(CR) Shuumatsu no Izetta

[Kazu-kun]

Originally Posted by Magewolf

The thing is that they did not need to use cloning. They already had witches and German occult researchers so they could have gone with some kind of spirit summoning and possession powered by Izetta's blood. No need to add anything to the setting at the last minute.

Yes. The supernatural element was an anachronism to begin with. Instead of introducing another anachronism (the cloning thing) so late in the game, it would have made more sense to build upon the former.

[Darthtabby]

In addition to my previous points, I'm going to note that both the sci fi suspended animation capsule used to transport Izetta and the sci fi style giant glass tube Sophie was presumably grown in are linked with the secretive "workshop." To me that has a certain sense of consistency.

[RectangularCat]

Originally Posted by Magewolf

The thing is that they did not need to use cloning. They already had witches and German occult researchers so they could have gone with some kind of spirit summoning and possession powered by Izetta's blood. No need to add anything to the setting at the last minute.

Summoning spirits is no different from cloning in a sense that it too is introduction of new element to already established system. So they could have used either. (I'm not trying to argue here, I've seen people interpret magic in Izetta both as "typical magical anime" type of magic and as FMA type of magic, and can understand that for the former group introduction of possibility to summon spirits would have been more natural.)
Also, Germanians are rational. They research witches not because they believe in supernatural, but because they know for sure that witches exist from historical records (and whatever other sources they can possibly have). Actually, they don't even fully trust these records themselves, only the Emperor does. Existence of something like "spirit" or "soul", on the other hand, doesn't have any solid proof. Of course, the authors could have made up that proof, if that was the route they wanted the story to take. I can see several possibilities of how the question of "soul" may still come up, though.
I agree, that we could have seen Germanians using Izetta's blood, for example, in an attempt to apply it's special qualities to normal human blood. That would have been logical thing to try and could or couldn't have worked. That is, if they needed an army of artificial witches. In fact, they may still try that, in those prison camps in Livonia, for example. And if their original goal was to have the White Witch specifically, then they, from their point of view, had no other choice but to stick to cloning. Besides, they started working on cloning long before they obtained Izetta's blood.

Actually, that's an interesting question you've brought up. For now we have no proof that Izetta is genetically related to the White Witch (that part about her being a "descendant" in subs was inaccurate, in truth they say something like "survivors" or "those who remain alive"), so if Sophie really obtained memories of the White Witch it must be through the leylines, not through the blood itself. But does obtaining memories equal to obtaining the soul? What if Sophie has memories, but has no soul? Was she able to get those memories because her DNA is identical to that of the White Witch? Does the same go for soul, or once it disappears it's gone forever? Sophie not having one is an appealing possibility, though, it will likely turn out to be inaccurate, because she can use magic after all... Or it may turn out to be something like she can use magic because she connected to the leylines through Izetta by drinking Izetta's blood and her connection with Izetta for some reason remains active. Does that mean that she can't really kill Izetta because she'll lose the ability to use magic then? Well, let's wait and see, I hope we'll learn more about her today.

[Kazu-kun]

Damn, what an unredeemable piece of trash. I'm done with this series. I don't even wanna see how it ends.

[RDNexus]

What happened?

[Stark700]

Episode 10:

In terms of warfare, they animated the dogfight rather well imo in relation to the ongoing war conflict. In addition, news of Izetta's defeat spreads...which is used as a psychological weapon by Germania.

The White Witch and Germanian forces really picks up their strategy and launch their forces. Seems like they're engaging in all-out war with confidence. Pretty tense episode although the direction of the story is pretty predictable. At least Izetta survived and is recovering (nope, of course she didn't die). I feel bad for her though, she's just trying to help...

I really hope they don't rush the final two episodes..

[Darthtabby]

So Sieg had the other half of the stone, but didn't give it to Izetta because using it drains a witch's life. Also at that point he didn't know the Germanians had the other half of the stone and a witch that could utilize it.

There's a bit of a parallel to the situation with Jonas in that Sieg seeks to confirm that Izetta is willing to do anything before giving her the stone, though in this case he's merely providing someone with a weapon that can kill them if they overuse it rather than killing the person himself.

[Gravitas Free Zone]

Ah, Germania with the bomb. But not the nuclear bomb, of course, this series is produced in Japan. The Magic Bomb.

Going all-in with the cloning plan: The more clones you make, the more likely that someone goes nuts in the cloning room and kills all the clones?

[DemonneoPT]

I still did not watch episode 10 but talking about the last two, i also agree with you guys regarding the clone plot. It was way out of place. The "what if" scenario was just having a powerfull witch fighting in a WW2-like timeline. Introducing a technology that even nowadays is still kinda new was lame and totally broke the shows theme for me. First the moe and the ecchi and now these crappy twists... disappointment. I mean, i still have fun watching it but it could have been much better.

[zeross87]

meh i really dont like the way they are doing it, dont tell me its another serie i'll stop watching just before the final...

[drawr]

So, Izetta is rescued 5 minutes in, then a timeskip followed by some long and pointless exposition of things we already knew. And the emperor's ambitions are comical.
I was a bit confused last week but Sophie is basically the white witch's consciousness in a new body and not a clone with fake memories or anything. Her life has been so messed up I can understand her rage. Since she's so apathetic otherwise I expect it will come to bite germania in the ass. Along with Berkman and the emperor's suspicious assistant.

[Ghostfriendly]

So, Izetta is rescued 5 minutes in, then a timeskip followed by some long and pointless exposition of things we already knew. And the emperor's ambitions are comical.

The Atlantans seemed somewhat more villainous than Germania before this, so the lowdown on Emperor Otto was necessary. His power-drunk actions would be comical if they weren't reminiscent of another dictator. Whose actions would also have been comical, if they hadn't killed such a lot of people.

Since ep 10 is largely resolving the fallout of ep 9, I don't think predictability was a problem with it. The Royal Guard were heading to rescue Izetta last ep, so that development didn't seem forced. Magical nuke and Evangelion-style clone battery were a bit cliched though.

The main surprise is that the stone harms the one who uses it, building up to a tragic end for Izetta. Seig's involvement with the White Witch betrayal, and now giving Izetta the stone, keeps deepening his dubious moral credentials. Her wild magic as a child looked very similar to the stuff Sophie was making. So possibly the stone will be destroyed, but she'll still find the power in herself to fight, a la Dumbo? Hope that isn't what happens.

And Belkman is getting what he deserves sooner than expected. Wouldn't be surprised if he and Elliot knock the Emperor off themselves though. That would resolve matters, but not brilliantly.

Izetta and Fine finally came to cross purposes, as Izetta can't accept failure (her effects of her injuries were very touching) and Fine finally feels the consequence of sending her friend to the battlefield. I wasn't surprised that their reunion was a little subdued; there will be more distance between them after ep 9's disaster, until the emotional climax of the whole series.

The 'you won't give up until I give up' line really shows them as two sides of one character in a way, though Fine is being quite self-centred as well. It really is a flaw of hers, brought out by despair in this case. Very glad that next ep may glance behind Fine's paragon exterior. If ep12 will be mostly death and dogfights, ep11 should be all about their relationship, for better or worse the core of the show.

I certainly don't fault Izetta for still trying to help Fine. If she gave up as soon as Fine did, that would really prove she had no will of her own and had accepted defeat, while being completely inconsistent with her own stated purpose since ep 2. Would like them to show this is a hard decision for her though.

[AB079]

Episode 10 is just another painful continuation of this predictable bad writting. Now the White Witch is the secret weapon, using her alongside the notGermany! forces and going all out.

And what's even more ridiculous is the way how this episode ended, the obvious super stone asspull to make Izetta a powerful being able to wipe out the Germanian forces and stop the White Witch.

This series used to have a good premise and good settings at the beginning but now after all the failures and nonsensical elements out of place in the story, Izetta is another below average series that everyone will forget after a few days. What a way to waste a lot of potential.

[FlareKnight]

I'm kind of surprised they would even hint at betrayal for the Emperor right now...honesty should anyone have an issue with his plans? They've basically scared the allies into submission. This guy is handling things much smarter than his counterpart in Hitler ever did. He's going to wait until he's deal with one fight before starting another. And really...it could work. If he gets the unbelievable peace requests (and with that power he just might) the allies wouldn't be willing to go right back to war after he attacked Russia. He could probably defeat Russia with the power they've got at their finger tips and then take the rest of the world. World conquest isn't impossible with the position he's in.

Sure Sophie isn't going to last very long, but is that a big deal? Just believing she's still out there would scare countries and they do have a clone army in production....Even without all that their tech is superior to everyone else and they've already done significant damage.

The one surprising thing in this episode was how utterly wrecked Izetta was. I didn't expect her to be that hurt and immobilized. It definitely worked though. Keeps her from trying to start a fight on her own and puts a lot of pressure on Fine.

Not a surprise Fine is feeling that impossible situation. If she wants to keep going then Izetta will keep fighting. It was one thing when they were winning, but seeing her friend in this state...not so much. Toss onto the pile how many died during that invasion. Then add to that the fact that she can't really leave.

Normally going into exile is a proper move for someone in her situation. But this isn't one of those times. No one is in the position to protect her even if she fled there. Germany is stomping everyone right now. And if anyone knows that Sophie wants to burn that country to the ground and slaughter the royal family....they sure as heck won't take her in. They'd probably hand her over to Germany to help peace talks. She can't leave, but if she stays then Izetta (who is practically immobilized) will still keep crawling around fighting.

And great...a power up stone that also kills the user. I'm really hoping this guy gets some kind of character arc that doesn't have him constantly being the scumbag of the "good guys." Does seem to set up the tragedy ending. Although...maybe not. Sophie herself used that stone (when she was really alive) and it's not like it killed her. The inquisition did that. So for a short enough duration it...might not kill her.

[Gravitas Free Zone]

Originally Posted by FlareKnight

Sophie herself used that stone (when she was really alive) and it's not like it killed her. The inquisition did that. So for a short enough duration it...might not kill her.

I wonder what sort of scale difference is involved with magic stone usage when all she had to do originally was scare off a bunch of guys with pointy sticks versus having to magically-empower a hundred V-1s to blow up Not!London.

The series will probably use some Madoka-level magical fireworks between Izetta and Sophie just to make sure the stakes stay high.

[SPARTAN 119]

Originally Posted by Gravitas Free Zone

Ah, Germania with the bomb. But not the nuclear bomb, of course, this series is produced in Japan. The Magic Bomb.

Going all-in with the cloning plan: The more clones you make, the more likely that someone goes nuts in the cloning room and kills all the clones?

As for the Exenium nuke, another thing that would be of interest is that, while the Manhattan Project did not start until 1942, the groundwork would have already been laid as of 1940. And if I was Alternate Roosevelt, I'd sign and executive order placing research on weaponizing uranium into highest priority as soon as the Germanians announced the presence of Sophie.

[Kakurin]

Originally Posted by SPARTAN 119

And if I was Alternate Roosevelt, I'd sign and executive order placing research on weaponizing uranium into highest priority as soon as the Germanians announced the presence of Sophie.

Useless if you don't have the means to deliver that weapon to its intended target.

[FlameSparkZ]

So, there's a side-effect from using the stone...how convinient.
I assume the reason why it harms the user is because the magic becomes "tainted" after being stored in the magic stone? Just a theory, though.

And it's also confirmed, the magic stone drains the magic from the area, becoming a no-magic area. Ultimately, using that stone would drain the world of magic...unless it's explained what happens to magic after being used...because, you know, law of conservation of energy (if it applies to magic at all )

I've also found the conversation between Fine and Izetta kind of...odd, to say the least.

Even so, Izetta is hell bent on resuming her fight against Germania, dispite her injuries...and Sieg shows her the way to do that by revealing he had the other half of the magic stone. I'm seeing a death flag here...

[dark998]

I hope Izetta can survive after using the stone, after all she is a prodigy amongst witches so should be in better state after using only half of it (unlike Sophie who is already getting hit by side effects of the yet to be perfected cloning).

Also it was good that Izetta was rescued so fast, the last stretch of story wouldn't really benefit from a drawn out rescue arc when all the sides involved in the war are preparing for the last battle.

[SPARTAN 119]

Originally Posted by Kakurin-san

Useless if you don't have the means to deliver that weapon to its intended target.

Even if the Germanians were somehow able to produce enough Sophie clones to match every bomber the US could produce, which I find unlikely given the sheer US industrial capacity and the short lifespan of the clones, in a last ditch defense scenario, such as a Germanian invasion of the Altantan States, the bomb could still be buried or hidden and remotely or time-fuze detonated as Germanian forces arrive over the site. A similar tactic was used in Harry Turtledove's Worldwar series, in which aliens invade during World War II and gain air superiority, preventing the aerial delivery of nuclear weapons. In fact, assuming they don't use multiple Sophie clones at once, they could even lure her into the radius of a hidden atomic bomb and then detonate it. Of course, this would be a definite last-ditch measure- hopefully Izetta will be able to prevent that somehow (I'm sure she will, if I know one thing, it's that you don't fuck with a magical girl trying to save her yuri-waifu!).

On a less dark note, on the fanart front, sadly I can't show you most of the images due to their NSFW nature, but let's just say that Fine x Izetta yuri intensifies!