So the phenomenon that was Magical Girl Madoka Magica is finally over. From the start, many had compared it to Neon Genesis Evangelion with its genre subversion and psychological themes, and the ending provided plenty more fodder for this comparison. The final 2 episodes tried very hard to emulate great endings that had come before it, but, lacking the focus and cohesiveness of such works, it ended up merely stumbling its way across the finish line.

I was somewhat disappointed that Shaft didn’t take this opportunity to retool the 2 episode finale into a singular unit, as had been the case with the finale of Code Geass‘s first season. Episode 11 stood on its own with its own story arc, featuring some good action as Homura went all out against Walpurgis Night. And with the cliffhanger end, it was clear that these episodes were meant to be released a week apart.

But that’s not a knock against it. There’s nothing wrong with having the episodes structured like they were originally intended. It was just a missed chance for greatness. And so was the ending. Shaft was obviously swinging for the fences with this one, and though I wouldn’t say they struck out, at best, they managed a weak single.

A wholly unnecessary scene. This was about the point when Shaft's intentions became too transparent.

I have the belief that, for the most part, people are pretty good at telling when they’re being manipulated, and when one senses this, the compulsion is to push back. This is why people have a problem with melodrama – they don’t like it when they’re tricked into feeling things, instead of having the feelings come to them naturally. I know I don’t like it.

Instead of providing an ending that was simple and tightly held together, Shaft provided one that was a hodge podge of scenes clumsily thrown together, trying as best as it could to force its way to greatness. This is exactly what I meant when I wrote that Madoka Magica ran the risk of being crushed by the weight of its own narrative. Greatness comes effortlessly and naturally; it’s only after the fact that the viewer should be aware of how his emotions were toyed with.

A beautiful scene with which to close out the series. Homura's epilogue, I have absolutely no complaints about.

It was so obvious that Shaft was trying to make us feel a certain way, that, ironically, it achieved the exact opposite. This, despite that I liked most of what happened in the ending. Madoka’s wish of breaking the rules and going beyond the impossible (row row fight the power) was pretty cool. Was it a deus ex machina? Even though it literally introduced a god in order to tie things up, I don’t think it was, because it fit in well with the rest of the show. And the end result, with Madoka disappearing from existence, Homura the only one to remember her, still being a magical girl but fighting… things that aren’t witches, with the red ribbon in her hair and a bow as a weapon in remembrance of Madoka? Corny, yes, but also poignant and moving. Corny things became corny for a reason. The fact that the ending was not a perfect one, that magical girls still had to fight in order to save the universe from heat death, was much appreciated. It gave a happy but cynical end, by showing that Madoka couldn’t create a perfect world despite her godly power. She could only take away one specific source of despair in it. Yet destroying that one specific thing was something impossibly noble and beautiful.

But when it’s obvious that the events were there just to enable the Evangelion-esque conversation sequences, to bring back Kyoko and Mami for a final farewell, to bring back Sayaka to converse with Madoka, forgive Kamijou and Hitomi and to give her story closure, to have Madoka and Homura say goodbye half naked in the stars, there was an undeniable feeling of being manipulated. These scenes were supposed to be touching, but the smell of artificiality overwhelmed whatever goodness they had.

What a wonderfully moving scene... it would have been if it didn't seem completely forced. Again, unnecessary.

It certainly stole from the best, like Evangelion, Diebuster, and Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann had done so before it. But those works managed to take what they stole and seamlessly integrate with their own identities. Madoka Magica‘s ending threw together all the great things it stole, with little in the way of order or sense, forming a messy jumble of would-be great scenes. It was completely transparent in what it was doing, resulting in something that so clearly was meant to be great but wasn’t.

In fact, “thrown together” is an appropriate phrase to describe the entire last 3rd of the show. Whereas everything up to episode 8 had been carefully and lovingly constructed, forming a slow but exciting magical mystery thriller, the rest of the show was messy and cluttered, a collection of nicely done scenes and story elements in search for a common thread to tie them all together.

The ending could have achieved greatness by tying everything together, a pretty standard way for endings to do so. But many things were dropped and introduced at the convenience of the story. Madoka’s mother’s earlier advice about messing up was one of them, with the conversation they had in episode 11 serving no useful purpose (other than to show that’s Madoka’s mother is a really bad mother! You don’t let your kid run out into a supercell!). Same goes for shoehorning famous figures as being Magical Girls, as well as the 2001-esque aliens-made-humans-evolve plot element.

It was messy, it was all over the place, it was manipulative. I don’t want to go as far as to say that it was outright bad; I’ve seen plenty of bad endings, and this wasn’t one of them. Neither was it good, though. It was passable. And that’s alright. But certainly not up to the standard set by the show.

Series End

Now that it’s over, what exactly was Magical Girl Madoka Magica? At its best, it was a mystery/thriller that kept us hooked, pulling us along for an unforgettable, intense ride where every move mattered. At its worst, it was a jumble of great elements that didn’t tie together in a meaningful way. It was a show that peaked at the 2/3 way point and then stumbled the rest of the way, through the climax.

The common criticism that it suffered from underdeveloped characters was very true, and that was the issue that came to define the show’s success and failure. When it really delved into a character, her feelings, and her motivations, as in the case of Sayaka, it was a success, a sublime combination of writing, directing, and pacing into which you simply couldn’t help get sucked. But when it tried to force drama with characters with whom the show had not allowed you to form a connection, as in the case of Homura or the eponymous Madoka, it faltered.

At least the art was great throughout, even though even that weakened a bit in the last third, with the craziness of the witches’ realms not being as prominent or as crazy. The cinematography, though, I have no complaints with. Same goes for the music which, even though it took me a bit to warm up to, was perfect for setting the mood of this dark and somber show. Too bad Claris’s opening theme Connect and Kalafina’s ending theme Magia, along with their respective animation sequences, were just passable.

Now this was a good scene, both emotionally affecting and visually stunning.

Greatness, Manufactured

Perhaps it’s a shame that the end is so much more important than the middle or the start, but that’s simply the nature of the beast when it comes to fiction. And Madoka had a start and middle that was about as good as it comes in the world of TV anime. But it could only do so much in the face of the weight of the disappointing final third.

It will rightfully be remembered as the incredible phenomenon it was, and for the absolutely thrilling ride it provided. But, years from now, will it sit at the same table as the rest of the greats? Well, that sort of greatness must come naturally; it can’t be manufactured.

Though the show ended on a low note, it's hard not to feel emotional seeing this, knowing that it's all over. It certainly did many things very well.

Last week on Sora no Woto, we received an introduction to the Roman side through Aisha, a forward scout from the nation.  Hopkins dropped by on his way to war for the day, and Aisha stood in his men’s sights.  This week’s episode determines whether the girls can avert the bad ending.  Do they succeed?  Well, they’re the protagonists, what do you think?

Five girls against this? I'll put my money on the ladies.

Aisha takes the gunshot, but survives.  In response, Filicia takes the Colonel hostage and orders him to send away his troops.  Hopkins reveals that he wants to provoke the Roman into a fight and Filicia has him thrown in the brig, but he manages to escape.  In the meantime, Kanata hears a signal from Rio and decides to try to stall the war.  Filicia and company agree to the plan, and they quickly power up the tank.  They make a rather grand entrance by destroying the building and escape down the mountain.  Hopkins and his unit pursue the girls, but the tank dispatches them with relative ease.  As they travel, we hear the Roman Fire Maiden myth.  They arrive at the front with just moments to spare.  Kanata attempts to stop the Helvetian charge with the signal to cease-fire, but it doesn’t work.  She then launches into Amazing Grace.  Rio and royal tank division show up with a cease-fire order from the Archduke and Emperor, and there is much rejoicing.  For her role in ending the war, Rio is allowed whatever she wants.  She chooses reassignment to the town she calls home with the people she loves the most.  Exeunt.

You know that this image is missing? More lens flare.

Hopkins claims to have a “noble” intention in his pursuit of warfare.  If the nations fight, they will have to develop new technology in quick succession, catapulting humanity back to its former heights.  This idea does have a weird merit to it.  A large amount of the technology we take for granted today has origins in the military.  This includes the Internet that you utilize to read this very post.  It started as Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET), developed by the Department of Defense.  They developed it in direct wake of the USSR’s Sputnik program, and we could continue tracing the cause and effect back even further.  Despite the technological boom that warfare can bring, we know that it’s far from the moral choice.  Hopkins really just wants to watch the world burn.  Noël crushes him like a bug, a fitting takedown for such a pest.

I think he's actually considering killing the townspeople.

Poor Kureha.  You can see that all she really wants to be is a good soldier.  She wants to server her country and act as a good backbone to her comrades.  Unfortunately, she must reconcile her duty with her sense of morality.  It takes a certain kind of person to carry out some duties.  Either you need the capacity for extreme rationalization of your actions, or you need to lack a moral compass.  As a result, some people are not cut out to fight in a war, and if you try to force it on them, they simply break.  In my case, I do want to protect others.  At the same time, I am morally opposed to taking someone’s life, or even participating in warfare.  Kureha is trying to reconcile her morals after the fact.  She doesn’t even want to think about someone torturing Aisha, who is just a young girl like herself.  She doesn’t want to send people down the path of war.  When she realizes that this means she can’t carry out her duty as a soldier, she bursts into tears.  While she might not be the perfect soldier, I think it makes her a better human being, and that counts far more in my book.

You might be broken, but we love you anyway!

I’ve read a lot of complaints about how the ending is entirely unrealistic.  It does push hard against suspension of disbelief.  What you need to keep in mind is that the regular soldiers did not want to fight.  At the start of the series, we had a brief look at the mindset of these soldiers.  They comment that treating the bugler well will ensure you hear the retreat call.  They also point out that few people have volunteered to enlist.  These are not battle-hardened soldiers that live to fight.  They’re normal people who likely found themselves drafted into the military.  They enjoy the truce and are more concerned with the girls at the outpost than their duties.  Even when marching to the lines, they relate that they don’t want to fight.  They probably just want to go back to bed.  Kanata pops out of the tank to play Amazing Grace, and if Aisha is any indication, both sides know the song.  Thus, they take the opportunity to stave off the ensuing fight for just a few fleeting moments.  It’s not this, but rather Rio and her Big Damn Tanks that taxes the scene, but even that lies in the realm of plausibility.

I am princess. Hear me rwar!

Ultimately, the episode felt rushed, and I think it could have played out far better over the span of two episodes.  Your enjoyment will largely depend on the ending you really wanted to see.  If you wanted to see the girls die in the name of peace, perhaps even trampled upon in the rush, then you probably found it lacking.  On the other hand, if you wanted the peaceful resolution that the series spent so much time building around, you probably found it satisfactory.  From a personal standpoint, I could have gone for either ending.  I wish it could have done more, but I still enjoyed the ride.

Kanata and Kureha use Tackle! It's super effective! Goodbye girls, it's been real.

After getting 3 consecutive action-heavy episodes, we get one that is slower paced and more subdued. We learn a bit more about Meiren’s past and the clans that make up the vampire world. The episode also brings to the forefront the impossibility of the relationship between Mina and Akira in this class-based world and clearly sets up the conflict that will be the focus of the last 2 episodes.
The episode starts with Akira having a nightmare that Mina is killed, a silver stake through her heart. The silhouette of someone who appears to be Meiren appears and says, “I’ll kill you!” before he is awakened by Mina who is watching him sleep. Now that things have settled down and the railway in the Bund has started going up, she invites him to hang out that weekend. Unfortuantely, Akira has another appointment and must refuse. It turns out he had promised Meiren that they’d meet.

So the first half shows the main characters enjoying some down time. Mina, Vera, her maids (including Nanami, who became one after last episode), Yuzuru, and Yuki play around in an indoor pool, while Akira takes a long walk with Meiren. This gives us a chance to earn a bit more about the past of Akira, Mina, and Meiren, though we still don’t get anything concrete.

He gets to do this for all eternity.

In the opening scene, according to Mina, the flowers that keep showing up in the flashbacks are apparently cleome. When Meiren and Akira are talking, Meiren mentions the flower and tells him an old story regarding the flower: because the flower looked so much like a butterfly, a butterfly fell in love with it and flew around it constantly, trying to mate with it, until it finally died from exhaustion. She alludes to how Akira’s relationship with Mina is very similar to this story. Meiren also mentions how the cleome is the favorite flower of the person most precious to her, and we are shown a flashback that suggests that she may have been saved by Mina in the past.

Everyone is enjoying their relaxation when they’re interrupted by the visit of the “3 clans.” Mina explains to Yuki how besides her own royal bloodline, there are 3 clans that serve as subordinates to her own, though she calls them simultaneously her “blood relatives, vassals, and old enemies.” They’re named Li, Ivanovic, and Rozenmann.

Mina in her battle uniform.

Mina gets into a very princess-ly dress (which she calls her “battle uniform”) and meets with the heads of each of the houses (these are the same 3 who were talking over video at the end of the previous episode). It’s immediately clear that these 3 don’t have much respect for her authority. They quickly turn the subject to the fact that according to ancient orders, it is their duty to continue the pure vampire bloodline, and the only ones qualified to do that are the 4 present in the meeting, with Mina being the only female. They grew tired of waiting for her to pick one of them, so the 3 came that night with a contest: they each brought over their best assassin, and whichever one kills Akira wins its master the right to marry Mina.

Meanwhile, Akira, who was informed by Yuki that Mina needed him, is ambushed as he tries to re-enter the Bund, by one of the assassins (who looks very similar to Lady from Devil May Cry 3). He runs away, but each of the other 2 assassins comes at him. And because it matters which of them kills him, the assassins fight one another as well, which gives Akira enough of an opening to run away and back towards headquarters.

The 3 assassins, in order of appearance.

Obviously Mina is very upset over this situation, but she can’t fight back, because as the vampire princess, she can’t admit that her romantic interests lie with a wolfman like Akira and that she likely has no plans of choosing any of the 3. The episode closes on a pretty wicked note: an old lady enters with a chair with restraints at the wrists and ankles while saying that she must perform the verification of Mina’s virginity. The last thing we see is Mina voluntarily having her “battle uniform” ripped off her by a couple of guards.

Mina will have her virginity verified in this. Yeah...

So, one thing that’s clear is that I was mistaken in the last episode; I had assumed that the man with the eye patch was using the royal “we” when he called Mina “our” fiance, but he was actually talking about all 3 of them. The turn of events regarding them should make for a nice way to close out the show. The issue raised by the difference between Mina’s and Akira’s statuses in society had been in the back burner for most of the show, but they’re dealing with it head-on now. One way or another, it’s going to be resolved before it’s over, and I’m excited to find out how.

I’m not sure where Meiren sits in all this, but I’m glad we got to learn more of her past. The nightmare at the beginning seemed to suggest that she might be someone against Mina, but her flashback and the way she talked with Akira suggests that she’s on their side. I wish Akira had been more inquisitive in their conversation. I wonder if, like some other characters in this show, Meiren has responsibilities that go against her personal wishes: i.e. that she wants to help Mina, but whoever she’s working for has its own separate agenda.

The amount of action was minimal, and the quality of what was there was okay . Knowing what Shaft did in the last few episodes, I’m greatly looking forward to seeing the action unfold in the next 2. I think they’re setting up for a series of one-on-one showdowns, as it was just the 3rd assassin who was shown ominously watching over Akira at the end of this one. I’m sure Meiren will get involved as well. Each of the assassins fights a little differently, with the first one using what appear to be wind-based projectiles, the second one using a naginata and claws, and the third one just fighting without weapons. A lot of potential for good eye candy there.

I’m finding myself enjoying the creepiness factor that this show just keeps up. It was bad enough that we have 3 fully grown men discussing mating with a loli while alone in a darkened room, but the show took it over the top with the bit with the chair and the virginity at the end. Instead of letting it be just a shock factor, the show exploits Mina’s perceived age to create a real feeling of discomfort and unease that add to its already high tension scenes.

Last week on Sora no Woto, we had time to reflect on Rio’s past by looking at it through the lens of an old woman’s story.  As a result, Rio left our merry band of girls to go fulfill her duty for her country.  This week, the rest of the story comes to a head with the discovery of a young Roman scout.  The drums of war continue to march.

No, I don't think a raspberry is going to save you this time.

The episode starts with Kanata and Kureha on a patrol assignment, where they come across an injured soldier.  There’s just one catch: she’s Roman.  They bring her back to base, and Noël insists on taking care of the girl.  Filicia decides to put off turning her over until they can try to interrogate her.  Both Kanata and Noël try to befriend the soldier, named Aisha, despite the culture and language barriers.  When Kanata gives her Rio’s trumpet, she plays Amazing Grace.  Kanata’s joy abounds because this means they have a cultural connection.  Naomi and Yumina come to the fortress, the latter acting as a translator.  Aisha has come here to see the fallen angel, which contrasts sharply with the belief that the first episode’s corpse is a demon.  Unfortunately, Colonel Hopkins and his troops are approaching the base.  Filicia vows to protect Aisha, sending her to the school with Noël.  Noël’s fears get the best of her, and she flees with Aisha closely following.  Kanata receive a phone call stating that Roman forces are closing in on the garrison, and a shot rings out as Aisha finds herself trapped by two sets of guards.

It takes great insight to recognize repentance.

In this episode, we can clearly see the characters’ differences in personality by the way they react to this new addition.  Kanata’s optimism allows her to see Aisha as just another human being and she reaches out to her in friendship.  Kureha’s past and military training cause her to insist they turn over the soldier. Noël knows the result of her handiwork and seeks atonement and forgiveness for her crimes.  Yumina’s natural curiosity makes her embrace Aisha’s Roman heritage as an opportunity to learn more about the world and its beliefs.  Filicia wants to see peace between the two forces after seeing war firsthand, and offers the soldier sanctuary.  Finally, Colonel Hopkins sees her as nothing more than a disposable tool for intelligence in his battle against the Roman army.  With these clashing and complementary personalities, I wonder what kind of resolution each character will get.  Personally, I want to see Hopkins get a nice punch in the face for the trouble he has caused.

Is it just me, or does it feel smug in here?

On that note, we finally get a look into Noël’s past and why she acts as she does today.  The military discovered her through her aptitude for lost technology.  Her efforts engineered the Silent Death bioweapon, which the military then used as a countermeasure to the Roman invasion.  After the massacre, she ventured into the battlefield and saw the mass of dead and dying people.  It’s easy to see why she can’t trust people.  Her research and development lead to the deaths of thousands, but it doesn’t stop there.  You might remember that Yumina said the Silent Death killed Mishio’s mother.  A bioweapon cannot readily discriminate between friend and foe.  Anyone caught in the blast zone or standing in the path of the fallout will suffer.  Noël has to live with the knowledge that she killed her own people.  Perhaps here lies another reason for her obsession with the tank.  While a tank is also a weapon of warfare, a person has to control it and that person can discriminate.  A human has to deal with their conscience and have conviction to pull the trigger.  The tank looks complete.  Whoever takes the helm might decide the difference between salvation and damnation.

Nice tank. Good tank. You get a treat!

Helvetian and Roman forces are set to collide and our heroes can do little at to stop it.  I feel confident saying the tank will play the deciding role.  Really, the question now is how the writers will see fit to end the series.  A happy ending where the girls somehow hold off the fighting until Rio saves the day sounds obvious.  On the other hand, the tragic undertones of this series might point to sacrificing one or all of them to forge a new peace.  Either one I would find satisfying, and I look forward to the fast approaching conclusion.

Am I the only one that immediately thought Star Wars here?

Last week on Sora no Woto, a rainstorm assaulted the town of Seize, and the town mobilized to save the day.  We also learned about Courier Klaus’ backstory, and he finally became a hero.  This week, we meet the old woman Jacquotte, and through her explore Rio’s life.  This wraps up a lot of points rather than providing much fodder for speculation, so let’s get underway.

A lot can change in just six months.

The episode starts with Rio burning a letter, presumably the one she received from her father.  At the same time, Noël and the girls have almost finished the tank.  Kanata wants to look into Iliya’s past, but Filicia’s records are “missing.”  Kureha fills her in on the details instead.  Yumina shows up and asks for help finding Jacquotte, and Kanata drags Rio off with her.  The two find the woman building a house for her long-lost son, and decide to help her with chores around the house.  While Rio chops firewood, Filicia remarks that the Roman army has redeployed troops.  Kanata and Rio leave to gather supplies, and Rio talks about how she first came to the town.  Then they retire to the old woman’s house, and she relates her past to them.  Afterwards, she goes out to die, quite literally.  Rio plays Amazing Grace again, and then entrusts her trumpet to Kanata.  Under her tutelage, Kanata has become a fine trumpet player, as well as a fine young woman.  Content with her work, Rio has finally decided to leave and carry out her task to protect the family she loves.

Kanata has been the eternal optimist, to Rio's pessimist.

This episode finally puts Rio’s whole story into perspective.  She is the illegitimate son of the Archduke.  Her father never came around to see them, and he resents him for that.  However, Iliya did visit, and Rio loved her elder sister.  Iliya allowed herself to become engaged to the emperor of Rome to end the hostilities.  Unfortunately, a tragedy cut the Princess’ life drastically short.  While on a morale building tour, she tried to save a drowning child.  She lost her life instead.  The war dragged on for yet another year until the two armies struck a truce.  Of course, Rio never got over it.  She still hated children because of the one who took her sister away from her.  She fled to the town of Seize, which she symbolically views as a dead-end for her life.  In the process, though, she met Kanata, which allowed her to slowly grow as a person to become more like her sister.  With the help of Jacquotte, she finally finds some means of closure.

Rather, until we meet again.

Jacquotte fell in love with a wealthy man, and became pregnant with his child.  However, this man had a family and a wife who could not bear children.  He took her son and left for his home, promising to return one day.  The story curiously reflects Rio’s own, so she asks how the woman can deal with her grief.  Rather than allowing the past to drag her down, she always looked forward with hope.  She remembered the good times she had before the man left her, and focused on his promise to return one day.  As a result, she has lived a long and largely satisfying life.  The point of this story boils down to how you should view loss.  You’re always going to suffer loss, whether by your own power or because of unforeseen occurrence.  You can’t undo it, so simply dwelling on it is not going to help anyone.  To get through life, you have to focus on the good in your past, live your life in the present, and always aim for the future.  Life is short, so live the best life you can.  This realization finally snaps Rio out of her depression.

In many ways, contentment is the most we could ever ask.

At first glance, this episode wraps everything up into a nice package, and to an extent, you would be correct.  However, a few plotlines still exist for the final episodes.  First, Noël has almost finished rebuilding the tank.  Since they already put it to use to save Klaus and Kureha, I doubt they would spotlight it again unless it will see another use.  I think the second DVD bonus episode will focus on how they got the parts.  Second, they still haven’t resolved the fire maiden plotline that started in the first episode.  The story shunted the legend off to the side for quite a while, but in this episode, they bring it back into focus.  However, this has served its purpose by reflecting Rio’s character, so we can safely live without a blatant resolution.  Finally, we know Roma fought Helvetia and that they’re mobilizing the army again, but that nation remains an enigma.  We don’t know their motivations in all this, mostly because we have never met anyone from there.  The next episode will introduce a wounded soldier from Roma and address that issue.  I’m looking forward to it.

You'd best not get yourself killed any time soon!

Last week on Sora no Woto, Kanata stared at a telephone for 18 minutes, though the call at the end ended up being somewhat important.  This week kicks the drama back into gear with a life-threatening typhoon, as well as spotlighting themes of both depression and hope.

But first, Kanata has to do the laundry... again.

The episode starts in the garden, and while the girls work, Rio starts playing a jazzy blues piece on her trumpet.  Along with this, Kanata notices that Rio is becoming detached and depressed, though Kureha waves off her concern.  Klaus knocks on the door in the middle of a typhoon, and he bears a high priority message for Rio.  He stays the night, but soon after Yumina comes seeking aid.  Seiya has gone missing.  The troops mobilize, with Klaus and Kureha finding Mishio, and then Seiya.  They successfully get him to safety, but a rock slide destroys their path.  While they await rescue, Kureha notices the Major lacks the tattoo that “Miracle Klaus” should have.  With the townspeople’s aid, Noël mobilizes the tank to fire an anchor.  Klaus protects Kureha and returns her safely.

Tis just a flesh wound!

First, it’s time to focus a little more on Rio.  The blues represent sorrow and sadness, true to their name, and Rio certainly acts the part.  She’s not picky with her food like usual, and Filicia notes that she’s been forgetting things recently.  The two senior officers share some level of confidence since Filicia vows to continue covering her mistakes.  Additionally, we see that Iliya signed the letters Rio has read throughout the series.  She likely continues to read them to keep some link to the dead princess alive, so she probably hasn’t reached closure.  Indeed, when she sees the rapids the typhoon has created, she immediately flashes back to Iliya’s casket.  The phone call from her father and the message she receives only exacerbates the problem.  Right before she opens the message, the emergency calls her away.  All of this stress finally causes her to snap about how she hates children, especially disobedient ones.  Filicia calms her down, but that leaves us with a question.  Did Iliya die trying to save a child?

She plays with passion, but looks so detached...

Despite the depressing mood Rio exerts, we also see the other side of the coin.  Hope still exists, and  nature repairs itself.  Klaus takes a moment to look at the growing wheat fields on his way to the base, and the orphans admire their small garden of eggplants.  We also see Noël’s experience in the garden with a pill bug.  With the level of surprise she displays, you have to wonder if this is first time she’s ever seen a pill bug, and perhaps it represents life returning to the area.  Seiya even wants to risk his life to save the eggplants he planted.  While that’s clearly stupid in the grand scheme of things, on a basic level, these plants represent life that he and his friends have nourished and sustained.  They serve as stark contrast to the barren wastes of No Man’s Land.

These pill bugs are the best things since sliced bread!

Even more significant, though, is the tank itself.  The tank largely represents war, and we saw clearly the devastation they can cause in Filicia’s flashback.  Recall way back in episode 4 that Noël feared the use of her machines to kill people.  Kanata reassures her by saying she’s sure people used the tank to help people.  You can say what you will about her ditziness at times, but Kanata hides a great deal of perception.  That perception pays off when Noël uses the tank to save the two soldiers.  The show’s message between the two episodes is clear: the tool is not the problem, rather, it is the person who wields it.  Even though people generally build tanks for warfare, with a little thought a person can use it for a peaceful purpose.  I imagine the experience put Noel’s mind a little at ease.

Fire that cannon! Save those lives! Live the dream!

I would love to talk for a bit about Klaus and Kureha, but this post is already becoming quite long.  Perhaps I’ll revisit them later.  The next episode’s title is Departure – When the First Snow Falls.  We know the nations have had little luck with the peace talks, so it’s probable that war will break out again, sweeping up our cast.  It also implies that winter is fast approaching.  If history has taught us anything, winter warfare always causes unnecessary expenses in resources, as well as human lives.

The war machines march steadily on...

Last week on Sora no Woto, we stared down the cold, hard pain of war through Filicia’s eyes.  This week attempts to cure the mood whiplash by going back to a lighthearted, episodic entry.  However, this isn’t to say that nothing happens at all, and there’s a bit of information to gleam from it.

This though... not so important.

The episode starts with Kanata sitting in a cute dress, in front of the phone, needing to go to the bathroom.  The show then jumps back to show you how this happened.  The military intends to test the phone line, and since Kanata is eager to please, she volunteers to sit with the phone all day.  Noël and Filicia leave to deliver some papers.  Naomi comes bearing cider and to tell Rio that the townspeople wish to see her, so she leaves.  Since Noël can’t be found, this leaves Kanata all alone.  The priest shows up with Mishio and Seiya, and shenanigans ensue, resulting in Yumina coming to punish them all and replacing the soldier’s soiled clothing with a dress.  Finally, we reach the point the episode started at, Rio comes to relieve her quite literally, and she ends up answering the phone.  Oh, and Kanata doesn’t make it.

I don't know whether that's awesome or creepy.

If this all sounds like filler material to you, you’re right, but you can still gleam a few things from this episode.  First, Naomi mentions that the townspeople worry about the peace talks.  Rio says that they always go far too slowly, and she’s absolutely correct.  For example, take the Korean War, where talks started in July of 1951 and didn’t conclude until two years later in July of ’53, with the war raging throughout.  What perhaps makes Sora no Woto’s talks more striking is that we know the seas are dead, and the world is dying.  Yet, instead of trying to find a solution, the nations squabble over territory and money.  I suppose greed never dies.

The war that never ends, yes it goes on and on my friends.

The second point pertains to Rio.  Remember last episode that the priest recognized her from somewhere.  This week, Rio gives Kanata a trumpet book, and on the cover it says that it belonged to Iliya Arkadia.  If you recall, Filicia addressed her savior by that name.  The priest sees the signature, and assumes that the book must have belonged to Rio.  Kanata’s answer confirms his suspicions.  There’s been theorizing that Rio and Iliya might be related (see chart), and the priest definitely knows something we don’t, but we need a third bit of information.

Of course, that led to this, so what do I know?

At the end of the episode, Rio answers the phone, and recognizes the gruff and aged voice that responds.  The man knew she was stationed here, and used the phone test as excuse to contact her.  Rio doesn’t trust him over some event that happened in the past.  Yet, she humors him, and he asks her to save Helvetia.  Consider that we know Rio has a relationship with Princess Iliya and that of all the people in the world, she apparently has to save the country.  I submit that the theorizing is accurate, that they are sisters, and that this man is Rio’s father.  I suppose we’ll have to wait to see if it holds water.

This phone will self-destruct in 5 seconds...

One more aspect is a possible plot hole.  When Naomi comes, Kanata reveals that she knows they’re producing and selling alcohol.  When questioned how she found out, she simply states that if she has the time, she’ll talk about it.  Part of me wants to say the writers somehow wrote themselves into a corner and just had to plot hole it, because the thought amuses me.  In reality, I have a feeling this has to do with one of the extra insert episodes from the DVD release.

Or you can buy my DVD for the low, low price of ¥4000!

I realize some people might be disappointed with this episode, but I think it’s something we needed.  Last week went down the incredibly dark and depressing path with Filicia’s flashbacks, and this lightens up the mood a little bit.  Fortunately, you can see that the story isn’t completely suspended, and it still manages to dish out some morsels to build up for the next episode.  On that note, the next episode appears to involve typhoons and reflection.  I suggest you bring your thinking caps and an industrial strength umbrella.

When it rains, it pours.

Last week on Sora no Woto, we saw how the girls have turned to the black market to survive, due to lack of help from the army.  We also saw how the ties of family aren’t necessarily bound in blood.  This week, the time for another festival has come, but this somber occasion is far from the joyous affair that characterized the series’ first episode.  There’s a lot to cover, so let’s get started.

From fear through the eyes of madness…

First, you can see how the cultures have mixed in the aftermath of the war.  The town is celebrating Obon, a Buddhist festival that honors the souls of the deceased.  However, the townsfolk refer to it as Fiesta de Lumieres, a Spanish rendition of a festival from France.  All three cultures have come together to form an entirely new one.  Even the church has accepted the tradition, contrary to what the central diocese would wish.  Sometimes, it’s more important to come together as a people than to preserve your own ideology.

Thank you Encyclopedia Noël!

This festival for the dead sets a framework for a flashback episode that focuses on Filicia.  Her cheerful exterior masks a world of tremendous inner pain.  She fought in the last war as part of an armored tank division.  She provided covering fire as their bugler called for help, but an enemy tank blindsided them.  The blast knocked Filicia free, who watched in horror as her comrades crawled out of the tank, on fire, before it exploded and killed them.  The bugler fell a few meters away, crushed by wreckage.  This alone would destroy most people, but Filicia still suffered more.

Madness... madness...

She fell to the ground within a tank’s sights.  The blast dropped her into an underground passage, where she stumbled upon a long dead soldier.  Whether a trick of Filicia’s damaged mind or a true supernatural occurrence, the soldier talked about the past.  We see a rather large city, perhaps No Man’s Land, devastated by a massive explosion.  They lost the war.  A horn suddenly starts playing the ever-familiar Amazing Grace, and the same woman from Kanata and Rio’s pasts appears.  It can’t be a coincidence that she appeared before all three of them.  You must wonder if and how this woman influenced Kureha and Noël as well, especially since Filicia refers to her as a princess.

Why fight to defend a world sinking into madness?

This all calls into question why Filicia has stayed in the army.  In fact, her former comrade, the dead soldier, and even Rio all question her.  If the world is going to hell, why fight?  Look at Filicia.  She passes out when she accidentally cuts herself, so it’s likely she developed hemophobia from the experience.  She could have easily buried herself in a mountain of guilt, fear, and despair.  Her answer is eloquent and powerful:

There can’t possibly be any meaning in this world.  But isn’t that wonderful in its own right?  Because if there isn’t any, we can find our own.  And I found mine.  My meaning in being alive.  I don’t want them to suffer the way I did.

Filicia pulled herself out of the darkness and used it to bring light to her little part of the world.  She looks after the girls under her command as if they were her own children, not only guiding them through life but also trying to protect them from the horrors of war.  As they embrace her, you can tell that Filicia has a profound influence on their lives.

Filicia plays mother yet again.

Yet, in this episode, we also get a glimpse of the other side of the coin.  In between flashbacks, the girls talk about trying to comfort Filicia.  Noël leaves the room, simply stating that she was there at the battle.  She offers no real explanation here, but it colors her comments in episode 4, where she talked about her fear of humans using machines to hurt others.  It’s clear now that this isn’t just a concept to her.  Noël has first hand experience in the devastation machines can cause.  In the same episode, she also said that she trusts machines because they can’t betray you.  I’m curious not only of her experience in the battle, but also of which side she fought.  I hope that the show will explore that soon.

Really, what happened to you?

Last week on Sora no Woto, we had a look into the areas surrounding the town of Seize.  The lush plains made a stark contrast with the destructive landscape of No Man’s Land.  This week pleasantly surprised me in its plot devices and development, and I would say that thus far it is the best episode.

Cute as a flippin' button.

The episode starts with a very sudden payday for Kanata, who ventures to town to buy souvenirs.  The rest of the girls have some breathing room to get to work.  The secret’s out folks, this fort has an alcohol distillery.  This is not standard operating procedure and they would face a court-martial if discovered.  However, the military’s sporadic and late shipments mean that the girls need money for supplies.  The benefits outweigh the threat to their lives.  Klaus, the officer from the previous episode, is probably in on the operation.  Filicia wants to prevent Kanata from becoming involved in their activities.

With that much liquor, you must "forget" daily...

Of course, the black market attracts unsavory types, and the mafia is trying to get a foothold in the town.  We fast-forward to a liquor deal.  The men don’t appreciate the terms of the deal, and threaten to kill our heroes.  Rio comes in to save the day, and the girls fill them with bullets.  But wait, that isn’t the mafia!  They were putting on a show to scare off the criminals.  A rockslide concludes the spectacle by destroying the mafia’s car.  Naomi takes a box filled with goods from the car.  However, no one there had planned that little addition, which means we have a plot hole to investigate.

No problem, I enjoy getting shot by rubber bullets!

After the break, the perspective shifts to the church, where Yumina is dressing the children for the day.  Mishio, the orphan from the first episode, runs off when the church girl attempts to fix her hair.  The show now observes the day’s events from Kanata’s perspective.    She went to the glass shop, and her presence caused Naomi to notice the mafia.  She also inadvertently came up with the plan to run those men out of town.  Kanata stumbles upon Mishio at the flea market.  She causes the orphan to flee, and after talking to Yumina, heads off after her.

Yeah... I just made her run away crying. Is that bad?

Mishio walks along a roof, when suddenly we hear gunshots and she stumbles.  The gutter she grabs breaks, causing a rock slide, but Kanata grabs her at the last-minute.  The two go down to assess the damage, when the orphan notices the box she has searched for among Naomi’s goods.  Mishio returns to have a tearful reunion with Yumina, who she has now accepted as her big sister.  The priest there briefly tells Kanata about the little one’s tragic past.  Her father died in the war and her mother succumbed to a mysterious illness.  We have a short scene where Kanata and Rio discuss fate, and then cut to the credits.

Reunited and it feels so good.

Episode 06 is a master class example of the cause and effect chain, but it doesn’t stop there.  It further illustrates how two independent forces act on each other without ever realizing it.  If the garrison or Kanata didn’t coexist, the chain of events would break.  For example, if Kanata hadn’t appeared at the glass shop, no one may have noticed the mafia members.  Dividing the episode into two sides further drove the point home.  With only Filicia’s side of the story, you end up with plot holes.  Where did they get the idea for the mock fight, and how did those rocks fall?  Adding Kanata’s side allows you to see the entire picture, and you get that “Aha!” moment when all the pieces fall into place.  Beyond all that, we got a further look into the workings of the town and the military’s influence of development.  Additionally, I appreciated how the studio tied the events into revealing a little bit more about Rio and Mishio.  I loved the concepts this episode brought to the table, and at the end of the series, I might even hold this up as my favorite episode.  The next episode involves the river.  Perhaps this will lead to another glimpse of that mysterious carcass from the first episode.

If only you knew, Kanata...

Editor’s note: This episode canonized the spellings Filicia and Noël.  Previous posts will reflect the change.

Last week on Sora no Woto, we got acquainted with Noël a bit better.  In addition, the town and it’s people received a bit of expansion.  We saw that not everyone is happy that the military is in town, and that war has affected the community greatly.  Today our trio of younglings gets sent on a “field trip” to visit the security outposts erected many years ago.

Magenta Alert! Simulated target approaching!

The episode starts with a training exercise in the tank.  Klaus, the man from the first episode, shows up with mail and new orders.  The two senior officers are definitely keeping something from the children.  Kureha seems to really like Klaus, whether it’s a crush on him or simply admiration remains to be seen.  Filicia sets up a field trip for the three girls, which really feels like a training exercise in disguise.

Do we do that before or after collapsing?

While exploring the area, they need to check up on three surveillance outposts.  They can’t fix them, but it’s still good to know if they’re in working condition.  When Kanata touches the first one, some symbols pop out of it; this really is some advanced technology.  They find a small stream to take a break at and have a little fun, but unfortunately, when they return to their packs they’ve been ravaged and the compass has gone missing.

Nay, clearly a wizard did it!

The girls must rely on their own sense of direction to find the remaining two outposts.  They work well together as a team but their personalities do grate on each other a bit.  In the end, they reach their destination and finally see Nomansland.  It’s as wonderful a place as the name implies.  Every girl stationed at the outpost has made this trip and seen the true outcome of war.  We exit the episode with a short scene as the girls relax from a trying day.

Obligatory hot springs scene, check.

The next episode’s title hints that it will continue to expand the town.  I really wanted to learn more about the town’s legend, however, the keeping the war in mind is equally important.  If you had any doubt this series intended to preach an anti-war message, rid yourself of it now.  Nomansland, even from brief shots, is a terrible place ravaged by war and a stark contrast to the field surrounding it.  The skeletons of buildings and armaments remain, strewn about an artificially created desert plain.  What makes it even more chilling is that we’ve done this ourselves in the real world on countless occasions, most prevalent when unleashing Agent Orange during Vietnam.  I’m glad that this series is real about the cost of war and avoids romanticizing the military.  I have to wonder about when these girls will have to make the choice to fight for themselves.

This is the seed war sows. Never forget.

Last week on Sora no Woto, Kanata fell ill with malaria, resulting in an experience that strengthened the relationship she has with Rio.  We were introduced to the church, which Rio distrusts.  The episode also confirmed that the mentor for the two girls was the same person.  This week, the anime focuses a bit on fleshing out Noël, who has been in desperate need of the treatment since the start.

Noel is adorable in that tank.

The episode starts with Noël once again failing to boot up the sniping system on the tank.  Filicia sends her and Kanata into town for supplies and a new lens.  On the way, Noël displays an incredible level of knowledge about the town.  The glass shop is their first stop, and Kanata once again affirms her perfect pitch ability by identifying the tone the glass makes.  This will prove important in a few minutes.

It's like she's never seen a dolphin before. Oh... wait...

We get a short montage of supply collection around the town, and finally the two girls are loading the last of the crates into their jeep.  Suddenly, a young boy runs into Noël, followed by Yumina.  The boy yells at them before running off, and Yumina explains he lost his parents in the war.  This drives home that the military isn’t all fun and games, and not all the townspeople may appreciate the outpost.

But... you're also human.

Finally, we get to the glass maker, Carl, who makes the lenses that Noël has tested in the tank.  The lenses use a material combination that he finds difficult to reproduce.  While he works, Noël talks about her misgivings about the military.  After she passes out, Kanata talks to Carl and has an epiphany of how to play the trumpet.  Her playing wakes Noël up, who remembers her perfect pitch ability.  She can use it to compare the new lenses to the original by the sound they make.

It's gonna do a backflip. Just you wait and see!

I think this episode was exactly what we needed out of the series.  It expanded the town a little more, and gave Noël’s character a good shot in the arm.  It seems she doesn’t like being around people in general, and I’m curious what made her that way.  In addition, I think it’s good that Kanata can move on a bit after learning how to play better.  The next episode title implies an exploration mission, which I think will reveal a little more of the town’s legend.

Mission Accomplished.