Senki Zesshou Symphogear – 04
Before reading this post, please enjoy happy Kanade.
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Finally, we get to see some attuned vs attuned action and I’m more excited for this episode than any other. We’ve already seen how powerful Tsubasa is, but how will she handle this new villain? |
We all have our problems, I still think you’re awesome Kanade.
The episode starts with a flashback to when Kanade had just been taken in by the second division. While Kanade is being constrained, we learn that she was attacked by the Noise and is compatible with a relic. Kanade, who is clearly at wit’s end, wants nothing more then to slaughter the Noise that presumably killed her family. Through a series of disturbing, and bloody tests Kanade initiates her Symphogear and becomes the bearer of Gungnir. Tsubasa watches on surprised.
Some time later Kanade and Tsubasa are fighting a group of Noise. Kanade is pleased to hear by a rescued soldier that her song kept him alive. Later on Kanade and Tsubasa share a friendly moment that reveals the origin of Zwei Wing. (Tsubasa and Kanade are so adorable when they’re together. <3)
Back to the present, or should I say the nearer past? Tsubasa, driven by her memories from two years ago, takes on the Nehustan armor user head on. Being an “unbroken” relic means she’s much stronger than Tsubasa, who struggles to keep up with Nehustan’s fast whip fighting style. She turns her attention to Hibiki and summons a group of Noise to keep her busy. The Noise, who take the form of tall, beaked creature, spit out a sticky, gooey substance that Hibiki can’t manage to break free of. (I can only imagine how some people will make this scene seem much dirtier than it is. -_-)
Tsubasa manages to get the upper hand, or rather, upper foot (eheheh … that was lame) on Nehustan, but is easily thrown aside. Hibiki, who is still stuck, tries to summon her weapon so that she can replace Kanade at Tsubasa’s side, but can’t manage to do it.
Time and time again Tsubasa’s attacks fail to have any affect on Nehustan. Desperate to take back the Nehustan relic that was lost, Tsubasa makes a risky decision. First, she uses a new technique called Shadow Weaving (I still don’t understand why she didn’t use this from the start) to stop Nehustan in her tracks. Tsubasa sings her swan song which completely obliterates the surrounding area and furiously throws back Nehustan. It works well enough to send Nehustan flying … somewhere into the sky.
Hibiki runs over to Tsubasa, who believes she’s failed to save mankind, as Genjuro arrives. She turns around to reveal that she’s bleeding out of her eyes and mouth. She’s taken to a medical team that barely saves her.
Ogawa, Tsubasa’s manager, comforts Hibiki who waits in a nearby room. He explains to her Tsubasa’s feelings after Kanade died and Zwei Wing was broken up. Hibiki realizes that replacing Kanade is impossible, but Ogawa informs her that wanting to replace someone should not be her goal, but instead she should try to be Tsubasa’s friend. Meanwhile, Tsubasa has a dream where she is underwater and sees Kanade, but sinks after promising to reach higher.
I enjoy sip shots.
Back at second division, Hibiki blames herself for Kanade’s death and for Tsubasa’s injuries because she was too weak. The flashback ends with Hibiki declaring she has things she wants to protect. She opens her eyes and sees Miku. They talk about Hibiki’s solidarity and she waves it off with excuses. Miku shows her support for whatever it is troubling Hibiki and tells her to stay true to herself.
During the credits Hibiki visits Genjuro for training and … MONTAGE, GO! Afterwards Hibiki once more avoids admitting her secret about being attuned from Miku.
The first half of the new episode was surprisingly excellent, thanks to some much needed back story and a thrilling fight between Tsubasa and the new villain. It’s too bad Hibiki had to show up for the second half though. Apologies to any Hibiki fans out there, but I’m still not convinced she’s a fitting person as the protagonist of the show. (And her hair still irritates me.) Now that Tsubasa is sidelined I’m expecting that Hibiki will pretty much be in the spotlight for the next 1-2 episodes almost exclusively as she trains to develop her own weapon. That could be a good thing, as it might show some new, more likable sides to her, but it seems like she’s already tied to being both naive and overly energetic, considering the circumstances. I do think her determination and loyalty are amiable though, and Aoi Yuuki does a wonderful job of convincing us that Hibiki really is struggling emotionally.
So the battle this episode was … epic, well, for my standards of the show at least. XD It was lengthy, but it never felt like the action slowed down. (I also think it’s amusing how I’m starting to remember all the names of Tsubasa’s moves.) The new Nehustan villain isn’t anything special so far, she seems like your typical maniacal and arrogant bishoujo, but her power is the most interesting. She’s an “unbroken” relic (compared to Tsubasa and Hibiki who only have a fragment of a relic) which explains her strength. I’m wondering if maybe the “unbroken” Symphogears are the true villains, since she’s shown she can summon the Noise which might be a trait only they are capable of.
Tsubasa used her swan song this episode, which almost led to a similar death as Kanade, but thankfully she lived. I’m making a wild prediction here, but the way the show is building the friendship between Miku and Hibiki, I wouldn’t be surprised if Hibiki dies using her swan song to save her. Afterall, they’ve been pushing that Hibiki has things she wants to protect.
Anyway, I really appreciated the edgier aspects of the show this week. The use of blood was unsettling, and watching Tsubasa’s “final” words was upsetting, and very creepy. I guess it just proves how dangerous being an attuned is, and it seemed to have a definite affect on Hibiki. (Oh, and lol at the training montage.)
POWUH: 500-599 with 543 comments
I agree that Hibiki is really not much of a protagonist. (I hate her hair too- might be part of it.)
I too am thankful that Tsubasa did live- if she died it would have been a bit irritating. I would have no hope for humanity if she died. And the blood…euh it was creepy. There is a reason why I hate horror, and that would be the blood.
As for the training, I think it’s good for Hibiki. Maybe she is going to work on being better. She needs it.
POWUH: 700-799 and Horror Expert with 701 comments
I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks she needs a new hair style. The blood was very unexpected! Especially since Kanade’s swan song only left her bleeding a little out of the mouth in episode 1. I can’t believe Tsubasa actually survived it though.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Kanade was such a livewire when she first transformed. Why did she have to become so docile after that? She was a lot better throwing tantrums, coughing blood and dosing herself with experimental drugs. What a waste.
This is getting a bit like Yu Yu Hakusho. They always announce the name of the attack when it’s unleashed. And using their swan song which can kill them is like the Yu Yu Hakusho characters using their life energy when their spirit energy has run out. Tsubasa was such a bloody mess.
I wonder who that in the Nehushtan armor is. At the beginning, she was mimicking most of Tsubasa’s actions and knows her personally. She’s obviously part of an organization using the Noise as a means to an end for an unknown goal.
Time for some training for Hibiki. Let’s see how strong she’ll get when she’s starting off with Bruce Lee movies for reference. Besides, she looks determined enough.
POWUH: 700-799 and Horror Expert with 701 comments
I could be imagining things, since the last time I watched the OP was like two weeks ago, but I vaguely remember a silver haired girl in it. Not that it helps us figure out who she is, but at least we might know what she looks like!
I miss Kanade, docile/crazy I don’t care, I just want her back alive.
POWUH: Metanorn Lover with 209 comments
This show needed some emotional moment and Hibiki really needed to get her act together.
POWUH: 700-799 and Horror Expert with 701 comments
Let’s just hope she’ll be prepared to fight alone next week without any of Tsubasa’s fancy sword abilities!
POWUH: Metanorn Lover with 207 comments
I take back everything I said about Kanade before. The whole beginning with the flashback was just amazing. Though I didn’t expect her to cough up blood, that surprised just a little bit. Plus that one scene where she goes up into the window with her hand like a horror movie, wow…Though I think her personality at that beginning was really cool, but I’m also happy for her that she started to warm up with Tsubasa, and not just stay in her Kill mode (Even though, that would have been really cool as well XD).
That whole fight scene was just awesome, it lasted for quite sometime, and I got super entertained with everything going on. Though I really glad Tsubasa didn’t die, after seeing she was going to use the swan song, I was like “NOOOOOOOOO”. But the aftermath was really brutal. Blood just pouring everywhere.
Now with the amazingly awesome 1st part, there’s the other half where it’s just Hibiki…being Hibiki. I just really can’t make any attachment with her character. Especially since she keeps saying “I need to be a good replacement for Kanade”, that just makes me dislike her even more (Especially with that whole amazing flashback happening at the beginning).
So now we’re going to have a training montage, so hopefully that can bring out some fun.
POWUH: 700-799 and Horror Expert with 701 comments
I had an awesome cap of the bloody hand print, I should have included it. XD I’m glad they’re starting to show us a lot more of the relationship between Kanade and Tsubasa, like you said it’s really nice to see how they became friends.
I’m glad that manager-guy finally got it through to her that she can’t and shouldn’t try to replace Kanade! Every time she said that I couldn’t help but facepalm.
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
I never have any problem with Kanade, she’s an all right person. Er, character.
Tsubasa and Hibiki do need to change themselves though.
What baffles me is how Tsubasa is not dead despite the fact that she actually used her swan song. Logically, she’s supposed to be dead and turn into ash. It’s as if they’re trying to defy logic because it’s not even halfway through the series
POWUH: 700-799 and Horror Expert with 701 comments
I didn’t get that either! Kanade died from her swan song with only a little blood dripping from her mouth, yet Tsubasa has blood seeping out of her pores and still manages to live.
The only reason I can think of is if maybe Kanade’s relic was more powerful and had a stronger effect? But idk they probably just didn’t want to kill her off yet.
POWUH: Lovely-pyon~ with 338 comments
Whoa, wait just a minute… when did this turn into a gruesome horror anime? Blood should not be coming out of the eyes unless this is Blood C?
POWUH: 700-799 and Horror Expert with 701 comments
If there’s ever a Noise shaped like a man-eating rabbit I’ll be very suspicious. D:
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
There was a lot of blood this episode, which was exactly why I watched it. …I should probably go back and watch episodes 2-3 so I understand wtf is going on xD. That aside though, The characters seem exactly how they were at episode 1. Where is the development?!
POWUH: 700-799 and Horror Expert with 701 comments
You could probably skip them honestly, nothing all that important happened apart from like 30 seconds of berserk Hibiki. Seriously, that new villain girl came out of nowhere like a few seconds before the last episode ended. xD
POWUH: 600-699 and Romance Expert with 652 comments
its fairly obvious how they’re grabbing a lot of things from madoka magica.
but il forgive them for having good yuri in this show.
POWUH: 700-799 and Horror Expert with 701 comments
I’ve been fighting back the urge to compare them. xD Though I’ve been noticing Tsubasa’s relationship with Hibiki is a lot different than Homu’s with Madoka.