思い出は時の彼方なの。。。 Memories that Lies Beyond Time...
Monday, June 04, 2007
Nanoha Episode 13: Call My Name (END)
Nanoha Episode 13: Call My Name (END)
As expected, the final episode is mostly a denoument, with bits of humour thrown throughout. It does, nevertheless, have plenty of touching scenes, making for a memorable end to the series.
So without further ado, I suppose I should wrap this up, ne?
Of note here is that the episode title for episode 12 were characters on a black background, while for this episode, they're characters on a white background. I'm feeling cheery already.
As the Garden of Time explodes, Nanoha-chan grabs Fayt-chan, again with a white background. Nanoha-chan presumably guides Fayt-chan out safely, as next we see them the action is over and everyone's on the Asura.
Nanoha is suitably rewarded for her efforts - a scrap of paper she'll never be able to show anyone at home (well, not and have them believe her). Still, of course, it's the intangible benefits that count, right?
They have one final meal together, discussing Precia's fate. Interestingly, everyone seems very intent on dismissing both her, and Alhazred, denying to themselves that anything will come of it. They were adamant enough that I almost expected Precia to show up right then and there - but I suppose they're saving that for the sequel :).
Nanoha-chan beams home (Yuuno-kun in tow) in a scene reminiscent of old-school `Star Trek', after a suitable good-bye, and a promise to meet again. Fayt-chan (and Arf by proxy) are awaiting trial but Chrono assures Nanoha-chan they'll get off. After all, she was only doing what she was required to do as Precia's mother (giri). A subtle hint, perhaps, that one should do what the group demands, and then things will work out in the end.
Of course Nanoha-chan's homecoming is full of happiness and such. Everyone's thrilled to see her back. Bonds are revisted yet again.
Then Nanoha-chan gets the news that Fayt-chan is being transferred for her trial, but she gets one chance to see her before she goes. Notably this is the first time in the series that Fayt-chan smiles (that I recall, anyway). She asks to be friends, officially. How does one do that? Simply call each other by name, Nanoha-chan replies.
Well, that was easy enough.
Arf comments on how much Fayt-chan is smiling. Yuuno-kun puts his hand on her cheek. Very cute. :)
The two exchange hair ribbons. Notably they're the only two main characters to wear hair ribbons - everyone else just lets their hair out. Thus, the ribbons are a sense of each character's identities, and by exchanging them, they're exchanging a unique part of themselves (The ED credits show them each wearing the others', in tribute).
Fayt-chan waves goodbye to Nanoha-chan, but the theme of this whole episode is on beginnings. Part of this is to set up the sequel, I'm sure, but it's also part of the cycle of life. Even endings, Nanoha comments in the intro, are really beginnings.
And so the series is over at last. Those last few episodes went by pretty quick.
Overall, it was a nice series. It's got a nice theme - I'd not be afraid to label it `wholesome', and is a nice intro piece for the mahou shoujo genre. The plot may be a little simple for some folks - I found it wrapped up a little too neatly, overall. There were a couple places where I anticipated plot twists, but there were none, so in that respect I'm a little disappointed :).
As well, at thirteen episodes the series is a little short to empathize too much with the characters. Not that I didn't, but it can't match the longevity-induced empathy found in [[Card Captor Sakura]], for example.
That said, no one should shy away from the series (unless they're allergic to mahou shoujo in general). It does the genre proud, and is worth a few hours of your time, if for nothing more than to ponder the bonds in your own life. The people you depend on, the people who depend on you - they all make up a complex network we know of as society.
And, as we see here, each bond in that society is precious.
Labels: Nanoha
Nanoha Episode 12: The Time of the Sealing of Our Fates
Fate-chan collapsed last time over the dissolution of her primary (and most `real') amae bond. Arf takes her to the infirmary, then leaves to join the others, fighting to stop Precia. Fayt-chan awakes to see Arf and Fayt-chan, commenting over her relationship with each. She resolves to join them, and takes off..
Another parallel here. Fayt-chan appears to help out Nanoha-chan while in a pinch, and, of course, her aiding strike comes from above. Divine redemption indeed.
Arf and Fayt-chan's bond is reaffirmed...
and one is forged between Nanoha-chan and Fayt-chan, as the latter takes the former up on her offer of friendship.
There's an awful lot of white used here in the background - perhaps an indication of them having found `truth'? They've certainly found their path (as was noted a couple episodes ago, for Nanoha-chan, and just now, for Fayt-chan). They've `seen the light' (heh). Indeed, here Nanoha-chan appears to be `showing the Way' to everyone. The symbolism of a shepherd guiding sheep may be a little too much, but the idea of a shepherd as a guardian and guide is certainly appropriate.
One final time, Fayt-chan offers to rebuild the amae relationshp between her and her mother - because she's obliged to (giri). Precia, however, turns her away. Precia herself disappears into a dimensional rift (or something) taking the tank containing Alicia with her.
The majority of the next episode seems to be the denoument, so there may not be many new points to bring up, but certainly plenty are raised here.
It's important to note that in mahou shoujo series in general, magic is used as a realization of more abstract concepts - feelings, bonds of friendship, et cetera. The genre as a rule tends to be aimed to the younger set, so such concepts are fairly easy to spot (I often feel as though I'm belabouring the obvious), but that does not diminish their importance.
Well, one more episode to go, so stay tuned. You never know, something really neat might happen.
Labels: Nanoha
Nanoha Episode 11: Memories That Lie Beyond Time
Lots of interesting stuff here. I'll try to highlight a few points. First, Fayt-chan remembers some of her past, when her mother called her `Alicia'. However, in these flashbacks, she rebells at being called thus. The name seems wrong..yet this is the one time in the series where the amae relationship between the two unfolds. Precia's description of their bond speaks exactly along these lines.
The Nanoha-chan vs. Fayt-chan battle commences. Throughout the series, Precia has delivered `divine punishment' to Fayt-chan in the form of lightning from the sky. Note that here, as Nanoha-chan delivers the winning blow (after a long battle), it is also from the sky, in a form of `divine redemption'. Nanoha-chan `forgives' Fayt-chan after the win.
We learn lots about `Alicia' - she's the girl in the tank behind Precia's throne room. A reincarnation of her daughter whom she lost due to a screwup in a magical experiment a long time ago. Fayt-chan is a `doll' to her, instilled with Alicia's memories to tide her over until she got the `real' Alicia up and working.
Note the parallel here between Precia (creating) Fayt-chan and Fayt-chan (creating) Arf. There is an amae relationship in the latter, almost as though it's what Fayt-chan, in the mother role, wished there to have been in the former.
The final blow in the Precia - Fayt-chan relationship is struck. Precia never loved Fayt-chan, in fact, she always hated her. Despite Fayt-chan being obligated (giri) to return to her mother, Precia here has disintegrated the amae bond. Amae is always a two-way street, and with Precia's dismissal of Fayt-chan, the bond is destroyed without a trace.
Labels: Nanoha
Nanoha Episode 10: Everybody's Separate Heart-felt Vows
The fates are being rather unkind to Fayt-chan (pun intended). Her mother (whom we learned is named Precia) seems more preoccupied with herself and someone named Alicia. Who might that be?, one wonders. In previous episodes, it seems as though Fayt-chan was the only person with whom Precia shared a bond, but now things aren't as clear.
Arf had confronted Precia about Fayt-chan's latest beating, and escaped by the fur on her teeth. Who but Arisa-chan should find her, wounded, in a woodland trail? This scene is eerily reminiscent of finding Yuuno-kun in the very first episode.
Is there some kind of rule that mahou shoujo heroines (and supporting characters) all enjoy venturing around into the wilderness to rescue injured animals? Isn't that kinda dangerous? Even for a Yankee like Arisa-chan?
Anyway, Arisa-chan invites Nanoha-chan and Suzuka-chan over to have a look at this nifty big dog. Nanoha-chan and Yuuno-kun of course recognize her and get her to spill the details of what's going on. Precia is messing with illegal magical experiments, and has to be stopped before world start getting destroyed. In return, she asks Nanoha-chan to save Fayt-chan.
Time for a bit of bonding between friends. The three girls get to chat a bit and reaffirm their bond.
We then cut to Nanoha-chan and her family, re-establishing her familial amae relationships. I don't know what Captain Lindy told her parents (we aren't told), but it sounds like it was quite inventive. :) Again, contrast this with Precia's orders to Fayt-chan to recover more Jewel Seeds.
Next day, Nanoha-chan challenges Fayt-chan to a final battle, with their respective Jewel Seeds on the line. Everyone from the Bureau meanwhile is preparing to arrest Precia (one they track her down, that is).
It's worth noting here that both Arf and Nanoha-chan attempt to talk Fayt-chan out of her mission, but she refuses - her relationship with her mother is too strong. This sounds a little trite (espeically because I just learned of this the other day!), but it seems to be a conflict between 義理 and 人情, just like in classic yakuza films (Amae relationships are prevalent in this genre as well). In such films, however, giri inevitably wins out, and the junior in the relationship is bound to return to the group. If she keeps screwing up, though, her mother may not want her...
Labels: Nanoha
Nanoha Episode 09: The Decisive Battle Above the Ocean!
There are six Jewel Seeds left to be found. Fayt-chan does some reckless stuff and tries to activate all six at once. Interestingly the crew of the Asura have been watching over her (and Nanoha-chan) all this time. Their responsibility is to keep anyone from messing with space-time, though, and they aren't afraid to lose a rogue mage or two in the process, if need be...
Nanoha-chan has a heart-to-heart with Yuuno-kun, and they speak about their experiences being alone, growing up.
The two head out to keep Fayt-chan from getting killed, and Nanoha-chan sees Fayt-chan is as sad as ever..
..and finally gains enlightenment - what people want when they're sad is someone to take even just half of that burden away..interdependency :). She offers to be Fayt-chan's friend (again, I think).
Arf butts in though, taking Fayt-chan away. Arf only has this one relationship - if Fayt-chan weren't dependant on her, where would that leave her? While I don't doubt her intentions that she wants to ensure Fayt-chan's safety, she doesn't want to leave the job to anyone else. In an odd kind of way, Fayt-chan needing to be protected likewise provides Arf a reason for existence.
Likewise, this incident was generated by (ostensibly) Fayt-chan's mother attacking both Fayt-chan herself, and the others, via lightning. Her mother has only one relationship, as well - with Fayt-chan. And she isn't going to let anyone else take her away, either.
As a result, Fayt-chan is at the middle of three incomplete amae relationships: a twisted one with her mother, one with Nanoha-chan which hasn't come to maturity yet, and one with Arf in which she takes a motherly role in (yet hasn't had the best in guidance in that regard..). Each opposite is likewise trying to pull her in their direction. So, which way will she get tugged next?
Nanoha-chan and friends are left behind. Things didn't go quite as well as planned. If my numbers are right, Fayt-chan and her mother have 9 Jewel Seeds between them, quite a catch. And since even a few could cause worlds to be destroyed...well, better strap on those running shoes, Nanoha-chan. There's only a few more episodes left, and you've got a lot of ground to cover.
Just a few more episodes left..it'll be interesting to see who's dependant on whom, after the dust all settles.
Labels: Nanoha
Nanoha Episode 08: There's A Really Big Crisis?
We get a few light moments in this episode as Nanoha-chan adjusts to the new interdimensional reality. Her mission is a lot more important than she realized. And, more importantly, Yuuno-kun's a guy :).
We learn a bit about the Jewel Seeds (Lost Logia), which are essentially the artefacts of an Atlantean myth - a hyper-advanced culture that ended up destroying itself (shades of Escaflowne, anyone?). The allegory here seems to be on the consequences of power exceeding responsibility - in this case, carried to the extreme, as while the responsibility of the citizens in the lost world were confined to one world, the consequences were actually felt across many other worlds.
In a way, this series seems to try to one-up others in its genre ("what, you're just trying to save your own world? I'm trying to save a whole bunch!"), while also emphasizing the power at use here. Why random 10-year olds are entrusted with this power is beyond my ken, but there it is. I suppose if Nanoha-chan were not so pure of heart I would not be typing this today.
We get a short glimpse into Fayt-chan's past - her mother does look a fair bit kinder back then. Again, this is the amae that Fayt-chan is desperately trying to regain.
Nanoha-chan meanwhile speaks with her mother, and explains as much as is believable. Note that the amae culture tends towards mothers allowing children to take on such tasks, unlike Americans which tend to be more strict about such things :p. Anyway, this scene empahsizes the dual dependancy between Nanoha-chan and her mother.
Fayt-chan and Arf's relationship, on the other hand, is a bit strained. While they do have each other, they're acting alone, and on the run. Arf isn't thrilled about this, but promises to back Fayt-chan as long as it's for her sake, and no one else. That is, Arf will allow Fayt-chan to depend on her, but won't let her mother depend on her.
Labels: Nanoha
About Nanoha/A's/StrikerS
Description:
Alternative Titles
Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha (Japanese)
魔法少女リリカルなのは(ストライカーズ）(Japanese)
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha:
Yuuno Scraia is a mage from a distant planet working to fix the problem he started when Jewel Seeds were accidentally spread around the world. In a failed attempt to seal a seed properly, he winds up on Earth in the form of a ferret. However, his battle with the seeds did not end upon reaching the Earth and he needs somebody else's help to seal the seeds for him. Takamachi Nanoha hears his telepathic cries for help and comes to his rescue. When she is given a pearl known as the Raging Heart she is able to transform into Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha and wield a staff to fend off the evil that lies within the Seeds. In order to help Yuuno complete his mission, she needs to seal all 21 Jewel Seeds away, but Fate may be playing a hand in the matter to prevent Nanoha's goals.
Magical Girl Lyical Nanoha A's:
Several months after Nanoha first became a Magical Girl, she still is unable to personally meet with her new close friend, Fate Testarossa, who is being tried in the Space / Time Administration Bureau for her association in the Lost Logia case. They still communicate through video-mail and hope to see each other in-person once again. Their reunion is not a happy one, unfortunately, as several people who call themselves "Velka-Type Knights" battle Nanoha above the city. Their objective is to fill the pages of the Book of Darkness by stealing the magical power of anyone they can find. Nanoha and Fate must once again team up to stop their plans and save the world.
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS:
Set 10 years after Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha A's, Takamachi Nanoha, Fate T. Harlaown and Yagami Hayate are now working full time in the Time-Space Administration Bureau. Following her dream of creating an elite squad, Hayate forms the 6th mobile division to deal with any emergency including the Lost Logia cases. Nanoha and Fate have taken 4 new recruits under their wing and they must prepare them for battle as a new Lost Logia appears. Combat Trainer Ace Nanoha, Enforcer Ace Fate and Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Hayate must unite once again to save the dimensions.
Labels: Nanoha All
Nanoha StrikerS Episode 10: Mobile Section Six's Day Off (Part 1)
The episode starts with Subaru straddling and groping Teana. Really… anything after that is a disappointment.
“Tea! Asa da yo!” I’m having Kanon flashbacks. Except I’m pretty sure that Nayuki never straddled Yuuichi and grabbed his chest to wake him up. Tea finally awake, she kicks Subaru off her and starts stomping on her. Erio and Caro are also getting along more and more, yada yada, things are back to normal.
Nanoha gives the cadets promotions and a day off with the permission of Fate and Vita, and they’re also told to go check in with Shirley about having their limiters altered to allow them to use their devices’ second modes.
Over in the lunch hall, the aces and Velka Knights are listening to a news cast about some Aegis thing. A general comes on and starts ranting about increasing militarization and the like while everybody just sort of glares at the TV. The aces recognize a few of the people sitting behind him and talk about them instead of listening to the windbag.
Tea is trying to pick up Griffith for his sweet motorbike, or perhaps trying to pick up the bike. I’d have loved a Golden Boy motorcycle scene here… if you catch my drift. Man… I’m really dating myself here. Anyway, Griffith lets her have the bike and she rides off.
Erio is being groomed by Fate who tells him to make sure to be a proper pimp escort to Caro. Erio is speechless at Caro in formal wear. It is pretty cute I suppose. Tea and Subaru take off into town on the bike while the lightning runts walk. I swear, all the magical power in the universe and they end up on foot and a motorcycle.
The background music here begins to excessively abuse the synth. That’s what I took more from a brief conversation between Signum, Nanoha, Fate and Vita than actual content. Shirley and Rein are doing general checkups on the devices… Raising Heart in particular.
Then it turns out that Rein needs to inspected as well, so she strips and summons the book and enters a testtube. I’m honestly not kidding here.
Subaru and Tea are enjoying their bike ride while Erio and Caro are looking over the schedule prepared for them by Shirley. Erio and Caro chat about Fried for awhile on the train and how Fried really likes Erio now, blah blah blah. Then in a true dating game moment, Caro is bumped on the train and ends up holding hands with Erio.
Tea and Subaru are enjoying ice cream, and I swear to Zeus, Teana’s chest has grown again. That’s about the extent of that.
Back at the office, Rein reports that she checked out just fine to Hayate.
Caro and Erio are watching kids play with their parents in the park and Caro reminisces about Fate taking care of her when she was sad. Subaru calls Erio to check up on them and see what they’ve got planned, whereupon they recite Shirley’s schedule. A little later, wife mode Subaru is feeding Tea on a bridge.
At the sight of an accident, Ginga is investigating destruction caused by a relatively unknown force. She then comes upon a destroyed drone and some new type of container.
We go over to our insane doctor who is chatting with some new purple haired woman. A new person comes in who sounds like Yuuno honestly, but looks like she’s wearing a jacket designed after Nanoha’s. She’s has short red hair though and some facial marks/tatoos, I’ll get a cap when a better raw comes up. The doctor dismisses her as we see that Lutecia is watching the city from the top of a sky scraper.
In the sewers, a small brunette girl dressed in rags is chained to and dragging a couple giant weights. Erio suddenly senses something and looks around. He takes off running and looks down an alley to see the girl crawl out of the sewer. Caro sends out an emergency alert that they found a girl with relic-looking devices chained to her. HQ tells them that they’re on their way and to protect her and the relic devices attached to her.
Labels: Nanoha StrikerS