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ファイト／ステイナイト 
Aaaaah. This entry will feel so relaxed, because for the first time in ages the fansubs are already out - so I don't have to do a play-by-play summary, but can instead lean back and only comment. How refreshing! This will mean much less text, but I'll try to compensate that with a few more captions ^_^
Episode 24 concludes the quarterfinals, on to the semis! We have the second _real_ death of a HiME after Alyssa, interesting revelations about Nao and Shiho, destruction and in the second half of the episode, a brilliant dilemma confrontation which got me to tear up. The scene was so unfair and cruel... and yet beautiful. A feast for drama lovers like me.
After episode 23, which was still good but somehow lacked the oomph and impact of the 19-21 range, I was starting to wonder if I was becoming desensitized to the carnage. This episode proved that I wasn't, and that it was obviously caused by the atrocious selection of preview frames. Episode 24 was a real gem, so we have a clear (++) again.
Episode rating: ++
RAW complexity: Fansubs are out
Let's quickly remember what happened at the end of the last episode: Mai confronted Yukariko in the church, after she found out that the sister had framed Nao earlier, triggering the first round of bloodshed. Seething with anger over Yukariko's betrayal, she sees the sister summon her child, St.Vrus, and looks into its eyes, falling into a deep trance. In this state, Yukariko asks her what is the world Mai really desires.
Well, we soon learn about it, in the beginning of episode 24. In her wish-world, Mai now has two siblings: Takumi is still her younger brother, but he is healthy now, and even has a slightly devious streak. Mikoto is her little sister, and she enjoys razzing Mai with Takumi's help. Her mother and father are both still alive in a happy family setup.
She has a requited crush on Tate, who has the genki and happy Shiho as his younger sister. Shiho is fully supportive of Mai's interest in Tate, to the degree that she even expresses her wish to become Mai's _real_ younger sister once Tate marries her.
Garten, stop laughing.
Well, the bizarre fluff doesn't end here. Midori makes a guest appearance as mean-spirited history teacher, Natsuki is a cheery-open sports idol. I really had to giggle that both Akane and Mai had to admonish their boyfriends not to be dazzled by Natsuki too much - nice touch!
Tate is shown winning a kendo tournament, with everyone rooting and cheering for him. And at the end of the day, in a golden sunset, he confesses his feelings for Mai and collects his well-deserved victory kiss...
...or not.
Right before kissing him, Mai's subconsciousness triggers, reminding her that she mustn't fall in love with Tate. Yukariko is represented by Takumi in a small exchange in which Mai is asked what it is that Mai really wants - and she admits to herself that it's Tate now, not Takumi.
In the real world, St.Vrus has opened up and is about to kill Mai - like a giant iron maiden! Yukariko tries to stop it, but Ishigami is delighted by the development and pushes the sister away, causing candles to fall off a table and starting a fire.
Tate to the rescue! Don't ask how he knew how to find Mai here, cool guys have alot of leeway with me. Ishigami is at his unpleasant worst, but he is useful this time - leaking the identity of the Obsidian Lord to Mai and Tate, and telling them that killing Reito is the only chance for them. Yukariko suddenly has enough of all the sinning going on and gets St.Vrus to paralyze Ishigami, wrap him into a loving embrace, kissing him, and getting St.Vrus to KILL them. Wow.
I didn't like this part TOO much, to be honest. Why does Yukariko decide to call it quits all of a sudden? Because of what she learned from Mai's dream? Or because she's just fed up with it all? I think that her motivation wasn't worked out convincingly enough.
In the HiME cave, Reito is sending out Mikoto on another special mission. After all, she'd do anything for him, right?
A word about Reito in his role of Obsidian Lord should be in order here. I think he's one of the best villains I've seen in recent anime. Whatever he does has a clear and logical purpose. If it wasn't so vile and despicable, I'd admire the efficiency how he manipulates the HiMEs to his advantage.
Want to uproot Shizuru? Drop a little hint to Yukino where she can be found. She says she'll take out everything Natsuki dislikes? Cool, give her the locations of the First District HQs where the obasans hide he wants to get rid of. Reito has systematically destroyed any remaining trust our heroines might have left, and his final intrigue mission on which he sends off Mikoto now really takes the cake.
In the meantime, Shizuru is relegating the First District back to Fifth District - razing the headquarters with the obasans to the ground. Scary, really. She sure gets the job done once she decides to do something.
Natsuki is tied up by Julia again - as "bait", as Nao puts it. Here we learn about Nao's past, in which her family was obviously robbed and killed, only leaving a comatose mother behind. Nao never really recovered from this shock and developed her cynical angry loner attitude.
As expected, Shizuru eventually does show up to free Natsuki. "Because I love her", she says, triggering another outburst of Nao's hate. "Koi", "suki", "ai shiteru" - the different expressions of love really piss her off. No, you can only believe in yourself! These bitter words ring a bell with Natsuki. This is oh so exactly what she had said and thought in the past aswell.
The fight between the HiMEs is short and cruel. Nao manages to evade Kyohime's initial attack and gets Julia to web her in, but just while Nao is celebrating her victory, some bardiche action from Shizuru turns the table completely. Julia is crippled, Kyohime is freed and has Julia for lunch. Nao's MVP turns out to be her comatose mother, and another pillar rises at the HiME shrine.
Shizuru adds some chill points to her image when she approaches the kneeling Nao and tells her that after what she did to Natsuki, Nao shouldn't believe that Shizuru was already done with her. Seeing the murderous intent in Shizuru's eyes, Natsuki jumps up and positions herself in front of the helpless Nao.
Both Shizuru and Nao are puzzled at this reaction, so Natsuki explains that she realized that Nao and her are similar. Both had traumatic childhoods, but Natsuki was lucky to have Shizuru and others to support her and bring her around. She wished that she had realized this earlier - her most precious thing. And she is able to summon her element again, pointing the pistols at Shizuru.
Shizuru is going through an interesting change of facial expressions. Her surprised look on hearing about Natsuki's revelation has a painful element, finding herself at the business end of the element of the one she loves. Nevertheless, she expresses relief that Natsuki's powers have returned. And she asks for more time before their final showdown, since she hasn't completed the annihilation of First District yet. Wait for me - because you are mine...
So Shizuru leaves on Kiyohime, and we see a broken Nao crying over the loss of her mother, leaving Natsuki to muse over the cruelty and injustice of the HiMEs' destinies.
That was a wonderful scene. I had already written a few episodes ago that Natsuki and Nao are so very similar, and that if only Nao had some people to support her, she could definitely come around - after all, she's a very bright person full of energy. But I loved the way they got Natsuki to realize the truth, giving her a new direction and reason to push on.
I also believe that Shizuru has just taken Natsuki's spot as MVP, setting her up for a dramatic double-KO in the next episode. Natsuki has realized who really made the difference and kept her afloat in the past, protecting her from the fall Nao took. However, in her still-dazed state, I doubt that Shizuru has realized this. Or if she did, she hid it very well.
Natsuki has climbed up my respect ladder tremendously over the past eps. She has been hit hard with the revelations about her mother and the image of a possible molestation by Shizuru, but ever since, she has remained reasonable and positive. Rushing to Nao's protection when Shizuru was about to put her lights out was also a noble thing to do. I guess that the one who is supposed to take on the baton of reason from Midori is Natsuki after all.
My heart is bleeding for Nao. Most of her deeds are reactive, and she was indeed framed in the beginning. On the other hand, she is ruthless enough to forfeit my biggest tears aswell. Keep in mind, she was about to eventually kill Natsuki aswell. Nevertheless, I would have wished for a better ending for her. I hope that eventually a reset WILL take place and give her some happiness and support she deserves.
Elsewhere, the feverish Shiho is still waiting for oniichan to show up on their promised date. Instead, she's getting Nagi. Yay. He bluntly tells her that Tate won't come, since he is with Mai. Shiho weakly-stubbornly begins to object, but Nagi won't have any of this. After all, she knows who Tate _really_ loves, doesn't she?
Therefore, Nagi urges her to release her dormant evil side, her suppressed hatred and negativity, and thus to summon Yatagarasu, the black crow. The interesting part is that it indicates that Shiho was indeed not really aware of her evil half - but the evil is strong in her anyway! And she transforms into the Bridal Gown HiME we all have learned to hate...
Appropriately, she catches Mai and Tate who had just escaped the burning church. Shiho accuses Tate to have been lying to her all along - his kiss, his care, his kindness - all were fake. Tate tries to reason with her, but Shiho doesn't want to listen. It's all Mai's fault, and she wants her to disappear. So she plays her flute, her hair lights up (revealing her HiME mark on the top of her head, hidden by her hair) and Yatagarasu appears.
Shiho's child immediately attacks, and Mai is pushed into a defensive posture again. However, based on the attack she remembers something - this is how Gennai died, causing Takumi to vanish. Shiho confirms this when she cusses at Mai that she wants to crush her like that frog. She killed it (and Takumi) because onii-chan only cared about her. Okay, that felt slightly contrived, but it's tying up loose ends, which is a good sign ^_^
Mai summons Kagutsuchi and Mikoto briefly feels relief that it wasn't HER after all who was responsible for Takumi's death, but she soon remembers that she also had Mashiro/Fumi and Midori on her slate. Tate tries to get both of them to stop fighting, and Mai realizes that no matter who of the two will win the fight, Tate will die, being the clear MVP of BOTH of them.
Shiho however isn't really receptive for reason right now. In emotional agony she screams "Why did you have to fall in love with oniichan" and unleashes a barrage of Yatagarasu feather-daggers against Mai. She manages to defend with her shield, but some of the projectiles made it into her back.
Natsuki to the rescue, who shoots them out of the sky with her elements. Munakata Shiho?? Natsuki is flabbergasted. Kagutsuchi proves again that he's an "eye for an eye" type and retaliates with a shot against Shiho, who gets thrown backwards and falls down hard. Mai tells Kagutsuchi to stop and Tate shows gallantry by running to Shiho's side.
In a slightly surreal scene, Shiho briefly returns to her "normal" self, wrapping her handknit scarf around Tate's neck. She reminds him that on this date, she met Tate for the first time, and Tate thinks back to the old times. He realizes that this current bitter mess was caused by his own indecisiveness - and tells Mai to take out Yatagarasu.
Mai can't believe what she's hearing. She's fully aware what killing Yatagarasu would mean for Tate and consequently objects. But if she doesn't do it, then... (Monster crow incoming)... then she will die. However, Mai seems to be willing to accept this outcome. She just can't bring herself to kill the monster herself.
Mikoto watches this and remembers ani-ue's order, which was to kill Mai's greatest enemy for her, should she herself fail to do it. Her charm lights up again, Miroku is charged and Mikoto helps the crow taking a permanent break.
In shock, Mai watches Yatagarasu's corpse fall down and gives Mikoto one more of her famous "why did you?" speeches, but Mikoto cuts her short. It was ani-ue's order. But Mai sees a tear running down Mikoto's cheek...
What had to happen happens now. Shiho pulls an Alyssa and collapses on the ground. Tate thanks Mikoto for saving Mai but soon feels his impending death. "Now you and Shiho won't have to fight anymore. But damn, it's scary to die..."
Okay, I admit it. This triggers the scene when I failed to keep my eyes dry. The desperate Mai screaming over the dying Tate disappearing during the first and final kiss was very very powerful. The construction of the cruel tragedy was very well-done, since there was no escape from this dilemma. It made all too much sense, and it was so incredible unfair.
Tate had the best exit so far. In hindsight, there is only one thing which I can really accuse him of - being way too unclear and lenient towards Shiho's affections. However, once he had made the decision to be there for her, he stayed his course. Unfortunately, he didn't recognize the cliff he was headed towards. In the end, he made his choice and went like a man. In a world, where most male anime characters are spineless wusses, this was a welcome change.
Shiho. What can I say? The kid had a light and a dark half. The light half was a bright, lively and fairly funny kid. She was in love and stayed her course, but it wasn't meant to be. I feel sorry for her light half. Her dark half however was really pitch black. Selfish, conceited, immature, cruel and vile. As Nagi explained, Yatagarasu drew from these negative feelings, and he was well-fed. With the given explanation, seeing her fall didn't fill me with the satisfaction I anticipated. She was so very pitiful, and yet not to be pitied. Scary.
In the end, all remaining HiMEs are at the total edge of their sanity. Natsuki was crying, Mikoto ran from Mai, who totally fell apart, and we all know in which state Shizuru is right now. Unlike other uber-melodramatic animes, this tragedy feels much more "real" to me, because it's neither illogical nor overdone. This entire "festival" went totally out of control, and they and their MVPs are the ones who are punished by it.
In the HiME base, Reito and Nagi are rejoicing. With this setup, Mikoto can't return to Mai anymore - and Mai has just lost her MVP and may hardly be effective anymore. Things worked out for Reito just as he wanted - yet again.
Conclusion
Wow. I won't say too much anymore, since I inserted most comments into the summary again. But this is melodrama at its very very finest.
The way it's shaping up, next episode will pit Shizuru against Natsuki, leading to a classical double-ko. One of them will win and take the other one with her. I suspect that this will be a total highlight of the series, so gimme.
Likewise, I suspect that Mikoto will lose to Mai - so that the episode ends with only Mai standing. And then we'll have to see how Mai with the help of the crystal hime will pull a world reset. There will be a world reset. Right? They can't end the show like THAT, can they?
Two more episodes. I can't wait.
Can't end the show like that? Oh, please, do end it like this!
I would love to see a show with a BAD ending for once! I'm tired of good endings. Cruelty is underrated.
Awesome episode, isn't it? I think Shiho deserves everything that comes to her and some more. Nao, on the other hand, I feel sorry for. She really has it tough in life. It really was painful to see her crying after losing her mother.
And Mentar, in case you didn't check your email, these are the scene(s) I was talking about:
Pillar 01
Pillar 02
To me these two images suggests that the pillar indeed contains the life energy of the MIP. IIRC, prior to Haruka and Tate's green sparkle moment, the series never shown the pillar looking green like in image 2. Actually, during Haruka's death I also didn't pay attention to it either because there wasn't a close up comparison to a similar scene within the same episode.
However, in this episode there is one close up of the pillars showing some kind of line patterns all over each pillar (picture 1). In one scene, the patterns looks bland and has the same color as the pillars themselves. After Tate disappears though, the pillars' patterns contain green glows similar to the green sparks of the departed MIP.
funny how we earlier thought it would be the easy way out for a world reset [and thought it would be cheap on Sunrise's part]....
and now we want one.. lol...
I have to hand it to sunrise... and I hope the ending goes out with a bang. ^^
Besides all the explanations we got in this episode I also finally understood why Nao was so disgusted with Mai's attitude on life. Nao probably also had to work to pay the hospital's fees for her mother but, contrary to Mai, she choose a "job" that not many would approve of.
So while everyone praised Mai for how good she was and what a great sister she was people looked down on Nao. Some of them might have assumed that she was selling her body, right?
But weren't we - the audience - doing the same? Nao was the evil one in our eyes until we knew what had happened and I guess that some, even knowing that her mother is comatose, won't like/forgive Nao.
I didn't like that we found out so late in the series what was going on in Nao's life but at least we finally have the answer.
I say, what would happen if those pillars were destroyed? Oh and by the looks of it, this series will mostly likely end badly (as in sad).
We all knew this much, but I'd thought I'd help confirm...
In the preview for the next episode, Mai still has her HiME mark on her chest. So she's still in the game.
Perhaps she'll pull a Natsuki and love everybody (and her true wish is WORLD PEACE!).
As much as I would like a world reset, I hope it doesn't happen. The series would seem a lot more "real" to me if it ends without one where everyone is all happy. Too much cheese for me..
... though I wouldn't mind like a Kannazuki no Miko or Fafner ending, where the lost MVPs will be reincarnated to some time in the future. That would be kind of cool and a somewhat acceptable "happy ending" :P
Oh yeah I remember reading that someone was disappointed that episode 24 would be a filler episode. lol. I love how a 10 - 15 second preview of an episode could be so misconstrued. LOL.
I dont think all hime mip died just like that. For me, they just trap inside the pillar... Maybe the ending is, Mai is the victorious and what she wishes is to regain everybody from the pillar...thats what i think...and I hope is a good ending.
There is one thing that has me intrigued.... in ep 23 after Diana is defeated by Kiyohime there are 6 pillars up. [around 11min 30secs into episode] and known defeats are Akane, Akira, Yukino, Midori [not sure how Alyssa, Fume, and Mashiro fit in]. And after Yukariko, Nao, and Shiho in episode 24 we're up to 9 pillars.
Either that or my math is very wrong somewhere. lol
Ep 08: Akane
Ep 15: Alyssa [?]
Ep 21: Akira [Only 2 Pillars at this point unless a 3rd is hidden], Fume [?], Mashiro [?]
Ep 23: Midori, Yukino [At this point 6 pillars going by what we see in the shot in ep 23]
Ep 24: Yukariko, Nao, Shiho [Should be 9 now]
However, we now have 4 hime remaining [Mai, Natsuki, Shizuro, Mikoto]... so the numbers don't seem to add up if there are only supposed to be 12.... and 11 are supposed to lose?
Alyssa wasn't a real HiME, so she doesn't count.
What role is Miyu going to have in the last two eps? I've noticed there really hasn't been much speculation on her role in the big scheme of things. She was revived to be a spoiler to the HiME Festival, and it looks like she's going to be a little bit more active next ep. Is she going to try to form an alliance with the remaining HiMEs to stop the festival, go lonewolf and indiscriminately take out everyone, or just become another hapless victim of Shizuru?
I realize Alyssa shouldn't count by the pictures.. but I'd like to know where 6 pillars came from after Yukino.. unless that is a plot hole or i'm forgetting something. ^^;
I said I would stop predicting but I can't help it. This episode's too good. I knew Yukariko would go against Ishigami sensei sooner or later because she didn't want to commit anymore sins. I think I said that somewhere in episode 19. I am still shocked that she just gave up though. With the powers her child had, the HiMEs would have been unstoppable.
I have a feeling that Shizuru is going to loose her HiME abilities after her confrontation with Miyu in episode 25. I'm sort of anticipating it because I would like to see Miyu in more action.
I am glad that Natsuki finally realized her MIP, however, is it Shizuru or everyone who helped her in the time she was feeling down? If the writers are really evil they'd make it Shizuru and destroy two HiMEs with one stone. Yet I believe they have more in store for Natsuki.
Mai finally knows who is the Obsidian Prince, I wonder how she'll react. Pull Shiho's "usotsuki!" and go beserk?
I rewatched the earlier episodes and I've come to the conclusion that Mai lives her life not for herself but for others. She's always acted the way others expected from her since the incident with her mother. If this is so, then her MIP is everyone because she's created this image to keep up and she feels she has to keep it to satisfy others. Being a good sister, being a good student, being a good role model, it's all because she's worried about what others would think about her. It makes sense because she first summoned Kagutsuchi to protect her brother, then once again to defeat Alyssa. I felt she did so because she had a role expected of her. She could have ignored all her responsibilities as a sister and HiME but then her past is what eats her. It is only recently that she has summoned Kagutsuchi for her own reasons (anger towards Mikoto and the then mysterious White HiME)
p.s.
I want to see Akira with her ninja pals participate!
Ah, but maybe that's the "out" the writers have put into the storyline - so far Reito and Nagi have been having a fine time because all of their plans are going exactly as they want them to go. If Alyssa's defeat did count (and I think it's likely, as her MIP disappeared just like the others did), then all the pillars will be up while two HiMEs are still operating - presumably Mai and Mikoto. If Alyssa's MIP counted, then that might be the "my perfect plan ruined" thing that most villains get in last episodes.
Thank you for the summaries. They're always an interesting read.
Ever since the festival was put into full motion till now, the anime continues to be impressive. I keep thinking how well the inner circles of every girl decaded and how effectively that's communicated to the audience. I agree with you that the circumstances and misunderstandings that led to their current state are never too farfetched or contrived and the scheming is clever enough.
I've never cared much for any of the characters so I never expected to feel anything for their losses. However, after seeing each of their personal conflicts and how convincing they were, my heart goes out to all of them, even Shiho whom I still think is a brat, but given a second chance (which she deserves) she should look to an oneesan instead. Not to love like Tate, but someone who'll give her guidance.
On a side note, I really want to see Shizuru come to her senses again..somehow. Her aloof demeanor has always worked to her advantage, but now it seems to be working against her. If anything, I'd like to see some resolution before her demise.
As I suspected: Shiho and Alyssa are the only evil hime. All the other hime are redeemable - sister, Nao,... even Shizuru.
My speculation is that Miyu will go after Shizuru or Mikoto. I wouldn't be surprised if the reason Miyu hasn't joined the fighting is because she's accessing the situation.
I'm still hoping the 4 remaining Himes can get together. Since Mai and Tatsuki are already a team, Tatsuki can give Shizuru some incentives, and Mai could probably lure Mikoto over by explaining what true love means.
The MIPs I'm not sure of anymore are Mai and Mikoto - it could be one of the other, or Reito. But I suppose Reito has bought himself some insurance by making sure all the Himes have too many doubts to have him as an MIP.
It was already decided Shizuru-Miyu showdown in EP 25?? The preview in 24 in fact shocked me when I saw Shizuru's condition. I here further apporved this review on her personality, "She sure gets the job done once she decides to do something!!!" Pajee said it, I m also afraid of Shizuru-lose-battle vision, but I also doubt that anything is going to happen because Natsuki-is-the-protagonist. Unless the director really wanted to kill all Nasuki (or Shizuru) fans on Earth.
Shizuru is exposing more.
I was eager to see the review comment on Mai's child after Tate was killed but.... Kagutsuki is still alive or not?
Sorry about the typos. I tend to vocalize and so the words sometimes get messed up ^_^;; (e.g. Assessing instead of Accessing)
err just out of curiosity. Are you the same Mentar from AnimeSuki forums?
Ah, what a wickedly cool episode. I was wrong about Nao, but I do take some solace in the fact that her backstory was unknown until 2 minutes before her defeat. As for her mother, perhaps her dissolution was for the best--lying comatose in a hospital bed for years is hardly living. I give Nao a lot of respect for what she really represented--going from token one-dimensional character to something much more in a single episode is difficult, be the writers managed it.
Now that Natsuki got the right mental jab to wake up from her self-pity, her finale with Shizuru is going to be interesting. Shizuru is 104% bonkers at this point, and Natsuki will--even if it costs her her own dissolution (I can't say "death" -- there is some big twist coming) -- sacrifice herself if it means saving her friend from insanity.
Jumping back a bit, the teaser was hilarious; just enough of a sitcom to get me to start thinking "oh god no not NGE ep26 again" before they pulled back to show the illusion. The death scene of Yukariko and Ishigami didn't come as a surprise; Yukariko's inability to shoot him with the bow pretty much gave a clue that she couldn't kill him and live with herself, that she couldn't bear to live while he disappeared...that the only way to love him and not hate herself was to die with him.
The title, "Love is a Battle" was well-chosen, as every permutation of the tragic side of love has been demonstrated as mixed flavors of devotion: familial (Nao, Mikoto, Shiho), infatuation (Shizuru, Yukariko, Shiho) and self-sacrifice (Mai, Yukariko).
They saved the best for last; easily the best scene of the series is the Shiho/Mai confrontation, where the "fait accompli" MIP scenario is worked out. Tate took his fate so well that it even irritated Reito, even though he complimented him for it. I have to give huge kudos to the director for the sequence where Mai walks away from Natsuki in the same listless manner Shizuru walked away from her in ep23. Natsuki stopping Mai from wandering off (a thing she couldn't do for Shizuru) is the delicate moment that kept Mai from insanity.
I liked Mikoto's reaction: the fact she was crying after the kill showed that she knew she was being used by her brother, and yet knew at the same time that what she was doing was not what she really wanted. This aspect of her character is going to play a key role in the finale.
I cannot recall a show that started off more pedestrian in terms of plot and ended up in a class by itself among twisted, cruelty-of-fate storylines. The finale is going to be interesting, that is for certain.
"Natsuki stopping Mai from wandering off (a thing she couldn't do for Shizuru) is the delicate moment that kept Mai from insanity."
This is very true. It really makes me doubt the degree of friendship Natsuki shares with Shizuru. I mean, sure we all know Shizuru is deeply in love with Natsuki...but ever since...well, ever, Natsuki has never really done anything for Shizuru. I understand that Shizuru has gone a bit crazy, but so has Mai in many occasions(starting with Takumi's death). In both occasions Natsuki had at least tried to help Mai out and slap some sense into her. However, all she's ever done to stop Shizuru is continuously call out her name...how effective can THAT be.
Isn't Mai out of the fight now, too? Shiho's Child may have been killed, but Tate was her MIP.
If Mai IS out of the running, then the way I see it playing out is a double-KO with Shizuru and Natsuki, and then Mikoto killing her brother. Even if Mai's still a HiME, I think Mikoto's going to kill Reito.
I was stunned last night to see that both fansub groups had released the 24th ep. So I downloaded them both and watched it twice already (see what one can do when they 're stuck inside on a Saturday night
?) ^_^ Imagine my awe when I my fear realized and Tate went all sparkly... I will be rooting for a world reset ending as well. I can't help but feel sooo sad for Mai, who's at the verge of going berserk like Shizuru minus the child :P (She can't possibly call Kagutsuchi any more right?) She's become an empty shell and there would be no point in living as such. So world reset please! I hope for the best for Nao as well. She's my favourite! (And she's a Gemini as well nyaa ^_-~* )
I wonder how, if Alyssa is a fake hime, she doesnt need to lose her mvp. Because all she need is hime power.
I want a bad ending with much blood!!! Yeah, an ending with an apocalyse is the best way to finish this serie.
These are my predictions:
Tate wasn't Mai's MIP so she can still call Kagutsuchi.
Mikoto will turn on Reito but she won't be strong enough to destroy him. His undoing will be conceived by Mai and possibly aided by the betrayal of Nagi. Miyu will aid in this as well - we still do not know if she had her memories erased and if Midori encoded her with a new master... could it be Mai?!
More than one of the remaining four HiMEs will prevail, and I too believe that the pillars contain the "life force" of the MIPs. Having said so, it seems unbelievable that the MIPs won?t somehow be restored in the end.
This will be the "world reset" and thus constitute a happy ending. I do believe however that the sadness of the fate of the HiMEs will somehow shape the ending as well, so it won?t be too cheesy.
Alyssa is a fake HiME, but she also has to follow the rules of the HiME. Such as element, Child, MIP and MIP death. The only aspects of being a HiME she may not fall under are simple. A HiME mark and of course having a pillar raise for her. The latter of course is being debated about in some places. All due to the extra pillar....
In any case the episode was pretty nice. It's nice to see Yukariko end the way she did. Sure it may seem out of the blue. However I saw it as her deciding she'd rather have both of them die than to commit anymore sins. Plus it was kind of cool how Ishigami blurted out about Reito.
Nao's part was pretty nice and was like many suspected. Her MIP was a family member. Plus seeing the contrast between Nao and Natsuki was pretty nice. Those two really are alike in many ways. Nice to see Natsuki go from being happy to attack Nao to wanting to protect her.
Finally I love how the Shiho vs Mai aspect of the episode went. I'm also glad Mikoto defeated Shiho. Then again I was also expecting it to happen. The whole Shiho thing in the entire episode went pretty well.
Only two episodes left. Hopefully they'll show us a clear view of the pillars at a certain point to help us be certain of what caused the extra pillar. Also hopefully whoever becomes the final HiME will do her best to beat up Reito. Most likely either Mai or Mikoto of course.
I'm not gonna root for the world reset button even if I do hope for the best for everybody in this series. If it does end in a world reset (which I doubt, and even if it did, I believe there'll be some unexpected twist of sorts considering the writer for this series) I would lose all hope for any kind of anime because that's just too predictable for my taste, let alone cheesy. Cheese belongs in the refrigerator and in the dairy section of your grocery store, not on my computer. Also, I'm gonna stop guessin what'll happen in the coming 2 episodes (other than the ending of course) because previews aren't what they seem sometimes lol.
The relationship between Natsuki and Shizuru is complex, especially after the ai-shitamasue incident. The reason why Natsuki only called out Shizuru's name was because she was haunted by the molester scenary? Imagine how Shizuru will lost her control when, Natsuki, physically "touches" her.
What do you truly want?
How many times have we heard this during the course of this series?
I now firmly believe that desire and willpower is what gives a HiME their powers. I started thinking about this when Midori and Mashiro fought and Mashiro asked if she believed that willpower alone could change destiny? This was brought up again just before Mashiro went to meet Reito and she decided to try their luck at that.
Mai had nothing on the line when she first used her powers other than the desire to protect Mikoto from Natsuki. Even before she knew about Kagasuchi her willpower to survive summoned him and he rescued her from drowning.
Nagi has convinced all of the HiME's that they have put what is most dearest to them on the line. I believe this to be a load of crap! Even though they loose a loved one if their child is defeated I believe this to only be a means by which he maintains this deception and keep them believing in it.
The sisters last words to Mai were "please do not forget the truth you hold within yourself."
And Tate in their last real conversation tried to make Mai understand what it was that she was truly fighting for but I don't think it actually sunk in. I've got a feeling that later she will remember what he told her and once again regain her will to do what needs to be done.
Natsuki felt betrayed which is why she could not use her powers. She had not lost anything physical it was just her will to fight that she had lost. I think Natsuki realized this and replaced one feeling with another which is how she regained her powers. She is also there to help Mai get through her latest tragedy and maybe even help her to realize just what it is that she is actually fighting for.
Love, hate, trust, betrayal, desire, remorse, lust, envy, revenge etc. These are all emotions that seem to be present within each HiME and whenever they loose this is what gets stored into each pillar. It isn't a loved one that gives them their power but rather what they believe in and desire that does.
Michi: Yep, I'm Mentar there and on several other boards aswell.
We'll see whether or not Mai will be able to summon Kagutsuchi. So far, plans for active "child suppression" via MVP have all backfired spectacularly, but Reito is obviously counting on it. On the other hand, Mai's relationship with Mikoto is very special. I would not be surprised if Mikoto would be placed in a situation in which she has to choose between Mai and Ani-ue - and eventually breaks towards Mai. Whatever it's gonna be, I expect Mai to be the last standing HiME at the end of 25 - with or without Kagutsuchi (I think, with).
With Natsuki-Shizuru it's very difficult to predict who exactly is going to win, but I'm willing to call the outcome already: Double KO. I think it's clear that Natsuki _is_ Shizuru's MVP, and with Natsuki's revelation from this episode (that it was mostly due to Shizuru that she didn't turn into a Nao clone), I suspect that the death pact is sealed. Besides, it would be an uber-drama resolution, blending in perfectly with Mai HiME's end run.
And about Miyu... I suspect that the Crystal Princess will eventually select her as vessel to fight and defeat the Reito.
Finally - the world reset. If they should really go through and end the anime in catastrophe, it would go down as one of the most surprising animes of all times. It managed to blindside me two times, why not a third? And it would be another incredibly gutsy move.
On the other hand, I might be happier with some sweeter cheese in the end. The girls have become very dear to me, I think I might look back much happier to this series if they would somehow be at least partially "saved". Garten made a good point with one more indication that they are "stored" in the pillars. Let's release them and clean the OL's and Nagi's clock. I'd like that.
I wonder if I should force myself not to check the 2chan spoiler threads on the last ep until I've seen the RAW - or not ^_^
First of all: translation errors.
1. Natsuki does NOT say that she's relized who her MIP is. She just stated she realized what her important THING was. This could be a person or not. It was deliberately vauge, and considering the status of her last MIP as a dead woman, there is some evidence that the ultimate MIP will be love/friendship in general. We will see.
2. Shizuru does NOT ask Natsuki for "more time befroe their final showdown". She merely tells Natsuki to wait for her.
Second: predictions
First of all, we need to get somethign straight. How many HiMEs have died? ONE. And even that might be iffy, and only because she wanted to commit suicide. HiMEs are very death-resistant in this show. Likewise, their MIPs don't die, not really, but instead go into green sparks followed by a pillar raising. It is a FACT and not an opinion that there will be a general reset or ressurection event of some sort at the end of the series.
Natsuki's good must prevail over Natsuki's darkness. This must come as a form as either a Natsuki victory in a fight for some goodguy reason, or Shizuru being overcome by Natsuki's goodguy emotions and repenting. There are several ways this theme could play out in the series. The ways are so varied I don't even want to try and predict it. But one thing is for sure:
It will not be a double-KO. That would require one of them having a death wish. Natsuki obviously does not. If Shizuru wanted to die with natsuki she would have done it by now or at least said something else besides "I'll do anything for Natsuki", "I love Natsuki," etc. and expend so much effort to get rid of things for Natsuki's sake.
And finally, Mai. Some things don't even have to questioned: Mai-Hime is the name of the damn show, so OF COURSE she will get her powers back and win the day after some major revalation about emotions, changing destiny, yada yada.
I can see that GUTB made his way over from Animesuki ^_^;;
First of all, about the so-called "translation errors":
1) If you care to read what I wrote, you will notice that it was "She wished that she had realized this earlier - her most precious thing" ... no idea what you're complaining about
2) What I summed up there was a fairly obvious implication. It doesn't alter any meaning.
So far, two HiMEs died, Alyssa and Yukariko. The idea of a world reset is very probable, but a fact is something different.
About Shizuru/Natsuki: We don't know for sure yet - neither you nor me. It's my guess that it will be a double-ko, but I may be wrong. Please don't confuse your opinions with facts - and tag them as such.
I agree with you about Mai.
Finally, a request: Would it be too much to ask you to adjust your tone a bit? This blog is supposed to be a place for grown-ups exchanging opinions. We don't need flamebaiting or lecturing. Thank you.
GUTB what are you basing the world reset button as a FACT on? The manga? Well if you are indeed basing it on the manga then you should very well know theres a ton things that are different.
*spoiler start*
I'll only mention what I can remember at the moment:
- Alyssa was Natsuki's sister
- Natsuki's mother is thought dead but really she's not
- there are 13 real HiME
there's some more difference, but I can't name them from the top of my head right now.
*spoiler end*
Unless you're able to japanese and the flyer preview for Episode 26, but even then that flyer doesn't say much about the episode. Anyways if none of my suggestions are correct then where did base on FACT?
Another thing, a double K-O doesn't usually mean that one of them has a death wish. If let's say Natsuki were to try and stop Shizuru using Dhuran and were to be successful in defeating Kiyohime, what do you think would happen? Well considering Natsuki is Shizuru's MVP I would guess Natsuki would disappear. And it's not certain yet, but considering the scenes seen before Natsuki was able to summon her element again, it's almost certain that Shizuru is Natsuki's MVP. If Natsuki were to lose against Shizuru (if they do battle that is). I believe you'll know what'll happen then. Either way they don't even have to fight each other, even if one of the two Children die in battle with another Child or even with Miyu for that matter, one of them is bound to disappear - now that my friend is based on FACT.
Sorry if I sounded a lil sarcastic and blunt in the last post. I'm not here to start flame war. I just wanted to get the point that ending of a world reset is not based on fact as of yet. But really, I apologize for sounding a bit like a jerk.
It was a FACT as soon as Takumi died in ep.20 from that moment I knew there was going to a general rest or ressurection event or something along those lines. This is not an opinion but FACT, and you can argue with it all you want, but we'll see what happens in 26.
And oh yes. I've read some of the manga but I don't base any judgements about the anime from the manga because, luckily, the anime is much better and the manga is standard harem slapstick crapola.
All of this has me wondering just how they plan on utilizing the pillars. Miyu said that it was useless to fight a HiME unless the Child was out. We can say with almost absolute certainty (Who knows for sure with this show?) that their goal is the pillars.
The theory that every time a HiME is defeated, the winner gains their powers doesn't quite fly. Otherwise there would be no point to Miyu's existence. In order for Searrs' plan to work, Alyssa would have to kill their Childs herself. So there must be some separate way to utilize the pillars. And I don't consider Alyssa a HiME. We never saw a pillar rise at the death of Alyssa's MIP, which, granted, doesn't mean much with this show. But Alyssa is also missing the 'Materializing' part of 'HiME'. Mashiro mentioned that Alyssa's 'Child' was orbiting and recharging. These aren't terms that we've seen applied to a HiME.
If I understood the situation with Mashiro and Fumi the above paragragh would be clearer. I assumed that Mashiro was the previous Crystal Princess and Fumi was a HiME and not, as someone theorized before, a sentient Child. Otherwise we have too many HiMEs. So couldn't that mysterious pillar be from the death of Fumi's Child rather than Alyssa's? That would also explain the abscence of Mashiro and the presence of that doll. If Fumi's MIP was Mashiro, then it would be her spirit that would disappear; a mere container is immaterial (particularly when Fumi knows that it's a doll).
Regarding a reset button: I hope it doesn't exist. I think that would end of cheapening everything that they've gone through. Perhaps like someone mentioned, everyone could be reborn. I would rather remember an ending where they pick themselves up and move forward.
I wonder what Nagi's role will be in all of this? And what exactly did he say to Ishigami-sensei? This episode bodes well for the end of the series. It seems like we will have our loose ends tied up.
"It was a FACT as soon as Takumi died in ep.20 from that moment I knew there was going to a general rest or ressurection event or something along those lines. This is not an opinion but FACT, and you can argue with it all you want, but we'll see what happens in 26."
Why is that a fact GUTB? You might want to explain B, C, D, etc instead of going from A to X in one jump and then stating matter-of-factly that it's a fact. We can't read your mind. It's a fact if you could show us the script for the show or have some actual solid proof similar to that--otherwise it is a prediction--possibly a very good one if you actually explain the evidence instead of just stating your evidence--because it simply hasn't happened yet.
As for Takumi, he has said before that he doesn't want to continue living to Akira with Mai overhearing, and he has told Mai twice--once in person when he was in the hospital and once in Yukariko's illusion--that he wants Mai to live for herself instead of sacrificing herself for him. Even if Mai was still trying to be the perfect sister/mom/roommate/student/whatever to everyone, it would be pretty rude of her to ignore her little brother's wishes. And even if Yukariko's illusion is based off of Mai's thoughts, the fact that Takumi is telling her in her illusion makes it plain that what he said got through to her.
So I'm not going to expect Takumi to come back. If I'm wrong and get surprised, great, but most of the stuff so far is pointing to him not caring about wanting to come back to life.
Miyu was a robot right?
Is it only me, or does anyone else think
that this new Miyu is a second or "back up" Miyu? I don't think It's the same Miyu thats has with Alyssa.
...Or maybe this Miyu is a real girl, that the robot Miyu was a copy of her.
No evidance had shown so far that this Miyu can be a "back up". That Smith guy said it, Searrs Foundation already search through the lake, where the "first" Miyu vanished. During the episode preview, Miyu showed up at the lake seemed to be reminiscing. No doubt that Mikoto's raid determined Miyu's memory wasn't erased. But if that is true, what made Miyu wanted to attack Shizuru? Obviously Shizuru wasn't one of the himes that killed Alyssa, wouldn't it be pointless? Although the possibility of Shizuru attacking Miyu is quiet high, since she said she will destory "EVERY HIME" that are out there. Then again, hope Shizuru is smart enought to realize Miyu is a ROBOT. Uh, I m off the topic.
Anyway, Searrs Foundation tried to find Miyu. If this is a back up, why bother finding her?
A fact is a fact. 1+1=2, this is also a fact, and does not need to be explained besides 1 and 1 resulting in a 2. This is because adding 1 to another 1 has always resulted in a 2. There are no exceptions, hence it being a fact that exists outside of debate.
Miyu has taken up a protagonist role. This is seen because a protagonist sacrificed herslef to bring her in, specifically as a last hope. Therefore, Miyu will not do anything like attack Shizuru. IF she fights with Shizuru, it might be more along the lines of her protecting some remnents of the First District, or moving in to protect Natsuki, or something like that. Otherwise Shizuru would have no reason for fighting with Miyu.
A bit off topic but...
where in the world is the Mai-Hime forum on 2chan? There's always a temporary thread for each new episode of Mai-Hime, but after a while it disappears/gets taken off.
Is there a permanent Mai-Hime thread there? If so, can anyone provide the URL? Thanks.
*sigh* I don't wanna razzle up any anger or ill feelings in anyone really but this has to be said. GUTB what your basing your FACT on is when Mai said that she's going to bring back Takumi, I presume. (Correct me if I'm wrong - Or are you basing it on because Takumi died there has to be a world reset?). Yes, that's given fact (the aformentioned, but not the latter half in brackets), but it is not a fact as to what type of power the HiME will receive upon being the last standing HiME. No one knows what the power is yet, whether it is the power of resurrection or something else. Don't state that ending is going to be the world reset as a full head fact, when neither you nor anyone has seen episode 25 let alone episode 26. No, it's not a fact IT IS an opinion because a fact must be 100% true when you're saying is a speculation of the ending. I rest my case here and will no longer argue with you on the matter.
Actually, I just wanna add this to my last post. If it was a fact, then there shouldn't be any argument at all. Because a fact is a universal truth like in the example you put, 1 +1 = 2, it's fact because there's no argument in the matter. The fact that we're arguing about this matter proves my point.
I've always been convinced of some type of reset/rebirth ending but there are no facts that I can come up with to support it. If you have hard evidence to support this claim I would like to know where it is. Just saying it's there doesn't make it so. In any case I think Mai will reset everyones lives to a time before any hardships happened.
1+1=2 is a fact because both sides of the equation are axioms. Notice that you need _MORE THAN ONE FACT_ to get to the last fact. Just using that equation, you have 4 facts: One, One, Plus, and Two.
Comparing that to Takumi dies = world reset incoming is utterly ridiculous. Even if you used 1 = 1 as a comparison, you have not proven that world reset incoming == Takumi dying. You need more facts to prove your conclusion of world reset incoming as a fact. Otherwise presenting it as a fact makes no sense whatsoever.
Well, I think the following is going to happen:
1. Shizuru is defeated and Natsuki disappears in green sparks.
2. Mikoto first fights with Mai, but then Mai convinces Mikoto that Reito must be defeated.
3. Mikoto kills her bro, (sorta like how she killed her grandfather before)
4. world reset.
the end.
I must also say that the character of Nao was done very well. We were led to believe that she was bad and evil, until right before she was defeated. What happened here also adds meaning to the scene a couple of episodes ago where she screamed in agony "why is everyone against me?" (or something to that effect) At that point in time, one would think that she was a bad person who more of less deserved what she's got, but after ep24, one (me at least) feels very sorry for her.
I feel sorry for Nao, too. Actually, I think she gets the most of my sympathy. Mai's life is tragic as hell, but at least she had people who believed in her. For Nao, she had not one single person on her side since the death of her family and her mother falling into a Coma. And she "died" without having the feeling of friendship/love/happiness etc. (well, maybe 5 seconds of Natsuki on her side). and I think THAT is depressing.
I'm depressed!!
I agree with Pazu generally, but have some questions. Whom do you think defeats Shizuru - Miyu or Natsuki? If Mikoto kills her bro (with Mai's help?), then Mai goes green sparkly? The price of the power of the star is marriage to the Obsidian Lord. If he's already dead, does Mikoto still get the power? Or maybe she doesn't get the power, but the world is saved because the star recedes and the 300-year cycle is broken.
Allow me to pick apart my own logic. Mai would not go green sparkly if Reito dies, he's not a HiME.
With the nun, I was amazed that a HiME could commit suicide by Child.
I don't think Shizuru/Natsuki will be a double KO - Miyu will intervene somehow - but I think Shizuru looked in worse shape in the ep25 preview. Just because S. loves N. doesn't mean that N. will go green sparkly.
A double KO is more likely with Mai and Mikoto. I can't see Mai defeating Mikoto if she refused to fight Shiho. So if Mikoto defeats Mai (Mai has shown the sacrifice quality before), Mikoto would go green sparkly.
So Natsuki would be the last one standing. Does that sound plausible? How could she turn the tables on Reito?
Oy Vey. It's like Nao herself is here among us writing comments. :p
About the pillar business, could the animators simply have made a mistake? They drew an extra pillar and if they noticed it themselves, it's not like they can just take an eraser to it. Although, why they didn't put it up as a fark project is beyond me: "erase the extra cOlumn"
^-^
They explored what happens when two HIME's have the same MVP. I think they are fully capable of delving into what happens when two HIME's are eachother's MVP. And if a Child dies, the HIME is out of the game. If the MVP dies first, then they can turn their heart around and get their Child to rematerialize. What I don't understand is the element business. Is it a byproduct of having a Child? I think it's a gip that you lose the element when you can't summon your Child.
I think the whole HiME/MIP relationship theory is bogus!
Exactly when was Shiho told that in order use her powers she had to put what was most dearest to her on the line? Mai had already been using hers before she was ever told and even then what she put on the line was her life.
My theory is that all of the HiME's were selected by fate. Sometime during their life they were destined to suffer a tragedy and want to change that so that it never happened. For some of the HiME's we know what this is, for the others we may never know. This would give them the will to make things right and fight to do what needs to be done. This desire is what gives them the ability to use their power and not some link to any one person. This is pretty much confirmed in Mai's last conversation with Tate when she talks about how she first thought it was Takumi and then Tate tries to explain to her that it's what she truly desires instead. This is just what I believe or want to believe.
I have also figured out how the pillar count can work and still include Alyssa. Or at least in theory!
We have 11 pillars and 12 pre-destined HiME's. Alyssa was never even thought of during the last festival so the pillars could only have been set up for 12 HiME's. Alyssa's Childs death activated 1 pillar that had been reserved for a true HiME.
This gave the sister a way out.
Fake your own death and drop out of the festival.
Her Child was never actually defeated and the flames from the church burning down obscured any attempt to verify her death. With one less HiME around the pillar count could then be 11 and once everything is over she could get away without ever having to actually fight the others which she was always against. If she is still alive putting up a fake pillar would not be a problem for Vrus.
When Yukino gives up in the Church, the 6th pillar rises... [I watched this scene a couple of times before I made my post way at the beginning]
Of course, we can wildly speculate as much as we want, but Sunrise has shown to be quite good at doing the unexpected [who would've seen Tate or Takumi dieing previously or the whole HiMElander thing for example]
Random thing here. Shiho's bridal gown she wears first appears in episode six when Mikoto opens the door of the room that contains it. Shiho says its her bridal gown
when Mai asks about it and she says its a memento of her grandmother that her grandfather told her to wear when the time comes. Anyway, did anyone notice that besides me?
*crosses fingers*
PLEASE!!! NO RESET!!!
"Anyway, did anyone notice that besides me?"
Yes, about 18 episodes ago.
Things I will laugh at...not that it will happen anyway...*shrugs*
Reito turns into a giant ugly kaijin like beast...
Reito eats Nagi, or steals his soul...
A Mai-HiME Flashback...
Resurrection Blvd...
The Return of the "Dragon Jet Gundam"...
All the Childs fuse into a new monster to fight the Obsidian Lord.
Mai goes "Sailor Moon" on us.
The HiME, Childs, and MVP all return and the HiMEs do this whole sentai pose...*something Midori has been doing for quite awhile*
"MAI-HIME EPISODE FINAL-13 PRINCESSES"
As for the world reset idea, while i agree that there is much chance that there is going to be a worldreset, that does not mean that the producers have to do it. they can just decide to make it a tragic ending, where there is no real resolution (i will kill the producers if they do that, though)
I agree with Rondo that the MIP idea is all Nagi's deception.
Natsuki could be the key person to the truth of Hime power. What was Natsuki's MIP before she lost her power? Her Mom? But Natsuki believes her Mom is already dead. What remained was her desire for revenge. Ep 24 however shows Natsuki new found MIP and I don't think is Shizuru. Natsuki's most important things probably are friendship, trust and hope.
If this is true, the Hime power will be rely on the degree of one's willpower.The stronger the willpower, the stronger the Hime power.
At this point of the story, the willpower to defeat each other child in order to protect the MIP is the source of Hime power. But that could also mean the power is driven by hate, sorrow, and desperation.
Since Mai, Natsuki and Mikoto are the 3 main characters in the story. I am hoping all 3 of them could come to realize the truth of Hime power and defeat Reito.
I'm still wondering where extra pillar come from.
6 pillars ---episode 25--> 9 pillars
we need 11 pillars to complete HiMElander, right ?
2 more needs ... 4 HiME available ... 1 winner, 3 losser
where's extra pillar come from ???
"I'm still wondering where extra pillar come from."
Most likely it's a fake!
A pillar magicly appeared aftef Akira's defeat and just prior to Mashiro's encounter with Reito. This is also the same time that Mashiro decides to give emotions a chance and try their luck with that. I beleive that the 3rd pillar is a false pillar and that Mashiro is using it as a means to remain undiscovered until the time comes where she is needed.
Just a small thought process that i think (not 100% sure, maybe i was reading too fast) that no one brought up-
If Mai and Mikoto do that double KO thing, and if Mai wins, isn't Reito the one that suffers? Unless Mikoto changes MIP all of a sudden or something.
Either way, that'd put an end to that, wouldn't it?
I think Miyu will take of Shizuru for wiping out the First District, but Shizuru's MVP might not be Natsuki, even though she loves her.
Mikoto and Mai will double-KO fighting each other, or lose to Reito being defended by Nagi and Fumi.
Natsuki might be the last one standing. Both Nagi and Mr. Smith from SEARRS called her "Princess".
About the pillars. Only 8 HiME have been defeated:
Akane -> by Miyu
Akira -> by Shiho
Alyssa -> by Mai
Midori -> by Mikoto
Nao -> by Shizuru
Shiho -> by Mikoto
Yukino -> by Shizuru
Yukariko -> by herself
Mai, Natsuki, Mikoto and Shizuru remain.
Mashiro and Fumi are a bit of a complication but it is my opinion that they should be excluded from the number of HiMEs contributing to the 12 since they are in some way connected to the previous 'festival' 300 years ago. This would also make sense if Fumi was Mashiro's Child, since Fumi never does anything HiME-ish/Child-ish unless it is to protect Mashiro or from a direct order on Mashiro's part.
Realized one thing from this episode.
I don't hate any of the HiMEs.
It's the guys (mainly Ishigami, Tate, Nagi, and Reito) that deserve to perish. Whether they know it or not, they have been pulling the strings all along.
I really don't care about the HiME matchups or whatever last minute conflicts. They are really insignificant now.
I would be much happier to see the latter two "masterminds" dead.
I agree with LX, with the exception that I would like Mai, Natsuki and Mikoto to survive aswell. I wonder what the chances are?
Totally off topic ^ - ^"
I was thinking about this earlier in the day..
Could Alyssa be a copy of Shiho? Since Alyssa's hair went all lantern-ish when she activated her Child and her powers and so did Shiho...
And Shiho's the real HiME..
So.. meh.
II'd be best to have the following resolutions:
ep.25: As Mai goes into psychological recoup mode for the final battle, Natsuki leaves her to persue Shizuru. They meet, they fight a little, talk, and Natsuki tells her she likes her still and to come back. Shizuru repents and all as well until Nagi comes up and kills Shizuru saying that's unallowed for himes not to fight so close to the end. Natsuki goes green sparks.
ep.26: Reito was hoping for Shizuru to defeat Natsuki and then kill off Mai before being defeated by Mikoto. So he sends Nagi to finish Mai -- Nagi worries this will piss off the higher ups but complies. However, he's intercepted and defeated by Miyu in a big dramatic turn-around, and Mai goes to confront Reito, has her revelations gets back her powers and wins, etc. Cue reset / ressurection.
uh... I haven't read too much about the previous entries but.... Somehow I doubt that Shiho is Alyssa. Of course, I understand why animePhreak would said that judging from their "glowing hair", even I qestioned it as well. My answer was that "maybe" Sunrise was out of the ideas...
First, Shiho's hair danced fiercer than Alyssa's, that brought to the difference between their power releasing moments. Notice that Alyssa's hair glowed everytime she "used" her child, and for an extensive amout of time. On the other hand, Shiho's hair glowed (because of her HiME mark) only when she "activated" her child, just like any other HiMEs. Next, Alyssa's hair served as an element to control her child. But, Shino's element was a fistula-like thing, if you recalled, not her pink tantacles.
If you think that Orphan attacked Shiho purposely in order to awake her child, then there was a definite possibility that Searrs Foundation wanted to use her power to fight against the First District. Rather, in ep22, asked Reito a favorite to make peace...
To GUTB: uh... Will there be anymore "higher ups"? Since FD will be crush by Kiyohime and her master? And if Natsuki confesses to Shizuru that she likes her (as meaning "like"/"Suki"/"Not love" you mean), then does that mean Shizuru have taken the spot of Natsuki's MVP? Then that means Shizuru goes green sparks as well?
GUTB: Why would Reito have Mikoto save Mai in ep.24 just to kill her in 25? Why would Reito want Tate died if there's no jealousy and competition involve? And why would he want to marry his own sister?
Actually...I don't think Mikoto counts as a Hime. After all, would the Obisidian Lord really be stupid enough to risk his sparkly demise if she lost? Also, Mikoto's abilities seem to come from her sword/pendant combo, not to mention her combat training.
Personally, I think that Reito intends Mai to win, though the whole 'bride' thing probably isn't a high priority for him. But now she knows who he really is...Well, that should really screw up his plans a bit.
Maybe the Himes who don't manifest Childs don't count for the pillars? That's the only explanation I have for Fumi.
This how is how I would do it. But Reito probably intends Mikoto to win, or else he would have tried to get rid of her MIP. He comments he would would liked Tate's disaperance to have been more pathetic. Plus he did the same thing last Festival apparantly (hooked up with his sister who won last time).
If I was Reito, I would remove Mai's MIP so she can't call her overwhelmingly powerful Child at the same time eliminated another strong HiME. After turning Shizuru loose on the First Division to keep them out of my way, I would let her defeat Natsuki, and then set her against Mai (by reminding her she has to win or it's bye-bye world and Natsuki). I would use Shizuru because she would definately kill her in cold blood, while that would test Mikoto's willpower to the limit. Reito obviously knows and is concerned about Mikoto's attraction to Mai. So he keeps Mikoto out of the way, lets Shizuru kill Mai, and then turns out Mikoto to take revenge, and winner = Mikoto please drive through.
If he intended to make Mai the winner, he's doing a piss-poor job of this, and now that Ishigami told her who he is, and the whole thing with Midori will, etc, will ensure Mai will not even be tempted. How is she supposed to form a MIP link with someone she hates now?
Shizuru is a good back-up candidate for winner, in case Mikoto breaks his control, becomes unreliable, etc. Natsuki is just a loose end that can be tied up by either Mikoto or Shizuru.
The way I see it, if someone other that a HiME defeats another HiME then it doesn't count. If Mikoto were to turn on Reito and Reito defeats her then nothing would happen to him.
Spoiler: The final HiME's refusal to rule with him would fit right in with Mai's hate for Reito. Spoiler:
There is only one possible ending for this series I can see if Mai wins and that is a reset.
Not a reset for everyone but a reset for herself.
A reset that would throw a major monkey wrench into the entire system and prevent any of the events that have occurred from ever happening.
Mai's true desire: I wish I had never been born!
Guys, please do not forget to put your name in the name field. If I can't match your anonymous post to your IP address, I'll delete the post right away.
GUTB:
I like your analysis in your second paragraph of today's post a lot, but I have some questions. If Shizuru defeats Natsuki, would Shizuru go green sparkly? If not (if Natsuki's MIP is somebody else, like the fat afro-head teacher), can Shizuru defeat Mai? Mai took point blank lightning from Artemis, lived, destroyed him, and lived again. Where do you see Miyu in all of this? In the ep.25 preview, her sword-arm was out.
That's just what I would do if I was Reito. We don't know if Shizuru is Natsuki's MIP or not. What would happen if that was the case and one beats the other is that probably, the victor will go green sparks and the defeated left powerless (Child destroyed and MIP gone). Since Mai just lost her MIP, she is powerless until she gets another. Shizuru would kill a defensless Mai, but Mikoto might not be able to, and result in turning on Reito.
Miyu will probably be there to take care of Nagi. She can't participate in an antagonist way -- her re-introduction was drawn as a victory for the good guys, so she must fullfil a protagonist role. Since Reito is obviously the end boss, he is Mai's concern. Shizuru is Natsuki's concern. That leaves Nagi.
A world reset would be fine, but I think it must not be cheap....In order to receive something, a price must be paid....I will really hate to see an easy way to end a series like this with a reset button.....after all the happiness, sadness, suffering, and all those cool elements of real life, a world reset is too cheap, easy and unreal....the last hime will control the power of the hime star...in exchange for a certain fate....thats the fate We will see....and if the writers knows their job well as they did with this series, Mai Hime will be a real classic and one of the best anime series. period.
GUTB:
Miyu vs. Nagi is intruiging.
I'm not sure Mai lost her abilities (Kag.) with the loss of Tate. Her tattoo was still there in the ep. 25 preview, and she didn't lose it after Takumi "died". In ep. 15, she announces to Mashiro her greater holistic view and hope, and I think that's what keeps her going and her element and Child alive. Remember also in ep.1 Kag. was already helping her even before she knew he existed.
I hope they leave a loose end to pave the way for a second season.
i am really interested in what will happen to shizuru. I don't think that natsuki's MVP is shizuru (I wish), but I think it's, as others have mentioned before, love and friendship in general. But i think there's a special link between her and shizuru and she's really grateful for everything shizuru has done for her. Miyu will definitely kill at least one of the remaining Himes in ep.25. It could well be shizuru, or natsuki. if it's natsuki, shizuru will intervene and may die. (natsuki dies as well?)
In any case, it is likely that Mai and Mikoto will be the only two left to finish things off with Reito. Mikoto will realise that her MVP is Mai and not Reito. Friendship and love in general may give them extra power to break the 300 years cycle. I don't know.
after reading a japanese message board
*SPOILER WARNING*
(my japanese sucks) I think shizuru dies, after a battle between her and natsuki. but dies very happily apparently.
well with any luck we'll find out tonight.. the raws have been coming very early lately. ^^
I watched the RAW no. 25 this morning. What can I say - WOW! There are a few surprises. It looks like Yesy has already subbed it - 2.5 hours left on the BT.
I agree... Wow!
due. one word. cascadedtesrserupted.
just watched Yesy's sub...and whoa...
*SPOILER START*
so mikoto did die during the match with mai when takumi was killed? well at least it explains the mysterious extra pillar.
*SPOILER ENDS*