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
My favorite characters after the 12 eps. would have to be Chaika and Toru.
Personally I loved the ending and I am very much looking forward to the second season come October.
And yeah. The chibi Frederica version was so very cute.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Chibirica is FTW. I’ll be looking for you come October.
POWUH: Beginner (20-35) with 29 comments
Wow. Really like the sound to that ‘Chibirica’. Fits perfectly.
Yup, if coverage for Chaika The Coffin Princess season 2 happens here on METANORN. I will certainly check up on reviews.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Yeah, it just rolls right don’t it?
And I’m sorry to say I will not be covering S2. Instead you can really upon my evil twin Skippy, and his performing narwhal. Damn that Skippy, he got all the talent and the narwhals.
POWUH: Meta Resident and Werewolf Chaser with 1270 comments
The comments section for HnC EP12 now have 2 pages!? Wow this is surprising.
So here we go, cliffnote ver of my comment:
– Fav male character: The lance guy with Red Chaika
– Fav female character: White Chaika
– OTP: Toru x White Chaika
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Yeah, one of my shows hit’s a page two! I found that surprising as well.
Good list, the lance guy needs more love I guess.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
You’ve hit a milestone! Congrats! Pat yourself on the back because in the time I’ve visited this site, very seldom a post that isn’t an editorial or announcement manages to get this far.
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
You guys are forgetting SAO and Free 😉
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I was going to toot that horn, BB. But I knew better. Beyond the FI, Free did go into two pages, and I recall in the middle, SAO, was just insane.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Really? Goes to show how much time has passed because I forgot about those. SAO was Summer 2012 and Free was Summer 2013.
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
Oh also, GUILTY CROWWWWN. xD
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Actually, Guilty Crown was part of Fall 2011.
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Aim for page 3! FAI-TO!
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
PS Isn’t someone doing the LN translations? I vaguely remember seeing it translated somewhere doing a brief search or am I hallucinating again despite my medication?
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Sadly, we won’t see a thing here again. But there is hope for the seasonal Anime Catalogues.
POWUH: iLurker with 3 comments
Good review Chaika was a good anime this season the characters are pretty cool looking forward to season 2 hopefully discover the mystery behind the chakras and Guy (badass mage).