Phi Brain – 06
Nightmares about solving puzzles? Me too, bro. Me too.
I feel like it’s a sin if I don’t talk about puzzles as soon as possible in these posts. The first thing I should say should just be PUZZLES in case some of you aren’t sure you’re in the right post, or to ensure that I’m staying on topic. It would be nice if I could get away with all of my summaries from now until the end of the series being “Puzzles.” but I don’t think Kyokai would be too happy with that. So here’s a real summary!
Kaito still hasn’t recovered from episode 5 where he had a meltdown during a puzzle. He’s plagued by nightmares of his childhood and still can’t solve even the simplest of puzzles – a big issue for someone who eats, sleeps and breathes them. He feigns indifference, but you can totally tell he’s not his usual, cocky self. In order to get to the bottom of this, Edison (Or Q-chan) knocks him unconscious with some sort of sedative and drags him to his lab for research.
The things they teach you in school these days…
The cause of all his problems is the Orpheus armlet – no surprise there. The science lesson behind all of this is how it works. While focused intensely on a puzzle, it allows other areas that process emotions to direct their efforts into solving puzzles. However, the reverse occurs if he starts getting overly emotional – causing his logic areas to start contributing to his emotional response. Apparently, devoting all of your brain power to logic is okay, but devoting it all to emotion is incredibly harmful. As a defense mechanism, Kaito’s body is rejecting puzzles so he won’t have another reverse berserk episode and go ballistic.
Kaito being Kaito, he doesn’t even accept this scientific fact. He just can’t give up those exciting days out, risking his life to solve a puzzle. They’re not even giving out treasure anymore, WHAT GIVES? Anyways, he goes out of his way to prove them wrong by trying to solve a POG invitation…but he fails. He goes to the Puzzle Club to do a sudoku…and also fails. Frustrated, he heads to the river bank to cool off.
YOU HAVE ENTERED THE SUDOKU MATRIX
Galileo is nice enough to tell Kaito the location of the next puzzle in case he’s curious or wants to tag along, but Kaito is convinced he can solve the whole thing himself. Galileo tries to punch some sense into him, but it has absolutely no effect on Kaito’s massive ego. Galileo leaves him alone to head to the puzzle.
Nonoha finds Kaito by the riverbank and tries to console him by saying that quitting puzzles wouldn’t be so bad. Except, apparently it is, because puzzles are Kaito’s only reminder of his parents. At this point, puzzles pretty much are his parents. Kaito recklessly runs off to meet up with Galileo as Jikugawa watches from afar, slowly growing more concerned about POG’s almost obsessive interest in the slouchy genius Einstein.
This week’s solver is a derranged miko who has her puzzle set at night, in a cave, with the puzzle surrounded by flames so hot they burn bluish-purple. A little more intimidating than usual, I’d say. The actual puzzle is one where you place the correct kanji in the circles and then stand on the physical spot of the one kanji that isn’t needed to solve the puzzle. Kaito is still in no shape to solve it (although the poor soul still tries) so Galileo takes over. However, for the first time ever, he makes a mistake and ends up falling into quicksand. Not just quicksand, but JESUS EFFING CHRIST LIGHTSPEED SONIC THE HEDGEHOG sand.
Nonoha manages to grab hold of him, and using her monstrous strength, she holds him steady while Kaito tries to activate his Phi Brain mode. The puzzle has changed to a slightly harder version, and Kaito has to solve it fast so his friends won’t die. All this pressure leads to him activating a reverse berserk episode, and all hope looks lost…Kaito suddenly remembers that the show is 25 episodes long and he needs his sidekicks for a bit longer and properly activates Phi Brain mode to solve the puzzle and save his friends. In the distance, Sheepfro chuckles in his limo and comments on how magnificent Kaito is.
The real puzzle of this show: Kaito’s sexuality
(Mostly) BL Bonus Screenshots:
I am literally a hop-skip away from writing a GalileoxKaito crackfic. Don’t encourage me!
“Wait, where’s the treasure? W-why is Gammon carrying me like I’m loot?”
Well, balls. Guess I need a new job.
WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING DOWN THERE?!
End Thoughts: If you thought Kaito was whiny and dramatic in the last episode, then you probably faded out of consciousness from this episode. In case we somehow don’t get the hint that he can’t solve puzzles, Kaito spends most of the episode going through a myriad of different puzzles that he would normally be able to solve. After each failure he gets more and more depressed, to the point where you realize the man is sulking by the river because of his inability to solve puzzles. I’d like to think he was contemplating drowning himself, it was so bad. But seriously, Kaito handled his loss of solving powers like a giant asshole. Instead of at least acknowledging it and trying to get around it, he just says “NOPE, I CAN STILL SOLVE THINGS.” As they say, the first step to fixing a problem is to admit you have one. It’s a miracle he gained his powers back despite his insistence that he never lost them in the first place.
Kaito is probably my least favourite character right now, while Q-chan and Galileo have steadily moved up in my preference ranking. Galileo is a bit…extra…but he’s a brilliant puzzle solver and actually cares about Nonoha and Kaito. He told Kaito the location because he knew his pride was injured and that he’d want to come along and at least TRY to solve the puzzle. Galileo had most likely planned on being the one to actually solve it, but he knew he should at least include Kaito to try and slowly get his weakened brain back into puzzles. The punching part was really not needed though. I understand his frustration (I wanted to punch him too) but again, it just made the drama wayyyyy too crazy. This is Phi Brain, I know, but even Phi Brain should have limits.
As for Q-chan, he went from annoying brat to adorable little kid that idolizes Kaito like a big brother. I love that angle a lot more. There’s something cute about a stalker who shoots tranquilizer darts at you. Plus, he’s useful. It’s an interesting concept, using areas of the brain associated with emotion to solve puzzles and vice versa – using logic areas to express emotions. As a neuroscience student, I liked it, even if it’s kind of BS. :3
While I really liked this week’s puzzle as well, how is this going to continue for 25 episodes? There’s been a puzzle-of-the-week theme with only one minor divergence: Kaito losing his power. However, he gained his puzzle-solving skills back in this very episode. Not a very big development if you ask me. The only thing POG has been doing is shuffling around chess pieces too, so nothing is even set up to happen yet. The next episode looks like it’s the same thing, except focusing more on Nonoha. Perhaps Sheepfro will be more involved? Or maybe that girl from the OP that hasn’t been introduced yet? There has to be something bigger than just puzzles, right? No? Okay, well, see you next week for more sudoku ._. I hope I’m not the only one having puzzle-solving dreams/nightmares…
Preview: Nonoha gets a title?!?! YOU GO GIRL! It better be something cool. If they give her a mocking title like Sarah Palin as a joke, I’m out. It IS rather sad that the puzzle she appears to be solving was devised by kindergarteners. Isn’t that kind of…unfair?
If you give them candy, you win
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: Lovely-pyon~ with 338 comments
WRITE IT!! GalileoxKaito PLEASE!!! *encourages you* The best was when he woke up on Galileo’s back and didn’t bother moving XDDDD God with Galileo and Da Vinci this anime is racking up some major yaoi points.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Oh God…if this happens it’s all your fault >.< I even found a gif of that piggyback ride that just screams yaoi, aaahhhhhh
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 99 comments
Uhh, yeah my OTP Nanoha/Galileo got owned by the show’s OTP Galileo/Kaito this episode. ;_; Oh well, I can understand all the Galileo love. Redheads are the best.
Agree the drama this episode was way too much.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
I still like Nonoha/Galileo, but I think we all know how the brain of a fangirl works when dealing with yaoi…XD The world of anime needs more redheads!
POWUH: 800-899 and Flying Sage with 856 comments
PUZZLES — Just making sure you knew which article I was commenting on.
I liked the “using emotion centers to think” idea, even though it was kind of BS. It certainly is less BS than magic armband.
Go, Nonoha, go! I’m looking forward to next week, so I don’t care about PoW (Puzzle of the Week).
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Haha, it’s just the first thing that pops into my head when writing about this show XD As for the weird brain powers, I like the effort to explain it SOMEhow even if it is pretty much impossible. It’s like Guilty Crown’s explanation of Voids.
I’m totally cheering Nonoha on as well!
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 88 comments
Haha Kaito is my least favorite character too… φ_φ
Maybe Nonoha will get an athlete’s title, since she’s athletic/powerful? Athena? Serena/Venus Williams? Natalie Coughlin?
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
Tiger Woods
Wait, wrong athlete
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
All the athlete names I know are male… D: It would be funny if she got a sports title, and was made fun of for being good at sports and not a nerd. It’s like a reverse look at our society!
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I’m glad to see Kaito is out of his whiny phase because that was annoying. It’s bad enough for a main character to have a big ego but to put such a character in that state begins to poison the show.
They let Q-chan take a lot of liberty in the school. I mean, using darts on students while on campus and no backlash for it? I guess the main rule is that anything goes. When he strapped Kaito down, I was thinking “Is he going to dissect him?”. Haha, a Shiki flashback when Toshio was experimenting on his wife.
Other than Nonoha and Galileo, the winner was that yandere priestess. She was fun to watch. She calls herself a demon priestess but looks like a demon herself and I hope she sticks around. Plus, where did she get that kind of quicksand? That looks like a deathtrap that works TOO well.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
If not having his powers back within an episode meant more whining, I’ll gladly take him regaining his powers right away =_= Even the yandere priestess is a better character next to Kaito. (how DID she install that quicksand pit?)
Haha, I thought about dissection too. Especially since they strapped him down…was that really necessary…? XD
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
I’m so tempted to pick this again.
But puzzles….
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
You don’t like puzzles? I’m..not sure this is for you then LOL
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
Yeah, but the yaoi…. *shot*
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
It’s not really yaoi, unless you squint. Unless it gets worse. STAY TUNED.
POWUH: Occasional (51-75) with 68 comments
It´s a little bit sad that when the part of the episode came where Kaito rides on Galileos back I knew it would automatically be put as a pairing, I love yaoi too but it´s a bit sad that guys can´t just be so close without the alarms ringing, c´moon, friendship ; )) (but still….. you Should write the fic..! >8D)
Nonoha is my fave, so happy she finally can show what she got! And GalileoXNonoha still wins here, they would be so cute.. ;3 Buut, hard to choose when such interesting “turning” points are happening >XD *cough*
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
It’s true, fujoshi have unreasonable standards for what is considered BL hints. The general rule is if they TOUCH in any way, they are gay. I wish I could explain why, but it just happens T.T I…I ship them…Ahhh no…I want to write a fic….!
Get that title, Nonoha! Show the boys how its done >:3
POWUH: Lovely-pyon~ with 305 comments
Please please please PLEASE WRITE GALILEO X KAITO CRACKFIC!!! *w*
The drama was so bad that I was laughing the whole time. XD Why would you purposefully go make an ass of yourself in front of the puzzle club when you know you can’t solve puzzles right now? That side of Kaito really gets on my nerves, and I’d say he’s probably my least favorite too.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
*sobbing* I swear it’s gonna be serious, not even crack! o_o
Kaito has severe denial. It’s really annoying, huh? He went out of his way to show what an idiot he was to everyone, ugh. I hope a puzzle kills him in his sleep :/
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
That will be the best death ever
POWUH: Meta Team and PreCure Mastah with 9203 comments
PUZZLE NIGHTMARES! AHHHHH They are really freaky….
This series always makes me laugh the most! Galileo is an awesome character and when he is around Kaito you can always expect something funny to happen between them. That was the longest sad trap ever….seriously! I knew Kaito would eventually recover his “puzzle powers” But this fast seems kind of wasted? xDD
SHEEP GUY! I call him Q-tip muhahahah
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
So many unintentional laughs slip out during this show. Half of the time it’s no even supposed to be funny XD
lol Q-tip. Oh man, that’s a much better name than Sheepfro. Ahahahaha~