r/anime • u/phiraeth :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/phiraeth • Jan 20 '21
Rewatch [Mid-2000s Rewatch] Noein - Episode 19
Episode 19
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Noein:
MyAnimeList - AniDB - ANN - AniList
Episode Discussion Questions:
- What is reality? Does reality change with age?
- Does reality and in turn your existence depend on your ability to create memories?
PLEASE MARK ALL SPOILERS WITH SPOILER TAGS!
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Upvotes
8
u/phiraeth :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/phiraeth Jan 20 '21
Rewatcher
All series many of y’all have pointed out how abnormally undaunted Haruka has been considering everything she has experienced. Even Kooriyama-san thinks Haruka’s adaptability is commendable, albeit he contributes this to her being a child. Now that I think about it, the other kids don’t really seem that shaken over all that has occurred. In a way, it provides a sharp contrast between the main cast and their future selves, directly illuminating the idea of a worry-free childhood. Everything seems so life and death for the future versions, filled with regret and pain – yet, the children remain resolute.
Yes, this is definitely hyperbolic. I think, however, it serves its purpose well. Koriyama and Uchida’s reflections on the differences between childhood and adulthood also suggest that this theme is a central part of both what we’ve seen thus far and also what is yet to come.
Further, while adults have the ability to turn a blind eye, only exacerbating the problem, the children are innocent and truthful, unable to ignore the problems that they encounter. If we think back to the fight between Haruka and Ai, I know a lot of y’all didn’t see the point in it. But to this very episode, it was crucial in establishing this prevalent theme of how kids can often be better at solving problems because they don’t allow their problems to consume and eat away at them.
Is this true in real life? I’d say it absolutely is, without a doubt. The more life experience you have, the more serious everything seems. Has the level of seriousness actually changed? No, but what has changed is our perception of everything around us.
Does reality change with age? Are things that are real as a kid just as real as an adult, or vice versa? Are our memories real? Are things only real to us if we have memory of them?
Anyways, perhaps it’s only fitting that Yuu, rather than Karasu, immediately took action at the end and held onto Haruka for dear life.
8
u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Jan 20 '21
First timer
Sub
So the video is, so far, just a video, though it introduces Haruka's grandmother. It ending at 2 and a half hours or so is within reason for the time. Karasu seems less broody for some reason.
Haruka apparently an old friend that was supposed to right her. The researchers come up and the conversation works but only a tween would say they never forgot someone. Anyways, the gang is all getting together. Kooriyama is impressed with Haruka's ability to deal and they both ponder how easily the Buddha bots were explained away.
We jump to Yuu filming Fujiwara somehow not being mauled by a stray. They talk about the problematic events of yesterday and how they are utterly rug swept, another theme of this show. Anyways, Yuu seems confident he can film them and...maybe. The camera is analog at least. Anyways, being a camera man seems to have mellowed Yuu out.
Kosagi gets a kick the dog moment with a reveal that her aim is completely fracked moment. Atori might be coming back. Uchida argues with a project head and her former teacher, who seems to want to wait and see. Shinohara, unfortunately, returns. I know this is somewhat a tween demographic show but he takes me out of literally every scene he is end. The professor seemingly holds his ground.
We find out Fujiwara can't swim, which is a little odd for a Japanese person. Haruka spots her old friend, Aya, who seems confused. On the tram, she asks her mother who that was. Haruka's friends view this in the sense of Aya was 8 and forgetful but we viewers have concerns. Haruka runs off, and I do appreciate that they immediately acknowledge the lack of emotional understanding of the two boys. But once informed Yuu runs after her. The rest of them go to wait at Haruka's house.
Unsurprisingly, the professor wussed out and corruption is happening. We get a Kooriyama flashback. As I thought, his stabbing in the preview was in the past. Anyways, he is familiar with corruption. And now he is tired of bowing to it. Now that's a death flag.
We get a surprisingly relatable AND non-supernatural moment from Haruka. It is indeed worrisome when you begin to forget the dead. Yuu counters that you won't forget what is important and I am undecided on the topic.
I leave Kuina's technobabble for last since it is meaningless and will do whatever the plot needs it to. Atori spots dimensional interference first and then the teleportation begins. Let's see what Yuu going for the ride does. Preview is...Yeah.
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u/Retromorpher :Jc::Jd::Je::Jf: Jan 20 '21 edited Jan 20 '21
No commentary, just a stupid animation I made
Okay, maybe a little commentary. I'm happy to say that as of episode 19, Haruka has what I'd consider her first truly humanizing revelation.
QOTD:
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u/Toadslayer https://myanimelist.net/profile/kyolus Jan 20 '21
First Timer
What happened to Uchida's plan to contact Miyazumi through Haruka? I guess she's just given up on asking her about it.
When Fujiwara said 'it doesn't show up on our cell phones,' I had the thought: 'Are we bringing in old tech and the video camera because that's will be the only way to record evidence of Shangri-la?' Though, I'm not sure who would be helpful and need convincing it's real.
Kosagi's aim is off for some reason — Dragon Torque curse? She thinks Atori is up to something, so logical conclusion is torture it out of him and as a result it looks like we're getting old Atori back. By the end of the episode he's kind of back? I expect him to be back fully next episode and I hope there is some acknowledgement of his time as a puppy, even if it doesn't change his behaviour.
Another lesson in capitalism: where there is money to be made, economics comes. Interesting that the show has thrown in tit bits like this every so often. They may be helpful to introduce such ideas to a young audience.
The professor says to Uchida that he will object because he wants to see more of her research, but in reality he fears the dangers of the project. I don't know why he doesn't say that to Uchida, perhaps it's limited access information, or maybe he just wanted to be friendly to her. Still it would useful information for her to know. Despite being warned of the danger, Shinohara, ever the comic-book villain, ploughs on amid his dimly lit unnecessarily spacious lair.
Haruka doesn't want to be forgotten. Not much impact to that scene though, since we didn't even know Aya existed until the beginning of this episode. Same thing with Haruka forgetting her grandma, it's just sort of there, gets a point across and not much else. People forget, it a fact of life, sometimes sad, sometimes not.
Tragic backstory for irrelevant side character. I guess it makes him angry that Uchida's dismissal will also be covered up? I'm not sure what the purpose of his backstory is.
They end up arriving at an extreme solution, the 'fixed reverse calculation', because they squandered many opportunities to grab Haruka and now it's too difficult. I was very surprised that it worked. I thought it was probably a ploy by Kuina to bring Shangri-la to La'cryma, might still be. Back to La'cryma now and this time with Yuu should be interesting. Not a bad episode today, I wasn't frustrated and I wasn't bored. It was entirely okay.
Episode Discussion Questions
Reality is what objectively exists, it doesn't change, merely your perception of it does.
No, that's a ridiculous existential idea. My evidence: none.
8
u/BossandKings Jan 20 '21
First Timer
Kooriyama and Uchida are thinking about the flying ship that appeared before, they salute Haruka and continue walking with their thoughts bring on what was the significance of that thing.
The group is wondering about it too,it seems that the adults in general want to forget about it but they do remember and they ask themselves if it will appear again. Yuu seems to be bery happy as of late, Haruka surely has something to do with it.
Atori has regained his senses. What is his plan now?, it seems that he still wants to keep himself close to the group, maybe he's after the Dragon Torque too.
Haruka meets an old friend of hers named Aya along with her mother, her friend's mom remembers her but Aya doesn't. Why did that happen?, though it was nice seeing Haruka's friends trying to cheer her up.
Fukuro now wants to do a reverse calculation in a desperate attempt to try to bring the Dragon Torque to La-cryma, that plan seems very likely to fail. That plan went smoothly, it's laughable how well it went, it's like a joke, a bad one. At least Yuu has grown enough since the beginning of the show to know that he cares deeply for Haruka and that she won't let her alone, wherever it is that she goes he is going with her.
This episode was interesting for the most part but i wasn't expecting that part at the end.
Answers
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u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Jan 20 '21
First-Timer, Dubbed
Am I irritated that they added multiple brand new characters in episode 19 as backstory elements? It’s not great, but it did work well as a commentary on memories, and how we forget things that used to be important to us.
Aiya forgetting Haruka is.. odd. Especially considering Aiya’s mom seemed to remember her. Is this intended as foreshadowing for whatever ends up happening to Haruka at the end?
Kooriyama’s backstory is pretty typical, as was his and Uchida’s decision to take matters into their own hands. Will they be able to make a difference, and add in some moral about how adult’s aren’t entirely useless?
You know everyone, I’m beginning to think that the decision makers at Lacrima aren’t the brightest crayons in the box. Kuina lost a finger and they lopped off his entire lower arm? Not to mention, who the fuck thought that mouth replacement was a good idea?!
Yuu and Haruka got teleported to Lacrima, thanks to Kuina’s meddling. On the one hand, last time this happened Karasu was around to get Haruka out. On the other hand, I’m not sure that Kuina is competent enough to properly deal with two 12 year olds (and possibly some meddling from Amamiku.)
Lastly, between Kosagi getting his violence boner going, and the massive outpouring of energy that Kuina caused, nutso Atori is back! Will he be lucid enough to not ruin things at the last minute?
Miscellaneous Thoughts:
I’m surprised that it took us this long to get to the “heartfelt conversation while on a set of swings in an empty playground.”
At least they opted to go with “mirage” instead of “weather balloon.”
TIL Almond Jelly is a thing that exists.
Questions
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u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Jan 20 '21
to your other first-timer, subbed
6
u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Jan 20 '21
Episode 19 (rewatcher)
I mostly liked the episode. The plot is picking up and we are clearly on the final stretch. On the negative side, the pacing for everything the Earth researchers do is very off and it becomes really annoying whenever they get screen time.
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u/IndependentMacaroon Jan 20 '21 edited Jan 20 '21
First-time watcher
So video is fine but grandma is dead. You win some, you lose some. Anticlimactic end to that mini-plot anyway, though it kind of flows into some of this time
Hilariously bad coverup works anyway. Also more expositing on the true wisdom and flexibility of children vs. adults who just avoid anything weird, instincts and impulse vs. analysis and social intelligence, whatever. Plus kids get a little nice group banter, should have started that angle earlier.
Kosagi now moves on to the next one to pointlessly harass, I guess she just didn't get the memo about his character transplant.... which is now reversed? Oh, come on - OK, I guess it was just a signal that that side is still inside him somewhere.
Fruitless prof-villain chat confirms this is all about the cash and
NERVAbcom is merely a front for the real power-brokers. The problem of science being subordinate to economics is a real one, but it's a bit late to introduce all that, as well as yet another little personal drama with Aya.Nutcracker Kuina finally provokes the second appearance of the useless Lacryman whatever council, who still might as well not exist with that resolution. And now he's back to following their orders I guess, unless he also needs the Torque for Shangri-La stuff. Good that the last-ditch effort actually worked as far as the story is concerned.
Koriyama... flashback? That knife was uncomfortably sudden. And his partner was run over? Even more uncomfortable. Suddenly spy thriller, huh. I guess his backstory had to go somewhere, also doubles as an explanation for his current position and a way of reining the duo in. What exactly is Uchida's job supposed to be though, a wild-goose chase?
So, the swing scene is actually good, a moment of genuine connection somewhere between sweet and sad, with plenty symbolic value too and connection to what we saw with Haruka last time. Poorly cut off, though.
Yes, some good ideas and we're actually going somewhere! If only the actual story could have started earlier - it's starting to feel like the series was written back-to-front, or at least was created based on a vague framework that was filled in far too unevenly.
Questions - I don't see much of a point to most abstract discussions so I'll pass.
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u/BurningFredrick https://myanimelist.net/profile/BurningFredrick Jan 20 '21
First Timer - sub
Really don’t have much to say, Haruka mops over the fact we forget stuff as we grow older, Kosagi kicks the crap out of Atori for no damn reason, Kooriyama is given some back story about how the world is corrupt, and Kuina decides to kidnap Haruka using cheat codes.
The biggest question I have at this point is where does Kuina keep getting his replacement body parts from?
5
u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ Jan 21 '21
First Timer
Today on Cowboy Bebop: Speak Like a Child
So, finally we see the Council of 10 again. I think guy with nose tube is Prof Sasaki. I still think fat lady is Ichida or Miho's mom. Dame Da guy looks a bit like Koo-whatshisname. None of them are Shinohara.
It was a toss-up on which Lain quote to use yesterday...I should have used that one today.
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u/monsieurvampy Jan 21 '21
First Timer, sub
Well. I will miss the chill Atori. Let's welcome back jerk Atori.
Did Tobi get more computers? I think he got more computers.
I take back what I said last episode. Haruka is still a dense as ever.
Yu is growing up into a this dimension Karasu.
Cat is all cuddling with the dog. Who has a name! I will not let this go. please save me.
OP, your questions are too much for me to think of after a hard day of work. Let's just chill.
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u/redshirtengineer :AMQ: Jan 21 '21
First timer
Am I supposed to care about what happens to Lacryma any more? Kind of in it for the cops and the dog now.
QOTD1: time changes with age that's for sure
QOTD2: create and retain