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Apr 7, 2015 7:34 AM

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Sep 2013
2422
Certainly, the role reversal was easy and quick to figure out. As already said, it's somewhat disappointing that Kino chose not to intervene, but unlike in episode 0 with the tower guy, she didn't hand any advice down. This is probably the first time her lack of involvement actually ended up causing harm, even if the recipients weren't human.

Perhaps she believes that individuals who cannot think or exist for themselves are worthless, and don't deserve a guiding hand? This would be supported by the constant existential theme of the entire series. Nonetheless, it's quite sad: The mechanical dolls lack the ability to decide for themselves and ultimately chose self-destruction rather than accepting a lack of purpose.
Jun 26, 2015 4:45 PM

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Jan 2013
6845
A bit depressing, the family was of no use anymore, so they dont have to exist.
While Kino sees it somewhat different, for her its not hard to live alone, she does have Hermes though.

Was kinda obvious from the start the old lady was in fact human and not the family.


VanishingKira said:
Immediately knew the the old lady was actually human and the family were the real mechanical dolls.It kinda reminded me of another anime that had a similar situation after a tragedy

Yeah didnt pick it up as fast in that film as in this show though.
Aug 10, 2015 2:19 PM

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Jan 2015
18
I figured out that the granny was much more human than the family right after the dinner scene, but I thought that she was just a more advanced robot built by the robot family. A self-improving AI, basically.

The idea of the maid actually being the inventor is interesting, but the rest of the explanation felt too contrived to be interesting. Plus, although I did like the eerie atmosphere around the family, I think it gave away too much.

Not really a bad episode, but probably my least favourite.
Dec 11, 2015 12:31 AM

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Jan 2014
4581
That was broooootal.
Feb 15, 2016 8:19 PM

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May 2014
577
Shirayuki_a_qt said:
I knew from the start that the family were bots, but I would of never guessed that the old woman was human.


Yeap, they made it so obvious that the family were robots, so I really did not expect the old lady to be a human. After her family died and she got hit she just kind of slipped into denial and swapped roles with the robots. Those robots ironically also demonstrated humanlike qualities in how they went along with it out of consideration for her, and even killed themselves while holding hands because they had no purpose anymore. Man I can't get enough of this show, I might have to get onto the novels at this rate haha
~ The world is not beautiful, therefore it is.
Feb 19, 2016 9:30 AM

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Sep 2014
556
This episode was predictable but still it was good. I think Kino should have encouraged those robots to live on.
Mar 6, 2016 7:03 PM

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Jul 2014
231
"No, there is no country by here"
"No, there is no country by here"
Confirmed robots.
Why do people have such bad taste? Anime isn't subjective anymore.
Jun 6, 2016 4:06 PM

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Feb 2013
6196
No! Not the food!
LOL Kino wanted that food.
Good idea robots... suicide because nobody needs you!
Oct 9, 2016 7:10 AM

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Jun 2007
1043
I actually thought that old lady was a robot not-knowingly serving a family of robots. then i saw her fixing Hermes. But this is not a detective story anyway. I loved the city under water. hooked on things like that!
see you, space cowperson . . .
Oct 11, 2016 11:05 AM

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Jun 2013
1245
Man, that was messed up. The first half of the episode was better imo
Nov 6, 2016 1:20 PM

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Feb 2016
9
I think that those mechanical dolls were more than robots. They weren't programmed to rebuild the apartment, or bury the city underwater beyond a dam, or even take care of granny at any rate, but they did it anyways. I feel like it goes beyond a mere "to serve a human": they actually took care of her with their souls. So maybe they're not incomplete, or maybe, not in that regard. They're convinced they'll die if they don't have any human company. So maybe they're human after all, humans that are a tad more "twisted" than usual.
Nov 20, 2016 10:47 PM

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Dec 2013
15075
I suspected that the role reversal but I still really liked the twist.
Dec 18, 2016 6:09 PM

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Aug 2014
1867
Not as good as the other episodes but still a good episode.
I didn't care for the side characters, perhaps there was not enough build up for the events.
Feb 7, 2017 7:17 PM

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Jan 2012
31479
Not as deep as usual neither the action was good .

Jul 1, 2017 6:47 AM

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Oct 2012
7189
Aww sad end as always

Kino could just say "build your own country to help humans" or something like that
It'll be something much more better than this sad empty emotion I have :(
"Signature removed"
Aug 30, 2017 8:26 AM

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Jul 2015
5111
The twist was super obvious but the story was interesting nonetheless, RIP everyone lol.
Sep 8, 2017 10:28 AM
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Jan 2012
1067
I feel bad for the robots, but Kino not giving them any orders fits with the personality she showed so far, it is not out of character. She avoids responsibility as much as possible and by telling the robots what to do, whatever potential harm they could cause to others would be her responsibility.

Great episode.
Oct 7, 2017 12:53 PM

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Nov 2013
148
Maybe not one of the best episodes, but still very thought-provoking.

On top of what everyone else in the thread has already said, when the dolls walked off the ledge and drowned themselves at the end, it did make me realise that they weren't just subservient robots meant to carry out duties and nothing more - they were capable of having desires of their own. They could so easily have just shut themselves down in the house for the time being and waited for the next traveller to come along, but clearly they didn't want to wait that long, if another traveller even came at all. They said that they wanted to continue serving humans, and if they weren't able to do that, they would rather die than continue on without a purpose. Makes me wonder how defined the line truly is between robots and humans in this world.
"Get chance and luck!"
Oct 11, 2017 10:18 AM

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Sep 2015
677
So I really enjoyed the last two episodes. And I almost really enjoyed this one. But one thing held me back. For starters I thought for such a delayed reveal. It was REALLY obvious that the humans were actually the robots and vice versa. At the point where Kino had dinner with them what else could it be? But that's fine. It was still handled in an interesting and entertaining way. And I like how the delay of the reveal can be chalked up to Kino's apathy. Once the food dries up they're just about to peace it. When the robots are like "Wait, aren't you curious what the dealio is here?" There's something kind of funny about that to me.

But my big problem came from the explanation of the back story. Everything else was perfectly fine. But the unseen and under explained race war rocking the grannies nation in the past was a bizarre and frankly unearned plot device. And the robots just wiped the country out because of that? I thought the underwater city was really spooky. But that's what we ended up with? The one thing that hurt an otherwise perfectly fine episode. The a little too convenient and a little bit preachy race war.
Oct 20, 2017 9:11 AM

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May 2010
8099
It was pretty obvious she's human who somehow thinks she's a robot. Sad her research went to waste.
Dec 27, 2017 8:42 PM
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Jun 2013
2960
yea I saw the whole twist coming. I think its best that the inventor lost her memories since it seems the other route was complete insanity.
Apr 20, 2018 8:35 PM

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Mar 2016
1958
didn't care much for the twist but still probably my favorite episode so far
"I like young-girl sexual creations, Lolicon is just one hobby of my many hobbies," he says.
I ask what his wife, standing nearby, thinks of his "hobby".
"She probably thinks no problem," he replies. "Because she loves young boys sexually interacting with each other."
Aug 10, 2018 6:08 AM

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Jul 2008
10993
I figured most of this out....but the memory loss I didn't see coming. I figured something happened to her though, but the robots committing suicide....makes you ask what was the point?
May 13, 2019 9:49 PM

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Nov 2013
495
I'm enjoying this series. The original is, writing-wise, better than the remake.
This episode especially reminds me of old Outer Limits episodes. Very philosophical, asking existential questions and with an unexpected twist at the end. Brilliant series!
May 18, 2019 9:23 AM

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Jul 2016
7488
Best episode by far in my opinion, even better than episodes 4, 2 and 7
May 18, 2019 9:25 AM

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Jul 2016
7488
Nakamura is a monster for creating such a twist, at first I was questioning why they would create an old maid in the first place, but then it hit me. I also knew the family would be robots, it was so clear from the way that they were acting.
May 18, 2019 9:25 AM

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Jul 2016
7488
Anyways, this was a very deep and amazing episode, much better than the previous episode. Overall, I give this episode a 5/5.
Jun 3, 2019 9:30 PM

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Aug 2014
4132
A fine episode. Very emotional. 
oooo3333Mar 7, 2023 10:42 AM
Feb 27, 2020 1:18 PM
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Sep 2019
210
The twist was really not a twist, but the flashback with the death of husband and child was sad and unexpected. While the moment the robots list everything they can be for Kino was somehow creepy, for a moment I thought we were going to see some revolt of the machines. On the other hand, Kino was not so nice in her detachment towards the family (but I like her for this).

This show keeps on surprising me with the answers it gives to some very important questions.
Mar 8, 2020 12:10 AM
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Aug 2016
155
Those who think Kino is heartless or cruel, have you think the responsibility her words can hold? Kino did reply, its something they have to decide themselves, she said the same to all the people she meet. More importantly, Kino didnt think the trio is that indifferent compare to humans, if not, she can just tell them to stay in the house till the next traveler or go out to see the world.

Also, Kino didnt expect her answer will cause the robots commit suicide.

Lastly, Kino lend her hand when someone seek for help, so she is not kind at heart, at the same time, she knows self-defense.

Purpose of Kino not interfere too much is to tell people not to do something just because someone ask you to do it. Make the decision yourself and you will hold the responsibility for your own actions.
Mar 17, 2020 8:32 PM

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Sep 2017
106
Liked this episode quite a lot more than the last few (although in retrospect i do think i was unfairly scathing in my thoughts on ep 9, it did become more interesting in the second half). A woman who built 3 human-looking robots ends up believing she is a robot herself and ends up serving her creations... what a wild scenario, and it proved to be a fertile plot for digging into the philosophy of so many things, be it the ethics of unlimited invention or the psychology of self-fulfilling prophecies. You can only get so deep into these questions in a space of 20 mins, but i think this episode ended up illustrating these ideas very vividly just because of how unique the scenario was. Like, this would be an episode of Twilight Zone in the Blade Runner universe.
Mar 21, 2020 7:03 PM
Shalltear

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Apr 2018
34430
RIP Robots and Old woman, pretty sad episode...
May 19, 2020 2:33 AM

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Jan 2016
519
Probably the deepest episode of the series so far. It was pretty good.
May 20, 2020 7:20 AM

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Nov 2018
347
There are only a few anime that I've watched that have made me cry, and Kino no Tabi is one of them. But I didn't cry for this episode, I almost did though.




Jan 31, 2021 9:41 PM

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Mar 2010
13683
Dang the robots can talk. Man granny went crazy after her family died. Rip to all of them.
May 9, 2021 11:47 AM
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Aug 2020
640
Why are 10th episodes of anime always the saddest?!
Jul 27, 2021 12:38 PM

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Feb 2021
29
To me Kino did the right thing,
sure it may sound brutal but remember what the machines said, they are willing to be exploited in order to serve humans, and that can be a dangerous thing.
For the sake of the memory of the Old woman, Kino would much rather have these robots share the fate of their gentle creator than regret following undeserving humans.

But at the same time she didnt knew/wanted them to just jump down and die just like that, so i think if she would have known that she would maybe have said something
Feb 3, 2022 8:23 PM

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Dec 2018
3885
the real robot was the emotionless kino who was unhelpful and unwavering in her 3 day timing protocol leading to their suicides, and even then she didn't care
Feb 8, 2022 1:59 AM

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Aug 2018
2486
Weirdest episode yet but I kinda saw it all coming, of course that didn't really effect my final expierence much
Apr 25, 2022 11:54 PM

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Feb 2021
2347
That was great. Don't see any point in throwing any more praise considering how much there already is for this ep in particular
Apr 27, 2022 11:49 AM

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Jan 2009
15000
Well, it was indeed obvious at one point that the family was rather weird, but outside of that, I'm surprised by their human-like behavior of wishing to be of use to someone and I can feel sympathy for that
Aug 6, 2022 8:43 PM
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Sep 2013
165
From the beginning the family showed up I knew they were robots and you were human.
Honestly I think the lady knew she was human from the beginning, but she pretended to be a robot because she couldn't stand the death of her son and husband, it was too much of a shock for her, I suspect that because even apparently she had lost her memory, she knew how to fix things, not to mention she should still eat and shit and sleep after all.
I think the only lesson we can take from the episode is that everyone needs a purpose, the old woman needed to be a maid and the robots needed to be a family, after that codependency was broken with the old woman's death the robots should leave too.

PT-BR

Desde o princípio que a família apareceu eu já sabia que eles eram robôs e a senhora era humana.
Sinceramente eu acho que a senhora sabia que ela era humana desde o princípio, mas fingiu ser um robô pois não aguentou a morte do seu filho e marido, foi um choque grande de mais para ela,eu desconfio disso porque mesmo aparentemente ela tendo perdido a memória, ela sabia consertar coisas, sem falar que ela ainda deveria comer e cagar e dormir a final de contas.
Acho que a única lição que podemos tirar do episodio é que todos precisam de um proposito, a velha precisava ser uma empregada e os robôs precisava ser uma família, depois que essa codependência foi quebrada com a morte da velha os robôs deveriam partir também.
Oct 1, 2022 9:28 PM
GetsugaTENSHO

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Jul 2012
3959
sad n creepy but I don't really like how Kino handled it in the end. next level your business after being treated so kindly.
張大です for 張大勇督察
Nov 24, 2022 11:20 AM

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Jan 2021
1615
As far as I can remember there was no episode with this theme in the remake version, so I honestly really liked it.

I like Kino's response, "It depends on the person" (about decisions and purposes in life).

Although, I kind of wish Kino could give some meaning or purpose to those mechanical dolls, since they weren't a "person" but a "doll". Even so I understand that this all related to what the theme meant this time.

I think this is also somewhat related to episode 4 about Kino deciding to become a traveler.

Jan 1, 2023 1:00 PM
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Sep 2021
1
not as crazy as the other ones
Jan 20, 2023 12:39 PM

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Apr 2018
1
First time viewing this episode; thought it was a fun, yet simple mystery. The old lady was my favorite character that was introduced in the episode.

Was refreshing to see Kino's stoicism crack a little.. their eyes have never widened in surprise to this extent.
Apr 14, 2023 3:36 AM
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Dec 2022
3
This episode was phenomenal! As soon as the robots started repeating things and not eating the food that the maid made that’s when I knew they were robots, Just as robots need a purpose or else they are useless us humans need a purpose or else what do we have to live for
unrulyroninApr 14, 2023 3:40 AM
Jul 4, 2023 10:05 AM

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Dec 2022
5310
One of the most enjoyable episodes so far. It's lamentable that the mechanical doll "family" couldn't be convinced to live for themselves, and felt that suicide was the only option in regards to their lack of a master. Got to say, for a universe that has yet to master aviation, it has a generous bevy of intelligent robots and automata.


╔⏤═⏤╝ ╚⏤═⏤╗
Shaded Horizon


Jan 13, 7:14 AM

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Nov 2023
707
The plot twist was insane 10/10
May 5, 6:29 AM
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Oct 2019
211
I don't think there was anything Kino could have realistically done for the dolls, Kino herself doesn't need such thing, as she explained.

Those dolls' only purpose, the only thing they'd be satisfied with, would be to serve another human, but there was no human in sight anymore, the country was destroyed, the only way Kino could have helped them, is to accept their company, something Kino had no desires for, Kino would have preferred if they found their own meaning, that is kind of her philosophy I believe, what she believes in, but these dolls as they themselves say, see themselves as worthless without a human to serve, there's nothing Kino can do about the mindset they have.

These dolls were made for labor, they were desperate to fulfill that premise they were made for, it seems like these dolls cannot define their own meaning, like humans can, like Kino can. To be fair, there are humans like these dolls too, hence why the dolls seem shocked that Kino is different.

There is something poetic, about the day their creator died, so did they. In a city they were created in.

I can tell they really loved and cared for their creator until the very end, beautifully tragic.

The old lady, I feel obviously terrible for her, but there is something, I find oddly nice about it all, she died believing a lie, yet happy. Throughout the majority of her life, she believed she was in a happy family, serving her purpose, being helpful and loved, fulfilling the role she wanted to create, the dolls themselves were also fulfilling their own role as they made her happy, everyone benefited from the ordeal in an odd way, even though it was all built on a white lie, beautiful tragic tale.


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