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ファイト／ステイナイト 
I never thought that I could be repelled by an image presented in a mainstream anime series but I was obviously wrong. As a whole, this episode is actually quite good. There were some parts of the stories which I thought was truly moving. But in the end, I can't help but thinking about how repulsive the scene in question was and that just completely brought down my enjoyment of this episode and the entire series in general. I'm mostly annoyed by the writers' decision to make the characters in this series act as if they lack brain and logical, sensible thoughts. There is no precedent in which the scene in question should take place. From what I've seen, the situation could have easily gone to other direction.
The series open Nina remembering the time when she told her father that she'll never get married and will stay as his daughter. Elsewhere in some kind of a seedy love motel, a bunch of masked men are shown carrying barely-dressed Kazu while Akane is seen chasing after them with her dress half open. Unfortunately she fails to catch Kazu and ends up stranded in the dessert. Thankfully for her, an Otome then appears revealing herself as one of the five columns. Another column make an appearance in Airies telling Haruka and Yukino that Zipang has a present for both of them. The present in question seems to be artilery weapons. At the same time, two Otomes, one from Remus and one from Florence find themselves under Nina's command. Upon seeing Nina, however, Miss Maria decides to give her the letter that Erstin had written to both her and Arika. Later on, Tomoe asks Nina if she is in this war for Sergey's sake but Nina claims that it's for Nagi's sake.
Tomoe calls on Nina's BS and tells her that if she wants, she can have anything including men since there is a loophole. Before Tomoe can mention any example, however, she gets a slap from Nina who tells her that Tomoe doesn't understand anything. If only Nina realises how similar she really is to her rival. A pissed off Tomoe decides to cry to Shizuru. Shizuru decides to comfort her and tells Tomoe that she's all that matter to Shizuru right now. Unknown to Tomoe, Shizuru has received a mail from Natsuki through Irina's help. Irina has also been researching some information on Yohko's computer, aided by an information engineering book given by Erstin. Meanwhile, Miyu is seen remembering the time when Alyssa was still alive and decides to pull a metallic box out of the lava. Meanwhile in Aswad, Midori's group reveals that Lumen has been killed and Rad is injured badly. Thankfully for Rad, Yohko arrives to help him. She claims that she doesn't want to lose him again.
At the same time, Nina is seen reading a letter from Erstin which tells her that if Nina or Arika reads this letter, then Erstin would most likely have been dead. She admitted that she didn't intent on making friends with anyone but she can't help but being happy being with Nina, Arika, and her classmate. Because of this, Erstin wants to thank you and say 'sorry' to both of her friends. Nina becomes emotional upon reading the letter and Sergey arrives in time to comfort her. He feels useless for not being able to protect her. Because of this, Nina strips down and tells him that there is one thing that he can do and that is to take her Otome power. Sergey at first refuses but when Nina tells him that it seems she can't become her blue star, referring to Sergey's affection for Rena, Sergey bought it. Moving on to other characters, Natsuki is seen giving Nao a Column gem. Cut back to Sergey walking towards the capsule that hosts Rena's body.
Sergey is immediately confronted by John smith but he manages to shoot the guy. However, before Sergey can shoot the capsule, he already got shot by Nagi. Nina is then awaken in the middle of the night only to receive the news that Sergey is in a coma but still alive. Nagi encourages Nina to unleash her power on the Harmonium so she can revive Sergey. Nina immediately falls for it and her gem reacts accordingly, activating the Harmonium in the process. The next day, Natsuki officially declares war to set Windbloom free. At the same time, Sergey is seen enveloped in a green power while Nina activates the Harmonium for his sake. In the black valley, Mai and Mikoto are ready to go but she's not sure if Mashiro and Arika should come. But Mashiro tells Mai that everyone else is already in the war to regain their country so they also must go. Arika then tells Mashiro that her dream right now is to built a country where its people can smile happily.
Garten's impression:
Kimochi Waru! was the first thought that I had after I watched the episode. I can not watch the Sergey and Nina scenes and not end up feeling disgusted. It doesn't help that the animators alternate their present scene with the past scenes where Nina was still a little girl. I am not even going to bother to blame a character anymore because when I watch the scene, I can easily see that there is an alternative to that scene. However, the writers chose not to take it. When Nina said that she can't be Sergey's blue star, Sergey should have said that no, she can't because she's more than that, she's his daughter. Grab a coat and cover Nina with it. But obviously that is not as exciting or over the top as making him sleeping with Nina. The entire excuse of trying to make Nina feels appreciated was just hogwash, IMO. In the end, the scene was too overwhelming and brought down the rest of the episodes even though if you had cut the scene, you'll find that this is actually a rather well-written episode.
It is also unfortunate that the scene above came after a really good scene involving Erstin's heartfelt letter. I thought that scene was really powerful and underscores the main theme of the series: the loss of friendship in the midst of war. This is a theme that is repeated throughout this episode by showing the two Otome from Florence and Remus joining Artai's side while the rest of the Otomes joining Natsuki and the others. Another positive thing about this episode is the involvement of Irina in helping the resistance. While her friends are either dead, turn into nymphomaniac, or hiding like a hermit, she is the only one who actually takes the most logical, positive step in ensuring that she helps everyone any way she can. Last but not least, there is an interesting scene involving Miyu pulling something out of the lava. Since the series itself has gone on a wild rampage, I may as well make a wild guess and say that the content is probably used to summon Kagutsuchi and that is the powerful attack that destroy Garderobe in the preview.
Any bets on when Brainless Combat Cyborg Sergey shows up? :D At least we got one more shot of Erstin, as she wrote the letter which Nina eventually got.. and with which Miss Maria may have broken Nagi's controls over the girl, had she not been as gullible as Sergey and others had made her, to date.
I wonder what Shiziru was doing with all those.. ah... toys... in the Ep 25 preview? Makes me wonder if she's really into that, if Tomoe is... or if she was doing a little mind-game on the girl.
This episode is just weird and creepy. Why is Shiho still doing that Maki Maki thing? And the entire Akane and Kazu scene was ridiculous. It's very out of context in comparison to the rest of the episode. And then there's Sergey and Nina...ugh.
>> I wonder what Shiziru was doing with all those.. ah... toys... in the Ep 25 preview?
Obviously Sunrise thinks showing Sergey and Nina is not bad enough. They just have to leave us with that shot of Shizuru and baby-like Tomoe *shudders*
I thought the Akane/Kazu scene was pretty funny, though then it reminded me why they came for him--his family got wiped out by Aswald. ^^;;
I thought seeing Irina with her squad of guardian corals was pretty cool. Nice to see her taking a more active role in events again.
I think you're being a bit harsh. Granted this episode was shocking but it's not as if Nina and Sergey are related.
Plus, we got Natsuki proposing to Nao. XD I think this episode is perfect!!
Sergey and Nina ...
Please tell me it isn't true..
thats just wrong... : (
Ehh... Arika and Mashiro were a very welcome end to this episode because I just wanted to forget all that happened... I wonder if there could be loophole to the Sergey x Nina thing... the audience didn't see everything, so -of course- it's possible that it might not have happened. Ack. I wish. For some reason, I was happy to see nagi using Nina at the end... it's as if his evil machinations will somehow lead to the demise of Sergey and Nina and kill the bad taste in my mouth.
There was still a lot of good things about it... like the exchange between Tomoe and Nina... hmm conflict on the dark side is kind of fun to see. I also really like how Natsuki and Nao are working together in these series compared to in Mai Hime, so thumbs up to that. and more Haruka! ^_^ I think I am just really in love with the old cast. I could care less if the new cast lives or dies...
Sergay and Nina~ What about Arika? What the hell was Sergay thinking? WHAT ABOUT ARIKA!!!
OK this is disgusting. As much as I hated Sergay in the past, as much as people have been flaming him, I can now surely say I was right to do so. I LOATHE his character now.
What's there to loathe?
he said clearly that the only reason he did what he did, was so he could protect Nina.
And Nina spelled it out too: "Make me lose my Otome ability", or something to that effect.
In case you've forgotten, Nina's been killing innocent people across several cities for the last few story-days. Yet you don't have a problem with that? You, know, Sergay DO care about the dying innocents... He was offered a chance to stop Nina from killing any more people, and he took up the offer.
Watch the Sub. You will understand better then.
Vallen Valiant, how is he going to protect Nina by doing that? She'll be powerless after the deed. Yeah, we all know that Nina told Sergay to take away her Otome ability but that doesn't make the situation any better. If Nina wants to stop killing innocent people, then she should just stop. Whatever happened to self-control? The ability to take responsibility for your own action? And I don't blame Sergay here but there are other ways to protect the innocent from dying such oh, I don't know......how about using Nina's power to defend those people instead? There's nothing much that Nagi can do since the gem correspond with both of them. This is a different gem from the one that is used on the Valkyrie too. So if anything, the balance of power lies in Nina's hand. If Nagi tries something funny, he'll turn into spark as well.
So...am I the only person not up in arms about this?
Its a valid direction for the plot to go, just because you are personally offended doesn't change that. Yes its kinda creepy and icky, but that was the point.
Also, I think that box contained MIYU's old equipment, in the preview she is shown wearing her Mythril Dress from HiME (Note the Otome like tails) and using the STANLEY Gatling Gun, which was previously missing from her weapon selection scene.
I think saying that it'll allow the summoning of Kagutsuchi is just...bizarre, personally. Totally unfounded by anything yet shown in the series.
Besides, Otome are easily on the same power level as the strongest of CHILDs were.
I am so disappointed... Why?
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@ Scarlet
Think the toys could be some sort of fetish that Tomoe has with Shizuru?
With the way things have gone (*cough-Nina/Sergay-*cough) Is it hard to belief that the writers could hint at something like that?
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More to come... Haha... I haven't watched the Eng-Sub yet so I have no idea what they are saying.
But all the sexual conent is quite disturbing, well for me anyway.
Oh man! I don't hate Sergay. If I was put in that position, I too would try to steal her Otome power from her BUT he freaking failed again.
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@ Fencedude
Yeah, I love those robes!
Its a valid direction for the plot to go, just because you are personally offended doesn't change that
Just because it is possible doesn't make it valid. There are many options in this life that are possible but that doesn't make them valid. We're talking about a man who's been overseeing the development of his daughter right from the start. The only way a person can justify this is if he/she coldly looking at it as if this is some kind of a freak case. Taking the position of an outsider, a viewer who enjoys seeing the characters doing unreasonable, stupid things. Even then it's still quite hard to digest.
But try putting yourself in Sergey's shoes and his whole action looks completely unreasonable. No father in their right mind would do what he did no matter what the circumstances are. And that's my whole point, I criticised the writers for making the characters looking as if they're just puppets who have no intelligence. I criticised them for writing a character whose very action only makes sense if we view him from a third person distance. From a safe point where we can point our finger and look down on him for doing 'disgusting thing'.
Unfortunately I like my characters to think through their actions. Especially when it's apparent that there are other choices around them. If these choices exist but the writers end up taking the character through an entirely different path without reasonable explanation, then usually it's because the action in question was designed to shock rather than to facilitate a good storytelling. If you enjoy watching characters that run around as if they are mindless puppet, then that's your choice. But that doesn't mean it's enjoyable for everyone.
I think saying that it'll allow the summoning of Kagutsuchi is just...bizarre, personally. Totally unfounded by anything yet shown in the series.
Well, that's exactly what I said up there. I knew it doesn't make any sense. But wouldn't that be in keeping with the series especially as of late? Look, I'm not trying to put down the series. I've mentioned what I like about this episode. But that's exactly why it frustrates me. The series could be so much more than this. There are other interesting angles they can take from the story. But instead they chose to focus on the brief shock of the week. Maybe it's my mistake that I expect too much from something that is clearly designed for other purpose. But I think with every show, there is a certain level of expectation placed by each viewer of the series. For some viewers, the expectation is met. For others, it's not.
Seriously.. this eps is so intense that i feel that i can hardly take in anymore.. =_=
Hate Sergey and Nina's part..
And wanted to whack Nina bcoz she just takes in everything Nagi said.. USE your GODD**N brain!!!!!!!
War... i'm definitely happy to see all the Otome gather around.. but i hate to see them sacrifice.. (unless they are the bad ones :P) especially Chie..
So.. next week will be 2 eps special.. It's going to be crazy.. @_@ but.. finally.. coming to an end...
As disgusting and apprehensive as that most awkward of scenes was it was one of four choices Sergei could have made.
He could have done:
1. Nothing as he has since ep 17
2. What he did
3. Flee with Nina in tow
4. Kill Nina
Option three may not have worked since Nagi already anticipated 2. If he wanted to get out of his rut he should have done something earlier and not so late in to the game. He got what was coming and don't tell me that the possibility never crossed your minds the preview already gave you a worse case scenario, and given Sergei's penchant for bad decsions it was a forgone conclusion.
It is utterly absurd to not have braced yourselves for this most horrifying of possibilites. It's almost as bad watching FOX to maintain the illusion that your are doing a good job, and remain utterly ignorant or unwilling to admit failure. Personally I had already prepared myself for this eventuality and even after Sergei finally got off his butt and snapped back to reality I cannot abide by the fact that a point blank head shot did not result in his immediate demise.
Garten is right though all may be fair in love and war, but not all is right. Some of you cling to the utter fallacy this man was a father, if he was he was already a bad one and this just seals it. Had he lived Nagi would have had a hostage to force Nina into compliance more easily. His death was a chance for Nina to sever ties with Nagi and take him down, she elected not to. She irresponsible and pouty princess who realizes way too late the sins she has committed, her utter lack of self control is indicative that Sergie was ill prepared for the rigors of father hood despite any misplaced feelings of kindness.
At any rate Natsuki seems to have finally been allowed to get out of her useless rut and Irina has proven far more capable than I could have hoped. Haruka was brilliant to have pulled off that manuever in the midst of the enemy formation, reconstruction, bah she went for super cruiser. So the war begins let the blood of Artai flow they don't have enough blood in their worthless bodies to pay for what they have done, any future built on the sacrafice of others is not worth having.
At this point I hope Aoi comes out with the pure white daimond to save poor Chie. Besides at this point it matters little how far sunrise will go or how low they will strike. The person(s) behind the Sergei scripts need to be made public.
Say what you will, I for one look forward to teh finale of this trainwreck, and hopefully Sergei will stay dead.
Rest In Pieces Sergei
Failed Father
Doom of is Daughter
Oppressor of the People
Accomplice in the usurption of the Dukedom
May he find no peace in this life or the next.
Yes, he deserved to die and I hope he burns in Hell!
At least Nina's fingers spoke to Tomoe's face, namely SLAP!
On the one hand, you have to admire Sunrise for not taking the easy way out of the mess they created. On the other hand... the hard way is not necessarily the RIGHT way to go either. Especially since it looks like Nina jumping Sergey did NOTHING to stop her ability to use the Harmonium, which was the major thing that let Nina go off on a killing rampage; it wasn't her Otome powers, but her Harmonium control... which you'll notice she still has, although if Sergey wakes up next week without being obviously Sergey (a mindless robot), then Nina MIGHT break Nagi's control and realize he's been lying to her for some time.
Or the Harmonium gets nuked, after Sunrise kills off a third of the cast like they did in SEED and SEED Destiny. :D AT this point, I'm not putting that past them either.
So what was the loop-hole is where my thoughts lie...
Maybe they have to be NOT family... >_
March 24, 2006 | laboo wrote:
So what was the loop-hole is where my thoughts lie...
Maybe they have to be NOT family... >_ or perhaps the two have to be in true love?
Don't know... regardless of which... I wonder if it was just a ruse... or rather, I'm praying that is just as ruse to fool the ever watching Nagi. As much as I like Nina's character, some things are just wrong. Although her break down prior to it was beautifully tragic, i must say.
Has the raw of this episode been boycotted because of the aforementioned content? I can't find it anywhere.
I have not seen this episode (I couldn't find it yet), but don't tell me...that Sergei ..really...stripped Nina of her nanomachines ?
O_o ?
(I have to stick up a poster of him in my room if it's true !!..for some would be disturbing, but I'll go ROFLMAO if I see it....come on...how can you take it seriously? Would be even better than Magikano!!!)
I'm not really sure what happened, besides the kiss. After seeing Sergey in critical condition once again (what is he, an undead? why can't that guy die for once?) her gem still reacted to her. So my guess is she's still an Otome. Which means...
Sunrise did pull the same stunt once with Arika and Sergey, right? We were left with a kiss scene, being pissed about it, then they show that nothing 'wrong' happened.
But the Shizuru-Tomoe scenes... That's something i can't believe. Guess we all have seen some 'liberal' fan arts, but the real thing is starting to be more hardcore than those.
Anyways, only two more to go. Gonna be interesting.
Hehe, as much as people loathe this series, you know you're gonna watch next week's special.
Everyone, just be quiet since we're finally so close to the ending. Then you can watch DBZ or whatever show you think is better than this. XP
*jams hands in pockets, starts whistling, and strolls out*
For those who asked why Sergay didn't do something else...
First, he no longer has parental control over Nina. He can't order Nina to do anything anymore, because she now considers herself an adult.
Second, leaving with Nina is out of the question, as well as the idea of using her powers for "good". Since Nagi is the greatest threat this world is facing, killing him will kill Nina. At some point, either Sergay or the other characters would make a move in killing Nagi. Nina's contract with Nagi MUST be broken at some point, or she dies.
Third, parental responsibility is irelevant when you know your child is kiling people. It didn't work out, sure, but at least he tried. And I would suggest Nina tricked Sergay, knowingly getting herself into the situation she's in, knowing full well she is holding the lives of thousands of people hostage, in order to force him to sleep with her.
Sergay Won is Mai Otome's Chuck Norris, its next to impossible to kill the guy. Sunrise should have offed him when Miyu ran him through and just let that snap Nina out of her rut. Personally people should check out the manga of Mai Otome, the setting is sillier but the story is rock solid, in otherwords where Otome was heading before Sunrise execs wanted to waste 6+ episodes pandering to Mai HiME fans.
*spoilers starts*
In the manga Nagi is an asshole from the start, generally abusing of Nina and making it clear that he will maim or kill anyone that stands in his way.
*spoiler ends*
hah, it's about darn time Sergey got some...hehe... You people act like a grade schoolers when it come to sex....really the world is gonna end because Sergey and Nina..well, you know... what about Tomoe and Shiz.... the age difference is there also..... I believe Sergey , Mai, Natsuki and Shiz are about the same age.... I don't here people crying foul there....oh well....you don't like it, then don't watch.... I for one love it...
Yeah. A father sleeping with his daughter is something only babies would be weirded out over.
>>you don't like it, then don't watch
You can like something without liking everything about it.
"You people act like a grade schoolers when it come to sex....really the world is gonna end because Sergey and Nina"
Please come back and tell me if you still feel the same way once you have your own daughter. I think the only people who can say something as light as this are either teenagers or people who don't think through their words. The kind of people who believe that any kind of shocking, unusual scenario is cool because if they like it, it means they are 'open-minded' until they are faced with their own prejudice. Replace Nina with a guy and I'd like to see what you think.
Ya know, I think the loophole here is stated in the early episode. If you got the the idea, Natsuki stated that an Otome WILL lose her powers if a male's s**d enters the Otome's body.
So, the fact that Nina still has her Otome powers is because that Sergay isn't that immoral to pregnates her own *daughter*.
This is proved when Rena Sayers gave birth to Arika, which means that some guy must have planted her with his s**d.
Come back when you see the sub, please.
Like it or not (and Sergay didn't like it), Sergay did what he had to do.
"Come back when you see the sub, please."
That's the weakest argument I've ever seen in my entire life. You automatically assume that people don't understand just because they don't agree to your way of thinking. Since you're so keen on making assumption about me, may I assume that you're just trying to justify whatever lolicon desire you may have?
First of all, I may not be as good in Japanese as Garten or other raw watchers but I know quite well to understand enough. Whatever 'justification' that Sergey had didn't make it any better. And I disagree that he did what he had to do.
There are people who knows how to deactivate the Master/Contract role within Garderobe. It's true that they're not aorund at the moment. But that doesn't mean that they can't get away, especially considering Nina's power. Moreover, I don't recall Nina's particular gem to be iron-clad, binding agreement like the one Valkyries had.
"Replace Nina with a guy and I'd like to see what you think."
What does that suppose to mean?
If Sergay had sex with a man because that would save the world from a tyrancial ruler, hell YES I will be thankful. He did something he doesn't enjoy to save others. I would most certainly be greatful of that act, not demonise it.
"But that doesn't mean that they can't get away, especially considering Nina's power. "
...Err... Dispite your Japanese skills, you seemed to have forgotten that Nina CAN'T use her powers without either Nagi approval or access to the Harmonium. Neither option would be availabe if they leave Gardrobe...
And I consider Meister GEM contracts to be binding, since not even Miyu could disable them. If Miyu can't it certainly won't be easy for anyone else.
If Sergay knows of any other way, he would do that. He doesn't, so he did the one thing he could do.
"What does that suppose to mean?"
I was referring to the fact that several so-called 'open-minded' people can be not so open-minded when it comes to other phobia.
"... Nina CAN'T use her powers without either Nagi approval or access to the Harmonium. Neither option would be availabe if they leave Gardrobe..."
That just shows you don't use your brain at all. The truth is, once Nagi approves the use of Harmonium/give permission to use the gem, Nina can do practically anything she wants to do. Which is why she can just attack Arika/Mashiro in the desert even if that's not what Nagi wanted (he wanted capture). All they need is one permission from Nagi to access the Harmonium and they all set to do whatever they want, including capturing him.
Is it more difficult? I'll bet it is. Is it more dangerous? Obviously. But this shows that there are other options than banging your own daughter. It is not the only thing he can do as you repeatedly suggested. And you simply think in a short term gain instead of a long term. Imagine if Sergey survives, do you think he can look into Nina and see her as his daughter anymore? How do you think their relationship is going to be? And by taking away Nina's Otome power this way, he ensures that she can no longer defend herself should for some reason, she can dismantle the gem and use another gem to defend herself.
And as a father, let me just say this: raising a daughter involves more than just protecting her physical well-being. It also means protecting her emotional well-being. To ensure that she grows up to be a happy, relatively unscarred, functional human being.
You sound like an idiot if you think that protecting the world comes first before being a good father. Your claim that Sergey is doing the world a favour by screwing his own daughter is a proof of this. But the thing is, if he really loves his daughter, he wouldn't even think like this to begin with.
No parents will want to put the fate of the world first and foremost before the emotional well-being of their children. If you're thinking like this, then please don't be a parent. If you think what Sergey did is acceptable, then it's most likely that you're going to do this to your own daughter if the same circumstances arise.
Perhaps I have been miss-understood...
I am not looking into this from the view of Sergay, but as a by-stander who's life may depend on it.
Is it repulsive to Sergay that he did what he did? Of course. He himself believe so.
But he did it so others may live. And that 'others' includes me. I am NOT suggesting that Sergay's choice is ideal in anyway. But merely that he has a point no matter how you look at it. (For that matter, this is NINA's idea. I believe all this was an elaborate setup by her.)
If Sergay DIDN'T sleep with Nina, would I complain? Of Course not. This is hardly a reasonable demand, an option no better than strangling one's own wife to death. I did not at any stage suggest that it is a decent choice for anybody.
And frankly, should the situation arises with me in control as you suggested, and YOU and YOUR family's lives is on the line, I wonder if you would be so certain in demanding the same inaction...
After all, you would certainly value your own daughter far more than mine. And I will value my daughter far more than yours.
(or for that matter, your whole family, your whole country, or your whole planet. I could theoretcally prefer everyone to die over my own daughter, and no one could blame me.... or wouldn't they?)
The thing is, I don't blame Sergey as much as I'm just angry at the ridiculousness of the situation in which he's been placed in the storyline. I know that this is mostly Nina's idea but as a father and an individual, Sergey can refuse. Which one is more important to him: The life of a stranger he may never know or his relationship with his daughter? Why bother saving other you don't know when the cost is your own daughter's emotional well-being? Again, I don't blame him but I find it ridiculous that he'll chose the safety of others instead of the emotional well-being of his daughter. Especially after he claims that his daughter is first and foremost in his heart.
I know that I won't do what Sergey had done because I know I can't save my daughter by doing an even more horrible thing to her. It'll just mess her up even more. As for your family, that's your own choice to make. But my point was, if a person is planning to start a family/raising someone as your daughter, then I hope that person does it with the intention to love his family/his daughter first and foremost. What's the point of saving others when you can't even protect your own family well-being? And again, this is why I find the idea of Sergey saving everyone by bedding his own daughter is ridiculous. It is laughable at best.
And why would other people blame you for prioritising your loved ones first and foremost? They'll do the same anyway. You seem to believe that it's normal for people to care about strangers first before their own relatives' safety but that is not true. When push comes to shove, it is in human nature to prioritise the people that you love first. Don't believe me? Ever notice why people are more responsive to a tragedy that involves their own family member than to the one that probably happens in a far-off country? Because people can't care for everyone. It's impossible to do that. The only thing that you can do is to ensure that your loved ones' well-being is taken care of first and foremost. And then, if possible, you start thinking about others.
@James
>I'm just angry at the ridiculousness of the situation
Don't be. Just laugh about it, because it's ridicule, really.
The other ridicule thing is that this ep (in its raw form) has been obviously boycotted by the usual channels.
>You seem to believe that it's normal for people to care about strangers first before their own relatives' safety but that is not true.
No, that's NOT what I am saying. Quite the opposite, in fact. I am saying what Sergay did was NOT standard behaviour, and that I should be greatful that he cared about people outside of his own family.
He made a sacrifice, a big one, a sacrifice most people won't care to make. And I am greatful for that. That's what I am talking about. It's not because he wants to have sex with children, and it CERTAINLY isn't because I want to have sex with children (which various posters have accused me of here.)
I agree that most people would rather let millions of strangers die than to put one's daughter through this. So why all this hate for someone who decided otherwise? It's his decision to make, and he will bear the consequences. The choice is his.
And yes, the situation is absurd. But that's the whole point. There is no NORMAL way a loving father would have sexual intercourse with his daughter. But the situation isn't normal, so as expected, we get an outcome that isn't normal either.
It's the same as other stories. Like those survival movies when people ate the flesh of their dead family to survive. Or horror movies where people kill their loved ones in order to spare them the suffering of being turned into a vampire or zombie. The situation is absurd, but that's where stories are born. People make choices that they don't normally make, because the situation wasn't NORMAL.
I definitely don't hate Sergey. I just think his action is outlandish and doesn't make any sense because the situation wasn't as abnormal as you made it out to be. Yes, they were in a tight bind thanks to Nagi's control but as myself and some other people have identified, there are other ways. But let's not regurgitate that again.
So why all this hate for someone who decided otherwise? It's his decision to make, and he will bear the consequences. The choice is his.
The thing is, when he made that decision, it also affects the future of a person he calls his daughter. The consequences is not just limited to him but also to Nina's emotional well-being. I find that as a father, that is the most irresponsible and immoral thing to do. It's not enough to make me hate him like some other people here, but in my eyes, his character integrity is completely destroyed single-handedly by that scene.
If you ask me now, I don't think I can see Sergey and Nina as father and daughter anymore. I also can't see them as lover either because Sergey didn't love her like that. When things end, what will happen? I just don't think Sergey and Nina can resume their relationship like it was before. And to end it with them as a couple also feels jarring. In the end, all that scene achieved was sensationalism and character assasination of both Sergey and Nina. And the thing is, that scene is not even the catalyst that takes Nina to the brink of insanity. It was mostly Nagi's action that did this. Nina would have acted the same way if Sergey simply got shot by Nagi. So the question is, what's the use of that scene after all?
@James : I have 2 daughters one is 3 and the other is 13 years old, so don't go preaching to me.... it's a damn cartoon for heavens sake.... if you let a cartoon disgust you.... look around the world... there are far worse things happening in real life..... I do not condone incest... but Nina and Sergey are not blood.... She made the advances... I find no fault in Sergey for what he did....
so don't go preaching to me...
Then stop making stupid statement such as "hehe... You people act like a grade schoolers when it come to sex...." when other people disagree with you. If you can't respect someone else's different opinion then don't expect me to respect you either.
it's a damn cartoon for heavens sake....
Then why do you care if people criticise it? If it's just an unimportant cartoon for you then it doesn't matter is it if someone else criticise it. The fact that you got all huffed up because someone critcise it means that you actually bloody care.
I do not condone incest... but Nina and Sergey are not blood.... She made the advances... I find no fault in Sergey for what he did....
So are you saying that if you've raised a child from when she was 5 years old, you'll take her if she makes an advance on you because she's not your real daughter? Get real! I know for a fact that Nina is not Sergey's real daughter. But the issue is not so much of their blood relation but the emotional relations that the two shared prior to the incident. There's no way someone who has raised a child from when they were young could possibly want to screw that child a few years later. Unless they are immoral.
>There's no way someone who has raised a child from when they were young could possibly want to screw that child a few years later. Unless they are immoral.
And who said Sergay WANTS to?
Since when did Sergay ever suggest this is actually something he desires to happen?
You may suggest there was other alternative actions he could take. But as far as he is concerned, this is the end. He couldn't see any other way out, so he took the only viable option Nina gave him.
And he loathed it. Like any father would.
As for damaging the relationship with Nina....
Can't you see it was already beyond repair? She stripped in front of him and told him to have his way with her! Nina isn't interested in being his daughter anymore, so either way their father/daughter relationship is already shot to pieces. Their relationship have to start again from scratch, no matter what choice was made.
I think the Nina and Sergey kiss is still to do with what Aergey sai to Arika two episodes ago. If you note when they actually kiss you hear Arika's voice saying Sergey's name. So is Sergey thinking of Arika?
The other question is did the actually do the deed? Because that would mean Nina would lose her otome powers, which is why I doubt it actually happened, afterall Arika and NIna still need their big battle scene :D
"You may suggest there was other alternative actions he could take. But as far as he is concerned, this is the end. He couldn't see any other way out, so he took the only viable option Nina gave him."
You're assuming that is what he was thinking but neither of us know that. And he was going to refuse her even after she asked him to take her Otome power. So why not follow that through? Obviously he was thinking of refusing it and walk out on her. He knew there was other option. And yes, I got the part that he loathed doing this. But sexual intercourse involves 2 people. He was as much to blame as Nina.
"As for damaging the relationship with Nina....
Can't you see it was already beyond repair? She stripped in front of him and told him to have his way with her! Nina isn't interested in being his daughter anymore, so either way their father/daughter relationship is already shot to pieces"
And that's a good enough reason to just give it all up? If he had walk out on her, she'll be ashamed and he'll forgive her the next day, everything will go back to normal. Not everything in this life will go according to your plan. Sometimes you'll get a nasty shock. But that does not matter. What matter is the action that you take to deal with the problem at hand. You can either make it worse or you can make it better.
Guys, can we please move on? There are other things to discuss in this episode but you two simply go back and forth talking about the same thing. Give it a rest now. You're not going to agree with each other from the look of things. The same goes for everyone else. Talk about something else or go to other threads instead.
Whats the song called, the one when Nina was reading Erstine's letter? Sounds very very good, want it...Can someone please give me title and artist, and maybe where to get it? Thanks!
Just wondering, what happened to those hilarious pic descriptions??? Seems like its either they aren't showing for me, or there are none to begin with.
Anywho,
poor kazu and akane being disrupted while they're having some fun at the Love Motel.
*watches the episode again*
o____O;
*speechless*
What I want to know is whether Shiho plans on using the Spiral Seprent GEM in the upcoming war or maybe she'll just stick to her maki-maki. I dunno what to think anymore, it all seems rushed. I doubt they can resolve everything even though next week will combine episode 25 & 26. Also, what's the point of giving Nao a GEM if the Pillar system is down? Yeah nice gesture and all on Natsuki's part, but she won't be able to use it unless they fix the system. It might explain that explosion at Garderobe, or maybe not. Anyways, I can't wait for the finale next week. My guesses on the casualties are: Chie, Tomoe, Nina (Nagi), Haruka (Yukino) and quite possibly Shizuru or Natsuki.
woody Allen ftw!!!!!!
Mentar.. I think you're wrong about the part where Miyu is remembering Alyssa. I think it's another one of Alyssa's descendants because she says that those who inherit your blood are growing up healthily. It looks like she's checking up on her in the scene..
> Whats the song called, the one when Nina was reading Erstine's letter?
The song's called "Kaze to Hoshi ni Dakarete..." and is included with the Mai-Otome OP2 Single - Crystal Energy.
Seems like a good episode...imma divide it into yays and nays lol
Yays:
1. We finally get to see the 2 remaining columns
2. Rosalie didnt retire? cool and has a new gem? even cooler xD
3. Natsuki back on her bike ^^
4. Nao's and Shiho's gems
5. Erstin =(
6. IRINA!!
7. Byebye Sergey? ^^ about time!
Nays:
1. WHT! Sergey n Nina so wrong
2. Not enought Mai and Mikoto training
Overall mostly yays lol
Thanks Wassasin!!! =)
The Nina-Sergay scene was part disturbing, part flat-out stupid. People don't go back and forth between regarding someone as a family member and a lover - especially a parent-child relationship. I can (sort of) buy Nina always regarding Sergay as a man rather than her father, but up to now, Sergay never treated Nina as anything but a daughter. All of a sudden, he switches gears? Right. Plus, he didn't sleep with Nina to stop her or remove her Otome powers - he did it because he realized that she was his "precious person" (based off of his speech in front of Rena's casket). Sergay's not acting for the greater good, he's acting for Nina's good - or at least, her desires. In my book, this makes the scene all the creepier - that and the Nina-child flashbacks interspersed with it (shudder). Yuck.
Man, and I thought Sergay was finally dead - and to boot, he was going to die accomplishing something useful (or at least attempting to), which would have redeemed him a bit in my eyes. They even had his eyes go blank. Grrrr. Though, since by this point Nina's contract with Nagi should have been cancelled (no more nano-machines thatnks to emotional incest), why didn't he go after Nagi? He's a sniper, and Nagi prefers to wander around sans bodyguard, so taking him out shouldn't be too difficult. This might mean, however, that Sergay knew the Nina-Nagi contract was still active. Which means . . .
Sergay and Nina didn't do "it". They clearly did something, but perhaps not everything (this doesn't let Sergay off the hook by any means). Otherwise, the whole "no-men" thing perpetuated by Garderobe is a big fat lie, which could create a backlash if/when it gets out.
On Shizuru-Tomoe: Yes, it's creepy too, though it doesn't have the incest aspect of NIna-Sergay. Plus, Shizuru initially only plays along because she's worried about Natsuki, and she keeps it up afterwards because it'll help Natsuki. She doesn't want to do it, but does because she has to, whereas I think that Sergay did it because he wanted to - or because he couldn't think of any other way to prove that he cares about Nina. Which just demonstrates his utter lack of imagination.
Sergay may have been making the "best" of a bad situation, but it's a situation he created for himself via his stupidity. Therefore, any pity I might have for him is severely curtailed.
Alright, enough Sergay bashing - no more from me. Am I the only one who has a problem with people who think, "As long as it's for the person I love, anything is okay"? I get the idea, but at some point the rest of the world becomes more important than your well-being or that of those you care about. I bring this up because it's one of the central themes both of HiME and Otome, and almost all the characters treat it as a valid reason/excuse for doing something.
Question: How did Arika activate the Harmonium back when it was just her and Mashiro? Doesn't it require a member of the royal family of Wind Bloom? Or can any Otome open it, and it just requires the royalty to operate it? 'Cause if it's royalty only, then that would make Arika and Nina half-sisters and the king father to both (since we know the mothers are different). Unless the Sayers are related to the royal family. Geh. I give up - especially since they're not going to address this (unless they do throw it to a second season - I'm not as sure about that as Fencedude, but it could definitely happen).
I'll ask again - why aren't Mai and Mikoto DOING anything? They're clearly powerful, so get up off your butts and help, dammit. (sigh) We didn't even get to see any training, either. Bah.
So the last two pillars finally show up - but what the heck do they want with Akane? Judging by where she and Kazuya were, she's in no condition to be an Otome anymore - unless they've been running for the past 11 episodes and haven't had time for any nooky - yeah, right. And I thought Zipang wasn't getting involved - looks like they're pulling the U.S. circa WWI "non-involvement".
And who the heck IS the Shadow Otome from the first OP? It still doesn't look like anyone we've seen. Is it a complete red herring that Sunrise through in just to mess with its fans or what?
Well, at least the soundtrack kicks butt and none of the good songs have been associated with disturbing/crappy scenes (not yet, anyway).
Oh, and nice Cheney reference, Crusader - thumbs up.
On to the good stuff:
Alright, they finally gave Natsuki back her bike! And a crew of people to order around (since that's appears to be all she's capable of in this series). Ahem. Sorry - I'm trying to be positive. I really am.
The Erstin letter was a nice touch, though I wish Nina hadn't taken the most important part (questioning your path) to heart a bit more.
I was glad to see Akane again, even in that limited context.
Ahh, Haruka the military nut - go! Blow the cowards away!
Hooray for Irina as well - one of the few characters with a functioning brain!
Now all that remains is to see what Sunrise pulls out of nowhere for the last eps next week. I don't even know what to expect at this point.
I think nina has lost it.Oh well......but
I'm confused...it makes sense this could be some sequal of Mai-HiME but....If the cycle ended for the HiMEs...why does Mikoto have the HiME sign? I wonder if Nagi is planning on doing something crazy..he's always up to something crazy.
@ Chromega: Irina and the Coral Otome *are* fixing the Garderobe Pillar/Student identification system. They're using Yokho's notes. Natsuki gave Nao the Wired Spinel because once the system is up and running, the five pillars need to get some butt kickin' done!
*can't wait to see Nao in her Meister robe*
Indeed, if we were to consider the options that were available in Nina's predicament, it would definitely make us wonder why on earth did Sunrise choose such a silly and backwards option. However, Nina and Sergay had limited time to think it through as war is looming over their heads. Anyone could be in a state of anxiety and end up making radically stupid choices. So, I don't think we can place the blame entirely on Nina and Sergay themselves. Although, Nina looked a little...sneaky when Sergay was contemplating the possibility of Nina running away. And SHE did suggest it after all. But then again, she is pretty stupid for not taking responsibility of her own power. Sergay is also a terrible parent, even at a foster level. He fails as a potential Platonic lover! What happened to Arika?!
that last ss of arika... with a band-aid on her cheek... and her training to become stronger... horribly reminds me of ichigo.
*next... arika goes BAN-KAI*
^^;
As predicted, Kazu looks like he is going to assume the Carlteya (Cardair?) throne. Surprisingly, Aries really DOES have an underground ship. In other news, Aries is launching a preemptive strike against a nation that poses a clear threat, as it possesses WMDs. Wait, that sounds very familiar.
I am now going to start posting scientific rubbish, in the form of a Q & A.
Q: How can an Otome Nina retain her powers after doing it (assuming that she actually did it, and its not a repeat of the Arika scenario)
A: In episode 4, headmaster Natsuki mentioned that its the body's immune reaction that destroys the Nanomachines, and that the immune reaction is activated by components of male seed. Traditionally however, immune responses take several days to activate, so the Otome powers might work far a few more days. This might also be the reason why he can't go off and assisinate Nagi straight away, just after "cancelling" Nina's contract.
Q: How can a man get shot in the head and still live?
A: Basically the bullet must have barely enough power to penetrate the skull. Then it won't actually enter the brain, and most of the damage will be from a fractured skull. This can be done either by having:
1) A weak bullet. The power of guns must have degraded over the past few hundred years. If their explosives are weak, their guns wont be too far ahead.
2) A Really Thick Skull. Yeah, go figure.
Asides from that, this man has been charged by a slave, stabbed by a high power cyborg, and he comes out of it all good as new. Chuck Norris has nothing on him.
And just when he was prepared to betray Nagi, just when he offed John smith and was preparing to send Rena's crypt and the Harmonium the same way (exactly how you can send an inanimate object to hell escapes me) he gets shot.
I mentioned it previously, I will say it here again: he can only afford to take one large action of betrayal before Nagi comes down on him. He should have just taken Nina and fled. Or as he suggested, have her escape, while he himself tried to slow the Archduke down.
Whether or not his decision to take Nina was correct will ultimately depend on the psychological impact on both himself and Nina. Biologically, there is no real reason why they can't become man and woman.
In the next episode, I am going to postulate that the thing which hit garderobe was either
1. An of artillery shot from one of the warships
2. The Obelisk of light built by schwarz on top of the palace. (When you get tired of digging/trying to open the vault, you just blow things up)
I wonder what Irina was doing in Youko's lab. Could she have fixed something so that the pillars and use their powers again? What do you guys think? Natsuki seemed really happy... and I wonder what was in Shizuru's letter...
Well, there are a few reasons why Nina has still got her otome powers:
1- Seergay didnt have sex with her, it was just a hoax scene, like the Arika one.
2- Sergay used some method of birth control like a condom lol
3- The Ultimate Black Diamond is a special Meister GEM that only appeared twice in history (according to Miyu), so it has some speical ability that allows it to retain the nanomachines even after the implantation of male proteins in her.
Honestly I think its the first one. How did Sergay manage to survive that shot, I have no idea, bu hey, he survived a slash from a cyborg with nothing but a ripped shirt, a deep thrust from Miyu and now he survives a headshot. Maybe he has a thick cranium, and a thick skull would leave less space for brain developement, hence his stupid decisions XD
My personal belief is that Sergay didn't do the deed with Nina, and that's how she retains her Otome power.
I also think that Sergay might have really bit the dust, and Nagi is just keeping his brain dead body around so he can use Nina.
From the sub, it seemed pretty clear that Irina and the class got into Youko's lab to secretly get Fumi up and running again so the pillars can use their powers, which is part of Natsuki's plan.
One thing that I only realized now...I know that, in HiME, Alyssa came back after the carnival, and presmably grew up and had kids...but HOW did she come back? She didn't greenspark, she was killed by Glear, and Miyu walked her into a lake, so ven if she had survived whatever the Father did to her, she would have drowned. So, since she didn't greenspark, how did she come back to have kids?
I realize this is more about HiME than Otome, but it does relate to the latter a little bit.
@Dorian: We know that Alyssa came back as she appeared along side sister Nao and Miyu. Not everyone who died greensparked, but QoH Mashiro seemed to be able to return them anyway. Alyssa is one, Sister Yukariko is another. (Mashiro even returned Miyu, whom I might add is not a living creature to start off with, and should be in no way under her). It all part of Sunrise's happy ending plot powers.
"Load Signal Cartridge"
The scene that made this episode for me was Haruka and her Super Dimensional Fortress Suzushiro surfacing in point blank range of the enemy fleet. I know it won't, but in some recess of my mind, I'm curious if it can transform into a giant robot Otome or something. For comedic relief, Haruka has had some great entrances in this series. She was my favorite character in Mai-Hime because of her courage in spite of any odds. Tanks? She'd one up the Tiamen square guy by actually kicking the tank. 10 story tall multi-headed monster robot controlled by a psychotic lesbian? She stands her ground and says "So what?"
Though I realise she'll probably die in a stupid way in the final episode. Sigh.
Seriously though, it seemed to be wasteful to have all those Otome riding on the bridge of that warship. They're warriors/weapons not ship crew. Have'em attack from a different direction than the SDF for a pincer movement.
Also, what was the deal that Haruka mentioned to Shizuru about Shizuru having to train way back in episode 4.
The only other part of the episode I liked was Ers' letter, but that seemed wasted with what happened afterwards.
Your wild guess is kind of over the top. I would guess that the beam might be Mai with her Fire string attack that's shown in the opening song and she is trying to reconnect Fumi-san back up, so the 5 columns can finally materialise and stop Nagi. That seems like the only logical plan to get Garderobe back and the war between the Otome on the border might be a diversion so Mai, Mashiro, Mikoto, and Arika can get in to reconnect Fumi. That way the Valkeryies wouldn't have a Shinso, therefore decreasing the number of Otome to three. So the number of Otome against otome would be Team Remus+Florence+Artai vs. Team Mikoto+Mai+Arika+Ealis+Annan+Remulus+(possibly)The Five Columns
Ok Sergey sleeping with his "daughter" was the most OOT thing the show has ever done and I'm sure she is 15! What the hell was the writers thinking?! This is why at times I feel like giving up on watching animes. When stuff like that happens, it ruins everything. Sergey got's an brain. He should of used it and said no to sleeping with Nina.
I love how people's thought processes completely stop at "Sergay slept with Nina" and just declare it stupid and don't even bother to think over WHY.
And I love how some fans like you desperately grasping on every possible straw and justifying everything to defend this show even when it goes down the crapper hole. I like the show but when it turns bad, I won't hesitate to say it. And Nina/Wong plot was a crapper no matter how you justify it. And please don't assume that everyone don't think about it. They probably have and still don't find it as justifiable as you have.
Its not that I don't find it justifiable...I just honestly don't CARE.
I'm in it for Ain and the Suigintomoe.
I'm of the opinion that the Sergay + Nina event didn't happen. First off, Nina's Otome GEM is still responding. Secondly, I was under the impression she could only cheat the Harmonium because she was both the Protected (Queen of Wind Bloom), and Protector (Otome).
If Sergay slept with her, she should have lost her Otome powers as well as the ability to operate the Harmonium solo.
Having Sunrise pull the Nina + Sergay coupling out of the air doesn't make any more sense than them suddenly deciding to throw the whole "If you sleep with a man it's all over" thing out the window.
bloody hell sunrise....they still have not change arika's robe yet...wth is a blue gem having a pink robe for
@mechaike: Crapper, I have not watched a series in a while that has me waiting for the next episode nearly as much as this series....I've been watching about 10 series this season...Fate, Karin, KageKare,Canvas2,KashiMashi,...etc. None of them hold a candle to Otome on getting my excitement up...what other show this season has provoked as much emotion out of people...good or bad..... This show was this seasons best hands down....Now it Kagutsuki makes a cameo.... people all over the world would wet themselves..... Wonderful, Exciting, Disgusting, Suspensful, Complicated....but not crap....
Provoking emotion doesn't make a show good - especially not if the emotions are exasperation, annoyance, and disgust. As for what's better - how about Shakugan no Shana? Saturday afternoon, I had new episodes of Shana and Otome sitting on my computer - and I watched Shana first (and that's only slightly due to the fact that it was the last episode). Characters that have consistent behavior and cool fights that don't always end in giant explosions which perfectly separate the combatants without damaging them. Not as funny as Otome, but more enjoyable (to me).
Otome may have been the most ambitious of this season, but I can't call it the best. (shrug) That's just my opinion - if you're wetting yourself over it, go right ahead - though I'd recommend a putting on a diaper or at least laying down some towels first.
I'm not entirely buying the Otome-preserving powers of condoms. It seems like if there was that simple of a solution, some horny Otome would've figured it out by now. So a) They don't work, or b) They don't exist on this planet. Even if they did exist and worked, using one would have required Sergay to plan ahead and think about consequences, something he's demonstrated very little aptitude for.
As I said above, I thought plenty about why Sergay might have slept with Nina, and the one vaguely acceptable reason (eliminating her powers to free her from Nagi) wasn't why he did it (assuming he did). Sometimes people think things through and still find something unacceptable
The ending of this episode was awesome. I loved that underground battle vehicle. I'll admit, this series went in a totally different direction from Mai Hime. I honeslty don't think many characters will die in the last two episodes.
hay, you know how the start of the episodes, there is a song thing, and the old song, after you see rena's gace and its got fast pics, pause it when it comes to that black shadow lady thing with wings..any guesses on who it is??
@ 8451175
Well... I remember reading in one of those future episode synopses that Tomoe gets a hold of a cursed Gem somehow, so.. *shrug*
Granted, I don't remember what episode it was for. ^^;
Shana... I like Shana but it's no where near Otome in depth ... Sakai and Shirou from Fate/SN seem an awful lot alike.... Weak guys helping Incredibly strong girls...either way neither is original...
bloody hell sunrise....they still have not change arika's robe yet...wth is a blue gem having a pink robe for
Because GEM color does not necessarily indicate robe color?
There are other examples of this.
Rosalie's "Deep Jadeite" is Green, yet her robe is red.
Nao's GEM is a light purple, yet her robe will be Green and Yellow.
Nina's Ultimate Black Diamond is a Reddish Black, the robe is Dark Purple and Green.
@Fencedude: Naos robe colour is actually a tribute to her child Juliet in the original Mai Hime. Specifically, yellow and green were Juliet's original colours. But her design looks too much like a Marvel spider girl. Other than that, your example of Nina only serves to highlight how wrong the robe/Gem colour difference can be.
The ULTIMATE BLACK DIAMOND has a robe that looks like a CHRISTMAS TREE, and an EMO Christmas Tree no less. Thats just WRONG. Something with the name like "Ultimate Black Diamond" should give its bearer a robe like Darth Vader, except 10 times cooler and sexier. Heck Sara Gallaghers (aka batgirl) robe looks more like something from the UBD, except that its not cool enough, and has a cape. (The "Incredibles" have taught us how useless capes really are).
On a semi-related, you can see my botched attempts at redesigning Nina's robe below. (I messed up the pose, part of the anatomy and the reflection mapping though...)
http://www.angelfire.com/anime3/jenesis/sims2dred36/nina-colour.jpg
Interesting how people interpret things very differently. I myself didn't see it this way how many people interpret this Nina and Sergay circumstances when I first saw it. I too was upset with the -older men have relationship with children or even, with their children O.o- thing from the start whoever it was, with Arika or Nina. But the scene in this episode was not that disgusting if you see
it in another view. First,I think it actually has less to do with others. Nina killed many innocents especially her important friends that is why she no langer wants to be an Otome and end everything by losing her Otome Power, and the very person who should do that is Sergay, that was her
decision. Plus Sergay said that he can't do anything for her so that was her response to that. Sergay couldn't do it at first but than granted her wish because of
his affection towards Nina. So in my opinion it actually has less to do with what he thought and also wasn't that he wanted to save the world or what ever, but only to make his daughter happy.(ok, he himself wanted it as well and I know it surely isn't right what he did ,but well..^^')
OK, there sure are other ways to solve things but yea..just another point of view to make these things less disgusting ^^' Besides, like someone has said before: there's still the big Arika and Nina rumble, so its quite possible that they haven't done it.(the condom idea is hilarious !!!XD) And yea, I agree with some of you that he is indeed an undying man. XD
When I think about the whole Otome-Theme about what is most important then this was IMO one of the important elements of the whole plot. Another one should be the friendship between Otomes that is at the end more "effective" than
anything else.
I guess Arika's robe will possibly change in the next episode(its in the title)
and that attack..maybe by Miyu? And I like Sara Gallagner(the one of the five-pillar girl) a lot, even Haruka *somehow* "feared" her ;) and also the other 2 new Otomes, maybe with them the next Hime-Series? ;)
And another strange thing I'm wondering about: how far is M-O really related to M-H? Only paralllel-universes or is there something more? However,
CAN'T wait to see the 1-hour special!!! XD
@ Jenesis
Bravo on predicting the underground tunneling machine.
However, your assesment on Sergei's head shot is flawed. First Nagi shot him from behind yet we clearly see him bleeding from the front, indicating an exit wound. I can scarcely believe that any human can survive a head shot that penetrates the thickness of the skull and not die instantly. Hence one more bit of bitterness before his long awaited demise.
At least we can now see all hell break loose. Hopefully Nao and Natsuki can cause enough of a ruckus to give Haruka time. Come one sunrise give me a Pegesus Bridge.
gosh so much talk haha lets just sit back and watch the last episodes next week^^
i dont think there is any weird about sergej and nina having sex i mean they arent related
I went back to watch the episode again. Nina will usually materialize immediately once she sets foot on the Harmonium, but after the controversial scene when she's wielding the Harmonium to 'help Sergey', she remained in her normal Artai dress. This seems to me like Sergey did neutralize her nanomachines (though she can still use the Harmonium because she is still an heir of Windbloom).
You know...I did forget to mention one thing...that "huge eyeball of a final boss" from last season...that is all...
PS: You know what I'm probably going to say...so I won't say it.
I might be on the less popular side of the Nina/Sergay thing, but I can't but help very happy for Nina (before Sergay gets shot). I agree that she didn't have to be naked for that scene, but I was very touched by that entire exchange. Also, the interspliced scenes of young Nina followed by present Nina awkwardly saying "Sergay" for the first time served to emphasize the change in roles that Nina has been seeking for a long time.
Nina has worked her entire life to become a woman that Sergay would notice. She's not No. 1 Coral for nothing. She works very hard just to make her father happy. (The first few chapters of the manga support this.) We all know she isn't doing it so that she can serve Artai better.
She's loved him not as a father, but as a man for a very long time now. From when she was first taken from the hideout by Sergay, she's been in love with her savior. We see this when she asked for Sergay's pocketwatch and she treasured this pocketwatch for a number of years nows.
To attempt to ease the disgust of some posters here, I give the following analogy: Nina and Sergay's relationship is similar to a relationship between two childhood friends where one has feelings for the other. The two have grown up together as if they were siblings and of course it would be wrong to think of each other as anything but good friends. However, the fact of the matter is that they are, in fact, NOT siblings and while somewhat distasteful, there is no physical or legal reason stopping them from consummating. This example, while admittedly different, is, in my mind, a totally acceptable and understandable situation in Western culture. Now just extend this a bit to get Nina and Sergay's situation. Does it help if you think that Nina's always loved Sergay as a man and not a father?
Finally, I would like to draw the analogy to My-HiME where the forbidden relationship was between Shizuru and Natsuki. Now, there probably aren't that many people here who didn't shed a tear (fig. or lit.) midway through ep 25 of My-HiME. Now why is it that one type of forbidden relationship is supported while the one in My-Otome is shunned?
In a culture where the age of consent is 16 and marriage is legal within three degrees of blood separation, the situation between Nina and Sergay might not seem so bad...
Again, I'm not supporting incest or adoptive incest, but I am very happy for Nina. She has finally reached a goal she's been working towards for most of her life.
bet u guys that the beam that hit garderobe was the beam from the castle tower(maybe a quicker way to open the library inside, afterall if u cant open something than just blow it up its quicker that way, just that u may not get what u want in one piece)
Sexual scenes don't bother me a bit. We're all adults, aren't we? Why cringe over something so small like that? And besides, in most cultures around the world 13-16 year olds are already married. Why can't they have sex?
ewww!!! nina and sergay kissing yakk...and i think i know shizuru is only playing tomoe...but tis a gd plan anywayz stupid fucking nagi mshot sergay and made nina believed the harmonium can revive him or what not....but anywayz gd luck to arika and mashiro...and i like miyu's personality so much!!! ^_^
re: nina+sergay--they did not have sex...
i am not an anime fan and none of my friends watch anime. it was by unusual circumstances i discovered mai hime 2 weeks ago. to my great surprise, i found that i loved that show thoroughly...so i gave mai otome a chance and watched the 26 episodes over the last seven days.
and i enjoyed myself here too. and now that the 2 adventures are over, my interest in both shows remain high...but while trawling the internet and mai otome blogs (like this well-done blog) for information on the 2 shows, i discovered that most fans have drawn a few surprisingly wrong inferences from their viewing experience...
and the inference made by everyone here and in other blogs that sergay had sex with nina is one of these obviously wrong inferences.
nina and sergay did not have sex. we know this because if she had had sex with sergay, she would not be able to use the harmonium. the reason nina is the only character who can use the harmonium is because she is the only direct descendant of the wind bloom dynastic line left. nina is the "player," one of three necessary keys to unlock the harmonium device. the other 2 keys are the complete "song" (with all the stanzas pieced together) and an otome present within the harmonium.
but because nina herself is an otome, she does not need to be accompanied by another otome inside the perimeter of the harmonium. she personally is actually two of the three keys.
but if she had had sex with sergay, she could no longer be an otome, because his sexual fluids would have destroyed her otome-powering nano devices
and in fact, the reason she asks sergay to have sex with her is so that she no longer will have otome powers. more than anything, she no longer wants nagi to force her to use the harmonium.
and we know that condoms have either not been invented in the mai otome world or that otomes do not ever use condoms...we know this because the show makes it an unambiguous point that having sex and having otome powers are mutually exclusive desires for the girls.
but when sergay is apparently mortally wounded, nagi persuades nina into thinking that only the harmonium's power can keep him in stasis--though we see later that nagi has the technology to keep a dead body (arika's mom, who may or may not actually have been sergay's lover) in perfect stasis. and so persuaded, nina basically decides to become the harmonium's player for as long as she can be.
the reason sergay does not have sex with nina is because she is a daughter to him. this is why we see the montage of nina growing up. he will kiss her for her sake, but not have sex. after the embrace and kiss, he probably tucked her in bed and waited around until she fell asleep to go and destroy the harmonium.
we know sergay knows why nina alone can play the harmonium. nagi actually tells him why nina can play it. that's how sergay learns that arika is not the real princess. he wants to help nina, who he begins to realize is the most important person in his life. but he cannot have sex with her. instead, he sees that the best he can do to help her is to destroy the harmonium.
it is possible that nina never learns completely why she alone can use the harmonium...but in episode 25, we know that she knows she needs her otome powers to use the harmonium. we learn this when she thanks sergay for allowing her to keep her otome powers to keep him alive.
and at the end of episode 24, we see that when nagi tells nina to activate the harmonium to keep sergay from dying, nina does not hesitate, she knows she can play it.
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