Arslan Senki – 16
“That still only counts as one.“
Well, that was a quick war, over in one episode and one battle. But what a battle it was….
All of our players in the Sindhuran conflict have come to the playing field. However, it is instantly seen that there is a numbers issue here. Prince Gadevi has more than 150,000 soldiers in his army, while Pars’ forces only total 10,000 and Rajendra’s 50,000. However, if there’s one thing that’s been proven by now in this series, it’s that power levels numbers are bull crap, especially if you have Narsus on your side. Unfortunately Gadevi doesn’t know that, and refuses to listen to Jaswant’s report of the “master tactician”…well, you can’t say he wasn’t warned.
Blue and red, cold and hot, rich and poor
But let’s back up to the fight with which this battle actually involves, Gadevi and Rajendra. We learn some important things in regards to their characters this episode. Firstly, we find out that Gadevi is probably more unpleasant than his brother, and he’s pretty unforgiving and ruthless. He’s also rather blue-blooded as well, both as a cold individual, and an entitled one. It’s pointed out that while both are princes, one was born of a noble, while the other was born of a slave. To Gadevi, that again reaffirms that he is the better choice as heir to the throne. However, Rajendra doesn’t agree, and thinks that social breeding should have nothing to do with one’s capabilities to be king.
Through this little bit of knowledge we can kind of get a better idea as to the characters of the two princes and why they act the way they do. We also find out that their father never named Gadevi “Crown Prince” even though he is the firstborn. In most cultures, this is usually a given, as with the case of Hermes or Arslan, both being firstborn (technically the only born) and thus named crown prince and heir apparent. To see that the king of Sindhura purposefully did not name Gadevi as the crown prince, does strike a major blow against the prince’s character. What was it about him that made the king go against, what is pretty much a no-brainer in every other monarchical society?
What do you think Your Highness? Which way shall I defeat them this time?
Well really, the entire Sindhuran royal male lineage seems to have major character flaws. The king can’t make authoritative decisions, Gadevi is a pompous, callous idiot who tries to win every battle with nothing but force and thus has never won a single battle, and Rajendra is foolish, immature, reckless, and doesn’t think things through well.
There’s really no good choices all around. Yet, again, to pick the better of the two evils, even now that we’re more informed, I think that we’d still have to go with Rajendra. His character issues actually seem more like they could be fixed with more experience and maturity, as well as having some good advisors and friends to guide him. Gadevi depends entirely on his sense of self-entitlement and he thinks of everyone else as beneath him. He expects everything to turn out in his favor simply because that is the way it should be. He treats those that are loyal to him and those that are against him with the same amount of deference–namely, none.
Yep, I fight my battles in luxury.
Does this sound familiar? It should, since this has been a theme that’s been filtering throughout the series. What makes Arslan different from his father? From Hermes? Both Arslan and Rajendra come from somewhat humble beginnings despite being princes, with Arslan having grown up a commoner, and Rajendra, the son of a slave. This background gave them the ability to have more empathy and kindness towards those under them when they came to power under their royal positions, as well as a sense of justice when they sense something about their society isn’t right. The royals that were born to privilege, like Gadevi and Hermes know nothing but their aristocratic upbringing and either they have lost or never had, the ability to empathize beyond that point of view.
It’s okay, I think he’s an idiot too.
Both Jaswant and his master, Mahendra are beginning to rethink supporting Gadevi as it’s clear that the man has no knowledge of tactics, won’t listen to others, and has a pretty nasty temper. Jaswant will follow whatever Mahendra’s lead is, and the grand vizier is pretty stuck in the position he has now. It’s also clear in this episode, why Jaswant was so loyal to the man in the first place. Even after being saved by a foreign prince’s order twice now, it’s his own royal that threatens to kill Jaswant after his blunder last episode. However, Mahendra comes to his defense more than once and indeed acts like a father figure to the man, comforting him that it wasn’t his fault. He was just up against Narsus, and that never goes well.
I don’t know how this will eventually end, but I do fear for the old advisor since it would take nothing but the man’s death, to have Jaswant leave his side. And as we know he will be later joining Arslan’s entourage…again, it doesn’t spell out good things for Mahendra in the future.
But that’s something that can be talked about later.
Did Ant-man just shrink my army?
Right now, we can take a look at the battle itself that takes up most of the episode. We see Gadevi and Rajendra go against each other’s forces, but it quickly becomes clear that neither of them is really good in the tactics department. Rajendra’s army attacks his half-brother’s head on, and Gadevi does the same. The river between the two does make up a bit for the huge differences in the numbers, but when the first prince releases the drugged, frenzied war elephants against them, they’ve pretty much lost. Gadevi relies completely on the war elephants to win his battle, while Rajendra doesn’t really know what to do with his army, other than for them to face their opponents head on. And when word hits him that the Pars army is caught in a siege held by the other half of Gadevi’s forces, he’s pretty much given up hope against having any chance to win against the more powerful forces.
When you bet against Narsus, even the dummies will laugh at you.
However, he has once again, underestimated the power of the human ace-up-the-sleeve that is Narsus. Having already planned out the many ways this battle could go, and because his opponents don’t use anything by the the most rudimentary of military strategy, the master tactician is able to out think both princes and not only trick the enemy into wasting time with a siege against a mostly empty fortress, but is able to move their troops completely unnoticed to join Rajendra’s depleted forces and give them much needed reinforcements in the vein of Gandalf riding from the east with the riders of Rohan during the climax of the Battle of Helm’s Deep.
From there, it is up to Daryun and his forces to do what they do best, as they show why Pars is known for having the most powerful armies and warriors. It isn’t because of strength alone, but also because they are a unified force that can move as one on a dime, and have trained to adapt easily to new and varied opponents on the field. They remind me once again of Lord of the Rings, and the obvious differences between the human armies and the elven armies. While one moves as several bodies in a frenzy against foes, the other moves like a sleek, single unit that can cut down whatever forces are in their path. Also, having known about the war elephants from a scout’s report, Narsus was able to coordinate with the army to take down the gargantuan menaces in a trap, making use of the quite obvious weaknesses of using a drugged-up elephant as a weapon.
And just where do you think you’re going?
The war ends with Gadevi escaping by barely the skin of his teeth, thanks to a save by Jaswant (though he’d rather smash the man’s face in the ground, than say “thank you”). And Arslan and the Parsian armies literally turn the entire course of the battle and win the day. But the two princes’ father has had enough, and since he’s too indecisive to make a choice between his two sons, he’s going to leave it up to the gods.
Daddy dearest
So, we’ll leave this short departure into LotR references, and go back to our trusty GoT allusions, as we are now are to have a trial by combat, where we will have a one-on-one battle, and whoever wins by “the grace of the gods” is the righteous one and will become the heir apparent. And again, like that other series, a champion proxy can be chosen to fight on behalf of either party. And guess who Rajendra picks since he’s too weak (or cowardly) to do it himself?
No, sorry, but one-on-one duels to the death really aren’t Narsus’ thing.
No, instead he picks the second most obvious choice, in asking Daryun to represent him in the duel.
I better get a raise for this….
I must admit that Rajendra has some nerve, especially after the Parsians basically saved your hide in the last battle. But the Parsians do need Rajendra to win for their own fight against the Lusitanians. Yet, does Arslan want to risk the life of his most loyal and powerful commander? Will Daryun even do it? And if he does, he’ll be another powerful warrior in a trial by combat…whose weapon of choice is the spear……..0_0
Sigh…the opponent in the next episode is going to be a “mountain” isn’t it? Let’s just hope this writer isn’t as ruthless as George R.R. Martin.
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
Ep. 16’s endcard artist, Hiroyuki, is the creator of ecchi manga series The Manga Artist and his Assistants/Mangaka-san to Assistant-san to. Anyone still remember its anime?
Also, he’s the brother of mangaka Koji Megumi, illustrator of the Bloody Monday manga series (basically 24 but with younger protagonist).
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
I liked the end card illustration. I tried Mangaka-san to Assistant-san to, but just didn’t enjoy it.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1692 comments
When I saw the Parsian soldiers manning the wall of the fortress I suspected a Beau Geste moment coming up.
I agree that despite his obvious faults Rajendra would make the better king. His faults are ones that can be outgrown or offset by good advisors. Gadevi’s faults are worse and due to his arrogance he’ll never take advice counter to what he wants to do.
The Sindhura king may not be as indecisive as he seems. I think it’s better than even odds that if he named one son as his heir the other would rebel and there’d be civil war, which would be an utter disaster for Sindhura. He’s probably expecting his sons not to name proxies but to duel each other with the outcome that one is killed and there’s no civil war.
However, it seems Rajendra knows he’s no match for Gadevi and so uses a loop hole to avoid fighting himself. I do not expect Daryun to loose. This just doesn’t seem that type of show.
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
One thing that I forgot to point out was that Gadevi desired to win at whatever cost, whether it cost elephants or soldiers. And when he lost, his first thought was how it made him look bad.
When was in danger of losing the battle, he was actually contemplating surrender because of the lives of the men that were following him. His first thought was of them.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
No elephants were harmed in the making of this production.
I wonder what the vintage of the manga for this show is. Cause that Trial by Combat thing is just a bit toooooooo GoT to me.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1692 comments
Trial by Combat was a judicial process used in Medieval Europe. Heck, for all I know it may have also been used in the Middle East and Asia. So it’s not really GoT–GoT copied it from history, which means here it was ultimately copied from history.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Yep. But I was wondering who got the idea from history first and got it to editor first. Someone is wearing the coat, someone’s on the tails…
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
Actually, that’s an interesting question. The Got novel came out in the mid-90s, and Arslan got its start in the late 80s. So, Arslan came out first but GoT was probably being written at the same time.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1692 comments
Both could have easily taken it from history without reference to the other. I think it’s probable neither knew of the other when it was being written. Coincidences do happen.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
I really don’t get all this fascination with GoT. A lot of what happens is very common in fantasy literature and history. So just because GoT is popular, anything that shares a common theme is like GoT >.>
I have the same issue with Tolkien and complaints about later authors. Except in cases where it’s pretty much a rip-off like Eragon and Sword of Truth with just a different color brush. Ugh.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I like Martin’s style, and I like his pacing. There are rafts of fantasy writers out there that just don’t read very well to me. And as you say the TV show is popular, so it’s going to be Most Common Denominator out there as far as trends are concerned.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
Still been meaning to watch the show. I can appreciate his novels, but the writing style just wasn’t to my liking. I think I managed one chapter and had to bail out.
It’s kind of like my aversion to first-person style writing. Unfortunately I’ve never been able to read any of Robin Hobb’s books as a result. Although I’m really enjoying the SAO light novels, to my surprise.
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
I don’t think it’s the elements of the story persay, but the way the writer writes it. I like fantasy and science fiction, but I don’t read everybody’s stuff since not all of them are my style or level of writing. I don’t particularly like Martin’s stuff myself as I find that he goes way too slowly and too intricately for me to get into it. (However, my brother keeps up with everything and thus I DO know what’s going on in it) My favorite fantasy writer as of currently, is Jennifer Fallon. She has many similar elements to her stories that Martin does, but it’s her style of writing and her characters that really draw me more to her epics than to his.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I’m going to recommend Gail Carriger’s Parasol Protectorate series to you. Victorian Age Monster Squad with Werewolf Bishie’s Defend the Crown! Then, go get Cherie Priest’s steampunk novels. Of course Mark Hodder’s Burton and Swinburne books are recommended. All three are very readable writers.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
Hmm, I’m currently checking out books I haven’t read from the library (next up is The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon,, just finished Ready Player One by Ernest Cline), think I’ll see what she’s like. Any books you’d recommend starting with?
My favorite authors (tied) would have to be Robert Jordan and Margaret Weis (love almost all the Dragonlance books, especially hers).
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1692 comments
I think you’ll enjoy The Deed of Paksenarrion–I did.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1692 comments
I agree with you that returning to the same theme and using some of the same elements isn’t bad if it’s done well. For instance, just because we already had The Illiad and War and Peace doesn’t mean war novels were exhausted and there was no need for The Red Badge of Courage or All Quiet on the Western Front.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
For a moment I thought Narsus was going to use the same tactic that was used against the Parsisan army during episode 2 (or was it 3?) and run those elephants into a ravine. Now that would be amusing.
I also expected the king to nominate Rajendra and then Jaswant assassinate his father and claim rulership (like Gladiator). The proxy bit was a bit disappointing although. If it truly was a fight before the Gods, then really the individuals should be fighting and be tried and tested. But then expected Jaswant to be using poisoned weapons. Because what evil entitled prince would fight honorably?
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
I think you might be confusing Jaswant and Gadevi. Gadevi is the older prince and half-brother to Rajendra, Jaswant is the green-eyed spy that Arslan has had mercy for twice now.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
You are correct. I’m not sure why I made that simple mistake. ヾ(´･ ･｀｡)ノ