[Mai Otome] Episode 14 Discussion/Poll [Archive]

Catgirls

2006-01-09, 23:59

Welcome to this week's Episode of Mai-Otome!

http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/7796/otomethoughts016ok.jpg

I'll post a new Episode discussion thread every Tuesday (a few days before the show actually airs). The poll is closed until Thursday around 11:30 AM – EST. Please do not vote in the poll until you have seen the episode.

Thread Guidelines
No telling or asking for RAWs.
NO Manga spoilers in the Episode thread. Please alert a Moderator if you see Manga spoilers. Use the http://forums.animesuki.com/images/buttons/report.gif button you see below each user’s name.

Keep it on-topic and discuss the episode at hand. (Catgirls says a little prayer.)

Discuss your expectations of the episode if not aired.
Be polite to your fellow forum members. Rudeness will lead to impotency.
As always...have fun!

Be aware that due to the very nature of these threads, current episode content will be discussed without the use of Spoiler tags. Also, since these threads go up early, unrestrained speculation about the upcoming episode will be knee-deep. If you haven't seen the Episode, I would advise you not to click into the thread prior to the Fan-sub release, or don't complain if you're spoiled.

However, if you feel that what you're about to write might be a spoiler, by all means, use the Spoiler Tags.

Example: Using this...

Arika is really a hermaphrodite.

...you'll get this...

Arika is really a hermaphrodite.
Please remember that only moderators can start the episode discussion threads every week.

Poll

The poll is fairly self explanatory, but just in case:

(*) = Heinous, (**) = Below Average, (***) = Average, (****) = Above Average, (*****) = Outstanding!

MattAlchemy

2006-01-10, 00:10

Haha nice picture! I can't wait for Episode14, Mai Otome seems more interesting now. Looks like Mai is getting closer as her scenes show more.

Timeless Enigma

2006-01-10, 01:34

Hm, episode 14 already, I'm looking forward to more pimpmaster Sergay and the new OP, should be excellente.

MattAlchemy

2006-01-10, 01:38

Hm, episode 14 already, I'm looking forward to more pimpmaster Sergay and the new OP, should be excellente.

Woo sounds fun! Sergey is way too funny for this. Let's see more. I heard there's a new OP on the next episode. I can't wait.

roon

2006-01-10, 02:44

I wonder if they'll unblack out Mai for the new OP. :) Woo for new Kuribayashi Minami music!

wingsky

2006-01-10, 02:54

Can't wait to see some fully fledged meister/meister action!

Thumbs up guys!

QU4RK

2006-01-10, 03:04

My guess is we'll still get the first OP. Maybe up until Mai picture is revealed.
Btw, this eps will contain Meister Butou, as the preview shown.

lone_wolf

2006-01-10, 03:11

My guess is we'll still get the first OP. Maybe up until Mai picture is revealed.
Btw, this eps will contain Meister Butou, as the preview shown.

That would be incredibly odd for episode 14 *not* to have the new opening. Since Hisayuki was working on new material for this new OP, are you assuming they would show it when the series is two-thirds finished?

I'll be shocked since it only makes sense when episode 14 begins the next set of 13 episodes but oh well...

--Lone Wolf

LonelyWolf

2006-01-10, 03:22

The meister in my avatar will sooooooo kick arse! What's her name? She's :cool:

babuji

2006-01-10, 03:37

Can't wait for the next episode. I am quite convinced that there will be a new opening too. About the 2 meister otome fight, I think it will only be a few second glimps.

The plot is taking a turn.

babuji

2006-01-10, 03:41

My guess is we'll still get the first OP. Maybe up until Mai picture is revealed.
Btw, this eps will contain Meister Butou, as the preview shown.

More likely we will get a new opening...the first 13 epoisode will be first season and the next 13 episode will be the second season.

Shigan

2006-01-10, 07:23

The meister in my avatar will sooooooo kick arse! What's her name? She's
She kinda looks like Hitsugaya from Bleach thou...

*fidgets*

I'm kinda nervous about how the drama arc is gonna play out this time, while almight Natsuki seems to know her politics, she kinda lacks the power to pull of a reset if half the cast would happen to, well, die O_o

plz dont hurt ShizNat.... T_T

Nightengale

2006-01-10, 07:46

She kinda looks like Hitsugaya from Bleach thou...

Kinda. That's your keyword.

She looks A LOT like Archer from Fate/Stay Night.

Starks

2006-01-10, 07:57

Harmonium = Reset?

Ansa

2006-01-10, 07:58

I just want the opening to be great and for the plot to finally take off..

Although why am I worried? Mai-HiME pulled it off with the last 10 episodes and it was perfect! Although with a war setting not sure how things will play out.. as well as what will happen to the cast...

Starks

2006-01-10, 08:12

Tremalkinger

2006-01-10, 08:51

The meister in my avatar will sooooooo kick arse! What's her name? She's :cool:

And her opponent is probably the first person I've ever seen animated with pigtails who looked like she was going to kick some serious butt.

Aidan

2006-01-10, 11:30

I believe that one of them will unfortunately be killing the other.
The end of "peaceful" days is at hand. (T_T)

Xellos-_^

2006-01-10, 11:56

I believe that one of them will unfortunately be killing the other.
The end of "peaceful" days is at hand. (T_T)

i think it will be a double KO.

LonelyWolf

2006-01-10, 12:41

i think it will be a double KO.

argh! I hope not :frustrated: That'd be dumbing down the action. How often does it happen that two fighters knock each other out simultaneously?
Anime shows make it happen more often than I would care for it to. :nono:

And her opponent is probably the first person I've ever seen animated with pigtails who looked like she was going to kick some serious butt.

I'm not ruling out the possibility. How often have you seen this type http://xs63.xs.to/pics/06022/x0001.jpg (http://xs.to) of expression on someone with pigtails :)

Preston

2006-01-10, 17:19

This episode looks good.. interesting preview and the promise of a new OP is always good. Never was a great fan of the current one. Otomes fighting.. this should set something off.

Yes.. I am back.. good God. Huge PC problems. Inc. corrupt MBR, bootsectors and partition tables, dead windows hive files, mashed boot.ini file and several core files missing. Two corrupt installations of XP later and a corporate edition install, and ta-da. Wow.. lots of posts in the last episode thread.. must be a record. I don't feel like reading.. 16 pages.. *__*

MissInformed

2006-01-10, 17:20

I hadn't heard about a new OP before this thread, so that's exciting. :) I didn't even think about it since HiME had the same one throughout.

Harmonium = Reset?
Ohhh didn't think of that. I had been wondering how they could possibly pull a reset should they decide to go that route.

Preston

2006-01-10, 17:21

Ohhh didn't think of that. I had been wondering how they could possibly pull a reset should they decide to go that route.

Personally, I'm all for a reset. Harmonium looks to be the best possible route for one happening at the moment. Similar lights into the sky as did happen at the end of Mai HiME. People love visual matches like that.. looks likely enough to me.

imperialmog

2006-01-10, 18:14

Also am I the only one who thinks that maybe the second coming of Fumi might occur as well. This could also be another way of bring a "deus ex machina" to the system. Though the harmonium seems like something as well we need to get an explanation on what it all is?

ArchDragon

2006-01-10, 19:24

This episode looks good.. interesting preview and the promise of a new OP is always good. Never was a great fan of the current one. Otomes fighting.. this should set something off.

I can live with the OP, but the ED has to go, or at least get a new animation.

And just like everybody else, I'm looking forward to the beginning of the next war.

Matrim

2006-01-10, 19:28

Personally, I'm all for a reset.

Personally I am totally against a reset or any type of ending involving miraculous comebacks and resurrections and I will be extremely surprised if Otome's ending is not even more happy and annoying than the HiME one. I hope I am wrong, though.

MattAlchemy

2006-01-10, 19:50

I can live with the OP, but the ED has to go, or at least get a new animation.

And just like everybody else, I'm looking forward to the beginning of the next war.
*Watches tv and see's Arika running forward for 30mins* Well, at least it took up my time of boredness.:heh:

Timeless Enigma

2006-01-10, 20:09

Personally I am totally against a reset or any type of ending involving miraculous comebacks and resurrections and I will be extremely surprised if Otome's ending is not even more happy and annoying than the HiME one. I hope I am wrong, though.

I second that. The reset was what really killed Mai-HiME for me after a stellar 25 episodes. I'd probably rank it much higher if it weren't for that ending.

I don't want a reset marring this series, but given the nature, I am totally expecting one.

Akuma-sama

2006-01-10, 23:07

Can't wait to see some fully fledged meister/meister action!

Not sure even the Japanese would show THAT on national TV... :D
Joke, looking forward to it very, very much. New OP, too! That's what HiME needed, glad Otome's getting it, but does that mean things are going to go dark?
Cool. :cool:

AssistantArinkoBully

2006-01-10, 23:41

Why do I get the feeling that Mai is going to walk out the Spirit Forest this episode?

MattAlchemy

2006-01-10, 23:43

Why do I get the feeling that Mai is going to walk out the Spirit Forest this episode?
I'm also wondering how she can live there for awhile.

Eclipze

2006-01-10, 23:50

I can live with the OP, but the ED has to go, or at least get a new animation.

And just like everybody else, I'm looking forward to the beginning of the next war.
Agreed on the ED...the song is very nice and catchy, but there should be more animation besides Arika running forward with her back facing us...:heh:

AssistantArinkoBully

2006-01-10, 23:54

I'm also wondering how she can live there for awhile.

Some sort of suspended animation by the "Future Telling God"? Would that be the Obsidian Lord? In a way the OL control the future of the world in MH so it's not so far a stretch to tell the future when you control it. In MH the fate of the world is kind of a circular thing that became stagnated and predictable.

ArchDragon

2006-01-11, 00:03

Some sort of suspended animation by the "Future Telling God"? Would that be the Obsidian Lord? In a way the OL control the future of the world in MH so it's not so far a stretch to tell the future when you control it. In MH the fate of the world is kind of a circular thing that became stagnated and predictable.

Relax, it's still waaay too early for Mai herself to appear.
In fact, I personally think she won't appear until we know for sure who her lover is.
We might get more details on things like what the "Spirit Forest" is and more hints on who her lover is.

Flyvedelta

2006-01-11, 00:32

Agreed on the ED...the song is very nice and catchy, but there should be more animation besides Arika running forward with her back facing us...
hm...yeah, more animation would be great, but at least this one match the song very well:heh: :heh:

Relax, it's still waaay too early for Mai herself to appear.
In fact, I personally think she won't appear until we know for sure who her lover is.
We might get more details on things like what the "Spirit Forest" is and more hints on who her lover is.
i haven't watch the episode yet, i dunno about this, maybe the director want Mai to come first then showed her lover, or maybe he never showed him. So, it'll make us the fans, keep talking and discussing about this.

PCDK

2006-01-11, 06:40

I also can't wat for this next episode, but it has been like that for almost every episode. So I walk around being sad the most of the week, only thoese 25 minuts when i get my shot Mai-Otome i am truely happy.

Well, I kinda like the ending for Mai-Otome but I am glad they are making a new OP. :)
I don't think they will be killing as many charaters as they did in My-HiME because it would be too much Mai HiME if everyone was resurected in the end too. But lets hope (as insain as we are) that they will kill some. :cool:

-KarumA-

2006-01-11, 07:35

I'm also wondering how she can live there for awhile.

but if she's in the forest how can she write Sergey, in episode 12 in the end Sergey has a letter from a Tokiha and by his looks it isnt Takumi, i think Mai dissapeared and started to wander arund as an exile, running away from eveything

Befgrek

2006-01-11, 08:17

but if she's in the forest how can she write Sergey, in episode 12 in the end Sergey has a letter from a Tokiha and by his looks it isnt Takumi, i think Mai dissapeared and started to wander arund as an exile, running away from eveything

I thought that letter looked very formal... It probably was from Takumi. Did Sergay look like he had just recieved a letter from someone he loves/used to love? I don't recall him looking sad or anything... rather amused. Though I could remember wrong, of course. :)

Anyway. Despite the huge let down that was episode 13, I'm starting to look forward to this new episode as well. New OP... Hopefully more screentime for Miyu and Erstin. And that otome vs. otome fight, of course. :)

Also, let's pray Arika somehow suffers from a severe head injury and forgets all about her crush on Sergay. That would both make me and the people who has something against Arika happy.

Eclipze

2006-01-11, 08:18

I thought that letter looked very formal... It probably was from Takumi. Did Sergay look like he had just recieved a letter from someone he loves/used to love? I don't recall him looking sad or anything... rather amused. Though I could remember wrong, of course. :)

Anyway. Despite the huge let down that was episode 13, I'm starting to look forward to this new episode as well. New OP... Hopefully more screentime for Miyu and Erstin. And that otome vs. otome fight, of course. :)

Also, let's pray Arika somehow suffers from a severe head injury and forgets all about her crush on Sergay. That would both make me and the people who has something against Arika happy.
Lol....it may very well be possible, seeing how Arika seem to fall down fairly often.:heh:

Ahiko

2006-01-11, 08:19

but if she's in the forest how can she write Sergey, in episode 12 in the end Sergey has a letter from a Tokiha and by his looks it isnt Takumi, i think Mai dissapeared and started to wander arund as an exile, running away from eveything
:eyespin: Really, that was from Mai?!! *shocked*

(didn't know if i should leave in spoilers, hehe):heh:

Tremalkinger

2006-01-11, 08:41

Also, let's pray Arika somehow suffers from a severe head injury and forgets all about her crush on Sergay. That would both make me and the people who has something against Arika happy.

:heh: Not a chance, but we can wish.

Preston

2006-01-11, 14:13

:heh: Not a chance, but we can wish.

I hope nothing comes of this crush. If it is said standard first crush, it is easily forgetable. Arika just needs to find someone she truly likes. If Sunrise make something of this.. well.. I don't know what I will do. Complain loudly sounds about right.

piccolo

2006-01-11, 15:27

I hope nothing comes of this crush. If it is said standard first crush, it is easily forgetable. Arika just needs to find someone she truly likes. If Sunrise make something of this.. well.. I don't know what I will do. Complain loudly sounds about right.
Me too. I'll join you.

And if SUNRISE continues this idiotic crush plot then I've seriously overestimated SUNRISE.

Maybe they should get a reality check. It doesn't do well to upset too many fans. It affects anime licensing and fills up their email boxes with nasty emails too.

lone_wolf

2006-01-11, 15:35

Me too. I'll join you.

And if SUNRISE continues this idiotic crush plot then I've seriously overestimated SUNRISE.

Maybe they should get a reality check. It doesn't do well to upset too many fans. It affects anime licensing and fills up their email boxes with nasty emails too.

That depends on how natives from Japan feel about this. If they condone this, then they won't make any changes and will therefore proceed with the storyline. If they find it just as repulsive as we do, then they may make an effort to sway the storyline in some other direction or at least make it a onesided crush which I believe may happen anyway.

They won't care about upsetting fans outside of Japan since we're not their main target.

--Lone Wolf

Rakshasa

2006-01-11, 15:43

Why do I get the feeling that Mai is going to walk out the Spirit Forest this episode?
My pet theory is that Mai is Arika's obaasan, let's just hope she's wrong about her death... :)

Xellos-_^

2006-01-11, 15:49

My pet theory is that Mai is Arika's obaasan, let's just hope she's wrong about her death... :)

Not enough of a age difference. Mai's incident was maybe 5-8 yrs back.

Zafo

2006-01-11, 15:57

Who's to say the letter Sergey had signed "Tokiha" was from Mai or Takumi? The question we should ask is: was it a *recent* letter?

I imagine a time four or five years ago when Mai sent Sergey a "Dear Sergey" letter to break up with him and persue her Otome dream, right before going nuts.

Wouldn't it be heart-wrenching if this was the last thing Mai ever gave him and he's been carrying it around all these years?

PCDK

2006-01-11, 16:14

It could also just be a letter informing him about Takumi is going to Windbloom. :confused:

Rakshasa

2006-01-11, 16:27

Not enough of a age difference. Mai's incident was maybe 5-8 yrs back.
I seem to have missed that, what is that estimate based on?

ArchDragon

2006-01-11, 16:41

That depends on how natives from Japan feel about this. If they condone this, then they won't make any changes and will therefore proceed with the storyline. If they find it just as repulsive as we do, then they may make an effort to sway the storyline in some other direction or at least make it a onesided crush which I believe may happen anyway.

They won't care about upsetting fans outside of Japan since we're not their main target.

--Lone Wolf

That's what I'm afraid of, IIRC the legal age in Japan for sex is 14.
It's sick, I know, but then if you ask me, anything below 20 is sick.

Besides, it's SUNRISE for crying out loud.
We all know how much they love to break social taboos.

I mean, just look at Shizuru's reaction to Arika's question about love!
She basically just said, "Go for it!", without even asking who the other person might be!
And if Shizuru already knew that the guy Arika liked is Sergay, then her approval is even more cause for concern!

------------------------------------------------------

I seem to have missed that, what is that estimate based on?

Nina said that Mai's incident was only a few/several years back, so anything between 3 to 9 years ago is fair game.

And at the time Mai should be 16, like the other Pearls.

Xellos-_^

2006-01-11, 17:32

I seem to have missed that, what is that estimate based on?

When they were researching Mai's story in the library and Nina mention it was few yrs back. Also Mai is same age as Natuski and does Natsuki look like obachan :eyebrow:

Saying yes willmake you thetarget of all shiznat fans out there :uhoh:

lone_wolf

2006-01-11, 18:08

That's what I'm afraid of, IIRC the legal age in Japan for sex is 14.
It's sick, I know, but then if you ask me, anything below 20 is sick.

Besides, it's SUNRISE for crying out loud.
We all know how much they love to break social taboos.

I mean, just look at Shizuru's reaction to Arika's question about love!
She basically just said, "Go for it!", without even asking who the other person might be!
And if Shizuru already knew that the guy Arika liked is Sergay, then her approval is even more cause for concern!

That was the the impression you got from Shizuru?? Shizuru had her own "love-life" in mind. It wasn't a "Go for it" kind of gesture...it was more of a "I've been there and I've felt the pain too" kind of reaction.

Trust me it's a female thing. I've been in their shoes.

--Lone Wolf

Rakshasa

2006-01-11, 18:27

When they were researching Mai's story in the library and Nina mention it was few yrs back. Also Mai is same age as Natuski and does Natsuki look like obachan :eyebrow:

Saying yes willmake you thetarget of all shiznat fans out there :uhoh:
Well, I'm assuming Natsuki is about the same age as Sergey so Mai would propably have been old enough at the time to start taking care of Arika. She would then have had a few years to grow older, thus making the title applicable. Besides, the stuff obaasan taught Arika doesn't really seem like something an older woman would teach not to mention Arika doesn't exactly follow conventions when referring to people.

Anh_Minh

2006-01-11, 18:38

lone_wolf

2006-01-11, 18:57

While it may turn out to be "just a crush", it's unlikely to be out of fear of offending the Japanese. "Middle or high school student going out with a teacher" stories aren't precisely uncommon in anime.

That's true. Didn't Sakura's mother fall in love and marry her teacher in Card Captor Sakura? Then again their age difference wasn't that significant. The only thing disturbing that I wanted to point out was if Sergay reciprocated those feelings...then the story line will go in a direction that's completely obsurd.

--Lone Wolf

lone_wolf

2006-01-11, 20:11

Not that I'm defending the 'hinted' setup either, I was just presenting some examples :heh:. I'd rather Sergay end up with Natsuki rather than either Nina or Arika - of course that will never happen so ... :p

If that happens, I'd bring a whole legion of ShizNat lovers with me and we'd bomb the place. One less batch of stupid producers and animators to worry about...of course, they'll just grow a new batch.

--Lone Wolf

Vallen Chaos Valiant

2006-01-11, 22:02

That's true. Didn't Sakura's mother fall in love and marry her teacher in Card Captor Sakura? Then again their age difference wasn't that significant. The only thing disturbing that I wanted to point out was if Sergay reciprocated those feelings...then the story line will go in a direction that's completely obsurd.

--Lone Wolf
Just on a side note, and not necessarily related to Mai Otome...

...When a genuine attempt to pair up two characters is made, should one is both underage and has an age gap, anime script writers would use the "older person gone missing for several years in a journey" plot device at the end of the series to make the younger person legal.

Though in this case, I am cheering for Rena/Sergay. Love that lasted 15 years really should be rewarded...:(

Eclipze

2006-01-11, 22:06

Though in this case, I am cheering for Rena/Sergay. Love that lasted 15 years really should be rewarded...:(
Um, it was pretty much one-sided love/crush....same with Nina/Arika.

Vallen Chaos Valiant

2006-01-11, 22:15

Um, it was pretty much one-sided love/crush....same with Nina/Arika.
We don't know that for sure. There is plenty of story-telling room for it to be more than one-sided.

Nightengale

2006-01-11, 22:31

We don't know that for sure. There is plenty of story-telling room for it to be more than one-sided.

I have nothing against Rena/Sergey or even Nina/Sergey, but do you really believe Sunrise and Otome's writers have the guts to pull that scenario. Judging from how cliche~ish some scenarios of Otome is heading so far with the exception of all the politics, I'd say that's the last thing they will pull.

Vallen Chaos Valiant

2006-01-11, 22:48

I have nothing against Rena/Sergey or even Nina/Sergey, but do you really believe Sunrise and Otome's writers have the guts to pull that scenario. Judging from how cliche~ish some scenarios of Otome is heading so far with the exception of all the politics, I'd say that's the last thing they will pull.
But as I say, it IS a cliche for a long lost love to reappear after all these years, convienently just when the person doing the waiting becomes legal. As such it's more likely than one thinks...

Look at it this way, imagine if it was a man who disappeared and presumed dead? And the girl waited for him until she was 18? Why would it take guts to pull off this pairing anyway? It's quite normal.

Eclipze

2006-01-11, 22:57

We don't know that for sure. There is plenty of story-telling room for it to be more than one-sided.
I dont know man...the flash back showing him admiring Rena from a corner is a good-enough indication for me that it was one-sided like Nina/Sergey.

Nightengale

2006-01-11, 22:58

I would condone it if that was the case, but the fact that Rena is a mother is the only thing spazzing my brain. It's not too impossible, and it wouldn't look weird as everyone in Otome ages gracefully. Even Maria looks great. But it's still blocking my senses. Probably just me.

We'll just have to wait and see. I personally doubt it though.

Nightengale

2006-01-11, 23:01

I dont know man...the flash back showing him admiring Rena from a corner is a good-enough indication for me that it was one-sided like Nina/Sergey.

For all we know, he was blushing and admiring his ~daughter. At his age, he clearly can't walk out there and claim he's the father. It would be a major scandal.

He's young. He could very well be thinking.

I'm a father now. A father. A father. A father. A father.*blushes and hides in the corner*

piccolo

2006-01-11, 23:05

Okay, I haven't thought all of this through completely, but just thought I'd run some ideas past ye.

From the discussion with Takumi back in episode 12, I got the impression that Mai was his sister. Makes sense since SUNRISE not only recycles characters but keeps somewhat of a continuity in family units. See Correlation (http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/6641/11358211222700up.jpg)

If Mai is Takumi's sister, then Mai is only a few years older than Takumi. And she hadn't graduated at that time yet, so the story of the Fire String Ruby goes. So, if Sergey was the person whom Mai was in love with, then Sergey's promise to Arika that she is 10 years too young is bull as Mai was also a student no older than 17 (although Sergey was somewhat younger himself then)!!!

So the personal letter Sergey received in ep 12 was either from Takumi or Mai Tokiha. Either way, he knows Mai, for if he knows one he knows the other. He most likely knows more about her than most people do.

In the discussion with Takumi, Natsuki felt rather guilty and apologetic, as if she was a part of the decision back then to choose Mai as a Pillar and pass on the Fire Ruby to her. Back then Natsuki must be a few years older than Mai as Natsuki was already a Guarderobe student 15 years ago. Mai and Natsuki could not have been classmates.

All this makes me wonder why Sergey isn't helping out Guarderobe more. Just what went on between him and Natsuki, for they can be somewhat on edge with each other (ep 1). He knows about Arika's contract, he knows about Mai, and I bet he knows more about the real princess than he lets on. Is it Mashiro, or is it not?

Poor Mashiro. I wonder what she will do when she finds out she's not the real princess. I feel rather sorry for her.

And what happens to the contract between Arika and her? I wouldn't be surprised if Arika is the princess, and then they switch places. But I've said all that before...

So, what other secrets is Sergey hiding? Sergey's not in league with Nagi, for Nagi seems to take the same path as he did in Mai-HiME. And neither does he support the other techno-fiends.

Hey, wouldn't it be ironic if Tomoe was the real princess? Does anyone know who supports Tomoe to attend Guarderobe? She is from Windbloom, is she not?

What about some of the other characters? What will ep 14 reveal to us? What other plot twists are developing. One thing's for sure, Tomoe is sure to get more vicious towards Arika.

I just hope that Arika will get some help from Miyu...

Well, it seems that Miyu's back this episode. I can't wait to see if she has the blue saphires or not. But I guess we'll most likely have to wait until Windbloom will be attacked to see if Arika will stay in her coral robes or not.

MattAlchemy

2006-01-11, 23:09

ArchDragon

2006-01-11, 23:25

I feel like Nina found ot by Miyu telling her about Arika and Mashiro's contact. Back then, I couldn't trust Miyu's face. They even showed her face idle for quite awhile. Usually it's 1sec, but this was 2secs.:heh:

Nah, Nina was told by Sergay, who found out by seeing Arika and Mashiro fell through the chimney with those blue gems on them.

Now, Sergay wasn't 100% sure, so he asked Nina to confirm.
After seeing Arika's missing Coral gem in the underground library, Nina is now 100% sure.

frodo1701

2006-01-11, 23:26

MattAlchemy

2006-01-11, 23:39

Nah, Nina was told by Sergay, who found out by seeing Arika and Mashiro fell through the chimney with those blue gems on them.

Now, Sergay wasn't 100% sure, so he asked Nina to confirm.
After seeing Arika's missing Coral gem in the underground library, Nina is now 100% sure.
I see now, thanks! I loved how Sergey in episode13 knocked down this man "Woohoohoo I'm just singing(thought: great another annoying person passing by) singin is fun*puts leg* woohooohoo."

Man: Ow!

"(thought: good!) woohoohoo.... Omg is that Kazu and Akane!"

Would be funny but his speech wont happen.

ArchDragon

2006-01-11, 23:50

From the discussion with Takumi back in episode 12, I got the impression that Mai was his sister. Makes sense since SUNRISE not only recycles characters but keeps somewhat of a continuity in family units. See Correlation (http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/6641/11358211222700up.jpg)
Mai is Takumi's sister, that part is a fact.
This time around, however, their age gap has been increased.

If Mai is Takumi's sister, then Mai is only a few years older than Takumi. And she hadn't graduated at that time yet, so the story of the Fire String Ruby goes. So, if Sergey was the person whom Mai was in love with, then Sergey's promise to Arika that she is 10 years too young is bull as Mai was also a student no older than 17 (although Sergey was somewhat younger himself then)!!!
Sergay is referring mostly to Arika's "underdeveloped" body.

So the personal letter Sergey received in ep 12 was either from Takumi or Mai Tokiha. Either way, he knows Mai, for if he knows one he knows the other. He most likely knows more about her than most people do.
I agree that he knows more than he has shown so far, but that letter can be anything, really.
For all we know it might be an official decision that he want Sergay to pass to Nagi.

In the discussion with Takumi, Natsuki felt rather guilty and apologetic, as if she was a part of the decision back then to choose Mai as a Pillar and pass on the Fire Ruby to her. Back then Natsuki must be a few years older than Mai as Natsuki was already a Guarderobe student 15 years ago. Mai and Natsuki could not have been classmates.
They were, Natsuki has photos of her and Mai as Corals.
As I said, the age gap between Mai and Takumi is bigger this time around.

All this makes me wonder why Sergey isn't helping out Guarderobe more. Just what went on between him and Natsuki, for they can be somewhat on edge with each other (ep 1). He knows about Arika's contract, he knows about Mai, and I bet he knows more about the real princess than he lets on. Is it Mashiro, or is it not?
Every side in the Otome world is out for themselves, noone is willing to trust others.

So, what other secrets is Sergey hiding? Sergey's not in league with Nagi, for Nagi seems to take the same path as he did in Mai-HiME. And neither does he support the other techno-fiends.
Who knows, he might be just like Yuuichi in HiME, confused and was simply trying to survive.

Eclipze

2006-01-11, 23:59

For all we know, he was blushing and admiring his ~daughter. At his age, he clearly can't walk out there and claim he's the father. It would be a major scandal.

He's young. He could very well be thinking.

I'm a father now. A father. A father. A father. A father.*blushes and hides in the corner*
.

The flash back and what he said was more like: wow, what a beautiful women.

Never once did he refer to the baby in the flash back. He was admiring Rena, not getting crazy over the baby.

And please...even if its an anime and its MO, doesnt mean that 10 year old fathers exists in it. The amount of logic used in that theory makes it seem even more impossible than Nina being Renas daughter....:uhoh:

Nightengale

2006-01-12, 00:06

.

The flash back and what he said was more like: wow, what a beautiful women.

Never once did he refer to the baby in the flash back. He was admiring Rena, not getting crazy over the baby.

And please...even if its an anime and its MO, doesnt mean that 10 year old fathers exists in it. The amount of logic used in that theory makes it seem even more impossible than Nina being Renas daughter....:uhoh:

I never recalled him speaking much during the flashback. What episode was it again?

And Sunrise could be pulling a red herring. He obviously admired Rena too, but instead they gave us a different flashback, etc.

Now, I'm not a fan of this "Sergey deflowered Rena" scenario, but all I'm doing is not dismissing the possibility. VCV seems optimistic enough.

Eclipze

2006-01-12, 00:14

I never recalled him speaking much during the flashback. What episode was it again?

And Sunrise could be pulling a red herring. He obviously admired Rena too, but instead they gave us a different flashback, etc.

Now, I'm not a fan of this "Sergey deflowered Rena" scenario, but all I'm doing is not dismissing the possibility. VCV seems optimistic enough.
If my memory serves me correctly, its episode 2. And it didnt feel like he was admiring the baby AT ALL. The way he looked at Rena felt very similar to Nina's constant glances at him.

Seriously, if Rena really "did it" with Sergey, MO would be bashed further than if Arika got together with him. And applying logic of the scenes given in the anime so far, I sure as hell dont count that as a possibility.

And Sergey didnt exactly show any signs of fatherly affection towards Arika.

guest

2006-01-12, 00:21

ArchDragon

2006-01-12, 00:31

Ok, a little about ep 15 What!? Arika is attacked by some guys and Sergey saves her? Apparently, either Sunrise's plot has a problem or otome is actually very vulnerable. :eyebrow:

Otomes are vulnerable without their robes active, that's why they need normal soldiers to act as meat shields while they receive certifications from their masters.

And unlike Nina, Arika didn't come to the school battle trained.

Vallen Chaos Valiant

2006-01-12, 00:31

And Sergey didnt exactly show any signs of fatherly affection towards Arika.

I will fully admit the technical (i.e. physiological) difficulties of Sergay fathering a child with Rena is immense. I have yet to solve that issue, otherwise I would be shoving my theory into everyone's faces by now.
(Note: My theory involve NINA being Sergay's daughter with Rena, but I digress...)

However, to dismiss the possibility through Sergay's visible behaviour is strange to me...

First of all, if he some how believe he is the father, why would he act like a father in public unless he is ready to let the truth out? Further, if you ever read "Daddy Long Legs", you would know what Sergay is doing, adopting Arika by proxy through being her sponsor, is quite an emotional choice. He even made her write letters to him frequently as a part of the deal for the sponsorship, as it was in the DLL book.

And then, there is no rule saying all fathers act alike...

Feel free to bash my theory using the medical angle, but that's really the only weakness the theory has...

Starks

2006-01-12, 00:37

Eclipze

2006-01-12, 00:39

I will fully admit the technical (i.e. physiological) difficulties of Sergay fathering a child with Rena is immense. I have yet to solve that issue, otherwise I would be shoving my theory into everyone's faces by now.
(Note: My theory involve NINA being Sergay's daughter with Rena, but I digress...)

However, to dismiss the possibility through Sergay's visible behaviour is strange to me...

First of all, if he some how believe he is the father, why would he act like a father in public unless he is ready to let the truth out? Further, if you ever read "Daddy Long Legs", you would know what Sergay is doing, adopting Arika by proxy through being her sponsor, is quite an emotional choice. He even made her write letters to him frequently as a part of the deal for the sponsorship, as it was in the DLL book.

And then, there is no rule saying all fathers act alike...

Feel free to bash my theory using the medical angle, but that's really the only weakness the theory has...
No, Im not trying to bash any theory that involves MO, but when it gets out-of-hand ridiculous, it gets very irritating.

Sure, he didnt show fatherly affections in public and thats no reason to dismiss the possibility.

BUT---->he didnt even show it in private when he's thinking about Arika. Whatever reference shown so far, he seems to be trying to help the daughter of the women he once had a crush upon, and in no means showing ANY signs being the parent.

When things dont even show a drop of obvious-ness, I cant really see how its possible. Nina being the daughter of Rena though isnt a theory I'd support, but its alot more feasible than Sergey havin a child with Rena, a person probably twice his age during the flash back.

Maceart

2006-01-12, 00:44

I still think the letter from "Tokiha" that Sergey got was a general notice from the Divine Takumi that Zipang will stay neutral in all the wars in the western countries. Sergey having his harem? Highly unlikely.

Diodati

2006-01-12, 00:56

I think the main proof against Sergei fathering Arika (or whomever) is why would Sunrise leave such a narrow loophole for it. If they wanted to have the possibility on ''more logical ground'' then why would they have chosen to show Sergei to be so young. They could have had a 17 year old Sergei, or even a 15 in the flashback with a whatever year old Rena. But they specifically chose an 11 year old Sergei, thus deciding to negate the possibility. An 11 year old fathering a child wouldn't be ''radical'', it would just be ''WTF, how stupid''. The fact they've gone out their way to show the unlikeliness seems less a red herring, but just simply a confirmation of said unlikeliness.

If red herrings are the route, then its more likely to me that Rena was not even the mother when Sergei was watching them - it was the Queen's baby who Rena wanted to save and Rena lost her powers some other way.

But we will all end up going around in circles, at least Sergei discovers some clue as to the real Princess in episode..15 I think.

Anyway I'm looking forward to this episode a lot. I'm going with Starks mythological theory that tanned Otome gets killed (Remus) - hence why Miya (the Coral Remun) looks kinda troubled in the preview. I'm sure Tomoe will be sensitive to her pain.

guest

2006-01-12, 01:05

Sergey having his harem? Highly unlikely.

Why not? Shizuru does.

Vallen Chaos Valiant

2006-01-12, 01:07

Why not? Shizuru does.
Indeed, at least Sergay actually has good qualities compared to many other Harem-filled male characters.

lone_wolf

2006-01-12, 01:39

In the discussion with Takumi, Natsuki felt rather guilty and apologetic, as if she was a part of the decision back then to choose Mai as a Pillar and pass on the Fire Ruby to her. Back then Natsuki must be a few years older than Mai as Natsuki was already a Guarderobe student 15 years ago. Mai and Natsuki could not have been classmates.

DId you *not* see the episode with the nostalgic class picture???:eyebrow: They were both corals at the *same* time.

http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/3449/flashbackotome5nd.th.jpg (http://img57.imageshack.us/my.php?image=flashbackotome5nd.jpg)

And it was mentioned that they were roommates as well as rivals.

--Lone Wolf

Akuma-sama

2006-01-12, 01:52

Why not? Shizuru does.
STOP! I must warn you now, compare Shizuru to Sergei at your own risk and perils :heh:

If Arika DOES fall for Sergei and the man Mai was in love with was INDEED Sergei (I still say it's Tate, but I don't want that debate to start over again), then Mai Otome will become one of the few (if not only) Harem series whose main character is not at the middle of the...er... pentagon? Star? (if you include Nao in it :heh:)

Ahiko

2006-01-12, 01:56

Makes sense since SUNRISE not only recycles characters but keeps somewhat of a continuity in family units. See Correlation (http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/6641/11358211222700up.jpg)
http://www.pixpond.com/1/20fuoj.jpg

That was from that link.

I'm probably late, but I guess I'll state the obvious.
Correct me if I'm wrong. (:

From the recycled characters chart, it looks like Mai was the mysterious "Otome" in flames, but that doesn't look like an Otome robe. (I assumed that it was Akira at first, but her outfit lacked the Otome wrist and ankle attachments along with her "There's no way that I'd ever want to be ranked with one of them [Otome]," in episode 12.) The robe on the character with the flames seems to resemble the robe on the flying character with what seems to be Miroku in its hand, which I'm assuming is Mikoto.

Putting some pieces together, Mai and Mikoto in those Otome-like outfits will probably appear after the riddle of the Harmonium is solved, assuming that Mikoto is the one to be released from the Harmonium. From the intro, it looks like the person weilding Miroku is engaging in battle or might do some attack that can do massive damage.

There's also Zipang's crest (or what seems to resemble it) on the character with the Otome-like robe emblazened on her left chest with the fiery background. Maybe Mai returned to Zipang or something.. It's still unclear, but a speculation. And the Zipang crest with the triple flames must have its own meaning. Three usually being referred to as Trinity.

Who knows.. maybe Schwartz will be finished with their creation of their own modified Otome robe that Midori and her groups seemed to be talking about and Mai and Mikoto are on their side? One of those silhouetted character could even be her, since the girl with Miroku seems to have longer hair than what Mikoto has (unless her braids were somehow untied).

Can't wait for ep 14 and 15.
Especially the rest of Mai's part in MO. (:

Q: The text underneath the flying character with Miruko says ? の ELEMENT. Maybe someone has ideas on that?

Sakuya

2006-01-12, 02:43

Putting some pieces together, Mai and Mikoto in those Otome-like outfits will probably appear after the riddle of the Harmonium is solved, assuming that Mikoto is the one to be released from the Harmonium. From the intro, it looks like the person weilding Miroku is engaging in battle or might do some attack that can do massive damage.

Oh yeah, that might work. It seems they still have not ended any arcs in MO at episode 13. Whereas episode 13 in MH was very close to the climax.

Q: The text underneath the character with Miroku says "? の　ELEMENT" I'm wondering what that might be about?..

They're comparing the Otome's sword, her ELEMENT, to Mikoto's ELEMENT from MH. So they look the same is what they mean.

Starks

2006-01-12, 03:09

That Otome's sword bears little resemblence to Miroku or any type of Claymore.

piccolo

2006-01-12, 04:29

DId you *not* see the episode with the nostalgic class picture???:eyebrow: They were both corals at the *same* time.

http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/3449/flashbackotome5nd.th.jpg (http://img57.imageshack.us/my.php?image=flashbackotome5nd.jpg)

And it was mentioned that they were roommates as well as rivals.

--Lone Wolf
Wagata...

I did say that I did not think this one through properly... and, eh, yeah, I forgot about the photo. Ooops. :uhoh:

Anyways, I was only throwing some ideas out.

Well, that leaves Sergey off the hook for being a pedophile. At least for now...

And no - or yes - Sergey is neither Nina's or Arika's father. Nina he met the first time some six years ago, although he could've met her as a baby and not known it. Arika he's seen as a baby, and wishes to protect her as he thinks that she is Rena's daughter. The evidence does point that way, but is not 100% conclusive. This topic, though, has been beaten to death in other episode discussions.

No, the queen is somewhere within Windbloom. But who is it? Three girls learned the same lullaby but different verses. A key, but to what? We think it's the harmonium for that is the clue that was given in ep 7. Therefore, I am not so much as worried about other people using that instrument. I think, as Nagi was suggesting, the hunt is to find those three people. And as a the real queen is one of them (for she is the power to rule the world, according to Nagi), the real queen must be one of the three, i.e. Arika, Nina, or Mashiro. My guess is the former two. A thief showing up with a baby is highly suspicious, especially since the others were evacuated.

Of course if the song theory is disproven, then so is this. But it still leaves three babies coming from the castlegrounds - a fake, a real queen, and Rena's daughter. And since we know that the real queen is a student at Guarderobe, the queen's candidate could be - Tomoe! Ouch...

Goodbye Arika. * sniff *

piccolo

2006-01-12, 05:01

* biting my fingernails *

QU4RK

2006-01-12, 05:10

Gosh u guys making me staring at my taskbar clock...

I hope u guys are rite. We gonna have new OP. And maybe we can see Mai in Fire String Ruby battle suit.... lkgjkfsa.... *drolling*

Any idea what's gonna be the main color of Mai's robe?? Like Shizuru is Purple-ish, and Arika is Pink/Yellowish...

Starks

2006-01-12, 05:44

Tempest35

2006-01-12, 07:13

I will fully admit the technical (i.e. physiological) difficulties of Sergay fathering a child with Rena is immense. I have yet to solve that issue, otherwise I would be shoving my theory into everyone's faces by now.
(Note: My theory involve NINA being Sergay's daughter with Rena, but I digress...)

However, to dismiss the possibility through Sergay's visible behaviour is strange to me...

First of all, if he some how believe he is the father, why would he act like a father in public unless he is ready to let the truth out? Further, if you ever read "Daddy Long Legs", you would know what Sergay is doing, adopting Arika by proxy through being her sponsor, is quite an emotional choice. He even made her write letters to him frequently as a part of the deal for the sponsorship, as it was in the DLL book.

And then, there is no rule saying all fathers act alike...

Feel free to bash my theory using the medical angle, but that's really the only weakness the theory has...

Well, I've never read DLL so I can't comment on that as to whether or not it states/supports Sergay's actions as being fatherly versus him being the actual father ^_^

Sergay looking for another daughter? Probably not in actuality. She is, for all intensive purposes, an orphan and the same feelings that he felt when he met Nina probably jumped in him a bit.

Adopting Arika by proxy through the sponsorship through school IS a valid argument. Although I must admit that this is more than likely his way on keeping tabs on a very possible contender for the true Princess of Windbloom (well, she DID have the very distinguishing jewel). Even if she (Arika) doesn't turn out to be the true Princess, he knows where the jewel is and he has some idea on how she came about to possessing it in the first place.

(Would be just WRONG if the Shadow/Dark Otome turns out to be Nina of all people - kawai desu)

midnightlumina

2006-01-12, 07:16

How about Nina=Natsuki's daughter Arika=Mai's Daughter...lol, j/k

ranchan13

2006-01-12, 08:18

I just noticed something amusing, isn't it ironic that Arika's element looks much like Mashiro's Element in HiME? I have a deep feeling those two have more of a relationship going then just master and Otome. There's also the fact they have the same color eyes, and aside from hair color, Arika did look very much like Mashiro with her hair down

Tremalkinger

2006-01-12, 08:46

Any idea what's gonna be the main color of Mai's robe?? Like Shizuru is Purple-ish, and Arika is Pink/Yellowish...

Does anyone have a link to that old fanart of Mai in a robe?

Zafo

2006-01-12, 09:28

If everyone's tossing out thier theory, I might as well outline mine.

Rena, was the Otome of the King of Windbloom. They fell in love, and had Arika. No doubt a new Otome was on-the-way to replace Rena. Sergey, whom was a homeless orphan at the time and adopted by Rena was admiring her through a childhood crush and hero-worship almost exactly like Nina does to him. Perhaps exactly why he adopted Nina, because the same thing happened to him. (which is why he teases Arika, like a big brother would, to hide the fact that he actually loves her [in the family-sense]).

Schwartz attacked Windbloom at that time because they knew it was in transition between Otome. Though Rena was still physically fit with plenty of comabt training to fall back on, she was "just" a human and unable to do anything more then evacuate her child.

I belive the best window into Sergey's heart is in his letter to Arika (anonimity inspires honesty). He said that her mother once helped him.

I don't quite have an idea about how Sergey would have become aligned with Nagi and Artai at that time. Any ideas? Perhaps he was sent thier for schooling before the Schwartz attack, and stayed after the attack on Windbloom's castle.

Clearly Arika and Mashiro are two of the figures needed to activate the harmonium (what it actually DOES is beyond anyone's guess at this point). It's a good asumption that the last is Nina, but other then sharing a birthday with Mashiro and Arika (and being featured as a similar level main character in the credits), what's makes her so god damned special? The other character could be Sergey, or even Natsuki (or one of the other pillars).

All instincts tell us it's Nina and it's a pretty safe assumption to make, but Sunrise needs to release some more informational tidbits about her before I'm satisfied.

Starks

2006-01-12, 10:37

I still can't find the 2chan thread.

Starks

2006-01-12, 11:20

There it is.

http://nov.2chan.net/24/res/142322.htm
(http://nov.2chan.net/24/red/1137082801698.htm)

Sageblink

2006-01-12, 11:21

Does anyone have a link to that old fanart of Mai in a robe?

As soon as i'll be back home, i'll give it to you.

EnseiSong

2006-01-12, 11:25

The site is here!! Although the ep haven't start yet, lol!!

http://dat.2chan.net/18/res/2116821.htm

j1m0ne

2006-01-12, 11:33

...............And there's no new opening :(

EnseiSong

2006-01-12, 11:34

The new opening might be next week.....

QU4RK

2006-01-12, 11:35

Dang.. I was right......

Aidan

2006-01-12, 11:54

hmm looks interesting.

Xellos-_^

2006-01-12, 11:59

http://img452.imageshack.us/img452/5571/11370846058577hj.jpg

So Miyu shows up in this Episode? Or is that a preview?

Mod Edit: Image uploaded to ImageShack.us

EnseiSong

2006-01-12, 11:59

Xellos-_^: She show up

OK the ep have ended... Look to be more character interaction then battle.... Might be a good plot moving ep!

QU4RK

2006-01-12, 12:00

What did they do to Arika!!!

EnseiSong

2006-01-12, 12:03

Rape her.... and rob her.... ?!

Tomoe's doing?! Or it might be just randomly happen to turn out like that.... don't know.

Varion

2006-01-12, 12:05

So... there's no new OP, half the episode is spent playing around with makeup, Arika has a heart-to-heart with Erstin, Arika gets molested by a strange man and Nagi can make a strange light?

Looks like this isn't the start of the war quite yet...

Arika kinda suits that coat in the preview though.

Xellos-_^

2006-01-12, 12:08

Rape her.... and rob her.... ?!

Tomoe's doing?! Or it might be just randomly happen to turn out like that.... don't know.

Those are Miya's boyz and you know who control Miya.

And nothing happens to Arika, SupperPimp Sergy to the rescue.

PuRpLe CryStaL

2006-01-12, 12:09

More character development for this episode and I also noticed that the Sapphire gems are back in the pendent that Arika is wearing. Miyu appeared behind Shizuru and when she turns back to see her, Miyu was gone. The crystal/gem that glowed besides Nagi was what that has intrigued me in this episode. Looks like that is the product Schwartz has produced from the data they have stolen from Midori (Aswald). Yayoi-chan is upset in the "make-up" class. I believe she might have heard abt her country's Otome fighting against another Otome (war has broke out) and that has affected her. Although there is a small review of Aoi-chan feeling sad seeing Mashiro still refuse to get out of her bed (with her Mikoto), we'll get to see more abt how Mashiro and Arika cheered each other to get over their depression in the next episode. Psst..I gonna go sleep now coz I have a morning class tomorrow. Cya folks!

lone_wolf

2006-01-12, 12:10

Hmmmm...interesting...according to the 2chan forum..

Nina suspects Arika and Mashiro to be twins. Just Nina's speculation for now.

--Lone Wolf

EnseiSong

2006-01-12, 12:12

O really?! I thought just the people from 2chan said that, not Nina..... thanks for the info

アリンコとマシロが双子でニナが王女と予想

Eclipze

2006-01-12, 12:14

Nina suspects Arika and Mashiro to be twins. Just Nina's speculation for now.
I have to admit, they really look alike (especially with Arika's hair down during episode 11/12 (the episode escapes me for now).

someone else also said that they have the same eye color.

Akuma-sama

2006-01-12, 12:15

http://img458.imageshack.us/img458/1396/1137084560403s9wq.jpg

Mod Edit: Image uploaded to ImageShack.us
Gotta say it:
みゆ様ｷﾀ━━━━━━(ﾟ∀ﾟ)━━━━━━ !!!!!
:D
[/miyu fanboy]

LynnieS

2006-01-12, 12:22

Yeah, I thank him for that.... however, this "relationship" of their's is about to make me stop watch the show.... ... Eh, then you might want to skip the preview for next week's episode because even though they moved the view away, it sure looks like Arika kissed Sergey. No shot of how he reacted immediately afterwards, though.

Ranking: 4 stars

Time to come up with a new theory also, it looks like. Oi.

EnseiSong

2006-01-12, 12:25

... Eh, then you might want to skip the preview for next week's episode because even though they moved the view away, it sure looks like Arika kissed Sergey. No shot of how he reacted immediately afterwards, though.

Ranking: 4 stars

Time to come up with a new theory also, it looks like. Oi.

lol, thanks. I saw that already, lol. Although, I guess that's not a good reason to stop watch the show... it's still good, too bad it's not as shocking as Mai Hime.

Catgirls

2006-01-12, 12:26

Hahah...I admit, I had to laugh at these two images: http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/5528/11370837194189sm.th.jpg (http://img76.imageshack.us/my.php?image=11370837194189sm.jpg)
Click for larger version

http://img495.imageshack.us/img495/9645/11370848990243ah.th.jpg (http://img495.imageshack.us/my.php?image=11370848990243ah.jpg)
Click for larger version

roan

2006-01-12, 12:44

http://sakuratan.ddo.jp/uploader/source/date7973.jpg
http://sakuratan.ddo.jp/uploader/source/date7974.jpg

SpeedRcrX

2006-01-12, 12:46

Well like everyone already told, not much action but a lot of interaction between characters.

My fav screens so far

http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/8540/113708412509599093dk.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Poor Mikoto :D

http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/73/1137084471562d9aa9ib.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Natsuki, are you already bored without Shizuru ? :D

http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/6844/11370845257410b3e8wq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Because she's so georgous !!! :love:

Efreeta

2006-01-12, 12:52

http://sakuratan.ddo.jp/uploader/source/date7973.jpg
http://sakuratan.ddo.jp/uploader/source/date7974.jpg

Thanks for the screenshot summary! I am wondering...

why is Youko so surprised? Did Natsuki mention something about the Black Valley?

Diodati

2006-01-12, 12:56

Thanks for the pics roan.

Hmmmm...interesting...according to the 2chan forum..

Nina suspects Arika and Mashiro to be twins. Just Nina's speculation for now.

--Lone Wolf
Unless it's some deliberate Prince(ss) and the Pauper thing. But I'm glad someone in the show is peceptive enough to even have a theory.

Of course if Nina implies that they are twins, for me it paves the scenario for Nina to be the Princess - she looks more like the Queen on that painting than either Arika and Mashiro.

it sure looks like Arika kissed Sergey. No shot of how he reacted immediately afterwards, though.
Let the outrage begin. On episode 14 evidence I'm more concerned that Arika is going to end up taking a U-turn in her behaviour (chirpy to just plain angsty) but I'm not endeared to her predicament and I'm getting the feeling I'm supposed to be. :eyebrow: The transition has just been too abrupt.

This must be where everyone starts admiring Nina

Was there hardly anything on pig-tailed Otome and tanned Otome then??? Is it me or have they recycled Tomoe's evil smile from ep 10? :rolleyes:

Very happy to see Haruka and (a lovely-looking) Midori! Thought there would be more on Miyu/Shizuru though :upset: What happened to the ground under Shizuru's boot....

Natsuki, are you already bored without Shizuru ?
Youko just doesn't ''do it'' for Natsuki, her technique in tea-serving is all wrong. Is Natsuki's blush ShizNat related afterall????

Tremalkinger

2006-01-12, 14:14

I still think that it is going to be one sided. Hopefully Sergey will be able to let her down easy.

We were promised yuri, and we get this *shakes head* :heh:

I'm still enjoying the series, though. I'm holding out for a good resolution... we'll see.

Preston

2006-01-12, 15:20

... Eh, then you might want to skip the preview for next week's episode because even though they moved the view away, it sure looks like Arika kissed Sergey. No shot of how he reacted immediately afterwards, though.

Ok.. you have to be joking.. please tell me you are joking. Urg.. and now Arika has gone all bitchy? Damn. Well.. uh.. (failing to see any positive side to these events)..

And great.. Fx deleted my favourites.. I just lost.. the largest collection.. of hard-to-find torrent sites imaginable. Looks like this week really hasn't been great at all.

I'll try to pick up the raw A.S.A.P. ..

EnseiSong

2006-01-12, 15:33

Well... the next ep is "Arika Crys"

So this could be what all the people, that hated their relationship, have been waiting for. Sergay probably turn her down and she started to cry, then go to Mashiro for comfort, because Arika might think Nina will hate her for what she did (kiss? confession?) with Sergay.

Preston

2006-01-12, 15:36

KoroshiyaX

2006-01-12, 16:07

The grandma explains to Sergey that the baby Rena put her jewel necklace around during the incident 14 years ago is the true princess.

And I'm not too worried about Arika's crush on Sergey. It's probably just infatuation on her part She still has yet to fully use her otome powers, or use her meister robe again. And then there's the Mai factor, and Sergey potentially being her love interest. I doubt they'd bring in a "Tate" into the story now lol.

I just wanna see Arika in her Meister robe kick some ass, I just hope they don't hold back till the last few eps for it. That would suck.

EnseiSong

2006-01-12, 16:20

Nah, no such luck. Its apparently because Arika was attacked by some guys and Sergei saved her, so, in other words, well... ugh..

Well... yes I read the previews for the eps too. But we don't know what did Sergay and her do after Arika got saved. Then again, the previews don't really give you too much info. So it can be like what you said.

himalayan

2006-01-12, 16:25

so can someone enlighten us about the 'blush' now? XD

Starks

2006-01-12, 17:08

Raw teaser by yours truly

http://media.putfile.com/Ant-Trap

EnseiSong

2006-01-12, 17:18

Raw teaser by yours truly

http://media.putfile.com/Ant-Trap

SO Arika IT IS THE *****?!

Thanks for the video!

Starks

2006-01-12, 17:23

And what the hell Miya, making Yayoi feel bad like that...!! >< In class, no less. I'm kinda surprised that Arika, or anyone else, didn't stand up for her. For me, next to Erstin, Yayoi's also a 'no-touchy'. Please kick her out of Garderobe or something before hell breaks loose.

Miya is from Remus...

Yayoi is from Romulus...

Tempest35

2006-01-12, 17:35

Okay, well that does kinda make sense...but did the students learn of the clash between the two Otome before this class???
Then it would be just be mean of Miya if the Coral girls don't know about it but if they did hear about it...well...
Unless Tomoe told Miya about it before it became school knowledge.

KoroshiyaX

2006-01-12, 18:44

Just to add to my previous post.

Erstin explains to Arika that Rena was Windbloom's ruler's otome and that she was a great Otome. But in the end, she fell in love and discarded her powers for her relationship.

Arika will undoubtedly be influenced by Rena's decision, whom she thinks is her mother at this time. I think the next ep preview is misleading, the sequences are likely not shown in chronological order, and we know based on past eps that previews are indeed misleading. In other words, I doubt that they're actually kissing, they just want to make us think that.

Catgirls

2006-01-12, 19:22

I moved some of the Sergay x Arika posts to this thread:

- Mai-Otome Romantic Relationships (Spoilers) (http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=27694)

Nothing was deleted. I just moved them to a thread of their own so that everyone could discuss Sergay x Arika or other Otome romantic relationships and not have to tie it back to Episode 14 (in case you wanted to extrapolate beyond episode 14, vent your anger or show your support). Though you can still discuss Sergay x Arika as it relates to Episode 14.

Cheers. :)

ifhaseth

2006-01-12, 20:41

O really?! I thought just the people from 2chan said that, not Nina..... thanks for the info

アリンコとマシロが双子でニナが王女と予想

Hmm, I don't remember Nina mentioning that.. but I'm too lazy to go back and try to find it, so I could very well be wrong.

I thought the episode was decent, plenty of plot and character development. It kind of reminds me of the episodes in HiME right before the big HiMELander. Also got to catch some glimpses of old faces (Midori and Miyu as cool as ever, and Haruka as... well, as Haruka as ever). I was a bit disappointed at the lack of a new intro, as well as Arika's angsty crush/flashback scenes (used up too much screentime that could have been used for something more productive! Like Shiznat! :heh:).

Arika will undoubtedly be influenced by Rena's decision, whom she thinks is her mother at this time. I think the next ep preview is misleading, the sequences are likely not shown in chronological order, and we know based on past eps that previews are indeed misleading. In other words, I doubt that they're actually kissing, they just want to make us think that.

Agreed. Although I have to wonder, if Sunrise makes that scene as ambiguous as they did the Shizuru disrobing one in HiME, would hardcore Sergay fans (are there any?) write any detailed analyses defending the man? I mean, just judging from the posts here, quite a lot of fans seem happy to condemn Sergay even when he hasn't done anything. (No, I'm not asking for page-long replies. That can go here (http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=27694).)

Youko just doesn't ''do it'' for Natsuki, her technique in tea-serving is all wrong. Is Natsuki's blush ShizNat related afterall????

Natsuki's gotten too used to having Shizuru around all the time. :D

EnseiSong

2006-01-12, 20:51

Hmm, I don't remember Nina mentioning that.. but I'm too lazy to go back and try to find it, so I could very well be wrong.

I didn't heard that sentence or anything close to that. 2chan people are the one who wrote that, I guess.

Anyways, Arika is the queen of Windbloom..... Great! Now she can go on and choose her dream (since she want to become an otome just like her "mother", but now it turns out she's not)!! Go after Sergay!!! YAY~~ *ack*

Timeless Enigma

2006-01-12, 21:25

Heh, I can see it now. Sunrise's HQ getting mailbombs and death threats from half of this board.:heh:

That part of the preview was a bit of a WTF moment, unless of course we are being deceived, but hey, who knows.

Heavy on dialogue, heavy on development, low on action, but then again I never really watched the Mai series for the fights, the story, the drama, the characters are what it's all about for me.

This episode Sergay's cool factor rose, I wonder how he'll fair next episode :eyespin:

Hm... 7 more days until 15 huh?

The only disappointing part about this episode was the lack of a new OP, I was expecting it to be aired at the start of the next half of the series, but that wasn't the case.

Otome just gets better and more interesting with every new release. Now Sunrise, don't let it all go to waste with a cop-out ending again!

guest

2006-01-12, 23:26

Am I the only one who is thinking, where is the real plot for the entire series?? :eyebrow:

Rakshasa

2006-01-12, 23:36

Am I the only one who is thinking, where is the real plot for the entire series?? :eyebrow:
There's plenty of plots in the series, but they are not as explicit as most other series imo. Which makes the whole thing move forward much more naturally.

mintyfresh

2006-01-13, 00:11

If I could give this episode a 6, I would.

scribbly

2006-01-13, 00:24

What do people think of the keychain the sergey dropped... with a heart key thingy (looks like a jewelry box key to me) and a pheonix (*cough*mai*cough*) keychain attached to it?

Ahiko

2006-01-13, 00:41

Where are you guys episode 14 from?

[edit] nvm, must be a raw or int'l/japanese broadcast. ^^;

Sakuya

2006-01-13, 02:04

What do people think of the keychain the sergey dropped... with a heart key thingy (looks like a jewelry box key to me) and a pheonix (*cough*mai*cough*) keychain attached to it?

Where did you see that? Did I miss it or something? :twitch: I thought this episode was really good. Emotions overflowed. Very heartwrenching. It's disappointing though after waiting one week, any action we anticipated only lasted for about 2 or 3 seconds. Who won?

Also, I was a bit confused as to what made the floating rocks. If it was the Slaves who have left already, why are the rocks still floating.

I'm not sure if it has been asked yet, so is Arika really the baby in that flashback? Could the baby have been the Princess and not Rena's daughter. And Rena put her GEM on her to protect her?

scribbly

2006-01-13, 02:22

Where did you see that? Did I miss it or something? :twitch: I thought this episode was really good. Emotions overflowed. Very heartwrenching. It's disappointing though after waiting one week, any action we anticipated only lasted for about 2 or 3 seconds. Who won?

Also, I was a bit confused as to what made the floating rocks. If it was the Slaves who have left already, why are the rocks still floating.

I'm not sure if it has been asked yet, so is Arika really the baby in that flashback? Could the baby have been the Princess and not Rena's daughter. And Rena put her GEM on her to protect her?

It's at the very beginning before the opening sequence... i just deleted the raw, otherwise I'd post a still of it.

And the old woman, we can assume the nanny in the flashback, says that rena put the pendant on the baby and the person with the pendant is the real princess. (or something along those lines)

Shigan

2006-01-13, 02:32

Did anyone get why Erstin apologized to Nina in her thoughts before jumping her?

Don't tell me ERSTIN and Tomoe are in together to get rid of Arika...(as in Erstin telling Arika, knowing that she would run off, and Tomoe send the thugs) O_o But then, I always wondered why Erstin was so unresponsive to that Arika and Nina were getting close, a little bit of jealousy had been nice, out of character, but nice ^^;

Timeless Enigma

2006-01-13, 03:04

I am going out on a limb to try to explain Erstin's apology.

The way I looked at it, Erstin is very perceptive. She knew that Arika seemed to have have something for Sergay. It's possible that Erstin also realizes Nina is in the same boat.

Nina is wondering where the hell Arika is, so to prevent Nina from even thinking about thinking about it further Erstin plays interference and ties Nina up.

I suppose she could be apologizing for a lot of things.

1. Preventing Nina from help out a "friend."
2. Concealing Arika's emotional situation, keeping Nina in the dark about a matter concerning her father.
Which is more or less "I'm sorry that I can't tell you Arika has these feelings for your father who you love so much."

I'm not going to get into a debate over what Arika's feelings are :uhoh:, I want to stay away from that can of worms.

Sakuya

2006-01-13, 03:04

Oh ya, for those who read the manga, when I saw Erstin was hugging Nina, I was for sure she would do the Super Bust Impact! :heh:

Omniscient

2006-01-13, 03:07

Episode 14 Summary and Screencaps (http://randomc.animeblogger.net/2006/01/12/mai-otome-14/#comments)

I'm on a bad streak tonight, so I'll keep this short. Loved the episode because it solved the question of what happened that night 15 years ago but at the same time answers nothing and now puts the question of who's the genuine princess back into focus. I don't like where the preview hints the story is going (SergayXArika), but I guess we'll see what happens.

DwArD

2006-01-13, 03:34

kari-no-sugata

2006-01-13, 03:47

Looks like that old lady is old baby sitter or similar - someone who worked in the castle anyway.

So, according to her, Rena put her pendant around the neck of the baby in the capsule - and she was holding it just as Rado bursts in. So presumably she runs off with it (probably getting that wound after a brief fight with Rado) and they catch up with her just after she sends the capsule down the river.

If Rena survives (maybe Asward let her go) let's say she heads back to get to the other baby, and maybe carries it around the world for a while? An interesting thing would be, just why is Rado specifically targeting Rena? Is there much point in killing an Otome without a master? Or was he targeting the Blue Sky Sapphire?

The other interesting thing is the two babies in the room with Rena both have the same colouring. The baby Mashiro had purple/lilac coloured hair - hair colour as a baby an adult can be different but it wouldn't change in a few days. So, 3 different babies then. And how much of a co-incidence is it that Rena and the queen both had similar coloured babies at the same time?

Assuming this version of the events is correct, it may not be the full truth - there's a saying, if you want to decieve the enemy first decieve a friend. Oh well, I guess we can only wait and see if they decide to switch things around again...

According to this woman, Arika would be the true queen and someone else is Rena's daughter. Sergay had been thinking Arika was Rena's daughter - so that's going to cause him mixed emotions.

As a side-note, Nagi knew in advance that Sergay would be getting some new info. The implication seems to be about the details behind the attack on Romulus/Remus but maybe he knew about other stuff?

PS That gang were specifically told to make sure Arika loses her qualification to be an Otome.

piccolo

2006-01-13, 04:08

roon

2006-01-13, 04:11

PS That gang were specifically told to make sure Arika loses her qualification to be an Otome.

Does Tomoe molest Miya into favors or something...? That was a rather touchy way of asking. Then again, this is Mai-*.

With that said, holy JEEBUS that girl plays dirty. Although the preview pretty much ruins any effect that last scene has, that is just horribly wrong. WHAT is driving Tomoe, to make her want to rid of Arika that badly? Obviously she doesn't want her to be an Otome- she wanted her to get kicked out of the school via the uniform business, and having her raped would most definitely get her kicked out of school as well... so is that it? She just doesn't want anymore competition?

I hope by the end of the series she gets a beatdown. Preferably from Natsuki, but maybe Natsuki + Shizuru would be cooler. ;x

piccolo

2006-01-13, 04:13

Where are you guys episode 14 from?

[edit] nvm, must be a raw or int'l/japanese broadcast. ^^;
I don't think I'd be doing wrong by telling you to do a Google search using the following terms: "mai zhime raw"

Eclipze

2006-01-13, 04:13

With that said, holy JEEBUS that girl plays dirty. Although the preview pretty much ruins any effect that last scene has, that is just horribly wrong. WHAT is driving Tomoe, to make her want to rid of Arika that badly? Obviously she doesn't want her to be an Otome- she wanted her to get kicked out of the school via the uniform business, and having her raped would most definitely get her kicked out of school as well... so is that it? She just doesn't want anymore competition?

Tomoe is pretty much doing this out of jealousy(sp?), because Arika gets to spend more time with Shiziru than she does (hint hint, yuri love) even though Arika isn't doing so on purpose.

piccolo

2006-01-13, 04:26

Does Tomoe molest Miya into favors or something...? That was a rather touchy way of asking. Then again, this is Mai-*.

With that said, holy JEEBUS that girl plays dirty. Although the preview pretty much ruins any effect that last scene has, that is just horribly wrong. WHAT is driving Tomoe, to make her want to rid of Arika that badly? Obviously she doesn't want her to be an Otome- she wanted her to get kicked out of the school via the uniform business, and having her raped would most definitely get her kicked out of school as well... so is that it? She just doesn't want anymore competition?

I hope by the end of the series she gets a beatdown. Preferably from Natsuki, but maybe Natsuki + Shizuru would be cooler. ;x
Tomoe is from Windbloom, or so the rumour goes. Obviously, Tomoe know more than she lets on. And her intentions appear to go deeper than just jealousy. Which implies that she may may be an agent at the school for ?Schwartz? ?Black Valley?

It's an idea, but inference seems to point that way.

Diodati

2006-01-13, 04:38

I'm not going to vote on this episode until I see the sub - simply as there was a lot of conversing and I don't want to judge until I have the better knowledge of what's being said.

I will say there were a few things that disappointed me - such as dopey Arika at the beginning, and the side stepping of the Otome confrontation itself in favour of showing the girls back at Garderobe. Hmmm.
But on the whole it sets up a lot of grittier stuff for next episode - which I hope it goes into because episode 15 is late enough imo.

Don't tell me ERSTIN and Tomoe are in together to get rid of Arika...(as in Erstin telling Arika, knowing that she would run off, and Tomoe send the thugs) O_o But then, I always wondered why Erstin was so unresponsive to that Arika and Nina were getting close, a little bit of jealousy had been nice, out of character, but nice ^^;
Heh I thought it was slightly coincidental as well - but the ever so sweetly smiled Tomoe probably knows what Arika would do - the girl is somewhat predictable *burnnn*

Natsuki's gotten too used to having Shizuru around all the time.

I know that was sooo cute. Hmmm did Youko volunteer to be resident tea pourer or is Natsuki really that lazy that she needs a temporary replacement. Actually I was a bit unnerved by the lingering look the animators had on Shizuru's tea-thingie. Shizuru best be coming back to Garderobe - but asshe told Arika to keep 'working hard' last episode, it may mean she's gone longer than I originally thought. Noooo. I'll be a bit bemused if she spends the next 10 episodes wandering through the desert chasing camouflaging Slaves and Miyu - although that could be kinda cool - it was nice to see both red eyed badasses meet properly in this episode.

And she's thinking about Natsuki. Awww. And Natsuki misses Shizuru. Awwww. It's all very cute and fluffy. Awwwww. :love:

But why are all Natsuki/Shizuru scenes currently being preceded by a Tomoe one. That's kinda disturbing in itself.

With that said, holy JEEBUS that girl plays dirty. Although the preview pretty much ruins any effect that last scene has, that is just horribly wrong. WHAT is driving Tomoe, to make her want to rid of Arika that badly? Obviously she doesn't want her to be an Otome- she wanted her to get kicked out of the school via the uniform business, and having her raped would most definitely get her kicked out of school as well... so is that it? She just doesn't want anymore competition?
I'm not totally sure what her plan is - the thugs had a camera with them, and that seems a bit bizarre - unless it was some sick trophy ''shot''. I knew she'd do something that would make me wonder why I admitted to feeling sorry for her last episode. Totally cracked. I've shared my indifference and lack of interest in the Sergay/Arika ''thing'' in the romance thread, but this whole development is a bit much on Tomoe's part. She's so low right now she's not even functioning on the immoral-scale. I suppose it's easier when you're not there partaking in the real dirty work.

And if Tomoe ends up with the pendant....eeeeesh.... :uhoh:

I hope by the end of the series she gets a beatdown. Preferably from Natsuki, but maybe Natsuki + Shizuru would be cooler. ;x
I'm not sure Shizuru would do it intentionally - especially if she finds out that she's (one of) the reasons Tomoe is doing it. Tomoe may not live out the series - but in some ways I hope the girl gets some form of catharsis. She's a product of her own warped mind, which makes it more interesting but actually more 'sad' for me.

Obviously, Tomoe know more than she lets on. And her intentions appear to go deeper than just jealousy. Which implies that she may may be an agent at the school for ?Schwartz? ?Black Valley?
Yeah it does seem a bit overblown to be a jealous classmate, however insane Sunrise want her to appear. The pendant would open up many deeper reasons for why she's getting so nasty with Arika. Butttt. Her behaviour with Shizuru was quite rawly emotional - and it would be strange to have 'an agent of Schwarz or the Black Valley' be so smitten with one of her (fake) oneesamas. T'would be like falling for the 'enemy'.

Shigan

2006-01-13, 04:49

Does Tomoe even know that Arika has that pendant? I thought Erstin knows since they're roommates...

Maybe Tomoe is Schwarz's Garderobe agent? O_o Someone send her a slave gem!

Vallen Chaos Valiant

2006-01-13, 04:53

Does Tomoe even know that Arika has that pendant? I thought Erstin knows since they're roommates...

Maybe Tomoe is Schwarz's Garderobe agent? O_o Someone send her a slave gem!
You want her dead that badly?:heh:

After all, known users of the slave GEMs hasn't survived an episode yet...:p

Diodati

2006-01-13, 04:55

Does Tomoe even know that Arika has that pendant? I thought Erstin knows since they're roommates...
I thought (though I'm not sure) Tomoe overheard Arika and Erstin discuss the pendant on the steps, whilst Arika was getting all worrisome over it. Hence her (2nd) evil smile...

And I think the thugs do make off with at least the pendant. Not sure where I read that though heh.

Maybe Tomoe is Schwarz's Garderobe agent? O_o Someone send her a slave gem!
You want to see her whip out her own Slave?!

After all, known users of the slave GEMs hasn't survived an episode yet...
Very true - maybe part of the Black Valley then - give her a child. Would it be too scandalous to see Kiyohime Part 2??

Retsoor

2006-01-13, 05:19

I wonder how entangled Sergey is in Nagi's plans after his "Has it begun...?" comment, or if it was just cynicism playing a part. At least he isn't entirely enthusiastic about the affair considering the way he took to the booze after reading Nagi's briefing/orders. I like to think he is playing his own game in the sides instead of just being Nagi's cohort but it doesn't seem likely at this point.

Seeing how the series has been at least mildly concentrating on the sordid affair that is the Otome system, I'd like Mai to return as a renegade pillar intent on bringing the system down, with the tacit blessing of Fumi to let fate decide whether she either strengthens or breaks her creation.

kari-no-sugata

2006-01-13, 05:35

I wonder how many "mysteries" will be cleared up by the end of the series...

For example, is there a particular reason why Arika has a strong afininity for nano-machines? Was she simply "lucky" in her genes? Was it as a direct result of being the daughter of an Otome? Was is due to having the Blue Sky Sapphire with her for ~15 years? A combination of the above?

If Arika is the "true princess" (ie daughter of the king and queen) then it would either be luck or having the Blue Sky Sappire with her all the time. Bear in mind that in ep 1, Arika semi-materialised the Meister Robe from ep 7. So without *any* injections of nano-machines, she was close to being able to Materialise. And without a master as well. The Blue Sky Sappire also glowed for the "baby in the capsule".

kari-no-sugata

2006-01-13, 05:40

Just to clarify one thing.

It seems almost certain that the Otome battle between Romulus and Remus was because of Nagi and Smith - ie they sent in some new model Slaves with cloaking devices, perhaps deliberately to stir up those two into war. I'm not sure what happened to the fighting Otome.

kari-no-sugata

2006-01-13, 05:49

So the personal letter Sergey received in ep 12 was either from Takumi or Mai Tokiha. Either way, he knows Mai, for if he knows one he knows the other. He most likely knows more about her than most people do.

The letter had Takumi's name on it at the end. 99% sure it's from Takumi.

I think it's quite likely that Sergay knew Mai well though, especially with the very Sergay-like person in the "Fire String Ruby" legend. Sergay is the only current male character who'd have a figure like that, would be about the right age, would almost certainly be in Wind Bloom at the time...

In the discussion with Takumi, Natsuki felt rather guilty and apologetic, as if she was a part of the decision back then to choose Mai as a Pillar and pass on the Fire Ruby to her. Back then Natsuki must be a few years older than Mai as Natsuki was already a Guarderobe student 15 years ago. Mai and Natsuki could not have been classmates.

Fumi choses the Pillars. Mai and Natsuki were clearly Corals together (with Shizuru as a Pearl).

Shigan

2006-01-13, 06:29

You want to see her whip out her own Slave?!
Why not? :D Her own green Kiyohime.

Tempest35

2006-01-13, 06:57

I'm thinking more of like a giant snake for Tomoe - even if you slice it, it just grows a new head and tail each time - like a Hydra...
...a Hydra CHILD for Tomoe....*shiver*

...and Erstin...I dunno but a warning flag went up for me on her. Just one so I'll ignore it for now. :heh: It's always the quiet ones that will get ya.

mintyfresh

2006-01-13, 07:46

...and Erstin...I dunno but a warning flag went up for me on her. Just one so I'll ignore it for now. :heh: It's always the quiet ones that will get ya.

A flag went up for me as well. ..However.. it wasn't for something that was necessarily bad..

But all of your assumptions that she might be in kahoots with Tomoe or something have left me worried.. and almost kind of suspiscious as well. Oh, Erstin, you're too cute for it to be true.. ^^;

QU4RK

2006-01-13, 07:56

If Arika is the "true princess" (ie daughter of the king and queen) then it would either be luck or having the Blue Sky Sappire with her all the time. Bear in mind that in ep 1, Arika semi-materialised the Meister Robe from ep 7. So without *any* injections of nano-machines, she was close to being able to Materialise. And without a master as well. The Blue Sky Sappire also glowed for the "baby in the capsule".

This is simple to guess. First, the Blue Sky Saphire made Arika was semi-materialising because she got hold by Nina. While u know that Nina has nano-machine injected in her body. Just re-watch eps 1 and u'll see it. Secondly, my guess is when the Blue Sky Saphire knows that the user is in danger, it will react to safe the owner. You can see when it firstly glows on eps 1. It's because of Rena was in danger. But this all are my speculation... let's see what happens next..

OH btw, I'm guessing that Mai will come out only at the end of the series. Like what Arika done on My HiME... LOL?

Eclipze

2006-01-13, 08:12

OH btw, I'm guessing that Mai will come out only at the end of the series. Like what Arika done on My HiME... LOL?
But it wasn't called Arika-hime, was it?:heh:

Tremalkinger

2006-01-13, 08:24

kari-no-sugata

2006-01-13, 08:33

This is simple to guess. First, the Blue Sky Saphire made Arika was semi-materialising because she got hold by Nina. While u know that Nina has nano-machine injected in her body. Just re-watch eps 1 and u'll see it. Secondly, my guess is when the Blue Sky Saphire knows that the user is in danger, it will react to safe the owner. You can see when it firstly glows on eps 1. It's because of Rena was in danger. But this all are my speculation... let's see what happens next..

Yes, I'd noticed some time ago that Arika's Robe in ep 1 showed up as Nina grabbed her. However, how is Arika its owner? Because she carried it for a long time? Meaning, anyone can become its owner? Rena didn't do anything other than put it around the baby's neck. Is the Blue Sky Sapphire sentient? (Maybe we should rename it the Blue Water). Shouldn't it only respond to Otome anyway, since surely that's what it was designed for?

PastPrime

2006-01-13, 08:36

Thanks Omniscient for the summary. Hmm.....so its pretty clear now who's the real princess. Btw, I was wondering...

Did they mention whether Rena's child is still alive? Cos I really have a feeling Nina's mother may be Rena.....
Are you sure. In Mai HiME many people were sure that Reito couldn't be Mikota's brother because he told her he wasn't. The information about which baby had the pendant could be wrong, another red herring. Personally, I don't think we will get the truth until the last couple of episodes.

Eclipze

2006-01-13, 08:37

Are you sure. In Mai HiME many people were sure that Reito couldn't be Mikota's brother because he told her he wasn't. The information about which baby had the pendant could be wrong, another red herring. Personally, I don't think we will get the truth until the last couple of episodes.
We'll never know till they show it. Besides, the real question is wether Sunrise will pull out the same stunt for Otome.

Befgrek

2006-01-13, 09:14

Okay... I'm not sure what it was, but this raw was so much harder for me than any of the previous ones. I feel like I need Doremi's sub to really comprehend what happened.

But with that said... I enjoyed this episode much more than I expected to. Arika is seeming more and more out of it. I feel pretty confident in saying that there is something artifical that is adversely affecting her. No claims on what yet, but her plummeting 'genki' levels can't reasonably be explained by a simple girlhood crush. The scene with Erstin increased Arika's meter by a tad, but no where near pre Episode 13 levels.

Episode fifteen is going to be make or break, though. It could be very well done, or it could be terrible.
Yeah... something artificial. I had that theory as well. Fits in somewhat well with Miyu seeing Arika with Golden hair, right? I'm afraid it might just be the script writers defying the logic of human behaviour once again. It didn't seem to apply to Arika in the last episode, so why would it in this one? I hope the smiling Arika in the preview for the next episode means we'll have the OLD Arika back and the whole thing with Sergay will be finished by the end of that ep, though. (In my dreams...)

Something is definatly not right with Arika... I mean what the hell was that "you gonna get raped"-scene about? Arika... you're an otome in training! Didn't you see what Nina did to the "secret police" guys that were after Mashiro in episode 1? You're about to get raped and all you can do is scream "Noooo!!! (Sergay, please come and save me and make this stupid crush I have for you look justified!)"? Beating the crap out of people is supposed to be the only thing she's good at as an otome too!

Sigh. Oh, well. There were good things about this episode too. The return of Miyu for example. And Shizuru and Natsuki was cute... Haruka being Haruka... and Mashiro seems to get what position she's actually in more, so I actually liked the first like 18 minutes of the episode (except for Arika still acting as if she hadn't been sleeping in like two weeks.) even if not much really happpened.

Real princess stuff:
So, Arika is the real one? I guess it's not 100% certain yet, but I'll still say this about this development: Boring. :uhoh:

Damn, I'm negative. I still gave this ep 3 stars though. I didn't hate it as much as I'm perhaps giving the impression of here. ;)

kari-no-sugata

2006-01-13, 09:18

Are you sure. In Mai HiME many people were sure that Reito couldn't be Mikota's brother because he told her he wasn't. The information about which baby had the pendant could be wrong, another red herring. Personally, I don't think we will get the truth until the last couple of episodes.

Yup. That's why I'm hesitant to take this new info (about Rena etc) at face value.

It's not normal to get conclusive answers to major questions half-way through the series...

SpeedRcrX

2006-01-13, 10:05

I'm thinking more of like a giant snake for Tomoe - even if you slice it, it just grows a new head and tail each time - like a Hydra...
...a Hydra CHILD for Tomoe....*shiver*

Remind me of Kiyohime ;)

Eclipze

2006-01-13, 11:16

Something is definatly not right with Arika... I mean what the hell was that "you gonna get raped"-scene about? Arika... you're an otome in training! Didn't you see what Nina did to the "secret police" guys that were after Mashiro in episode 1? You're about to get raped and all you can do is scream "Noooo!!! (Sergay, please come and save me and make this stupid crush I have for you look justified!)"? Beating the crap out of people is supposed to be the only thing she's good at as an otome too!

Nina was't tied up-side-down on one leg when she engaged the "secret police" who were after Mashiro, and not her.

Engaging someone who is after you and someone who is not, is very different, since they have different piorities.

Plus the fact that Arika was taken by surprise (ie stepping on a trap and leaving her in a compromising position) doesn't exactly make a favourable position to counter-attack.

Not forgetting....Nina is more well-trained in combat than Arika. She, afterall, had more experience than Arika.

SoldierOfDarkness

2006-01-13, 11:24

Yes, I'd noticed some time ago that Arika's Robe in ep 1 showed up as Nina grabbed her. However, how is Arika its owner? Because she carried it for a long time? Meaning, anyone can become its owner? Rena didn't do anything other than put it around the baby's neck. Is the Blue Sky Sapphire sentient? (Maybe we should rename it the Blue Water). Shouldn't it only respond to Otome anyway, since surely that's what it was designed for?

That or the pendant was to protect her which is why Rena gave it to the princess (According to the old lady), since she was no longer an otome, she handed the responsibility to the Gem and it carried out her wishes.

But then you never know, it would be plausible that Rena ran off with her actual child in the casket and tricked the nanny. Hence, increases the survival chances of the real princess since the others would be after Rena who is carrying the royal casket.

THough the situation with Tomoe is getting extremely serious and someone is gonna have to put a major stop to it before it gets out of control.

As for SErgay

If he and Arika share a kiss or return love in the next episode....and if it turns out Sergay WAS the one Mai fell in love with....then that guy hasn't learn anything from the past. If I was Natsuki I would seriously do everything I have in court to get a restraining order to keep all otomes away from him

kazekiri

2006-01-13, 11:33

Eclipze

2006-01-13, 11:40

Two things about this episode that caught my attention and I don't think they've been mentioned here yet. First, did anyone think that the cloaking Slaves looked just a bit like Julia? It probably doesn't mean anything but I thought it was interesting. Second, did I hear correctly that Miya said 'A Slave is similar to a Child'?
Technically, they are similar. They have some kind of a "contract".

In MH, that contract was that if the child died, the MIP (most important person) would die as well.

For the slaves, the person drenches his/her own blood on the "summoning crystal" to summon the slave. he is not bound by the contract until the slave is summoned, so its a personal choice wether or not to be the slave's owner. If the slave dies or gets injured (example: the person feeling pain in his right arm after Akane ripped off the slave's arm), it directly affects the "summoner".

Not sure how the child-summoner system work in MO though...

PastPrime

2006-01-13, 11:40

But then you never know, it would be plausible that Rena ran off with her actual child in the casket and tricked the nanny. Hence, increases the survival chances of the real princess since the others would be after Rena who is carrying the royal casket.
That would be my guess. Or perhaps Nagi doesn't fully trust Sergey and, since he now has John Smith searching for the Princess, he had the nanny give Sergey the wrong information to throw him off the track. He may very well know that Arika has the jewel. Unlike Sergey, Nagi did not appear suprised when the Harmonium played.

Preston

2006-01-13, 12:04

I'm in a poor mood, yet this episode was much better than I anticipated and I see some quite peculiar theories forming. However, as the series is in the Mai- series, and is made by Sunrise, they could all be quite right.. I'll give my current opinion on them.. but first..

Now Sunrise, don't let it all go to waste with a cop-out ending again!

Don't delude yourself. Sunrise will go with what the majority in Japan prefers. Their preference on the ending of the last series will heavily influence how this series ends. As for what that preference may be, I do not know. I liked the ending because it fitted. If there is one thing you learn through studies in media, and being the director for collection of film-shorts, its choosing something that fits. You may hate it, your staff may hate it, but if it fits what you are trying to accomplish, you choose it. If it is decided the film's centre genre is comedy, the films is ended on a funny note. Look at all the comedies out there, all the good ones get serious, and usually end with an ending labled 'cheesy'.

Right... as for the theories, I have things to say on three of them. For the first one, Arika is the princess? What? We have it from the mouth of a dieing old woman, whom claims to be a nanny? I wouldn't believe it. Sure, it makes the idea seem all that more likely, but in my opinion is intended to mislead viewers. Standard storytelling technique, lie, early on, about an important plot device, have it come from the mouth of a person that seems believable, and has no reason to lie, the viewer/reader subsequently accepts it mentally, and moves on to other plot points, then the truth comes out, and the shock factor wins. I won't truly believe who is in what position until I see several solid facts supporting it. Regardless, people become forgetful in old age, and for all we know that woman could be senile, simply mistaken, or deliberately misleading people. She may believe she is telling the truth, but could have been lied to for some unknown purpose. Perhaps Rena wanted to create false trails protecting the real princess. Who knows? Not us, yet..

Secondly, Erstin teaming up with Tomoe to bring Arika down? Doubtful. I see no even remotely possible motive. The way I saw it and accepted it when I watchec the raw was that she was just having a heart-to-heart with Arika, and Tomoe being the usual thinker, followed and/or guessed where they were, figured she could use the extra information that Arika would let known to Erstin, and just eavesdropped on their conversation. This is not what I want to believe, but what I believe and what I see as correct. Of course, the alternative still remains and unlikely possibility, and whom are we to guess the likelihood of things in a series made by Sunrise and in the Mai- series of all things.

Third, and finally, the last "rape"-scene for Arika. So, those guys were deliberately told to make her lose her graduation? Whatever.. I think you people are jumping way to far to conclusions. Remember that Otomes are never supposed to remove their clothes in public? This is obviously an important rule and Sunrise have stressed it early in the series for a purpose. They just needed to pull off her clothes and photograph her, and distribute the photograph, not rape her. :rolleyes:

Engaging someone who is after you and someone who is not, is very different, since they have different piorities.

Don't know about you, but I would take the bodyguard first.. well, those military police didn't look completely competent anyway, I'm not surprized they didn't catch anyone..

Befgrek

2006-01-13, 12:06

Nina was't tied up-side-down on one leg when she engaged the "secret police" who were after Mashiro, and not her.

Engaging someone who is after you and someone who is not, is very different, since they have different piorities.

Plus the fact that Arika was taken by surprise (ie stepping on a trap and leaving her in a compromising position) doesn't exactly make a favourable position to counter-attack.

Not forgetting....Nina is more well-trained in combat than Arika. She, afterall, had more experience than Arika.

I actually thought I was a bit too harsh on Arika after submitting that, since she was tied up and all. However, after reading your post I realized you were right, she was only tied up in one leg, meaning when she was back down on the ground, she had her legs free. Her arms where hold up by that guy... but he only used one hand. Now, he's either seriously (Haruka-class?) strong, or/and Arika is obviously not trying very hard to get free. (She's too busy blushing, trying her best to look like a rape victim from some creepy doujin... I wonder how many doujins that scene will spawn, on another note.) This seems to me to be very un-Arika-like. If anyone would be able to put up a fight against these thugs, I'd think it'd be Arika.

Now, my point with this is basically that this is just one stupid and not well thought out plot device to have Sergay turn up just in time and save the day, making Arika swoon over him some more. Of course, the main reason why I think this is probably because I really don't like where the show is going in this aspect at the moment. I'm usually pretty good at accepting all those "not very realistic" plot devices in anime. So don't take my rants too seriously, as they are mostly written to vent my frustration. :(

kazekiri

2006-01-13, 12:08

Technically, they are similar. They have some kind of a "contract".Right, but my point was that the term Child hadn't been seen yet in Otome and as far as we know, they don't exist in this world (Gakutenou being a Slave). So how does Miyu know the term and why does Shizuru recognize it?

Xellos-_^

2006-01-13, 12:15

Right, but my point was that the term Child hadn't been seen yet in Otome and as far as we know, they don't exist in this world (Gakutenou being a Slave). So how does Miyu know the term and why does Shizuru recognize it?

This is the first time I believed the term "child" was used in this series. And since it is use by Miyu, it raise a host of question about who Miyu is.

scribbly

2006-01-13, 12:27

The other interesting thing is the two babies in the room with Rena both have the same colouring. The baby Mashiro had purple/lilac coloured hair - hair colour as a baby an adult can be different but it wouldn't change in a few days. So, 3 different babies then. And how much of a co-incidence is it that Rena and the queen both had similar coloured babies at the same time?

There was more than 1 baby in the room? where? As far as I can recall, the only baby we ever see in the hands of the queen and rena is the brown haired one she put in the capsule. The purply haired baby we only see with the prime minister. (Please correct me if I"m wrong). Really, we can say we never see a purply haired baby in the castle.

Does anyone ever say that Rena actually had a child? They certainly accept its possibility... no one except the nanny could have known that Rena gave Arika's pendant to the princess, so they could assume Rena gave it to her own child which could have been born later. People know she had a lover, and such things naturally come from love. This could lead people liek Sergey and Natsiki to accept the idea that Rena is Arika's mother... but it would still be new information to them. "OMG, Rena survived the castle attack and at some point had a kid, and here it is!" The only thing, I think, which might support a valid assumption of 2 babies at one time, is that Arika's granny gave her the princess's birthday but told her her mother was still alive. (Who wants to suggest Rena had the king's baby instead of the queen...)

Of coure all of this is moot if somewhere in this show there are two babies in one room.

In the end, the only thing we can trust are flashbacks... The flash backs tell us Rena sent a baby down the river with the pendant (arika, princess or not, chances are high it's arika). The prime mistister (or whatever his title was) held up an infant and proclaimed it to be the princess Mashiro. And Nina as some point, when very young, looked up and saw a woman who is shadowed but possibly rena.

Eclipze

2006-01-13, 12:36

Don't know about you, but I would take the bodyguard first.. well, those military police didn't look completely competent anyway, I'm not surprized they didn't catch anyone..
sorry, I dont get what you're saying...Arika didnt see the thugs running at her, it was after she got trapped that they were seen by her.

she was only tied up in one leg, meaning when she was back down on the ground, she had her legs free. Her arms where hold up by that guy... but he only used one hand. Now, he's either seriously (Haruka-class?) strong, or/and Arika is obviously not trying very hard to get free. (She's too busy blushing, trying her best to look like a rape victim from some creepy doujin... I wonder how many doujins that scene will spawn, on another note.) This seems to me to be very un-Arika-like. If anyone would be able to put up a fight against these thugs, I'd think it'd be Arika.

Let me clarify something: I dont watch raws, and this is no exception. The only raw I have watched/downloaded is the final plus for GSD, but thats besides the point.

The reason I was talking about the trap thing was that it was explained by someone, and that there was a screenshot of it.

Ok, you know very well that Arika wasn't the usual *genki* Arika, right? On top of that, she was taken by surprise by the trap and the thugs, so that adds more psychological damage than you'd think a regular "genki Arika" would take.

A girl, who has new found confusion as to wether Rena is her mother, with the Sergey affection that she herself is unsure of, being less energetic than usual because of the affection with Sergey.

Now, add the fact that she gets ambushed by 4 aggressive males who threaten to rape/dis-credit her doesn't exactly make Arika a favourable contendor to counter the situation.

Oberon

2006-01-13, 13:05

I actually thought I was a bit too harsh on Arika after submitting that, since she was tied up and all. However, after reading your post I realized you were right, she was only tied up in one leg, meaning when she was back down on the ground, she had her legs free. Her arms where hold up by that guy... but he only used one hand. Now, he's either seriously (Haruka-class?) strong, or/and Arika is obviously not trying very hard to get free.

Do we have any evidence up until now, that Otome who haven't activated their gem have any superhuman powers? As I understand it, the Otome needs her masters authorization before she can use those freakish powers, as some sort of safety mechanism so that the Otome can't go on a rampage without her masters consent. There wouldn't be much use for the safety mechanism, if an Otome who went postal had "The Hulk"-like strength or attack power even in an unauthorized state. So unless I'm shown otherwise (somthing like a non-activated Otome bending a steel pipe or lifting a car), I think Arika without an activated robe has more or less just the strengh of a 15 year old girl. Given the emotional turmoil she's currently going through, I don't find it all that unbelieavable that she got overpowered by 4 thugs.

SoldierOfDarkness

2006-01-13, 14:36

There was more than 1 baby in the room? where? As far as I can recall, the only baby we ever see in the hands of the queen and rena is the brown haired one she put in the capsule. The purply haired baby we only see with the prime minister. (Please correct me if I"m wrong). Really, we can say we never see a purply haired baby in the castle.

Nope two babies. When the granny starts, we see Rena give 1 baby to a women, then she looks at the casket and we see another baby. Hence 2 babies.

I still believe that Arika isn't the queen. As Natsuki noted, fate brought both Mashiro and Arika together and the contract was made not by concidence which is why she's allowing it to be. Arika is the protector and Mashiro is the queen.

Cats

2006-01-13, 14:59

Do we have any evidence up until now, that Otome who haven't activated their gem have any superhuman powers?

Well, in ep 2 Nina is surprised that Arika can outrun her.....and when she fights the royal gourd she uses some sort of flashy technique.....when Haruka falls and manages to survive the fall.....and that's about it.

IMO it's simply that Arika would fall for such a trap in the first place.

She may believe she is telling the truth, but could have been lied to for some unknown purpose. Perhaps Rena wanted to create false trails protecting the real princess. Who knows? Not us, yet..

I thinck we'll find just how much wait her words and credibility have in the next ep.......I personaly thinck Arika's the princess

There was more than 1 baby in the room? where?

Rena's baby is the one she is holding at the begining of the flash back and which she hands to the maid (don't know were people the hole quen thing since she's wearing the same outfit as the old women in the background) then the camera sweaches to the capsule were we see a baby, after wich the camera flashes to Rena and then to the old women (we can see the maid in the background with the baby)

Someone here mentioned something about a jewl near Nagi's throne (and that it could be the end resault of Swartz reserch) ......to me it looks like a projector...

Next ep looks intresting ..... ArikaXSergey beter end bad ..... the new op probably will involve some story spoilers (like Arika = real princess) guesing that's why they dind't use it now .....

Oberon

2006-01-13, 16:17

Well, in ep 2 Nina is surprised that Arika can outrun her.....and when she fights the royal gourd she uses some sort of flashy technique.....when Haruka falls and manages to survive the fall.....and that's about it.

IMO it's simply that Arika would fall for such a trap in the first place.

I thought of some of the points you mentioned prior to my previous post as well, but was too lazy to comment on them unless someone raised those issues which you just did. :) Basically it comes down to can I come up with a non-technology answer to those feats, within the series bounds? So let's try.

Arika outrunning Nina: Nina is the #1 Coral in her class, so I figured she'd have to have top scores in her physical prowess as well. Her surprise could have simply been "How come this common girl from god knows where managed to outrun me, the best in my year?" Besides, at that point Arika shouldn't have had any active nanites in her system. If this were the case, then I'm sure Youko would have mentioned it sometime during her examination.

Nina going Hadoken on the guard: Here I concede that it could have been an Otome related technique, especially since she used a similiar (though much flashier and powerful) move during her first match with Arika. I could try to argue that it might "just" be a Ki attack based on martial arts rather than on nanite technology, but since I can't back this up with anything and no further evidence to other sources of power have been mentioned, it seems that at least some Otome attack techniques can be used in normal mode.

Haruka falling down the cliff: Frankly, I'm not quite sure how serious this scene can be taken. The whole action was played mostly for comic relief and as a demonstration of Haruka's hotheaded approach to things. You could say that she was protected by the same kind of comedy plot shield(tm), that saves the life of Wile.E.Coyote from Road Runner whenever he messes up. If I do take the scene at face value, I guess that the before mentioned enhanced damage sturdiness provided by the nanites does actually benefit the Otome in non-authorized mode as well, to a certain degree.

So if we take these cases into consideration, there is indeed the posibility that an Otome does retain some of her nanite powers even in normal mode. Whether that's enough for a confused 15 year old girl to overpower 4 grownup men, is a judgement call everyone has to make for himself. As for myself, at this moment in time, I'm willing to give Sunrise the benefit of the doubt in this particular case and trust that they know what they're doing unless something more outrageous concerning that matter happens.

ChaosWing

2006-01-13, 16:57

This is the first time I believed the term "child" was used in this series. And since it is use by Miyu, it raise a host of question about who Miyu is.

The original. I still don't believe that this is an "alternate reality", in fact I never have. The carnival was every 300 years, don't forget that, and just because in MH they broke the cycle by destroying the star doesn't mean that something still won't happen the next time around. Heck, destroying the star could be why they had to leave Earth in the first place - and you can't deny that this current series' people came from Earth considering it's been mentioned at least once already.

SoldierOfDarkness

2006-01-13, 17:13

Xellos-_^

2006-01-13, 18:07

And Alyssa somehow evolved into a birdy with Mikoto into a cat...and everyone else looks the same and have almost the same relationships they had 300 years ago.....

As Nagi said, by destroying the star, all they did was just remove the same cycle that always kept repeating over and over again. Now the future is just uncertain and no one can predict it. It doesn't mean the coming of the christ was inevitable or something liket that.

And I'm pretty sure the world in Mai Hime has the same technology as we do and we do not have space faring technology.

But if MO is the future of MH, then it is possible. Althought MO would be considerablely much more into the future.

Some intresting Notes,

- In MO, it has been 300 years since the war of the 12 kings and since the founding of the Otomes.
- 12 kings, 12 Himes, very intresting.

ChaosWing

2006-01-13, 18:08

And Alyssa somehow evolved into a birdy with Mikoto into a cat...and everyone else looks the same and have almost the same relationships they had 300 years ago.....

And I'm pretty sure the world in Mai Hime has the same technology as we do and we do not have space faring technology.

It's a known fact that Sunrise is re-using character designs and names and even family relationships but that doesn't mean it's the same people or even distant ancestors. Most of the current character plots themselves have nothing to do with the previous series in my opinion except for one, Miyu. Allyssa is dead, you would call it a shock that Miyu crafted something like that bird and named it Allyssa? You do remember she was/is a cyborg in MH, correct?

Also, Earth didn't have that advanced of technology? Again, Miyu was a Cyborg and a very advanced one at that which was created by the Earth you say wasn't that far advanced in technology.

Don't forget, it's quite clear they've inhabited the current planet for at least a couple hundred years and who knows how long before that MH would have occurred. I just am not going to toss it up to being an alternate reality as easily as everyone else is, especially with that shoddy bit of "counter evidence" you supplied.

As Nagi said, by destroying the star, all they did was just remove the same cycle that always kept repeating over and over again. Now the future is just uncertain and no one can predict it. It doesn't mean the coming of the christ was inevitable or something liket that.

Now, this I completely agree with.

ChaosWing

2006-01-13, 18:11

But if MO is the future of MH, then it is possible. Althought MO would be considerablely much more into the future.

Some intresting Notes,

- In MO, it has been 300 years since the war of the 12 kings and since the founding of the Otomes.
- 12 kings, 12 Himes, very intresting.

I completely forgot about that war of the 12 kings. Yes, I was thinking it is the very distant future. Where did it say it was 300 years since the war, and is it exactly 300 years?

Xellos-_^

2006-01-13, 18:13

A odd idea just occure to me.

If Arika really is the Princess and somehow the people in Windbloom found out about it. As much as Arika wouldn't like it to happen Mashiro, who is not exactly on everybodys likeable leader list. What if mashiro then gets kick out of Windbloom and she gets pickup by either Aswald or Schwartz and they transform her into the Dark Otome we see in the op?

Chaoswing, It was mention in one of the earlier eps and defintely in Ep8. When Arika was researchng into how to null her contract with mashiro.

ChaosWing

2006-01-13, 18:14

That certainly is an odd idea.

Befgrek

2006-01-13, 18:34

So if we take these cases into consideration, there is indeed the posibility that an Otome does retain some of her nanite powers even in normal mode. Whether that's enough for a confused 15 year old girl to overpower 4 grownup men, is a judgement call everyone has to make for himself. As for myself, at this moment in time, I'm willing to give Sunrise the benefit of the doubt in this particular case and trust that they know what they're doing unless something more outrageous concerning that matter happens.
Well written. I just have one minor nitpick: It's not really four men, but one who's physically assaulting her. The othe ones are just standing on the side, laughing. And, he's only using one hand to trap her two arms. (Which, by the way, is impossible. Slipping out of such a grip with at least one arm is something anyone can do. Unless the difference in strengh is like... huge.)

If her feet are free, there should be no problem whatsoever to get out of that grip, and use her faster-than-Nina speed to get the hell out of there. But maybe they tied them. Guess we'll have to wait for the next episode to find out. Who knows, maybe she'll actually try to put up a fight and get out on her on then. (Yeah right, with Super-Sergay lurking around in the neighborhood, ready to save little girls from evil assaulters? Who am I trying to kid?)

I just realized the "Well written." in the beginning of this post might have sounded like an insult when it was followed by a sentence with a slight odour of sarcasm. That was not my point. I really thought it was good argumentation.

On a totally different matter: Yeah, I wonder what "child" Miyu was talking about... Are the slaves that Aswald has really officially called slaves? Wasn't it just Haruka who called Gakutenou "slave" out of ignorance? My point is: could Miyu be referring to the Aswald "slaves"?

Xellos-_^ : Awesome idea. I'd love to see Mashiro kicking some serious butt. (She looked cool as a HiME in Mai HiME!) Though I think it's... not very realistic at this point. ;) (Still waiting for something in this show to surprise me...)

SoldierOfDarkness

2006-01-13, 18:51

It's a known fact that Sunrise is re-using character designs and names and even family relationships but that doesn't mean it's the same people or even distant ancestors. Most of the current character plots themselves have nothing to do with the previous series in my opinion except for one, Miyu. Allyssa is dead, you would call it a shock that Miyu crafted something like that bird and named it Allyssa? You do remember she was/is a cyborg in MH, correct?

Also, Earth didn't have that advanced of technology? Again, Miyu was a Cyborg and a very advanced one at that which was created by the Earth you say wasn't that far advanced in technology.

Note I said space faring technology, like hyperspace or warp drives and all that stuff. Not cybernetics or robotics.

Don't forget, it's quite clear they've inhabited the current planet for at least a couple hundred years and who knows how long before that MH would have occurred. I just am not going to toss it up to being an alternate reality as easily as everyone else is, especially with that shoddy bit of "counter evidence" you supplied.

I think we both misunderstood each other here. I am in no disagreement that the two worlds "could" be connected, what I am in disagreement is that I thought you said the characters from Mai Hime are the same with Mai Otome.

It would be plausible that Mai Otome in fact takes centuries after the events of Mai Hime however, to say that the star resulted in the destruction of the Earth is incorrect as the star itself was the one instigating all that destruction. It was merely a carnival for that Lord Obsidian.

To have Miyu be the exact same one as the Miyu from Mai Hime? I have no problem with that, she's a cyborg, they live forever. Not to mention she sees Arika as a golden light much the same way she saw Alyssa but I forgot which episode that was.

Xellos-_^

2006-01-13, 19:03

Just a wild idea i am tossing around, I pretty sure it won't happen either but still it would be quick a twist in the story. Arika, leading the jedi vs Mashiro of the Dark Sith :p

Eclipze

2006-01-13, 19:39

Well written. I just have one minor nitpick: It's not really four men, but one who's physically assaulting her. The othe ones are just standing on the side, laughing. And, he's only using one hand to trap her two arms. (Which, by the way, is impossible. Slipping out of such a grip with at least one arm is something anyone can do. Unless the difference in strengh is like... huge.)

If her feet are free, there should be no problem whatsoever to get out of that grip, and use her faster-than-Nina speed to get the hell out of there. But maybe they tied them. Guess we'll have to wait for the next episode to find out. Who knows, maybe she'll actually try to put up a fight and get out on her on then. (Yeah right, with Super-Sergay lurking around in the neighborhood, ready to save little girls from evil assaulters? Who am I trying to kid?)

Perhpas I dont like having my post ignored, but I shall quote myself again.
Ok, you know very well that Arika wasn't the usual *genki* Arika, right? On top of that, she was taken by surprise by the trap and the thugs, so that adds more psychological damage than you'd think a regular "genki Arika" would take.

A girl, who has new found confusion as to wether Rena is her mother, with the Sergey affection that she herself is unsure of, being less energetic than usual because of the affection with Sergey.

Now, add the fact that she gets ambushed by 4 aggressive males who threaten to rape/dis-credit her doesn't exactly make Arika a favourable contendor to counter the situation.

Now, read that.

Are you telling me that you'd rather totally ignore the psychological state of Arika, plus what the psychological effect of having 4 thugs surround you while being caught in a trap would have on Arika?

Sinestra

2006-01-13, 19:41

Had no clue about the new OP cant wait for that also, they have to do something about that god awful ending its just painful to watch. I have a feeling like some other people that Mai's debut is coming up i think she will walk out of the forest i dont think that the letter was from Mai. Last and most important i am going to pray to every god in every religion across the globe and i may even sacrifice a few small animals that sunrise kills this damn Arika and Sergey crush. i liked the episode and would have rated it higher if it werent for that.

However i want to see that kick ass otome fight i think thats what everyone is really waiting for. The fight scenes have not been that great so lets hope they step up to the plate.

http://www.animachi.de/wallpapers/walls/maihimenatsuki_800.jpg

Lackadaisical

2006-01-13, 20:05

Third, and finally, the last "rape"-scene for Arika. So, those guys were deliberately told to make her lose her graduation? Whatever.. I think you people are jumping way to far to conclusions. Remember that Otomes are never supposed to remove their clothes in public? This is obviously an important rule and Sunrise have stressed it early in the series for a purpose. They just needed to pull off her clothes and photograph her, and distribute the photograph, not rape her. :rolleyes: [/COLOR]

Undoubtedly, any student caught willingly posing nude for pictures would be thrown out of Garderobe. Arika is hardly posing willingly is she?

I've heard in a number of places the assertion that women who are raped or abused caused it to happen to themselves but I don't expect Garderobe agrees with that theory.

If one of the students is caught, stripped, and photographed the school isn't going to throw a student out. While a master might not want a otome who has had that happen to them, and therefore might ensure Arika wouldn't becoming an Otome even if she graduated, Garderobe wouldn't throw Arika out of the school for being abused.

It would be like throwing a nun out fo a convent because she was abused. If the people were sent to ensure Arika is unable to attend Garderobe, raping Arika is the only way that could happen.

This is a mute point though given that Sergay seems to take care of those people.

As it is, I was expecting something different from this episode but it seems the plot is beginning to come together. I'm of the opinion that Mashiro is the real princess and Arika and Nina are the twin daughters of Rena simply because that scenario would be most interesting.

Eclipze

2006-01-13, 20:11

they have to do something about that god awful ending its just painful to watch.
Watch? Um, it only shows Arika running foward, with her back facing us...

The song itself ain't too bad (hell, its the only song that managed to make me loop it for 3 days straight now). Personal preference I guess...:heh:

ArchDragon

2006-01-13, 20:29

I personally believe that without their robes active, Otomes are just normal humans.
Whatever techniques or fighting skills that Nina has on her human form has nothing to do with her nanomachines.

Arika is good at running (she even mentioned once to Nina that she's good at playing tag), but that's about it.
I doubt she even knows how to fight, except for what little she managed to learn during her short stay in Garderobe.
Just look at her fight vs. Nina, except for a lucky headbutt, she's nothing but a punching bag.
The only time she managed to beat something was when she used that Meister robe against a slave, where her powers are simply too overwhelming.

But as of this ep., I'm personally eager to see Tomoe's demise.
I hope someone would kidnap her and sell her off in some black market.

Befgrek

2006-01-13, 20:47

Perhpas I dont like having my post ignored, but I shall quote myself again.

Now, read that.

Are you telling me that you'd rather totally ignore the psychological state of Arika, plus what the psychological effect of having 4 thugs surround you while being caught in a trap would have on Arika?

From where did you get the impression I ignored your post? Didn't what I said have any relevance whatsover as to what you said? I won't ignore the psychological state she was in, nor the fact that she fell into a trap. However, first: Did you note how Arika reacted when she did fall into the trap? When she was hanging upside down, showing off her panties? Yeah. That was the old Arika alright. "Hey stupid! What are you doing! Let me down! Oh shit! Skirt!" Seemed like she forgot all about her little problems for a while... and why would she suddenly remember them again once they started to get threatening?

But more importantly, even though she was "feeling down" due to her problems, she suddenly found herself in a very threatening and dangerous situation. This is usually a place where the thing called "survival instincs" kick in. It's quite natural to try to... you know. Resist. I bet being attacked by four ugly thugs would be a scary experience, but I cerainly didn't see Arika being afraid or anything when confronted with A HUGE FREAKING MONSTER. (the confrontation with Lumen was scary of course, but who wouldn't be afraid if a woman came up to you and started speaking with a man's voice?) Of course, at that time, she didn't have a crush on Sergay, so I totally see why. Oh wait, no I don't.

USCPharmacist

2006-01-13, 20:55

Ugly men are the scarious thing in a Yuri anime don't you know? ehehhe

Eclipze

2006-01-13, 20:57

When I said ignored, I mean that it (my reasoning in the post) wasn't used as a reference. It was only till this post that my reasoning was being answered.

That side, I dont think humans, in particular a 14/15 year old girl, would react very well against 4 thugs while being held in a trap, in real life.

Its like how some people may think that rape isn't such a big deal, and that the girl is being stupid by suiciding. But apparently, what you may think to have a low impact, is very different when you face such situation in person.

I dont know man....people here on AF like to think that a character/storyline is deeper than what it seems, and yet such issues on why Arika doesn't retaliate isnt being thought through that process as well?

Hey, perhaps Arika is the kind of girl who is strong on the outside, and soft on the inside. But was that taken into consideration? apparently not.

PuRpLe CryStaL

2006-01-13, 21:03

Lol. I'm also eager to see Tomoe's demise. Since Nao is part of Trias now and she is capable of finding out who is the culprit, she might have knew those guys & inform Chie later on. Trias appears to be investigating on Arika's assault & I would love to have Nao teaching that guy a lesson in the pub (for bullying her room attendent :heh:). I simply love the scene where Nao and her "gang" taught that guy (who sold Arika's uniform) a lesson. The "gang's" stripped T-shirt makes it unforgettable especially~ I don't like the Arika in this episode. I know she has no knowledge abt politics but to make an insensitive comment without paying attention to the feelings of Miya and Yayoi (bcoz she is too caught up with her crush on Sergey); has made Arika lost points in my characters' meter. I'm also having doubts abt what the old lady said to Sergey regarding the real princess of Windbloom. It is possible for Nagi to get the old lady to provide false information so as to distort Sergey while he engaged Schwartz to search for the real princess. I saw 2 babies in the room with Rena before Rado break into the room. Rena handed one baby to one of the maids and another baby (whom she gave her pendent to) was placed inside the casket. It is possible for Rena to use her daughter (assuming that she did give birth to a baby girl) as a decoy by placing Arika inside the casket, and the real princess was carried by another maid to somewhere else. Thus when Aswald was chasing after her, they would think that she was carrying to "real princess" (when in fact, it wasn't).

Xellos-_^

2006-01-13, 23:48

If MO Miyu is MH Miyu, i wonder what she thinks of seeing all the Hime reborn into this time period or if she had anything to do with them being reborn on earl.

Maybe because they destory the Hime-Star in MH, while it stop the festival but because the festival never finish all the Himes form that period are now struck in some of time loop where they are reborn every 300 years together.

JayF

2006-01-13, 23:50

On another note, now that the producers have inserted the typical doujinshi plot of trap bound female lead (almost) raped by group of nameless villans, what other doujin scenarios do you want included?

Personally, I'm waiting for the yuri Otome orgy to appear sometime before episode 26.:naughty:

Xellos-_^

2006-01-13, 23:51

Eclipze

2006-01-13, 23:51

Xellos-_^

2006-01-13, 23:56

But I believe that MH is set on earth, while MO apparently isnt (the planet for MO is called earl or something...???)

MO is set in the far future on a planet name Earl, by colonist form Earth. However that doesn't preclude it form MO being a direct sequel of MH> As nothing so far support neither is there anyting to negate it either. We will just have to wait and see. however if MO miyu is MH Miyu then it is 100% certain that MO is a direct sequel of MH.

Eclipze

2006-01-13, 23:59

MO is set in the far future on a planet name Earl, by colonist form Earth. However that doesn't preclude it form MO being a direct sequel of MH> As nothing so far support neither is there anyting to negate it either. We will just have to wait and see. however if MO miyu is MH Miyu then it is 100% certain that MO is a direct sequel of MH.
Um ok....where was it mentioned about the colonist thingy?

Xellos-_^

2006-01-14, 00:01

Um ok....where was it mentioned about the colonist thingy?

Episode 8, when Arika and other sneak into the otome building and found the databank. Irina was talking about it.

Eclipze

2006-01-14, 00:22

roan

2006-01-14, 00:38

i'm shocked nobody even mentioned anything about sergay's other name: north hound. this guy's definitely dangerous.

Vallen Chaos Valiant

2006-01-14, 00:52

Actually, according to SS version, Irina said:"Back from when our ancestors were flying between the stars in spaceships."

0 mention of colonist, much less earth. Though it can be used as a relation....
The following is from the official website concerning the Planet they are on.

宇宙移民時代に人類が発見した居住可能惑星のひとつ。ただし居住範囲はそれほど広くなく、現在のヨーロッパ程度の面積に全人口の100%近い人々が生活している。中世ヨーロッパ王宮の匂いが色濃く漂うエアル。入植当初は地球古来の文化を継承し、惑星の発展に努めたが、その後科学技術の大半を失い、現在の地球からは後退した印象を持つ惑星となった。それでもいくつかの技術は残されているため、新旧入り混じった独特の文化が形成されている。

宇宙移民時代= Space colonisation period.

入植当初は地球古来の文化を継承= Implanted culture from the old Earth.

地球= Earth, as in Planet Earth. There is no doubt that the present humans in Mai Otome are descendants of Earth colonists.

Eclipze

2006-01-14, 01:04

The following is from the official website concerning the Planet they are on.

宇宙移民時代に人類が発見した居住可能惑星のひとつ。ただし居住範囲はそれほど広くなく、現在のヨーロッパ程度の面積に全人口の100%近い人々が生活している。中世ヨーロッパ王宮の匂いが色濃く漂うエアル。入植当初は地球古来の文化を継承し、惑星の発展に努めたが、その後科学技術の大半を失い、現在の地球からは後退した印象を持つ惑星となった。それでもいくつかの技術は残されているため、新旧入り混じった独特の文化が形成されている。

宇宙移民時代= Space colonisation period.

入植当初は地球古来の文化を継承= Implanted culture from the old Earth.

地球= Earth, as in Planet Earth. There is no doubt that the present humans in Mai Otome are descendants of Earth colonists.
Informative, but what I meant was that it wasn't mentioned in the anime...

And I wonder, if they're more advanced than the current earth, why did they still revert to the kings/queens, palace system?

Vallen Chaos Valiant

2006-01-14, 01:46

Informative, but what I meant was that it wasn't mentioned in the anime...

And I wonder, if they're more advanced than the current earth, why did they still revert to the kings/queens, palace system?
その後科学技術の大半を失い

Most of the old science were lost during the colony period. Hence the whole race to uncover lost science in Mai Otome. And there is nothing primitive about Monarchies. I am pretty sure there would still be kings in 500 years time in our world.

By the way, there is a reason why not everything is mentioned in the Anime...

You see, Anime is intended for the JAPANESE population. And over there ,there are numerous sources of information one draws upon to get background information on their anime. There are radio interviews and full-on radio series, multiple internet websites per anime, cheap magazines with weekly updates...

The Official Mai Otome Website exists for a reason. They don't have to explain everything. Unfortunately you don't understand enough Japanese to be able to browse the site, but that's not Sunrise's problem. They made the information available, but it's your responsibility to obtain it.

After all, that's the price you need to pay for watching Fansubs.

PastPrime

2006-01-14, 01:48

Informative, but what I meant was that it wasn't mentioned in the anime...

And I wonder, if they're more advanced than the current earth, why did they still revert to the kings/queens, palace system?
In the swimming pool episode Nina reads where the things in the pool were similar to the Jelly Fish on Earth. That was the first referance to them not being on Earth. And technology has been regressing there. The airport is no longer used. There was the remains of a jet fighter in the ruins under the castle.

Eclipze

2006-01-14, 01:53

Ok ok, let me clarify: I was just telling Xellos that it wasn't mentioned in the anime, because he gave a reference, and it wasn't mentioned there. Ok?

Right now, in our real-time world, the only "king/queen" that exist is probably that of England. And I believe England, although having king/queen, is still ruled with democratic rules, not the rules that existed during the kings/queen era hundreds of years ago.

Now, Im not that much of an idiot to not notice the mention that they lost the technology, but why are they ALL using the king/palace system, AND the old castle designs?

Surely they would use modern buildings instead? Or then again, it might be for storyline's sake. And I dont think blueprints of modern-day buildings are considered technology...

PastPrime

2006-01-14, 02:01

imperialmog

2006-01-14, 02:32

That and consider that the whole otome system makes a monach the most practical means of government. Actually the system makes a nations power basically in the hands of the otome and their master giving them even more absolute power than any system ever done in real life due to anyone else being unimportant.

Actually this might be one of the things that brings the system down and a reason Takumi disapproves as well. It does seem to make an average person's life quite useless and controlling technology prevents people from having better lives. Especially if you consider that it wasn't until modern times that most people didn't have to do back-breaking labor to grow enough food for everyone to eat, now only a few can feed all while we pursue whatever we want to do.

Eclipze

2006-01-14, 02:42

piccolo

2006-01-14, 03:10

When I received an email from one of the forum members, informing me that Tomoe’s minions were going to rape Arika, I was shocked. Shocked because although I disliked her greatly, I kept giving Tomoe the benefit of a doubt - something she obviously didn’t deserve - and played the devil’s advocate with most of you. I argued that Tomoe wouldn’t have done this or that, that there was just not enough evidence and that decisions were based on emotions and inference, but not facts.

Seeing the error of my ways and the refutable evidence brought forth in this episode, I now ponder as to what motivates Tomoe, and how come she has so much power of Miya. Something sees amiss here and I wonder what it is. I made the suggestion that she was in league with either Schwartz, Black Valley, or some other association. Aside from the humorous replies that she should, therefore, activate a crystal so that we can be rid of her, once and for all, I wonder, truly, if there is merit behind my suggestion.

From what I understand, Tomoe is from Windbloom. And she is desiring to become an Otome. Although somewhat clouded by her infatuation with Shizuru Viola, one would think that her interests do lie with Windbloom - whatever they may be. Could it be that she thinks of Arika a threat in that department too? After all, Arika is a nobody. She grew up in a remote place probably not even on the map, and has little association with Windbloom. How could Arika have the best interest in regards to Windbloom?

Aside from trying to find alternate reasons for Tomoe’s hatred towards Arika, for I think this is way beyond just simple jealousy, I also ponder what power that girl has that makes Miya and four ruffians do her every whim? Just what is she’s hiding? And don’t those ruffians remember Nao’s threat the last time they walked on her turf? What coerced them?

Rakshasa

2006-01-14, 03:17

See, thats what I dont get: right now, we humans know that a king/queen dictatorship system isn't really effective, and yet in the future, the colonist choose this system?

And there was 0 signs of a goverment system being used, I wonder why...
Ignoring the part about humans not being rational creatures...

A democratic system is not per definition more efficient than a monarchy, and it can be argued that in hard environments and with small populations monarchy/dictatorship may be more efficient and safer. Decisions are made quicker and unpopular ones are more likely to go through.

In the mai-otome world they may have more advanced technology, but that is being controlled by a few people and/or institutions. The rest has regressed quite significantly.

Eclipze

2006-01-14, 04:07

Well, I just find it irrational that humans in the future would revert completely to monarchy system, rather than having a variety of ideaologies(sp?), they all stick to just 1?:eyebrow:

Tokkan

2006-01-14, 04:20

Right now, in our real-time world, the only "king/queen" that exist is probably that of England. And I believe England, although having king/queen, is still ruled with democratic rules, not the rules that existed during the kings/queen era hundreds of years ago.

Yes, we call that a "Constitutional Monarchy." In that kind of system, all power is held by parliament and the monarch has next to no power, being just a figurehead.

I'm pretty sure Aries is a Republican Democracy like the USA (Not a "Democratic Republic" (which is another name for Communist State)). And I know for a fact that Garderobe is run democratically.

Anh_Minh

2006-01-14, 04:33

And I know for a fact that Garderobe is run democratically.
How so?

Right now, in our real-time world, the only "king/queen" that exist is probably that of England.
I'm sure the queens and kings of Spain and Sweden, to name a few, will be very glad to know they don't exist.

Also, I don't see how a return to monarchy is completely absurd - if the colonists' society broke down at some point, warlords could have arisen and started their dynasties.

Lackadaisical

2006-01-14, 04:43

The monarchies of the Mai-Otome world are more or less logical.

How do monarchies get in place? Do citizens vote and grant a family rights to rule the country for as long as the family can hold onto power?

Of course, this is not how monarchies come to power. Monarchies are founded by whoever is the strongest soldier, thug, or barbarian around.

Now imagine you cross the galaxy and land on an untamed planet. The only tools on hand are those you brought with you. After crossing space your food and water are probably running out and you will need to tame the land quickly to survive.

Who controls the food? The water? The tools needed to farm and build? In many cases like during the medieval era were petty warlords carved out kingdoms by force, whoever controlled the security personnel and whatever military equipment the settlers possessed quickly took control once on the ground. There would have been no congress or executive branch to dictate policy. Lacking any political structure, just like the situation in Europe after the dark ages, to get in their way, the people who controlled military force would gain power.

Were these people generals sent into space from whatever country started the colonization project? Were they mere security guards who gained power through charisma or force? Perhaps buisness leaders who funded enough of the colonization project that the soldiers or guards were in their employ?

Either way, these types of people would have quickly gained power. A few colonies would by the efforts of the colonists remain democratic and some might have been military run and guided from the start. What are the odds that the first shogun of Zipang was the original leader of the colony ship they arrived on?

In this way, it can be assumed that monarchies would be the most likely government structure, as those with power upon arriving would gain power and pass power on to their descendants.

babuji

2006-01-14, 04:46

How so?

I'm sure the queens and kings of Spain and Sweden, to name a few, will be very glad to know they don't exist.

Also, I don't see how a return to monarchy is completely absurd - if the colonists' society broke down at some point, warlords could have arisen and started their dynasties.

Don't forget that Japan also have monarchy until today. And for the warlords rising and start a dynasty would be natural since kingdom that exist are mostly based on this single factor.

Vallen Chaos Valiant

2006-01-14, 04:52

Well, I just find it irrational that humans in the future would revert completely to monarchy system, rather than having a variety of ideaologies(sp?), they all stick to just 1?:eyebrow:
Actually, there are multiple political systems in the Mai-Otome Universe. Haruka's nation has an elected leader, for example (Yukio, the president of the Republic).

Negi's nation is ran under an Aristocracy, with Negi as the "Grand Duke" rather than the King. (i.e. he is the most important person because he is the most politically powerful of the nobles, not because of his birth-right.)

Oh, by the way, an example of modern thriving Monarchy is Denmark. The Crown Prince got himself an Australian bride (and male heir) recently, and the population in Denmark is quite happy with the government.

Tokkan

2006-01-14, 04:56

How so?

The council is basically what runs the school. And it's made up of single representatives from each of the countries who use otome, which are usually either their embassadors or their actual political leaders. If you remember, the decision to both admit Arika's enrollment and not expell Nina was one decided by them.

Pazu

2006-01-14, 05:09

Seeing the error of my ways and the refutable evidence brought forth in this episode, I now ponder as to what motivates Tomoe, and how come she has so much power of Miya. Something sees amiss here and I wonder what it is. I made the suggestion that she was in league with either Schwartz, Black Valley, or some other association. Aside from the humorous replies that she should, therefore, activate a crystal so that we can be rid of her, once and for all, I wonder, truly, if there is merit behind my suggestion.

[...]

Aside from trying to find alternate reasons for Tomoe’s hatred towards Arika, for I think this is way beyond just simple jealousy, I also ponder what power that girl has that makes Miya and four ruffians do her every whim? Just what is she’s hiding? And don’t those ruffians remember Nao’s threat the last time they walked on her turf? What coerced them?

well, it is very possible that Tomoe is cooperating with for example Schwartz, or will be in the future. But main reason for her existence is

to induce some interesting ShizNat interactions

so, ave Tomoe...
and then die.

Eclipze

2006-01-14, 06:05

I'm sure the queens and kings of Spain and Sweden, to name a few, will be very glad to know they don't exist.

Also, I don't see how a return to monarchy is completely absurd - if the colonists' society broke down at some point, warlords could have arisen and started their dynasties.
Sorry, forgot to mention that Im a 16 year old brat who knows shit in terms of details in politics. I am only discussing based on what is given here.

The thing is: The world of Mai Otome, to me, looks like Twelve Kingdoms (the anime) with advanced nano technology. The only thing that gives a "futuristic" feel would be the Otomes, even the cars look like they're from the 1900's or something.

Afterall, its just my opinion, and a non-imposing one I might add. It just doesn't fit well with me that there seem to no resemblence to something that is more recent than monarchy (with the exception VCV gave of Yukino).

GS/GSD is suppose to show the future as well, yet they retain the fundamentals that people of current times know can work. Monarchy, even though is not impossible, is seemingly less-effective, and bring about wars more often due to power-struggles.

LonelyWolf

2006-01-14, 06:20

Eclipze

2006-01-14, 06:25

I've been reading...and reading...and reading and then I wondered.
Some people micro-analyze every aspect of the series, but did the creators actually think that far ahead? As to forms of government etc. Didn't they all just put it together without having given it much thought?

Just wondering...
Well, I said this before, and I will say it again:

Members of AF sometimes just think too deeply. Its not a bad thing, but can go very off-course sometimes.

But it still feels weird that the future in Otome, while being supposedly "our" future, looks more like 500years ago's monarchy, with high tech equipments, as opposed to the future that the gundam franchise show us.

LonelyWolf

2006-01-14, 06:41

But it still feels weird that...
I hope the answers we're seeking are not convoluted like *cough cough* in some other series. :eyespin:

Eclipze

2006-01-14, 06:43

"But it still feels weird that..."
I hope the answers we're seeking are not convoluted like *cough cough* in some other series. :eyespin:
Heh, its just a reference.;)

Anh_Minh

2006-01-14, 06:52

The council is basically what runs the school. And it's made up of single representatives from each of the countries who use otome, which are usually either their embassadors or their actual political leaders. If you remember, the decision to both admit Arika's enrollment and not expell Nina was one decided by them.
That sounds more like a sockholder commitee running a corporation than a sovereign country run democratically.

If it was a democracy, representants of the ones ruled over (that'd be the personel and students, not the assorted countries sending ambassadors to fill council) would be the ones in charge. I could, barely, accept that the students don't get votes on the basis that they're children, but that's it. (And considering the overwhelming number of students compared to the number of "adults", I'd be queasy at even that.) Note, not even active Meister Otome could vote, since their loyalty is supposed to be to their masters rather than to the school.

Anh_Minh

2006-01-14, 06:55

But it still feels weird that the future in Otome, while being supposedly "our" future, looks more like 500years ago's monarchy, with high tech equipments, as opposed to the future that the gundam franchise show us.
Orb seems to be an oligarchy. Scandinavia's a monarchy.

Eclipze

2006-01-14, 07:19

Orb seems to be an oligarchy. Scandinavia's a monarchy.
Must I stress that my general knowledge is limited by what is shown on TV?

The thing is, the monarchy in MO is not just the system, but also castles. Castles being used in the future, using traditional-looking designs doesn't sound futuristic to me.

Vallen Chaos Valiant

2006-01-14, 07:35

Must I stress that my general knowledge is limited by what is shown on TV?

The thing is, the monarchy in MO is not just the system, but also castles. Castles being used in the future, using traditional-looking designs doesn't sound futuristic to me.
Have you forgotten about such a thing as culture?

People use traditional designs for one simple reason; tradition. These people have records of the "old days", and know what a castle is "suppose" to look like. There is a reason Disneyland has a castle.

And what "Futuristic" designs have you got in mind? Blade-runner?

The castles are obviously decorative, with the intention of showing off the ruler's status, and not designed for military defence. Whatever that can defeat an Otome won't be stopped by stone walls or even blast-doors 5 feet thick.

Anh_Minh

2006-01-14, 08:18

I don't know about that. It'd depend on their technological level, now and, more importantly, at the time the castles were built. Otome can't have been involved in every conflict, since they are few, and unless the other guy has artillery that can destroy your walls in short order, a fortified castle is a reasonable thing to have.

I agree that, from what we've seen, Mashiro's palace seem more decorative than defensible.

Eclipze

2006-01-14, 08:24

Natuki's office is futuristic enough for me...not some stone made building that cant really serve as a defensive structure.

Forget it, I give up the arguement. I'll just be a quiet little boy and watch MO in peace.

Kieli

2006-01-14, 10:27

I have to say, Arika's thoughtless comment may have fanned the flames against her as far as Tomoe is concerned. If Miya had ANY doubts, guilty feelings, whatever after what happened during the hike, they're gone now making her very pliable for Tomoe. She didn't have to do or say a thing to Miya this time to get her to do something to Arika. Miya probably wanted revenge for Arika's seeming callousness. Granted, Arika simply does not really understand politics and is too wrapped up in these ridiculous feelings to get a grip as to what is going on around her. But she really needs to start getting a filter for her mouth. I'm severly disappointed in her this ep. And after all of Sergay telling her she should keep Souten no Seigyoku under wraps, she has it out for half the world to see. Bah! I wanted to poke her with a pointy stick. I love Arika to pieces but DAMN woman get a grip!

The more I look at Mashiro's lethargy and Arika's lethargy the more I think this bond between them runs deeper than their contract would suggest. Someone posted a twin theory and I'd have to admit, that would make sense. Twins tend to share a lot of things from mood to taste in clothing. Mashiro is probably upset about Takumi and Arika is feeling the effects, which totally confuses this issue surrounding them.

Youko's stunned look about the mention of Aswald worries me just a little but....I'll leave it for now.