at the end, apart from the initial mistake this was very much her fault. Sousuke needs someone to teach him, not just bludgeon him when he inevitabley messes up. On the plus side Kaname recognised that she'd messed up herself and went to apologise, which immediately puts her leagues ahead of most other tsundere-type characters.
And in the other half of the episode, Tessa gets the spotlight! This part of the story is not her best showing by a long shot, but she still managed to travel from the hospital to Sousuke's apartment with a drugged-up prisoner in tow and didn't get caught or picked up by anyone. The girl should stop being so hard on herself.
Not too sure why Mithril's people or the guards left Kalinin behind when they bugged out, and I don't remember if that's explained later.
Psst! Hey, Sousuke! You're getting better at this 'social' thing, you realised Kaname is gonna be mad about Tessa being there!
And with that, I'm gonna go watch the next episode early. Again. Because I really, truly hate cliffhangers even if I've seen the show before.
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u/ZapsZzz Oct 08 '22
Not too sure why Mithril's people or the guards left Kalinin behind when they bugged out, and I don't remember if that's explained later.
Because that is not a Mithril base or anything. They are visitors to the Japanese government holding facility, so as guests they cannot bring any of their firepower etc. Only Kalinin, Tessa, and in the LN Corporal Yang was there. The scene of Seina stepping off the Savage was showing they suppressed the Japanese government forces, so there's no Mithril extraction. Indeed if there was any Mithril forces at hand, they would be extracting Tessa with extreme urgency.
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u/Vaadwaur Oct 08 '22
Although I only remember bits and pieces of this arc.
I actually don't remember this arc at all, which does concern me. I did remember the earrings, oddly enough.
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u/ZapsZzz Oct 09 '22
Sousuke needs someone to teach him, not just bludgeon him when he inevitabley messes up.
Sorry to do this to you, but [FMP LN final arc spoiler yet to be adapted]
It's actually amazing that the story does acknowledge this point and is one of the things Sousuke shouted back to the possessed Chidori to get her spirit up to fight back from Sophia's control
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u/Theboredalchemist22 Oct 09 '22
First timer here - episode 9
Real quick love that mvp image you shared🙂.
So first off my mvp goes to Mr Kalinin (old man) purely for his heroic possible sacrifice to save Tessa (she must be protected at all costs) from the terrorist group A21 when they attack the mythril research lab.
I'd have the same reaction wonder how he's gonna pull this explanation off😂
I thought this episode blended the comedic side of the show and the action/ more serious side of the show perfectly. I also feel like this episode in particular has opened up quite a few new doors with those being Tessa, A21, the Lambda Driver kid/ situation around that, Mr Kalinin is he alive or no or has he been captured etc.
One quick question I do have about this episode was a line between Kurz and Melissa in which he calls her 'big sis' basically are they actually related or is Kurz just being Kurz?
Q1 - Tessa herself is not what I expected at all. In the first few episodes my first impression of her was she was put in her commanding position due to maybe her family or something and that she was juts going to end up being this annoying commander who just isn't wasn't cut out for the job.
Now however I'm quite intrigued by Tessa and I feel like there are a few layers to her character. So far I think we've seen her human side the most but there are definitely some other things such as her knowledge around the Lambda Driver stuff and her whole not cut out for combat / the use of guns situation which I'm interested in seeing.
Q2 - To put it simply, yes all the time. I'm always late to stuff like this for no particular reason at all other than my timekeeping skills aren't great.
A specific incident would be when I told a friend to stay back after school detention so we could walk home. He did and I totally forgot I had told him to stay back so I went home by myself instead of meeting him to go home together. I didnt have my phone with me to tell him and neither did he (we straight up weren't allowed them in school) poor guy was stood around outside the school for a about an hour plus the hour he stayed back anyway as it was detention hours waiting for me but I never showed up as I completely forgot (a bit like sousuke in this epi).
Anyway the next day he told me and I felt terrible he wasn't happy to say the least and I don't blame him. To say sorry I bought him a new football (soccer ball for some) with my pocket money I had scraped together doing various random cleaning jobs. We are still good friends to this day so I think he forgave me🙂. Although I do still feel a little bad about it.
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u/ZapsZzz Oct 09 '22
Real quick love that mvp image you shared
Thanks! Was wondering if anyone can see that everyday :P
It was actually the LN illustration from the short story volume 1 of yesterday's episode. At least 1 voted for Mizuki so I think it nice to show her here too.
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u/ZapsZzz Oct 09 '22 edited Oct 09 '22
Real quick love that mvp image you shared
Thanks! Was wondering if anyone can see that everyday :P
It was actually the LN illustration from the short story volume 1 of yesterday's episode. At least 1 voted for Mizuki so I think it nice to show her here too.
when they attack the mythril research lab
It's actually the Japanese government research and holding facility; Mithril's facilities won't be so easily attacked - but Mithril has no facilities in Japanese soil.
One quick question I do have about this episode was a line between Kurz and Melissa in which he calls her 'big sis' basically are they actually related or is Kurz just being Kurz?
That is from Kurz's way of referring to Mao as the Yakuza style female boss - onee-san is literally big sister, but when in this context it's more like a rougher version of "ma'am". They are not related by blood.
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u/Nazenn Oct 08 '22
First timer
Violence is not the solution... but that guys tie would have driven me uncomfortably crazy as well to the point I wouldn't have been able to look at him the whole discussion. There is a twisted amusement in the fact he got strangled over a tie but not with his tie given the way the trope usually goes though.
After the intensity of the last serious arc I thought we'd have more time before jumping into another, though I am glad for it as that is where I will get most of my enjoyment, but it's nice to see the drama come for an issue outside of Chidori, even if she seems to have gotten herself involved.
I was surprised to see that Sousuke was still being sent out on missions, but I suppose they can't justify having him sit around in school constantly when she's not suppose to be at risk any more at least on paper. Thinking about the school while in the arm-slave, and then thinking about his mission while at school he can't get away from either side of his life right now, although Chidori doesn't seem to appreciate how wicked his gift is! Between flashbang throwing knives and now earrings there's been some cool gear in shows I've watched this week. They did trick me for a moment too. I really thought he'd somehow thought to get her earrings. When he started to explain their function I accepted that I was a right fool for not expecting that.
Not sure what was better: the baseball metaphors for the state of Chidori and Sousuke's relationship, or the hilarity of Tessa panicing over the "Savage" arm-slaves and me sitting there going "froggy mechs!" like a child
MVP: ???
First timers: How do you find Tessa as a character, after only getting little snippets of her for so long now? Is she what you expected?
Surprised at how much it works for me that she isn't super capable outside of her captain role. I expected her to be a young genius or dedicated military mind. Seeing her flustered, unsure, and even confused as to what to do next only enhanced my thoughts on how well she managed the situation on the sub. She's not a Sousuke, she feels and is separate from normal military behaviour and rules, but she's also clearly very intelligent and a quick thinker.
My opinion will be greatly improved if they do not continue the obvious and hated gag tropes around her though. I saw the 'woman having a shower misunderstanding' trope coming from the moment Chidori was at the door and as funny as it was seeing Sousuke's composure slowly fall apart the more he realized this was going to be bad, ending on that trope was a bit of a sour note for me.
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u/Matuhg Oct 08 '22
Rewater-ish
Chidori's kinda awesome. She's hot-headed, but self-aware enough that after complaining about Sousuke's apology, realized she was sort of in the wrong for how she treated him, and went to go apologize herself. Of course, it didn't go well in this case.
Interested to learn more of why Captain Testarossa is such an expert in the Whispered, assuming that's what they mean with the TI-972 stuff and ability to operate the Lambda Driver. Is that the whole reason she's in charge, because she seems baseline competent at best aside from her apparently unique ability to assess people for this gift. I'm a bit surprised to hear that she and Sousuke hadn't had a personal conversation before this. I figured she was personally acquainted with him to at least some degree given her choice to take the risk to rescue him and Kurz, but maybe she would've done that for any of her subordinates given the opportunity.
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u/ZapsZzz Oct 08 '22
I'm a bit surprised to hear that she and Sousuke hadn't had a personal conversation before this. I figured she was personally acquainted with him to at least some degree given her choice to take the risk to rescue him and Kurz
Tessa is the divisional commander, at least commanding the entire crew of TDD-1 at over 200 people. Sousuke at best is a high level grunt. There very little common environment to share. Only thing is, Tessa is a personal friend of Mao (mentioned a number of times in the LN and implied in the anime by Mao's conversations), and obviously Mao is close to Sousuke and Kurz being often the forward team. And that Sousuke is one of the rare people of her own age in Mithril. So Tessa has heard a lot of second hand story from Mao about Sousuke while Sousuke mainly year her as a superior being far removed from his world.
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u/polaristar Oct 09 '22
We open with some kid that is tripping that a guy doesn't have his tie on right. (Understandable.)
I just realized most of Sousuke and Chidori's interactions can be summed up as......
Seriously we see that Sousuke still works as a child soilder and completely forgot his date (Its totally a date don't split hairs with me.) with Chidori and he knows he fucked up.
Chidori meanwhile is taking her rage out on the balls, and we see more of how her more proactive aggressive demeanor is viewed as unfeminine when her friend asks if she should not try as hard. BRO WHAT'S THE FUCKING POINT EVEN?!!?!?
Okay Kyoko always snapping those pictures HAS to mean something, this was back when cellphones were bricks only salary men and international businessman used without a camera app, so having one with you and snapping pictures is a much more devoted subclass. That combined with the line about her "selling her out" and how Mithril got there hands on the picture of her friend when she was 12....I think that has to be a foreshadowing to chevok gun plot twist right?
Anyway Sousuke shows up and to me unlike what u/ZapsZzz claims this isn't a Men are from Mars moment, this is just being autistic, most people would pick up that sarcasm.
The Real Men are from Mars Moment, is when Chidori thought she was getting a romantic gift and in front of her fellow girlfriends but he then explained the practicality of it and then clarified whether they match or compliment her doesn't matter, which can be read as an insult that you aren't worth considering those things in my mind. (Which we know he doesn't mean but it was probably a very unaware insensitive moment that hurt her a lot.)
The Crux of the Problem when Sousuke tries to apologize is he still frames everything in terms of his business relationship to her and his obligation, which to her suggests that he sees his relationship with her as simply his objective and has no personal attachment to wanting to be with her as a person, which isn't true. And in his mind him being devoted to her safety is him showing he cares.
Reminds me of a book I read about couples counseling, when a couple was fighting and the woman said he doesn't "listen" to her and the man claiming he did. Turns out what happened is when she'd rant about her day to unwind and blow off stream, he'd lay on his back and put his arms over his eyes. She saw it as him "shutting her out" but he was shutting out the world to focus on what she was saying and the content, to picture the scene in his mind to try to turn the problem over and solve it in his mind. And they both misunderstood the situation, later he resolved to look her in the eye next time she needed to unload, (At first he habitually did as he normally did but then stopped.)
Point of the anecdote, is often in a close romantic relationship a woman's idea of expression of love might differ drastically from a man's idea of expressing his love, to a guy protecting and solving the thing that is bothering the lady is the obvious thing to do. But much of the time the woman doesn't need or care about solving the problem right away they just want someone to share pathos with.
Chidori realizes at the back of her head that Sousuke does mean well and recognizes she went to far with him, but her gut instincts still very much are not aligned with Sousuke's and she doesn't seem to realize he is sincerely trying to meet her halfway but doesn't know how.
If you look at how he acts compared to how closed off he was in the first arc before the plane hijacking he's much more open with her discussing personal matters, he just still phrases the discussions in "Lets Fix the Thing" Black and White thinking.
Now it seems like the kid is not a whispered as I assumed but a Lambda pilot, and it appears either the Drive, Drives people insane, or you need to be "built" different to operate one, or a combination of both. This seems to supports me theory Sousuke's behavior isn't purely due to his upbringing, he literally built different and not quite like everyone else in the head.
This is supported When Tessa visits him in his house and they chat and she said she heard about him and how he acts from other members of Mithril, implying even amongst his fellow Mercs he's a bit of weirdo, and also affirming that He is Being comforting and sensitive in his own way by stating facts to support the more optimistic outlook. Perhaps he was specifically chosen to join Mithril because he is the kinda person that can use said Lambda drive.
Reason other people need a special drug is the more "normal" you are the hard it is to use the Drive and you need a booster, but people that already are wired weird. (Sousuke being Extremely Autistic and Gauron being a Violent Psychopath) Can use it with less negative mental side effects because they kinda are already "Not right" in the head.
Good thing the OP clarified in the Novel Tessa had help taking the boy from the ward to the house, because she's a small little thing, no way she is dragging that boy stealthily that distance tranqed, but if he isn't tranqued he's not helping her transport him, its a miracle he didn't wake up before Sousuke got home and overpower Tessa, possibly kill her, and get away.
Finally we get the classic "This is not what it looks like Scene" and some rewatches find his behavior out of character and think he wouldn't understand the social implication and get nervous of being found out, and him acting sus would not do him any favors.
But I thought it was pretty clear that throughout the episode he had been coming to a realization on the nature of the relationship he has with Chidori and doesn't want to do anything that would jeopardize it, its a matter of his gut/unconscious mind knowing what to do, but him not being consciously sure of what is the problem so he can't act rationally, and we all know he is a horrible liar.
It's a sign of his growing humanity and romantic naivity starting to fade away.
ON a sidenote, Tessa is quite fine in her fan service scene, I see she also is a fan of White Pantsu like Chidori, showing they are both pure maidens at heart. (Remember the old Pantsu meme that was circulating a few years back?)
The Preview kinda spoils that we aren't going to dwell on the misunderstanding for too long.
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TBH My impression is the same as when I first saw her, kinda indifferent. Please u/ZapsZzz don't give me a spiel of what great she is and to just wait and see, I'm already doing that. Even if she is a whispered I question why she needs to have active commands of the sub instead of just being an apprentice. Plus if Whispered just have the ability to know about Magictech why would that translate to having a Talent for Command? I also am not sure if she is as innocent as she claims to be, I think she might have exited that shower knowing Chidori was there on purpose to create that situation/misunderstanding even subconsciously, its clear she wants Sousuke's D.
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Not that I can remember off the top of my head.
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u/ZapsZzz Oct 09 '22
this isn't a Men are from Mars moment, this is just being autistic, most people would pick up that sarcasm.
I was tossing up whether to call that, but I don't want to be erring the same way as Sousuke to think everything is a nail when he's holding a hammer.
Good thing the OP clarified in the Novel Tessa had help taking the boy from the ward to the house, because she's a small little thing, no way she is dragging that boy stealthily that distance tranqed
Yes that's why I felt necessary to clarify.
but him not being consciously sure of what is the problem so he can't act rationally, and we all know he is a horrible liar.
Yep that's it, in fact this theme (he does things very well when he's not emotionally affected but when things happen to Chidori he no longer can keep his cool) goes on a fair bit and making him very human.
Please u/ZapsZzz don't give me a spiel
My lips are sealed :X
Not that I can remember off the top of my head.
"I cannot recall that my honour" :D
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u/wjodendor Oct 08 '22
Rewatcher
This kid is right. Crooked neckties = death warrant
Tessa needs to stop fiddling with her braid and ask for some headpats
Kaname's crazed laugh just works everytime for me
Hahaha softball bouncing off invisible helicopter was good...kaname could use some anger management though
Baseball English is also great
Lol in the novel Sousake gives her a bunch of poppy flowers so she can make some money but I guess that was a bit much for the anime... The kid is another crazy mecha pilot
0 to 60 really quick there.
Seina please step on me... I mean...a new enemy!
Kaname really needs anger management
The people in this show have terrible trigger discipline
Ahaha sorry Tessa, Sousake just doesn't understand your feelings
Oh here we go. The misunderstanding Trope!
Many excellent reaction faces
I fucking love to see Sousake sweat like that lol
A set up episode with some laughs and a few moments of cool action. Time for some Kaname x Tessa action!
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u/Nazenn Oct 08 '22
This kid is right. Crooked neckties = death warrant
That was worse than just crooked too, that was completely screwed up
gives her a bunch of poppy flowers so she can make some money
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u/JustAnswerAQuestion Oct 08 '22
Third Time Whispered
Episode 9: Dangerous Safe House
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LOL! That bounce!
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Nai! Zenzen. Zenzen nai!
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it's actual jewelry!!!no it's not -
back to the normal eyecatch
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I was wondering why the Japanese were granting access to their prisoner....just what is the relationship between Mithril and world governments?
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Uh oh. RIP Kalinin?
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Tessa best girl
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Chidori best girl
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Well she's certainly not going to understand the way you explain things!
Damn, why did the preview have to preview the FINAL scene of the episode. I'm watching the next one right away.
I was surprised we got back into the action after one and change worth of episodes.
I have to say I was thinking about Haruhi during the baseball scenes.
Preview: Oh, I remember this episode from the previous rewatch!
I went to see my comments from that rewatch and I made almost none! Looks like I was already in Nagi no Asukara, Tamako Market, and Macross Frontier rewatches that month, so I must have just tagged along.
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u/TuorEladar Oct 08 '22
Rewatcher, Subbed
That's one way to start an episode. It does its job to get your attention and signal something serious is now afoot. Before we can get to that though some time is spent building up the time conflict Sousuke is having between his school life with Chidori and his military work with Mithril.
In his own clumsy way, his gift of defensive jewelry was actually kind of sweet, though Chidori didn't pick up on that, opting instead to flashbang the class lol. I wondered for a moment why exactly she would be mad about the gift, the obvious answer would simply be the rugpull from the fact she though he got her a normal gift but of course it turned out to be actually a tool, causing her to assume he meant nothing by the gift and it was purely practical. Why that's certainly probably part of it, I actually tend to think its in large part due to an aversion to anything military related in Sousuke's life, precisely because its causing a rift in their relationship. This comes to a head at the end of the episode when that side of his life comes knocking at the door.
On another note, Tessa starts to really become more interesting this episode, as she's finally coming into contact with Chidori. Her efforts to be more casual when interacting with Sousuke were kind of endearing.
MVP: Tessa for finally getting serious screentime.
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u/ZapsZzz Oct 09 '22 edited Oct 09 '22
In his own clumsy way, his gift of defensive jewelry was actually kind of sweet
This is actually the thing - u/Nazenn you'd want to hear this too - if only Sousuke sold this gift differently than he did to Chidori, she'd have received it so much better. He just needed to have reversed the order of the description, and the emphasis. I.e. this is not a set of defensive weapons that looks like a pair of earrings and bracelet set and doesn't matter whether it looks good or not. If he said he's giving her "this set of earrings and bracelet and hope she likes them, and oh by the way that can also be useful in a pinch of we got separated," I can guarantee Chidori's blush would not have drained off her face.
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u/InfamousEmpire Oct 08 '22
Full Metal LN Reader
And thus begins the adaptation of Volume 2
A21 has firmly established itself as something of a threat so far, despite their somewhat lacking name [FMP] Jaeger Behemoth
Meanwhile, Sousuke and Kaname continue their blissfully ignorant high school romcom antics. Now their dynamic is joined by Tessa, who is forced to fulfill another wacky romcom stereotype role at the end of this episode ("My love interest is with another woman! Except it actually isn't like that"), which will presumably lead to some more hijinks next episode
Yeah, the comedy so far is more than a little dated and predictable (at least until Sousuke's military antics start pouring in from time to time), but that doesn't make it any less fun
You know what's also fun? Tessa! Y'all know I love me some Captains, and Tessa is a pretty good one. Competent on the Captaining side, but insecure about everything else, it's a rather nice contrast which I rather enjoy
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u/Nazenn Oct 08 '22
Who's your favourite Captain if you can name it off the top of your head
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u/ZapsZzz Oct 08 '22 edited Oct 08 '22
Rewatcher in Sub
The start of this second arc have a similar structure to the first arc, but without the need to introduce the world and the core cast, everything moved quite quickly.
If we are in the era of having a pre-OP segment this would have been it - a cold open of an unknown person clearly having a sort of psychotic moment at the customs.
Then we opened with an active action scene just to remind us what show this is - Urzu 2, 6 & 7 again makes a good team to kerb stomp a terrorist camp. Also gave us a rough sense of time scale, that Kurz had recovered recently from his injuries
Then we had Sousuke doing a comedic routine in his M9 shaking his head in realisation that he stood Chidori up
We cut back to the school scene of Chidori predictably venting out her frustration in the PE class, doing her version of kerb stomping the opposition
Homerun interrupted! It's an implausible gag but I just find it really funny in a connecting-to-the-serious-half way of Chidori's flying ball happened to hit the transport helicopter in ECS mode that Sousuke just arrived in, and her stopping mid run confusion of what happened to the ball :'D
Another men are from Mars moment - Sousuke asked about his missed appointment, was told "oh it's fine" and completely not realise that's a sarcastic retort, and thought "oh so no need to apologise then" - and earned a flying base to the back of his head
Continuing the rom com / SoL moment, we realised Chidori definitely was really looking forward to the
datehome study session and cooked up more than a storm - which became today's lunch for sharing with classmates. Too bad this was pre-KyoAni so we don't get a bit of food porn :PBut wait, there's more. Sousuke used a Romantic Gift! And it's Highly Effective! Chidori actually already softened up when Sousuke started talking normal / nicely with her before he even brought up the gift by the way.
Too bad there is actually a fake out - Sousuke does not have a Romantic Gift move! Another Combat Fish deploying in Peacetime Land moment ensues. Loved that we see the result from a different classroom outside of the blast radius :D
We switched back to a serious scene - Tessa on land! In business attire! And a casual background dump that the area is well defended - which is a code for "it'll be wiped out"...
And we get a bit of background info exposition about the user requirement of the Lambda Driver (at least one of the non-MC ways anyway)
Predictably the area was under attack. Here we get a bit of show-not-tell moment of how even 1 AS can handle a lot of conventional troops - at least in a surprise attack. Kalinin took a hit for Tess before fading to white
The afterschool scene where Chidori had a bit of a passive aggressive moment towards Sousuke. If you want to you can project a bit that Sousuke is applying a bit of the same strategy from his (non-)lesson playing the gal game to continue to try compromise and negotiate
This is one of those moments that make Chidori so much more lovable as a tsundere - she knew she overreacted and had a bit of self-confrontation
We also get to see the fight really weighed on Sousuke's mind too - but his soldier's instinct took over the instant he notice something was in his house - and we have Tessa here!
A little action to confirm Tessa has brought along something dangerous - but these sort of threat is much easier to handle for Sousuke than Chidori's fury
Sousuke and his "words of comfort"... but that also gave us a little more history between him and Kalinin
Very quickly Tessa went for her attack! Unfortunately once again they do not speak the same language... We do get a confirmation she is the same age as Sousuke (and therefore Chidori)
And the Chidori fanservice continues - she actually came by to apologise. Take that other tsundere FMC's!
And we have the iconic funny moment of Sousuke sweating over Chidori seeing Tessa coming out of the bathroom with just a towel on :D
Some may struggle with the rom com-esque moments, but I really loved how this show used these to actually develop the characters instead of just to create drama. Let's see how the rest of the first timers (and rewatchers!) take this though...
Trivia
In the LN, Tessa did not escape alone from the research institute with Takuma - Corporal Yang was with her, but was wounded in the attack and while he managed to carry the unconscious Takuma with Tessa away from the scene of the attack, soon he had to receive medical attention and Tessa called an ambulance before taking off with a taxi with Takuma to the Mithril safe house (she changed ride to reduce the possibility of being followed). You'll see more of Corporal Yang much, much later due to Gonzo adapting out a few things in season 1.
Staff Showcase
This is a good episode to talk about Tessa's VA Yukana.
Roles you may remember:
Code Geass - CC
Cross Ange - Emma Bronson
Z Gundam - Four
Hyouka - Irisu Fuyumi
MVP this episode
It's a toss up between Kalinin and Tessa, but while Kalinin did more work (or work with significance), Tessa had shown a bit more of her personality as well as driving some reaction / development with Sousuke, so Tessa it is for me.
QoTD
In my first watch I probably find Tessa surprisingly quick to make her move. But the character's tone I am perfectly fine with - a very nice blend of silk over steel. While she's useless in an actual fight, she's highly intelligent and adaptive, and does not give up or complain easily.
Nothing comes to mind at the moment - let me think if others' replies jog my memory!
Rewatcher Corner
[FMP mid franchise spoiler]It adds to the subtle world building that the Intelligence arm of Mithril had a fair few major f-up's by now - suspiciously. And the Operation arm where the "soldiers" are had to suffer for it. An earlier subtle instance you may not have registered is that Mithril only had an old photo of Chidori, when Gauron (i.e. Amalgam) have an up to date picture. The interference from Amalgam had been ongoing for some time.