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)
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:
