Hitsugi no Chaika – 09
It’s all about being reflective
Memories. Some we can regret losing, some we want to lose desperately, and some we can never lose no matter how we try.
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“A sword drawn at night can never be resheathed”
Ah, how close and yet how far can we make these two, eh?
Ah, Gillette! You have officially joined the ranks of the romantically dense. It’s an anime thing dude, not like you choose it, right? But it’s good to see his character develop more. I like the guy for the reasons that his crew put forward, and I can see how it can make the Merc feel anxious. As a lot can ride on going out full force. For Leo, he admires the “straightforward” nature of his captain. As he is a creature of the war, created to take the place in dangerous spots so humans don’t have to. Take a minute to re-read that line, and all the background contained therein. Gillette foregoes that, asking for Leo’s service rather than forcing it. We get a bit more progress on his position about Chaika, and again rather well used in his crews reflections. Some pieces are being assembled.
“A sword drawn at night can never be resheathed.” You’re taking action, and for that you must have the clarity that the light brings. For if you draw it in darkness, the realm of fear and ignorance, then you may be fighting for quite some time, not just against an opponent, but for your own sense of clarity. It’s very telling that Gillette chose to take this to heart during that scene, as it was a great follow up to the dialogue during the last scene. He may still be straightforward, but only after careful thought.
“It is your unchanging love that will save your loved one”. What a great fortune for Vivi to draw. It’s Gillette’s qualities, both seen and unseen that draw her to him; and she can barely speak of them as of yet. This is a very thoughtful balance between the two, as she can learn from him, and he from her. But still, who didn’t want to slap a Cavalier for not reading the scene, right? That aside, I do love how unspoken her love went at the end of the scene, as instead of containing so much frustration, it held promise. A just you wait and see moment.
“…but it didn’t make us feel any better…”
You cannot fire and forget your memories
It seems like you cannot have a proper quest without the whole “we are low on resources” complication coming along. But it does rather give the characters some time to take it all in, and reflect on what they have been through. We also get a clear insight into why Chaika’s memories are missing. She can use them as magic fuel. So that leaves us with the clear question. How did that power get used. Which leads us to, what was lost? For me, I’m thinking she didn’t have any choice in the matter. I hope they don’t pull the full Valvrave, nor the slow oddity that is Brynhilde, as both those shows turned an interesting idea into derp. All this brings up the interesting question of, “If you could forget, would you?” Toru asks Chaika not to use her memories for magic fuel, but if given the chance, he would lose his own.
I was rather spoiled by the manga for Toru’s and Akari’s story about their upbringing. I like that it was told in the final shopkeeper’s place. It had a great deal of reflection about the war and about how and why we remember things. The keeper’s life was ravaged by it, and the Unwanted Soldier during Gillette and Vivi’s scene was left unemployed by the war’s end. By contrast, Toru could not wait to join the war, and was very pleased to be able to show off his efforts, as is the nature of youth. But for Hasumin she regretted his loss of innocence. As he says after he recalls the story to Chaika, slaughtering the bandits didn’t make anyone feel any better. But for all that I love Chaika’s viewpoint. It’s a bit selfish of her, but it is true. Without this foul memory, and a need to put it in it’s place, Toru could have left Chaika in the mountains at the beginning. His need to defend is backed by his need to rectify the past. Something you cannot do if you make yourself forget.
…and some happier times…
Moving along with the plot, our helpful shopkeeper mentions the best place to get the magic fuel they need would be the neighboring domain of Duke Gavarni. You’ll recall that this is the neat fellow that was lent a floating fortress and doesn’t feel like giving it back. It’s also where the Relic Hunter crew will find the next piece of Gaz’s remains. Thank you helpful shopkeeper. But it looks like Gillette and crew are a step ahead in finding the good ship Soara. Now, didn’t he send Vita and Vivi ahead to do some danger. Wait, was that a death flag. No, no confession, no death flag.
This was perhaps my favorite episode since the fourth. I felt the quiet contemplative nature fit the character’s very well, and was some nice breathing space before the final plunge. Over the next few episodes I hope the grow something from the little seeds planted here and there. Guy’s involvement and spying on Gillette, the uprisings, the rebel Duke, and maybe even the return of Chaika Red. What did you folks think?
Admit it, half of you want to be on that receiving end…
About skylion
All around nerd that enjoys just about any anime genre. I love history, politics, public policy, the sciences, literature, arts...pretty much anything can make me geeky...except sports. Follow me @theskylion
POWUH: Beginner (20-35) with 29 comments
It was a nice reflective interlude. Guy spying on Gillette still makes no sense to me. There is definitely something there. Really looking forward to next week’s episode to see where that may go if possible.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
It could be an Mysterious Dude is Mysterious thing, but I think they are just giving us a touch of visual information in that Guy has his eyes in lot’s of places. He’s informing Chaika White, spying on Gillette, and that suggests he might even be involved with Team Red….
So we know he will show up and drop something, his appearance here was to make it flow.
POWUH: Beginner (20-35) with 29 comments
Oh, I see. Makes sense. We’ll have to see if perhaps he’s connected with some shady stuff. Well that’s “if”.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I don’t think he’s on anyone’s side. Maybe he’s using all involved parties for his personal agenda. The fact he doesn’t appear when one party makes contact with the other could mean he needs them to remain separated for the time being to plan his next move. Chaika’s memory loss may be a convenience for him as well.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Oh, yes points for all those points.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
I was thinking that Hasumin’s unhappiness at Tooru’s pride at the skills of killing people wasn’t about his innocence, but rather more of a “It’s sad that you don’t understand.” In fact, I’d argue that Tooru hadn’t actually lost any ‘innocence’, because he didn’t actually grasp what he was training for, he didn’t really understand the ramifications, even though he was in training to be a war machine. That ‘innocence’ was actually lost when the caravan was attacked and the people that he cared for killed, and he actually learned what it meant to live and die. Perhaps that’s what her 「大丈夫」at that time was about: “Now it will be alright because you understand what it means.”
POWUH: Beginner (20-35) with 29 comments
I’m pretty sure Hasumin did mourn not Toru’s loss of innocence but his “eventual loss of innocence”.
Although think your right for Toru as a boy training it actually he did know he was going to be a mercenary but he just wasn’t too aware of the actual real ramifications. He probably realized once she died that is was pretty serious. With her dying moment is was likely she was just trying to reassure him but failed. Given that she was dying don’t think she would have had to think at all.
-Anime logic theorizing
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Nice to see you two worked that out….:-)
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
“All I wanted was a Pepsi, and she wouldn’t give it too me”
-Suicidal Tendencies, Institutionalized.
POWUH: Beginner (20-35) with 29 comments
With the interlude lasting two episodes now I didn’t think it would go over well but it actually surprised me. It was great to get some history on Toru and Akari (both having not changed much)and to understand Toru’s motivations a bit more. I’m curious about the instructor that was introduced and wondering if he’ll appear again at some stage.
Gillete and Vivi’s moment was sweet and poignant, though I thought Vivi’s message hinted possibly at self-sacrifice. I’m always tempted to think, “That was too easy” – getting the location of where the next of the remains are and that Gilette’s group just happens to be heading there too. Thanks for an awesome write up and for mentioning a few details that I’d missed!
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
“That was too easy”, often works, as it did in this case. And I still don’t get anything bad off of Vivi’s fortune; but I can that people would think that.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
I didn’t get anything bad off of Vivi’s fortune. For me, she was raising the trouble flags with the exchange later: “Don’t get in trouble” and “Leave it to me!” I thought this might be a death flag, although as skylion and I discussed yesterday, this show isn’t really very likely to kill someone, so it’s less of a ‘death’ flag than a ‘in mortal danger but will somehow get pulled out of it’ flag.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Which is somewhat more grievous than then “Look out, about to stub toe on the ottoman in the dark” flag, or the “there is too much salt in my soup” flag.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
There’s probably more lasting effects from the “Stubbed toe on the ottoman or door frame” flag, since that’s a good way to break a toe or two.
POWUH: 400-499 with 445 comments
Im this close to calling this the best ep of chaika yet; for some reason the writing in this ep was on point more than it has ever been. Not to mention bits of layers in the dialogue. It was also refreshing to see a series that actually knows how to use flashbacks; notice how the flashbacks are interspersed with the dialogue and illustrate the emotions that are most prominent when necessary. There are some series that rely too heavily on flashbacks as a crutch for storytelling but chaika did it right. i would like to know more about Hasumin and Toru’s teacher, but i feel like we are going to get more of that in the future. And it finally looks like its happening; chaika and toru are becoming more cordial with each other and a real bond seems to be actually taking place.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
They did a much better job on this episode than last. As you say, it kept things very immediate and intimate.
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
Chaika art by Chaika’s LN illustrator, Namaniku!
http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=5138155&postcount=723
Featuring cosplay Akari, bunny girl Chaikas, and Frederica.
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
PS. Vivi is voiced by the OP singer, Nomizu Iori.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Fredrica’s could be titled “Bloomers Incoming!” Thanks for sharing.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
The seiyuu for Mondaiji’s Kurousagi, Date A Live’s Yoshino, Railgun S’ Febri and Kore wa Zombie’s Haruna, eh? Nice.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Not a bad character in the bunch. I miss Haruna. Heck at this point I miss Yoshino.
POWUH: 400-499 with 445 comments
I kinda miss Haruna myself; her energy was quite entertaining considering the character archetype she comes from. Not to mention Nomizu Iori loves doing that character what with the familiarity she feels with Haruna’s character.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
So essentially, Toru and Akari grew up in a middle age version of ancient Sparta where its custom is to have its residents undergo training to become soldiers the moment they’re able to walk. With a setting like that, it’s natural Toru wouldn’t understand Hasumin’s sadness as they’re from different worlds. Slaughtering the ones who took someone precious to you isn’t going to bring them back, that’s why the pain remains. Her death is a terrible memory indeed but it’s the very thing that helped shape who he is now. Hence Chaika explaining that memory is important nonetheless. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
His course of action was wrong but I’m sympathetic to the commoner who tried to pickpocket that female noble. An action not motivated by greed but by desperation and most that are better off would most likely turn him away had he begun to beg. His view on the nobles isn’t totally in the wrong either about them caring only in protecting their own cozy lives. Fortunately for him, he didn’t go as far as committing the act by knife or gun point. It reminded me a bit of what transpired in Batman Begins when Bruce’s parents were killed by a desperate man trying to do whatever he can to stay alive.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Well, a Sparta Lite, but close enough. Interesting history: Sparta was actually a very cruel tyranny and Persia was a system of very successful client states operating under a universal aegis of Xerxes’ father Darius. Now it’s true Darius seized power, and his son was a bit insane, but it’s neat how history shows us the Spartans fighting for freedom.
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
You forget Darius wants to use Miyu to… wait… wrong universe.
“History is always written by the victor.”
“What we know as freedom fighters, others call terrorists and vice-versa.”
As for me… “He who controls the past commands the future. He who commands the future, conquers the past.” For the technology of peace!
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Well, history is written by historians; all of them with their own biases and bases. It’s always been revised and edited, and you need not be a victor to ever have done it.
“The past is never dead, it’s not even past”
William Faulkner.
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
You would’ve thought that Gillette would be as sharp as razor. But nope, he has joined the dull protagonists circle. Anyhow, it seems that not that much people are happy with the outcome of the war. In fact, the war itself should be questioned. Why would the wage a war against the Emperor? And why is the emperor not known by the people? It seems that the reason of the war itself is shady. I smell government conspiracies in this show
And I have this feeling that the chick who has a crush on Gilette will die in the next episode or something. If this happens, this will obviously shatter Gillette and his beliefs about justice
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I think Vivi will get a dramatic boo-boo, as HWY and I have discussed, it hasn’t been a show to show even a shade of killing off characters.
There is quite a bit about the War, Gaz, and the Heroes which does not smell right, indeed. It is mentioned that the Emperor had a large hand in regulating spells, the magictec, and probably a host of other useful things. That’s quite a bit of power for folk below to get jealous of.