Arslan Senki 14-15
Never bet against this guy. Ever.
Well, after a short break, we’ve entered the second half of Arslan Senki, with a new opening and ending of course, and also some new characters! (Like we haven’t had enough of them already. LOL) Last we left young Arslan, he had just been bowled over by several giant revelations in regards to his origins, his family, and pretty much everything that entire purpose in life has stood upon. (Even Hermes has decided to take a break, the shadows of the past haunting him as well.) However there’s no time for that, unfortunately. The buzzards have sensed an nearly mortal injury to the great beast that is Pars, and they are circling…
The cousins have decided to take some time off after their last explosive confrontation.
We meet a new country and characters this week in the form of Prince Rajendra from the vaguely Indian-esque kingdom of Sindhura. Rajendra is a playboy type, much in the vein of Gieve. He’s brash, foolish, and loud-mouthed, but also isn’t half bad to look at and does have quite a bit of confidence. However, you can see in him that there is a potential leader there, if he were to mature a little more.
So, why is he there with a horde of over 50,000 men? Well, it seems that Sindhura is in a bit of a power struggle itself. The ruler of their nation is dying, and there is a resulting power struggle between the first and second princes of the land. Both princes are only a month apart in age (obviously having different mothers) and of course the slightly older, Gadevi, declares that he should assume the throne. Rajendra doesn’t exactly see it that way, and decides that even though he is slightly younger and of a slightly less noble birth, that he’s still a better choice to assume the throne. And interestingly enough, there are enough people of their country that seem to agree with him! So in order to get more support and distinguish himself further , he’s decided to take a piece of the wounded Pars along with the head of the crown prince.
My, we have a lot of princes in this series.
A good plan, the only problem being that the prince he’s gone after is Arslan, and Arslan has a weapon in his arsenal that has worked way too hard to get the future ruler on the path he wants him, and he’ll be damned if he’s going to let some Sindhuran second prince mess this up.
There are only a few times where an army of the 10,000 can beat that of one that is 50,000 strong. One example would be if say the smaller army were completely more advanced in technology and warfare knowledge in every way, such as a medieval army trying to fight against the JSDF, but I digress. Another example is if the 10,000 soldiers….happen to have Narsus as their military strategist.
Yeah…you might as well just surrender now.
This episode proves once again that Andragoras was the biggest fool in the world to throw away such a man. It’s really fascinating how well Narsus is able to use the world around him to beat the enemy that he is against, and how knowledgeable he is about the affairs of state all across the region despite what’s going on in his own country, and having been a hermit all this time. He uses nothing but the basics of normal warfare to topple an army more than five times the size of his own, and doesn’t bat an eye while doing it.
I bet Leonidas wishes he’d had Narsus. Persia would have been done for. Wait…
In the world of Pars, there are three holy principles of warfare. This includes: Heaven’s Time (seasons and weather), Terrain Advantage (knowledge of the area you’ll be fighting in), and People’s Harmony (the emotional and mental state of your army). Using these tenets against an ill-prepared and foolish Rajendra, Narsus is able to win another overwhelming victory for the Pars armies. And not only that, but through the royal tactician’s brilliant scheming, is able to force the Sindhuran prince into making an alliance with Pars, which Arslan desired all along. The boy prince needs all the help he can get if he’s to take back his country. However, it’s that “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours” mentality. If Arslan and his Parsian army help Rajendra overthrow his brother from the throne, then the foreign prince in return will help Arslan in his battle against the Lusitanians.
A meeting of two foreign princes.
So, while this new chapter seems to be taking us on a big detour in a totally different direction, it does actually link back to Arslan’s original purpose. As for our two foreign princes, honestly, we can’t tell which would be better suited to take the throne. We know very little about either, and nothing much about the Sindhuran kingdom as a whole. Rajendra just happened to get to Arslan first and so they decided to back him. Yet, I guess if you were to really try to guess from their personalities, the younger brother seems to be in more dire straits, as he had to leave his land to find some way to find another way of combatting his brother. So, you get the feeling that he’s the underdog of the two, and nothing is easier to identify with for others and the audience, than an underdog.
Gadevi seems to be stereotypically snooty and privileged and more ruthless, and I don’t even think he would have deigned to put himself and Parsian Prince Arslan on the same level, much less ask for his help. So, while we don’t know which of them is the better leader (both of them have some major flaws in that department), as the audience, because we’re given more of Rajendra, we pick him as the lesser of the two evils.
An alliance is formed…the hard way.
Still evil though, as because of the way he was forced into the alliance and just his overall nature, most of Arslan’s entourage finds the prince as someone who talks big but cannot be trusted.
And so while the Parsians are celebrating the new year with ceremony and feasting (wow, it’s the next year already!), Rajendra comes upon Arslan alone and proposes a battle strategy to him of attacking Gadevi from two separate angles in a pincer attack. However, when told to his advisors, all of them identify it for what it is–a trap to make Pars the decoy in battle. However, while still knowing this, Narsus decides that it’s better to be working at a distance from that kind of person, rather that closely. You can already see the wheels turning in this man’s head, whatever Rajendra might think he’s pulling, the royal strategist has already thought about and gotten five steps ahead.
Yeah, I don’t think I’d fully trust him either.
But Gadevi also isn’t a fool and has people inside of his brother’s troops to keep an eye on him and sabotage him if necessary. This comes in the form of our other new character, Jaswant, known as the “Black Leopard”. Unlike the two royal brothers, thanks to our new OP, we can see that Jaswant will most likely have a bigger role in terms of Arslan’s narrative than either of them. And we can already see, that he actually seems to be more interesting of a character than Rajendra. He’s mostly silent, but he’s quite handy with the sword, probably somewhere between Elam and Gieve’s levels. His instincts are the sharpened ones of a warrior, seen both when he saves Arslan from a venomous snake, and when facing Gieve.
You might be a spy, but forget that–those eyes are to die for…
His role in this is strange and not straight forward. He doesn’t seem like a bad guy, but he’s also quite loyal to his master, the Grand Vizier of Gadevi. So, while Arslan tries to make progress, he tries to sabotage them at the same time. Yet, smart though he is, he’s just no match for our heroes. It stands to reason that once again, Narsus knows practically everything (Seriously! Andragoras should be shot for throwing this national treasure away. Talk about pearls before swine…), and spotted a spy the moment he entered their ranks.
I repeat. Never.
Of course, Jaswant’s plans are foiled and he is taken captive, but it’s the look on Arslan’s face that’s the most damning. He looks at the guide not with anger, but sorrow and disappointment. It actually seems worse than if he had raged at him for the betrayal. But then again, as Jaswant says, his loyalty was never to the Parsian prince, and therefore it is not betrayal. But Arslan is a kinder prince than either Rajendra or Gadevi, and connecting somewhat with Jaswant’s unsurety regarding his parentage, and how the man was only doing what he felt was right, spares his life and lets him go in an act of mercy, to Jaswant’s disbelief. And thus we are beginning to get an idea of how the Sindhuran Black Leopard might just change allegiances in the future at some point. A seed of kindness has been sown. Only time will tell how it flourishes.
Seeds of kindness and mercy
As for Arslan’s personal family problems, finally someone just puts it out there that the prince is probably not the son of Andragoras or the royal line of Pars. I agree with one of those things, but I have my doubts about the other. Why would Andragoras take in a random bastard and raise him as his own and name him his heir? Why was Arslan raised so far from the palace for such a long time if it would have been easier to hid his parentage when he was an infant? If Tahamenay is his real mother, which nobody seems to be denying, then why is she so cold and disinterested in him? If neither of his parents want him, than why did they keep him and not just have another child? There are still a great many questions that need answering, at least for the sake of the plot.
Okay, would you two just kiss already? This is getting tedious…
However, for Daryun, Narsus, and his entire retinue, those questions are superfluous. They believe that Arslan is the best man to be king, and they will forever be loyal to him. It’s not about blood or heredity with them, but who is the best person for the job, and Arslan has proved that time and time again. And with his people behind him, even if he is unsure about whose son he really is, the boy prince will continue with confidence in his path to become king.
Undying loyalty
A great couple of episodes, and it looks like more battles to come as Rajendra must go against his brother in combat. It will be interesting going to a new location with a different type of warfare in regards to the war elephants. What this will spell for Arslan and his men, we’ll have to see. If they win, they’ll get new allies. If they lose, they’ll be worse than back at the drawing board. Such is the ways of war.
“Don’t cry, baby. You can be so happy.
Don’t think that you’re alone,
About IreneSharda
A Chicagoan biochemist, teacher, and an aspiring virologist, with a love for science only rivaled by my love for movies, animation, and anime. Both a lover of action/adventure and romance, I'm a girl who walks the entire spectrum. Mecha, Sci-Fi, Psychological Thriller, Romantic Period Piece, if it's has a good story, I'm there.
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
I like how some of Arslan’s endcards have been designed by some pretty prominent mangaka/writers.
We already had Isayama Hajime, Mashima Hiro and now a treatise on art appreciation by NisiOisin!
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Sun Tzu’s The Art of War.
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
I have that book at home. One day, I might actually read it. 😛
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
A victorious warrior wins first then goes to war, while a defeated warrior goes to war then seeks to win.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Wow, two more morally complex princes to add to the mix…If they get into a prince fight, will we see the final forms?!
Man, Narsus is boss, and his terror twins are just the kind of soldier he needs.
BTW, the CGI of that battle was Horrible! But it was pretty minor…hope they saved money for a big fight later…
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Narsus sez: “Just according to Keikaku!” T/L Note: Keikaku means plan.
😛
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Last night I was just randomly clicking on episodes and I happened to run into the Arslan episode:
“KILL ME FRIENDS!” It was hilarious watching the dancing then *thunk* arrow hits.
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
That was a very heartbreaking scene, after all they did to poor Shapur. 🙁
But yeah, that archpriest is pretty ridiculous. 😛
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
Why would Andragoras take in a random bastard and raise him as his own and name him his heir?
He’s not exactly random. If he were, he wouldn’t have resembled either the King or Queen at all! :>
My guess is Arslan has a strong biological connection to the Queen based on his looks alone. Everything else about his situation is one big conspiracy.
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
Well, what I mean is, why would he accept a bastard child at all, unless perhaps the child carried some meaning to him? This is a guy that would kill his own brother and nephew if they were in his way. I think he would get rid of a child that wasn’t related to him at all.
I’m hoping he’s Tahamenay’s child since they at least look similar, because if not, then we really will have some questions. And if Tahamenay wanted to keep him so much, then why is she so distant and cold towards him?
If neither she or Andragoras want him, that why didn’t they just make him disappear? I mean, they could have just kept him in that village he was being raised in for the rest of his life and he would have been none the wiser. They could have just had another kid, and that would have been the end of it.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1692 comments
Pure speculation here. I think Arslan is Tahamenay’s child. I also think he’s a blood relative of Andragoras. So here’s the thing–Andragoras’s brother raped Tahamenay and Arslan is the result. That would explain why she’s so cold to him–he’s a reminder of the terrible thing that happened to her. And Andragoras is sterile, so while he has no doubt tried a lot, he can’t replace Arslan with another child that is his. However, unlike the teenaged Hermes the infant Arslan was not an impediment to Andragoras taking the throne, especially since it was not known that he was the second son of the king.
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That’s actually pretty close to my own thoughts as well. Though, with some small deviations. First, there’s Tahamenay. I’m really beginning to believe that woman is cursed. (They have magic in this world, so it’s possible) She seems to do nothing to spur on the feelings of all these men who fall in love with her. She’s cold to her husband and has given a very cold shoulder silent treatment to King Tubby. And yet, they still moon over her, even knowing what’s happened to all the men before them.
Anyway, now if I remember correctly, she was betrothed to this one guy who was over a principality. That man’s area was conquered by Osroes, and they say he took Tahamenay as his own, but that both brothers wanted her. But what does it mean that Osroes took her for “his own”? Did he want her as a concubine? Or did his previous wife, Hermes mother, die and he was planning on marrying Tahamenay? This society doesn’t seem to be polygamous, and Tahamenay doesn’t seem to like mere concubine material, so I’m going to go with the second option. I’m thinking that Osroes was planning to marry Tahamenay, but since Andragoras wanted her too, that was the straw that broke the camel’s back and that was when he started poisoning his brother. Because of his “sickness”, the two never got married, and of course the man ended up dying. Andragoras took the throne and his elder brother’s fiancee after having supposedly taken care of his nephew.
Now, what I’m thinking is that just perhaps, Tahamenay preferred Osroes to Andragoras and so, since they were about to marry anyway, the two of them got together and Arslan was the result. However, before she even knew she was pregnant or they could marry, he died from Andragoras’ poison. She was secretly heartbroken, and married Andragoras out of tradition and not knowing what else to do. However, not long after, she probably realized that Andragoras killed his brother, and she has been cold and spiteful to him ever since. To get back at the man who killed the one she loved, she demands that Andragoras take in and name her son that she had during the 2 year mourning period and had hidden away, as his own. Andragoras hates the corner she has put him in, since he wants to please her, and yet, this is his brother’s child. But he reasons that he could have another child eventually and get rid of Arslan. Tahamenay of course has preventive measures against this that her husband doesn’t know about which is why they have no other children.
They wait till Arslan is an adolescent, since it would be easier to convince people that he’s two years younger than he really is at that age. The reason as to why Tahamenay is so distant though to her son is that he reminds her of the love that she lost and perhaps she blames herself for Osroes death, having been the prize being fought for. And perhaps there’s something about Arslan that reminds her of Osroes, so she can’t stand to be around him that often?
Well, that’s my speculation for now. (Yeah, that was a lot. lol) But yeah, I can’t shake the feeling that Arslan is Osroes’ son. They’ve been careful to always keep the man’s features shadowed. Also, it would fit on so many levels, and make Arslan the rightful heir to the throne again, after his would-be half-brother, Hermes. And I’m thinking Hermes will die before this story is over, though probably from some heel-turn redemption death, when he finds out the truth.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
A prince here, a prince there, a prince everywhere. And they’re all after the throne. How greedy…
That’s a major drawback with status. The moment a nation/village is seen as weak and vulnerable, the outsiders will move in to profit from the opportunity.
One thing that goes without saying in this series: You do not mess with Narsus. I’d really hate to be this guy’s opponent. That’s not conducive for one’s health. What makes him even more fearsome is that he can’t be easily bought.
Do you know the movie “The Man in the Iron Mask” starring Leonardo DiCaprio? That nearly happened the same way since there were twin princes but one was taken and later imprisoned, having his heritage hidden from him while the other ruled selfishly without opposition.
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I haven’t seen the one with DiCaprio (mostly cause my mother and aunts say it’s the worst version they’ve ever seen), but I have seen the 1939 version with Louis Hayward. I don’t know if the story really reminds me of that since the two aren’t twins and both grew up as royalty, but I can see what you mean.
I do like how it kind of mirrors Arslan’s own situation with him having an older cousin that by rights does have a stronger claim to the throne. However, he happens to be the right person for the job and now he’s going to have to fight for it.
As for Narsus, I seriously think he was Lelouch’s ancestor or something. That guy seems to plan for every contingency. And to think Arslan was able to gain this guy’s loyalty and all for the sake of being court painter. I would let the guy paint enough paintings to go in the Louvre if he would work for me! 😛
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There has been a lot of princes so far. We’ve meet 5 thus far, and 6, if you want to include Andragoras while his brother was still alive.
Arslan, Hermes, Guiscard, Rajendra, and Gahevi. And yes, all of them are pulling for the throne in some form or another.
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Ep 15’s endcard features text by NisiOisin, light novel author and creator of the Monogatari series. Titled “The Knowledge Of Appreciating Art”, the text in the blue and red boxes translate as follows.
Blue box:
“Lord Narsus, I would like to have you as the court painter.”
“This is more than I could hope for.”
“Your Highness, making Narsus the court painter will leave behind a stain on the history of Parsian culture.”
“Isn’t it good, Daryun? If the price we paid is framed up and goes down in history, let’s have the severity of the war too go down in history.
“Your Highness.”
Red box:
“Your Majesty, please open your eyes and take an extensive look at the actual state of the political situation. It will be a blessing if I am at your service to give you a good look at not only beautiful things but also unsightly things.
“Narsus, forget your debt of gratitude to me, who appointed you, and I will recommend your art with a triumphant expression!
“Your Majesty.”
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
Thanks for that! I was wondering what they were saying.
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Ah… THAT’s who Narsus reminds me of…
Kannazuki from DAL.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1692 comments
I’m getting rather tired of Narsus’s plans always working perfectly. That just doesn’t happen. It’d be nice to see one of his plans go awry (perhaps with one of the core cast grievously wounded) and they have to come up with a new plan on the fly that barely works. That would add some needed tension to this show. As it is, no matter how dire their situation the audience now just assumes Narsus will come up with a brilliant plan that saves them.
To see a longer and superior version of a battle on a frozen lake, watch Alexander Nevsky by the great Sergei Eisenstein. No doubt that inspired that scene here.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
C’mon, the guy is so cool butter wouldn’t melt in his hand..but yeah, this is a part of the story progression that needs to be addressed…
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He is the ancestor of Inaho. Inaho’s plans are just as ridiculously working perfectly.
*hides*
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
Ugh…Inaho…
I’d rather him be the ancestor of somebody actually worthy, like Lelouch, or Light. 😛
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Well, to be fair, most of Narsus’ plans are mostly common sense. Rajendra was pretty foolish to march out his troops that are use to sand and sun, in the craggy mountain forests during the middle of winter. And on top of that, not knowing much about the land they were traveling. So, Narsus basically used the man’s foolishness against him, and used the season, the area, and the enemy’s ignorance against them. He also seems to keep up with current affairs of the world around him, so that’s where that came in.
Most of all his other plans are pretty similar. He’s definitely a man ahead of his time, which is what rubbed Andragoras the wrong way, but there is nothing contrived about what he does. It’s not like he pulls keikakus out of thin air like Aizen or Inaho.
There have also been times where he might know everything that is going to happen, but because of time or distance, he can’t do anything about it. Like with the destruction of the capital. Also, we can’t forget that the man’s an awful painter and can’t take care of daily life activities like cooking and cleaning. He’s not perfect, but what he’s very good at, he excels at. He’s like a master chess player playing against newbies. Of course you expect him to win every time. The only time he’ll every get a proper challenge is if it’s a situation where his gifts won’t help him, or if he is against someone more on his level. We haven’t met that person yet, but I’m guessing Hermes is pretty close when he doesn’t let anger rule him. He was the one that orchestrated that whole beginning battle that devastated Andragoras’ armies after all.