(L+CR) Strike Witches: Road to Berlin

[FlareKnight]

On the positive side it is actually nice to see Yoshika have to face something like this. Miraculously getting her powers back demanded some kind of cost. Kind of hope they send a letter to those mechanics so that they know it wasn't any problem with their work that caused issues in the previous fight. The certainly couldn't compensate for Yoshika having issues.

On the downside...Hattori is kind of annoying. I know it's been a while since I saw the movie. But I thought she was less annoying than this. Was somewhat more interesting when she was being a jerk to Yoshika than being her fangirl. Besides I'm not sure she's being too smart here. Stepping into the territory already claimed by a sniper just seems to be asking for trouble . Kidding aside, I really hope Hattori improves as a character through this season.

Can kind of empathize with the general shooting a map . Comes all the way out here due to this big mission and...it's put on hold. Poor guy wasn't informed how this show works. We've got to spend at least several more episodes on fairly pointless Neuroi attacks before they come up with some crazy solution that involves using Neuroi powers to fight Neuroi and then having it blow up in their faces . The guy will just have to relax for a month or so. Or just keep shooting maps...

[Random Wanderer]

Originally Posted by FlareKnight

On the positive side it is actually nice to see Yoshika have to face something like this. Miraculously getting her powers back demanded some kind of cost.

I agree with that. It actually feels good to see that there are some lingering consequences for the abuse she's put her magic through. It's not at all surprising that she'd suffer some problems.

We've got to spend at least several more episodes on fairly pointless Neuroi attacks before they come up with some crazy solution that involves using Neuroi powers to fight Neuroi and then having it blow up in their faces .

It's probably idealistic of me to hope that they'd have learned from their previous mistakes and go the Brave Witches route of dealing with Neuroi instead.

[serenade_beta]

Originally Posted by Random Wanderer

You don't remember Shizuka? She was all throughout the movie.

Ahh, that's it. Yeah, didn't watch the movie. Actually forgot there was even a movie.

[Master_Yoma]

Well im not really surprised that Miyafuji having problems with her magic its just that she needs to go back that that old lady for her basics But its a shame that Shizuka having a lot of problems

[Marina2]

Ah.....so that's how they keep Yoshika's powerlevel in check. I assume that a flying unit she used in ep.1&2 will be a key to fix her problem somehow.

[Random Wanderer]

Originally Posted by serenade_beta

Ahh, that's it. Yeah, didn't watch the movie. Actually forgot there was even a movie.

You may want to track it down. While you can watch this season without having seen it, as you've already noticed there are details that you won't understand without it. It serves to bridge season 2 with this season, explaining why Yoshika was in Europe, showing her regaining her powers, introducing Shizuka, and so on.

Also there are the Operation Victory Arrow OVA episodes. Those are set before the movie but after season 2. They are less critical: from a character and worldbuilding standpoint they're great, but they don't really introduce critical plot details the way the movie does.

Originally Posted by Marina2

Ah.....so that's how they keep Yoshika's powerlevel in check.

Gotta do something, or she'll soon just be wiping away Neuroi with a wave of her hand.

[serenade_beta]

Originally Posted by Random Wanderer

You may want to track it down. While you can watch this season without having seen it, as you've already noticed there are details that you won't understand without it. It serves to bridge season 2 with this season, explaining why Yoshika was in Europe, showing her regaining her powers, introducing Shizuka, and so on.

Also there are the Operation Victory Arrow OVA episodes. Those are set before the movie but after season 2. They are less critical: from a character and worldbuilding standpoint they're great, but they don't really introduce critical plot details the way the movie does.

Thanks for the suggestion, but I don't like this series that much.

[Anh_Minh]

Originally Posted by FlareKnight

Can kind of empathize with the general shooting a map .

I can't. It seems like an accident waiting to happen. An excellent way of losing a witch to a stray bullet.

[Ernietheracefan]

Originally Posted by Anh_Minh

I can't. It seems like an accident waiting to happen. An excellent way of losing a witch to a stray bullet.

And Patton makes Rommel & Manstein looks better..

BTW, I wonder if Hikari's training methods would be useful for Yoshika, which is quite hilarious in hindsight considering a certain DavePro's main franchise..

FYI, Georgette would be 18 years old by the time episode 4 came out..

[Infinite Zenith]

Originally Posted by Ernietheracefan

BTW, I wonder if Hikari's training methods would be useful for Yoshika, which is quite hilarious in hindsight considering a certain DavePro's main franchise..

I don’t think so: Hikari’s problem was that she couldn’t focus her magic for a given task, so Gundalla was training her to concentrate. Yoshika, on the other hand, has a different problem to face.

On the third episode, it’s worth mentioning that the 501st’s latest base is set at Fort Erfprins near Den Helder, Netherlands per the distinct star-shaped moat. I think the castle itself is fictional.

[arkhangelsk]

I believe I get what they are trying to do. On the other hand, I have objections to shows that just "jerk" their characters around to meet short term plot needs. Think about it:
First because they need a complete newbie character to be plausibly useful in an elite squadron, they infused her with a huge amount of magic power.
Second, Miyafuji actually gets pretty competent by the end of Strike Witches I, but for what is more a fanservice episode than anything, they nerfed her and said she needed retraining in the early part of Strike Witches II.
Third, having gotten out of her slump, for a little more pathos they decided to nerf her magic capacity entirely at the end of Strike Witches II.
Fourth, they decide they want her back, so they restore her magic power in the movie. In fact, I don't think I've seen her magic power that high before.

This is the fifth jerk, and I am getting rather jaded by all of these contrivances. Further, the severity of this problem seems entirely dependent on intraepisode plot needs. Miyafuji flies long-distance, fights a Neuroi, almost beats it on her own and the thing never craps out entirely until the end.
This episode, she still lasts maybe 15 minutes before suffering some kind of total power failure.
And then in the night, she can barely move three inches from the start rack in a scene clearly intended to crudely jerk at my heartstrings?

Really? Can I say I do not wish to be so cheaply bought?

Originally Posted by Infinite Zenith

I don’t think so: Hikari’s problem was that she couldn’t focus her magic for a given task, so Gundalla was training her to concentrate. Yoshika, on the other hand, has a different problem to face.

Hikari's main problem is that she barely has enough magic power (talent) to make the program at all, though her stamina is above average. She not only needs to concentrate and avoid taking too many hits, but also practice using it until she's very efficient in using what she has. It is possible at least some of the program would transfer.

[MeoTwister5]

Yoshika is being put in the same situation that Hikari is in. No doubt Yoshika has managed to get through problems through sheer magical power alone, while Hikari has had to learn how to properly focus and manage her limited reserves and pick her battles properly. Yoshika no longer has the freedom to throw around power and barriers willy-nilly, so she now has to learn how to be like other non-savant witches and manage her magic properly.

[Anh_Minh]

As was said before, Yoshika has a very different problem from Hiakri's. Hikari's a consistent 10, Yoshika can be 100 one moment and 5 or even 0 the next, with little rhyme or reason.

[Random Wanderer]

Hmm... I'm uncertain at this point if we're dealing with Brave Witches level smarter Neuroi or not. It may take another episode or two before I can really judge.

Before I watched this episode I had just been thinking that Yoshika should go back to the broom training, so it was good to see it again. Unfortunately, it looks like her problem isn't that simple this time.

It's heartwarming to see how strong Shirley and Lucchini's relationship is.

[Infinite Zenith]

Originally Posted by Random Wanderer

Hmm... I'm uncertain at this point if we're dealing with Brave Witches level smarter Neuroi or not. It may take another episode or two before I can really judge.

Before I watched this episode I had just been thinking that Yoshika should go back to the broom training, so it was good to see it again. Unfortunately, it looks like her problem isn't that simple this time.

It's heartwarming to see how strong Shirley and Lucchini's relationship is.

I don't think we've ever seen those two fight before, so this episode was strong in that regard. I was also fond of how Gertrude stepped in and encouraged Francesca to make up with Charlotte; it really shows that beyond her being a stickler for the rules and discipline, she's also a proper older sister figure for the other witches.

[Master_Yoma]

Charlie still chasing speed and Lucchini only having good intentions again but at less Barkhorn not flying off the handle again

Liking Charlie new striker

[Anh_Minh]

What was that "rescue" all about anyway? Couldn't and shouldn't she have used Luccini's Striker? What was she ever going to accomplish with her bike except give the others two girls to rescue?

[FlareKnight]

Originally Posted by Anh_Minh

What was that "rescue" all about anyway? Couldn't and shouldn't she have used Luccini's Striker? What was she ever going to accomplish with her bike except give the others two girls to rescue?

Honestly, I'm not sure. Besides the dramatic "I choose you over my bike" moment it creates, I don't see a good reason for her to do things that way. Props to the car for having some legitimate speed, but not sure that was the fastest way to resolve this .

At least the emotional moment between those two was solid and worthwhile.

[arkhangelsk]

I think it is best if we don't think too hard about the more ... uh, tactical or geometrical aspects of this week's episode. It is a pretty heartwarming episode and I like it more than last week's.

[serenade_beta]

Originally Posted by Anh_Minh

What was that "rescue" all about anyway? Couldn't and shouldn't she have used Luccini's Striker? What was she ever going to accomplish with her bike except give the others two girls to rescue?

Unfortunately, it was pretty easy to tell this episode was trying to go from the start. And thus, this... "heartwarming" episode.