(L) Soukou no Strain (Strain: Strategic Armored Infantry)

[kari-no-sugata]

Originally Posted by meh

That's why I said the physics make no sense in terms of the presentation in the story. The battlefront where Ralph was suppose to go to was 130 light years away. Hence, unless Sarah has been traveling close to light speed for ~130 light years, she should not be alive to hear about her brother's heroics at the front lines. The fact that she does hear about it means that from the pespective of the planet at the beginning of episode 1, at least 130 years have passed.

The main problem is that we really have no clue about the relative proximity among the locations. This normally wouldn't matter in sci-fi, since faster-than-light travel and demolishing theory of relativity takes care of everything. The fact that they didn't use that technique here, though, makes such things relevant.

I'm not sure you have interpreted what has been presented correctly. Before Ralph is about to leave, he talks about being promoted recently. In ep 1 when the academy guy is talking about Reasoner pilots and brings up Ralph, he looks exactly the same age as at the start of the epsiode, despite this being several years later. We don't know when the referenced battle took place - ie it could well be the battle that got him his promotion and lead to him being sent 130 light-years away.

ie, he became famous due to his efforts in the local area, and then is sent off long distance and hasn't been heard of since (until later in ep 1) because he was (supposedly) still in transit. But it looks like instead that he hadn't left the local area significantly (maybe his transport ship got hijacked or something)

[kari-no-sugata]

Some random observations / comments:

Spoiler for some LIGHT spoilers from ep3:

*) Why do we have (so far) 3 characters with glasses? Given that limbs can be casually replaced it seems, you'd think eyesight problems would be corrected - since it can be done today. I'd put this purely down to the series not being hard-core sci-fi.

*) There is an interesting lack of beam weapons - and no beam spam. It seems all the fighting will be hand-to-hand or with short-ish range weapons. The Strains seem to have those energy bolts / missiles we see Sara fire several of in ep 1, but pretty much everything else seems to be a melee weapon.

*) Carmichael (loli mechanic) says that Melchisedec put the MIMIC inside the doll (Emily), so I don't think we'll be seeing Sara's Emily move - which might make Sara seem a bit creepy for how she treats the doll. If Emily didn't respond to Sara, then Sara would come off as borderline insane

Some thoughts on ep4 preview:

Spoiler:

We have what looks like the start of an "abandon ship" moment - I wonder how many will survive?

For Sara vs Ralph, there's two bits shown: one where Sara seems to dodge Ralph's attack and another where he seems just about to strike her from behind (and Sara has realised it). In the preview, she says Ralph is her enemy.

At the end of ep 3, Lotti has spotted Ralph and is going to try to kill him. She has an inferior Strain and less experiance, and while she seems quite a bit better than the average Strain pilot I don't think she'd last long against Ralph. If Ralph can't take on Lotti easily, then Ralph isn't going to last long.

It may be that Sara initially saves Lotti, and is able to battle Ralph better, but she can't beat him either - and is saved herself by Lotti. Maybe Ralph will decide that he can't take on Sara+Lotti and the main ship is falling apart by this time (Ralph's objective?) so he decides to leave. I wonder if Sara and Lotti will decide to work together to beat Ralph, or will they compete to try to kill him? When Lotti is talking to Sara in the ep 4 preview, she seems quite angry and Sara looks depressed/withdrawn. Is Sara like that because of something she herself did, or because of what Lotti is telling her, I wonder.

[Sonhex]

Originally Posted by kari-no-sugata

...

Some thoughts on ep4 preview:

Spoiler:

We have what looks like the start of an "abandon ship" moment - I wonder how many will survive?

For Sara vs Ralph, there's two bits shown: one where Sara seems to dodge Ralph's attack and another where he seems just about to strike her from behind (and Sara has realised it). In the preview, she says Ralph is her enemy.

At the end of ep 3, Lotti has spotted Ralph and is going to try to kill him. She has an inferior Strain and less experiance, and while she seems quite a bit better than the average Strain pilot I don't think she'd last long against Ralph. If Ralph can't take on Lotti easily, then Ralph isn't going to last long.

It may be that Sara initially saves Lotti, and is able to battle Ralph better, but she can't beat him either - and is saved herself by Lotti. Maybe Ralph will decide that he can't take on Sara+Lotti and the main ship is falling apart by this time (Ralph's objective?) so he decides to leave. I wonder if Sara and Lotti will decide to work together to beat Ralph, or will they compete to try to kill him? When Lotti is talking to Sara in the ep 4 preview, she seems quite angry and Sara looks depressed/withdrawn. Is Sara like that because of something she herself did, or because of what Lotti is telling her, I wonder.

Spoiler for ep 4 speculations:

Lotti seems pretty powerful, but considering the ease at which Ralph slices up STRAINs and even ships, she doesn't stand much chance. I initially thought she would be strong enough, but I just don't see her making any kind of impact on Ralph's destructive techniques.

Sara's new red STRAIN probably has a much better chance. But given the opportunity would Sara destroy Ralph there and then? I reckon she'll have a nii-san flashback and realise she doesn't want him dead, but wants to save him from whatever torment he's experienced.

I'm also curious to learn who is that rather hot looking woman draped over Ralph in the preview. She reminds me of Lust from FMA.

Incidently, I may have missed something in ep 3 but what happened to the pendanto?

[kari-no-sugata]

Originally Posted by Sonhex

Spoiler for ep 4 speculations:

Lotti seems pretty powerful, but considering the ease at which Ralph slices up STRAINs and even ships, she doesn't stand much chance. I initially thought she would be strong enough, but I just don't see her making any kind of impact on Ralph's destructive techniques.

Sara's new red STRAIN probably has a much better chance. But given the opportunity would Sara destroy Ralph there and then? I reckon she'll have a nii-san flashback and realise she doesn't want him dead, but wants to save him from whatever torment he's experienced.

I have been wondering about that too. Incidentally, the name of her mecha, following A Little Princess, is "Ram Dass".

Spoiler:

If Sara actually has a real chance to kill Ralph, that would be impressive - she might have a custom Strain but Ralpha is a veteran. Still, if she does get a chance, it would not be a big surprise to see her hesitate briefly. She'd probably be surprised at herself if she did - it may be why she looks depressed later.

Originally Posted by Sonhex

Spoiler for ep 4 speculations:

I'm also curious to learn who is that rather hot looking woman draped over Ralph in the preview. She reminds me of Lust from FMA.

An officer (I think) on the mothership Ralph is stationed on.

Incidently, I may have missed something in ep 3 but what happened to the pendanto?

Seems to be well and truely lost.

[Sonhex]

Originally Posted by kari-no-sugata

I have been wondering about that too. Incidentally, the name of her mecha, following A Little Princess, is "Ram Dass".

Spoiler:

If Sara actually has a real chance to kill Ralph, that would be impressive - she might have a custom Strain but Ralpha is a veteran. Still, if she does get a chance, it would not be a big surprise to see her hesitate briefly. She'd probably be surprised at herself if she did - it may be why she looks depressed later.

I agree. This 'missed opportunity' would definately explain Lotti's fury. Looking forward to hearing an angry Yukana next ep

Originally Posted by kari-no-sugata

Seems to be well and truely lost.

Puzzles me that there was no mention of it, considering the obsessive search Sara undertook to locate it. Of-course the one person likely to have it in their possession is the one person who appears to have died. Now if that person was not dead, and returned somewhat changed like Ralph the one way for Sara to identify her would be if she produced the pendant...

[StanAce]

Is it just me, or does Carrisford look like Cedric Mk.II. xD

[Deathkillz]

Originally Posted by Sonhex

Puzzles me that there was no mention of it, considering the obsessive search Sara undertook to locate it. Of-course the one person likely to have it in their possession is the one person who appears to have died. Now if that person was not dead, and returned somewhat changed like Ralph the one way for Sara to identify her would be if she produced the pendant...

poor sara seems to have given up hope on that pendant but maybe its cause she is distracted by emily of this moment...
well if the "bitch" doesnt die i expect her to come back with 3/4 robotics inside of her

[kari-no-sugata]

Originally Posted by Sonhex

I agree. This 'missed opportunity' would definately explain Lotti's fury. Looking forward to hearing an angry Yukana next ep

Actually, it would be interesting to see just how much Sara wants "revenge" vs "understanding" (of why her brother defected). ie, if Ralph dies before she knows why he defected, she'll never find out.

This could lead to things like:

Spoiler:

Sara tries to contact Ralph in battle to find out why he did what he did. She'd probably have to use some kind of broadcast channel or something - meaning, Lotti would probably hear it.

Puzzles me that there was no mention of it, considering the obsessive search Sara undertook to locate it. Of-course the one person likely to have it in their possession is the one person who appears to have died. Now if that person was not dead, and returned somewhat changed like Ralph the one way for Sara to identify her would be if she produced the pendant...

We already saw her try to find it in ep-2, and kind of gives up (which is why she breaks down at the end). Maybe Sara felt she's better off without it - ie, it is a weakness.

I doubt a certain someone is coming back. Never say never, but it just doesn't seem right in this case.

[DoReMiFaSo]

Originally Posted by kari-no-sugata

Actually, it would be interesting to see just how much Sara wants "revenge" vs "understanding" (of why her brother defected). ie, if Ralph dies before she knows why he defected, she'll never find out.

This could lead to things like:

Spoiler:

Sara tries to contact Ralph in battle to find out why he did what he did. She'd probably have to use some kind of broadcast channel or something - meaning, Lotti would probably hear it.

I don't think it's possible for Sara to contact Ralph in battle, because one of the commander said in ep.3 that they can't communicate with each other when they are traveling in the speed of light. That's why all the Strains are fighting on their own.

[kari-no-sugata]

Originally Posted by DoReMiFaSo

I don't think it's possible for Sara to contact Ralph in battle, because one of the commander said in ep.3 that they can't communicate with each other when they are traveling in the speed of light. That's why all the Strains are fighting on their own.

Can't communicate long distance anyway. If you look at the scene from 17:50 to 18:10 or so, the two guys are talking, later joined by Lotti's side-kick. However, they're all in close proximity to each other at the time.

Anyway, Strain to Strain communications is possible. (Maybe under limited circumstances though).

[physics223]

In normal, close-quarters circumstances where they have to plan to defeat the enemy, Strains could communicate. Of course, they can't definitely do that at the speed of light.

[zalas]

Originally Posted by kari-no-sugata

Some random observations / comments:

Spoiler for some LIGHT spoilers from ep3:

*) Carmichael (loli mechanic) says that Melchisedec put the MIMIC inside the doll (Emily), so I don't think we'll be seeing Sara's Emily move - which might make Sara seem a bit creepy for how she treats the doll. If Emily didn't respond to Sara, then Sara would come off as borderline insane

Sara does this in A Little Princess as well. Think of little girls playing pretend with their dolls.

Originally Posted by kari-no-sugata

I have been wondering about that too. Incidentally, the name of her mecha, following A Little Princess, is "Ram Dass".

Now that's very amusing... So I wonder who they made out to be the monkey...

[Xellos-_^]

Originally Posted by zalas

Sara does this in A Little Princess as well. Think of little girls playing pretend with their dolls.

Now that's very amusing... So I wonder who they made out to be the monkey...

The mechanic's who else They already have the monkey wrench

[The-Ghost]

Spoiler for things i noticed in EP3:

i liked how the creators showned that the projectile type attacks in ep 3 were slower then light, and basicly wiped out the strain the fired it. and according tto what were are shown the strains actualy move faster then light bc you see them dodge around ship, then sara falls off the one ship and catches up to it.

EDIT figured out how to do the spoiler text

[Owaranai Destiny]

Just watched episode 2, and I have to say it's pretty interesting now. Not that I have much to talk about, considering how you people are already discussing episode 3.

Love the ending and Sara's voice-over, though.

[physics223]

It's the problem when you're not proficient with Japanese.

[meh]

Originally Posted by kari-no-sugata

I'm not sure you have interpreted what has been presented correctly. Before Ralph is about to leave, he talks about being promoted recently. In ep 1 when the academy guy is talking about Reasoner pilots and brings up Ralph, he looks exactly the same age as at the start of the epsiode, despite this being several years later. We don't know when the referenced battle took place - ie it could well be the battle that got him his promotion and lead to him being sent 130 light-years away.

ie, he became famous due to his efforts in the local area, and then is sent off long distance and hasn't been heard of since (until later in ep 1) because he was (supposedly) still in transit. But it looks like instead that he hadn't left the local area significantly (maybe his transport ship got hijacked or something)

Ahh, that would make sense. Anyway, I'll stop this discussion now... or the bad memories of Physics 3 last year might resurface. Quantum physics never was something I cared for much.

Just saw episode 3. Kind of average, but the preview for ep 4 looks promising. Just curious, how many episodes is this suppose to be?

[physics223]

Thirteen.

[JediNight]

TheGhost: They are doing a fraction of lightspeed ... so if the battleship is going 0.995, then the Strain could go 0.999 and overtake them for example.

Otherwise: It's only an anime, don't think about it and think of the catgirls!

[Sonhex]

Here's a few pictures of as yet to be introduced characters. One of which (Lavinia) is seen briefly in the OP:

Spoiler:

Lavinia Liberus (ラヴィニア リベルス) Voiced by Ai Nonaka who also plays Emily


Martha Shubipauel (マーサ シュビーパウエル)

She looks awfully butch to me ^^;;

Ermengarde Yunihatz (Johannes?) (アーメンガァド ヨハニッツ)

Are those name correctly translated? I was wondering if Ermengarde's surname should be Johannes as her character in 'A Little Princess' is Ermengarde St. John? Johannes being the Germanic form of John and sounds more suited than ANN's suggestion of 'Yunihatz'.

As Zalas mentioned here Lavinia and Ermengarde are characters in 'A Little Princess'. Lavinia Herbert is a spoilt rich girl who becomes a thorn in Sara's side and Ermengard St.John is Sara's sympathetic best friend in the book. A Martha (scullery maid) features in 'Secret Garden', also by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Maybe these roles foreshadow their roles in Strain...