Hai to Gensou no Grimgar – 04
This show just continues to earn that AOTS/Y stripe…
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Yes, this is a how a show should grow teeth. This is how a show can really sink those teeth in and give us a good shake….BTW, this isn’t going to be free of spoilers…. |
All for One
…they’re actually a bit improved…
Damn, this show is good. That’s pretty easy to say, I realize. But damn, it’s good. I mean, we’ve seen this type of story before and most of us have probably seen it handled just about every which way. But, this was damn, damn good. I am deliberately putting my hat on as I write this, not only for the passing of a really good character from fiction, but also so that I can have the pleasure of taking it off and honoring the writing and direction that this show brings to bear. It’s so rare that a show can pull of something so major without beating you over the head with it from the word, “go”.
Ah, dat Yume…
And they have very much improved, each of them picking up news skills as they discussed last episode. It even looks like they went hog wild and picked up a couple per party member, with Ranta getting his two major Angsty powers along with Moguzo’s couple of smacky goblin in head abilities. I especially like Shi’s shadow elemental spells, as darker (but not necessarily evil) magic like that can say quite a bit about quiet charters like her. Manato’s, Yume’s and Haru’s powers look to be very straightforward, but that’s expected for them. What counts is how well they wear it, and boy do they wear it well. They aren’t afraid to get in there and crack those skulls, a welcome change from two episodes ago. Now we just need to see the oft-discussed demon…
Manato just “get’s Ranta…
Of course it’s difficult putting off the main point of the show, but I’m going to for the sake of the rest of the episode; I have to, it’s part of the buildup and payoff. Many other stories would wait until either the main group or the soon-to-be-hallowed character in question was of a higher level or of much greater renown. Someone know far and wide, hither and yon, for the greatest of deeds, the wisest of choices, the….well, all the hootenanny that high fantasy wants to lay on top off us like so many bricks in it’s grandest of walls. But, as we’ve talked about, Grimgar isn’t that type of show, and it’s not going to tell it’s story that way.
She’s fitting right in regardless…
From the very beginning, we have been dealing with a strange, almost macabre, concept in waking up to a new yet not so fresh identity in a new land. The overtones of a life after death are already there, and that is something I hope the show has it in the tank to deal with much later on. For now the death within this world is made much deeper, not by a “shame the cool character dude is gone, that’s a bummer” collection of moments, but by how Manato and his group lived, and how well they paced out their skills, and the goblin encounters to everyday life affairs in the balance…
Each of us can probably look back on, wow the only three episodes so far, and pick out a favorite moment that underlined his life, if not several. For me it’s how well he took to his new role. He not only wanted it, he needed it, and showed that by being a decent person through and through. He could have pushed Shihoru out of her shell, and the same could be said of Moguzu having to live up to a status he could ill afford to be. He was able to let them be who they needed to be, knowing that there would be someone there trying even harder. Even if he couldn’t let them see how terrified he was….
She was so cute telling that story…
But If I had to pick a favorite moment from this episode, it would be the scene with Yume’s “story”. It functioned as the happy, easy going bookend to what was to come. I think Manato most of all, and even Haruhiro and Moguzu to a small degree, knew that this was a complete garden path story; no punchline, no reason to even tell it other than for Yume to tell the world she was alive and happy to be that way. This is to say nothing of the cute, rhythmic in both word and body language, way she told it that Haru couldn’t help but imitate. Like I said, Manato let them be themselves, never pressuring them, cause he knew pressure already existed, and his misguided attempts to add more would not serve them well. Of course he got them out of there when there was not other choice, that’s what he made off himself to do when push finally came…
So just say a few kind words…
Well, I don’t really want to go on for too terribly long. I will say in leaving that I was very proud of Haruhiro as a character and for how the writing and direction handled him. He could have very well let Manato’s mentor take the bill like he was willing to do, but he didn’t for a damn good reason. This is where his brother in arms died, and he’ll shoulder that burden fully.
He’s accepted not only the death of a man he admired, but his own real place in the world; and that is the head of a whole different trail for him. They really did quite well in that. This could have been a soppy, wet, sloppy slap across the face made of cloying melodrama and mindless “cool” action. But they made all the moments add up. Damn….I’ve said my peace about the major beats. So now It’s your turn.
New friends, new goals?
On the other side…
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: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
About the only thing that I can criticize in this episode is that they all stood still too long for reality in that last scene. People move and shift, especially if it’s breezy. That’s it.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
That is a veerrrrrrrryyyyyyy specific nitpick….and you are welcome to express it!
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1692 comments
But I have to agree with Highway on that. They could have done something to send Manato on his way like raising their weapons in salute as his ashes blew away. Something more dynamic than that long still shot.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I can see that, and I think I would have been just as moved either way…
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
I don’t even think they should have done any sort of salute. That would have been too standard, I think. I liked that they just stood and reflected. I just would have liked to see them sway or shift a little. Those little unconscious moves that people make in response to their body.
POWUH: 500-599 with 540 comments
I also agree with Highway that the last scene was too long. Show ▼
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
To be honest, I have to agree that it was a little long.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
I actually wasn’t saying the scene was too long. I thought the time was fine. It got the point across well. It was just the economy of drawing that got to me, in that people cannot stand still like that. Try it. See how much effort and concentration it takes to stand completely still. And even then, you cannot do it. If you are distracted, you are going to move. Even if they’d just had the characters sway a little bit, that would have been fine. They even had their clothes move. So that took me out of the show and I didn’t want to be.
POWUH: 500-599 with 540 comments
Oh yeah you’re right, waiting in line for a bus for example will have you moving and fidgeting even if only slightly. Standing stock still for robots.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
TO ALL YOUSE ALL ABOVE!
I said the episode was perfectly written and directed!! So stop right there!!!!
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1692 comments
I wonder if Yume is going to realize that if she was better with her bow, like if she had taken a skill in that rather than a close range weapon, she might have been able to pick off the goblin crossbowman and have saved Manato. If she does, will she be guilt-ridden or driven to become expert with the bow? Or both?
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Oh, I’m sure there is going to be plenty of time for all of them to dwell on their past actions (not to mention future ones)in a very hard-core manner. By that token, you can also put blame on Manato’s head as well for not looking out better….but both avenues will always take you right to the same place….
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
I think there is going to be a lot of changes in everyone’s demeanor, and probably a lot of guilt going around. I think we will see changes in everyone. Haruhiro is already being to have a more bold persona as he tries to step into the shoes of a leader. Shi is probably going to become less shy because of a now missed opportunity that she might have had. Yume will probably train to become an expert at the bow so they are never caught like that again. Ranta will probably show a lot of anger at first, but will probably greatly mature because of this. I’m not really sure about any changes in Tank guy yet, but we’ll have to see.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Tank guy will make the perfect stew…
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1692 comments
Goblin stew? I’m sure he’ll chop goblins into the size of stew meat.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
…are we going there? Really? Cause I don’t wanna go there. Do you guys want to go there?
POWUH: 500-599 with 540 comments
I was disappointed that the anime didn’t show That priest’s (Manato’s mentor, like Barbara was to Haruhiro), Ranta’s and Haruhiro’s tears. Ranta in the novel was stated to have wiped his tears with the back of his hand, and while I don’t think Haruhiro was mentioned to be crying but he did feel like his heart was torn out and the LN illustrations did depict him shedding tears. I sound like a Sadist but I was looking forward to those glorious tears 😛 . Also the in LN the crossbow wielding goblin didn’t fire bolts off like mad. I actually think in the LN he only fired it once or twice (reloading a crossbow actually takes a long time afterall) Manato was struck by a throwing knife in the back instead (that crossbow goblin is really skilled and smart). Also another notable change was that the fight was both longer and initiated most foolishly by Manato’s party, not the goblins (in reality his party had no chance of victory despite there being only 1 goblin and a hobgolin) Show ▼
POWUH: 500-599 with 540 comments
Btw I know I listed some of the notable changes but their initiating the fight despite being most foolish was not the most important lesson they learned from this incident so I suppose it was okay for them to them to omit that.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I thought the emotion played out just fine. Sometimes tears just come across as “face wetness gross stuff” to many people, or “too melodramatic”to others. Regardless, all the characters carried the scene properly.
Oh, there are hobgoblins as well? I guess they’re the bigger cousins or something?
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POWUH: 500-599 with 540 comments
It was felt fine emotionally but I think what irked me was that Haruhiro and Ranta’s tears weren’t despite showing both Yume and Shihoru’s tears. Manato’s value to Haruhiro and Ranta would have been no less than his importance to the girls, Manato’s existance an irreplaceable and invaluable to them (well that’s the impression I got from the LN). I suppose most viewers didn’t want to see the guys shed a tear though… might have made them feel that the party was made of wet rags… Show ▼
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1692 comments
The time it takes to reload a crossbow depends upon the type it is and the draw weight. Some can be reloaded rapidly by putting a foot in the stirrup and drawing back the string using the user’s arm muscles. Another type uses a hook hanging from the user’s belt and leg muscles with a foot in the stirrup. Others do require a winch and time. I’d say the goblin had the first type of crossbow.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
What HannoX sez….
POWUH: 500-599 with 540 comments
Ah yeah, I suppose so I never really considered crossbows with a low draw weight lol. When I hear crossbow, the first thing that comes to mind are the ones that take around a minute or 2 to load and can pierce plate mail armor (well plate mail of the time).
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I prefer my crossbows to be a bit more silly….
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
I have to give it to Grimgar now pushing itself to 2nd place as AOTS. (sorry sky, but I’m covering the actual AOTS 😉 )
I honestly didn’t see it coming until he began to talk to and encourage each member of the team. Once he did that and there there was the sunny sky becoming overcast, I knew we were about to lose him. And yet, somehow it didn’t make it any easier.
I still cried and I still mourned his loss. Manato was the best leader they could have gotten and he died protecting them all. He didn’t saying anything about Haruhiro at first, but it’s obvious that he meant to leave him in charge as the next leader of the group.
Sayonara, Manato. We won’t forget you. T_T
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Well, let’s just say were both very lucky to cover such good shows this season….
#seeingitcomingdoesntmakeiteasier
He was indeed a good egg…
POWUH: 500-599 with 540 comments
What is the AOTS in your opinion? and yeah RIP Manato, I got teary when I read the chapter when he died, still hurt to see him die again in the anime. Manato was an awesome friend and a badass priest but he flew too many death flags to live. Show ▼
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I won’t use spoiler tags in my reply cause I’m just ranting against some fantasy systems: It’s been over thirty years since I started playing fantasy RPGs, and I’ve gotten used to some of my initial issues I’ve had with many of them. But I’ve never quite understood why “priests don’t used bladed weapons” is actually accepted by the players.
I can understand why it’s there in the first place. The creators, insisting on keeping the character class system in place are looked into a crappy artificial “balance” to keep the classes “equal”….
But I rant and the rant is over…
POWUH: 500-599 with 540 comments
I think priest not using bladed weapons is based on how historically they were not allowed to shed blood or something. So monks used maces instead (which would ironically just cause internal bleeding and whatnot). Naturally I’m not talking about Japanese warrior monks but western ones. Please correct me if I remembered incorrectly.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I still call BS, both ethically and historically. I mean, how it is holier to beat someone to death with blunt force trauma rather than straight up stabbing them in the heart? Also, they handwave practically every other thing in history as well; set prices my ass! Not with non-centralized mercantile economy! No chance! Competing currency? even less of a chance!!!!
Nope, most modern fantasy is filtered through early D&D where everyone had a “role” to fulfill….which is pretty far from being a character IMO…
POWUH: 500-599 with 540 comments
HAHAHAHAH well I there are people would actually like the class system. At least Grimgar is delivering on their ‘characters’ right? 😉
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Oh, I know lot’s of people love the character system, I also know that lot’s of people are dull and just plain wrong 😉
I’ve been a long time fan of point-buy systems, with purchasable merits and flaws to provide character balance…it usually has more nuance without having to resort to making demi-classes strictly based on “oh my monk uses strength as his primary stat”….
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
The anime’s covered half of Vol 1 ATM. Expectation is they should take 2-3 more eps to adapt all of Vol 1.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I’m going to have to take the time to fully read the fanlations for this, I like the sound of the pacing. Anyone found a retail English source?
POWUH: 500-599 with 540 comments
You really should read the source 🙂 I personally am finding both Grimgar and Konosuba’s LN’s to be a really good read atm.
POWUH: 500-599 with 540 comments
Strange, some of my comments didn’t appear, perhaps I’ve posted to many on this episode.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
…thanks for letting me know, I got em!
POWUH: 500-599 with 540 comments
Thank you! 😀
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
Hey Proto, I see you ran into our resident glutton Spammy. He’ll only bother you now and again. 😛
POWUH: 500-599 with 540 comments
Yeah, I’ve now been formally introduced to Spammy :3
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
I still can’t believe this is only episode 4 and Manato already kicked the bucket. I find a lot of death scenes end up being overly dramatic sobfests, but this had just the right amount of emotion. I’m so sad he’s gone! T_T
Oh, and I have a question y’all might be able to help me with. When the big goblin shoots Manato at the end, it looks like he’s repositioning his crossbow a bit lower at the last second before firing. Is he just adjusting normally to hit his target OR did he decide against a headshot and go for a less immediately lethal shot in the back? It looked kind of deliberate to me so I’m not sure if he had some sort of reason for this.
Also really curious if this attack was because Manato’s gang (omg I can’t even call them that anymore because he’s gone…) was going on a killing rampage in that area. Did they have a goblin town meeting and then plan a counterattack? I’m not used to goblins being this smart! It’s pretty neat. …I should check out that goblin side story.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I’ve yet to find any translations of the goblin side story, so if you do, inform this space or tweet me or sumpin. But going along with goblins, I often find them more interesting when they are less than sword and spell target points. I ran sit down RPGs where species and race wasn’t the defining line of evil; this goes along with my rant about character classes above. It pissed of players at first, them being comfortable knowing they had “acceptable targets” going in (let’s kill Nazis!) only to have the rug pulled out on them. But it had pay-off when they were able to find new alliances with their new goblin buddies against the betraying evil humans….good times.
If I were being invaded by some force, I would want to know as much about my invaders as possible. One thing to know is where they hide/group/re-group before they break into key places. That’s got to be a big trail of blood and fear those kids left behind them booking it out of the goblin city…at least that is my take.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Ah, from what I can find it’s just a 4koma so it should be translated soon. It’s actually pretty good study practice~
Sounds like you have lots of experience with sit down RPGs (I’m jealous!) and all the non-traditional ways an RPG could pan out. Having goblins actually on your side sounds like a fun way to shake things up. I’m so used to goblins being automatically evil, but hey, they have wives, kids and dreams too! I’m sure they all cried just as much when their friends dyed at the hands of the human adventurers.
I think they did a great job picking the perfect time and place to attack, so they must have planned it well in advance. I think bad memories and fear will keep them from venturing back into the goblin’s territory for a while…
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
#GoblinLivesMatter
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Always aim for center of mass.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Ah okay, he was just adjusting to hit the centre of mass then. Thanks!
POWUH: 500-599 with 540 comments
I thought he was aiming lower to avoid hitting the bridge instead but your explanation makes sense too. As for the goblins attacking them, in the LN they actually attack the goblins first not the other way around so idk about the reason why the goblins attacked them, they might explain later in the anime. Show ▼
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1692 comments
These adventurers have been coming in and killing their comrades. Unless they’re idiots of course the goblins are going to notice and do something about it.
POWUH: 500-599 with 540 comments
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skylion edit: spoiler tag
POWUH: 500-599 with 540 comments
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