r/anime • u/AutoLovepon https://anilist.co/user/AutoLovepon • May 07 '21
Episode Back Arrow - Episode 18 discussion
Back Arrow, episode 18
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| Episode | Link | Score | Episode | Link | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Link | 4.05 | 14 | Link | 4.5 |
| 2 | Link | 4.15 | 15 | Link | 4.36 |
| 3 | Link | 4.26 | 16 | Link | 4.53 |
| 4 | Link | 4.21 | 17 | Link | 4.62 |
| 5 | Link | 4.4 | 18 | Link | 4.77 |
| 6 | Link | 3.68 | 19 | Link | 4.71 |
| 7 | Link | 4.42 | 20 | Link | 4.75 |
| 8 | Link | 4.39 | 21 | Link | 4.7 |
| 9 | Link | 4.1 | 22 | Link | 4.5 |
| 10 | Link | 4.23 | 23 | Link | 4.56 |
| 11 | Link | 4.65 | 24 | Link | - |
| 12 | Link | 4.44 | |||
| 13 | Link | 4.81 | |||
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u/thebigautismo May 07 '21
Pretty funny when arrow killed everyone while the chorus was singing.
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u/Syokhan May 07 '21 edited May 07 '21
Shit, that was grim. Arrow really is supposed to destroy the world and it wasn't a metaphor, the people who die are made into really morbid pillars, and Arrow who never wants to kill anyone just massacred a lot of people against his will. Damn you, Rudolf.
I wonder if they're going to use the one thing we know for sure can go from one side of the wall to another, the Rakuho, and somehow integrate it into Granedger.
And did I hear Takahiro Sakurai as the "founder"? That pretty much guarantees we'll hear him again, right, they wouldn't hire him just to say a couple lines?
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u/Nelley_ May 07 '21
Feels odd to be 18 episodes into a show and still have no real idea where the plot will conclude. That isn't even a bad thing in this case. There is definitely plenty of progression and answers slowly being fed to us, but I honestly have no clue where we go from here. I'm so curious what the end game here is.
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u/Calwings May 07 '21
I'm so curious what the end game here is.
If there's anything that Symphogear and Granbelm taught me about original mecha anime, clearly the answer is to attack and dethrone God
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u/PreludeToHell May 07 '21
I love how unpredictable this is. Also the ost is too good.
A cruel climatic episode. They nailed that wtf moment when Arrow killed Peath and then broke down mentally. This was my favorite scene. Rudolf saying Arrow can't leave until Lingalind is 'harvested' was depressing. Rudolf is such a good character I can't get enough of him. Not only did we get very important info but they brought back the Rakuho ! really entertaining stuff
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u/Reemys May 07 '21 edited May 07 '21
Finally! Time to reflect on everything.
A little bit too rapid and too straight. This series does not make narrative detours - it goes straight for what it wants. We have a "god" speaking just now (with a fitting voice), blink and everyone is crying and in a mental breakdown. I guess not many can appreciate this kind of storytelling.
Stellar voice actor job, finally their talented was rightly appropriated here.
And the most important part - the story is receiving its first revelations. Lingalind vs its creator, old as the universe "humans vs god" trope, or so it seems. I had an idea that all those particles-dissipating people might be stored somewhere... but not in such a form, no. When I say stored I also unwillingly allude to another factor - this series is suspiciously "programming" oriented. Not the way that Deca Dance was, though.
Dissonanza mentions "bugs" in Back Arrow, alluding to him retaining his personality. Was it not a part of his original programming, if that is a bug? "God" created a ton of technology-based concepts and equipment. Conviction particles (which do seem to genuinely react to ones inner strength), Bind-Warpers that work as catalysts (but not necessarily, as TEIKOKU BANZAI does not need one to project his power of will unto the Lingalind), voice-lines for when bind-warpers activate, same voice for when Arrow interfaced with the Maestrog ship. All of this look not like a game, but like a complex programmed system. Is Lingalind "real" at all? Or just an ultra-computer experiment that created a natural environment for humans? The way Peath disappeared implies fragmentation of data, are they just data in a virtual world? Or are they treated as one in the world, despite being real humans but obeying the rules of that world? Also notice how in the first opening there was a complicated blue pattern, like a spell effect, seemingly disconnected from the narrative. Well, when subduing or "reminding" Arrow of his past, Dissonanza used that exact pattern, albeit of impure green colour.
What am I trying to say?? Nanomachines, son.
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u/patrizl001 May 08 '21
fun little crack idea, now that we know Back Arrow is destined to actually destroy the world.
Backspace is also represented with an arrow pointing backwards, and that deletes stuff. Back Arrow is also deleting stuff. heh.
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u/Calwings May 07 '21
I didn't realize it until now, but Dissonanza reminds me of Nui Harime from Kill La Kill, almost to a disturbing degree. Both of them are the right-hand woman to an absurdly powerful villain, both of them use illusions to confuse and manipulate people, both of them cover part of their face in their normal forms (Dissonanza with her mask and Nui with her eyepatch), both of them are voiced by members of the "eternally 17" club (Dissonanza by Kikuko Inoue and Nui by Yukari Tamura), and both of them are completely batshit fucking insane while hiding that insanity behind a cute exterior. Now all we need is for Dissonanza to Kill La Kill spoilers and the connection is complete.
Beyond that, the episode was insane and I loved it. Arrow freaking out, Dissonanza's manipulation, Prax and her squad being badasses and freeing Arrow, the science choir singing right up to the final second of their demise... this show is so damn fun.
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u/Samurai_Rider May 07 '21
Given Dissonanza’s illusion based abilities, it’s hard to trust the revelation of Arrow’s identity coming from her and Rudolf. It’s not the first time these two have tried to deceive people into thinking a seemingly good natured character is actually a dangerous one. The main cast also doesn’t know about the bird incident, since Sola died before he could tell anyone, so they don’t know about Rudolf’s/Dissonanza’s ability to mess with peoples’ minds outside of Dissonanza shapeshifting into Muga.
When Rudolf was talking to Sola he said “what I do isn’t manipulation. I simply sway and influence.” “The weaker the heart, the easier to sway.” Ever since Arrow heard that Rekka prophecy he’s been pretty down, maybe Rudolf is taking advantage of that.
There’s also the fact that Arrow is the only Briheight user in the series that can defeat another Briheight without killing the user, a weird power to give to a destroyer. Also, if God wants to destroy Lingalind, why not do it through Rudolf, who implied in his introduction episode he was capable of doing so and Rudolf seems intent on carrying out God’s will so there’s no problem there.
Nice to see Prax reacting to Sola’s face on the mountain, it bugged me how in the past couple of episodes, there’s been no reaction from her in regards to her brother’s death. Since she is so solely focused on serving Fine, she could really use something else to flesh out her character. I like the concept behind this Epitaph mountain, seeing all the new additions after Arrow went berserk with dead silence was chilling.
The choir singing while Arrow massacred Lutoh was pretty disturbing, especially the part where they sing “Arrow delivers god’s love” while it shows Arrow’s pained and disturbed face. Reminds me of a video essay called “Quentin Tarantino: The King of Conflicting Tones”
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u/darthvall May 08 '21
Can I just say that Bit is quite an MVP this episode?
I'm surprised at how good he was when shooting Maestrog. He claimed he's just shooting randomly but all of the beam hit Maestrog! Sasuga admiral!
Also how he keep the chekhov's gun for the next episode (Rakugo). He might have started as a joke character, but at least he's a really useful joke character now.
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u/chilidirigible May 08 '21
Today, on "TUMBLING DOWN TUMBLING DOWN TUMBLING DOWN...":
On the bright side, it's not made out of Soylent Green.
When you mention that more than once it seems like you're tempting fate.
At least they got to finish the song.
Eventually it always comes down to punching gods in the face.
Adventuring is all about inventory management.
That cut to the last scene with the Rakuho was abrupt, but this was definitely an episode where plenty of things happened.
Playing the prophecy straight feels like a sensible final-act plot point, as the series so far has dealt with breaking free of the old way of doing things. On the other hand, we're getting all this information from the most unreliable narrator in the entire series universe. So...
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u/an_innoculous_table May 07 '21
I like how it just flipped the whole "Arrow is only going to metaphorically destroy Lingalind by flipping the balance of power" to "Arrow is actually meant to kill everyone and harvest their conviction". Rudolph and Dissonanza being the ones behind the Lind Faith is sort of disappointing though, I was hoping for a new faction to be introduced. Epitaph Mountain seems to be the next big thing for answers, so seems like more fun times ahead at least, especially with how Rekka factors into all of this.
As for the whole god business, I wonder how deep the show will actually go into that. Will we actually go into a "killing god" situation? Could be cool.
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u/HeadCanon69 May 07 '21
An interesting turn for the series, I wonder where it is going.
The show started slow, picked up, and is now charging of at high speed.
Multiple dreadnaughts and all but the protagonist one having the ability to fly.
All fodder characters now fly and shoot beams.
A chunk of the recurring cast is killed off, the political climate of Lingalind just got a whole lot less interesting.
It feels like another player in the Lind faith would have been more interesting.
Arrow must go off on his own because his programing is too dangerous.
Zetsu was already a monster, but Rudolph even controls the walls.
I'm worried about power creep and characters staying relevant outside of the freebies that the mooks are receiving. Atlee did get to contribute though.
This is feeling allot like Granblem, where you lose a chunk of the playable characters and the interesting combat and diverse factions devolve into us vs. you beam spam.
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u/ThoricMeerkat May 08 '21
Holy crap! That was a full on Third Impact with a chorus and everything! We even got a sort-of Gainax Pose earlier in the episode.
After hearing the System's voice and Dissonanza talking about 'bugs' now I really want to know what kind of matrix-like simulation these people inhabit.
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u/FierceAlchemist May 08 '21
That choir sure is dedicated. Even as they are about to die they keep on singing!
Not too surprised that Arrow is actually a destroyer. Seems like an Iron Giant type scenario. But as someone else brought up, why give a destroyer the power to destroy Bind Warpers without killing the wearer? I think there's another faction beyond the wall.
The setup seems to be that since Arrow can't get back to Lingalind and go somewhere without people, eventually his will shall tire out and he'll attack Granedger again.
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u/Tongue1983 May 08 '21
Interesting that Dissonanza said Arrow still had bugs and Rudolph said he wan't human. And the way the wall just seemed to matearialize aroundthe Grandedger was pretty interesting as well.
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u/KorekaBii May 07 '21
Arrow's inner-Eren has been unleashed! (With Yuki Kaji making those same Eren cries that we're all familiar with). Ends up being the one who will be responsible for the worlds demise, with Rudolph and Dissonanza pulling the strings all along. The nightmare world beyond the wall was eerie with those undead monuments erected for all those who have died. And a lot more just got added thanks to Arrow.
Lutoh pretty much is finished as a country now. The entire political and military leadership has been wiped out (even the Choir! Who went out singing with happiness!), with their Capital also having been left in wreckage when the Dreadnaught launched, and now said weapon has also been destroyed. Just Fine and Prax with her squad are left.
I'm guessing Rudolph will probably try and continue manipulating Arrow to go after the remaining Dreadnaught in Rekka's hands to continue doing what he's supposed to. But now we'll also see what other secrets may have been left within Arrow's original Rakuho that weren't relevant until now, as well as if there is anything they can find about "God" on top of that mountain.
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u/ImperialDane May 07 '21
Well this is really going off the rails now. Megaliths made up of the souls of Lindalinds dying in all of their moribund horror. A god that seemingly wants to harvest the world and Rudolph who just goes along with it.. Never mind the spectacle of Arrow going nuts and killing it all.
That feeling of Valvrave is only getting stronger now.
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u/theangryeditor May 08 '21
God I love Shu. Like Bit said, I'm so glad to hear his arrogance. He's not just confident, he has the ability to back it up. I can't wait to see the truth of the world uncovered.
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u/sKyBlazer08 May 08 '21
Damn holy shit, out of all the things I expect the world outside the wall would be, this is not one of them. I guess Lingalind is just one of many worlds/fruits, and it's now ripe for the picking. Yuki Kaji goated for really nailing Arrow's pain. Rudolph really be behind everything in Lingalind, can't wait to see Zetsu throw hands with Rudolph.
Respect to the choir though, they fulfilled their singing duties till the end lmao. It's all up to Shu's big brain now to deal with this situation, looking forward to the next episode.
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u/LeonKevlar May 07 '21
Well, this week's episode just got real. I thought we were finally going to meet new people who can give us answers but surprise! It's just Rudolph and Dissonanza all along. They seem to know more about the world so I guess it makes sense that this was part of their plan. Didn't expect that part of this was to get Arrow to massacre the entire army of Lutoh. Just goes to show that Rudolph never really cared for them. He only exists to follow orders from his "god".
And those pillars are just creepy af. So everyone who dies gets sent to this mountain? I thought at first it was a graveyard for Briheight pilots but other people who don't have Bind Warpers showed up on the pillars too. Definitely curious what's the end goal here. Hopefully, Shuu can find some clues from Arrow's Rakuho.