January 21st, 2014.
Fighting, but why?
Well, MC-Kun isn’t in Kansas anymore, and is about to see nothing is ever simple when time-paradoxes are involved. I guess. I’m just expecting pretty action and a budding friendship here, guys.
Thoughts and Notes:
1) The Will to Fight:
1) This scene is straight out of Neon Genesis Evangelion, “We made all the modifications so the next time you pilot it it’ll be even smoother!” – “Wait, what do you mean, I have to pilot it again?” – He’s just a regular high school student, he didn’t sign up for this. He doesn’t even have the “dead friend” motivation that so many have. This isn’t his time, these aren’t his friends, you actually need to give him a reason to fight.
2) Fighting as not to die, a forced situation, doesn’t last as long. You know, I’m actually surprised, this doesn’t make sense. They should’ve had him in the Luxon to begin with. Even if he doesn’t actually go out there and fight, the Coupling System would give Dio a huge power-boost. Eh.
3) Next episode’s name and the way this episode ended will focus on Aoba’s decision. Will he fight? Why would he fight? What is his goal? Will Dio accept the civilian who goes off on his own in the middle of combat, risking his allies? And Aoba himself realized he’s put Lee in danger.
2) On Sides, Morality and Individuality in Sunrise Shows:
1) In a way, this is like Code Geass, and so very anime. In the end, it’s not down to mass armies, or strategic planning, it all comes down to individuals changing the tide of war, to the power of the individual. The portable Nectar Rifle is the epitome of this message. Yes, a technological advance like this can change the tide of war, especially when mass-produced, but currently with everything (including the Coupling System) being one of a kind, and such shows usually continue with “prototypes” changing the balance of power… why even have armies? Ah yes, so the individuals will stand out.
2) Not only Sunrise often go for moral grey “sides”, where both sides have characters you can understand, we the audience know Hina will become an ally, and as such, she gets some extra time to be cool in the show.
Even the ‘enemy’ cares for his comrades, for his subordinates, and we’ve seen them angry over the loss of an ally last episode as well. We have our MCs, but we don’t really have “heroes” and “villains” in here thus far. This is a battle, and both sides are engaging in it to the best of their ability. No blackmail, no hostages, just a clean fight.
Of course, such things are ridiculous notions, but that’s what the show is trying to convey.
Shorter Asides:
- So, Zogilia is Iran/Iraq, and this is all about an oil war, essentially? Oh, you guys! :P
- BTW, where this show looks good in CG, the hand-drawn parts are a bit sloppy. The faces are always a little off, the clothes lack definition… it looks like something out of 2006.
Post Episode Notes:
We’re still going very much by the book here. But this was an important episode – usually the reason to fight is provided in the first episode of such shows, but here we have the crisis of faith appear before there’s even any faith to begin with! Interesting.
The fights continue to be pretty sweet, but I wish they didn’t cut so many corners in non-fights, actually :-/
Geekorner-Geekulture. 
