Mai Otome 19

Lots of explanation of how Otome technology works, why Aswald and Schwarz want the whole vertically integrated chain (rather than just the final product) and the revolutionary implications of a new Shinsou and alternative Otome i.e. Valkyrie. There's been plenty of exposition that compares Otome to SUNRISE's other franchise, Gundam SEED. But lately I've been thinking about how the structure compares to that old Gainax classic, Evangelion - at first we just thought it was a big robot (magical fighting girl) series. Actually the robot (magical girl) technology is predicated on ancient religious texts and will actually determine the fate of the human race (Earl's political system). And the technology turns out to be heavily biological which is hinted at throughout the series but the full and 'orrible implications of that for the pilots (magical girls) suddenly erupts to the fore in the last quarter of the series. Brain fcuk ensues. My Japanese language ability (or lack thereof) couldn't really cope with this episode that well, so will wait for the subs before saying more on this.

Surprisingly, despite my initial stony response to Arika's irritating genki attiude, I've actually grown quite fond of Arika. Instead of dismissing her refusal to use her Otome powers as Kira Yamato syndrome, I thought that her behaviour was fairly reasonable and even felt quite sorry for her. Bah! Getting soft in my old age. The Erstin Fanboy in me thought it was nice to see that she was mourning Ers-chan. (Though when I saw Arika clutching Ers' bandage, the old perv in me thought of *NSFW* mutual understanding. *NSFW* - oh shit, it's the Mounties again!)

Stripey had noted that she seemed rather too normal at the end of the previous episode but this episode addresses that concern. We've also seen from Ep 15 (after nearly getting raped by Miiya's goons) that she tries to be genki to get over the bad stuff but still blanked out and froze in place when reminded of it by Chie's summons.

Nao is pretty skillful with that nail file! And I wonder just how skimpy Natsuki's undies were? ~~~ I was pretty pleased with being able to better appreciate this scene because screencapping it for this entry. Yay, anime blogging!

In related news, Urayo's fanart of this scene is hilarous. My rough translation is: "It's fine that you are exposing the lower half of your body but it's obscene how flat chested you both are therefore you are under arrest." Though the arresting officer(s) would be described, back home, as: "Seriously lacking in motherly love during their infancy (???????)." -_-;;

The way Chie was drawn this ep made her look particularly cool but her bishie (?) type look just does *not* go with the frilly Garderobe meido uniform.

"So unfair! Shizuru-oneesama is playing S&M dungeon without me!" The next episode will probably show what kind of Faustian bargain Tomoe has gotten herself into. If she attempts a jailbreak with her posse but gets rejected (yet again) by Shizuru, I think she'll go yuri SEED a la Whispering "Kiyohime" Softly Shizuru Fujino. Looking forward to the next ep (and the subs). But not as much as seeing Wilhelmina disapprove of Yuuji.

Related posts:

1. Mai Otome Special 6
2. Mai Otome 25-26
3. Mai Otome 08