Gakuen Alice ep.15

February 19, 2005 | 17 Comments

This episode is an awesome conclusion to the Reo arc. It's good to see this one turned out to be as dark and tense as I thought it should be. Credit also goes to the writers for being able to insert one or two additional comedy scenes into what otherwise would have been a rather dark episode. While some of the comedy scenes feel slightly inappropriate, their inclusions are generally well thought of. In addition to this, the episode also presents some interesting background information that I hope will be developed in the remaining episodes. It's unfortunate that this is only a 26 episode series because I can really see the storyline going into a second season if they have the budget to produce it.

Anyway, the episode itself begins with Hotaru taking Yoichi to the school festival. Unfortunately, it seems that both of them are too anxious about their missing friends to be able to enjoy the festivities. Meanwhile inside the warehouse, Mikan tries to use her teeth to release the rope that binds Sumire's hands but when she fails to achieve a significant result, she realises the futility of her attempt. The girls, however, are relieved when they find out that Natsume finally regains his consciousness. Because of this, the two quickly inform him that they are being held inside a warehouse and it seems that there is a barrier that prevents them from using their Alice.

After thinking about the situation for a while, Natsume notices the Panda-styled muffler that Mikan wears and decides to inquire its function from the owner. This reminds Mikan that she can actually use the muffler to communicate with Hotaru. Meanwhile at the school, the teachers are in the middle of discussing Reo's betrayal when all of a sudden Hotaru's muffler indicates an incoming call from Mikan. Thanks to the device, the school can now communicate with the kidnapped students. Narumi-sensei informs Mikan that normally, Natsume's power can penetrate the barrier and burn the rope. But since his body is kind of weak right now, this maybe impossible for him to do.

Upon hearing this, Natsume burns his own rope even though the effort seems to cause him a lot of pain. While Natsume unties Mikan, Jinno-sensei talks on the mike and informs Mikan that they must try their best to conceal their Alice ability from their kidnapper. In addition to this, Narumi-sensei also tells Mikan to not hear Reo's voice. However, before Narumi can complete his sentence, Reo appears and snatches the muffler away from Mikan. He begins to taunt Narumi and mention how he never thought that a man who used to be on the side of anti-Alice Academy has now become the 'dog' of the school. Reo then ends the conversation by destroying the muffler.

Reo tells the students that they may know about his voice pheromone but what they don't know is that he uses the earring on his left ear to control his power. As he says this, he begins to use his voice to force Sumire to reveal her Alice. Thankfully before Sumire tells Reo about it, Mikan manages to cover her mouth. Unhappy with his failure, Reo changes his target to Natsume. He begins to taunt Natsume and tells him that Natsume is similar to Reo's group in the sense that they both hate the school. Mikan, however, once again jumps to Natsume's defense and cancels Reo's Alice in the process. This makes the kidnappers wonder as to why Reo's Alice has no effect on her.

Suddenly it dawns on Reo that Mikan possesses cancellation Alice. Mikan, who realises that Reo has find out about her Alice tries to play it dumb. But Reo grabs Mikan's face and tells himself that her face reminds him of 'that person'. He immediately tells his henchmen to investigate the data that they have about 'that person' 10 years ago. Reo believes that apart from the 'Black Cat', this maybe the biggest capture attempt they've managed to do thus far. While the kidnappers are busy investigating their data, Natsume asks Sumire to use her Alice to investigate her surrounding. In return, she tells Natsume that she can smell a lot of gunpowder in the warehouse.

When he finds out about this, Natsume tells Mikan and Sumire to run towards a lightly guarded door once he gives a signal. He wants them to continue running towards the school and to tell the teachers the location of the warehouse. Natsume then orders Mikan and Sumire to run away while threatens the kidnappers that he'll use his Alice to blow up the dynamite in the warehouse if they move. After the girls escape out of the warehouse, however, Mikan worries about Natsume's situation. Because of this, she tells Sumire to continue without her and returns hastily to the warehouse. Sumire, who continues her journey to reach the school, however, ends up getting captured by Reo's henchman.

Meanwhile, Natsume remembers how Persona once told him that in case he is captured by an enemy and all ways of escaping are severed, he has to sacrifice his own life. It seems that Persona once threatened Natsume that if he ever becomes the enemy of the school, something will happen to his important people. Back to the present, Reo informs Natsume how all of his efforts to help the girls are for naught because sooner or later, the girls will get caught by his henchmen. Natsume becomes angry upon hearing this and tells Reo that this doesn't have to be a useless effort because he will now turn the warehouse into a sea of fire and kill all of them.

Thankfully before Natsume can proceed with his kamikaze plan, Mikan arrives in time to stop him. However, the distraction provides Reo an opportunity to use his Alice in full capacity to render Natsume powerless. Natsume is a bit angry with this development and asks Mikan why she returns. Mikan simply tells him that she's worried about him because after all, he's her partner. Meanwhile, Reo orders his henchmen to secure Mikan and Natsume but he quickly realises that his Alice has turned his subordinate powerless as well. Mikan, who understands the situation, quickly takes an initiative. She throws sand into Reo's face then takes Natsume to escape with her.

Because Natsume is still weak, however, the two have no choice but to go into a temporary hiding place. Meanwhile, Sumire manages to run away from her captor but then runs into a dead end alley, allowing her captor to corner her. Thankfully, Tsubasa and Misaki then appear to help her. Back to Mikan, Natsume tells her to go and save herself but she refuses on the grounds that everyone, from Ruka to Sumire, expects Natsume to returns safely as well. So she doesn't want either of them to give up now. Unfortunately their location has now been detected by Reo's henchmen. As usual, however, Mikan refuses to give up and puts up a brave fight before neutered by the henchmen.

Thankfully for Mikan, Tsubasa and Misaki arrive on the scene in time to save her. Reo, however, manages to escape and one of his henchmen succeeds in capturing Natsume. Mikan, who tries to stop the henchman ends up getting knocked back to a wall. When he sees this, Natsume becomes angry and releases giga flare that causes huge explosion throughout the warehouse. When Mikan regains her consciousness, she wakes up in a hospital bed surrounded by her friends. Ruka then thanks her and Sumire for saving Natsume. Apparently Natsume needs a lot of quiet rest but otherwise he'll be okay. Narumi-sensei then gives Mikan a surprise: because of her bravery, Jinno sensei decides to give her a single star.

Impression:

There was a discussion on last week's episode summary about the fate of Natsume's sister. Is she still alive or is she already dead? I always get the impression that she actually is still alive and being used by Persona as a bargaining chip to control Natsume. I don't see Natsume as the sort of person who wields to other so easily unless there is something at stake. This episode doesn't exactly confirm that but I think the possibility is there. While it is very likely that the 'important people' Persona mentioned are actually Ruka and Natsume's other friends, I think it makes more sense if one of those 'people' is his sister. Well, with 11 more episodes to go, I wonder if the writers can squeeze in this plot as well as Mikan's background, especially her similarity to 'that person'.

Posted by Garten

Comments

February 20, 2005 | Nanami Kamimura wrote:

Regardless of what English you used in the summary, most of your grammar in your summary is still wrong. If I'm an editor checking this, it would've been marred by errors in grammar and I have to correct them.

But nevertheless, I'm glad you said anything positive about Gakuen Alice (because it's a Saturday morning cartoon that you initially criticized). I watch it raw (directly on my cable TV), but I don't understand some of the dialogue, so thank you for doing summaries for the rest of us.

February 20, 2005 | yuri wrote:

i like this episode because they show that natsume really is powerful and mikan relates to that person which i think is her mom

February 20, 2005 | Kat wrote:

Since I'm not anal enough to nit-pick over trivial grammatical errors, I was able to enjoy another one of your great summaries. I loved Sumire in this episode, she proved that she was more than just a snotty brat (Her character reminds me of Haruka from Mai Hime :o). The only thing I didn't like about this episode was the fact that Tsubasa and Misaki came to the rescue. I love both of them, but wouldn't it make more sense to send the schools security force (I assume they have one to keep students from escaping) or the teachers? Then again, maybe once you reach a certain grade or level you start training in the real world and this was just part of it. Anyway, I saw the previews for the next episode and I can't wait for it to come out. It was such a cute chapter in the manga.

By the way, does anybody know where I can find a list of all the episode titles? I was hoping they would make it through volume 6 but I'm beginning to doubt it.

February 20, 2005 | sukyee wrote:

I love gakuen alice, but nashio fan subs takes their time in releasing the episodes, im happy with knowing that 15 episodes of gakuen alice is out! but not happy because I have only seen 5 in like 5 months.... Although I know there are raws, I know I wouldnt enjoy watching them, and it would spoil it for me. I wanted to buy the mangas, but unfortunately they are also in japanese... and theres none in ENGLAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS COUNTRY SUCKS!!! EVERYTHING IS RELEASED SO LATE OVER HERE!! I HATE WHERE I LIVE...

If there is english gakuen alice manga translated anywhere... please email me! and tell me! If there is a site that sells gakuen alice (english) in the UK.... please tell me!!!!

Thanks...
='(

February 20, 2005 | NoName wrote:

"Regardless of what English you used in the summary, most of your grammar in your summary is still wrong. If I'm an editor checking this, it would've been marred by errors in grammar and I have to correct them."

Check your own grammar, bub. ^^

Sukyee - I don't think Gakuen Alice manga has been licensed.. but if it has been, none of it has been translated into english to be sold. ShoujoMagic is slowly translating the manga for scanlations.

February 20, 2005 | Tensai11 wrote:

If you think Garten's summaries have a lot of grammatical errors, I would recommend you to stay away from my blog. My grammatical errors might cause your heart to stop beating =)

February 20, 2005 | Tsukinoko ^.~* wrote:

I read this blog weekly (because I just LOVE GakuAri so much =^.^= ) and I see the grammar errors, too. But is it really that big of a deal? As long as Garten checks over official reports he's giving his boss (if he even does that kind of thing, lol) then it's all good, is it not? I, personally, am totally pedantic when it comes to grammar - of MYSELF (and others around me if they're talking, etc.). Yet, who cares? I'm just like that.
Reading my friends English assignments can be torture at times, but she just hits me (hard) if I point them out - so I'm learning. Slowly, but surely...

Keep up the good work Garten! Until I can see GakuAri myself, that is, lol. (Ack! Of course, keep up the good work after then too! I made that sound odd O.o;; )

Tsukinoko ^.~*

P.S. The DVDs are ripoffs! Two episodes per disc - each disc circa. AU$60!!!
Stuff that - I'm going to wait till something better comes up...

P.P.S. I had a few issues with Tsubasa-senpai and Misaki-senpai showing up, too, but maybe that just adds for flavour (a.k.a. 'Selling Points').

February 20, 2005 | Isabel wrote:

Great summary. This ep definately did not disappoint. However in general, I wanna know more about Persona... I am getting itchy having to wait. Right now he's just this creepy person that keeps waltzing in with his freaky mask and threatening folks.. well mostly Natsume. But I wanna know more... *snifs*

February 20, 2005 | Garten wrote:

Nanami, maybe I'm wrong about this but I don't think I ever said that Gakuen Alice is similar to saturday morning cartoon. In fact, I don't think I have ever said anything like that about any shows that I write because I hate it when someone else says it. I remember saying that I didn't like the opening at first because it appears a bit childish. I'm sorry if that offends you but I'm not about to back down from saying what I think about a series just because I might offend someone.

As for grammatical errors, I am very aware of it. Yeah, I know it's lousy of me not to fix it but unfortunately, I wasn't in the mood for QC time when I wrote this and the summary was typed late at night. I promise I'll try to do it better next time and I'll comb through this one and try to fix the grammar now that I finally got a decent sleep.

And oh, can I please ask the person who left comment before Tensai to leave a screen name, please? Just post another message or send an email to me. Thank you :)

February 20, 2005 | Gon wrote:

I'm a Super Fan of Gakuen alice. I download the animation from http://www.tokyotosho.com/ but these days I can't access it anymore. Do you know where I can download Ep. 15? I really want to watch it.

February 20, 2005 | vanilla wrote:

I thought that this episode is really close to the manga, with the exception of tsubasa and misaki, though i kinda liked the addition, because you don't really see them fight MUCH in the manga, except later one.... I thought the ending was really cute, it's exactly like the manga. Although i would like to say that what makes anime special is seeing how the animators REMAKE the story, i would prefer the original order of events, due to the fact that I'm not seeing much relationship development between Ruka-pyon and Mikan AND Natsume. Well more Ruka and Mikan. OOPS did i spoil something?

I'm looking forward to the next episode, hopefully the development i'm looking forward to will be there.

Also this has been bothering me for awhile, What's Ruka's star status? maybe they mentioned it before and i just forgot =P

As for the grammar that everyone is talking about. REALLY WHO CARES.. as long as most people can read it and get the gist of it. Garten is taking the time to write this so non japanese speaking people like me can understand what's going on. so for that THANK YOU GARTEN

February 20, 2005 | Tsukinoko ^.~* wrote:

Perusona (Persona) is going to get worse from here on in (that is if it follows
the manga story line...), so keep an eye out. Don't you worry, he's no
minor character, nor is he no minor threat. (And that bloody Shotou-bu
Kouchou...) Ittai nani kangaeton nen?

***Ruka-pyon's star status is 'Triple'.

Actually, something I'D like to know is what was going on before Mikan-chan
came on the scene? Why (in the Manga) was Natsume attacking Narumi-sensei
(and Mikan-chan)? How did Natsume-kun and Ruka-pyon meet? And how/why
did Natsume-kun 'let' Ruka-pyon be his 'friend'? Etc...

Well, I guess we all have the 'what was it like before?...' questions when
it comes to anime and manga, now, lol...

Tsukinoko ^.~*

P.S.

*sPoiLeR sTaRt*

We at least know that Natsume-kun's sister was at Alice Gakuen once before,
from manga #6, but would that 'flashback' be from BEFORE or AFTER Natsume-kun
and co. came to the acamdemy, I wonder... As in, when Natsume-kun 'unleashed'
his 'sea-of-fire' on his town (whether he did or not, or whether it was
his fault or not if he DID...), was that BEFORE or AFTER he came to the
school? Though I think I remember something about '...why they would let
a kid like that in here...' in the books, somewhere...

"hoshiku mo nai chikara wo motte shimatta Natsume no... Natsume no kimochi
ga wakattetamaru mon ka..."

(No, I know that that line has nothing to do with what I was talking about
previously, I have just had that line running through my head ever since
I bought the first book (October 2003, I think it was [I bought volumes
one and two at the same time, as that's when I discovered them - on my way
to Umeda, Osaka's 'Popeye's Media Internet Cafe', in fact...]). IT WAS
JUST RANDOM! LEAVE ME ALONE! BE~~~! XP

*runs away...*

February 25, 2005 | Aleandra wrote:

First of all a big Thank you for those summaries.^^
They help me out a lot to understand the raws...seems i'm a little impationed to wait til the sub's come out.
I realy like how the series turns more dark while still keeping those hilarious moments.
My question is : does anybody know who is Jinno-sensei's Seiyuu?The voice seems very familiar,but i can't place it.If someone could help me,it would be greatly apreciated.
thanks.

February 25, 2005 | Garten wrote:

Jinno's VA is Matsumoto Dai.

February 27, 2005 | Melissa wrote:

Thanks for the summaries, I absolutely love Gakuen Alice. Does anyone know of where I can download Raws passed episode 5 (I've tried looking, and nashio takes a while)? Btw has n e one in the manga been known to lose their stars?

February 19, 2006 | conrath wrote:

Don't you mean "Regardless of what kind of English you used in the summary, most of the grammar is incorrect. If I was an editor checking this, I would have been forced to correct the errors."

Of course, i get it. Your comment is a joke ^^ Trying to be ironic on us, eh?

July 1, 2009 | Ztekffjn wrote:

KxClis comment1 ,