God Eater – 04-06
You know you’ve lost pretty badly when even your sword is bleeding.
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Man this show takes a lot of breaks. But at least it looks nice? |
We learned a bit more about how the Far East Branch operates, with how food is given out to people and such. At the same time though, it was also shown how people were barred from entering if they weren’t candidates for being God Eaters. This… definitely sucks for those people, but you’d think Lenka would have had more knowledge about this (or even at least about being tested) since he came from the outside too. Maybe he was unconscious or something, but they probably should have mentioned it to him? Anyways, while not letting people in is harsh, at the same time since Fenrir is supplying everyone inside with food and such, they would have to be careful about population control. They would want to focus on sustaining their God Eaters instead of being short on resources because they’ve taken on too many people. Plus even being on the inside doesn’t seem to guarantee anything since Aragami seem to be able to get in there anyways.
However, Fenrir isn’t too much of an asshat organization since they’re also building Aegis to house all of humanity or whatever. …It seemed kind of small to be able to do that, but I guess it’s also not even 1% complete yet. There’s also the question as to how Aragami-proof it is, since the one Lenka saw the other episode was ridiculously huge and they’ve been shown to be able to fly and swim. But I guess Aragami cores must be extremely durable. Anyways, the important part is that there’s already a project in motion to save everybody, so at least the God Eaters have a goal other than “let’s not die”.
Also, it might not be the scientist’s fault that Aragami happened in the first place, since animals seemed to be mutating all around the world and not just in the research facility. So maybe it would have happened regardless …Or at least that was my impression, but I could very well be wrong since the subs aren’t the best. Reading the actual article instead of paying attention to the subs, I guess they abandoned the old test facility, which could have caused the other mutations. However they had it under surveillance too, they noted that the experiment mitigated, and the anime never commented that anything happened over there. Hopefully the anime will make it clear whether it was their fault or not, but I guess it’s interesting to see the world before and after the Aragami apocalypse.
As for the actual God Eaters, their team work doesn’t seem to be the best, but I guess that’s just because most members are new. I don’t know how Kouta completed training while he’s still making mistakes like he did during training, but Sakuya’s encouragement seemed to solve things pretty well. Plus if he preformed well right away, it would take away from Lenka’s spotlight (since Lenka seems to be beaten up a lot). But at least it wasn’t Kouta’s fault or anything that the Dyaus Pita killed everyone. Hell, it didn’t even seem like it was Alisa’s fault for rushing in so fast since it would have attacked anyways (though maybe if she had a clearer head, the fight might have gone better. …Or not, considering how beat up everyone was).
Things got pretty brutal pretty fast with the Dyaus Pita’s arrival. The main characters survived a lot through convenience just from the Pita being distracted and going after other escaping prey instead of simply killing Lenka or Alisa, but I guess it also was acting pretty predator-ish in that way. It ignored Sakuya when Lenka and Alisa were trying to get away after all and of course they’re not going to kill Lenka or anything when there’s still many episodes left to the anime. Also, with the character’s not dying only due to chance, it just goes to show how much of a threat this Aragami is since they couldn’t even really fight back at all. …It was just a little silly to see so many chances where the characters could have died, but the Pita just moved on and killed other people instead. Oh well.
Alisha had a few issues in episode 6, which you would think they would have solved by now through training from how well she fought in the episode with the midair battle. But at the same time, her problems here probably had to do with how she ran out of pills while they were hiding. In any case though, we now have an explanation for her general disposition and her backstory.
Because the best thing to do this situation is to throw away your only defence and just do this instead.
As for Lenka’s amazing healing ability… I’m just not going to question that too much. Game logic was that the medicine they used raised HP instantly, so I’m just going to assume it works the same in the anime with healing wounds fairly instantly. The God Eaters have already survived a lot that probably should have killed them (like how thrown around Alisa was in episode 5), so they’re probably just more durable than the average person. …I’m not entirely sure about the bleeding sword though. I guess Alisa explained that the God Arcs are alive and Lenka’s isn’t anymore, so that’s probably why.
The anime is pretty far in, but it seems to be trying to create it’s own story instead of just copying the game. Plot elements are the same like the cause of Alisa’s trauma and of course the characters are the same, but the story still feels pretty different since it’s not told by fighting monsters and then having the story progress in cut scenes between missions. There’s more of a story here this way though. Maybe this was how the manga is, though I’ve never read it myself (plus it has a different protagonist than Lenka, so it’s probably still different). The story itself is moving kind of slow, but watching these last few episodes all in a row, it seemed to work better like this. …So maybe this is one of those shows that’s better when marathoned.
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: Occasional (51-75) with 51 comments
Couple of points to clarify on the setting:
– Those creatures on the flashbacks weren’t mutations, they were entirely new creatures born from the Oracle Cells. Initially the scientists thought the Oracle Cells can only only form simple organisms like jellyfish but as it turns out they can form much more complex (and dangerous) organisms. Hence why Johan blames himself. He held back his research of the Oracle Cells until it evolved to be a danger to humanity.
– God Eaters are superhuman. Those who are compatible are injected with something called the Bias Factor which are essentially modified Oracle Cells. Hence why they can wield those giant weapons as well as making huge leaps or survive blows that can kill normal people. Its also why they wear those ridiculous bracelets, it keeps the Oracle Cells from killing them.
-The God Arcs are alive. Essentially, they are tamed Aragami tailored to its respective God Eater. Wielding someones else God Arc is dangerous. If the God Arc doesn’t kill him, the incompatible oracle cells injected to the wielder will.
– Alisa suffers from a huge case of PTSD. She also happens to be a very talented God Eater and one of the few compatible New Types. So rather than having her deal with her trauma, she was essentially rushed out to the field and given medication to keep her calm during battle. And as shown without her crazy pills, she is worthless in battle. Nice going Russian Fenrir branch!
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
I’m sorry, but I don’t care what kind of BS pseudo-sci-fi science they are trying to pull. At least be consistent. You can’t tell me the the guy who died in the beginning (also a god eater) died from those injuries, but Lenka who suffer WAYYYYY worse, is still able to walk around and carry people and be perfectly fine. He doesn’t even notice he has a hole the size of Texas in his middle. Nope he’s perfectly fine. I don’t care what kind of magic is in those cells, unless they can regenerate you and keep you from bleeding out (which they obviously didn’t), then no, he’s dead.
POWUH: Occasional (51-75) with 51 comments
Actually… they can. As for Eric he was eaten by an Ogretail in the game, so I’m not sure why they changed his death like this. If I had to stretch an explanation, it may be because he is using an older strain of the Bias Factor.
I do wonder why the anime hasn’t applied the use of healing bullets which you can equip on your party. Its pretty self explanatory and would have helped a lot on many situations. I guess they were written out for reasons of avoiding plot convenience.
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
If they were really going to show that, they shouldn’t have shown him still bleeding all over the wall. For people who don’t play the game, this was a beyond plot armor moment, and I’ve seen some where that actually took them out of the series to a point that they dropped it. they couldn’t think about anything that was happening because all they kept asking themselves was “why is he alive?” I could roll with it, but like I said, now I will never think he’s in danger because they showed that his plot armor is stronger than vibranium.
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
These last few recent episodes have made the show much more interesting since it’s lackluster beginning. The Aegis Project just oozes plot twist potential. I mean, a place that can hold all of humanity? That’s being created by a guy who only allows people that he can use for soldiers into safety? Yeah, I can’t see this going bad. *rolleyes*
Lenka has become more likable as of late. I still don’t like Alisa, but I did like her moments of weakness this last episode and why she became the way she was.
The fact that Lenka survived wasn’t a breaking point for me, but I will never believe he is ever in any peril again. I mean, you’re telling me that the guy (a god eater as well mind you) who died in the beginning died of those small injuries, but Lenka, gets completely impaled, in the center of his back (which should have completely severed his spinal cord), with a claw that looked to be at least a foot in diameter, who was then slashed up and knocked against rocky hills, not only was able to get up and walk, but carry a not nearly as injured girl, run away from a monster, fall into a river, not drown, carry said girl to an abandoned building that is all the way up a hill, dress her wounds (but not his own?) and then sit and wait for her to wake up while bleeding out against a wall. (By the way, no kind excuse can be used if they are going to show him still bleeding out. I don’t care what future science you use, if he’s still bleeding out that much at that point, he should have exsanguinated long ago.)
Yeah, you might as well tell me he’s completely immortal now. Whatever dangerous situations he’s thrown into? I won’t care, because after surviving that, I’m assuming he can survive anything? I can still watch the story, but just know that my suspension of disbelief has been stretched so far, it’s as taunt as a rubber band at this point. Just don’t pop it.
POWUH: Occasional (51-75) with 51 comments
As mentioned above, God Eaters are super-human because they have the Bias Factor. Heck, Alisa fell at least 30 feet and landed on her head and all she got was a concussion.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10997 comments
…that explains the balcony flip in Sakura Trick then…
…but then, there are plenty that are biased to the power of yuri…
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
Whenever Spammy decides to release my comment, I’ll explain why that BS sci-fi reason isn’t enough for me, and why this series isn’t at all consistent, so that’s why it’s very hard for me to believe it.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
You call that plot armor and this one’s thick as adamantium. He is the lead character, after all. And if you want to play by the rules the God Eater world has created for itself, Lenka is a new type God Eater. So it’s implied there’s going to be a lot done to him to make him sturdy and durable.
The guy at the start you mentioned who died from his own wounds, he’s a predecessor type, so he’s going to have more flaws. Flaws you can say were reviewed to make Lenka what he is now. Some might say it’s unfair and immoral, others would say it’s progress being made.
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
There’s plot armor…and then there’s this. This was ridiculous even for plot armor standards. The healing stuff was done and explained horribly in the show since I’ve seen no evidence of it. And not everyone plays the games.
And I’m not alone, I’ve seen Lenka’s apparent “immortality” actually break people and cause them to drop the show because it totally took them out of it. It was just too unbelievably done.
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
HOW do they put on those shirts with those HUGE bracelets on…
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It is indeed an infectious disease.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
It’s pretty cruel how the Far East Branch determines who gets admittance based on aptitudes to become, an otherwise, expendable living weapon. In that view, you’re hard pressed to say they see those already inside as people and makes you ask if it’s worth it in the long run.
My assumption is when Lenka first arrived, and probably alone, he passed their screening without fail. And when he did, those in charge didn’t feel the need to tell him what would’ve happened had he not met their standards so as to not influence his decision making, maybe even avoid instilling reluctance. Not to mention the high probability of the higher-ups wanting any new recruits they can get their hands on, no matter the cost.
Episodes 5 & 6 were the best so far showing the sheer threat the Aragami posed and the despair most God Eaters would go through facing them. Watching the Black Vajra, the Dyaus Pita raze everything in its path was brutal and chilling. I imagined there’d be some survivors other than the main cast, something to be expected like in various series but even that wasn’t allowed here and all that passed was a gory slaughter. At least we know the deal behind Alisha’s unsociable attitude. Watching an event like your parents getting killed before your eyes would surely be traumatic. But what are the odds the Dyaus Pita she just encountered was the same one responsible?
POWUH: Occasional (51-75) with 51 comments
No entirely correct. Fenrir does allow the families of the God Eater candidates in, the reasoning is that even if they are not compatible to the Bias factor, their genetic disposal will allow for a potential candidate in the coming generations. And as you seen with Kota’s family, they can live a decent quality of life despite the shanty town they are in. The fact is, God Eaters are needed as they are the only ones who can kill Aragami.
And yeah, its quite clear that Lenka was a wanderer that stumbled in the Fenrir Far East branch and proved to be a viable New-type. Which is a lot more characterization that the games Player Character which is: “Hey you’re the New-type! Let’s do the tutorial now!”.
POWUH: Novice (36-50) with 38 comments
You see, that’s one of the problems I have with most commercial fiction in the world, not just anime. Gate is one of the very few exceptions I’ve ever seen where they don’t consider soldiers to be expendable. Because that’s completely stupid! You spend a fortune and a long time training a soldier (especially elite forces like the God Eaters) to just consider them “expendable”? No rational organization or government would ever do that! They don’t do that in real life, and making army commanders and government officers into mustache-twisting villains who just love to send their precious soldiers to die really takes me off any show.