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At first I thought Albert cheated when he activated that robot from who-knows-where. Then Count proved me wrong when he also arrived at the duel with a Gundam.

I thought they're going have a normal duel, not a robot war. I really hate this episode except the part where the Count tried to prove that Edmond is dead.

CGI mecha is terrible... in this anime it's almost unforgiveable.

I was really liking this show... until this episode.

don't tell me that this is one of many shows that start great and end on a terrible note? sigh... it's always the one with the intriguing art as well

I hate robot stuff in anime and I both knew this was coming and enjoyed it. They hint it in the ending from the very beginning. Also I feel like comparing this to the novel is a waste of time and is probably killing enjoyment for anyone who has read it. I'm still loving this show, no idea what you guys are griping about.

I wasn't too big on the mecha battle myself, but to me it was bearable. I sometimes wondered, "Why are they screaming? The bot's getting it's limbs cut off, not them." But again, bearable for me. I knew Franz was gonna die just... Not like that. v.v I cried, and I thought that Albert's reaction was actually perfect. I tried comparing it to what I would do if my sister died because of something I did, since we're about as close as those two, and I figured that that might not seem like "overreacting" to the one suffering. Give 'im a break, guys. XD

And I totally agree. Why did the Count not check it was Albert first!? I mean, seriously. Shouldn't that have been the first thing he did!? Ugh! So annoying.

Anyway, R.I.P. Franz, you will be missed. TT^TT

Seriously, a lot of you guys saw a different CG fight than myself. The movements weren't clunky at all - like they were in Gonzo's other work, Bokurano - and the mechas didn't look out of place when placed next to the CG. The team responsible for the sequence were so attentive to the smaller details that they made sure Franz trembled and moved fearfully, in comparison to the composure shown by Edmond--a touch I appreciated very much. Since Gankutsuou came out way back in 2004, back then I'd say it was movie level, rather than TV series level.

Gonzo didn't shove mecha down viewers throats, as they have in other shows. Episode 18 and the end are the only times the mechas battled it out... easy enough to ignore, no? And, if I was going to be annoyed over a single change, I'd choose to be more pissy over the period being changed from the 1800's to 5043, or something silly like that.

As for why Edmond didn't care enough to confirm who was riding the mecha, Franz arrived early and - unless it's a requirement to see each other face-to-face prior to dueling - there wasn't any reason for Edmond to waste time. He knew Albert was too angry to have someone else fight in his stead. And the novel revealed that Edmond was a master with a sword; so much so that he wouldn't have been afraid had Albert hired someone to fight in his place.

...In any event: Franz's death is one of the more tragic anime deaths I've seen. Where as Albert was given the brain of a dog as Gonzo re-worked the story around him, Franz was altered to be extremely intelligent. Him putting the pieces together regarding the count, while Albert could only retort with "...YOU'RE WRONG!" made up for Albert's stupidity, to a certain extent. And Franz's unrequired love for Albert being expressed with the ultimate sacrifice did move me, in spite of me not being overly fond of manxman love.

In contrast to others in this thread, episode 18 is one of my favourite anime episodes. Back when I first watched Gankutsuou, I ended my 1-18 marathon at 18, sure that no other episode would better it, and I was right.

I pretty much laughed my way through the cheesy out-of-nowhere mech duel. Definitely the low-point for the series but the episode was still alright overall.

Good twist, awful CGI.

FRANZZZUUU D:

yeh that CGI was a bit off, i didn't like the fighting scene.

Amen.

That armor fight was a little out of place for this show...

Franz pulled the ultimate bro move.

It's always heartwrenching to watch Evangelion-styled mechs get pummeled around. This was definitely one hell of a sad episode...

Let's hope Albert actually changes after this...

I didn't agree with the mecha's either... seemed really out of place.
On another note, it seems like the main character hasn't been broken enough yet. More suffering incoming? I bet it involves Euge-... Euginie? Whatever her name is...

I don't want to live anymore.

Put in a 10 minute Mech scene, people start bitching. I see no reason what so ever to complain about something like that, it was an amazing episode within an amazing anime.

Am I the only one who still cheers for Count? >>

FRANZ!! NOES damn really liked him... and well sort to seem in the future duels are done with robots :D

Great but tragic episode and that all on Alberts Bday!

Amen Franz...

And I was just starting to like him, paying for his best friend's stupidity; tragic.

Oh my god that was easily one of the most terrible episodes I've seen. lolCGI at the level of Mars of Destruction.. Why Gonzo, why!?