Strike the Blood – 19
Threesomes solve everything. Especially internal bleeding.
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Well, I’m finally back and while I don’t miss the idiotic fratboy partying that happened at the hotel I was staying in, I definitely miss the warm weather. OTL It’s nice to come back to a good episode of Strike the Blood though. |
Well, out of all of the things that could get Kojou out of his situation, a threesome was not my first guess. Yuuma was missing for a lot of this arc (or, you know, she was kind of unconscious), but it seems like that absence hasn’t slowed her down at all in terms of the harem. Sayaka seems to be getting a lot of attention too, though maybe that’s because Yukina was stuck in a cage for a lot of the episode. Koujo seemed a bit more forward this episode than previous ones (or at least, forward with characters that aren’t Yukina for a change), but instead of his character progressing somewhere, this was probably just his drive for heroism at work again. Kojou probably just needed blood in order to heal his life threatening wound so her could go defeat the villain, and that’s all the scene meant to him. …Which is kind of disappointing. Relationship building would be nice once in a while as opposed to the occasional sexual situation that ends awkwardly either due to imminent doom or Kojou refusing to take an oppertunity.
The blood did seem to come in handy though, since he managed to somehow convert the entire island to mist. …Which is probably the largest and arguably most badass thing Kojou has ever done with his magical, vaguely established progenitor powers. Avrora even appeared, so that’s pretty huge. Finally, there’s proof that Kojou is one of the most absurdly powerful beings out there, and this is good timing in the plot, since Vatler raised the question as to what exactly a Progenitor is an episode ago. Yukina’s place in the world was looked at more than Kojou’s this episode, but maybe this is all building up to whatever the ending of Strike the Blood will entail. Things escalate pretty quickly in this anime and the whatever happen in the arcs generally involve endangering the entirety of Itogami, if not the world, so something big is bound to happen in the next arc as well. If they can go more into the progenitor plot before/for the ending of the anime, it would be a nice cliffhanger towards a second season and something important for the last arc or so to focus on.
The speculation between Aya and Yukina about the true form of the world was certainly something. Technically the world that the characters all live in was created by some higher power (aka the author) and in the real world (as in, the one we live in), magic doesn’t exist. Does this reality hold true in the Strike the Blood world though? Or if not the real life world, is there an alternate, non-magical world like the real life one? Er, the scene wasn’t really explored much past that conversation, but the fact that Yukina hitting Aya with Sekkarou turned her back to normal seems to add evidence towards it. As does the fact that Yukina was not affected by Aya’s world building at all. Another interesting point brought up by this though was the question as to if Yukina was really from the world in the first place. The Lion King Organization children don’t really have any memories outside of being in the Organization, so it’s totally possible.
So Aya’s whole point of doing this was to figure out if the world was fake… or something. Apparently witches are discriminated against as well, but there’s been next to no evidence in the anime of that ever happening. Maybe it happened in the past, but there have been no mentions about it outside of this episode. So while this might have been an attempt at making Aya’s character a bit more sympathetic, it didn’t really seem to have any effect. But where Aya’s motivation might have been a bit of a let down, Meiga’s escape seems to mean something more for the plot. Paper Noise let him go without much of a fight, so that probably says something about the Lion King Organization’s motives (or at least their motivation when it comes to potentially interesting dangerous things). Plus, he seems to have some sort of Sekkarou prototype now. I assume it would have the same powers since they look similar, so maybe that means more exploration of a world without magic turning up in this plot in the future. Though whether or not the anime gets that far is questionable.
There were a lot of interesting things happening this episode. Some things were “interesting” like the threesome situation, but actually, a lot of it were interesting revelations revolving the plot of Strike the Blood. It was only explored shallowly in the episode, but the topic of the real world and possibly fake world of Itogami was the kind of deeper (ish) speculation that I was expecting when I first heard that Strike the Blood was written by the same author as Dantalion no Shoka. So far, a lot of Strike the Blood has been kind of superficial (though I blame the anime cutting out things for that, since the info in the comments always fleshes things out), but this was a pleasant surprise. The beginning of the arc wasn’t anything noteworthy, but the last couple episodes were really good as far as I’m concerned. Hopefully this carries on to the next arc.
The preview was pretty vague, but Natsuki doesn’t seem too impressed.
About Karakuri
University student and the one at Metanorn who's known for wearing glasses. Likes blood, insanity and plot twists, but also plays otome games and adores cute romance anime. It balances out... somehow.
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
Welcome back, Kara!! ヽ(*・ω・)ﾉ Sounds like you enjoyed your trip a lot!
I’ve put up some nice worldbuilding stuff for the rap criminal in ep 18’s post, so feel free to check it out.
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
Thanks for the welcome (…that sounds weird typed out, but hopefully you understand what I mean xD).
It’s cool that the aspiring rap artist had some connection to something else in the series. A StB world history book would be interesting, since everyone seems to have some connection to something.
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
So Aya’s whole point of doing this was to figure out if the world was fake… or something.
Aya was essentially trying to play God, using the Grimoire’s spells and her true powers of altering reality to reshape the STB universe to her liking. (LN spoilers confirm Aya’s reality-altering abilities.)
Aya wanted to create a new magic-less world, believing that persecuted magic-users(ie witches), or those burdened with heavy magical duties, like Natsuki and Yukina, would then be free to live normal lives without those responsibilities or dangers. You may recall Aya’s illusion showing Yukina the normal life she could have with her friends in a magic-less world.
I personally find it rather ironic that witch was using magic to end all magic, and that Aya’s dream was probably a massive delusion on her side.
Meiga’s escape seems to mean something more for the plot. Plus, he seems to have some sort of Sekkarou prototype now.
If you recall the anime’s first arc, the Saint’s Arm, they mentioned how Itogami Island was designed and planned by Itogami Senra. The fact that our escaped Observer’s name is Itogami Meiga suggests a connection to Senra, although nothing has been confirmed in the LNs yet.
LN spoilers say Meiga’s spear was a prototype in developing Sekkarou, although other prototype wielders had their spirit powers drained by the spear, dying shortle after. Meiga somehow is the only one who can use it with no ill-effects.
Sayaka seems to be getting a lot of attention too…
LN spoilers say Sayaka wears string panties so she can change underwear easily without having to remove the magic arrow belt she wears on her thigh, which is her offensive lifeline.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
That sounds in a way like Madara’s Project Tsuki no Me in Naruto Shippuden. To gather all the tailed beasts, become the Ten Tails Jinchuuriki to be strong enough to project a genjutsu on the moon so it could be cast over the planet to control all humans for the sake of creating his own ideal world.
Hey, in Index II, Aleister, a scientist used science to create an angel which at the same time was basically rejecting science itself.
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
(cont.)
If they can go more into the progenitor plot before/for the ending of the anime, it would be a nice cliffhanger…
I guess that depends on whether any Progenitor plot is present in the 6th volume, which may involve the appearance of Edward Elric. Not to mention that plot mostly happens in vol 7-8.
There’s 5 more eps till the end, so they might devote 3-4 eps to vol 6, with the remaining few for a progenitor-plot intro. Or they might not. We’ll see how it goes.
Since Kojou managed to somehow convert the entire island to mist.
His new crab/lobster Familiar is capable of turning all physical matter within a wide radius into mist.From what I’ve heard in forums, ordinary people don’t even know they’ve become mist.（＾ ＾）
PS. I wonder if this new Familiar goes well with a nice garlic butter sauce.(＾▽＾)
POWUH: Meta Resident and Werewolf Chaser with 1270 comments
I really hope they devote the rest of the episode for the final arc. Maybe they can put more things in this way.
Kujou latest familiar looks like Japanese spider crab to me. Although the LN states that under its shell there only white mist in it.
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
Oh, playing god makes more sense.
Again, I have yet to see witches be persecuted at all in this series. But I guess if that world’s history is similar to real life, there were witch burnings and such.
Er, I hate to admit this, but I totally missed the fact that his name has Itogami in it. OTL It would be cool if he was the final boss or something whenever the novels end. I figured it would be the Lion King Organization, someone who created Itogami, or a Progenitor, so Meiga (possibly) covers 2/3.
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
Some trivia I found states each Familiar is named after a star that is part of their respective Zodiac constellation, or the constellation itself.
Regulus: Latin for ‘little king’. The brightest star of the Leo(lion) constellation.(lightning lion.)
al-Nasl: Arabic for ‘arrowhead’. This star forms the tip of the arrow in the bow of the Sagittarius(centaur/horse) constellation.(hence the horse design.)
al-Meissa:Derived from the Arabic ‘al-Maisan’,’the Shining One’.The brightest star of the Gemini(twins) constellation.(hence a twin headed dragon.)
Natra-Cinereus:There’s no star with any exact or similar names, but I think the name is derived from ‘Carcinus’, the Latin name of the Cancer(crab/crustacean) constellation.(giant crab/lobster hybrid)
al-Rescha:Derived from the Arabic ‘al-Rischa’,’the Cord’.The 3rd brightest star of the Pisces(two fishes) constellation.(so a giant mermaid.)
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
Huh. I wonder how they’ll convey the non-animal familiars if they’re going with the zodiac theme. Virgo and Aquarius might be easy enough considering how they did Gemini, but I’m really curious about Libra.
POWUH: 600-699 with 691 comments
this episode was…weak, i didn’t like it…a new familiar is cool but…this episode was just meh…even with the information’s revealed…what a monster of a mother
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Monster of a mother? While I admit she has a lot to answer for her transgressions but at this point, Aya pales in comparison to Kill la Kill’s Ragyo Kiryuin. At least Aya isn’t openly and shamelessly molesting her daughter every chance she gets.
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
Really? I found this to be one of the better episodes. Or maybe I just like pretentious (ish) plot twists. …Actually, that’s probably it.
POWUH: Meta Resident and Werewolf Chaser with 1270 comments
Looks like some of the Chinese readers get it too: “This world is created by the author 5 min ago”. XD
Well given human nature, it totally possible. Plus Itogami is using Natsuki for the prison barrier.
Between the Imagine Breaker spear and the theme with this episode, its reminding me of NT9 of Index LN. Plus Natsuki is basically Yomikawa Aiho elevated to heroine status with witch power.
Chekhov nosebleed. That something you don’t see everyday. Since I am way behind with the LN so I just skip to the penultimate chapter and the ending. Overall a pretty good one even with some minor detail being cut/altered.
>I’m not sure if the anime make it clear enough, but Natsuki recovers her memory through her backup a while before Aya activated the Grimoire. But she continues to act like a child to fool Aya until the right moment.
>Again I don’t really remember the details in the anime, but Aya purposely let Natsuki go instead of killing her is due to her considering Natsuki as her dear friend. Its also part of the motive of why Aya want to make a magic-less world.
>Lost Aya is able to summon beings frm the demon world. But Kujou party is over leveled so it doesn’t matter anyway XD
>In the LN, Asagi brought a bunch of male classmates to get Sayaka away so that she can make her move on Kujou. Her next step of plan is to let Nagisa bother Himeragi but that was busted thanks to Tank Loli butting in.
>Natsuki is fine with Sana.
>There this interesting Kujou internal monologue in the LN abt him wondering abt breaking Natsuki out of the prison in the future.
PS
http://i.imgur.com/7dbS0MU.jpg
The manga rendition of the beastman back in the beginning of EP5 (Warlord’s arc).
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
Ahahaha
…One day I will finally read Index. Maybe then will I remember the character’s names and what they do (though probably not).
D’awww now I wish we could have seen more of the two being friends.
POWUH: Occasional (51-75) with 53 comments
So many Index parallels in this episode.
Yukina’s spear was confirmed to be Imagine Breaker while Aya confirmed that she wanted to do the same thing that Othinus wanted to do (although I know this was written first but Index did it far better). I swear…Itogami Island is just Academy City under another phase. :3
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
More like the supernatural version of Academy City if one accepts the idea they’re in different dimensions.
POWUH: Meta Resident and Werewolf Chaser with 1270 comments
He actually means something frm the New Testament series of Index novels.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
All this talk of new arcs just make me want to see another season of Index even more.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Welcome back, Kara! Hope you enjoyed your trip. Last post, you said you were going tropical so I’m guessing it was somewhere in the Caribbean.
Well, it’s not the first threesome that’s gotten him out of a tight spot though this one was pretty erotic thanks to Sayaka. At the end of the Amphisbaena arc, episode 12, Yukina and La Folia bailed him out by “donating” their blood. Kojou sure is getting some variety though. He’s had the taste of a Sword Shaman, War Dancer, a Princess and now a Witch. If any of the guys at his school knew what was going on, they’d curse his name more than they’re doing now.
The new mist familiar was awesome and its presence was kind of a refresher since it’s been a while media delved into vampire lore enough to bring up the mist factor. This was used a lot with the old school vampires, making it easier for them to disorient and hunt humans.
For me, the reason Kojou seemed weak until now is because he’s stumbling around instead of firmly putting a foot forward as a vampire. He’s reluctant to use his powers and for the longest while, they’ve been like a fail-safe for keeping him alive. Like Avrora suggested, he is too concerned with normal limitations like forms and I have a feeling he’s still desperately clinging to the idea of passing off as a human when fate clearly dictates that it’s no longer an option. Not to mention the truth is still being kept from Asagi and Nagisa. If Kojou lets go of those concerns and starts to want to use and understand his powers, he can show some powerful results. Yukina said in the first episode that he’s in a predicament because he doesn’t realize what he is.
Yeah, it is by the same author, Mikumo Gakuto. I wonder what you’d have thought of the series had I not mentioned that piece of information in the early weeks. 😀 It was said deliberately just so I could figure what your reaction would be to the reveal and to spark a little more interest.
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
Yeah, I was in Cuba. …And then I come home to even colder temperatures and more snow. OTL
Well damn, I guess the next time Kojou gets into trouble, a threesome should be the most probable solution. Ahaha I’m still waiting to see if Vatler ever joins the list.
…I’m only half joking. Probably.Yeah, I know what you mean. He normally does what he needs to do in order to stop whatever villain is trying to destroy/sacrifice/whatever Itogami that week, but Kojou always seems to solve things at the last moment after struggling for 2-3 episodes. Obviously he’s strong since it takes maybe a punch to stop whatever the problem is, but that doesn’t really show the full extent of how badass he can be.
Hmm, looking back on it, I’m glad I can blog Strike the Blood after blogging Dantalion due to that connection. For a while I was really wondering if this was written by the same guy since this doesn’t have the same charm that Dantalion held for me, but I figure a lot of that is the choices made in this anime about cutting material. …Plus the intended audience is probably different.
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
More STB card and poster scans!! ^^
http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=5025827&postcount=1625
Beach Lafolia and Yukina:
http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=5020370&postcount=1556
Beach Natsuki: http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=5014682&postcount=1511
Beach Kanon,& Valentine’s Astarte and Kanon:
http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=5026191&postcount=1629
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
This show has so many hot girls that it may not be conducive for those of weak mental stability. I can imagine a good handful of viewers have come close to getting nosebleeds over the course of Strike the Blood’s general airing.
POWUH: Meta Resident and Werewolf Chaser with 1270 comments
Which card game those cards comes frm?
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
Not sure, I got the scans 2ndhand from Animesuki forum users.
BTW, why is this LN called ‘ The Observers’ Fiesta?’ It’s not like I saw Yaze, Meiga and Paper Noise partying the night away. 😛
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
Quick, someone write a fanfiction!