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ローゼンメイデン 
November 22, 2005 | 
48 Comments
*Please do not direct-link or reproduce this image elsewhere
I'm sorry that this comes up really late but Mentar has been quite busy lately so I have to take over this particular episode. The problem is, I've also been rather busy trying to prepare for the JLPT on top of writing for 5 other series that I cover this season. Oh well, things will probably get better after I completed JLPT early December. Anyway, this is an interesting episode that deals with Mashiro and her insecurity. There are also some hints of future plots being scattered here and there. Most notable, of course, is the mystery of the Windbloom's true successor which could be one either Arika, Nina, or Mashiro. This episode also features some appearance of several Mai Hime characters which no doubt will make some fans happy.
This episode begins with a flashback to Mashiro's childhood. Apparently back when she was a kid, people already told her that everything in the country belongs to her. As a result, Mashiro grows up to be one hell of a spoilt little girl. Cue flashback of Sakomizu looking thin and ordered by Mashiro to be her horse. Cue another flashback of two maids looking all over Mashiro for her lesson and when they couldn't find her, they start gossiping about the possibility that Mashiro is probably a fake princess. Then one day, she was introduced to little Nagi. Mashiro at first has a crush on him but she was instead feeling crushed when she heard him calling her 'fake princess'. Cut to a present time, Mashiro wakes up from her nightmare and sadly asks Mikoto for a confirmation that she really is the ruler of this country.
After the credit, Arika's voice is heard in the background telling her sponsor that today she gets a holiday for one week so she's happy about it. Having said that, she claims that no one is doing nothing during holiday because they are either training, studying, helping a teacher, cleaning a sempai's room. So everyone is busy. Well, not everyone because Chie is clearly shown yawning while reading a magazine. As for Arika, she's starting a part-time job not because the money that her benefactor has given to her not enough. But rather because she wants to return the favour little by little. Aparently the part time job was introduced to her by Nao. And her job turns out to be singing YMCA with the Village People. Well, not really, she's become one of the reconstruction builders at Mashiro's castle but it's not that difficult to mistake them as the Village People.
Unfortunately for Arinko, on the day she starts her job, Mashiro visits the location and spots her. So Mashiro decides to make life difficult for Arika by making sure that Arika is working hard at the palace. Meanwhile, a random construction guy is seen arriving at the construction place and is given a letter by the head supervisor. But when he opens the letter, he sees nothing but black color. The head supervisor is confused with the guy's reaction but before he can ask anything else, the guy already flees from the scene. Meanwhile Mashiro reminisces about the time when Nagi told her that she's a fake princess and gets all huffed up. She immediately declares that she wants this castle to be replaced by a new castle. Arika who overhears this becomes angry and ask why Mashiro is such a spoilt brat. So the two inevitably bicker again as usual.
Mashiro doesn't see what's wrong with asking what she wants, especially since she's the ruler of the country. In reply, Arika wonders if Mashiro really is the ruler of this country and gets promptly slapped by Mashiro. Sergei who sees the incident later on helps Arika to recover from the shock and the red marks left by Mashiro's slap. He also tells Arika that after the attacked on the castle 14 years ago, a criminal was caught carrying a baby. A baby who was assumed to be Mashiro. Because of this, Mashiro was elected as a princess but the incident also caused her legitimacy as a princess to be in question. Lately, however, people don't even remember this little fact but even then Mashiro already suffers from uncertainty about her status as a ruler of Windbloom. Upon hearing this, Arika decides to apologise to Mashiro.
Meanwhile, Mashiro is sulking on her own when Nagi suddenly appears and proposes to her. Mashiro tries to refuses him but Nagi puts the moves on her and Mashiro almost unable to resist had Arika didn't barge in on the two of them. Arika tells them that her baa-chan tells her that forcing that kind of things is wrong. LOL. Arika's baa-chan seems to say a lot of things for an old grandma. Having said that, go Nagi! Be your bad self. Mashiro, however, uses the interruption to order Mikoto to hiss at Nagi so the poor boy has no choice but to leave. Despite the favour, Mashiro is still unhappy with Arika but before they can argue even more, Mikoto 'accidentally' pushes the two of them into a secret chamber. I wonder if this is the thing that the guy from Black Valley was looking for. Anyway, Arika and Mashiro end up finding themselves inside a ruin of an underground Castle.
As the two go through the castle, Arika complains if Mashiro knows her way around it. But Mashiro tells her that this castle is 300 years old and she's not even 14 years old. She also informs the clueless Arika that the first Otome was Fumi, who was known as 'Mashiro naru Kongouseki', which is where Mashiro got her name. Upon hearing this Arika said that she's a bit jealous since she doesn't know where she got 'Arika' as her name but she's quite happy to have it. While the two converse, however, Mikoto runs off so the two are forced to chase after it. They end up in a big hall containing an old organ. When Arika checks the organ, however, it produces a loud noise which destroy her Otome earring and Mashiro's ring. The sound even reverberates throughout the city and out into the desert, alerting the attention of a female traveller who looks like Miyu.
Back inside the ruin, a black shadow that looks like Mikoto tells Mashiro and Arika that they need a song, a player, and a charm to operate the Harmonium before disappearing again. Before Arika can try to operate the organ again, however, Mikoto hisses at something off-screen, which then turns out to be the usual type of slave summoned by the guy who followed them. Fortunately for the two, Arika's gem protects them as usual. Out of the gem then comes out two blue diamonds which reminds Arika to the one used by the Otome in the painting. So she puts one on her earring and another on Mashiro's ring. The two then forms a contract and Arika turns into Robe Blue Sky Sapphire Otome. As expected, however, whenever Arika is hurt, Mashiro also suffers the consequence. After beefing up her weapon, however, Arika manages to kill the slave. The two eventually find a way to get out of the ruin and promise each other to keep the contract a secret.
Garten's Impression:
I can see that a lot of people feel sorry for Mashiro already. The thing is, I never see her being that annoying to begin with. So her sudden angst doesn't invoke that much sympathy from me either. I think her angst has more to do with her guilt that she's been ordering people around and now suddenly there's a possibility that she may not be the real princess. In other words, there is a possibility that she has been ordering these people around without having the rights for it and she feels guilty about it. Oh well, she's still a kid and I figure she'll grow up better with this uncertainty instilled on her. I am far more interested in why people assumed that she is the princess. What was it about the baby that made them believe the criminal that Mashiro really is the princess? I find it hard to believe that they simply believed the word of the criminal before deciding that Mashiro is the princess.
This brings me to the portraits of the King and the Queen that Mashiro sees inside the castle. She clearly refers to the two as her biological father and mother. Although this could turned out to be false, for now I'd like to think that she truly is the true biological successor to the King and the Queen. The second portrait is the one that Arika happens to see which seems to be a King and his Otome, who was Rena. Now, judging from Arika and Mashiro's little stunt, it seems that when the 'Slave', a term I'll temporarily use for Arika, is hurt, the 'Master' which is Mashiro, is hurt as well. I assume the reverse is also true and the reason Rena was still alive after the death of the King was because she annulled her contract prior to the incident. It seems to me, however, that she continued to serve the Kingdom in limited capacity and that is why she got involved in the incident 14 years ago.
This, however, makes me wonder about the identity of Arika. Is Arika really is Rena's daughter or is she actually the true successor of the Kingdom that Rena tried to protect that night. Another thing that I noticed is that all 3 main characters, Arika, Nina, and Mashiro, knows the different part of a same song. Nina obviously heard it from Sergei, who was suggested to have heard it from Rena. Arika seems to have heard it from her baa-chan. This makes me wonder about the true identity of the baa-chan because she seems to know a lot for a supposedly random grandma. This also means that Mashiro probably used to live in the castle as well because she knows a part of the song. Another interesting thing is the mystery of the Harmonium, which seems to require a song, a player, and a charm to operate properly. And did anyone else notice that there's what looks like a plane stucked inside the old castle? I wonder what it was doing there. Anyway, next week's preview seem to suggest the appearance of a new Otome. She looks like Miyu but I really doubt it is her.
In your opinion, is this considered a good anime?
Depends on your definition of 'good'. I personally think it's an entertaining anime. But I realised that some people may have different opinion about what entertains them as well.
Just a question...when did Mashiro sing part of the song? I think I missed it somewhere...
Chromega, Mashiro sings the song during the part where Sergei explains to Arika about Mashiro's background.
When did Nina sing it? I can't remember.
Nina sang her verse in episode 4
Here is a translation of the song done by Takemi_Ikazuchi:
verse 1: Arika
It is an old tale of a kingdom wating to be awakened
within this devoted chest dwells a light,
this hope becomes a star, and I see the future
oh my beloved, plase wait for me
verse 2: Nina
I erect a profile of destiny at the window of my heart
there is only one that the star chooses and ordains
whose enligthened dreams is proteced by her light
my beloved, you have grown distant from me
verse 3: Mashiro
untainted feathers dancing beautifully
the burdened noble child's light of life,
is to become the star -- she must stay unborned
on her beloved, she sleeps in deep embrace
Its worth noting that each verse fits the girl who is singing it. I figure this song and the Organ are connected somehow.
Now, judging from Arika and Mashiro's little stunt, it seems that when the 'Slave', a term I'll temporarily use for Arika, is hurt, the 'Master' which is Mashiro, is hurt as well.
Garten, Natsuki explained this several episodes ago after Arika became accepted at Garderobe. And "Slave" is a bad term to use in this example since that is what the monsters that appeared in this episode and episode 1 are called. It'd probably be best to just say "Master" and "Otome".
Nina sang in episode four.
There is a theory that her true identity might be the real daughter of Rena. By the way, in the first episode, the bad guys called Rena Yumemiya, same as the last name of Arika.
It seems like Rena married to some guy called Mr. Yumemiya and made her grandma believed she is the daughter of Rena.
I don't remember Rena ever being addressed as Yumemiya.
I find it interesting that Shizuru is shown playing a piano early in the episode. Will the singer, player and protector be Mashiro, Nina and Arika -- Or [Mai], Shizuru and Natsuki?
Just two things that came to my notice:
1. Arika's name when it is spelt backwards is Akira and the weapon she used in her Otome Rode seem quite similiar to the weapon used by Akira in HM. Could there be something in the works of Takumi appearing if this similairity continues?
2. Arika's otome Rode: doesn't it look quite similiar to Cagali's Strike Rouger in Gundam Seed Destiny? Any possiblilty of more mechas appearing in this gene line......
Sorry, my mistake.
I got a wrong script that translated Rena as Mrs. Yumemiya while the old guy didn't mention that name.
Either Arika's or Nina's (or both) version is on the ED single. whoever sings it fails miserably when hitting the high notes. I want Mashiro's version - the vocals and music are better there from what we could hear in ep7 imho.
Hmm... Just out of curiosity, was the "cat" Mikoto and theshadowy figure of Mikoto ever on screen together? As well it was Mikoto that brought them into the organ chamber. Perhaps "human" Mikoto is living inside of "cat" Mikoto to protect the Mashiro-sama? Deshou deshou? ^_^
Either Arika's or Nina's (or both) version is on the ED single. whoever sings it fails miserably when hitting the high notes. I want Mashiro's version - the vocals and music are better there from what we could hear in ep7 imho.
The version on the ED single (the title of the song by the way is Hoshi ga Kanaderu Monogatari) is sung by all three of the girls. Each girl sings one verse, like I posted previously.
this thing bug me for a while ... but i didn't see anyone mention it ...
why the hell did "Robe of Blue Sky Sapphire" colored in pink !!?
*sigh*
M.I.Y.U. Kenzan...lol
if that means there wont be an ep7 version of the song on the OST im gonna hurt someone :P i dont like this single version at all.
Thanks for stepping up to the plate, Garten. It's truly appreciated. (And you helped me fill in a couple of minor holes in my version before the ink could get too dry. *cough*)
Negi-Bozu: When Mikoto-the-cat reappears, Mashiro scolds her, saying "Where have you been?" We know, don't we? Heh.
this thing bug me for a while ... but i didn't see anyone mention it ...
why the hell did "Robe of Blue Sky Sapphire" colored in pink !!?
Thats an interesting question, as we saw in the painting, Rena's version of the robe WAS blue, and had other minor differences from Arika's.
It may have something to do with the irregularities in how she acquired it, or it could be that even when using the same GEM, different Otome have different versions of the Robe.
One problem is that right now there is a dearth of information on Meister level Otome. We've seen three in action, Shizuru, Haruka and Yukariko. Shizuru and Haruka's robes have similar stylings, but Yukariko's is fairly different. Rena's is also very different from the other Meister's.
Maybe what Arika has is an "incomplete" version of the robe, perhaps it will eventually "evolve" into the one Rena has.
Although, I think its quite possible that Arika will eventually obtain Fumi's "Diamond of Purity", and Nina will become the final owner of the Blue Sky Sapphire.
But everything right now is pure speculation, we are still too fuzy on the details of how the entire Otome system functions.
Oh, and I wonder about the Masters for the teacher Otome like Yukariko and Maria. I doubt they are pillars, so do they have a special contract of some sorts? So many questions, so few answers.
if that means there wont be an ep7 version of the song on the OST im gonna hurt someone :P i dont like this single version at all.
Well, I imagine we'll be hearing the song a number of more times throughout the series, it'd be hard for them to include every single variation of it, especially since so far the entire song hasn't even been played in the show. Arika only got through about 3/4 of her verse in episode 3.
I think that Yukariko's outfit is just Meister-level while Shizuru and Haruka's Robes (in having the yellow trip) are for the Pillars only. Arika's version of Blue Sky Sapphire still has the yellow trim even though its pink. @_@ Maybe the yellow trim designates between regular Meister Otomes and a PIllar?
Mikoto-neko is just one in a long line of spirit cats that act as the vessel for the Priestess of the Shrine.... XP
And Chie...wooo, hotness. Need her in action please~
I really owe Garten a huge favor for this one. Thanks alot for picking up Otome7 in my stead - I was ultrabusy lately and simply couldn't find the time to make a decent writeup. I'll try to add my comments too, but due to the other project (FSN, see Garten's latest entry) it may take till tomorrow.
Again, thanks for saving my rear, Garten :) ...
Magazine article: "Arika no kakkoii action ga mitai!"
For a few moments I thought they were saying, "We wanna see some hot Arika action!"
(Yes, I KNOW that it roughly means "We wanna see Arika kick some ass!")
This is just pure speculation, but I saw six circles on the door of the organ. Three at the top and three at the bottom. If the three at the bottom does indeed count with releasing the organ's power, I believe that there will be three seperate organ players (we do see Shizuru playing the piano - so most likely her and two others...Natsuki? Mai?) and three singers of the song (Arika, Mashiro & Nina). But then again I could be totally wrong and overanalyzing this way too much.
while Shizuru and Haruka's Robes (in having the yellow trip) are for the Pillars only
What the hell? WHere'd the rest of that go.
That should be followed by:
For the last time, Haruka is NOT a Pillar!
I watched episode7. Of course, it was great at the battle. I really loved how Mashiro sang, it was the same as Mai Hime I think. They also showed many new characters that we would be guessing from before. By the way, has anyone seen the ending of episode7 that shows a preview of episode8 showing Tomoe look kind of guilty? I think you guys are right! She might be evil.
By the way, has anyone seen the ending of episode7 that shows a preview of episode8 showing Tomoe look kind of guilty? I think you guys are right! She might be evil.
"Might" be evil?
As enjoyable as the episode was, my Mary-Sue Radar was going crazy at the end of the episode because of Antsy. Now she's got the almost unbeatable super powers to save the world. This series is going to hurt me so bad, yet I'll still come back for more and I don't know why! ARG!
I'm surprised that every one is raving Mashiro's singing. Her voice was too nasily for me. I thought Nina's, however, was magnificent. It gave me chills. I'd say that that scene, with Nina singing, was my favorite of the series so far.
I say it does not matter whose voice you like, as long as you know you like it, and enjoy it. What I am wondering about is how the mai-star and master system work. If we, say, took the ring off Mashiro, and put it on someone else, would that someone else become the new master? Similiarly, if we stole Arika's earring in the midle of the night while she was sleeping, would she still be able to transform?
Actually, I believe this is covered to some extent in episode 8.
Oh, and its "Meister", not "Mai-star"
http://www.fencedude.com/Images6/meister.jpg
lol wow...for an anime that uses names of gems you'd think they'd do their research and spell the names of the gems correctly...it's "zoisite" not "zoisaite"...everything else is good except for "dovoted"...oh well what can you do...can't wait to see episode 8 btw!
I assumed Haruka is a Pillar because only she is one the only three with their earing gems shown; Arika and Shizuru do as well.
http://www.my-zhime.net/character/img/btn_p_arika3.gif
http://www.my-zhime.net/character/img/img_p_shizuru2.gif
http://www.my-zhime.net/character/img/img_p_haruka2.gif
Also, it's not much of a rivalry if Shizuru is a Pillar, and Haruka isn't.
Haruka is contracted to Yukino, she CAN'T be a pillar.
And I don't see what your point about that is really, Arika isn't a Pillar, but Natsuki IS, and we don't see her GEM.
I can't help but try to shake my impression of Mikoto neko being in the same type of neko chara like Luna from Sailormoon. I mean, both are a black cats, albeit one is obviosuly overweight, and is the pet of a royalty and also have a mark ont heir foreheads. Just my two cents.
This episode was as good as I expected from the preview and it didn't dissapoint me in the least in the action department. I did cringe a little in Arika's transformation but then, I am used to cheesy henshin scenes from other toku shows.
Seeing skinny Sakomizu is a riot to me too; just how did he get fat anyway with Mashiro being bratty and all that? I though the reverse shoulod have happen instead. ^_^
That's not really a fair argument. We haven't even seen Natsuki in her robe, so why would we see her gem? And we sort of do see it, in the show you see a white earring on her ear if you look closely, you just don't see it all nice and laid out neatly as in the other three.
And you have to be contracted to someone when you're a meister otome. That's the definition of being a meister. Hence, Arika's flashbacking Natsuki's dialogue. So, I don't see how "Haruka is contracted to Yukino" is an argument.
And anyway, maybe Arika isn't a Pillar, but she inherited her powers from the necklace from her mother, which appears to be significant. And even if Haruka isn't a pillar, the show creators saw fit to design her jewel and not Yukariko's although they did design her neat-looking bow.
Also, I don't know Japanese very well, but 専用のGEM looks like that earring that Haruka wears is hers alone to wear. See also Shizuru.
Anyway, it's not like the anime's finished. We don't know where it's going to go, we don't know anything about the history of this place. Chill out with the abolutes, SHE CANNOT BE THIS AND THIS. Anything we say now is speculation.
Episode 4. It is stated by Natsuki in that episode that Haruka IS in fact Yukino's Otome.
Also, I don't see your point about the close-ups the GEMS begin only those of the Pillars. Just because they use a close-up of the GEM doesn't validate that the person wearing a the GEM is a Pillar. Oh and btw,
[SPOILER STARTS]
You've been complaining about how we don't see a close up Natsuki's earring and why we even should since we haven't seen her robe. Well just watch episode 8 and you'll get your close-up of her GEM. Well not close close, but close enough to see some detail.
[SPOILER ENDS]
Well, that last girl in the ending looked familiar, but I don't think she wasn't in Mai-Hime.
A point well-made. Just because they show a closeup of a gem doesn't mean it belongs to a Pillar. I'll concede that. However, show me any other personal meister gems they've laid out all nice and neat, will you? They may not be directly related but it's interesting nonetheless. Why don't they have Yukariko's gem nicely laid out, for example?
I don't know if you're talking to me but regarding what you said about Natsuki's gem... I said the exact same thing you did, if you read carefully.
And regarding your first point... Repeating: a meister is someone who is bonded to a person in much the same way that the Himes in the original series were bonded to their "important person." Natsuki said as much to Arika. Arika, Shizuru, Haruka, Natsuki, and Yukariko have meister robes. Therefore they must be bonded to a person.
Shizuru is a pillar. But she's also a meister. So, she must be bonded to someone. Hence, you'll see why I reject the argument "Haruka is bonded to Yukino" as being a valid argument with respect to her status as a Pillar. Unless you're saying that being a Pillar somehow negates the need to be bonded with someone. If you're making that assumption then, fine.
Err...Arkan, you DO realize that a Meister and a Pillar are NOT the same things?
Haruka, Shziuru, Natsuki, Yukariko, Maria, Fia Gross, and (technically) Arika are Meisters.
Natsuki and Shizuru are confirmed to be Pillars, Pillars are Meisters who are contracted directly to the "Shinso", Fumi, the first Otome.
It is unknown who Maria and Yukariko are contracted to, its entirely possible they are also pillars.
Haruka, Fia Gross and Arika are NOT Pillars, Haruka is contracted to Yukino, Fia Gross to the Emperor of Kardea and Arika to Mashiro.
I really don't understand your point about the GEM's, all Otome have GEMs, otherwise they wouldn't be Otome. Meister's have special GEMs (called, shockingly enough Meister GEMs). All Meister's have their own titles.
Quartz of Ice and Snow, Natsuki Kruger
Graceful Amethyst, Shizuru Viola
Beautiful Onyx, Fia Gross
Topaze of the Jewel Isle, Haruka Armitage
Sky Blue Sapphire, Arika Yumemiya
Natsuki and Shizuru are confirmed to be Pillars, Pillars are Meisters who are contracted directly to the "Shinso", Fumi, the first Otome.
Wait does that mean one can be contracted to multiple people? How was the Sky Blue Sapphire contracted to the King and Fumi?
Who ever said the Sky Blue Sapphire (Arika or Rena) was a pillar? That was mere supposition. As it stands I believe that Rena wasn't, and Arika is not.
Also, I don't know if there are 5 specific "Pillar GEMs" that are passed down, or if when pillar dies/retires, they just choose another from the existing Meisters.
About Yukariko, I imagine she's a Meister who either never made a contract and just decided to teach or there's a way to break a contract short of death and she did that. As for activating her Robe, if a Meister can activate a Coral Robe (I assume it's Yukariko doing the activating for battle training) then I don't see why a Pillar couldn't activate a regular Meister's Robe the same way. Of course, Yukariko could be a Pillar as well, we just don't know enough to say one way or another.
otome ost1 tracklisting is up on the official site. theres an Arika only version in there... boohoo.
Well, there will be many, many more Otome music CDs, so its quite possible we'll get Nina only and Mashiro only versions later.
personally I doubt it. :) but we shall see. I still want the unreleased tracks/mixes from the first HiME series (and that damn trailer music).
I'm late in commenting on this... I wonder if anyone reads the comments on old episodes. ;)
Anyway, have you noticed how there is a design with three circles on the door to the organ, and only two of them light up when Arika and Mashiro walk up to it? That seems a hint that they are two of the people needed (and the third would be Nina). Of course, it could also be that any group of three people is ok...
If Haruka is a pilar, so The Pilars is 6
First = Sara
Second = Natsuki
Third = Shizuru
Fourth = Mai (Then Changes with Nao)
Fifth = Maya
Remember The Pilars Is only 5
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