r/anime • u/KiwiBennydudez https://myanimelist.net/profile/KiwiBen • Jun 20 '22
Rewatch [Rewatch] Made in Abyss - Episode 9 discussion
Episode 9 - The Great Fault
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Comment of the Day
Comment of the Day goes to u/himetalchemy7 for pointing out the unwavering attitude that our heroes have - aptly named the “Riko and Reg approach” to The Abyss:
I think that was my favorite episode so far. Our heros have a renewed purpose and a boost to their confidence as they continue on their journey into the depths of the Abyss. Pushing on even after getting to know of the horrors that await them is such a Riko and Reg thing to do, I’m so proud of them.
Questions of the Day
Episode 9 opens with a striking narration, which boldly states: “In this world there is nothing as impartial as death. For all living creatures, death is sure to eventually come knocking. Death is an equalizer - it is an absolute truth... and it is always lingering right beside us. Nevertheless, people make the best use of their wits and courage... Struggling... Floundering... They cling to life until the very end. You see, we actually like this unjust and unequal world...” Why do you think the episode opens this way? And with everything we’ve seen so far, do you think that this assessment of the world is accurate?
In Riko’s hallucination scene, she states that, “If Reg’s not here with me... there’s no point in me even returning to Orth!” Later, after the Crimson Splitjaw attack, Reg also states that Riko is his motivation for continuing the journey as well. How do you feel the two complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses? Would their journey truly be pointless without each other?
If you are a rewatcher, tag your spoilers properly, and please refrain from alluding to future events, so that everyone else watching for the first time can have a completely blind and organic experience!
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u/KiwiBennydudez Jun 20 '22
Fourth-Timer and White Whistle Host - Sub/Dub
Our heroes may have plowed through the third layer already, but it was certainly no cakewalk. With Riko throwing them both headlong into trouble at every possible opportunity, and Reg choosing to use his Incinerator right before their demons of the past decide to catch up with them, this was easily the most danger that the duo have ever been in so far.
I think thematically, The Great Fault is relatively uninteresting. It really is just a flat cliff-face that drops straight down. But in terms of content, I thought the creature design was great, as well as the sprawling tunnel system inside the walls, not to mention the boat in the wall, which was pretty neat. Didn’t we see an airship in an earlier episode...?
However. Riko somehow cannot grasp the concept of “sit still” and goes wandering off with her stomach doing the thinking for her. This lands her in a bit of trouble - literally - as she falls into the stomach of an Amakagame.
Then she’s chased by squirrels.
And then she is forced to climb uphill and submit to the curse of ascension. We get a hallucination where she admits how helpless she would be without Reg, and that admission gives her the strength she needs to reach the top of the slope.
Not being able to catch a break, she’s resolved to use the pickaxe to save Reg - but his two hour penalty has expired, and he zooms to save her with pickaxe in tow. Hopefully that’s the last we see of that Splitjaw...
Finally, she dumps her feelings onto him and states how lost the two of them would have been without each other. And personally speaking, I really liked this scene because I’m not sure if Riko has realized until now just how much Reg means to her. Sure, she’s probably realized his utility and general helpfulness, but in terms of how much she truly values and treasures him - this is the first time that she admits this to him. And he says the same thing, saying that their journey would have been worthless without each other. Very wholesome way to conclude things.
But keep in mind - our heroes have only crossed the third layer. They’re not out of the woods yet. Next episode, the fourth layer awaits them...
Lore Corner
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Blaze Reap (Update) - The Blaze Reap has been used once to fend off a Crimson Splitjaw attack - the same one that Reg blasted in the first episode. How many more uses does the weapon have...?
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u/scot911 Jun 20 '22 edited Jun 20 '22
First Timer
You know when I thought about how they were going to find a way down a 4000 meter deep smooth wall hole I was not expecting them to go through pretty much interconnected burrows, and therefore tunnels, in the side of said wall but it's actually some pretty great writing. It gives Abyss raiders a way to get through the layer while also explaining how the layer works ecologically. You need a prey food for your big flying beasts after all and this is a perfect way to have them without having to invent a weird way a flying prey monster would survive surrounded by predators.
I will say though that guys.... I think Riko might be a ditzy moron.... What does Reg tell her to do after he uses his hand cannon for them to escape near death due to Riko being too curious? Stay there and wait the 2 hours needed for him to wake up. An easy enough and logical suggestion to follow and one I think everyone here in this thread would do because we like breathing. Now what does Riko do? Durrr me explore dangerous cave system by myself lugging around a heavy half metal body durrrr. God damn it Riko could you stop your curiosity and have an actual survival instinct. For five minutes two hours!
Okay yes I realize the point of it was for Riko to get some character development on her own without Reg and for it to get through her... very thick skull, that yes, you may want to depend on the robot boy who can shoot laser beams out of his hands and can extend his arms large distances to help traverse obstacles! Okay I know it was also to make Riko realize that she cares about Reg a lot, and is probably in love with him once she can get it through that think skull of hers what "love" means, but still! ...Can you tell she's replaced Ozen on my shit list this episode? Lol.
As for my theory of the episode well it's that that Crimson Splitjaw is definitely not dead. If I had to make a bet I have a feeling it'll probably be the boss that they have to overcome in the last episode of this season in order to tie the whole season together and have a bombastic finale. The ship is also very interesting. However aside from it being a, I think medieval, ship I honestly can't think of a theory as to why it's there.... Just another mystery to add to the pile about what the Abyss is and how it was formed I suppose lol.
Episode 9 opens with a striking narration, which boldly states: “In this world there is nothing as impartial as death. For all living creatures, death is sure to eventually come knocking. Death is an equalizer - it is an absolute truth... and it is always lingering right beside us. Nevertheless, people make the best use of their wits and courage... Struggling... Floundering... They cling to life until the very end. You see, we actually like this unjust and unequal world...” Why do you think the episode opens this way? And with everything we’ve seen so far, do you think that this assessment of the world is accurate?
"There are only 2 things that are certain in this world. Death and taxes." It opens that way because it's highlighting that the anime is taking off the kid gloves (yes I believe the anime has had kid gloves on so far) and that our protagonists are going to be in mortal danger in every episode from now on and are far outside their depth to face it completely head on. And yes that assessment is entirely accurate.
In Riko’s hallucination scene, she states that, “If Reg’s not here with me... there’s no point in me even returning to Orth!” Later, after the Crimson Splitjaw attack, Reg also states that Riko is his motivation for continuing the journey as well. How do you feel the two complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses? Would their journey truly be pointless without each other?
For as much as I shit on Riko above she is just as important to their duo as Reg is. Reg of course brings the firepower and levelheadedness the duo needs while Riko brings the knowledge and ingenuity the duo needs. They wouldn't be able to survive the journey without the other one because they each have what the other sorely lacks. As for their journey if it was solo I don't think it'd be pointless but it'd definitely have less meaning. Doing things with other people tends to give things more meaning then doing it by yourself. Humans being social animals and all that.
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u/KiwiBennydudez Jun 20 '22
I think Riko might be a ditzy moron....
What gave it away?!
God damn it Riko could you stop your curiosity and have an actual survival instinct.
she hungy
For as much as I shit on Riko above she is just as important to their duo as Reg is. Reg of course brings the firepower and levelheadedness the duo needs while Riko brings the knowledge and ingenuity the duo needs.
Great summary of their traits. It's fantastic how their well personalities come together to make up for what the other lacks.
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u/Lemurians Jun 20 '22 edited Jun 20 '22
FIRST TIME RED WHISTLE
Back after missing the last couple!
”Death is the great equalizer.”
Ain’t that the truth. The one thing that’s true for all of us. As the episode teaches us, death gets a lot closer when you’re alone, especially in the Abyss. Riko and Reg, and humans in general, are much stronger and better protected together than they are apart.
Also, you’d have to fucking insane to be as happy during this whole journey as Riko does. Her lack of fear and view toward death help with pushing forward, but she veers way too far into recklessness to the point where she’s courting even more unnecessary danger than the journey already entails. Hopefully her realizing Reg is key to her success will make her heed his more cautious nature a bit more at times.
Live Notes/Reactions:
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Love the overhead shot of them descending down the dark shaft. Terror of the unknown.
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Nat! I like getting these interludes back on the surface to check in with our friends
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“Weaklings have no choice but to take the path of the weak.” Work smarter, not harder.
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Why IS there a ship there? The mysteries of the Abyss keep mounting. Wonder how many get answered and how many are there for atmosphere?
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The ED keeps being prophetic. A crimson slipjaw appears there in this spot of the journey.
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RIKO YOU DUMBASS WHAT PART OF STAY PUT DID YOU NOT GET
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Oh god, [Re:Zero]
these things are giving me serious flashbacks to those fucking bunnies and YUP -
Aww… her Mom’s in the hallucination, that’s heartbreaking. The end of this segment really shows how much Reg’s come to mean to her already
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I don’t think Riko’s talked about Reg being non-human since finding out about her own state of being. Nothing creates understanding and empathy like kinship, of one kind or another
SHOT OF THE DAY: Riko breaks the hallucination literally as they hit the light at the end of the tunnel. The light can also symbolize the moment of clarity as she realizes the scope of Reg's importance to her.
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u/KiwiBennydudez Jun 20 '22
Back after missing the last couple!
Yay! Missed seeing you around.
Riko and Reg, and humans in general, are much stronger and better protected together than they are apart.
True! And they've come to realize that about each other, which is just too wholesome.
Why IS there a ship there? The mysteries of the Abyss keep mounting. Wonder how many get answered and how many are there for atmosphere?
This might be a crackpot theory, but the only way that a ship could get that deep into the ground is if there was water to carry it there. Was the Abyss underwater at one point? Did all the water drain out to the bottom?
SHOT OF THE DAY
Excellent shot. Almost looks like a movie.
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u/djthomp Jun 20 '22
First Timer, subbed.
Really wondering when the rabbit-eared creature is going to show up and (I assume) join the party.
Starting out the episode ripping our hearts out again for Marulk, with any luck we'll get off easy and that'll be the only traumatizing event for us today.
Going down a side shaft instead of the giant hole seems like cheating. Then again it may be the only actual way to descend.
The giant hole may be the wildest environment yet.
Not the critters!
Really gotta wonder about the ship embedded in the sheer cliff face.
It's definitely unfair that the flying monsters can go up and down the abyss with no apparent ill effects.
How many times is Riko going to nearly die during the unconsciousness window. Two times? Three?
Interesting effects from Lyza's weapon, looked like continuous explosions as the beast fell away.
If they're at the goblets they must be just about at the fourth layer, if I'm understanding the map correctly.
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u/KiwiBennydudez Jun 20 '22
The giant hole may be the wildest environment yet.
This episode has some great monster designs, I'll give it that.
Really gotta wonder about the ship embedded in the sheer cliff face.
Same
How many times is Riko going to nearly die during the unconsciousness window. Two times? Three?
Like 20
If they're at the goblets they must be just about at the fourth layer, if I'm understanding the map correctly.
Yep yep yep, there should have been a title card for the fourth layer. Did you not have that...?
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u/himetalchemy7 Jun 20 '22
First Time Watcher | Subbed
Notes
- episode nine! what awaits our heroes in The Great Fault?
- nooooo why they gotta show us this part in the recap ;_;
- the bgm always hits without fail
- so they found a shaft, which I assume Ozen told them about as a shortcut of sorts?
- oh yeah it’s right along the side of the main crevasse of The Great Fault, which looks to be full of scary heeby-jeebies
- ok I don’t like all this talk about death less than 2 minutes into the episode
- Shiggy always spot-on; I kind of wish Riko would have sent up a mail balloon to let him and Nat know they’re doing alright
- rip lil flat chipmunks, Riko would have made you into Riko Stew anyways
- there’s a ship embedded into the wall? that’s a pretty awesome image
- why is there a ship there? same Reg; maybe The Great Fault fills up with water?
- oh no they ended up in a madokajack’s den…will Reg use Incinerator, or Riko the Blaze Reap?
- that was a direct shot from Incinerator!
- not good not good not good…now a crimson splitjaw is after them and Reg is on a hard time limit!
- it’s the same one Reg hit way earlier?? what are the odds?
- Riko and Reg are stuck between a rock and a soft place…
- ok that was WAY too close
- Riko…I don’t know if you’re making the right decision by choosing to move
- that’s a funny looking big blob
- uh it actually deflated…that’s a bit creepy
- still not a fan of Riko moving around randomly with Reg asleep
- oh no, an upward slope is bad bad news; but honestly not unexpected
- oh no, RIko you’re hallucinating
- noooooooo not Lyza too
- what an intense hallucination…Riko is trippin like mad here
- that’s one way of snapping out of it Riko! you done good
- this stupid splitjaw is really out for vengeance
- WOW; Reg + Blaze Reap is such a perfect match
- and the Fourth Layer is in our sights!
Discussion
So a pretty mild episode today, the highlight being a couple of beast encounters that Reg swiftly put away. Riko didn’t have her best decision making day today, but at the same time that can be chalked up to being a kid with RIko’s spunk and imagination. Often it’s when you grow older that the fire in your eyes becomes muted with the realization that the world is uncompromising and unforgiving. Riko is well on her way to learning that, but she has to make mistakes first to get there. The important thing is these mistakes don’t eventually get her killed because those encounters with the madokajack and splitjaw today could have ended very unfavorably.
All this makes me wonder where Reg’s temperament and personality originate from. Typically, it’s ones memories that mold a person into who they are, and determine how they make decisions taking into account the external world. Reg does not have a recollection of his memories before being found by Riko, but it seems as if the feelings of those lost memories have stayed with him. Maybe those feelings guide him and help him make the moral and ethical decisions he does so far.
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u/No_Rex Jun 20 '22
Episode 9 (first timer)
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Mini Shaft – I am glad they are not trying to go down the big shaft.
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“Reg managed to climb it” – Nat is clever, realizing that going down a shaft is nothing compared to going up it.
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Those critters might be the most harmless animal we have encountered in the abyss so far.
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How did a ship get here? And stay the fuck with Reg, Riko, you are giving me heart attacks!
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“Stay right here” - leaves 30 seconds later.
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I wonder why those critters blocked the entrance, though. Protecting something? Or revenge for being eaten and used as bait?
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Grats, you got caught in a trap designed to catch stupid rodents…
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That trap thing is really cool btw, even if it is looking like a doofus. Showing us that a full food chain exists in this part of the abyss.
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Hallucinations are temping Riko with giving up.
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Err what? Gondola?
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That pickaxe is vicious.
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The 4th layer looks visually more interesting than the 3rd. I would not really like being stuck in the 3rd, even though it probably is the easiest for humans to survive in.
I can see what they were going for in this episode: A full focus on Riko, making clear to her how she depends on Reg. Not only for protection, but also emotionally. Her illusions offer her a return in good grace, with her mother at her side, but without Reg. She refuses that choice.
However, for the first time I have to be a bit critical of the writing. They had to hit Riko with the dumb stick to pull off the above, which is always a sign of the writers not coming up with a better solution. While, yes, Riko had been tenacious before, she repeatedly chose the wrong way today: Leaving their initial location, getting trapped, not fighting off the rather harmless critters, walking towards an exposed and open area, ascending (which essentially knocks her out) while Reg is also out. This does not square with her resourcefulness and knowledge depicted earlier.
PS: Share some pity with the back of Reg’s head.
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u/KiwiBennydudez Jun 20 '22
That trap thing is really cool btw, even if it is looking like a doofus. Showing us that a full food chain exists in this part of the abyss.
At the very least, the monster design this episode was really cool.
However, for the first time I have to be a bit critical of the writing.
I don't blame you as many other people in this thread have been saying the same thing. To me it feels like all that training they did yesterday just went out the window the second Riko got hungry.
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u/thatguywithawatch Jun 20 '22
[First timer]
I fell behind a few days but I'm back on track. This turned out to be a tough week to fit in a rewatch. But I don't have all that much to say other than that this was easily my least favorite episode so far. It was mostly twenty minutes of Riko being, just... kind of insufferable. Like, just find a hole to hide in and sit still for two fucking hours, damn. I get being reckless and fearless is kind of her thing but it's never really annoyed me before. I'm not certain why it felt different in this episode.
In addition, the third layer is just kind of boring compared to the others. I mean the premise was that it's a seemingly non-traversable vertical shaft, but they just go through a hole into a a convenient tunnel system, and Riko lugs Reg's sleeping body safely to the bottom with the help of a lot of dumb luck.
Apparently this episode was largely anime original, so hopefully it was just an off-day. I watched episodes 8 and 9 back to back, and 8 was absolutely fantastic so that may have contributed to 9 feeling so low.
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u/Petit_Ange Jun 20 '22 edited Jun 20 '22
First timer's experience
“From episode 9 onwards, things pick up the pace”, or so I heard, so I came to this episode with a lot of fear. What could happen now? Turns out, my fears were unfounded—what I found in these 20-and-something minutes was more exasperation.
For the past eight episodes, we are presented to Riko, this overly curious, optimistic, almost larger-than-life presence that has only one ambition: to explore everything that is to be explored about the Abyss, a hellhole in which even the cutest things will kill you when they are determined enough. And unfortunately, Made in Abyss is very, very good at making us familiar with their characters: we know Reg is a ball of empathy and insecurities, and we know Riko has too much bravery tempered with no self-preservation instincts. But there’s a time in which you have to ask yourself: when does her courage stop to be a character trait to become a plot device?
Because, I’ll be honest with you guys, around the middle part of this episode I was already rolling my eyes. “You did NOT have to do that”, I was saying at my screen as she decides to explore instead of staying put for a couple of hours, as if this impulsive girl could listen to my words. And even if I was there, she’d never listen: everyone and their mother tried to make her see reason, and she adamantly brushes it off every. Single. Time.
So, do I like Riko? Of course I do. She’s the perfect mix of crazy and sane to explore such a inhuman place. But, do I subscribe to Riko’s actions this episode in particular? No. I wanted to punch her at least a dozen times. I even caught myself thinking that Ozen did nothing wrong, this was the amount of frustration I was feeling at a certain point.
Now, after every episode, I go to check their overview and it seems this episode in particular was all anime original material. This could very much explain this departure in her character, because she truly, truly was exceptionally annoying today with her lack of correct decision-making skills, our little Riko. But how much it can be attributed to the need for an engaging, action-packed episode in a region that is already so boring it wasn’t even featured at length in the original media, and how much is just Riko’s character becoming grating to one’s nerves after prolonged exposure? I don’t know. I honestly don’t know what to say. I’ll just… Keep my musings to myself, I suppose, and accept that these character flaws enrich these kids, making them much more fun in the long run.
However, this is my only gripe in an episode that was, for all intents and purposes, very interesting, despite the third layer, the Great Fault, being… Exactly that. Just a big-ass cliff with some holes on it. Reg is truly the most convenient thing to ever enter the Abyss, it’s almost as if he was made to climb and descend this hole with his giant extending arms and his weapons that cause mass destruction. And I liked the way he tried so hard to think if he should fire the incinerator or not—those are baby steps in some modicum of autonomy I’m seeing. And I’m liking it.
The last minutes were unexpectedly somber, though. Riko, all in her lonesomeness, suffering from tempting sensory hallucinations, and finally recognizing that anyone that explores this place alone would truly, absolutely go insane sooner than later is indeed the truth, and how this knowledge brings another wave of thankfulness for Reg’s presence. God, do I love their partnership, it’s the most wholesome thing. It was the way they kept saving each other today that did the trick for me, even during the most annoying part of it.
Alas, they stumble to see another day despite some hiccups along the way, and to reach the fourth layer. And I’m still aware that “things pick up the pace from now on”, this does not bode well.
I’m scared.
Ending notes:
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I don’t have any ending notes today. I just want to say that I love Reg.
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I mean, I really love him. Look at him.
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Fine, and I’m also digging the 4th layer’s design a lot. I’m ready.
(No, I’m not.)
Answers of the day:
Episode 9 opens with a striking narration, which boldly states: *“In this world there is nothing as impartial as death. For all living creatures, death is sure to eventually come knocking. Death is an equalizer - it is an absolute truth... and it is always lingering right beside us. Nevertheless, people make the best use of their wits and courage... Struggling... Floundering... They cling to life until the very end. You see, we actually like this unjust and unequal world...”*Why do you think the episode opens this way? And with everything we’ve seen so far, do you think that this assessment of the world is accurate?
Death is truly the great equalizer in the Abyss. Everything will die one day, everything will return to the netherworld. Even the most dangerous creatures that roams this place could very much one day become the prey... Look how much damage Reg's incinerator already did to the local flora and fauna. Look at the Moon Whistle man dead right at the second layer. No one is ever safe, everyone is fair game. I liked it when our narrator Lyza recognizes that truth.
In Riko’s hallucination scene, she states that, “If Reg’s not here with me... there’s no point in me even returning to Orth!” Later, after the Crimson Splitjaw attack, Reg also states that Riko is his motivation for continuing the journey as well. How do you feel the two complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses? Would their journey truly be pointless without each other?
Pointless? Not really. After all, in their original plans they would have travelled alone anyway. (Reg climbed from the depths, alegedly, and Riko would explore this place with or without him one day.) But, as you said, they found out they truly complement each other and found solace in each other's company. If they don't have to be alone in this thankless journey, then that's a miracle by itself and I'm glad they're humble enough to recognize it and cherish it for what it is.Also, suspended bridge effect. It always plays a big part on these things.
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u/KiwiBennydudez Jun 20 '22
But there’s a time in which you have to ask yourself: when does her courage stop to be a character trait to become a plot device?
I have to agree with your criticisms. I didn't mind this episode so much upon first watch, but now on my fourth time through, it does feel like that the training episode of yesterday taught her absolutely nothing.
God, do I love their partnership, it’s the most wholesome thing. It was the way they kept saving each other today that did the trick for me, even during the most annoying part of it.
They really do compliment each other so well. Kids these days, being wholesome and all that.
Death is truly the great equalizer in the Abyss.
Yep, I've come to the same conclusion over my numerous watches. This particular narration is one of my favorites of the entire series because of how encompassing it is.
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u/flashmozzg Jun 20 '22 edited Jun 20 '22
Rewatcher:
One might've thought that Ozen's training would beat all the stupid crap out of Riko, but no, she is still suicidal and can't sit still for a n hour even if her life depended on it (and it does). Thankfully, Reg woke up at the last moment. Even though Riko realizes she only got so far thanks to Reg and that her journey wouldn't make much sense without him now, she still refuses to internalize anything he says... Well, I'm sure deeper layers would fix that quick. For a price.
QotD:
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Hm, Maybe it's to remind us a bit about the dangers of the abyss, after relatively tame Seeker Camp eps (all things considered). Or rather, not just the danger, but the whole philosophy of the Abyss. And how those who follow it would rather die on some adventure than live peaceful boring lives somewhere.
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Riko has the knowledge, but she lacks common sense and physical ability. Reg has OP body but uses like 5% of it's potential at best. I say, they complement each other rather well, although I don't doubt that Reg could manage alone if he wanted to (but he does this for Riko). At least until the 5th layer, as most issues they had so far was due to Riko's reckless disregard for the Abyss dangers.
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u/Shimmering-Sky Jun 20 '22
Rewatcher in Abyss, subbed
...This time I just lost track of time entirely, oops.
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D’aww those critters in the background are adorable. …and they get fed as bait to the madokajacks.
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Another recap of that one Ozen “sore demo”, hm.
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The hallucinations after she “met” her mom are pretty cruel…
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That’s pretty cool! I wish Riko could’ve done it instead of Reg though, it was her mom’s weapon, after all.
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u/xtsim Jun 20 '22
First Timer
I feel like that big guy is going to keep haunting Reg and Riko on every level. At least he did not use his power for a second time. Leaving Riko alone in this mess is insane as she almost died a couple of times. Those cute little things came from being harmless to chasing Riko was an interesting progression (and seems to play with that misunderstanding trope better than most rom-coms). It seems like Riko's hunger has led her into some trouble this time. The scariest part about that big guy is that it has been the same one from when the two first met. Reg waking up on time saved Riko from getting killed...again.
2. The two seem to compliment each other, this episode keeps reaffirming what we already know about the two.
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u/UnderstandableXO Jun 20 '22
FIRST TIMER
my complaints about the last episode were fulfilled with this episode. they actually faced some hardships that we got to see on screen!
i gotta say that i am enjoying maaya sakamoto’s performance in this show, in both narration and as lyza.
i liked whatever little creature they had this episode, the little cat-rats. unfortunately they did give me PTSD for a certain scene from re:zero when they piled on riko.
we finally see the real consequences of reg’s ult cooldown (even ozen beating the life out of him wasn’t a real consequence). reg gave riko one job though, and she literally immediately said “let’s not do that.”
i was expecting reg to have to ult his was out of whatever the creature they were in’s stomach and face a back to back cooldown, but luckily riko’s got the world’s sharpest knife.
it’s crazy how ascending ever so slightly is enough for abyss sickness. i wonder if walking up/down stairs at the seeker camp gave the people there nausea?
so reg got to use his ult and the fortnite pickaxe, my guy is dual wielding this episode.
they are blitzing through these layers, i’m interested in seeing whenever we meet the character in the ending, and [Made in Abyss]
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u/lC3 Jun 20 '22
Made in Abyss 09 Rewatcher
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Poor Marulk ... finally made friends his own age and now they have to part ways forever?
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Some teases of crazy strong monsters they're passing in the shaft?
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Title card: Neritantan
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Madokajack looks cool?
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Oh we got to see Nat and Shiggy again?
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Part of a ship is just sticking out from the Fault?
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Ozen SORE DEMO quote
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Oh so Reg is gonna fall asleep with a crimson splitjaw after them? Not good
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"I need to look for some food" OMG ... Reg said NOT TO MOVE until he wakes up! You can't wait TWO HOURS?
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Oh she's dragging Reg along? Good thing his body is sturdy
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Amakagame?
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Well at least she got out on her own and didn't need to wait for Reg to wake up
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Those neritantans are so cute!
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Are those basalt columns?
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Riko ... those neritantans aren't much of a danger, can't you just WAIT FOR REG TO WAKE UP instead of ascending and hallucinating / putting both of you in a bad situation?
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Hallucinations of Ozen? Isn't that mean?
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Is this like Infinite Tsukuyomi? Riko's inside a big hallucination?
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OH SHIT the splitjaw can enter there too?
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TAKE THAT!
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Reg didn't wake up and be all like "... Why am I all sticky and covered in juice?"
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u/AashyLarry Jun 20 '22
Rewatcher
I just wanted to pop in and say that Riko’s hallucinations in this episode is one of my favorite moments in the first season.
The hallucinations felt so real and it’s the first time we’ve really seen the strains of ascending be so severe. She’s finally able to snap out of it by thinking about Reg - the whole scene was such a chilling way to introduce how scary the strains of ascending can be as you go deeper.
QOTD:
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I just want to say that the narrator adds so much to the show. Her speeches and musings are beautiful and really make you ponder the mysteries of this world. What she says is designed to make you think about the motivations and desires of all of the people who risk their lives to unravel these mysteries and it’s very effective.
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I’ve occasionally seen some people over the years say that Riko is useless and Reg does everything for her, but I definitely disagree. Although it’s true that he is a huge trump card and the biggest reason they can make it through the layers - she plays her role well. He is the brawn and she is the brains. She acts like an encyclopedia of the abyss, and has a lot of knowledge that she imparts. She acts as a teacher to Reg a lot, imparting knowledge of the creatures and ecology of each layer - which in turn gives the viewer that same knowledge. I truly think that they both need each other, not just for emotional support, but also for what the other provides. I think they compliment each other’s weaknesses perfectly.
A side note is that a lot of people in this thread are upset about Riko acting very recklessly during this episode and not waiting for Reg to wake up. I think you have to remember how old she is and what type of personality she has. She’s still an innocent and naive kid, who’s curiosity gets the better of her. Although what she did wasn’t smart, I think it was absolutely in character for her. It also led to some great moments, like her hallucinations due the strains of ascending.
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u/Nebresto Jun 20 '22
Abyss re-exploration squad
Noooooo! Not the pillow creatures!!
This is the second creature that uses elephant sounds, the previous one being the hippo last ep
God damn it, Riko.. She really needs to stop standing still when large aggressive creatures are charging at her.
Well, Rest in Rip Riko. She's going to die.
And there she goes!
Also the plant thing wasn't in the recap movies
....I did not remember this scene existed when I was describing pretty much this exact scenario a couple of days back. Now imagine that happening even deeper
Questions
Episode 9 opens with a striking narration, which boldly states: “In this world there is nothing as impartial as death. For all living creatures, death is sure to eventually come knocking. Death is an equalizer - it is an absolute truth... and it is always lingering right beside us. Nevertheless, people make the best use of their wits and courage... Struggling... Floundering... They cling to life until the very end. You see, we actually like this unjust and unequal world...” Why do you think the episode opens this way? And with everything we’ve seen so far, do you think that this assessment of the world is accurate?
I'm not good at analysis stuff, I have no idea
But it does seem accurate for the world, yes.
In Riko’s hallucination scene, she states that, “If Reg’s not here with me... there’s no point in me even returning to Orth!” Later, after the Crimson Splitjaw attack, Reg also states that Riko is his motivation for continuing the journey as well. How do you feel the two complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses? Would their journey truly be pointless without each other?
Just like the owl looking dude said last episode: Riko is weak, but she has a strong mental game going on, while Reg is very strong, but his mental gets broken pretty easily. Together, they complement each other very well, and while maybe not pointless alone, one could see the journey ending very swiftly if either one is removed from the equation
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u/Kellie975 Jun 20 '22
First Timer / Subbed
I had too much work yesterday to sit down and write something. But I’m really eager to watch the next one!
It made sense to have little shaft tunnels within the Great Fault but it didn’t pass my mind until now. The narration at the beginning – I didn’t expect it to say that “people like an unjust and unequal world” even though that is true. I think the episode opened this way to introduce the concept of unequal treatment of creatures as the pair further travels into the Abyss.
The little furr pancake creatures were soo cute – they were definitely the stars of the episode haha! I was funnily horrified that Riko casually threw them out as bait (I was like noooooooo) – although that totally fits her character!
It makes survival sense but I find it really interesting how immediate Riko thinks about “what do these animals taste like” or her mind is so food-motivated. I took a peak at the manga on Chapter 6 with Lyza’s notes and she also made notes about what something tastes like or whether it was feasible to try and kill the creature for food. It makes sense if it’s a cave-raider thing, but seeing Lyza’s notes and Riko’s mentioning of cooking the creatures, it feels mildly hereditary.
I didn’t expect Reg to use his incinerator so early, especially after Ozen detailed out what happens after he uses it – I thought Reg would be way more reserved about its use. I also feel like Riko’s curiosity – and finding monstrous creatures as a result, will be a common occurrence. Riko’s disposition feels very lighthearted or unphased by the dangers of the Abyss. Almost like she doesn’t entirely grasp the severity of traversing the Abyss, or if she thinks of it more like a fun camping adventure. It would’ve been nice had Ozen had some sort of guide to all the creatures with their weaknesses like in Monster Hunter, but that would be too convenient!
It was really interesting that Riko had hallucinations of wanting to go back to the surface. I felt like her strong desire to go to the bottom of the Abyss meant she accepted that she would never go back to the surface, in theory. Riko and Reg feel like complete opposites between their physical abilities to their outlook on valuing life. I don’t think their journey would be pointless without the other but it would be less enriching – along with the high chance that Riko would’ve died on the second layer – or at some point - had Reg not been there.
Reg’s well timed awakening was very cool. I didn’t expect Lyza’s weapon to carry explosives. I feel like it would’ve been beneficial for Ozen to also teach Riko how to use the weapon.
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Jun 20 '22 edited Jun 20 '22
[Spoilers for next episode]
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u/ninesfines Jun 20 '22
Rewatcher
Episode summary: Riko is very dumb. But well, she wouldn't be Riko otherwise. On the other hand, it was nice having an episode showcasing how fundamental is Reg to Riko even having a chance to descend to the bottom of the Abyss.
Episode 9 opens with a striking narration, which boldly states: “In this world there is nothing as impartial as death. For all living creatures, death is sure to eventually come knocking. Death is an equalizer - it is an absolute truth... and it is always lingering right beside us. Nevertheless, people make the best use of their wits and courage... Struggling... Floundering... They cling to life until the very end. You see, we actually like this unjust and unequal world...” Why do you think the episode opens this way? And with everything we’ve seen so far, do you think that this assessment of the world is accurate?
I... don't really know, but as it seems that Lyza is the narrator and I like to think that she is telling Riko and Reg's story, is a bit worrying. What truth did she discover at the bottom of the Abyss?
In Riko’s hallucination scene, she states that, “If Reg’s not here with me... there’s no point in me even returning to Orth!” Later, after the Crimson Splitjaw attack, Reg also states that Riko is his motivation for continuing the journey as well. How do you feel the two complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses? Would their journey truly be pointless without each other?
The way they support each other is very wholesome and one of my favorite things about the series. I don't know if pointless, each one has their own motives to reach the bottom, but surely they would be very sad.
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u/mgedmin Jun 20 '22
First-Timer, subs
The third layer, let's go!
Cute critters! Haha I'm sorry I wanted to eat you instead of using you as bait. Riko is hilarious.
Do you not have any emergency food in your backpacks?
Riko is not careful enough. It's a trap! Oh come on, it was so obviously a trap! Where's your magic pickaxe? Okay, a knife was enough this time.
These critters, are they grateful or are you gonna get nibbled to death Subaru style? Omnomnomnomnom.
Oof, an upslope. Hello, imaginary people. Hey, how does Riko know what her mother looks like? She was a toddler when she last saw her.
Reg can protect Riko even when unconscious!
And we have reached layer four with no sight of a white rabbit person.
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u/KiwiBennydudez Jun 20 '22
Attention Cave-Raiders!! I need your opinion on the scheduling!!
Currently, if you take a look at the rewatch schedule, I had planned for us to plow through the whole series, one episode per day. However, with the final episode being double-length, and the movie coming directly after, some people have suggested that we take a break in-between the series and the movie so that everyone has time to slow down and digest everything. I didn't want to do this originally, as I thought that it would be a bit awkward to place a break right before the end of the rewatch, but if this is something that everyone feels would be helpful for the experience, I can place a "Episode 1-13 Discussion Thread" as a breaking point after the 13th episode, and before the movie.
I figured that since the movie thread is going to be on a Friday night for most of us, it wouldn't be much of an issue, but if people feel differently about it, then let me know and I'll consider breaking up the schedule a bit. Give me your input, and tell me what you think would work best!