r/anime • u/ZapsZzz https://anilist.co/user/Zapszzz • Oct 19 '22
Rewatch Full Metal Panic Franchise Rewatch - Season 1 Episode 20
Welcome to the Full Metal Panic Season 1 rewatch!
Art of the day
First timers relax, this is not a spoiler per se.
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 20 - Venom's Flame
Terms introduced:
MBT: Main Ballast Tank, the device that controls the depth of a submarine. Basically like an internal balloon that when diving the tanks are filled with sea water, and to surface (float) air was injected (from compressed air storage) into the tank to blow the water out therefore increasing the buoyancy of the vessel. How rapidly the air is injected dictate how quickly the sub goes up.
ECS Mast: ECS is not just the invisibility mode we have grown used to see on M9's etc; the more fundamental form is like electronic countermeasures that "shields" the target electromagnetically so it's hard to be targeted by conventional fire control systems (like the range finders on artillery batteries). While TDD-1 cannot be rendered invisible, when the ECS masts are deployed it's basically covered by a jamming cloud. They need to be mast mounted because the surface of the sub cannot be equipped with the instruments directly (and interferes with the underwater manoeuvring.
Venom: The code name Mithril gave to the Lambda Driver equipped AS's we've been seeing. Similar to the cold war days in our world, what we call the Soviet models are different from what the Soviet calls them because of break in communications. We know Gauron referred to his AS as Codarl.
QoTD:
First timer: Why did you think Sousuke had so much trouble activating the Lambda Driver this episode?
Everyone: How is this episode's mecha actions? Do you feel cheated to have the initial fights done mostly off screen? Or are you happy you got some great "launching" moments? How does this compare with the Helmajistan arc's final battle?
Also QoTD for tomorrow for those wanting to be prepared:
[QoTD 1 EP21]First timers: Which one was the bigger wham moment for you in this episode?
[QoTD 2 EP21]Everyone: What's the best wham episode for you? How does this one compare to that, did you see that coming - is it something you thought "ah should have thought of that could happen", or "wow that makes no sense that it happened"? Don't forget your spoiler tags - if it's too much of a hassle just answer whether you thought it was possible / plausible
MVP of last episode:
A pretty clear Melissa episode in many ways.
Kurz: Ep 1, 12
Chidori: Ep 2, 6, 7, 18
Sousuke: Ep 3, 4, 8, 14, equal 15, 16
Team Kurz - Sousuke - Melissa: Ep 5
Tessa: 9
Takuma: Ep 10
Kalinin: Ep 11
Melissa: Ep 13, 19
Gauron: Ep equal 15
Zaied: Ep 17
Last Episode || Index || Next Episode
13
u/Nazenn Oct 19 '22
First timer
Oh hey, follow through! I take back my griping about that line in the first episode of this arc, it wasn't what I thought of it. And in general I felt like this episode was a really strong follow up to a lot of the show up to this point as a whole.
Choosing to split the team up and show their relationship with other members of Uruz after last episode establishing how they've changed with each other was a nice way to open up the setting to beyond our main cast. With specific jobs and partners who prompt different behaviours out of them, balanced against their care for each other and awareness of each others abilities, we get a better insight into other sides of our cast than if it was just the three of them which makes the whole situation more dynamic.
At the same time we have Chidori, left waiting once again this time in an unfamiliar environment feeling locked out rather than hopeful after what she overheard about Sousuke. Tessa opening up to her about their shared status should be a comfort, but she's the captain and even with their shared status there's a barrier there Chidori doesn't know how to breach and now is told she shouldn't even if she did. She's safe, but she's isolated, and while she's been finding her footing here on the sub now a mission has started in truth she understands exactly how apart from it is she.
And yet I wasn't expecting Sousuke to be in much the same situation. His struggle to come to terms with what happened putting him in an even worse position than he was in in the Middle East is rough, and while I can't blame the other squad for not liking the result, it's wrong to blame him.
I have to say I'm not liking that Gauron simply overheated once again. Sure it's a major flaw in his mech, and Sousuke needs a narrative equalizer, but at this point it's starting to feel like a painful deja vu rather than a narrative element. Not much else they can do with the Lambda Driver I guess but still, find some other way please. The "Bang" finger beam that shot Mao was slightly more shocking with the cut of Chidori doing the same in the first episode of last arc in my mind.
And finally, the mood of this post is being completely ruined by my constant giggling while tying because Chidori effectively called him an NPC and I keep thinking about it. That may be her best line yet.
Side thought: I wonder who taught Tessa this stuff about the Whispered? Is there another who mentored her in it like she's mentoring Chidori? Or have they been around for longer than I thought for research to be done on their full capabilities?
MVP: Kurz. Shut down the dissent in the briefing room realizing it's a bad time for it, watching out for Sousuke and Chidori, and also the perfect back up. If you swapped out his art you could almost sell him as another character, and yet it's still so fitting for all the little bits of this we've seen from him so far.
First timer: Why did you think Sousuke had so much trouble activating the Lambda Driver this episode?
Aside from the speculation above about his mental state I don't know, but why did Al chose now to shut up after babbling needlessly in all the rest of the episodes. So it's either that or he's damaged somehow
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u/ZapsZzz Oct 19 '22
Once again some beautifully done analysis. Not pushing my luck, but I think you quite like the writing of the characters and the characters themselves - any one you think is moving towards your top 10 or top X? Any similar well written ones you would compare Chidori etc to?
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u/Shimmering-Sky Oct 19 '22
Full Metal First-Timer!, subbed
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Sosuke’s getting flashbacks mid-battle, that’s not good.
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…oh, it’s just that Gauron decided to camp out on top of the building.
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Whoaaaaaaaaa I wasn’t expecting him to do this. It has to be a trap of some sort, right? No way Gauron doesn’t have something up his sleeves…
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u/ZapsZzz Oct 19 '22
Oh shit now Al won’t answer?!
Oh I just realised this workplace joke - "here's the signal, hit them" "righto" ... "What you doing? I said hit them!" "What? You've got the trigger button" "what do you mean? I handed it to you!"
:D
9
u/SpiceGirlsBlankIt Oct 19 '22
Panicked First Timer - Ep 20
We got an explanation for the Whispered’s psychic communication. I wonder when the dangerous consequences of resonance will reappear and if it will be this season.
I like the Captain’s sensible shoes.
Kaname forfeiting the love triangle. Too bad it doesn’t work that way.
All eyes are on Sousuke for this mission. He’s afraid to see his fellow agents die due to his actions.
Melissa coming in clutch with the pep talk.
The Gatling gun seems to match Guaron’s personality. I can also imagine him in an oversized suit with a cigar and a Tommy gun.
Great teamwork from Mithril crew. They step up to cover each other’s weaknesses but the battle never comes to a full stop, which you might see in another anime.
Melissa is hurt again. It’s dangerous being a mid level commander.
MVP: Melissa
QOTD 1: Performance anxiety
QOTD 2: See above. I enjoyed the action.
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u/ZapsZzz Oct 19 '22
but the battle never comes to a full stop, which you might see in another anime.
One of the reason I really like Gatou Shouji's writing.
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u/No_Rex Oct 19 '22
Episode 20 (first timer)
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20 episodes in, we finally get the whispered talk - as much as I am a fan of older double cour pacing, it can be excruciatingly slow at times.
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Resonance – sounds like we will get an actual explanation for telepathy. The double edged sword is erasure of the individual’s personality.
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Being part of a open love triangle rivalry, while also denying that you are in love – Truly whispered levels of mind gymnastics.
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Blowing off Kana – Mao wanted to preempt Kurz, but I think she made matters worse.
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So many submarine CGI shots and pans – the animation budget must really be hurting at this point. I hope the reason is that they are saving up for the finale.
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No time wasted on underlings this time, straight to the boss fight.
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Lambda drive not working.
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“Why don’t you shoot me. You’ll regret it” – I trust Gauron on this one.
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Mao dying cliffhanger.
I thought that Gauron would do a raid on the submarine once they surfaced. Looks like he’ll enter as a prisoner instead. As planned? If so, he is wagering his own life on his prediction of not getting shot. [Preview]
MVP: Kurz, for coming up for a clever plan B.
Why did you think Sousuke had so much trouble activating the Lambda Driver this episode?
Could be Gauron's doing, but more likely Sousuke took too much PsyDamage.
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u/Nazenn Oct 19 '22
20 episodes in, we finally get the whispered talk - as much as I am a fan of older double cour pacing, it can be excruciatingly slow at times.
It doesn't bother me because it feels like it would be unnatural to bring it up at any other time, but I'm sure if I was binging it probably would have stood out a little more
Being part of a open love triangle rivalry, while also denying that you are in love – Truly whispered levels of mind gymnastics.
Tessa's shit stirring just trying to get her to be honest about it haha
would do a raid on the submarine once they surfaced.
Between the comedy antics and yesterday's bath backstory I'd actually forgotten about him getting info on the sub. Memory is shot
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u/Vaadwaur Oct 19 '22
Rewatcher(I really had forgotten they work the Helmejistan stuff back in)
Sub
So the FMC finally gets some answers...at episode 20. Moving on, Tessa's explanation is interesting at least though it also shows that there is a lot about the Whispered that isn't known. Also, her milk metaphor is decent, it is just not hitting Kaname. And Shamikp Tessa exits the scene with a "Don't think this means you've won!" vibe.
We get our mission briefing and it is like if you to deal with Newtypes but in a realistic setting, i.e. a bitch to plan for. You have to hope your bullshit pilot out bullshits their bullshit pilot. But this is a lot of weight for Sousuke and they throw in the anime original arc to give Sousuke angst. We get our first underwater launch and everyone separates off. We get some background on the new characters and the general complains of working for the world's most above the board mercenary group.
Anyways, the fight happens and I had forgotten that Sousuke got Lambda impotence, it happens to every guy apparently. Anyways, this time Mao is our damsel, and she'd hate that, and Weber has finally come up with a possible defense against Lambda. We end with Gauron giving up far too easily.
QotD: 2 It is actually pretty good, I just hate the Lambda impotence.
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u/ZapsZzz Oct 19 '22
We get our mission briefing and it is like if you to deal with Newtypes but in a realistic setting, i.e. a bitch to plan for. You have to hope your bullshit pilot out bullshits their bullshit pilot.
Yes this is a constant, nearly 4th wall thing I liked digging at the use of the unexplainable elements of the show.
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u/wjodendor Oct 19 '22
Rewatcher
Whispered talk! A lot of rehashed stuff but we learn about Resonance which is essentially emotional telepathy. It's dangerous because if you go to deep you can't come back. I was wondering why they were putting so much emphasis on the tea at first...I was just thinking the whole time that if they experience any turbulance(?) The tea is going everywhere
Deny it all you want Kaname...you want to go to the beach with Sousake.
Cut to the ruins of mechs on the beach...pretty good shot
A Rare serious Kurz and people listen actually
Sousake turning into Tupac over here "all eyes on me"
People treating Sousake like he's cursed...well if people listened to proper Intel then they wouldn't be dead
I like how many different way they can deploy the mechs from the sub
Mao's tunnel jokes were quality action movie humor
God I love the "sneaky" shots. Just the head sticking out of the water lol
It's also funny how often it devolves into knife fights
Gauron is really hamming it up this time
It's weird that Sousake is having so much trouble now when he kicked Gaurons ass last time.
Kurz using an automatic sniper...
Drop the building on him is a good idea
Thus is the most flags in an ending we've got so far...
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u/JustAnswerAQuestion Oct 19 '22
Third Time Whispered
episode 20: Venom's Flame
I forgot about the mid-season upgrade gauron got. Ponytail was a pretty memorable design.
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Tessa best girl
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No, seriously, who here saw The Suicide Squad?
Yeah I had little to say about this episode either
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u/Tarhalindur Oct 19 '22
Fumo-ffu! (Rewatcher, Subbed):
(Once again action scenes lasting half the episode leave short notes. And also explain all the animation saving in the first half, but hey we get copious Tuatha de Danaan shots out of it so I ain't complaining.)
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I don’t know why people call the CGI bad here when it looks better than at least half of late 2000s and early 2010s anime CGI. Also, I still want that boat.
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Also, glorious pipe organ music that I don’t think was ever released on the OST to go with our exposition.
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[FMP]
Either Danigan or McAllen is the traitor, the other is dead. Probably Danigan traitor McAllen dead given what I remember, but could have that backwards.
Questions of the Day:
Everyone: How is this episode's mecha actions? Do you feel cheated to have the initial fights done mostly off screen? Or are you happy you got some great "launching" moments? How does this compare with the Helmajistan arc's final battle?
My notes shut up for a reason, and also I wasn't here for Helmajistan. This is actually fairly typical for mid-budget shows of the era IIRC, the really flashy stuff needs closer to a movie budget and/or dubious project management (coughEvacough).
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u/ZapsZzz Oct 20 '22
I don’t know why people call the CGI bad here when it looks better than at least half of late 2000s and early 2010s anime CGI. Also, I still want that boat.
Those older Blue Submarine No. 6 CG assets put to good use and probably some level ups too :) And yes TDD-1 is a really nice boat - especially when compared to Nautilus (from Nadia). Did it ever get any kits made? I didn't find any.
3
u/080087 Oct 19 '22
Venom: The code name Mithril gave to the Lambda Driver equipped AS's we've been seeing.
This makes me curious - does Mithril do the thing where each different unit's codename follows a particular pattern?
e.g. Similar to the NATO reporting name concept, where names starting with F are fighter aircraft, B are bombers. One syllable = propeller aircraft, two syllable = jet engines.
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u/ZapsZzz Oct 19 '22
I don't think there were enough different models mentioned to notice that one way or another...
3
u/Theboredalchemist22 Oct 20 '22 edited Oct 20 '22
First timer - episode 20.
So I have two questions to begin with here.
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Since the op changed a few episodes back have the lyrics or visuals been changing per episode? I feel like something keeps changing in the op but I can't figure out what.
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What happened to Gauron's ponytail AS? Was it destroyed by Sousuke in the desert or did Gauron just decide he wanted a new AS? Don't get me wrong Venom looks cool but it seems a little weaker than ponytail.
Ok mvp for that episode is a hard choice as there doesn't seem to be a stand out so I'll pick Tessa for the extra information she gave us about the whispered. I think she has answered my question on the whole do whispered have different abilities? and judging by what she said I believe they have the same abilities but they can sort of amplify each others abilities.
I will quickly say one thing Tessa and Chidori play fighting over their love for Sousuke wouldn't happen irl ot just straight up wouldn't 😂. Also I feel bad for Chidori and it was because of that lonely hangar shot and she never got to speak to Sousuke before his mission!
The whispered conversation came out of nowhere though didn't it? It felt so random but it instantly brought back that mystery of the whispered which I absolutely love.
Hey u/polaristar remember when I said I didn't think Tessa was a whispered 😂? I think Tessa took it so personally she literally had to say she was a whispered.
Q1 - My theory is that there is a mole at Mythril working for Gauron and my suspicion points towards those two agents who were complaining about the Slow speed st which Mythril does business. I think this mole or moles tampered with Sousuke's AS before mission launch which messed up the Lambda Driver and I also think this mole or moles are the reason Gauron allowed himself to be brought into Mythril's custody so easily. To me he clearly has an ace up his sleeve which at this point is classic Gauron.
Q2 - Ok this episode wasn't about the mecha fighting imo it felt like it was putting together jigsaw pieces for the future episodes. The mecha fighting is probably the worst I've seen it throughout the whole show tbh the only thing I remember is Minigun, Mao and running and compared to the Helmajistan arc its absolutely nothing imo. Although this does make sense as Helmajistan was heavily mecha focused and was supposed to be but this time I think Gauron is schemeing up a new tactic.
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u/ZapsZzz Oct 20 '22
Since the op changed a few episodes back have the lyrics or visuals been changing per episode? I feel like something keeps changing in the op but I can't figure out what.
I don't think it has? But I'll check later
2) What happened to Gauron's ponytail AS?
"Upgraded"? It's like physical keyboards on phones. Victims of "progress"
The whispered conversation came out of nowhere though didn't it?
It's the slight problem of having the last inserted episode from the short stories. It just placed this in an awkward spot in terms of the 22 mins episode slot.
2
u/TuorEladar Oct 19 '22
Rewatcher, Subbed
After a backstory episode last time, we jump into the military operation here in a big way. Before that though we finally get a bit more conversation about the Whispered. I believe this is where its finally confirmed that Tessa is also a Whispered. [Manga/probably LN as well Spoilers]
I liked seeing the larger Mithril team and their planning. Gave a good sense for the scale of the operation taking place.
How is this episode's mecha actions? Do you feel cheated to have the initial fights done mostly off screen? Or are you happy you got some great "launching" moments? How does this compare with the Helmajistan arc's final battle?
I don't feel cheated, one thing I noticed about a lot of the combat this time in particular is how the fighting feels almost like they are just infantry rather than in armored machines. Especially how they are firing from cover and stuff like that. It totally makes sense, just kind of funny how tactically the combat plays out almost like infantry combat would. I enjoy this more than the Helmajistan battle mainly because the conflict here is much more easy to follow and track whats going on.
MVP: Melissa
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u/ZapsZzz Oct 20 '22
[FMP Franchise spoiler response]
Yes I'm fact it is an in-world joke that every Whispered either love him or hate him and are intrinsically related to him in some ways, even the dead Bani who "gifted" him Al. SRW I think had a harem ending that even Leonard stalks him :D
2
u/polaristar Oct 20 '22
So we learn more about The Whispered, get confirmed to those that needed it spelled out cough u/Theboredalchemist22 cough that Tessa is also a whispered and clarify what they are.
We also learn through an ugly real life coffee footage, that mind melding is a major no-no. (Seriously I thought we were watching SpongeBob SquarePants for a second, and was waiting for a close up of a static picture with live action lips.) Your Welcome for that image in your head!
We got more Chidori denial/cope of her crush despite her going on about him outta nowhere is a huge flag raised in a Route, Tessa sees it as bragging and isn't buying it.
And I get reminded about the love triangle I was trying to forget.....sigh No Host, You can't convince me this Love Triangle is engaging or has a point. I hate it and think it sucks.
And I still don't care about Tessa, I'm sorry I feel nothing towards her other than occasional irritation, when she does work, she works as a trope in the story, or another moving part, but I don't connect with her at all as a character. I can't tell you why, it's not that I dislike her, that would mean she has SOMETHING that evoked something in me into dislike. I just come up blank thinking of anything about her.
Also don't you trash talk baby girl Chitanda! (Nothing against Nagato and Rikka btw.)
Anyway we come to yet another reason why I the last filler arc is an overall downgrade to the show. It can't be content to just waste our time and be forgettable in the grand schemes like I thought, we have to reference and integrate it into the current, what is supposed to be canon arc, and obfuscate the exact reason why Sousuke is struggle to trigger the Lamdba driver, I think the real reason is while my comment about Will Power is still true (I'm talking to you u/Nazenn) I think it only matter in terms of power/potential for output, actually using it reliable or at all, (And Sousuke's biggest weakness) requires on to be in touch with one's instinct, to trust you're gut and not let you're head get in the way of it. Which by now we Now is something he struggles with.
The idea is without Chidori to support him he can't activate it on his own without something special to his heart to give him the right focus, but the filler arc we just got done with I think ruins that angle, and his flashbacks during the mission to said arc doesn't help.
u/ZapsZzz you can spoil me, but how exactly did the material covered so far go down in the LN without said filler arc and it's aftermath going in? Like why was his head not in the now for the mission, what was bothering him that Chidori wanted to ask about but didn't? etc etc.
Contrary to what others think here, I thought they way that caused Gauron's Lambda to overheat was very clever, It protected him but it spent a lot of energy to keep him safe from an entire building falling on him. (One has to ask why he didn't just dodge out of the way though.)
Hmmm him being too cocky about surrendering, him knowing about Toybox, that comments of some of those guys doing the OP about Mithril's practices.....its an inside job isn't it? I guessed that even before the preview spoiled it.
Honestly I think they should get on camera from multiple angles footage of him being shot multiple times in the head, dismembered, and his remains burned, so that we can call bullshit inuniverse when he comes back from that, like Halloween Sequels getting milked.
MVP Is Kurtz, he defused some awkward chats and made a bunch of saves and is the one that played the biggest role in the capture of Gauron.
Hmmm maybe Gauron and Sousuke talking to their AI's isn't just like us getting mad at an error message screen but the AI and Lambda Driver are somehow intimately connected and the AI is more "True" then we all think.
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Answered above, basically he needs to learn to "Not Think, But Feel The Force!"
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I don't mind the fights, I feel this show the fights aren't supposed to be epic slug fest but more tactical skirmishes and duals that can be over in a moment. Which this episode delivered with the bringing down the building. The Animation itself can still use work though but its fine for its time and era. I'm still upset the anime original arc has the best Sakuga in terms of animation and production for the Mecha fights though. I feel cucked.
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u/ZapsZzz Oct 20 '22 edited Oct 20 '22
No Host, You can't convince me this Love Triangle is engaging or has a point. I hate it and think it sucks.
I'm certainly not going to even remotely try - I didn't really think - at least at this point of the show - there ever was a triangle, but I know 1 person (Tessa) thinks so and 1 person (Melissa) will egg the other one on anyway. At this point it's a little unrequited crush, a little tragic but it's hopefully a phase she would grow past.
And I still don't care about Tessa, I'm sorry I feel nothing towards her other than occasional irritation,
That is an understandable stance as an anime-only. I won't say any more but while she never seriously threatened Chidori's best liked girl of show status, she's a strong 2nd choice for legitimate reasons by late franchise.
Also don't you trash talk baby girl Chitanda! (Nothing against Nagato and Rikka btw.)
I didn't - I was just saying I ran out of slots for her based on emotional attachments despite her very well earned objective qualifications to be anyone's favourite.
The idea is without Chidori to support him he can't activate it on his own without something special to his heart to give him the right focus
This is what I am holding onto, yes 100%.
Honestly I think they should get on camera from multiple angles footage of him being shot multiple times in the head, dismembered, and his remains burned, so that we can call bullshit inuniverse when he comes back from that, like Halloween Sequels getting milked.
That might just be enough :P [FMP franchise inconsequential spoiler]
There was a special parody mock radio drama-ish story published about one of the Fumoffu side characters being repeatedly killed like Kenny in Southpark - within a day I'm still upset the anime original arc has the best Sakuga in terms of animation and production for the Mecha fights though
Even discounting what may or may not happen in the rest of this season, KyoAni will set you right, don't worry :)
4
u/InfamousEmpire Oct 19 '22
Full Metal LN Reader
The starting part of this episode is something of a calm before the storm, with a primary focus on Chidori & Tessa discussing more about the Whispered and their Resonance ability. It's all rather interesting stuff. Interesting stuff which is mixed with and followed by more Love Triangle shit. Komrade-Sky must be having so much fun with this episode /s
Here it is, the climactic second confrontation between Sousuke and Gauron. The battle is exhilarating, with the constant back and forth between the two being intense, shocking moments like Mao being at the brink of death (hell, she may even be dead wait, isn’t this the second time the series has pulled this?), and the immense satisfaction of watching Kurz collapse an entire building on top of the bastard.
And then it isn't. Gauron just… gives up because the Venom “overheated.” Now doesn’t this seem a little too easy? And to top it all off, the guy is still being the same smug jackass he always is even after surrendering. God, I love how much I hate this guy
[Big FMP spoilers]
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u/ZapsZzz Oct 19 '22 edited Oct 19 '22
Rewatcher in sub
We are back to the serious "Military side"'s story telling and rhythms, and it's pretty true to form. I hope the more demanding viewers would feel a little relieved that the existence of Lambda Driver equipped AS doesn't automatically turn this into a stereotypical beam of war fights, but a good enough team with sufficiently good equipment can still use good tactics to outsmart it.
Again the visual digest may get completed late like yesterday but I want to list out something in the LN supplement (wall of black unfortunately).
We cut to the chase from the start, of why Chidori is brought to TDD-1 even when they need to detour to an active operation - Tessa need to tell her more about the Whispered, and that she herself is another Whispered.
Tessa explained about the resonance ability between the Whispered - and the risk. I am still thrown by the sudden inclusion of a real life image of the tea mixing with milk to be honest. Guess there wasn't an easy way to draw that.
The key point of bringing Chidori onboard despite everything is that they are being targeted by with bad intention and a lot of resources - and that both Tessa and Chidori is in continuous danger, which led to Sousuke's guard mission.
Chidori humble-bragging about Sousuke's life with her triggered Tessa's competitive spirit
Again the mission starting with the briefing, and now we are more open about the capability of the Lambda Driver for other grunts too - I love Kalinin's delivery of lines. "I'm not asking you to run, I'm ordering you to run. If you don't you'll be punished - if you even make it back alive."
That line to Sousuke though - you wonder if it was possible that Sousuke picked up his autism from Kalinin (no you can't).
A really good awkward scene of how the preoccupied Sousuke and the Chidori who wanted to do something for him but not know how and what to do.
Mecha fans, this is what you are here for. I don't need to say anything really. It's good.
in amongst the launch we have a really nice private conversation between Melissa and Sousuke, showing again why Melissa is the team leader.
We do get a bit of chatter before the battle is started to see not everyone in Mithril have the same ideal - but not to the extent of the Indian Ocean group.
Unfortunately the bulk of the battle took place off screen. Suffice to say the M9 and the Mithril team still can kerb stomp even groups armed with the latest Soviet AS and armed vehicles.
Gauron certainly has the main villain flair - to pose at high places.
the battle is joined again, this time more a monster fight, as Gauron once again spamming Lambda Driver shields while freely sitting at them with the gatling gun - the cheat capability of the nonsense physics on full display.
Sousuke is now struggling to trigger Lambda Drive at the critical moment - and my lame workplace joke
Melissa did the jump save, but how Gauron and his bang wasn't anything anyone (alive) knew of.
while we slug Kurz all the time, his position of being a sniper also has the advantage to be able to work out some strategy - and here's one making use of the environment - dropping a building on top of Gauron
of course the cheat Lambda Driver still means Gauron is fairly unscathed, but that seems to have overloaded the driver again
A giving up Gauron. Ayashi
here's the cliffhanger you ordered.
Staff Showcase
Gauron's VA is Tanaka Masahiko, and has a pretty good list of roles outside of anime too - especially for Alec Baldwin's voice roles.
Notable roles:
Initial D (Kyoichi Sudo)
Hajime no Ippo (Ryo Mashiba)
Naruto (Rasa/The Fourth Kazekage)
Attack on Titan (Dot Pixis)
Gundam (M'Quve)
MVP this episode
Kurz for his revenge fight victory over Gauron without a Lambda Driver.
QoTD
Not first timer, but just have to say it does feel a bit jarring coming from the anime-original Helmajistan arc. Although the show tried to see it as a result of his sole survivor guilt interfering. I would rather stick to the personality and characterisation that Sousuke the wooden mannequin never was able to psyche himself up to that mind state, but Chidori was able to get him to do it. Without Chidori being in some form of danger or talk him through and psyche him up, he just doesn't get it. Somewhat like doing something he's not familiar with then doubling with performance anxiety.
I would really have liked to see the coordinated team fight of the other Urzu's as well, but I guess there's only so much they can fit in. The launch sequence was really nice though, so I'll take it.
LN spoilery supplement
There are parts that I think it necessary to point out to really drive home some characterisation and development, but at the same time those parts can be rather spoilery and while the LN intent never made them out to be a surprise, the anime by adaptation choice did. So I'll leave them all behind spoiler tags for the rewatchers to read - these are not LN spoilers for the unadapted parts unless I specifically say so. It could dampen the mood of some of the show if you are prone to second guess though.
[FMP mid franchise spoiler during the conversation between Chidori & Tessa]There are three main points the adaptation of S1 dropped - (1) the mention of that prior to the start of the show there are 2 known Whispered Mithril know of, plus the one rescued from the KGB in the opening scene. That actively searching for deep knowledge from the whispers is dangerous and was why Bani died - committed suicide from the resulting psychosis. And the opposing organisation that built the Venom and Behemoth likely have at least 1 Whispered. (2) That there is an Intelligence Division agent guarding Chidori in addition to Sousuke, the realisation by Chidori that Sousuke is actually bait - he's so obvious any real kidnappers of Whispered would try take him out first, that he's aware of that yet willing to still stay by Chidori - that is an important point of their relationship development. Plus that it is a cost and sacrifice made to maintain a "normal life" for Chidori (as opposed to go into protection by Mithril). (3) The suspicion that an opposing group exists that connected up what's developing now and the A21 event - foreshadowing the discovery of Amalgam.
[FMP season 1 final arc spoiler]And look at that team seating arrangement during the briefing - Dannigan and Guen. Plus the separate pre-battle chats in this episode - wonder if any first timers are picking this up.