Toaru Hikuushi e no Koiuta – 06
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This was probably pretty appropriate character development for an episode that aired around Valentines Day (…ish. It was within the week). Now let’s just hope that the plot doesn’t have one of them die in order to create character development/advance the plot. …Because that would be depressing. |
I finally watched Toaru Hikuushi e no Tsuioku and everything good that people said about the movie is true. It’s nothing new, but the development of the story is really good. Fana (Juana?) and Charles’ relationship progresses really nicely, and while there is a childhood friends (ish) plot, their relationship doesn’t have such a sudden start like Kal and Claire’s. …Though a lot of the situations that happen in the movie also seen to happen in Koiuta. Like falling into the ocean, or having the characters ending up in a compromising position in the middle of the forest. However, the characters and stories are different. The characters might share some similar traits, but Charles certainly isn’t Kal, and Fana and Claire have different personalities. So while comparisons can be made, both Tsuioku and Koiuta are able to stand on their own. …Plus Koiuta‘s ending will probably be different since Claire has a totally different situation from Fana.
Forget about Claire and Kal’s relationship for the episode, though. Claire still has guilt issues and Kal is clueless. Instead, Claire and Ari bonded a bit. It’s nice to see Claire interacting one on one with someone without Kal’s presence there. We haven’t really seen them apart from one another in a while and Claire seems to have gotten comfortable with the dorm members. She’s certainly not as awkward as she was when she first met Kal. Interaction with friends has really worked well for her. Ignacio seems to slowly be warming up to the dorm members as well. …Er, or at least he’s being dragged into things by Ari. He listens to her at least, though who knows how or why this happened. Maybe it’s just Ari’s forceful personality.
Mitsuo and Chiharu are getting some character development too. Like everything else on this show, it isn’t deep, but the important thing is that it’s there. They set up the pairings for the pilots like really obvious OTPs, so it’s nice that they’re showing some development for those relationships instead of just going “this person and this person got together” at some point in the story. Considering that not many (aka next to none) of the other side characters have gotten a lot of development yet besides the introduction episode, either their time will come, or they threw Mistuo and Chiharu in here because something is going to happen. Unfortunately, with all of the unrest revolving around the spring’s guard attacking, it probably won’t be anything good.
I really need to stop being surprised when they give the characters who aren’t Kal and Claire screen time. The teachers and Luis getting some exposition on their pasts was kind of unexpected, but it wasn’t bad at all. They have lives and aspirations too, after all. Of course, the conversation after that was about the upcoming issues, but at least we know why they hang out together on occasion.
So the spring has defenders, but nobody in charge seems to be questioning why. They’re just labelling them as the enemy and plan to attack using underage children apparently. From the montage in the last episode, they’re clearly well-trained underage children, but I wonder if that extends to psychological training as well. People can have issues facing other humans if they’re not desensitized, and the montage didn’t exactly show anyone killing anything remotely human formed. Though maybe the judgemental mentality that the Balsteros seems to have effects this. Apparently the languages of the two countries are similar, so they could probably get along if they just talked, but of course, that’s not going to be the first course of action.
Yes, this is shaping into something extremely close to what I thought it would be. The premise wasn’t much to go by, but my vague expectations about how the story would go based on the first episode have been fulfilled, so that’s something. Actually, they’re going past my expectations by actually caring about characters other than Kal and Claire, so there’s more here than it first appears. Tsuioku developed really well too, so hopefully the other novels that this author has written in the Hikuushi series (there’s two more; Yakusouku is 2 novels and Seiyaku is ongoing) get some sort of anime form. The story telling in these are pretty solid once you get past all of the initial stereotypes in the characters.
…This doesn’t bode well.
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: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
I would’ve liked the movie, if not for Juana’s seiyuu. Seriously, her voice made her character sounds so bland, and that’s a pity since her character developed pretty nicely in the novel.
It’s great how the anime finally shifts to other characters in this episode. I am sick of seeing Claire and Kal again and again. Not that I don’t like them, but I don’t see any character development whatsoever. They’re just… Stuck there, either thinking about each other or the puberty issue they’re having with their past. Though I wouldn’t blame them since their pasts are pretty complicated, but still… Develop a little!
Also, why do I have a feeling that Mitsuo and Chiharu will die? Damn it, I hate it when anime does things like this.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
The Death Flag goggles, they’re tight!
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Ari. New Priestess in the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Ari-men.
Honestly, it was good to see her have some time in the show that isn’t devoted to “Kal Baka” mode.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
The student bonding and co-working were very nice to watch. For a while, we’re able to forget these kids are in the air force training to risk their lives. A pleasant atmosphere that should remain undisturbed.
That rumor about the Sky Clan is gaining momentum. Though it may be unavoidable, I really don’t want the students start dying off. Even if the enemy are using outdated planes, surely their flying and combat skill are far more polished to make up for what’s lacking.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
If they have outdated planes, they may have tactics that overcome that. I can easily see the Sky Clan relying on demoralizing feats to stave off attack. At the outset, they seem to be be a desperate force.
And, yes, I agree that the school life atmosphere is a good addition. I just felt a touch forced for this episode. But in the end, it still works pretty well.