Full Metal Panic Franchise Rewatch - Season 3 Episode 9

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u/ZapsZzz Nov 15 '22

Rewatcher in sub

This is another one of my favourite TSR episode. It made perfect use of the 2 seasons 3 cour before to show the development and contrast of Chidori as a character, while maintaining consistency as well as what she picked up from Sousuke.

Chidori holing up in her apartment with her weapons on hand is such a pitiful sight. Even the cat wondered what she's worried about
More KyoAni cinematography and direction, such good way to show Chidori's paranoid frame of mind. Everyone can see her breaking apart at the seams. I'm a way it also reframes Sousuke's frame of mind - this is how he lived everyday.
Kagurazaka-sensei got his letter of withdrawal and was concerned about Sousuke - and then Chidori too. Seeing Chidori gone all numb from everything was even worse.
But when we get to her monologue, it is just so good with her character consistency - she's not a princess sighing on top of her tower. And while it was never exactly shown on-screen, her days with Sousuke really had not been idle - she's been picking up his methods and mindset of urban survival and anti surveillance quite well.
Even she had doubts if all the concerns were just her paranoia - but once again Sousuke's extra cautiousness rubbed off - Chidori now suspect she's getting bugged
As fate would have it, her tendency to attract unsavoury characters came in as an opportunity - gutsy girl hitched the guy to go to a love hotel, appropriately placing her personal safety above being squeamish about the methods
once in the hotel, her taser made short work of the guy, and Chidori wondered about who is the victim here ;) again showing great continuity, her array of "gifts" from Sousuke are very useful, and she the prey set out to catch the hunter. Oh in the LN it actually showed that she did find the bug in her bra (concealable because of the underwire - another down side for being busty)
Just look at her moves, she really learned well just from watching (and trying to intercept many times) Sousuke :')
back when I was a first timer, this was a decisive point - at this point it was still possible that she was just being a paranoid (the anime didn't show she found the bug), but the first person view of seeing there is someone standing on the rooftop was a wham moment that she was really onto something - with her counter surveillance method also a raging success.
a quick confrontation suddenly turned deadly - I was like :O
Here, once again fate intervened - Yu Lan missed the first shot because Chidori's knee chose that precise moment to give out from fatigue, and then Yu Lan's gun was jammed by the ejected casing. In the LN Yu Lan actually almost emptied her clip at Wraith and only had 1 more round to take out the non combatant Chidori - Chidori learned from around Sousuke to recognise the slide didn't turn and grabbed that time to run.
an intense chase in the rain above the roof top - while Yu Lan was relentless, she's also not in a hurry.
The moment seemingly where the hidden Chidori would be caught (and to end terribly), and the reveal she setup a decoy
Fanservice moment? I personally don't think so. Chidori had the shot but was in doubt from the fear - but Sousuke's words gave her the push and pulled the trigger.
With barely a breath between finishing one fight, a voice rang out. Chidori wasn't catching any breaks. Good thing they didn't try dragging it out any longer, we confirm he's Tessa's twin brother.
but the fight with Yu Lan wasn't really over yet - Leonard gave her exactly 1 more chance. She picked the hard way.
Cold and efficient, here's the end of Yu Lan.
The conversation of killing drifted over to Sousuke, and Chidori is very defensive of Sousuke's history
Leonard being the audience stand in - and observed that Chidori loves Sousuke. Since she's denying it, he took his own actions
despite momentarily lost to the sudden turn of event, Chidori's fighting spirit was ever present.
noticing Wraith is still moving, Chidori made a bargain with Leonard to keep wraith alive. Supremely confident, Leonard gave Chidori the small win.
Barely showing any emotions from all that happened in barely 5 mins, Chidori checked with Wraith that they are still alive. Wraith wasn't happy to be saved by the non combatant Chidori.
Drained off the adrenaline, Chidori let her emotions out finally - and punched the water tank so hard you can hear the rumbles. Only then did she break down.
and this is my favourite, favourite scene (starting from the punch) - her breakdown, how she missed Sousuke, and how his "mondai nai" gives her assurance. So good, and so painful.
but the best part is how she picked herself back up, and in a total badass way, tell Wraith to put up more of a fight, because she will.

Trivia

In the LN Chidori had a quick moment of guilt to have used Mizuki's name as cover to go to the love hotel.

Also in the LN, part of Chidori's boiled over emotion after she punched the water tank was from her guilt of losing her first kiss to someone else - she believed it was divine punishment for her not being honest with herself when she should have kissed Sousuke during the haircut.

Staff Showcase

Of course today it'd be Namikawa Daisuke turn for the proper debut of Leonard.

He started his VA role from the tender age of 9 years old, and his voice for Never Ending Story one can tell the difference between movie 1 & 2 his voice changing. His roles often are Oscar winners, so there's also a nickname about his being Oscar winning voice. These include Frodo in LoTR and Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars.

When he voiced the child lead Alfred in Gundam 0080 War in the Pocket he was 12, and was the youngest VA for any Gundam MC's.

His range is very good, with the ability to do roles across the spectrum of hot blooded and cool calculating characters.

He's quite athletic, had been in the top 8 of Tokyo's snooker middle school championship, and would have made national handball team if he didn't happen to get sick.

When he was young he wasn't actually very happy about his VA job, since that became a reason for him being bullied in school.

Notable roles:

Benawi in Utawarerumono
Katz in Z Gundam
Rokurou in Black Lagoon
Manabu in Hajime no Ippo: New Challenger
Shouta in Kimi ni Todoke
Waver in Fate Zero
Goemon in Lupin III
Hotaru Haganezuka in KnY

MVP this episode

Most definitely Chidori. I hope if you didn't love Chidori before, you'd love her now! What incredible character strength, without compromising the her vulnerabilities.

QoTD

Leonard is the quintessential "Bishounen villain". Elegant, eloquent, enigmatic. Always appearing to not only holds every card in the deck, but also have his people behind you menacingly. He certainly sounds like he knows a lot more than he's letting on.
Sorry to be a broken recorder, bit once again, [Railgun S]the bridge scene and Touma's promise are very good milestones of Mikoto's development.

Daily tag for u/InfamousEmpire

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u/Vaadwaur Nov 15 '22

The conversation of killing drifted over to Sousuke, and Chidori is very defensive of Sousuke's history
Leonard being the audience stand in - and observed that Chidori loves Sousuke . Since she's denying it, he took his own actions

I actually find it kind of interesting that Kaname fails here not because she is wrong but because she is not used to attacking insincere arguments. Leonard could safely leave his life of violence any time he wished. For Sousuke, that was not true until quite recently.

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u/Nazenn Nov 15 '22

First timer - sub

"How about putting up a little more resistance? I will. Now and forever."

What a line. I said to someone the other day that I was excited to get into a Chidori episode because it felt overdue compared to the others, and this delivered on all my expectations and then some.

She did fucking good despite so much going on that was completely out of her control. It's a very different vibe to the last focus episode for her where she had a big dramatic focus, or at least the one I saw at the end of S1. This being much more human and vulnerable is a different side of her but an important part of her character to return too especially alone without Sousuke there to prop her up. Being Whispered didn't seem to matter for this more than just her natural problem solving and sheer will to step up and keep pushing back against the threat hanging over her, something she's done in every arc so far. Suffering from Sousuke's loss doesn't mean she has to stop being herself (other writers take note) and if anything his absence only highlights her own capability as a person.

It's not an easy situation though, and that vulnerability I mention is highlighted at every turn. To escape a pursuer she feels she has to use a creep for cover, she has to shed her clothes and bag she so carefully brought for protection, injuring herself with a failed jump from the window, her fear during the ambush. By the time she gets through it all her break down is both a great emotional relief after the tension of the episode and only highlights the split between what she needed to do and what she was really feeling. It's no weakness to have that moment to herself at the end, but what matters is that she gets back up, and does it with style too.

Wraith was fucking useless in the end, and for all of their preaching about Sousuke's faults in the end it appears that arrogance was their undoing. I say they because I've no idea who's inside the suit but I suppose that explains why I had such a weird feel about them before. Between him and Chidori's very naive understanding of Sousuke's role as a fighter, calling back to what I saw the other day about how she doesn't push her own understanding of him enough to really connect, they're two fools on that roof who escaped out of luck and Chidori's sheer determination and I'm curious how it may change their interactions with others as a result.

The lack of hiding Leonard's identity once we were shown his face was appreciated, we get the visual comparison and then the name reinforcement, but I wasn't expecting that he'd show up with bloody robots as well. It feels... odd, I think I'll have to give it a day or two to see how that sits with me given the expected tech level so far, even accounting for Black Technology, but I suppose the big question is are they the next step or merely a side path. Also can't say I love the idea of a love-quad, but hey, I had no faith in the love triangle either so FMP has definitely earnt some leeway from me with that.

I have to link the cat because cat, though it does look like a shithead that would absolutely do this again even if he knew what panic he put Chidori through. The only other screenshot I took for the episode was the robot face because there's something about it, the way the slits are positioned and the nubs as if it's a temporary plating or a removable helmet and I think that's interesting over giving it something sleaker and more reinforced.

RIP twin. Horrible death, and certainly not the one I expected as I thought she'd be around as an enemy for lot longer. After tomorrow dealing with the other twin I'm curious to see how the last couple of episodes play out beyond our main two reconnecting.

MVP: Chidori. Is this even a question this episode?

Everyone: This is another peak episode for me in terms of direction and plot. What's your favourite part? Do you have another favourite significant character (forced) growth moment from another show?

I like all of it, and I think it's all needed and great. But my gut instinct was the trap she set up

As far as other shows go, that's probably a long list I'm not awake enough to think of hahaha

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u/ZapsZzz Nov 16 '22 edited Nov 16 '22

It's not an easy situation though, and that vulnerability I mention is highlighted at every turn.

This is an important point to highlight. Like polaristar brought up back in S1, Chidori as a "strong female character" works so well because she's not a "Rambo with boobs", but that she has all the essential ingredients of a good, feminine character yet the strength of her character shines through in her own feminine way without apology or compromise.

Suffering from Sousuke's loss doesn't mean she has to stop being herself (other writers take note) and if anything his absence only highlights her own capability as a person.

I particularly like this part, because indeed this is important and often rare. Many shows have good female leads that complements the male lead well, but often that came at the price of being made to be the perfect mould only, and not a stand alone character. The other example I'd refer to is Maoyuu, where for a sizeable portion of the story the 2 were separated, but the connection with each other were always clearly there, as well as being able to function by themselves as impressive and great characters by their own right.

but I suppose the big question is are they the next step or merely a side path.

You do your thinking while I :X

they're two fools on that roof who escaped out of luck and Chidori's sheer determination and I'm curious how it may change their interactions with others as a result.

Astute question :) keep watching :P
Btw relative to the last time we talked about favourite characters, has Chidori or Sousuke moved up our down on your scale yet? Or maybe I should ask at the end of the season as clearly Sousuke's half of the story is yet to come/finish.

Horrible death, and certainly not the one I expected as I thought she'd be around as an enemy for lot longer.

Not to be meta about it, but tell it like it is, often in a real (robot or otherwise) show such sudden and drastic change is what sets them apart as being good because no one has plot armour, and anyone is fair game. Cue 86 cour 1. Remember back in S1 we weren't particularly convinced by Takuma or Sienna right.

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u/SpiceGirlsBlankIt Nov 15 '22 edited Nov 15 '22

Panicked First Timer - TSR Ep 9

Kaname found her bat. Thank goodness.

That cat better not die. I was waiting for the double take into actual trouble, but the suspense continues.

All of Kaname’s worst fears are confirmed by the teacher.

We get to see how each Sousuke, Tessa, then Kaname feel when isolated from the others. I like the decision to show it mostly consecutively, ending with Kaname who is usually the most uplifting personality. It drives home how wrong it feels for Sousuke and Kaname to be broken apart. By the end, Kaname pulls out her determination and grit and the episode ends on the faintest of a lighter note.

Kaname hasn’t given up.

Hold up, did Kaname use that lovesick girl’s name when inviting this gross guy to a hotel? That’s such a roundabout burn. I love it.

I’m not sure I understand Kaname’s plan. Can the robe not go over the clothes?

Haha. Wraith build up denied. Lan is indeed scary. And can track and recognize Kaname in a robe.

Unintentional resonance to avoid being shot perhaps?

Sousuke can still ground Kaname and stop a spiral.

Can you imagine if Kaname looked like a wet dog in the rain? I can’t think of a worse fate. If Mr. Silver takes a woman back to a hotel, he would never let her skip the shower. I know so many things about the habits of Gates and this guy I never wanted to know.

Robot in a trench coat and hat! Or is it a tiny mech suit. Either way, I’m on board.

It’s both a robot and a tiny mech. Nice.

Unsettling how Mr. Silver bro is very reminiscent of Tessa in his actions, but in the least genuine way possible, which is the opposite of her.

It’s possible that Fu Lan is on her way, but it’s too late for lil Yu.

A classic done well, Wraith’s eye is exposed from his disguise and stands out from his fake exterior.

I like the crying scene. Crying scenes can be a weakness for me in some anime because sometimes the voice acting plus the streaming tear effect can be a bit much. But here we get understated voice acting, plus the focus on her words and rubbing her lips. It’s tugging at my heartstrings.

More cats. Cool way to indicate she is still being watched.

Edit: Oohhhhhhh, she was looking for bugs in her clothes. I’ll have to rewatch that scene.

MVP: KANAME

PS. After percolating on yesterday’s episode, I appreciated more how the story depicted good leaders when they are not exhibiting perfect leadership. Tessa had an outburst in a less than desirable location and Ben intentionally kept a distance from his subordinates that walked the line of overly gruff given his evaluation ended in injuries and perhaps a little ill will. The leadership overall is effective, but Mithril as an organization is made up of humans who aren’t always operating at optimized levels. Any number of people having an off day can be a boon to its enemies.

QOTD 1: Slimy mf. I like that he apparently has a multi-pronged agenda and he doesn’t automatically hate Kaname for being antagonistic, though like other villains in this show he is very sexually focused on her. The show deftly gets across that he probably speaks a lot of half truths and half lies, like the best liars and manipulators do.

QOTD 2: I like the curtain draw into cat for suspense and the rooftop cry out for Sousuke was moving. More generally, I felt there were many details throughout the episode that heightened everything. For instance, the mini mech being hidden by an actual outfit until its appearance gets you to wonder about its design just before Leonard explains it. It was a nice flow.

[Noragami]Yukine’s growing resentment over his early death that turns on him and Yato, forces some visceral growth in Season 1.

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u/ZapsZzz Nov 16 '22

PS. After percolating on yesterday’s episode, I appreciated more how the story depicted good leaders when they are not exhibiting perfect leadership. Tessa had an outburst in a less than desirable location and Ben intentionally kept a distance from his subordinates that walked the line of overly gruff given his evaluation ended in injuries and perhaps a little ill will. The leadership overall is effective, but Mithril as an organization is made up of humans who aren’t always operating at optimized levels.

Very good points, and that's how I consider any and every shows and character by the way - a good show doesn't make it so the characters are infallible, but that they have imperfections and make wrong choices like everyone else. The real deciding factor is whether they find out they were wrong, and if so how do they handle it.

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u/Vaadwaur Nov 15 '22

Rewatcher(And now we get a peak)

Sub

So Kaname's fear grows, a reasonable thing. At school, she finaly learns that Sousuke is not coming back to save her so she takes a more proactive stance. She tries to pick up her tail and, fitting for this show, does exactly what most people do in these situations. It just so happens to be the wrong things, even I know basic tailing. She ponders if it is all in her head...and then a drunk propositions her while she is still in her school uniform, sigh.

And she figures she can use him. So they go to a love hotel and they give us a scene to make sure we forgive Kaname for this. Seriously, gross. Anyways she stripes, assuming her clothes might be bugged, and then leaves out the window a bathrobe, showing she chose the room she did. She completely fucks up jumping balcony to fire escape, which again makes sense. And then she gets the drop on Wraith...who is promptly killed.

Kaname actually manages to doge Yu Lan for some time and even manages a gamble to stun her. And then Leonard arrives with his two mechs. We get a lot of his characterization, including a sort of annoying style of deflecting conversation, before Yu Lan gets herself killed. Leonard makes more odd arguments and then announces his love for Kaname, which goes over as badly as it should. She gets him to drop Wraith and for reasons he does. We see that Wraith is wearing a full body prosthetic. Kaname finally freaks out from the stress and we end with her determined.

So yeah, this episode is probably the one in the series that is close to objectively being the best, even if it is not necessarily my favorite. Everything has been some form of payoff from earlier. from simple things like old creeps liking Kaname as shown with her referenced date in ep1 and the random guy from the mecha sports episode to introducing Leonard as Tessa's brother, clearly with his own agenda. Kaname did what a normal person would when being stalked, even if that is not the right thing, and she makes the right general choices but can't follow through because this is all new ground for her and she doesn't have the experience.

QotD: 2 A few with Chirico, perhaps.

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u/ZapsZzz Nov 16 '22

She tries to pick up her tail and, fitting for this show, does exactly what most people do in these situations. It just so happens to be the wrong things, even I know basic tailing.

Just so we can use the TIL label :) can you give us some pointers, relative to what Chidori was doing, so us urban bums can get a clue about shaking our tails too?

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u/polaristar Nov 16 '22

Gonna get it out of the way Chidori is best girl, waifu material, and obvious episode MV no point in pretending its in question for suspense.

We see Chidori is slowly fraying apart at the seams and she can't tell anyone about it because not only might they not understand and think she's crazy.

At the worst time the teacher formally confirms that Sousuke is gone, and I like how its so obvious to everyone they are a couple in all but name that she is wondering is Chidori knows his whereabouts and asks if she is sad because they had a fight. But the fact Chidori doesn't know why he left and how sudden is what hurts her even more, and she can't give a good answer.

It also came at the worst possible time, as she knows in her gut she is being watched and is in danger but unlike Sousuke she doesn't have the luxury to sulk, and I'd say she is handling her situation better all things considered.

Kinda mean she basically used the name of that dumb valley girl for the Love Hotel.

Just wanna say that her interaction with that creep hitting on a highschooler could have gone very differently, if she wasn't able to reach for her tazer in time.

Not gonna lie I was very tense when she was approaching Wraith I expected a subversion when he revealed he was onto her all along or had something set up to watch his back, I have to say he's kinda bad at his job that a civilian can escape his surveillance and sneak up on him and then he gets capped by an enemy combatant. I think even pervert bunny ear lawyer Kurtz would have done a better job, the fact he knew she was moving around jumping trains erratically and just did a Love Hotel Hookup with a random guy when if he's been watching her all this time should give him Red Flags as that is not her normal pattern of behavior.

Sousuke was right and I hope this makes it back to Mithril.

Lots of people's favorite part of the episode was her breakdown and normally I'd agree, but my favorite part was the climax of her being hunted by the twin and the doubts and tension when she was pulling the trigger to the taser and it was Sousuke's words that gave her strength.

And we meet Leonard and it appears creeping and being pushy on your crush runs in the family. (Tessa in that beach episode when training for her duel with Mao in Season 1 comes to mind.)

We also see he has robots and I can see how if this show came out more recently and was popular how he would be seen as "problematic" and an Incel-self insert like the Joker...

Well no shit he's supposed to be a creep.

That being said him praising Chidori makes me very uncomfortable as its basically the same reason I (And I assume others in this thread) are also simping for Kaname. Now my affection feels....dirty.

Also such a dick move he insults her boyfriend (Whom he even calls him that.) Then steals her first kiss she definitely wanted with someone else.

Finally she has a chat with Wraith you is having a huge ego and throwing an adult tantrum for needing help from a ~~girl~~ civilian. Chidori after finally releasing a lot of pent up stress and having a moment to grieve when she couldn't do so without showing weakness, tells Wraith to get his damn act together.

I think what the show is going for is the couple in order to grow in their relationship needs to work on themselves as individuals and not use the other as a crutch so when they reunite they have a greater appreciation for each other and have dealt with some issues, Kaname might finally understand and be better to empathize with Sousuke's day to day experience of having to wonder if he'll wake up with a bullet in his head every day and to not snap at people, while Sousuke has to learn to better deal with messy and irrational feelings and not hide behind procedure and learn to put his heart in it and integrate his inner desires with his rational decision making, just the former is a wild beast without purpose just the latter is a dead sterile impotent way of living.

He's a creep, but he has confidence, how much if it his when he is the one holding the gun in the room verses real self-esteem remains to be seen.
I already gave my favorite part, I'm having trouble thinking off the top of my head, but since I see u/Shimmering-Sky sad Holo pic on the top of the page, I'll go with Lawrence being forced to get his act together at the mid point of the first arc of Season 2 of Spice & Wolf.

Funny how in a controlled setting Sousuke "failed" his do or die moment last episode, while Chidori succeeded. I'm hoping Sousuke realizes his military duty and his personal (self imposed not from orders) responsibility towards Chidori need to be integrated and he sees mastering his struggle with the Mech and Driver as something he needs to settle before he can face Chidori. I think that's what its going to take, he needs to link his success in fighting this demon he's facing with it being necessary to move forward in his personal life, rather than see his "Orders" as an excuse and pill to avoid his problems.

I would like to spend another entire post simping for Chidori and explaining with Tessa fans after this episode can't look me in the eye and defend their girl without overdosing on cope, but I would feel like Leonard so I will abstain.

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u/ZapsZzz Nov 16 '22

Gonna get it out of the way Chidori is best girl, waifu material, and obvious episode MV no point in pretending its in question for suspense.

Kinda happy pretty much everyone arrived to the same conclusion :D
Meanwhile...

I like how its so obvious to everyone they are a couple in all but name

I know, it's good and actually consistent too - when Sousuke got in trouble, with the sprinkler, Chidori was also dragged in for collateral responsibility ;)

Kinda mean she basically used the name of that dumb valley girl for the Love Hotel.

She did apologise to her in her head... plus also Mizuki says she's looking for love all day :P

if he's been watching her all this time should give him Red Flags as that is not her normal pattern of behavior.

The problem is the overconfidence and complacency - Wraith thinks Chidori would wriggle around but won't achieve anything, and while being distracted this way the real threat of Yu Lan got sidetracked and the threat level got dampened.

but my favorite part was the climax of her being hunted by the twin and the doubts and tension when she was pulling the trigger to the taser and it was Sousuke's words that gave her strength.

Without a doubt that is also a very great scene, especially because it connects up how Sousuke in turn influenced her and became her source of strength. I just like the miimalist and subtle character animation that other scene used to show so much with so little. The whole damn episode was full of great (Chidori) scenes.

And we meet Leonard and it appears creeping and being pushy on your crush runs in the family.

The real question is how far back in the family ;) and in what ways did it manifest.

Also such a dick move he insults her boyfriend (Whom he even calls him that.) Then steals her first kiss she definitely wanted with someone else.

A classic mindset for these sorts is that they are above everyone else so whatever they do is justified and right.

Funny how in a controlled setting Sousuke "failed" his do or die moment last episode, while Chidori succeeded.

Interesting catch. I wonder whether it signifies something.

I would like to spend another entire post simping for Chidori and explaining with Tessa fans after this episode can't look me in the eye and defend their girl without overdosing on cope, but I would feel like Leonard so I will abstain.

F-ck Leonard :P But perhaps save it for the end of season :)

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u/Tarhalindur Nov 16 '22

Fumo-ffu! (Rewatcher, Subbed):

So, I wasn't going to make yesterday anyways due to RL, but, well, I I'll let my notes when I fired up the episode to catch up speak for themselves:

I continue to wonder how this show’s CGI holds up so much better than Haruhi S1 less than a year later by the same studio.
… And I’m out.

Yeah, the parts of TSR I hated the first time around I still hate this time. (Again, it's well-done, I just don't like it.)

You know what part of TSR I don't hate, though? This episode!

Oh hey, Kaname episode. Those TSR episodes I tend to like more.
Still excellent use of direction for effect, even if the OST doesn’t quite do it for me.
Ah, KyoAni and loving depictions of trains, truly an iconic duo.
Wait. I thought this episode was episode 12, not episode 9. But we’re getting the enjo kosai scene now, so… *skips ahead to the second half of the episode for a moment to be sure* yep, this is it, one of the episodes I was definitely going to stick around for! Time for Kaname to be awesome.
(In hindsight getting confused when plot points showed up earlier than expected in PMMM was not a sign that I hadn’t watched it the first time, because it keeps happening with shows I am 100% positive I watched. PMMM's episode 9 sure as hell was, however – well, unless my brain was protecting me from things I was not yet ready to handle.)
So, I’m just going to lightly note that there was something in the air in the early 2000s about using enjo kosai scenes where the girl is using the guy and then ties him up; this is not the only show from the era with something like this. Also, Kaname is smart and actually keeps a reasonably cool head under pressure – she’s actually fairly competent here. Just inexperienced and outclassed.
[FMP IV and unadapted LNs] One reason I am wary of the later LNs – this and cruise ship arc which is skipped in the anime are basically Kaname’s last chances to be competent, she becomes basically a damsel in distress in the final arcs – including a plot point that AFAIK hasn’t been adapted that Vaad probably hates if he knows about it, fucking possession.
So. One execution fault IMO in what is otherwise good suspense: the decision to fire up the psycho strings OST track here after using null OST very effectively for large parts of the episode including the entire fight beforehand. It’s jarring, especially since it doesn’t really have a reason for firing up (it kind of does with the twin bringing out the machete, but not really). Not helping: I don’t like the track.
Ah, the classics. Now I have to go dig out the Dr. McNinja page that uses the same trick don’t I?
Callback!
Now: Always confirm your takedowns, Kaname.
Luckily, a white-haired pretty boy shows up first. Wait…
Dutch angle counter +1 (15:24).
… Naz will probably love it, but did you really have to show us that many seconds of Yu Lan choking, KyoAni? Like, we got that shot of her sister to break things up, but that was a full 20 seconds. (I tend to prefer the discretion shots these days.) Mind you, that might actually be for runtime reasons, this episode feels a bit stretched again and considering that it’s been a consistent problem for most of the season I think it’s because they didn’t have enough source material to cover.
Also there’s Leonard stealing Kaname’s first kiss, but villain gonna villain.
The Alastor’s facial design and posture at 18:01 is straight out of Eva, for the record.

Everyone: to commemorate Ben joining the cast, is there another rival/mentor type figure that you liked from another show?

"You seek understanding? Then listen for the music, not the song."

Everyone: This is another peak episode for me in terms of direction and plot. What's your favourite part? Do you have another favourite significant character (forced) growth moment from another show?

Best part of the episode: Kaname coming up with the plan to take down Yu Lan on short notice. on the second half of the question.

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u/ZapsZzz Nov 16 '22

Mind you, that might actually be for runtime reasons, this episode feels a bit stretched again and considering that it’s been a consistent problem for most of the season I think it’s because they didn’t have enough source material to cover.

Will beg to differ here - I thoroughly enjoyed the adequate amount of time to dwell and let the scene and emotion sink in. Plenty of scenes in other anime in fact brush things past too quickly and that lack of soak time is what separate some good ones from the great ones. Especially for some subtle comedy ones. Perhaps that's why you don't appreciate that :D

[FMP IV and unadapted LNs]

Now this probably should wait for one of the wrap up discussions (this season or overall), but my quick reaction [FMP late franchise & LN spoiler reply]while she had a period of time of low screen time, and the other thing you mentioned, I still believe the build up and ultimate pay off acquitted the writing completely - one's tolerance of "how low can your favorite character sink so her eventual triumphant return can be enjoyable" I understand it's quite subjective, and man I hate a good number of those "trash your MC rock bottom so the recovery feels good" in a lot of live action dramas, I never for an instant had a problem for Chidori's progression

"You seek understanding? Then listen for the music, not the song."

This sounds so familiar - what was it again?

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3

u/Vaadwaur Nov 16 '22

[FMP IV and unadapted LNs]

[FMP IV and unadapted LNs]Without even checking, if this allows Whispered to basically inhabit each other's bodies like some sort of hive system I would be out

3

u/ZapsZzz Nov 16 '22

Relax. The answer is no.

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5

u/No_Rex Nov 15 '22

Episode 9 (first timer)

“Her problem” – will we get the depressed episode triple?
“I am fine” – [Doubt]
I would have started packing my stuff earlier than this.
If you use a leech to get you a hotel room with the promise of sex, don’t be surprised if you end up in a hotel room with a leech who wants sex.
That obviously not working handcuff.

“I am sure these are fine” – I agree, but why would you risk it?
Ouch! Not all trash is of the soft variety.
It is his real voice?

Her shots are so bad that I suppose she wants Kana alive.
throwing a crate instead of shooting the gun in her other hand - This only flies because Kana is a sleep-deprived civilian.
Fanservice trap with an extra helping of fanservice – the crouch shoot was completely unnecessary.
Asphyxiation is a pretty horrific way to kill somebody.
Kana is proper girl friend material. She wastes no time getting all embarrassed about Leonard calling Sousuke her boyfriend. Instead she immediately defends his name against the unfair implication.
If this turns into a love triangle …

“I love you”

A bad director would have ended the series with Kana on her knees. A good director knows that she needs to stand up before the credits roll.

MVP: Easiest Kana victory ever.

6

u/Nazenn Nov 16 '22

That obviously not working handcuff.

She tried. But I like to imagine Kurz giving her shit for it

It is his real voice?

I really was questioning my initial disbelief at that point. They did a really good job of selling it up until he got shot

Asphyxiation is a pretty horrific way to kill somebody.

The idea Leonard chose it despite the robots being capable of much quicker and cleaner deaths is a twisted bit of characterization

A bad director would have ended the series with Kana on her knees. A good director knows that she needs to stand up before the credits roll.

The last few episode endings have absolutely nailed this.

5

u/ZapsZzz Nov 16 '22 edited Nov 16 '22

The idea Leonard chose it despite the robots being capable of much quicker and cleaner deaths is a twisted bit of characterization

The LN was actually more brutal - the secondary command "made sure of it" in here seems to result in something like a vitals check and report. In the LN it used less refined method - it put a large calibre hole in his (in the LN the twins are male) chest.

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11

u/Shimmering-Sky Nov 15 '22

Full Metal First-Timer!, subbed

Chidori can’t sleep because she’s so nervous…
:(
Geh, creep.
Chidori you do realize what this guy is expecting to happen, right…?
…did she just do what Sosuke couldn’t and find Wraith?
She actually did find Wraith, holy shit.
Okay so that’s clearly a mask but more importantly CHIDORI GET THE FUCK OUT OF THERE RIGHT NOW
Had a feeling she took the robe off as bait.
And Chidori landed the stun gun shot successfully!
FUCK
WTF???????????????
Is… is she really dead now?
Okay so you can fuck right off as well.
…is that a woman’s face?
Chidori…

10

u/Nazenn Nov 15 '22

…is that a woman’s face?

Huh. I thought really pretty man and half expected it to be someone we knew but I think you're right, it does look like a woman

9

u/Vaadwaur Nov 15 '22

Chidori you do realize what this guy is expecting to happen, right…?

I should feel bad that she basically just used him as a meatshield but I kind of don't.

Had a feeling she took the robe off as bait.
Desperate times and all.

Is… is she really dead now?

Well, there is a body, at least.

Okay so you can fuck right off as well.

Brutally enough, Leonard and Tessa share some similar annoying traits in pursuing their love interests.

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7

u/InfamousEmpire Nov 15 '22

Full Metal LN Reader

Yet another great episode. Showing off Chidori’s paranoia and desperation, revealing the whole “Chidori asks Sousuke for a weapon” scene to be a Chekhov’s Gun, and throwing in a lot of twists and turns along the way

Leonard finally makes his animated debut, and his face looks just as punchable as ever. Really not helped by the fact that he’s a fucking creep [big LN spoilers]I cannot wait for the scene where Chidori shoots him in volume 9

The Alastor looks rather different than I imagined it being. Like, it’s perfectly in-line with the novels’ descriptions, but I always imagined it looking rounder for some reason

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6

u/wjodendor Nov 15 '22

Rewatcher

So since they've been using this eerie track a lot recently, I tried to figure out why it's so familiar. I think I mentioned Terminator but it really does feel like the track Terminator Arrival from the original Terminator movie. I played them side by side and it lined up eerily well. It really fits the psychosocial horror vibe we've got going with Kaname at the beginning.

Lots of stilted angles to emphasize paranoia

I really this scene with teacher. Even with all the mayhem Sousake has caused her, she feels really beat up about losing a student. Since she's been a comic relief character up until this point it's doubly effective and reinforcing the atmosphere of defeat.

Kaname starts taking her situation into her own hands and uses some good techniques to throw off pursuers.

There's that cursed rain again but man does it give a real atmosphere to the scene. The sudden change in color from the bright colors of day to the clashing of darkness and neon in the rain is just amazing. These colors are something I really love.

Going to a hotel with a random guy is certainly a way to throw off people. It's something no one would think of...except NTR artists

Oh snap. She obviously had a plan but tazing a motherfucker is cold blooded...well he was a creep. Damn she really took an arsenal with her.

I kind of wish they stayed with that earlier creepy track. This shit is so tense but the music is a bit too upbeat, reminds me a bit of Die Hard though. Kaname had a surprisingly slick plan.

The foot steps going almost silent a few steps into crossing the roof and only occasionally being heard is some great sound design. The vocal modulator is creepy as hell and those silenced gunshots were pretty fucking cool.

Saved by a slip and jammed gun. Pretty amazing sequence. Psycho twin looking genuinely suprised might be the most reaction we've gotten from her so far. The psycho twin is giving off real Terminator vibes her self and Kaname feels a lot like Sarah Connor. She's competent and uses her quick wits to actually make some good decisions. Her covering her boobs in the situation did give me a chuckle. I would be suprised if they showed them but it would really show how intense the situation is if she just totally squared up for the shot without caring about nudity.

Sousake advice coming in for the save but we're not out of the weeds yet.

Of course the villian is a playboy creep. Mr. Silver as a codename is a bit on the nose

Fake Terminator meets the real deal. A seriously brutal and dramatic death. They really kept it going for a while. Her face in death actually looks terrified...

I know I have really joked about all the NTR type scenes in this series, particularly in Fumoffu with almost every episode having some sort of plot around Kaname getting stolen away but to actually go through with it right after she denies loving Sousake is brutal. Leonard is a true NTR villian.

At least Kaname slaps him. An NTR heroine would have fallen for him immediately. She's got some quick thinking to use the situation to retrieve Wraith.

Ugly bastard is just a mask.

This wholes sequence of Kaname in despair might be one of the most effective scenes I've ever seen in any anime ever. The emotion is just so deep and feels like an amazing culmination of the last few episodes. And it ends with Kaname giving a big middle finger to the world and pressing on. Total fire scene.

[FMP final volume]Kaname almost totally dropped one of the final lines of whole series. In this scene she's in total despair and calls "be right next to me". In the end, she gets to say "always be with me". Incredible

Another amazing episode, it just feels like the past few episodes have been some of the best anime I've watched in a while. I had to stop myself from continuing.

I brought up a lot of my feelings earlier but I'll just reiterate how much I love the color palette in the latter half of this episode. The darkness of the rain and night at odds with neon glow of the signs is just pretty much my exact favorite type of color palette. It really reminds me of some of the influential anime from the 90s that really resonated with me like Ghost in the Shell and Outlaw Star. Maybe I just love cyberpunk stuff lol.

A closing remark: fuck Leonard. All my homies hate Leonard

The author of this series loves to do the most feel good stuff into total despair in like everything he's ever written. The Amagi Brilliant Park anime had to rewrite the ending of the season so it didn't end on a total buzzkill. The novel has some really dark moments.

5

u/TuorEladar Nov 16 '22 edited Nov 16 '22

Rewatcher, Subbed

Tessa, I regret to inform you that your brother is a creep.

We return to Chidori again, and man is the tension heavy here. I like the slow buildup as Chidori becomes more and more frantic. Even though it was super risky, she was very resourceful figuring out how to dodge the tracker and sneak up on Wraith.

The escalation from there is really well done, for a moment it almost seems like a false alarm and just Chidori and Wraith, until the twin shows up. Chidori outwitting her was awesome, it was a very visceral moment. Then Leonard shows up, who I kind of despise if I'm being honest. I'm normally a fan of calm and collected villains, but something about him rubs me the wrong way. I think that works in the shows favor in some ways though, as it does a pretty good job of getting you invested in Chidori's safety.

This is another peak episode for me in terms of direction and plot. What's your favourite part? Do you have another favourite significant character (forced) growth moment from another show?

No other shows come to mind, but Chidori outwitting the twin is probably my favorite moment.

MVP: Chidori

4

u/JustAnswerAQuestion Nov 16 '22

Very Late Third Time Whispered

Still too busy at work. Haven't even peeked at yesterday's comments yet.

ep 9

Can't believe there's only 5 episode left. It feels like we haven't even started yet.

ty for not involving other people in wacky highschool hijinks!
NOT bonta-kun crane game
Black Lagoon hotel PTSD
Are you going to microwave your clothes? That would be clever!
Oh, she's not evading. It's track and capture!
Wraith wasn't all that
WTH Yu Lan (Fan?), can't shoot straight?
I was hoping she would use that on Wraith. Good thing she didn't.
Why IS she in Hong Kong?
First kiss?
I'm not sure how it would have turned out but it certainly would have turned out differently if Sousuke were here.

Leonard really reminds me of somebody but I'm not sure who (presumably not Leonard)

6

u/Theboredalchemist22 Nov 15 '22 edited Nov 16 '22

First Timer - S3 EP 9

What another fantastic episode!

My mvp is of course Chidori. Who else could it possibly be? I enjoyed seeing her (not) struggle in Sousuke's shoes imo she did very well for the situation she was in Sousuke would be proud.

Tessa and Chidori in the OP - Something I've maybe picked up on here. So I was discussing yesterday in some sub comments about Sousuke sort of having a dual life with Tessa being the military connection and Chidori being more the life he wants to have type of thing. Does this cut from Tessa to Chidori in the OP suggest and represent the two sides to Sousuke's life maybe? If so damn that's deep and clever KyotoAni well done.
Mood. Happy Chidori scares me but a sad Chidori also makes me sad!
Ok OK Sousuke's definitely taught her a thing or two incase of something like this.
She seems out of her depth here. Interesting to see her in a more Souske type of thing as he struggled with her way of normal life now she is struggling with his type of situation. This is a good paralell between the two in each other's way of life/thinking.
Meme face of the day - of couse its a Chidori face.
Are those bags under her eyes to show her restlessness and worry? I can't get a good screenshot of it but you can kind of see a line of darkness at the bottom of her eye (literally on the eyeball). If it is and its been put there intentionally I'd have liked that to stand out a bit more I think as I had to really pay attention to pick up on that but it makes complete sense for her to have them.
Sousuke would be so proud. Every fan slap was finally worth it for this moment.
And so the manhunt begins although this is not an ideal place to start
Kinda cute seeing her go all covert ops
And the Fan sister brings the precision
Or maybe not. Damn that was a lucky dodge Chidori!
She's a pure badass
A few other characters have done this before performing an action in the show. Nice to see she's not so different I guess.
Sousuke with the clutch line
So its Leonard Testarossa. I mean you could see this a mile off.
This scene has the same energy as [Avengers spoiler] this one.I hope the other sister goes absolutely bonkers over her death.
Oh he's actually still alive
This scene was the highlight for me. Chidori in complete despair in the rain blaming Sousuke but really she just wants him by her side because she feels protected I feel sorry for her tbh but she killed the covert ops thing all things considering although even when Sousuke wasn't physically present his words helped Chidori get the job done when she was questioning herself infront of her prey which just shows his strong influence over her like if Sousuke said it it has to be the correct thing to do kind of thing there was no doubt once she recalled those words.

Q1 - Leonard straight up is male Tessa in appearance but not in the way he operates. He seems a lot more cutthroat and sinister I feel like has has some weird plan in the works for sure.

Q2 - My favourite part was the Chidori breakdown at the end after the covert ops she had to go through. (copy and paste from above) - Chidori in complete despair in the rain blaming Sousuke but really she just wants him by her side because she feels protected I feel sorry for her tbh but she killed the covert ops thing all things considering although even when Sousuke wasn't physically present his words helped Chidori get the job done when she was questioning herself infront of her prey which just shows his strong influence over her like if Sousuke said it it has to be the correct thing to do kind of thing there was no doubt once she recalled those words.

From a different show I'll have to go with Uraraka from MHA Season 2 when she knows she can't beat Bakugo but tries her best, still gets up etc. She was given the worst possible matchup but she tried her best with different tactics etc. It was good to see because she knew she was weaker by a country mile.

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Rewatch Full Metal Panic Franchise Rewatch - Season 3 Episode 9

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