[Mai Otome] Episode 18 Discussion/Poll

[Catgirls]

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

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, enjoy yourself and remember to tip the wait staff. =^.^=


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...

Nina was a member of Front 242.

...you'll get this...

Nina was a member of Front 242.
Please remember that only moderators can start the episode discussion threads every week. Cheers. :)

[Timeless Enigma]

The aftermath of the nuclear explosion unfolds upon Windbloom...

What are the results of

Arika Yumemiya vs. Nina Wang
The Fated Battle, Round 2
:heh:

Actually I'm more interested in what'll happen to Sergay now... hm... can The North Hound overcome all odds and avert the fate of both Otome?

Find out next time on Otome TV!

[Tremalkinger]

I think we can safely assume that everyone didn't get vaporized. That would be fairly anticlimatic. Other than that... well... I'm not going to even try and theorize. I was fairly certain that Erstin would be one of the last to die, and we all know how that turned out.

[Diodati]

I think we can safely assume that everyone didn't get vaporized. That would be fairly anticlimatic. Other than that... well... I'm not going to even try and theorize. I was fairly certain that Erstin would be one of the last to die, and we all know how that turned out.
Yeah well, you also guessed completely right about her being somewhat 'dubious' in loyalties. :)

To me, last episode was predictable in convention but hopefully now the show is able to proceed in any various unexpected direction. I do *not* want Aoi to die though (wah), and this better be a Natsuki drenched episode otherwise I'll seriously weep blood.

[MattAlchemy]

That explosion of both of them at the end inspired me, that's what makes me want to watch Episode 18. I want to see all the Otome's expressions when they saw that, or who got hurt.

[Diodati]

Remember that picture frame that Arika held up of Erstin?


http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/9513/11394356596720as.th.jpg (http://img204.imageshack.us/my.php?image=11394356596720as.jpg)

Enthusiasm has now been replaced with trepidation.

[ChaosWing]

Remember that picture frame that Arika held up of Erstin?


http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/9513/11394356596720as.th.jpg (http://img204.imageshack.us/my.php?image=11394356596720as.jpg)

Enthusiasm has now been replaced with trepidation.

Haha. Yes, that is clearly an altered image.

I love your avatar, Enigma.

[Catgirls]

Remember that picture frame that Arika held up of Erstin?


http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/9513/11394356596720as.th.jpg (http://img204.imageshack.us/my.php?image=11394356596720as.jpg)

Enthusiasm has now been replaced with trepidation.Yeah, that's a pretty bad Photoshop™ job. Look around her hands carefully. Especially her fingers that cross the picture. Rough cut. ;)

Well, I think Episode 18 will bring about all the insanity one could possibly want. I also expect a decent cliff-hanger ending or I'll burn my bra.

[Kieli]

I also expect a decent cliff-hanger ending or I'll burn my bra.
Now THAT would be worth the price of admission right there. :heh:

Ep 18 had better be Natsuki-centric. That's all I have to say. As much as I am a Shizuru-slave, I'm missing the wicked coolness of Gakuenchou. And PLEASE let Erstin's death not have been in vain.

[EnseiSong]

I guess because of the perview for this episode ended with Aoi.... the people at 2chan are thinking "SHE WILL DIE!!!" something like that..... maybe....

[Diodati]

Yeah, that's a pretty bad Photoshop™ job. Look around her hands carefully. Especially her fingers that cross the picture. Rough cut.
Nearly as rough as my eyes? Bah you don't expect me to know the difference - I never have and I doubt I ever will - plus it's 5am, crew!

EDIT: Actually, I figured out the Tate/Natsuki/Shizuru/Maria from last week - one per month is my limit.

Ahhh k', trepidation replaced by enthusiasm. I'm not posting again in here now.

I still think it's very possible, based on the fact that so many people think its possible - Sunrise have adhered to that 'worked-out predicability', so I'm going to remain pessimistic so I can be pleasantly surprised. Because y'know if Aoi dies then I'm counting down to when the rest of the 'shoujo-ai' characters do as well...


Ep 18 had better be Natsuki-centric. That's all I have to say. As much as I am a Shizuru-slave, I'm missing the wicked coolness of Gakuenchou.
The bandages make her look tough. ^_~ Awww bless.

[MattAlchemy]

I guess because of the perview for this episode ended with Aoi.... the people at 2chan are thinking "SHE WILL DIE!!!" something like that..... maybe....
Did you see her face? It looks like if someone stabbed her and she had her last words with a smile"I'm sorry" Or"Bye..." And yes, with a smile like most I seen before.

Or either she's crying because Mashiro died. NAH NEVER.

[Sakuya]

That explosion of both of them at the end inspired me, that's what makes me want to watch Episode 18. I want to see all the Otome's expressions when they saw that, or who got hurt.

I'll be so disappointed if when just in the first 10 seconds of episode 18, someone stops their fighting and they go their separate ways and then the rest of the episode is devoted to more plot development. :uhoh:

[Zilveari]

Well obviously this episode won't end the fight between Nina and Arika. The blast probably forced them both to back off. I highly doubt Nagi wants the two of them to destroy the joint... at least not yet. He still hasn't done his political crap.

Then in the preview we see Natsuki all bandaged, getting pwnt by Miyu. And Mashiro wandering through the desert... how the hell does she get way out there? And alone?

[Sakuya]

Poor Mashiro. She finds out she's not the Queen AND loses everything. :(

[MattAlchemy]

Poor Mashiro. She finds out she's not the Queen AND loses everything. :(
I feel sorry for her. Well, for episode18, it's back to her room again.:heh:

[Blaat]

I hope Mai appears at the end of the episode :)

[Bloody]

and I hope we can see some Mikoto (in human) in action :D

[Ghostring]

whao i wonder how mashiro feel now that she find out that shes really is a fake princess.... >.< and i wanna see mikoto in human form 2 =) if there is

[Nightengale]

Call me an evil bastard if you want, but...

I demand we get the cliche~ish "Boo Farewell of a Leader" and the "Rock Throws till the Forehead Bleed" scene!!!!!!

Just a mere Aoi "Goodbye with Tears" scene is...too plain. :eyebrow:

[Vallen Chaos Valiant]

Call me an evil bastard if you want, but...

I demand we get the cliche~ish "Boo Farewell of a Leader" and the "Rock Throws till the Forehead Bleed" scene!!!!!!

Just a mere Aoi "Goodbye with Tears" scene is...too plain. :eyebrow:
Oh, don't worry about that. Mashiro is escaping with a bunch of other refugees, and they would be swearing and cursing about their useless ruler every step of the way.

[ShinigamiRukia]

I really hope Aoi doesnt die, it was bad enough with watching ERESTINE die. How could they do that when she won in that charcter poll they did?

[Qbi Sannin]

I think Aoi is in tears because Mashiro told her to leave due to the fact that since she isn't queen...she doesnt need to take orders from her ANYMORE. And Aoi is CRYING because I think she does care for Mashiro...PROBABLY THE ONLY ONE who cares for Mashiro in that whole place.

[Aidan]

I'm looking forward to this episode because Mashiro (hopefully) will get center stage. I love how she reacts when she realizes she's done things the wrong way, in the case being a not so good leader. Poor Mashiro having to forgo her childhood for the sake of ruling a country, having to growup so fast so soon.

[Guido]

I think Aoi is in tears because Mashiro told her to leave due to the fact that since she isn't queen...she doesnt need to take orders from her ANYMORE. And Aoi is CRYING because I think she does care for Mashiro...PROBABLY THE ONLY ONE who cares for Mashiro in that whole place.

I'm thinking the same as you.

Sergey's sudden disclosure to Nagi coupled with the explosion of the two Meisters: Arika + Nina will pay some trauma on little Mashiro.

Mashiro had that complex of the 'fake princess' ever since little Nagi insinuated that. Her depression level should rise to the roof after witnessing her homeland in partial shambles.

Aoi will try to cheer her or give some hope, but Mashiro rude and violently will slap them away yelling that she's no queen ever.

By the way, I'm wondering what kind of bureaucratic process or political scam Nagi should pull out to justify Artai's troop occupying Windbloom to the rest of the countries.

[Sageblink]

I'm thinking the same as you.

Sergey's sudden disclosure to Nagi coupled with the explosion of the two Meisters: Arika + Nina will pay some trauma on little Mashiro.

Mashiro had that complex of the 'fake princess' ever since little Nagi insinuated that. Her depression level should rise to the roof after witnessing her homeland in partial shambles.

Aoi will try to cheer her or give some hope, but Mashiro rude and violently will slap them away yelling that she's no queen ever.

By the way, I'm wondering what kind of bureaucratic process or political scam Nagi should pull out to justify Artai's troop occupying Windbloom to the rest of the countries.


Hum, maybe the pact between Arika and her?
Arika has no right to become a Meinster.
The fact she doesn't represent a particular country could be use by mashiro to "increase" her kingdom power.

Nagi could lie, assuming that Mashiro was ready to take over Artai?

[Kenji_Chaos]

i am still putting my bet that mashiro might b the princess..
i just dont know y...
hmm do u think arika and mashiro will get to meet bacn one another in thie epi?

[friendshipz]

hopefully sergey makes a great mistake in his investigation for who is the real queen, i still speculate mashiro is the real qreen(believe strongly :mad: ), as for starting of the 2nd opening theme , it shows that mashiro had approve arika to materialise, this scene still remain to me as the queen(mashiro) and her otome(arika) but not the otome/queen(arika) wif a android(mashiro) or something...

btw talks about sergey..this guy are really a pain to me watching mai otome..his "yashashi" charactistic attitude create chaos between the person he had cared and also the ppl who loved him..
He seduce two naive kids for his own gd..by consiously or unconiously,directly or indirectly.he is the first person attend to be kind towards nina and saved her, and he is also the first "male" who being kind to arika and saved her too in 2 cases...

i agreed partially from peston theory,he is not defending nina, as many ppl had comment on nina from being vicious out of sudden jealousy, right at start she didnt treat arika as friend ,she is still 15 and the feeling of being betray and went berserk is inevitable..
all i can blame is sergey...all his fault..his fault...

u can say am being bias towards the otome but extremely nagetive toward sergey i would admit that..wont deny..maybe the reason lays on me as i don like guys..o_0
everyone had their stand,if u like this person , no matter how bad this person is, u will dig out whatever virtual the person have at least, if u hate the person , no matter how wiseman he is , u will dig out all the defect he has and voice it..this is an psycology thought..

and lasty...plz let mai appear... hope that he is on the side of windbloom and garderode

[Xellos-_^]

By the way, I'm wondering what kind of bureaucratic process or political scam Nagi should pull out to justify Artai's troop occupying Windbloom to the rest of the countries.

Possesion is 9/10 of the law. He can make some lame excuse like mashiro is missing and wanted to create political stability. Of course none of it explain how the Artai Army just happen to streaming toward Windbloom in the first place. And most countries probably he is in league with Schwartz. They aren't likely to free windbloom form Artai until they have a alliance in place and have some idea of the actual strength of Schwartz and Artai.

[Guido]

Possesion is 9/10 of the law. He can make some lame excuse like mashiro is missing and wanted to create political stability. Of course none of it explain how the Artai Army just happen to streaming toward Windbloom in the first place. And most countries probably he is in league with Schwartz. They aren't likely to free windbloom form Artai until they have a alliance in place and have some idea of the actual strength of Schwartz and Artai.

That's what I wanted to politically conveyed.

Wouldn't seem suspicious that Artai's happen how they knew Windbloom was under Schwarz attack?

More suspicious would be why did Schwarz troops backed down easily when Artai commenced to deploy their troops throughout Windbloom?

Those concerned the most with Artai's occupation of Windbloom will be the countries having political bonds and good relations with Windbloom.

However, other countries like Carltreya and Florence will just stand by and watch to gather any useful information for them to be advantageous and waiting for the moment to be ripe to seek for a convenient alliance.

[EnseiSong]

Did you see her face? It looks like if someone stabbed her and she had her last words with a smile"I'm sorry" Or"Bye..." And yes, with a smile like most I seen before.

Or either she's crying because Mashiro died. NAH NEVER.

Oh come on! Don't say that, if she died.... what will happen to Chie...TT_TT

[lilith1013]

Crap, voted in the wrong poll. Any one know how I can change a ballot for an episode rating?

I thought I was in the Episode 17 discussion forum.

SIGH...that's what I get for missing out on my morning cup of java.

[Catgirls]

Crap, voted in the wrong poll. Any one know how I can change a ballot for an episode rating?

I thought I was in the Episode 17 discussion forum.

SIGH...that's what I get for missing out on my morning cup of java.All I can do is remove the number (the vote count), but your screen name will remain. It might interfere with your ability to revote in this poll. I'll check with an Admin and see what I can do. Cheers. :)

[SoldierOfDarkness]

That's what I wanted to politically conveyed.

Wouldn't seem suspicious that Artai's happen how they knew Windbloom was under Schwarz attack?

More suspicious would be why did Schwarz troops backed down easily when Artai commenced to deploy their troops throughout Windbloom?

Those concerned the most with Artai's occupation of Windbloom will be the countries having political bonds and good relations with Windbloom.

However, other countries like Carltreya and Florence will just stand by and watch to gather any useful information for them to be advantageous and waiting for the moment to be ripe to seek for a convenient alliance.

True except it's as Xello's has explained. Artai's military is no doubt extensive as noted by Nao, add to that with the fact they have a strong Otome as well.

Artai is also in control of Windbloom, so if they want to fight back they'll need an alliance and a strong military to counter him. So in other words, they'll wait until the moment to strike is right.

I'm not so sure of Schwarz assisting publicy either because then that would undermine the people's trust in Nagi when they find out the truth.

[lilith1013]

All I can do is remove the number (the vote count), but your screen name will remain. It might interfere with your ability to revote in this poll. I'll check with an Admin and see what I can do. Cheers. :)


Thanks, appreciate it.


Coffee: Don't leave home without it. ;)

[EnseiSong]

More to come....
http://dat.2chan.net/18/res/2262626.htm

[Efreeta]

One of the links for today's episode:
http://dat.2chan.net/18/res/2262626.htm

Edit: EnseiSong, I posted my message a minute after you, I hadn't seen yours... Gomen ;)

[SoldierOfDarkness]

No offense really but those two windbloom soldiers look like their excercising on bikes (The ones that don't move) in the middle of the desert.

[EnseiSong]

One of the links for today's episode:
http://dat.2chan.net/18/res/2262626.htm

Edit: EnseiSong, I posted my message a minute after you, I hadn't seen yours... Gomen ;)

mah, it's cool.... do you know the other one from 2chan? I know there is another one... but I forgot where...

[ShinigamiRukia]

Haha, Nao and Natsuki and Haruka are awsomein this episode, very funny!

My fave pic so far
http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/4645/1139503129425ff975gj.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[paTKany]

mah, it's cool.... do you know the other one from 2chan? I know there is another one... but I forgot where...
http://nov.2chan.net/24/res/237985.htm

[EnseiSong]

Thank You~~

[suckoja]

Look's like a filler episode so far. Nina is kinda cute in this episode!

[SoldierOfDarkness]

bleh I'm having trouble seeing through which of these pics are fake and whatnot, especially the one with mai.

[EnseiSong]

That one is fake...

REALLY?! SHE REALLY DID DIE?! OMG WHAT THE HELLL!!!!!

[ShinigamiRukia]

WHAT the hell..they set aoi on fire??? or is it fake?

[IchiKyo]

For Me
Every Pics we see Mai will be a Fake...
Simply because to find Mai...
We have to talk with Jipangu first...
And a lot of condition to meet Mai...
So i think it is not on this Episode we see Mai...

shinigamiRukia-> Look they take Aoi for a Witch... Who Said Salem? Where Mikoto?

[EnseiSong]

uu.... yes. This episodes will be good.... sad good.... I still can't understand why they did that....

[ShinigamiRukia]

shinigamiRukia-> Look they take Aoi for a Witch... Who Said Salem? Where Mikoto?
O_O Dear lord..are you serious? they mistake her for a...? plz no more killing people TT_TT

[EnseiSong]

For Me
Every Pics we see Mai will be a Fake...
Simply because to find Mai...
We have to talk with Jipangu first...
And a lot of condition to meet Mai...
So i think it is not on this Episode we see Mai...

shinigamiRukia-> Look they take Aoi for a Witch... Who Said Salem? Where Mikoto?

I'm assuming you are watch the episode and not looking at the pictures from 2chan? If you are watching it... can you explain to me the:

Who Said Salem? Where Mikoto?

[SoldierOfDarkness]

Regarding Aoi, I don't get it, why? Is it because she's Mashiro's maid or something?

And what's with all the spoiler tags? I mean this is suppose to be about episode 18 so obviously it's a spoiler.:eyebrow:

[Guido]

Did Aoi die in this episode?

Don't cliffhanging me in suspense.

[ShinigamiRukia]

Regarding Aoi, I don't get it, why? Is it because she's Mashiro's maid or something?

And what's with all the spoiler tags? I mean this is suppose to be about episode 18 so obviously it's a spoiler.:eyebrow:

I guess you have a point about all the spoiler tags:heh: i'm also still wondering what happens to aoi ><

[EnseiSong]

Did Aoi die in this episode?

Don't cliffhanging me in suspense.


She really did.... that's why Mashiro was alone in the end... she didn't go with the group she was with in this episode. At least that's what the people at 2chan sounded like that was what happened.

[Jet_Maeden]

Did Aoi die in this episode?

Don't cliffhanging me in suspense.



yup http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/8237/11395041892116dz.th.jpg (http://img247.imageshack.us/my.php?image=11395041892116dz.jpg)

[IchiKyo]

No EnseiSong I refer for the Legend Of The Witch And the legend Of Salem for the Comparaison With Aoi... And Salem for Mikoto...

[Diodati]

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/7496/11395040343325vt.th.jpg (http://img407.imageshack.us/my.php?image=11395040343325vt.jpg)

Chie is in the preview for next ep which isn't really a good sign....The place seems to be filled out with 'memorial' pictures.....nooooooooooooooooo.

Are we definitely sure she's not just severely injured - I've yet to see a pic which confirms her body as ''dead''.

EDIT: Delusion.....:(

[EnseiSong]

No EnseiSong I refer for the Legend Of The Witch And the legend Of Salem for the Comparaison With Aoi... And Salem for Mikoto...
Ah~ My mistake, lol!! I didn't see that on 2chan and you said something about that, so i got confused :heh:

[Xellos-_^]

I'm not so sure of Schwarz assisting publicy either because then that would undermine the people's trust in Nagi when they find out the truth.

Schwartz don't have to publicly support Nagi. All they have to do some hit and run attacks on other countries to keep them off bablance. Everyone knows Nagi is league with Schwartz but until they get acutal proof theres nothing they can do. And with schwartz stirring up trouble everywhere, everyone is going to look up shoring up thier own countries first before making a move against Artai in Windbloom.

[ShinigamiRukia]

No EnseiSong I refer for the Legend Of The Witch And the legend Of Salem for the Comparaison With Aoi... And Salem for Mikoto...
OH That confused me, actually had me thinking they did mistake her for a witch and did that because they thought she was a witch or something like that ><''

[Nagumo]

It's mostly due to lack of water that they couldn't figure out if she weighed less than a duck by throwing her in say a river or a pond... how unforunate.

[SoldierOfDarkness]

Schwartz don't have to publicly support Nagi. All they have to do some hit and run attacks on other countries to keep them off bablance. Everyone knows Nagi is league with Schwartz but until they get acutal proof theres nothing they can do. And with schwartz stirring up trouble everywhere, everyone is going to look up shoring up thier own countries first before making a move against Artai in Windbloom.

No actually I was talking about having SLAVEs defend Windbloom but the other works as well I suppose.

Though I'm thinking something from the opening is gonna happen, when Arika and co. attack Windbloom and have to go through an army of SLAVES.

:heh: If that's gonna happen the population of Windbloom is gonna go down really drastically.

[Xellos-_^]

No actually I was talking about having SLAVEs defend Windbloom but the other works as well I suppose.

Though I'm thinking something from the opening is gonna happen, when Arika and co. attack Windbloom and have to go through an army of SLAVES.

:heh: If that's gonna happen the population of Windbloom is gonna go down really drastically.

I am guessing thats where Mai comes into play.

[friendshipz]

are we gonna c chie went berserk this time round other than shizuru??

so fast i went to for an Q&A for de preivew of 19...

[Guido]

I'm more inclined to conjecture that Schwarz operates undercover or has operatives throughout all the countries.

So there's no need for them to perform an assault, they can just simply order their operatives to strike on small terrorist attacks to keep that particular nation's government and defense department busy.

[EnseiSong]

No actually I was talking about having SLAVEs defend Windbloom but the other works as well I suppose.

Though I'm thinking something from the opening is gonna happen, when Arika and co. attack Windbloom and have to go through an army of SLAVES.

:heh: If that's gonna happen the population of Windbloom is gonna go down really drastically.


If there are that sh*t load of people going to die..... YAY FOR RESET?!?!!?:heh:

[Xellos-_^]

Now i haven't seen the raw yet but base on the stuff form 2chan. Would Mashiro ever able to go back to Windbloom? Even if Arika doesn't make a dispute over the throne or Mashiro is proven to be the Real princess afterall. Base on the people's reaction to her would they ever accept her back as thier ruler? The cannon thing was the last straw but there was already a hugh discontent with mashiro before all this crap. So even if Arika and co beats Nagi, artai and schwartz would Mashiro still be queen of windbloom :eyebrow: And more importantly if Arika was proven to be the real princess would Mashiro tell people that and what would the general reaction be the Warrior Princess.

[Efreeta]

Nagi sitting at Natsuki's desk in the preview for ep. 19 is a very annoying scene... I guess next episode will show us more clearly what's the situation in Garderobe.
Considering only the screenshots, episode 18 seems indeed a rather slow-paced one...

[suckoja]

Nagi sitting at Natsuki's desk in the preview for ep. 19 is a very annoying image... I guess next episode will show us more clearly what's the situation over there.
About this one, it seems indeed a rather slow-paced episode...
Agree. They give us a rush hour in last episode. But now they tune everything down to earth (desert you could say). What are SUNRISE thinking here? :eyespin:

[Jet_Maeden]

Nagi sitting at Natsuki's desk in the preview for ep. 19 is a very annoying scene... I guess next episode will show us more clearly what's the situation in Garderobe.
Considering only the screenshots, episode 18 seems indeed a rather slow-paced one...

Ahm...and what happened with Shizuru? Captured?:upset:

[Xellos-_^]

Looks like i was right. Arika is back home in obaachan's place.

[Ansa]

Summery must come out already O_O



So is Aoi really dead or not?

[Xellos-_^]

Summery must come out already O_O



So is Aoi really dead or not?



looks like it

[AMon10A]

Judging from the shots of Nina on the 2chan boards, I wonder what Nagi or whoever told her to make her suddenly jump back into Sergay's arms, then again she made just be thrilled that her competion for him is gone.

[roon]

I really hope those 2chan folks are randomly saying "rape" for no reason instead of in reply to the pictures of Aoi. >_>

[SoldierOfDarkness]

Judging from the shots of Nina on the 2chan boards, I wonder what Nagi or whoever told her to make her suddenly jump back into Sergay's arms, then again she made just be thrilled that her competion for him is gone.

Until we get a summary I'll assume it's what Nagi told her in the previous engagment. He'll forgive Sergay if she stops Arika and co.

Not to mention Nina wasn't exactly angry at Sergay but at Arika for "stealing" him from her. Since Arika is gone she has SErgay all to herself :p

All we need now is Mai to enter and captivate Sergay's heart. THen Rena and then we'll have a what? 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 love pentagon :heh:

[Iron Maw]

Screenshot Collage
http://img429.imageshack.us/img429/2029/11395063442551zp.jpg
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/9444/11395065423283cq.jpg

Aoi really is... dead.

[Ichy]

Screenshot Collage
http://img429.imageshack.us/img429/2029/11395063442551zp.jpg
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/9444/11395065423283cq.jpg

Aoi really is... dead.

poor Aoi... :(

[SpeedRcrX]

OMG they burn poor Aoi ????
http://img308.imageshack.us/img308/6168/11395039740021fr.th.jpg (http://img308.imageshack.us/my.php?image=11395039740021fr.jpg)

Well somethings never change
http://img308.imageshack.us/img308/2973/11395029453926tc.th.jpg (http://img308.imageshack.us/my.php?image=11395029453926tc.jpg)

Nao's the one to cook "KiyoHime" ???
http://img308.imageshack.us/img308/8408/1139502969345802e2rs.th.jpg (http://img308.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1139502969345802e2rs.jpg)

Poor Natsuki !
http://img308.imageshack.us/img308/986/11395029836502jz.th.jpg] (http://img308.imageshack.us/my.php?image=11395029836502jz.jpg)

I like this trio
http://img308.imageshack.us/img308/3893/113950298843754f39dz.th.jpg (http://img308.imageshack.us/my.php?image=113950298843754f39dz.jpg)

Haruka is too funny
http://img308.imageshack.us/img308/1536/113950312410536431wd.th.jpg (http://img308.imageshack.us/my.php?image=113950312410536431wd.jpg)

Miyu is so cool !
http://img308.imageshack.us/img308/6550/11395031774696xg.th.jpg (http://img308.imageshack.us/my.php?image=11395031774696xg.jpg)

Midori can only be one of the good guy !
http://img308.imageshack.us/img308/6315/11395043161686hx.th.jpg (http://img308.imageshack.us/my.php?image=11395043161686hx.jpg)



But where is Shizuru ??? :D

[Aidan]

Screenshot Collage
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/9444/11395065423283cq.jpg

Aoi really is... dead.

I hope those people get massacred. :frustrated:
Nagi had the right idea to kick them out.

[SpeedRcrX]

Screenshot Collage
http://img429.imageshack.us/img429/2029/11395063442551zp.jpg
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/9444/11395065423283cq.jpg


Well I sure someone save her, I have hope (come on, Chie !) :)
I guess I have my answer about Shizuru in the preview of ep 19

[Jet_Maeden]

Another Collage:
http://img350.imageshack.us/img350/4259/11395111854891lh.jpg

Poory Shizzy....all alone.
DAMMIT Natsuki go DO something for crissakes!!

[Diodati]

I hope those people get massacred. :frustrated:
Nagi had the right idea to kick them out.
Alright I'm not going to form too much of an opinion based on only screencaps BUT:

If that is literal then Aoi's death SUCKS. I love Aoi, so either way I wouldn't be keen on this unless there is a good function to it. It's likely she is dead but unless there is a body shown specifically (or a person green sparklies in front of us etc) then there is an easy door left open for her survival.

Afterall this whole process is to make Mashiro *suffer* (or to make Chie crazy) - so of course Aoi ''dying'' would do that - Mashiro's reactions say it all - but I would hate to think that Aoi really did die *just* for that. Talk about plot device...

Plus if she's dead, then today is a sad day for the shoujo-ai supporters.

So yup, not convinced yet.


Thanks for the preview Jet! Next week looks good (Shizuru, Tomoe [heh], Midori, Natsuki and Chie *swoons*) - Nao/Natsuki have landed in Nevada! And what on Earth is that in the first picture???

[Jet_Maeden]

Alright I'm not going to form too much of an opinion based on only screencaps BUT:

If that is literal then Aoi's death SUCKS. I love Aoi, so either way I wouldn't be keen on this unless there is a good function to it. It's likely she is dead but unless there is a body shown specifically (or a person green sparklies in front of us etc) then there is an easy door left open for her survival.

Afterall this whole process is to make Mashiro *suffer* (or to make Chie crazy) - so of course Aoi ''dying'' would do that - Mashiro's reactions say it all - but I would hate to think that Aoi really did die *just* for that. Talk about plot device...

Plus if she's dead, then today is a sad day for the shoujo-ai supporters.

So yup, not convinced yet.


Thanks for the preview Jet! Next week looks good (Shizuru, Tomoe [heh], Midori, Natsuki and Chie *swoons*) - Nao/Natsuki have landed in Nevada! And what on Earth is that in the first picture???

You know....that's a good question! What IS that THING in the first picture?
Something....that ate something?
Also about Aoi...I'm sure she's dead...there was no reason for Erstin to die either yet..she's..."Kaput" :( Sigh....you know how it is....everyone must die....and then come back for the picnic.

[Xellos-_^]

From the screen caps it did look like Shiho and several of the corals escape. So that means Chie escaped as well. And Natuski finally meets Miyu. Anyone care to post what miyu and natuski talk about?

[SpeedRcrX]

You know....that's a good question! What IS that THING in the first picture?
Something....that ate something?
Also about Aoi...I'm sure she's dead...there was no reason for Erstin to die either yet..she's..."Kaput" :( Sigh....you know how it is....everyone must die....and then come back for the picnic.

Something eligible to become someone's dinner ?? ;)

[Xellos-_^]

Something eligible to become someone's dinner ?? ;)

i wonder what Arika's reciept for that thing is :eyebrow:

[Aidan]

Also about Aoi...I'm sure she's dead...there was no reason for Erstin to die either yet..she's..."Kaput" :( Sigh....you know how it is....everyone must die....and then come back for the picnic.

I'm starting not to care about people's death anymore, they can't make it worse than Aoi for me. Sure Mashiro death would hurt, but what's Mashiro without Aoi. But as Jet_Maeden said, no body no confirmation. Mai could have saved her.

But still... http://i1.tinypic.com/nfo6sj.gif Aoi!!!!

[Vallen Chaos Valiant]

About Aoi...
from what I can tell, she was recognised as the maid of Mashiro, so the mob took out their anger on her. She either wants to accept her punishment/taking the blame for allowing the nation to be invaded and die (since she practically ran the country), or she was being interrogated on the location of Mashiro, and in order to protect Mashiro's identity from the mob she decided to kill herself. The refugees REALLY hated their former ruler.

There are consequences for one's actions, and all the bad things Mashiro had done in the past is coming back all at once to ruin her and all who associated with her...

This time, there is no joke. The maid had took the blame that rightfully belonged to Mashiro, and Mashiro can do nothing but watch her die. This might be the first time Mashiro realised how loyal those around her truly are.

[Aidan]

She's only 12 you know, what kind of people would give absolute rule to a 12 year old?

[Pazu]

You know....that's a good question! What IS that THING in the first picture?
Something....that ate something?

Probably we saw these white animals in first ep flying over desert.

[Iron Maw]

She's only 12 you know, what kind of people would give absolute rule to a 12 year old?

She's 15 actually, and there have been Kings as young as that before.

[Xellos-_^]

Probably we saw these white animals in first ep flying over desert.

They sure grow big and weren't they suppose to be good luck or something. That thing does not look like it is good luck to run into :eyebrow:

Aidan: Plenty, Check your history books.

[Vallen Chaos Valiant]

She's only 12 you know, what kind of people would give absolute rule to a 12 year old?
A few times in England? Plus Europe, a few times in China (a reign lasting mere minutes, usually), etc.

The surprise, of course, is that Aoi truly IS loyal enough to die for Mashiro.

And what kind of people would want to lynch a 12 (correction: 15) year old girl? Well, starving, thirsty refugees who didn't even have a slums to live in anymore, who hates said 15 year old to the gut. Someone had to sate their anger, and Aoi took on the sacrificial lamb role.

Chie isn't going to like it when she finds out.

[Diodati]

I'm starting not to care about people's death anymore, they can't make it worse than Aoi for me. Sure Mashiro death would hurt, but what's Mashiro without Aoi. But as Jet_Maeden said, no body no confirmation. Mai could have saved her.

But still... http://i1.tinypic.com/nfo6sj.gif Aoi!!!!
Jet said the opposite heh.

I think Vallen is right with the scenarios - but I still feel it's a predictable way of going about having Mashiro face up to the dark side of rulership. At least Erstin was shown dying on the screen - Aoi just jumps back into oblivion somewhere.

At least Natsuki provided some eye candy.
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/908/ep18natsuki5fr.th.jpg (http://img138.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ep18natsuki5fr.jpg)


She's only 12 you know, what kind of people would give absolute rule to a 12 year old?
I thought she was 14/15...EDIT: oh you mean at the time of her accession.


A few times in England?
Well not really - if you mean Edward VI (who was nine) then his rule was always governed by advisors such as Duke of Somerset and his Seymour uncles. No 'child' has ever been put on the British thrown with absolute power, they've always been influenced in some form or another. I'm less sure about China's rulers though...


Chie isn't going to like it when she finds out.
I know, the poor thing....

[Xellos-_^]

I always felt Aoi got the short end of the stick in MO. Just about everyone of the old cast became a otome with super power and she got struck babysitting mashiro. And now this happens :sigh:

btw, is the raw out yet? don need to know where. just if the raws are out in the regular places on bt yet?

[Mentar]

To end the screencaps speculation on Aoi... this is what happened.

Okay, this is SUNRISE and the Mai Universe, but - I don't think so. Aoi is gone.

This is how it led up to it: Mashiro is isolated from the others and traveling along with the homeless people she saw when she met Takumi. They have been fairly brutally thrown out of Windbloom by Nagi, and they're now crossing the desert to Airies (if I got that correctly).

The little runt who stole Nina's pocket watch before is caring for Mashiro, shares water in the desert, feeds her later on - very sweet in a way. However, both she (Mimi) and all the others feel a terrible hatred towards their evil former "queen" - but they don't know who Mashiro is. So, Mashiro gets a very cruel lesson of life.

In the night, there's a ruckus, because people have found and recognized Aoi. They're threatening her with torches to spill the wereabouts of Mashiro, to have them exact revenge. Mashiro sees Aoi and freezes in horror, because the torchbearers threaten to push her off a very steep (and definitely deadly) cliff. Aoi spots Mashiro in the crowd and sees that Mashiro is crying and trying to step forward in order to save her, struggling with her powerless legs. So she gives Mashiro a last smile and falls backwards off the cliff before Mashiro can compromise herself.

Ouch.

I'll say just this much: This scene had MUCH more impact on me compared to Erstin's death. It's not just that Kajiura managed to underline Aoi's sacrifice with a new, marvellous song. This was very, very, very ouch. Extrenely powerful stuff.


Oh, and one more thing. The accursed ED must go. Now.

[Jet_Maeden]

To end the screencaps speculation on Aoi... this is what happened.

Okay, this is SUNRISE and the Mai Universe, but - I don't think so. Aoi is gone.

This is how it led up to it: Mashiro is isolated from the others and traveling along with the homeless people she saw when she met Takumi. They have been fairly brutally thrown out of Windbloom by Nagi, and they're now crossing the desert to Airies (if I got that correctly).

The little runt who stole Nina's pocket watch before is caring for Mashiro, shares water in the desert, feeds her later on - very sweet in a way. However, both she (Mimi) and all the others feel a terrible hatred towards their evil former "queen" - but they don't know who Mashiro is. So, Mashiro gets a very cruel lesson of life.

In the night, there's a ruckus, because people have found and recognized Aoi. They're threatening her with torches to spill the wereabouts of Mashiro, to have them exact revenge. Mashiro sees Aoi and freezes in horror, because the torchbearers threaten to push her off a very steep (and definitely deadly) cliff. Aoi spots Mashiro in the crowd and sees that Mashiro is crying and trying to step forward in order to save her, struggling with her powerless legs. So she gives Mashiro a last smile and falls backwards off the cliff before Mashiro can compromise herself.

Ouch.

I'll say just this much: This scene had MUCH more impact on me compared to Erstin's death. It's not just that Kajiura managed to underline Aoi's sacrifice with a new, marvellous song. This was very, very, very ouch. Extrenely powerful stuff.


Oh, and one more thing. The accursed ED must go. Now.

LOL SEE Diodati? I was right....(ya gotta trust Mentar!) ;)

[ochibi-san]

:upset: AOI!!! noo!!! y does sunrise do dis! why?!:upset:

aside from being teary, i just hav to laugh at natsuki and nao :heh:

[Aidan]

Jet said the opposite heh.


I was refering to this


"It's likely she is dead but unless there is a body shown specifically (or a person green sparklies in front of us etc) then there is an easy door left open for her survival."


No 'child' has ever been put on the British thrown with absolute power, they've always been influenced in some form or another.
Exactly.

[Xellos-_^]

She's only 12 you know, what kind of people would give absolute rule to a 12 year old?

There was a 14 year Emperor of China in the Ching Dynasty. He was know as one of the best emperor China ever had. he rule for 60 years. But he did have to start off his reign with a blood bath killing most of his advisors who was in actual control the empire.

[Mentar]

Another 9 for me, like last ep, especially due to the immensely poweful Aoi/Mashiro scene (without it, a 8).

And now excuse me while I get myself a hanky. For real.

[Jet_Maeden]

I was refering to this




Exactly.

Yup Aidan that's what Diodati said....:heh: Not me....I always see the glass half-empty.

[Xellos-_^]

Screenshot Collage
http://img429.imageshack.us/img429/2029/11395063442551zp.jpg
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/9444/11395065423283cq.jpg

Aoi really is... dead.

On the last screen cap. how the hell did Mikoto cross the desert to find Arika :eyebrow:

[brightman]

On the last screen cap. how the hell did Mikoto cross the desert to find Arika :eyebrow:
It (she?) was with her the entire time, it seems.

[Iron Maw]

On the last screen cap. how the hell did Mikoto cross the desert to find Arika :eyebrow:

Who says she crossed the desert to find Arika? Mikoto was probably separated with her.

[Cyz]

i wonder what will happen to mashiro? it seems that she was in shock, and the last preview, we see her walking on the desert.

[Omniscient]

Episode 18 Summary and Screencaps (http://randomc.animeblogger.net/2006/02/09/mai-otome-18/)

I had expected this to be a slow episode, but they went and took care of that. Didn't really expect Aoi's death, which gave it all the more impact (the beautiful song they used helped too). Actually, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Aoi's not really dead.

[philip72]

No 'child' has ever been put on the British thrown with absolute power, they've always been influenced in some form or another. I'm less sure about China's rulers though....

Yes, there was always a Lord Protector of one type or another in the west. In China and the Ptolemies Egypt there were some extremely powerful court eunuchs, and in one Sino case it was the emperors mother who was actually ruling behind the scenes.

No offence to the younger members of this forum, but most nations usually felt it would be political suicide to be run by a 15 year old. They would indulge them where possible, but generally ignored their orders until the monarch reached a certain age.

[Cyz]

so sergey was taken in by nina, but i wonder how would sergey really feel?

[Guido]

The music enhanced a lot to dramatize the momentum of Aoi's last goodbye for Mashiro.

I applaud SUNRISE for manipulating the chain of events from slow angst to climatic demise throughout this episode. In no moment whatsoever I felt that the scene was rushed; Aoi's death??? was powerful indeed.

[ArchDragon]

Yes, there was always a Lord Protector of one type or another in the west. In China and the Ptolemies Egypt there were some extremely powerful court eunuchs, and in one Sino case it was the emperors mother who was actually ruling behind the scenes.

No offence to the younger members of this forum, but most nations usually felt it would be political suicide to be run by a 15 year old. They would indulge them where possible, but generally ignored their orders until the monarch reached a certain age.
I don't think Mashiro has absolute rule either.

In the beginning of ep. 11, if I remember correctly, Sergay and his assistant were talking about a potential tax-hike proposed by Mashiro.
The key thing there is that Mashiro's proposal still has to be approved by the "parliament" or something like that.

But as you said above, the "parliament" would most likely indulge her anyway, and Sergay's assistant also said so.

[Tempest35]

Whooo, some strong stuff here. I'll get my tissue ready for Sunday when I see Doremi's sub. :heh:

Nagi...*sighs and applauds* couldn't have been more brilliant - not like he had to try very hard anyway. ^^;
Sergay's going to have a LOT of time to think - being injured and all. Nagi probably has Nina with him so that he doesn't try to escape - what better incentive to stay behind than your own daughter tending to your wounds? *nods* Very slick plans here.

As sad as it is to say, I don't think Mai was anywhere NEAR the refugees that forced Aoi over. She was lost in a FOREST...unless she came out and still didn't tell anyone...c'mon Arika...WHERE ARE YOU - ARE YOU WITH MAI OR NOT!? :upset:

But I must say...Nina looks hawt in her Meister Robe. :D

[SoldierOfDarkness]

Who says she crossed the desert to find Arika? Mikoto was probably separated with her.

Cats seem to be special in the Sunrise universe.:heh:

But yeah Mikoto was already with her.

Strange though, so that big explosion sent everyone flying in all directions?:eyebrow: And only a few come out with little or no scratches?

[Sakuya]

I'm looking forward to that sad scene in a few hours. So, is there like no conclusion on Arika and Nina's fight at all? :twitch: I shouldn't have jinxed it. :heh: Midori looks like MH Midori in the preview. That feels really nostalgic.

[Aidan]

I give this episode a 7, there goes one of my favorite characters... sigh


I can't help but wonder who is next on the hit list.

[Asianknight82]

It seems like Arika isnt going to get much if any screen time at all this episode :(

It would seem that Sergey is under house arrest for awhile, but Im willing to bet that hes going to escape windbloom in search for Arika

[Timeless Enigma]

Well Aoi's "demise" was much more touching than Erstin's. It's official, the killing will keep happening.

So... who's next!?

Other than that

+More Mashiro
+More drama
+MIYU, Natsuki, Nao, Sergay's spy
+Aoi's scene (not that I wanted her to die but it was well done)
++Very little Arika (I had been hoping for this since... episode 1)


-Not enough Nina
-Not enough Sergay
--Mai is still non-existant.

[djmaca]

Expect a "Deus ex Machina"... Hope it would be Mai...

[Guido]

so sergey was taken in by nina, but i wonder how would sergey really feel?

What I wonder is why did Nina forgive Sergey that easily?

Or maybe she thinks that Arika bewitched her father?

Or Nina has yet to break down completely and turning wholesome psychotic like Kaede in Shuffle!?

[Mgz]

I knew it :upset:

i knew it since they killed eastin, they're going to kill someone else in this espisode, and someone else is going die in next eps... it is mai hime killing spree all over again T_T

[brightman]

What I wonder is why did Nina forgive Sergey that easily?

Or maybe she thinks that Arika bewitched her father?
Because she didn't blame Sergay for what happened? From the last episode, she seemed to have blamed everything on Arika showing up and ruining her relationship with her oto-sama. So now that she was gone, I guess she thinks that "things may return to normal".

[Xellos-_^]

Because she didn't blame Sergay for what happened? From the last episode, she seemed to have blamed everything on Arika showing up and ruining her relationship with her oto-sama. So now that she was gone, I guess she thinks that "things may return to normal".

When she is with Nagi, she is in her meirster robe but with Sergay, she in her coral uniform. She seperating herslef into two different person. Dark Nina, meister of Artai and Nina, the coral, daughter of Sergay. :eyebrow: And she has one hell of a boxcutter.

[Timeless Enigma]

brightman pretty much summed that one up.

Off-topic, Cyz, I love your avatar and signature pics, where are they from?

Back on topic.

I agree with Mentar on the music having an impact on Aoi's scene. I can't wait for OST2 now, that was a superb piece of music.

I wonder what the North Hound is gonna do now that he's under house arrest. Well he'll certainly escape... somehow... maybe via Mai?

The possibilities :heh:

Mashiro sure got the brunt of the shit hitting the fan I tell ya, that's gonna be some lifestyle shock, going from pampered princess to dune wanderer. And now she's got to deal with the burden of Aoi's sacrifice. So this time around Akane gets off easy but they lay it down on Aoi instead. She didn't have it that easy in HiME either.

Nina felt unnaturally animated/genki this episode which made me chuckle but also frown. Nina's world got turned upside-down and she's trying to deal with it. I think her world's gonna get inverted a couple more times before this is through, this is just the beginning :(

Sergay's sinking into "Tate's Self Loathing and Helplessness Syndrome." Well, he tried to do the right thing but ended up bringing misfortune onto himself and the two girls he cared about. He better get out of that slump soon.

[Xellos-_^]

Sergay's sinking into "Tate's Self Loathing and Helplessness Syndrome." Well, he tried to do the right thing but ended up bringing misfortune onto himself and the two girls he cared about. He better get out of that slump soon.


He better. Think what will happen if Mai finds him being waited hand and foot with breakfast in bed by a 15 year old girl who calls him daddy :p

[Guido]

Why was Yamada, Sergey's informant and mailman, with Juliet and Natsuki?

Wishful hope that he's not selling their location to Schwarz or someone else.

[Nekocia]

Sorry that I've gave some of you hope that Aoi isn't going to die, but I belived so...

The episode was very good to me.
The expressions of Natsuki face were priceless :)

Miss Maria said that Natsuki is impulsive. And seeing this episode it seems true. :heh: I know that in MH she was impulsive, but in MO she is more like a calm person.

I wonder if Smith will eventualy open the Harmonium, and if he does, will he be able to use it :heh:

[Xellos-_^]

Sorry that I've gave some of you hope that Aoi isn't going to die, but I belived so...

The episode was very good to me.
The expressions of Natsuki face were priceless :)

Miss Maria said that Natsuki is impulsive. And seeing this episode it seems true. :heh: I know that in MH she was impulsive, but in MO she is more like a calm person.

I wonder if Smith will eventualy open the Harmonium, and if he does, will he be able to use it :heh:

But then they will have to deal with Mikoto even if they open it.

[Nekocia]

Maybe they want to neutralize her with all the equipment?

[SoldierOfDarkness]

Sorry that I've gave some of you hope that Aoi isn't going to die, but I belived so...

The episode was very good to me.
The expressions of Natsuki face were priceless :)

Miss Maria said that Natsuki is impulsive. And seeing this episode it seems true. :heh: I know that in MH she was impulsive, but in MO she is more like a calm person.

I wonder if Smith will eventualy open the Harmonium, and if he does, will he be able to use it :heh:

Do they need the songs or the people that sing the songs? Just curious.

[Guido]

Sorry that I've gave some of you hope that Aoi isn't going to die, but I belived so...

The episode was very good to me.
The expressions of Natsuki face were priceless :)

Miss Maria said that Natsuki is impulsive. And seeing this episode it seems true. :heh: I know that in MH she was impulsive, but in MO she is more like a calm person.

I wonder if Smith will eventualy open the Harmonium, and if he does, will he be able to use it :heh:

Nagi won't allow Schwarz to have their way first.

Nagi likely schemed in secret an elaborate plan to pawn Schwarz out by the time their invasion of Windbloom took effect. He's just waiting for the right time, after Schwarz loses its interest and utility for him.

Smith should know better now, given his shocked face that Nagi is holder of the Ultimate Black Diamond and watch for Nagi's every movements.

[rale]

Did anyone catch what exactly Miyu said when she identified herself to Natsuki?

From what I could make out, she says something like shes 'Multiple Intelligential Yggdrasil Unit' (the same acronym/definition as from mai-hime), and was called Miyu before by the one she loved - all while looking at Alyssa (the bird).

If I didn't misunderstand, then it sure seems like they're trying to imply that she really is the same Miyu as from mai-hime.

[Bloody]

http://img466.imageshack.us/img466/276/11395193436034gy.gif

WHY ... OHH WHY DID THEY DO THIS TO YOU AOI?? IM SO DISSAPOINTED :frustrated:

and I think Chie will have a good role here in next episode :D
http://img451.imageshack.us/img451/3917/11395111854899ce.th.jpg (http://img451.imageshack.us/my.php?image=11395111854899ce.jpg)

sorry guys ... i thought Mikoto will be there XD (in human form) :heh:

[Iron Maw]

Did anyone catch what exactly Miyu said when she identified herself to Natsuki?

From what I could make out, she says something like shes 'Multiple Intelligential Yggdrasil Unit' (the same acronym/definition as from mai-hime), and was called Miyu before by the one she loved - all while looking at Alyssa (the bird).

If I didn't misunderstand, then it sure seems like they're trying to imply that she really is the same Miyu as from mai-hime.

No your not mistaken. A friend of mine who saw the Raw mentioned the same thing.

[SoldierOfDarkness]

Did anyone catch what exactly Miyu said when she identified herself to Natsuki?

From what I could make out, she says something like shes 'Multiple Intelligential Yggdrasil Unit' (the same acronym/definition as from mai-hime), and was called Miyu before by the one she loved - all while looking at Alyssa (the bird).

If I didn't misunderstand, then it sure seems like they're trying to imply that she really is the same Miyu as from mai-hime.

Yes apparently she does, acccording to Omni's summary and I doubt he would lie.

Great...does that mean we'll see OL?

The chances of a reset have now been increased 10x.

[MattAlchemy]

http://img466.imageshack.us/img466/276/11395193436034gy.gif

WHY ... OHH WHY DID THEY DO THIS TO YOU AOI?? IM SO DISSAPOINTED :frustrated:

and I think Chie will have a good role here in next episode :D
http://img451.imageshack.us/img451/3917/11395111854899ce.th.jpg (http://img451.imageshack.us/my.php?image=11395111854899ce.jpg)

sorry guys ... i thought Mikoto will be there XD (in human form) :heh:
What's that puffy white thing? Chie and Tomoe also looks kind of mad there.;) There's maki maki Shiho bowl. And finally to see Mikoto look more crazier than before.:heh:

I noticed that Natsuki and Nao are getting along well. In Mai-Hime, remember all those times that they have fought back then?

[BBOvenGuy]

It is mai hime killing spree all over again T_T

I wouldn't go that far yet. The character deaths in MO seem a lot more believable to me, in that they're set up a lot better. They come out of the context of the story, and they turn the story in new directions.

The first couple of green-sparkles in MH did that too, but once it became obvious that all the HiME pillers were going to go up and all the HiMEs were going to lose their most precious people, the deaths stopped having any meaning. I think Haruka was the tipping point for me, where I just kind of tuned out and waited for the inevitable reset.

The other difference is that the "festival" in MH really came out of nowhere, and never made much sense to me. :twitch: It was just kind of this arbitrary game someone made up. The motivations behind why all the various factions in MO are doing what they're doing have been a lot more reasonable and established a lot better.

Now, if everyone starts going green-sparkles for no apparent reason, I'll get onboard the "MH all over again" bus. But I don't think we've reached that point yet.

[Xellos-_^]

Yes apparently she does, acccording to Omni's summary and I doubt he would lie.

So is Arika now the succesor to Alyessa :eyebrow: Wondering when Miyu spill it all out, can't wait for that :) And about Arika's true power, what would her child look like :heh:

[MattAlchemy]

So, this means if everything comes back to life, like all of the HiME's and their precious persons, because they disappeared from green flashes, would this mean IF:

Erstin comes back while Aoi doesn't? That's IF they revive all the people with the green sparckles, looks like it.

[SoldierOfDarkness]

So is Arika now the succesor to Alyessa :eyebrow: Wondering when Miyu spill it all out, can't wait for that :) And about Arika's true power, what would her child look like :heh:

And then at the season finale after all hell breaks loose everyone wakes up and we find out that they've been playing a virtual reality game in the Mai Hime series:heh: Oh I can see it now, Bandai going up in flames with the valkyerie song playing in the back.

Though Alyssa wasn't exactly that powerful anyways...I mean her only power is the shining golden light which flashes people and such...does that mean Arika is gonna summon big gigantic satellite cannon? :eyebrow:

Though I believe according to Smith the true power is in the robe and has nothing to do with Arika's golden hair but I could be wrong.

[Xellos-_^]

And then at the season finale after all hell breaks loose everyone wakes up and we find out that they've been playing a virtual reality game in the Mai Hime series:heh: Oh I can see it now, Bandai going up in flames with the valkyerie song playing in the back.

Though Alyssa wasn't exactly that powerful anyways...I mean her only power is the shining golden light which flashes people and such...does that mean Arika is gonna summon big gigantic satellite cannon? :eyebrow:

Though I believe according to Smith the true power is in the robe and has nothing to do with Arika's golden hair but I could be wrong.

But Smith doesn't know that much about Arika. She has no idea who raise her the last 15 years and about Miyu or probably her golden hair. Smith only knows about Arika through Erstin and Erstin really doesn't know that much herself.

Could Arika's CHILD be the big furry thing we see in the preview :uhoh: or the Blue Star :twitch:

[SoldierOfDarkness]

Fortunately no, those things popped up in episode 1 when Sergay was on that train to meet up with Nina.

As for Smith, do note that he WAS referring to the true power of the Sapphire crystal....oh man, if that's true then that means...

If Arika can unlock the Sapphire's powers...
And then unlock her powers...
Add Miyu who probably is her bodyguard just like Alyssa.

man that's just overkill :heh:

[Xellos-_^]

Fortunately no, those things popped up in episode 1 when Sergay was on that train to meet up with Nina.

As for Smith, do note that he WAS referring to the true power of the Sapphire crystal....oh man, if that's true then that means...

If Arika can unlock the Sapphire's powers...
And then unlock her powers...
Add Miyu who probably is her bodyguard just like Alyssa.

man that's just overkill :heh:

Who needs a spambot when you got MIYU.

I looking forward to when they unleash Arika Yamato Searrs on Nagi and Schwartz.

[SoldierOfDarkness]

True, Miyu afterall did,
take out a gundam in Mai Hime :heh:

Oh Miyu where were you when Kira was spamming?

[aikming]

So miyu did indentified herself as MIYU again. Though it's ironic to say so.

I think Sunrise will develope mashiro into a strong character so that windbloom citizen would accept her again.

Yes, they are going after harmonium. I like to see how sunrise plot the harmomium story..

and when can arika show her golden hair again??

[Catgirls]

Hmmm...after watching this episode from a variety of different angles, I'm going to go out on a limb say......Aoi isn't dead.

[frodo1701]

Hmmm...after watching this episode from a variety of different angles, I'm going to go out on a limb say......Aoi isn't dead.

I get that feeling too.
She faded into the darkness too quickly.

[Cyz]

I give this episode a 7, there goes one of my favorite characters... sigh


I can't help but wonder who is next on the hit list.
well, that's true. one by one, good supporting characters are disappearing :upset:

[Sakuya]

I don't know why but I have this feeling that someone might save Aoi. Perhaps Mai? :uhoh:

[MattAlchemy]

I don't know why but I have this feeling that someone might save Aoi. Perhaps Mai? :uhoh:
Mai or Chie, but from the looks of it, feeling that someone suicides like that, someone else saves them.

[Cyz]

Mai or Chie, but from the looks of it, feeling that someone suicides like that, someone else saves them.
and they probably gonna have a flashback on how she was saved on later episodes...i hope.

[justsomeguy]

Forget Aoi. I'm not concerned about what will happen in the future, I care for more what has already happened.

What the hell happened between episode 17 and 18? We know that Nagi has taken over Windbloom but we never saw the aftermath of the explosion.
One second Arika and Nina are fighting to the death, and the next Arika seems to have completely forgotten that the crap has hit the fan and is happily somewhere else for the entire episode? How/why did she and Mashiro get separated? Heck, who won the battle?

[Kenji_Chaos]

i would give this a 8.5
noooo y do they have to this !!!
y!Y!
argh!!!
can't wait to see the next episode summary
how did they manage to survive from that explosion
nina look nice in her new outfit ^^
i pity mashiro in this episode...
i doubt nagi and gang will be open the harmonium....

[MattAlchemy]

Episode18 has passed, isn't it late for Mai to show up by now? I mean, she WILL show up for sure, but it's almost at the end.:(

[Bloody]

Mai or Chie, but from the looks of it, feeling that someone suicides like that, someone else saves them.

please sunrise... Let Chie save Aoi in danger :heh:

[frodo1701]

Poor Haruka. It seems she is stuck in comedy relief mode:( Sunrise is also continuing to confuse me with Otome/Master feeling each others pain. O.k. Maybe in that earlier episode when she fell off the cliff, the lack of Yukino feeling anything may have been attributed to Haruka's strong constitution. In this episode, however, Haruka is clearly knocked out cold by the rock. Yukino feels......nothing but sympathy pains. :eyebrow: I wish Sunrise would clear this up once and for all. Is it only felt while being materialized or all the time.

[Iron Maw]

Poor Haruka. It seems she is stuck in comedy relief mode:( Sunrise is also continuing to confuse me with Otome/Master feeling each others pain. O.k. Maybe in that earlier episode when she fell off the cliff, the lack of Yukino feeling anything may have been attributed to Haruka's strong constitution. In this episode, however, Haruka is clearly knocked out cold by the rock. Yukino feels......nothing but sympathy pains. :eyebrow: I wish Sunrise would clear this up once and for all. Is it only felt while being materialized or all the time.

I think the whole "pain thing" only happens when a Otome is materialized in it's Robe, much like a Summoner and the materialized Slave.

[Sakuya]

I'm confused why such a small character such as Aoi get a sadder "death" than a big character like Erstin. :(

[Starks]

Mai-Otome 18 RAW TEASER: Want some Mentos? (http://media.putfile.com/Mai-Otome-18-Want-some-Mentos-RAW-TEASER)

Weekly RAW teaser.

[Eclipze]

What the hell happened between episode 17 and 18? We know that Nagi has taken over Windbloom but we never saw the aftermath of the explosion.

One second Arika and Nina are fighting to the death, and the next Arika seems to have completely forgotten that the crap has hit the fan and is happily somewhere else for the entire episode? How/why did she and Mashiro get separated? Heck, who won the battle?
Well, you said it yourself: there was an explosion. Which means that it proably seperated Mashiro from Arika. And probably Arika is just faking her joy...she has done it before anyways.
Mai-Otome 18 RAW TEASER: Want some Mentos? (http://media.putfile.com/Mai-Otome-18-Want-some-Mentos-RAW-TEASER)

Weekly RAW teaser.
Too bad my country's IP is banned from that site...

[Starks]

Well, you said it yourself: there was an explosion. Which means that it proably seperated Mashiro from Arika. And probably Arika is just faking her joy...she has done it before anyways.

Too bad my country's IP is banned from that site...

Either use a proxy or get it from my mirrors.

http://www.filecabi.net/u.php?file=1139540413.
http://www.youtube.com/?v=q-m46S8JwsM (INFERIOR QUALITY)

[brightman]

and the next Arika seems to have completely forgotten that the crap has hit the fan and is happily somewhere else for the entire episode?
Hmm... Since the Arika-Nina battle seems to be pulled directly out of Scryed's Kazuma-Ryuho confrontation (the best friend dying, explosion and separation thing), maybe Arika actually did lose her memory? (like Ryuho did?)

Though she does remember Mikoto's name.

[djmaca]

What I'm confused about is Miyu being M.I.Y.U. again... does that mean that this is somehow connected to the Mai Hime story and that Miyu, being a bot, survived the immigrant(?) era....

[Vallen Chaos Valiant]

What I'm confused about is Miyu being M.I.Y.U. again... does that mean that this is somehow connected to the Mai Hime story and that Miyu, being a bot, survived the immigrant(?) era....
Just like the true identity of Rena's child, Sunrise is stringing us along for as long as possible. They are deliberately leaving the option open... What a tease.:heh:

[Eclipze]

Either use a proxy or get it from my mirrors.

http://www.filecabi.net/u.php?file=1139540413.
http://www.youtube.com/?v=q-m46S8JwsM (INFERIOR QUALITY)
Thanks!

Miyu was being cool, as always.:heh:

[frodo1701]

I think the whole "pain thing" only happens when a Otome is materialized in it's Robe, much like a Summoner and the materialized Slave.

If that is the case, and your Otome is losing a fight or faced with overwelming odds, all the ruler needs to do to survive is make sure your otome isn't materialized. Or to reverse the situation, if you are the Otome, just don't materialize after your ruler gives you permission.:)

Ruler: I grant you permission to defend our royal honor.

Otome: ARE YOU NUTS!!! Thanks but no thanks chief.:D

[Timeless Enigma]

I'm confused why such a small character such as Aoi get a sadder "death" than a big character like Erstin. :(

Various factors contribute to the perception and reaction of Erstin's death and Aoi's; mainly pacing of the episode and much much more. Many people were saying episode 17 had "too many things happening too quickly" and that it tried to tie in and close too many subplots, giving it a "rushed" feeling.

Aoi may have been a tertiary character but she had strong connections with a main character so her death should and will have great impact on that main character. That's my take.

I myself did find Aoi's "death" (she's only dead if she doesn't "revive" by episode 26) more moving and better executed than Erstin's.

The thing is... a part of me hopes she really is dead and doesn't come back because I am of the opinion that if she comes back then meaning behind her sacrifice is cheapened. That's why I HATED the HiME ending.

Of course there's a part of me that hopes Aoi is all smiles in episode 26 too.

[Catgirls]

Of course there's a part of me that hopes Aoi is all smiles in episode 26 too.
I think so. Either that or a reset or just because I don't think she's dead even now.

[Tremalkinger]

I think so. Either through a reset or just because I don't think she's dead even now.

Like... say... Chie scooping her up before she lands, and various unmentionable things occuring at the bottom of the cliff? :( I wish... but Chie doesn't have her robe anymore.

[imperialmog]

Consider the coincidences involved with Nina's pendant in the one episode. Maybe the same thing is going to happen to Aoi. Considering the fate of Rena is very cloudy I think it's quite likely that Aoi isn't dead either. Though plotwise this is really going to be used as a trial by fire on Mashiro's part. All of these events are going to wind up being done to make her a better person.

Maybe what happened is Aoi just is knocked out cold and needs a kiss from her "prince" as it were to wake her up. I don't need to go and explain who might that be.

One thing I am curious as to how did the people view her so negatively. I get the feeling that someone is making them think this way by producing slander since considering Mashiro's age it seems a bit unfair to her. I wouldn't be surprised if Nagi might be making some propaganda to make them believe that all their problems are Mashiro's fault.

[Catgirls]

Like... say... Chie scooping her up before she lands, and various unmentionable things occuring at the bottom of the cliff? :( I wish... but Chie doesn't have her robe anymore.Something like that...I just don't think she's dead, but I admit, that's my interpretation of the kind of death Sunrise gave her. Falling into the darkness. It's a pretty old visual device (used quite often in old 1940’s -1950’s films). They purposely left out the finality for a reason. Either out of grace for her character, or…

Of course, I'm purely speculating. The way Sunrise loves to nix their most beloved and least deserving characters would leave one to believe she truly fell to her death. But maybe that’s the plan.

[Sakuya]

I just finished watching it. This was purely a Mashiro-centered episode. I really feel for her, it's just so sad. :( As for Aoi's "death" that was as you all said, incredibly powerful. It sent shivers up my spine. And the new music there, I'm in love with it. Can't wait till the OST!

But still, Aoi shouldn't have to die. She could just give fake information or something. :( Those people are so cruel. Well, I understand how they feel about Mashiro but still...a mob of people bullying on one innocent maid? :(

I thought this was going to be a slow episode but I guess not. Seeing Mashiro break down in every scene saddens me.

Edit:
The second OST is NOT released on Feb.22, my bad! Feb.22 is the Crystal Energy single.

[wombatlord]

One thing I am curious as to how did the people view her so negatively. I get the feeling that someone is making them think this way by producing slander since considering Mashiro's age it seems a bit unfair to her. I wouldn't be surprised if Nagi might be making some propaganda to make them believe that all their problems are Mashiro's fault.

These are the poor of Windbloom. Mashiro never lifted a finger her whole life to help them, even though they lived within visual range of her palace. So now, she seems to have abandoned them to a foreign invasion and they've been pushed into exile by Nagi, losing what little they had.

So it's natural for them to blame their queen for failing to help them.

[imperialmog]

True, Mashiro didn't do anything. But I wondered as well that she was oblivious to it on purpose. Were there some people who purposely hid this from her growing up? Especially since I don't think she really was all there as it were, especially with all of those rumors behind her back.

I could see people blame her for a foriegn invasion, especially one where they fell so fast and easy. The number one thing any ruler in their duty is to protect the people from outside forces who do them ill. That's why governments were invented anyways.

[twh]

Observations:

Aoi's not dead. It's become a cliche that whenever you fall, you don't die. How that works is beyond me.

I still don't feel any pity for Mashiro. That belongs to Haruka not being able to use her two fists of kick-butt anymore. :(

Sergei's gonna be in deep doo doo when Nagi gets his claws on him.

As much as they, the writers, tried to make me excited about the entire scenes with Miyu, Natsuki, Yamada, and Nao, I was bored to tears.

The worst part about this episode is that there's still no sign, and still no upcoming appearence of Mai. Come on, Sunrise!! Give us a break and bring back the reason some of us watched this in the first place!

[Vallen Chaos Valiant]

Observations:

Aoi's not dead. It's become a cliche that whenever you fall, you don't die. How that works is beyond me.

I still don't feel any pity for Mashiro. That belongs to Haruka not being able to use her two fists of kick-butt anymore. :(

Sergei's gonna be in deep doo doo when Nagi gets his claws on him.

As much as they, the writers, tried to make me excited about the entire scenes with Miyu, Natsuki, Yamada, and Nao, I was bored to tears.

The worst part about this episode is that there's still no sign, and still no upcoming appearence of Mai. Come on, Sunrise!! Give us a break and bring back the reason some of us watched this in the first place!
Not going to happen. You can blame those people who hate Kira Yamato for that.

[Catgirls]

Observations:

Aoi's not dead. It's become a cliche that whenever you fall, you don't die. How that works is beyond me.Agreed....

[JayF]

If Aoi did indeed die, then this would be the first show I remember when someone with a name and more than one episode screen time who dropped down a cliff actually stayed dead.

Most shows throw someone down a cliff to bring them back later. Will we be seeing Aoi the White anytime soon?:heh:

[twh]

Not going to happen. You can blame those people who hate Kira Yamato for that.

I just might... but anyway, why even go to the trouble of putting in Takumi and Akira, looking for Mai? Also, her appearence in the OP. It just doesn't make sense.

In the same vein, it's possible for a sequel series to have returning cast members from the previous show and not ruin it the way GSD did. I mean, Zeta Gundam had Char, Bright, Hayato, Katz (even though he was a total putz) and even Amuro as a moderate cameo. And it still worked. The main cast still had their chance in the spotlight and the writers gave bits large enough for the older cast to show they had grown. It can still work for Otome... without a reset at that!

edit: ...I know, I know... the Natsuki and all them are already there... I'm just looking for justification to bring Mai back. :(

[Vallen Chaos Valiant]

I just might... but anyway, why even go to the trouble of putting in Takumi and Akira, looking for Mai? Also, her appearence in the OP. It just doesn't make sense.

In the same vein, it's possible for a sequel series to have returning cast members from the previous show and not ruin it the way GSD did. I mean, Zeta Gundam had Char, Bright, Hayato, Katz (even though he was a total putz) and even Amuro as a moderate cameo. And it still worked. The main cast still had their chance in the spotlight and the writers gave bits large enough for the older cast to show they had grown. It can still work for Otome... without a reset at that!
I agree, but it still doesn't stop people from blaming everything on Kira Yamato.

[mintyfresh]

I myself did find Aoi's "death" (she's only dead if she doesn't "revive" by episode 26) more moving and better executed than Erstin's.


Glad I'm not alone there.

[Sakuya]

Oh yeah, if the harmonium is indeed the reset, even if Aoi died, she wouldn't be brought back because she didn't go green sparkles. She died naturally. :uhoh:

[justsomeguy]

Mai will show up in the background for a couple of seconds at the end of episode 26 as Arika and Mashiro go off happily ever after.

[MattAlchemy]

I used to think Aoi was boring in MO because all she is, is a maid. But now this, I feel sorry for her and now she's one of my main character developings.:(

[mintyfresh]

Mai will show up in the background for a couple of seconds at the end of episode 26 as Arika and Mashiro go off happily ever after.
Brilliant.

[Sakuya]

I think someone was questioning the fur ball in the preview. That's a Kuroch seen flying from episode 1. I'm not sure if that scene was meant to be funny or scary. The cute little thing suddenly changes into that. Maybe it's so scared of the scorpion that it does that or maybe the scorpion is a Slave and did something to the fur ball. :heh:

[letsall-makemistakes]

Aoi's death got me a bit misty eyed. For some reason, i find it more emotional than erstin's. Well proving your loyalty in the face of death and uncertainty does it more for me. How is Chie gonna react ?!!! Imagine a berserk Chie...
Finally mashiro is slowly becoming my favourite main (its just me.. i like characters who get a complete turn-around personality wise) And Nina is losing points ( poor imitation of arika's genki-ness and it looks like she still cannot face the facts and she is not letting it go anytime soon
Suprisingly, mashiro bears no grudge against arika... far from it.
And Mikoto sure is opportunistic. Now that arika is presumably the real princess, she follows her aorund... :) such a smart cat

[Nagumo]

What I found really really hard to believe about Aoi's death is... well, she sacrifices her life for Mashiro.

The same Mashiro who is bratty, who is arrogant, who is ignorant and generally didn't treat Aoi in a good manner for a number of years.

Yes Mashiro is growing up and maturing but past actions that Mashiro has done and attitude hardly engenders loyalty, let alone loyalty to the point of death.

Of course, now we will never know exactly what Aoi was thinking when she making her decision that would literally decide whether she lived or died.

[Vallen Chaos Valiant]

What I found really really hard to believe about Aoi's death is... well, she sacrifices her life for Mashiro.

The same Mashiro who is bratty, who is arrogant, who is ignorant and generally didn't treat Aoi in a good manner for a number of years.

Yes Mashiro is growing up and maturing but past actions that Mashiro has done and attitude hardly engenders loyalty, let alone loyalty to the point of death.

Of course, now we will never know exactly what Aoi was thinking when she making her decision that would literally decide whether she lived or died.
Mashiro is a child. It was either chose to save one's self at the price of causing a child to be lynched, or give up one's life to let Mashiro have another chance to make things right. If she had told them where Mashiro is, Aoi would always know her blood would be on her hands. It would be no better than murder.

It was 50/50. And she made her choice.

[Sian]

whats better ... jumping off the cliff (and proberly die) or 'killing' a young girl that have started to turn for the better (i.e after ep 15/16)

[zeiva]

I thought it was kinda obvious Aoi is probably the only person who truly care about Mashiro for who she is, not because she is a queen. In the previous episodes, like how she commented on how Mashiro looks nice wearing the gown, it's as if Aoi is watching a child growing up.

Aoi probably watched Mashiro growing up, so it's not too hard to imagine, if you take care someone, especially a child, no matter how spoiled he/she is, you want the best for him/her.

[monstert]

whats better ... jumping off the cliff (and proberly die) or 'killing' a young girl that have started to turn for the better (i.e after ep 15/16) The hidden third choice: try to escape.

[Ashara]

The hidden third choice: try to escape.

Cause you know, Aoi could totally single handedly fight through the mob of villagers blocking her path. She's just totally uber like that. /sarcasm.

Aoi did what she thought was the best possible choice in her situation. Personally I think that was really noble of her. She stuck by whatever her morals were despite the fact she was facing the possibility of death...

I think she's dead. And even if she didn't go green sparkles, they'll bring her back. Yukariko burned to death in flames in the original HiME and that didn't stop Sunrise from bringing her back *and* fixing Nao's eye.

Thank you Sunrise for not failing to completely butcher a story again with setting us up for an obviously crappy deus ex machina ending with a reset. Cause you know, I didn't hate the ending of HiME enough as it was...

[Lackadaisical]

Does anyone else think the pacing of this episode was somewhat off? This episode was rather well constructed except for the fact that it is odd to have an entire episode devoted to one character so late in the series. At this rate it seems the ending is certain to either be extremely rushed or contain very little of the things we would like to see.

Throughout Mai Otome there has been a continuous build up of cliffhangers that haven't yielded the drama that the cliffhangers led us to believe would follow. Compared to Mai Hime there has been a distinctive lack of drama in this show. Rather than watching on the edge of the seat, watching has becoming an odd process of thinking you are about to move to the edge of the seat only to slide back when the realization comes that the events just seem to lack the Mai Hime flare.

But Aoi's death has been the most dramatic event so far. Aoi's death being much more emotional than Erstin's death seems to emphasize the superiority of the odd cast to the new.

As for the rational behind Aoi's choice, I don't really find it odd that she choose to sacrifice herself over Mashiro. Aoi and Mashiro have acted more like family throughout the show than a maid and a princess. Even if Mashiro is a bit of a brat, which is a term that Mashiro really doesn't deserve as far as I am concerned, Aoi and Mashiro got along well. Aoi seemed to take Mashiro's outburst in the way an older sister would take care of a younger, more excitable sister.

The crowd did not have any excuse for their actions. For the people who suggested it was understandable that they acted the way they did, I can only say, "The hell?"

Attacking a person because they work for someone you dislike is absurdly pathetic. There isn't an rational reason for anyone to react in such a way. I felt sorry for them up until then. After they force Aoi to jump I wouldn't have cared if Nagi used them as targets. People who attack others just because they are in bad shape aren't people I can feel sorry for. I would feel disheartened if those people survive their walk through the desert. And the way the laughed after Aoi jumped... One can hope they get eaten by wolves.

[Sakuya]

Attacking a person because they work for someone you dislike is absurdly pathetic. There isn't an rational reason for anyone to react in such a way. I felt sorry for them up until then. After they force Aoi to jump I wouldn't have cared if Nagi used them as targets. People who attack others just because they are in bad shape aren't people I can feel sorry for. I would feel disheartened if those people survive their walk through the desert. And the way the laughed after Aoi jumped... One can hope they get eaten by wolves.

Well those people were wrong, too I guess. Or are the majority of them getting mad at the wrong person. They should be mad at Nagi for making them leave their homes

But I think Mimi mentioned something about her father used to have a job but because of Mashiro doing something, he lost his job and later he died. :( Not sure about the other people.

[Souten no Seigyoku]

Quite frankly its been all a tease so far. With 8eps to go, most fights are reduced to 1-2 blows. They were good at one thing though: stringing us along. Its pointless to stop watching now that theres only 8eps to go. The way this episode ends, it doesnt look like there's going to be heavy fighting (real fights) any time soon. Which means there will be 7eps w/o real fighting.

Yes we all know a good series needs proper character development and that you cant have fighting all the time w/o the show turning into DBZ or GSD, but enough is enough. The way its turning out, there isnt going to be heavy action until the few last episodes. Didnt i predict this several episodes back when I first joined?

Fake or not, Arika is worthless w/o Mashiro. Unless of course MIYU knows another method of materialization or some other hidden power, of course. Now that we know MIYU is indeed an android, all we need is for her to admit shes the android from Mai-Hime for the final Mai-Hime/Mai-Otome tie-in. Which would undoubtedly come near the end of the series.

[Ashara]

You know, the angry mob people are about the epitome of every angry mob in the history of civilization. They're not supposed to be rational and reasonable about things. They're supposed to be human. Which means they're angry, easily excitable creatures looking for a quick scape goat to blame all their pain and suffering on so they can have a few moments of reprieve.

Am I the only person who doesn't hate them? I don't like them but...it's not completely unfathomable why they're doing what they do.

[Iron Maw]

Well those people were wrong, too I guess. Or are the majority of them getting mad at the wrong person. They should be mad at Nagi for making them leave their homes


Before Mashiro's change, she didn't treaty those people any better then Nagi.

[monstert]

Cause you know, Aoi could totally single handedly fight through the mob of villagers blocking her path. She's just totally uber like that. /sarcasm. I'm just against suicide and murder, that's all.

[Mentar]

Frankly, I couldn't care less about "more fighting". It's true that most of the fights right now have mostly been "innuendo style", but that's not what I watch Otome for in the first place. I can imagine though that people who insist on fighting animation may feel a bit disappointed.

Nah, I'm in for the drama and story, and this is where the show has been at its finest for some time now. Keep it up!

[-KarumA-]

i love that song played when Aoi drops off the cliff ^^
cant wait for the next ost, then i can type the lyrics out again like i did with the previous one :D

Aoi's eath aught me by suprise, i thought Mashiro would come out or that she would be stone thrown to death and that Mashiro would come out but that she covered her being queen bussiness

i like this episode but it could be beter, i voted Good ^^

i wonder when Mai would come

btw if Mai is a pillar then her robe's eath now too right?

[roon]

But Aoi's death has been the most dramatic event so far. Aoi's death being much more emotional than Erstin's death seems to emphasize the superiority of the odd cast to the new.
While I do agree with her death being more emotional than Erstin's, Aoi's was probably more dramatic because it was out of loyalty to Mashiro. Sure, Erstin was loyal to Nina and Arika, but that was because she liked Nina (in more ways than one?) and they were all friends. With the way Mashiro treated Aoi, it's amazing that anyone would die for her sake. It's this degree of loyalty that got me absolutely misty-eyed about Aoi, and not Erstin, because ANYONE who can still love someone under a surface like Mashiro's pre-revelation is one hell of an amazing character. Sure, they grew close... but still...

Although, the same could be said about Erstin seeing through Nina's "attitude." In which case, I have no freaking idea why Aoi's death > Erstin's IMO. ;x It may have just been such a surprise, because Aoi was supposedly just a maid. Erstin's demise? Definitely not a surprise.


Attacking a person because they work for someone you dislike is absurdly pathetic. There isn't an rational reason for anyone to react in such a way. I felt sorry for them up until then. After they force Aoi to jump I wouldn't have cared if Nagi used them as targets. People who attack others just because they are in bad shape aren't people I can feel sorry for. I would feel disheartened if those people survive their walk through the desert. And the way the laughed after Aoi jumped... One can hope they get eaten by wolves. Yeah, I was very pissed off about those people attacking Aoi. While I do sympathize with the comments saying "they weren't thinking rationally, they were angry" etc., it just bothers me immensely that those people started rejoicing after Aoi had jumped. Seriously, if they wanted some kind of revenge... what a way to get it. I suppose, though, it was a realistic depiction of what people will get like under those circumstances.

Grah, I love this episode. Although I wish there was more Natsuki screentime, but oh well. With 8 episodes to go if they end at 26, I imagine the pace will either pick up immensely or just drive me insane. Or both.

[Anime Adoru]

I wonder if Smith will eventualy open the Harmonium, and if he does, will he be able to use it :heh:

Smith seems to believe they need the lyrics for it. They've got Nina's, they got Arika's from Erstin, now only Mashiro is missing. Which still leaves unclear what exactly connects these three.

[HikariNoSekai]

ooooo no! tHATS`s terrible(no spoilers)

off:as for young rulers - russian Ivan IV The Terrible started to rule when he was 12 from bloody bath for his advisors and teachers/(i suppose it`s a tradition)

ok it starts to look like 1men/episode killing => that means there will be 9 dead people and great Return or 10 dead people and BadEnd:>

[Vallen Chaos Valiant]

ooooo no! tHATS`s terrible(no spoilers)

off:as for young rulers - russian Ivan IV The Terrible started to rule when he was 12 from bloody bath for his advisors and teachers/(i suppose it`s a tradition)
Well, since I have a sneaking suspicion Nagi's nation is based on Czar-age Russia, there might a reason for Nagi being the ruler at an young age...:heh:

[AMon10A]

After seeing the kind of mood Miyu was in when she found Natsuki's little group. I'm totally convinced that if this show has some sort of link to the first one that Arika is related to Alyssa in some way in spite of the rest of her unknown backround.

[ccardoso]

As you love so much "Aoi-chan" let me remind you that she was Mashiro's maid, so she was part of that big comedy called court. In the court life was so beautiful and rich, starting from Mashiro and ending to the servants like Aoi was. They were wasting time and public funds (=people's taxes) on idiotic things like a new castle, parties and other similiar shit meanwhile common people were starving.
Aoi deserved that ending and Mashiro should be behaded for how she behaved, not like in the episode 18 that Aoi's death is shown with such a drama and the main theme is "poor Mashiro, now she's alone". :mad:
It isn't surprising from a country which still has the monarchy anyway.

[HikariNoSekai]

off:i`ve never suppose Otome and Slaves been used by Czars.
Really it`s interest to compare Ealis countries with Earth`s ones.


on:i haven`t seen ep but the plot is looking some way more global then hime one (compare 1 school,where girls played , and 1 school with a crowd of teen nuclear bombs).
ps:gomen for off/

As you love so much "Aoi-chan" let me remind you that she was Mashiro's maid, so she was part of that big comedy called court. In the court life was so beautiful and rich, starting from Mashiro and ending to the servants like Aoi was. They were wasting time and public funds (=people's taxes) on idiotic things like a new castle, parties and other similiar shit meanwhile common people were starving.
Aoi deserved that ending and Mashiro should be behaded for how she behaved, not like in the episode 18 that Aoi's death is shown with such a drama and the main theme is "poor Mashiro, now she's alone". :mad:
It isn't surprising from a country which still has the monarchy anyway.
And your want Nagi to make Windobloom the most democratic country in the world?(with him playin president role)

[ccardoso]

And your want Nagi to make Windobloom the most democratic country in the world?(with him playin president role)
No, of course... but at least he's evil and he isn't ashamed of it... while Mashiro plays the sweet princes who thinks to be a wonderful leader.

[Urd]

it seems the principal was out for 3 whole days....:(
anyone can tell me what Nao said to Natsuki when she woke up?:confused:

[Kourin]

As you love so much "Aoi-chan" let me remind you that she was Mashiro's maid, so she was part of that big comedy called court. In the court life was so beautiful and rich, starting from Mashiro and ending to the servants like Aoi was. They were wasting time and public funds (=people's taxes) on idiotic things like a new castle, parties and other similiar shit meanwhile common people were starving.
Aoi deserved that ending and Mashiro should be behaded for how she behaved, not like in the episode 18 that Aoi's death is shown with such a drama and the main theme is "poor Mashiro, now she's alone". :mad:
It isn't surprising from a country which still has the monarchy anyway.

That seemed a little too harsh on Mashiro and Aoi. Like people mentioned before, Mashiro is almost nothing more than a symbol for the country. The real people who rule are the advisors or those with high powerful positions within the courts. Mashiro just mindlessly stamp the papers. If anyone is mostly responsible, it's the greedy court officials.

Also, Mashiro wasn't aware that there was such poverty in her country and was quite ignorant to many things due to her upbringing. Sure, ignorance isn't a good shield to treat her people like that but those in power indulged her whenever they could as they fed their own pockets. After all, the queen may be powerless but one must keep her happy, especially the servants.

This brings me to Aoi. Her and Sakomizu are more like her nannies. They do try to get Mashiro to do her job but there's only so much they could do as Mashiro is the queen and have free reign over what she wants to do. Aoi's death deserved that drama. It took a lot of guts and loyalty for her not to betray Mashiro's location when she was right before her eyes. Imagine oneself in Aoi's position: must have been frightening with all these people taking out their angry on you when you're just a simple maid (not even some official with political and decision making power).

Mashiro wasn't exactly 'kind and sympathetic' to Aoi most of the times, doing her spoiled princess act but Aoi knew that deep down, Mashiro was just a little girl. She's not bad to the bone or anything, just young and ignorant. She could had saved herself but chose death and loyalty. It's very admirable.

Furthermore, a little more sympathy is necessary for Mashiro's birth. Her father and mother were killed when she was a child. Real princess or fake, she never got a chance to know them. A child is born almost a blank slate and one's caretakers truly play a large role in how they turn out. If one was spoiled from birth, one can't simply blame it all on the child.

And in Mashiro's case, she was actually beginning to learn from the things that Takumi showed her. The spoiled princess wanted to be a queen who "can bring happiness to everyone" and it just so happened that the day she was going to turn a new leaf Nagi, the evil showed up. If anything, I dislike Nagi a lot more than Mashiro. It ruined her chance for redemption and now the country forever hates her. (of course, this is just currently. who knows what'll happen in future eps.)

Thirdly, and realistically, in every country, developing or developed, there'll always be poor people no matter how well you do. There's always projects within the budget that are stupid and simply spent for the benefit of corrupt officials or luxury items. Of course, in developing, it's the majority that are extremely poor and suffering. At least in Mashiro's country, there wasn't random killings or unstable governments. They actually put an effort into making things look fine. People aren't slaughtered for religious belief like in so many parts of the world or tortured and killed for being 'second class' citizens. Honestly, it could have been much worst, especially if Mashiro developed a taste for killing or taking joy out of the suffering of the poor that a few rulers seem to develop. At least she cared that there were poor people suffering... she could had easily dismissed them, saying that they deserved it or simply don't care. (not even being the ruler, there are many rich people out there, simply indulging in their extravagent lifestyles while turning a blind eye to the desperate parts of the places that they live in)

Also, a good part ofthe population seem to be living in acceptable conditions in Windbloom (say... 40%-60%?). I assumed this because the caravan that Mashiro travelled with didn't seem that big. Sure, they might just be one scattered portion of the people but so far, the anime showed us only one slums. (the Nao thing is just the sketchy places of any place. ) There are probably a few more but the rate of poverty doesn't seem that rampant.

So... I end this rant by saying that Mashiro couldn't be entirely blamed for the state of her country due to her upbringing, the way in which the country is ran and that she deserves brownie points for her good intentions in the last 2 episodes.

As for, Aoi... she was just her servant/nanny. It's not her responsibility to mother Mashiro but she did try to be a friend and someone who cares. She may not have done the lesson thing like Takumi did but that doesn't mean she automatically deserves such an end, especially under such unjustified anger. In other words, she did what most people would had done: go with the flow. It's just so much easier to take that route and most people do. This was what made her loyalty towards the end simply amazing. She had a choice but chose the noble way. She was just your average normal girl but the courage she displayed was extraodinary.

[Preston]

First I have a few things to say, then I've got some post quoting to do.. (and with some pretty fitting music in the background, in my opinion, and in a very good mood, I'll start..)

I'll start up by saying.. incredible. I never considered an episode of this style following the last one, and I must commend Sunrise for this excellent piece of story telling. Utter brilliance. It leaves some doubt in viewer's minds, but not a large amount, it lets viewers fill in the gaps between last episode and this.. for now, it has a very, very emotional and fantastically executed 'death' (more on that latter) this episode shot to the top of my favourite (serious) episodes. I never thought something like this could happen after the last episode, but yet again, Sunrise have refreshed my respect for them.

About Aoi's death.. I don't believe it for a moment, but first I must say, if you believe disappearing into the darkness fast is a sign of a future come-back look at the last Indiana Jones film (well.. not the last for much longer), no-one came out that misty hole in the ground inside the temple at the end did they? What I base my thoughts about this on is not as placed on assumption rather that media techniques. A close up still frame of Aoi's face with her smiling, yet with dead eyes and a small trickle of blood from the corner of her mouth, fading from white into white slowly would have been a very powerful indication that she WAS dead, but wouldn't have detracted from the feel of the overall scene. It is also a common media technique; it's even used in 'Don't drink and drive' TV adverts in the UK. Or was..

Apart from that we have the following points. At number one, with the likely reset at the end, Aoi can't be brought back by that; Sunrise would never be able to excuse it, it's just the people that went green sparklies. Two, it IS the kind of death people walk away from, caught by a friend (in Aoi's case, I hardly think any of us would have to consider who would be the conventional choice for this role..) and kept out of the storyline for awhile - only to pop back up with extra meaning. Three, the old 'we didn't see a body so she ain't dead' still applies, I guess. That needs no further explanation.

Other than that, we have Nina in this episode for only a short period of time. This I wasn't happy with, but I loved the rest of the episode so it compensated for this gap for me. I couldn't understand what she was saying, but it looks like she has totally cracked. It looked like she was trying to cope with it by acting normal - pretending it never happened. This itself is very damaging for a person. It could even go so far as her guilt overwhelming her and either destroying her mentally, or lead to her mind inventing an alternate possibility to cope with it. She looked unsettlingly happy when she saw Sergei - and then it seemed something he said sparked off the guilt and unhappiness she was keeping covered. Something like "it wasn't your fault" perhaps? Like that ever helps..

Keeping your emotions inside you is bad. Very bad. I know, I've done it. And I expect quite a few people here have as well. Talking really does help, and Nina isn't the kind of person to do that. Bad news. She won't let anyone know her problems - especially after what happened between her and Arika. She probably convinced herself that it was partially to do with her trusting Arika with some of her feelings that things resulted as they did.

Um.. what else.. Mashiro really learnt a lot this episode. If she ever gets back to being leader, this will make her a very good one. However, the immense criticisms of the lower class that Nagi kicked out deserved their opinions. I am not happy that Aoi took the brunt of their rage induced delusions, but they way they were treated, they had a right to lose their temper. Heh.. understatement, I know.

On to the quoting..


++Very little Arika (I had been hoping for this since... episode 1)

-Not enough Nina


Over this, we share identical opinions.

Nina felt unnaturally animated/genki this episode which made me chuckle but also frown. Nina's world got turned upside-down and she's trying to deal with it. I think her world's gonna get inverted a couple more times before this is through, this is just the beginning :(

Like I said in my post above, I think she really cracked. She wouldn't act like this normally.. or even abnormally in a sane state of mind. She looked far more at ease in front of Sergei that she is normally, or perhaps a far different type of unease.

So, this means if everything comes back to life, like all of the HiME's and their precious persons, because they disappeared from green flashes, would this mean IF:

Erstin comes back while Aoi doesn't? That's IF they revive all the people with the green sparckles, looks like it.

A worrying thought, eh? Aoi didn't/doesn't deserve to 'die', and she deserves the reset. Good then, that she probably isn't dead. Sunrise can't excuse bringing back people that didnt go the way of the green sparklies.

Hmmm...after watching this episode from a variety of different angles, I'm going to go out on a limb say......Aoi isn't dead.

Agreed wholeheartedly.

The thing is... a part of me hopes she really is dead and doesn't come back because I am of the opinion that if she comes back then meaning behind her sacrifice is cheapened. That's why I HATED the HiME ending.

Sacrifice cheapened? I don't see how that works. And you really are making the choice to feel that way yourself. When they made the sacrifice, when they decided to die, they didn't know or even consider there was a life beyond death - a team of writers ready to bring them back at the end for a cheerful picnic with all the previous enemies and friends together.

It's like saying, a team of firemen enter a burning building to rescue people trapped inside, knowing full well they are risking their lives, and then the building collapses before the last few can get out - and you saying "Hey, let them burn, otherwise the sacrifice they made for exchanging their personal safety for that of others will be cheapened" and a rescue operation not being attempted. I'm sorry, I just consider it complete foolishness.

Maybe what happened is Aoi just is knocked out cold and needs a kiss from her "prince" as it were to wake her up. I don't need to go and explain who might that be.

http://smilies.vidahost.com/contrib/ruinkai/wvdetermined.gif My kind of storyline addition.. Aoi and Chie recently, quite randomly, became a very cool plot device for me.

Brilliant.

Hey! Being cynical is my job! ;)

[Matrim]

I just watched the raw. I didn't understand much but it seemed like such a boring episode. As if I can believe that anyone (except Arika who is retarded) would sacrifice his or her life for Mashiro. Yeah, right... I actually laughed out loud when I saw that scene, it was so hard to believe that this was actually happening. As for the rest of episode I will give my input after I watch the subbed version. The best thing was that there was almost no Arika.

At number one, with the likely reset at the end, Aoi can't be brought back by that; Sunrise would never be able to excuse it, it's just the people that went green sparklies.

Does the name Alyssa Searrs ring any bells? Episode 26 of Mai-HiME? So, don't be so sure that Aoi is not coming or that she is dead at all.

P.S. Why do they keep making fun of Haruka and depict her as a total moron? Her brief appearance did not seem funny at all, IMHO.

[Oberon]

I thought this was a wonderful episode, first and foremost because it provided some wonderful displays of emotion. In the beginning for example when Mashiro hides in fear of discovery from the soldiers. Mortal fear and despair (without it crossing into the emo zone) is something that's rarely shown in anime especially from main characters. Same goes for Nina's attempt to act as if nothing happened, but then cracks when Sergay apologizes to her. And the highlight, the scene at the cliff. The moment that stood out most for me was when Mashiro wanted to step forward knowing that it's the right thing to do but couldn't, because her legs wouldn't move out of overwhelming fear, growing more agitated with each second that she couldn't bring herself to move. That, paired with Aoi, who saw her, realized she was safe and who finally finds the resolve to die for her made for some powerful scenes. The wonderful whistful song playing in the background helped quite a bit, of course. As for her "death" being permanent or not, I don't care in this case. In that instant the characters didn't know whether there'll be a reset or not. Their emotions were genuine and even if Aoi comes back at a later point, that doesn't change the fact that she was willing to give her life for Mashiro.

As for the mob, I'll play the devils advocate for a bit. Of course, we have a problem with them, because one of the most lovable characters in this show was driven to her death because of them. A few hours after I saw the episode, I realized that those people don't have the omniscient perspective that we have. From their point of view she was some unknown entity living away in a world of glamor and something of a right hand maid of the evil princess, who even drove them from their homeland. I didn't catch all of their dialogue, but I think they're not really aware that their forced exodus from Windbloom wasn't really Mashiro's fault. So when they got ahold of someone in the higher ranks, they went into french revolution mode (remember Mashiro's naive "Let them eat candy" line?). On the other hand, although I see where they're coming from, I'm still angry at them, because as the omniscient viewer that I am, I do know the nice person who was indirectly killed be the mob. So I hope there's some kind of realization waiting for them so that they truly know what they've done and what that makes them. Maybe the blonde little girl will learn this lesson, as she seems to be the viewers connection to the faceless crowds of the poor.

[Preston]

So, don't be so sure that Aoi is not coming or that she is dead at all.

:twitch: *Shoots self* ;) I.. um.. did kinda mention I didn't think she was dead.. several times..

[Tremalkinger]

I just watched the raw. I didn't understand much but it seemed like such a boring episode. As if I can believe that anyone (except Arika who is retarded) would sacrifice his or her life for Mashiro. Yeah, right... I actually laughed out loud when I saw that scene...

If you cannot understand the dialog, how can you possibly make fun of the character motivations? :eyebrow:

[Souten no Seigyoku]

Frankly, I couldn't care less about "more fighting". It's true that most of the fights right now have mostly been "innuendo style", but that's not what I watch Otome for in the first place. I can imagine though that people who insist on fighting animation may feel a bit disappointed.

Nah, I'm in for the drama and story, and this is where the show has been at its finest for some time now. Keep it up!

I thought I already mentioned I didnt expect dbz or gsd. Its like getting married. You dont expect to be "mounted" 24/7 and it shouldnt be a reason for marriage, but you do expect some 'mounting.' :heh: same deal here.

[Matrim]

If you cannot understand the dialog, how can you possibly make fun of the character motivations? :eyebrow:

It was pretty obvious why Aoi sacrificed herself, wasn't it? Plus, I read some summaries later.

[SoldierOfDarkness]

Does the name Alyssa Searrs ring any bells? Episode 26 of Mai-HiME? So, don't be so sure that Aoi is not coming or that she is dead at all.

Except Alyssa Searrsr was a Hime, yes a fake one but she had power which was why Mikoto and Mai were the last ones standing but the Land to Fuka opened up.

I don't recall Aoi actually having ANY connections at all to these powers.

I just watched the raw. I didn't understand much but it seemed like such a boring episode. As if I can believe that anyone (except Arika who is retarded) would sacrifice his or her life for Mashiro. Yeah, right... I actually laughed out loud when I saw that scene...

This is a woman who devoted her life to taking care of Mashiro and even went to the extent of seeking external help for Mashiro to get her out of her room. Despite everything that Mashiro did to her Aoi nevertheless stood by her. You'd think it's a surprise she would sacrifice her life for her? :eyebrow:

Unlike the people, Aoi was always by her side and I would assume that she knows more about Mashiro than anyone else.

The reason why it had so much impact was because Aoi was one of the few people who actually cared about Mashiro.

[friendshipz]

after this esp, am gonna stick to my option that mashiro will still remain as the queen ,whom she is or not being the queen..

esp 18 still no mai.. i concluded that she is gonna be the "guest of honour" of mai otome..coming out for the last few esp than take sergey away and both of them eloped....

cliffhanger ending for mai otome would be a gd one..chance of hoping for ova ,or even better a new season

[Matrim]

This is a woman who devoted her life to taking care of Mashiro and even went to the extent of seeking external help for Mashiro to get her out of her room. Despite everything that Mashiro did to her Aoi nevertheless stood by her. You'd think it's a surprise she would sacrifice her life for her?

I didn't say it was surprising, I just said it was laghable.

Except Alyssa Searrsr was a Hime, yes a fake one but she had power which was why Mikoto and Mai were the last ones standing but the Land to Fuka opened up.

I don't recall Aoi actually having ANY connections at all to these powers.


Since when only characters with superpowers can be brought back to life? They don't have to copy everything from MH, after all. :heh:

BTW, the music played when Aoi died was pretty much the only notable thing in this episode. Finally we had some nice music.

[Mirtual]

Good epsiode. It was sad how Aoi died. I fear she is really dead, because first she fell down, but there was no water. So the cliché of surviving the falling does not work here. Second she lacks a plot shield. Put that together and she is dead.
That makes Erstin and Aoi for now. If they keep that killing pace up I fear Otome is going a very dark way. Well, I think it was to be expected.
I am really looking forward to the next episode.
Otome is by far the best series of those I am watching right now.

BTW, anyone can tell me how much more eps we are expecting? 5?

[SoldierOfDarkness]

I didn't say it was surprising, I just said it was laghable.

That still doesn't make it laughable, of course screams are music to my ears but to say it's funny that someone was willing to sacrifice for Mashiro is a little over the top.

BTW Arika would never sacrifice herself for Mashiro either.

Since when only characters with superpowers can be brought back to life? They don't have to copy everything from MH, after all. :heh:

The reason why it worked in Mai Hime was because everyone that died were sacrifices to the Carnival so it wasn't that hard for Mashiro and Miyu to release them.

In this case, Aoi just committed suicide. If your so desperate for her to return we'd need something on the lines of dragonballs that brings everyone back from the dead.

That and I doubt she's dead. It's a rule that when someone falls into a seemingly bottomless dark pit, their not dead.:heh:

[Tremalkinger]

I didn't say it was surprising, I just said it was laghable.

So you understand Aoi's motivation, and understand why she sacrificed herself for Mashiro's sake. You obviously have a strong dislike for Mashiro (not entierly misplaced), and somehow this carries over to Aoi and her death sequence, which was extremely well done and sad. :(

If you are that determined to dislike this show, then yes, you will dislike it.

[PastPrime]

I just watched the raw. I didn't understand much but it seemed like such a boring episode. As if I can believe that anyone (except Arika who is retarded) would sacrifice his or her life for Mashiro. Yeah, right... I actually laughed out loud when I saw that scene, it was so hard to believe that this was actually happening. As for the rest of episode I will give my input after I watch the subbed version. The best thing was that there was almost no Arika.



Does the name Alyssa Searrs ring any bells? Episode 26 of Mai-HiME? So, don't be so sure that Aoi is not coming or that she is dead at all.

While I was in the minority, I thought that Alyssa Searrs was not dead to start with. I expected to see her back even without a reset. None of the people that I thought were really killed came back.

[Sakuya]

Mimi is voiced by Shimizu Ai, the VA who voiced Mikoto! I thought she sounded familiar. :heh:

[Anime Adoru]

If you haven't seen the RAW yet, you can thumb through the episode here:

http://www.adoru.com/mai-otome/ep18pic01.html

(Full size screenshots.)

[Vei1Side]

going with the aoi didnt die scenerio, could it be possible that aoi could be an otome?

I remember in MH, that characters i leasted expected to be Hime were hime, so it might be possible. i hope =)

[EnseiSong]

going with the aoi didnt die scenerio, could it be possible that aoi could be an otome?

I remember in MH, that characters i leasted expected to be Hime were hime, so it might be possible. i hope =)

humm.... how could she? she don't have a GEM... and none of the Otomes can transform, besides Arika and Nina, and the people that have Master in a different country.

[Vei1Side]

humm.... how could she? she don't have a GEM... and none of the Otomes can transform, besides Arika and Nina, and the people that have Master in a different country.

maybe shes hiding it? lol i dontk now it was just a thought.

[EnseiSong]

maybe shes hiding it? lol i dontk now it was just a thought.

lol, that would be great!!! Chie is her Master then!

[Xellos-_^]

maybe shes hiding it? lol i dontk now it was just a thought.

Back in one of the earlier eps. It was either 2 or 3, Aoi had said that she wish mashiro would make a contract with a Otome soon.

I don't know where all the silly specualtion about Aoi being a Otome came from but there is absolutely no evidence to support that theory and plenty against.

[Lonelyfighte]

Back in one of the earlier eps. It was either 2 or 3, Aoi had said that she wish mashiro would make a contract with a Otome soon.

I don't know where all the silly specualtion about Aoi being a Otome came from but there is absolutely no evidence to support that theory and plenty against.

I think it's more that people are trying to find reasons to keep Aoi alive, no matter how silly they may seem. I too, want Aoi to be alive, but if she does get saved I don't think that Chie would be the one to save her. She's still in the city, right? There seemed to be some sort of time space between ep 17 and 18, so I'm not quite sure. Ah, but we can hope, can't we?

[Matrim]

If you are that determined to dislike this show, then yes, you will dislike it.

I could just go for the cliche answer which would be "If you are that determined to like this show, then yes you will" but I won't. I am not determined or anything, I actually have no expectations at all and I try to see everything as an improvement. For instance this episode is better than episode 15. Not that this is difficult to achieve. :)

[Catgirls]

If you are that determined to dislike this show, then yes, you will dislike it.

I could just go for the cliche answer which would be "If you are that determined to like this show, then yes you will" but I won't. I am not determined or anything, I actually have no expectations at all and I try to see everything as an improvement. For instance this episode is better than episode 15. Not that this is difficult to achieve. :)I can see this might quickly become an issue. It's pretty obvious that Matrim doesn't like this show and enjoys that fact, but this isn't the thread to start a debate about his disliking of Otome. Put him on Ignore or send him a PM if his viewpoint and opinion bother you (or anyone here).

Thanks.

[Tremalkinger]

I can see this might quickly become an issue. It's pretty obvious that Matrim doesn't like this show and enjoys that fact, but this isn't the thread to start a debate about his disliking of Otome. Put him on Ignore or send him a PM if his viewpoint and opinion bother you (or anyone here).

Thanks.

Oh yee of little faith. There's a reason I didn't reply. Agree to disagree and such.

[ShinigamiRukia]

hehe, well heres a little something i made for this episode, it not very good drawn and the quality got messed up,but wouldent it have been better if she carried one of these around with her xD?
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/4361/aoifall2ud.jpg

[friendshipz]

hehe, well heres a little something i made for this episode, it not very good drawn and the quality got messed up,but wouldent it have been better if she carried one of these around with her xD?
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/4361/aoifall2ud.jpg


u drew better than most of us do...-_-,but am impressed wif ur artwork.. loh.

[philip72]

hehe, well heres a little something i made for this episode, it not very good drawn and the quality got messed up,but wouldent it have been better if she carried one of these around with her xD?
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/4361/aoifall2ud.jpg

That made me chuckle, Thanks.

[Kourin]

hehe, well heres a little something i made for this episode, it not very good drawn and the quality got messed up,but wouldent it have been better if she carried one of these around with her xD?
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/4361/aoifall2ud.jpg


hehehe. I had a good chuckle over that. nice art! very cute with a creative idea and great execution. keep drawing!! :D

[KiraDouji]

They actually pulled off Aoi "dying" in a remarkably good manner. I'm impressed.

... I just want the music playing during that scene now, though. It was SO GOOD. Second OST... come on....!!

- Kira

[ladholyman]

The first marvelously decent episode. Now all we need is some saving by Chie and I will be pleased.

[Rakshasa]

I've been pondering why Sergay had such serious injuries consider that he stopped Erstin's child with no more than ripped clothes, the explosion shouldn't have been that bad for him. Makes me think Nagi's troops or even Nina had to use more than a little force to stop him.

[The Bloodlust Kid]

Concerning the question about "who let's a 12 year old take complete authority?"

If you think that's bad, back in the Three Kingdoms era of China, the last heir of the Shu Kingdom was a mentally retarded cripple which led to their downfall.

And now back to Otome:
That kid that Midori was hugging in that screenshot is friggin' lucky. He gets a close-up of her cleavage.:mad:

And speaking of which, do any of you suppose that Nina is the Otome's version of HiME's Shiho? I willing to bet that any mention of Arika will turn her into a murderous psychopath.

[GracefulAmethyst]

i think what aoi did was the most- unselfish act of kindness a human being could do .. its really incrediable, and i understand why she would do such a sacrafice.. because Mashiro was liek a sister and she truly loved her aww makes me want to Cry.

Btw i think Arika would give up her life, she's very selfless acaully and she'd without realizing would take a death blow for Mashiro.

[guest]

hehehe. I had a good chuckle over that. nice art! very cute with a creative idea and great execution. keep drawing!! :D
Kourin! Where did you get your avatar? I love that! :D

I could imagine that Mashiro being a spoiled brat (Ok, she actually is) because she has no parents or a higher authority to teach her something like that. Arika grew up with her grandma. Real or not is not an issue here because Arika believed that she is and she treated Arika liked her granddoughter. I think that made a lot of difference.

If Arika had raised in a palace without her parents, I think she would have become like Mashiro most likely.

And, Aoi..... :sad:

[SoldierOfDarkness]

Btw i think Arika would give up her life, she's very selfless acaully and she'd without realizing would take a death blow for Mashiro.

Well, currently Arika would never sacrifice her life for obvious reasons. She'd be pretty stupid to do that.

[ArchDragon]

Well, currently Arika would never sacrifice her life for obvious reasons. She'd be pretty stupid to do that.
That IS her problem, she acts first, think later.

Only after she took a fatal blow for someone else will she realize that Mashiro will die with her.

[Maceart]

This is the first episode I give a 10. Better than episode 17, some flashbacks, great Mashiro character development, and OMG WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO AOI!!!???

Mai-Otome 18 out from Doremi-fansubs.

[Asianknight82]

Great episode, the latter half was well done indeed. It seems that I'll may be right about...

That theres gonna be a time gap of 2 years. Maybe then people won't bitch about Arika being with Sergey :heh: