Steins;Gate – 07
Time travel: now possible even without using a curved yellow fruit!
Du du ru~ Cool-chan desu~! Good to see you’re back for another episode of Steins;Gate, because there’s some actual time traveling to be had this episode! Sadly, just as things are getting good in Steins;Gate, things are getting rough in real life. No, no, nothing emotional, just a lot of homework. I decided to take Japanese (plus a psych course) over the summer for fun and…well, let’s just say I’ll only be doing my Metanorn work during the night.
The time machine microwave is upgraded to be doorless (courtesy of Okarin) and able to send D-mails to any phone (courtesy of Daru’s programming skills). Their only obstacle is Mr. Braun and his complaints about lightning bolts emanating from their window, like any sane landlord would. But hey, he’s away for the day so it’s a perfect day to experiment like mad!
After a quick test run with Mayuri’s text to see if it still works, Kurisu brings back food from the convenience store as they discuss what to use the time machine for today. This may not sound important: but there was no Doctor Pepper at the store so Kurisu pulled the kind of trick I do in terms of forcing my friends to eat healthier. Vegetable juice aside, they come to the conclusion that using it to win the lottery is a good first step.
Moeka tries to steal their computer again, so she gets babysat by Mayuri, who shows her around. As Moeka takes pictures with her camera (you’d think she could see through clothes with the amount of photos she takes), Okarin hesitantly follows through with picking the winning third prize number for Loto 6. Kurisu warns him about possibly causing a time paradox, but no one seems worried enough to stop him. Okarin sends the text to the past, and there’s suddenly a huge shift in the room.
After static and a flash of light, Okarin is startled back into reality. From his perspective, he just sent a D-mail a second ago. For everyone else, they still hadn’t planned what to do with the D-mail yet. Okarin freaks out since no one can remember that they JUST sent a Loto 6 D-mail, only to be interrupted by a guest. Ruka hands him a Loto 6 card with the same numbers as the text he received. Well, the same except that he botched one of the numbers up, otherwise he would have won. The others stare in amazement, wondering how he could have sent a D-mail when they don’t remember it.
Wait, what is Mayuri grabbing there? <_<
Okarin excuses himself to catch his thoughts outside. Suzu notices he’s a bit down and asks if he’s been brainwashed. Okarin playfully responds with a yes and she literally slams him down onto a bench and throws herself on him like a derranged chimp. She checks for chips in his eyelids, and then backs off when she finds none. Okarin doublechecks to see if she or Braun’s adorable little daughter saw a spark outside his window earlier, but they didn’t. He really did move to a completely different timeline.
It’s Deadman Wonderland all over again
Suzu, who knows what’s going on, insists that she’s on his side. Okay there, Spazzypants, okay. She does give some good advice though: call John Titor. He IS the self-proclaimed time travel expert after all. Okarin sends everyone away so he can text Titor about his dilemma, with only Kurisu staying behind to idle about and contemplate. He gets a bunch of texts and calls from EVERYONE ELSE except Titor.
When Titor finally does respond, he is quite baffled with Okarin’s predicament. Explaining the time travel is one thing…it has a set theory that if you go back and change the past, you’re just jumping to a different timeline. Okarin moved from the timeline where he didn’t buy a lottery ticket to the one where he did. Explaining why his memories of the other timeline remain intact when they shouldn’t is the main issue. Okarin is most likely a special case, and Titor goes on to ask Okarin to go past Divergence 1% and stop the world from careening into a dystopia. He must become a messiah.
Moeka’s Picture Folder:
OT3, anyone?
Fun fact: when you’re that fat you can hide things like a fan in between the rolls of fat.
Welcome to The Price is Right! Guess right and take home this beautiful TV! Mayushi included!
This is why you leave the sexy wink thing for girls to do
End Thoughts: Wow, some actual action! The first part had me worried that it would settle into another slow episode, but about 1/3rd through things finally picked up to just about the right speed for me. Finally, some actual time travel! For a show about time travel, we haven’t had a lot of, you know, time travel. Unless you’re a banana. I’m hoping that we’ll shift away from theories and get more into the actual DOING. Speaking of theories, I’m sure most of you know the basics of how the whole time travel dealio works for this show, but I’m going to link you to the best anime description of the alternate world view thoery I’ve seen thus far anyways. It’s a clip from Noein, a pretty darn good anime that I finished about a month ago, and is basically spoiler-free. Hint hint, watch the anime…it’s good.
It’s speculation time now. This week, my accusing finger points at the mousey text-fiend in the corner, Moeka! I accuse her of being a time traveler. Or less so of being a time traveler, and moreso of being acutely aware of the fact that jumps between timelines can occur. I’m convinced the reason she takes so many photos is so that she will have memories of the previous timeline whenever someone “goes back in time” to change the past. My suspicions grew when they showed her during the part John Titor was saying Okarin was special for being able to retain his memories despite jumping through timelines. All that will be dashed if the photos from her phone are deleted when they jump timelines, but this show is all about magical phones that change the fabric of time, so I’m going out on a limb here and saying her phone might be special. (That, or maybe she has the same ability as Okarin and taking pictures is yet another memory cue sort of thing).
Other than Moeka, it was nice to see Ruka again. What a trap, wearing a shirt with a back lower than any dress or top I even own…He’s prettier than Mayuri and her furry caterpillar eyebrows! Please, someone…tell me I’m not the only one who stares at her goddamned eyebrows for every closeup…Anyways, he doesn’t seem to be playing a big role aside from doing Okarin favours, and Feyris has since faded into darkness. Hopefully they get rolled into this katamari of madness soon as well, because things should be picking up now. Don’t disappoint me, Steins;Gate, KEEP UP THIS PACE. We’ll see for episode 8, shall we? Stay alive, and out of the Organization’s grasp until then, my friends. El Psy Congroo.
About Overcooled
A neuroscience graduate, black belt, and all-around nerd. You'll either find me in my lab or curled up in my rilakkuma kigurumi watching anime.
POWUH: 600-699 and Romance Expert with 652 comments
theres not really much to speculate. it will mostly just be something like X person is actually from the future. I do admit that there was some exciting things going and the story is getting serious, im just not really anxious as I am in oretachi. my speculation is not tingling for this. and some of the speculation seems pretty obvious which is gonna happen.
oh and the yuri…. at this point, okarin might not have anyone to ship with from me. the girls are getting more comfortable with each other. but okarin’s concern for mayuri might keep some of my support for them.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
That’s pretty much all I’m speculating on right now. Who is from the future, who is good, and who isn’t. Having those 3 things on mind keeps me on my toes every episode, at the very least.
There’s still some adorable moments between Okarin and Mayuri (Kurisu too, but they’re pretty minor) but those girls sure do get…comfortable…XD
POWUH: iLurker with 11 comments
Kurisu shipping – minor?
Maybe it’s just me, but the in the end of the episode where Kyoma receives all those calls and mails and shortly before, you could feel a lot of unresolved tension from Kurisu^^
Okabe has a lot to distract him, but Christina just sits there and is all like “don’t mind me, i’ll just sit and watch you intensely from the shadows, thinking about this and that” or something
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Minor because Okarin rarely reciprocates XD But her blushing and staying behind with Okarin are some little hints, heh. She wasn’t even reading that magazine, I swear, she was just staring intently at his back.
POWUH: 400-499 with 428 comments
Show ▼
That’s all one can say when they’ve written fanfiction/fiction about time travel and the consequences. Glad to see it when Okarin always have that little smile or touch whenever ‘Tuturu!’ is around. ATM, pretty clear on a few characters, like Suzu Show ▼
, Cel-7 (someone both like Okarin and not simultaneously; has no idea what’s going on but does not have John Titor’s desire to become the Messiah), Ruka (the ever present TRAP!), and Daru, the perverted Super Haker. Shining Finger still tingles my suspicions on her, trying to nail what kind of character she is…
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Mayuri keeps Okarin sane, and even happy. It’s really sweet how such a simple girl like her can make his day like that. Shining Finger is throwing me a bit of a curveball, while Daru and Ruka are straightforward so far (aside from Ruka’s gender).
POWUH: 400-499 with 428 comments
Having watched that clip though, I have to agree, it’s one of the best explanations ever, especially with the other character (He has to be the seiyu for Maes Hughes, I swear!) being the “I believe what I see” character with ‘huh?’ and ‘what?’…although, being a writer, I prefer my example as being in a House of Mirrors; you know there is ‘you’, but what if you were the reflection? If you were the reflection, it doesn’t mean your thoughts would reflect the same on the other side 🙂
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Yep, Fujiwara Keiji: same seiyuu as Maes Hughes! Nice ears, Reaper~ Noein makes it really clear how the whole time travel thing works, something I really appreciate the show for. That house of mirrors example sounds mighty creepy…
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
I spoiled myself. I read the alternate manga of Steins;Gate
OC I’M SO MAD AT MYSELF T________T
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
You should be, it’s ALL YOUR FAULT.
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
D: *bawl*
I still don’t know the relationship between mayuri and okari though (is that his name?). And Moeka and the trap which always give me the yaoi air. I guess I’m not that spoiled :p sad how two chapters can spoil a lot ;__;
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Aww, there there. Hopefully there’s at least a SMALL surprise for you.
POWUH: 600-699 and Wingman with 655 comments
left me with many thoughts, and trying to speculate the reason of Okarin’s memory last with the hint given with my friends :3
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Okarin…always the special one.
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 79 comments
I’m not sure I trust John Titor. He (Is John a he?) seems to know a lot about time travel, but he’s way too mysterious and might have some ulterior motive in wanting Okarin to use his abilities to stop SERN. Still he’s the best lead we have, and I hope we get to learn more about him and Okarin’s memory soon.
POWUH: Beginner (20-35) with 21 comments
Maybe it’s a girl posing as a guy 😀
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
IT’S A TRAP.
I think Titor is going to be a guy, mostly because of the voice he speaks in and this screencap from episode 2. It’s from when he was talking to Titor in the chatroom, and Okarin wasn’t wearing that…
Oh, very true, Titor could be using Okarin for his own gain. He would have to be absolutely sure Okarin wasn’t just some crazy guy texting him randomly though. I don’t think we’ll see John Titor until close to the end of the show, he’s like one of those big final bosses. Ahh…I’m so curious now.
POWUH: iLurker with 11 comments
Titor’s voice and appearance could be just speculations) Like Atomsk as a muscular male figure in Amarao’s mind^^
There’s even a possibility that John Titor is Okabe himself, texting his past self so that the messages arrive timely^^ unlikely, but fun to imagine.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Could be. It’s just so hard for me to picture Titor as a girl! I still think Titor is Okarin, as crazy as it sounds XD
POWUH: 800-899 and Flying Sage with 856 comments
Here’s my crazy theory. Moeka isn’t from the future yet, although she will be. Note that she had the picture of the computer, before she took it. That is, she shows that she has a picture of the computer when Okabe first meets her, and she just took a picture of it (the one Okabe got from the temple).
Also, if I recall correctly, the monk at the temple said that a girl gave him the computer saying someone would come to pick it up. Maybe she is trying to steal the computer from Okabe so he can find it at the temple? She knows he finds it at the temple (he tells her he is borrowing it from them) so she would know where he gets it. The only trick then is to get it from him and deliver it in the past to the temple so it can be found.
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
You are thinking like a true time travel nut. Me likes! Though the girl who gave the IBN to the Shrine head could have been Suzu, Kurisu or even Shining Finger as suspected. Let’s see what happens~
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Moeka’s going to be from some weird timeline, I think you’re right. I had assumed her picture of the IBN was just something she got on the internet, but it’s more likely she took it herself given her personality… I don’t know about the getting it back to the temple part, but hey, maybe!
POWUH: 800-899 and Flying Sage with 856 comments
I see the Organization has erased my comment. Am I getting too close to the Truth?
El Psy Congroo
POWUH: 800-899 and Flying Sage with 856 comments
Now it’s back. I must’ve jumped a timeline again.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Haha, what deleted message? Such a thing never happened in this timeline!
…Yeah, I just dragged it out of the spam filter. Thanks for waiting. :3
POWUH: iLurker with 1 comments
just watched the episode yesterday and finally some action after slight letdown at episode 6!!! and I LOVE THE ED AS ALWAYS! It just totally fits the whole story of Steins; Gate! Can’t wait for the full ed!
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Agreed. We’re finally getting some TIME TRAVEL!!!
I’m not really crazy for the ED (I tend to skip the ED theme of most anime…) but it’s not bad XD I’m sure we’ll post it when it’s out though!
POWUH: Lovely-pyon~ with 305 comments
Ruka >>>>> Mayushi- and yes, those are some hella freaky eyebrows xD
Am I the only one who thinks it’s stupid how Moeka goes all valley girl when she texts? -.-
Oh, but I loved this episode! My brain hurts, but I’m glad the pace is picking up
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
OH GOOD, I thought I was just being vain XD I don’t mind Moeka’s texts…reminds me of Meru from Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, heh.
POWUH: iLurker with 11 comments
at first i thought Moeka texting all the time instead of talking is just her character’s ‘charm point’ craziness thing, but then i started to suspect that she’s documenting everything to save the information from time travel effects or send it to herself or something)
at this point she’s still a complete mystery^^
POWUH: iLurker with 1 comments
[…] “Wow, some actual action! The first part had me worried that it would settle into another slow episode, but about 1/3rd through things finally picked up to just about the right speed for me. Finally, some actual time travel! For a show about time travel, we haven’t had a lot of, you know, time travel. Unless you’re a banana.” – Metanorn […]