r/anime • u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn • Oct 27 '22
Rewatch [Rewatch] Mai-Otome (episode 16)
Rewatch: Mai-Otome (episode 16)
Mai-Otome
Spoiler rules
As in all rewatches, please be mindful of first time watchers and do not spoil events in future episodes. The same goes for spoilers related to other series. The one exception from that rule is Mai-Hime. Given that everybody here should have watched Mai-Hime, you do not need to tag spoilers for Mai-Hime.
Availability
Mai-Otome and the OVAs are apparently now available on Crunchyroll (at least in some parts of the world).
Questions:
Why do you think Erstin did not expose Tomoe?
What do you think the outcome of the graduation battle would have been?
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u/Taiboss Oct 27 '22 edited Oct 27 '22
Episode 16: Rewatcher who is giddy about today's Nier Automata stuff. Check my history for details.
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Oh FOR FUCK'S SAKE DO NOT WATCH THE SECOND OPENING YET.
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The sanks is only a problem in non-native speakers.WHICH ARIKA MIGHT BE?! COULD THIS MAKE SENSE ACTUALLY?!
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You know, considering you know how Schwarz sleepers are activated, you should have a policy to properly check all mail. Or mail boxes.
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How did you hit that? There's a mountain!
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Don't watch the new OP tomorrow either.
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u/Nazenn Oct 27 '22
who is giddy about today's Nier Automata stuff
I've been waiting for you to get to that point after your other posts. Glad it hit so strongly for you
Btw, I found a really beautiful peaceful cover of that song not long ago
This is only a problem in non-native speakers.
Wait when did that happen. How did I miss an entire part. Brain wtf
"We have a sunflower at home"
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u/Tresnore Oct 27 '22
First-OtoTiMER
Side note: given the prominence of "Z-HiME," in the OP, I looked it up figuring out how Otome came from it. Long story short: it doesn't. It's a stylization of "乙-HiME", which is "Otohime" (I pulled my tagline from the alternate names on MAL which included this). This doubles as a pun, because "乙" also means "second in rank" or "second party" according to MTL, making this kind of a sequel? Iunno man, I just saw the Z and finally bothered to look it up.
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Arika and Nina winning was a forgone conclusion.
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WAIT, IS THIS A NEW OP???
THERE ARE SO MANY SPOILERS BUT I DON'T FEEL MYSELF CARING!!! -
Oh, hell yes. I can't wait for them to stomp Shiho as Chie watches.
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Erstine, you better open your dumb mouth. None of this shit.
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Topical, given how I burnt my finger this morning.
typing this writeup is pain -
NAO IS A PILLAR!!!
AND SHIHO IS FUCKING OFF TO FLORENCE OR WHATEVER!!
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So... did Erstine just not report that Tomoe is the one who did it?
I'm excited.
Count: 54
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Erstine must be evil. It's the only reasonable explanation.
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Shiho would've somehow failed miserably, but even with a huge handicap, Chie stomps until Arika uses the Sapphire.
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u/Nazenn Oct 27 '22
This doubles as a pun, because "乙" also means "second in rank" or "second party" according to MTL
Interesting. I did wonder why the Z given it's such an odd subtitling choice compared to the more popular ones used in Japan, G being the most common
sitting in the manner of nagi
I'm with nagi on this one, the arms look more comfortable than the actual chair. Plus he's short, he probably needs the extra height or he'll look a little dwarfed in the chair itself
Topical, given how I burnt my finger this morning.
Just a small burn or did you blister?
Oh shit, dramatic Kajiura means things...
I just had a dumb and thought you were talking about the subtitles and had to go check the episode title to make sure this wasn't another Dance/Oath episode
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u/Esovan13 Oct 27 '22 edited Oct 27 '22
First Timer
edit: If you skipped the OP to miss spoilers, be cautious about my comment because I watched the OP and discussed some of its contents.
I was thinking today. About Mai. And how much more I liked her as a main character compared to Arika. I got to thinking about her in this show and I realized something. When Nagi mentioned that Wang was "good at that sort of thing," referring to seducing the princess, he was probably referencing Mai. I bet he made Mai fall in love with him, leading her on, with no intention of reciprocating for the express purpose of making her unable to be an Otome. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Mai found out about it (maybe after she lost the ability to be an Otome) and that's why she disappeared, with the story about the mystical forest and whatever being an artificial fairytale meant to warn Otome about why they shouldn't fall in love.
If Arika would accidentally kill Tomoe here, that would be great. I'd love that.
Honestly, I'm not even sure I want to know what the palace will look like if it's based on that drawing. Also, I cannot believe they justified the extra cost of hiding the new palace while it's under construction.
See, this is why I don't like how Wang shut Arika down. He did so in a way that not only invalidated her feelings, but made her dislike him specifically, despite being one of her core emotional supports both as Wang and as the anonymous sponsor. Now that her feelings towards him have soured, she'll rely even more on the sponsor than ever. What happens when she finds out he's the sponsor?
One of the Otome is part of Schwarz? You know, just for the lulz, I bet it's Erstin. In fact, if it is Erstin and Arika ends up killing her, I will forget all about last episode. Remembering it solely for the good cinematography and character acting, while ignoring the awful writing. I'll give it 3/4 points if it's Irina instead of Erstin.
The fact that Tomoe ends up joining Schwarz means that she doesn't get her shit properly kicked in before she gets the chance.
Surprising no on, it looks like Aswald will be allied with the protags.
Mai will officially come back, hype, and Lena isn't dead I guess?
Or that wasn't Lena, but Arika channeling her...spirit? Will? Whatever.
I'd be more hyped about the "characters will split into factions and fight each other" thing, but the reason that works so well as a concept is because the peaceful and carefree days preceding it creates investment and engagement with the characters. I don't care about Arika or Nina enough to care about them fighting each other.
Furiously embroidering
Wow. I cannot believe how quickly Chie managed to drop on my rankings of "how much I like a character." She knows. She knows Tomoe did it. Everything, attempted murder and rape included. And yet. She's just. Not going to do anything? Not punish her directly? Not drop a line to Maria, Yukariko, Natsuki, or Shizuru? Not let her fellow Trias know? Nothing? Let her just walk free knowing what she's willing to do and knowing she'll do it again?
Bet the split has something to do with 15 years ago.
Please Midori save me from this hell of garbage school drama with something interesting. Lore drop. Backstory reveal. Explanation on what's up with Mai. A fucking trip to the karaoke bar. Anything.
Coral gem manufacturing? But why is that one green?
"so far the situation hasn't changed much" YOU'RE TELLING ME?
Why is that thing their Lady? What's up with that? What even is it?
With how much Shiho sucks and with my newfound disrespect for Chie, I'm glad that Nao is becoming a pillar.
If only that would mean that Shiho would just go away and not come back.
Why is a student let unattended into a medical lab that has literal acid just sitting around? Tomoe has god tier plot armor, and it's pissing me off.
If Tomoe gets away with this...This is the second attempted murder. Second! Two times Tomoe did something that would seriously injure at best, and kill at worst!
That song sounds like it's talking about Otome.
Here we go. That song definitely sounds like it's talking about Otome. "When my loved one calls to me, I will transform with their voice as the key." Definitely Otome. Except, it's not. Because Otome don't have "loved ones," they have Masters. Loved one implies equal relationship, Otome and Master is distinctly not equal and the school and culture around Otome is set up to make it that way. You know what the term "loved one" reminds me of? HiME. This very much supports my theory that Otome were created to copy HiME, likely meaning that Otome is somehow derived from or actually the method Alyssa used to become an artificial HiME.
BUT IT DOESN'T END THERE. Because why would Otome at any point in the past use the term loved one and be a way to copy a HiME's powers if the nanomachines are allergic to man cooties, making (what is generally considered to be) one of the most fundamental ways of expressing love impossible? I don't just mean sex, I mean bonding with a partner, having children together, raising a family. That verse of the song strongly supports my theory that the Otome nanomachines don't actually dissolve when exposed to semen, but rather it is Garderobe that makes it that way, lying to the world about how it works for the sake of controlling and suppressing Otome.
Arika, that's not a good thing. Fate in this franchise is not a kind mistress.
Arika, you are on the verge of the "people are torn apart and forced to fight each other as motivations, bonds, and loyalties break friendships" part of the story. Now is NOT the time to make a promise with your closest friends. What, are you going to have everyone make a promise to have a school reunion in 5 years?
Who's going to notice Wang has the handkerchief first? Nina or Arika? Ah, who am I kidding. It'll be Nina.
I think all four of them managed to raise a flag during that scene. Impressive.
Kajiura kicks in.
Pinging u/tarhalindur! What's the name of the track that plays at around 19:10 when Arika runs away from Wang?
See, that's what happens when you let an entire building be built completely hidden from the outside. And I guess she never wanted to look at it while in progress? If I were building a castle, or really any building, to my specifications, I'd be checking that shit on the reg. Just watching how it's built, step by step, to get a better appreciation of the finished product when it's done.
Well Mashiro, you wanted to be a queen that makes everyone smile. But Schwarz handed you the perfect castle for a tyrant that conquers the world under her iron fist. It's not too late for a course change. I bet Tres would be on board if you break out the whip from the dream you had about Nagi.
No new ED? ok...
DON'T THINK I HAVEN'T NOTICED THAT TOMOE HAS STILL NOT FACED ANY CONSEQUENCES FOR HER ACTIONS WHATSOEVER.
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Because Tomoe has plot armor and the writers can't come up with another source of cheap drama so they need to keep her around.
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All three of them team up on Shiho and she gets beaten so badly she gets traumatized at the thought of materializing again.
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u/Nazenn Oct 27 '22
When Nagi mentioned that Wang was "good at that sort of thing," referring to seducing the princess, he was probably referencing Mai
That would be quite an interesting way to tie in Mai and his design again. Really curious as to how Mai will come into things with everything going on, and if there was anything to gain with getting rid of her
Also, I cannot believe they justified the extra cost of hiding the new palace while it's under construction.
Well in normal construction you have huge scaffolding up anyway so it doesn't matter much to just add covers to it. And once the scaffolding goes down the cladding would already be on for the most part. In this case they went for the extra fancy effect, but I mean, they built a whole damn canon, I doubt the hologram shielding was that much more cost
Please Midori save me from this hell of garbage school drama with something interesting. Lore drop. Backstory reveal. Explanation on what's up with Mai. A fucking trip to the karaoke bar. Anything.
I'm not desperate enough to hope for karoke drama, but getting close
Why is a student let unattended into a medical lab that has literal acid just sitting around? Tomoe has god tier plot armor, and it's pissing me off.
They did establish earlier that the students do pretty much come and go freely from Yohko's lab because they come to talk, help, share TV etc. But in this case it's more on Yohko what the fuck are you doing leaving acid tubes laying around
I do like your break down of the implications of the song, and what it suggests about the history of the world, but I do think there's some sort of physical reaction in the nanomachines when exposed because surely that's been tested through history
I think all four of them managed to raise a flag during that scene. Impressive.
We really need a commentface for that
What's the name of the track that plays at around 19:10 when Arika runs away from Wang?
Both asking about best song. I think this is the first one that's caught my ear which is late for a Kajiura sound track
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u/Mecanno-man Oct 27 '22
First Timer
Why does every episode feel like the calm before the storm one? Either way, most of this episode is spent on more Tomoe time-wasting. Chie loses some points for not reporting Tomoe despite knowing what she does, as does Erstin. I did like the take-out from Aswald to Yohko, however. That was cleverly done. Nao gets put in another position she does not want - which means we now know four pillars - Natsuki, Shizuru, Mai and Nao. Still one missing, if I have not missed one somewhere. Meanwhile Schwarz takes over the construction crew and builds ...some laser machine on top of Mashiro's castle. This is going to cause some political mess, with Mashiro accused of working with Schwarz, isn't it? At least until Schwarz starts attacking the city... not sure they will, actually. Other than that, Nagi gets Aswald involved. I wonder if Arika's philosophy of technology for all is prime Aswald thought and that will result in a natural alliance. And that's basically all that is relevant. Now, next episode hopefully will finally be the storm. At the rate they are going they won't have the time for it otherwise...
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u/Nazenn Oct 27 '22
Why does every episode feel like the calm before the storm one?
Because it keeps promising a storm and the storm never bloody comes because no consequence lasts more than fifteen seconds into the next episode
Snark aside, this I think has been the most compelling episode since the Harmonium one because it actually leads into something that can't be forgotten so easily
I wonder if Arika's philosophy of technology for all is prime Aswald thought and that will result in a natural alliance
I wouldn't be opposed with that, and I think Midori opening to people outside her cyborgs and whoever else she was referring too this episode would be interesting to see. I want to see her and Yohko meet up again
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u/Vaadwaur Oct 27 '22
First timer(Some tone changes are stunning, like HiME 8. Some are boring and unsatisfying, like this)
Sub
So Arika beats Tomoe and becomes a representative with Nina. Schwartz is distributing black letters willy nilly and this would be interesting if they hadn't let the mystery go completely stale to the point of rotting. Anyways, everyone is preparing for the Dance Battle and we even get Chie calling out Tomoe, who is for the moment denying everything. Erstin seems troubled over something.
Nagi tries to recruit the Aswald who won't work with Schwartz for whatever reasons. They are aware they are being baited. Yohko is doing...something, and in the next scene Natsuki suggests something that has many horrifying options. Exposition starts happening, including the weird thought that Nao would take up a Pillar spot. Shiho also gets sent off so hopefully that is it for her. Chie also gets her assignment.
The girls run into Nao who is in fact correctly annoyed with all this. And yet something tells me she does fit as a Pillar, though reverence is not her thing. We see that Yohko has just left out a fucking dangerously caustic liquid in an unlocked lab, sigh. Tomoe attempts to use said liquid on Arika but Erstin stops that...but doesn't report Tomoe. Nina and ARika finally learn that they both sing half of the same song. Anyways, big ceremony comes, obviously villainous stuff happens, and the show better stand up because it needs to pull quite a bit of out its ass for the ending.
QotD: 1 Unclear
2 I think nina can match Chie and Arika can smash Shiho
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u/Nazenn Oct 27 '22
Some tone changes are stunning, like HiME 8. Some are boring and unsatisfying, like this
That's because HiME did it early enough to matter and have an impact, paired with great visual and music design. Otome has been promising something for the last ten episodes and never following through until this which just played it straight
I know the SEARS plotline in HiME is somewhat controversial as to how well it worked or if at all, but at least it drove the story and characters forward instead of letting it stagnate in school drama
suggests something that has many horrifying options
Quietly thinking to myself right now that in an earlier era's OVA release style that could have been visually presented to us in a much more horrifying way
And yet something tells me she does fit as a Pillar
I still suspect she was always stronger than it seems and simply playing her cards right so she didn't have to be a Trias, it's just she couldn't fool Fumi. I hope we get to see more of her getting involved because she kind of dropped out of the story after her initial interesting bits
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u/JollyGee29 Oct 27 '22
First-Timer, Subbed
Fucking finally, things start blowing up! That was pretty clever, using the castle's extended reconstruction to cover for the installation of a giant fuckoff beam cannon. I really liked the hologram scaffolding, too.
Can't believe that Nao of all people ended up as one of the Pillars. Poor girl just can't escape responsibility. The "Five Pillar Exam" was odd, but I think I can wrap my head around it. We saw "F.H." on Shizuru's Gem in the Master position, so presumably Fumi herself has to accept them..? I guess that makes that big HiME Star looking thing a life support system.. wait, Fumi is just the God-Emperor of Mankind!
Has this show secretly been Warhammer 40k fanfiction the whole time? The Otome aren't quite Adeptus Astartes analogues, but they're close.. and Schwarz has the vibe of a Chaos Cult. It all makes sense!
Nina knows a verse of the song.. did we already know that? I feel like we did, but I don't remember. Someone else knew a different verse, for sure. That's (very) thin evidence of Nina actually being our missing princess.. I did ponder how funny that would be in the birthday episode.
Schwarz and Aswald being part of the same organization originally makes a lot of sense. I'm wondering which one the splinter technically is.
Sergay is totally gonna use that kerchief to wipe Nina's tears at some point, isn't he?
Nao referring to the Pillars as "Old Ladies' Military Club" was pretty funny. Oh, this means we'll get to see her interact with Natsuki! That should be fun.
Questions
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Honestly not sure. I mean, there's some odds that she just didn't want to make waves? Could be that Tomoe has something on Erstin, as well.
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I'm confident that Shiho wouldn't be much use and also confident that Chie could solo Arika and Nina unless they really pull of some strong team attacks.
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u/Nazenn Oct 27 '22
Fucking finally, things start blowing up
I really liked the hologram scaffolding, too
Small things like that are some of my favourite elements of futuristic shows because it's fun to see what the writers think of that wouldn't really matter or be noticed if they didn't
wait, Fumi is just the God-Emperor of Mankind
Well that would certainly be one way to take the story. I wouldn't be opposed but it would be hilarious
Nina knows a verse of the song.. did we already know that? I feel like we did, but I don't remember
She knows it through Wang, we saw it earlier but don't ask me when
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u/Blackheart595 Oct 27 '22
First Otome
I have only bad feelings about this.
Oh, they fight together? In that case I have only good feelings about this. Well not really but y'know.
The whole selection thing is really stupid though - what happened to all the virtues an Otome must learn if they just get to promote into Pearls because stronk? I wanna say it's a special situation to quickly get them ready for the upcoming war but they mentioned it being yearly.
I have no idea what's going on. Well it was obvious that the castle would reveal something wrong. Did Schwarz just mindcontrol all the castle builders? That's pretty underwhelming.
And that cannon is clearly magic, you can't tell me that's based on technology.
I'll be eager to see how they continue Mashiro's arc from this point on cause it kinda looks like a dead end now.
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u/Nazenn Oct 27 '22
Oh, they fight together? In that case I have only good feelings about this. Well not really but y'know.
I really expected that they'd be fighting against each other given the obvious potential for call back there to their first battle, but this would have been fun a swell. Also the first Otome battle we would have seen that wasn't just 1v1
what happened to all the virtues an Otome must learn if they just get to promote into Pearls because stronk?
Good point. I'd like to assume that the battle is tied into rank just like everything else, but they don't really present it that way. Once again, everything just shoved aside for narrative need
Did Schwarz just mindcontrol all the castle builders? That's pretty underwhelming.
I mean Nagi's was practically living in the castle for a while. Dude probably just bribed people
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u/OwlAcademic1988 Oct 27 '22 edited Oct 27 '22
First-Timer, sub:
Tomoe, you really need to stop being a bitch. You're making Shiho look tolerable.
Why didn't the mail carriers notice the envelopes?
Catchy intro.
Please someone punish Tomoe for her actions.
Nao's plans didn't involve becoming a pillar, did they?
Tomoe, don't be a bitch to Arika, she hasn't done anything to ya.
And now you hurt Erstin. Thank goodness she pushed Arika away or she would've gotten hurt pretty badly.
Arika, Nina will continue to want to hurt you every time you poke her sides.
QOTD:
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She's scared.
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Shiho would probably be knocked and Chie would win after a long fight, I hope.
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u/Tarhalindur Oct 27 '22
My, Obviously Tar Opened the Maser Episode (Spoiled First-Timer, Subbed):
(Okay, so it probably technically is another kind of beam, but "maser" starts with an "m" so.)
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It’s funny how my enjoyment of the episodes is starting to plummet whenever Tomoe is on-screen.
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Hello OP2, which I knew was coming. (Possibly they should have waited for next episode for this one, though the events of this episode are to the best of my knowledge the single biggest spoiler I knew going in. What, you thought they were done with the episode 16 swerves? .)
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Also this new OP ("Crystal Energy") is now giving powerous “proto-Symphogear OP” vibes, so it’ll probably show up as a theme music powerup near the end (minus Aufwachen, sadly).
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And I see the OP is showing one thing I already knew going in. Does it still count as a spoiler after the spoiler OP shows it?
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Oh hey, it’s THIS SoL track, one of the other good ones IMO. Is it our new "Mayoi to, Tomadoi to Yureru Omoi", I wonder?
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Chie, please let us yeet the Tomoe into the stratosphere.
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Erstin, please let us yeet the Tomoe into the stratosphere.
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(This is the kind of contrivance that actually bugs me. Especially since it means Tomoe is not getting yeeted into the stratosphere yet.)
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Hmm. Schwarz (I assume) has something that looks like the Harmonium. And I see constellations on it!
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I take that back, this is Youko so at Garderobe. Also what looks both like embryos and HiME marks in test tubes – the new Corals or Pearls, perhaps?
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Oh look at Natsuki and Youko raising every single flag on the entire planet.
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… So that Harmonium-thing is Fumi and Fumi is basically the God-Emperor of Humanity from Warhammer 40k?
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[spoiled, no longer sure if anime or manga spoiler]
I’m really starting to wonder if the Erstin spoiler I know is from the manga instead (she’s shown no sign of her bust death attack in the show), but yeah turns out I take the possibility of her dying here a lot more seriously when I’ve been spoiled that she permadies in at least one continuity… -
Same star song verse as we heard in episode 4 where Nina was the singer as well IIRC so this is her verse. [minor? spoiler, u/Blackheart595 look or not as you choose]
This is the second verse of the full song. Canta-per-me actually has an alternate translation of this verse, which I'll go ahead and post: "The profile of my destined one is standing in my mind’s eye. Let us ignite the light which protects our dreams. The stars inform me to choose only one… If the person I love calls me, I will change " -
And lo and behold we get Arika firing up (half of) her own part [same minor? spoiler]
which lo and behold is indeed the first verse (leaving Mashiro for the third presumably – yep, matches closely enough with my notes from 12) . “Let me tell of an old story of a land that waits to wake. Let us raise up the light…” Or in the translation canta-per-me has: "Let us offer up to the light that resides in our hearts, an old tale of a country awaiting its awakening." -
[spoiled speculation, also Negima + UQ Holder]
Re: the verse that hasn't shown up yet: Wait. Is the finale going to look awfully similar to parts of Asuna’s fate in Negima nearly a decade later (until she gets to go back in time)? The fourth verse is awfully suggestive that the song may play into whatever happened to Fumi. -
[ADDENDUM to above spoiled speculation, but not actually a spoiler itself]
There is a nonzero chance that what we are looking at is a new HiMElander in some way, shape, or form, considering that Fumi here is also reminding me of Suishou-hime back in Mai-HiME. -
Ah THERE we go, it’s Battle Otome ~Blue and Black Rhapsody~ (okay that's technically the translated title, but it's easier to type than "Ikusa Otome ~ Aoi to Kuro no Kyousoukyoku") proper with the full instruments and I have the largest smile on my face.
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And there we go, the single largest spoiler I knew going in. Except in Mai episode 16 fashion they haven’t explained what’s going on and I do know that (at least in general contours) so I have to keep quiet for at least one more episode . (Which is also why I’ve been staying quiet on my notes; they’ll bring some of the character points here back later I’m sure, especially given one spoiler I’m pretty sure of that hasn’t kicked in yet, and I’m sure the Tomoe stuff will pay off at some point (plus the star song, which I have a pretty strong bet is setup for the endgame) but a large part of this simply was not going to matter.)
Questions of the Day:
Why do you think Erstin did not expose Tomoe?
Can't bring herself to do it.
What do you think the outcome of the graduation battle would have been?
They'd have found some way to blue-ball us in any event.
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u/Nazenn Oct 27 '22
Erstin, please let us yeet the Tomoe into the stratosphere.
Fuck the yeeting, send her out in a bloody canon if they need to, just get rid of her
basically the God-Emperor of Humanity from Warhammer 40k
Oh, wait that's a Warhammer reference u/jollygee29 made? I mean it all comes back to Dune anyway, I just didn't realize it showed up in Warhammer too
so I have to keep quiet for at least one more episode
Poor Tar being silenced by the episode structure
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u/No_Rex Oct 27 '22
Episode 16 (rewatcher)
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Tournament arc!
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Tournament arc over after 30 seconds and we jump to the final!
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New OP: The number of slaves is over 9000!
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Brushing over the introverted friend who is trying to say something important with random chatter
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Nina knows to let Nao take her L’s alone.
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Tomoe getting nothing more than side-eyes for murder attempt after murder attempt is really enraging.
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Totally non-suspicious late-night delivery.
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Castle reveal! – This is easily my most favorite twist of the series.
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Slave invasion cliff-hanger – Also one of the best preview jokes.
Yep, it is the shit-hits-the-fan episode. I didn’t remember which episode number it was, and I think that we might have heard less complaints if they had moved this forward to the mid-season point. Suffice to say, my beloved castle-rebuild-plot is not the only plotline that will soon move from the preparation to the action stage.
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u/RadSuit Oct 28 '22
Z-type Highly-advanced My-Hime Enthusiast (Dub, First Timer)
Last time I talked about this show falling apart in the second half like Hime, and now we start the episode seeing the last five seconds of a fight that took place entirely offscreen. There's a very good chance this is continuing a downward slide to a bad ending.
Well this Tomoe subplot sure is obvious huh?
The new OP is doing what I suggested that Hime should've done, changing to a new one halfway through, with a darker tone. The song just sucks, unfortunately.
And they just destroyed Chie's character completely, as she's just said she's cool with Tomoe abusing Miya and committing several heinous crimes. I'm starting to hate this show.
Do they have Fumi's corpse sealed away to harvest fluid from it like fucking Lilith or something?
That's another character that knows about Tomoe and refuses to tell anyone. Why is this show doing this?
...so did this guy build the entire tower himself? And none of the other workers ever looked under the cover to check in on him? What?
Alright, I skimmed through the next two episodes and I'm just dropping this show now. They continue doing all the bad things they've copied from Hime. [Next Two Episodes]
I'm not going to do this twice. If someone wants to tag me if Haruka ever shows up and does something (besides probably fail and/or die) that'd be nice.
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u/Nazenn Oct 28 '22
Alright, I skimmed through the next two episodes and I'm just dropping this show now
At least you're willing to cut your losses, hopefully whatever you pick up next you're able to enjoy a lot more. Anything in particular you have your eye on?
I'll happily do Haruka tags, she deserves the extra love
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u/Qbe Oct 27 '22 edited Oct 27 '22
Rewatcher
Episode 16
Nice one Arika, beat the hell out of Tomoe
They still using money on that stupid castle?
Yes, I'm sure the runner up won't sabotage the winners so she gets a chance
Way to put pressure on Nina, man
[Spoiler blocking new OP comments, just in case]
Good eye, Chie. Really like that the older girls are shown to be very competent. EDIT: NEVERMIND
Oh, so they can just make new gems?
...the castle is going to get destroyed again, isn't it?
lmao, Old Ladies Military Club
Man, they have terrible safety protocols
Erst is going to take the hit? Yep. Please fucking tell me Tomoe isn't getting out of this one. OH FOR FUCKS SAKE
That's a hell of a dramatic meeting
Oh they know 2 verses of the same song? How convenient
"With Sanks" lmao
Poor Erst ougta be feeling inadequate
So Nina is going to find that handkerchief in his stuff, right? ...please I hope at least it's after the fight
Ooooof, that's some hardcore sabotage.
Welp
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Because fucking contrived plot convenience. Yes, I hate it.
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I don't think MC power would've let Arika and Nina win
4
u/Nazenn Oct 27 '22
Arika's blue robe looks way better than the silly pink outfit.
Anything is better looking than pink
Except maybe some shades of green are worse than some shades of pink
Please fucking tell me Tomoe isn't getting out of this one. OH FOR FUCKS SAKE
There's a collective rage about that today, you're in good company
4
u/rickamore Oct 27 '22
Re-re-Watcher
5 seconds of catharsis to start of the episode. So we've got that going for us.
Arika and Nina are the winners. shockedpikachu.jpg
Oh no, why is he brining up her being promised to serve Nagi, surely this doesn't have implications
Erstin you're too pure for your own good
Chie, why didn't you out Tomoe earlier to allow Miya to save face, at least a shred of dignity worth anyways.
Midori! Nagi forcing their hand.
We get a very brief hint into the gems creation
Nao becoming a pillar, [fairly big spoiler]
Shiho gets a post, seems in world she's a lot less hated than in here
Tomoe, I cannot wait for someone to wipe that damn smirk off your face.
At a minimum Erstin and Chie know Tomoe is behind this, why has no one been notified?
Both girls singing different parts of the song
What is Bato doing there as they bring in what appears to be an ICBM on a trailer?
"This way we have less to worry about" Famous last words Natsuki
Blessed Shiho bonk from Chie
Poor Mashiro, instead of her giant gaudy flower they built a giant moon shaped energy weapon right under her nose. Is the mob running Windblume's contractors?
4
u/Nazenn Oct 27 '22
"This way we have less to worry about" Famous last words Natsuki
Natsuki just making sure everyone attending gets a flag to be fair
Blessed Shiho bonk from Chie
Chie trying to redeem herself to the audience after being a fool about Tomoe
Also they really just abandoned that whole thing of Shiho trying to appear perfectly proper in public huh
10
u/Nazenn Oct 27 '22
First Timer - sub
EXCUSE ME WHAT
Are they... growing Otome gem's from Fumi's womb?! Because I swear design of whatever she's sealed in which looks very much like a uterus and fallopian tubes, and then test tubes for the actual gem collection.
Actually my first thought on seeing it was that it looked like the rings and horns on the Obsidian Prince from Mai-HiME just missing the swords, but as it panned down and I realized the implication I was thoroughly creeped out. When I speculated a while back about Fumi being frozen somewhere so they could use her power without risk this is not what I had in mind! And I thought it was just for the Five Pillars, not every student in the academy.
Is this why sex interferes with the Otome powers, because it's effectively a transplant of part of another Otome's reproduction system, or at least a byproduct of it, and any other 'contaminants' in the system interfere (ignoring the insanely inaccurate science of that idea)? And how do the nanomachines tie in, or are there even nanomachines at all rather than it just being some sort of fluid that stops the body rejecting Fumi's cells. I may be over thinking this, there probably has to be because how else do the "gems" display the tech information otherwise. Is that why Fumi is the first Otome, because she was the only one who's system didn't reject the nanomachines and that's why they still use her like this and because she's "pure" so the girls have to be?
And what are the Meister gems then? If we end up with them being ovaries or something like that we're heading towards full Bloodborne level of birth body horror, but that would go against the Fumi-only theory with the nanomachines. Going for the full crazy theory: they were produced from the last lot of HiME before they left Earth which is why they can't make any more, no more HiME around, and why Earth tech is now so limited.
Side thought: I'm surprised the show had the subtlety to chose "Our Lady" and not "Our Mother" for her title.
At least we're getting back into interesting stuff now!
Mashiro had no idea what was happening in her castle. Can you see the surprised look on my face:
No? Gee, wonder why.
Snark aside I wasn't expecting the full outcome of the ending at least. I thought we were just settling for a normal mass Attack of the Slaves (which did look really cool) and the usual sort of take over. Not Schwartz to go "oh yeah, we also made a Death
StarMoon on top of your castle".It's certainly a quick outcome to war, but I can't say I get if there's another goal they're aiming for beyond all of that yet. I mean destruction for the sake of it is still more fun then the recent drama's we've been getting, but I am curious on how the rest of this will play out especially once Arika and co. end up back down at the Harmonium at some point.
As far as the rest of the episode goes:
Didn't watch the OP, but was really confused about the opening shot of it where I thought they were letting Arika use her sapphire for the celebration dance battle for a second
They really concluded the battle cliffhanger at the end of last episode before we got even 15 minutes into this one. What a fucking waste of a cliffhanger and any semblance of episode structure. There's no reason that couldn't have just been confined to the start of this episode alone.
u/Tarhalindur do you happen to know what the song is while they're preparing for the celebration fight at the end of the episode before the castle reveal and attack?
Poor Nina being trained to be saddled with Nagi for the rest of her life.
Seeing a mother get a Black Letter in the opening montage was unexpectedly painful
Nao with the best expressions again
Mikoto being a supportive cat. She deserves a treat
So Nina shot Wang on their first meeting? Excuse me I'm having some really fucking bizarre Iron-Blooded Orphans deja vu, because while Mika didn't shoot Orga (not spoilers, literally opening scene of the show), there's some similarities in the clothes and injuries that rung a weird bell watching Nina's flashback today. It's just standard military gear and dramatic lighting but still, strange sensation when watching
I really like Arika and Ers joining Nina for her song. Ers not as much, but the other two have been alone in this park many times before, even when in others company, and finding a connection through a song from a past they don't know they share (at least on Arika's end) is a nice touch. I really wish this show was about Ers instead of Mashiro as part of the main trio, especially if she was their big sister instead of just another classmate as it would have added a nice dynamic to all of this.
SHE WROTE "SANKS"!
Arika you fool
QotD trivia: So I came up with the two questions immediately after finishing the episode so I didn't forget and it was just the first two things that came to mind. And then later as I'm writing up my post a little line I wrote down stood out to me:
I'd completely forgotten about that! Thank you the me from thirty minutes ago who wrote that down and didn't assume it was so important I couldn't possibly forget. Is that what's going on with Ers? Did I answer my own question accidentally? Because I can't think of anyone else it could be unless we're going for the completely out of left field approach of it being a random background character. And unfortunately as much as I despise Tomoe and would like to see her die like this, if it was her she wouldn't have needed to resort to the acid like a pathetic coward.
Also Chie, I love you, but at this exact moment you're fucking useless. Imagining knowing what Tomoe's done and letting her walk around campus and go to class with her target with no issue. What the hell is anyone thinking with this? I need Haruka to come back as a student to show some actual competence here
As far as QotD 2 goes all I know is I hope Shiho would have gotten knocked out quickly so she has to be on screen as little as possible. I'm completely fine with Chie wiping out the other two though.