As I predicted, following logical reasoning, back in the 19-20 episode thread: it was clearly the kid of Maria and Mamouru. And thus all the rest was probably spot on too; the fact that squeeler deceived Saki and Saturo when they looked for them, probably sweet talking Maria and Mamouru into staying under their 'protection' and NOT telling them they could return without any problems at that moment, and then, even worse, waiting and abiding his time, until they got a baby and then ruthlessly kill off Maria and Mamouru, so that he could raise their child as a weapon against the other humans.
I'll repeat what I've said before: on an intellectual level, I actually agree with Squeeler, at least his principle stance. The queerrats have a considerable degree of intelligence and self-awareness. They are sentient beings. Any sentient being deserves to have basic rights, such as freedom. And it is clear they don't have that, they are used as slaves in the best case, and regarded as vermin in the worst, by the human cantus-users. Logically and ethically, I can't but agree with his stance.
Yet, the manner in which he and his clan of queerrats operate, where the goal justifies the (any) means, the abhorrent treason he did with those kids, especially Maria and Mamouru, the hypocrisy he shows in saying every individual is important, yet he brushes aside the will and respect due to his queen and other rats, the fanaticism showed by the queerats, and the fact they pose a threat to the entire human race...makes me feel, on a more emotional level, sympathetic to the humans. I want those rats dead. (I still would make an exception for those rats who remained faithful to humans, though). Furthermore, now has been shown the true extend of his plans, and it isn't so much liberation for his own people, but rather conquering the world and establishing a queerat empire. His actions were already despicable, but now his goal isn't all that noble anymore neither. He wants to usher in a new age like that of the former empires, but now with rats on top, and humans as slaves.
I think this is also yet another fact that is disturbing to us, and the anime puts forward; not only is the 'creation' there out of control and attacking their creators, but now it's possible the tables are turned: where human cantus-users are now the dominant and superior species, regarding queerats as slaves to to their bidding, if Squeelers' plan succeed, soon the rats will dominate, and the humans will be the enslaved race, brought up as animals, to serve their new masters.
In a way, this could serve as a warning to human hubris: you never know if at some point you will be treated as you have treated others. In fact, this is the basis of ethical thinking, starting already with Confucius in 500 before Christ: treat others like you would want to be treated. The cantus-users are, in a way, reaping what they sowed. But the queerats aren't any better. By now, it just comes down to a full-out war to avoid genocide. Since time for diplomacy has long passed (though, I realise, in that future society, it's unlikely humans would ever have given full rights to the queerats), I'm rooting for the humans.
UEntity said: Can someone quickly explain how the shisei died? How did he get the negative feedback? Wasn't he just deflecting the attacks?
And also, explain to me the dry river bed scene....
Why did the both of them come to the conclusion that the guy didn't escape??
I'm soooo confused this episode.... =/
I don't think it was death-feedback. As far as I understood it, he could have withstood any physical attack induced by the cantus of the fiend (Maria's kid), but the cantus leakage makes for a direct hit of/with cantus. It was a bit short, though; I thought it would last a bit longer. Even if he couldn't kill the fiend, he could have repelled it for a long time, which would have made it into a battle of attrition. But cantus leakage can't be readily stopped by other cantus (otherwise, people could have protected themselves against the consequences of a Karma Demon too, after all).
Though I'm not sure how the fiend knew that, and how (s)he(?) could deliberately let her cantus leak like that. Instinct, maybe?
Man, it was such a sad-scary scene, where the kid was on it's hands and knees, acting - or rather being - a pet to that rat. If that is the future of humans, it's bleak indeed. |