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Nov 5, 2016 6:00 PM
#51
A calm before a storm I see... Sad about Jonas but believable. That's how it was done back in the days and still is if you know a secret about big politician. But while Jonas had bad timing, he still kinda brought it on himself by even mentioning that he knows something about Izetta. If he had said nothing at all, he might have had a chance. It also surprised me that spy did not waste his time and went straight for the vital points. For a light series, this part was handled much better than in proper war/action series. |
Nov 5, 2016 6:58 PM
#52
Jonas lived longer than I expected. Rip. That scene was pretty sad. Wrong place at the wrong time. Sieg's actions are understandable, to keep the secret from spilling, as having Jonas promise to keep it would still be risky. But it's still harsh. At least the secret's still safe for now. I really would not be surprised if Izetta died at the end of the series, which kind of has me on edge. Overall though, it's crazy how much I'm enjoying this series. It hasn't disappointed yet. Hopefully it keeps up like this. |
Nov 5, 2016 8:04 PM
#53
sarroush said: I really would not be surprised if Izetta died at the end of the series, which kind of has me on edge. She's probably going to sacrifice herself to save Fine, since protecting her is pretty much all she lives for. |
Nov 5, 2016 8:12 PM
#54
I seriously thought that Jonas would start blabbering about the secret to everyone he sees. But the only thing he told anyone was that he knows a big secret of Izetta. That was enough to get the attention of the German spy. And Muller doesn't care about anything or anyone other than the country. So for the sake of the country, Jonas has to die. I thought he would ask Jonas about how much he knows and to whom did he tell all this before deciding to kill him. Guess he didn't want to know if someone else has been told about this or not. Or maybe he had that big guy somehow find out. The German spy will be caught, possibly interrogated before being killed. And Finè and Izetta are going to Britain to attend the anti-German conference which will discuss their future plans against Germania and the witch who suddenly popped out of nowhere. Finè will have to be persuasive enough to get the US on her side and to have the allies send forces in to help Elystadt. Berkman is also doing all the preparations to get Izetta. He'll probably never find out something from the spy because the spy doesn't know anything yet since his lead has been killed. Lol everyone has bigger boobs than Finè. Poor princess. The dress which was loose for Finè is tight for Izetta around the bust. It had a few nice moments between the boring parts. Uneventful episode as a whole but it sets up things for Finè's journey to Britain and her exploits there. |
Nov 5, 2016 8:44 PM
#55
A meh low-key episode. I had to laugh at that cafe scene. Fine made that whole encounter a bigger deal than it had to be with her grandiose speech. Oh yeah, RIP Jonas. |
Nov 5, 2016 9:23 PM
#56
mozgow said: A calm before the storm, I would say. That Germania Emperor knows suspiciously a lot about witches. I'm certain we will learn more about it in future episodes. And frankly, I wasn't expecting Sieg to kill Jonas. But when you think about it, it is the best way to keep Izetta's secret safe. I do wonder if the Germania spy learned about the secret... well Jonas never told him so I doubt it. |
Nov 5, 2016 9:24 PM
#57
I liked the shock of Sieg killing Jonas. Extra things like that can turn a good anime into a great one. |
Nov 5, 2016 9:48 PM
#58
The music felt really misplaced in the scene where the spy shot Jonas, but it was redeemed when Sieg killed him. |
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Nov 5, 2016 10:55 PM
#59
Oh man I was ready to cry while listening to the ED. Jonas was so precious, and they killed him... :( I think this series might go on to turn far darker... Meanwhile, I didn't really like that fanservice and the pie stuff... Kinda like they didn't have anything else to put in this episode. |
Nov 5, 2016 11:31 PM
#60
mozgow said: true i hope not but i have some feeling theyll find outA calm before the storm, I would say. That Germania Emperor knows suspiciously a lot about witches. I'm certain we will learn more about it in future episodes. And frankly, I wasn't expecting Sieg to kill Jonas. But when you think about it, it is the best way to keep Izetta's secret safe. I do wonder if the Germania spy learned about the secret... |
Facta Non Verba |
Nov 5, 2016 11:51 PM
#61
Omg I hope he really didn't kill Jonas and just shot the ground as a test or something to make the enemy think Jonas was dead or etc. |
Nov 6, 2016 1:43 AM
#63
JOOOONAAAAAAAAAAS :'( |
Nov 6, 2016 1:19 AM
#64
I guess this episode was meant to build the characters a bit more? But IMO it definitely came off more like filler than actual substance that drives the plot forward. I did enjoy the Jonas scene though; it made a lot of sense for a military official to do that, so some realism was gained in a show about witches fighting fighter-planes atop a giant gun. |
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Nov 6, 2016 1:28 AM
#65
A light hearted episode with Izetta and Fine moments, although part where Sieg killed Jonas was too cruel, rip kid |
Nov 6, 2016 1:36 AM
#66
Decent episode, but it look weak than previous episode. Idk why, but I had a bad feeling about this series |
Nov 6, 2016 2:04 AM
#67
1idd0kun said: I have similar hunch after watching closely the OP animation; especially the last scene where Izetta is flying in the opposite direction than the planes and then disappears.sarroush said: I really would not be surprised if Izetta died at the end of the series, which kind of has me on edge. She's probably going to sacrifice herself to save Fine, since protecting her is pretty much all she lives for. shogunwolfdyvine said: It's almost certain they will, the question is how will they learn about it.mozgow said: true i hope not but i have some feeling theyll find outA calm before the storm, I would say. That Germania Emperor knows suspiciously a lot about witches. I'm certain we will learn more about it in future episodes. And frankly, I wasn't expecting Sieg to kill Jonas. But when you think about it, it is the best way to keep Izetta's secret safe. I do wonder if the Germania spy learned about the secret... |
Nov 6, 2016 2:38 AM
#68
kitten320 said: He's dead the moment he overheard it. There never was a chance for him. The enemy will do anything to get the info out of him, then get rid of him, and his country will make sure he dies, for knowing. He won't be spared even if he didn't or won't talk.A calm before a storm I see... Sad about Jonas but believable. That's how it was done back in the days and still is if you know a secret about big politician. But while Jonas had bad timing, he still kinda brought it on himself by even mentioning that he knows something about Izetta. If he had said nothing at all, he might have had a chance. It also surprised me that spy did not waste his time and went straight for the vital points. For a light series, this part was handled much better than in proper war/action series. Also, making sure that your target knows that he have a few minutes to live, is a very good way of making him talk. The family hostage thingy is bonus. Plus it's pretty clear to everyone that he isn't the type to die for his country. Hinata said: There's absolutely no reason to leave him alive. He's a liability.Omg I hope he really didn't kill Jonas and just shot the ground as a test or something to make the enemy think Jonas was dead or etc. |
IMACOPNov 6, 2016 2:43 AM
Omae wa mou bakuhatsu desu! |
Nov 6, 2016 3:15 AM
#69
Bit of a hit and miss and totally unnecessary fanservice (the intro is bad enough as it is). While having light hearted moments like the old pie shop and the small down to Earth vibe of Her Majesty was nice, I have much disdain for the not so subtle fanservice. It does absolutely nothing for character development except highlight the main protagonist Izetta has big boobies. The Princesses small boob size insecurity is also unnecessary and weakens the Princesses character from her earlier image of a noble heroic and selfless leader. If you recall who earlier in the first episode she offered herself in marriage to secure a strategic alliance with Britannia, at the cost of her own personal life and that of her two bodyguards lives, something that doesn't seem to bother her much as of late. The national security issue and the killing of Jonas was heartbreakingly brutal, but necessary. It reinforces that this is not just a game and the outcome of the war is at stake, which is exactly why such fan service and blissfully ignorant moments bother me. Yes people need to have time to relax and unwind, but at the same time the lack of seriousness by the main heroes undermines the potential of this series. |
"If this were a 3rd rate TV anime, the main protagonist can come back to life at the producers convenience" - Commander Dusty Attenborough |
Nov 6, 2016 6:21 AM
#70
Fortunately, or unfortunately, the final twist (?), Puts the right seriousness that had missed the episode. However, a small interlude of everyday life, is not a taboo, indeed he can serve. Overall, the story is enjoyable; surreal scene in the bakery, with that atmosphere that squeaked with the context. Excellent soundtrack. RIP Jonas! |
Nov 6, 2016 6:33 AM
#71
Wow, that took 2 hours to finish... I'm not against SoL eps but I seriously couldn't enjoy this due to how it undermines what the series could be. The SoL parts could've been good had they put focus on characterization or a bit more world building (e.g. life in places unaffected by war) instead of boob-size fanservice. The serious scenes were too short and the lack of seriousness in the beginning really shat on the tone they wanted present. Really average series so far :/ |
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Nov 6, 2016 7:12 AM
#72
So half the series is gone now, how do you think it can still get good? lol |
Nov 6, 2016 7:24 AM
#73
Hmm after 5 episodes of war and suffering and loss we get a quiet episode this week. Its nice to see Fine, Izetta and the rest of the cast relax and take stock of the situation. Lol Izetta sure loves to work on the gardens huh even if she has to disguise herself to do so Lol she loves to do work it seems she is a hard worker as Fine said lol I don't blame her i guess if you used to doing things your way its hard to get used to not doing them when your status has changed Lol thats one way of putting on a corset lol I though lotte was trying to pull something heavy there though lol Lol Izetta has to learn how to behave like a proper lady eh Lol Elvira is pretty mischievous eh As expected of Fine she can dance pretty well I like how this episode also mentions the point of rationing though Since they are fighting a war it makes sense that they will have it in effect Seems Fine is fond of pies lol and its nice that Royalty like Fine also work to give food and other items to the people. In this case giving out sugar That pie looks delicious and Fine looks pretty fond of it the way she explained why she shouldn't go though was hilarious I bet she has gone in disguise before lol Hmm so it seems that Elvira also knows Sieg pretty well too it seems Hmm the empire sure spares no expense in creation of arms They probably feel that its right to rule the world Lol the empires spy division in addition to being spies also chase after occult eh Hmm so the spy apprentice wants to succeed on his own merits and not on his family then eh Thats pretty admirable Show a pilot a newly designed and produced plane and they always get excited lol who's the child here lol Hmm it seems that apart from the emperor the director of the facility also believes in witches So i wonder whats inside Design division 9 probably their secret R&D division i wager Some really impressive security at that door though Lol Fine and Izetta look pretty normal outside of their normal clothes Though because you are so well known no disguise would help you there lol And i was right that Fine would sneak out from time to time to sample the food I mean which princess doesn't like sneaking out to meet her people Lol the way they broke their disguises though was funny and my thats one hell of a review for your pies lol from a princess no less lol And i love the speech that Fine gave in the shop She's such a great Orator and Her seiyuu Saori Hayami really shines here Hmm this upcoming conference seems to be pretty important and the United States of Atlanta eh lol Its unfortunate but to protect your country sometimes you have to make a choice one person's death can be difference on winning and losing a war Keeping Izetta's secret safe is the only way |
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Nov 6, 2016 7:57 AM
#74
Psykofreac said: So half the series is gone now, how do you think it can still get good? lol Getting actually good is probably not possible at this point. I just hope it won't become a lot worse than it already did. That's probably a more realistic expectation, all things considering. They really need to tone down the narrative fellatio on Fine though. She's great, we get it. Now stop wasting time wtih unnecessary glorification. That's precious screen time that could be used to advance the plot or develop the characters. |
1idd0kunNov 6, 2016 8:03 AM
Nov 6, 2016 8:38 AM
#75
Damn what an end for Jonas hoped he didn't have to die. Oh well. |
Nov 6, 2016 8:45 AM
#76
That is not entirely true. Back then, by the river he could've spoken up, or ran away or covered his ears. Anything but listening in on the conversation. Knowing a secret that could possible be the decider between winning and losing a war is a massive responsibility. Pair that up with him being a relatively easy target for manipulation/blackmail and you can easily see why Sieg came to the conclusion that that was the only safe option. |
Nov 6, 2016 9:00 AM
#77
Thats fucker killed an innocent soldier who serving his country in the front lines. I'm sure that the princess would not approve that I hope Sieg get killed |
Nov 6, 2016 9:29 AM
#78
Why the fuck did them send Izetta, the most powerful "weapon" of the series, out of the country?! What if the enemy decides to attack them in the meantime that she's away? anyways.. I was losing my hope on this series but the end of this episode kinda made up for its past mistakes. I hope that Jonas stays dead! and please, give Izetta some character development. I really don't mind the fanservice I'm actually glad ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) but I definitely want to hear her thoughts on being used as weapon of mass destruction. Does she have any kind of remorse or she doesn't care as long as she's useful to Finé? Please.. I wanna know what's going on inside her mid! |
Nov 6, 2016 9:59 AM
#79
Dress and Pie scenes were just cringeworthy... Actually, I find most Izetta/Fine scenes a bit cringeworthy... I miss the gutsy and serious Fine from episode 1... Otherwise, I do like everything that's going on behind the scenes. Especially everything to do with Germania's attempt to find out more about Izetta and ways to beat her. IMACOP said: Hinata said: There's absolutely no reason to leave him alive. He's a liability.Omg I hope he really didn't kill Jonas and just shot the ground as a test or something to make the enemy think Jonas was dead or etc. I'd say there's a little hope for Jonas? Not very much, thankfully, but still a tiny possibility. The way I see it, Sieg spending time to ask Jonas about whether he'd do anything for his country was a way to gauge whether Jonas was suited for spywork - Sieg's line of business. Basically a recruitment question. The shot fired could've been directed to the ground next to Jonas. What better spy than one that's been 'killed' in front of a Germanian spy? Just a possible theory. |
The most annoying thing about some anime is that they don't know when they've died... |
Nov 6, 2016 12:17 PM
#80
IMACOP said: kitten320 said: He's dead the moment he overheard it. There never was a chance for him. The enemy will do anything to get the info out of him, then get rid of him, and his country will make sure he dies, for knowing. He won't be spared even if he didn't or won't talk.A calm before a storm I see... Sad about Jonas but believable. That's how it was done back in the days and still is if you know a secret about big politician. But while Jonas had bad timing, he still kinda brought it on himself by even mentioning that he knows something about Izetta. If he had said nothing at all, he might have had a chance. It also surprised me that spy did not waste his time and went straight for the vital points. For a light series, this part was handled much better than in proper war/action series. Also, making sure that your target knows that he have a few minutes to live, is a very good way of making him talk. The family hostage thingy is bonus. Plus it's pretty clear to everyone that he isn't the type to die for his country. That's the problem. Enemy would never know he knows something if he never ever mentioned it. But the first thing Jonas does is say he knows big secret about Izetta and to a spy of all people. This is what made Sieg act in a rush and end it before more was revealed. Otherwise Jonas could still be under observation. Sieg only acted after he was told situation is serious. Jonas big mouth is what ended him. |
Nov 6, 2016 12:42 PM
#81
Not without a sense of humor, I see. |
Nov 6, 2016 3:20 PM
#82
kitten320 said: IMACOP said: kitten320 said: A calm before a storm I see... Sad about Jonas but believable. That's how it was done back in the days and still is if you know a secret about big politician. But while Jonas had bad timing, he still kinda brought it on himself by even mentioning that he knows something about Izetta. If he had said nothing at all, he might have had a chance. It also surprised me that spy did not waste his time and went straight for the vital points. For a light series, this part was handled much better than in proper war/action series. Also, making sure that your target knows that he have a few minutes to live, is a very good way of making him talk. The family hostage thingy is bonus. Plus it's pretty clear to everyone that he isn't the type to die for his country. That's the problem. Enemy would never know he knows something if he never ever mentioned it. But the first thing Jonas does is say he knows big secret about Izetta and to a spy of all people. This is what made Sieg act in a rush and end it before more was revealed. Otherwise Jonas could still be under observation. Sieg only acted after he was told situation is serious. Jonas big mouth is what ended him. I doubt he'll be placed under observation, unless they want to use him to smoke out spies. In this case, as far as national security is concerned: possible secret leaked, suspect Jonas, in same unit with a confirmed spy. That's all the reason to end him. The issue isn't about whether he may or may not talk, have or haven't said anything, it's the possibility of Jonas knowing the secret. Duri1n said: Dress and Pie scenes were just cringeworthy... Actually, I find most Izetta/Fine scenes a bit cringeworthy... I miss the gutsy and serious Fine from episode 1... Otherwise, I do like everything that's going on behind the scenes. Especially everything to do with Germania's attempt to find out more about Izetta and ways to beat her. IMACOP said: Hinata said: Omg I hope he really didn't kill Jonas and just shot the ground as a test or something to make the enemy think Jonas was dead or etc. I'd say there's a little hope for Jonas? Not very much, thankfully, but still a tiny possibility. The way I see it, Sieg spending time to ask Jonas about whether he'd do anything for his country was a way to gauge whether Jonas was suited for spywork - Sieg's line of business. Basically a recruitment question. The shot fired could've been directed to the ground next to Jonas. What better spy than one that's been 'killed' in front of a Germanian spy? Just a possible theory. Possible, yes. But that'll be in conflict with Sieg's character that the story is trying to portray. Then again, the story tried to show him as the smart, cunning one but made him talk about a big secret out loud in the open, so... |
IMACOPNov 6, 2016 3:37 PM
Omae wa mou bakuhatsu desu! |
Nov 6, 2016 3:37 PM
#83
Very surprised Seig shot Jonas... Buildup episode for sure though. |
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Nov 6, 2016 3:37 PM
#84
Psykofreac said: So half the series is gone now, how do you think it can still get good? lol They should go full battle mode for the next episodes, they have a new toy for that, the plane, cos' the more story telling we get from them the more we laugh. The first seconds of this episode were gold : " _ what's up Jonas? _ Damn! I've just learnt an INCREDIBLE secret about Izetta, our super warrior bi... ahm, witch, who can defeat alone an army, the key to our survival .... but, eyh! I won't tell cos' I just wanted to tease you in case you're a spy ;) By the way, want some water? I just brought some from the river where my family's photo fell into the water, was brought away by the stream, then caught by some branches, conveniently not far away from the place in the open where I could casually hear the general and this high ranking Eylstadt official very loudly shouting that Izetta had no power in the mountains where the last battle occured .. uupss! you didn't hear, did you? " Epilogue : Dead. Maybe. And to those claiming that Fine is just too perfect to be a good character, here the answer in episode 6: no very very big boobs! and a complex with it on top of that! Ah! You never thought about that one, did you? If that's not a major failure for a queen in an anime, I don't know. Just joking :) Furthermore, since the fan-service is no problem in this war context, why no "Shokugeki no souma" food orgasm with the pie? I mean, we could have had a little nude scene with 4 girls in one shot! There was a loly on top of that! Too bad! I wonder now if the show is not taking the direction : so bad that it becomes good. hope for more great plot developments. At least I laughed. Waiting for a Jesus Black Wizard to slaughter that b... the witch! I mean the witch! |
Ysad_ZiwezhanNov 6, 2016 3:46 PM
Nov 6, 2016 3:56 PM
#85
Ysad_Ziwezhan said: They should go full battle mode for the next episodes Yeah, to be honest, this show would be a lot better if they just had non stop war. The writers just suck at characters and interaction. Of course with only action, the enjoyment could only go so far, but that's a problem with the show itself. |
Nov 6, 2016 4:13 PM
#86
I mean I know why they killed Jonas. But I thought 100% that he was going to be an important character. He had a name. He had been at two battles with her now. Then he gets shot and I was all like T.T and D:. Also still fully under the impression Elliot is a Wizard thought that since I saw him and still think it. |
Nov 6, 2016 8:12 PM
#87
RIP Jonas. He should have been more careful. I wasn't expecting Sieg to kill him though. He is willing to get his hands dirty to save his country. |
Nov 6, 2016 9:54 PM
#88
Sad day for Jonas. If he just kept his mouth shut. Lol. Trying to fit the corset on Izetta was funny and Fine was...shock. |
Nov 7, 2016 1:30 AM
#89
Alhakam said: Its not acceptable that Sieg killed Jonas, he could put him in highly secure place where he can't speak with anyone until the end of the war, you just can't kill a person who risks his life for his country like this. It was totally acceptable. They can't lock him up until after the war. The secret needs to be kept until his grave. And as you can see from this episode he can't keep secrets. He should've kept his mouth shut right after the river. Bring attention to himself was his biggest failure. |
Nov 7, 2016 2:33 AM
#90
WhaleCostume said: Alhakam said: Its not acceptable that Sieg killed Jonas, he could put him in highly secure place where he can't speak with anyone until the end of the war, you just can't kill a person who risks his life for his country like this. It was totally acceptable. They can't lock him up until after the war. The secret needs to be kept until his grave. And as you can see from this episode he can't keep secrets. He should've kept his mouth shut right after the river. Bring attention to himself was his biggest failure. They find about him from a picture that he dropped not Becuse he said anything and he didn't want to say anything even for his own life until the spy threatened to kill his family and most people will speak then and of course they can lock him like intelligence always do. when human accept killing one innocent man for the country next time they will accept killing a whole city. and they whole plot was dumb from the first place,I thought it was a weak writing that they wanted the german to know about the secret by speaking about it in the "open" like this but no what the point then maybe to show that they will do anything for their country by killing a person that fight for their country really, just imagine that you be killed Becuse you heard a secret by mistake from a drank high offical for example And being drunk is better excuse then speaking like that in the open. |
AlhakamNov 7, 2016 2:43 AM
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Nov 7, 2016 3:49 AM
#91
Ahh Jonas... We knew you so little. |
Nov 7, 2016 5:47 AM
#92
So... * Jonas died before saying anything, so there was no point in him hearing the secret. * Neither Izetta nor Finé know Jonas, so there's no emotional conflict over his death. * The only thing the spy learned was that Izetta has a secret, which Berkmann already suspected (and will likely learn through his investigation of Division 9). That was one hell of a red herring of a plot thread that went nowhere fast, the only thing is did was show us Sieg is willing to shoot his own countrymen, but that could have been achieved under a minute with some faceless extra (and would have had just as much emotional impact: none). At this point the breast jokes are more fleshed out than the war and intrigue. Edit: the only thing that can justify them wasting so much time introducing Jonas and having this whole "overhearing state secret in the open then blabbing he heard a horrible secret to first person he sees who JUST SO HAPPENS to be the spy" contrived plot device is that Sieg just faked killing Jonas to trick anyone who might be watching, but that in itself is so clichéd it doesn't make it any better. |
MysteriousBananaNov 7, 2016 5:55 AM
Nov 7, 2016 9:13 AM
#93
Hoping they put in more of the dark stuff and less of the funny moe/yuri stuff. If it turns out that guy ain't dead next episode, they better have a very good reason for it or I'm going to lose a lot of respect for this show. |
Nov 7, 2016 10:41 AM
#94
LMAO. OK, that's funny. They just copy pasted this article. |
Nov 7, 2016 11:27 AM
#95
nice yuri dance Cute pie tea time turned into Fine's speech. Kinda like Ponytailman now, on the mc side but unfettered by justice & ideals. He did the right thing for their country. Pleasantly surprised didn't think Johas would die with the secret, since he's a good opportunity to develop the base soldier pov of war. So their retrying the alliance talks. |
Nov 7, 2016 4:50 PM
#96
Nov 7, 2016 5:08 PM
#97
Well at least it means the stupid overhearing plot point is over, on the other hand, glasses-kun ended up being a really useless character if he's really dead. |
Nov 7, 2016 9:04 PM
#98
Shuumatsu no Izetta Episode 6 “On a Quiet Day…”: 7/10 Each episode of Shuumatsu no Izetta we’ve seen thus far has been pretty small in scope, the thematic writing restricted by development of the plot: an entire episode may only develop on one aspect of the power dynamic amongst the princess, witch, and strategist, or concern itself exclusively with the contrast between projected appearances and reality. This episode, however, is a grand attempt at hammering home the duality of war that the show has established. On the one hand, strategy, subversion, and tactics give Eylstadt its best chance at survival; on the other hand, a moralistic, personal desire to protect the homeland and its people drives the witch and the princess forward. This coupling of cold strategy versus personal, moral motivation is at the core of this narrative, and it shines through more than ever in this most recent installment. In the previous episode, the Battle at Veile Pass explored the idea of Izetta’s dual identity: the strategists have constructed for her a false, larger than life public image as the White Witch, but within she is simply a girl with immense power who wishes to protect the people of the princess she loves. This dual nature corresponds to the conflict between strategy and morality. Strategically, Izetta’s adherence to the White Witch’s legendary figure is optimal, because it amplifies the perceived military power of fragile Eylstadt. But it is also a lie; Izetta is no legendary magical weapon, but a woman motivated by her love to protect the innocent. As a consequence, Izetta has a hard time slipping into the monstrous shoes of the White Witch. This incongruity is flaunted in the opening of Episode 6, in a disastrous, fanservice-ridden sequence of household chores and dancing lessons. Presumably in an attempt to combine comic relief with Izetta’s struggle to understand her new role as a figure of timeless legend, this sequence presents us with little more than graphically described too-tight outfits and clumsy dancing. There’s certainly nothing wrong with a bit of comic relief, but when it results in your steadfast, serious princess of a protagonist comparing the battle for her homeland with the size of her breasts, the comic relief has gone miles too far. More than anything, the opening scenes of this episode felt like a missed opportunity; using palace life to accentuate how Izetta feels out of place is clever, but the execution was far off the mark. The truly unfortunate thing about the failure of this opening sequence is that it aims to provide some sorely needed character advancement. This kind of implicit attempt at characterisation surfaces again, when Finé laments the discontinuation of her favorite local pie. The pie metaphor is not a bad one - reserves of sugar are rationed due to pressure from the Germanians, meaning the insidious influence of the war spreads throughout all aspects of Eylstadtian life - but the writing is surprisingly weak here, and undermines the strong personality built around Finé’s character. Bizarrely, Finé forgets the rationing of resources she commanded; this isn’t terrible in and of itself, but is a strange detail to include about a character developed as an attentive and committed leader. Furthermore, the princess describes the pies with inexplicable passion, and this exaggerated writing transforms the viewer’s perception of the pie from a lovable detail of Eylstadtian lifestyle to a hyperbolic joke. These unexpected characteristics of the writing aren’t just a break from the development of Finé’s character - they also spoil what could have been a powerful metaphor. Despite all this, the speech delivered by the princess to the assembled public in the pie shop is a powerful reiteration of the moral principles that drive our two main characters. Faced by war-driven scarcity and suffering, the princess rejects defeat and promises to restore idyllic life for the sake of the people she so loves. How is this public exhibition of love and determination perceived by the strategists? In a defining moment, Sieg explains that “it’s not a bad thing” that the princess has retained her “beloved tomboy image.” This is an excellent piece of writing, because it so elegantly encapsulates the stark differences between the war the Eylstadtian tacticians are waging and the war the princess and witch are waging. When Finé explains to her people why she is willing to fight - in order to restore the lifestyle of her beloved nation - Sieg evaluates her actions on how strategically effective they might prove. For the purposes of this cold and calculated warfare, Finé’s speech is no personal statement but instead an enhancement of her public image. This clear divide between the perceptions of the battle is the same as the divide between the figure of the White Witch and the morally motivated, human Izetta. The elegant development of this dual war is very compelling, and builds on top of the elaborate power structure and nuanced personal motivations set up by earlier episodes to indicate that this narrative has mighty goals. One final scene truly drives this point home, however, and it’s Sieg’s discovery of Jonas and the Germanian spy. In an attempt to soften Jonas up, the sergeant makes an appeal to sameness: We’re both part of the same platoon, and therefore you ought to trust me. The irony of this tactic isn’t exactly clear until the conclusion of the scene, where Sieg shoots and kills Jonas (after asking if he is willing to sacrifice anything for his country). Despite the presence of actual espionage, the betrayal comes from someone directly linked to the Eylstadtian war effort. Finally, Izetta and the princess are pictured flying away on the rifle. Izetta makes one final promise to use her power to protect the people of Eylstadt, no matter what. Everything about this juxtaposition is beautiful. The narrative elements that made it possible are beautiful, the technical elements of its execution are beautiful, and how elegantly it hammers home the duality of warfare is beautiful. Side by side, the strategic and moral approaches to war are drawn in clear contrast; the strategist murders his countryman in cold blood for the greater good, while the witch promises to use her full power for each and every citizen. Indeed, both make sacrifices - Sieg forced to kill an allied soldier and Izetta sacrificing the secrecy of the last witch she swore to as a child - but the sacrifices take place on a fundamentally different basis. Sieg is interested only in calculated advantage, while Izetta is bound to her personal, moral obligations. Both are forced to kill, but the people in front of Sieg’s gun fall there because they are convenient to slaughter, while the people in front of Izetta’s threaten the well-being of her sworn protectorate. Through repeated, elaborate, and elegantly assembled juxtapositions like these, Shuumatsu no Izetta makes a powerful argument about the nature of war, whether it be executed in cold calculation or moral dedication. It’s just our job to see how it ends. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Check out my blog at https://hyperreviewsanime.wordpress.com/ and the reddit post at https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/5brbvs/spoilers_shuumatsu_no_izetta_episode_6_review/ |
Nov 8, 2016 4:48 AM
#99
Didn't laugh at the corset scene. http://www.forbes.com/sites/kristinakillgrove/2015/11/16/how-corsets-deformed-the-skeletons-of-victorian-women/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corset_controversy etc. |
froggy25Nov 8, 2016 4:52 AM
Nov 8, 2016 5:34 AM
#100
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