(L) Garo: Seal of Flames

[kuromitsu]

This was a predictable episode, but nice nevertheless. Actually, I was kind of "meh" about Bernardo - yes, I understand his problem (and Mendoza's motivations as well), but it was a pretty standard best-friend-and-rival-turned-villain-who-needs-to-be-defeated fare... until in the end Bernardo "regained" his old self.

Gaah, right in my heart. ;___;

[Kora]

Just have to say that Herman is great! I loved that he refused to fight his once best friend till he learned what happened to him. And when Bernardo regained his senses and asked about Anna, - that was so painful.

Though I'm still wandering where did the horses came from.

[Stark700]

Episode 12:



Great episode overall.

I knew that anything involving Leon's mother would set his rage into fury. And also, I feel bad for Alfonso as well. Now he shares the same loss as Leon with the death of his mother; different circumstances of course. Action was good this episode. Alfonso's potentials as a Mekai Warrior really shined imo from this episode.

[@GEMC]

Damn it was ridiculous they are blaming leon too much especially Alfonso

[AntonKutovoi]

Originally Posted by @GEMC

Damn it was ridiculous they are blaming leon too much especially Alfonso

You know, I think some people didn't survive his outrage burst. Big power = big responsibility rule is still active, so Leon IS guilty in this situation.

[foxbox360]

Leon really blew it this time, He doesn't even know what his mother looks like and still allow his feelings to get the best of him. I don't think the villian is dead, the way he went out and summons that horrior just to get kill doesnt add up. Alfonso prove to be the better knight this episode, his mother kill her self so she won't be a burden is hardcore. Leon really need to redeem himself and earn the title Garo back.

[bakato]

I did not like the turn this series took. I always liked Leon.

[B214]

A great episode.

Leon goes berserk, loses armor, Alfonso takes the Garo armor. Lets see how Leon is going to get up from everything this episode. And that maiden or whatever it's call. I'm guess German found himself a potential new wife and son.

Kinda pity Alfonso, he seems to be always losing something. First his master now his mother.

Originally Posted by bakato

I did not like the turn this series took. I always liked Leon.

This turn is good actually, like German said, Makai Knights exist to protect people. Leon has ignored that and live to fight. He'll eventually lose his armor or just fall into darkness eventually. Losing it early and learn what is important is better to Leon right now.

[Sageblink]

And HERE IT IS ! The Leon/Alfonso drama was bound to happen at some point. I was glad it didn't turn this way but hey, the authors couldn't help it.

It's boring because it was no surprise.
And now Alfonso is just a jugmental d*ck, throwing away the Armor he gained from his master because hey, gold is better. Did he forgot he fled the country ? And now he is just enraged about the city getting destroy ? Heck, Horrors have been doing terrible thing for years in it. He's no angel either, turning his back on a fellow knight. Guess he just got his own agenda... He got is castle back.

[Chosen_Hero]

I personally don't blame León for what happened, think about it who is going to be more emotionally stable the guy who lost his mother the day he was born, was curse by her death and was brought up to as a Knight without choice? Or the prince that had lived a happy life with his family and had an actual cause to become a Knight?

Still a good episode as much as it annoyed me.

[Galaxian]

Can't blame Leon, just like I couldn't blame Barnardo in the previous episodes.

I'm not a fan of the holier-than-thou personality Alfonso had been showing the last two episodes. He was quick to dismiss his mother's safety and quick to complain about Leon, he pretty much brought his mother's death upon himself.

I noticed that the gab was removed from Zaruba. I'm hoping that he's going to talk more now.

Leo with the Zex armor. Make it happen!

[KleenexGhost]

I loved this episode.

And so begins Leon's road to redemption. Jesus, that hurt me to watch Leon's fall. But Herman still has faith in his boy.

SN: I wonder what will become of the Gaia armor?

[B214]

Originally Posted by Chosen_Hero

I personally don't blame León for what happened, think about it who is going to be more emotionally stable the guy who lost his mother the day he was born, was curse by her death and was brought up to as a Knight without choice? Or the prince that had lived a happy life with his family and had an actual cause to become a Knight?

Still a good episode as much as it annoyed me.

Originally Posted by Galaxian

Can't blame Leon, just like I couldn't blame Barnardo in the previous episodes.

I'm not a fan of the holier-than-thou personality Alfonso had been showing the last two episodes. He was quick to dismiss his mother's safety and quick to complain about Leon, he pretty much brought his mother's death upon himself.

I noticed that the gab was removed from Zaruba. I'm hoping that he's going to talk more now.

Leo with the Zex armor. Make it happen!

So Alfonso being selfless by choosing to protect others before his own mother is a mistake and should be blamed while Leon going berserk and randomly killing people is correct and shouldn't be blamed. What the hell are you two going about?

And being emotionally unstable because he lost his mother on his birthday isn't really a good argument. Look at German, his wife was burned to death by the people he should be protecting, and thought lost his best friend 17 years ago who sacrificed himself to save him. You don't see German doing anything like Leon. In the end, Leon is still immature, nothing else can be said to cover that nor his mistake. Of course, not going to say Leon is fully to blame, he's 17 years old and his father isn't really the best caretaker. But even so, just like how no one can say Leon is at fault, no one can say Alfonso is at fault as well, had he not stop Leon, the entire city and everyone in it would have been reduced to ashes.

[Chosen_Hero]

Originally Posted by B214

So Alfonso being selfless by choosing to protect others before his own mother is a mistake and should be blamed while Leon going berserk and randomly killing people is correct and shouldn't be blamed. What the hell are you two going about?

And being emotionally unstable because he lost his mother on his birthday isn't really a good argument. Look at German, his wife was burned to death by the people he should be protecting, and thought lost his best friend 17 years ago who sacrificed himself to save him. You don't see German doing anything like Leon. In the end, Leon is still immature, nothing else can be said to cover that nor his mistake. Of course, not going to say Leon is fully to blame, he's 17 years old and his father isn't really the best caretaker. But even so, just like how no one can say Leon is at fault, no one can say Alfonso is at fault as well, had he not stop Leon, the entire city and everyone in it would have been reduced to ashes.

First of all where in my post do I blame Alfonso for anything? Please point it out for me.

Germán is able to cope since he still has his son and knows what his mission as a Knight is, who he has to protect and why. León on the other hand (as far as we know about him) doesn't really know anything else except Horrors are bad, we are good, they killed your mother, you now have to be a knight and protect the people, now he knows what his mission as a knight is and what he has to do but he has no personal attachment to the knights mission.

Alfonso did he knows why he should save his people, León doesn't he doesn't all he's known is that they killed his mother and he wants to avenge her. Also it doesn't help that his father isn't the best dad ever (we all agree he won't win any father of the year awards) his dad seems to mostly treat him like a buddy instead of his son, sure he becomes serious from time to time but being a father isn't something you do part-time.

You also have to take into account how León must have felt all his life about his mothers death and never having known her, something kike that becomes a trauma for kids when they are young and from the looks of it he seems to have known about her death since he was little, so what did that do to his mind? Well as we sae it may have been the cause to what made him susceptible to mind manipulation, how would you have felt if you where in his shoes in the same exact circumstances?

He is still human, it's going to be difficult for him to fully cope with everything that happens in his life especially when he feels like he never had any parental support.

As we saw last episode the knights seems to have almost the same problem as Jedi do and that is that they should just follow their mission blindly without question while casting aside any "earthly" feelings they have and that is not easy for someone who's life has been so full of moments that would brake most peoples mind from the get go.

Alfonso is able to cope easily since he already knew why he was fighting for, León doesn't have a reason to fight. Alfonso knew his mother and knew what she would have wanted and why she did what she did, León never even got to see his much less understand why she was killed and how she truly felt about her circumstances and the circumstances she left him in. Alfonsos father seems to have been a proper father (as far as I know) while Germán was trying to be León's buddy. Alfonso chose to become a Knight, León didn't have that choice from birth.

No matter how you look at it in my personal opinion I can't fully blame León for what happened, he was dealt a crappy hand at birth and had to live all this time with it and it was about time it caught up to him.

[B214]

Originally Posted by Chosen_Hero

First of all where in my post do I blame Alfonso for anything? Please point it out for me.

Germán is able to cope since he still has his son and knows what his mission as a Knight is, who he has to protect and why. León on the other hand (as far as we know about him) doesn't really know anything else except Horrors are bad, we are good, they killed your mother, you now have to be a knight and protect the people, now he knows what his mission as a knight is and what he has to do but he has no personal attachment to the knights mission.

Alfonso did he knows why he should save his people, León doesn't he doesn't all he's known is that they killed his mother and he wants to avenge her. Also it doesn't help that his father isn't the best dad ever (we all agree he won't win any father of the year awards) his dad seems to mostly treat him like a buddy instead of his son, sure he becomes serious from time to time but being a father isn't something you do part-time.

You also have to take into account how León must have felt all his life about his mothers death and never having known her, something kike that becomes a trauma for kids when they are young and from the looks of it he seems to have known about her death since he was little, so what did that do to his mind? Well as we sae it may have been the cause to what made him susceptible to mind manipulation, how would you have felt if you where in his shoes in the same exact circumstances?

He is still human, it's going to be difficult for him to fully cope with everything that happens in his life especially when he feels like he never had any parental support.

As we saw last episode the knights seems to have almost the same problem as Jedi do and that is that they should just follow their mission blindly without question while casting aside any "earthly" feelings they have and that is not easy for someone who's life has been so full of moments that would brake most peoples mind from the get go.

Alfonso is able to cope easily since he already knew why he was fighting for, León doesn't have a reason to fight. Alfonso knew his mother and knew what she would have wanted and why she did what she did, León never even got to see his much less understand why she was killed and how she truly felt about her circumstances and the circumstances she left him in. Alfonsos father seems to have been a proper father (as far as I know) while Germán was trying to be León's buddy. Alfonso chose to become a Knight, León didn't have that choice from birth.

No matter how you look at it in my personal opinion I can't fully blame León for what happened, he was dealt a crappy hand at birth and had to live all this time with it and it was about time it caught up to him.

I'm quoting 2. So i just combined what i wanted to say into one. Anyway Leon had no choice? Just so you know, as shown in the live action series, and just like how Anna chose to remain, Makai Knights and Makai Priest are given the choice to choose whether or not they want to join the Makai side when they are young. If Anna opted not to join, instead of her sister, Anna would be the one adopted and her sister would take the task of passing down the armor.

Unfortunately for Leon, he chose to join but with a wrong ideal, he joined to obtain the Garo armor (because of his mother), combat Horrors and seek revenge against Mendosa rather than fighting to protect people. The Makai bloodline and armor doesn't have to be stuck to one family only, if Leon refuses to join the Makai side, German can just find a disciple to take the Garo armor. But Leon opted to join, that's his choice. No one forced him thus what happened this episode is without a doubt the consequences of his own decision.

You can even see how Leon acted when Alfonso took the armor, rather than lamenting over the deaths he caused and created, he was more obsessed with regaining the armor left behind by his mother. Sure he loves his mother, its understandable, who doesn't? But it shouldn't come at the cause of hurting others like Leon did. Did you see him trying to search for survivors after his actions, no he just walked around aimlessly, lamenting about losing his purpose in life.

I don't hate Leon, in fact i like him a lot, but we can't truly say Leon isn't to blame in this situation. He allowed his personal vendetta to get the better of him, thus creating this tragedy.

[Lhklan]

Part of me cringed upon watching this ep. I don't really like the way this was going at all.

Sure Leon learning a lesson is a necessary thing, but doing it like this when he's already got some heavy psychological problems? Not good. Hell, like Chosen_Hero said, he got crappy hand dealt at birth and lived up to the best of it, and now it's finally caught up. Not really his fault.

As for Herman... While the guy is a cool character, he's definitely not a good father - somewhere between neglecting and shit for me. Not only doesn't he try to stem his son's psychological problem, he's never there whenever his son needs advice or guidance. Even now, when his son is faced with such a heavy situation, all Herman does is hit him and tell him to reflect on what he did. Shouldn't Herman - as a father - be the one to point out WHERE Leon went wrong and try to work it out together?

Not to mention that it felt like the episode is practically shoving Alfonso to my face as "Better Garo". I don't like it. Some of you might disagree with me, but I'm basing this from my experience watching the live action series: Leon pretty much traded his entire childhood away to gain the Golden Armor. The Tower of Spirits granting him the Garo armor means that they ACCEPT Leon as a worthy sucessor, and now suddenly out of fucking nowhere Alfonso got it despite a Knight with no formal training, practically no experience at all?

Actually, I don't recall seeing Alfonso seeing the worst side of humanity - like Leon did with some of the villages - so I think there's a chance of a reversal in the second cour: Alfonse falling from grace and Leon being the one to don the armor.

PS: Also, Leon is in psychological distress at the time. He's not thinking straight. So his actions during and after Alfonso's taking the armor is understandable - even if it's somewhat not excusable. You can't compare it to Alfonso either: Alfonso was in a calmer state of mind and in a more peaceful situation. Hell, even Alfonso said it himself: If Mendoza used the queen as a hostage, he don't think he can criticize Leon the way he did.

[belatkuro]

So now what's going to happen to the Gaia armor? Can a Makai Knight wear two armors? So much for treasuring Raphael's sword.

[G147]

Originally Posted by belatkuro

So now what's going to happen to the Gaia armor? Can a Makai Knight wear two armors? So much for treasuring Raphael's sword.

Alfonso is still keeping the sword i believe. He just add the Garo sword along with the Gaia sword.

[belatkuro]

Has this happened in the toku series before? A Makai Knight in possession of two armors. Can he interchange in using them? The Golden Armor seems stronger so I doubt he'll use the Gaia armor again. He'll probably keep the sword with him until he finds a suitable user.

[Kanon]

That was an incredibly powerful episode.

I didn't expect Leon to fall from grace this hard. He most definitely didn't deserve the amor after he forsake his duty to get revenge on his mother (he chose to go after Mendoza instead of slaying the horror threatening the whole Kingdom), but Alfonso and German were overly harsh with him. They didn't seem to realize they pretty much pushed him to suicide. What happened to Leon is in huge part German's fault. I love him as a character, but he's a very shitty father. Instead of constantly fooling around with whores, he should have taught his son how to be a proper makai knight.

Alfonso donning the golden armor was a really awesome moment. The design of his armor is amazing, a mix between Leon's armor and the original Garo armor. That's how Garo should have looked like in the anime in the first place, but I guess they wanted to give Leon a wilder look befitting his personality.
Alfonso finding out about his mother's death was another powerful moment. I liked that he admitted that if not for her sacrifice, he might have made the same mistake as Leon.

I can't wait for the second cour. Leon and Alfonso's roles are probably going to be reversed. The duties of a King and that of Garo are not compatible, Alfonso is going to fail for sure. And I think Alfonso is still somewhat naive. He's lived his entire life sheltered, he doesn't know about the darker side of humanity.

Oh and glad German survived all of his death flags. He even seems to have found himself a new waifu (I thought for sure Leon would be the one to meet that girl).