Hitsugi no Chaika – 12 [END]
Ze Closer!
Yes, that was one heck of a cour finale! It gave me everything I wanted and so much more on more than one occasion.
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The Price of Peace
Imma firin’ mah lazaaaah!
Wow. That was just brutal. Both ships seemed to be so evenly matched, despite both sides feeling they had the advantage. Arse in Chief of the Stratas felt his was the newer and better model. Ricardo and crew feeling thiers was best for it’s “purity” of magic fuel. That does make me wonder if the Gaz Relic was the true power source, and that the tortured ones were for the mind control. Seems legit? Ah, don’t you just love seeing the people that make other’s sacrifice in their stead get their comeuppance? Such schadenfreude has a delicious taste, and it is served well after witnessing such gross warmongering as employed by Bernard Chizeta. (he isn’t even street legal in the US). At least he had the guts to take it all the way to the enemy in one final clash. But on Ricardo’s side, it was rather doomed from the beginning. Layla had the foundation for this group, and once she got her mind blown by that oddball and sinister Guy appearance, that was all they could do but die with the ship. It was a bit of a shame seeing them give Layla and Ricardo a heartfelt finale appearance. You could not precisely sympathise with them….they had no remorse for the things they did, and Ricardo only learned to value life when his was suddenly taken from him. At least they were bad guys to the end…
Duo ex Machina?
So, I have a bit of a bone to pick about Gillette. If he had not interfered with the subjugation forces advance, would both he and those troops still be alive? I said that he was dealing a hasty stroke, not heeding his own and his fellows advice of not being rash. And the hasty stroke if often off the mark. He’s payed the price (or has he?….hey there Guy…Guys) for his mistake, and other’s along with him. I wonder if the series is trying to speak about who and what war is about. This was a contrast between two warmongering forces, with Gillette trying to broker some sort of peace, or at least a pre-emptive cease fire. It does make me wonder how fragile the peace is in the Six Nations. Also….that magic suicide bomb Layla planned, did she have a plan to escape it, or did she plan for her, Gard, and Ricardo to die all along, to spark a war. And….I though the Six Nations were a confederation of sorts. Whether it is or not, taking out the capital is not really going to send the whole continent into chaos, right?
A LOLi is fine, as is a shota….just not these two…
Some Surprises
Yes. Yes. Yes! That was the most awesome scene this season. Feel free to challenge me in the comments! I dare you! I knew they had something up their sleeve. We all did. I mean, yeah, the attack didn’t take out her whole brain, right? Or it was a double, or an illusion or something? But this was quite creative. OK, so I know she mentioned molting. But she rather puts that away by saying it was “insulation”, like she’s been preparing for brain attack for quite some time. So…which is the true Fredrica? Does that chibi pilot the LOli version? Is there a smaller dragoon in the big dragoon? A kitten in the cat? I’m so glad they saved my favorite character. On one level it feels like a bit of pandering fanservice to keep killing her only to bring her back. I hope they add more surprises to her repertoire. Other than a potential Chaika NTR. Oh, how did she go from wanting to fight and kill Toru, to wanting him to make a contract with her? Or is she still planning to kill him?
So, does this count as a first kiss?
And so we get to the tools. The developing theme of this show is the choices you make that determine who you are. With Layla we have the extreme viewpoint on those choices. She was so enraged about being made strictly as a tool, that revenge against the world was her highest ideal. With Gillette, it was to keep the peace at any cost. Except for when he didn’t want to pay that cost in the lives of Vivi and Zita. With Toru, it’s to be the weapon he always wanted to be and serve a master of his choosing. And for Chaika, it’s to follow her instincts, and thusly her programming, as all she knows. I can get behind that. To follow your goals is a very human trait, and it belies her “fake” nature. See it through, and then the future awaits? With Toru, I think it’s not so much his goal of serving any master, but this particular one.
…and speaking of being “fake” and a “tool”…..
Extra Chaika Love
Yes. This was easily my favorite episode from one of my favorite shows this season. The Relic Hunt had some rather fascinating stops from juncture to juncture, and but for a few personal quibbles about the “filler” shows, I looked forward to this one every week. I felt very comfortable as we were able to explore the politics, both national and personal, and the magic of this world. There are a few missing pieces, but for all that, the big picture of the place is not that hard to fathom. Chaika Trabant is going down as one of my all time favorite characters, and definitely in the LOLi harem. Her sweet, off-putting, yet earnest and stubborn nature was such a treat. And I could go on all day about the supporting cast. Do you have a favorite? What did you folks think of the ending? Are you charged for the second series? I know I sure am. I will see you there and then…
See you in October!
Thanks for Watching!
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
Agreed! A brilliant finale that confirmed I’ll definitely be watching S2!
All over it was an action-packed episode, that said it didn’t feel too cluttered or all-over-the-place. If anything, like you said, a bit more of a drawn out final battle with the murderous trio would have been nice, but it works (in the end all he needed was a clunk on the head).
A few surprises were the Frederica chibi (I was wondering how they’d get around the wound in the head thing) and her deciding to make a contract with Toru. If she does it’d be a major benefit to Toru in some ways, probelmatic in other. And do I detect some affection coming from Frederica? Another pleasant surprise was The Kiss (didn’t expect it so early) and then our mysterious new magically disguised Chaika. That one really hit me, and brings up a bucket load of questions.
Okay, favorite character – you mean apart from Gaz? I kid, it would have to be Akari, our tsundere sis. For me she’s a really fun character- full of great one liners, stories and magic tricks!
Charged, amped and psyched for the next series! No delays allowed BONES, otherwise…the BURNER!
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
A clunk on the head? From a maul, by an angry experienced user of said weapon…
Vivi’s transformation was sudden, and still uncertain..Show ▼
POWUH: 400-499 with 462 comments
Show ▼
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
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POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Chibi-chestburster Frederica! Call in the Colonial Marines!
Also… DIVINE BAAASUUTAAA!!!
POWUH: 400-499 with 462 comments
Noooooo! VIVI!
If she isn’t still Vivi on the inside I’m breaking out the torches and pitchforks. >:(
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
The Magic Eight ball says…ask again later?
POWUH: 400-499 with 462 comments
Does the Magic Eight ball want to be burned alive? >:(
I LIKE Vivi. I will be VERY upset if she was just killed, for all intents and purposes.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Hey, maybe she will be an exception that will illustrate some of these rules…
POWUH: iLurker with 13 comments
When Vivi went through the Marie Antoinette syndrome, ..that gave me the shivers. Quite the exciting this episode that ended the first season nicely.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Still don’t quite know what to make of it yet. If she is another Chaika, then she already has the retinue…
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
That was weird. It was as if the thought of Gillette dying made her bleach out and become a Chaika.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
…I would turn into a Chaika for less…
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Why am I not surprised? 😉
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Shocking Truth!
…yeah, I went there…
POWUH: iLurker with 7 comments
a great (albeit halfway) ending. it answered a few questions and raised a few more in their stead. the bad guys get their comeuppance (although not as thoroughly as i had hoped — Grad took only a single strike? pffft!) and Chaika’s quest continues.
HNC was my favorite series this season. right from ep. 1, i just felt it was going to be a keeper. i liked the pacing, fight scenes, the complexity of the set-up and the characters: Chaika, Frederica, Toru, etc.
just when i thought Frederica couldn’t get any cuter, her chibi form appears! and hey, chibi Frederica is just as potent as the original. i hope Toru forms a contract with her soon.
looking forward to season 2!
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Chibi-dragoon FTW. I wonder if the nenodroid for this figure will be even smaller and cuter?
POWUH: iLurker with 7 comments
Of course White Chaika is my favourite. I’m proud to say this and Gochumon was the series I picked and looks like they are getting more attention than I expected. I’m very happy.
While a few people were complaining too much about too many little things in Hitsugi No Chaika, I never had anything to complain about. If anything, it was the most consistent anime that anyone that’s openminded can enjoy. It offered everything and even nostalgia of classic anime. Out of all the anime from Bones to offer, this always entertained me.
The ending was without a doubt the most fitting one that ties the end in satisfactory manner at the same time leaving some questions to follow in season 2. While Frederica felt like a plot device sometimes, she was at least very entertaining character. I can’t wait for season 2.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I cannot wait for it either, despite some of my minor complaints around the middle of the program.
POWUH: Meta Resident and Werewolf Chaser with 1270 comments
Apparently the episode with fake Chaika is anime original so that may be part of the issue.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Ugh…
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
Gillette’s paid the price (or has he?…hey there Guy…Guys) for his mistake.
We don’t know that just yet. There is still a possibility the 2 Guys saved him, although for what purpose, we’ll have to wait for Season 2. ヽ( ･ω･)ﾉ
All I hope is that the writers just don’t write Gillette off, like how H-9 from Valvrave just got written off with no explanation as to his final fate.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Yes, we still need brash Razor-sama!
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
Namaniku butts art:
http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=5159960&postcount=873
Some info from another forum says Chaika speaks brokenly because she is not fluent in the land’s common language(ie. what we hear as spoken Japanese).
She is instead fluent in Laake, a Northern dialect spoken widely within the Gaz Empire.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Oh, dat Zita butt…
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
I don’t think that Frederica wanted to kill Tooru. She wanted to fight him, because that’s the only exciting fight she’s had in umpteen years. But going to offering him a bond to become a Dragoon Cavalier is probably something like she now finds him worthy and interesting enough to put a bit more risk out there for him.
I do wonder if Akari would turn on Chaika if she knew how into each other those two were? Or would it be ok if it’s Chaika?
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I still hold out that she wants to fight him and kill him. It’s in her nature. Despite her awesome LOLi appearance she isn’t human, and doesn’t have those sorts of responses.
I don’t think Akari will let anyone win the ToruBowl just yet.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Frederica didn’t want to kill her previous partner. She was despondent when she died. I think Tooru is the first person who has come along who she’s deemed worthy, both in strength and in thoughts. I don’t think she’s in love with him. I think he meets her standards.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
…gah, your ruining my inevitable betrayal narrative, man. Local highway ruins everything!
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Your cheesy betrayal narrative can’t hold up to my “Awesome Power Partners” narrative! Quail before me!
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I would dismiss this as whole and foolhardy…but for your usage of the word “quail”. That get’s major points.
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
I wonder if there ever was a real Vivi, or if Vivi was just a false persona for this new Chaika, which broke when she thought Gilette died.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
…that’s a good idea…
POWUH: 600-699 and LN Enthusiast with 623 comments
That second gif is a mixture of adorable and creepy.
Not really sure what’s the dominant one.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Creepily adorable is my vote…
POWUH: 800-899 and Mad Scientist with 814 comments
I guess Vivi… found her Chaika at last! =D
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Yeah, she became her Chaika.
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
That chibi scene has got to be the cutest gore anime scene of all time. Don’t even have to wait until December, I’m already nominating it for the Best Gore Scene of This Year
And that season 2 promotion poster… What the hell is that thing behind Fredrica? I thought it was the silhouette of Yamato. I thought we were going to have a Yamato x Chaika crossover. Maybe Yamato crew being time-wrapped into Chaika’s time? Hmmmm
POWUH: 600-699 and LN Enthusiast with 623 comments
…I was too busy looking at Akari’s ass to care about that.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
While I was looking for Chaika’s!
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Who can blame you? Akari’s ass was too perfectly formed to ignore.
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
As a female, I find Akari’s ass garment to be bothersome because having wind all over that ass is not a good feeling, especially if I want to kill someone.
But yes, that ass is definitely Ass of the Year. I’m nominating that ass too. It brings out my lesbian personality
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
…so does, Chaika’s dress hinder her ways? I’ve been dressed up like that, and there is a great deal of freedom…
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
… Actually yes. In fact, I never get action anime/games that portray the female characters with dress/skirts/bras/tight dress/ any dress that shows a great amount of skin. They will obviously hinder the mission progress, so why?
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Remember the golden rule. Less armour is more protection.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Reminds me of the WoW Corset of Nature Protection a long time ago
POWUH: iLurker with 7 comments
Re: Gillette — i don’t think he was all for keeping the peace (at any price) really. i think he was more concerned about getting his people out before all hell broke loose. any negotiations (if any) could come later. i think this is why his team members are so devoted to him — they know he would risk life & limb to protect/save them. on short notice (no time to plan/consider other options), he didn’t have much choice.
also, i don’t think we’ve seen the last of him (i have a feeling he’s going to crop up sooner or later, if only to provide additional context for Vivi’s transformation(?) to Chaika).
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I think it will be much more than just a context for Vivi’s transformation. Keep in mind, Guy owns his ass, if what we expect is true.
POWUH: iLurker with 8 comments
I expected a baby dragoon or some sort, but not a mini size frederica.
This episode has weird throwbacks with vivi turning chaika ( because of her grief?) and layla was distracted by fainting guy otherwise chaika was already gone.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I would love to see the string of fate that Guy is following…
POWUH: Lovely-pyon~ with 386 comments
What an ending episode, Nicely done Bones, can’t wait for season 2 in Oct, yay it will make a nice November Birthday present..haha.
Like others this series felt right, the pacing wasn’t bad, the story keep me entertained, and the characters are all just about likable, except Layla and the the shorta, man those 2 creep me out, But Layla showing some leg was pretty sexy so she gets points for that..
MY favorite would have to be White Chaika, Red chaika who’s still out there somewhere. And the strange Frederica makes the list, Dragon LOLi why not,her death threat level is very low so we are safe to assume shes immortal brain damage or not.as for my 2nd teir pick would go to Akari and Toru, i like their sibling relationship or protection of each other, Akari is entertaining to watch as well haha. all other characters.. likable hehe.
Vivi transformation caught me off guard, though i seen her hair changed and instantly called it when her skin turned Chaika colored, though it happened in a flash. Also I don’t think Gillette is gone by a long shot, Shorta just didn’t look hard enough that’s all, Useless cat-boy.
Frederica wanting to make a contract with Toru was a surprise as well, I wonder if dying and being bright back to life would be why he hesitated, or maybe it was to feed us till oct hehe. chibi Frederica was the cutest little chest popping little thing! I felt it was totally out of place though, But hey.. why not..
Anyways a good series, action, fun, entertainment, and mystery around the Chaika, and of course the discussion here made this series easy top 5 of my top 10, Very excited for the next season, again good work bones, another series to add to my bones list of likes, See ya in Oct White chaika!
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Yep, this was Bones done right and well. Chaika Bday presents all around. I get the chibirica!
The Ricardo X Layla went down like a heavy sky fortress in a lake, right. Good. Yuck.
I think Toru thought about it because…writing. Better to have it as a will he won’t he, than a he will, then what sorta thing.
It’s right in my top five this season.
POWUH: Meta Team and PreCure Mastah with 9203 comments
ZA ENDER!!
I wasn’t quite sure about Chiaka after it entered body part collecting of the week formula, but damn I had a lot of fun following this series even down to the way Chika talked which I wasn’t a fan of until I got used to it <3
PART TWO, NEED NOW
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
They did a good job with mixing and matching plots, it was Relic Hunt one week, Team Red the next, and fake Princess the next.
Ah, her speech is so moe…
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
News: For anyone here who’s a Knights of Sidonia fan, 2nd season confirmed!!
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Oi, get thee to Sumarii’s post!
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
As soon as it shows up!
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
An epic cliffhanger to Hitsugi no Chaika. Now I eager await the second half. Can’t we just skip Summer?
After what he’s said and done since his introduction, Ricardo’s death was a far too peaceful and easy going one. A single stab followed by drowning is nowhere near sufficient. Some may think I’m being harsh because he’s a kid but no leniency is warranted. If you ask me, it doesn’t amount to all the countless unnecessary murders committed by his hand, especially when he elaborated with a joyous demeanor that he decapitated his own family members. Young girls I’d say are no more than 15 maybe 16 years old, daughters of families that will never be reunited. It’s infuriating knowing the parents will be forced to live with such tragedies for the rest of their lives.
Obviously Frederica is still alive. Like I said last time, no way a single stab to the head should be able to kill her off. That was one weird way of “molting” to recover from her injuries, surfacing from the stomach section, no less. It was creepy and brings in thoughts of Alien vs. Predator. Where the alien bursts out of the human host after growing to a certain extent.
Frederica’s contract proposal to Toru, for me, is a sign of her warming up to him. What was previously a desire to kill may have turned into admiration. They’ve encountered trouble on numerous occasions so I think it only natural she’d grow fond of him. I’ll bet her former master had a similar scenario.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
No, we cannot skip the summer. Think of how much fun we would miss!
It was soooo hard, that scene with Layla and Ricardo. I was about 50% on board with it. Nicely written, but still….Nothing short of a Greek myth punishment for them!
Well, I like to think of Fredrica this way: She is not named after any sort of car. So, she is a vehicle herself..for herself. Chibi is driving the LOLi, the dragoon, and the cat….
They did rather skip Fredrica’s backstory. Shame, as it had a ton of depth to it. Luckily, I read it after that episode, so I didn’t feel to raw about it.
POWUH: Meta Resident and Werewolf Chaser with 1270 comments
Wait, did Spammy just obliterated one of my comments? When it dooesn’t show up I just assume its Spammy hoarding my comment again but after a day its still not here…..
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
We had a DDoS situation yesterday via spam bots attack and Metanorn going offline on and off for a few hours. The accumulated spam was more than 12,000 so if your comment didn’t show up, it means that it was lost in that stream. 🙁