Drifters – 10
I guess they’re in the wrong genre
Oh my goat a proper one episode post! What is this magic? Well Monday is a holiday since my country celebrates Isra Mi’Raj, so I managed to laze around in my boarding house and catch up with anime. Viva Moslem holiday! Episode 10 is a build-up episode so there isn’t much action, but we did get some good information about Orte, Black King, and Nobunaga’s nature. Plus there are some new Ends hinted too.
Let’s start with Orte Empire. The revelation of Adolf Hitler as the founder of Orte is not surprising at all. In fact, it has been hinted several episodes ago when it was told that the founder committed suicide after establishing the empire. Somehow when I heard that information, it reminded me of Adolf Hitler right away (thanks to the nature of his death). What was surprising though is how he considered as a Drifter despite of his nature that has been established as something twisted by this world. If Adolf Hitler was whisked away into the fantasy world, he had every chance to be an End since he was defeated at the real world. And yet, he became a Drifter because he changed the fantasy world – he created order and unified mankind to protect themselves from other races.
What about the Black King? Gilles’ existence in the fantasy world makes more sense now since Black King can heal things to the point of reviving them, as it has been implicitly hinted by Rasputin. This means that Black King revived Gilles and viola! But since Gilles is technically not alive, he cannot have flesh, hence he turned into salt when he died. And of course, pillar of salt reminds everyone of poor Lot’s wife who got her butt turned into salt. Such a strong Bible reference right there. And who is as equal as God to be able to revive people? It’s no other than… Jesus! I swear I’m not crazy, but I think that Black King is Jesus. No, I did not read the conspiracy theories, but I was greatly disturbed with the hole on Black King’s hand; a mark that reminds me of crucifixion. Moreover, Black King has healing power – his trump card –, and so far the most famous healer that was crucified is no other than Jesus. Of course there is always St. Peter who was crucified also, so there might be possibility that St. Peter can also be Black King. Jesus being Black King makes more sense though since he is “disappointed with mankind”. Either way, Black King has a healing power, but it seems that it costs him his life due to the shard that fell from his body. The nature of that shard is still a mystery, but it is definitely because of exhaustion for healing lots of people.
Whoever Black King is, it’s kind of funny how he is actually an End. He is someone with healing ability, and healing ability is usually associated with yin, positive energy, light, righteousness, yada yada. However, he is still and End. Using healing ability to destroy mankind is definitely ironic. What’s even more ironic is the fact that Adolf Hitler is a Drifter. These two – Black King and Adolf Hitler – are figures of history who are opposite of each other. And yet, in the fantasy world, they switched their roles because of their contribution to mankind. I guess whoever whisked you into the fantasy world doesn’t matter. A character can be whisked by either the old man or the gothich girl, a character can have the most horrible historical background in his world, but how he becomes a Drifter or an End depends on whether he will destroy or revive mankind.
Then there is Nobunaga. So far he is doing a good job at giving contribution to mankind with his “inventions.” However, let’s be honest here, what he’s doing here is something risky. One wrong move and the Honnou-ji incident will happen again – he can be betrayed by the same people he risks his life for. Also, if his invention falls into the hands of the Ends, everything is screwed. Besides, is his actions solely for mankind? Nope, not at all. He wants to use his subordinates to win the war and that’s it. He doesn’t care whether Toyohisa’s subordinates die or not, except when it affects his war strategy. Nobunaga’s actions is that of Drifters’ (because of his contribution), but he has the mind of Ends (for only using humans for his pawns). There is still possibility for him to change side and becomes an End in the future. One thing is clear though: his mind will be occupied by Saint Germi’s offer and a certain Drifter/End who came bearing the symbol of Akechi household.
This is literally an info dump episode. Not much happened, but there were definitely lots of talking and revelations. Still can’t believe my Jesus would give cancer to dragons and slice them up… Poor dragon, Jerusalem does not approve. I’m still wondering about that dragonfly staff though. Why would Jesus need a staff? For speech? To look cool like Moses? Maybe it’s not Jesus. Ah geez this is giving me a headache.
Preview: I have no idea what the Musketeer is talking about, but I know we’ll see the brutal side of Toyohisa because he is the “Devil Shimazu.”
Fujoshi bait
POWUH: 500-599 with 540 comments
I also seriously suspect that the black king could be Christ but how he tortured the bronze dragon and used it as a living mine was somehow breaking my suspension of disbelief… Would Jesus do that? even if he was severely disillusioned and stuff.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I’ve yet to see the episode but something came to my attention and I wanted to point it out. Notice that no one in-story has branded Toyohisa, Nobunaga or Yoichi as traitors for aiding demi-humans and killing off humans to meet that end. Yeah, they’re from another realm but they’re humans nonetheless and the opposition clearly sees that. It just seems strange the story has progressed this far with no one so much as bashing those three for siding against their own species, regardless of their motives. One would have expected such a development a while now.
POWUH: 500-599 with 540 comments
HAHAHA good point I can’t believe I let that pass me by. Maybe they didn’t want to take that route with the story OR maybe they completely forgot about racial tensions and stuff somewhere along the way like me.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
If they didn’t want to take that route, they’re not doing a good job of abstaining from or maybe it was just inevitable and unavoidable.
I take it as a general shift that’s occurred over time. Things have definitely changed. A few years back, the theme was whenever a show/movie used the “Human vs Non-human” theme, the humans were automatically and arbitrarily the good guys while the non-humans were designated as the bad guys to be eradicated without hesitation, question or leniency.
These days, the theme’s gone to a gray area where both sides are explored which therefore causes a moral dilemma to determine which side is in the right based on justification. It’s also makes it easier to point fingers and that would frequently result in the humans being pointed at. Like what we’ve seen in Drifters so far, one serious misstep or an excess in conduct that’s become inexcusable and it will be the humans getting fiercely condemned by the viewers while they sympathize with the non-humans.
I have 4 series in mind that’s used the theme and resulted in inciting the viewer to look at human side with disdain:
Shiki
Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign/Owari no Seraph
Tokyo Ghoul
Ajin
Honestly, I love that theme with a passion.
POWUH: 500-599 with 540 comments
I have a bittersweet relationship with this theme, it both annoys me and entertains me.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
What about the series that uses the theme? Do you usually find yourself undecided on which side you should root for?
It’s at the top of my favorite’s list because it’s far more thought provoking. Even if it calls for taking yourself out of a human’s point of view to better understand the developments. Which I, myself, do often. Mainly the reason why I’d pick a series like Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign over Attack on Titan/Shingeki no Kyojin. Because the former’s a moral gray area setting with the lines dividing the two blurred, the concept of right and wrong unable to be applied and the latter is the typical black and white setting which is nowhere near as entertaining due to facts being set in stone and inflexible.
POWUH: 500-599 with 540 comments
Well, it would seem that my comments are too long or something. My replies aren’t getting through
POWUH: 500-599 with 540 comments
Sorry, I made a mistake there. I thought you meant ‘Humanity’s evils/mistakes/failings’ which I both love and hate cuz it can be executed really badly or well. One example of this would be psycho-pass I guess
Personally I don’t have much of a taste for the ‘human vs non-human’ theme. For example I see the vamps in owari no seraph as just people with different needs or different mindset or culture. Tokyo Ghoul? Well I never really liked that too much but same thing there, as long as the beings in question are just as sentient as people they can be compared to them right? Even if they are vastly different in other ways. Forgive me if I’m incorrect but the mc at least in Ajin thought he was a human before he discovered he was different right?
In summary I see non-human races as basically ‘different people’ so its not so much a human vs non-human debate for me. Its a different people vs different people debate. But ofc non-human races do give writers the liberty of making very different cultures and beings so it can make it interesting.
POWUH: 500-599 with 540 comments
Ok I’ll try to sum it up quickly since long comments don’t get through the system. I made a mistake I thought you meant the theme of questioning society and humanity. e.g. psycho-pass. As for your theme, I generally see it as different people vs different people instead of human vs non-human. Unless the other race is non-sentient. Also I didn’t really like Tokyo ghoul but for some reason I liked owari no seraph.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Well, the end result still begs one to question humanity, asking which side is the true monster. And the underlying message will be “One doesn’t need fangs or claws to be deemed a monster”.
Oh, just so you know, be it the manga or anime version, Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign/Owari no Seraph isn’t a stand-alone story. It’s 1/3 of the whole package, the main story, to be specific. Something I forgot to mention when both anime seasons aired. There are prequel and side story LNs that feed information to fill in the deliberate blanks in the main story to get a bigger picture.
So anyone unaware of the prequel and side story’s existence (Mainly and especially the anime-only crowd) whose purposes serve as joining pieces will have their work severely cut out for them when searching for information.
POWUH: 500-599 with 540 comments
HAHA the end result is similar but I would say that both sides as equally as bad concerning owari no seraph. However Humans are more ambitious in that series making them a arguably the stronger threat. The vampires tend to be quite complacent, maybe cuz they’ve lived so long.
As for the 1/3 package business, I’ll take what I can get I suppose. A story should be able to stand on its 2 feet imo, it shouldn’t’ require other material (side stories, prequels) to explain important plot points. Those should stay as extra material.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Yeesh, of course the Orte Empire had to be founded by Hitler, of all people. Seriously, what the hell? Is there any place his influence hasn’t touched? At least his distorted portrait was good for a laugh. But with that reveal, it’s all the more satisfying watching our Drifter trio with their continuously amassing army beat the living shit out of the Empire.
Nobunaga needs to be self-aware. He’s making his expressions too simplified for people to read.
Uh-huh, what did I say last time? I knew Toyohisa sparing Jeanne was going to be a mistake in the long run. Only this time she’s sure to be more prepared gaining experience from fighting him the first time. So the same tricks won’t work. Toyo himself, though being a bit one-note, is very Spartan. Anyone under him best be prepared for the long haul.
Then there’s the drag queen trio (Yeah, I’m dubbing them that. It’s about time they had a title). Having Saint-Germi voiced by Tomokazu Sugita is such a crippling blow. The character’s appearance with his epic voice work is such a mismatch I can’t take the character seriously. Instead, it has me bouncing back and forth between being creeped out and laughing. I certainly can’t fault Toyohisa’s comment the first time he saw Saint-Germi.
However, for Saint-Germi to make the offer to aid the Drifter’s siege on the Empire after giving it so much praise, it goes without saying this guy has no loyalty and no redeeming qualities whatsoever and like he’s shown so far, he’ll head for the hills to save his own skin whenever the going will get tough. Our leads will do well to keep an eye on him.
POWUH: 500-599 with 540 comments
Should have known it was Sugitan. I had a feeling it was him. And yeah I called it, the sparing Jeanne is a mistake in this type of series. 😀
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
The guy has a voice befitting badass characters so him voicing Saint-Germi threw me for a loop. Well, Sugita’s voice has also applied for a number of douchebag characters he’s played, so Saint-Germi most likely fits that category.
Jeanne’s return was a matter of time. This is what happens when you spare an enemy that doesn’t show they’re going to back down. Odds are Abe no Haruakira will rub it in Toyohisa’s face.
POWUH: 500-599 with 540 comments
HAHA lets hope he rubs it in his face yeah? Be like “Toyohisa you need to get genre savvy”
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Well, he’ll have to do it in a way it sinks in so Toyohisa won’t repeat the same mistake.
POWUH: 500-599 with 540 comments
And yes Sugitan plays badass, douchebag and silly characters.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I still can’t take Saint-Germi seriously!! 😉
POWUH: 500-599 with 540 comments
I’m not sure you’re meant to take saint_germi seriously 😛
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
@ProtoSovereign:
Anime News: Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress Gets New Anime in 2018
POWUH: 500-599 with 540 comments
Sorry, I don’t know what @ProtoSovereign: means. Does it mean you’re referring it to me? News of a new Kababeri anime though… I’ll probably still watch it and regret doing it but sure why not. Its always nice to see how much a train wreak a show can become.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
LOL. Yeah, it was to personally draw your attention. That’s how it’s usually done around here. I fail to see how it’s a trainwreck. It’s not like it was trying to be something it’s not.
POWUH: 500-599 with 540 comments
Kabaneri could have done so much better in just about everyway concerning characters, plot and world building. The art though was fine as fine can be. I call it a train wreak cuz it looked like it would have been going in a nice direction but they ruined it and derailed so hard. To be fair though Kabaneri is not the worse show ever.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Big Order is coming to your mind, isn’t it?
POWUH: 500-599 with 540 comments
Did you really have to remind me of one of the worst shows to disgrace this world recently? *has nightmares*
POWUH: 500-599 with 540 comments
I didn’t mean Big order but that’s a good point. It was really bad.