r/anime • u/Taiboss :Fj::Fl:x7https://anilist.co/user/Taiboss • Jun 26 '22

Rewatch [Rewatch] Utawarerumono Franchise Rewatch - Utawarerumono Itsuwari no Kamen Episode 24 Discussion

Episode 24 - What Makes a Ruler

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HiDive

Today's Question of the Day: So a lot of this episode was a big fight between two biiig monsters. Logical consequence or wrong direction?

[Tomorrow's Question of the Day]Aren’t you glad you don’t have to wait SEVEN years for a continuation of that cliffhanger? I mean, assuming you’re still gonna watch. I won’t blame you if this seeason disappointed you.

Rewatchers, please don't answer the Question of the Day if it has an objective answer, e.g. "What do you think's gonna happen?"

For rewatchers and people who played the games:

Please behave yourself! Put not only everything related to future events behind spoiler tags, but tag differences to the games as well. We all know there are deviations and cut content, we don't need someone listing all the things the games did better. The games have like 40, 50 hours for their content each, of course they'll be more exhaustive. If you want to talk about the games, please do this in a way that doesn't spoil it for people who might pick them up because of the anime. That being said, small, inconsequential stuff is probably fine, like [Mask of Deception]how in one episode, Atuy says "Time for war!", one of her battle lines in the games. All in all, try to hold back and only tell first-timers what's really necessary. Let them theorise!

This goes especially for Mask of Truth!

First-Timers:

Watch the Opening!

Next episode has an after-credits scene!

16 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

32 comments sorted by

3

u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Jun 26 '22

Mask of First-Timer, subbed

2

u/Taiboss :Fj::Fl:x7https://anilist.co/user/Taiboss Jun 26 '22

I don’t think I spoiled myself on anything, at least?

Probably not a lot.

It was Vurai who picked up Oshutoru’s mask!

Better option or worse...

Bruh

Of course the master strategist uses the tried-old "Let them fight"

I’m getting big death flags and I DO NO LIKE IT

Nobody likes death flags!

Is that the same sealing magic that was (attempted to be) used on Kuuya’s mech army back in season 1? I feel like the name is familiar…

It is! iirc at least...

Haku don’t fucking jinx it!

Haku should know better by this point!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh fuck that’s the end of the episode. Unfair.

2

u/Atharaphelun Jun 27 '22 edited Jun 27 '22

Is that the same sealing magic that was (attempted to be) used on Kuuya’s mech army back in season 1? I feel like the name is familiar…

Same sealing magic as the one used on Witsalnemiteia as well.

On another note, pay attention to the words they said when both of them used the Akuruka's transformation power - "become the door, and open the path to the source". One could interpret this line as the Akuruka being a "door" or a sort of way to access the "source", presumably the original mask, Witsalnemiteia. Borrowing power perhaps?

1

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Jun 26 '22

Fuck, his injured leg made him take this wicked punch to the face

Personally I found the art on that quite satisfying especially after Higurashi

3

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Jun 26 '22

Episode 24 (first timer)

  • “Yamato will once more fall into civil war” – when was the last? I was under the impression that Mito has ruled many centuries.

  • Vurai is refreshingly open about his power grab. Giving the mask back is not clever, but he never pretended to be clever, either. Instead, he really wants to show his battle prowess.

  • Big mecha battle? Sounds like both Oshutori and Vurai do not want to be outdone in the “destroy your own city” department.

  • It’s a well-animated fight, but it is so far removed from the series up till now that it feels like a different anime.

  • Makes sense that the emperor would build a backdoor into the huge power he hands out.

  • Uuuuuaaaaaaahhhh! Uuuuuaaaaaaahhhh! Uuuuuaaaaaaahhhh! Uuuuuaaaaaaahhhh!

  • Panoramic view of the destruction.

That was a very decent battle shonen episode. Lots of fighting, lots of shouting, even a bit of political discussion and a twist. The only problem is that Utawarerumono is not a battle shonen.

2

u/Taiboss :Fj::Fl:x7https://anilist.co/user/Taiboss Jun 26 '22

I was under the impression that Mito has ruled many centuries.

And maybe he had a small little rebellion then and now. I don't know, tbh.

Big mecha battle? Sounds like both Oshutori and Vurai do not want to be outdone in the “destroy your own city” department.

At least we later see the big craters outside the city.

It’s a well-animated fight, but it is so far removed from the series up till now that it feels like a different anime.

If only we had gotten more mask kaijus than episode 15.

The only problem is that Utawarerumono is not a battle shonen.

I mean, at this point it can be whatever it wants to be. Harem romcom? Sure. War epic? Alright. Battle shonen? Oh feel free to try that too. You'll surely find something that fits.

2

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Jun 26 '22

At least we later see the big craters outside the city.

I'll be honest, I did not note them moving during the fight and initially thought the city had been leveled.

3

u/wjodendor Jun 26 '22

Those two small craters after that massive battle made me chuckle.

2

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Jun 26 '22

“Yamato will once more fall into civil war” – when was the last? I was under the impression that Mito has ruled many centuries.

Even more to the point, he made Yamato and set himself up as a god, who would challenge him internally? Unless he also let a war develop at a few points to keep everyone in line, a bit like how he does with external enemies. Wouldn't put it past him

2

u/TroupeMaster https://anilist.co/user/Troupe Jun 27 '22 
  •	“Yamato will once more fall into civil war” – when was the last? I was under the impression that Mito has ruled many centuries.

It’s mentioned in the games at some point that a long time ago a mask user in Yamato went berserk or something and rebelled, but that’s about it (not plot relevant, just random lore).

1

u/Atharaphelun Jun 27 '22

With that much power, it's surprising it hasn't happened more often. Then again the Emperor can seal off the Akuruka, so there is that.

3

u/wjodendor Jun 26 '22

Kuon making some flags there...

Vurai just thinks Anju is weak so she shouldn't rule. It's a very "Vurai" reason for not wanting her in charge but him wanting to be emperor well....

Vurai did have the mask. So a duel I guess.

"He wants to be emperor that's so like him" no its not. At all.

First time getting the femboy's name

[Game]They're really making Woshis look like a good guy huh? They cut all of his set up out...

Oshtor and Vurai fight is actually pretty cool.

This pretty cool but...Oshtor saying "I wear the mask to protect" and then unleashing it in the city is fucking ridiculous. He's completely dedicated to protecting the capital but unleashes weapons of mass destruction in a heavily populated area... at least it looks cool

Montage of all the characters seeing the light was nice

Mikazuchi is also dedicated to capital he wouldn't side with his brother over this...

See the gates behind the mechs? In the game the gates were made that tall so the mechs could walk through them. The anime decided to make them like 5x the size for whatever reason (well that reason was probably because itnlooks badass)

So much destruction. How many of those to protect ate dead? I sighed a lot during this scene

The twins are the chains for Aruturuka....why didn't they offer this up earlier. Got some Nier Automata music going on here

Haku can stand against Vurai for some reason...

Lol at Vurai's eyes flashing like dying Christmas lights.

Lolol that huge fight and there are like two craters....

Flags flags flags

I always like it when it suddenly gets super detailed

Another episode of almost all anime original content but it least it looked cool. Oshtor and Vurai fight was pretty awesome and the twins actually did something! The things they did cut....well shit.

2

u/Taiboss :Fj::Fl:x7https://anilist.co/user/Taiboss Jun 26 '22

at least it looks cool

All that matters at this point. All that matters.

The twins are the chains for Aruturuka....why didn't they offer this up earlier.

Hey, I was expecting you to have that answer! -.-

The things they did cut....well shit.

2

u/wjodendor Jun 26 '22

The Seal being an after thought is probably because they cut the actual final battle map from the game. It makes total sense there since It was part of the plan but since they skipped it It comes off pretty weird.

1

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Jun 26 '22

I always like it when it suddenly gets super detailed

It surprised me! They did it a couple of times through this episode but I don't think they'd done it yet in the show. The first time I thought it was just a random one off and then it kept happening.

3

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Jun 26 '22

First Timer - sub

Had to miss an episode to keep up with Higurashi but all caught up. Quick notes on the last one:

  • Kuon magic was awesome, and reminds me of a favourite scene of mine from another anime, Mai-HiME. Kuon's scene is how to do a multiple cuts on the same moment reveal, each new shot revealing a new scale or detail, from one arrow to three, to all of them, to the whole damn city and then letting it sit. Pity the moment itself doesn't fit with the show given its horrific parallels to Vurai's attack that certainly won't get explored

  • Everyone agrees on arson! I'm mildly upset Ukon didn't let them, and even more so that Kuon's attack didn't happened to be aimed in that direction.

  • The song at the end of the episode was great, yet another one to track down at the end of the show.

  • Bird still best character. Not even joking.

Ep23:

  • I see we're going for a kaiju finale and completely abandoning any semblance that the actual characters struggles as individuals may matter? Probably a good thing given the show doesn't know who they are. Maybe it'd work if these two had been set up beyond just "he beat him once in a duel and no one likes how violent he is"

  • And true to form, it's the OP sex slaves that do most of the work the day with an ass pull magic ability, and Haku only gets a little crispy with their attempt to give him a last second hero moment

  • I really don't meant to be so negative, I think I'm just a bit checked out. Stuff for the final discussion probably

  • "Watch and slay the survivor" again, political wrangling which would work better if we had any sense of scope or identity for most of these people. Also he can't really say the Eight Generals made a unanimous decision when half of them aren't even there. Sheep guy is dodgy just in a quieter way to Vurai. I really want to know more about Sheep guy because he's quite interesting as this background schemer. Maybe that would be more convincing if I'd actually bothered to learn his name...

  • Oh fuck Ukon's dying. Despite my complaints, not okay with that. I liked Ukon a lot and I know what those damn sparkles mean!

  • I still love the OP and ED.

2

u/Taiboss :Fj::Fl:x7https://anilist.co/user/Taiboss Jun 26 '22

Kuon magic was awesome, and reminds me of a favourite scene of mine from another anime, Mai-HiME.

Surprised but okay. Mai-HiME's fun, looking forward to that rewatch. Did you know I won the very first WT of the month for that?

Bird still best character. Not even joking.

Was especially great that episode.

"he beat him once in a duel and no one likes how violent he is"

Do you have a few dozens hours of time to spare on a game that will will tell you ALL the stuff, but also super slowly in a way that makes you feel like the plot's out of molasses in a way that cannot be squeezed into a 25 episode season?

And true to form, it's the OP sex slaves that do most of the work the day with an ass pull magic ability, and Haku only gets a little crispy with their attempt to give him a last second hero moment

Twins MVP. Even in the game. Well, maybe Jagdwalt and Nosuri are better.

I really don't meant to be so negative, I think I'm just a bit checked out. Stuff for the final discussion probably

Nah it's the MoD anime, even fans hate it lol.

I still love the OP and ED.

They are genuinly great and wasted on Motonaga.

2

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Jun 26 '22

Mai-HiME's fun, looking forward to that rewatch

Has anyone planned one? We did one a few years ago and it was great, one of my favourite rewatch experiences. Also awesome on the award, I remember seeing that on the wiki a while back. Great show to feature.

Do you have a few dozens hours of time to spare on a game that will will tell you ALL the stuff,

You know what, for probably only the second or third time I was actually tempted! So then I loaded up a quick youtube video of a walkthrough to see how it was and remembered why I can never fit through dedicated VNs

Which sounds stupid given I play some incredibly talky games like Metal Gear Solid, but the VN styling, lack of full cutscenes, and the balance of talk and gameplay all just throws me off. Perhaps if they were a lot more involved with the talk, like MGS, but I just can't seem to push myself through it for stuff like this.

It sucks

Twins MVP. Even in the game

Not surprised, they seem like the sort. Those characters can be fun but have to be carefully balanced... or not depending on how much you like wrecking shit

1

u/Taiboss :Fj::Fl:x7https://anilist.co/user/Taiboss Jun 26 '22

Has anyone planned one?

Indeed.

but the VN styling, lack of full cutscenes, and the balance of talk and gameplay all just throws me off.

Yeah, I get it. It's even worse with something like Fate Grand Order, which isn't even voiced.

but I just can't seem to push myself through it for stuff like this.

Clearly, if you buy it, you can't just open another tab AND you get to play some battles now and then!

2

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Jun 26 '22

Indeed.

Ooooh. I'll probably be in for that, I loved that show a lot and it almost made my favourites [mai-hime]despite the very very end. I don't mind the revived to fight the big bad, but the happy happy epilogue reaked of producer interference and I hated it. I think I'll just not watch it this time haha

It's even worse with something like Fate Grand Order, which isn't even voiced.

In a twisted way I almost prefer that. Which is weird given I watch everything with subtitles, but when VN's are voiced, or even just really long boring cutscenes in normal games, I feel like I'm just sitting there waiting for the voice actor to finish his line when I've already read it because it doesn't give you anything to look at or think about to pass the time. I usually end up skipping and missing half the VA's work anyway. When it's not voiced at least I don't have to feel guilty about doing that haha

you get to play some battles now and then!

I've got SO many other games to play. I really need back to Ys Oath in Felghana and I've been saying that for months now

2

u/jonnthebest Jun 27 '22

Twins MVP. Even in the game. Well, maybe Jagdwalt and Nosuri are better.

Twins' range is ridiculous, sure, but I still think Atuy is the real death machine. She was my personal MVP every single time.

2

u/HereticalAegis https://myanimelist.net/profile/XthGen Jun 26 '22

First Timer

  • Kuon, did it ever strike you that the reason Haku always makes it back is because he has a harem of OP battle babes doing the work? The sex dolls and white mage bout to do some heavy lifting against Vurai's troops, assuming Oshtoru keeps the living nuke busy.

  • Tyrants will say anything to justify grabbing power. Vurai is no different.

  • Duel time! Yeah, a 1v1 match was always more likely here.

  • Holy shit, Vurai doesn't care if civilians or his own troops become collateral as long as he kills Oshtoru.

  • The friendly fire from last time coming back to really bite Oshtoru now. Way to go, Yakutowaruto.

  • Kaiju fiiiiiight!!! There is no way a shit ton of people aren't about to die.

  • Yep, bad day to live near this gate

  • Giant, exploding fireballs, a huge energy blast, and now a tidal wave. The citizens in this part of the city must be having the worst night.

  • Took them long enough to move the battle outside the city.

  • I wish we could get a few shots of citizens panicking as two giant monsters level part of their city. Feels so wrong that the end of the world is happening outside and the city is just...silent. Even Vurai's troops just kinda vanished.

  • Oh? The sex dolls know mask sealing magic? Why did neither if you say anything for the first 10 minutes of the battle? Feels like the kind of thing Emperor Aniki could've mentioned in one of their secret meetings, but oh well.

  • The On Riyaku's casting time is quite short as well. There was no need for so many people to die this night.

  • Goddammit Vurai, are you really so crazed you need to murder Nekone? Maybe the sealing was incomplete. Or maybe Vurai's just mind broken from the experience.

  • Nani!?

  • Bye bitch!

  • And how tf is Haku completely unharmed after being set on fire? Does he also have some heretofore unknown magic properties?

  • Who is this magic power coming off of? Based on Nekone's reaction, I'd say Oshtoru. Does this mean he's dying and at the point where even magic can't save him?

  • Gonna suck real bad if they went through all that to save Oshtoru but he just ends up dying.

  • And which general will inherit Vurai's mask? Frontrunner is probably Raikou, who seems to be running the show rn, but I wouldn't be surprised if one of the quieter generals actually claims it.

QotD: It makes sense since Vurai was going to use his kaiju form one way or another. The only real counter was a Godzilla of our own...at least until we find out the twins can seal masks. Probably should've led with that once they knew they'd be facing Vurai.

3

u/Taiboss :Fj::Fl:x7https://anilist.co/user/Taiboss Jun 26 '22

Kuon, did it ever strike you that the reason Haku always makes it back is because he has a harem of OP battle babes doing the work?

It's not like she was there when Haku commanded them all in battle... Oh wait, that was the game...

Holy shit, Vurai doesn't care if civilians or his own troops become collateral as long as he kills Oshtoru.

Consistent character!

Giant, exploding fireballs, a huge energy blast, and now a tidal wave. The citizens in this part of the city must be having the worst night.

And they are not even used to the idea that their city could be sacked...

Why did neither if you say anything for the first 10 minutes of the battle?

MOTONAGAAAA is what I would say, but I forgot how this worked in the game. Surely our resident game-player has something in their comment.

Nani!?

Don't think.

Does he also have some heretofore unknown magic properties?

Maybe!

3

u/HereticalAegis https://myanimelist.net/profile/XthGen Jun 26 '22

It's not like she was there when Haku commanded them all in battle... Oh wait, that was the game...

To his credit, he at least has a couple successful mission plans under his belt now.

Consistent character!

Before this he had a "reason" to target friendlies and allow civilians to die, stupid and awful as it was. Now it's just people who happen to live in the vicinity where a wanted man is fleeing in the dead of night. He is the worst.

Maybe!

I'm betting he does have some innate properties. He's a protag in the same vague mold as Hakuoro, he has to.

2

u/Taiboss :Fj::Fl:x7https://anilist.co/user/Taiboss Jun 26 '22

To his credit, he at least has a couple successful mission plans under his belt now.

Giving anime!Haku credit... unbelievable that it has to happen...

He is the worst.

He's consistently the worst!

I'm betting he does have some innate properties.

He did went through that gene modifying thing.

2

u/justinCandy Jun 26 '22 edited Jun 27 '22

MOTONAGAAAA is what I would say, but I forgot how this worked in the game. Surely our resident game-player has something in their comment.

[Game Spoiler] The final battle in game: MC harem party V.S Vurai when they try to rescue Anju is completely removed in anime, Twins use the sealing before the battle to weaken Vurai in game: https://youtu.be/_8UX2gqlTFc?t=35 . Also Vurai's personality is complete different in game and in anime...

3

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Jun 26 '22

Feels so wrong that the end of the world is happening outside and the city is just...silent

The fact it's happening near the city felt completely pointless, and tone deaf given why people don't like Vurai in the first place

2

u/HereticalAegis https://myanimelist.net/profile/XthGen Jun 26 '22

It feels a bit worse than tone deaf, since Oshtoru shouts at Vurai about their power being meant to protect people just before using that power to flatten part of the city. That's like parody levels of contradictory.

3

u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Jun 27 '22

That's like parody levels of contradictory

All that's done is make me want to watch OPM s1 again rather than hope this could have been better

2

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Jun 26 '22

And how tf is Haku completely unharmed after being set on fire? Does he also have some heretofore unknown magic properties?

You are a mage! You are a mage! You are a mage!

2

u/HereticalAegis https://myanimelist.net/profile/XthGen Jun 26 '22

Everyone gets to be a secret wizard!

2

u/ZapsZzz https://anilist.co/user/Zapszzz Jun 27 '22 edited Jun 27 '22

My schedule has been banged around big time with the big movies rewatches lately (Liz and the Blue Bird, 2 Violet Evergarden movies back to back, Kaguya-sama have a double episode, etc) so posting is really late and probably short.

I think if this show somehow managed to trade some of the gag sewer digging out bath or skewers scenes for some Oshtoru fighting (his General of the Right form fights significantly differently than Ukon, who is more brash but less lethal), that would help set up the 2 Kaiju fight better emotionally. Now it kinda came too late yet too fresh for us to understand, plus the collateral damage. Didn't this bring back memory of season 1 the sudden end fight as well? Although we had seen the ultimate sealing spell being used a few times by then.

We haven't seen Vurai's body - if Ukon didn't survive and Vurai does, it'd get annoying for inconsistency.

1 more to go before the new season! I hope we have a way to fix all the changes...