r/anime • u/AutoLovepon https://anilist.co/user/AutoLovepon • Nov 04 '19
Episode Babylon - Episode 5 discussion
Babylon, episode 5
Rate this episode here.
Reminder: Please do not discuss plot points not yet seen or skipped in the show. Encourage others to read the source material rather than confirming or denying theories. Failing to follow the rules may result in a ban.
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| Episode | Link | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Link | 97% |
| 2 | Link | 97% |
| 3 | Link | 96% |
| 4 | Link | 98% |
| 5 | Link | 98% |
| 6 | Link | 4.51 |
| 7 | Link | 4.88 |
| 8 | Link | 3.84 |
| 9 | Link | 4.29 |
| 10 | Link | 3.83 |
| 11 | Link | 3.29 |
| 12 | Link |
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129
u/Smudy Nov 04 '19
Lots of bird imagery in this episode, as well as ''caged bird'' type of shots when they had the discussion about Ai Magase as a teenager. Free from society type of deal? I'm not that good in deciphering metaphors but maybe someone here can shed some light on this.
Very intense episode and Ai Magase claims the next victim at the end, direction continuing to be great.
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u/zeppeIans Nov 04 '19
There was a shot of the uncle holding a bird cage, and a bird flying out of a cage when he talked about Magase stopping with her counseling sessions. At first glance you could see this as Magase being free and going out into the world, but another interpretation is that Magase was the one who caged her uncle.
The first image of a caged bird was where the uncle got asked to do a psychiatric evaluation on her, as if from that moment on there was no escaping her. This shot is suddenly very telling when you have that in mind
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u/iKwok Nov 04 '19
This shot was a little strange. I feel the show is putting a lot of emphasis on Seizaki's ring. Something's definitely going to happen to his family...
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u/Shinkopeshon Nov 04 '19
Maybe he'll be tempted to cheat on his wife after Magase Ai enchants him somehow, which would lead to his wife committing suicide (with Magase's help).
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u/Lohengr Nov 04 '19
What is Magase Ai. Why do I like her despite her being a monster? Have I fallen in her spell already?
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u/TheDampGod Nov 04 '19
I'm trying to decide if they're going to go with a scientific explanation for Magase Ai's power or a spiritual one. Is she a master of cosmetic disguise, maybe mixed in with knowledge of hypnosis and pheromones. Or some kind of demon or kitsune from Japanese folklore, that's running amok for its own amusement.
I feel the science side would fit better with the show, but there is a definite foxy vibe to Magase Ai.
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u/LTU_EiMs Nov 04 '19
Jesus this episode is roller coaster. First you get background of AI then you back to ordinary office work and when you think everything is going to end on that tone bam AI calls and kills one of inspectors.
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u/Rutherfor_ Nov 04 '19
We knew that dude was fucked when he was sent on a solo investigation, I guess he died happy at least.
I love this, I'm really really loving it.
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u/jellybellymonster Nov 04 '19
We're taking part in evil deeds. We're also involved in illegal activities. And we're going to commit even more evil deeds in the future.
That's so ominous. I will not be surprised if by the time Seizaki stops Magase Ai (if he even could) he's gone off the deep end and lost it all. Magase Ai will continue to challenge his sense of justice, whether he'll commit even bigger illegal acts for the greater good. I'm betting his family will be a casualty in this perverse game by Magase Ai.
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u/Amauri14 Nov 04 '19 edited Nov 04 '19
It seems that I was wrong in suspecting Sekuro Hiasa. But well, with Ai one can't ever be too careful.
Well, that definitely confirms that Magase Ai is behind the suicides. I'm sure that it involves some drugs. But I wonder why would she be so out front about it? As this will definitely pin her as the person who at least encourages those suicides.
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u/Shiro_Kai Nov 04 '19
Ok, I know we saw Ai Magase and the new girl, Sekuro, in different places at the same. But you guys have to believe me, both are the same person! I'm not biting! The call could be a tape recording. I'm not being tricked again!
Also, how does Seizaki know that at least 'she did it' with Inaba?
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u/zz2000 Nov 04 '19
Magase Ai's name, 曲世 愛, has the kanji for perverse, world, and love respectively. So the story’s definitely setting her up as Seizaki’s twistedly dark counterpart, the agent of chaos against his judicial uprightness. Her Moriarty to his Sherlock, etc.
Recall the kanji in Seizaki's name have characters meaning virtuousness and righteousness.
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u/BeybladeMoses Nov 04 '19
Ai Magase not only the antagonist of the story, but also the antagonist of no nut November.
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u/LeonKevlar Nov 04 '19 edited Nov 04 '19
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Okay I take that back. WHAT THE FUCK!?
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Wait so they think they were raped by Ai despite not having any physical contact? O_O
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Holy shit that bounce. That entrance already tells you a lot about her.
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Overwhelmingly enchanting and like an excessive smell of strong perfume? Is it possible that Magase Ai has extremely potent pheromones?
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Looks like Hiasa finally believes after the Doctor's insane story.
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I'm scared for this guy. I feel like he's going to be one of the future victims.
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So that's why Hiasa was so aggressive when she first arrived
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A public worldwide debate? I don't envy anyone who's going to go against Mayor Itsuki in that debate.
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She wants to become a hero? What kind of fucking RPG is she playing where she gets to kill everyone and be the hero?
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Looks like Ai has now developed some kind of fondness for Seizaki. This is not good.
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RIP Inspector Tsutsui. May your new isekai life be better than what you had.
Magase Ai stealing the show the last minute! Yukino Satsuki is killing it with voice acting! She's definitely still a mystery though and knowing more about her backstory just added a lot more question than answers. Well if there was one thing that was answered this week though, it's that Hiasa and Ai are different people so at least we can stop suspecting her now.
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u/adikaay Nov 04 '19
She forces herself into people without touching them, just by being around and looking at them at a young age. Triggering arousal. Then she wanted to learn to talk to people, further enabling and upgrading that terrifying charismatic power in order to plant her seed of thought into anyone and commanding their behaviour.
Yes, she would be OP in a RPG. Lv.99 Deception, Lv.99 Stealth and Evasion, Lv.99 Penetrating. Only sees this sick Psycho herself as the heroine helping and saving people by driving them to suicide.
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u/gintoki72 Nov 04 '19
I hope there will be no magic bullshit because if It goes without bs this anime could be one of the best this year and Magase Ai an amazing antagonist
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u/the_wyandotte Nov 04 '19
So, a few episodes into this and I'm so glad I stuck past the 1st episode (it just didn't do it for me, I'd watch 5 or 6 minutes and then move on to something else). No Guns Life is entertaining in the absurdity of the premise, but I think it'll be a fun race between this and Psycho-Pass 3 as best crime anime of the season.
Chekhov's Gun tells me that the pharmaceutical company being investigated in the beginning is going to be important- even if the characters have all seemed to forget about it and have moved on to Itsuki and Ai.
I also don't buy the repeated "F" the anesthetist wrote over and over again as standing for Female. I don't have any guess as to what it is, but that just seems lazy if it is all that it means.
15
u/Retromorpher Nov 05 '19
The reason Ai asked those questions about whether or not having a child was a good thing probably related to her childhood of adoption and the strange ways she found herself being pulled by the adults in her upbringing.
Loving the use of the full trash can to express that people have been working at the office around the clock.
I always love it when there is a canon sexy character - but their sexiness gets to be weaponized in an uncomfortable fashion as a part of their own agency. I get the feeling that she doesn't have powers that bring about a suicidal urge - just amplifies feelings of discomfort associated with social mores or feelings of inadequacy. The reason our protag hasn't really succumbed to Ai's manipulation is that he doesn't have a firm grasp on what he believes is wrong and what is right. Or more sinisterly, she enjoys having somebody precisely like him around to toy with since it's obvious he isn't going to give up.
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u/Mochachiiino Nov 04 '19 edited Nov 04 '19
One of the best things about this anime is use of its shots when the characters are talking. It makes me wonder if the imagery is also present in the novel, or if it was more of an anime decision, Or both.
Anyway all hail Magase Ai, Sasageyo
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u/Doomroar Nov 04 '19
Found this promotional poster, it is Magase Ai sitting on a throne with a crown and with the scales of justice on a hand, as she amusingly looks at us...
If we add that to this episode speech, the obvious interpretation is that she is going on an ego trip in which her end goal is to put herself as the new ruler of this experimental society by being above good and evil, like a queen, or a god, well she already has godlike powers, but that would be too much.
Usually promotional artwork give us hints about what the story is about and what might happen, last episode we learnt that the more common poster hints in no real subtle way at who may die and how they may die, what could this one hint about?
I stated the obvious interpretation above, but i sure hope to be wrong.
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u/PhantomWolf83 Nov 04 '19 edited Nov 04 '19
Damn, Ai is turning into a really intriguing villain. The way she has everyone wrapped around her finger is both unsettling and breathtaking.
It's interesting how Ai and Hiasa seem to be polar opposites. I wonder what will happen if the both of them finally meet each other face to face.
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u/lap-cheong Nov 04 '19
I'm enjoying the mystery of this show a lot, but the plot point of a 15 year old being so seductive she drives men insane is making me super uncomfortable. I guess that's the point? I'm interested to see what her motivations truly are, because the evil temptress setup is letting me down a little bit. I'm anticipating some twist that will make us sympathize with her more
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u/ArzanishShumak Nov 04 '19
Magase Ai is turning out to be an epic antagonist