Fractale – 09
Too fluffy…Cannot…handle…
I have gotten myself into quite the predicament. Somewhere along the line, I reverted back into gaming mode…during test and exam period. I usually restrain myself from gaming until breaks, knowing full well how deep my obsession can run, but NOT THIS TIME. With anime being delayed and released at the oddest times (because of the tsunami, I would imagine), we’ll see just how well I can juggle it all.
The Fractale system is going haywire as satellites (well, “balloons”) are malfunctioning left and right. Phryne’s dad is pretty pissed about the whole thing, and complains to the high priestess Moeran. In response to his arrogant lunacy, she quietly mulls over the Fractale system and the constant cycle of having to reboot the system after it fails over and over. She seems to be yet another tool of the Temple, so she grudgingly sends out a message to everyone, asking them to kill LM.
Surviving massive explosions and being miraculously found amongst the rubble without even a smudge of dirt on him is apparently no problem for Clain. The only real casualty is that Nessa has a fever, either from exerting so much energy to save Clain or as a reflection of the failing Fractale system. Probably the former. Anyways, the three of them hold hands, smile, and contemplate sleeping together.
Phryne and Clain leave Nessa to rest as they have a little chat in the hallway. Phryne finally agrees to explain everything about her and Nessa, even though everything has been pretty much explained. What we essentially learn here is that the key must have a physical and spiritual aspect: Phryne is the physical vessel and Nessa is the soul (or “God”) of the key. The both of them are needed to reboot the system, but who knows what will happen to them after it.
Now that you know the truth about me, it’s time I told you the truth about me
Nessa suddenly screams and starts throwing a fit, terrified that she’s going to disappear. Clain consoles her and Phryne simultaneously with flowery words and a lot of hand-holding. And smiling. And laughing. OKAY NOW CUT TO VILLAGERS WITH PITCHFORKS DRIVING LM AWAY FOR BEING MURDERERS.
And now my favourite scene – the one with Dias in it. LM has a massive group conference with all the members, who are all a bit flustered at the state of affairs. Their home villages have been attacked and they’ve all been targetted. Doushio~~? That’s when Dias just swaggers in (well, it’s a chatroom, but he has his swag on at heart) and proposes that the Temple put the bounty up as a last ditch effort, so they should go on the offensive. That’s all that’s really needed to convinced everyone to do an all-out assault on the Temple. Dias, you fork-tongued serpent, you.
Clain wants to fight too, but after that sickeningly sweet display, he’s left with the ladies back on the ground. Before they leave for the last battle, they take a group photo together. Everyone is smiling and laughing once again, waving the airship goodbye as it heads to the Temple. The sweetness doesn’t end there. Clain and his hoes are taken to a shelter for just the 3 of them. Are you ready for the sappiest conversation yet?
If you survived the “LET’S STAY TOGETHER FOREVEEERRRRR” then you get to see Phryne give Clain a quick kiss before leaving and surrendering herself to the Temple. She’s convinced that she’s responsible, and that she’s the only one who can get them to stop. Nessa uses some clever psychology to get Clain to channel his anger into wanting to save Phryne. She’s smarter than she looks. Sometimes.
Bonus Screenshots:
Yeah, we’re still working on that “firebreathing” patch
One day, I forgot to turn my swag off before going to bed. I woke up covered in bitches.
All these people just to say “please leave”
Dias of the week. Stylish little bugger, ain’t he?
End Thoughts: This was an odd little episode. It ditched the tense momentum of last week’s episode to swing back to the happy-go-lucky feel. If I had watched 9 right after 8 without that week’s break I would certainly be a bit confused. I like the almost slice of life episodes (to an extent) and I like the more tense episodes, but the way they’re arranged is too anti-climactic. What we need is more gradual transitions. You don’t go from an episode where everything explodes and we learn the secret to the matrix and then all of sudden everything is roses.
Episode 9 is a set-up episode, tying up a few loose ends about Phryne and Nessa and putting everything in motion for the last battle. I got the feeling that not a lot happened, but on the other hand I didn’t really mind. Phryne wasn’t being a bitch, Nessa was as adorable as usual, and Clain was ridiculously mushy and almost CUTE. Even Enri almost had a meaningful moment with Clain aside from going “Ecchi!”, until they remembered that it was the best joke ever and had to be put in. Easy to watch, simple and cute for the sake of cuteness before we’re suddenly thrown into turmoil again. I predict another mood swing!
Let’s talk about Dias. Again. He’s certainly a head above the other LM leaders in terms of intelligence (and looks). His goal is to ultimately destroy the Fractale system, but he’s shown to be a lot more controlling than the other LM people. So if they beat the Temple, something tells me he’s going to try to reshape the world HIS way. Do you think I’m just biased to think Dias is destined for a greater role and the Temple is the final boss or do you think Dias might have something up his sleeve? Whatever the outcome, Clain outright asking Sunda what he was going to do with the world raises that question for all of LM – what WILL they do if Fractale goes down? There’s going to be multitudes of angry people who have lost everything they ever knew and will now be expected to change. Good luck with that one.
I’m beginning to not really care much for what happens next. I’m not exactly waiting for an ending that will knock me off my feet over here. Fractale is just such an “okay” series, I never feel compelled to look at it any deeper than what’s on the surface. Oh well, we’ll see just how the story comes together in the next few episodes. Maybe I’ll be pleasantly surprised?
About Overcooled
A neuroscience graduate, black belt, and all-around nerd. You'll either find me in my lab or curled up in my rilakkuma kigurumi watching anime.
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 88 comments
Nessa’s fever was SO RANDOM, I was seriously like, “Whoa, wait, when did this happen?”
>I’m beginning to not really care much for what happens next
Agreed. When this show is done, I’ll probably forget about it by Spring Season.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
It was more random that she suddenly snapped out of it like it was nothing yet again. o_o She was sick for what, 10 minutes?
Yeah, Fractale is pretty “meh”..have to be honest. It’s one of the few winter shows I didn’t drop though, so at least it’s not terrible XD
POWUH: Lovely-pyon~ with 339 comments
I keep forgetting that for some reason I never saw the end of this episode. Yay for episode reviews with lots of detail XD /toolazytogowatchtheend
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
I wonder how that happened o_o I do that a lot though since I tend to stop playing once the ED song starts to play. aaaand that’s what we’re here for! XD
POWUH: 400-499 with 428 comments
You know that bit when all the airships were coming together? I thought the best song to put in would have been Monochrome from ‘Apprivoise!’, aka Star Driver. Would have fit in so well…
Dias is just Izaya in disguise. Since he loves all humans, he has to be in another anime about the fate of humanity. Who wouldn’t want to
manipulatelead humans to a better world?Anywho, great work and thx for the review Overcooled! And don’t worry, gaming obsessions’ is not a bad thing. (such as waiting for Arrival DLC god, HIGH TENSION!). Can’t wait for next episode 🙂
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
I don’t watch Star Driver so I will simply imagine some flamboyant mecha song in my head. ….In that case yes, yes it suits the scene.
Izaya loves humans so much he took over Fractale. Oh Izaya, what will be next?
Thanks, Reaper! Looks like someone has the same gaming blood pumping through their veins. I’m getting sucked in by Pokemon and I’m about to start God Eater on my psp…someone stop me!
POWUH: 400-499 with 428 comments
I only watched a few eps of Star Driver but the insert song isn’t anything like a mecha song…it was like like a majestic song, which would have fit in with the rising airships and the massive attack. I really recommend listening to it, unless you don’t like it.
Then we’ll have a problem…O.o. JK 🙂
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 107 comments
The only interesting parts were the parts when Nessa spoke. LOLS.
Oh, and the “zuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuutto!” was so cute! >w<
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
The best parts were anything with Nessa and anything with Dias XD I don’t know what I’m gonna do if Nessa dies.
POWUH: iLurker with 1 comments
[…] “This was an odd little episode. It ditched the tense momentum of last week’s episode to swing back to the happy-go-lucky feel. If I had watched 9 right after 8 without that week’s break I would certainly be a bit confused. I like the almost slice of life episodes (to an extent) and I like the more tense episodes, but the way they’re arranged is too anti-climactic. What we need is more gradual transitions. You don’t go from an episode where everything explodes and we learn the secret to the matrix and then all of sudden everything is roses.” – Metanorn […]