(L) BLUE DROP ~Tenshitachi no Gikyoku~

[Kazu-kun]

Ok guys, the technical stuff is interesting (not really) and all but let's go back on topic please! Episode 9 was great on many levels and I'd like to read what people here thought about it.

[rishidan]

I just noticed that Simoun-Fans is subbing the series. Ya know, if they do as good a job with the technicalities of translation and etc. as they did with their namesake, I'm more than willing to wait for them to finish it before I watch any more episodes.

Besides, I'm already behind on several other series (don't ask how many, it's really sad) so it's not a big deal to me to place this one on the back burning.

[Zippicus]

Originally Posted by rishidan

I just noticed that Simoun-Fans is subbing the series. Ya know, if they do as good a job with the technicalities of translation and etc. as they did with their namesake, I'm more than willing to wait for them to finish it before I watch any more episodes.

Besides, I'm already behind on several other series (don't ask how many, it's really sad) so it's not a big deal to me to place this one on the back burning.

They're really doing a fantastic job with the translation. I'm not patient enough to wait but I'm most definitely going to watch their releases as they become available. Even with the first two episodes they've subbed I've had a couple things cleared up that were lost in translation.

[Kuroi Cosmo]

Originally Posted by Kazu-kun

That aside, with Hagino's revelation about the Arume's intentions, the anime finally begins to tie with the bokura manga.

Spoiler for episode 9:

Hagino tells Mari (although the latter was sleeping) that in their planet only women remain, and although they still can reproduce, if this goes on, eventually they will face extinction.

We already knew that, but it's nice to have it mentioned in the anime, as it gives a sense of continuity with the overall storyline.

I didn't understand very well this part.

Spoiler for ep 9/manga:

If they can reproduce female/female why do they fear extintion?
And what's the point in invading Earth?
As I understand from the manga, several centuries later Arume are still all female and they continue to generate lifes...

[Kazu-kun]

Originally Posted by Kuroi Cosmo

I didn't understand very well this part.

Spoiler for ep 9/manga:

If they can reproduce female/female why do they fear extintion?
And what's the point in invading Earth?
As I understand from the manga, several centuries later Arume are still all female and they continue to generate lifes...

I think it has to do with the possibility of genetic problems on the long run.

Spoiler:

They can reproduce just fine without men, but that doesn't mean their nanomachine induced offspring would be as genetically healthy as natural offspring.

Of course, the Arume can't really know what will happen in the future, so this invasion seems to be a "just in case" thing.

On the other hand, we should take in account that Hagino is just a scout ship's commander, so we can't be sure that what's been told to her is the absolute truth. Such a thing would be very in-line with the bokura manga's story, which is full of conspiracy and the like.

[X207]

has anyone seen anime xp's sub of ep9?

[Kaoru Chujo]

Originally Posted by Kuroi Cosmo

I didn't understand very well this part.

Spoiler for ep 9/manga:

If they can reproduce female/female why do they fear extintion? And what's the point in invading Earth? As I understand from the manga, several centuries later Arume are still all female and they continue to generate lifes...

That wasn't totally clear to me, either...

Spoiler for ep8:

But I think they fear loss of genetic diversity. I'm not sure why they need males for this -- although male DNA is certainly differently structured from female. Since this is a key point, I hope it will be explained further. I'm thinking that they are on Earth to get some different DNA, either directly from human males, or perhaps extracted from human males for artificial reproduction, or perhaps even just from human females, who even though they are the same sex will have different DNA.

In any case, I think they want to make Earth their DNA farm.

[scr]

Originally Posted by Kaoru Chujo

Spoiler for ep8:

In any case, I think they want to make Earth their DNA farm.

Spoiler:

which sadly, proven later to be not as successful as making the Earth their yuri harem ...

well, at least if it's the Arume, i dont mind being invaded ... definitely better than being invaded by those... things... from Halo. both of them will make us experimental subject, but at least with Arume they may love us ... in some way, yeah.

but seriously, the Arume isn't successful in solving their reproduction problems, instead they're making more problems by becoming the third gender on Earth. reworking Earthlings' legal system to accomodate Arume will be a lot of works ... good thing this is just an anime.

[JediNight]

I agree with Kaoru Chujo -- invading Earth gives them human male and female DNA to use if they want to prevent loss of genetic diversity. Although given their apparent lack of respect for humanity, I wonder how they would feel about having human DNA in them.

I can't really blame them though -- the Arume invading Earth is much like the Europeans colonizing North and South America. They had better technology and so did whatever they felt was best with them. I think it's just common nature if you out-tech the indigenous population by a lot.

[FatPianoBoy]

According to chapter 9 of Bokura, they're already having problems with birth defects due to a shrinking gene pool.

[JediNight]

I don't understand how they would have a shrinking gene pool though, unless even the female Arume population is very small. Because like on Earth, if we cut the population in half thats still 3 billion people...

[FatPianoBoy]

Originally Posted by JediNight

I don't understand how they would have a shrinking gene pool though, unless even the female Arume population is very small. Because like on Earth, if we cut the population in half thats still 3 billion people...

Maybe "shrinking gene pool" wasn't the right phrase...
We'll go with 'lack of genetic diversity' instead. Reproduction between two females would run a higher risk of the offspring inheriting bad genes, as genes are much more similar than between a male and a female. After many generations of this practice, the problem would become even more pronounced. My supposition is that their nanomachine technology can offset much of this (much in the same way it enables them to live for 300+ years), but it has its limits and they are being met more and more frequently.
It is possible the introduction of the females of earth into their gene pool may have slowed the progression (which is why they all suddenly lost interest in the men here), but it will by no means halt it.

[Solace]

Spoiler for science stuff:

It's rather simple really. What is aging? The cells inability to continue reproducing. What is the most basic part of any cell? A strand of information telling it what to do. Every time a cell divides, it loses part of it's information. Hence, your cells wear out and you age, and eventually die.

So what happens when you work with the same genetic material over and over again? After a few generations defects occur. Literally, the strands degrade from constant recycling of the same material. It's the medical reason why inbreeding is a bad idea (although I believe it's only immediate family, half relatives and cousins are ok but still frowned upon).

Assuming for a moment that the Arume share enough genetic similarities in female sexual organ structure for a moment, all women would be born with a set number of eggs. Men constantly create sperm, but women are born with all the eggs they'll ever get. Most obviously never get used. Out of the millions of eggs a girl is born with, by the time most women hit puberty they'll only have about 400,000 eggs, and they lose about 1,000 per month until they hit menopause.

So the amount of genetic material in the Arume population due to not having fresh recycling of information is slowly killing them. At an eventual point, the science will not be able to remove/repair enough defects from the pool without making it dangerously shallow.

I don't think they really want the male gender, but more the genetic material they possess. Of course, it's not exactly working out as well as everyone thought.

I really loved this episode. Finally some real plot movement! And an almost heartbreaking moment at the end of the episode.

Spoiler for ep 9 thoughts.:

I think it's pretty clear that Azanael was supposed to be captured to carry out a mission. I thought she was on the road to reluctantly joining the Blue, but this last ep has most likely shredded that idea up. If anything, she's probably going to be even more intent on revenge than ever.

By the way, if last episode was supposed to be any kind of clue apparently none of the cast figured it out. No pressure Micchi but we're all counting on you ok? No pressure at all, really. Just know that every single one of us is going to pester you about the script until you go all kung fu on someone and karate chop a desk in half! But no pressure!

[foux]

the micchi play may be happy ending and anime itself not, or vice versa. I doubt they do both happy or both sad. That may hint even that it wont have any sequel.

[Sinestra]

Azanael is up to no good Im sure it was all a ploy to infilitrate Blue and cause havok from within and after hearing that Hagino went and saved Mari at the expense of her crew i think she will be even more determined than ever. I thoughly enjoyed this episode for the closeness we got to see between Mari and Hagino. Also, finally to see Mari realize who saved her it was all worth it.

Watching those 2 grow closer with each passing day has been a joy to watch and i cant wait to see how Mari reacts when she is taken for a ride on Blue however i feel like things will not be as they say "smooth sailing". Michi her self has grown character wise and episode 9 was showing us coming out her shell even if its bit by bit with her classmates praising her story for the play. This series has met just about everyone of my expectations and is a joy to watch week after week.

[Mentar]

I don't really think that Azanael had the intention to be captured and subsequently to infiltrate Blue. She was out there to nab (and possibly kill) Mari - remember her shocked reaction "Ekaril!!" during her fly-by, causing her to enter a dogfight? She didn't want to be captured, she wanted to gun her down - and lost. The decision to arrest her (instead of killing her) was made by Ekaril herself. Finally, remember Azanael's surprised reaction that she was released from her cell...

It won't matter much though. Her reading of the incident became clear in the end: From her point of view, Ekaril did forsake Onomil for this puny horime (Mari). This is painting a huge crosshair on Mari, since it's quite likely that Azanael will exert her revenge by taking what's precious to Ekaril (Mari), just like in her opinion Ekaril took what was precious to Azanael (Onomil).

So, Mari will visit Blue next episode. Time for Hagino's confession, I guess. It will be interesting to see how Mari will react (not easy to predict... though my gut seems to tell me "not TOO badly")

[foux]

theres several types of confessions, somehow i doubt its love vise...

[Mentar]

Heck no, not love ^_^;

Confession of that she was (at least co-)responsible for the accident which killed Mari's parents.

[Diodati]

Episode 10 has been shown - you can see more at RC and 2 Chan.

Cannot wait to see this episode in RAW.

Spoiler:

Particularly for a highly emotional Hagino at the end of this episode. Awww it seemed to be going so well, so close to bagging a human slave-to-love. Damn you Azanael.

[Lesca]

It all started so well...

Spoiler for ep 10:

I kinda thought it would be Azanael that managed to get to Mari first, rather than Ekaril, and set off the bomb.
Started off on a real positive note too, them all getting ready for the play and the Hagino fangirls(and Mari) being amazed at how commanding she could sound. If Ekaril hasn't fallen for Mari then she's very close to it, at least it seemed that way to me.
Ekaril tried to start talking about what happened twice, but got interupted, felt really bad for her when she realised what Azanael was doing, and I think she could hear everything that was being said via the Blue's communications. Don't think Ekaril's ever been this emotional over something before, she was desperate to stop it.

Really can't wait to see ep 11 now