Utawarerumono Episode 11 Discussion / Poll

[Amaranthine]

Originally Posted by Sorrow-K

The bad: Chloroform Eruruu. What the hell?

Oh, I totally forgot about that. I agree; it was weird and poorly done. It was suprised when Eruruu did it to Aruruu, but then I realised it made sense, because she was really freaking out. But it felt wrong when it was done to Eruruu.

[PGilis]

Originally Posted by Amaranthine

Oh, I totally forgot about that. I agree; it was weird and poorly done. It was suprised when Eruruu did it to Aruruu, but then I realised it made sense, because she was really freaking out. But it felt wrong when it was done to Eruruu.

I don't think that was poorly executed. Hakuoro know Eruruu better than anyone there, and most probably he could see she was on the verge of a emotional breakdown too, just like Aruruu. After all, all her old friends died, and her homeland was burned to ashes. The two sisters lost almost everything, so saying Eruruu was fine was a lie and denial. No one could be 'fine' after all that... specially Eruruu. Just remember how many time she passed still sad for her grandmother's death.

Unfortunately, Hakuoro - being the emperor - had not the time to give the two sisters the consolation they both need, so he decided to make her sleep too in order to calm down and settle her feelings. Later, he will embrace her.

[thundrakkon]

Overall, it was a really good episode. My main complaint Teoro's charge into the palace. It just felt disjointed. I mean, a whole squadron entered into the country, fought a town that put a defensive position, razed and wiped out the village, and no army guards knew about it to report to Hakuoro? Furthermore, they allowed that squad to make it all the way to the imperial palace?

Other than that, it was a great episode. Aruruu crying... it's just not right... one would kill just to stop those tears from falling.

This episode definitely deserve some high points for some Hakuoro and Eruruu moments, especially where he goes to her side in bed to "care" for her, and she holds onto his hand. So touching.

Aruruu stating that Hakuoro is "scary" points to a darker side in him. Hopefully, hearing those words will snap Hakuoro back into shape.

Furthermore, I believe that Hakuoro is not as bad as was believed by that insane army. I bet he was framed or controlled somehow. Otherwise Shinn... err... I mean Touka with her sense of "justice" would not join Hakuoro.

[Amaranthine]

Originally Posted by PGilis

I don't think that was poorly executed. Hakuoro know Eruruu better than anyone there, and most probably he could see she was on the verge of a emotional breakdown too, just like Aruruu. After all, all her old friends died, and her homeland was burned to ashes. The two sisters lost almost everything, so saying Eruruu was fine was a lie and denial. No one could be 'fine' after all that... specially Eruruu. Just remember how many time she passed still sad for her grandmother's death.

Unfortunately, Hakuoro - being the emperor - had not the time to give the two sisters the consolation they both need, so he decided to make her sleep too in order to calm down and settle her feelings. Later, he will embrace her.

By "poorly done", I was referring to the way it was shown, not just the act itself. Like Sorrow-K said, in a way it was almost comical. I suppose thinking about it more, it does fit in with Hakuoro's personality. He's a decisive guy, if he decided it was for her best I'm sure he'd just go ahead and hold it to her face like that. But still, it could have been shown differently. I can't pinpoint exactly what it was that was wrong, but something about the way it was shown didn't seem right to me.

You have made me reconsider a bit though. Maybe it's just that I didn't like that scene, and I think that Hakuoro shouldn't have done it. Of course, that doesn't mean that it's not in character for him to do it. I still believe that normally he wouldn't have, but it was hardly a normal situation.

So... a bit of thought and consideration afterwards, and I can pretty much accept the scene. But that furthers the point that it wasn't executed as well as it could have been; it was an emotional scene, and to have to mentally step back from that and think about it detracts from it. IMO, I should have been able to "feel" why Hakuoro did it. It may well because of the way I think though, other people could see it differently, or accept it more easily, or whatever.

But in the end, it's only one scene. The rest of the episode was great, so it doesn't much matter. ^^

[PGilis]

You have a point. That scene could be executed better if they had showed Hakuoro's face filled with concern and caring for Eruruu and Aruruu. Then his action would be understood better.

Talking about faces, anyone else here thought the look Karura gave to Hakuoro when they were talking about the 'dead soldiers' was creepy? I mean, she looked to be distrusting at Hakuoro and she could kill him anytime...

[Mishotaki]

am i the only one that is starting to lose interest due to the many "time warps" between scenes? and so many things that make the story a lot less interesting...

i mean, the story is great... but you get lost sometimes because you have no idea that there seems to have passed a few months in a couple of seconds in between the scenes.... and the situation completely changed for the interaction between one character and another...

[riznar]

Ah no, I'd say Haruhi Suzumiya no Yuuutsu has made me immune to any "time warp" effects

[Toonleap]

Originally Posted by Mishotaki

am i the only one that is starting to lose interest due to the many "time warps" between scenes? and so many things that make the story a lot less interesting...

i mean, the story is great... but you get lost sometimes because you have no idea that there seems to have passed a few months in a couple of seconds in between the scenes.... and the situation completely changed for the interaction between one character and another...

Well, I am not losing interest at all, but I hope for the rest of the series, I want to see some harem action / sexual tension between Hakuoro and his harem...since episode 1, theres no real love development, but I hope once all the girls are presented, that will happen soon...otherwise, I will probably lost interest, said probably...because the series is so cool that I want to see what happens until the very end....(lucky that I dont read game spoilers)....

[zalas]

Originally Posted by Toonleap

Well, I am not losing interest at all, but I hope for the rest of the series, I want to see some harem action / sexual tension between Hakuoro and his harem...since episode 1, theres no real love development, but I hope once all the girls are presented, that will happen soon...otherwise, I will probably lost interest, said probably...because the series is so cool that I want to see what happens until the very end....(lucky that I dont read game spoilers)....

I would be disappointed if they put romance into the forefront. An episode or two of comedy, maybe, but Utawarerumono is not about some romance story with war as a setting. It's an epic story with a few elements of romance that would naturally be present in such a tale, but would not necessarily be the main point of the tale.

Originally Posted by Mishotaki

am i the only one that is starting to lose interest due to the many "time warps" between scenes? and so many things that make the story a lot less interesting...

Yeah, the time warps from time to time are a bit disconcerting. I would've liked if they had little titles on the top of the screen or something between major jumps. Like "1 month later..." Maybe unannounced time warps work better in prose, because there's a lot more clues about it in the text and the reader has all the time in the world to read into them. Well, at least you know when they are actually going back in time.

Originally Posted by PGilis

You have a point. That scene could be executed better if they had showed Hakuoro's face filled with concern and caring for Eruruu and Aruruu. Then his action would be understood better.

Now *that* may end up being too cliched. Maybe something like Hakuoro clasping Eruruw's hand, and then together, shakingly, he brings it slowly to her face? Frankly, the current scene felt a little odd at first, but it fits once you think about it.

[Xellos-_^]

Originally Posted by riznar

Ah no, I'd say Haruhi Suzumiya no Yuuutsu has made me immune to any "time warp" effects

The only yhing I want to do is put down how much time has pass. It is 2 days form the last Ep or 2 months. Thats all I need to know.

[ritalman]

I don't think this information is really relevant.

[Green²]

Of course that mask can also make Hakuoro's emotions appear to be misleading too. Yet all of the emotions of within Hakuoro, not that we do see him wailing away, but that for us to wonder, to have to wonder how far he feels about the whole mess. Shocked if anything at first he seems,.. maybe even an tug of war between on how he really feels at to what he wants to do, and to what he is supposed to do as Emperor. Funny (yet sad) thing is even after all that, all that was needed was one more push, to get to what we have now at the end of this episode.

But that battle within Hakuoro's own self, this also as being an father, hell, the girls would've had to of been told sooner or later. Probably better sooner as to the later would end up in many wondering why he would keep such important information from them,.. that as the later being the coldest path to walk no matter how one would try to break it.

But that last push after, tore him apart. In front of everyone, the girls, the army, eventually without explanation to an stronger course of action, weak and uncaring Hakuoro would seem. An forced hand practically.

Originally Posted by PGilis

... That scene could be executed better if they had showed Hakuoro's face filled with concern and caring for Eruruu and Aruruu. Then his action would be understood better. ...

If as to Eruruu's action and reaction, pain upon pain for the girls. And as that pain hits, hits not just Hakuoro, but hits just about everyone around them. That Hakuoro as an father and as an Emperor, to perhaps feel that he failed them, probably pains him the most.

Originally Posted by Mishotaki

am i the only one that is starting to lose interest due to the many "time warps" between scenes? and so many things that make the story a lot less interesting...

i mean, the story is great... but you get lost sometimes because you have no idea that there seems to have passed a few months in a couple of seconds in between the scenes.... and the situation completely changed for the interaction between one character and another...

Maybe not for this episode. Time, in that long enough that their tears have passed, and are now bottled up inside.

[Lost]

Still watching. Sad. Very sad. Poor poor Aruruu. Brought me close to tears.

Originally Posted by PGilis

Talking about faces, anyone else here thought the look Karura gave to Hakuoro when they were talking about the 'dead soldiers' was creepy? I mean, she looked to be distrusting at Hakuoro and she could kill him anytime...

Yep, you are right, but no, it wasnt the distrusting look. It was the "I'm-here-on-a-information-recovering-mission" look. It struck me as the kind of staring look that reaches deep into a person; whether in the pursuit of information for selfish gain, or whether to find out more about her "master" and decide if serving him would be wise, I do not know.

Originally Posted by Green

If as to Eruruu's action and reaction, pain upon pain for the girls. And as that pain hits, hits not just Hakuoro, but hits just about everyone around them. That Hakuoro as an father and as an Emperor, to perhaps feel that he failed them, probably pains him the most.

About that, you just need to look into his eyes to see the pain.

I also noticed that Eruruu did not struggle. She wouldn't be knocked out straight away, and if she didnt want to be chloroform'ed, she would have struggled. But she didnt. Thats why I think she realised what Hakuoro was doing, and also wanted to go to sleep to prevent her heart from being crushed.

[Lost]

Nice episode on the whole, but suffered in two points.

First, what I think has been plaguing this series, a failure to carry thru with emotional potential. Hmm.. how do I put this; okay: this episode had a lot of wasted emotional potential. It could have made me cry, but it didnt, because all the sad parts, and parts that could have been sad, were skimmed over rather quickly. As such, what I felt happened was that my emotions were built up, but not enough to the point for me to release them; like a failed climax (no particular reference intended) - that really leaves you feeling unsatisfied.

Yes, I'm an emo-freak, whatever, but again, this superficiality (as I see it) is putting me off.

Second, the part where Oyaji sees his wife and villagers felt like fanservice. I hate sequences where a dying person sees his dead loved ones and walks off into the mist with them. It just feels so much like its been put there for the sake of comforting the viewers. I would rather have Oyaji mourning for his wife while he lay dying. Thats real, that hits you hard, and thats what I want.

Sigh. (If I sound curt its because I'm unsatisfied, and its 4:43 in the morning here and I haven slept yet)

I think the good points have all been touched on by you guys.

So, the plot gets thicker. Traitorous brother-in-law eh? Interesting. (But I'd hate if Eruruu's village was razed due to a misunderstanding)

I didnt think there were any time warps. Am I missing something?

[PGilis]

That's why i said earlier this series could be even better if were more than 26 episodes. That way they would have the time necessary to explore all the characters better... and put time transitions better. They're wasting too much funny and emotional potential.

That, or two seasons for cover all the history of the game.

[gammaoh]

Finally caught up with this series.

I think it is a good series so far. I just saw episode 11 and well, episode 12 as well and it's true the plot is getting thicker.

Rak Shine wa dare da?

This series have what it takes to move people but it is not well-used and well-done so far. It lacks this magical thing I found in Fate/Stay Night which in fact put me on the verge of crying (I had to struggle to not let the damn tear slip down my cheek). I still like this series though, and I hope this "like" will turn into "love" soon enough. Only problem, I haven't played the game and I'll probably miss things here and there; which wasn't the case with Fate.

[Takemi_Ikazuchi]

In my opinion... this is not a romance series

[Trax]

A couple of things didn't make sense to me...

If their sole purpose is to kill Hakuoro aka Rak Shine, in the name of justice and honor according to Touka, why do something like razing a farming village wiping out everyone including women, children and elderly?

Also, imo there is no way that Teoro could have concealed such a fatal wound. All the time you see nothing until suddenly he starts bleeding like crazy once everyone is gone. Too convenient, I'm not buying it.

Other than that, this was a decent episode, and Hakuoro's past has finally surfaced. Unfortunately, he's still clueless about it.

[PhantomX]

I was surprised that Hakurou had family ...

I have to agree with Trax about the wound though. It would've been perfect if the had just bled on the post and slid down and passed on, but they HAD to add the humongous pooling of blood which took away all believability :\

[ChainLegacy]

Originally Posted by Trax

A couple of things didn't make sense to me...

If their sole purpose is to kill Hakuoro aka Rak Shine, in the name of justice and honor according to Touka, why do something like razing a farming village wiping out everyone including women, children and elderly?

This is pretty much how I felt. That is just as criminal as anything, so they deserve to be run over by a truck for that. Seriously, this episode impacted me emotionally more than any before in this series. I'm really interested in Hakuoro's past, as well. Can someone who was once bad lose his memory and become such a good guy?