Mai Otome 08 « hontou ni

26Nov/055

Mai Otome 08

Miss Maria ga miteru! She really does pop up whenever any of the students are up to mischief! Looks like the mystery Otome from last week's preview might actually be Ms Discipline Mistress herself, in her teens, 50 years ago. Most significant for me were two larger ideas. The first, which had been hinted at during Ep 6's biology book, from Irina that the people of this planet had originally migrated on spaceships from Earth. The second, from Argos' conversation with Midori and the Aswald, that the Black Valley seeks to revive a lost past, probably one based on the technology we are more familiar with. Was the loss due to warfare or an active purge? Also see Random Curiosity, Equivocal Resolution and white sonata.

Reminded me of the HiME MIP pillars. I thought this idea of the lives of Otome being linked to their Masters is a rather good one actually. One might have thought that this might have made the royalty less eager to go to war since their lives are directly at risk - unlike in our world where political leaders have ordered millions to their deaths while sitting comfortably in safety, far from the frontlines. I do admire Arika's naive conviction that if she were an Otome, she'd prevent war from breaking out. As the Gundam franchise shows, war sometimes results from defensive motives on both sides (cf. security dilemma).

It's great to see Miyu back. Also quite astounding to see Miyu treating with the kind of reverence that she reserved for Alyssa in Mai HiME - and Arika's hair glows like Alyssa's! While I liked Miyu for her fighting prowess, I thought her gentle and caring side added a lot to her character and it's nice to see that again. I won't go into the whole "Is Miyu a robot?" debate since there's new information coming out in each episode. Anyhow, on prognostications, In Mentar Speramus (In Mentar We Trust).

And am I the only person to like Miyu's hat? T_T

♥ Nao-sama, I just love your smirk. ♥

Quite funny how Arika is such a lousy liar when probed by Shizuru about the Harmonium. And I think we are getting a clearer picture of Tomoe's motivation in marking Arika - looks like jealousy over Shizuru-oneesama! Well, a pity no longing looks or passes at Nina from Erstin this episode. Hope springs eternal. ^_^

Posted by Zyl

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Mentar
November 27th, 2005 - 00:10

That’s not Maria (she has green eyes), this is Monica.

And I don’t really read jealousy from Tomoe’s look, they are rather looking a bit longing-wistful. And most certainly not for Arika … it will be interesting to see how she is connected with Shizuru. Which would be a good thing by the way, only defining her via Natsuki would kinda limit her.

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Problematic
November 27th, 2005 - 02:50

Haha I almost believed you Zyl…I was like *why don’t I ever make these connections* Yea but Monica and Maria does look alike, but Maria’s hair is probably turning grey due to old age. Plus the war would’ve never ended unless one of the Otome’s were killed or had given up. Maria would’ve either killed her best friend or admitted defeat, which would’ve cultivated her to not being a teacher.

Haha it seems like the same look Shizuru had for Natsuki back in Mai Hime, when she was watching her bony neck. She is totally in love or fascinated by Shizuru like the rest of the girls.

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Zyl
November 27th, 2005 - 10:36

Thanks, Mentar, for pointing out the eye colours. Doh! Now I’m wondering what Ms Maria’s style and robe was like… Also she hasn’t been lecturing Natsuki that much as the OP would imply. That would be hilarous esp since Natsuki looked miserable but unable to do anything but listen.

Not surprising that Shizuru has a fan club among the younger girls – she had this whole entourage in Mai HiME – esp during the beach episode when two girls were fighting over who got to apply the sun oil on their idol. Mentar’s comment also piqued my curiosity again as it suggests another angle on Tomoe as well – Arika being more than a threat on the Coral rankings and something to do with Shizuru “recognizing” Arika.

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Kabitzin
November 29th, 2005 - 18:54

Please don’t let Arika become a brooding hero like in GSD!!!!! Everyone knows that they only way to prevent war is to use a hack and get the most powered up gear and forcefully pwn everyone before going back to brood. This way there is no dictatorship, but everyone is too afraid to be bad. Kira, FTW!

I have this horrible fear that Mai Yamato will come back at some point and prove the above theory before spawning an extra episode of her teaching everyone how to buy underwear.

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Stripey
December 1st, 2005 - 09:00

Hmm, from Mai HiME I wouldn’t put too much faith in using eye color to assert or dismiss identity (Was personally fooled by Reito’s eye-color by ruling him out as Mikoto’s bro )

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