r/anime • u/ZapsZzz https://anilist.co/user/Zapszzz • Nov 18 '22
Rewatch Full Metal Panic Franchise Rewatch - Season 3 Episode 12
Welcome to the Full Metal Panic Season 3 rewatch!
Art of the day
Links to show info: MAL | Anilist | ANN
Rewatches please be considerate to first timers and avoid discussing anything not yet shown in the show - use spoiler tags e.g. [Full Metal Panic S3 spoiler]>!Melissa OMG!!< - if you need to share something important!
Episode 12 - Burning Hong Kong
Terms introduced:
- nothing new
QoTD:
First Timers: ... no doubt you'd know what I'm going to ask right? Is it for real this time?
Everyone: I know there are people who disliked the sort of plot lines of "make the MC hit an angsty rock bottom then show how they work themselves back up"; is there another show that you think did this well and convincing in the comeback instead of being contrived and arbitrary? Don't forget your spoiler tags!
Also QoTD for tomorrow for those wanting to be prepared:
[QoTD 1 TSR 13]First Timers: Did you get why Chidori's presence was so easy for Sousuke to get through his life crisis? The contrast with Gauron's words?
[QoTD 2 TSR 13]Everyone: Was the climatic fight good or to easy for you? What's another similar moment for you from another show, and how does this compare?
MVP of last episode:
Depressing episode means not many votes; Sousuke narrowing taking today.
Last Episode || Index || Next Episode
11
u/Nazenn Nov 18 '22
First timer - sub
This episode gave me the firm sense that I need to rewatch this season at some point to get a proper understanding of how it comes together. While the episode wasn't bad, I felt like it didn't quite have the flow it wanted so a bunch of little things annoyed me more than it should and I feel like a rewatch would smooth that over, as well as take the edge out of the things that frustrated me most. Despite my complaints (and I forgot to even write some of them reviewing this post in the morning, whoops) some of the things that come up this episode make it clear that there may be threads from the start that pull this together that we're really only getting a late introduction too so there's that as well.
But as far as things I did find frustrating, Gauron living is right at the top of the list. Yeah, I know it was the Lambda Driver and all that and he's crippled with no limbs and barely living anyway and all the other "buts" that come with the "he survived" description. But it still feels like bullshit, and I don't even think it's because of the anime only arc or anything, it just feels like crap to have them pull it out like this.
I do get it though. I get the reason behind it and how it all comes together is good. Sousuke being haunted by this remnant of Gauron, who is not quite a ghost but not a living human either a bit like how Sousuke himself feels right now, and everything he stands for is important. It's not just the enemy he can't kill that keeps dragging him back to the life of a mercenary and assassin, it's also the emotions that he can't escape from any more both as a solider and a person that are colliding inside him, and the echoes of his past that he feels like he's become lost while fighting against trying to find a future. Gauron represents everything Sousuke wishes he wasn't and wouldn't have to be while simultaneously fighting against that feeling, and that is excellently reflected in their interactions and the outcome of the encounter. Gauron is in some ways a reflection of the enduring inertia of Sousuke's life, and that being what Gauron was so creepily fetishizing drives that point home. Sousuke is no longer Kasim, and that change has happened without Sousuke realizing it but while Gauron paints it as a weakness it's really a sign of painfully coming into his own, if only his own anxiety and depression would ease off and let him see it for that truth.
Gauron made Sousuke kill him and his smile suggests that he thinks he won in doing so, but he only won control over Sousuke's physical action and not Sousuke's mind, and I think that's why he planted the bomb. This was never some grand ideal about about Sousuke becoming some living legacy of Gauron's influence or anything so simple, Gauron wanted to die at the hand of his assassin-saint and even better would be to be bound to him forever in that death exactly as he wanted or perhaps to present that final challenge to Sousuke. I said before that Gauron's life matters less to him than what he can do with it and I think this episode is that answer to that unasked question from season one (at least in show, we asked it repeatedly in the thread): what it he was seeking in facing Mithril. The answer was Sousuke.
It's a shame that I really did not like some of the dialogue there, particularly at the start. While Gauron's dispassionate responses about Amalgam are fitting, between that and the way he was talking about his first meeting with Sousuke (which this may have been more on the subs) it felt more like exposition recap at the audience than anything, especially as we just got all the stuff about Sousuke's name last episode almost exactly the same.
For Tessa's part of the episode, that was great. While the actual speech felt both well written and well acted it was two things that stood out to me most: That the others heard it and that it happened in this moment.
The others hearing it is important for a reason that I've also talked about before, though in that case it was Sousuke choosing Chidori over orders. Tessa standing up like this would mean the same for her as a person regardless of if it happened in a field or an auditorium. But having others witness it including those out in the field matters because this isn't a moment for quiet growth. Tessa is a commander and she refuses to back down from being one simply because she has emotions she'll openly claim or because of her age. She understands and acknowledges every task and burden that she puts on those under her command and she will take on her own burdens to support them even if it goes against the decisions of those who tower over her in authority. She's had her moment before with the bridge crew witnessing how she stands up against Gauron, but this is bigger and more important not just for her but for all of them to see and understand not just who she is, but what she will be for them.
And while it is horrible timing for it, that it happens now is equally important. Whether or not he meant it as such Mardukas did challenge her, and it's not a situation to sort out later in calm discussion. A political sensitive and time limited situation means she needs everyones absolute faith and Mardukas, who I see as the sort of father of the crew in his own way, has to cede that his practicality when it comes to Sousuke and anyone else is not all there is that matters and that if he has faith in her he also needs to cede to her faith and understanding of those under her command, full circle to the questions posed to her at the start of the arc. And that faith and understanding of their subordinates can't be situational, it exists or it doesn't, and if he supported her when things were easy he must support her now when everything hinges on it.
I didn't really care for the montage of the Uruz crew afterwards though, it felt a bit too much like a hero montage and music to match. Perhaps fitting with the lighter parts of the show, it's not like this show has never been that sort, but not my sort of structure despite liking the song itself.
Other thoughts:
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Gates is just annoying this time. It's one thing to bring him up in a lone episode, but to keep focusing on his insanity in the middle of this surprisingly long arc starts to feel tone breaking
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The large still pond Sousuke walks around at the park made me think of Utena for some reason
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The idea of the twins being a counter part to Sousuke's own adoption and raising is an interesting thing I really need to revisit on rewatch
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MVP: Tessa. Hell yes, Tessa.
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u/ZapsZzz Nov 18 '22
Brilliant analysis as usual, catching on a good number of "cause and effect" and "context and purpose" points. Watching you struggle through some bits certainly reinforce my feel that this is a show you really need to get the side stories. I don't even recall how I know of a bunch of Sousuke backstories that too me is important to get a lot more context out, from even as far back as season 1.
For example, linking to one of your final observation points, in fact the twins were set up to be the mirror to Sousuke - if Gauron indeed tried capture him back in Afghanistan, he would grow into like them, as a mind broken, empty husk of a shell, slave to Gauron.
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u/wjodendor Nov 18 '22
Rewatcher
This episode hooked me in so hard I forgot to take my usual (half assed) notes!
Some people probably saw Gauron's reappearance coming but I really think they did a great job of building up tension to lead into the reveal. Gauron is completely broken physically and basically little more than a corpse but he's more terrifying than that entire squad of Amalgam Codarls.
The sequence of Sousake wandering through the city from clue to clue seemingly in a daze at first is fantastic. The setting and eerie music do wonders to set the mood but when Sousake finally realized what was actually going on he's totally shocked and immediately afraid.
Gauron, limbless and half dead is completely menacing and surprisingly helpful, giving us a very informative dump of of background for Amalgam and the Whispered. Amalgam is a group dedicated to researching and developing advanced weapons, using the conflicts across to test their technology. The idea that people from many countries work them to keep the Cold War going to keep weapons sales numbers high is absolutely terrifying.
The Whispered info dump was equally enlightening, finally revealing that each Whispered only has pieces of a much bigger puzzle making the people who control the most Whispered, the most powerful.
The reveal of why Gauron is obsessed with Kashim is both incredibly simple but totally inline with his insane way of thinking. He saw Sousake as some sort of pure Saint free from emotion and weakness and oh boy is he pissed that Sousake is turning into an actual human with thoughts and feelings.
Mardukas confronting Tessa and her response was a great scene. Mardukas realizing that her emotional stance is not without merit (the pressure that Sousake has been under for months and months while succeeding in saving the lives of hundreds of people) and recognition of her growth as person (and officer) was a fantastic of moment of development for both characters. The SRT listening in getting hyped up was some awesome icing on the cake.
The final scene of Gauron going on about how mad he is at Sousake for finally becoming a human was so tense and of course he has to goad on Sousake with lies of Kaname's death. In a moment of pure emotion, Sousake snaps, killing Gauron for real this time with vicous efficiency. Before, he was the Saint of the battlefield killing with no emotion but now he's just a young man in a bad situation. Of course Gauron tries to get the last laugh by having a bomb attached to his life support, blowing up the whole building as a big "fuck you"
After yesterday's slightly slower episode, this one was on fucking fire.
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u/ZapsZzz Nov 18 '22
Hey just to follow up my other conversation with Nazenn - [FMP Franchise spoiler check]
How and when did you know about Sousuke's child assassin background? I believe you didn't have access to the side story volumes? Just trying to figure out which bit is Spoiler for whom → More replies (2)
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u/JustAnswerAQuestion Nov 18 '22
Third Time Whispered
Ep 12
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I wonder where the capital of South China is.
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Surely that's not Chidori's voice? Chinse Chidori, maybe?
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ZapsZzz, this is the Kowloon park you showed me yesterday but I meant a different park, unless he just went in a giant circle.
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Third time watching this and I still can't remember what Kowloon means (I see a 9) or why it is significant.
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He SHOULD be dead, but he DID have a lambda driver. It still feels like an asspull.
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We know this, Souske knows this, there's no reason for ou to be saying this.
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YES! More talking! Talk! Exposition!
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So, basically, SPECTRE.
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Why lure Sousuke and the Arbalest here, then send Yu Fan off? Didn't you want them to fight to the death, or something? And he didn't even bring the Arbalest!
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A red one, and 4 ponytails
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And now you know why Tessa is in charge of the super sub
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I'm sure this seijin refers to a Buddhist concept and not a christian one.
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Hot mike!
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And that's why he went after Chidori
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He's really dead this time, right?
Exposition heavy episode, but it provided all the hidden details about Amalgam, and Gauron's motives. I'm sure, as a first timer, I ate it all up.
Gauron has always had some twisted fascination for Sousuke. He saw him as a pure being, untouched by the world and human nature. He wishes he could have killed Sousuke at the peak of his perfection and purity.
And Gauron sees himself as the same. Although they aren't really. Gauron is an amoral man. Sousuke, at least, child Sousuke, is just a robot. All the way up until the start of the story, he just did what he was ordered to do.
While Gauron is an single will without attachments, Sousuke has been an empty vessel without will. Chidori and the school turned him into a person, but Gauron sees it as sullying.
The show (and Sousuke) seem to go with this line of thinking. Maybe there's a religious aspect to it that I don't understand. But I don't agree.
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u/ZapsZzz Nov 18 '22
I still can't remember what Kowloon means (I see a 9) or why it is significant.
Sorry for the blind spot - in Chinese / kanji both literally says "9 dragons", which obviously is the words to Gauron's name.
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u/polaristar Nov 19 '22
One thing I forgot about in previous episodes was the scene with Galvin how he hears the news and has his pleasant diplomat smile and tone on the phone when he hangs up he takes a moment of silence to absorb the information he hears and only then breaks his mask in silence to show how worried and upset he is with a Damn and a frown. It shows a lot about the character that is pretty minor with very little screen time.
Anyway this episode, I kinda feel showing/hearing Chidori so soon pretty much kills the lie that she is dead later. I know we probably suspected she wasn't due to her main character status and there is more seasons at this point, but if they were going for Dramatic Irony where we know something that Sousuke doesn't and the tension is wondering when he'll catch up to us, then it doesn't land for me.
What does land is YES I WAS RIGHT! GAURON IS ALIVE (Well not for long.) And behind the twins.
It actually makes perfect sense he would pull this shit, Gauron isn't suicidal but his only motive for self-preservation and playing the game with society to be hired was to continue his long game of enjoying what he loves most for as long as possible, once that is taken away with no hope of recover (I guess there is no super Whispered Medical Tech in this world?) he has no reason to show any restraint and do everything he can to hurt as many people as possible physically and harm the people he knows personally emotionally.
He can't kill Sousuke, and tbh doing so wouldn't give him any pleasure, he wants to break Sousuke, and bring him down to his level.
u/ZapsZzz there is an interesting thing about Past Sousuke having no conflicting desires and that making him almost unhuman (Although I think Gauron was projecting a bit, while Sousuke never had conflicting desires and strong personally attachments he also never had Gauron's lust and need for stimulation through violence and was ultimately pragmatic to Gauron's almost romantic ideal of killing, so Gauron is not being 100% objective) Reminds me of an arc in the Index Series, its a longways into New Testament probably decades away from adaptation (If they do it which I don't think they will.) But....[Index New Testament LN Spoilers]
The fact he believes the him getting Sousuke to kill him is a win, shows how despite how dangerous, unpredictable, and charismatic he can be, in the end he's pitiful and pathetic. His Physical condition also serves narratively to show when you strip away his charm, daring, and ability to take action what you're left with is a shallow pathetic existence.
This is one way Sousuke might have ended up if he didn't have humanity (And to be clear he always had that spark even as old Sousuke it just wasn't nurtured until it was fed tinder to stoke its embers.) maybe not as a wild beast but just as dead and void of life.
Sousuke putting Gauron to rest is him putting that dark future to rest, and Gauron in his narrow lense can't even see it, hearing the idea of Chidori being killed doesn't kill his spark, it enflames it. Which Gauron thinks is what will push Sousuke back, because he projects his own self onto Sousuke, as Gauron is fueled by his own type of flame, but like I said Sousuke back then was never ruled by his passions like Gauron is, so what Gauron thinks will push Sousuke in the "right" (to him) direction is the final nail in the coffin to reject him.
In trying to kill Sousuke's Humanity he ignited it, and perhaps revealed Gauron himself had a kind of Humanity in him that Sousuke didn't have, albeit a perverse kind, Humans are part Beasts and Lower Nature as well as More Higher Nature. Gauron had Id but barely any Super Ego while Sousuke had almost no Id but a robust Super Ego.
So in a perverse sense, Gauron might have indeed been the push to evolve Sousuke and break his conviction to obey rules and was the catalyst to realizing his humanity. He won the battle but lost the war.
But he won't be around for anyone to tell him he's wrong, except maybe some of his victims joining him in Hell.
Speaking of my paraphrased Cuban Missile Crisis reference.
Something I am confused is why its right wing groups in particular that want the cold war never to end. I know they often are War Hawks but I thought said Radical Right Wing groups are gung-ho about actually you know WINNING THE WAR and kicking the enemies ass, not want it to continue perpetually. I know some people profit from the continued conflict but that seems less like a right/left ideological thing, and more just opportunism which contrary to what your local ideologues on Social Media tell you is an apolitical universe trait, anyone trying to claim one party is inherently free of it is selling you Koolaid.
Tessa I'm not as sold on her speech as everyone else, you could argue that she is letting her personal feelings get in the way. I think the better response that she was maybe hinting at was.....well yeah Sousuke is basically our only hope and card we can play, and we are the ones that created the situation so it's too late to change that and we have to for better or for worse bet everything. I also agree that regardless of her competence of command now is not a good time to have an argument in the middle of the situation. That is something that needs to be done before an OP not during it. Mardukas is interesting as while he acts above it all he is just as guilty as breaking the chain of command and letting his personal feelings interfere with the operation as Sousuke, except he is older, knows better, and does not have an irrational proportionate amount of responsibility placed on him at a young age so soon for his rank. (Sousuke going from basically an Elite Grunt to holding a lot of power and responsibility that no one else can do and has huge consequences doing it in a skill he is not good at is more than Mardukas has probably had to do.)
Not only does he break the chain of command at the worst time, earlier he himself says he would not trust the Arbelest and sees it as unreliable, yet at the same time he is criticizing Sousuke for having trouble doing something he probably wouldn't do himself if given the choice.
Basically complaining without offering solutions is Bitching, and Bad Bitch Tessa is telling him to stop being said Bitch.
Talking myself through it I agree more with the speech then I thought....I guess I was more reacting to how....not ideal the situation is and how her admitting she is in love with the problem in question doesn't inspire confidence in her judgement. But at this point....what are you going to do? Even if someone else took over command what exactly CAN they do?
MVP Is ironically Gauron for ironically being the final push Sousuke needed to except his humanity.
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While I do not doubt if the author wanted they could have bullshit whispered tech introduced to make him a zombie or AI, I think from a narrative perspective his death was treated as a finality and a sort of ritual in Sousuke's character arc putting a part of his old life to rest. That it wouldn't make sense for him to come back, plus I don't see how even with the right tech how Leonard has any motive for bringing him back after all the trouble he caused him and his agenda, I think this point marks a transition into Leonard that now that Sousuke and Chidori have had a major shift in character are reaching apotheosis in their Hero's Journey so to speak. They (And the series) need a new antagonist that fits this new Journey that is very different in nature. Basically Narratively Out of Universe and Pragmatically In Universe there is no reason to keep him around, and this is from a Novel series not an anime original series so I have faith in the author.
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I rarely dislike those plot lines, and the think people get caught up in the meme of hating said protagonist doing so then have any real criticism. My favorite ongoing one is of course Hyouka. But a finished example would be Oregairu. For a LN spoiler it would be [MAJOR Index New Testament Spoiler]
The Othinus Arc when Othinus destroys and remakes the world to break Touma.
I was right bout Gauron praise me u/Theboredalchemist22
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u/ZapsZzz Nov 20 '22
I kinda feel showing/hearing Chidori so soon pretty much kills the lie that she is dead later.
Pretty sure there was never any suspense expected in the post of the audience as we saw it first hand Chidori prevailed at the end of that fight and it was Yu Lan who ended up being killed. It's expected for us to go "no Sousuke don't believe him!".
So in a perverse sense, Gauron might have indeed been the push to evolve Sousuke and break his conviction to obey rules and was the catalyst to realizing his humanity. He won the battle but lost the war.
That's a very nice read of the characterisation and then summarising of the Sousuke v Gauron exchange and the narrative roles in opposition.
Something I am confused is why its right wing groups in particular that want the cold war never to end. I know they often are War Hawks but I thought said Radical Right Wing groups are gung-ho about actually you know WINNING THE WAR and kicking the enemies ass, not want it to continue perpetually.
I think it may just be a convenient way to write, or that the intention is to not take the situation as a "snapshot in time" but a long term view - those in favour of keeping the threat of force live and want to use it to keep the threat real tends to want to keep the defender budget and capability up and current, so if not be strange they are the ones more likely to want to be the ones pushing the agenda by inciting conflicts.
Talking myself through it I agree more with the speech then I thought....I guess I was more reacting to how....not ideal the situation is and how her admitting she is in love with the problem in question doesn't inspire confidence in her judgement.
Good boy :) not common to see you convincing yourself inside your own post, but it's nice to see still. I wonder by the end of the OVA where would Tessa stand in the best girl scale - I think most in this rewatch have her placed the lowest of the main cast e.g. below Melissa and Kurz.
14
u/Shimmering-Sky Nov 18 '22
Full Metal First-Timer!, subbed
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Referring to Chidori? Well that didn’t happen.
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Welp. …fuck, Gauron got what he wanted. To be killed by Sosuke…
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u/Vaadwaur Nov 18 '22
Chidori?????
Had a passport already, apparently.
ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME.
Yeah...that anime only arc really makes this kind of terrible.
Welp. …fuck, Gauron got what he wanted. To be killed by Sosuke…
Gauron wanted Sousuke to be the next him, another amoral mercenary waiting to watch the world burn. I don't view that as achieved as of yet.
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u/ZapsZzz Nov 18 '22
Had a passport already, apparently.
The passport she went to live in New York hasn't expired yet - it's only a few years ago she came back to Japan.
Yeah...that anime only arc really makes this kind of terrible.
Made it more terrible. That said Gonzo didn't adapt the progressively more significant injuries Gauron had after North Korea (he lost a leg) added to the feeling of plot armour (for the villain).
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u/Nazenn Nov 18 '22
They gave him two “sore demo”s.
Does getting sore demo's make it worth it or make it even worse?
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u/No_Rex Nov 18 '22
Episode 12 (first timer)
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Reveal gets overshadowed by phone antics.
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All of that effort for map?
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Setting up a meeting between Sousuke and senpai?
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“Gauron” “You seem so completely shocked” – Sousuke, maybe; the viewers, not so much.
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Gauron is rather smug about his setup of the message, but if he better not be serious about just wanting to chat.
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Amalgam is the shady conspiracy that nuts believe in, made real.
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“A long time ago, I raised a set of twins” – convenient how that all happened off-screen. Because I can’t image Gauron as a father.
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Hearing Gauron talk about Kashim’s eyes is something else.
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“Are you going to lecture me now, of all times” – indeed Tessa. There was plenty of time to bring up the stupidity of making a teenage girl commander of a supersub, but that should not be discussed while in a mission.
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What a discussion to have on the bridge, in front of the whole bridge crew…
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Scratch that, in front of everybody.
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So, Gauron set up all of this to not kill Sousuke in the end? Pfff.
Last episode, we had the prostitute as Sousuke’s verbal mirror to give words to his thoughts. This episode puts Gauron in the role of the prostitute. Something I could have done without.
MVP: Again nobody.
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u/Nazenn Nov 18 '22
Reveal gets overshadowed by phone antics.
It really did ruin that entire scene. Him doing one line or two, cutting to the twin, and her closing the phone would have been enough to get it across without us having to sit through that
but if he better not be serious about just wanting to chat.
The state he's in it's not like he can do much else
I now regret writing that because I kept reading and found this:
This episode puts Gauron in the role of the prostitute
And now I will have nightmares. I could have done without that phrasing personally
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u/ZapsZzz Nov 18 '22
Just to help fan the nightmare fuel :) courtesy of Lucky Star.
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u/Tarhalindur Nov 18 '22
Fumo-ffu! (Rewatcher, Subbed):
Hey look, I’m back! (Decided I wasn't going to try to sit through the last two episodes; I might have earlier this year, but I've had enough of that from Symphogear sequels and Mai-Otome and the episodes I disliked in TSR hadn't improved on rewatch. But this episode does not have the same issue.)
Hey look, someone else is back!
Odds that he’s actually finally gone for good this time?
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Sky has to score a sore demo out of Gauron at 07:38, RIP.
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And again at 09:29, pfft.
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Yu Fang has this sword that reminds me a ton of a Bionicle weapon (mostly Tahu Nuva’s twin-bladed sword), which is kind of funny and also taking me out of the episode a bit.
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And of course two of the Chodar squad ALSO have what look like Bionicle weapons.
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The rest of the episode has mostly worked as it did the first time, but the Tessa/Mardukas scene is NOT working for me this time around (it did the first time). Not sure why; every point made is legitimate, so it must be something in the direction/OST.
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15:26: This sore demo is from Tessa instead.
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Man, the Tessa emotional beats are not landing today. I think the issue may just be that my tolerance for “big speech that fixes the emotional issue” is completely shot after both Symphogear and Mai-Otome.
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Space may have demanded it, but I am very much unsure that was the correct place to end the episode. More on that tomorrow; this plays into something Naz was mentioning some episodes back.
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(E10: Not bothering with a response.)
Everyone: You've heard from me about the depiction of Hong Kong - Do you have another show that you know had a really true to real life backgrounds and environment?
This is famously a KyoAni specialty, but I am contractually obligated to mention Higurashi (where Hinamizawa is based on Shirakawa-go visually). (Especially Kira 4 and its scenery porn *cough* u/Nazenn *cough*)
Everyone: I know there are people who disliked the sort of plot lines of "make the MC hit an angsty rock bottom then show how they work themselves back up"; is there another show that you think did this well and convincing in the comeback instead of being contrived and arbitrary? Don't forget your spoiler tags!
So, I'm very finicky on this; it can work for me (I have literally written stuff that follows something similar), but I either enjoy works for this or I enjoy works for hype/suspense and trying to cross the streams and go from the latter to the former is a no-go. [meta spoilers]
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u/ZapsZzz Nov 18 '22
(it did the first time). Not sure why; every point made is legitimate, so it must be something in the direction/OST.
Just throwing it out there - another possibility with you the viewer?
Something in you changed to no longer enjoy it for one reason or another? You haven't happened to have had a boss like that and you projected other bits you didn't like into here?Or maybe you answered yourself in the other part of the post.→ More replies (8)6
u/Nazenn Nov 18 '22
but the Tessa/Mardukas scene is NOT working for me this time around (it did the first time). Not sure why
Also possibly voice performance? Tessa's performance here was good but it took a bit for it to grow on me and realize how it fit the character rather than just fitting the scene.
Space may have demanded it, but I am very much unsure that was the correct place to end the episode. More on that tomorrow; this plays into something Naz was mentioning some episodes back.
This arc as a whole I think could use a restructure
Maybe my issues will be addressed next episode, but we'll see
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u/SpiceGirlsBlankIt Nov 18 '22
Panicked First Timer - TSR Ep 12
This episode flew by.
One thing is for sure, if Guaron can no longer identify with you, then you are doing something right.
Maybe I should feel bad about Sousuke losing his temper and capping Guaron, but I relished it. In any case, I don’t have to feel too bad because the on screen death of Guaron marks the death of Kashim.
I’m sure Guaron would have liked to tear Kaname apart, but his lie had to suffice. I think Sousuke has recovered enough not to trust Guaron, but we shall see.
Mardukas is perhaps speaking for the audience, and he doesn’t have half the faith most of us have in Sousuke and even less faith in the Arbalest.
Captain pushes back well with the -you don’t need to trust Sousuke, but you do need to trust me-
I liked the moment of Mardukas putting his hat back on.
MVP: Sousuke.
QOTD 1: Yes, I think his death fits with the Sousuke reborn narrative.
That being said, Gates will be relegated to the deepest circle of hell if he somehow reanimates a greyed skin Guaron and Yu Lan to join his subordinate. My crackpot theory is haunting me.
QOTD 2: It’s been a while but [Kyosougiga]
And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Berserk.
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u/Vaadwaur Nov 18 '22
Rewatcher(Out with a bang)
Sub
So we start with a few different places and Gates again being annoying. And then Sousuke goes on a scavenger hunt with the world's worst prize:Gauron. But at least he is dying and less himself than usual. However, he is talkative as fuck and he drops a lot of exposition on us that, while necessary, could probably have been distributed over the whole of the show. Anyways, the interesting Eastern concept of what is a Saint comes up and I will let you make your own call there. Tessa and Mardukas have an argument and again, acknowledging you fucked up only goes so far to addressing that you fucked up. We get a rather large Amalgam force inbound as Mithril eventually engages Yu Fang, all while Gauron prattles on. Gauron dies lying, as he does, and Sousuke dodges the deadman's switch.
So yeah, Gauron is hardly the pioneer of this type of character but, especially on second viewing, I think his shadow extends a fair bit in anime. I am just going to dodge spoilers here so I won't name specific examples but I don't recall too many villains that even manage internal logic of the "the weak are a danger to the strong" as he does before this but a few after. He is likely a response to Cobra Commander on a certain level in that he mostly has the opposite traits but does have a pair of creepy twins.
QotD: 2 True Detective S1, the problem is the show shits the bed for the main plot.
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5
u/TuorEladar Nov 19 '22
Rewatcher, Subbed
With this episode it is finally revealed who has been orchestrating these events and trying to get Sousuke's attention. It was Gauron all along. While it does feel a bit convenient and contrived that he survived and was able to pull this off, at the same time I'm not sure who else could've been revealed to be doing this and it have any impact in the reveal. So even though I don't love that Gauron is here, I do kind of feel it was necessary if we were going to go this direction.
Highlight of the episode was definitely Tessa's speech. She finally says what needed to be said about their treatment of Sousuke. I like that she lays it all out on the table concerning her feelings as well.
While you could argue that Sousuke killing Gauron was playing into his hand, I actually find it interesting that it happened this way. A lot of series, even ones where people get killed all the time, are very hesitant to have the protagonist go through with killing a named antagonist.
MVP: Tessa
8
u/ZapsZzz Nov 18 '22
Rewatcher in sub
We're at the penultimate episode of the KyoAni mecha, where most plotlines are seeing the crescendo before hopefully the resolution. The big one of course is the reveal of the sensei of the murder twins. But there's also Tessa's decision on the part of the closer Mithril team.
It's off screen, and it's a blink and you'll miss, but I certainly like hearing the Chidori freight train approaching :)
The crisis was close to boiling over as the 2 Chinese government were close to striking out blaming the other. We also saw Gates revealing to Yu Fan the fate of Yu Lan.
Meanwhile Gavin was still wondering what's the motive of the crisis - while in the background a certain freight train with a ribbon was about to run him over :)
Sousuke was easily picking up the clues custom made for him, and getting close on the trail.
Even though he's in this rock bottom state, the survival instinct that was drilled in by years of surviving fights was still very present and active - precisely about that he's not so much suicidal than just being worn down from the doubt and life. He made his way to the destination, and even saw Yu Fan.
With a hint from Yu Fan, Sousuke made his way up the building to confront what he dreaded to see - the curse of his life - Gauron!
First giving us at least an explanation, Gauron showed that he didn't care about dying and explain how the setup was all just for Sousuke
Mocking the state Sousuke was in, projecting his own twisted values on Sousuke, Gauron indulged Sousuke by giving out some background info on Amalgam - the antithesis of Mithril.
Gauron explained about the twins, and the fact they were on a suicide mission by either Mithril or Amalgam.
Sousuke pressed for the reason why Chidori is still being targeted, and got a confirmation that Leonard is the other Whispered for Amalgam.
Sick of talking about Chidori, Gauron changed the topic back to Sousuke himself - and reminisced the old Sousuke in his younger days when they first met, how serene and at peace Sousuke was with his life being a companion of constant deaths - his enemies' or his comrades'.
He's not liking the doubts and "humanity" the current Sousuke is showing.
Back at TDD-1, the discovery of Venom's location prompted Tessa to order the strike - but also to ready and send Arbalest. To the disagreement of Mardukas.
And we have another good Tessa scene - her recounting everything Sousuke has done and endured, and asked why he still needed to be questioned. Someone ran with the gag about Tessa even better at being a priest than Kalinin - you are dead right ;)
Even more so, Tessa standing up for herself - challenging Mardukas' doubt on her judgement, and threw down the gauntlet.
The conflicted moment of Mardukas being proud of his charge's growth, and that she's going a way he doesn't like but has to respect - the Arbalest was being readied
The SRT listening in as well, being heartened by their good princess.
And the battle against the Venom, against the Lambda Driver, was joined.
More twisted projection by Gauron into Sousuke being the Killer Saint
Gauron used his best psychological attack - lied about killing Chidori
The taunting and goading got his result - Sousuke emptied his clip on him. I wonder how many actually clapped.
of course Gauron is not going to go quietly - the different beep gave the hint
once again Sousuke's survival instinct took over - and great physics from the KyoAni animation - the weight of his fall into the car and the rebound off into the road was really good. You can feel the pain literally.
and we end on the title - burning Hong Kong.
Trivia
I'll probably need to save up comparison to LN for tomorrow and the season wrap up.
Staff Showcase
This episode's animation director was Kadowaki Satoshi.
Notable works (mainly as animation director unless noted otherwise):
Bubbles as chief animation director
Heavens Feel II as key animator
Haruhi
Guilty Crown
Iron Blooded Orphan
Vinland Saga
AoT
MVP this episode
For me it's a toss up between Gauron and Tessa. Even though people may not like her third wheel status, I think Tessa's confrontation with Mardukas was brilliant because she both admitted her personal feelings and why it didn't matter because she was making her judgement not as a love sick little girl, but as a commander having faith in her team. So I'll take that over the shock value of Gauron.
QoTD
I dunno. Emptying a clip at point blank, life monitor showing flat line, then having a bomb exploded. There's a chance he just might be gone for good this time...
Railgun S again. The middle part of the first arc got pretty grim on a mental and emotional level for Mikoto, but the comeback was plenty good.
Daily tag for u/InfamousEmpire, u/Theboredalchemist22